Las Vegas Raiders

Cleveland Browns tight end Harrison Bryant could be in for a larger role in his team's Week 18 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Starter David Njoku (rest/knee/illness) missed practice on Wednesday but got in limited sessions on Thursday and Friday. The star tight end is listed without an injury designation heading into Week 18 but the Browns already have the No. 5 seed in the AFC locked up and are planning to rest several starters in what is a meaningless game for them. If Njoku doesn't end up playing, Bryant would see starter's snaps and settle in as a TE2 for the final week of the regular season against a Bengals team that is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. He would also make for an interesting cheap option as a dart throw in DFS contests.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew has been a hit-or-miss fantasy option for most of the 2023 season. In Week 17, he completed 15 of his 23 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown in the team's win against the Las Vegas Raiders. He now gears up for a win-and-in regular-season finale, when the Colts square off against the Texans on Saturday night. Houston has made for a decent matchup for quarterbacks, allowing the ninth most fantasy points to the position. Their secondary has struggled from a yardage perspective as well, allowing the eight most yards through the air this season. With many of fantasy's top QBs sitting out this week, fantasy managers can look to include Minshew as a low-end QB1 this week.

Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed all three practices this week and has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. The 22-year-old's rookie season comes to an end with three consecutive absences. It was a somewhat underwhelming year for Mayer, who totaled just 27 catches, 304 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Austin Hooper will step up as the Raiders' top tight end but isn't on the fantasy radar.

Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday. Mayer is dealing with a toe injury that has kept him sidelined the last two games. The fact that the 22-year-old second-rounder has yet to practice this week makes him unlikely to play in a meaningless Week 18 regular season finale against the Denver Broncos. If Mayer doesn't play this weekend, he'll wrap up his first year in the NFL with just 27 receptions for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games played. Austin Hooper was on the field for over 80 percent of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but it only led to three catches for 28 yards. If Mayer misses another game, Hooper will merely be a low-cost dart throw at the tight end position in DFS.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed practice on Wednesday as his team gears up to face off against the Denver Broncos in Week 18. Mayer has missed the past two games with his toe injury and could be in line to sit out of the regular-season finale with a missed practice to begin the week. The rookie tight end will have to get onto the practice field at least in a limited capacity by Friday if he wants to suit up in Week 18. If Mayer doesn't wind up playing, veteran Austin Hooper would operate as the Raiders' No. 1 TE.