Several wide receivers have made their mark on fantasy football this season, but some of the best were those that fantasy managers did not expect. Players who were less known due to the depth chart or in their first years in the NFL won weeks for fantasy managers and has them excited looking ahead to the 2024 season.
Two such receivers are Noah Brown and Zay Flowers. However, they’re both battling injuries and might be unavailable in Week 18. What’s the latest?
Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Noah Brown, Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have had an incredible season, surprising fans left and right with their offensive showing.
Brown has played a solid part in this successful offense. Sure, he’s been relatively quiet for the majority of the season, but Brown had two weeks where he finished in the top 10, and he capitalized when fellow Houston receivers like Tank Dell and Nico Collins went down with injuries.
In Week 17 against the Titans, Brown only played 11% of the snaps and finished the day with just two targets. Earlier in the season, Brown had been battling a knee injury, but he was forced to leave Sunday’s game due to a concern with his hip. He was listed as a non-participant on Tuesday’s estimated injury report for the Texans, leaving his Week 18 status in doubt.
It’s uncertain whether Brown will be available, but either way, Houston will turn to Collins to carry the load once again. Collins has been fantastic this year with over 1,100 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, so the Texans can comfortably let him take the lead.
Heading into Week 18, Brown is WR21 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
Flowers has been enjoying his coming-out party over the last month. He has only had one week outside the top 15 over the previous five weeks, and he’s commanding a 39% target share among Baltimore wide receivers.
With one week left in the NFL season, Flowers is the WR27. Unfortunately, he’s battling an injury that might hold him out of Week 18.
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Flowers had been battling a calf injury that threatened him to miss Week 17, yet he suited up and played. However, on Tuesday, Flowers was listed as a non-participant on Baltimore’s estimated injury report.
It’s uncertain whether this issue will force Flowers to the sideline in Week 18, and fantasy managers should keep a close eye on the Ravens’ practice reports.
Another issue to consider, though, is if Flowers could play, will he?
The Ravens have locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so there’s no incentive for head coach John Harbaugh to play his stars. If Baltimore does, in fact, bench their starters, fantasy managers will have to look further down the depth chart for a Flowers replacement, PFN’s WR57 on the week.
Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor could see an uptick in snaps.
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