We’ll track all of Tuesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

• In the wake of Nick Boyle‘s suspension, and with Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams both battling injuries, the Ravens have added two tight ends to their roster. According to a press release, the club has promoted Konrad Reuland from its practice squad and signed veteran free agent Richard Gordon. Boyle was moved to the reserve/suspended list and cornerback Cassius Vaughn was cut to create space on the roster.
• The Bills have also made a change at the tight end position, promoting Nick O’Leary from the practice squad and cutting veteran Matthew Mulligan, the team announced today. Mulligan had played a role this season for the Bills as a blocker and special-teamer, making the move a little surprising. Joe Buscaglia of WKBW wonders (via Twitter) if another team – perhaps the Ravens? – showed interest in O’Leary, prompting Buffalo to protect him.
• The Eagles have signed outside linebacker Steven Means from the Texans‘ practice squad, the club announced today (via Twitter). Means will take over the roster spot vacated by Miles Austin, who was released on Monday.
• With a Thursday night showdown against Arizona around the corner, the Vikings have made a handful of roster moves, announcing in a press release that they’ve signed safety Shaun Prater and elevated safety Anthony Harris from the practice squad. To make room for the incoming defensive backs, Minnesota placed safety Antone Exum on injured reserve and waived defensive end Justin Trattou.
• The Colts are adding some depth at the linebacker spot by promoting linebacker Amarlo Herrera to their active roster, a source tells Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). Jerrell Freeman and Nate Irving are banged up for Indianapolis.
• The Browns have re-signed offensive lineman Darrian Miller to their 53-man roster just three days after cutting him, placing fullback Malcolm Johnson on injured reserve in a corresponding move, per a team release.

Austin Davis back to the bench

Johnny Manziel will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The Browns want to further evaluate Manziel’s ability on the field and how he handles any success and failure off it, a source told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen on Monday. (ESPN)

Nerdy Football Analysis: This move was predictable regardless of Manziel’s off-field issues after Austin Davis failed to generate any success in a 37-3 loss to Cincinnati. A matchup against the 49ers represents a better opportunity for the team as a whole and the fantasy prospects of WR Travis Benjamin (shoulder) and TE Gary Barnidge.

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With his job security potentially dwindling, Browns head coach Mike Pettine suggested on Monday that there’s some tension within the organization, dropping some hints without specifically saying which departments are at odds. After pointing out that a team needs its building to be unified in order to have success, Pettine was asked whether the Browns’ building is unified, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com details.

“It’s hard to be at this point,” Pettine said. “It’s human nature. When things don’t go well, everybody has a tendency to kind of bunker in and get into that mode. I think we all want what’s best for the Cleveland Browns. we all have ideas on how to get it done, and we need to be collaborative and we need to make sure that we’re picking the best ideas and pushing those agendas moving forward.

“I can’t sit here and say, ‘Absolutely, we’re all on board, 100 percent,’” Pettine continued. “That’s not reality because when things don’t go well, everybody has their opinions and their reasons why, but it’s going to come down to a brutal self-assessment and to be able to have the strength to make tough decisions and trust them and move forward.”

As we wait to see whether Pettine will be a part of the Browns as the team tries to move forward, let’s check in on some other items from out of the AFC North….

• Former Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still may be back under contract with an NFL team in a few weeks. According to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, Still said on Monday that he has received reserve/futures contract offers from two teams. Those deals can’t be officially signed until after a team’s season comes to an end.
• Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is undergoing surgery on his left knee today, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed (link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). It has been nearly two and a half weeks since Flacco tore his ACL against the Rams, but he had to wait for the swelling to go down before going under the knife. Dr. James Andrews will perform the procedure.
• With one tight end suspended and two others dealing with nagging injuries, the Ravens had former New Hampshire tight end Harold Spears in for a visit, per Hensley (Twitter link).

You did your draft, set your lineups, agonized over injuries and subsequently scoured the waiver wire for replacements. Now you’re preparing yourself to venture into the playoffs in your fantasy football league, and you want to make sure you have the optimal lineup to help you take home that trophy, plaque or championship belt.

Chances are at this point in the season the waiver wire is full of players on injured reserve or players who are otherwise buried on their team’s depth chart. However, there’s still a couple of hidden gems who could help your team advance in the postseason. Here’s a look at who you could consider targeting once the waiver wire is open for business on Wednesday.

Blaine Gabbert, QB, San Francisco 49ers

If you had told most fantasy players Blaine Gabbert would be a viable start and hot commodity on the waiver wire heading into the fantasy playoffs, they would have looked at you like you said Ronda Rousey would get dominated in a fight.

Wait…that happened, too? What a world we live in.

Anyway, if you’re in need of a quarterback to upgrade your lineup, take a look at Gabbert. In ESPN leagues with standard scoring, he has put up at least 14 points per week since taking over for Colin Kaepernick. He also found success against two of the top pass defenses in the league in Arizona and Seattle. 

As Mike Tagliere of Pro Football Focus Fantasy points out, Gabbert has been outperforming some of the top quarterback names in the league.

As of this writing, Gabbert is only owned in 2.4 percent of ESPN leagues. With a favorable matchup against the floundering Cleveland Browns, Gabbert will probably be the top add on the waiver this week. 

Darren Sproles, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

The quintessential high-risk, high-reward player, Darren Sproles is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the ball. This was the case against the New England Patriots when he returned a punt 83 yards to the house.

Sproles is also a viable target in the passing game, and he has caught at least four balls in three of the last four games.

The Eagles brought in DeMarco Murray before this season to be the bell-cow running back, but that wasn’t the case against the Patriots, as Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes.

Head coach Chip Kelly’s game plan could be different come next week, but chances are Sproles will still be involved. Philadelphia’s Week 14 opponent, the Buffalo Bills, has been susceptible to screens and misdirection out of the backfield all season.

Don’t forget, this is the same Bills defense that gave up 114 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries to Spencer Ware a couple weeks ago. In addition, the Bills are paper-thin at linebacker. Per Andy Young of TWC News, Nigel Bradham is likely to miss his second straight game.

The play of Bradham‘s replacements has been less than ideal. Rookie A.J. Tarpley was the first to step in for Bradham, and he was so bad the Bills cut him after one game’s worth of playing time. After Tony Steward left Sunday’s game with a back injury, the Bills were left with Kevin Reddick, whom they had just signed earlier in the week.

Needless to say, Eagles runners could be in for a big day against the Bills. Considering Sproles‘ return capability and the fact he’s only owned in 47.7 percent of ESPN leagues, it would be wise to kick the tires on Philadelphia’s change-of-pace back.

James White, RB, New England Patriots

If you can’t get your hands on Sproles but are still in the market for a running back, have a look at James White, New England’s shifty receiving back du jour.

Sunday’s game against the Eagles didn’t go so well for the Patriots. But perhaps the lone bright spot was White, who hauled in 10 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Mike Reiss of ESPN had information on the snap counts for Patriots running backs from Sunday, and the defending champs couldn’t keep the guy off the field.

White is only owned in 26.5 percent of ESPN leagues, so unless there’s a Patriots die-hard in your league, he probably can be yours for the taking. 

The Patriots are notoriously unpredictable when it comes to their running back usage, but White’s abilities in the Patriots’ depleted passing attack will likely warrant him another week’s worth of work against the Texans.

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