Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game vs. the Commanders. He was able to play through this injury last week, so we're expecting him to be active tomorrow. But Dowdle is only in play as a DFS tournament flier. His absence would be a boost for RB Tony Pollard. Dowdle has averaged 6.8 carries and 1.0 target per game over the last four -- although a lot of that has come in garbage time.
The Packers placed TE Luke Musgrave on IR with what NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports is a lacerated kidney. Musgrave will miss at least the next four games, making Week 16 his earliest return date. The rookie can be dropped from redraft rosters. His absence gives fellow rookie TE Tucker Kraft a shot at lead duties. The elite athlete is worth adding in TE-premium fantasy leagues like the FFPC.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith (elbow) got in a limited practice on Tuesday. He was non-committal on his availability for Thursday night's game vs. the 49ers in his press conference, but getting on the field today is a good sign. We're tentatively expecting Smith to play on Thanksgiving but will update his status again tomorrow.
Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf missed Tuesday's practice and is on the injury report with a toe. He's dealt with hip and rib injuries this season, but the toe is new. We'll see if Metcalf practices on Wednesday and how he's listed on the final injury report for Thursday night's game vs. the 49ers.
The Dolphins listed RB De'Von Achane (knee) as a limited participant in Tuesday's practice. It's surprisingly positive news just two days after he re-injured his right knee. Achane seemingly has some chance to play vs. the Jets on Friday. We'll keep you updated on his status over the next few days.
Commanders RB Antonio Gibson (toe) got in a limited practice on Tuesday. It gives him a chance to return for the Thanksgiving game vs. the Cowboys. Gibson wouldn't be a recommended season-long starter, but his return would dent RB Brian Robinson's Week 12 fantasy value.
Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle (ankle) did not practice on Tuesday. He played through this ankle issue last week, so we're tentatively expecting him to be available for Thursday's game vs. Washington. But we'll see how Dowdle is listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur said Tuesday that TE Luke Musgrave has a "significant" abdomen injury. LaFleur didn't give any other details but did say that Musgrave is currently in the hospital. He won't play vs. the Lions on Thanksgiving, and it sounds like Musgrave could miss time beyond that. We'll keep you updated on his status. Musgrave's absence on Thursday will leave Green Bay with TEs Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims, and Josiah Deguara. Kraft had already seen an expanded role the past two weeks and should lead the group in pass routes vs. Detroit. He'd be a desperation season-long play but is an intriguing flier on the Thanksgiving DFS slate. Kraft is a third-round rookie with a 96th-percentile Relative Athletic Score.
The Rams released RB Darrell Henderson, making room for RB Kyren Williams to re-join the roster. Henderson was abysmal as a runner over the past four games, averaging just 2.4 yards per carry. He was easily out-played by RB Royce Freeman, who will be the No. 2 going forward. The move to dump Henderson is a good sign that the Rams feel good about Williams' ankle. He should return as Los Angeles' clear lead runner and handle most passing downs.
The Dolphins placed RB Salvon Ahmed on IR with a foot injury suffered in the Week 11 win over the Raiders. Ahmed is out for at least the next four games, making Week 16 his earliest possible return. He can be dropped from all redraft rosters. With RB De'Von Achane (knee) likely out for at least Friday's game vs. the Jets, Jeff Wilson will be elevated to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. He'd be a desperation Week 12 fantasy play but is certainly worth stashing on fantasy benches. Wilson is now a Raheem Mostert injury away from a big role.
The Saints placed WR Michael Thomas on IR with his knee injury. He's out for at least the next four games, which makes Week 16 his earliest possible return date. Thomas would be tough to trust in fantasy lineups at that point. He can be dropped from redraft rosters. His absence should leave WRs Rashid Shaheed and rookie A.T. Perry in full-time roles. See where those guys sit in the Week 12 WR rankings.
Ravens TE Mark Andrews will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair his injured ankle, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports. "Andrews is likely out for the year, though as John Harbaugh said, there’s a chance he could return if Baltimore makes a deep playoff run," Garafolo adds. Andrews can be dropped from all redraft rosters.
The Colts have waived LB Shaquille Leonard. The veteran LB's playing time has been down vs. previous seasons, but he played at least 69% of the snaps in seven of his nine appearances -- including Indy's last game. Leonard played poorly in that contest, though. And for the season, Pro Football Focus has him at the highest missed-tackle rate of his career. Leonard still figures to catch on elsewhere -- likely after he clears waivers so that the new team doesn't have to pay the rest of his sizable contract. We'll see whether the 28-year-old can land somewhere with a path to full playing time. His departure should elevate E.J. Speed to No. 2 LB behind MLB Zaire Franklin.
Packers RB Aaron Jones is considered "week-to-week" with an MCL sprain, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Schefters adds that Jones is "unlikely" to play vs. the Lions on Thanksgiving. We'd consider him no better than 50/50 to be ready for Week 13. RB A.J. Dillon will take over as Green Bay's lead ball-carrier in Jones' absence. But Dillon lost passing-down work to RB Patrick Taylor when Jones was sidelined earlier this season.
Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks is in the concussion protocol. He's also dealing with a knee injury and was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report. The concussion makes Wicks a long shot to be cleared for Thursday's game vs. the Lions. The rookie has played about one-third of Green Bay's offensive snaps over the past four weeks, totaling 17 targets (11.6% share). His absence is a slight boost for WRs Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed.
The Steelers have fired OC Matt Canada, who has been running the unit since 2021. In that time, Pittsburgh has ranked 21st, 26th, and 28th (so far this year) in scoring. Each season has found the offense ranking 28th in yards per play. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the team plans to promote RBs coach Eddie Faulkner to OC but hand play-calling duties to QBs coach Mike Sullivan. Faulkner has coached Steelers RBs since 2019 (and previously served in the same role for the team in 2012). His only OC experience to date has been with Ball State in 2009-10. Sullivan has been coaching at the college level or higher for 30 years. He has been in the NFL since 2002, including stints as Buccaneers OC (2012-13) and Giants OC (2016-17). Those offenses finished -- in order -- 13th, 30th, 26th, and 31st in scoring; eighth, 32nd, 24th, and 25th in yards per play. Sullivan didn't get great QB play across those offenses. He started with fourth-season Josh Freeman in Tampa, and then got primarily Mike Glennon the following year. His two seasons at the Giants' offensive helm came in Eli Manning's age-35 and age-36 campaigns. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo says Sullivan has a "strong relationship" with Steelers QB Kenny Pickett, but the new guy probably isn't an upgrade on those previous situations. The switch should be positive for usable skill-position Steelers, though. Canada never won as a play caller and often sported questionable run-pass splits given the output. This year's Steelers also should find upside in a softening schedule. According to FTN's Aaron Schatz, Pittsburgh faced the league's toughest schedule so far this year by total defensive DVOA. Over a full season, the 2023 schedule to date would rank third-toughest of any team since 1981. You can see the negative fantasy impacts of those opponents on our Strength of Schedule pages. The remaining schedule ranks fifth-best for RB scoring and ninth-best for WRs. (Just 17th for TEs, though.) We'll see whether the run-pass splits change. That question plus Pickett's limitations make the WRs tough to get excited about. RB Najee Harris looks interesting, though -- especially because his trade cost has been driven down by meager production and Jaylen Warren's recent numbers.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce caught 7 of 9 targets for 44 yards and a TD in Week 11 vs. the Eagles. The veteran did lose a fumble in the contest, which cost fantasy managers just a little bit, but his 15.4 points were enough for Kelce to finish as the TE2 in PPR scoring on the week. Even so, it’s troubling to consider how much he’s started to dip in production of late. Kelce is averaging just 5.3 catches, 38.7 receiving yards, and 10.5 PPR points per game over the past three games. This information shouldn’t dissuade you from continuing to trust him as a TE1 every week. We are talking about Travis Kelce after all. It’s just something to be mindful of in the coming weeks.
Week 11 saw the struggles of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes continue. The reigning NFL MVP completed 24 of 42 passes for 177 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT vs. the Eagles on Monday night. He was able to supplement some fantasy value with his legs (38 rushing yards), though the rainy conditions in Kansas City and the lack of support from his teammates really let him down. The Chiefs’ offense now leads the NFL in drops (23) and has failed to score a TD in the second half of a game for three games in a row. In that span, Mahomes is averaging just 200.7 passing yards per game with a 74.2 passer rating, well below his career average of 100.1. His path doesn’t get any easier down the stretch either. The Chiefs’ remaining schedule ranks as the fifth-toughest for QBs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Mahomes' prolific talent and track record of success will keep him ranked as a QB1 weekly, though there is reason for fantasy managers to be at least slightly concerned about him.
Eagles WR A.J. Brown hit a bump in Week 11, hauling in just 1 of 4 targets for 8 receiving yards vs. the Chiefs. For as disappointing as this performance is, crummy weather impacted pass-catchers on both teams. Yes, Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith (6 catches for 99 yards) had a fine outing, but he was the only player to amass greater than 60 receiving yards in this contest. So don’t let this showing stop you from going right back to Brown as a top-flight WR1 in Week 12 vs. the Bills. Remember: the superstar had posted no fewer than 18.7 PPR points in a game since Week 2 prior to Monday night.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts completed 14 of 22 passes for 150 yards with 1 INT in Week 11’s win vs. the Chiefs. Things for scary for fantasy managers on Monday night as Hurts had only completed 5 attempts for 46 yards with just 3 rushing yards to his name through the first two quarters of action. Fortunately, things turned around, and he scored 2 rushing TDs in the second half to salvage his day. Let this be a reminder that Hurts should still be thought of as a high-end QB1 on a weekly basis as long as he’s able to maintain value as a runner. Next week, the Eagles will square off at home vs. the Bills.
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