Broncos rookie RB Jaleel McLaughlin grabbed attention with some high-efficiency performances earlier this season and briefly moved ahead of Samaje Perine in playing time and usage. McLaughlin has continued to garner a lot more carries than Perine, leading the veteran 22-4 in the four games since Javonte Williams returned from injury. But Perine has played more snaps than McLaughlin each of the past three games, including Monday night in the win over Buffalo. Perine's primary role obviously lies in passing situations, where he's splitting time with Williams. That hasn't meant more than 3 targets in a game since Williams returned. But it will limit McLaughlin's opportunities. McLaughlin has remained the touch leader between them over the past three games, but neither looks usable vs. Williams' current role -- unless you're desperate for an RB.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams racked up 25 touches in Monday night's win at Buffalo. That included his second straight game of 21+ carries and third straight game with at least 3 receptions. Williams has seen his three largest touch counts of the season -- 18, 30, 25 -- over the past three games. The receiving work has stayed in line with earlier performances, while the carries have climbed significantly. Winning three straight games has certainly helped. Denver spent a surprising amount of time leading both the Chiefs and Bills the past two games. The defense seems to have improved quite a bit, delivering its four best weekly DVOA ratings over the past four games. That included the best performance of any defense -- by a wide margin -- in Week 8 against K.C. If that continues, it'll help Williams' chances of continued higher rushing volume. The Broncos get negative RB-scoring matchups with the Vikings and Browns the next two weeks, but expect competitive games to help Williams' touch counts. He'll likely land comfortably inside RB2 range in our rankings for those two contests, with greater matchup upside over the final five fantasy weeks.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones was arrested Monday on misdemeanor domestic battery charges. Jones has been released from jail and is scheduled for arraignment on Dec. 6. We're likely a long way from finding out whether this incident will produce any suspension for the WR, but misdemeanors haven't generally tended to do so with NFL players. This case isn't likely to impact Jones' availability the rest of this season. He's still dealing with a knee injury, though, that's kept him out since Week 5.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that LB Leighton Vander Esch will miss the rest of the season with the neck injury that landed him on IR. Jones declined to say whether it might end the LB's career. Vander Esch has dealt with neck issues since college and sustained multiple injuries during his Dallas run. We'd bet that he's seriously considering whether to shut it down, at 27 and after six years in the league. We'll watch for further updates on that. For this year's Cowboys, the news means Damone Clark should lead the LB playing time the rest of the way. S/LB Markquese Bell has been running as the second LB since LVE went down. Bell's playing time appeared to decline sharply in Sunday's win over the Giants, though. We'll have to see this week how much of that came from the odd game script of the completely one-sided victory. For now, Bell is best left out of most IDP lineups. Clark looks like a weekly LB3 with upside into LB2 territory.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton secured 8 of 11 targets for 53 receiving yards and a TD in Week 10 vs. the Bills. The veteran has quietly put together a very solid fantasy season to date. Through nine games, Sutton has posted 7 TDs (including a score in four straight games) and ranks as the WR29 in PPR points per game (13.4) in 2023. It’s difficult for fantasy managers to count on TDs on w weekly basis, but it’s worth mentioning that Sutton ranks tied for fourth among WRs with 13 red zone targets this season. It’s reasonable to anticipate he’ll return WR2 or flex-level value again in Week 11 vs. a Vikings defense that ranks as the eighth-easiest WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Bills TE Dalton Kincaid shined as the lone bright spot for Buffalo’s passing game in Week 10, hauling in 5 of 6 targets for 51 receiving yards and a TD vs. the Broncos. The rookie is now averaging 7 catches, 68 receiving yards, and 16.3 PPR points per game over the past four games. At this point, fantasy managers can consider Kincaid a weekly TE1 option regardless of matchup. To make matters better, the Bills’ remaining schedule ranks as the sixth-easiest for TEs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Monday night was an eventful evening for Bills RB James Cook. The second-year back tallied 12 carries for 109 rushing yards in Week 10 vs. the Broncos, the second-highest yardage total he’s recorded in 2023. He unfortunately also fumbled twice in the contest, including a lost ball on the Bills’ first play of the game. He was benched for several series thereafter before returning to the field in the second quarter. Teammate Latavius Murray saw an uptick in involvement as a result (9-68-1). It’s also worth mentioning that Leonard Fournette wasn’t brought up onto the active roster for the second week in a row. This backfield is a bit messy and will only have more complications given that the Bills’ remaining schedule ranks fourth-toughest for RBs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed. Next up on the calendar is an AFC East showdown with the Jets (19th in run defense DVOA).
Bills QB Josh Allen fell flat in Week 10, completing 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs vs. the Broncos. He managed to punch in a rushing TD in the contest, though he also fumbled on Monday. It's important to remember this performance followed three straight top-5 fantasy weeks for Allen. He’s still worth starting every week, but it’ll be interesting to see how he responds in Week 11 vs. the Jets. Last Allen played the Jets in Week 1, the New York defense picked him off thrice. The Jets rank as the second-toughest QB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh said Monday that he wishes RB Keaton Mitchell had gotten more touches in the Week 10 loss to the Browns -- and that it's something he'll look to correct in Thursday night's game vs. the Bengals. “Looking back on it, would we have wanted him out there more? Yeah. And think that'll factor into this game plan," Harbaugh said. Mitchell finished the Browns game with just three carries and two targets. One of the carries went for a 39-yard TD, and his only catch went for 32 yards. We'll see exactly how much Mitchell's role expands going forward. He remains an exciting stash but would be tough to trust in Week 11 fantasy lineups.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Bengals Edge Trey Hendrickson (hyperextended knee) and Edge Sam Hubbard (sprained ankle) are "unlikely" to play Thursday night against the Ravens. Hendrickson suffered his injury at the end of Sunday's loss to the Texans. Hubbard missed that game after sitting out practice all last week. Cincinnati marked both players as not practicing on Monday's report. Cameron Sample started in Hubbard's place against Houston, with Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai the next two edge guys up. None makes for a good IDP play in most fantasy formats. Lamar Jackson took no sacks and just 1 QB hit in his first meeting with Cincinnati this year, with Hendrickson and Hubbard in the lineup.
Edge Jason Pierre-Paul will sign with the Saints, according to CBS' Josina Anderson. Pierre-Paul is an interesting addition for the New Orleans defense, but it's hard to imagine much fantasy impact. He tallied just 3 sacks -- plus 5 passes defensed -- over 14 games with the Ravens last season. JPP's now 34.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports "more information is needed" to determine whether Browns QB Deshaun Watson will be ready to play Sunday against the Steelers after hurting his left ankle in the Week 10 win over the Ravens. Watson missed only the final play of the first half and then returned to play (well) throughout the second-half comeback. We'll watch his status throughout the week. P.J. Walker would start if Watson can't go.
Vikings LB Jordan Hicks required a hospital "procedure" after developing compartment syndrome Sunday. The situation stemmed from a right shin contusion during the win over the Saints. It's not yet clear how long the Vikings expect Hicks to be out, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that they're signing LB Anthony Barr. That suggests we should at least expect Hicks to miss multiple games. Minnesota has two more before its bye. We'll watch for whether the team places Hicks on IR. Rookie Ivan Pace Jr. has been running as the second non-edge LB throughout the season. A big early-season role dwindled, though, to the point where he played less than 31% of the snaps in four straight games before Sunday. Pace shot up to a season-high 84% with Hicks leaving early against New Orleans. He appears to be the logical next guy up, with Troy Dye, Brian Asamoah (if his injured ankle heals), and Nick Vigil also in the mix. We'll watch for more on the situation ahead of next Sunday's visit to Denver.
Bills LB Terrel Bernard managed to clear the concussion protocol and is active for tonight's game against the Broncos. It's a surprisingly quick turnaround after Bernard suffered his injury in last Sunday night's loss at Cincinnati. But that should keep him as Buffalo's lead LB for the game and render Tyrel Dodson a part-timer.
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell wouldn't say Monday whether WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) will be back for Sunday night's game vs. the Broncos. Jefferson will continue to "ramp up" in practice, O'Connell said, after being limited last week. “Nobody wants to be out there more than Justin, maybe with the exception of me wanting him out there," O'Connell said. "But we’ll continue to be smart with Justin and know that when we do get him back, it’ll be a major boost." We'll keep you updated on Jefferson's status throughout the week.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) is "unlikely" to play vs. the Ravens on Thursday night, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. HC Zac Taylor didn't rule Higgins out at his Monday press conference but admitted that it'd be "tough" for him to be ready on the short week. Higgins owners should plan to be without him again in Week 11. His absence will keep WR Tyler Boyd in play as a fantasy starter after his big 8-117-0 line in yesterday's loss to the Texans.
Rams HC Sean McVay said Monday that the team is expecting QB Matt Stafford (thumb) to start this weekend's game vs. the Seahawks. Stafford was able to grip and throw the football in Monday's post-bye-week practice. We'll keep an eye on his progress throughout the week. Stafford would be a shaky QB1 play in Week 11 fantasy lineups, but his return is great news for the Rams' skill-position players.
Saints HC Dennis Allen called WR Michael Thomas' knee injury "fairly significant." He added that the injury isn't believed to be season-ending but that Thomas is getting a second opinion. The Saints have a Week 11 bye, but it sounds like we should expect Thomas to miss multiple games beyond that. He's droppable in most redraft fantasy leagues. Rookie WR A.T. Perry replaced Thomas in the Week 11 loss to the Vikings, catching two of four targets for 38 yards and a score. He's worth a look on the waiver wire in deep leagues. WRs Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed should also pick up more work with Thomas out.
Saints HC Dennis Allen said Monday that QB Derek Carr's shoulder "checked out fine." He's in the concussion protocol, but it sounds like he'll be available coming off the Week 11 bye. Allen also said that he's not currently considering a move to QB Jameis Winston. We'll see if that changes during a week of film watching. But, for now, we should assume that it'll be Carr under center vs. the Falcons in Week 12.
The Bucs found "no issues" with the right thumb QB Baker Mayfield banged on a helmet in Sunday's win over the Titans, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. "He will not miss any practice time, and he is set to be ready for Sunday’s game vs. the 49ers," Schefter adds. We'll keep an eye on Mayfield throughout the week, but it doesn't sound like the thumb will be a problem going forward.
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