ESPN's Adam Schefter tweets that "signs continue to point to" Patriots QB Mac Jones starting today's game vs. the Giants. The team had not yet been informed of the starting QB on Friday, per Schefter, which seems less than ideal. You should be avoiding this situation in Week 12 fantasy lineups.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler hears that Bucs RB Rachaad White (knee) is expected to play vs. the Colts on Sunday. White was added to the injury report on Saturday and is listed as questionable. We'll look for further updates on his status and how big an issue that knee might be in Indianapolis.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game vs. the Bears after a limited week of practice. It's the same boat he's been in the past two weeks before ending up inactive. We'll look for further updates on Jefferson's status, but we're still expecting him to miss Monday night's game and return after Minnesota's Week 13 bye.
Bears RB D'Onta Foreman (ankle, shin) is listed as doubtful for Monday night's game vs. the Vikings. He got in two limited practices this week, which should put him on track for a Week 13 return. Foreman's absence on Monday should leave RB Khalil Herbert as Chicago's clear lead early-down back, with RB Roschon Johnson playing on passing downs.
Jets QB Tim Boyle will start next weekend's game vs. the Falcons, HC Robert Saleh said Saturday. Why? We're not sure. Boyle was predictably bad in Friday's loss to the Dolphins, throwing for 179 yards, one TD, and two INTs. He was sacked seven times. Boyle at least connected with WR Garrett Wilson on seven of 10 attempts for 44 yards and a score. Volume will keep Wilson in the WR2/3 mix for Week 13.
Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney (ankle, hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. With WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) on IR, the Chiefs are down to five WRs: Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, and Richie James. Rice remains the top fantasy option here but still ran a route on just 52% of pass plays coming off the bye last week. Watson led the way with a 66% route rate and 11 targets in that loss to the Eagles but would still be tough to trust in Week 12 fantasy lineups.
The Chiefs placed WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) on IR, knocking him out for at least the next four games. He can be dropped from all redraft rosters. Hardman has totaled 10 targets in four games since re-joining the Chiefs, so his absence leaves just a little extra work behind for TE Travis Kelce and Kansas City's mess of other WRs.
The Buccaneers on Saturday added RB Rachaad White to the injury report as questionable with a knee issue. White didn’t turn up on any of the week’s practice reports, so this issue must have arisen at some point since Friday’s practice. We’ll obviously need to watch White’s status up until game time against the Colts. If he can’t go, Chase Edmonds looks like the next guy up. He was the only other Bucs RB to play any offensive snaps last week. Edmonds played just 21%, though, and White has dominated backfield touches all season. We’d bet on more of a committee in his absence than Edmonds taking over that role. Edmonds can work as an insurance option, though, if you don’t have a better replacement available
Raiders Robert Spillane (ankle) and S Marcus Epps (neck) are questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. Both guys spent the entire practice week limited. Spillane didn't miss a snap last week, so we'd bet on him being ready to play. Epps left that game after 16 snaps so carries a bit more risk. He's also a much lower-level IDP option. We'll check both players ahead of Sunday's game.
Raiders Edge Maxx Crosby (knee) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Chiefs ... but the team is still hoping he can get ready. Crosby has missed practice all week, but HC Antonio Pierce told the team website Friday that his star pass rusher is "getting treatment around the clock." Pierce added, "If he can be there Sunday, he'll be there." The doubtful tag, of course, means that you shouldn't expect to have Crosby available for your IDP lineup. No other true edge player has been getting even 50% snap share for the Raiders. No one on the team besides Crosby has more than 2.5 sacks. So you shouldn't be looking for any Raiders D-lineman to fill in for Crosby in your IDP lineup. We'll confirm his status ahead of Sunday's game.
Browns LB Anthony Walker (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Broncos. He missed the first two days of practices before returning for a limited Friday. Walker looks like a weak bet for IDP lineups this week even if active. This injury knocked him out of last week's game after just 8 snaps. And even when healthy, Walker has exceeded 3 solo tackles only once this season. The team has ruled CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) out for the game. S Juan Thornhill (calf) is questionable. We'll check on Walker and Thornhill when inactives come out, but you shouldn't be planning to use either player.
Niners WR Deebo Samuel racked up a team-high 9 targets that converted into a 7-79 receiving line Thursday night against the Seahawks. Samuel’s lack of involvement since returning from his multi-week shoulder injury had been a concern (8 combined targets across weeks 10 and 11). Samuel now has four healthy games of 7+ targets, but also four in which he drew 4 targets or fewer. We'd certainly bet on him going higher than 4 targets per game the rest of the way. But Samuel will face weekly volume challenges. The 49ers rank last in the league at 28.1 pass attempts per game and continue to sport WR Brandon Aiyuk, TE George Kittle, and RB Christian McCaffrey. Samuel's remaining schedule ranks second-easiest for WRs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed, which obviously helps. Next week’s matchup vs. the Eagles looks particularly good. The Philly defense ranks fifth in passing yards allowed per game (248.1), and opposing QBs have posted the eighth-best passer rating (96.4) against them this season. The Eagles also play the run much tougher than the pass, which has motivated opponents to pass at the league's second-highest rate over expected. Samuel should sit comfortably inside our top 24 WRs across formats for that matchup. And he's likely to hover in that WR2 range the rest of the way.
Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet logged 14 carries for just 47 rushing yards and 4 catches for 11 yards against the 49ers on Thursday night. A struggling Seattle offense didn’t help. QB Geno Smith was clearly limited by his right triceps injury. The Seahawks held the ball for just 7:29 of the first half and trailed by 11+ points throughout the second half. Charbonnet’s usage was strong, at least: 87.5% snap rate and 85.7% of RB touches. Unfortunately for him, Ken Walker III (oblique) is expected back soon and the remaining schedule ranks toughest for RBs per our adjusted fantasy points allowed. That includes facing the Cowboys in Week 13 and a rematch against San Francisco the weekend after. Keep your expectations for this backfield in check the rest of the way.
Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (thumb) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. He's totaled 10 targets in four games since re-joining the Chiefs, so there's minimal fantasy impact here.
Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon (groin) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. McKinnon has played on most obvious passing downs throughout the season, averaging 2.6 targets per game. We'll see whether RB Isiah Pacheco or RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire picks up that work with McKinnon out this weekend. His absence certainly doesn't hurt Pacheco's fantasy outlook.
Patriots LB Ja'Whaun Bentley is questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants. He remained limited in practice all week coming out of the bye, with the injury that cost him their Week 11 game against the Colts. Of course, it's the Patriots. So there's no way for us to know whether Bentley will be inactive for this game or be the new starter at QB. (Bill Belicheck said he told "everybody" to be ready.) We'll check in on the LB's status Sunday morning.
Panthers LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans. He opened the practice week limited, then went full Thursday before being limited again Friday. We'd bet on Luvu playing but will check his status ahead of Sunday's game.
The Giants list DT Dexter Lawrence as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Patriots. He missed practice all week with a hamstring injury. He'll get the Week 13 bye to heal up. We'll see about his status for Week 14 against Green Bay.
Bengals Edge Sam Hubbard got in his first full practice Friday since spraining the ankle that cost him the past two games. Cincinnati left Hubbard off the final injury report, meaning he's ready for Sunday's game against the Steelers. We'd go ahead and play Hubbard in IDP lineups as though he's full strlength. It's an upside matchup.
Bengals LB Germaine Pratt is questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers because of an illness that kept him out of Friday's practice. Players usually play through practice-week illnesses, but we'll watch for Pratt's status on Sunday. His absence would likely boost the role for No. 3 LB Akeem Davis-Gaither.
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