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.
Falcons HC Arthur Smith said Monday that he'll wait until after the Week 11 bye to name a starting QB going forward. QB Taylor Heinicke struggled in the loss to the Cardinals before exiting early in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. QB Desmond Ridder went four of six for 39 yards and scored a nine-yard rushing TD over the final 14 minutes. Smith praised Ridder's play in his Monday press conference, so our guess is that he'll be back under center come Week 12. But we'll let you know what Smith makes an announcement next week.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Saints QB Derek Carr sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder in Sunday's loss to the Vikings. He calls it a similar injury to Carr's previous shoulder issue and "might actually be" and aggravation of that previous injury. It's still not expected to be serious. And the Week 11 bye seems likely to put Carr on track to miss no further time. Frankly, we can't help but wonder if it would help WR Chris Olave's fantasy outlook if Carr did miss some time. We'll check back in on the New Orleans QB situation after the bye.
The Dolphins are opening the 21-day practice window for rookie RB De'Von Achane to return from IR. Achane missed the past four games with a knee sprain, but Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald says it "sounds like there's an excellent chance" the rookie plays this week. HC Mike McDaniel reportedly even indicated that Achane could have played through the issue with a brace on the affected knee. But the team decided that didn't fit the player's long-term interests. Achane, of course, has scored fantasy points at a ridiculous rate when on the field so far this year, leading all RBs in PPR points per game on just 11.75 touches per contest. He's likely bound for some regression on that, but should also remain a weekly fantasy starter. His combo of game-breaking speed and an offense designed to exploit that skill makes Achane a high-upside play across matchups. His return challenges RB Raheem Mostert's role a bit but hasn't altered Mostert's touch count to date. Mostert has averaged 13.4 touches across five full games without Achane; 14.0 per game in the three contests in which Achane played a significant role. (The rookie touched the ball only twice in his first game.) RBs Jeff Wilson Jr. and Salvon Ahmed, on the other hand, can be dropped in most redraft formats.
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