Panthers WR Adam Thielen caught 6 of 10 targets for 42 receiving yards in Week 10 vs. the Bears. The veteran’s performance on Thursday was a touch disappointing, though he posted 100% route participation and held 100% snap share in the contest. His efforts certainly weren’t for a lack of opportunity. But fantasy managers should be wary of Thielen’s opponent next week as well. The Panthers will be taking on a Cowboys defense that ranks as the fifth-toughest WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed and sixth in pass defense DVOA this season.
Week 10’s showdown vs. the Bears showed fantasy managers that Panthers RB Miles Sanders is probably safe to drop onto the waiver wire in shallow leagues. The veteran accumulated 10 total yards on 4 touches. Sanders played on just 38.3% of the Panthers’ offense snaps, actually lost yardage as a runner (2 carries, -5 yards), and generally just hasn’t been helpful since Week 3. Fellow RB Chuba Hubbard didn’t perform much better in the contest (11 touches, 39 total yards), though he continues to win the touch battle in this backfield. Hubbard will be the preferred runner in Carolina again in Week 11. However, he’ll have a tough time posting more than flex-level numbers against a Cowboys’ defense that ranks as the seventh-toughest RB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Panthers QB Bryce Young completed 21 of 38 passes for 185 yards with no TDs or INTs in Week 10’s loss vs. the Bears. In some respects, the rookie was better on Thursday night than he did in Week 9. At least he didn’t throw 3 INTs, including 2 pick-sixes. Still, Young has failed to throw for over 250 passing yards in a game this season and should be nowhere near fantasy lineups in Week 11 vs. the Cowboys’ defense that ranks fourth in total defense DVOA.
Bears WR D.J. Moore hauled in 5 of 9 targets for 58 receiving yards in Week 10 vs. the Panthers. Thursday’s output marks the fourth time in five weeks that he’s reached at least 50 yards receiving in a contest. Sure, it’s not as good as the 106.2 receiving yards per game Moore averaged through Week 5 with QB Justin Fields (right thumb) in the lineup, but fantasy managers can feel happy that they at least got flex-level production out of him over the past month. Fields’ return from injury in Week 11 vs. the Lions isn’t yet certain, but it would certainly be a huge boost for Moore’s outlook next week. It won’t be a cakewalk matchup, however. The Lions rank ninth in pass defense DVOA in 2023.
Bears RB D’Onta Foreman saw 21 carries for 80 rushing yards and a TD in Week 10 vs. the Panthers. He also contributed 2 catches for 12 yards as a receiver on Thursday night. This contest was the third time in four games that Foreman has rushed for 80 or more yards. He’s played well as the Bears RB1 with Khalil Herbert (ankle) out of the lineup since Week 5. But as good as Foreman has been, it’s worth remembering that Herbert practiced fully in the three days leading up to Thursday without being officially activated off IR. It’s reasonable to expect Herbert will return for Week 11 vs. the Lions and relegate Foreman back to spelling duty. Neither will be particularly appealing fantasy options against a Lions defense that ranks as the sixth-toughest RB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Bears QB Tyson Bagent completed 20 of 33 passes for 162 yards with 0 TDs or INTs in Week 10’s win vs. the Panthers. The UDFA rookie added very little as a runner on Thursday, totaling just 12 rushing yards on 6 carries in the contest. It’s likely that this will be the last game Bagent starts this season. QB Justin Fields (right thumb) started logging limited practice on November 3 and will have plenty of time to prepare for the Bears’ Week 11 showdown vs. the Lions. Be sure to keep an eye on the practice reports next week to track Fields’ progress. Still, it’s a solid spot for fantasy production, regardless of who starts. The Lions’ defense ranks as the eighth-best QB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase said Thursday that his injured back is feeling "way better" than it did on Monday. "I’ve got a lot more movement," he added. "I just have to be there for my teammates right now, and if I can go, I’m gonna go. In my head, I’m playing. So until further notice, we’ll see.” It's not quite a guarantee that Chase will play vs. the Texans on Sunday, but he seems like a good bet to be out there. We'll get another update on Chase's status tomorrow.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker (chest) returned to a full practice on Thursday. It doesn't look like the chest issue will be a factor in Sunday's game vs. Washington. We'll check back on Walker's status when Seattle releases its final injury report on Friday afternoon.
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (hip) returned to a full practice on Thursday. He'll be ready to rock for this weekend's game vs. the Commanders' league-worst WR defense.
Falcons WR Drake London (groin) was upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice. He'll be ready to go for this weekend's game vs. the Cardinals' 21st-ranked WR defense.
Vikings WR K.J. Osborn (concussion) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. That at least gives him a shot to be cleared for this weekend's game vs. the Saints, but we'd still consider it unlikely. Check back tomorrow for another update on Osborn's progress.
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (back) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. We continue to expect him to play vs. the Texans this weekend. Chase could see even more targets than usual with WR Tee Higgins expected to miss that game with his hamstring injury.
Texans WR Nico Collins (calf) missed his second straight practice on Thursday. He's seemingly in real danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Bengals. Check back tomorrow to see how Collins is listed on the final injury report.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce (ankle) remained sidelined on Thursday. It's looking like he'll miss this weekend's game vs. the Bengals. RB Devin Singletary played 75% of Houston's offensive snaps with Pierce out last week but totaled just 28 yards on 15 touches. He'll be a passable but low-upside Week 10 fantasy play if Pierce is out again.
Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell was added to Thursday's injury report and limited in practice with a hamstring. That usually means the player was injured in practice. We'll see if Mitchell is able to get on the field tomorrow and how he's listed on the final injury report for Sunday's game vs. the Browns.
Patriots WR DeVante Parker (concussion) will not travel with the team to Germany and is out for Sunday morning's game vs. the Colts. That again leaves WR Demario Douglas as the favorite to lead New England in targets this weekend. Jalen Reagor, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton will round out the WR corps.
Panthers safeties Vonn Bell (quad) and Xavier Woods (thigh) are both active for tonight's game against the Bears. They haven't been in the lineup together since Week 3. Neither is a strong IDP contender for Week 10 lineups. We'll see whether they make a difference for the Carolina D on whole.
Panthers WR D.J. Chark (elbow) is inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Bears. That leaves Terrace Marshall as the No. 3 WR behind Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo. Marshall is certainly in play in one-game DFS contests but would be a desperation season-long fantasy start.
Bears QB Justin Fields (thumb) is inactive for tonight’s game vs. the Panthers. He remained limited in practice all week. We’ll see if he can make it back for the Week 11 meeting with the Lions. QB Tyson Bagent makes his fourth straight start tonight. He’s finished QB20, QB23, and QB7 the past three weeks.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins is not expected to play vs. the Texans this weekend after hurting his hamstring in Wednesday's practice, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "He'll be evaluated on a week-to-week basis going forward," Rapoport adds. It's certainly possible that this turns into a multi-game absence, but Higgins is worth hanging on to on fantasy rosters for now. We'll see if WR Ja'Marr Chase (back) is able to play vs. Houston on Sunday. If not, Cincinnati would be down to WRs Tyler Boyd, Trenton Irwin, and Andrei Iosivas.
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