Chargers RB Austin Ekeler carried just 10 times in Sunday's loss to the Chargers, but he tallied 64 yards (6.4 per rush). He added just 2 receptions for 6 yards on 3 targets. That marked strangely low receiving for L.A.'s lead back. But his playing time didn't reflect any change. Ekeler ran 20 more pass routes than No. 2 RB Joshua Kelley and topped 70% playing time for the first time this season. There's nothing worrisome to take from Ekeler's Week 11 production in projecting him forward.
Chargers WR Quentin Johnston drew 6 targets in Sunday's loss to the Packers, tying for second on the team. But he caught just two passes for 21 yards against a Green Bay defense missing multiple secondary starters. The rookie could have turned the whole thing around late but dropped what would have been a 70-yard catch-and-run TD, after he had gotten behind ceoverage. Johnston still has just one game all year in which he has reached 50 yards and no game with more. Sunday's performance came with WR Jalen Guyton and TE Gerald Everett out. He's not worth starting in most fantasy formats, regardless of matchup. We're not giving up on Johnston in dynasty yet, but he's enduring a worrisome debut on that front as well.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (concussion) is active for tonight’s game vs. the Broncos. He shouldn't have any physical limitations after clearing the protocol. Remember, though, that RB Ty Chandler matched Mattison with eight carries before Mattison left last week's game with his concussion. Mattison out-targeted Chandler two to 0 and is the preferred fantasy play against Denver's 32nd-ranked RB defense. But we're expecting to see plenty of Chandler tonight, too.
Jets QB Zach Wilson was benched in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Bills for QB Tim Boyle. Wilson went 7 of 15 for 81 yards, one TD, and one INT, leading the Jets to just 106 yards of total offense. We'll see how Boyle fares the rest of the way -- and what the Jets do at QB going forward. It won't be pretty no matter what they decide.
Packers RB AJ Dillon got pressed into the lead-back role in Sunday's win over the Chargers. And he disappointed once again. Dillon managed just 29 yards on 14 carries (2.1 per rush). That marked his sixth game of 10 with less than 4.0 yards per carry and fourth at less than 2.5. Dillon previously posted lackluster production across a four-game stretch in which Jones missed three games and played a limited role in the other. We'll see about how long Jones is expected to remain out this time. But don't expect big things from Dillon during that time.
Packers QB Jordan Love took advantage of Sunday's upside matchup with the Chargers to throw for a career-high 322 yards. He completed 27 of 40 attempts, finding WR Romeo Doubs and WR Christian Watson for TDs. This game followed Love's previous high of 289 yards in a Week 11 loss to the Steelers. He threw 2 TDs in that one as well, but also tossed 2 INTs while completing just 52.5% of his 40 attempts. So chalk Love's big Week 11 up primarily to the generous Chargers matchup. He'll find upside in a Week 12 clash with the Lions, who allowed the Bears to score 26 points Sunday. Love's not likely to reach the top 12 of our Week 12 rankings but just might get closer than he would have before Sunday's performance.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith injured his right elbow near the end of the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Rams and is officially questionable to return. The TV broadcast showed him on the sidelines with a huge wrap on the elbow, so he seems unlikely to be back today. QB Drew Lock has replaced Smith.
Update: Smith returned with a wrap on his elbow for the final drive of the game with Seattle down 17-16.
Packers WR Jayden Reed delivered a big fantasy line in an unconventional way Sunday against the Chargers. He scored from 32 yards out on a carry, one of three he logged before the middle of the second quarter. Reed totaled 46 rushing yards to lead the team in a game that saw RB Aaron Jones leave early with a knee injury. All three of Reed's rushes came before Jones left the game, which could bode well for that aspect staying in his game. He had just two rushes for the season entering Sunday's game. The rookie also tied for the team lead with 6 targets and notched 4 receptions for another 46 yards. This isn't the kind of stat line we can count on Reed repeating, but his usage was encouraging. Reed's 34 routes (among 44 dropbacks) finished basically tied with Christian Watson (36) and Romeo Doubs (33). Watson got 4 targets, tallying 2 receptions for 21 yards and a TD. Doubs posted a 5-53-1 line on 6 targets. It was an optimal matchup for the Green Bay passing offense, especially after losing its lead back. Don't expect as much Green Bay passing success the rest of the way. A Week 12 matchup at Detroit, however, could once again boost passing upside.
Lions QB Jared Goff threw for 236 yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs in Sunday’s comeback win over Chicago. Goff struggled for most of the afternoon before leading a pair of TD drives late in the fourth quarter. His scores went to Jameson Williams (32 yards) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (7 yards). Goff's rest-of-season schedule looks neutral, with only one truly favorable matchup (at Chicago, Week 14) remaining. On the plus side: Goff also has just one outdoor matchup left on the schedule.
Bears QB Justin Fields made his return from a thumb injury in Week 11 vs. Detroit. He instantly paid off for fantasy managers, posting 169-1 passing and 104 rushing yards on 18(!) attempts. (Those 18 attempts matched a career-high.) His lone score came on a beautiful deep ball to D.J. Moore, who led the team with 9 targets, 7 catches, and 96 yards. Week 12 turns up a neutral matchup vs. the Vikings, followed by a Week 13 bye. Fields will be a no-doubt QB1 down the stretch, especially for matchups with Detroit (Week 14), Arizona (Week 16) and Atlanta (Week 17).
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel confirmed after Sunday's win over the Raiders that RB De'Von Achane hurt the same knee that kept him out of the previous four games. McDaniel said the knee got landed on but that Achane was lobbying to re-enter the game. Miami played it safe and held Achane out the rest of the way. McDaniel also said that Achane got "positive feedback" from the trainers on his status. It sounds like he avoided a significant re-injury, although it's still possible that Achane misses more time. We should learn more tomorrow.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp suffered a right ankle injury in the second quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Seahawks and is officially questionable to return. Stay tuned for an update.
Update: Kupp was on the sidelines with his helmet to start the second half but did not play on Los Angeles' opening possession.
Update: Kupp was officially ruled out at the end of the third quarter.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur said after Sunday's win over the Chargers that RB Aaron Jones' knee injury is not believed to be a long-term deal. Jones will likely get additional testing done on the knee on Monday, and we should get another update on his status then. For now, consider him unlikely to play vs. the Lions on Thanksgiving.
Texans WR Tank Dell (8-149-1) had the big game in the Week 11 win over the Cardinals. WR Nico Collins was fine, catching seven balls for 65 scoreless yards. But he actually out-targeted Dell 11 to 10. Collins' 11 targets led the team and were a big 30% of QB C.J. Stroud's total. More big games are coming for Collins with a big role in a red-hot passing game. Consider making a trade offer for him this week. His remaining schedule includes two tough draws vs. the Jets and Browns but three positive matchups against the Jaguars and Titans twice.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs gained only 38 yards on 14 attempts in Sunday's loss at Miami. Note that Vegas played without key LT Kolton Miller. Strangely, Jacobs saw only 1 target in this one, despite 41 passes from Aidan O'Connell. In fact, over the past three weeks, Jacobs owns only 3 total targets. Week 12 turns up a negative matchup vs. Kansas City, followed by a Week 13 bye.
Texans QB C.J. Stroud tossed three INTs vs. the Cardinals on Sunday. The first and third were bad decisions and misthrown balls; the second probably should have been caught by WR Robert Woods. But Stroud still led the Texans to a win. And he still delivered lots of fantasy points, racking up 336 yards with TDs to TE Dalton Schultz and WR Tank Dell. Stroud completed a sterling 73% of his passes and averaged 9.1 yards per attempt. He's on a ridiculously productive run, averaging 387 yards and 2.7 TDs over his last three games. It's worth noting that all three of those games have come against defenses ranked in the bottom half of the league in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Stroud gets two more slightly positive matchups the next two weeks vs. the Jaguars and Broncos that will keep him safely inside QB1 territory. The rookie will face tough tests in Week 14 vs. the Jets and Week 16 vs. the Browns. It'd be wise to at least line up potential alternatives for those two weeks -- although Stroud is playing so well that he won't be a must-bench in those matchups.
Cardinals WR Marquise Brown caught just two balls for 18 yards in the Week 11 loss to the Texans. He got a couple of steps on a defender for a potential 75-yard TD in the second quarter but was badly underthrown by QB Kyler Murray. Brown got two other deep targets, but one was stopped by an illegal contact penalty and the other was thrown out of bounds. Brown is running cold on those deep looks right now. But it was concerning to see him draw just five targets for a 17% share in this one. That followed a four-target (13% share) Week 10. He's not getting enough volume from Murray to be considered more than a WR3 right now.
Despite seeing 8 targets, Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle underwhelmed in Sunday’s win over Vegas. The third-year WR managed 4 catches for 55 yards. His totals could have been higher, though, as Tua Tagovailoa overthrew him on a deep ball that was picked off. Waddle’s now been under 70 yards in six of his past seven outings. Aside from Week 13 at Washington and Week 14 vs. Tennessee, his rest-of-season schedule looks tough. As long as Tyreek Hill stays healthy, Waddle projects as a volatile WR2/3 down the stretch.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray tallied 214 yards and one score passing and 51 yards and another TD rushing in the Week 11 loss to the Texans. The passing performance left plenty to be desired. Murray averaged a decent 7.1 yards per attempt but had a handful of misfires, including underthrowing WR Marquise Brown on a potential long TD. But Murray was again active and productive as a runner. He's now totaled 13 carries, 84 yards, and two TDs over the last two weeks. That will keep him in the lower-end QB1 mix going forward, with upside beyond that if he settles in as a passer. Murray gets neutral matchups the next two weeks vs. the Rams and Steelers before a Week 14 bye.
Seahawks RB Ken Walker suffered an oblique injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Rams and is officially doubtful to return. He's remained on the sidelines without his helmet. Walker's absence leaves Zach Charbonnet as Seattle's lead back and DeeJay Dallas as the No. 2.
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