Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) has been designated to return from IR and is on track to play vs. the Browns this weekend, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Freiermuth originally hurt his hamstring in Week 4, missed Week 5, and then re-injured the hamstring in practice ahead of Week 7. He totaled just five catches on nine targets in three games to open the season. Freiermuth is certainly worth rostering in fantasy leagues of 12+ teams, but he's not a recommended Week 11 starter against Cleveland's top-ranked TE defense.
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase does not appear on the Week 11 injury report. Playing through a back injury last week, Chase registered a season-low 84% snap rate and a season-low six targets. He avoided a setback, though, and should be closer to 100% for Thursday night's showdown with the Ravens. Chase remains a must-start for that one.
The Jets released RB Michael Carter. The 2021 fourth-round pick totaled just eight carries and 20 targets in nine games this season, including three carries and nine targets over the last four. Carter's departure is just a slight boost for RB Breece Hall's passing-game usage. RB Dalvin Cook remains fantasy-irrelevant. We'll see where Carter lands, but he's obviously a long shot for 2023 fantasy value and is not a must-hold in dynasty. He'll turn 25 in May.
Browns RB Nick Chubb underwent surgery on Tuesday, November 14 to repair his left ACL. His first surgery in late September addressed his MCL, meniscus, and medial capsule. Chubb's surgery was considered successful, and he's progressed "very well" following the initial surgery, the team said in a statement. "As previously announced, the estimated recovery time from these surgeries indicates that Nick would be able to return to play during the 2024 season." Exactly when Chubb is cleared to return remains unclear. We'll continue to track his rehab.
The NFL has suspended Texans LB Denzel Perryman for three games over repeated violations of the player-safety rules, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Perryman incurred his seventh foul of the season Sunday for using his helmet in delivering a hit. This is particularly noteworthy timing because Perryman had also just reclaimed the playing-time lead among Houston LBs in that game, at 86%. Christian Harris followed at 64%, with Blake Cashman (55%) third. Harris would seem to be the best bet to lead playing time over the next few games. But it's worth remembering that he already got demoted to a reserve role after starting the season's first four games. We'll cautiously lean Harris, then Cashman for Week 11. But the best bet among Houston's LB corps is to not invest too heavily in anyone. Rookie Henry To'oTo'o might re-enter the mix as well, but he's dealing with an injury and recently got demoted after his own starting turn. We'll also see whether the Perryman suspension holds up through a likely appeal.
The Bills have fired OC Ken Dorsey, in the wake of Monday night's loss to the Broncos. Buffalo has proved a bit inconsistent on offense this year but still ranks third in offensive DVOA and third in yards per play. The No. 7 ranking in scoring marks a bit of a drop vs. finishes of second, fifth, and second the past three years. Buffalo now turns to Joe Brady, who has served as QBs coach since last season after a little less than two years as Panthers OC. Brady's Carolina offenses obviously didn't do anything special but were also working with much less at QB and the other skill positions. We'll see about the impact Brady has, but it's tough to either upgrade or downgrade any Bills offensive pieces in fantasy for this move.
Broncos HC Sean Payton made good on his promise to get rookie WR Marvin Mims more playing time coming out of the Week 9 bye. Mims ran 28 routes among 37 Russell Wilson dropbacks in Monday night's win over the Bills. That 75.7% rate checked in just 2 routes behind WR Jerry Jeudy for second on the team and more than doubled Mims' previous high for the season. He didn't garner a single target, which will be kinda important going forward if he's going to actually catch passes. But the big boost in playing time shouldn't be ignored. Denver gets a favorable passing matchup with the Vikings in Week 11 and potential shootout spots vs. the Chargers (twice) and Lions among the final four weeks for most fantasy football leagues. Mims makes sense as a stash in deeper leagues, though you probably still can't start him yet.
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.
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