Ka'imi Fairbairn Expected to Start on Thursday
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) missed his team's last two games with a quad injury, but he was back at practice this week and has no injury designation for Thursday night's home game against the Bills. Fairbairn has been one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL over the last few seasons, making 22 of his 25 field goal attempts, including two from over 50 yards. He also converted all 12 extra point attempts. He'll retake his starting job from Matthew Wright and will be kicking at home indoors this week against the Bills, who have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to kickers this season. If someone dropped Fairbairn, he can be a nice pickup based on his reliability, and he is the K17 in RotoBaller's rankings this week in his return.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Chris Godwin Picks Up Limited Tag on Wednesday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (leg) was given a limited tag in Wednesday's practice. Godwin wasn't seen during the portion of practice open to the media, but he eventually got in some work as he continues to work his way back from a fibular injury that has kept him out since Week 5. The 29-year-old was also limited in three practices last week before he was ruled out for the Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Todd Bowles said earlier this week that Godwin was "ramping up" his activity level, but he's probably going to need to upgrade to a full practice on Thursday or Friday to have a realistic chance at returning to action on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams. With only two games played so far in 2025, Godwin will most likely be eased back into the offense when he's cleared, which might not be for another couple of weeks.
Source: Buccaneers.com
Source: Buccaneers.com
Cade Stover Is Back, But Remains Off the Fantasy Radar
Houston Texans tight end Cade Stover missed nine weeks with a foot injury, returning in Week 11 after originally being placed on IR after Week 1. He caught four of his four targets for 22 yards in the season opener, but he didn't have a target or catch against the Titans. He played 14 snaps (20%) and didn't report any setbacks, so he should be ready for more work in Week 12 against the Bills. He'll continue to back up Dalton Schultz and could eventually eat into his snaps and targets as the season goes on. For now, he's well off the fantasy radar, but it's worth monitoring his involvement, especially after his college teammate QB C.J. Stroud (concussion) is ready to return for the Texans.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Dalton Schultz Remains a Fringe Starter Despite Tough Matchup
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has been extremely consistent this season, getting plenty of volume for PPR leagues. He has at least five catches in seven of his last eight games and has 20 targets from backup QB Davis Mills over the last two weeks. Mills will make another start against the Bills on Thursday Night Football with C.J. Stroud (concussion) still sidelined. The Bills have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, so it's a tough spot for Schultz, despite his regular production. RotoBaller has Schlutz ranked as the No. 12 TE this week, making him a fringe starter in standard-sized leagues and a great TE2. He has more value in leagues where his number of receptions can help him compensate for low yardage totals.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Emeka Egbuka Misses Practice With Illness
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (illness) was one of six players who didn't practice on Wednesday due to an illness, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Quarterback Baker Mayfield also wasn't feeling well, but both players should be ready to go in time for a Sunday night affair against the hosting Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Receiver Chris Godwin (leg) is nearing a return from a fibular injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 5, but even if Godwin is back this weekend, Egbuka should continue to be Mayfield's go-to target through the air. Egbuka has lived up to the hype so far in his first NFL season and leads the Bucs in catches (45), targets (85), receiving yards (717), and touchdowns (six) through 10 games. The matchup against the Rams isn't ideal, but Egbuka will still have WR1 upside for fantasy purposes.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Jayden Higgins Still a High-Risk Play Despite Growing Role
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins has stepped into a larger role for the Texans since his Week 6 bye week. He is still a high-risk play against the Bills on Thursday Night Football, though, especially with Davis Mills filling in for C.J. Stroud (concussion). Higgins has gotten seven targets in each of Mills' first two starts, catching five passes for 42 yards and a touchdown against the Jaguars, followed by four catches for 55 yards against the Titans. He played the second-highest snap share last week as well and seems to be emerging ahead of Xavier Hutchinson, Christian Kirk, and Jaylin Noel. His production is still a little inconsistent, though, so he's only the WR46 in the RotoBaller's rankings for Week 12, making him a long-shot flex play on Thursday night.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Baker Mayfield Under the Weather on Wednesday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (illness) was under the weather on Wednesday with an illness and did not practice, according to Tom Pelissero of ESPN. There is a bug going around Tampa's locker room right now, which is something to keep an eye on heading into Sunday night's showdown against the Los Angeles Rams. However, Mayfield should be good to go by the time Sunday rolls around. The 30-year-old signal-caller is just outside the top 10 QBs in overall fantasy points so far in 2025 with 2,365 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and only three interceptions in 10 games played. However, he has failed to top 200 yards passing in two of the last three games and will have his hands full this weekend in L.A. against a Rams defense that just forced Seahawks QB Sam Darnold into four picks. Mayfield will be more of a high-end QB2 for fantasy managers if he's active on Sunday night.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Nico Collins a Top-10 Receiver Even With a Backup Quarterback
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has at least seven catches in each of his last three games and is coming off a big game last week against the Titans. He had nine catches on 10 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown, while working with Davis Mills since C.J. Stroud (concussion) is still sidelined. Stroud will be absent for a third straight week when the Texans host the Bills on Thursday Night Football, but Collins continues to get plenty of volume, drawing double-digit targets in each of his four games since the team's Week 6 Bye Week. Since he brings big play potential and also gets consistent work, Collins is ranked as the No. 7 WR in RotoBaller's ranking in a neutral matchup against Buffalo.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
49ers Sign Matt Gay to the Practice Squad
The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent kicker Matt Gay to their practice squad on Wednesday and released wide receiver Russell Gage Jr. from their practice squad in a corresponding move, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in the Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals and is not expected to be available to kick this coming Monday night against the Carolina Panthers. Gay was just waived by the Washington Commanders on Monday after missing two kicks in a three-point loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in Madrid. The 31-year-old veteran looks like he'll be the 49ers' short-term replacement at place kicker with Pineiro injured, but fantasy managers should be looking to stay away. The seven-year veteran has been inconsistent, making 13 of his 19 field-goal tries in 10 games, including going 4-for-9 from 50-plus yards out.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Tory Horton Still Not Practicing
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that rookie wide receiver Tory Horton (shin) would not practice on Wednesday, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. As of right now, Horton is trending toward missing a third straight game with multiple injuries. Even if the 22-year-old fifth-round selection out of Colorado State returns to practice on Thursday and Friday and is cleared to play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, it's going to be much harder for him to stand out on offense now that Cooper Kupp is healthy again and after the team acquired deep threat Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline. It's quite possible that Horton's high-water mark will end up being his four-catch, 48-yard, two-touchdown performance on Nov. 2 against the Washington Commanders, which just so happens to be the last time he played.
Source: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
Source: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
Tyler Higbee Going on Injured Reserve
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) will go on Injured Reserve, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Higbee will be forced to miss at least the next four games. The earliest he'll be available to return for the Rams will be for their Week 16 matchup against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. The 32-year-old wasn't really moving the fantasy needle much before his ankle injury, catching 20 of his 30 targets for 190 yards and two touchdowns for L.A. in nine games played (seven starts). With Higbee now out of the picture for the foreseeable future, all three of Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen could see more targets, with Ferguson being the most attractive flier for fantasy managers in TE-premium leagues.
Source: Los Angeles Daily News - Adam Grosbard
Source: Los Angeles Daily News - Adam Grosbard
Bhayshul Tuten Limited in Wednesday's Practice
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday due to an ankle injury that he suffered late in the Week 11 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Backfield mate Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) was also injured on Sunday, which likely played a part in Tuten's career day. The 23-year-old had season-highs across the board in snap percentage (32%), rushing attempts (15), and rushing yards (74) while scoring his third touchdown of the year. Etienne and Tuten appear to be trending toward both playing this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, but Tuten's impressive performance against the Bolts might have earned him a bigger share of the backfield pie going forward. Tuten is only rostered in 37% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available and is worth a pickup with another good matchup on tap.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Travis Etienne Jr. on the Week 12 Injury Report
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) is on the Week 12 injury report and was limited in Wednesday's practice with a shoulder injury. Both Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) are a little banged up coming out of Sunday's blowout win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but the fact that they were both able to practice on Wednesday is a good sign that they will be available this weekend on the road in Arizona against the Cardinals. Tuten played a season-high 32% of the offensive snaps in Week 11 and carried the ball a season-high 15 times for 74 yards and a touchdown, but that may have had something to do with Etienne's shoulder injury. Etienne played a season-low 49% of snaps but still saw 19 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns in a run-heavy game script. The two backs could have more of an even split in another plus matchup in Week 12 against the Cardinals if they are active.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Isaiah Likely Misses Practice With Calf Issue
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (calf) was held out of Wednesday's practice with a calf issue, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Likely is dealing with a calf injury as the team prepares to face the New York Jets in Week 12 this Sunday, and the 25-year-old is now up in the air to play unless he can return to practice on Thursday or Friday. Likely missed some time early this year due to injury and just has not been able to get on a roll so far in 2025. He caught just two passes on three targets for 15 yards in last week's win over the Cleveland Browns and has only 12 receptions for 118 yards and no touchdowns on 16 targets in seven games played. Receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) still isn't practicing and could miss another game as well. If Likely is out or limited this weekend, fellow TE Mark Andrews would be firmly in play as a TE1 in fantasy football.
Source: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
Source: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
Alvin Kamara Still Dealing With Ankle Injury
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) is still dealing with an ankle issue coming out of the team's bye and was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Kamara has been a mainstay on the team's injury report ever since injuring his ankle in early October, but he hasn't missed any games. The 30-year-old's status bears watching heading into a Week 12 game this Sunday against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, but he should be able to suit up. Negative game script certainly hasn't helped Kamara's cause in 2025, as he's averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per tote on 128 rushing attempts for 460 yards and just one touchdown in 10 games. The five-time Pro Bowler did have a season-high 22 carries for 83 yards on the ground in the Week 10 win over the Panthers, though. In a bad Saints offense, Kamara has become more of a high-end RB3/flex play.
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
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