November 18, 2025
Houston Texans kicker
Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) is back at practice on Tuesday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Fairbairn suffered the injury during Houston's Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos and was forced to miss the past two games, but he was estimated as a full participant in Monday's practice and is on track to return on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills. The 31-year-old has been one of the most reliable kickers in the league this season, making 22 of his 25 attempts and nailing all 12 extra points.
Matthew Wright served as his replacement for the two weeks, but Fairbairn will take over once he is healthy. Fairbairn will project as a strong streaming option for Thursday, assuming he plays.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Jonathan M. Alexander
November 18, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that running back
Jaylen Warren (ankle) will be limited in the early portions of practice this week, but he is "optimistic" about Warren's chances to suit up in Week 12 against the Chicago Bears, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Warren left early from the Steelers' 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but he said after the game that he could have returned. The 27-year-old was off to a good start in the game with a 35-yard chunk gain on the opening drive, and ended with 10 carries for 62 yards while adding two receptions (two targets) for five yards.
Kenneth Gainwell was heavily involved even before Warren's injury, and he finished with a big day in the blowout victory, totaling nine carries for 24 yards to go with seven receptions (eight targets) for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Warren's status will be monitored throughout the week, and if he is unable to play, Gainwell would be a must-start in Week 12 against the Bears.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Brooke Pryor
November 18, 2025
Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud (concussion) is expected to practice on Tuesday, but he remains in the league's concussion protocol and is "not slated" to play in Week 12 on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills, a source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Stroud is doing a lot better, though, and is trending toward returning for a Week 13 date against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts next weekend. The 24-year-old is likely to be listed as limited on Tuesday's practice report. Stroud suffered a concussion in the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos and is now on track to miss a third straight game due to his head injury. It means that
Davis Mills is set up to make a third consecutive start for Houston. Mills has won two straight games in place of Stroud and has thrown for 566 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick on 86 pass attempts. He's certainly in play as a low-end QB2 streamer in Week 12 versus Buffalo on Thursday Night Football.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
November 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Chris Godwin (leg) has played in only two games in 2025 and hasn't been on the field on game day since Week 5 due to a fibula injury. The good news, though, is that he was limited in practice all of last week and is making progress. It remains to be seen if he'll be cleared to play in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, and it will depend on how much he's able to do in practice this week. Godwin is currently rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues because of his extended absence. However, with a potential return on the horizon, fantasy managers in need at the position and with room on their bench may want to consider stashing him for the stretch run. When back to full health, Godwin should be a primary aerial weapon for quarterback
Baker Mayfield, especially with
Mike Evans (collarbone) likely done for the rest of the regular season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
November 18, 2025
New England Patriots tight end
Hunter Henry is the TE12 in half-PPR scoring through 11 weeks with 34 catches for 422 yards and four touchdowns on 53 targets. He has not scored in the last three games and has typically been a hit-or-miss TE streamer in fantasy in his career. However, the 30-year-old did have a bounce-back game in last Thursday night's win over the New York Jets, with four catches on six targets for 45 yards. The week before, he disappointed with just one catch for nine yards in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Henry will probably remain inconsistent through the end of the year for fantasy purposes, but the upside is real in a Patriots offense that has shown a big jump in quarterback
Drake Maye's second season. If you're looking for a TE to stream in Week 12, Henry is an excellent option, as the Bengals defense allows the most fantasy points per game to the position this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
November 18, 2025
Four games and two starts into his rookie season, New Orleans Saints quarterback
Tyler Shough has completed 61.4% of his pass attempts for 586 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Shough had his best performance by far in his final outing before the Saints' Week 11 bye, throwing for 282 yards and two scores in a win over the Carolina Panthers. Coming out of the bye, Shough and the Saints will face an Atlanta Falcons defense that just allowed 448 passing yards and 30 points to the Carolina Panthers. Shough has limited talent around him in New Orleans, but he could still be in a position to take advantage of Atlanta in Week 12. Fantasy managers in two-quarterback formats should consider Shough a low-end QB2 heading into a favorable matchup against the Falcons.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers (wrist) will not require surgery to repair the left-wrist fracture he sustained during Pittsburgh's Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Pelissero reports that Rodgers is still pushing to play in Week 12 against the Chicago Bears, but "doctors must clear him, and his status moving forward is TBD." Across 10 starts this season, Rodgers has completed 66.4% of his pass attempts for 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. If he is unable to go in Week 12, Steelers backup
Mason Rudolph would be in line to make the start against Chicago. More should be known about Rodgers' short-term availability in the coming days, but it appears he has avoided a long-term absence.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero
November 18, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Tyler Lockett looked like he was on his way out of the league earlier this season as a minimally utilized member of the Tennessee Titans. However, since being released by Tennessee and picked up by Las Vegas, the 33-year-old has found some new life. Over his last two games with the Raiders, Lockett has recorded eight catches for 77 yards on nine targets. Lockett is tied with wideout
Tre Tucker for the target lead among Raiders wide receivers over that span, and he has established chemistry with Las Vegas quarterback
Geno Smith from their time playing together with the Seattle Seahawks. Lockett is no longer an explosive downfield threat, but he appears to have established a relatively stable role in Las Vegas. He could be worth targeting in deep fantasy leagues heading into a Week 12 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings are now 4-6 behind struggling young quarterback
J.J. McCarthy, but the team is betting that McCarthy can overcome his current issues and acclimate to the NFL with time. Receiver
Adam Thielen, who is back in Minnesota after two full seasons in Carolina, pointed to Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young, whose improvement in his third season came after two mostly rough years at the helm. "I'm sure he's leaning on a ton of experience from the last few years that (included) some really tough moments," Thielen said, according to The Athletic. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell hasn't entertained a move and maintains McCarthy's issues are mechanical and can be corrected. Minnesota is going to give McCarthy the runway to improve, so managers in Superflex leagues will know they'll have a playable QB, albeit one going through the ups and downs of being a first-time starter.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: The Athletic
November 18, 2025
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver
Jayden Higgins may be emerging as a more consistent feature within his team's offense. He recorded four catches for 55 yards on seven targets in Week 11 against the Tennessee Titans, marking the third time in his last four games he's been targeted at least seven times. A second-round pick out of Iowa State, Higgins looks like he could be assuming the WR2 role in Houston alongside star wideout
Nico Collins. Perhaps most importantly for Higgins' fantasy outlook, the Texans have seemingly shifted to a pass-heavy offensive approach. Since the team's Week 6 bye, Houston quarterbacks have attempted at least 39 passes in every game. The Texans will face a stingy pass defense in Week 12 when they face the Buffalo Bills. Still, Higgins appears to have a relatively safe target floor. He should be a waiver-wire target for all managers in PPR leagues with 12 or more teams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
While Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy has had his share of struggles as he adapts to the NFL, wide receiver
Jordan Addison accepted blame for Minnesota's issues in the passing game last week. The Vikings dropped six passes in Sunday's loss against Chicago, including two by Addison, both would-be first downs, one of which had a chance to score a long touchdown. "If I make those types of plays, we win. No doubt," Addison said, according to The Athletic. The third-year receiver had two catches for 20 yards and connected with McCarthy on the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute, but the Vikings' lax kick coverage quickly gave up the advantage as the Bears kicked a field goal as time expired. From a fantasy perspective, Addison has now had four straight weeks of fewer than four catches, making him difficult to trust in standard formats for the time being.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: The Athletic
November 18, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings have been among the NFL's more disappointing teams in 2025, and superstar wide receiver
Justin Jefferson said getting back to winning again begins with him. As first-time starting quarterback
J.J. McCarthy has struggled, the Vikings have dropped to 4-6. Jefferson was visibly frustrated in a loss to Chicago on Sunday, but said that he aims to lead the turnaround. "As a team, as a captain, as a leader of this team, I have to be the first one out there. I have to be headfirst, leading us into that direction of winning, of being where we need to be," Jefferson said, according to The Athletic. While the Vikings have struggled and Jefferson is having a slightly down year by his standards, he's still the No. 13 overall PPR receiver. With Minnesota looking at a favorable schedule in the fantasy playoffs, managers have good reason to hope for a few big weeks at the best possible time.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: The Athletic
November 18, 2025
In one of the few bright spots from a frustrating loss to Chicago in Week 11, the Minnesota Vikings saw a career-best day from edge rusher Dallas Turner, a first-round draft pick in 2024. Turner tied a career-high with five pressures, and also recorded a sack, an additional tackle for loss, seven tackles overall, and a pass defended in 67 snaps while filling in for starter Jonathan Greenard (shoulder). It was a great sign for the Vikings, who paid a heavy price to trade back into the first round and select the Alabama standout last year. The Vikings do not believe Greenard will be out long-term, but Turner will maintain some streaming appeal in IDP leagues as long as Greenard is missing, and possibly beyond if the team gives him additional work in the weeks to come.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Sports Illustrated
November 18, 2025
With starting quarterback
C.J. Stroud (concussion) battling a concussion, Houston Texans backup QB
Davis Mills has been pressed into action over the past two weeks. Stroud was listed as a non-participant on Monday's injury report ahead of Houston's Week 12 Thursday night matchup against the Buffalo Bills, which means Mills could be in line to make his third straight start against Buffalo. Mills has performed admirably in his two starts to this point, completing 61.6% of his pass attempts for 566 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while leading Houston to two wins. Perhaps most importantly, he is averaging 43 pass attempts per game, which gives him plenty of chances to put up fantasy production. Mills has limited upside, but he could be a low-end QB2 option for fantasy managers in two-quarterback formats leading into Week 12.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
Carolina Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young (ankle) had one of the best games of his career in Week 11, completing 31 of 45 pass attempts for 448 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions in a win over the Atlanta Falcons. Unfortunately for Young, he also suffered an ankle injury that may affect his status for Week 12. Young was able to finish the game against Atlanta, but Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team won't have an update on Young's ankle until Thursday. The Panthers play the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. If Young can play, he could be in a position to build upon his Week 11 breakout against the shorthanded San Francisco defense. However, Young has topped 200 passing yards just twice in 10 games this season, so expectations should be at least somewhat limited. Young profiles as a solid fantasy QB2 heading into Week 12.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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