November 25, 2025
When the Atlanta Falcons spent a first-round pick on quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) in the 2024 NFL Draft, approximately six weeks after signing veteran
Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract, they signaled a commitment to getting the QB position right, even if the approach was untraditional. Less than two years later, Penix suffered a season-ending ACL tear, the third since his college days, and Cousins sits at 8-8 as the Falcons starter following a Week 12 win over the Saints in which he failed to top 200 passing yards for his third straight start. Neither Penix nor Cousins has looked like a long-term answer at the position, and with Penix's injury timeline now adding uncertainty to his status for the beginning of the 2026 season, Atlanta could once again need to address the quarterback room this offseason.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Marc Raimondi
November 25, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson has seen a staggering 32 targets over his last two games, converting that into 25 catches for 303 yards. In a rare third-year midseason breakout, he has taken full advantage of the opportunity presented by the two-game absence of
Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix), who continues to recover from an emergency appendectomy. When asked on Tuesday about Wilson's role upon Harrison's return, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing offered that he would be moved around the formation while continuing to see early reads. He went on to say, "When you produce in this league, we're gonna give you more opportunities to continue to do that." Wilson remains a must-start for as long as Harrison is out, but in a suddenly pass-heavy
Jacoby Brissett-led offense, he should maintain flex value down the stretch and into the fantasy playoffs.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Theo Mackie
November 25, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
George Pickens (knee/calf) will practice on Tuesday after being listed as a limited participant on Monday's estimated injury report. Pickens was banged up during the team's Week 12 win over the Eagles, spending a few snaps on the sideline, but he was able to return to action and ultimately ended the game with nine receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown. Pickens has been a fantasy MVP this season, currently the overall WR2, and he has recently put to rest any fears that the return of All-Pro
CeeDee Lamb would eat into his ceiling potential. Playing in another island game on Thanksgiving, Pickens remains a strong WR1 play in Week 13, even against a stifling Kansas City defense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jon Machota
November 25, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (toe) returned to practice on Tuesday after missing Monday's walkthrough with a toe injury. With the Ravens facing a shortened week before a Thanksgiving matchup with the Bengals, this follows the same timeline Jackson has seen in each of the previous two weeks. Jackson has started the last four games after missing the previous three with an ankle injury, but he has finished as a QB1 in only one of those weeks, while finishing as QB29 and QB24 in his last two outings. Jackson represents a level of upside that's nearly impossible to keep on the bench, but it's clear he is currently hampered by injury, so fantasy managers should temper expectations in what would normally be a dream matchup against a porous Bengals defense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jamison Hensley
November 25, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
D.K. Metcalf (ankle) is among several players who will be limited during practice early in the week, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports. Metcalf limped off the field after injuring his ankle during Pittsburgh's Week 12 loss to the Bears, but was ultimately able to return and finish the game. The 27-year-old seems to have avoided a significant injury, but his status will be managed in practice early this week before ramping up his workload. Metcald posted five catches for 22 yards on eight targets with
Mason Rudolph filling in for an injured
Aaron Rodgers (wrist); however, Rodgers should be back in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills. Metcalf is expected to suit up on Sunday, with further updates on his status expected in the coming days.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Brooke Pryor
November 25, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is "excited about the possibilities" when asked about his optimism level for wide receiver
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) returning in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos, according to JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports. Quinn added that they need to see his speed and burst for a few days before the team can get overly optimistic about his chances to return. McLaurin was back at practice on Monday, Washington's first practice after their Week 12 bye, although it was reported as more of a jog through. The 30-year-old wideout suffered a quadriceps injury during Washington's Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, then returned in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs before re-aggravating the injury and has been sidelined since. McLaurin has recorded 13 receptions (21 targets) for 203 yards and a touchdown in four games this season, and could be on track to return to action as soon as Sunday night against the Denver Broncos if everything goes well in his recovery.
--Kyle McCarthySource: JP Finlay
November 25, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (knee) is set to return for Thursday's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys after missing the past three games. Pacheco suffered a sprained MCL during Kansas City's Week 8 win over Washington, but was listed as a full participant in Monday's estimated injury report and will play on Thanksgiving. The 26-year-old should slide back into a timeshare with veteran
Kareem Hunt, who could see a lighter workload in Week 13 after handling a career high 30 carries in a Week 12 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Pacheco had middling fantasy production before going down, recording 78 carries for 329 yards and one touchdown while adding 11 catches (17 targets) for 43 yards and another score as a receiver in eight games, averaging 7.5 PPR points per game. He will rank as a low-end RB3/flex option for Thursday's matchup against the Cowboys.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Nate Taylor
November 25, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Rashee Rice (hamstring) is expected to participate in Tuesday's practice, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Rice was estimated as limited in Monday's estimated injury report and appears to have avoided a serious injury that would force him to miss any time. The 25-year-old dominated in Kansas City's critical Week 12 win over the Indianapolis Colts, catching eight of 12 targets for a career-high 141 yards. Rice has been as advertised since returning from a six-game suspension in Week 7, scoring the fourth most PPR points (99.2) in that span, only trailing
Jaxon Smith-Njigba,
George Pickens, and
Davante Adams. With Rice expected to play on Thanksgiving against a poor Dallas Cowboys secondary, he will again rank as an elite WR1 and should be in for another big day as
Patrick Mahomes' favorite target.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Nate Taylor
November 25, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that tight end
Noah Gray (concussion) is in the league's concussion protocol and won't practice on Tuesday, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Gray was having one of his better games of the season before leaving, catching three of four targets for 25 yards. With a short practice week coming up ahead of a Thanksgiving matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, it appears unlikely that the 26-year-old will be able to clear protocol in time to suit up.
Robert Tonyan would be expected to serve as the No. 2 tight end behind
Travis Kelce with Gray sidelined.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Nate Taylor
November 25, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Kirk Cousins did enough to help his team win on Sunday, leading them to a 24-10 victory over the Saints. He completed 16 of 23 pass attempts for 199 yards and two touchdowns along with one interception, adding two rushes for five yards. It's probably the best fantasy managers could have hoped for without top receiving option,
Drake London (knee), and with the running backs tallying 26 carries. With
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) out for the rest of the season, Cousins will get a handful more opportunities in the coming weeks, including a favorable matchup Week 13 against the Jets, a team that has yielded the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. Despite the decent matchup, it will be on the road in the cold, possibly without London again, and the 37-year-old will likely be a low-end QB2 option for that contest.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
November 25, 2025
The New Orleans Saints are signing free-agent kicker
Cade York to their practice squad on Tuesday and are releasing kicker
Blake Grupe in a corresponding move, a source told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The Saints are moving on from Grupe after he missed two field goals in the team's Week 12 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 27-year-old has made only 69.2% of his 26 field-goal attempts in 2025 in his third year in the league, although he has gone a perfect 15-for-15 on extra points. The Saints also worked out former Ravens kicker
Justin Tucker on Monday, but they decided to go with York instead. York will likely be signed to the active 53-man roster for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. The 24-year-old has kicked for three different teams in two NFL seasons, going 33-for-45 on field goals (73.3%) and 51-for-54 on extra-point tries. Fantasy managers will want to avoid York in one of the lowest scoring offenses in football.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
November 25, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and has missed the last three games. However, Thomas is expected to make his return this weekend against the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday, according to Andy Quach of SI.com. It's good news for the Jags' offense, but fantasy managers may want to be cautious about throwing him back into starting lineups immediately. Quach mentions that Jacksonville has been cautious in bringing players back from injury. The second-year wideout is also averaging just 3.8 catches for 52.5 yards per game, and he's scored just once after finding the end zone 10 times as a rookie. Rookie
Travis Hunter (knee) is done for the year, but the team added
Jakobi Meyers at the trade deadline. Meyers has made an immediate impact, catching 12 passes for 155 yards and a TD in three games, which could limit Thomas' role going forward when he finally returns from his ankle injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: SI.com - Andy Quach
November 25, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that he has "great optimism" that quarterback
Aaron Rodgers (wrist) will be able to play on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I'm comfortable with his general trajectory," Tomlin said. Rodgers suffered a small non-displaced fracture in his left (non-throwing) wrist in the Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and did not play in Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer will be limited in practice to start the week, but he's expected to give it a go this weekend against Buffalo. If Rodgers does play on Sunday, he will likely be wearing a protective brace on his left wrist. Through 12 weeks of the season, Rodgers ranks as the QB28 in fantasy points per game while throwing for 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The matchup against Buffalo is a good one, but Rodgers will still only be a low-end QB2 in fantasy if he starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Gerry Dulac
November 25, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said on Monday that he's not considering taking play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. Patullo has come under scrutiny in his first year as an offensive coordinator, especially after the team's Week 12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles scored touchdowns on their first three drives but never scored again, and they had scored just one touchdown in their previous two games. Through 11 games in 2025, Philly's offense is the worst it's been in Sirianni's five years as head coach in yards per game, points per game, and EPA/drive. They rank 24th in the league in yards, 17th in points, 21st in rushing, 23rd in passing, 27th in third downs, and first in the red zone. They also rank 17th in EPA/drive and 32nd in three-and-punt rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zach Berman
November 25, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson has seen his involvement in the Packers' offense and the intent to get him high-leverage targets grow in the last few weeks. In Week 11 against the New York Giants, Watson caught two touchdown passes. Last week against the Vikings, Watson led the Packers in targets with seven, and paced the passing game production with a five-catch, 49-yard stat line. Watson has also led the Packers in air yards over the last three games, showing the intent from head coach and playcaller Matt LaFleur and Packers' quarterback
Jordan Love to get the ball downfield, and when they do, prioritizing getting the ball to Watson. When Watson gets an opportunity, it's more often than not going to be in a high-leverage situation, which is great for fantasy managers as he's seemingly supplanted
Romeo Doubs as the top receiver for the Packers. Against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, who give up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing receivers and are a man-based defense that was just shredded by
Wan'Dale Robinson's 9-157-1 line this past Sunday, Watson should be a high-upside WR3 for Week 13.
--Kevin TompkinsSource: RotoBaller
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