November 18, 2025
The Athletic's Matt Schneidman reports that Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (foot, shoulder) could return to practice on Wednesday after a two and a half month absence. "I sure as heck hope so," head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday when asked if the team would open anyone's 21-day practice window this week. The Packers will have a better idea about Reed's availability over the next two days. The 25-year-old wideout has been on IR since breaking his collarbone in Week 2, and he's also recovering from surgery on his foot for a Jones fracture. Reed is expected to play again this year, but it's uncertain when that will happen. Even if he returns to practice this week, it won't guarantee his return for a Week 12 divisional matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Reed is rostered in only 35% of Yahoo leagues right now, and he should have a key role in the Packers' offense when he comes back.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
November 18, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said that the team has to make a decision soon on whether to activate quarterback
Aidan O'Connell (wrist) to the active 53-man roster or place him on season-ending Injured Reserve, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Carroll also said that O'Connell has been getting reps against the first-team defense in practice to "bring him along as fast as they can." The 27-year-old was a full participant in practice all of last week, but he wasn't activated for the team's Monday night loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Kenny Pickett has been serving as
Geno Smith's backup with O'Connell on IR. Interestingly, O'Connell has been repping against the first-team defense, but Caroll hasn't given any indications that the team is close to making a change at QB from Smith despite another ugly loss on Monday night.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
November 18, 2025
Seattle Seahawks running back
Kenneth Walker III could be in line to see more work out of the backfield moving forward after he eclipsed 100 scrimmage yards in the Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, according to Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune. Head coach Mike Macdonald said that Walker is "showing that he's earning more opportunities to get the ball." "I think you really felt Ken (Sunday)," Macdonald said. "And just, even in the pass game, too, on check-downs, finding him late in the play. Just shows you that he's such an explosive player with the ball in his hands." The 25-year-old has played 22 more offensive snaps than
Zach Charbonnet in the last three weeks and has just been more efficient with the ball in his hands in 2025 than his backfield mate. Charbonnet is going to remain involved, but Macdonald's words could mean that Walker will start seeing a bigger piece of the pie, starting in a great Week 12 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Tacoma News Tribune - Gregg Bell
November 18, 2025
In a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football to close out Week 11 action to drop them to 2-8 on the season, the Las Vegas Raiders abandoned their running game. Rookie first-round running back
Ashton Jeanty had just six carries for seven yards and had just two rushing attempts in the first half. The Raiders had a designed pass on 84% of its plays, the team's highest rate in a game since 2012. Head coach Pete Carroll admitted that he heavily influenced the offensive game plan. "I don't really care about pleasing people with our run/pass mix. I'm trying to move the football," Carroll said. "I wanted to get the ball to
Brock Bowers a bunch and see what he could do. I'm responsible for that." The expectation was that the Raiders would rely heavily on Jeanty after he was taken sixth overall in the draft, but he currently ranks 16th among RBs with 149 rushing attempts. Vegas' poor offensive line play and the fact that they continue to fall behind by multiple scores doesn't bode well for Jeanty's workload on the ground increasing anytime soon.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
November 18, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Xavier Legette (hip) told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to play on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12 despite injuring his hip late in the Week 11 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The 24-year-old pass-catcher had one of his best performances of the season against Atlanta before his injury, securing four catches on eight targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in what was a career day for quarterback
Bryce Young. Legette will probably be limited in practice on Thursday, but it sounds like he shouldn't be in danger of sitting out for Monday's primetime game. The former first-rounder now has a 24-264-3 line on 46 targets through nine games in his sophomore season. He has been operating as the WR2 behind rookie first-rounder
Tetairoa McMillan and has been an inconsistent WR4/flex for fantasy managers.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Joe Person
November 18, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end
Brenton Strange (hip) had his 21-day practice window opened last week, but after a week of limited practice participation, he was not made active for the team's Week 11 win over the Chargers. The Jaguars' Wednesday injury report might give an indication of which way he is trending, but for fantasy managers streaming the position, Strange is a smart pickup with a favorable schedule down the stretch. Four of the Jaguars' next six games come against teams that have been advantageous matchups for tight ends, including playoff matchups against the Jets and Colts. Strange has been sidelined since exiting the team's Week 5 loss to the Chiefs, and the Jaguars' offense looks considerably different since Strange last played, with a season-ending injury to
Travis Hunter, the acquisition of
Jakobi Meyers, and an ankle injury that has held
Brian Thomas Jr. out of the last two games. However, in each of his previous two full games, Strange was targeted seven times for six receptions, and he could become an important part of an adapting Jacksonville passing attack.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud (concussion) will miss his third straight game when the Texans face the Bills on Thursday night. Stroud was expected back at practice on Tuesday, so he might have been able to return to action if the team had been playing on Sunday. However, on a short week of preparation, the team will once again turn to
Davis Mills. Mills has thrown for 283 yards per game in his two starts, while adding three touchdowns to one interception, and
Nico Collins has enjoyed arguably the best stretch of his season with Mills under center. In what projects to be a game that could see Houston playing from behind, Collins remains a must-start, and Davis Mills at least deserves consideration in superflex leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Aaron Wilson
November 18, 2025
Cleveland Browns wide receiver
Cedric Tillman led the team with 52 receiving yards in a Week 11 loss to the Ravens and now prepares to face a Raiders defense that has struggled to defend the pass all year. In his second game back after missing four games with a hamstring injury, he showed glimpses of the play strength that showed up in his sophomore season, before suffering a season-ending concussion. Unfortunately for Tillman and the rest of the Cleveland pass catchers, the Browns quarterback situation is currently one of the least desirable in the league. With
Dillon Gabriel still in concussion protocol,
Shedeur Sanders will likely get the first start of his career in Week 12. And while this week will mark the first time that Sanders gets any reps practicing with the team's starters, what he put on film on Sunday while filling in for the injured Gabriel should not inspire confidence for fantasy managers. Even facing a generous Las Vegas defense, it would be difficult to trust Tillman this week. However, he remains an interesting stash, if only to see what sort of chemistry he's able to develop with whoever remains Cleveland's starter down the stretch.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders third-year wide receiver
Tre Tucker has become the team's top receiving option outside of All-Pro tight end
Brock Bowers, and on Monday night, he found the endzone for the first time since his Week 3 three-touchdown breakout. With
Geno Smith barely throwing for over 200 yards per game, while throwing only 12 touchdowns in 10 games, there isn't a ton of fantasy value to be gleaned from the Raiders' passing attack, especially with Bowers commanding double-digit targets in two of his three games since returning from a knee injury. That said, Tucker's 54 targets and 38 receptions on the year put him in a different stratosphere than the rest of the Raiders' wide receivers. With
Jakobi Meyers no longer on the roster,
Tyler Lockett's eight receptions over his three games since being acquired rank second on the team by wide receivers. Tucker has displayed the explosiveness to find the occasional fantasy ceiling in a bleak situation. As the team continues to make him more of a focal point, he should be able to provide a safer floor as well.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) is a name to look for on waivers this week, as he is currently rostered in under 50% of leagues and is expected to return to practice on Wednesday after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury. In his third season, Boutte has become a favorite downfield target of MVP candidate
Drake Maye, already racking up a career-high five receiving touchdowns in eight-plus games. While his target numbers have not been off the charts, the looks he's getting have been extremely valuable for fantasy, with an average depth of target of 17.7 yards. His 74.2% catch rate while maintaining such a high ADoT speaks volumes to the connection he's forged with Maye. Should he return for Week 12, he walks into a plus matchup against a struggling Bengals defense. If active,
Mack Hollins, who has been the Patriots' downfield threat in Boutte's absence, will likely return to a less fantasy-friendly role closer to the line of scrimmage.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio spoke on Tuesday about running back
Joe Mixon (ankle, foot), saying that "it's a very gray situation." There have been very few updates in regards to Mixon's recovery process, and the ones we have gotten have not been positive. It's looking increasingly unlikely that Mixon will be able to return in 2025. Caserio went on to say that there were times when the 29-year-old was making progress and other times when the progress stalled. As we are already in Week 12, there aren't any expectations for Mixon to come back after being placed on the Non-Football Injury list in the offseason. The Texans will continue to rely on veteran
Nick Chubb and rookie
Woody Marks in the meantime.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Audacy Sports
November 18, 2025
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that tight end
Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) will not participate in Tuesday's practice session, according to Maddy Glab of the Buffalo Bills. Kincaid also missed Monday's practice, and with a short week ahead of a Thursday night matchup with the Houston Texans, it's looking unlikely that he will be able to suit up. The 26-year-old suffered the injury in Buffalo's Week 10 loss to the Dolphins and has been labeled as week to week. Backup tight end
Dawson Knox filled in Kincaid's place, playing 75% of the snaps in their Week 11 win over the Buccaneers, but recorded one reception for 23 yards on three targets. Assuming Kincaid is ruled out for Thursday, Knox should again see a healthy role and be considered a low-end TE2.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Maddy Glab
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
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