Cade Otton Ready to Bounce Back After Week 11 Dud?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton followed up his season-best performance of nine catches for 82 yards in Week 10 with a two-catch, 28-yard dud in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. In five games leading into the Week 11 contest, the 26-year-old had a healthy 29 receptions for 319 yards. Injuries to receivers Mike Evans (collarbone), Chris Godwin (leg), and Jalen McMillan (neck) have given Otton additional targets, which have made him a more interesting TE streamer in fantasy football leagues. Although he's still searching for his first trip to the end zone in 2025, Otton has seen at least five targets in his last six games. The Bucs have a difficult road matchup in Week 12 on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams, but they should have to throw plenty to keep up with L.A.'s high-powered offense. The Rams have also allowed the 12th-most half-PPR points to TEs per game this year. Otton has a clear path for a nice bounce-back game this week.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Michael Carter Back to Handling Larger Workload?
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is trending up ahead of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 26-year-old was factored out of the Cardinals' plans in the two games following their bye week, but he returned to a larger role last Sunday, catching five of seven targets for 22 receiving yards. While the sample size is too small to make any guarantees, it certainly appears that Carter could be in line to operate as the Cardinals' top receiving back going forward. He'll earn some carries, too, and managers have to be intrigued after he edged out Bam Knight for the highest snap share in Arizona's backfield last week. Knight and Carter will split most of the opportunities on Sunday after Emari Demercado (ankle) was already ruled out for Week 12. Both backs will rank as RB3/flex options, with Carter gaining a slight advantage over his backfield-mate in full-PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte Logs Another Full Practice on Thursday
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) was a full participant in practice on Thursday. He has been able to log back-to-back full sessions, which bodes well for his status heading into Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Assuming Boute has another full practice on Friday, he should enter the weekend without any sort of injury designation. In such a scenario, he would reclaim his role as the No. 2 receiver in the Patriots' offense behind Stefon Diggs. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to get him back into their lineups, though. The Bengals have allowed the second-fewest points to receivers playing out wide, which is where Boutte has amassed 89.3% of his snaps. Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry are far better fantasy options among the Patriots' pass catchers.
Source: New England Patriots
Source: New England Patriots
Tory Horton Looking Unlikely to Play in Week 12
Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Tory Horton (groin, shin) has yet to practice this week, according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Horton last played in a Week 9 win over the Washington Commanders, when he had four catches on four targets for a season-high 48 yards and two touchdowns. Since the 22-year-old was injured, veteran Cooper Kupp returned from an injury of his own, and the team acquired receiver Rashid Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints. The fifth-round pick will need to practice in some capacity on Friday to have a shot at playing on Sunday on the road against the Tennessee Titans. Horton has caught five touchdown passes on 13 receptions in his first year in the NFL, but it's going to be more difficult for him to stand out on offense in Seattle whenever he returns from his injuries.
Source: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
Source: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
Emeka Egbuka Still Limited on Thursday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (illness) remained a limited participant in practice on Thursday. He has maintained the same status for two days in a row, and he'll likely need to log a full practice on Friday to avoid any sort of injury designation. If he remains limited for a third day, he'll presumably end up with a "questionable" tag. Egbuka isn't the only player under the weather; six Buccaneers players are listed on the injury report with an illness, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, who upgraded to a full participant on Thursday. Fantasy managers should remain optimistic that Egbuka, a standout rookie, will recover in time for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. He remains a high-end WR2 in fantasy football despite scoring double-digit fantasy points just once over his last five games.
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matthew Golden Limited Again on Thursday
Green Bay Packers rookie first-round wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder, wrist) was limited for a second straight day due to shoulder and wrist injuries on Thursday, according to the team's official website. Golden sat out of the team's Week 10 game but returned in last week's win over the New York Giants to catch one of his three targets for 24 yards. The 22-year-old seems likely to be available this Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, but he could draw a questionable designation going into that matchup if he can't upgrade to a full practice on Friday. Christian Watson (knee), Romeo Doubs (wrist), Dontayvion Wicks (calf), Savion Williams (foot), and Bo Melton (shoulder) are also on the injury report, but none of their injuries appear to be very serious. Golden, the 23rd overall pick in April, has struggled for any kind of consistency in his first year in the NFL, catching a total of 24 passes for 286 yards and no touchdowns on 32 targets in his first nine games.
Source: Packers.com
Source: Packers.com
Baker Mayfield Upgraded to a Full Participant on Thursday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (illness) logged a full practice session on Thursday. This was an improvement after he had been limited on Wednesday. As long as Mayfield continues to recover well from his illness, he should be able to play in Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Los Angeles Rams without any limitations. He remains a mid-range QB1 in fantasy football, looking to build on a two-game stretch that includes 446 passing yards, 39 rushing yards, five total touchdowns, and two turnovers. His return to full strength also bodes well for some of Tampa's pass catchers, including Emeka Egbuka (illness), Chris Godwin (fibula), and Cade Otton.
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ricky Pearsall Practicing in Full, Set for More Production in Week 12?
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) returned in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals for the first time since spraining the PCL in his right knee way back in Week 4. Pearsall played a healthy 75% of the offensive snaps in Week 11, but he was targeted only two times by quarterback Brock Purdy, catching one of them for no gain. The 25-year-old was a full participant on Thursday in the first practice of the week, heading into a Week 12 game on Monday night against the Carolina Panthers. A full week of full practices could help the former first-rounder become more involved on game day this week in his second game back. The Niners were up big for most of the day last Sunday against Arizona, so they didn't need to air the ball out. The game script should be more favorable in Week 12, and Pearsall should be more involved as he continues to get his legs back under him.
Source: 49ers.com
Source: 49ers.com
Rhamondre Stevenson Limited in Practice on Thursday
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. This was the second day in a row that Stevenson, who missed the last three games, logged a limited practice session. He's trending in the right direction to play in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but Friday's practice should provide more clarity on his status. If he's a full participant, he'll likely head into the weekend without an injury designation. Otherwise, he could garner a "questionable" tag. Even if he does play, New England's backfield will look different than when he was last healthy. TreVeyon Henderson has emerged as an impressive playmaker in his rookie season, tallying 264 rushing yards, 65 receiving yards, and five touchdowns over the course of three games without Stevenson. Henderson has a strong chance to remain the Patriots' lead back, leaving Stevenson in line for fewer than 50% of the team's offensive snaps. Stevenson can be a low-end RB3/flex in a favorable matchup, but Henderson has far more fantasy appeal and upside.
Source: New England Patriots
Source: New England Patriots
Tetairoa McMillan a Full-Go for First Practice of the Week
Carolina Panthers rookie first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (ankle) was listed as a full practice participant on Thursday in the team's first practice of the week, according to the team's official website. McMillan is dealing with a minor ankle injury that shouldn't impact his availability for a Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12. The 22-year-old pass-catcher out of Arizona has immediately become Carolina's top receiver and has impressed in his first 11 games, catching 54 of his 89 targets for 748 yards and four touchdowns. McMillan set season highs across the board in catches (eight), targets (12), and receiving yards (130) while also scoring twice in the overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. A second straight monster performance could be in store for McMillan against a 49ers defense that is banged up. McMillan has clear WR1 upside in fantasy this week.
Source: Panthers.com
Source: Panthers.com
C.J. Stroud in Good Position to Return in Week 13
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) was ruled out for a third straight game in Thursday night's contest against the Buffalo Bills, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Stroud was very close to being cleared this week. Rapoport said that had this week's game fallen on Sunday instead of Thursday, Stroud likely would have played for the first time since suffering a concussion in the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos. He is doing well and was cleared for limited participation in Tuesday's practice. Stroud likely would have upgraded to full participation on Thursday if they didn't have a game, so the expectation is that he'll be able to clear the NFL's concussion protocol in time to play in Week 13 on Sunday, Nov. 30, against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts. Davis Mills is making his third straight start against Buffalo and is hoping to lead the team to their third straight victory.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Brian Thomas Jr. Remains Limited Ahead of Week 12
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity again on Thursday. On the heels of a two-game absence, Thomas has now logged back-to-back limited sessions. While it's encouraging to see him get on the field in some capacity, he'd likely need to log a full practice session on Friday in order to enter the weekend without an injury designation. If he remains limited for a third day in a row, the team will likely list him as questionable ahead of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. Thomas was underwhelming over the first nine weeks of the season, ranking as the overall WR39 in PPR leagues with 30 catches, 420 yards, and one touchdown through eight games. This is a major step backward from his rookie campaign in 2024, when he ranked as the WR4 with 10 touchdowns. Improvement could be on the way, though, as Thomas will have the opportunity to command more volume this week with Travis Hunter (knee) on IR. The 23-year-old's biggest competition for targets comes from Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington. He could certainly bounce back as a strong WR2 this week.
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Bryce Young a Full Participant Despite Ankle Injury
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (ankle) was a full participant in practice on Thursday, according to the team's website. The former No. 1 pick was listed on the injury report with the ankle injury he suffered in last Sunday's win against the Atlanta Falcons, but it didn't prevent him from getting on the field in preparation for Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers. Fantasy managers should monitor how his ankle responds to the next two days of practice, but all signs point to him suiting up on Monday night. He'll look to build off last week's terrific showing that included 448 passing yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He has QB1 upside, but for now, he ranks in the mid-to-low QB2 tier.
Source: Carolina Panthers
Source: Carolina Panthers
Dillon Gabriel Still Not Practicing
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel (concussion) missed another day of practice on Thursday, according to Scott Petrak of Browns Zone. The Browns already announced that Gabriel will not play in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders after suffering a concussion on Sunday in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and he will likely sit out of practice the entire week. If the 24-year-old can clear the league's concussion protocol next week, though, he's expected to return to the starting role to face the San Francisco 49ers. With Gabriel out this weekend, fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders will make his first NFL start on the road against the Raiders. Unsurprisingly, Gabriel has mostly struggled in his first eight games (six starts), going 1-5 with a 59.2 completion percentage, 937 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. He'll be on the QB2/3 borderline for fantasy managers if he makes more starts in 2025.
Source: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
Source: Browns Zone - Scott Petrak
Chris Godwin Could Play in Week 12 After Return to Full Practice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (leg) practiced in full on Thursday and could play on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. It is the first time that Godwin has been a full participant in practice since injuring his fibula way back in Week 5. He returned to practice for the first time last week, putting in three limited sessions, before being ruled out for the Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Bucs could be getting both Godwin and running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) back for a big game this weekend in L.A., but if they return, they will both have their snaps limited due to their long absences. The 29-year-old Godwin should eventually be a top target for quarterback Baker Mayfield, especially with Mike Evans (collarbone) likely done for the regular season, but it might take him a week or two to get back up to full speed.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
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