Fantasy Football News

Chargers running back Kalen Ballage, listed as questionable for Sunday with calf and ankle injuries, is not expected to play vs. the Bills, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: With Ballage out, the Chargers are expected to have Austin Ekeler, Troymaine Pope, and Josh Kelley active. Ekeler hasn't played in an NFL game since Week 4 and is unlikely to see his usual workload even if he is able to play on Sunday. That leaves Kelley and Pope as the primary ball-carriers, with Kelley having a slight edge in potential usage.

The Atlanta Falcons plan to assess how wide receiver Julio Jones and his hamstring are feeling Sunday morning before deciding whether he can play, according to a report from ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. Jones is currently listed as questionable due to his ailing hamstring. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Jones couldn't finish last week's game against the Saints and didn't practice on Friday after being limited on both Wednesday and Thursday, so he is truly questionable heading into Sunday's matchup against the Raiders. The Falcons are 3-7 and have already fired their head coach, so they don't exactly have much to play for. But Jones has played through injuries in the past, so fantasy managers will have to check back in on his status on Sunday morning before making any final lineup decisions.

Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst, listed as questionable for Sunday due to an ankle injury, is expected to play vs. the Raiders, according to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Through 10 games this season, Hurst has 37 receptions for 411 yards and three touchdowns. He didn't catch either of his two targets against the Saints in Week 11 but caught seven of his eight targets for 62 yards in Week 9 against the Broncos.

The 49ers activated LT Trent Williams from the reserve/COVID-19 list. (Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, and Richard Sherman were all activated off IR. Perhaps the 49ers are finally getting healthy ahead of a big Week 12 matchup with the Rams.

The 49ers activated Richard Sherman (calf) off injured reserve. (Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Sherman is questionable to play in Week 12 against the Rams, but it appears as if he has a chance to return. RBs Raheem Mostert (ankle) and Jeff Wilson (ankle) were both activated off IR as well on Saturday. The 49ers could finally be getting a little healthier for their big divisional matchup with Los Angeles.

Jay Glazer of FOX reports "at least" two more Ravens starters will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday morning. (Source: Jay Glazer on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Glazer adds that at least one of the players going on the list has tested positive. It continues to look unlikely that the Ravens play the Steelers on Tuesday night, which presents the NFL with their toughest scheduling challenge to date. Hopefully we get clarity by lineup lock on Sunday, but as of now fantasy mangers should plan to be without their Ravens and Steelers for Week 12, just to be safe.

The 49ers activated RB Jeff Wilson Jr. (ankle) off injured reserve. (Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: San Francisco also activated Raheem Mostert. Wilson hasn’t played since Week 7 against the Patriots. He isn’t on the fantasy radar with Mostert looking likely to play.

The 49ers activated RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) off injured reserve. (Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Mostert remains questionable to play in Week 12 against the Rams, but he warrants FLEX consideration if he winds up playing. The 28-year-old hasn’t played since Week 6. He’s averaging 5.9 yards per carry in four games this year.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms that Broncos practice squad WR Kendall Hinton "will play plenty at QB" in Week 12 against the Saints. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Drew Lock, Brett Rypien, and and Blake Bortles are all ineligible to play as they weren't wearing masks around COVID-positive QB Jeff Driskel. Hinton is a former Wake Forest quarterback and it'll be fascinating to see how Denver deploys him against New Orleans. It was rumored that RB Royce Freeman would be involved, and maybe he still will be, but Hinton has more recent experience at the position. Expect a heavy dose of Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay for whatever game plan the Broncos come up with. Obviously, the Saints D/ST is a high-end fantasy start.

Broncos RB Royce Freeman could be the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos in Week 12 when they take on the New Orleans Saints. Jeff Driskel, Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles are all ineligible to play due to COVID-19 policies. (Source: Mike Klis on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Freeman is the emergency QB for the Broncos, so he was thought of as the first choice to start in Week 12, but it looks like it’ll be WR Kendall Hinton, a former QB at Wake Forest and current practice squad player.

Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles are ineligible to play Sunday’s Week 12 matchup against the Saints. All three Broncos’ QBs will not play, leaving RB Royce Freeman as the team’s emergency QB, per Mike Klis of 9 Sports. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: All three Broncos’ QBs were deemed high-risk and are ineligible to play against the Saints. None of the QBs were wearing a mask and close contact with someone who was infected. According to Mike Klis of 9 Sports, third-string RB Royce Freeman is the emergency QB. The Broncos will not forfeit the game and will Week 12 without a starting QB. This is an obvious downgrade to all Broncos’ skilled position players and bump up to Saints DST.

The Miami Dolphins did not activate RB Myles Gaskin (MCL) off IR Saturday by 4:00 PM EST, so he will be out on Sunday vs. the Jets. (Source: Barry Jackson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: With Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) out, that leaves the Dolphins with Patrick Laird, Matt Breida, and DeAndre Washington in what is likely some sort of timeshare. Laird saw the highest % of snaps in Week 11 (27%) and could lead the charge on Sunday.

The Vikings downgraded TE Irv Smith (groin, back) from doubtful to out for Sunday’s Week 12 contest against the Panthers. (Source: Chris Tomasson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Smith returned to action in Week 10’s loss to the Cowboys. He hauled in two receptions on both targets for 23 yards. Smith was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. He was unable to practice the rest of the week and was ultimately ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Look for Kyle Rudolph to handle TE duties and can be used as a streamer in a plus matchup for Week 12.

The Los Angeles Chargers have officially activated RB Austin Ekeler (hamstring) off IR and he has a “chance” to play Sunday against the Bills. (Source: Los Angeles Chargers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Check back shortly for the fantasy impact.

The Bills placed WR John Brown on injured reserve Saturday due to a high-ankle sprain. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Brown will miss at least the next three games as he continues to recover from a high-ankle sprain. The Bills called up WR Jake Kumerow off the practice squad in a corresponding move. Brown will be eligible to return Week 15 against the Broncos. Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis will lead the Bills wideout corps while Brown is sidelined.

Seahawks RB Chris Carson (foot) is off the injury report and is expected to play Monday night against the Eagles. (Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Carson is expected to make his return Monday night against the Eagles after a month-long absence with the foot injury. Carson should take back his role as the lead back, with Carlos Hyde and DeeJay Dallas operating in complementary roles.

The Bengals activated WR Auden Tate from the reserve/COVID-19 list. (Source: Ben Baby on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Tate is on track to play in Week 12 against the Giants. He isn't a fantasy option, however, especially with Brandon Allen starting at quarterback for Cincinnati.

The Detroit Lions have relieved head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn of their duties. (Source: Detroit Lions on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Patricia went 13-29-1 during his tenure as the Lions head coach, a record that is sure to make ownership think twice about keeping you in that role. After back-to-back brutal losses to the Panthers and Texans, the Lions decided it was time to move on from both Patricia and Quinn.

With Tua Tagovailoa (thumb) downgraded to doubtful in Week 12, it’ll be Ryan Fitzpatrick likely getting the nod as the starting quarterback for the Dolphins against the Jets in Week 12. (Source: Mike Garafolo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: With Tagovailoa doubtful, the keys to the kingdom will be handed back to Fitzpatrick for Week 12 against his former team. Consider him a high-upside QB2 against the Jets. DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki should also be upgraded slightly as we know Fitzpatrick likes to throw it around the yard.

Dolphins rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa (thumb) has been downgraded to doubtful to play in Week 12 vs. the Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick is now on track to be the starter. (Source: Mike Garafolo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Tagovailoa suffered a thumb injury in practice and the Dolphins don’t want to push him to play when he’s not fully healthy. So the team will turn back to the veteran Fitzpatrick in a great matchup against his former team. Fitzpatrick should be considered a high-end QB2, and this move could be looked at as an upgrade to DeVante Parker’s and Mike Gesicki’s outlook.