Fantasy Football News

Austin Hooper sprained his MCL during Sunday’s win over the Saints. He is getting a second opinion to determine how many games he might miss. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: There is a chance that Hooper could miss around or up to six weeks based on the average recovery time for an MCL injury. In addition to that, anytime a player gets a second opinion on an injury it typically means trouble for the player and fantasy owners. If needed, Kyle Rudolph, Dallas Goedert, and Mike Gesicki are decent TE streamers that could replace Hooper on fantasy rosters.

According to Ian Rapoport, Atlanta Falcons starting running back Devonta Freeman is expected to be sidelined for about two weeks with a foot sprain. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: As expected, Devonta Freeman is staring at what could be a multi week absence. With Ito Smith on injured reserve, Brian Hill will assume the lead back role with Freeman sidelined. Rookie Qadree Ollison will serve as his backup. This could be Freeman's last season as the Falcons starter. Hill has the makings of a volume based RB2 in Freeman's absence, and should be one of the top waiver wire targets of the week.

More details on this news will be available soon. (Source: NFL.com)

Fantasy Impact: Check back shortly for the fantasy impact.

Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise is inactive for the team's Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. (Source: NFL.com)

Fantasy Impact: Prosise has now been a healthy scratch for three consecutive games, and he has just 13 carries and nine receptions during the six games in which he has been active this season. His fantasy value is limited to deep dynasty leagues at this point.

49ers kicker Robbie Gould is officially inactive for the team's Week 10 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Chase McLaughlin will handle kicking duties for San Francisco this week. (Source: San Francisco 49ers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Gould was listed as doubtful, and the team signed Chase McLaughlin in an obvious sign that Gould wouldn't be ready for Monday. Keep an eye on his status this week, but it's possible that this is a multiple-week injury.

49ers tight end George Kittle (knee/ankle) is officially inactive for the team's Week 10 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. (Source: San Francisco 49ers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Kittle was listed as doubtful on the team's final official injury report, so this news was expected. Ross Dwelley, Garret Celek, and Levine Toilolo could all see snaps in his absence.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard hauled in three of his six targets for 27 yards.

Fantasy Impact: After leading the Packers in receiving yards in Week 9, Lazard was second on the team in both targets and receptions in Week 10. Lazard was third on the team in wide receiver snaps with just 44 percent, but seems to have firmly passed Geronimo Allison, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the eyes of Aaron Rodgers. With the Packers leaning on the run more than ever, Lazard is more deep league flex than WR3 going forward.

The Minnesota Vikings D/ST recorded one sack and one interception against the Dallas Cowboys.

Fantasy Impact: The Vikings defense was terrific down the stretch, and bottled up Ezekiel Elliott all night, but those accomplishments do not show up on the fantasy stat sheet. They allowed 24 points to the Cowboys and their limited counting stats kept them to just three fantasy points, one of the lowest outputs of the week for any D/ST. The Vikings have a plus matchup in Week 11 against a Denver Broncos team that will likely be starting Brandon Allen.

The Carolina Panthers claimed former Chicago Bears running back Mike Davis off of waivers. (Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This is a smart insurance based addition for the Carolina Panthers. McCaffrey is averaging 25.8 touches per game on the season, and needs a veteran depth piece behind him in case of injury. This claim may have also been prompted by the Green Bay Packers goal-line stand to secure the win over the Panthers in Week 10. At 221 lbs to McCaffrey's 205, Davis may have been a strong option had he been on the team versus the Packers.

Cleveland Browns tight end Ricky Seals-Jones was listed as a limited participant on the team's estimated practice report. (Source: Nate Ulrich on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Seals-Jones tested out his knee prior to Week 10's contest, but was declared inactive. His limited designation here suggests that the Browns believe he will be able to be ready for Thursday's contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Demetrius Harris played just 49 percent of the snaps, and saw just two targets in RSJ's absence.

The San Francisco 49ers activated tight end Garrett Celek from the reserve/physically unable to perform list ahead of tonight's contest against the Seattle Seahawks. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Celek’s activation is an ominous sign for George Kittle’s potential availability for tonight's contest. Kittle was able to play through the injury in Week 9, and head coach Kyle Shanahan offered that almost any other player with the same ailments would have already been ruled out. While tonight's contest may be viewed as something of a must win with the Seahawks breathing down their necks in the standings, risking Kittle’s availability for the rest of the season for a chance to win one game is not in the team's best interests. Celek will likely function as emergency depth behind Ross Dwelley and Levine Toiolo if Kittle is ruled out.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock will return to practice this week. (Source: Denver Post)

Fantasy Impact: The Broncos will now have three weeks to activate Lock. Elway famously reiterated time after time that Lock was not ready, but that may have been to avoid any QB controversy in Denver. With Flacco on injured reserve, and Brandon Allen more clipboard holder than ideal spot starter, Lock could end up starting down the stretch if he can show some improvement in practice. He has not been on the practice field since August and will likely need some time to get up to speed with the offense and playbook. The team purposely delayed allowing him to return to practice until after the Week 10 bye so he could get three full weeks of practice if needed (team's do not practice during bye weeks). Lock will likely be error prone due to his aggressive mindset, but has the arm talent to sneakily increase the value of Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, and even DaeSean Hamilton.

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Benny Snell Jr. was listed as did not practice on the team's estimated practice report. (Source: Nate Ulrich on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Pittsburgh Steelers did not actually practice on Monday, but are required to submit an estimated report due to playing in this week's edition of Thursday Night Football. Snell is likely looking at a mutli-week absence, so his listing here is not surprising. James Conner was listed as a full participant on the estimated report and is trending towards joining Jaylen Samuels in the backfield against Cleveland on Thursday.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn stated that he has confidence in Brian Hill if Devonta Freeman's injury proves to be serious. (Source: Vaughn McClure on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: A healthy inactive early in the season, Brian Hill appears well on his way to grabbing hold of the lead back role in Atlanta thanks to injuries to both Devonta Freeman and Ito Smith. Hill pounded the rock 20 times and saw two targets, scoring once in Week 10, in a surprise victory over the Saints. Qadree Ollison will likely be more involved if Freeman is unable to go, but Hill will indeed be the lead back unless Ollision looks unstoppable. Pending the results of Freeman's MRI, Hill is in the mix to be the top waiver wire pickup of the week.

Jaylon Smith finished Sunday’s loss to the Vikings with 13 total tackles (seven solo).

Fantasy Impact: Smith is first in tackles for the Cowboys with 81 through Week 10. He is a must-start across all leagues.

Leighton Vander Esch finished SNF with 13 total tackles (five solo) as the Cowboys lost to the Vikings 28-24.

Fantasy Impact: Vander Esch has 67 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a forced fumble through Week 10. Start him weekly across all leagues.

Mike Hughes racked up seven solo tackles during Sunday’s 28-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Fantasy Impact: Hughes started for Trae Waynes (personal) and put in a solid effort. He can be left on waivers in most leagues but is worth remembering in deeper dynasty formats as a potential late-season add.

Cory Littleton racked up 14 total tackles (nine solo) and a forced fumble during Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.

Fantasy Impact: Littleton has 80 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions through Week 10. He is an LB1 in all leagues and should be started everywhere.

Dante Fowler Jr. finished Sunday’s loss to the Steelers with two total tackles, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown.

Fantasy Impact: Fowler Jr. has 34 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble through Week 10. He can be kept on waivers in most IDP leagues.

Preston Smith racked up six total tackles and two sacks during Sunday’s win over the Panthers.

Fantasy Impact: Smith has 10 sacks, 41 tackles, one forced fumble, and an interception through Week 10. He should be started every week across all leagues, but owners should make plans to be without all Packers as they are on Bye in Week 11. Nick Kwiatkoski of the Bears might be the best player to grab as he would be widely available.