Here are some of the fantasy-relevant news and notes that fantasy football managers should be aware of heading into Week 11.
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray will be a true game-time decision this week for the Arizona Cardinals. After practicing this week he appears to be trending in the right direction… Detroit Lions’ starter Jared Goff is officially listed as doubtful for Week 11. Tim Boyle is expected to get the start in his place… Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule says that Cam Newton will take the first snap this week, but P.J. Walker will also likely play… Despite most of his body being injured, Baker Mayfield will start for the Cleveland Browns this week… Joe Flacco will be the New York Jets’ starter this week despite Zach Wilson’s knee being “structurally okay”… Tua Tagovialoa was named the Miami Dolphins Week 11 starter early in the week and is good to go after a full week of practice… Ben Roethlisberger hopes to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers this week and is preparing as if he’ll be out there. He’s yet to be cleared from the Covid protocols… Taysom Hill has been struggling with a foot injury all week and is very questionable to play his hybrid-QB role for the New Orleans Saints this week.
Running Backs
Chris Carson will undergo surgery on his neck that will end his season and has long-term concerns for his career. Alex Collins is expected to play and start for the Seattle Seahawks as part of a committee… Green Bay Packers starter Aaron Jones will miss at least one week and possibly two after injuring his ankle last Sunday… Saquon Barkley is fully expected to make his return for the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Devontae Booker only managed to get in a limited practice on Friday and isn’t a lock to play this week… Alvin Kamara has once again been ruled out this week. Ty Montgomery will be sidelined as well. The Saints are expected to activate Tony Jones from injured reserve… Elijah Mitchell is unlikely to play for the San Francisco 49ers this week after being officially listed as doubtful. JaMycal Hasty is also looking unlikely to play… Latavius Murray is expected to return to the Baltimore Ravens’ lineup this week. His role is unclear, but the team did release Le’Veon Bell… Miles Sanders is very questionable this week and is trending towards being a game-time decision for the Philadelphia Eagles… Jamaal Williams is questionable this week and will likely be a game-time decision. Jermar Jefferson has been ruled out… James Robinson is questionable for the Jacksonville Jaguars Week 11 but is expected to suit up… There is no clarity on whether or not Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be activated by the Kansas City Chiefs this week. We will have to follow his status up until game day… The Tennesee Titans have ruled out Jeremy McNichols this week… Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton have been activated off the reserve/Covid list… Cordarrelle Patterson was unable to suit up for the Atalanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football and his status for next week is now unclear.
Wide Receivers
Amari Cooper has tested positive for Covid and will miss the Dallas Cowboys Week 11 games as well as their matchup on Thanksgiving… Chase Claypool ended the week off the injury list and looks to be good to go for Sunday… DeAndre Hopkins will miss another game this week and is expected to return after the Cardinals bye… Reports swirled this week that Antonio Brown gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a fake vaccination card to avoid Covid protocols and restrictions. Browns’ camp refuted the story, however, this is likely not the last we’ve heard of this. Regardless, he will not play this week due to injury… Donovan Peoples-Jones will be a game-time decision this week and Anthony Schwartz has been ruled out with a concussion… Hollywood Brown is questionable this week with a thigh injury but trending towards playing… Tim Patrick inked a three-year $34.5 million extension with the Denver Broncos this week… Allen Robinson is not expected to suit up for the Chicago Bears this week… Allen Lazard is not expected to play this week and is listed as doubtful… Denzel Mims remains on the Covid list and may not be able to return this week… The Washington Football Team has listed Curtis Samuel as questionable this week. It would be a surprise if he played. At best he will be on a small snap count according to the team.
Tight Ends
Neither Logan Thomas nor Ricky Seals-Jones will play this week and John Bates is expected to start for Washington… Dallas Goedert signed a monster four-year $59 million extension this week and has cleared the concussion protocol… Rob Gronkowski is expected to return this week… Geoff Swaim has been ruled out with a concussion… The Houston Texans have moved now-former quarterback Jeff Driskel to tight end… Hayden Hurst has been placed on IR… The Jags have activated James O’Shaughnessy from IR.
Defensive Backs
Richard Sherman (CB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sherman injured his calf in pre-game warmups last week and was forced to miss his Week 10 matchup. He was diagnosed with a grade 2 calf strain. Later in the week, he was seen in a walking boot and then placed on injured reserve. He will now miss at least the next three weeks. The Bucs struggled mightily in the secondary early in the season, but signing Sherman had helped steady the ship in recent weeks. This is another him to that secondary and is a definite boost for Daniel Jones and the Giants’ wideouts this week.
Patrick Peterson (CB) Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have activated Peterson from the IR this week. He had been sidelined with a hamstring injury and this activates his 21-day window to be placed on the active roster. It’s not definite that he’s playing this week, but it seems to look like it’s heading in that direction. While he may not be the superstar he once was, Peterson would be a big boost for the Vikings’ defensive backfield. He would likely see plenty of time matched up with Davante Adams.
Harrison Smith (S) Minnesota Vikings
Smith has been activated from the Covid list after missing the past two games. He will slide right back into his starting role and will be relied upon to help stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. He is one of the best safeties in the league and should have a positive impact on his defense.
Dre Kirkpatrick (CB) San Francisco 49ers
Once a productive starting corner, Kirkpatrick looks to be on his last legs as an NFL player. His likely replacement will be Ambry Thomas or Deommodore Lenoir. This secondary obviously isn’t in the best of shape right now. This week they match up with the Jags’ less than stellar passing attack. It’s tough to trust anyone in the passing attack or the secondary in this one.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (S) Pittsburgh Steelers
Fitzpatrick has been placed on the reserve/Covid list and is unlikely to play this week. This is a brutal blow for a defense that could also be without T.J. Watt this week. With Mason Rudolph last week this team tied the Lions so they will need all the help they can get if Big Ben is once again sidelined. Pittsburgh takes on the Chargers this week and the absence of MInkah is a big boost for that passing attack. Particularly on the inside part of the field.
Troy Hill (CB) Cleveland Browns
The Browns will be without Troy Hill this week after a scary scene last week when he laid motionless on the ground and was eventually carted off the field on a stretcher. While this is a hit for the Browns’ defense against the Lions, as he has been one of their best defensive players this season, the bigger concern here is his long-term health. The good news is he was released from the hospital earlier in the week after suffering a neck injury.
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Will Byron Pringle’s strong Week 10 showing carry over into Week 11?
