Fantasy Football News
JuJu Smith-Schuster Practicing In Full
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday but was upgraded to full participation for Thursday's session, putting him on track to return in Week 11 to face the Buffalo Bills on the road. Head coach Andy Reid already said earlier this week that it's likely that Smith-Schuster would make his return against Buffalo after missing the previous three games with a hamstring injury. The 27-year-old wideout was a popular waiver-wire target after going for 130 receiving yards on seven catches in the win over the Saints on Oct. 7, but he was injured on Oct. 20 against the 49ers, and the Chiefs have since acquired DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Titans. At best, Smith-Schuster will probably be quarterback Patrick Mahomes' No. 3 target behind Hopkins and tight end Travis Kelce, making him a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy.
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Isiah Pacheco Putting In Limited Practices This Week
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) had his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday and put in a second straight day with a limited showing on Thursday. However, the Chiefs don't expect Pacheco to come off Injured Reserve to face the Buffalo Bills this Sunday, and fantasy managers may not want to expect his return until later in November. Remember, the 25-year-old suffered a fractured fibula in Week 2 and hasn't played since, so it's going to take him some to get back up to speed before the Chiefs trust him in game action. In the meantime, he should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues while Kareem Hunt continues to serve as the lead back. When Pacheco does return, the Chiefs could ease him back in alongside Hunt, who has been a game-changer for fantasy managers that scooped him up off the waiver wire earlier this season.
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Aaron Jones Limited Again On Thursday
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (ribs) was limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week. Jones missed almost a quarter of action in the Week 10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a rib injury, but X-rays came back negative, and he was able to return to the contest. The 29-year-old may have to deal with some pain, but all signs point to him suiting up in Week 11 on Sunday to face the Tennessee Titans on the road. If for some reason Jones was limited or out this weekend, the Vikings would likely split their backfield with Cam Akers and Ty Chandler. Jones only has two rushing touchdowns in his first year with the Vikings, but he also has rushed for 653 yards on 142 carries while catching 28 passes for 258 yards and another TD in nine games. If active this weekend, he should be locked into fantasy lineups as an RB2.
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C.J. Stroud On The Week 11 Injury Report
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (hand) was listed on the Week 11 injury report with a right-hand injury, but he was able to practice in full and should be fine to play in the Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys. Stroud had a disappointing finish to the Week 10 loss to the Detroit Lions, ultimately going 19-for-33 for 232 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. However, he's set to get top wideout Nico Collins (hamstring) back from Injured Reserve this week and has a fantastic bounce-back matchup against the disappointing Cowboys defense on tap. Dallas' defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to the QB position this year, giving Stroud clear QB1 upside this weekend for his fantasy managers. Overall, Stroud has been a disappointment after taking the league by storm in 2023. He's averaging 14.6 fantasy points per game, which ties him for 23rd among QBs with Aaron Rodgers.
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Lamar Jackson Limited In Thursday's Practice
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (knee, rest) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice while being rested due to a minor knee injury. There's really nothing to see here. Jackson will be just fine for a big divisional contest this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team he has struggled against in his career. The 27-year-old is coming off a 290-yard, four-touchdown performance in the one-point win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals last Thursday night. Jackson is currently the front-runner for a second straight MVP award and is the QB1 in overall fantasy scoring through 10 weeks. In his last four games, Jackson has thrown 14 touchdowns and no interceptions, and he's had three games with at least four touchdown passes. The matchup isn't great against Pittsburgh, but Jackson needs to be locked into all fantasy lineups in Week 11.
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Chiefs Place Harrison Butker On Injured Reserve
The Kansas City Chiefs placed kicker Harrison Butker (knee) on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury on Thursday and signed kicker Spencer Shrader off the New York Jets' practice squad in a corresponding move, according to sources. Butker will now be forced to miss at least the next four games, which means the earliest he'll be eligible to return will be on Dec. 15 on the road against the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. The 29-year-old was heading into Week 11 action as a top-10 fantasy kicker while making 18 of his 20 field-goal tries and 21 of his 22 extra-point attempts in nine games. It's a big blow to KC's special-teams kicking unit, as Shrader will be a big drop-off in talent moving forward for the Chiefs' offense. Fantasy managers with a realistic shot at making the postseason will probably want to stash Butker in an IR spot if they have the room. UPDATE: Butker will have a procedure to clean up his left meniscus and is expected to miss three to four weeks.
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Kirk Cousins Practices In Full On Thursday
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (elbow, shoulder) was listed as a full practice participant on Thursday after he opened the week with a limited session on Wednesday. Cousins' inclusion on the Week 11 injury report may have scared some fantasy managers, but it appears that he should be ready to go when Sunday rolls around in Denver to face the Broncos, barring a setback with his elbow and shoulder at practice on Friday. His two injuries are worth watching, though, and it could make things more difficult for Cousins this weekend against a top-five defense on the road. After coming up short against the division-rival New Orleans Saints in Week 10, Cousins heads into this week's difficult matchup as a low-end QB2 for fantasy purposes. Denver's D allows the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to signal-callers.
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Darnell Mooney Added To Week 11 Injury Report
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (Achilles) popped up on the team's Week 11 injury report for the first time all year on Thursday and was listed as a limited practice participant. Mid-week injuries are usually bad news for fantasy managers, but Mooney still has another day of practice and could still be ready to play on Sunday to face the Denver Broncos in Week 11. If he's not, though, it would mean more targets for receivers Drake London and Ray-Ray McCloud III and tight end Kyle Pitts. Mooney has been outstanding in his first year in Atlanta in 2024, catching 46 of his 78 targets for 684 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, good enough to make him a top-10 fantasy wideout. The matchup against Denver on the road isn't a great one, but if Mooney is able to play, he should at least be considered a WR3/flex for fantasy lineups.
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Jaylen Warren Misses Thursday's Practice With Back Injury
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (back) popped up on the Week 11 injury report due to a back injury and was unable to practice on Thursday. Mid-week injuries are usually a bad sign, so Warren's status for the Week 11 divisional tilt against the Baltimore Ravens is now firmly up in the air. It's bad timing, too, as the 26-year-old has seen a bigger role in the backfield alongside Najee Harris in recent weeks. If Warren is unable to suit up this Sunday, it will give Harris an even higher fantasy ceiling and ensure him a healthy number of touches against a Baltimore defense that has been a tough matchup for fantasy RBs in 2024. Warren being inactive would also mean a bigger role out of the backfield as a change-of-pace option for Cordarrelle Patterson. Warren's practice status on Friday may ultimately determine whether he'll be active in Week 11.
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Najee Harris Back To Full Practice On Thursday
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (ankle) returned to the team's practice and was a full-go on Thursday and looked to be just fine while running the football. Harris apparently picked up an ankle injury in the Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday and was held out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday. It appears the Steelers were just giving the 26-year-old a day of rest on Wednesday, and he should be all systems go for Sunday's big divisional clash against the Baltimore Ravens. Jaylen Warren (back) didn't practice on Thursday and could be in danger of missing this weekend's game, which would give Harris even more fantasy upside as an RB2. The Ravens defense hasn't been the greatest matchup for RBs from a fantasy perspective this year, but Harris should see enough volume to keep him on the RB2 map.
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Matt Milano Back At Practice For Bills
Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano (biceps) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week. The Bills opened Milano's 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve on Wednesday as he ramps up from a torn biceps that he suffered back in training camp on Aug. 15. The 30-year-old linebacker will need more time to recover and is unlikely to be officially activated from IR in order to play in Week 11 against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, but it's a positive development for Buffalo's defense that he's back on the practice field. Milano was a first-team All-Pro just two years ago, but a leg injury limited his effectiveness and availability in 2023, as he played in just five games and finished with 30 tackles (18 solo), no sacks and two interceptions. The Bills will be hoping Milano can return to his All-Pro level of play down the stretch in 2024.
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Amari Cooper Says He Feels Like He'll Play In Week 11
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist), who has missed the last two games, said he feels like he'll be able to play in Week 11 against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Cooper was officially listed as limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week. ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg reports that Cooper caught some passes from quarterback Josh Allen, which was a step up from what he had been doing the last couple of weeks. Nothing is certain yet, but the 30-year-old appears to be trending in the right direction to play this weekend. If Cooper does return, he should be heavily involved in the passing attack against a tough Chiefs defense with rookie Keon Coleman (wrist) already ruled out. In his debut with Buffalo on Oct. 20 against the Titans, Cooper caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.
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Tyreek Hill Returns To Practice
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) was spotted at the team's practice on Thursday after he was a non-participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Hill was most likely limited on Thursday, but the fact that he was back at practice at all is a good sign that he'll be ready to go for the Week 11 game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium. The 30-year-old is reportedly dealing with a torn tendon in his left wrist, but he hasn't missed any time because of it, and the Dolphins don't believe the injury is affecting his performance. The Cheetah's numbers have improved since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned from his concussion three weeks ago, and although Hill probably isn't 100%, he still has WR1 upside as long as he's active. Hill will be facing a Raiders defense that has been surprisingly stingy against opposing pass-catchers in 2024. UPDATE: Hill was limited in Thursday's practice.
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Nico Collins Takes Part In Thursday's Practice
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) is practicing on Thursday ahead of the Monday Night Football matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards before picking up a hamstring injury in Week 5, was activated off of Injured Reserve last week but did not face the Detroit Lions in Week 10. Fantasy managers itching to get Collins back in their starting lineups will need to monitor his practice status on Friday and Saturday, and hopefully, the team will remove him from the injury report or rule him out so his status is not up in the air for the last game of the Week 11 slate. If Collins plays, he is a must-start option against a Dallas defense that has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game to WRs this year. His upside is worth the risk of his injury holding him back. UPDATE: Collins was limited in Thursday's practice.
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Tee Higgins Suits Up For Thursday's Practice
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad) was seen at Thursday's practice in uniform after logging a limited session on Wednesday. The 2020 second-round pick has missed each of the last three games after suffering a quad injury in practice, but his return to action brings optimism for his potential availability in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Before suffering the injury, Higgins posted at least 11.2 half-PPR fantasy points in his last three games. He has averaged nine targets per game in six contests this year, so fantasy managers are surely itching to get him back in lineups. It's too early to tell if he will play on Sunday Night Football, so fantasy managers should monitor his practice status on Friday before making any start-or-sit decisions. UPDATE: Higgins was limited again on Thursday.
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Tank Bigsby Sitting Out Another Practice
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (ankle) is not practicing on Thursday due to an ankle injury. The second-year ball carrier out of Auburn did not practice on Wednesday either, so he could be trending toward missing Sunday's contest against the Detroit Lions. Bigsby had two weeks of at least 23 half-PPR fantasy points in October, but he is trending down over the last few games. If he doesn't play in Week 11, Travis Etienne Jr. should see a ton of touches, but with Mac Jones at the helm and Detroit having a top defense against the run, his upside would be limited. That said, he could see additional receiving work and command enough volume to contend for an RB2 finish on Sunday.
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Kyle Hamilton, Kyle Van Noy Return To Practice
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) and linebacker Kyle Van Noy (illness) returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with an ankle injury and illness, respectively. Hamilton suffered a sprained ankle in the Week 10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but his return to practice is promising for his potential availability against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. The 2022 first-round pick out of Notre Dame has tallied 71 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and seven passes defended this season. He is the No. 4 defensive back in fantasy points this year. Van Noy has seven sacks this season and is on pace to record a career-high in sacks in his second year in Baltimore. With a key AFC North game on Sunday, expect both defenders to push to play.
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Trey Hendrickson Not Seen At Practice On Thursday
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck) is not at practice on Thursday after logging a limited session on Wednesday. The 2023 first-team All-Pro is dealing with a neck injury that could affect his Week 11 availability for Sunday night's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, his Friday practice status and game designation will tell us whether he's at real risk of being inactive. The 29-year-old has 11 sacks in 10 games this season after logging 17.5 sacks in 2023. Needless to say, he's a critical piece of the Bengals' struggling defense, and his absence against Justin Herbert's ascending offense would be significant.
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MarShawn Lloyd Practicing On Thursday Despite Two Injuries
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring, ankle) is practicing for a second straight day since being designated to return from the Injured Reserve list. The rookie out of USC was placed on IR with a hamstring injury after Week 2 and is now also listed with an ankle ailment. It is to be determined if Lloyd will be activated to play in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears, but his return to practice is promising. The team's third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft could compete for the RB2 role behind Josh Jacobs when he's back in action, but it would be surprising if he's on the fantasy football radar unless Jacobs gets banged up. His rookie season has not gone to plan, but he could at least enter next season as the top handcuff for Jacobs in a great offense. UPDATE: Lloyd was limited for a second straight day on Thursday.
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Dalton Kincaid Not Present On Thursday
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) was not present at practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week after injuring his knee in the Week 10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Kincaid is probably going to have to put in some work in Friday's practice to even have a shot at suiting up this Sunday when the Bills take on the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy managers should already be preparing a backup plan in case the 25-year-old is ruled out this weekend. In that scenario, Dawson Knox would be on the TE1 radar, especially if receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) misses his third straight game. Rookie wideout Keon Coleman (wrist) has already been ruled out. Fantasy managers were expecting more from Kincaid in his sophomore campaign, as he's currently averaging 6.5 half-PPR points per game, which ranks 22nd among all TEs.
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JuJu Smith-Schuster
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Chiefs
