Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said that cornerbacks Jack Jones (back), Nate Hobbs (ankle) and Jakorian Bennett (shoulder) would not take part in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. There are still two days left for the team's defensive backs to return to practice, but this is a bad sign for the Raiders' defense heading into a Week 12 divisional matchup against the ascending Denver Broncos offense. Jones and Bennett were both injured in the Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins, while Hobbs didn't play last weekend after getting injured the week prior. It all amounts to Vegas' defense/special teams unit being off the fantasy radar this week, even if all three of their cornerbacks are cleared to play later this week.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder) was limited during Wednesday's practice, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. The 24-year-old quarterback suffered an injury in his throwing shoulder during last Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his progress throughout the week, but seeing him participate in practice early in the week is a promising sign of his availability this coming weekend. Even though Purdy threw for a season-low 159 yards last weekend, fantasy managers should still view him as a solid low-end QB1 heading into Week 12 facing the Green Bay Packers as he has averaged a strong 27.0 PPR points per game during Weeks 6 through 10.

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Las Vegas Raiders running backs Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps) will not practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. Both running backs were injured in the Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins last Sunday and are now in danger of missing the divisional clash this Sunday against the visiting Denver Broncos. They still have two more days to get back on the practice field, but this situation is worth watching and will make Ameer Abdullah worth a deep-league waiver-wire pickup if you are in dire straights at the RB position with six teams on bye in Week 12. Due to the struggles of White in 2024, Mattison has become Vegas' lead back. The 26-year-old had five carries for 19 yards and caught all three of his targets for 50 yards against Miami before his injury. Whoever is the "starter" for Vegas this weekend will have limited fantasy upside against a stout defense.

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Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (ankle) said he has a severely sprained left ankle and is considered week-to-week. Sanders isn't going to rush things and is not expected to play in Week 12 this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 27-year-old unsurprisingly did not practice on Wednesday after he was carted off in the Week 10 overtime win over the New York Giants in Week 10 in Germany. The Panthers were on bye in Week 11. Sanders had very limited fantasy appeal as the backup to Chuba Hubbard in Carolina before his injury, and he'll have even less fantasy appeal whenever he makes it back from his ankle injury with rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) fully expected to make his NFL debut this weekend. In 12-team fantasy leagues, Sanders should be on the waiver wire for the remainder of the season.

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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (hip) missed Tuesday's practice but returned to a limited session on Wednesday and won't carry an injury designation into Thursday night's divisional battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Garrett was a bust for fantasy managers in IDP leagues with no tackles or sacks in the Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints, he'll be back in play as a starting defensive lineman this week in what should be a physical, defensive battle on Thursday with adverse weather conditions expected in Cleveland. The 28-year-old reigning Defensive Player of the Year is on pace for another double-digit-sack season and had three sacks back in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Steelers QB Russell Wilson has been sacked 12 times in his four games this year, so Garrett has a good shot to bounce back in Week 12.

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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (ankle, appendix, hamstring) will go on the Non-Football Injury list, which will knock him out for at least another four games. Lloyd was just activated from Injured Reserve on Monday but will now be forced to miss additional time after having an emergency appendectomy last Friday. The frustrating rookie season continues for the 23-year-old, as he's played in just one game in 2024. He'll be eligible to return in Week 16, which is the semifinals in most fantasy football leagues. Given his injury woes dating back to training camp this summer, Lloyd should only be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues at this point. His new injury means that Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson will continue vying for scraps in the backfield behind starter Josh Jacobs.

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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that he feels good about tight end Sam LaPorta (shoulder) playing on Sunday versus the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. As of Wednesday, it's trending in the right direction for LaPorta to suit up after he missed the Week 11 blowout win over the Jacksonville Jaguars due to an AC joint sprain he suffered the week prior. "Questionable to above," Campbell said. It remains to be seen how much LaPorta even practiced on Wednesday, but this is obviously good news for LaPorta's fantasy managers. The 23-year-old has had a sophomore slump in 2024 after leading all TEs in fantasy points a year ago, but he'd certainly at least be a low-end TE1 if he's able to return this weekend to face the Colts. If LaPorta sits a second straight game, backup Brock Wright would once again be in play as a TE2 streamer in fantasy.

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New England Patriots offensive guard Cole Strange (knee) returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time during the regular season. The 2022 first-round pick out of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been sidelined all year due to a torn patellar tendon. Although he has not lived up to his draft capital, he could provide a boost for a struggling offensive line when he returns. It remains to be seen if he has a shot to play this week against the Miami Dolphins, but the organization could decide to ramp him up slowly. Strange has played in just 27 games since entering the NFL, so there is still time for him to develop and be a key piece of the Drake Maye era in New England.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he wants to see rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) play confident and fast when he makes his NFL debut, and he will be working behind Chuba Hubbard when he plays in his first NFL contest this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Meanwhile, Miles Sanders (ankle, foot) isn't expected to play in Week 12, so Brooks should serve as the backup to Hubbard. The 21-year-old Brooks hasn't played all year while recovering from an ACL tear he suffered last year in college, but he's practicing in full on Wednesday and should be active this Sunday. Hubbard has earned lead-back duties for Carolina with another strong season in 2024, which means Brooks will probably be in line for backup duties the rest of the way in his rookie season, making him mostly a bench stash and handcuff in fantasy.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday coming off their bye. Thielen has been on Injured Reserve since suffering a pretty serious hamstring injury all the way back in Week 3. However, the 34-year-old veteran pass-catcher said earlier this week that he expects to return to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 on Sunday. He's probably going to need to upgrade to a full practice on either Thursday or Friday to avoid a questionable tag on the final injury report, and Thielen may be eased back into the offense if he's eventually cleared to play this weekend. Thielen should have a significant role when he's back to full speed alongside rookie Xavier Legette, but he won't be the most attractive fantasy lineup option if he returns this Sunday against a tough Chiefs defense.

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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) is not practicing on Wednesday after suffering a hamstring injury in the Week 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time first-team All-Pro is the leader of the strong Baltimore front seven, so it would be a major loss if he has to miss any upcoming games. Baltimore will face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, so fantasy managers in IDP leagues should monitor his status throughout the week. The former first-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2018 has tallied 110 total tackles (61 solo), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception, and three pass deflections in 11 games this year.

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Monday and Tuesday due to a shoulder injury, but he returned to full practice on Wednesday and is set to play in the Thursday Night Football contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Moore was a non-factor early in the 2024 season, but after Amari Cooper was dealt to Buffalo and Jameis Winston took over the starting quarterback job, he has had relative success in fantasy football. The former New York Jet has tallied at least 16.5 PPR fantasy points in two of Winston's three starts, but a tough matchup against the Steelers' secondary on a short week is concerning. That said, six teams are on a bye, so he's a decent WR4/Flex option in Week 12.

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) and cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring) won't play against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football due to ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively. Highsmith was expected to miss a few weeks after suffering his ankle injury in Week 10, but he is not likely to be placed on Injured Reserve and could return after the team's mini-bye for Week 13. The 27-year-old logged seven sacks last season and has three in six games this year. Trice has not played since Week 3 after suffering a hamstring injury that landed him on IR, and he's been ruled out for Thursday night despite practicing in full all week.

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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) logged a full practice on Wednesday following limited sessions on Monday and Tuesday due to a knee injury. He has been removed from the injury report and is good to go against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football. The former first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft has seen his fantasy football stock rise after Jameis Winston took over for the injured Deshaun Watson. Since Week 7, Njoku has averaged 13.3 half-PPR fantasy points per game, so despite the tough matchup against the Steelers defense, he's a clear TE1 play for Week 12. With six teams on a bye, he is a virtual must-start this week despite the low floor of the Cleveland offense on a short week.

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Arizona Cardinals right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) is being activated from the Injured Reserve list following the team's Week 11 bye. Williams played just 22 snaps in Week 1 before suffering a knee injury that has sidelined him since, and his return could provide a nice boost to an ascending offense. Quarterback Kyler Murray and running back James Conner have been mostly strong fantasy football assets in 2024, so the return of a starting offensive lineman at a key position can only help their chances to continue producing in the final stretch of the 2024 campaign. Williams spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals before signing with the AFC West squad this offseason.

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Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (knee) and Geoff Swaim (concussion) have been ruled out of the Week 12 Thursday Night Football contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wills has struggled to stay healthy over the last two seasons and has appeared in just 13 games since the start of 2023. Fellow offensive tackle Dawand Jones (ankle) is out for the season, so Cleveland will be short-handed on the offensive line in a worrisome matchup against T.J. Watt and Preston Smith. Swaim, a 31-year-old journeyman, signed with Cleveland in September and has appeared in eight games of the Browns this year. He is primarily a blocking tight end, so his absence does not help the question marks up front. Expect Jameis Winston to face a ton of pressure in this AFC North grudge match.

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Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that wide receiver Calvin Ridley (illness) is out sick on Wednesday and won't practice, but he's expected to return to the field on Thursday. Ridley is a little under the weather as the team begins their preparations for Week 12 against the division-rival Houston Texans. The 29-year-old has plenty of time to get right before Sunday's contest and shouldn't have an issue playing this weekend. Ridley will likely see a lot of coverage from Texans cornerback Derek Stingley as he looks to improve on his 4-58-0 line in the Week 11 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. As long as Ridley is active in Week 12, fantasy managers should consider him a low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex. He's just two weeks removed from catching five passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert (hip) is working at practice with the team on Wednesday after missing the last two games with a right-hip injury. It's good news and means that barring a setback for Seibert in practice this week, he could return as the team's primary kicker in Week 12 in a great matchup against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. Zane Gonzalez has done a good job replacing Seibert the last two games, but Washington will most likely go back to Seibert when he's ready. The 28-year-old booter has made 25 of his 27 field-goal attempts in eight games for the Commanders in his first year with the team and has also made all 22 of his extra-point tries. On the year, Dallas has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers, so if Seibert is read to return, he should be considered for streaming purposes.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who has been benched coming out of the team's Week 11 bye, was the No. 4 QB during individual hand-off drills in practice on Wednesday behind new starter Tommy Devito, Drew Lock and new practice-squad signee Tim Boyle. The Giants aren't just benching Jones heading into their Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they are fully expected to shut him down for the rest of the 2024 season as they look to move in a new direction at the position going forward. It would be a surprise to see the 27-year-old take another snap for the Giants this year before the team likely cuts him this offseason. If Jones were to play and get hurt, the Giants would have to guarantee him $23 million in 2025. The former sixth overall pick played in just six games due to injury in 2023 and threw for eight TDs and seven picks in 10 games this year before being benched.

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Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) will be working through the league's concussion protocol on Wednesday in the first practice of the week. Spears suffered a concussion in the Week 11 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday and will now have to clear the league's concussion protocols in order to play in Week 12 against the division-rival Houston Texans this Sunday. It's good news that the 23-year-old will get in some work on Wednesday, but he's likely to be limited and will need to do more later in the week to get the green light. Spears has only 10 carries for 47 yards and five receptions for 12 yards over the last two weeks as the change-of-pace option to Tony Pollard in a low-volume Titans offense, making him a weak RB3/flex in fantasy leagues. If he is unable to play against Houston, Julius Chestnut would work as Pollard's backup.

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