Thu Nov 6 9:05am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
For some reason, it sure feels like players are taking a little longer to return to action this year. Some guys that you thought would be out just a game or two are missing multiple weeks of action. Maybe that is the case every year, but it sure seems like this year is a bit different. We guess some teams might be withholding the severity of some of these injuries, though. Hopefully, this isn’t a trend going forward. We want our players back!
Here is the latest. . . .
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Browns. Judkins is already practicing in full this week. His shoulder injury doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore. The bye last week was probably a big help getting Judkins healthy. He will be fine to use Week 10, getting his normal workload.
Bucky Irving, RB, Bucs. Irving is doing some stuff on the side but still not participating in contact drills. His foot and shoulder injuries are still a factor. He is not expected to play this week, giving Rachaad White another start at running back for the Bucs.
Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs. Godwin remains out of practice because of his leg injury. He has missed the past three games because of the injury and at this point, we aren’t sure when he returns to action.
James Cook, RB, Bills. Cook sat out practice to begin the week, which is a bit of a surprise. He is battling ankle and foot injuries. This is one to watch. If he doesn’t get in some practice before the week is out, Cook is likely to miss the Week 10 game. Ray Davis and Ty Johnson would split the work at running back for the Bills.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders. Daniels dislocated his left elbow last week but avoided any fractures. He is going to be out for a while but might not be done for the season. He could return before the season is out if he can avoid surgery. For now, Marcus Mariota starts for the Commanders.
Brian Thomas, WR, Jaguars. Thomas was out of practice to start the week because of a nankle sprain. The Jaguars remain hopeful he is able to play this week, though. He is not being ruled out. If he can practice in the next day or two, look for Thomas to play. Keep an eye on the player notes for the latest.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, Patriots. Boutte had to leave the game last week because of a hamstring injury. He is out of practice right now. It is not looking good for Boutte to play. Get other options ready.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots. Stevenson missed the game last week because of a toe injury and remains sidelined. He still isn’t practicing. Stevenson seems a long shot to play Week 10, barring a big turnaround before the week is out. TreVeyon Henderson should handle most of the running back duties for the Patriots this week.
Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets. Wilson is back practicing this week on his knee injury. He is right on track to return to the lineup. He should be just fine to play Week 10.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans. Stroud took a huge hit last week, suffering a concussion. He has already been ruled out for the Week 10 game. Davis Mills will start for the Texans.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Panthers. Dowdle is battling some sort of quad injury. The Panthers held him out of practice Wednesday, but it seems they are being cautious with their star back. Carolina seems pretty confident Dowdle will return to practice later in the week and play the Week 10 game. Keep an eye on the player notes to be safe, though.
Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals. Murray was placed on Injured Reserve this week because of his foot sprain. Murray will be out at least the next four games because of the injury. Jacoby Brissett will handle the quarterback duties while Murray is out and could even keep the job if he keeps playing well.
Ka'imi Fairbairn, K, Texans. Fairbairn apparently injured his quad in last week’s game and is expected to miss the Week 10 game. Go get other options for this week’s game.
D'Andre Swift, RB, Bears. Swift missed the game last week with a groin injury but is back practicing on a limited basis this week. He is right on track to return to the starting lineup and play a big role in the Bears offense. Swift was playing very well before getting hurt.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears. Monangai is dealing with an ankle injury and was limited in practice Wednesday. He should be ready to play this week but likely splits the work at running back with D’Andre Swift expected to return from his injury.
Michael Pittman, WR, Colts. Pittman is another player dealing with a new injury, sitting out practice Wednesday because of a glute injury. He might be resting as much as anything, though, so don’t panic too much yet. We would not rule him out. But if he doesn’t practice at all before the week is out, expect Pittman to miss Week 10. But if he gets in some practice, look for him to be available.
Puka Nacua, WR, Rams. Nacua got banged up last week, suffering a rib injury. The Rams believe he will be ready for Week 10, though. The injury isn’t too serious at this point.
Aaron Jones, RB, Vikings. Jones has multiple injuries, dealing with shoulder and toe ailments. He was unable to practice Wednesday, which is not a good start to his week. He is looking iffy to play right now and even if active, Jones might be limited in the game. Jordan Mason starts if Jones is unable to play Week 10.
Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers. Purdy continues to deal with his toe injury. He still is practicing on a limited basis. He needs to start practicing in full once again before he returns to the starting lineup. We look for Mac Jones to get another start for the 49ers this week.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers. Pearsall continues to deal with his knee injury and remains out of practice. We look for him to miss the Week 10 game. He has really been slow to recover from this injury.
Cooper Kupp, WR, Seahawks. Kupp continues to deal with a hamstring injury and is out of practice to start the week. Last week, it sounded like he would miss just a week of action, but this start to his week is not a good sign for Kupp to return to action Week 10. We would get other options ready.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) was limited in practice on Thursday, but he said he's "just sore" and still considers himself in the "ramp-up stage" of his return from a torn ACL he suffered in last year's regular-season finale, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. When asked if he expects to play on Sunday against the New York Giants, Watson said, "Oh yeah." The 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 made his season debut in Week 8 and has caught eight of his 12 targets for 188 yards and no touchdowns in his first three games. He started by playing only 56% of the offensive snaps in Week 8, but he has slowly seen more action and saw an 82% snap share in the Monday night loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Watson is a bit of a boom/bust fantasy asset, but he's averaging a healthy 23.5 yards per catch as a big-play guy, and he could certainly boom this weekend against the G-Men.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (ankle) upgraded to a limited practice on Thursday, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Odunze has been dealing with an ankle injury since late October and hasn't been taking part in practices on Wednesdays. Now that the 23-year-old second-year wideout is back at practice on Thursday, he will most likely upgrade to full on Friday and be cleared to play in a Week 11 contest on the road against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. In the season-opening loss to Minnesota back on Sept. 8, Odunze caught six of his nine targets for 37 yards and his first touchdown of the year. He went on a four-game touchdown drought before returning to the end zone in last Sunday's win over the Giants, catching six of his 10 targets for 86 yards. Outside of a donut against the Bengals in Week 9, Odunze has been the Bears' most consistent WR, and he leads the team in catches (37), targets (69), receiving yards (559), and touchdowns (six).
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (quadriceps) was seen warming up at the portion of practice open to the media, so it looks like he will return to practice on Thursday, according to Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer. Just like last week, Dowdle did not practice on Wednesday before returning to the field the following day. The 27-year-old has been managing a quad issue, but it hasn't kept him from playing and serving as Carolina's unquestioned lead back. He will likely be limited on Thursday, but as long as he upgrades to full on Friday (like he did last week), he should be good to go for Sunday's divisional game against the hosting Atlanta Falcons. Dowdle has been the RB10 this year in half-PPR scoring with 788 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 149 carries while also adding 18 catches for 142 yards and a score. He's a must-start in fantasy if he's active in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Thursday that kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) has been ruled out for the Week 11 divisional game on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Fairbairn injured his quad in the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos and will now miss a second straight game. The Texans have a quick turnaround next week with a game on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills, so it's possible the 31-year-old veteran won't be ready for that one, either. Matthew Wright filled in for Fairbairn in the Week 10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and made his only field-goal attempt and his only extra-point try in the 36-29 victory. The 29-year-old should be in store for a better day in a cushy matchup against the Titans this weekend, but at best, he's a deep-league streaming option at the kicking position in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (illness) returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's session due to illness. London is in the middle of another big season as the Falcons' top receiving target. London's 53 receptions for 691 yards and six touchdowns lead the team, and highlight an offense built around explosive playmakers at each position. The Falcons face off against the Carolina Panthers in Week 11. In their last meeting, the defense held London to just five catches for 55 yards in one of his toughest matchups of the season. Look for quarterback Michael Penix to target him early and keep him involved this week.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) has officially been ruled out for the team's Week 11 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. Stroud suffered the injury when sliding in a Week 9 matchup with the Denver Broncos. Davis Mills will once again lead the offense as they face off with a Titans team they defeated 26-0 earlier this season. Mills leaned heavily on Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz (shoulder) last week, but Schultz could be in danger of missing this weekend's game, as he has yet to practice this week. Another name to watch in Week 11 is rookie Jayden Higgins, who hauled in five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown last week.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills is likely to start again as C.J. Stroud (concussion) remains out of practice in concussion protocol. Mills was dynamic in the win over the Jaguars last week, completing 60% of his passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Mills leaned heavily on Nico Collins (15 targets) and Dalton Schultz (11 targets) in the passing game. Head coach DeMeco Ryans clearly trusts Mills to make plays, which has been rewarded early. For teams in need of bye week help, Mills is an excellent option on the waiver wire heading into Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) was not seen at practice during the media portion of the session on Thursday. With the team facing the first place Denver Broncos, the Chiefs may be forced to rely on 30-year-old back Kareem Hunt to carry the load if Pacheco remains unavailable. Hunt has flashed his talent this season with 82 touches for 357 yards, and a team-high six touchdowns. Hunt is a popular add for fantasy teams heading into Week 11, and should be considered a must start if Pacheco sits.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) failed to practice on Thursday, putting his availability in doubt when the team faces the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Bateman has appeared in every game for the Ravens this season, logging 16 receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns. With Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews leading the team, Bateman has taken a backseat this season. The 25-year-old has recorded just two games of over 50 receiving yards, making him a shaky start even when healthy. Bateman's absence could leave even more opportunities for the team's top receiving options, and could give DeAndre Hopkins an increased snap share as well.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) was not present at practice on Thursday, putting his status for Sunday's tilt with the Philadelphia Eagles in question. The 24-year-old has hauled in 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns this season. If LaPorta is unable to go on Sunday, third-stringer Ross Dwelley could be called upon to fill in with Brock Wright (ankle) also missing practice time. Dwelley has just one target on the season, meaning quarterback Jared Goff will likely lean on the ground game, and wide receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown if LaPorta is unavailable. Continue to watch reports over the next two days ahead of the matchup.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) remains absent from practice heading into a difficult Week 11 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kincaid has been quarterback Josh Allen's primary weapon when healthy, but the team is at risk of being without their tight end for the second time this season. Dalton Knox remains an option for tight-end-needy teams heading into the weekend. With Kincaid continuing to trend in the wrong direction, Knox should be rostered in all formats heading into a likely high-scoring matchup.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (knee) was back at practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's session. Jackson has returned to his dominant form after missing three starts due to injury. The Ravens quarterback will face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The former MVP torched the Browns in their previous matchup with 225 yards passing and four touchdowns. Expect another big game for Jackson with the team riding a three-game win streak. Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers should be considered must-start options as well with Jackson in the lineup.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight (ankle) was seen at practice for the second straight day on Thursday, according to Dani Sureck of AZCardinals.com. Knight was listed as a limited participant in the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday after injuring his ankle in the Week 10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The 24-year-old may need a full practice this week to avoid a questionable tag going into the weekend, but as of right now, two practices suggest he has a chance to be active this Sunday versus the San Francisco 49ers. Since the team's bye in Week 8, Knight and Emari Demercado have been splitting most of Arizona's backfield touches, with Demercado being the more productive back. Knight hasn't scored since Week 6 and has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry on 33 rushing attempts in his three "starts." If he's active against San Fran, fantasy managers should consider him a low-upside RB3/flex option.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (shoulder) is missing a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. With two DNPs to begin the week, Schultz is firmly up in the air to play this weekend against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. It's pretty disappointing for any fantasy managers who picked up the 29-year-old after he had seven receptions on a season-high 11 targets for 53 yards and his first touchdown of 2025 in last week's spirited comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The good news, though, is that Schultz missed two practices back in Week 9 with knee and shoulder injuries before returning to practice on Friday and playing that Sunday. Schultz may need a full practice this Friday to be cleared to play on Sunday. Harrison Bryant (neck, shoulder) is also banged up, and Cade Stover (foot) is still on IR, so Houston's TE corps could be dangerously thin if Schultz cannot play this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers rookie first-round wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder) is practicing again on Thursday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Golden was listed as limited for the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday, and head coach Matt LaFleur said early in the week that the team would ease the 22-year-old back onto the field after a shoulder injury kept him from playing in Monday night's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. LaFleur also said that the rookie was really close to playing on Monday, which makes it sound like Golden has a pretty good chance of playing in Week 11 versus the New York Giants. The 23rd overall pick back in April out of Texas has plenty of long-term upside, but he's failed to stand out in Green Bay's crowded WR room in his first eight NFL games, catching 23 passes for 262 yards and no touchdowns.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) appears to be ramping up his rehab, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Reed is still on Injured Reserve, but he was "working up a sweat" on a side field during Thursday's practice. The Packers have yet to open up Reed's 21-day practice window, but that might not be far off. The 25-year-old former second-rounder is rehabbing from a broken collarbone and a fracture in his foot that has kept him sidelined since Week 2. Despite the long layoff, Reed should become a big part of Green Bay's offense when he's back in the fold. Early in his career, he's proven to have a nose for the end zone, scoring 18 touchdowns (15 receiving, three rushing) in his 35 games (24 starts). The Packers have a crowded wideout room, but Reed, who is currently rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues, deserves to be stashed in fantasy with his return looming.
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets acquired wide receiver Adonai Mitchell from the Indianapolis Colts at last week's trade deadline in the big deal that sent star cornerback Sauce Gardner to Indy. Mitchell did not make his debut with the Jets in their Week 10 win over the Cleveland Browns, but he should be active on Thursday night when the team takes on the division-rival New England Patriots in primetime. The Jets' passing attack has been the worst in the NFL through 10 weeks, so expectations must be tempered, but there's no denying that the 23-year-old former second-rounder has a big opportunity coming his way. Garrett Wilson (knee) could be heading to Injured Reserve, and Josh Reynolds (hip) is already on IR. In addition to Mitchell, the Jets are looking to the likes of John Metchie III, Tyler Johnson, Arian Smith, and Isaiah Williams to step up. Mitchell is arguably the best athlete of the bunch, making him a watch candidate in fantasy leagues as he prepares to make his Jets debut.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle, ribs) remained in a non-contact jersey during Thursday's practice and is dealing with multiple injuries, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. It's not great news for Buffalo's top receiver, but the good news is that he has been limited on back-to-back days and has a chance to play this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Still, the 25-year-old's status is up in the air, and he could be limited in what he does in Week 11 if he ends up playing. Shakir's injury, in addition to tight end Dalton Kincaid's (hamstring), could make Keon Coleman a much more intriguing flex play this weekend. Coleman has mostly disappointed in his second NFL season, but he did have three catches on eight targets for 46 yards and his third TD of the year last Sunday. His eight targets were the most he's seen since the season opener.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) was not seen on the practice field on Thursday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. Stroud suffered a concussion early in the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos and was not active in last Sunday's comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 24-year-old is still in the league's concussion protocol and hasn't practiced this week, so all signs are pointing to him missing a second straight game this weekend against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. Stroud was still experiencing some concussion symptoms earlier this week. With a short week coming up next in Week 12 on Thursday Night Football versus the Buffalo Bills, it's possible Stroud could be looking at missing three straight games. Backup Davis Mills surprisingly threw for almost 300 yards against the Jags, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to need to attempt 45 passes against Tennessee.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hasn't played like a 37-year-old in his 17th year in the league in 2025. In fact, he's playing some of the best football of his career and comes into a crucial Week 11 divisional battle against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday on an incredible hot streak. Stafford went 24-for-36 passing for 280 yards and four touchdowns in last week's blowout win over the San Francisco 49ers to reach 400 passing TDs for his career. He not only leads the NFL with 25 passing touchdowns through 10 weeks, but Stafford is on an absolute heater, going 69-for-101 with 13 touchdowns and no picks in his last three games. Fantasy managers who scored Stafford off the waiver wire earlier this year are sitting pretty. However, will he be able to keep the good times rolling on Sunday versus Seattle? The Seahawks' defense is improved, but they are around the middle of the pack in average fantasy points allowed per week to QBs and passing yards allowed per game, so there's absolutely no reason why anyone should be benching the red-hot Stafford this weekend.
From RotoBaller