Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol and was listed as a non-participant on the team's estimated injury report on Monday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. There are still two days left for Stroud to make his way through the NFL's concussion protocol, but things are trending toward the 24-year-old missing a third straight game for the Week 12 game on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans will probably hold him out on a short week and hope that he can clear the concussion protocol next week and play against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts in Week 13. Davis Mills has gone 2-0 and thrown for 566 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception as the replacement for Stroud. He'll be a low-end QB2 streaming option again on Thursday if Stroud is ruled out by Wednesday.

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Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) was listed as a full participant on the team's estimated injury report on Monday, according to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime. Fairbairn suffered a quad injury in the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos and missed the last two games as a result. However, with a full practice already under his belt on Monday, it's looking like the 31-year-old has a good chance to kick this Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12, barring a setback. Matthew Wright has been filling in as the team's placekicker the last two weeks, but if Fairbairn is cleared, he will take over on Thursday. In eight games in 2025 in his ninth year in the NFL, Fairbairn has made 22 of his 25 field-goal chances (5-for-8 from 50-plus yards) while making all 12 of his extra points. If Fairbairn is back on Thursday evening, he should at least be in play as a kicking streamer in fantasy.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the way that quarterback Bryce Young spread the ball around to so many of the team's wide receivers on Sunday in the overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons "happened organically." However, Canales also said there was a "focused effort" to get Xavier Legette more targets. The 24-year-old saw eight targets in Week 11 after having only one target the week before. His eight targets against the Falcons were the second-most he's had this season. Legette caught half of those targets for 83 yards and his third touchdown of the year in the 30-27 victory. He'll be a waiver-wire target this week after his big game, but fantasy managers will want to monitor his status going into Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers after he left the game late with a hip injury. Other than his performance on Sunday, Legette has only one game with more than 31 receiving yards.

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't considering benching second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at all as he continues to develop after missing all of his rookie season due to a knee injury. When asked if there was a level of performance that would lead him to make a change at QB during a game, O'Connell said he was "not going to get into any of that right now." "There's what's best for the young quarterback, what's best for our offense, what's best for our team," O'Connell said when asked about balancing McCarthy's development with trying to win enough games to make the playoffs. "That's my job to manage all those things, and I've got to do a better job of that." The 22-year-old struggled for most of the Week 11 loss to the Bears on Sunday and has gone 50-for-99 with five interceptions in three starts since returning from an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2. The Vikes are going to live and die with McCarthy's growing pains the rest of the year, and fantasy managers will be in the same boat.

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When asked if the offense will look different with quarterback Kirk Cousins taking over as the starter, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said, "It's fair to say it'll look different." Michael Penix Jr. (knee) aggravated a bone bruise and knee sprain and also suffered ligament damage to the ACL in his left knee in Sunday's overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11, and the 25-year-old second-year signal-caller potentially will miss the rest of the year. He will at least miss the next four games after being put on Injured Reserve on Monday. We'd expect the Falcons to lean more on running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier now that Cousins is starting again. The 37-year-old completed only 61.5% of his passes for 250 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in three games (one start) this year. The four-time Pro Bowl may get into more of a groove after he gets settled in, but fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect him to see much passing volume.

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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that running back Josh Jacobs (knee) suffered a knee contusion in the Week 11 win over the New York Giants on Sunday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Injured Reserve is not a consideration, and it's possible that Jacobs could be ready to play in Week 12 on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. There have been reports suggesting that the 27-year-old is week-to-week as well. Jacobs' status for Week 12 will depend on how much he can do in practice this week, so we'll be keeping a close eye on his status from Wednesday through Friday. If he ends up being held out this Sunday, Emanuel Wilson is expected to take over lead-back duties in Green Bay, which will make him a popular short-term waiver-wire pickup this week. Wilson played 71% of the offensive snaps on Sunday against the Giants.

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The Washington Commanders released veteran kicker Matt Gay on Monday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's unclear who the Commanders plan on replacing Gay with, but they will likely bring in kickers over the next two weeks as they prepare to take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Week 13 following their Week 12 bye. The 31-year-old Gay was in the midst of a tough season with Washington, making a career-low 68.4% of his 19 field-goal attempts through 10 games this season. However, he was perfect on his 22 extra-point tries. Gay missed two field goals in Sunday's 16-13 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, which was the last straw for the Commanders. Whoever the Commanders replace Gay with for their Week 13 game should be avoided in fantasy against a tough defense, with quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) likely out again.

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The NFL is suspending Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct after he was caught on video spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey on Sunday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Barring a successful appeal of his suspension, Chase will miss the Week 12 contest on Sunday against the New England Patriots. Chase's conduct led to an altercation in which Ramsey threw punches at Chase, causing him to be ejected from the Week 11 game. The 25-year-old will now most likely miss this weekend's game against the Pats, so fantasy managers should shift him to their bench this week. Tee Higgins will operate as quarterback Joe Flacco's top target for that one and will draw the attention of Pats cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Andrei Iosivas will be the No. 2 this Sunday, making him worth flex consideration. Tight end Noah Fant will also be more attractive as a TE streamer in Week 12.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) is considered "week-to-week" after spraining the PCL in his knee in Sunday's overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "He could come back and feel much better. We just don't know," head coach Raheem Morris said on Monday. The 24-year-old pass-catcher caught seven of his nine targets for 119 yards before getting hurt on Sunday, marking the fifth time this year he's gone over 100 receiving yards and the fifth time in the last six games. At the very least, fantasy managers should expect London to miss the Week 12 divisional contest versus the New Orleans Saints, but his absence could also extend into Week 13 against the New York Jets. For however long London is out, Darnell Mooney and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. will see elevated target shares from veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Receivers Davis Sills V, KhaDarel Hodge, and Carlos Washington will be battling for WR2/3 duties.

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Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) will not practice on Monday, according to head coach Sean McDermott. Kincaid suffered a hamstring injury in Week 10 and wasn't cleared to play in Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 26-year-old has two days left to get back on the practice field, but on a short week, his chances of playing on Thursday night against the Houston Texans could be slim. The Bills listed Kincaid as week-to-week last week, so fantasy managers should be preparing for him to miss a second straight game in Week 12. With Kincaid sidelined in Week 11, backup Dawson Knox played 75% of the offensive snaps but caught just one of his three targets for 23 yards despite the Bills hanging a 44 spot on the Bucs. If Kincaid misses another game, Knox should be considered a touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer in fantasy football.

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The San Francisco 49ers won't open the practice windows for either wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) or Jacob Cowing (hamstring) this week, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. Aiyuk, who has been out all year since tearing multiple ligaments in his knee in Week 7 of 2024, remains "week-to-week. Cowing, meanwhile, will not have his practice window opened until after the team's Week 14 bye. Aiyuk will not make his season debut in Week 12 versus the Carolina Panthers, and he's probably unlikely to return in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns, either. Time is running out for the 27-year-old former first-rounder to make an impact for fantasy managers who have been stashing him all year. The Niners have a good matchup coming out of their bye in Week 15 against the Titans, but even if Aiyuk can play in that game, he'd be a very risky option for those playing in the first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues.

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San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) is considered week-to-week after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in the Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. With Pineiro hurt, the 49ers will hold kicker tryouts this week. Lombardi mentions that the Niners could reunite with Jake Moody and sign him off the Chicago Bears' practice squad. San Fran doesn't currently have another placekicker on their roster. The 30-year-old Pineiro had been money for the 49ers this year before his injury, making all 22 of his field-goal attempts, including all six from 50-plus yards, and 18 of his 22 extra-point tries in 10 games. The team will have a bit of extra time to find a new kicker going into their Week 12 matchup against the Carolina Panthers next Monday night.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (toe) did 7-on-7 work in practice last week and felt good, which means he could mix into some 11-on-11 work this week, according to head coach Zac Taylor. "He's of the mindset that he wants to play football for us," Taylor said when asked if the team's 3-6 record would impact his return this year. The 28-year-old signal-caller is still eyeing a return from Injured Reserve for a big divisional matchup on Thanksgiving Day against the Baltimore Ravens. However, Burrow's progress from surgery to fix a turf-toe injury and the team's chances of making the playoffs this year will impact whether or not he actually returns on that date. The Bengals might need to win in Week 12 against the New England Patriots to convince the team's decision-makers to bring Burrow back in Week 13 if he's ready. Fantasy managers should be stashing Burrow just in case he's able to return when it matters most in fantasy football.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the team won't have an update on quarterback Bryce Young's ankle injury until Thursday, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Person notes that this is standard operating procedure with Canales during his Monday press conferences. The 24-year-old signal-caller appeared to suffer a serious injury early in Sunday's overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons, but he didn't end up missing a snap and finished with a career day. Young went 31-for-45 passing for 448 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 11 victory, mostly peppering receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette with targets to bring the team back from down 14 points. He could be limited in practice this week, but he should be able to play in Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers. As long as his ankle doesn't negatively impact him in that game, Young will have high-end QB2 appeal in fantasy against San Fran's banged-up defense.

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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Monday that if/when quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) is cleared to return from Injured Reserve, he will return to the backup role behind Daniel Jones, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Richardson is currently on IR with a fractured orbital bone, but he's eligible to have his 21-day practice window opened this week. The 23-year-old former first-rounder had surgery to fix his fractured orbital bone on Oct. 26 after he suffered the injury before the team's game on Oct. 12 against the Arizona Cardinals when a resistance band snapped and hit him in the face. Since A-Rich has been on the shelf, rookie Riley Leonard has been serving as Jones' backup. Richardson, once viewed as the next franchise QB, has hit rock bottom in terms of his fantasy value.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy returned to action on Sunday after missing eight of the team's last nine games with a toe injury, and he threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout win over the Cardinals. With one game left to be played on Monday night, he is currently the QB4 for the week, after his efficient outing against an above-average Cardinals defense. While Purdy's upcoming schedule features unfavorable passing matchups against the Panthers and Browns before a Week 14 bye, managers who can afford to keep him rostered through that stretch should be handsomely rewarded with fantasy playoff matchups against the Titans, Colts, and Bears. While streaming the quarterback position often means mixing and matching throughout the playoffs to find the best possible matchup, Purdy is one of the few streaming quality quarterbacks that can be trusted from Weeks 15-17, especially as the 49ers offense continues to get healthier.

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Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake (elbow) is expected to miss time after an elbow injury forced him out of Sunday's win over the Seahawks. Head coach Sean McVay did not have an update on Monday, but told reporters, "It's probably going to be some time". A 6th-round draft pick in 2022, the fourth-year defensive back had become a reliable weekly start in IDP leagues, with a career high 81% of his snaps coming in the box or at slot corner, and helping to provide a safe fantasy floor while putting him on pace for his second consecutive 100-tackle season. With Lake sidelined for much of Sunday's win, it was second-year safety Jaylen McCollough who saw an increase in playing time, but he was able to put only one tackle on the stat sheet.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski provided no additional information on Monday regarding a potential timeline for the team to open the practice window of quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles). Watson ruptured his Achilles in Week 7 of last year and suffered an additional tear during the offseason, but all reports suggest that his recovery has been going well. Still, the Browns have not offered any clarity as to when, or if, he will return to the team. The 2-8 Browns have gotten starts from Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel (concussion) in 2025. With Gabriel currently in concussion protocol, it's possible that rookie Shedeur Sanders could make his first career start against the Raiders in Week 12.

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Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol after sitting out the second half of Sunday's loss to the Ravens. While Gabriel only threw for 68 yards in the first half, the Browns held a 16-10 lead before fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders took over in the second half. Sanders threw for only 47 yards while completing a quarter of his pass attempts and throwing an interception in a game that was eventually lost 23-16. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Monday that he would provide an update on Wednesday regarding the team's preparation for Sunday's Week 12 matchup with the Raiders. Regardless of who gets the start in Week 12 or beyond, the Browns' entire passing offense should be avoided down the stretch of the fantasy season and into the playoffs.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to speculate when asked on Monday about the possibility of quarterback Shedeur Sanders turning a potential Week 12 start against the Raiders into a longer-term stint as the starter. Sanders entered the team's Week 11 loss to the Ravens when Dillon Gabriel (concussion) was knocked out of the game in the third quarter. In his first action of the season, he completed four of 16 pass attempts for 47 yards and an interception, while taking two sacks. Gabriel will need to clear the league's concussion protocol before he can return to action, but even if Sanders gets his first career start in Week 12, the expectation is that Gabriel will be given the chance to reclaim the starting role regardless of outcome.

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