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Zac Taylor still contemplating Bengals QB Joe Burrow's status

Thu Nov 20 1:35pm ET
Field Level Media

One day after Joe Burrow practiced without restrictions for the first time in three months, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor might be expecting the quarterback to show up in his office to declare himself fit for the start on Sunday.

"Oh yeah. And that's my job, to balance all the information and protect the player. And make the best decision possible," Taylor told 700 WLW on Thursday. "I wish I had that decision today. I'm going to take in all the information I can and make the best decision for Joe and our team and go from there. "

Burrow had surgery for a turf toe injury and is pining to return to duty Sunday against the New England Patriots (9-2). Cincinnati started 2-0, winning in a comeback over the Jaguars in Week 2, which Burrow exited in favor of Jake Browning. The Bengals then acquired Joe Flacco and sent Browning to the bench, but have only one win since placing Burrow on IR.

If Burrow plays this week, he would be about a month ahead of schedule.

A history of injuries and the Bengals' 3-7 record are factors the team might weigh before putting Burrow in harm's way this week. His initial timeline was projected to be three months after the Sept. 19 surgery in Birmingham, Ala. He returned to practice on a limited basis on Nov. 10.

Flacco said Burrow was impressive in his Wednesday work.

"Joe looked good. It's cool to see him out there," Flacco said. "And, obviously, when you're both now taking reps some conversations happen. Like, 'How do you see this vs. that?' Joe looked good."

Asked if there was even a chance Burrow plays this week, Taylor didn't bite.

"I'm not there yet," Taylor said. "One day at practice isn't going to make that decision yet. We'll use the time we have at our disposal and come up with the best decision we can."

Flacco was limited in practice on Wednesday, prescribed rest for his right shoulder injury.

Taylor said one of the hurdles remaining for Burrow was gauging the physical response to his first 11-on-11 practice since September.

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 12

Player Notes
Bhayshul Tuten Nov 20 1:30pm ET
Bhayshul Tuten

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) was seen practicing on Thursday without a non-contact jersey, according to Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union. Tuten injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers and was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. It looks like the 23-year-old could be a full-go on Thursday, while Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) appears to be limited for the second straight day. Tuten and Etienne combined for three rushing touchdowns in the Week 11 blowout victory, and Tuten played a season-high 32% of the offensive snaps. Even if Etienne is cleared to play this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Tuten could once again see an elevated workload that could give him RB2 upside. Tuten is rostered in only 39% of Yahoo leagues. That number should be much higher with Etienne banged up.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Nov 20 1:20pm ET
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) was wearing a non-contact jersey at Thursday's practice, per Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union. It looks like Etienne will be listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day after injuring his shoulder in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Rookie RB Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) also hurt his ankle in Week 11 and was limited on Wednesday, but he wasn't in a non-contact jersey on Thursday. Etienne was productive on Sunday with two touchdowns in a blowout win over the Chargers in which the Jags leaned heavily on the ground game, but Tuten also saw his biggest workload of the year and scored a rushing touchdown. Both RBs could be active this weekend in Arizona, but if Etienne is less than 100%, Tuten could be the favored option out of Jacksonville's backfield in Week 12.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Nov 20 1:10pm ET
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that running back Josh Jacobs (knee) will do individual drills in practice on Thursday, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports. From there, the Packers will see how Jacobs' knee is feeling before deciding how much he'll do for the remainder of Thursday's practice. Although Jacobs is still up in the air to play this Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, the good news is that he'll at least be a limited practice participant after he wasn't on the field on Wednesday. The 27-year-old has been a must-start in all fantasy formats as a touchdown machine in 2025, but he's shaping up as a risky commodity in Week 12, even if he's eventually cleared by Sunday's contest. At the very least, fantasy managers should have already scooped up Emanuel Wilson off the waiver wire, as he will be in line for lead-back duties against the Vikes if Jacobs is limited or out in Week 12.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Nov 20 12:40pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) is not expected to play this season as he deals with a foot injury from the offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Mixon will likely stay on the Physically Unable to Perform list through the end of the 2025 season, while the Texans move forward with veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks in their backfield. Things had been trending this way for a while, as the Texans haven't been giving any real updates on Mixon for pretty much the entire season. Fantasy managers who are still stashing the 29-year-old in redraft leagues should send him to the waiver wire now. Mixon's injury dates all the way back to spring workouts. One would think he'd be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign, but there has been little information about the exact nature of his injury. Marks, a fourth-rounder in April, has slowly started to see more work and should be the backfield leader over Chubb by the end of the year.

From RotoBaller

Chris Godwin Nov 20 12:20pm ET
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (leg) was spotted at Thursday's practice, per FOX Sports' Greg Auman. The veteran's practice status was not detailed. Although Godwin was not seen at Wednesday's session, he was out there in a limited capacity, a trend that's continued since he hit the field ahead of their Week 11 loss to Buffalo. As it stands, it's unknown if the ninth-year pro will be active for this Sunday's road outing with the Los Angeles Rams. Considering how the Buccaneers have handled him thus far in the season, it's fair to wonder if he came back from his 2024 ankle injury at too expedited a pace. If he can't suit up again, fantasy managers can expect Emeka Egbuka (illness), Tez Johnson, and Sterling Shepard (shoulder) to remain the team's top three wideouts.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Nov 20 12:00pm ET
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) was at practice again on Thursday as the team gears up for its Sunday night road matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. Irving returned to practice in Week 11, although he was unable to suit up for their loss to the Bills after a week's worth of limited sessions. Tampa Bay has played it slow with the 23-year-old, but it would appear he's on track to at least have a shot at playing this weekend. Fantasy managers will have to keep a watchful eye on this situation, as if he's forced to sit for a seventh straight game, backfield mate Sean Tucker would be an intriguing play considering his efficiency over the previous three weeks. We'll know more about Irving's Week 12 designation following practice on Friday.

From RotoBaller

Tre Tucker Nov 20 11:50am ET
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker is on the WR3/flex radar for Week 12's home outing with the Cleveland Browns this Sunday. The University of Cincinnati product posted his first touchdown since Week 3 in Monday night's 33-16 loss to the Cowboys, reeling in 4-of-8 targets for 47 yards, while quarterback Geno Smith struggled against the Dallas defense. Smith's inconsistencies have hindered Las Vegas' attack, although Tucker has remained involved as the clear-cut second option behind tight end Brock Bowers in the passing game. Cleveland's defense isn't the most favorable of matchups, but Tucker's floor has risen modestly since the departure of ex-teammate Jakobi Meyers. Additionally, he's always just one big play away from a viable fantasy performance. Tucker is RotoBaller's PPR WR33 ahead of Sunday's clash.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Higgins Nov 20 11:40am ET
Jayden Higgins

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins is on the rise ahead of his Week 12 meeting with the visiting Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. Higgins hasn't exactly had a breakout performance yet in his rookie campaign. However, signs point to him ascending the WR hierarchy in Houston. Since Week 8, the Iowa State alum has played more snaps than third-year pro Xavier Hutchinson in all but one outing, signaling a shift from earlier in the season. In fact, he's run the most plays of any Houston wideout in that time frame, posting at least four catches and seven targets in three of four games. Higgins could still exhibit some inefficiencies as he continues to adjust to life in the NFL. With that said, he's evolved into the clear third option in an offense that attempts a pass at the ninth-highest rate (59.91%).

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Nov 20 11:20am ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is an excellent start for fantasy managers this weekend when he lines up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. Stafford has been incredible in 2025, having already eclipsed his touchdown totals from the previous three seasons. Since Week 4, the 37-year-old has racked up a 22:0 TD:INT ratio, and has averaged 22.4 fantasy points per contest (fourth-most). On Sunday, he'll get another chance to keep his hot streak alive against a Buccaneers' defense that's allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to QBs (19). While the veteran had a down performance in their win over Seattle last weekend, his outlook is back on the rise with wide receiver Davante Adams further removed from an oblique injury.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Nov 20 11:10am ET
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has come alive in the last three weeks. After a slow start to his eighth season in the NFL, Andrews has scored four touchdowns in his previous three games, averaging 12.9 half-PPR fantasy points per game. The clear correlation is the return of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, who made his return in Week 9, where Andrews scored two touchdowns. As long as Jackson is the starting quarterback in Baltimore, Andrews will continue to find the endzone and produce fantasy matchup-altering performances. In the next two games, the Ravens face the Jets and the Bengals, who have allowed the most and second-most touchdowns to tight ends this season. While his lack of volume is concerning, Andrews will still be worth starting in fantasy due to his touchdown upside.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Nov 20 11:00am ET
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce has become a trustworthy option for fantasy managers this season. In eight games, Pierce has hauled in 28 of 52 targets for 585 yards and a touchdown, averaging 9.8 half-PPR points per game. As of late, Pierce has been dominant, leading the NFL in receiving yards (366) from Week 7 to Week 10. His connection with Daniel Jones has been on point this season, and the Colts' offensive performance has opened more big-play opportunities for the deep threat receiver. However, he faces a very tough matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have allowed the fewest receiving yards to wide receivers in 2025. While a tough matchup causes a lot more risk, Pierce is worth starting as a WR3/FLEX play in Week 12.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Nov 20 10:50am ET
Jacoby Brissett

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been facilitating as the Cardinals' starting quarterback. In five starts, Brissett has averaged over 300 passing yards per game with multiple touchdowns in all five starts. The veteran quarterback set the completions record in Week 11, with 47 completions in the 41-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Not only has Brissett been an elite producer lately, but players like Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Michael Wilson have also been reaping the benefits of his stellar play. Brissett and the Cardinals host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12, who have allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game and the fourth-most passing touchdowns in 2025. Even with Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendicitis) ruled out for Sunday, Brissett still carries QB2 value and will continue to supply big performances for McBride and Wilson.

From RotoBaller

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Nov 20 10:40am ET
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was the lead back in Week 11, handling 15 carries for 79 yards in the overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins. Rumors were swirling about Rodriguez taking over the backfield from rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and he was efficient in his first game as the lead back. Rodriguez played 45% of the snaps, while Croskey-Merritt and receiving back Jeremy McNichols played 26% of the snaps each. While the Commanders' offense has been lackluster to say the least, reinforcements are on the way, with Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Terry McLaurin (quad) nearing a return. If the offensive production improves, Rodriguez could be a sneaky producer for fantasy managers down the stretch.

From RotoBaller

RJ Harvey Nov 20 10:30am ET
RJ Harvey

Denver Broncos rookie running back R.J. Harvey could handle a workhorse role for the rest of the season. In his first game as the lead back, Harvey handled 11 carries for 30 yards, while adding 20 yards on three receptions through the air. His first game as the starter came against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been a top-five run defense in 2025. The exciting news about the 2025 second-round pick's fantasy outlook is that he dominated the snap share in Week 11. He played a season-high 62% of the snaps, while Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie played 13%. Coming out of the bye week, the Broncos will face the Washington Commanders, who have given up the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season. With a strong workload and a good schedule coming out of the bye week, Harvey is an ideal buy-low candidate for fantasy managers and could be a league winner down the stretch.

From RotoBaller

Omarion Hampton Nov 20 10:20am ET
Omarion Hampton

Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton's practice window is expected to open after the Week 12 bye. Hampton (ankle) was placed on the injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury against the Washington Commanders. Head coach Jim Harbaugh shared that Hampton's activation window could open after the bye, but he was uncertain about a return in Week 13. When Hampton returns, he could enter a timeshare with standout Kimani Vidal, who's been excellent as his replacement. Hampton was starting to pick up steam in his rookie season, averaging 121.3 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in his last three games when healthy. While a potential committee is in the works, and the Chargers' struggles with the offensive line, Hampton still offers elite upside once he returns.

From RotoBaller

Dawson Knox Nov 20 10:10am ET
Dawson Knox

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox should not be relied upon in most formats when his team takes on the Houston Texans in Week 12, even with fellow tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) ruled out for the game. As the team's top tight end option last week, Knox managed only one catch for 23 yards, bringing him to just 13 catches on the year. Additionally, the Texans have been among the very best pass defenses in the NFL so far this season. Houston ranks fourth overall against half-PPR tight ends, dampering an already modest outlook for Knox. The veteran will have some red-zone appeal, however, making him a low-end TE2 option in leagues that start more than one tight end.

From RotoBaller

Tyrell Shavers Nov 20 9:50am ET
Tyrell Shavers

Coming off the best game of his career, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers should be left on the bench in most formats when his team takes on the Houston Texans on Thursday. Shavers, mostly a special teamer to this point, broke out for four catches, 90 yards, and a touchdown last week against Tampa, and now the Bills' receiver room is in limbo this week. Khalil Shakir (personal) missed practice on Monday and Tuesday, while Keon Coleman was a healthy scratch last week after being late to a team meeting. If either or both were to be unavailable tonight, that would leave some combination of Shavers, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, and Mecole Hardman to fill in the gaps. Even so, Shavers has just 11 catches in 10 games overall, and Houston ranks No. 1 against PPR receivers, making him too risky to rely upon.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Nov 20 9:40am ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir enters a Week 12 matchup against the Houston in unknown territory after missing practice on both Monday and Tuesday for personal reasons. Assuming Shakir plays, he's a low-end WR3 option against Houston, the top-ranked defense against PPR wide receivers. The veteran is also coming off his worst game of the season, a performance in which he caught just one pass for negative three yards against Tampa Bay. Without knowing the full extent of the absence, managers will have to wait until Buffalo releases its list of inactives to make sure Shakir is playing. Luckily, as the first game of the week, there will be ample opportunity to pivot in another direction.

From RotoBaller

Josh Palmer Nov 20 9:40am ET
Josh Palmer

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer can safely be left out of lineups in most formats when his team travels to Houston to play the Texans for Week 12's Thursday Night Football game. The former Los Angeles Charger has been a disappointment in his first season with Buffalo, during which he has logged only 16 receptions and is still looking for his first touchdown. This week, Palmer will have the added challenge of the single worst matchup in football: Houston ranks No. 1 against PPR wide receivers. Though the status of fellow receiver Khalil Shakir (personal) is unknown, and Keon Coleman is coming off a healthy scratch last week, Palmer hasn't had a big enough role to rely upon for fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Nov 20 9:20am ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Thursday morning that the club has not yet ruled out quarterback Joe Burrow (toe) from playing on Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to Paul Dehner of The Athletic. Taylor, who appeared on a Cincinnati radio show, said he wasn't ready to say whether Burrow would be able to return from his injury. "I'm not there yet," he said. "One day at practice isn't going to lead to that decision yet." The superstar quarterback has missed most of the 2025 season due to the injury, but he fully practiced on Wednesday, giving hope that he may return sooner than initially believed. For fantasy managers who held out for the long haul, Burrow's return would represent a major lineup upgrade as the playoffs draw near.

From RotoBaller