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Nutson’s Weekly Auto News Wrap-up: November 21, 2021;


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AUTO CENTRAL CHICAGO – November 21, 2021: Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Auto Channel’s
“take” on this past week’s automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets.

LEARN MORE: Full versions of today’s news nuggets along with almost a million pages of the past 25 year’s automotive content, news, articles, reviews and archived relevant stories residing in
The Auto Channel Automotive News Library can be found by just copying a headline and then inserting into any Site Search Box.

Nutson’s Automotive News Wrap-up – Week Ending November 20, 2021; Below are the past week’s important, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as
expertly crafted easy-to-digest news nuggets.

* President Biden signed into law the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. IHS Markit expects the U.S. infrastructure bill to supplement only 66 percent of required U.S. EV charger growth through 2026. Overall, only 63 percent of U.S. households have access to a garage and that figure is less in urban areas where more than 50 percent of EV sales occur. If EVs remain impractical for apartment, condo, and historic home dwellers, we cannot adequately reach the administration’s stated EV goals.

* GM ZERO: President Joe Biden got a tour of the retooled factory where GM will build all-electric vehicles. GM is opening the doors of Factory ZERO, the renovated aging Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. Biden’s visit comes on the heels of his signing into law a $1.2-trillion infrastructure bill he helped write.

* CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS BUY EV CHARGERS: Meanwhile, California will spend $1.4 billion over the next three years to build up EV charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

* EV’s BECOMING MORE APPEALING TO YOUNGER DRIVERS:A recent Cox Automotive study says sales of battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States are on track to set an all-time record in 2021, with sales up more than 88{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} through the end of September. Despite the rapid growth, EVs will account for only 3{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the new-vehicle market this year. Vehicle range and price remain the top purchase barriers. Younger Millennial and Gen Z buyers are becoming more open to the idea of an electric vehicle future. 57{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of consumers point to a lack of charging stations in their area as a top barrier.

* APPLE CAR/TAXI ANNOUNCED:Bloomberg reports Apple Inc. is pushing to accelerate development of its electric car and is refocusing the project around full self-driving capabilities, according to people familiar with the matter, aiming to solve a technical challenge that has bedeviled the auto industry. In trying to master self-driving cars, Apple is chasing a holy grail within the industry. Tech and auto giants have spent years on autonomous vehicles, but the capabilities have remained elusive. Apple is internally targeting a launch of its self-driving car in four years, faster than the five- to seven-year timeline that some engineers had been planning for earlier this year. But the timing is fluid, and hitting that 2025 target is dependent on the company’s ability to complete the self-driving system — an ambitious task on that schedule.

* NEW EV’s AT 2021 LA AUTO SHOWThe Los Angeles auto show opened its doors this week in a scaled down format but for the first time in two years. New EV utility vehicles are all that’s in the spotlight with new models or concepts such as the Hyundai SEVEN, Kia EV9, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4x, Fisker Ocean, and the Vietnamese auto maker VinFast. Many auto brands are conspicuously absent from the show, making for possible disappointment for those shopping for a vehicle now. A non-EV of note is the 493-hp mid-engined 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS.

* EPA SAYS EMISSION SKY IS NOT FALLING: The latest EPA report on U.S. vehicle fuel efficiency (CO2 emissions) says overall, the fuel economy of the U.S. vehicle fleet improved by 2{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} from 2019 to 2020, rising to 25.4 MPG from 24.9 MPG. Preliminary EPA data forecast that fuel economy for GM is down 6.5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} and Ford is down 1{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} because microchip shortages led to building large pickups and SUVs instead of smaller, less profitable vehicles. Only Tesla, Subaru and Honda met current federal mileage requirements without using regulatory credits.

* OCTOBER US SALES SCORECARD Transportation researcher Dr. Michael Sivak of Sivak Applied Research reports that due to the covid pandemic Delta variant the rebound of travel by road, air, rail, and public transit stalled in August. The population-adjusted changes for August 2021 compared with August 2019 are: Road vehicle miles down 5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}, Air passenger miles down 15{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}, Rail passenger miles down 34{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}, Trips on public transit down 50{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. October 2021 compared with October 2019 has vehicle sales down 22{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} and the price of gasoline up 17{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. The report can be viewed here. (https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/10/20200923-sivakindex.html).

* ROOKIE LUCID NAMED CAR OF THE YEAR MotorTrend announced that the Lucid Air has won the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year, the first instance in which the initial product from a new automotive brand has been awarded the “Golden Calipers.” MotorTrend Car of the Year judges evaluated six key criteria for Car of the Year, with Lucid Air excelling at each: efficiency, value, advancement in design, engineering excellence, safety, and performance of the intended function. The Lucid Air was evaluated side by side with 24 highly-regarded vehicles, coming out on top against finalists that included the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz EQS, Porsche Taycan, Honda Civic, and many more.

* NACTOY FINALISTS NAMED: The finalists that will compete for the 2022 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards were announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show. North American Car of the Year finalists are Honda Civic, Lucid Air and Volkswagen Golf Mk VIII (Golf R/Golf GTI). North American Truck of the Year finalists are Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz and Rivian R1T. North American Utility Vehicle of the Year finalists are Ford Bronco, Genesis GV70 and Hyundai IONIQ 5. The three winners will be announced in January 2022.

* US NEWS NAMES BEST VEHICLE BRAND<:> U.S. News & World Report unveiled its Best Vehicle Brand awards and Best Certified Pre-Owned Program award for 2022. The Best Vehicle Brand awards, evaluating 36 brands, recognize industry-wide excellence for cars, SUVs, trucks and luxury vehicles. Honda is Best Car Brand, Hyundai is Best SUV Brand, Ram is Best Truck Brand, Porsche is Best Luxury Brand, and Best Certified Pre-Owned Program is Lexus.

* MAZDA CX50 PREMIERE: Mazda North American Operations hosted the virtual world premiere of the first-ever Mazda CX-50. A completely new model, CX-50 is the first Mazda vehicle to be built at the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) plant in Huntsville, Alabama, with production beginning in January 2022. As a new addition to the Mazda lineup, CX-50 maintains key attributes expected of all Mazda vehicles, including superior driving dynamics and beautiful design. In addition, Mazda has extended this vehicle’s capability to enable drivers to venture further into the outdoors and various terrains. At launch, CX-50 will be available with Mazda’s efficient powertrains, Skyactiv-G 2.5 naturally aspirated engine or Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. In the coming years, the CX-50 will also be offered with electrified powertrains, including a traditional hybrid model.

* HOT DODGE PERSONALIZATION: Dodge brand is breaking all the rules, unlocking new, unrestricted, personalization options with new Jailbreak models for 2022 Dodge Charger and Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebodies. The Jailbreak models unlock color-combination ordering restrictions and add new factory-custom options to deliver enthusiasts the freedom to create a Dodge performance vehicle that perfectly fits their individual style. Jailbreak models include unique badging and boost SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody output to 807 horsepower with a revised powertrain calibration.

* MISSPELLED CAR BRANDS:The business finance team at money.co.uk, used online analytics tool Ahrefs to find some of the most misspelled brand names on the internet. The top three were all auto brands. Money.co.uk found that popular South Korean automotive manufacturer Hyundai is one of the most misspelled brands on the internet, with an average of 605,000 incorrect global online searches per month. In second place is Lamborghini and Ferrari is the third most misspelled. https://www.money.co.uk/business-loans.htm

*RAM DIESEL RECALL: Stellantis NA is recalling nearly 250,000 heavy-duty Ram diesel trucks globally for an issue with the fuel pumps that may cause the vehicles to stall or prevent them from starting. The affected vehicles are certain 2019 and 2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty pickups and Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cab trucks that are equipped with 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel engines. The recall covers an estimated 222,410 vehicles in the U.S., 20,539 in Canada and 3,525 in other markets outside of North America.

* CONSUMER REPORTS: Consumer Reports published its annual Auto Reliability Study with Lexus, Mazda and Toyota taking the top three spots for most reliable brands. The top ten ranks include eight Japanese brands, one Domestic brand (Buick) and one European brand (MINI).

* ROUTE 66 HISTORY: From ClassiCars.com we read the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership has published a new “more accurate history” of Route 66 in conjunction with the Research Encyclopedia on American History from the Oxford University Press. The Route 66 centennial celebration is scheduled for 2026. Established in 2015 with support from the National Park Service and the World Monuments’ Fund, The Road Ahead Partnership set a mission of sustaining and revitalizing Route 66 as a national and global icon. https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-967

*2021 NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP: Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat driver Ron Capps and Don Schumacher Racing earned the 2021 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car World Championship in the season finale at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California. It is the veteran driver’s second Funny Car title of his 27-year career, following his first championship win in 2016, and the seventh of the 19-year partnership between DSR and the Mopar and Dodge//SRT brands. DSR driver Matt Hagan drove his Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the semifinals at Auto Club Raceway and closed out the 2021 NHRA season as runner-up in the Funny Car championship to teammate Capps. In late news, Capps announced he will be leaving the DSR team.

* 2021 NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP: Other title winners in the 2021 NHRA season are Steve Torrance in Top Fuel, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock, Matt Smith in ProStock Motorcycle, and Pro Stock driver Dallas Glenn was named Rookie of the Year.

Stay safe. Be Well.

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Jonah Goldberg and Stephen Hayes resign from Fox News, protesting ‘irresponsible’ voices like Tucker Carlson

Every month or so, while conversing with sources at Fox News, I express surprise that Jonah Goldberg and Stephen Hayes are still employed by the network. After all, the two men are reality-based conservative thinkers who refuse to capitulate to Donald Trump. Unfortunately, Fox viewers rarely get to hear from them. They are booked by the network’s producers so rarely that their contracts could be likened to golden handcuffs.

Now they are ditching the cuffs.

Hayes and Goldberg announced Sunday night that they have resigned from Fox. The pair wrote in a blog post for The Dispatch, their online home, that Tucker Carlson’s “Patriot Purge” propaganda film was the last straw.
“Fox News still does real reporting, and there are still responsible conservatives providing valuable opinion and analysis,” the men wrote. “But the voices of the responsible are being drowned out by the irresponsible,” and Carlson is the case in point.
CNN and other news outlets have described how “Patriot Purge” is disturbing evidence of right-wing radicalization, complete with January 6 denialism and paranoid descriptions of a “new war on terror” targeting Republicans, with references to Guantanamo Bay and images of waterboarding.

“This is not happening. And we think it’s dangerous to pretend it is,” the Goldberg and Hayes wrote. “If a person with such a platform shares such misinformation loud enough and long enough, there are Americans who will believe — and act upon — it.”

Goldberg and Hayes simply could not be a part of it anymore.

New York Times media columnist Ben Smith, who broke the resignation news on Sunday, called up Carlson for reaction, and the trollish host naturally celebrated, saying “our viewers will be grateful” that Goldberg and Hayes are gone. But the conservative movement will suffer for it.
Rep. Liz Cheney, one of the Republican party’s foremost critics of Trump and the Big Lie, tweeted out a thank-you to the two men “for standing up for truth and calling out dangerous lies.”

A rare view inside Fox

Goldberg, in a phone interview with Smith, provided a rare on-the-record peek inside Fox’s political positioning. Per Smith, “Goldberg said that” he and Hayes “stayed on at Fox News as long they did because of a sense from conversations at Fox that, after Mr. Trump’s defeat, the network would try to recover some of its independence and, as he put it, ‘right the ship.'” But Fox’s decision to promote and publish “Patriot Purge” in early November was “a sign that people have made peace with this direction of things, and there is no plan, at least, that anyone made me aware of for a course correction,” Goldberg said.

In Sunday night’s post on The Dispatch, the two commentators said the “Patriot Purge” web series “creates an alternative history of January 6, contradicted not just by common sense, not just by the testimony and on-the-record statements of many participants, but by the reporting of the news division of Fox News itself.”

Hayes and Goldberg praised the “news side” (which keeps shrinking at Fox) but acknowledged that the opinion side has radicalized. “The release of ‘Patriot Purge’ wasn’t an isolated incident,” they wrote, “it was merely the most egregious example of a longstanding trend.” So they’re out. “We do not regret our decision,” they concluded, “even if we find it regrettably necessary.”

Top reactions

— New York Times political reporter Jonathan Martin framed the resignation news as “Fox makes its choice, con’t.” In other words: Fox keeps siding with the populist pro-Trump base over the GOP’s more rational, intellectual voices. Fox is picking its lane.
— Former VP Pence aide turned Trump administration critic Olivia Troye wrote, “Thank you Jonah Goldberg & Stephen Hayes for taking a stand for the truth against an ongoing dangerous enterprise.”
— Conservative writer Bill Kristol sent the two men kudos “for standing up to Fox, yelling Stop, at a time when few other conservatives are inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it…”
— Liberal writer Dan Froomkin’s reaction: “We should ALL quit Fox Noise. And reality-based journalists should work to wean America off it…”
— “Steve and Jonah have been two of the bravest journalists during this whole mess,” David Brooks tweeted. “They’ve taken positions that carry real costs. Think about supporting The Dispatch.”

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Top Stock Market News For Today November 22, 2021

Stock Market Futures Ticked Higher Ahead Of The Holiday-Shortened Week

U.S. stock futures edged higher on early morning Monday, pointing to a positive start for the stock market this week. Adding optimism to the bull market is the possible easing measures by China’s central bank to support the slowing economy. With the holiday season at our door, do note that the U.S. market will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Against the backdrop, the biggest market moving event is likely going to be President Joe Biden’s nomination for the next Federal Reserve chief.

“I do think in the shortened week, that is probably going to be the biggest driver of market action,” said Jeff Schulze, ClearBridge Investments investment strategist. “If Brainard is nominated as Fed chair, it wouldn’t be a surprise to me to see some near-term volatility. Usually, the market tests a Fed chair.”

Meanwhile, cloud-based telecom company Vonage (NASDAQ: VG) stock soared in pre-market trading after agreeing on a $6.2 billion deal to be bought by Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC). As of 7:08 a.m. ET, the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures are rising by 0.30{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}, 0.32{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}, and 0.98{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} respectively

Monster Beverage (MNST) Exploring Merger Deal With Constellation Brands (STZ)

Energy drinks maker Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST) is exploring a merger deal with Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), according to a report from Bloomberg news. The exact structure of the potential merger is yet to be available to the general public. Of course, a deal between these two beverage giants could be interesting. But, investors shouldn’t speculate on such rumors as it is still unclear if the deal would eventually materialize. 

Despite the supply chain challenges, Monster Beverage reported record third-quarter sales earlier this month. The energy drinks maker, which has Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) as its major shareholder, will need to assess if such a merger could bring any positive synergy. Right now, it’s unclear if such a deal could jeopardize Monster’s exclusive distribution agreement with Coca-Cola. And if it does, it could affect Monster’s international growth ambitions. 

“I see little synergy between these two companies, as regulators would not welcome drinks that combine caffeine and alcohol. The products produced would have to leverage their respective brands but be mindful of the limitations with product formulations”- Kenneth Shea, Senior Analyst for beverage and tobacco companies at Bloomberg Intelligence.

[Read More] 5 Metaverse Stocks To Watch In November 2021

Ford (F), Rivian (RIVN) Cancel Plans To Jointly Develop An EV

Ford (NYSE: F) and Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN) no longer plan to co-develop an electric vehicle, the companies confirmed Friday evening. The two companies initially announced development of a joint vehicle when Ford invested in the EV start up in 2019. With the plan scrapped, some electric vehicle stock investors are wondering what the impact of the decision is. 

According to Ford CEO Jim Farley, part of the breakup was due to the complexities of marrying their hardware and software together. In light of this, the company also reiterated that such a decision has not affected their relationship. Ford continues to believe in the company’s future, retaining a 12{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} stake in the EV start-up. The legendary automaker aims to produce 600,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2023. What’s more, Ford has several interesting products including the Mustang Mach-E SUV and the F-150 Lightning pickup truck. If anything, the old dog seems to be learning new tricks quickly. 

The decision to cancel the joint development was mutual, according to Rivian. “As Ford has scaled its own EV strategy and demand for Rivian vehicles has grown, we’ve mutually decided to focus on our own projects and deliveries. Our relationship with Ford is an important part of our journey, and Ford remains an investor and ally on our shared path to an electrified future,” the company said in an email statement.

[Read More] Top Stocks To Buy Now? 4 Renewable Energy Stocks For Your Watchlist

Zoom (ZM) Reports Earnings After The Closing Bell 

Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ: ZM) will report its earnings after the stock market closes today. There’s no question that ZM stock has been under pressure heading into that announcement. Investors are less enthusiastic about the company’s short-term growth as more people return to the office. In addition to that, the increased competition from other players in the video conferencing space may unnerve some investors. In light of all this, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that ZM stock remains under considerable selling pressure.

From its second quarter, sales came in 54{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} higher year-over-year to $1.02 billion. Now, Wall Street is expecting the same revenue level when it reports today, with non-GAAP earnings of $1.07 to $1.08 per share. It’s also worth keeping an eye on how quickly customers are taking up new offerings like Zoom Phone, the company’s cloud-based telephony business. In addition to that, investors will also focus on the company’s operating margin. The profitability metric came in at 25{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of sales in the second quarter. And investors are hoping to see a modest boost later today. 

Admittedly, the pandemic acted as a huge catalyst for the company in 2020. But it’s normal for investors to be concerned about its ability to maintain its impressive growth rate. The company, however, is reportedly looking to diversify its revenue stream by entering the contact center market. Nevertheless, for ZM stock to rebound to its previous high, Zoom will have to issue a strong outlook for its business. That includes the new initiatives, which are critical to growing and maintaining its ecosystem. 

[Read More] 5 Biotech Stocks To Check Out In The Stock Market Now

Earnings To Watch In The Stock Market Today

If investors have been worried that inflation, supply chain and labor shortages would dampen corporate profits, they’ve been wrong so far. And bullish investors continue to gain from the strong corporate earnings thus far. As the market enters the holiday-shortened week, there’s no shortage of companies reporting their earnings. In the pre-market hours, we have Cerence (NASDAQ: CRNC), Niu Technologies (NASDAQ: NIU), Avaya (NYSE: AVYA), and Zhihu (NYSE: ZH), just to name a few.

Alternatively, for those anticipating the earnings after the closing bell, there are notable tech names reporting as well. Amongst them are Zoom Video Communications, Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A), Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS) and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ARWR). Whether it is following corporate news, keeping up with earnings, or speculating who the next Fed chair is, there is enough to keep you occupied as we kick start the holiday-shortened week.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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Tucker Carlson’s ‘Patriot Purge’ Special Leads Two Fox News Contributors to Quit

For his part, Mr. Goldberg said he has been thinking about William F. Buckley, the late founder of National Review, who saw as part of his mission “imposing seriousness on conservative arguments” and purging some extreme fringe groups, including the John Birch Society, from the right.

“Whether it’s ‘Patriot Purge’ or anti-vax stuff, I don’t want it in my name, and I want to call it out and criticize it,” Mr. Goldberg said. “I don’t want to feel like I am betraying a trust that I had by being a Fox News contributor. And I also don’t want to be accused of not really pulling the punches. And then this was just an untenable tension for me.”

Now, their views have put them outside the current Republican mainstream, or at least outside what mainstream right-wing institutions and politicians are willing to say out loud. But while in recent years both appeared occasionally on the evening show “Special Report” and on “Fox News Sunday,” which the network classifies as news, it’s been years since they were welcome on Fox’s prime time, and Mr. Goldberg clashed bitterly with the prime-time host Sean Hannity in 2016. (Mr. Hayes and Mr. Goldberg emailed their readers Sunday to announce their departure.)

Despite the former contributors’ hopes, Fox’s programming has hewed to Mr. Trump’s line, as have its personnel moves. The network, for instance, fired the veteran political editor who accurately projected Mr. Biden’s victory in the key state of Arizona on election night, and has hired the former Trump White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

Mr. Hayes and Mr. Goldberg are the first members of Fox’s payroll to resign over “Patriot Purge,” but others have signaled their unhappiness. Geraldo Rivera, a Fox News correspondent since 2001, captured the difficulty of internal dissent at the network when he voiced cautious criticism of Mr. Carlson and “Patriot Purge” to my colleague Michael Grynbaum. “I worry that — and I’m probably going to get in trouble for this — but I’m wondering how much is done to provoke, rather than illuminate,” he said.

On air, two programs with smaller audiences than Mr. Carlson’s scrambled after his special to rebut the false theories presented in “Patriot Purge.” “Special Report” called in a former C.I.A. officer on Oct. 29 to debunk “false flag” theories. And on “Fox News Sunday,” Chris Wallace turned the same question over to one of Mr. Trump’s few foes in the Republican congressional delegation, Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming.

Mr. Carlson called Mr. Hayes’s and Mr. Goldberg’s resignations “great news” in a telephone interview on Sunday. “Our viewers will be grateful.”

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CVS will close 900 stores. That’s great news for Dollar General

Dollar Normal (DG) has swiftly expanded in the United States above the previous decade, in big portion by undercutting independent and chain drug retailers and snatching away some of their shoppers. The price cut big is specially nicely-positioned to capitalize on CVS’ prepared closings.

CVS’ announcement comes at a timely minute for Dollar Typical — accurately as Greenback Standard tries to “build by itself as a wellbeing spot.”

Greenback Common is launching a wellness care initiative for the to start with time, presenting clients in what the enterprise phone calls “health and fitness treatment deserts” in rural The us a assortment of overall health providers in retailers and expanded more than-the-counter products. The business sees this industry as a key advancement place.
Thursday’s “information from CVS (CVS) has the probable to accelerate that chance,” Chuck Grom, a retail analyst at Gordon Haskett Analysis Advisors, said a note to consumers Thursday. CVS’ prepared closings are a “favourable” for Dollar Typical, he added.

Pharmacies on the decline

CVS pointed to changes in “inhabitants, buyer shopping for styles and potential health needs” for its choice to shut stores.

The closings mark the most current contraction of US drug stores in the latest many years. The sector has been under stress from buyers more and more shifting paying out on the web, as properly as to massive-box chains, warehouse golf equipment and greenback retailers. Declining reimbursement fees for prescription medications have also squeezed drug stores’ earnings.

Nationally, the number of pharmacies has dropped from 62,098 in 2015 to 56,788 in 2019, believed the Nationwide Association of Chain Drug Shops, an advocacy group. This includes chain and impartial drug stores, as well as pharmacies in grocery retailers and big box outlets.

Drug stores have been bleeding industry share to Dollar Standard. The corporation and analysts say its charges are ordinarily all over 40{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} reduced than pharmacies.

Health care at Dollar Normal

Greenback Normal has run into opposition from area leaders in lots of parts of the region who argue that it drives out independent grocery stores and pharmacies and does not offer contemporary food stuff at retailers — contributing to the wellbeing treatment problem it now claims it would like to aid solve.

The enterprise in latest years has started out to some produce and clean fruit at stores. Now, Greenback Standard claims introducing overall health treatment is a way to fill a hole in the marketplace, get clients to devote a lot more when they take a look at stores and bring in new buyers.

Dollar stores are starting to offer fresh food after years of criticism

In July, Greenback Common introduced it hired its initially chief medical officer to assistance acquire its wellness care products and services and product or service choices at stores.

Greenback Common also mentioned it planned to enhance its retailer assortment of cough and chilly, dental, dietary, wellbeing aids and feminine hygiene merchandise. Which is a bonus for Dollar Normal for the reason that these things carry higher financial gain margins than most of what it presently provides: largely packaged foodstuff, perishables, paper and cleansing solutions, and particular treatment items.

All over 65{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of Greenback General’s shops — far more than 10,000 destinations — are in well being and health-related “deserts,” where by folks have to generate 30 or 40 minutes to get primary providers, CEO Todd Vasos claimed in September.

Wellness care “could be a really huge offer” for Greenback Basic, explained Vasos, who is a former drug retail outlet chain govt.

Dollar Basic will not place pharmacies in its stores, he stated, but it really is discovering alternatives these kinds of as offering eye exams, telemedicine and prescription drug pickups.

He even suggested Dollar Basic could profit from partnering with impartial pharmacies on its health and fitness force.

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Fantasy Football Today: All the injury news you need plus Week 11 game previews and a TNF recap

On Friday morning’s episode of Fantasy Football Today in 5, I asked CBS Sports Fantasy Editor Dan Schneier to give me one positive take away from the Falcons performance on Thursday night in their 25-0 loss to the Patriots. Just one little bit of praise. One reason to be optimistic. 

You know what he came up with? 

“The only thing I can say is that Matt Ryan did a pretty good job hanging in there against unbelievable pressure.”

Such are the meager joys brought to you by the 2021 Atlanta Falcons. 

In fairness, the Patriots are an incredibly tough matchup and the Falcons were missing both Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) and Calvin Ridley (personal). But, still … they managed just 165 yards of offense with four turnovers. Kyle Pitts had three catches for 29 yards. This offense is kind of a disaster right now, and the Patriots offense didn’t do a whole bunch else, either — they had one offensive touchdown. It was a bleak night for Fantasy purposes. 

Which means, if you had Falcons or Patriots in your lineup, you might find yourself trying to dig out of a hole already. I’ve got a few more thoughts on Thursday’s game coming shortly, and then I’m going through every game on the schedule to give you updates on every injury you need to know about in a week with plenty of big ones, plus some key lineup advice for each game.   

And if that doesn’t answer all of your lineup questions, send them my way at Chris.Towers@CBSi.com with the subject line “#AskFFT” and they’ll get included in my Sunday morning mailbag — plus, you can catch the Fantasy Football Today YouTube stream Sunday morning at 11:30 am where Adam Aizer and I will be answering all of your lineup questions before the games. 

Get ready for Week 11 with all of our preview content here:  

And here’s what the rest of today’s newsletter has in store to help you get ready for Week 11:

  • 🏈TNF Fantasy Recap: Patriots 25, Falcons 0
  • 🔍Week 11 Game Previews: Vegas notes, lineup decisions, and injury updates

🏈TNF Recap: Patriots 25, Falcons 0

The Falcons were a disaster, but the Patriots weren’t exactly a ton better for Fantasy purposes. Nelson Agholor led the team with 15 PPR points, and he was the only player to reach double digits. On either team. This was a night to forget for Fantasy unless you had the Patriots DST. 

  • Winner: Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. They both looked great in this one, combining for 125 yards on 22 carries. This is a team that wants to run the ball, and they’re quite good at it. 
  • Loser: The problem is, neither player separated from the other. Stevenson got a couple more carries, but wasn’t used as much in the passing game as we might have hoped — both he and Harris had one target. The Patriots run the ball well, and whoever they stick back there next to Mac Jones should be pretty effective. The problem is, neither is going to have much value if they are splitting carries. It’ll be a lot like Denver’s frustrating time share, except the Patriots throw it to their backs a lot less frequently, and Brandon Bolden will also take on some of the passing downs. I’m thinking Harris and Stevenson will probably both rank in the 25-35 range the rest of the way unless one of them gets injured or clearly surpasses the other. That didn’t happen Thursday.  

🔍Week 11 game previews

There’s something to watch in every game on the NFL schedule every week, even if you have to squint to see it sometimes. This week, however, there are so many unanswered questions that it’s hard to settle on just one thing for each game. Here’s a look ahead at every Week 11 game, with some notes on what Vegas is expecting to see, some lineup help and one thing to watch for from each game:

All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook. 

Saints at Eagles

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: Eagles -2; 43 O/U 
  • Implied totals: Eagles 22.5-Saints 20.5

If both teams had their way, this game would see fewer than 50 pass attempts. I’m not saying I think you should avoid the passing games entirely in this one, but I do get the feeling Devonta Smith could be a bit of a letdown following two big games. This is a tough matchup for him. 

  • Injuries: Alvin Kamara (knee) — Kamara was downgraded to a DNP Thursday, a worrisome sign after he was limited Wednesday. It could be that they just wanted to see how he reacted to his return to practice, or it could be that knee just didn’t react well. Either way, it looks like Mark Ingram is likely to get another start, though we’ll obviously be keeping a close eye on this one. Make sure you have an alternative to Kamara ready to go, at least … Dallas Goedert (concussion) — Upgraded to a limited participant in practice Thursday, a good sign that he’s trending toward being active. Goedert would be a top-10 TE if he plays … Miles Sanders (ankle) — Sanders was designated for return, but it doesn’t seem as if he practiced Thursday. It’s still possible he plays Sunday, but it doesn’t look terribly likely. Boston Scott will likely be the lead back, especially in passing situations, while Jordan Howard is the touchdown-or-bust, between-the-tackles guy. Neither is inside my top-30 at RB. 
  • What we’re watching for: On the Eagles side, if Sanders is back, I want to see how they use him in the running game. They never really committed to him before his injury, but that was back when they were barely running the ball. If he’s back to being the lead back in this run-first approach, he could be a very valuable Fantasy option moving forward. On the Saints side, if Kamara is active, I want to see if they continue to limit his workload. He was getting by mostly on volume early on in the season, so if Ingram really is locked into a double-digit touch workload and is taking some of Kamara’s passing game work, Kamara is probably more like a low-end RB1 moving forward. I’m seriously considering him a sell-high candidate right now. 

Dolphins at Jets

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: Dolphins -3.5; 44.5 O/U
  • Implied totals: Dolphins 24-Jets 20.5

The Jets are starting Joe Flacco over Mike White (and maybe Zach Wilson?), which presents an unknown factor for the offense. We know White was throwing to his running backs a lot — will Flacco do the same thing? I would bet on Michael Carter and Ty Johnson still being useful for Fantasy, and I view Corey Davis as a WR3 — his 16-game pace is over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, very quietly. However, I can also see this being a very good game for the Dolphins DST as well.

  • Injuries: There are no relevant injuries for this game, with Wilson already out and Tua Tagovailoa already announced as the starter. The Dolphins remain without DeVante Parker (hamstring) and Will Fuller (hand). 
  • What we’re watching for: Wilson is still officially out with his knee injury, however he was a full participant in practice last Friday, so it’s weird that they already announced Flacco as the starter on Tuesday of this week. I don’t really know what to make of it, but unless they are planning to start Flacco moving forward, I’m not sure we can learn much of value from them right now. On the Dolphins side, I’d like to see Tua Tagovailoa shred this defense. He’s shown that kind of upside and this is an incredibly easy matchup, so hopefully he takes advantage — he’s averaged 23.3 Fantasy points in his four full games. Getting Mike Gesicki going after his zero-catch-on-seven-targets showing in Week 10 would help. 

Ravens at Bears

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: Ravens -4.5; 45 O/U
  • Implied totals: Ravens 24.75-Bears 20.25

Coming out of the bye week, can the Bears find a way to build on what has been a pretty promising stretch for Justin Fields? It’s not the easiest matchup in the world, but in theory, Fields should be able to produce. The model for that is on the other sideline, but can you trust the Bears offense at this point? 

  • Injuries: Lamar Jackson (non-COVID illness) — Jackson missed practice Thursday, as did Rashod Bateman, but both are expected to play as far as we know … Marquise Brown (thigh) — Brown is a bigger question mark as he has not practiced so far this week. We haven’t really been given any details about the injury, so hopefully this is more of a precaution and he’ll be out there Friday. Still, I’m making sure I have a contingency plan in place in case Brown is ruled out … Latavius Murray (ankle) — With the Ravens releasing Le’Veon Bell earlier this week, it seems like Murray is likely to make his return. He’ll split work with Devonta Freeman, and I wouldn’t trust either as more than a touchdown-or-bust RB3 … Allen Robinson (hamstring) — Robinson has missed both days of practice, so it looks like there is a real risk he’ll miss this game. That is good news for Darnell Mooney, though he has been limited with a foot injury of his own, so that’s something to watch. 
  • What we’re watching for: Well, obviously, how the Bears use Fields will be key. They’ve finally embraced his rushing abilities over the past four games, as he’s averaged 57 yards on eight carries; he had just one game with more than three carries prior to that as a starter. Of course, if Fields is running, they still have to figure out a way to make the passing game work. Darnell Mooney is seeing a 26{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} target share, and if Fields does manage to make a leap, Mooney has pretty solid upside. He’s an interesting WR3 for me this week. On the other side, while I’m hoping Brown plays, it’ll be interesting to see if Bateman can step up as a legitimate No. 1 for the Ravens. He’s looked awfully good in his first four games, and he would be a No. 3 Fantasy WR with Brown out, and more like a flex if he plays. 

Lions at Browns

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: Browns-11.5; 43.5 O/U
  • Implied totals: Browns 27.5-Lions 16

The Lions have been one of the worst teams in the NFL, but as bad as Jared Goff has been, David Blough is probably quite a bit worse. We would just be hoping for a lot of dump-offs to D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson. So … a normal Lions game from our perspective. 

  • Injuries: Goff (oblique) — Goff hasn’t practiced either day this week and seems unlikely to play … Swift (shoulder) — Swift has been limited each day by the injury, so he seems likely to play through this injury. Jamaal Williams (thigh) could also be back this week after returning to a limited practice Wednesday and Thursday. Swift would be a top-10 RB whether Williams plays or not … Nick Chubb (COVID-19) — Chubb seems likely to be activated Friday from everything we’ve heard, so he should be out there Sunday. He figures to be the lead back for the Browns, but don’t be surprised if D’Ernest Johnson is still pretty good for Fantasy with Chubb coming back from the illness and the Lions unlikely to put up much of a fight. Kareem Hunt (calf) will not be activated from IR this week, but coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters earlier this week Hunt is “getting close.” He hasn’t played since Week 5, but a Week 12 return against the Ravens is possible. 
  • What we’re watching for: It would be great to see Mayfield and Jarvis Landry get on track, and I’m viewing Landry as a WR3 for this game. Assuming Chubb is back, I still think D’Ernest Johnson is in the RB3 discussion, because he’s probably still good for a dozen carries or so, maybe more if the Browns pull ahead early. On the Lions side, Swift is a must-start, and I still think Hockenson is, but I’m feeling less and less sure by the week. 

Texans at Titans

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: Titans -10.5; 44.5 O/U
  • Implied totals: Titans 27.5-Texans 17

The Titans haven’t changed their run-first approach despite missing Derrick Henry, and there’s no reason to think that’ll change in this matchup. The Texans have struggled to keep games close, and I fully expect that to remain the case this week. D’Onta Foreman is very much in the starting RB discussion for this week, while Adrian Peterson’s chances of getting into the end zone seem pretty good. 

  • Injuries: There are no injuries of note for these two teams.   
  • What we’re watching for: On the Texans side, will there be any change to their messy RB situation? It’ll at least be worth watching to see if someone can emerge as a low-end starting option. Otherwise, we’ll want to see Tyrod Taylor play a lot better than he did in his return from IR; I’m still trusting Brandin Cooks for this one, because the Titans pass defense has been vulnerable. On the Titans side, it’ll be interesting to see if they continue to tilt more of the workload Foreman’s way rather than Peterson’s, and I’ll be really concerned if A.J. Brown can’t get going in this matchup. He has just 58 yards on six catches over his past two games, and I wonder if his knee is still an issue. 

Colts at Bills

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: Bills -7; 50 O/U
  • Implied totals: Bills 28.5-Colts 21.5 

Jonathan Taylor is the closest thing the NFL has to an unstoppable force right now, and the Bills defense has been an immovable object — they’ve allowed the third-fewest rushing yards on the season and have allowed the fewest yards per play in the NFL. The Colts are in for a very, very tough matchup after winning four of their past five, three of which came against the Jaguars, Jets, and Texans. 

  • Injuries: There are no injuries of note for these two teams. 
  • What we’re watching for: Taylor played 84{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the snaps in Week 10, a career-high mark, and not-coincidentally had a career-high eight targets. If he’s going to have that kind of role — or anything close to it — in the passing game, matchups aren’t going to matter. I’d sure love to see that kind of usage again. Otherwise, I’d like to see Emmanuel Sanders get going, because he had zero catches three weeks ago and just two last week. He continues to have a decent amount of upside on a weekly basis thanks to his downfield oriented role, but teams seem to be focusing on taking that part of the Bills offense away. 

Packers at Vikings

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: Packers -1.5; 47.5 O/U
  • Implied totals: Packers 24.5-Vikings 23

With Aaron Jones out, AJ Dillon is set to make his second start. All he did the last time he got a starter’s workload with Jones out in Week 16 last season: 124 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. He’s a consensus top-10 RB for Week 11. 

  • Injuries: Aaron Jones (knee) — Jones hasn’t practiced and is set to miss at least one week … Davante Adams (shoulder) — Adams was upgraded to a full practice Thursday. He’s fine. The same may not be true of Allen Lazard (shoulder), who has been held out of practice both days. Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hip) was also limited Thursday, so that’s one to watch — not that he’s anything more than a boom-or-bust WR4. 
  • What we’re watching for: There isn’t a lot on either of these teams to sort out. Davante Adams and Dalvin Cook have had some bad touchdown luck this season, so if you’ve been disappointed in them, keep the faith. And, if someone in your league has them and is disappointed, go out and make a trade offer before Sunday. I still think Adams is the best WR in Fantasy, and Cook is a top-five RB. 

Washington at Panthers

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: Panthers -3.5; 43 O/U
  • Implied totals: Panthers 23.25-Washington 19.75

Cam Newton is going to make his first start for the Panthers since 2019, and he gets a nice soft landing against what has arguably been the worst pass defense in the NFL. His weapons are a lot better than what he had in New England a year ago, so I’m actually quite optimistic about Newton’s chances of emerging as a starting-caliber Fantasy option. If you’re desperate, I would be willing to start him over someone like Daniel Jones or even Kirk Cousins. 

  • Injuries: Logan Thomas (hamstring) — Thomas was not seen at practice Thursday, so it seems safe to assume he won’t be back this week. Ricky Seals-Jones (hip) has also missed both practices this week, so fourth-round rookie John Bates could step into a starting role. Tight ends have had a big role in this offense, but there seems to be very little in Bates’ profile worth getting excited about — he ran a 4.89 40-yard dash and had 579 yards and two touchdowns in four years at Boise State. 
  • What we’re watching for: Say what you want about Cam, but he’s a better passer than Sam Darnold has ever been, so I’m optimistic he’ll be good news for D.J. Moore. Obviously, it’s fair to wonder whether Moore can count on seeing a 30{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} target share moving forward with a new QB, but I don’t think that was just a Darnold thing — only Christian McCaffrey had more targets in Week 10. On the Washington side, obviously we want to see how Antonio Gibson will be used after he surprisingly had a season-high 24 carries against the Buccaneers last week. Was that just because the Football Team was gifted an early lead due to some turnovers, or did the bye allow him to get healthy enough to have the kind of workload we’ve been hoping for all season? There’s also growing frustration with Terry McLaurin, I can tell, so we’d love to see him put up a big game — but I’m still starting him as a top-12 WR no matter why. 

49ers at Jaguars

  • Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
  • Line: 49ers -6; 45 O/U
  • Implied totals: 49ers 25.5-Jaguars 19.5

The assumption here is the 49ers will roll right through the Jaguars, so just a friendly reminder that the Jaguars defense has actually been pretty great since the bye. They haven’t allowed more than 301 yards in any of their three games and they’ve held the Bills and Colts to just one offensive touchdown over the past two games. They’ve been especially stingy against the run, so it’ll be interesting if the 49ers try being a bit more aggressive with the pass early on to try to build a big lead. 

  • Injuries: Elijah Mitchell (rib/finger) — The finger is the more pressing concern, and it looks like it likely will keep him out after he was held out of practice Thursday. That isn’t terribly surprising, given that he had a pin put in it just earlier this week, though it’s possible he could be cleared late in the week. If not, Jeff Wilson can be viewed as a top-24 RB for this one … Deebo Samuel (shin) — This one doesn’t seem to be too serious, as Samuel was limited both days in practice, but it’s a new injury, so I’ll note it … James Robinson (heel/knee) — The knee is the bigger concern since he already played through the heel last week, and he was upgraded to a limited participant Thursday, which is a good sign. As long as Robinson is active, he’s a top-16 RB; Carlos Hyde is just an RB3 if Robinson is out. T
  • What we’re watching for: With both starting running backs facing injury questions for this one, it’s hard to say exactly what to expect. If Robinson is out, it would be interesting to see Jamal Agnew get more opportunities in the backfield — he’s averaging just 5.9 yards per target with a 58.3{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} catch rate, so it might make more sense for the Jaguars to use him as a rusher. He’s a decent Fantasy option, but neither he nor Marvin Jones or Laviska Shenault should be considered more than low-end Flex. On the 49ers side, Brandon Aiyuk is the only lineup decision you really have to make outside of the running backs, and I view him as a fringe WR3 right now.  

Bengals at Raiders

  • Sunday, 4:05p.m.
  • Line: Bengals -1; 50.5 O/U
  • Implied totals: Bengals 25.75-Raiders 24.75

The Raiders offense has looked out of sync of late, with just 30 points combined over the past two weeks. The Bengals defense has been quite good this season, but it was torched for 75 points in the two games before the bye, and Vegas clearly doesn’t expect a big bounce back. 

  • Injuries: Josh Jacobs (knee) — Jacobs has been limited both Wednesday and Thursday, and while I do expect him to play, this is a downgrade from last week, when he was a full participant in each practice. Just something to be aware of as he continues to struggle through his worst season ever. 
  • What we’re watching for: On the Bengals side, I want to continue to see them featuring Joe Mixon in the passing game — he has at least five targets in three of his past four. If he is going to see four targets per game on average, Mixon might be a top-six RB. I’m also still waiting for a breakout game from Tee Higgins, who continues to see a bunch of targets — a 24{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} share for the season. I think it’s coming, and he remains a top-24 WR for me.  On the Raiders side, we’d sure love to see breakout games from the expected stars of this offense, Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller. One thing to keep in mind with Waller is that, while he’s been a disappointment so far (494 yards on 44 catches through eight games), he was no better at the same point last season — 53 catches for 431 yards through Week 10. He continues to have massive weekly upside. 

Cowboys at Chiefs

  • Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
  • Line: Chiefs -2.5; 56 O/U
  • Implied totals: Chiefs 29.25-Cowboys 26.75

You’re expecting a shootout, I’m expecting a shootout, Vegas is expectating a shootout. Adam Aizer might call this a “bonanza” game — though let’s hope he doesn’t. 

  • Injuries: The only relevant injury we’re watching in this one is Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but since he’s still on IR, the Chiefs don’t have to give an update on his status after every practice, and we didn’t hear much either way Thursday. We’ve gotten mixed signals about Edwards-Helaire’s chances of playing this week, but we should know tomorrow or Saturday (at the latest) whether he’ll be cleared. If he is, I’ll start CEH as a low-end RB2, while Darrel Williams could still have a good game as a pass-catcher. If CEH is out, Williams is probably a top-16 RB. 
  • What we’re watching for: I’d like to see Amari Cooper get going, because he has just six catches for 88 yards over the past two games. CeeDee Lamb had his breakout last week, so now it’s Cooper’s turn. If he struggles in this matchup, it might be time to panic. On the Chiefs side, they seemed to figure out how to beat the adjustments defenses had made in taking away the deep ball, with Patrick Mahomes focusing more on getting the ball in his playmakers hands in the short areas of the field. We’ll see if the Cowboys stick with that approach, but I’m starting all of the usual suspects. The only question is at RB, because we truly have no idea what the split might look like if Edwards-Helaire is back. 

Cardinals at Seahawks

  • Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
  • Line: Cardinals -2.5; 48 O/U
  • Implied totals: Cardinals 25.25-Seahawks 22.75

The Cardinals had been able to overcome their injuries before last week, but the cracks showed in Week 10. They enter this game with a bunch of question marks, but somehow there might be less pessimism surrounding them than there is for the Seahawks coming off the first shutout of Russell Wilson’s career. The concern there is that he rushed back from his finger injury, which means we don’t know if you can trust him. I’ll keep the faith, but another poor game would be a big concern. 

  • Injuries: Kyler Murray (ankle) — Murray put in another limited practice, and he appears to be on track to play. We’ll see if he gets a full practice Friday, but at this point, I’m assuming he’ll be out there … DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) — You can’t assume the same about Hopkins, who has yet to practice since suffering a setback during Week 8. He can play without practicing, but we haven’t gotten much positive news around him lately. I’m assuming he won’t play … Chris Carson (neck) — Carson has been designated to return from IR but has yet to actually practice, so it doesn’t seem like he’s all that close. Alex Collins (groin) was unable to practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday, though that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t play — he went through the same process in Week 8 before being cleared. It’s a good matchup for Collins if the Seahawks offense can bounce back. If he can’t play, maybe we’ll finally see Rashaad Penny get some extended run. 
  • What we’re watching for: There aren’t a whole lot of questions for these teams once you get past the injuries. If Hopkins is cleared to play, I’m still waiting to see if the Cardinals increase his target share — Rondale Moore’s diminishing role of late makes me think there’s a decent chance it happens. Hopkins might be one of the best buy-low candidates in the league right now, and the injury is helping drive his price down. 

Steelers at Chargers

  • Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
  • Line: Chargers -6; 47 O/U
  • Implied totals: Chargers 26.5-Steelers 20.5  

Neither offense is exactly riding high right now, though at least in the Chargers case, that is actually a surprise. 

  • Injuries: Ben Roethlisberger (COVID-19) — Roethlisberger is preparing as if he’ll start, but he still has to be cleared through the COVID protocols in order for that to happen, so it isn’t a guarantee. We’ll know by Saturday, most likely … Chase Claypool (toe) — Claypool has been limited both Wednesday and Thursday, so Friday’s practice could tell the story. It’s probably going to be hard for him to get cleared without a full practice, so keep an eye out for Friday’s report … Justin Herbert (oblique) — Herbert was added to the injury report Thursday, but he was a full participant, so it doesn’t seem like there’s any reason to be concerned at this point. 
  • What we’re watching for: What’s going on with Justin Herbert? He has four interceptions over his past four games while averaging just 6.6 yards per attempt. The big play just hasn’t been there, and if you’re looking for a reason to be optimistic about Mike Williams moving forward, maybe that’s the key for this offense to get going again. On the Steelers side, you’re starting Diontae Johnson and Najee Harris no matter what, but Claypool is only in play if Roethlisberger is cleared. 

Giants at Buccaneers

  • Monday, 8:15 p.m.
  • Line: Buccaneers -11; 50.5 O/U
  • Implied totals: Buccaneers 30.25-Giants 19.25

Because they haven’t really been healthy at any point this season, it’s been really hard to get a sense of what the Giants offense is. I’ve been a long-time Daniel Jones skeptic, but I do think there is actually some potential here if he has most of his pass-catchers active. And, with Vita Vea out, the Buccaneers defense might be vulnerable. I’m not saying I expect the Giants to put up a bunch of points, but it wouldn’t shock me. 

  • Injuries: Saquon Barkley (ankle) — Barkley opened the week with a limited practice, which is a little bit disappointing coming off the bye. Hopefully they’re just taking it easy with him, but I’d like to see him get a full practice in Friday or Saturday. Devontae Booker was also limited with a hip injury, so Elijhaa Penny would be in for a larger role if they are unable to play … Sterling Shepard (quad) — Did not practice Thursday, which is a bad sign. The good news for the Giants is neither Kenny Golladay nor Kadarius Toney was listed on the practice report, so both should be good to go … Antonio Brown (ankle) — Did not participate in practice. I’m assuming he’ll miss another week. Chris Godwin (foot) was limited with the same injury he played through last week … Rob Gronkowski (ribs) — Gronkowski was upgraded to a full participant in practice so he should be back this week. He’s a top-10 TE, albeit a risky one given how much he’s had trouble staying healthy this season. 
  • What we’re watching for: With Shepard in doubt, Toney and Golladay could both be in line for pretty big roles. It’s hard to trust them, but we know both have a ton of upside in a game where the Giants should be chasing points. It’ll also be interesting to see how Barkley is used. I have him as a top-12 RB, but I know that’s a bold take — I’d feel better about it with a full practice Friday and Saturday. On the Buccaneers side, with Brown still looking like he’s a little ways away, you should just be able to plug in the stars and go.