The Indianapolis Colts have been a pleasant surprise this season. At 6-5, they’re coming off of an absolute walloping of the Buffalo Bills on the legs of Jonathan Taylor. Taylor had 32 carries for 185 yards and four touchdowns, setting career highs in touchdowns and carries. The Colts are trying to gain ground on the Titans in the AFC South, and with the Titans sitting an 8-3 coming off of a head-scratching loss to the Texans, the hill doesn’t feel so insurmountable.
Meanwhile, there’s nothing surprising about the Buccaneers. They’re 7-3 in the thick of the NFC race, and with the teams in the division fading quickly their eyes should be on the No. 1 seed the Packers currently hold. After losing to the Washington Football Team two weeks ago, the Buccaneers beat up on the New York Giants in “Monday Night Football” last week in a 30-10 victory. Tom Brady returned to form, completing six passes to four different players, and throwing a pair of touchdowns.
With the Colts sitting as 3.5 point home dogs in this game, there are a few things in their favor. The Buccaneers have ruled out Antonio Brown, but that provides little solace given the stable of receivers alongside him. The Colts are 24th in the NFL against the pass, and they’ll have to be much better than that to keep up with an offense as potent as Tampa Bay’s.
Of course, their running game at its best can keep the Colts in any game. They throttled the Bills for their biggest win of the season last week by getting out early and often, and they’ll have to do the same against the Buccaneers. If they let Brady set the pace of the game, they’ll have a lot of trouble, as Colts fans can attest. Brady was 15-4 against the Colts as a member of the Patriots, so the onus is on Frank Reich to shake Brady off come Sunday.
Here’s what you need to know to watch Buccaneers vs. Colts this Sunday, including kickoff time, TV channels, and the full Week 12 NFL schedule.
Colts vs. Buccaneers will be broadcast regionally on local Fox affiliate channels. Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olson are in the booth calling this game for Fox, with Pam Oliver giving sideline analysis. Mike Pereira will be giving commentary on the officiating along with the other early games.
You can find Tampa Bay’s away broadcast on SiriusXM channel 384, while the Colts’ home broadcast airs on channel 229.
Colts vs. Buccaneers is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET. Much of the country will have this game, with only local early game markets not receiving it on Fox.
Whether you got off to a great start in Thursday’s games or you’re looking to make up ground, you’re going to have a lot of questions about your lineups this week, I know. Adam Aizer and Heath Cummings updated you on the latest news and answered some start/sit questions on this morning’s FFT podcast, and Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath are on CBS Sports HQ until kickoff of the 1 p.m. games to answer your questions and keep you updated on all of the news you need to know on the FFT live show.
Make sure you check both out, but if you want more direct answers to your questions and other news updates, I have two more ways for you to win: Go to Twitter and use the hashtag “#AskFFT”, where our whole team will be answering questions all morning; and go to the FFT YouTube channel to chat with Adam and I from 11:30 until kickoff. We’ll be there right up until kickoff answering as many questions as we can, so make sure you’re in the chat early to get your questions in.
Here’s the rest of our preview content to get you ready, and check out my updated position rankings at the bottom of the newsletter to help with any early lineup dilemmas you may have:
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Sep 12, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Julio Jones (2) and Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Nissan Stadium.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
McNichols is actually the biggest injury here, because it seemingly frees up Dontrell Hilliard to play a big role again. Hillard surprisingly emerged as the most-used running back for the Titans in Week 11, catching eight passes and finishing with 82 yards from scrimmage. The Titans have a tough matchup against the Patriots on the way this week, but given the Titans’ injuries at both running back and wide receiver, it’s going to be hard to go away from Hilliard coming off that kind of usage. He’s in the RB2 discussion for PPR leagues.
The other interesting situation here is the Jets, with Carter placed on IR earlier this week. Johnson and Tevin Coleman figure to split work for the Jets in the backfield in a great matchup against the Texans, but can you actually trust either? Johnson played 20 snaps in Week 12 and had one carry and one target; Coleman rushed for a whopping 16 yards on five carries with one target of his own. Coleman probably needs a touchdown to have much Fantasy value, so you’re hoping Johnson splits carries with him and gets a decent passing game role. He’s more of an RB3, while Coleman is truly just a desperation play — it wouldn’t shock me to see La’Mical Perine out produce him.
The Seahawks RB absences are also worth noting. Alex Collins figures to be the leading rusher against Washington, but DeeJay Dallas did match him in snaps last week, so he’s an interesting beat-the-waiver-wire add this morning just in case he pushes Collins this week.
These two are looking like game-time decisions, which isn’t a bad thing for those of you with Patterson, who plays at 1. If Patterson is active, you’re playing him — he’s been one of the best players in Fantasy this season and has an excellent matchup against the Jaguars on the way. If he doesn’t play, my preference would be to avoid the Atlanta backfield, but that may not be possible, so I would prefer Mike Davis to Wayne Gallman, especially in PPR. He wouldn’t be a top-24 RB, however.
The problem with Jones is he doesn’t play until 4:25 p.m., so if you have to make a decision early, he’s putting you in a tough spot. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Sunday morning there is “optimism” around Jones, who is pushing to play and will go through pre-game warmups to prove he’s ready. The problem is, the Packers tend to be pretty conservative with injuries, and with a Week 13 bye coming up, they may opt to give him two full weeks to get back to full strength. I can’t see into the future, so I can’t tell you whether to sit an early player for Jones; if you have a viable replacement in the late slate of games, it’s worth the risk, but otherwise, I would probably pass. AJ Dillon figures to see a solid role no matter what and is a decent starter even if Jones plays, so I would probably just keep him active.
I’m willing to start Barkley and Hunt as top-20 running backs this week and Mitchell is right in that range as well, so you’re probably starting all three of those guys. And I’m probably passing on the Patriots duo, since both are expected to play and it’s not like we have any reason one way or the other to consider one or the other more likely to be limited — injury details don’t tend to leak out for the Patriots. Expect another timeshare there, one that makes them both fringe Fantasy options until something changes to give one of them a real advantage. You’re hoping for a touchdown either way.
Wide receivers
Out: A.J. Brown (chest; IR), Corey Davis (groin), Antonio Brown (ankle), Sterling Shepard (quadriceps), Kadarius Toney (quad), Auden Tate (thigh), Anthony Schwartz (concussion), Ben Skowronek (back)
Legitimately questionable: Allen Lazard (shoulder), Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin), Curtis Samuel (groin), Nico Collins (hip), Adam Humphries (hip)
Expected to play: Marquise Brown (thigh)
The Titans already have Julio Jones and Marcus Johnson on IR, so they are incredibly short-handed for this one. Dez Fitzpatrick, Chester Rogers, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine led the team in WR snaps last week, and Westbrook is the only one you could even consider starting coming off a 100-yard game, but you’d probably have to be pretty desperate to do so — he turned eight targets into 29 yards in Week 4 against the Jets the last time Brown was out. He’s not a top-40 WR for me.
I’m starting Marquise Brown in his return against the Browns, and it really doesn’t take much thought. He’d been a bit disappointing prior to the injury, with fewer than 40 yards in two of his previous four games, however he also had 44 targets in those four games, so there’s no way I’m not starting him. He’s a top-15 WR, while Rashod Bateman is in the WR3 discussion as he’s had at least six targets in each of the first five games of his career.
Tight ends
The hope is that Thomas will be activated from IR prior to Monday’s game, but given the late kickoff there, you can’t take the risk that he won’t play unless you want to add Gerald Everett as a fill in just in case. I like Thomas’ chances of returning to be a viable starting Fantasy option, however, so if he’s available in your league, I would go out and add him unless I’ve got one of the handful of no-doubt-about-it, must-start tight ends.
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The Upright Go device is a product that a person can place on their upper back using a hypoallergenic adhesive. The company Upright created this wearable device to detect posture issues and alert a person to adjust their position when necessary. Further medical research is necessary to establish whether wearable postural devices offer positive, long-term effects.
This article looks at how the Upright Go device works and how it may help improve a person’s posture.
Upright comes with a medical-grade, silicone adhesive patch that a person uses to attach the Upright Go to their upper back. The adhesives are hypoallergenic and reusable. Once in place, the device uses biofeedback to track an individual’s posture. If they slouch, the device will gently vibrate, prompting them to stand or sit in a more straight position.
If a person prefers not to attach the device directly to their skin, they can use the Upright Go necklace that holds the device in the correct position. The necklace comes in a choice of six colors, and the company sells them separately for around $20.
The device syncs with a compatible smartphone app that records statistics and posture progress.
There are two different Upright Go devices: the Go S, and the Go 2. Although both products are similar, the Go 2 has more features and is slightly more expensive.
They both draw power from a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that takes approximately 3 hours to charge fully.
Both models are compatible with the same smartphone app.
Below is a table showing the differences between the two devices.
Adhesives
The hypoallergenic adhesives the device comes with are reusable and can last for up to 10 applications with correct use.
However, although the company state the adhesives are hypoallergenic, it is not clear if the brand has carried out studies regarding any skin side effects due to using the product. Therefore, a person should exercise caution and consider an appropriate allergy patch test before using the adhesives.
An adhesive removal tool that resembles a guitar pick is included with the device to aid sticker removal. It also comes with alcohol cleaning wipes.
Both models work with the Upright smartphone app, which is free to download and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
The app offers real-time posture feedback, with an on-screen avatar mimicking the movement and body position of the wearer. The avatar turns red when a person wearing the device slouches or hunches.
Additionally, an individual can set personalized daily goals, view posture statistics, and keep track of progress. In-app support and live chats are also available.
Shipping within the United States is free, and U.S. customers will receive their order within 5–8 business days.
While Upright ships worldwide, international customers are responsible for paying any applicable customs charges.
Returns
Upright offers a 30-day money-back guarantee that starts from the date of receipt of the product.
However, to receive a refund, a person must show they followed their in-app training plan and reached their daily goal for at least 4 days.
Warranty
The company provides a 1-year limited consumer warranty, which covers manufacturer and material defects.
Upright claims that over 500 clinics worldwide recommend these devices, which have clinical validation from four published studies indicating their effectiveness.
The company uses biofeedback technology within its Upright products. A 2021 study asked participants to complete a computer task twice — once as normal, then a second time wearing a posture biofeedback device. The authors of the study concluded that individuals experienced improved posture when using the device.
However, a 2019 review of wearable postural devices stated that much more research is necessary to establish whether or not there are medical benefits.
Research suggests this type of device may benefit the following groups:
Office workers: The above 2021 study suggests this type of device may benefit office workers or those who spend long periods at a computer.
People with neck pain: A 2019 study suggests that improved posture may benefit those with neck pain in the short term. However, further research to determine its long-term effects is necessary.
Individuals with lower back pain:Research from 2018 found that a wearable biofeedback device may reduce lower back pain and discomfort.
Those with Parkinson’s disease: A 2019 study suggests the Upright Go offers postural benefits, particularly regarding neck flexibility, in people with Parkinson’s disease. However, wider research is necessary to help establish the ability of those with this condition to use the device. It also stated that long-term effects need monitoring in individuals with Parkinson’s disease who use the machines.
Additionally, a 2020 study suggests these wearable devices may improve fatigue, confidence, and overall stress ratings.
The Upright Go appears to be one of the only wearable posture devices readily available to purchase. However, several others are now no longer available.
PostureMinder
This is an app that a person can install on their computer. It provides pop-up notifications to remind individuals to sit up straight and take breaks from their screens.
A person can set the time interval when they would like these notifications to appear. In addition, an individual can also turn them on or off easily.
Posture correctors
A person may also look into purchasing a posture corrector, aid, or brace. These are products a person wears around their arms and back that pull back the shoulders, encouraging them to stand and sit up straight.
However, to avoid dependence on this kind of brace, an individual should consider only wearing them for a short time. People should also speak with a doctor or qualified healthcare professional if they have concerns about their posture or alignment.
The Upright Go device is a wearable product that a person attaches to their back using adhesives. They can also wear it with a bespoke necklace that holds it in place.
The device provides gentle vibrations when an individual slouches as a reminder to correct their posture. The compatible mobile app allows people to view their posture in real-time and monitor their progress over time.
Research suggests this device may improve posture and reduce any associated pain from slouching. However, finding the long-term effects and medical implications of these devices require further and broader research.
Rivalry Week has arrived and with it some of the biggest college football games of the season will be going down Saturday. Bragging rights will not be the only thing on the line as division titles, conference championship game appearances and College Football Playoff invitations will all be up for grabs with 18 top 25 teams in action over the course of the day.
Ohio State and Michigan go head-to-head in The Game with the Big Ten East on the line. The Buckeyes and Wolverines each have a shot at a top spot in the College Football Playoff, but the victory in Saturday’s game must win out through the Big Ten title game. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State meet in Bedlam, each as one-loss Big 12 teams that would need a bit of help to get into the playoff. There’s also a chance the Sooners and Cowboys meet in a league title game rematch should the Sooners win.
Elsewhere, Georgia (at Georgia Tech) and Alabama (at Auburn) each have rivalry games to get through ahead of their matchup in the SEC title game.
While winning is all that matters for the standings, we care about whether these teams will cover their spreads. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the day for college football coverage from the opening kickoff onward. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for a loaded Saturday in Week 13.
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times Eastern
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 5 Michigan
Noon| Fox, fuboTV (Try for free) — It’s so hard to go against the Buckeyes in this game. Even though I think this is the most complete Michigan team that Jim Harbaugh has fielded, after seeing the way the Buckeyes have flipped the switch the last two weeks, I don’t think the Wolverines are good enough to keep it within the number. They have an excellent defense and pass rush, but they’ve yet to face an offense even close to what Ohio State offers. If the Wolverines fall behind, they’ll have to abandon their strengths in an effort to keep up. So I’m laying the points with the Buckeyes while hoping the game is much closer. Prediction: Ohio State (-8) — Tom Fornelli
No. 3 Alabama at Auburn
3:30 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — I’ll take the points since a nearly three-touchdown spread screams “backdoor cover”. It’s impossible to trust the Crimson Tide offensive line, so I expect Auburn to force multiple empty possessions, which will allow T.J. Finley to keep his team in the game for at least three quarters. Finley will ultimately make a mistake or two that swings the game in the favor of the crimson and white … but not by three scores. Prediction: Auburn (+19.5) — Barrett Sallee
Penn State at No. 12 Michigan State
3:30 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) — There has to be some shell shock coming out of that stunning result at Ohio State last week, and while returning home should bring a more friendly environment for Michigan State, I think Penn State comes in with a little bit more juice. Taking the under is my favorite play because this should be a low-scoring game, but ultimately I’ll side with the Nittany Lions. Prediction: Penn State (-1.5) — Chip Patterson
No. 15 Texas A&M at LSU
7 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — Both of these teams have been disappointing relative to expectations, but LSU has played poor football against quality competition. The only ranked win of the season came against Florida, which proceeded to collapse. Texas A&M can limit LSU’s running game and make them one-dimensional enough to come away victorious. Prediction: Texas A&M (-6.5) — Shehan Jeyarajah
No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 7 Oklahoma State
7:30 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) — Oklahoma was a trendy pick to win the national championship entering the season — including by this author. Unfortunately, there’s only so much waiting we can muster before we acknowledge that the proverbial Mr. Godot is not coming. Oklahoma State has been consistently better and more dominant all season long, and its playing its best football with a chance to reach its first Big 12 Championship Game. The Cowboys won’t waste this moment. Prediction: Oklahoma State (-4) — Shehan Jeyarajah
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 13, and which top College Football Playoff contender gets a huge scare? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a proven computer model that has returned almost $3,700 in profit over the past five-plus seasons — and find out.
Thanksgiving day might have been full of NFL days, but there is still more football action prior to the weekend.
On Friday, there will be 16 FBS games to kick off rivalry weekend, along with a few ranked matchups.
No. 21 San Diego State kicks off the slate at noon with a tough matchup against Boise State. No. 16 Iowa will play its final Big Ten game of the season when it travels to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take on the Cornhuskers in a battle for the Heroes Trophy.
Plenty of eyes will be on No. 4 Cincinnati as it looks to strengthen its College Football Playoff candidacy in its final test before the American Athletic Conference championship game in a matchup against Eastern Carolina. The Utes will also play their final regular-season game, hosting Colorado, before the Pac-12 championship on Dec. 3.
The night slot will feature a pair of rivalry clashes with UNC traveling to Raleigh to play No. 20 NC State, while the latest chapter of the Apple Cup will take place in Seattle with Washington hosting Washington State.
Sporting News breaks down how to watch those games and more in Week 13. Here’s everything you need to know.
MORE: College football picks, predictions against the spread for every Week 13 top 25 game
How to watch, live stream college football games
There will be a full slate of games on national television running from noon through 8 p.m. ET on Friday. The games will appear on CBS, Fox, FS1, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN+ and ABC. Live streaming options include the ESPN app, Fox.com, ESPN+, Paramount+ and fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial.
No long intro here. You need to make sure your lineup is set before that 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff for the Lions and Bears game. For your sake, I hope you aren’t relying on that game too much either way, but still, let’s make sure you’ve got everything you need to know.
That starts with my game previews, where I go over every game on the schedule for Week 12, looking at every relevant injury plus my thoughts on every single team. You’ll also want to make sure you check out Dave Richard’s <em>Starts and Sits, Sleepers and Busts</em> column, where he offers his thoughts on the toughest Fantasy lineup decisions for every game. And Jamey Eisenberg’s Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em column offers even more lineup advice for you to consume before you consume copious amounts of turkey.
Get ready for Week 12 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 12.
Week 12 Game Previews: Vegas notes, lineup decisions, and injury updates
Week 12 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 12 game, with some notes on what Vegas is expecting to see, some lineup help and one thing to watch for from each game:
Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports
All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook.
Bears at Lions
Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET
Line: Bears -3; 41.5 O/U
Implied totals: Bears 22.25-Lions 19.25
This would be a hard game to get excited about even if both teams had their starting quarterbacks. Tim Boyle vs. Andy Dalton isn’t exactly the matchup that’s going to bring America together to kick Thanksgiving off.
Injuries: Justin Fields (ribs) — Fields is out for Week 12, so Dalton will start in his place … Allen Robinson (hamstring) — Robinson is doubtful for this one after missing practice all week. He missed last week’s game and Darnell Mooney had a 47{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} target share in his absence … Jared Goff (oblique) — Goff looks on track to start, despite being listed as officially questionable for the game. If not, Tim Boyle will lead the way again. He had 77 passing yards on 23 attempts last week.
What we’re watching for: I mean, you really would love to see Goff play, because Boyle really was that bad last week. T.J. Hockenson is someone you probably need to keep active no matter who is in at QB, but you’d rather see Goff out there for sure. It’s been nice to see the Lions get D’Andre Swift going on the ground over the past few weeks, and he still played 73{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the snaps even with Jamaal Williams back. He’s a bona fide stud for Fantasy. On the Bears side, the hope is that Andy Dalton can continue to get Darnell Mooney involved. The two connected for a 60-yard touchdown on Dalton’s first throw to Mooney — then he was just two nine from that point on. You love the target share, and if they can be more efficient, Mooney could be a star.
Raiders at Cowboys
Thursday, 4:30 p.m. ET
Line: Cowboys -7.5; 51.5 O/U
Implied totals: Cowboys 29.5-Raiders 22
The Cowboys enter the game short-handed and banged up, but the line doesn’t reflect any concerns. Fantasy players are probably less confident, what with Ezekiel Elliott slumping of late, Amari Cooper out and CeeDee Lamb’s status in question.
Injuries: CeeDee Lamb (concussion) — Lamb did practice on a limited basis Wednesday, and the hope is he’ll be cleared to play Thursday. As of now, that isn’t guaranteed, but it seems possible, and you’d have to start Lamb if he’s active, even with some risk coming back so soon.
What we’re watching for: With Cooper out, there’s room for another receiver to step up, here — Dalton Schultz is the only guy who even came close in the 19-9 loss to the Chiefs in Week 11. If Lamb plays, I probably wouldn’t start either Gallup or Wilson, but if he’s out, Wilson becomes an intriguing play — he figures to see more snaps in the slot if Lamb doesn’t play. On the Raiders side, they’re still searching for a replacement for Henry Ruggs and what he brought to the team; Derek Carr has reached 8.6 intended air yards per attempt just once in his past four games, after being above that in five of the first six games. It’s impacted his play and made this offense a lot less dynamic.
Bills at Saints
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET
Line: Bills -6; 45.5 O/U
Implied totals: Bills 25.75-Saints 19.75
The Saints are no strangers to surprise upset wins against great offenses, as they’ve got wins over the Packers and Buccaneers where they picked off Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers twice each. They’ll need to limit possessions and big plays, and the Bills offense has been a bit off lately, scoring 15 points or fewer in two of their past four games.
Injuries: Alvin Kamara (knee) — Kamara is set to miss his third straight game due to the injury, and given that he didn’t practice at all this week, it’s not entirely clear whether he’s at all close to returning … Mark Ingram (knee) — And his backup isn’t 100{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} either. It’s not clear whether Ingram is likely to sit out Thursday’s game, as Wednesday was his only practice of the week, and he was limited. He’s been a strong Fantasy producer in Kamara’s absence, with 36.1 PPR points in two games. If Ingram can’t play, Tony Jones would likely be in line to start and would be an intriguing RB3, albeit against an especially tough matchup.
What we’re watching for: On the Bills side, it’ll be interesting to see if they can take the top off the Saints defense, which has been an issue for them of late as teams have focused on limiting the deep ball and forcing Josh Allen to make plays underneath. In theory, that should make their running game more effective, but with Zack Moss and Devin Singletary failing to do much of late, that hasn’t come to fruition. It seems like Matt Breida has a chance to earn a bigger role moving forward, but this isn’t really an offense I’m all that interested in chasing for running backs. On the Saints side, well, the running backs have been the only reliable Fantasy options, and I don’t expect that to be different against this defense.
Buccaneers at Colts
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Line: Buccaneers -3; 53 O/U
Implied totals: Buccaneers 28-Colts 25
Jonathan Taylor has reached Derrick Henry territory, where it just doesn’t seem like any defense can slow him down. He had his best game of the season against the Bills in Week 11, so should we really be worried about a matchup with the Buccaneers? I’ll just say this: The Colts defense keeping Tom Brady in check is probably as important as anything for Taylor’s production.
Injuries: Antonio Brown (ankle) — Brown didn’t practice Wednesday and seems unlikely to play this week yet again. Head coach Bruce Arians told reporters he hopes Brown can return in Week 13 against the Falcons … Mike Evans (back) — Evans didn’t practice Wednesday and this is a new injury, so that’s something to keep an eye on. It’s not clear how serious the injury is right now, but have an alternate plan ready to go just in case.
What we’re watching for: Taylor’s dominance has been bad news for Michael Pittman and the Colts passing game, but I’ll have a hard time going away from him in this matchup. For his sake, you’re hoping the Colts will be forced to throw a bit more — and given that Taylor has made Nyheim Hines largely irrelevant of late, that might not necessarily be bad news for Taylor, either. On the Buccaneers side, we’d like to see Leonard Fournette get going — he has just 29 carries over the past three games with no touchdowns, leaving him very heavily reliant on the passing game for production.
Eagles at Giants
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Line: Eagles 24.5; 45.5 O/U
Implied totals: Eagles 24.5-Giants 21
The Giants fired their offensive coordinator this week, so maybe that’ll spark the offense. Daniel Jones actually looked pretty good early in the season, averaging 8.2 yards per pass attempt in the first four games, so maybe they’ll be able to get things going again. The Eagles have allowed just one game with more than 215 passing yards since making a switch to a run-first offense in Week 8, so it’s not exactly a great situation for that.
Injuries: Jordan Howard (knee) — Howard is expected to miss this week’s game, which is good news for Miles Sanders, who could have a big role in the running game with less competition near the goal-line … Kadarius Toney (quad) — The Giants have just been snake-bitten, and especially Toney, who has seemed to come down with some kind of issue every time he’s showed some promise. He didn’t practice Wednesday, a bad sign for his availability … Sterling Shepard (quad) — Shepard was also unable to practice Wednesday, as he continues to recover from his multi-week injury. If he played, he would be an interesting WR option, but at this point, assume he won’t … Kyle Rudolph (ankle) — Rudolph hasn’t had much of a role this season (17 catches in 10 games), but his potential absence could open up a bigger role for Evan Engram against what has been the worst defense in the league against tight ends. Rudolph didn’t practice Wednesday.
What we’re watching for: On the Giants side, it’ll be interesting to see what, exactly, changes with Freddie Kitchens taking over playcalling duties. He comes from the Bruce Arians school of deep passing, so maybe Kenny Golladay has a chance to get going. Not that you can even think about start him coming off a two-target game. The only Giants players I would be comfortable starting are Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram, and the latter is just a bet on the Eagles’ complete inability to cover tight ends — they’ve given up 18.8 PPR points per game to tight ends, 3.7 points per game more than the second-worst defense. On the Eagles side, Jalen Hurts is a borderline elite Fantasy QB in my eyes, and I think this could be a very, very good game for Miles Sanders. He’s firmly in the RB2 territory.
Falcons at Jaguars
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Line: PICK; 46 O/U
Implied totals: Falcons 23-Jaguars 23
The Falcons have scored just three points in their past two games and Matt Ryan is pretty banged up right now. On the other hand, the Jaguars have scored just 44 points in four games since their bye — they are, somehow, getting worse as the season goes on.
Injuries: Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) — Patterson pushed to play on a short week last Thursday, so I would guess his chances of playing in Week 12 are pretty good assuming he avoids a setback.
What we’re watching for: You probably have to hold your nose and start Kyle Pitts despite the fact that he is averaging just three catches and 41 yards per game over the past four games. And if Patterson plays, he’s the only other player you’re considering — my assumption is Qadree Ollison returns to being a non-factor if Patterson is active, though it’s possible he’s done enough to push Mike Davis aside for good. On the Jaguars side, with Jamal Agnew gone, is it finally time for Laviska Shenault to break out? Shenault’s issue has been performance as much as volume, so I’m not counting on a breakout until I see it. I’m assuming Dan Arnold’s lack of involvement in Week 11 was just a fluke, and he and James Robinson are the only players worth using until someone — anyone — steps up.
Jets at Texans
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Line: Texans -2.5; 44.5 O/U
Implied totals: Texans 23.5-Jets 21
Stoppable force, meet moveable object. The Texans haven’t topped 22 points since Week 1, while the Jets have scored just 34 combined over the past two games after reaching 30 in consecutive games in Weeks 8 and 9. Zach Wilson is expected to return at QB with Joe Flacco and Mike White on the COVID-19 list.
Injuries: Michael Carter (ankle) — Carter is expected to be out multiple weeks with his low-grade high-ankle sprain, so it’s no surprise he was unable to practice Wednesday.
What we’re watching for: The Jets look like they may have a legitimate star on their hands with Elijah Moore, but Wilson will have to play better than he did prior to his injury to help Moore continue to ascend. That’ll be the primary thing to watch for the Jets. On the Texans side, I suppose it’ll be interesting to see if the release of Phillip Lindsay means they’ll continue to concentrate touches between David Johnson and Rex Burkhead, though I’m not sure it’ll matter unless you’re desperate for an RB. If you are, Johnson is probably the better option because he might at least catch a few passes.
Titans at Patriots
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Line: Patriots -6.5; 44 O/U
Implied totals: Patriots 25.25-Titans 18.75
The Titans offense was a lot of smoke and mirrors in their first two games without Derrick Henry, and they got exposed in Week 11. Injuries have hit them hard, and it’s hard to see how things get much better against the Patriots.
Injuries: Damien Harris (neck) — Harris was limited at Wednesday’s practice, which means this probably isn’t anything to worry about. However, with so much attention focused on the Patriots backfield, any injury is worth watching … Hunter Henry (neck)/Jonnu Smith (shoulder) — At this point, I’m assuming both will play. I’m also assuming both are just touchdown-or-bust options, with Henry having been more likely to find the end zone this season … A.J. Brown (chest) — Brown has been limited for much of the season with knee issues, but this is a new injury, one he suffered last week. Obviously, we’ll need to keep a close eye on this one throughout the week, so check back on his status Friday. At this point, I would assume he’s playing, but it’s obviously not a sure thing … Jeremy McNichols (concussion) — McNichols was held out of practice yet again Wednesday as he is continuing to deal with the issue. He was unable to play last week … D’Onta Foreman (triceps) — Foreman was limited Wednesday and I’ve seen no reason to think there is much to worry about, but it’s worth noting here. Dontrell Hilliard would probably be a top-24 RB if Foreman were to miss time.
What we’re watching for: Will the release of Adrian Peterson make D’Onta Foreman a better Fantasy option? He and Peterson have combined for 50 carries in three games. Or, will Dontrell Hilliard see a role even if McNichols returns? I fear it’ll be a three-way split, a lot like New England’s on the other side. Rhamondre Stevenson may yet force Damien Harris out of the picture, but given the split in Week 11, it hasn’t happened yet. Given that split, I’m viewing both Harris and Stevenson as RB3s right now.
Steelers at Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Line: Bengals -4.5; 45 O/U
Implied totals: Bengals 24.75-Steelers 20.25
The last time these two teams met, the Steelers managed just one offensive touchdown in a 24-10 loss, but that was before the Steelers dedicated themselves to really leaning on Najee Harris. If both sides had their druthers, we’d probably see Harris and Joe Mixon combine for 50 carries in this one.
Injuries: There are no injuries we’re tracking for these two teams, which means Najee Harris didn’t have any lingering symptoms after being evaluated for a concussion Sunday. That’s great news.
What we’re watching for: On the Bengals side, I’d really, really like to see Tee Higgins get going. I named him a buy-low candidate in yesterday’s newsletter, but I’d be lying if I said I was totally confident in that. On the other side, the hope is the Steelers can keep Chase Claypool going after his 93-yard performance in Week 11. He gives the offense another dimension with his ability to make plays down the field, and if he can remain a solid No. 2 option, it makes this offense a lot more interesting. Of course, that all depends on Ben Roethlisberger being able to get the ball to him consistently. He’s a risky WR3.
Chargers at Broncos
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
Line: Chargers -2.5; 48 O/U
Implied totals: Chargers 25.25-Broncos 22.75
The Chargers are coming off one of their best offensive games of the season, but the Broncos are looking like a legitimately tough test — they rank third in scoring defense, though they rank more in the middle of the pack in yards per play.
Injuries: There are not any injuries we’re keeping track of as of Wednesday.
What we’re watching for: Coming out of the bye week, the Broncos have a lot of Fantasy players’ eyeballs on them. We want to see if they start to really turn things over to Javonte Williams — he played a season-high 57{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the snaps in Week 10, and could be a big difference maker if he can get to, say, 65{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the RB touches. We’d also like to see Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton going, and Sutton is especially concerning as he has just 12 targets in four games with Jeudy active. On the Chargers side, there isn’t much to watch for unless the Chargers start to use Mike Williams like they did early in the season. That hasn’t been the case for a month-plus. He’s just a boom-or-bust WR3 right now, which is more than you can say for Sutton.
Vikings at 49ers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Line: 49ers -3; 48.5 O/U
Implied totals: 49ers 25.75-Vikings 22.75
These are two teams that just can’t figure out whether they are good or not. Which is to be expected when you’re talking about two .500 teams, I suppose.
Injuries: Elijah Mitchell (finger) — Mitchell was limited at practice Wednesday, a good sign as he recovers from surgery to repair a fracture. He missed last week’s game but is at least trending in the right direction now. He’ll likely be the lead back if healthy, and figures to see 15-ish carries, while Jeff Wilson Jr. will likely be a factor as well.
What we’re watching for: The 49ers are trying to strike a delicate balance that allows George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk to get enough touches to be Fantasy relevant. The past few weeks, we’ve seen them use Samuel as a running back, allowing him to stay productive while getting just seven targets. Keeping all three of them involved while remaining a relatively low-volume passing game is going to be a test, and it might not take much for Fantasy players to lose faith in the experiment. On the Vikings side, we know how this offense is going to operate — it’s a lot of Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen, and very little of anyone else.
Rams at Packers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Line: Pick; 47.5 O/U
Implied totals: Rams 23.75-Packers 23.75
The line is surprisingly low for what many would have expected to be a shootout coming into the season. However Matthew Stafford has looked out of sorts in the past two games, the Rams are still figuring out how to incorporate Odell Beckham, and Aaron Rodgers is dealing with a fractured toe that he’s likely to play through but could impact his performance. Of course, it didn’t seem to be an issue when he passed for four touchdowns last week. I’d take the Over.
Injuries: Aaron Jones (knee) — Jones was back as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, which is an improvement from last week. Whether that means he’ll play in Week 12 remains to be seen, but at least now we know there’s a chance … Aaron Rodgers (toe) — Rodgers confirmed Wednesday he is dealing with a fractured toe, but the assumption at this point is he’ll continue to play through it.
What we’re watching for: How the Rams use Beckham coming out of the bye will be key, obviously. He played just 13 snaps in Week 10, but they’d had a bye week to get him up to speed. I expect to see a lot more of him, but I have trouble trusting him as anything more than a boom-or-bust WR3 until we see him producing in this offense. On the Packers side, the biggest question for me is what Dillon’s role looks like if Jones is back. He’s been better than expected as a pass-catcher, and I wonder if we might see more of an even split when Jones is back. I’ll also be watching Marquez Valdes-Scantling after his 10-target game in Week 11. If he’s going to get more than a few deep shots per game, he could be an interesting Fantasy option.
Browns at Ravens
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
Line: Ravens -3.5; 45.5 O/U
Implied totals: Ravens 24.5-Browns 21
The Browns are really going to have to slow Lamar Jackson down with the way their offense is playing right now — they have 14 or fewer points in four of their past five games.
Injuries: Kareem Hunt (calf) — Hunt was designated to return from IR and was back on the practice field Wednesday, and it looks like he’s got a pretty good chance of making his return in Week 12 after missing five games. He would be a lower-end RB2, while Nick Chubb is a high-end RB2 either way … Baker Mayfield (left shoulder, foot, groin) — Mayfield is dealing with a bunch of injuries that he will, in all likelihood, continue to play through. He sat out Wednesday’s practice … Jarvis Landry (knee) — Landry didn’t practice Wednesday as well, and will also likely continue to try to play through his injury. If he gets healthy, Landry could be pretty useful for Fantasy, but he just isn’t 100{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} right now … Lamar Jackson (illness) — Jackson is back at practice and expected to start in Week 12 after missing last week’s game … Marquise Brown (thigh) — Brown was limited Wednesday, a good sign for his chances of playing in Week 12, though obviously that isn’t guaranteed by now. You’ll have to keep an eye out for his status Friday before we have a real sense of his chances.
What we’re watching for: I’m not sure there’s much reason to hold out hope for the Browns passing game, given Baker Mayfield’s struggles, especially since he’s so beat up right now. How they use their backs if Hunt is back will be interesting to watch, but we pretty much know what to expect — they’re both starting caliber Fantasy options. On the Ravens side, it’s sort of frustrating that we didn’t get to see Bateman with Jackson healthy last week when Brown was out. I’m viewing him as a WR3 if Brown is out, but there’s upside well beyond that.
Seahawks at Washington
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Line: Washington -1; 46.5 O/U
Implied totals: Washington 23.75-Seahawks 22.75
Man, if Russell Wilson can’t get going in this matchup…
Injuries: Rashaad Penny (hamstring) — Penny got the start in Week 11, rushed for 19 yards on two carries in eight snaps before suffering the injury. Pete Carroll downplayed the injury earlier this week, but that’s just what Pete Carroll does. Penny could overtake Alex Collins as the lead back if he ever stayed healthy, but you wouldn’t use him in Week 12 even if he does play … Logan Thomas (hamstring) — Thomas was officially designated for return from IR and could make his return this week. I’m not sure I would want to throw Thomas right into my lineup, but by all means, make sure he’s not already rostered in your league at the very least.
What we’re watching for: On the Seahawks side, nothing really matters if Wilson isn’t playing well, but it will be interesting to see how the running back snaps are divvied up after DeeJay Dallas matched Alex Collins last week. On the Washington side, Antonio Gibson has seen an increased role over the past few weeks, and Week 11 looks even better if you take out the second quarter, when he was benched for fumbling — he played 64{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the snaps in the other three quarters.
