Sunday News Drop

Fantasy’s biggest stories of the week … in two minutes or less.

Joe Burrow Still Out for Week 12

It looked like it was going to happen, but Bengals fans will have to wait. Joe Burrow won’t be activated for Week 12 versus the Patriots. He practiced all week, and even took first-team reps, but the Bengals decided to sit him one more game with a short turnaround ahead. Joe Flacco will get another start. Fantasy-wise, this keeps Burrow off the board for one more week, but everything points to him returning on Thanksgiving against the Ravens. If you’ve held this long, you’re almost there.

Tory Horton to IR

Rough update out of Seattle… Tory Horton’s been officially placed on injured reserve with that shin issue. He already missed the last two weeks, and now he’s guaranteed to be out for at least six games while the team tries to get him right. The injury cropped up right before Week 10 and clearly hasn’t improved. For fantasy, this matters way less than it would’ve a month ago: the Rashid Shaheed trade basically insulated the offense from losing Horton. If anything, it just solidifies Shaheed’s role even further.

Xavier Legette Cleared to Play

The Panthers took Xavier Legette off the injury report, putting him on track for Monday night against the 49ers. He only played about half the snaps last week because of the hip issue, but being completely removed from the report suggests he’s ready for a full workload again. For fantasy managers scrambling during bye weeks, he’s a perfectly usable FLEX. The 49ers are banged up, and Legette’s role could bounce back fast.

Brenton Strange Returns

Jacksonville’s getting a familiar face back… the Jaguars activated tight end Brenton Strange after he missed five games with a hip injury. He last played in Week 5, and Jacksonville has been dealing with injuries all over the offense since then. For fantasy, this probably doesn’t move the needle much… his role is unlikely to return to what it was before, but it’s at least another pass-game option on a team that sorely needs bodies.

Chris Godwin Expected to Play

Down in Tampa, Chris Godwin is expected to suit up Sunday night against the Rams. He was limited most of the week and dealing with a fibula issue, but both Todd Bowles and Dianna Russini say he’s on track. It’s a tough matchup, which is probably why expectations are tempered. If you’re desperate, he’s a fringe FLEX, but the real story is what this could mean in a week or two. If Godwin looks like his old self before the fantasy playoffs, he could end up being a really sneaky stash

Browns Building Game Plan Around Shedeur Sanders

Buckle up, Cleveland, because this one’s interesting. The Browns reportedly built their Week 12 game plan around rookie Shedeur Sanders. They want him moving the pocket more, leaning into his playmaking, and the staff has been trying to fix his footwork and reads after last week’s struggles. But reworking habits in seven days is a tall order. For fantasy players, this could get volatile fast. If Cleveland really leans into Shedeur instead of hiding him behind Quinshon Judkins, we’ll learn very quickly where he is in his development.

Sam LaPorta Out Indefinitely After Back Surgery

Rough update out of Detroit for anyone counting on Sam LaPorta this year. The team says he’s unlikely to make it back after undergoing back surgery, and Dan Campbell basically called it a long shot. They’re saying the procedure went well, but long-term outlook is the focus right now, not the next few weeks. For fantasy, that means you’re realistically planning to finish the season without him… and Brock Wright becomes the next man up, even if the offense is going to feel that loss on third downs and in the red zone.

Aaron Rodgers Questionable With Wrist Fracture

Over in Pittsburgh, there’s a real question about Aaron Rodgers’ availability for Sunday. He’s dealing with a small fracture in his left wrist and spent practice wearing a stabilizer while working in limited fashion. The team also has a handful of other names on the injury report, but Rodgers is the headline because he was able to participate both Thursday and Friday. For fantasy, this is one of those situations where we probably won’t know until right before kickoff, so if you’re starting him, just be ready with a backup plan in case the Steelers hold him out.

Kenneth Walker’s Late-Week Injury Note

Kenneth Walker popped up with a glute issue, but the team says he should be good for Week 12. They’re calling it precautionary, especially since he practiced normally all week and this was just a Friday flare-up.The only fantasy angle here is usage. In a game script that might get weird against Tennessee, there’s a chance he sees a tiny dip in involvement.

Dak Prescott Cleared for Week 12

Dak Prescott has no injury designation and will play against the Eagles. He limited early in the week but was fully participating Thursday and Friday, and nothing suggests the hip is going to hold him back. In fantasy, this is simple: Dak is still a QB1 in a division game where Dallas needs to keep pace… volume and scoring chances should be there.

Jaylen Warren Ready for the Bears

Jaylen Warren is good to go after shaking off an ankle issue. He got back to full work on Friday and now faces a Bears defense missing both starting linebackers… a unit already giving up chunk runs to everyone. So for fantasy, Warren stays locked in as a strong RB2 with real upside thanks to how beatable this Chicago defense has been.

So keep your eye on the news as we head into NFL Sunday… as promised, in 2 minutes or less.

If you're ready to actually win your league this year, and need more help… The Fantasy Accelerator is my year-round fantasy system designed to help sharp players crush waivers, win more trades, and stack championships.

See you tomorrow,

-Joe

P.S. You can get a free $20 (no deposit necessary) on SLEEPER if you sign up using code HOLKA8