NFL Player News

Both backs were banged up during the Red Raiders’ 34-27 win over West Virginia on Saturday, with Thompson (6'0/210) being the more effective of the two. The redshirt sophomore rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, but 48 of those yards were gained on one play. White finished the game with 14 yards on six carries while also catching two passes for five yards. Texas Tech has taking a “committee” approach to the running back position this season, with Tahj Brooks (12-44-1 vs. West Virginia) also factoring into the equation.

Coker has missed the past two games with the quad issue. A full session to open the week all but guarantees the rookie will be back on the field by Sunday. Coker’s return should push David Moore to the bench, though Carolina’s receiver room could devolve into a messy rotation with Moore playing well in his pair of spot-starts. Adam Thielen is the only Panthers receiver fantasy managers can trust heading into Week 14.

Sanders was spotted on the practice field for the first session of the week after missing all three of last week’s practice and Sunday’s game with the neck issue. The rookie was starting to build momentum before suffering the neck injury in Week 12. He has topped 40 yards in four of his past six games and scored his first career touchdown in Week 10. If healthy, Sanders would shuffle into the back of the TE2 ranks this week.

The Bengals will call him up to the game-day roster for at least a few weeks while Evan McPherson recovers from a groin injury. York kicked for the Commanders in Week 1 but missed both of his field goal tries and was promptly cut. Despite the weak showing in Washington, York will be a solid fantasy option behind a powerhouse Bengals offense.

Per Garafolo, McPherson doesn’t need surgery and it’s not a season-ending injury, but McPherson will miss “some time.” The Bengals worked out a few veteran kickers today and landed on Cade York as a temporary replacement for McPherson. Normally an ace kicker, McPherson has struggled this year en route to a 73 percent hit rate on his field goals compared to 84 percent last year. The majority of his misses have come from 50 or more yards out.

The journeyman kicker made four of his five field goal tries last week in a win against the Raiders and will get at least one more start before Harrison Butker returns from a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve. The Chiefs put K Spencer Shrader on IR this week. Wright is a solid fantasy option with the Chiefs sporting an implied Vegas total of 23.5 points against LA.

Tommy DeVito will remain sidelined with a forearm injury he suffered two weeks ago. Lock on Thanksgiving Day against the Cowboys passed for 178 yards and an interception while rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown in a seven-point loss. Lock was 15th out of 32 qualifying QBs in completion rate over expected in Week 13, averaging a meager 6.4 air yards per attempt. Look for Lock to again target Malik Nabers heavily with the Giants underdogs against the visiting Saints. Nabers saw 13 targets last week against Dallas.

Hyde, 33, who played for Buffalo from 2017 to 2023, has a chance to join the team for a championship run after deciding not to retire or sign elsewhere this fall. The two-time Second-team All-Pro — who has struggled mightily with neck injuries during his NFL career — totaled 54 tackles and two interceptions last season. He’ll join a Buffalo secondary graded by PFF as the league’s 19th best.

Lazard could return to action as soon as this week against Miami. He’s been on injured reserve since late October with a chest injury the Jets have described as “strange” in nature. His return to the New York lineup would mean a reduced role for rookie Malachi Corley, who has five targets over the team’s past three games. Lazard likely won’t be fantasy relevant in 12-team leagues.

Lawrence is in the NFL’s concussion protocol after sustaining a brain injury in Week 13 against the Texans on a dirty, late hit. There’s next to no chance Lawrence suits up this week against the Titans, leaving Mac Jones to get another start for Jacksonville. Jones has completed 62 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and three interceptions in 2024.

The Eagles are expected to be without Dallas Goedert (knee) this week and perhaps for a while thereafter. Uzomah should be active for Week 14 against the Panthers while Grant Calcattera operates as the team’s No. 1 tight end. Calcaterra has been somewhat productive in his 2024 starts and profiles as a desperation fantasy option in the run-heavy Eagles offense.