NFL Player News

Ebner was injured in last Thursday’s preseason game and has now missed a week. It is possible he is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, though even a garden-variety ankle ailment could easily be a week-plus issue in the camp environment. Both David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert should be healthy to begin the year, keeping Ebner’s value limited to Dynasty leagues.

Mason has been fully relegated to that of an elite bench stash, with Christian McCaffrey now dominating touches out of the backfield. Mason fumbled on a kick return attempt but smartly chased the ball down and swatted it out of bounds before the Seahawks’ coverage team could close on it. Mason should not be started against the Packers in Week 12.

The high-scoring fantasy outings should eventually come; McCaffrey’s 42 touches over the last two weeks are more than double that of the next closest 49er. Perhaps the most telling sequence of McCaffrey’s current state occurred as he ran onto the field for the 49ers’ second drive, where he could be seen aggressively driving his feet into the ground, transferring his weight side-to-side as he did so. The talented veteran running back is still trying to find his footing as he returns from bilateral Achilles tendonitis but his two setback-free showings should be taken as a net positive. He is an RB1 against the Packers in Week 12.

Allgeier logged just three snaps and didn’t see a rushing attempt or target before the Falcons rested their starter in the fourth quarter of the blowout loss. He had seen 29 carries over the Falcons’ previous three games as the No. 2 option behind Bijan Robinson. Allgeier should be more involved in the offense when the Falcons return from their bye against the Chargers in Week 13.

McConkey appeared to land hard on his shoulder on a 20-yard reception down the sideline in the first quarter of the team’s Week 11 game against the Bengals. He would remain on the turf following the play and was then taken to the medical tent. No word has been passed from the team at this time. McConkey managed the one catch on one target for 20 yards prior to departing.

This was a sad showing for Pearsall, who had a chance to produce as the team’s No. 3 or 4 pass catcher with George Kittle sidelined. Pearsall completely flopped though, relegating him to that of a shaky bench stash option moving forward.

Cousins, who dealt with elbow and shoulder issues headed into Week 11, was sacked once but faced pressure on seemingly every second half drop back as the Atlanta offensive line was overwhelmed by an aggressive Denver front seven. Cousins and the Falcons seemed disinterested after the Broncos took a commanding lead. The Falcons rested their starters for most of the fourth quarter. Cousins will look to get back on track in Week 13 against the Chargers. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 9.

Bosa entered Week 11 dealing with a nagging hip injury but the in-game broadcast revealed that Bosa is more so bothered by the injury’s oblique-muscle component than his actual hip. Per Sandler, things took a turn for the worse in Week 11, saying “Bosa said he overcompensated on that second sack and now both obliques are hurting.” Sandler adds, Bosa “has some level of concern that he’s going to have to miss some time” as a result. The 49ers appear likely to be without their star defender against the Packers in Week 12.

We would say this is a new low, but Kelce caught one pass for just five yards in the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Bengals. Still, it was another disappointing game for the veteran tight end, who has five games on his ledger this season in which he failed to hit 40 yards while also being kept out of the end zone. This week’s dud comes on the heels of three-straight TE1 finishes, so we’ll put the overreaction on hold a bit. Kelce is still a must-start in Week 12 against the Panthers.

Samuel was essentially a non-factor with Jauan Jennings operating as Brock Purdy’s go-to pass catcher. Samuel’s short-are usage may be limiting the 28-year-old player, who remains intimidating but has perhaps lost a step as a post-catch dominator. His 4.4-yard aDOT is Samuel’s shallowest target depth among his healthy 2024 showings. He is a volatile WR2/3 against the Packers in Week 12.

Fantasy managers who started Travis Kelce were left shouting into the void on Sunday, as Gray caught not one but two short touchdowns in Sunday’s loss to the Bills. It was the first time this season that Gray found the end zone and it also marked the first two-touchdown game of his career. Fantasy managers who feel inclined to chase the points will want to remember that in his previous three games, Gray caught five combined passes for 41 scoreless yards. There’s no reason to get cute in Week 12 against the Panthers.