NFL Player News

The Cardinals’ 2015 first-rounder, Humphries had been the team’s primary left tackle for most of the past 7-8 years. That doesn’t say nine seasons because Humphries, of course, was infamously a healthy scratch his entire rookie campaign. The 30-year-old struggled with injuries for several years before finally getting fully comfortable on the blindside. That changed last New Year’s Eve when he tore his ACL. That made cutting him loose and recouping his $9.043 million in salary cap savings all too easy of a decision for Arizona. This can be a brutal game sometimes. Now Humphries is going to have trouble landing any guaranteed money for 2024, and may not find a new home until later in the summer.

Oliver doesn’t have standalone fantasy value, but he was splitting reps with T.J. Hockenson, who just returned from the torn ACL he suffered late in the 2023 season. Oliver’s absence may force the Vikings to deploy Hockenson in a full-time role, giving him TE1 upside for Week 12.

Darnold was on the injury report with a hand injury last week and a foot issue this time around, though neither injury has been a legimtiat4e threat to his gameday availability. The Vikings may continue to limit his practice reps down the stretch as they prepare for a playoff run. Good to go for Week 12, Darnold is on the QB1/2 border for a low-scoring affair with the Bears.

The Bears’ offensive line health is improving, providing a big boost to the team’s skill position players. The unit will have its hands full, defending against the Vikings’ blitz-happy defense but Caleb Williams should play far more comfortably than he otherwise would have.

Swift progressed through all three participation designations this week, going from a DNP on Wednesday, to an LP on Thursday and an FP on Friday. Although he is listed as questionable, his ability to practice in full on Friday indicates he should be active this week. Roschon Johnson’s rise complicates things though, making Swift just an RB3/4 while operating in a timeshare against one of the NFL’s best run defenses.

Matt Eberflus told reporters that he is “hopeful” Allen can play this week after Allen injured his ankle in Friday’s practice. Details regarding the injury’s nature and severity were not provided so fantasy managers should immediately make backup plans. He is truly questionable to play and faces a difficult matchup against the Vikings’ defense.

Fantasy managers will get at least one more week of Kareem Hunt as the Chiefs’ bell cow back. The Chiefs get the Panthers on Sunday and then face the Raiders in Week 13 on Black Friday. Reid noted on Friday that Hunt is healthy enough to play but that, on the recommendation of the coaches and trainers, they will give him a few more days before activating him. Once active, Pacheco will be a borderline RB1/RB2 against the Raiders, but it’ll be Hunt’s backfield for at least one more week.

Spears suffered the concussion in Week 11 and has yet to practice, meaning he remains in the early stages of the league’s concussion protocols. Tony Pollard averaged 24 touches per game in Spears’ previous three absences. If the Titans’ offense wasn’t so stagnant, Pollard would be in line for an RB1 ranking based on his immense workload. Instead, he will sit at the top of the volume-based RB2 cohort for Week 12.

Sneed has been dealing with the quad issue for weeks with seemingly no progress being made. Head coach Brian Callahan noted today that the injury is taking longer to heal than the team initially thought. Sneed hasn’t played since Week 6 and is now out until at least Week 15. The Titans traded for Sneed and then signed him to a four-year deal in the offseason, but his first year in Tennessee is shaping up as a lost season.

Evans is set to make his return after missing the team’s last three games with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 7. When asked about Evans’ usage for the week, head coach Todd Bowles said the team will “play him as long as he’s healthy and fresh,” adding that they’ll “get him out when we have to.” Evans was a full participant in Thursday’s practice and is more than a month removed from the day he was injured. While these soft tissue injuries can linger, we’d expect Evans to see a decent day of work. He should be a solid WR2 in his return to action.

Rookie Matt Gonclaves will draw the start. He has spent the better part of the past three weeks at left tackle because of Raimann’s multiple injury woes. Per Pro Football Focus, Gonclaves has allowed seven pressures and three sacks on 103 pass-blocking reps this season.