NFL Player News

Williams took command of the Denver backfield a week after the team had seemingly turned to rookie Audric Estime. In Week 11, Williams scored the team’s lone rushing touchdown in a short-yardage scrum and was heavily involved in the passing offense. Estime had six carries and three receptions on the day for a total of 25 yards. Jaleel McLaughlin had four rushes for 19 yards. No one in the Broncos backfield is a candidate for a heavy workload, though Williams would seem to be the nominal lead back headed in Week 12 against the Raiders. He had 110 total yards in Week 5 against Vegas.

Vele, who last week caught all four of his targets for 39 yards against the Chiefs, was second among Broncos pass catchers in targets and receptions against Atlanta. Vele has positioned himself as the Broncos’ No. 2 receiver in recent weeks, though he’ll only be viable in deeper formats. Vele gets the Raiders in Week 12.

Only Drake London had more targets (7) than McCloud on the day. Operating almost exclusively from the slot, McCloud averaged 7.6 yards per catch as an underneath option before the Falcons rested their starters in the fourth quarter of the lopsided affair. If Darnell Mooney misses time with a hamstring injury, McCloud could see a bump in targets when the Falcons return from bye in Week 13.

McConkey was taken to the medical tent in the first quarter of the team’s Week 11 game against the Bengals after landing hard on his right shoulder. He would be helped to his feet before being escorted to the medical tent, but proved healthy enough to return to the game.

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.