Here's my inside look at several games on the Week 12 schedule:
LAC-BUF
Chargers
As I'm sure you're aware by now, the team activated RB Austin Ekeler (hamstring, knee) off IR.
Ekeler has been out since he got hurt in Week 4 at the Buccaneers (10/4).
Because he has been out for nearly two months, it's hard to imagine that he'll see his normal workload (21 touches per game over his first 3 games before the injury). However, because he looked good in practice the last few weeks and had no setbacks, he should get enough touches for you to use him today.
Ekeler was targeted 15 times over the two full starts that rookie QB Justin Herbert (weeks 2, 3) had before Ekeler suffered his two injuries.
Bills
With starting WR John Brown (ankle-IR) out through at least Week 14, rookie WR Gabriel Davis is expected to start in his place at the "X" position.
As we told you before the season started, Davis gained the confidence of the coaches in training camp by quickly learning two positions (X, Z) in just a few weeks and he did so well that he started to learn the "Y" (slot) position earlier this season.
He was drafted to eventually take Brown's job down the line and Brown's $7.05m base salary for 2021 is not guaranteed. The team has to make a decision on his $500k roster bonus by the 5th day of free agency.
Now is the time to add Davis if you’re in a keeper or dynasty league.
The Bills got a break when the Chargers ruled out starting CB Casey Hayward (groin) on Friday. He's by far their best coverage DB and keep in mind that veteran CB Chris Harris, who was activated off IR this weekend, is best used inside.
LVR-ATL
Raiders
Although he was limited in all 3 days of practice this week, starting RB Josh Jacobs (hip) is expected to be in the lineup today. However, it's his 2nd hip injury this season, so it's something we'll keep an eye on.
He has no injury designation, which, back on the old injury report, would be considered probable. Teams don't take players off the injury report anymore by the end of the week (with extremely rare occurrence) if the player started on there to begin practice for that game.
Falcons
RB Brian Hill is expected to be the team's main ball carrier today and he has been the backup to starter Todd Gurley (knee-out) for several weeks, beating out 3rd-year RB Ito Smith.
Smith is built more like a change-up RB (5-9, 200).
Hill has really good size for the position (220) and runs with really good vision (sees the hole and hits it with no wasted motion).
TEN-IND
Titans
Starting WR A.J. Brown (knee) will play today and has no injury designation for the game. I'm told there was a minor cartilage issue that goes back to training camp, so they don't practice him more than two days per week in order to get him ready for game day.
As for TE Jonnu Smith (ankle), his injury is the same ankle injury from earlier this season.
The team will be without slot CB Adam Humphries (concussion-out) again.
And Adoree' Jackson (knee) remains out. He's their fastest CB, but has yet to play this season.
Colts
With rookie RB Jonathan Taylor (reserve/COVID-19) out today, they'll go with RBs Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines to handle most of the workload at the position.
From talking to the team over the past few seasons, Wilkins does fit their profile of what they look for in an RB (power), but because of the likely game flow due to the key players being on defense, Hines should be a bigger factor as the game progresses.
This figures to be a game where the team plays from behind and Hines has been their primary "hurry-up" RB this season. Hines has yet to have more than 12 carries in any game this season.
The team will be without two key starters on their DL and one other key defender: DE Denico Autry and DT DeForest Buckner, who are on the reserve/COVID-19 list. And starting OLB Bobby Okereke (ankle) is out.
CAR-MIN
Vikings
QB Kirk Cousins gets a break with Panther starting CB Donte Jackson (turf toe) out today.
While teams have had better success running against the Panther defense than passing it, the matchups on the outside still favor the Vikings, as Panther CB Rasul Douglas, while he has improved greatly this season after the Eagles cut him, does not run well.
MIA-NYJ
Dolphins
The team did not activate RB Myles Gaskin (MCL sprain) off IR by Saturday's deadline and RB Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) is out, so RBs Matt Breida, DeAndre Washington and Patrick Laird are slated to fill in with Breida expected to get at least half of the touches today. Gaskin started practicing this week.
The Jets likely will be playing with two rookies at CB today (Bryce Hall and UDFA Lamar Jackson) for the 2nd week in a row, which is good news for DeVante Parker owners. Parker, BTW, has not been listed on the injury report since Week 8.
NO-DEN
Broncos
With their 3 QBs ineligible to play today, the team is turning to practice squad WR Kendall Hinton to start at QB today.
Hinton was a backup QB at Wake Forest for his first 3 seasons then got moved to WR last season.
Because he got so little work with the first-team offense, I'm expecting OC Pat Shurmur to use the run game a ton today and a variety of ways in order to create some offense.
With the 3 QBs out, this is obviously bad news for their WRs (Tim Patrick especially).
The Saints have one of the NFL's best run defenses (3.3 yards per carry), so this, at least on paper, should be a blowout win where it's going to be hard for the Broncos to move the ball.
SF-LAR
49ers
The team got some badly needed good news this week when starting WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring) went through practice without issue and is expected to be in the lineup today. He has no injury designation for the game. And starting WR Trent Williams was activated off reserve/COVID-19.
RBs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson were activated off IR and Mostert was clearly their main back before his 2nd significant injury this season (MCL sprain and most recently high ankle).
Mostert averaged just over 17 touches per game over the 3 games where he was able to finish the game without issue prior to his 2 injuries.
While starting CB Richard Sherman (calf strain) was activated off IR this week, nickel CB K'Waun Williams (high ankle) remains out which is good news for Cooper Kupp owners.
Rams
Veteran WR Tyler Higbee (elbow-questionable) did not participate in the team's only practice this week.
CHI-GB
Bears
From what I've been hearing, the team would like to increase rookie TE Cole Kmet's role going forward. Kmet, a 2nd-round pick, has been averaging just under 25 snaps (24.8) per game, but that's expected to increase.
Headed into the team's Week 11 bye, they thought their OL was on the mend. However, starting LT Charles Leno (toe-questionable) suffered his injury during practice and is no sure thing to play this evening and starting LG Rashaad Coward (ankle, knee) now is dealing with two injuries, but is expected to be in the lineup.
