Football Daily Dose: Dose: Thanksgiving News/Notes
As we’re heading into the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s a bit of an odd week for fantasy purposes. With a three game, mid-week slate it can be bit tricky to keep up with everything going on – so, before the Thursday slate of games, check out Evan Silva’s Matchups column and Pat Daughtery’s Week 12 Ranks for start/sit decisions on the short week.
Let’s recap Wednesday’s most important news.
Editor’s Note: Stay up to date on all the breaking news at the Rotoworld Player News page, and follow @Rotoworld_FB and @GrahamBarfield on Twitter.
The Headlines
Big news came out late-Tuesday evening that Marshawn Lynch needed surgery on his core muscle injury (sports-hernia) that has plagued him for several weeks. He went under the knife Wednesday morning. Arian Foster – who is the same age as Lynch – missed eight weeks after sports-hernia surgery during training camp.
Thomas Rawls shredded a porous 49ers’ defense at home for 30-209-1 (6.97 YPC) rushing and 3-46-1 receiving in Lynch’s absence in Week 11. Rawls’ volume projection has been huge when Lynch misses time – he’s seen 17, 23, and 30 carries when Lynch is out of the lineup. However, Week 12 is a much different spot for Rawls. Seattle gets the Steelers’ at home and Pittsburgh enters the game ranked 6th in Football Outsiders’ Rush Defense DVOA and are giving up just 0.45 fantasy points per rush attempt to opposing backs, tied for the second fewest amount in the league. Rawls is a RB1 (top-12) this week on volume and the fact that Seattle is the second most run-heavy team (48.2%) alone, but it is worth noting Pittsburgh’s run defense may be better than perceived.
Sam Bradford (concussion, shoulder) is questionable for their Thursday matchup against the Lions. Bradford was cleared of his concussion and practiced fully in practice on Wednesday, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport thinks it’s a “long shot” that Bradford will play. In all likelihood, Mark Sanchez will make his second-straight start on Thanksgiving.
In additional news for the Thanksgiving slate, Martellus Bennett (ribs) has been ruled out for Thursday Night Football against the Packers. Zach Miller will start in place of Bennett. Miller is 31-years-old and hasn’t made a huge impact in his career but is an incredible athlete per Player Profiler metrics, ranking in the 80th percentile in height-adjusted speed and is in the 90th percentile in Burst Score. Over the past three weeks, Miller has converted his 13 targets into 10-177-3. Miller is a viable play in the Thanksgiving-only slate on daily sites and is a viable streaming option for owners in a bind this week.
Continuing the theme of Bears’ news: Matt Forte (knee) and Alshon Jeffery (shoulder, groin) are both questionable for Thursday Night Football against Green Bay. Both are fully expected to play. We know Alshon Jeffery is a target-hog when he’s active and 100% healthy — he’s seen target totals of 11, 11, 15, and 16 in the four games he has played 77-plus percent of Bears’ snaps. Matt Forte’s projection is a little murkier. With Jeremy Langford playing very well in place of Forte over the past three games, its unlikely Forte will return to his 20-plus touch per-game workload. Both Langford and Forte are RB2 plays against a Packers’ run defense that ranks 18th in Football Outsiders’ Rush Defense DVOA and 20th in yards per carry allowed to opposing backs (3.81). Green Bay has allowed just 61-164-1 (2.69 YPC) combined to Jonathan Stewart, the Detroit backfield, and Adrian Peterson over the past three weeks.
Charcandrick West (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Chiefs’ HC Andy Reid said there’s a “chance” West will play on Sunday against the Bills, but it’s still very early in the week and we don’t know the full extent of West’s injury. After West hurt his hamstring and left in the early 3rd quarter in Week 11, Spencer Ware shredded the Chargers’ rush defense – that ranks dead last in Football Outsiders’ Rush Defense DVOA – for 11-96-2 (8.73 YPC) and converted his one target into five yards.
Devonta Freeman (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday and remains in the first phase of the league’s concussion protocol. It’s not a great sign that Freeman still hasn’t passed through the protocol, but again, it’s early in the week. Rookie Tevin Coleman will get the start in place of Freeman if he can’t go. Coleman face-planted when Freeman left after three carries in Week 11, converting his 17 carries into just 48 yards (2.82 yards per carry). Atlanta is currently one-point favorites at home to the Vikings; Minnesota’s rush defense is allowing 92.9 yards per-game (16th most) and 4.18 yards per carry (14th most) to opposing backs.
Editor’s Note: For updated rankings, fantasy news columns, IDP, injury analysis, dynasty and much more, check out the Rotoworld Season Pass.
Quick Hits
Ryan Mathews (concussion) and Zach Ertz (concussion) were both ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Lions. … The Broncos signed Christian Ponder on Wednesday with Peyton Manning (foot) out “at least” two weeks. … Joseph Randle was arrested at a Kansas casino Tuesday night. He’s facing several felony/misdemeanor charges. … Larry Donnell (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. … Frank Fore (knee, quad) did not practice on Wednesday. … Jordan Reed (knee) practiced on Wednesday. Reed has an extensive injury history, but his MCL sprain seems very minor. … Michael Floyd (hamstring) returned to practice on Wednesday while John Brown (hamstring) did not practice. … Emmanuel Sanders (ankle) practiced on Wednesday. … Finally, Danny Amendola (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. There is not much information on the extent of Amendola’s injury, but he’s “not expected to miss an extended period of time.”
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