News: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger couldn't finish the team's Week 11 game at Kansas City after a knee to his head left him with a possible concussion. He underwent tests on Monday, but the team didn't immediately update his condition and his status for Sunday might not be known until later in the week. However, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Roethlisberger "seems to be fine" according to a source. Roethlisberger threw for 398 yards and three touchdowns at Kansas City before leaving the game. He completed 32 of 42 passes, but was intercepted twice.
Analysis: The Steelers will undoubtedly take steps to make sure Roethlisberger's head is clear before letting him play in Week 12, but they'll surely need him if they want to beat the Ravens on their home field. If he cannot play, third-string QB Dennis Dixon would get the start with backup Charlie Batch sidelined with a broken wrist (he was also hurt at Kansas City). We'll keep you posted on Roethlisberger's status and deliver the latest when we get it.
News: Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said Monday he was unsure about the availability of WR Calvin Johnson for Week 12 vs. the Packers. Johnson sustained a knee injury on the same play that saw QB Matthew Stafford get injured vs. Cleveland in Week 11. Johnson caught seven passes in the game for a total of 161 yards and a touchdown. When asked about Johnson's availability for the game, Schwartz simply said, "we'll see."
Analysis: With the game only four days after Week 11, we don't love Johnson's chances to play against the Packers. We'll keep you posted and share more with you when we get it, but for now figure Johnson to be an injury risk for Week 12. If he does suit up, figure him to play like a No. 2 receiver since his knee could limit him, just as playing with Daunte Culpepper as his quarterback against a good Packers secondary would also limit him.
News: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday that QB Kurt Warner has "concussion-like symptoms" after taking a shot to the head in Week 11 at St. Louis. However, he hasn't officially been diagnosed with a concussion. Warner will have tests Tuesday and likely will take a baseline test Wednesday to determine his availability. Whisenhunt talked to Warner on the flight home from St. Louis about strategies and next week's opponent, the Titans. According to Whisenhunt, Warner was "upbeat and his mind was clear." Warner finished 15 of 19 passing for 203 yards and two touchdowns with a fumble in just under one half of play. Matt Leinart replaced him under center. "We are obviously optimistic that there won't be any issues with [Warner] whatsoever," the coach said Monday.
Analysis: Fantasy owners who have been starting Warner need to consider forming a backup plan just in case the stud quarterback doesn't play. One option: Leinart, who wasn't overly impressive in a half against the Rams but according to Whisenhunt that was because "there were a lot of things we didn't allow him to do." We'll keep you posted on Warner's availability throughout the week, but for now be sure you're OK with the quarterback you have behind him on your team since you might need to turn to him in Week 12.
News: St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger will be sidelined 3-6 weeks with a fractured left leg sustained in Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The team said it would not place Bulger on injured reserve. Bulger underwent two MRI exams Monday, one on his groin and hamstring and a second for what the team believed was a swollen knee. He also was to be tested for concussion-related symptoms Tuesday after a physically demanding loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said the first MRI revealed a strain. "Marc Bulger's pretty banged up," the coach said. "Marc's got a few things going on." Backup Kyle Boller will make his third start of the year Sunday against the Seahawks.
Analysis: Bulger has completed 56.7 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and six interceptions for the Rams (1-9). Bulger would only have been a No. 2 Fantasy option for Week 12, at best, so Fantasy owners aren't going to miss out too much. We can't really recommend using Boller in the game.
News: The Redskins' running back situation continues to get worse. Head coach Jim Zorn said Monday that RB Ladell Betts is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, and he also said that concussed RB Clinton Portis will miss Week 12 at Philadelphia and possibly even Week 13 vs. New Orleans as he progressively improves from a hit to the head in Week 9 at Atlanta. Rock Cartwright and Quinton Ganther are expected to shoulder much of the rushing workload for the team's next game at Philadelphia; Cartwright totaled 140 yards on 20 touches in Week 11 while Ganther had 6 yards on three carries. Ex-Redskins running back Marcus Mason might also re-sign.
Analysis: Betts can be safely dropped in Fantasy play while Portis should remain benched -- you might even want to consider cutting him if you desperately need the roster spot. Cartwright is a powerful runner with good hands, and with a sizable workload headed his way he's appealing as a No. 3 Fantasy RB. Ganther might see some work while Mason would be a backup; both are low-end options at best for now.
News: Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said Monday that QB Matthew Stafford was "extremely sore" after sustaining a separated left shoulder on the next-to-last play of their win in Week 11 vs. the Browns, and that he was "unlikely" to play against Green Bay unless the pain subsides. Stafford was injured while throwing a desperation pass into the end zone as time expired. The Browns were called for pass interference, and after a time-out, Stafford came back to throw a game-winning touchdown with no time on the clock. He was 26 of 43 for 422 yards and threw two interceptions. Daunte Culpepper would get the start if Stafford can't go.
Analysis: We expect Culpepper to play since the game will be only four days after Stafford got hurt. Consider Culpepper to be no better than a low-end No. 2 Fantasy QB vs. the Packers on Thanksgiving Day while Stafford should at best continue to ride the pine while he's hurt in deeper leagues and dynasty/keeper formats.
News: Bills running back Marshawn Lynch's status is uncertain after he hurt his left shoulder and did not return against Jacksonville in Week 11. Lynch was hurt in the second quarter, when he lost a fumble and landed on his shoulder before getting carted to the locker room. Interim head coach Perry Fewell labeled him as day-to-day and would only say that Lynch was feeling better on Monday. "We'll see (Tuesday) how he feels and continue from there," Fewell said.
Analysis: If Lynch plays, he would continue to take carries away from teammate Fred Jackson and keep both of them limited to low-end No. 3 Fantasy running backs. But if Lynch takes the week off to rest then Jackson would likely take the strong majority of reps at running back and have a shot at putting up 100 total yards against a Dolphins defense missing their best run stuffer for the rest of the season. We'll keep you posted on the Bills' backfield this week.
News: Rams RB Steven Jackson has soreness in his lower back, but it's not expected to sideline him Sunday against Seattle. Jackson has carried a heavy load, with a league-high 215 rushing attempts as well as a team-high 35 receptions. Along with that, Rams FB Mike Karney has soreness in his neck and will undergo an MRI exam Monday. Karney has been key in Jackson's 103 yards-per-game rushing average. Jackson had 24 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown Sunday against Arizona.
Analysis: Keep an eye on Jackson's status during the week and hope he's OK for Week 12 against the Seahawks. He's a No. 1 Fantasy RB when healthy, so hopefully this injury won't limit his production going forward. And hopefully Karney is OK because Jackson has relied on Karney to clear holes for him this year.
News:Tony Romo is feeling better, and Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips is confident the quarterback will be ready to play Thursday. Phillips says his quarterback has already told the team that he "feels a lot better" than he did after taking a knee in the back early in the Cowboys' 7-6 victory over Washington on Sunday. Romo didn't miss a snap and completed seven consecutive passes on the game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes, then took a post-game injection for his pain. "We've already talked to Tony and he says he feels a lot better. .... He had a little bit of stiffness. He had quite a bit during the ball game, but says he feels a lot better," Phillips said, adding there are no plans to rest Romo. "Not if he's ready to play. And we think he will be."
Analysis: Romo will need to heal up quickly in time for his next game vs. the Raiders on Thanksgiving Day. Speaking of Thanksgiving, there's a catch -- Romo has always played extremely well on Thanksgiving: Last year against the Seahawks he threw for 331 yards and three TDs with just one interception. The year before against the Buccaneers he threw for 306 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. Another weak opponent comes to Dallas for Turkey Day, so even with the Raiders' potent secondary you might expect Romo to play his best. If he were totally healthy we'd be inclined to agree, but because his back appears to be in rough shape, Fantasy owners might be taking a risk by starting him. Consider other options before finalizing your lineup.
News: If Bengals RB Cedric Benson (hip) can't play in Week 12 vs. Cleveland, newly signed Larry Johnson could see his role expand. Johnson had two carries for 5 yards Sunday at Oakland with Benson out. "I suspect we'll feel more comfortable with him in more things," coach Marvin Lewis said. "He'll get an opportunity to play more if Ced is down." But Lewis also said rookie Bernard Scott played well in place of Benson. Scott had 119 yards on 21 carries and caught three passes for 32 yards.
Analysis: Keep an eye on what happens with Benson heading into the game with the Browns. If healthy, he would be a No. 1 Fantasy option, but don't be surprised if he's limited with this hip injury again this week. If you still have the chance to add Scott, do it now because Scott played well against the Raiders with Benson out.
News: Redskins TE Chris Cooley (ankle surgery) will remain in a boot for another 10 days. Cooley has been out since injuring his ankle in Week 7 against the Eagles and will be out for Week 12 at Philadelphia. Head coach Jim Zorn said the new timetable could make Cooley a candidate for IR.
Analysis: Keep Cooley reserved in all leagues if you are still holding onto him in case he comes back for the Fantasy postseason. When healthy, he is a No. 1 Fantasy TE, and hopefully he can return soon. If you own him and need the roster space, though, don't feel bad about parting with him.
News: According to a report on ESPN.com, Saints RB Reggie Bush will return for Week 12 against the Patriots. Bush missed Week 11 at Tampa Bay with a knee injury, the first game he has missed this year. The report is unconfirmed since the New Orleans Times-Picayune said coach Sean Payton did not address Bush's injury Sunday.
Analysis: We'll keep an eye on Bush's status heading into the game with New England. When healthy, Bush has been a low-end No. 2/high-end No. 3 Fantasy RB this year. The Saints likely will be cautious with Bush since they want him to be as close to 100 percent as possible heading into the NFL playoffs. Despite the report, don't be surprised if Bush is limited in practice and even misses another game depending on how his knee responds this week.
News: Green Bay cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman will both have season-ending knee surgery. Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that losing the two veterans will be a major challenge to the Packers, who have a 6-4 record and are in the middle of the NFC wild card race after Sunday's victory over San Francisco. With a Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit just three days away, McCarthy says coaches still are considering their options at each position. Harris and Kampman were both taken to the locker room after being hurt on separate plays in the second half of Week 11 vs. San Francisco. McCarthy would not confirm the specifics of either injury, but both appeared to hurt their left knees. Published reports claimed both have torn ACLs.
Analysis: Tramon Williams is expected to replace Harris at cornerback while Brady Poppinga or Brad Jones will take over for Kampman. The Packers DST remain a solid option for Week 12 against a Lions team likely to be manned by Daunte Culpepper at quarterback. They're worth starting in all leagues.
News: Houston RB Ryan Moats was not given a single carry nor did he touch the ball at all on Monday night in a loss to Tennessee. Instead, Steve Slaton started the game and Chris Brown backed him up.
Analysis: It appears that Moats has drifted back to Fantasy purgatory just as quickly as he catapulted into the spotlight. Moats rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns in Week 8 against Buffalo. He followed that with 38 yards on 16 carries against Indianapolis in Week 9 but after the bye in Week 10, he was nowhere to be found against the Titans on Monday night. We expect that to continue in Week 12 against the Colts so leave him alone in Fantasy play. It appears that the Texans have decided to go with Chris Brown as the handcuff to Slaton at this point.
News: Houston RB Steve Slaton started the Monday night game against Tennessee but did not get the game's first carry or lead the team in rushing. Those honors were bestowed upon backup Chris Brown -- Ryan Moats didn't even get a carry. Slaton still scored a touchdown in the game. He scored on a 3-yard shovel pass play from QB Matt Schaub in the 1st quarter for the game's first points. Slaton ended with five catches -- to lead the team in receptions -- for 42 yards. He also rushed five times for 21 yards.
Analysis: The funny thing about Slaton’s production of late is that it seems he’s getting fewer carries but more opportunities to get into the end zone. Instead of Ryan Moats in Week 11, Slaton split carries with Chris Brown, with Brown seeing the majority. Still, it was clear that Slaton is the better, more explosive runner and also a solid cog in the passing game for Houston. As long as Slaton holds onto the football – and he dropped a late important pass in the Week 11 Monday night game – it is clear he’s a solid Fantasy weapon. Houston hosts Indianapolis in Week 12 and Slaton ran for 17 yards and a touchdown against them in Week 9. We expect more yards this time around but he remains a No. 2 Fantasy option for the game because of his uncertainty.
News: Houston RB Arian Foster, TE Anthony Hill and backup QB Rex Grossman all did not see any statistics in the Monday night game against Tennessee in Week 11. Grossman did not play in the game. The other two saw action but got no stats.
Analysis: None of the players listed above has any Fantasy value at this time. Foster and Hill are seldom-used backups and Grossman would only have value as a handcuff to Matt Schaub. Keep them off rosters for Week 12 against the Colts.
