News: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has worked out without problems since missing Sunday night's game in Baltimore with a concussion. He is expected to resume practicing Wednesday and is expected to play Sunday against Oakland barring any further complications. Roethlisberger's post-practice headaches last week were brought on by physical activity and a team doctor recommended he not play at Baltimore. The quarterback sustained his fourth concussion since 2006 and his second in less than a year during an overtime loss in Kansas City in Week 11. "All indications are he'll be a full participant tomorrow (Wednesday) in practice and ultimately play in the game on Sunday," head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.
Analysis: If you own Roethlisberger, you can pencil him in to start in Week 13 vs. the Raiders but be sure to have a good backup quarterback just in case something changes in the coming days. The Raiders' secondary has been solid for much of the season but got exposed by the Cowboys last week and should be easy for Roethlisberger to throw against given his bevy of quality targets. Consider Roethlisberger a No. 1 Fantasy QB for Week 13.
News: It wouldn't be like Terrell Owens for him not to talk about his quarterbacks. The Bills receiver, fresh off of two straight games with a long touchdown and 293 receiving yards (44 percent of his overall receiving yards on the season) praised QB Ryan Fitzpatrick while taking subtle jabs at the Bills' former starter, Trent Edwards. "If you think about the opportunities we've had during the course of the season, I've been open and I've been overthrown and I've been underthrown," Owens said, alluding to Edwards' well-documented struggles. "Now with (Ryan Fitzpatrick) back there, there are opportunities and I feel like I'm a part of the offense. Whereas, I know earlier, those feelings and those opportunities, I didn't feel that they were there."
Analysis: It's nice to know that Owens is comfortable with Fitzpatrick under center. Owens will take to the field early in Week 13 to match up with cornerback Darrelle Revis and the Jets on Thursday in Toronto. In an earlier meeting this season with Revis, Owens had three catches for 13 yards along with a 9-yard rush, and that was an overtime game that saw him catch passes from both Edwards and Fitzpatrick. With Revis blanketing Owens, do not expect a third-straight week of awesome stats from the outspoken receiver. Consider him no better than a No. 3 Fantasy wideout.
News: The Atlanta Falcons have released kicker Jason Elam and signed veteran Matt Bryant to replace him. Elam, a 17-year veteran and one of the league's most accurate kickers, missed only two kicks last season, his first with the Falcons. But he struggled this year, making only 8 of 15 field goal attempts from at least 30 yards. Bryant was cut from the Bucs this preseason after a hamstring injury didn't heal in time for him to make the final roster.
Analysis: Bryant made 32 of 38 field goals last year with Tampa Bay and has a fairly strong leg. He once hit a 62-yard field goal to win a game for the Buccaneers and has played in the face of personal turmoil, kicking just days after tragically losing his infant son. He's a good option to get off waivers this week if you're hurting at kicker. As for Elam, consider him off limits until he winds up on a team.
News: Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco was thrilled to win last week by running the football against the Browns, but he has a request for the coaching staff when they draw up their plans for Week 13 vs. the Lions: Throw the ball. Ochocinco has watched the Cincinnati run game do more than its fair share of the work for two straight weeks. "I'm not going to let them treat us like that for three straight games," Johnson said of the passing attack, according to the official team Web site. "We won the game. We had a wonderful day on the ground. Bernard Scott and Larry Johnson played extremely well. I asked for us to run the ball. This basically solidifies us being able to run the ball right now. It helps us once we do get to the playoffs. Now next week things are going to have to change. The roles need to be reversed. I'm speaking on behalf of myself and the receiving corps. We would like to throw the ball 50 times. I just want to relay that message."
Analysis: This could happen -- the Lions are actually halfway decent against the run but are ranked dead last against the pass. The Bengals might opt to air it out a little bit and put points on the board that way. That would also help keep Cedric Benson from running it 20-plus times in his first game back from a hip injury. Bank on Ochocinco putting up a good effort against a beleaguered Lions defense. Consider him a low-end No. 1/top-end No. 2 Fantasy WR for Week 13.
News: According to the official team Web site, Bengals rookie RB finished the team's Week 12 game vs. Cleveland with turf toe. That was part of the reason why he had only five second-half carries to Larry Johnson's 16. He was on crutches and in a walking boot Monday according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Analysis: Scott's injury might force Larry Johnson into the backup role behind Cedric Benson in Week 13 against the Lions. In that situation, L.J. might see as many as 10 carries with a chance to post some nominal totals if he lands some more garbage time. We'll tabs on Scott's situation and deliver the latest when we get it, but ultimately neither Scott nor Johnson is worth using in Fantasy play since Benson is expected to start against the Lions.
News: Tight end Brent Celek has signed a six-year contract extension with the Eagles. The deal was announced Tuesday and runs through the 2016 season. Celek has emerged as one of the top players at his position in his first full season as a starter. He's tied for seventh in receptions (54), fifth in yards (601), and tied for fourth in touchdowns (5) among all tight ends; he leads the Eagles in catches and TDs. Celek is also dealing with a thumb injury that the team hasn't had much comment on since Week 12, which is when he got hurt.
Analysis: Celek's contract is nice but his thumb injury is of more concern to Fantasy owners. We'll know more about his status during the week, but considering his nice matchup against the Falcons, he should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy tight end, especially if DeSean Jackson is out.
News: A day after being limited in practice with a gimpy leg, Jets QB Mark Sanchez practiced in full Tuesday and seems ready to go for Week 13 action vs. the Bills in Toronto on Thursday. He actually worked on his sliding in practice Tuesday with Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
Analysis: Sanchez should be fine for the matchup at Buffalo, but this doesn't mean he should be starting in Fantasy play. Consider him nothing more than a low-end No. 2 option for the matchup against what has become a good defensive secondary.
News: The Philadelphia Eagles have signed wide receiver Jordan Norwood off their practice squad and released cornerback Ramzee Robinson. Norwood joined the team's practice squad Sept. 23. He originally signed as a rookie free agent with Cleveland after four seasons at Penn State. Norwood gives the Eagles depth if wideout DeSean Jackson can't play against Atlanta on Sunday because of a concussion.
Analysis: Norwood had 158 receptions for 2,015 yards and 13 touchdowns at Penn State but likely will be inactive in Week 13. Neither guy should be owned in Fantasy play.
News: Rookie defensive tackle Rashaad Duncan has been signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds, Duncan spent a portion of this season time on practice squads with Tampa Bay and Carolina. He was initially signed by the Buccaneers in May as an undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh.
Analysis: He isn't expected to produce enough stats on a regular basis to be useful in Fantasy. Keep him off rosters.
News: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has worked out without problems since missing Sunday night's game in Baltimore with a concussion. He is expected to resume practicing Wednesday and is expected to play Sunday against Oakland barring any further complications. That means Dennis Dixon, who started at the Ravens, will return to the bench as Roethlisberger's backup in Week 13.
Analysis: Dixon might have been a quick-fix replacement for your Fantasy squad but unless you are without a decent Fantasy replacement for Roethlisberger, you should cut him in all but the deepest of dynasty/keeper leagues.
News: Rams RB Steven Jackson lugged through a 23-carry, 89-yard effort with a touchdown and five receptions for 27 yards in Week 12 vs. the Seahawks with a sore back. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said Monday that Jackson's back is still sore and that the team would be cautious with him again this week leading up to their Week 13 game at Chicago.
Analysis: There's no reason to believe that Jackson will miss the game unless he suffers a considerable setback. Expect him to be ready to roll against a beatable Bears run defense. Continue to view Jackson as a No. 1 Fantasy RB, though it wouldn't be awful if you did establish a backup plan just in case he can't go.
News: Falcons head coach Mike Smith had no comment on the injury suffered by RB Michael Turner in the team's Week 12 win over the Buccaneers. Turner was coming back after missing one game with a high-ankle sprain only to aggravate the injury. He was held to just 33 yards on 12 carries. "He has not been ruled out of the ball game," Smith said at his press conference Monday.
Analysis: The Falcons caused rampant speculation leading up to their Week 12 game about who their running backs would be and how they would use them, only resulting in Turner and backup Jason Snelling flopping while Jerious Norwood scored on an inside pass. We'll continue to monitor the situation in Atlanta and let you know the latest when we get it. For now, figure all three Falcons running backs no better than low-end No. 2 options for Week 13.
News: Falcons QB Matt Ryan (toe) will not play in Week 13 against Philadelphia. He left Sunday's game against Tampa Bay with what has been officially diagnosed as turf toe. Falcons coach Mike Smith would not confirm reports that Ryan has gone to see a foot specialist in Charlotte, saying that he was still in Atlanta. "During the week he's going to work with our medical staff diligently to get back as quick as he can," Smith said of Ryan.
Analysis: This would be the first game Ryan would miss in his young NFL career since he started every game as a rookie in 2008 and every game this season. Chris Redman will start against the Eagles with Ryan out, and Redman played well against Tampa Bay with 243 passing yards and two touchdowns. Plan on keeping Ryan reserved for Week 13 and hope he can return soon. When healthy, Ryan is a low-end No. 1/high-end No. 2 Fantasy QB depending on the matchup. He has 2,291 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on the season.
News: Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday that QB Kurt Warner would remain monitored on a daily basis and stopped short of calling him the team's starter in Week 13 vs. Minnesota. Warner says he plans to see an opthamologist about the lingering post-concussion symptoms that kept him out of Sunday'sloss at Tennessee. Warner says he's having hard-to-describe issues with his eyes, a condition he hoped would subside last week but never did. He says the Cardinals medical staff told him before Sunday's game he shouldn't play and he agreed. The official team Web site expects more information to come out by Wednesday when the team begins practicing for the Vikings. Matt Leinart started in place of Warner in Week 12 at Tennessee and completed 21 of 31 passes for 220 yards with no scores or turnovers.
Analysis: It looks like Warner's status will remain up in the air for the next couple of days. If you own Warner, use this time to find the best possible replacement for him in case he doesn't play against the Vikings in Week 13. Low-end passers with decent matchups include Alex Smith of the 49ers, Kyle Orton of the Broncos and Vince Young of the Titans. But even if Warner is healthy, he's not expected to be a dynamite Fantasy option against a good Vikings defense that will bring a heavy blitz. Naturally, Leinart's outlook is even worse than Warner's if he starts for the Cardinals.
News: Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams suffered a sprained left ankle in the second half at the Jets in Week 12. His status for Week 13 against the Buccaneers is unknown, but it's not considered a major injury because he finished the game. Williams had 16 carries for 40 yards and caught four passes for 10 yards in the loss.
Analysis: If healthy, Williams should be considered a No. 1 running back against the Buccaneers in Week 13. We'll keep tabs on his status and deliver the latest when we get it.
News: The slumping New York Giants placed linebacker Antonio Pierce on injured reserve Monday with a bulging disk in his neck, ending the season for one of their defensive leaders. Pierce has missed two games since being ruled out indefinitely after an MRI exam Nov. 20 revealed the bulging disk. The Giants decided to put Pierce on IR after he received a second opinion from Dr. Robert Watkins, an orthopedic surgeon based in Los Angeles. The 31-year-old Pierce, in his ninth NFL season and fifth with the Giants, has 55 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in nine games this season. Chase Blackburn is expected to continue starting in his place.
Analysis: The Giants DST got off to a hot start to the season but has slumped over the last several weeks. With the Cowboys' offense coming to the Meadowlands in Week 13, you should consider other options before going with the Giants DST.
