

Wed Nov 19 11:57am ET
Field Level Media
The Cincinnati Bengals cleared tight end Mike Gesicki and safety Daijahn Anthony to return to practice on Wednesday.
Gesicki has been on injured reserve since Oct. 15 with a pectoral injury and Anthony has been on the list since Aug. 26 with a hamstring injury.
Gesicki, 30, caught eight passes for 61 yards in six games (one start) before sustaining the injury in a Week 6 loss at Green Bay.
He has 333 catches for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns in 121 games (45 starts) for the Miami Dolphins (2018-22), New England Patriots (2023) and Bengals.
Anthony, 25, was a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and appeared in 13 games as a rookie, totaling three tackles and one pass defensed.
The Bengals (3-7) host the New England Patriots (9-2) on Sunday.
The Bengals have a 21-day window to elevate the players to the 53-man active roster or shut them down for the rest of the season.
Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union did not list Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) among the players who were not participating in the team's Wednesday walkthrough. Tuten was forced to exit early from his team's Week 11 win over the Los Angeles Chargers due to an ankle injury. However, his apparent on-field presence during practice on Wednesday could be a positive sign for his status in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals. Before leaving the game against the Chargers, Tuten was on his way to a breakout performance with 74 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. If he is active in Week 12, it's possible that Jacksonville will continue shifting touches away from veteran back Travis Etienne and towards Tuten. Fantasy managers should check back throughout the week as more information around Tuten's injury status is released.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) does indeed need surgery that involves "full reconstruction" of his torn ACL and faces "at least" nine months of recovery, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Penix Jr. suffered the injury during his team's Week 11 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The injury occurred in his left knee rather than his right, which is notable considering he tore his right ACL twice during his collegiate career. A nine-month recovery timeline from late November means Penix Jr.'s availability for the start of the 2026 season could be in question. For the remainder of 2025, Atlanta will likely turn to veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has struggled across three games (one start) worth of action so far this season. Cousins profiles as a low-end fantasy QB2 heading into a Week 12 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that tight end David Njoku (knee) is considered day-to-day with a knee injury and is "working hard to be able to play" in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders, per Scott Petrak of BrownsZone. Across nine games this season, the 29-year-old has hauled in 30 receptions for 288 yards and three touchdowns on 45 targets. However, Njoku's usage has trended down in recent weeks, as he's hauled in just three catches for 28 yards on four targets over his last two games. If Njoku is unable to play in Week 12, it could mean a boost in playing time and target share for Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Over his last five games, Fannin Jr. is averaging seven targets per game and could profile as a low-end fantasy TE1 if Njoku is out.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Tuesday that he is "very in favor" of the team signing wide receiver George Pickens to a long-term contract extension, per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. The Cowboys acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers this past offseason but have not yet locked him into a contract beyond the 2025 season. Across 10 games in his first season in Dallas, the 24-year-old has recorded 58 catches for 908 yards and seven touchdowns on 83 targets. Pickens is on pace for career-high marks across the board and appears to be the perfect complement to star Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb. However, Pickens has a history of off-field issues and was benched for the first offensive series of Dallas' Week 11 win over the Las Vegas Raiders for reasons that remain unclear. Still, Schottenheimer has remained effusive in his praise of Pickens and is apparently on board with continuing to work with him in the years to come.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (concussion) is expected to return to practice on Wednesday "in some capacity," per ESPN's Jordan Raanan. Dart suffered a concussion in Week 10 that forced him to miss New York's Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers. It remains to be seen whether Dart will be able to practice in full on Wednesday or if he will be limited, but either way, his presence on the field is a positive sign for his chances of playing in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions. Across nine games (seven starts) this season, Dart has thrown for 1,417 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 317 yards and seven scores on 57 attempts. If active, he profiles as a solid fantasy QB1 in Week 12 against Detroit. If Dart cannot return, veteran quarterback Jameis Winston would be in line to make his second straight start for the Giants on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is expected to start in Week 12 with Dillon Gabriel in concussion protocol. Sanders will make his first NFL start against the Las Vegas Raiders after a rough debut in Week 11, where he completed just four of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception against the Baltimore Ravens. The matchup is far more favorable this time around, as the Raiders' defense has struggled throughout the season and was even considered a potential landing spot for Sanders during the draft process. While Sanders should draw plenty of attention as Deion Sanders' son prepares for his first start, he profiles as a low-end QB3 for fantasy purposes in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman could be a healthy scratch again in Week 12. On the WGR550 radio show, head coach Sean McDermott didn't specify whether Coleman would play against the Houston Texans. The 2024 second-round pick has been inconsistent this season, hauling in 32 of 49 targets for 330 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. He was late to a team meeting last week, and the team decided to sit him as punishment against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Coleman is out again in Week 12, Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers would see an uptick in volume. Fantasy managers will have to keep a close eye on this situation to see if Coleman will or will not play in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday night's matchup against the Houston Texans. Kincaid suffered a hamstring injury in Week 10's loss to the Miami Dolphins and will now miss his second straight game. Before going down, he was on pace for a breakout season, catching 29 of 36 targets for 448 yards and four touchdowns in just eight games. With Kincaid sidelined, Dawson Knox will handle TE1 duties, while rookie Jackson Hawes is expected to see an increased role. However, Knox managed just one catch in Week 11, making him a risky fantasy replacement. Kincaid's next chance to return will be in Week 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills second-year receiver Tyrell Shavers is coming off a breakout performance in Week 11, posting 90 yards and a touchdown on four receptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Keon Coleman's surprising healthy scratch opened the door for several Bills receivers, and Shavers took full advantage, logging a career-high 53% of the snaps. While Coleman's status for the Week 12 Thursday night matchup against the Houston Texans remains unclear, Shavers has likely earned a larger role in the offense. He isn't quite fantasy-relevant yet, but another strong showing against a tough Houston secondary could put him firmly on the radar.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas is in line for an expanded role in Week 12. Through 10 games, he's caught 19 of 35 targets for 256 yards and one touchdown, averaging 5.2 PPR points per game. With star receiver Ja'Marr Chase suspended for the week, the Bengals will lean on Tee Higgins, Iosivas, and Mitchell Tinsley to fill the void. Higgins is expected to draw coverage from Patriots shutdown corner Christian Gonzalez, along with safety help, which should leave Iosivas in more favorable matchups. As Cincinnati fights to keep its season alive, Iosivas could become a key piece of the game plan. He profiles as a high-floor fantasy option and a low-end WR3 for Week 12 against New England.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney is expected to see more targets moving forward. It's been a rough 2025 campaign for the sixth-year receiver, who has caught just 16 of 42 targets for 224 yards and no touchdowns in eight games. However, with Drake London (knee) likely to miss multiple weeks due to a PCL injury, Mooney should step into a much larger role. Both Brock Bowers and Ricky Pearsall dealt with PCL sprains this season and missed four or more weeks. With Michael Penix Jr. (knee) out for the season, Kirk Cousins will take over at quarterback and could lean on Mooney heavily, like he did at times in 2024. Mooney now projects as the top option in the passing game and should be one of the most popular waiver-wire adds this week.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back out of Virginia Tech, Bhayshul Tuten (ankle), exited during the third quarter of Sunday's Week 11 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers with an ankle injury and didn't return. Important to note: he mentioned in an interview with Jamal St. Cyr, Sports Anchor for News4JAX, that his ankle is "good." Now, players are usually going to always say things like that, especially after a career day where he appeared to be in a 50/50 split with Travis Etienne from the first snap of the game for the first time all season. Regardless, Tuten was one of the most prized possessions on the waiver wire this week, and for good reason; he averaged a healthy 4.93 YPC in Week 11 and looked really efficient, breaking tackles and racking up yards after contact. With ETN in the picture, it's unlikely that Tuten will take over the backfield; however, moving forward, this may be more of a 50/50 split, giving both running backs low-end RB2 status. Fantasy managers will want to keep tabs on Tuten's practice logs this week, as they prepare to take on the Arizona Cardinals, who rank in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to the running back position.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell has emerged as a reliable backup running back this season. Through 10 games, he's totaled 448 yards and five touchdowns on 97 touches. He's been strong in the two games where starter Jaylen Warren either missed or exited early, racking up 239 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 41 touches. With Warren still banged up and an ideal Week 12 matchup on deck against the Chicago Bears, Gainwell could be in line for another heavy workload. Given how efficient he's been both in his backup role and starting role, fantasy managers should view Gainwell as one of the top handcuff running backs to target moving forward.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker exploded in Week 11 with 140 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. He out-touched backfield mate, Rachaad White, 19-10, and has looked like the better, more efficient runner the past few weeks. Head coach Todd Bowles mentioned on Monday that "it's hard to say" if running back Sean Tucker will see more playing time even when Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) comes back, according to the Pewter Report. It appears the Bucs may go with a hot-hand approach in the backfield while Irving remains out. Regardless, this Week 12 matchup is brutal for whoever the Bucs plan to roll out there. The Los Angeles Rams are tough against opposing running backs, ranking third overall in the fewest points allowed to the position. The positives for Tucker are that he may have overtaken White's early-down work, and, as a result, Tucker will remain in the RB3/flex conversations this week, assuming Irving is still not able to play. If Irving does play, Tucker should remain on fantasy managers' benches.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson had himself a career day in Week 11, as he set new career-best lines with 15 receptions and 185 receiving yards. The third-year receiver out of Stanford was asked to step up because Marvin Harrison (Appendicitis) and Zay Jones (Achilles) both missed the game. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on November 12 that Harrison Jr. underwent surgery for appendicitis and will be sidelined for "at least Week 11 and possibly longer," meaning Wilson may be the team's WR1 in Week 12 if Harrison can't go. The key here is to pay attention to Harrison's practice leading up to Sunday, as Wilson slides down the rankings quite a bit if Harrison returns. Additionally, Trey McBride is the team's clear number one option. Another thing to note, Brissett will not be throwing the football 57 times and for 452 yards every week. The Cardinals got punched in the mouth early and were behind the whole game, leading to a gameflow script that forced them to throw the ball the entire game. If Harrison plays, Wilson profiles as a WR3 with limited upside. If Harrison is ruled out, Wilson profiles as a low-end WR2 against a stiff Jacksonville Jaguars defense, which ranks much better than the San Francisco 49ers defense, against whom the Cardinals played last week.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) has been on Injured Reserve since Week 4 due to a knee injury. However, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon indicated that Benson is a candidate to have his activation window opened in the near future. That could mean Benson has a chance to return for Arizona's Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, that appears to be up in the air at this point, given that most of the updates we have received about Benson haven't been encouraging to fantasy managers who have been holding onto him in their IR spots. Benson was pressed into RB1 duties when veteran running back James Conner (foot) was injured in Week 3 and ruled out for the season; however, Benson was immediately injured in Week 4, which was his first game with RB1 opportunities. Benson profiles as the team's top running back upon his return, considering the Cardinals spent a third-round (66th overall) draft pick on him. In leagues where he is available, Benson is a must-add and stash on your bench or waiver wire. If he remains out in Week 12, the Cardinals will likely continue splitting backfield work between Bam Knight and Michael Carter, with Emari Demercado (ankle) likely out in Week 12.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson was one of Week 12's hottest waiver wire pickups. Reason being, he is slated to step in as the team's RB1 with Josh Jacobs (knee) listed as questionable on Sunday against division rival, the Minnesota Vikings. Injured Reserve is not a consideration for Jacobs, and there have been reports suggesting that the 27-year-old is week-to-week as well. If Jacobs does miss, Wilson will become a plug-and-play RB2 for this Sunday against a middle-of-the-road Vikings run defense. If Jacob's does play, he will likely be limited, or at least Wilson should remain involved, giving him RB3 consideration. For those fantasy managers who swooped him off the waivers, it will be beneficial to keep tabs on Jacobs' practice logs this week, start Wilson if Jacobs is ruled out, or potentially look to sell-high and trade Wilson to Jacobs' fantasy owners if your trade deadline hasn't passed.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper (concussion) carved out standalone fantasy value in his role behind Hunter Henry last season, but he has failed to establish himself as a worthwhile fantasy addition during the 2025 campaign. He went from the overall TE24 in PPR leagues last year to TE45 through Week 11 this season. The 31-year-old hasn't registered more than three targets in a single game this season, which is a major step backward after he averaged 3.5 targets per game in 2024. While Henry has cemented himself as the Patriots' top tight end and is one reason for Hooper's underwhelming year, the bigger factor is likely the wide receivers' increased productivity. Players like Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins have elevated this position room higher than in years past, leaving fewer opportunities for a backup tight end like Hooper. An injury has complicated his status even more, as Hooper missed Week 11 in concussion protocol and remains up in the air for Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Even if he plays, he'll remain off the fantasy radar in all leagues. His only path to fantasy relevance would be a Hunter Henry injury.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas continues to face significant competition within his own position group. Ahead of Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Douglas faces an uphill battle to handle the workload necessary to produce in fantasy football. Douglas has already tied his career-high of three touchdowns this year, but he is behind his 2024 pace in targets, catches, and receiving yards. In fact, he's averaging only 2.1 catches and 30.2 yards per game, and he has surpassed 45 yards in just two different weeks. The 24-year-old has slipped down the pecking order this season after New England brought in Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams. Meanwhile, Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) has taken on a larger role as a playmaker. While Douglas can still hold his own as a receiver, he has failed to separate himself from the rest of his teammates. As a result, he has a lower fantasy ceiling and remains off the radar in leagues with 14 or fewer teams.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has started to see his role slip away, coinciding with the emergence of rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson and veteran Colby Parkinson. Higbee caught just one of two targets for 23 yards last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. He played only 39 percent of the offensive snaps, but this was partly due to an ankle injury sidelining him for a portion of a contest. Nevertheless, even if he were fully healthy, Higbee likely wouldn't have seen enough usage to achieve fantasy relevance. He's losing key opportunities to Ferguson, who had 117 yards in three games from Week 7 to 10, and Parkinson, who scored in back-to-back games while playing roughly two-thirds of the snaps. As long as Higbee is vying for targets with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and several impactful tight ends, he'll be tough to trust in fantasy football. He can be left on waivers going forward, ranking outside the top 24 options at his position.
From RotoBaller