Falcons think WR Julio Jones returns this week

Dec 19, 2016

The Falcons feel good about having wide receiver Julio Jones under their tree on Christmas Eve.

Jones has missed the last two games with a toe injury, but worked out before Sunday’s victory over the 49ers. Watching him go through that workout left coach Dan Quinn feeling good about the chances of Jones returning to the lineup against the Panthers on Saturday.

“I’m hopeful that he’s back,” Quinn said, via ESPN.com. “So, I think that he will [return]. We’re going to take it all the way through, practice Tuesday and Wednesday, and then we’ll have a good shot. But I am hopeful for that. I can’t say it’s for sure until he can explode like he can, but I think he’s a heck of a lot closer than he has been over the last two weeks.”

Fantasy Impact:

Good news for owners who have made this far in their playoffs without Jones. The Falcons played it safe with Jones and his turf toe, perhaps knowing they had two very winable games against the Rams and 49ers.

yesterday

Lions WR Jameson Williams faces concealed weapon charge

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 8:39 PM EDT

Embattled Lions receiver Jameson Williams has another issue to deal with.

Currently serving a two-game PED suspension, Williams faces a charge for carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle.

Via WXYZ.com, the Detroit Police Department is looking into why Williams wasn’t formally arrested at the time of the incident.

Fantasy Impact:

On October 8, Williams was a passenger in a car his brother was driving. The vehicle was pulled over, for speeding. Two guns were in the car; one was registered to Williams’s brother, and one was registered to Williams, the story said. The story added, Williams will be facing both prosecution by authorities and a potential suspension by the league.

Texans Beat: Expectation is WR Nico Collins (hamstring) good to go for Week 10

USA Today

yesterday · 4:48 PM EDT

According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Nico Collins is trending upward entering Week 9’s matchup against the New York Jets. While he can’t be cleared off the injured reserve until Nov. 4, the expectation is he’ll be good to go when the Detroit Lions arrive in Week 10.

Fantasy Impact:

Collins was placed on the injured reserve following Week 5’s win over the Buffalo Bills after tweaking his hamstring in the first quarter. Week 9 will be his fourth game missed. The timing couldn't be better for the Texans, who have now lost Stefon Diggs for the season with a torn ACL.

Panthers have no plans to trade RB Chuba Hubbard

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 4:44 PM EDT

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, though, reports the Panthers have no plans to trade cornerback Jaycee Horn or running back Chuba Hubbard.

Fantasy Impact:

Hubbard has played very well at RB and has been a pretty consistent player for his fantasy owners this season. He's averaged over 17 touches per game. However, owners need to remember that Jonathon Brooks is lurking on the IR and should be back sooner than later. It only makes sense for the Panthers to give Brooks work as the season goes on. He'll likely be eased into thing at first, but it seems like it's always been expected Brooks would at the very least split work, if not take on the lead back role for the Panthers.