Team news | Page 7

After missing Houston’s past five games due to a hamstring injury, Texans WR Nico Collins is considered a full go for tonight’s game vs. the Cowboys.

Schefter added there are no playing time restrictions for Collins as he heads into the game. It's a great matchup against Cowboys too. It looks like he'll be safe to start in fantasy lineups for those who took the chance and waited for him this week.

Panthers expect to get Adam Thielen back this week.

Related players: Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, David Moore

Thielen has missed all this time with a hamstring injury but looks like he'll be back in a game against the Chiefs. The team announced Bryce Young as the starting QB, but either way, it will be tough to trust Thielen in fantasy lineups in his first game back in a tough matchup. Thielen could have some value in deeper leagues if he's still on your wire, but the Panthers may want to get more looks from their younger WRs. It's best to take the "wait-and-see" approach with Thielen this week.

Kevin Stefanski said the short turnaround to Thursday night played a role in RB Nick Chubb only playing 22 snaps against the Saints.

Related players: Jerome Ford

The Browns play the Steelers this Thursday night and the hope would be Chubb is unleashed a bit more. Chubb ran 11 times for 50 yards this past week. Ford had five carries and four catches for 29 yards in the game while Strong had two rushes. Chubb averaged 4.5 YPC, but it might be tough to trust him in a game against the Steelers. There is some hope, though, as the Ravens Derrick Henry did have a 13-65-0 line against Pittsburg this past week. Chubb owners just need to hope his snaps won't be reduced again.

Tyjae Spears in concussion protocol.

Related players: Tony Pollard, Julius Chestnut

Spears was back in action in Week 10 and essentially split the work with seven carries and a team-high 47 yards rushing with three catches for four yards. Pollard out-touched Spears 13-10 in the game. This past week Spears exited early but the running game was held in check. If Spears can't play in Week 12, Pollard would likely lead the way, but it would be a tough matchup against the Texans.

The Raiders made a big change to their offense when they fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy last week, but they aren’t planning any big moves this week.

Head coach Antonio Pierce said at his Monday press conference that Gardner Minshew will remain the team’s starting quarterback against the Broncos in Week 12. Minshew was 30-of-43 for 282 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in Sunday’s 34-19 loss to the Dolphins.

Related players: Desmond Ridder, Aidan O'Connell

Pierce said he thought the passing offense was “more efficient” and “more crisp” in Scott Turner’s first week calling the offensive plays, the story said. He added that Minshew did a “good job of managing” the offense and keeping the ball out of harm’s way before being picked off while trying to push for a comeback late in the fourth quarter, the story added. O'Connell won't come off the IR for another week but could very well jump back into the starting role once he's ready to go.

The Cowboys added wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to their injury report on Saturday and listed him as questionable to play against the Texans on Monday night, but it looks like things are trending in the right direction heading into the game.

“We feel really good about it, that he’s gonna be able to play tonight,” Stephen Jones said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com.

Lamb is dealing with a back injury, and Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that there’s a fair amount of optimism about Lamb being available to play, the story went on to say. Of course with no Dak Prescott, Lamb will be catching passes from Cooper Rush, or maybe even Trey Lance. That didn't go well last week against the Eagles, but the Cowboys have another home game against the Texans to try and get on track.

Canales says he “fully expect(s)” Jonathon Brooks to play this week.

Related players: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear

However, Canales added they still need to go through the week of work. The team doesn't expect Sanders (foot/ankle) to play, after we last saw him get carted off the field in Germany in Week 10. Brooks should back up Hubbard this week against the Chiefs, and it seems likely the team may ease Brooks into action after waiting this long to get him into his first game. It should be a tough go against the Chiefs and with the team likely playing from behind, it seems like Hubbard and Blackshear could see work on passing downs as the Panthers try to play catch-up. It's probably best to take the "wait-and-see" approach with Brooks.

Bryce Young will start at QB vs. the Chiefs, per Panthers HC Dave Canales.

Related players: Andy Dalton

Young has been decent enough to help the Panthers win their last two games, Week 9 over the Saints and Week 10 in Germany over the Giants. In that two-game span Young has thrown for 297 yards with two TDs and just one INT. But it's a much tougher test coming in Week 12 against the Chiefs, and to make it worse KC is coming off its first loss of the season. It won't get much easier for Young after that assuming he remains the starter, hosting the Bucs and then traveling to the Eagles in Week 14. The team gets the Cowboys at home in Week 15 and the Cardinals at home in Week 16 before traveling to Tampa in Week 17 and then to Atlanta in Week 18. It just makes sense for the Panthers to see what kind of progress Young can make for the rest of the season.

After the rookie dominated the backfield touches last week, we assumed Audric Estime might be the Broncos new starting running back going forward.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin

But, back came Williams in Week 11. It has been a frustrating year for Williams' owners. Williams led the way in carries with nine and rushed for 59 yards and also added a touchdown this past week after all signs pointed to Estime keeping the role he had in Week 10. In Week 10, Williams ran just one time for one yard against the Chiefs while Estime carried 15 times for 53 yards. Estime did carry six times for 16 yards and added three catches for nine yards this past week. The reporter suggested this may be a "hot hand" approach going forward, which doesn't do fantasy owners any good. It's tough to tell when to safely put Williams in lineups, because his low weeks have been pretty low. We'll continue to monitor in hopes for any signs from the team as to how they may handle this situation going forward.

Early prognosis is Falcons WR Darnell Mooney's hamstring injury from Sunday is not serious, per source.

Related players: Ray-Ray McCloud, KhaDarel Hodge

It's certainly good news for a Falcon offense that struggled in Week 11. The team now has a bye in Week 12, so the time off will hopefully be perfect timing for a Mooney Week 13 return. The Falcons host the Chargers in the early slate of games that Sunday. If Mooney has to miss time, McCloud will likely slide in as the team's WR2.