UPDATE: 8:30 p.m. Friday
The Inexperienced Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will renew their historic rivalry Sunday with neither of them having a shot at salvaging their season. However no less than they received’t need to trot their backup quarterbacks on the market at Soldier Discipline.
Each Aaron Rodgers (ribs) and Justin Fields (non-throwing shoulder) have been cleared to start out regardless of their latest accidents. You may’t anticipate Fields to run wild like he has a couple of instances this season, however he’s nonetheless a greater beginning possibility than the flailing A-Rodg.
In different QB information, the Rams’ sinking ship will once more be piloted by somebody aside from Matthew Stafford, and the Jets will hold Mike White within the beginning lineup once they face the Vikings in Minneapolis.
Two injured working backs now slated to return are Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris and Jacksonville’s Travis Etienne.
There are a variety of notable questionables. Cincinnati WR Ja’Marr Chase may need probably the most optimistic outlook. However the jury continues to be out on Bengals RB Joe Mixon, Raiders RB Josh Jacobs and 49ers WR Deebo Samuel.
Chargers WR Mike Williams has been dominated out once more, and Jets RB Michael Carter is taken into account uncertain.
ORIGINAL POST: 9:25 a.m. Wednesday
One-time star quarterback Deshaun Watson has spent extra time huddling with legal professionals than NFL offenses over the previous two years. However after 24 lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, a settlement paid by his former team and an 11-game suspension and $5 million fine, the NFL has deemed him obtainable to return because the Cleveland Browns’ starter on Sunday.
What makes this a marquee matchup for Week 13 is the very fact he’ll be again in Houston, the scene of the alleged crimes, to face the Texans. And the Texans don’t have a lot in the best way of protection.
At first look, Watson is a tempting possibility for these subsequent two weeks, the final two of the fantasy common season. After Houston, he faces Cincinnati, and that sport may very well be a shootout.
And a superb quarterback will probably be more durable to search out, with two groups on bye this week and a full six idled in Week 14.
Since all quarterback-needy groups will probably be falling over themselves to say Watson, you may need to go for Plan B. Listed below are another QB choices which have favorable matchups the subsequent two weekends:
Ryan Tannehill (Titans) — Tennessee’s QB has been heating up and his subsequent two are towards an Eagles workforce with some defensive accidents, and a really pliable Jaguars protection. Tannehill additionally likes to sometimes sneak into the top zone for dashing TDs when defenses commit every thing to cease Derrick Henry.
Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) — The previous No. 1 decide has thrown for practically 600 yards and 5 TDs over the previous two weeks, and he’s dealing with the Lions and Titans within the subsequent two. He has related with Christian Kirk for seven TD passes this season and will run that whole as much as double digits briefly order.
Jared Goff (Lions) — Detroit’s QB has cooled off after a torrid begin, throughout which he had a pair of four-touchdown video games. However his receiving corps is the healthiest it has been shortly, and neither the Jaguars nor the Vikings within the subsequent two weeks will probably be an enormous obstacle to the bettering Lions’ offense.
Geno Smith (Seahawks) — The Seattle veteran has come again right down to earth after his shocking profession revival. However he has the simplest matchups the subsequent two weeks in a Rams workforce that has stop, and a Panthers workforce that ought to stop. Smith has a streak of 5 consecutive video games with a pair of TD passes, and that might simply develop to seven.
Sitting stars
New Orleans RB Alvin Kamara is a large number now, and he has been banged up. So don’t anticipate a lot towards Tampa Bay. … Buffalo will possible depend on the move towards New England, so RB Devin Singletary will cool off some. … Passing may even be key for the Vikings towards the Jets, so RB Dalvin Cook dinner is not going to break the financial institution. … The Washington protection will assist proceed the hunch of Giants RB Saquon Barkley. … Receivers that may have some issue this week embrace the Colts’ Michael Pittman towards Dallas, and Tennessee’s Treylon Burks vs. the Eagles. … And can we even have to remind you to go away Denver QB Russell Wilson on the bench towards Baltimore, and in each different sport going ahead?
Matchup sport
Josh Jacobs is coming off a profession sport with 303 all-purpose yards in Seattle however has an injured calf. Nonetheless, he’s a No. 1 RB possibility towards the Chargers if wholesome. … Philly’s offensive line is so dominant now that Miles Sanders ought to discover extra large holes towards the Titans … Cincinnati’s Samaje Perine is price beginning towards the Chiefs if Joe Mixon can’t go once more. … Deshaun Watson’s Browns debut will imply sturdy numbers for WR Amari Cooper vs. the lowly Texans. … Can Seattle WR Tyler Lockett attain paydirt for a fifth consecutive sport? Sure, as a result of he’s enjoying the Rams. … Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin is at present Tom Brady’s favourite and can do properly towards New Orleans. … And we expect Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett and WR George Pickens will observe up their Monday night time win with a powerful outing towards the Falcons.
Damage watch
There’s a bunch, beginning with the working backs. Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris went down halfway via Monday night time’s sport and may very well be changed this week by Benny Snell. … The Jets’ MIchael Carter might once more be ably changed by Zonovan Knight. … The season-ending harm to Elijah Mitchell in San Francisco creates a gap for Jordan Mason. … Two receivers are finished for the 12 months: Chicago’s Darnell Mooney and the Rams’ Allen Robinson. … The lengthy record of questionables included 4 RBs (Jaguars’ Travis Etienne, Cincinnati’s Mixon, Tampa Bay’s Leonard Fournette and Miami’s Raheem Mostert), three prime receivers (Cincy’s Ja’Marr Chase, Chargers’ Mike Williams and Broncos’ Jerry Jeudy), and many quarterbacks (Chicago’s Justin Fields, Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, Niners’ Jimmy Garoppolo and Rams’ Matthew Stafford)
The deepest sleeper
Jacksonville huge receiver Zay Jones has largely been an afterthought in a Jaguars offense that’s largely an afterthought. However he had the largest sport of his six-year profession final Sunday of their upset of Baltimore. He caught 11 passes for 145 yards, however his largest reception got here on the game-winning two-point conversion. He has averaged a bit greater than eight targets per sport over the previous eight video games and is turning into a favourite of Trevor Lawrence. With eight groups dealing with byes within the subsequent two weeks, Jones is without doubt one of the extra engaging free-agent choices that’s nonetheless broadly obtainable.
The Thursday decide
Payments at Patriots (+5½): Choose: Payments by 7
Breaking Information
We’ll be updating our column, based mostly on the newest accidents and innuendo, proper up till Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.
You may hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You may observe Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He might be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.
