News And Notes From Around The League

[Go PRO](=) | [View Online](=) [Unsubscribe]( | [Sign Up]() [Footballguys.com](=)Daily Email Update • Vol. 22, #244 • Dec. 17th, 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks To Our Sponsor, [The 2020 Footballguys Playoff Challenge]( Howdy {NAME}, We're rolling and we've got the News and Notes you need. Let's get to it. J --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsored by [The 2020 Footballguys Playoff Challenge]( [The 2020 Footballguys Playoff Challenge]( features a guaranteed prize pool with a $100,000 grand prize and $370,000 in total prizes. All prizes are fully guaranteed and the 2020 Challenge is capped at 12,500 teams. It's a simple yet challenging contest that runs from the start of the NFL playoffs through the Super Bowl. No salary caps, no weekly roster submissions, and no free agency to deal with. Just build your 12-player team once and watch it perform throughout the NFL playoffs. Players on your team are only eliminated when their NFL team loses, so target the high scorers who advance deep into the NFL playoffs. - Entry fee: $35 per team - $100,000 Grand Prize - $370,000 in guaranteed prizes (increased from $300,000) paid down to 1,800th place (increased from 1,600) - Contest capped at a maximum of 12,500 entries (increased from 10,000) - Entry Deadline: Saturday, January 9th at 4:30 PM ET It’s THE way to play playoff Fantasy Football backed by the people you know at Footballguys and the FFPC. [Sign Up Now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [DAL - RB Ezekiel Elliott remains sidelined](#1) 2. [DET - QB Matthew Stafford sitting Thursday](#2) 3. [CAR - RB Christian McCaffrey remains sidelined](#3) 4. [NO - QB Drew Brees still could get Week 15 start?](#4) 5. [MIA - TE Mike Gesicki upgraded](#5) 6. [NYG - Jason Garrett out Sunday](#6) 7. [WAS - Antonio Gibson working on side](#7) 8. [BUF - QB Josh Allen ready to play](#8) 9. [BUF - WR John Brown out for Week 15](#9) 10. [WAS - QB Alex Smith a Thursday spectator](#10) 11. [CIN - QB Brandon Allen to miss practice](#11) 12. [MIA - WR DeVante Parker listed as limited](#12) 13. [NYJ - La'Mical Perine likely to remain out](#13) 14. [SF - TE George Kittle getting some work in](#14) 15. [DEN - RB Melvin Gordon will be questionable](#15) 16. [JAX - Jacksonville also interested in Louis Riddick](#16) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [DAL - RB Ezekiel Elliott remains sidelined]() Source: The Dallas Morning News - Calvin Watkins Dallas Cowboys RB [Ezekiel Elliott](=) (calf) will miss a second straight of practice Thursday, Dec. 17, as he deals with a calf injury. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Elliott has been working off to the side for the last two days. The expectation is that will still start and play in Week 15. However, we could see Tony Pollard doing more even with Elliott available to play. Elliott is a low-end RB2 for Fantasy GMs in Week 15. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [DET - QB Matthew Stafford sitting Thursday]() Source: ProFootballTalk.com - Myles Simmons Detroit Lions QB [Matthew Stafford](=) (ribs, thumb) will miss a second straight practice Thursday, Dec. 17. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We usually get clarity from Friday's practice report but that may not be the case with Stafford. Head coach Darrell Bevell added that he's 'totally comfortable' with Stafford playing Sunday in Week 15 even if he misses the entire week of practice. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [CAR - RB Christian McCaffrey remains sidelined](=) Source: NFL Network - Stacey Dales Carolina Panthers RB [Christian McCaffrey](=) (thigh) did not practice Thursday, Dec. 17, and is listed as doubtful for the Week 15 game Saturday against the Green Bay Packers. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] McCaffrey isn't going to play this week. That means Mike Davis will be out there against the Packers as the lead back. Davis is worth considering as a RB2 for Fantasy GMs in Week 15. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [NO - QB Drew Brees still could get Week 15 start?](=) Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport New Orleans Saints QB [Drew Brees](=) (ribs) reportedly has taken some first-team reps in practice this week and has a chance to draw the start in Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, head coach Sean Payton said the team won't turn back to him until he's 'asymptomatic.' [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Brees is pushing to get back out there, but the team needs to be careful. They can make a Super Bowl run with Brees if he's healthy for the postseason. The same thing can't be said if Taysom Hill is starting. We should see Hill get the start against the Chiefs on Sunday. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [MIA - TE Mike Gesicki upgraded]() Source: Sirius XM NFL Radio - Adam Caplan Miami Dolphins TE [Mike Gesicki](=) (shoulder) was limited during practice Thursday, Dec. 17. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Gesicki gets a ton of targets with QB Tua Tagovailoa under center. He missed Wednesday's practice but it back out there on Thursday. His status on Friday will be key for his availability in Week 15 against the Patriots. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [NYG - Jason Garrett out Sunday](=) Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport New York Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday, Dec. 17, and he won't coach in Week 15. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens will call plays. Kitchens will call plays on Sunday night against his former team the Browns. Fantasy GMs can look to the Browns defense as a strong play in Week 15. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [WAS - Antonio Gibson working on side]( Source: The Washington Post - Nicki Jhabvala Washington Football Team RB [Antonio Gibson](=) (toe) is not participating in practice Thursday, Dec. 17, and is spending time off to the side working with trainers. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Toe injuries can linger if not given enough time. It's a painful injury to deal with and Gibson is trying to get back out there. So far it looks like he'll miss another week for Washington. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [BUF - QB Josh Allen ready to play](=) Source: BuffaloBills.com Buffalo Bills QB [Josh Allen](=) (ankle, knee) fully participated in practice Thursday, Dec. 17, and is not on the injury report for Week 15. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Allen is ready to go for Saturday's game against the Broncos. He's likely to put up top-5 fantasy QB numbers in Week 15. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [BUF - WR John Brown out for Week 15]() Source: WGR Sports Radio 550 - Sal Capaccio Buffalo Bills WR [John Brown](=) (ankle) is out for Week 15. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Brown's not yet ready to return to the field for the Bills. We'll see if he can get back out there in Week 16. On Saturday against the Broncos, Cole Beasley and Stefon Diggs should get plenty of work. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [WAS - QB Alex Smith a Thursday spectator]() Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero Washington Football Team QB [Alex Smith](=) (calf) will be held out of practice again Thursday, Dec. 17, per source. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Washington could go with Dwayne Haskins this week if Smith can't play. Smith will try to test his mobility some to see how he is progressing. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 11. [CIN - QB Brandon Allen to miss practice]() Source: ProFootballTalk.com - Josh Alper Cincinnati Bengals QB [Brandon Allen](=) (knee) will sit out practice Thursday, Dec. 17, as he deals with a bone bruise to his knee suffered Sunday. Head coach Zac Taylor said Allen's condition is improving, though, and believes he'll have a chance of playing Monday in the Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Allen or Ryan Finley don't really excite Fantasy GMs out there. If you have Bengals assets like Tyler Boyd or Tee Higgins then prepare to further reduce expectations. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 12. [MIA - WR DeVante Parker listed as limited]() Source: Sirius XM NFL Radio - Adam Caplan Miami Dolphins WR [DeVante Parker](=) (hamstring) was limited during practice Thursday, Dec. 17. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It looks like Parker is trending in the right direction. He'll be out there against the Patriots unless there's a setback on Friday. That means Parker is a WR2/flex option for Fantasy GMs. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 13. [NYJ - La'Mical Perine likely to remain out]() Source: The Associated Press - Dennis Waszak Jr. New York Jets RB La'Mical Perine (ankle) likely will sit out Week 15, according to head coach Adam Gase, who added Thursday, Dec. 17, that he wants to see Perine get in a full week of practice before returning from a high-ankle sprain which landed him on the Reserve/Injured list. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Perine is not quite yet ready to return. He does have a chance to get out there in Week 16. They've talked about using him more but he got hurt when he finally got a chance to do more. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 14. [SF - TE George Kittle getting some work in](=) Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner San Francisco 49ers TE [George Kittle](=) (foot) was participating 'in some capacity' at practice Thursday, Dec. 17. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Kittle is really pushing to get back out there in Week 15, but a return in Week 16 is more likely. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 15. [DEN - RB Melvin Gordon will be questionable]( Source: 9News.com - Mike Klis Denver Broncos RB [Melvin Gordon](=) (shoulder) will be listed as questionable for the Week 15 game Saturday, Dec. 19, against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Vic Fangio said Thursday. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Gordon has been the best back on the Broncos roster for the past couple of weeks. Phillip Lindsay is barely getting any touches and not doing much with them when he's on the field. Gordon is a RB2/flex option for Saturday's game against the Bills. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 16. [JAX - Jacksonville also interested in Louis Riddick]() Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter The Jacksonville Jaguars have expressed interest in speaking to ESPN analyst Louis Riddick about their GM vacancy, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, though nothing has been scheduled as of yet. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Riddick has been doing a fantastic job on Monday Night Football, so fans need to enjoy his insight and analysis while you can. He was last in the NFL as an executive with the Eagles back in 2013, but with so many teams interested in what he can do Riddick is likely to land back in the league in 2021. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for being part of the Footballguys Family and I hope you have a great day. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J = = Thank you for subscribing to our Footballguys Daily Update Email! You're subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Footballguys.com * PO Box 937 * Cabot, AR 72023-0937 * News Items Powered By: =