Team news: Minnesota Vikings | Page 11

Patrick Mahomes is listed as a full participant on the team’s first injury report of the week.

Related players: Carson Wentz

It was a pretty positive outcome for fantasy owners counting on Mahomes in Week 16. The story said Reid spoke to reporters before practice and said they would see what Mahomes was able to do during a light practice. The answer was that he did everything that the Chiefs asked of him, the story pointed out. Keep in mind it was a light workout. It's possible Mahomes is listed as limited later in the week. As we stated earlier today, we're still some time away from Saturday, so it will be worth monitoring right up to game time. Owners may still want to have a backup plan in place.

Tests results indicated Patrick Mahomes is dealing with a high ankle sprain and there's a "possibility" he could miss Week 16.

Related players: Carson Wentz

Rapoport's messaging in this clip can be taken a couple of different ways. The positive view is Mahomes "possibly" missing this week can almost be taken there's a better chance he plays. The situation reminded Rapoport of the playoff game against the Jags a few years ago, where Mahomes didn't finish the game the week before, but came back and played the following week. Rapoport added that, long-term, Mahomes will be fine, and that Mahomes' body is "built differently," so it won't be the normal 4-6 week recovery time for a high ankle sprain. We're a long way from Saturday's game, but if Mahomes can't play, Wentz would get the start against the Texans. Mahomes owners should probably be thinking of a backup plan now in case he's unable to play, so picking up Wentz may not be a bad idea if you own Mahomes in deeper leagues, or two-QB and superflex leagues.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was diagnosed with a mild high-ankle sprain following tests

Related players: Carson Wentz

The timing doesn't come at a great time for the Chiefs and Mahomes fantasy owners. The post said Mahomes is still considered week-to-week leaving his status for Week 16 in doubt. As was also stated, the schedule could make it tough for Mahomes to get in the lineup. The Chiefs have a Saturday game against the Texans, which is then followed by a quick turnaround for Christmas against the Steelers. The Chiefs currently have the one seed, but also have the Bills hot on their tails. Wentz will get the start if Mahomes is unable to play.

Sam Darnold has played well enough to leave the Vikings more open-minded about their 2025 plans than many realize, according to sources familiar with the Vikings' thinking. They have not ruled out offering him a contract for next season, despite widespread assumptions they will let him sign elsewhere in free agency and hand the job to J.J. McCarthy, who has spent his rookie season recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Related players: Daniel Jones

The story added the Vikings have also prepared to move on from Darnold, especially if he receives a more lucrative offer from another QB-needy team. Darnold agreed to wear a modified camera on his helmet during practices and walk-throughs to help McCarthy during his recovery process, the story said. McCarthy uses the video to simulate practice reps via virtual reality. The Vikings also signed Jones, who was released by the Giants, to their practice squad last month, a move widely viewed as an early look at a potential candidate to replace Darnold next season as the veteran alongside McCarthy.

The 49ers had a big win on Sunday against the Bears, but 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel did not have a big game.

Samuel was held to two catches for 22 yards, continuing a disappointing season in which he’s averaging career-lows in catches per game and yards per game. But Samuel took to social media on Monday afternoon to say nothing is wrong.

“Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!” Samuel wrote.

He later added: “Just cause I voice my opinions mean I’m hating on any of my teammates!! Be Fr,” Samuel wrote.

Related players: Jauan Jennings

As the story mentioned, a comment like that could be portrayed as a complaint. The story mentions that Jennings has more targets, more catches and more yards, as well as more TDs than Samuel this season. The 49ers play on Thursday night in what is likely your opening round of the fantasy playoffs. So, owners may be hoping his post causes the Niners to come out and heavily target Samuel to potentially fix any hard feelings.

The Vikings have started the clock on getting a couple of special teamers back in the lineup.

The team announced on Tuesday that kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola have been designated for return from injured reserve.

Related players: Parker Romo

Romo has gone 11-of-12 on field goals and 7-of-8 on extra points with Reichard out of the lineup. It's not yet clear which kicker will be in action this week. The Vikings are in the early Sunday window at home against the Falcons.

Per Kyle Shanahan, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey us going back on IR with his PCL injury.

Related players: Isaac Guerendo, Deebo Samuel, Jordan Mason

It’s a 6 week recovery time for CMC, the post went on to say. It's possible he could return if the Niners make a long playoff run, but for this fantasy season, McCaffrey is done. Sandler, in a separate post, mentioned that Mason will also go on IR with a high ankle sprain, leaving Guerendo as the assumed RB1. The Niners will have to make a move to bring in more running backs, but the team did trade up in the fourth round to pick Guerendo, so it's possible they give him a legit chance the rest of the season. He should be a popular pickup off the wire this week.

Former Giants QB Daniel Jones plans to sign with the Vikings practice squad, after having cleared waivers, per me, @TomPelissero and @CameronWolfe.

A new beginning and opportunity for Jones with a chance to the backup.

Related Players: Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, Brett Rypien

This seems like a great signing for both parties; Jones breathes new life into his NFL career and the Vikings have a legit backup in case anything happens to Darnold. We'll see if KOC can work his magic on Jones and revive a career that was heading in a terrible direction.

T.J. Hockenson said this week that "I would expect things to go up" in terms of snaps moving forward. Certainly a possibility Sunday if Josh Oliver (ankle) can't play.

Seifert also noted that Hockenson's snap rate is down at 45.5% after hitting 79.5% last season. The tight end has a decent matchup against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, making him a low-end TE1 option.

Vikings QB Sam Darnold (right hand), RB Aaron Jones (ribs) and LT Cam Robinson (foot) are all off the injury report and good to go vs. the Titans.

Related Players: Cam Akers, Ty Chandler

With Jones fully off the injury report, he can be considered an RB2 in Week 11, while Darnold should be benched in place of a QB streamer in almost all formats.