🏈 Best day of the Week

Good morning and welcome to Week 12. Two weeks until playoffs. Already. We’ve got a quick one before you go get that W.

Zeke Update

Here’s the full story regarding the Cowboys’ concern about running back Ezekiel Elliott, and options being considered.

• For most of the season, Elliott has been nursing a knee injury.

• The Cowboys have lost three of their past games, and Elliott's rushing total has declined each of the past four weeks -- from 51 to 41 to 32 to 25 yards against the Raiders.

• Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on Elliott: "I am concerned because he's a warrior. He was fighting to get back in there"

• This Cowboys team has been mysterious with injury-related news all season: they expressed confidence publicly that Dak (Minnesota), Tyron Smith (Kansas City), and CeeDee (Vegas) would play in certain games when they wound up sitting.

• Mike McCarthy will speak for the first time on Sunday (what will be “Wednesday” to the Cowboys) and will hopefully address this then.

Who’s OUT

AJ Brown (chest) and Michael Carter (high-ankle) were placed on injured reserve, meaning they’ll be out until at least Week 16.

Who’s IN

Both Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield were full participants to end the practice week and neither is listed on his team's injury report. Elijah Mitchell, listed as questionable for Sunday due to rib and finger injuries, is expected to play, per source. Saquon Barkley is also expected to play.

Antonio Gibson is healthy and is the RB4 in xFP since his bye week. The last time Christian McCaffrey played a full healthy game and failed to hit 24.5 DK fantasy points was 727 days ago.

Subscriber Pick’Em

4-game parlays each week, chosen by YOU. We’re 0-5 and - like Kobe always said - will keep shooting. We’re bound for a big W. This is our weekend.

• How it works: We put $$ on the four teams with the highest % of votes to win each week. Each winning bet gets added to giveaways and cash prizes.

• Click here to make your picks

If you want to check the picks, we lock them around 12:30 and announce it on Twitter.

Advanced Matchups

Our friends at FantasyPoints generously offered a “peek behind the curtain” for exclusive snippets from their Week 12 Advanced Matchups by Wes Huber (AMHUDDLE = 15% off).

Target: MICHAEL PITTMAN JR., IND VS. SEAN MURPHY-BUNTING, TB

A receiver that will have a significant size advantage on Sunday, Michael Pittman Jr. (6-foot-4, 220-pounds) will work across from Sean Murphy-Bunting (6-foot-0, 195-pounds). Murphy-Bunting will be playing in his second game removed from his IR stay after suffering a nasty elbow dislocation in Week 1.

Pittman will square off with Murphy-Bunting on at least half of his routes on Sunday. DC Todd Bowles has been all about Cover 2 and Cover 3, great news for Pittman. When facing Cover 3 during his 24-game career, Pittman’s FP/Rt improves by 31% (sixth-highest). He ranks 16th-best with 0.45 FP/Rt, 2nd with 13.5 yards per target, and 15th with 2.39 YPRR. On just 22% of his career routes, Pittman has produced 25% of his receptions, 31% of his yardage, and 33% of his TDs.

• In Carson Wentz’s last 39 games, he ranks fourth-best with 0.39 FP/Db, second with a 105.9 passer rating, and his YPA improves by 34% when facing Cover 2.

Target: MIKE WILLIAMS, LAC VS. RONALD DARBY, DEN

During his six games this season, Darby has provided his coverage with 1.46 YPCS (15th-most), 0.29 FP/CS (26th), 0.45 AY/CS (second-most), and a 98.0 TPR (37th). Take note of Darby being attacked with the second-most AY/CS. He’s also permitting the ninth-highest rate of completions traveling 20-or-more yards. With 33% of Williams’ FPG coming on receptions of 20-or-more yards, it should provide Williams with the perfect opportunity to go nuclear.

Tom Brady in Uggs of the Day

Sometimes it’s the little things.

Let’s get it! Goodluck today.

- Jake

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