Cowboys to miss LT for a while

Cowboys LT Tyron Smith tore his left hamstring in Wednesday's practice, ESPN reports. That is expected to cost Smith "multiple months," which sounds like it could even wind up a season-ender. Losing Smith will obviously hurt Dallas in both run-blocking and pass protection. The team did play without him for 6 games last year, however, and 14 games the year before. Smith actually enters this year having missed 3+ contests in 6 consecutive seasons. It's not a killer to the fantasy football draft values for Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and others. But's definitely an added hurdle.

Update: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Smith suffered an avulsion fracture of his left knee, which means "the hamstring tendon that sits at the back of the knee pulled off the bone." Smith will have surgery and won't play until at least December -- if at all this season.

Patriots RB Ezekiel Elliott tallied 12 carries for 27 rushing yards in Week 16 vs. the Broncos. Though the veteran didn’t shine as a runner, he did thrive in the receiving game on Sunday night. Elliott concluded the contest with 9 catches on 11 targets (both team-highs) for 33 yards and a score. All said, he finished the week with 21 PPR points and turned in a fourth-straight game with at least 16 touches. Assuming Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) is out of the lineup again in Week 17, Elliott will be in a position to be an RB2 candidate going up against a Bills defense that ranks as the 13th-best RB matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed.

With RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) sidelined, Patriots RB Ezekiel Elliott got workhorse usage in Thursday night's win over the Steelers. Zeke played 91% of New England's offensive snaps and handled a whopping 30 of 32 RB opportunities. (RB Ty Montgomery got two targets.) Elliott didn't find much running room but compiled 68 yards on his 22 carries. He was much more effective as a receiver, catching seven of eight targets for 72 yards and the game's first TD. The end result was 140 total yards and the score, which will surely make Elliott a top-12 fantasy RB on the week. It's worth noting that the Patriots played with the lead for 56 minutes of this game, helping Elliott's volume. We can't expect that going forward. But with this type of playing time and opportunity share, Zeke looks like at least a weekly RB2 until Stevenson returns, which is unlikely to happen for at least another game or two.

Patriots RB Ezekiel Elliott (thigh) is active for today’s game vs. the Chargers. Elliott sunk to a season-low 22% snap rate coming off the bye last week and would be a desperation Week 13 fantasy start.

Patriots RB Ezekiel Elliott (thigh) is expected to play vs. the Chargers today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Elliott registered a season-low 22% snap rate coming off the bye last week. He'd be a desperation Week 13 fantasy play.

Patriots RB Ezekiel Elliott (thigh) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game vs. the Chargers. We've heard nothing to suggest that Zeke is in danger of missing this one. But the thigh injury is just more reason to believe that RB Rhamondre Stevenson will control backfield work again this weekend.