What It Means:

“I’m holding out hope for ... the last couple of weeks. They’re just starting to get into where they get on the field and not with us but on their own to do some stuff,” Shanahan said of Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle). Kittle was given an eight-week timeline after going down a month ago, though he believed at the time he would return sooner. He will not practice this week or play in the 49ers' Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills, but it's at least within the realm of possibility that Kittle makes it back on the field this season. Jordan Reed and Ross Dwelley have been splitting tight end responsibilities for San Francisco.

Kittle is averaging the second-most FanDuel points (13.3) among all tight ends. Reed ran 25 pass routes and caught 2 passes on 6 targets for 18 yards in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams. Dwelley ran 10 routes and drew 3 targets, catching one for three yards. The Bills are allowing the sixth-most FanDuel points per game to the tight end position this season.