Sports

Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed Wednesday that, just a week after Marshawn Kneeland’s apparent suicide, the late 24-year-old defensive lineman’s girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, is expecting their first child.

Speaking publicly Wednesday for the first time since Kneeland died on November 6 of an apparent gunshot wound after a police pursuit, Schottenheimer revealed Mancera is carrying their child.

"We’re going to honor Marshawn and his family in a number of different ways. The organization has been amazing. We’ve started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, where we can all give and support Catalina. She’s pregnant, and so we want to make sure she’s taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives," Schottenheimer said.

Schottenheimer added that he and his players are still grieving Kneeland, sharing moments of laughter and tears as they cope with his loss.

“There’s no playbook, there’s really not. So that’s where the late nights come in, but the biggest thing for me is being strong for our football team,” Schottenheimer said.

“We've got an incredible locker room, that’s where the culture of what we’re trying to build. We are bonded more than any of us ever could have thought.”

The Cowboys will honor Kneeland for the remainder of the season by wearing memorial decals on their helmets. Additionally, the team will feature special T-shirts for at least the next couple of games.

Their upcoming schedule includes a Monday night game against the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by a home game on November 22 against the Philadelphia Eagles, during which there will be a pregame moment of silence and a video tribute dedicated to Kneeland.

Kneeland crashed his car around 10:33 p.m. on November 6 after evading a traffic stop in Frisco. He then ran from the scene and was found dead by 1:31 a.m. from a self-inflicted gunshot.

Police said he had previously expressed suicidal thoughts.

Kneeland, a second-round pick by the Cowboys in 2024, played 18 NFL games with 26 tackles and one sack. A Western Michigan alum and standout at Godwin Heights High, he scored a touchdown the week before his death.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.

More to come...

Justin Boone identifies under-the-radar stashes to consider adding to your roster before they become top fantasy football waiver-wire pickups in future weeks.

While the bar might move occasionally, the general focus is to search among the group of players who are rostered in around 15% or less of the Yahoo leagues.

Michael Wilson, WR, Cardinals (16% rostered)

Marvin Harrison Jr. was finding his rhythm with veteran Jacoby Brissett under center, but he’s now set to miss Week 11 after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

Fellow wideouts Zay Jones and Simi Fehoko were placed on injured reserve this week, which leaves the Cardinals’ receiving corps very shorthanded.

Fortunately for them, tight end Trey McBride is the Alpha pass-catcher in the offense but someone else will need to step up in Harrison’s absence.

Wilson, who hadn’t topped 20 yards in a single outing through the first five games, has seen his numbers rise with Brissett starting. It led to stat lines of 4-44-0, 3-40-0, 3-61-0 and 4-34-0 while playing a complementary role behind McBride and Harrison.

With Harrison sidelined, Wilson will now be the No. 1 wide receiver, giving him a chance to return WR3/flex value in fantasy. It’s also possible this bump could last more than one week, depending on how fast Harrison recovers.

Honorable mention: Luther Burden III, Bears (8% rostered), Jayden Higgins, Texans (15% rostered), Chimere Dike, Titans (13% rostered), Tyler Lockett, Raiders (3% rostered), Jalen Coker, Panthers (3% rostered)

Blake Corum, RB, Rams (14% rostered)

Highlighting Corum in my waiver wire column and backup running back rankings this week wasn’t enough to get him over the 15% rostered mark, so I feel almost forced to feature him again.

The 24-year-old back has been given 13 touches in three consecutive games and has gone over 40 scrimmage yards in each of those contests.

Since the Rams’ bye, Corum put up 58 yards on the Saints and most recently 56 yards on the 49ers while getting on the field for a season-high 39% of the snaps. We’re even seeing a drive-by-drive rotation develop lately, which has turned this into a near 60-40 split with starter Kyren Williams.

That means Corum has reached RB3/flex status, while also offering league-winning RB1 upside if Williams gets hurt at any point.

Honorable mention: Sean Tucker, Buccaneers (16% rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders (6% rostered), Keaton Mitchell, Ravens (2% rostered), Tyler Badie, Broncos (1% rostered), Phil Mafah, Cowboys (0% rostered)

Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers (16% rostered)

There are a few tight ends we could focus on this week, with Brenton Strange having his 21-day practice window opened, Luke Musgrave getting an easier opponent in his second start since Tucker Kraft’s injury and Dawson Knox potentially getting a larger role with Dalton Kincaid banged up.

However, we’re going to shine the spotlight on Freiermuth, whose best game of the season came against the same Bengals’ defense he’s meeting in Week 11.

Freiermuth went off in their last encounter with five receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

With cornerback DJ Turner doing an excellent job of slowing down opposing No. 1 receivers, the Steelers will likely need to rely heavily on their backs and tight ends.

That makes Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith playable this week as streaming options.

Honorable mention: Brenton Strange, Jaguars (12% rostered), Luke Musgrave, Packers (11% rostered), Isaiah Likely, Ravens (5% rostered), Dawson Knox, Bills (2% rostered)

Davis Mills, QB, Texans (3% rostered)

C.J. Stroud remains in concussion protocol and didn’t practice on Wednesday because he’s still experiencing symptoms.

That suggests he’s not on track to be cleared for Week 11, which points to another start from Mills.

Though most of his production occurred while in comeback mode, Mills finished last week’s contest as the top-scoring QB overall thanks to 292 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, as well as 20 rushing yards and a score on the ground.

This week’s opponent, the Titans, have allowed the last three quarterbacks they’ve faced to finish inside the top-10 at the position. While it would be bold to project Mills that high, he’s certainly in the streaming conversation given the matchup.

Honorable mention: Geno Smith, Raiders (15% rostered), Jameis Winston, Giants (3% rostered)