Bills RB Zack Moss (hamstring) returned to practice on Monday. He ended up missing a few practices -- and the preseason opener -- with the bum hamstring. Hopefully Moss plays in the 2nd exhibition so we can see what Buffalo's backfield usage looks like.
The Cardinals on Monday activated RB James Conner from the COVID list. He had landed there Aug. 12 as a high-risk close contact. Conner's return after just 4 days says he never tested positive for the virus. That he was deactivated as a close contact, though, also indicates Conner hasn't been vaccinated. So he's good to go for now. We'll see whether this issue pops back up for him at any point.
The Jets have activated DT Quinnen Williams off the PUP. Williams opened training camp still working back from his offseason foot fracture. There's still time for him to round into shape before the Sept. 12 opener. We'll keep an eye out for any recurring or compensatory issues with Williams from here.
Eagles RB Kerryon Johnson is week to week with a knee injury, according to NBC Philly's Dave Zangaro. Johnson already seemed to be behind RB Jordan Howard on the depth chart -- and this injury might kill his chances of making the final roster. Johnson is off the fantasy radar right now.
Eagles WR DeVonta Smith (knee) was back on the practice field on Monday. Beat writers noted that he only went through individual drills, so he still seems limited. But the rookie is clearly on track to be fine for Week 1 and still has a good chance to open the season as Philly's #1 WR.
Ravens WR Marquise Brown (hamstring) remained sidelined for Monday's practice. He's now been out for 18 days with this hamstring injury. We're still almost 4 weeks out from the season opener, so Brown has time. But he's a risky fantasy pick until we see him back on the field.
The Athletic's Daniel Popper believes Chargers TE Donald Parham is "going to have a big and influential role" in the offense this season. "He is lining up mostly detached from the formation, both out wide and in the slot," Popper writes. He goes on to add that Parham is still #2 on the depth chart behind TE Jared Cook -- but that "the Chargers have been featuring a heavy dose of two-tight end sets with both Cook and Parham on the field together." Parham will probably need to move past Cook to be a reliable fantasy play this year. But that's certainly within the realm of possibility. He's an intriguing late-round flier.
The Athletic's Daniel Popper believes rookie Josh Palmer has a "stranglehold" on the Chargers' #3 WR job. "The Chargers found a smart and savvy pro-ready player in Palmer," Popper writes. "Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson provide more speed than Palmer. But I expect Palmer to see more playing time based on his production this summer." The 3rd-round rookie had a nice debut in the preseason opener, catching 6 balls for 36 yards on just 17 snaps. We'll continue to monitor this situation, but Palmer is worth a look at the tail end of fantasy drafts.
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Patriots QB Cam Newton’s completion percentage and adjusted accuracy rate in training-camp practices have declined this year vs. last summer. The veteran has also thrown more INTs. That’s worrisome, given that he’s had more time within the offense, should be healthier than a year ago and finds improved talent among the pass-catchers. Howe sees a window for Mac Jones to potentially assert himself as 2021 starter over the next couple of weeks, though such a shift would obviously require HC Bill Belichick deciding to make it happen.
Niners HC Kyle Shanahan told reporters Sunday that there is no imminent plan to increase 1st-team reps or QB Trey Lance. “I don’t know,” Shanahan said, according to Pro Football Talk. “I haven’t really defined that for myself either. Just when I think it feels right, when he seems ready, when I think the team seems ready. I mean, we’ll continue to mix him in there. But I don’t plan on just doing that completely." Lance completed 5 of 14 passes in his preseason debut Saturday, including an 80-yard TD to WR Trent Sherfield on his 2nd throw. Shanahan said after the game that the rookie produced "some good and some bad" in his 1st action.
Patriots TE Jonnu Smith sprained his left ankle in Sunday’s practice. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports that it’s a low-ankle sprain. “No firm timetable on his return, but based on the initial diagnosis, it isn’t considered a serious injury,” Reiss says. We’ll see how long Smith sits. Hunter Henry, of course, is already out with a shoulder injury. So New England suddenly looks thin — for the moment — at TE. That means opportunity for a WR corps without much separation so far.
Packers QB Jordan Love hurt his right shoulder in Saturday night’s preseason opener. An MRI came back clean, though, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and Love is “unlikely to miss time.”
Texans WR Anthony Miller suffered a "slight" dislocation of his right shoulder in Saturday's preseason opener. He's scheduled for an MRI, which should give us a timetable for his return. Miller has twice hurt his left shoulder as a pro and also dealt with a shoulder injury in college -- although we don't know if that was the left or right shoulder. We'll update his status when we know more.
Jets HC Robert Saleh labeled WR Elijah Moore (quad) "day-to-day" and hopes to get the rookie back at practice this week. It's confirmation that Moore's quad injury isn't anything to worry about. Consider his fantasy stock unaffected.
Giants HC Joe Judge said WR Kadarius Toney aggravated an injury at the end of this past week. Judge wouldn't disclose the injury or give a timetable for Toney's return. It's the latest setback for the rookie, who has had an eventful last few months. Toney is a long shot for fantasy value at least early on this season.
The Eagles have upgraded WR DeVonta Smith from "week to week" to "day to day" on their injury report, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Smith was reportedly running sprints on a side field with a trainer, helmet on, during the team's Saturday practice. It sounds like he's close to returning from his knee sprain -- with nearly a month still to go before the regular-season opener. Now looks like a good time to take some shots at a lower-priced Smith in fantasy football drafts.
Washington has finally activated WR Curtis Samuel off the PUP. His return to practice this week will mark his 1st action since sustaining a groin injury in June workouts. We'll see how quickly Samuel can knock off the rust and whether there's any reason to worry about lingering groin issues. ESPN's John Keim says Samuel will start off doing position drills but sitting out full-team work, "build up conditioning and work back in." The PUP stay has knocked Samuel's ADP down. As long as he doesn't climb too quickly, the situation could make him a value in August drafts. Washington has also released RB Lamar Miller and WR Kelvin Harmon.
Vikings WR K.J. Osborn is the current leader for the #3 role, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Dede Westbrook -- who signed just before training camp -- remains limited by his recovery from the ACL tear that ended his 2020 season in October. And Bisi Johnson went down with his own ACL tear during camp. Osborn -- a 5th-round pick last year -- has yet to see a regular-season target but got on the field as a returner in his rookie campaign. He closed out his college career with a 50-547-5 receiving line as a graduate transfer to Miami. Running 3rd among Vikings WRs isn't likely to make him fantasy relevant unless something happens to Justin Jefferson or Adam Thielen. But keep Osborn's name in mind for that possibility.
Vikings rookie RB Kene Nwangwu left Saturday night’s preseason game early with a knee injury and did not return. If he misses extended time, Nwangwu might have trouble displacing Ameer Abdullah in the return game. Neither figures to be fantasy relevant in 2021 unless both Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison go down
Texans WR Anthony Miller was carted off the field in Saturday’s game against Green Bay. Per team insider Aaron Wilson, Miller “appeared to have injured his right shoulder or arm.” The former Bear has undergone a pair of surgeries on his left shoulder since turning pro. Keke Coutee would figure to handle full-time slot duties if Miller misses substantial time.
Update: Wilson tweeted that Miller has a "slight" dlslocation and will undergo an MRI. We'll let you know when we learn more.
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