Dolphins WR Braxton Berrios (hamstring) is active for this morning's game vs. the Chiefs. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then limited in Friday's practice. But Berrios is evidently healthy enough to give it a go today. He’s only an option in one-game DFS contests.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is eligible to come off IR and play vs. the Saints next weekend. But there remains "uncertainty" about his status, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "Jefferson still has to meet with the doctors, [and] the team has to decide how it wants to handle Jefferson," Schefter adds. Jefferson was originally expected to miss 4-6 weeks, so it's possible that he's just not healthy yet. It's also possible that QB Kirk Cousins' absence impacts Jefferson's return. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero says there's "optimism" from the Browns that QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) is back to pre-injury form. He reportedly looked much better in practice this week than he did leading up to Week 7. Watson, of course, lasted just 12 snaps in that game before giving way to QB P.J. Walker. We'd prefer to see a full and quality game from Watson before trusting him in fantasy lineups.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo says the Bears are "hopeful" QB Justin Fields (thumb) can start Thursday night's game vs. the Panthers. Fields returned to a limited practice on Friday. He "still has issues" with that hand, Garafolo adds, "so he's gonna have to make some progress in a short period of time to be ready for Carolina." We'll track Fields' progress this coming week. QB Tyson Bagent gets another start vs. the Saints today.
Rams WR Puka Nacua (knee) is expected to play vs. the Packers today, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Nacua was limited in practice all week, but we don't have any other details on his status. Between the knee injury and QB Brett Rypien likely getting the start, Nacua has fallen in the Week 9 WR Rankings.
Panthers WR D.J. Chark (elbow) is expected to play vs. the Colts today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Chark only got in limited practices on Thursday and Friday, so it's safe to assume that he won't be at 100% today. Chark would be a risky Week 9 fantasy start.
Colts WR Josh Downs (knee) is “tracking to play” vs. the Panthers today, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Downs was added to the injury report on Thursday and then limited in Friday's practice. "He still wants to see how it feels pre-game, and he’s not 100 percent, but he wants and intends to play," Schefter adds. Downs will carry elevated risk in Week 9 fantasy lineups, assuming he plays.
ESPN's Adam Schefter hears that Rams QB Matt Stafford (thumb) is "unlikely" to play vs. the Packers today. "The team is giving him all the time it can before it has to make any final decisions about his availability," Schefter adds. QB Brett Rypien is still the favorite to start today, but it sounds like Stafford has a good chance to be ready after Los Angeles' Week 10 bye. We'll get the Rams' inactives around 11:30 am ET.
The Cardinals elevated RB Corey Clement from the practice squad. He joins Keaontay Ingram and Tony Jones in Arizona's backfield for Sunday's game vs. the Browns. It remains a situation to try to avoid in fantasy lineups.
Jets WR Allen Lazard (knee) was added to the injury report on Saturday and is questionable for Monday night's game vs. the Chargers. Averaging just 6.9 PPR points per game, Lazard wasn't a viable fantasy play even before the knee issue. His absence would leave behind 4.1 targets for guys like WR Garrett Wilson, WR Randall Cobb, and TE Tyler Conklin.
Chargers TE Gerald Everett (hip) put in a full week of practice and isn't listed on the final injury report for Monday night's game vs. the Jets. Everett has averaged just 3.8 targets per game this season but could see a bit more volume on Monday with WR Josh Palmer out.
Chargers WR Josh Palmer (knee) is out for Monday night's game vs. the Jets. That will pretty much force the Chargers to put rookie WR Quentin Johnston in an every-down role. Palmer's absence obviously makes Johnston a better Week 9 fantasy bet, but he's still a shaky play against the league's top-ranked WR defense. It'll be WRs Derius Davis and Simi Fehoko behind WRs Keenan Allen and Johnston.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (knee) was not activated to the 53-man roster and is out for Sunday's game vs. the Browns. He's been a full-go in practice the past two weeks. We're expecting Murray to make his 2023 debut next weekend. Rookie QB Clayton Tune will make his first career start tomorrow.
The Giants placed QB Tyrod Taylor (ribs) on IR, knocking him out for at least the next four games. QB Daniel Jones (neck) is back this week, but New York is down to QBs Tommy DeVito and Matt Barkley (practice squad) behind him.
The Giants placed TE Darren Waller on IR with his latest hamstring injury. He was already ruled out for Sunday's game vs. the Raiders and will now also miss the next three games vs. the Cowboys, Commanders, and Patriots. The Giants then have a Week 13 bye, so Week 14 is the earliest we'll see Waller again. He's droppable in fantasy leagues without deep benches or IR spots. Daniel Bellinger will take over as New York's lead TE with Waller out. He averaged 2.5 catches, 22 yards, and 0.2 TDs across 12 games as a rookie last year.
The Colts have downgraded LB Zaire Franklin to doubtful for Sunday's game against the Panthers for the knee injury that kept him out of practice all week. That should leave Shaquille Leonard and E.J. Speed as the top two LBs for Indy in this game. Check our Week 9 LB rankings to see how high each has risen.
Raiders CB Nate Hobbs remained limited throughout the practice week with the same ankle issue that cost him four games. But he carries no injury designation into Sunday's clash with the Giants. It's certainly not surprising that he's on track to play after returning last Monday might against the Lions and suffering no reported setbacks. But staying off the final injury report marks another positive step. Hobbs makes for a strong weekly starter in CB-required IDP leagues and can even factor in as a general DB starter. His return game included 6 tackles and a sack on just 63% playing time. That was his lowest snap share so far this season, so we'd bet on it rising going forward. See where Hobbs lands in our Week 9 DB rankings.
Dolphins S Jevon Holland cleared the concussion protocol this week and has not appeared on the injury report at all ahead of Sunday morning's game against the Chiefs in Germany. He's back to being a weekly IDP starting option whenever healthy. Holland sits inside the top 15 in our Week 9 DB rankings.
Cardinals QB Clayton Tune is expected to start Sunday's game vs. the Browns, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. QB Kyler Murray (knee) put in another full week of practice and is listed as questionable. But the Week 10 home game vs. the Falcons has looked like his most likely return target for a while now. Tune is a fifth-round rookie out of Houston who completed just 58% of his passes at 6.0 yards per attempt this preseason. He ranked 42nd in Pro Football Focus passing grade among 68 qualifiers. Arizona is implied for 14.25 points in Cleveland, which tells you how little confidence we should have in this Tune-led offense.
Patriots LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Commanders. He managed limited practices all week despite leaving last Sunday's loss to the Dolphins in the first half. We'll see about his status Sunday.
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