Ravens WR Rashod Bateman (foot) is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game vs. the Bucs. He put in a full practice on Wednesday, so he should be able to play. But we'll get Baltimore's inactives around 7 pm ET tomorrow.
The Ravens list RB Gus Edwards (knee) as questionable for Thursday night's game vs. the Bucs. He was limited in practice all week. Edwards seemed to escape Week 7 without a setback to that surgically repaired knee, so we're expecting him to play against Tampa. But check back around 7 pm ET tomorrow night to make sure he's active.
Ravens TE Mark Andrews (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game vs. the Bucs. He didn't practice at all on the short week. Andrews played 88% of Baltimore's offensive snaps with this injury last week, although he finished catch-less on 2 targets. That was at least partly due to QB Lamar Jackson throwing it just 16 times, but it's also fair to assume the knee was an issue. Andrews brings a lower ceiling and floor to Week 8 fantasy lineups -- although we'd still have trouble benching him in fantasy football.
The Bears have traded EDGE Robert Quinn to the Eagles for a 4th-round pick. Quinn hasn't been doing much as a pass-rusher so far this year. He has just 1 sack and 3 QB hits and sits tied for just 53rd in total pressures among edge players, according to Pro Football Focus. He finished last year tied for 29th in that category, though. Quinn clearly heads to a better situation than the one he's leaving. we still wouldn't bet on big IDP production, but he can only help an already tough defense. Al-Quadin Muhammad, Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson lead the remaining edge crew in Chicago.
ESPN's Field Yates reports that Patriots QB Mac Jones will start Sunday's game against the Jets. Jones took "about 90%" of the 1st-team reps in Wednesday's practice, Yates adds. Jones was yanked from Monday night's loss to the Bears after going 3-of-6 for 13 yards and an INT. But QB Bailey Zappe managed just 185 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs the rest of the way. We'd expect Jones to remain New England' starter for the remains of the season, unless he really flops. He's just a QB2 in fantasy football.
Rams RB Kyren Williams (ankle) has been designated to return from IR. He went down with a high-ankle sprain in the opener that required surgery. He's now eligible to practice, but HC Sean McVay said that Williams won't play vs. the 49ers this weekend. That should keep RB Darrell Henderson in the lead role. We'll continue to monitor Williams' progress. He's worth stashing in deep fantasy leagues.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott (knee) did not practice on Wednesday and admitted afterwards that he might miss this weekend's game vs. the Bears. “I think it’s a consideration, but it all depends on how I feel at the end of the week," Elliott said. The Star-Telegram's Clarence Hill reports that Elliott has a Grade 2 MCL sprain and "deep thigh bruise," but a source tells The Dallas Morning News' Michael Gehlken that it's more of a "hyperextension injury." Regardless, it sounds like there's a good chance Elliott is held out of Sunday's game, especially with a Week 9 bye on tap. His absence would turn Tony Pollard into a RB1. We'll continue to keep a close eye on Zeke's status.
Saints HC Dennis Allen said Wednesday that he's sticking with QB Andy Dalton as his starter. "Jameis [Winston] is back healthy right now. We're going to go with Andy as we sit here right now," Allen said. "If we continue to play well offensively and move the ball offensively, Andy will stay in there." The Saints are 1-3 under Dalton, but they're averaged 31 points per game. It's been a run-leaning offense, with Dalton averaging just 32.8 pass attempts per game. He ranks 16th among QBs in fantasy points per game over the last 4 weeks. Consider this good news for RB Alvin Kamara -- although there's still a solid chance New Orleans goes back to Winston at some point this season.
The Steelers announced that EDGE T.J. Watt returned to practice Wednesday but also said that he remains on IR. That aligns with the previously reported target date of Week 10 -- after the bye -- for Watt's return to game action.
The Chargers expect WR Mike Williams to miss a "minimum" of 4 weeks with his high-ankle sprain, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper. That's a typical timeline for this injury. Williams gets a Week 8 bye but figures to miss at least the next 3 games vs. the Falcons, 49ers and Chiefs. We'd still try to keep him stashed on fantasy benches as a late-season asset. Williams' absence will leave Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer and DeAndre Carter as Los Angeles' top 3 WRs.
Bears HC Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that he'll continue deploying a committee backfield with RBs David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert. Montgomery out-snapped Herbert just 56% to 41% in Monday night's win over the Patriots. Montgomery finished with 15 carries and 0 targets to Herbert's 12 carries and 2 targets. "We're going to continue to do that," Eberflus said. "Going to continue to use both of those guys." A committee backfield in a low-scoring offense is obviously rough for fantasy production. We're treating Montgomery as a RB3 and Herbert as a RB4 for now.
Giants HC Brian Daboll told reporters Wednesday that WRs Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and Kenny Golladay (knee) still aren't ready to practice, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. We'll see when/if their statuses change. EDGE Oshane Ximines (quad) also will miss Wednesday's practice.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson (hamstring) said Wednesday that he's "feeling good" and "ready to rock." It sounds like he's planning on playing vs. the Jaguars on Sunday morning, we'll track his practice participation the rest of the week. Wilson, of course, was struggling even before this hamstring injury, so he's not a recommended Week 8 fantasy play.
Lions HC Dan Campbell said Wednesday that there's still "hope" that rookie WR Jameson Williams plays at some point this season. "I do feel like we're gonna get him before it's all said and done," Campbell said, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard. But Campbell also said it will probably be "at least another month" before Williams is ready. That would mean a Week 12 target at the earliest, and we obviously couldn't use Williams in fantasy football lineups right away. We love the long-term talent and would happily stash the rookie in dynasty leagues. But this doesn't seem like a player worth spending a roster spot on in redraft -- unless you have a free IR slot or an especially deep bench.
Bucs WR Russell Gage (hamstring) is out for Thursday night's game vs. the Ravens. He's been battling hamstring issues since the summer. We'll see if he can make it back for Week 9, but Gage is not a must-stash on fantasy rosters.
Bucs TE Cameron Brate (neck) is out for Thursday night's game vs. the Ravens. TE Cade Otton has posted 6-43 and 4-64 lines in 2 games without Brate this season. He's in play as a Week 8 starter against Baltimore's 28th-ranked TE defense.
Seahawks RB Travis Homer (ribs) has been designated to return from IR. He'll practice on Wednesday and is eligible to play vs. the Giants this weekend if he's ready. Homer was operating in a pass-catching role before going down and figures to swipe that job back from RB DeeJay Dallas. We'll see how much he eats into RB Ken Walker's pass-catching work. The rookie ran a route on a season-high 62% of pass plays last week.
Jaguars HC Doug Pederson said Wednesday, "You're not going to see anything different from [Travis Etienne]," according to Jaguar Report's John Shipley. Pederson added that JaMycal Hasty's carries will increase in the wake of the James Robinson trade. He also said, in Shipley's words, that the team wants "to make sure Etienne plays more now, but they also want to get him through the season healthy." We're not looking to Hasty as a viable weekly option for fantasy football. But he's clearly the new #2 and in for some increase in touches.
The 49ers released RB Tevin Coleman. He's the odd man out with RB Christian McCaffrey's arrival. RBs Jeff Wilson, Ty Davis-Price and Jordan Mason are behind McCaffrey, with RB Elijah Mitchell on IR.
Bucs WR Russell Gage (hamstring) did not practice on Tuesday. He hurt a hamstring in Sunday's loss to the Panthers and seems unlikely to play vs. the Ravens on Thursday night. That potentially opens up the #3 WR job for WR Julio Jones (knee), who put in a limited practice on Tuesday. We'll get Tampa's final injury report on Wednesday afternoon.
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