Nelson
Agholor (WR) PHI - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430293
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430293
Agholor caught all four of his targets for seven yards
and added seven more yards on two rushing attempts in Sunday's 31-13 win over
Buffalo.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Agholor gained seven yards on his
first reception in the first quarter and rushed around the left end for 16
yards later in the frame but would mostly lose yardage on his remaining
touches. With 261 receiving yards and half the season in the books, the former
first-round pick is well off even the 700-yard pace that had become his
baseline over the last two seasons. With the Bears on tap Week 9, it's tough to
foresee the 26-year-old bucking that trend in the near future.
Akins caught two of five targets for 11 yards in Sunday's
27-24 win over the Raiders in Week 8.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was another game where Houston's
tight ends were integral to the passing offense. Akins and Darren Fells
combined for 11 targets, tying the position's season high, but it was Fells
that made the most impact by catching two red-zone touchdowns. For this one game,
the Texans partially made up for the absence of Will Fuller (hamstring) by
allocating more opportunities to their tight ends, while Keke Coutee did not
even get off the sideline. Halfway through the season, Akins has already
matched his catch and target totals from all of 2018. Unfortunately, he evenly
shares the position with Fells, and fantasy owners are rolling the dice any
given week when selecting either one.
Allen will start Sunday's game against the Browns and
perhaps beyond that point, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Broncos are making a change at
QB with Joe Flacco suffering a neck injury. A precise timetable for his
recovery isn't known, but it's believed to be a multi-week issue. In Flacco's
place, Allen will make his first appearance as a professional after bouncing
around three organizations throughout his career.
Coach Ron Rivera said Allen will be the Panthers'
starting quarterback Sunday against the Titans, Joe Person of The Athletic
reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cam Newton remains embedded in his
rehab program, with no end in sight to his recovery from a Lisfranc injury in
his left foot. As such, Allen will get his sixth consecutive start Week 9,
though his output has wavered from week to week. Overall, he's completed 62
percent of his passes, averaged 211.8 passing yards per game and posted a 7:3
TD:INT. He'll aim for a bounce-back effort Sunday versus Tennessee's 15th-ranked
pass defense (239.1 yards per game).
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Geronimo Allison (WR) GB - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430137
Allison caught one of three targets for seven yards
during Sunday's 31-24 win over the Chiefs.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Allison was outproduced by Aaron
Jones, Jamaal Williams, Jimmy Graham, Allen Lazard and Jake Kumerow in the
passing attack Sunday. Despite the extended absence of Davante Adams (toe),
Allison hasn't managed to make a consistent impact in the Packers' offense. In
six of eight games this season, Allison has failed to either eclipse 50
receiving yards or log a touchdown, making him difficult to rely on for fantasy
purposes.
Amendola caught all eight of his targets for 95 yards
during Sunday's 31-26 victory over the Giants.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kenny Golladay stole the show with a
pair of touchdown catches, but Amendola was crucial in helping Detroit sustain
drives - just like he was last week against the Vikings. In fact, Amendola has
now been the target of almost a quarter of Matthew Stafford's pass attempts
over the past two games. While fantasy owners should still keep in mind that
Amendola seems to have a low floor in this offense -- he caught just five of
seven targets for 43 yards in three games from Week 2 through Week 6 -- it's
possible the chest injury that forced him to miss one of those games played a
role in that lowly output. In any case, it's clear that Stafford is becoming
rather fond of the veteran wideout, and there's plenty of reason to believe the
pair could have another productive outing Week 9 against the Raiders.
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J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (WR) PHI - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430308
Arcega-Whiteside played just four snaps in Sunday's 31-13
win over Buffalo.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Arcega-Whiteside has played just 29
snaps over the last five weeks and has not drawn a target in that time. It
would take another rash of injuries to the Eagles' receiving corps before the
rookie might become a factor in the offense.
Ballage will be the Dolphins' starting running back
Monday at Pittsburgh, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In the wake of Kenyan Drake getting
moved to Arizona, Miami will entrust the backfield in Ballage's hands first.
When Ballage started Weeks 1 and 2, he was granted at least a 50 percent share
of the offensive snaps in both of those contests, but he managed just 24 yards
from scrimmage and no TDs on 11 touches. There's a decent bet he splits the
work with Mark Walton against the Steelers' 19th-ranked run defense (110.2
yards per game).
Bolden was on the field for three of a possible 69 snaps
on offense in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Browns.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bolden, who didn't record a carry or
catch Sunday, logged 22 special teams snaps in the contest. He saw his role in
New England's offense reduced Week 8 with Rex Burkhead back in the team's
backfield mix. Until the next injury hits the team's running back corps,
Bolden's touches figure to be sporadic.
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Reggie Bonnafon (RB) CAR - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430119
Bonnafon rushed once for four yards and caught one of
three targets for three yards in Sunday's 51-13 loss to the 49ers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bonnafon played 12 offensive snaps
behind star Christian McCaffrey, but rookie Jordan Scarlett actually saw more touches,
garnering four carries. However, all those came in garbage time on the
Panthers' final drive, which was Scarlett's only involvement on offense.
Bosa recorded four tackles (all solo), three sacks and
his first career interception in Sunday's 51-13 win over the Panthers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bosa turned in one of the best
individual defensive performances of 2019. The impressive rookie continues to
raise the bar for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old phenom has now
accrued 20 tackles, seven sacks, a forced fumble and an interception through
seven games. If Bosa continues to play at this frenetic pace, he will not only
be the front-runner for DROY, but he will also be in consideration for
Defensive Player of the Year. He will look to make the Cardinals pay for
passing up on the consensus best player in the draft when the 49ers take on No.
1 overall pick Kyler Murray on Thursday.
Bourne caught the only ball thrown his way for 12 yards
in Sunday's 51-13 win over Carolina.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bourne wasn't able to build off of
last week's season-high 69 receiving yards. The low production can be
attributed to a game script that prompted an even heavier rushing split than
usual (38 rushes to 18 pass attempts) after the 49ers went up big and stayed up
wire to wire. The 24-year-old was able to stick at No. 4 on the wide receiver
depth chart following the acquisition of Emmanuel Sanders due to Marquise
Goodwin's (personal) absence. If the latter is available for Thursday's matchup
against Arizona, then Bourne could find himself out of the wideout rotation for
Week 9.
Breida (ankle) was listed as a limited on Monday's
practice estimate, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Breida was injured late in the first
half of Sunday's win over the Panthers and didn't return for the remainder of
the game. It's possible the 49ers simply held him out for precautionary
purposes since they had a comfortable lead, and the fact he would've been able
to practice in some capacity Monday could support that notion. Tuesday's actual
practice will reveal more about Breida's status for Thursday's game against the
Cardinals.
Brown didn't receive a target in Sunday's 27-20 win over
the Falcons.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brown has normally been the
Seahawks' No. 3 receiver this year, but he was out-snapped 30-17 by David Moore
on Sunday. It resulted in Brown's third game without a target this season. It
wouldn't be surprising if Moore maintains his hold on this role since he's more
talented than Brown, although Seattle doesn't have consistent fantasy receivers
outside of Tyler Lockett.
Brown caught one of his two targets for a 16-yard gain
during Sunday's 15-13 loss in Indianapolis.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The stats won't jump out at you, but
Brown actually ended the day as Denver's WR2 in terms of offensive snaps,
edging DaeSean Hamilton 46 to 45. Neither target should receive too much action
in a woeful Denver offense that seems to be using backs and tight ends to fill
the void left by Emmanuel Sanders' departure, but it's telling that Denver gave
Brown so much responsibility after activating him from the practice squad just
a month ago. Next up is the Browns with Brandon Allen at quarterback replacing
the injured Joe Flacco (neck).
Brown caught two of his three targets for 11 yards and a
touchdown in Week 8 against the Buccaneers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brown took on a surprisingly small
role in the Titans' passing attack, finishing tied for fifth on the team in
targets. He also didn't work down the field with those targets, as his longest
reception went for just eight yards. However, he did manage to salvage his day
by collecting the game-winning touchdown with just under seven minutes
remaining in the fourth quarter. Despite Ryan Tannehill giving the offense some
new life, it is clear that the team is wiling to rely on its defense and
running game to try and produce wins. That makes Brown and the Titans' other
receivers volatile fantasy options.
Burkhead logged 13 of a possible 69 snaps on offense in
Sunday's 27-13 win over the Browns.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his first game since Sept. 29,
Burkhead carried three times for four yards and caught his only target for nine
yards. As long as top back Sony Michel and change-of-pace/pass-catching ace
James White remain healthy, the versatile Burkhead's weekly volume in the New
England offense will be difficult to project.
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Antonio Callaway (WR) CLE - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430304
Callaway caught two of three targets for 11 yards in
Sunday's 27-13 loss to New England.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The second-year WR played 53 snaps
(78 percent) while maintaining the No. 3 wideout role, as Rashard Higgins (14
snaps) has been slow to return from a knee injury. Callaway has caught only
four of 10 targets for 33 yards this year, though, giving him little job
security.
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Parris Campbell (WR) IND - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430227
Campbell did not have a target and played just eight
snaps on offense in Sunday's win over Denver.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Campbell returned after missing
three weeks due to an abdominal injury, but wasn't much a part of the game
plan. It's notable that he was active while Deon Cain was inactive for the
game. Campbell had eight targets in his previous game Week 4, so the Colts may
have tried to ease him back into action.
Carter played 47 snaps and caught one of three targets
for 46 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Raiders.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was surprising to see Carter get
his highest snap total since Week 1 while Keke Coutee remained on the sideline
all game. With Will Fuller (hamstring) inactive for the first of what is
expected to be multiple weeks, it was expected that Coutee and Kenny Stills
would be the secondary receivers after DeAndre Hopkins. It's unknown at this
point why Carter vaulted over Coutee or if this was a matchup-based decision.
Clay (back) was listed as a limited participant on
Monday's practice estimate, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site
reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Clay is coming off his best
performance of the season with three catches for 88 yards in Sunday's loss to
the Saints. He may have tweaked something in the contest, as Clay wouldn't have
been at full speed if the Cardinals held a practice. The 30-year-old tight end
has a short timetable to get healthy with Thursday's matchup against the 49ers
on deck.
Cole caught both his targets for 12 yards in Sunday's
29-15 win against the Jets.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was involved early
as the six-yard touchdown occurred barely two minutes into the first quarter,
marking his second straight game with a score. Marqise Lee (shoulder) and Dede
Westbrook (neck/shoulder) both exited during the first half, leading to Cole's
highest snap count of the season (26), but his lack of involvement in the
passing game during their absence is a bit disappointing. Cole could work as
the Jaguars' No. 3 wide receiver if both players are unable to suit up Week 9.
Conner suffered an AC joint shoulder injury Monday
against the Dolphins but the severity remains unknown, Mike Giardi of NFL
Network reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Conner did not speak to reporters in
the locker room after the win and was spotted exiting the stadium with his
right shoulder in a sling. There's really no telling how serious the injury is
until more information is made available. Conner anchored the Steelers offense
Monday night, running the ball a season-high 23 times for 145 yards while
adding three receptions for five yards in the contest. Look for more updates on
his status to come when the Steelers resume practice later this week.
Coutee dressed but did not play in Sunday's 27-24 win
over Oakland in Week 8.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Coutee was a beneficiary of playing
time when Will Fuller (hamstring) was removed from Week 7's loss to the Colts,
so it was surprising to see DeAndre Carter get those snaps a week later. There
has been no indication of an injury on Coutee's part. Unless the team clarifies
the situation, the assumption should be that Carter is the No. 3 wideout while
Fuller remains sidelined.
Darnold sprained his left thumb during Sunday's 29-15
loss at Jacksonville, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports.
"This is one of those things that's going to bother him all year, but he's
going to play through this," coach Adam Gase said.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since missing three games due to
mononucleosis, Darnold has been all over the place, production-wise, going for
338, 86 and 218 passing yards the past three contests. Fueled by a four-interception
performance Week 7 against the Pats, he has a 4:8 TD:INT during that stretch.
In the midst of Sunday's game, he was seen with his left thumb wrapped, which
since has been diagnosed as a sprain. While the injury may impact his practice
reps, Darnold will continue to be under center for the Jets, if Gase's comments
are to be believed.
Dorsett was on the field for 64 of a possible 69 snaps on
offense in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Browns, en route to catching three of
his six targets for 43 yards.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Meanwhile, Julian Edelman logged 66
snaps, while newcomer Mohamed Sanu was on the field for 37 snaps. Once Sanu
becomes more acclimated with the team's offense, his workload figures to
expand, probably at Dorsett's expense. There's still some deep-league fantasy
value to be found from whoever serves as the Patriots' No. 3 wide receiver, but
as long as Edelman and Sanu remain healthy, Dorsett's target share figures to
be inconsistent.
The Dolphins officially traded Drake to the Cardinals for
a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft, per the NFL's transaction
log.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Cardinals have a clear need in a
backfield in which David Johnson (ankle) is day-to-day, Chase Edmonds
(hamstring) is doubtful to suit up Thursday, and D.J. Foster (hamstring) landed
on IR. Drake will have a steep learning curve with the team facing a short week
and the formidable 49ers on tap, but his only competitors for reps (assuming
Johnson and Edmonds don't play) are Zach Zenner and Alfred Morris. For his
career, Drake has averaged 4.6 yards per carry, hauled in 116 of 164 targets
and scored 15 touchdowns in 54 games.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury characterized Edmonds (hamstring)
as doubtful for Thursday's game against the 49ers, Scott Bordow of The Athletic
reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The news doesn't come as a major
surprise after Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported earlier Monday that
Edmonds would likely miss a few weeks as a result of the hamstring strain he
sustained in Sunday's loss to the Saints. Meanwhile, Kingsbury called David
Johnson (ankle) day-to-day, though he too will have a tough time gaining
clearance on a short week. In response to injuries to their top two backs, the
Cardinals made a deal with the Dolphins on Monday to acquire Kenyan Drake, who
could lead the Arizona backfield Thursday in his team debut.
Everett caught two of his three targets for just 15 yards
during Sunday's 24-10 win over Cincinnati.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While the third-year tight end has
been a little inconsistent the past five weeks, he's still totaled a
respectable 20 receptions for 254 yards and two touchdowns. The next step for
Everett is becoming a factor week in, week out. Being limited to 32 offensive
snaps Sunday definitely contributed to his poor showing, but it was probably
just a blip on the radar. Everett topped 50 snaps in five of the previous six
games, after all.
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Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB) MIA - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430324
Fitzpatrick completed 21 of 34 passes for 190 yards, two
touchdowns and two interceptions during Monday's 27-14 loss to the Steelers. He
also had two fumbles, one of which he recovered.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Fitzpatrick also ran the ball four
times for 11 yards and was sacked four times. The veteran quarterback led the
Dolphins to an early first quarter lead, connecting with Allen Hurns and Albert
Wilson for scores, but Miami's offense struggled to make anything happen after
that point. The winless Dolphins unit didn't manage to score during the game's
final three quarters, or even march into field-goal territory. With just over
one minute remaining in the contest, Fitzpatrick narrowly avoided fumbling a
tipped ball, then closed the game out with an unfortunate sack while attempting
to scramble on the next play. If Fitzpatrick retains the starting job Week 9,
he'll benefit from a more favorable matchup against the Jets' struggling
defense.
Flacco (neck) could be placed on injured reserve, Ian
Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The precise nature of the injury is
unknown, but coach Vic Fangio termed it "a neck or disc issue,"
according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. If Flacco eventually lands on IR,
the Broncos likely will be without the veteran for the rest of the season. In Flacco's
place, Brandon Allen will run the offense, at least until 2019 second-round
pick Drew Lock has completed his recovery from a sprained right thumb.
Foster (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Monday,
Scott Bordow of The Athletic reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Foster missed the last two games
with the hamstring issue and now is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the
season. Kenyan Drake was acquired from Miami (pending a physical) to bolster
Arizona's running game while David Johnson (ankle) and Chase Edmonds
(hamstring) nurse injuries.
Foster was targeted once but didn't catch a pass in
Sunday's loss to the Eagles.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The second-year receiver is still
looking for his first catch of the year after suiting up in four games and
missing three others, simply awful production for a guy that came out of
nowhere last season to post a 27-541-3 line in 13 games, especially when you
consider Zay Jones recently got traded. Foster is at best the fourth WR option
on the team, and with No. 5 Andre Roberts being a valuable return man, the
former runs the risk of being benched again if the team wants to suit up Isaiah
McKenzie for more change-of-pace plays. Foster is far off the fantasy radar.
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Marquise Goodwin (WR) SF - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430229
Goodwin (personal) returned to the team Monday and is
expected to play Thursday against the Cardinals, Matt Barrows of The Athletic
reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Goodwin was excused by the team late
last week to tend to a personal matter, but the issue appears to be resolved as
the veteran receiver was present at the 49ers' facilities Monday. He figures to
work in as the No. 2 receiver behind Emmanuel Sanders for the 49ers. Goodwin's
performance as the top option was less than impressive with just 11 catches for
181 yards and a score through six games, so unless Sanders can draw enough
attention away from Goodwin, he's a risky play for fantasy purposes.
Graham caught three of five targets for 20 yards during
Sunday's 31-24 victory over Kansas City.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Green Bay leaned on production from
the running back position during Sunday's win, as Aaron Jones stole the show
with 67 rushing yards and 159 receiving yards. Jones and fellow tailback Jamaal
Williams also each accounted for two scores. The backfield duo's stellar
performance didn't leave much in the way of red-zone or aerial opportunity for
Graham, who has now failed to score or surpass 50 receiving yards in five of
eight games. The veteran tight end is a purely touchdown-dependent fantasy
option.
Guice (knee) has been designated to return from injured
reserve, Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Redskins opened a 21-day window
in which to activate Guice to the 53-man roster by allowing him to practice
Monday. "He's worked hard to get back, and his workload was a good amount
today but not too much because we're still monitoring his conditioning level as
he works back into football," interim head coach Bill Callahan said. Guice
is in the latter stages of his recovery from surgery to trim a torn meniscus in
his right knee, which so far has sidelined him for seven games. He'll miss
another one this Sunday at Buffalo, but with a Week 10 bye to follow, the team
anticipates him returning to action Nov. 17 against the Jets.
Hall brought in his only target for a 49-yard touchdown
during Sunday's 31-26 victory over the Giants.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After making huge catches each of
the past three games, it seemed like only a matter of time until Hall was able
to get into the end zone. This time, he burned Giants safety Michael Thomas to
bring in a bomb from Matthew Stafford in the first quarter. It's probably naive
to think Hall can sustain his current average of 40.2 yards per catch, but
there's no denying the lid-lifting ability he brings to Detroit, and it's
possible he could eventually have a huge fantasy day if he's ever targeted on
more than a single deep pass in a game. The main thing holding him back from
that is Hall's lack of playing time relative to Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones
and Danny Amendola, considering Hall matched his season high Sunday with only
14 offensive snaps.
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DaeSean Hamilton (WR) DEN - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430273
Hamilton was unable to bring in his lone target during
Sunday' 15-13 loss in Indianapolis.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Emmanuel Sanders trade to San
Francisco opened up an enormous gap in the passing offense that Hamilton
figured to get first dibs filling. It didn't work out that way as Hamilton was
held catchless for the third time this season and was even edged out in
offensive snaps by Fred Brown, 46 to 45. The Broncos seem as though they will
fill the void Sanders left behind by throwing it more to Courtland Sutton and
the backs and tight ends, namely rookie Noah Fant. That would place Hamilton as
no better than third or fourth in the pecking order in an offense that has
looked horrid and will give Brandon Allen the first start of his career Sunday
against Cleveland.
Hardy accounted for 23 receiving yards on two catches
during Sunday's 27-20 loss to Seattle.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The trade of Mohamed Sanu trade to
New England was bound to increase offensive involvement for a third Falcons
receiver, but in Week 8 that player turned out to be Russell Gage rather than
Hardy. The second-year man more than doubled Hardy's target share (nine to
four), and accounted for seven catches and 58 yards in a matchup against
Seattle's susceptible 27th-ranked pass defense. Hardy and the Falcons'
receiving corps now segue into a Week 9 bye, before facing a Saints defense
Nov. 10 that ranks among that NFL's 10-stingiest units with just 1.2 passing
touchdowns allowed per game this season.
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Darrell Henderson (RB) LA - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430113
Henderson took 11 carries for 49 yards and caught two of
three targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Bengals in London.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Todd Gurley actually finished with
fewer carries (10) and targets (zero), though he dominated playing time in the
first half and also handled all the red-zone work, including a three-yard
touchdown to give the Rams a 14-point lead with 10:14 remaining in the third
quarter. The short score was Gurley's final touch of the day, with Henderson
getting nine carries and two targets from that point forward. The rookie
ultimately saw a 48 percent snap share, just a tick behind Gurley's 52 percent.
It was interesting to see Gurley disappear from a game the Rams never led by
more than 14 points -- perhaps a hint at a more cautious approach, or else
increased confidence in Henderson. Whatever the case, the Rams' backfield could
become even more complicated after a Week 9 bye, with Malcolm Brown potentially
returning from the ankle injury that has kept him out the past two games.
Coach Adam Gase said Herndon (hamstring) "looks
better" for Sunday's game at Miami, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record
reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since completing a four-game
suspension to start the season, Herndon has tended to a hamstring strain,
missing four more contests as a result. He made progress last week with limited
listings on all three injury reports, but Gase and company may want Herndon to
complete a full session before giving him the all-clear to return to action.
Until Herndon does so, Ryan Griffin figures to be the Jets' primary tight end.
Higbee caught his only target for eight yards during
Sunday's 24-10 win over Cincinnati.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higbee started against the Bengals
and played 34 of 62 offensive snaps. He's now been held to an eight-yard
reception in consecutive games and hasn't made a notable fantasy impact since
finding the end zone in Week 1 against Carolina.
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Rashard Higgins (WR) CLE - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430301
Higgins played just 14 snaps in Sunday's 27-13 loss to
the Patriots, catching one of two targets for two yards while getting flagged
for an offensive pass interference penalty.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higgins played his first game since
suffering a knee injury during Week 1. He returned and dressed for Week 6 but
did not play in a loss to the Seahawks. Despite an additional two weeks of
healing, his workload was still limited while Antonio Callaway handled the No.
3 receiver role once again. "We feel like he is doing better right now.
Hig has been back two weeks. Contrary to popular belief, Higgins was not ready
to play three weeks ago," head coach Freddie Kitchens told Scott Patsko of
the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I am not answering questions about playing
time. We are playing who we think is giving us the best chance to win right
now." Higgins was seen as someone that could help a struggling offense and
he still could, but it doesn't sound like his coach is convinced.
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Dontrell Hilliard (RB) CLE - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430302
Hilliard caught all four of his targets for 24 yards and
added another 10 yards on his lone carry in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the
Patriots.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hilliard played a career-high 26
snaps, lining up at wide receiver a few times, and tied his career high in
receptions. He's caught six passes over the last two games, as the Browns look
at other targets with wide receiver Rashard Higgins possibly not fully over his
knee injury. Once Week 10 hits, Hilliard's playing time will be squeezed with
the return of Kareem Hunt (suspension), another capable receiving threat.
Hines had four carries for 12 yards and three receptions
for 34 yards on three targets in Sunday's win over Denver.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hines played on 18 of the offense's
64 snaps and got more usage than Jordan Wilkins (six snaps). He remains the top
passing-down option at running back but isn't getting much playing time behind
Marlon Mack.
Hockenson caught his only target for 21 yards during
Sunday's 31-26 victory over the Giants.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite a soft matchup, Hockenson
didn't see many passes come his way. Instead, he watched Danny Amendola serve
as Matthew Stafford's favorite short-range weapon. Playing time isn't the issue
with Hockenson -- he saw almost double the offensive snaps of the next-busiest
tight end in Jesse James -- but rather it's Stafford's propensity to spread the
ball around. As long as Amendola, Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones stay healthy,
it will continue to be difficult to trust Hockenson as anything more than a
low-floor, somewhat-high-upside fantasy play.
Hollins did not see a target in Sunday's 31-13 win over
Buffalo.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hollins got the start and played 43
of 73 snaps, but his only appearance in the box score was a penalty for running
into the kicker while trying to block a punt. The 26-year-old has seen just six
passing attempts in his direction over the last five weeks and has come down
with only one of them. With DeSean Jackson on the mend from an abdominal
injury, Hollins' days as a starter are likely coming to an end, perhaps as soon
as Week 9 against the Bears.
Hurns caught his only target for 12 yards and a touchdown
during Monday's 27-14 loss to the Steelers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hurns made the most of his lone
target, connecting with Ryan Fitzpatrick for a score during the first quarter.
Unfortunately, Miami's offense was kept from reaching paydirt again from that
point on. Hurns' low weekly target volume makes him difficult to trust for
fantasy purposes, but facing a plus matchup against the Jets' secondary in Week
9, he could provide low-upside value in the deepest of leagues.
Coach Doug Pederson said Monday that Jackson (abdomen)
would be incorporated in the Eagles' practices this week, Jeff McLane of The
Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Reuben Frank of NBC Sports
Philadelphia, Pederson noted that Jackson would only practice "a little
bit," which seemingly doesn't put the wideout on track to return from a
six-game absence to play Sunday versus the Bears. Instead, the Eagles are
probably more realistically banking on Jackson returning to action Nov. 17
against the Patriots, since he would benefit from a Week 10 bye in advance of
that game.
Johnson (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on
Monday's practice estimate, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site
reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Coach Kilff Kingsbury reported
earlier Monday that Johnson is day-to-day. The Cardinals didn't hold an actual
practice Monday, but Johnson would've stayed on the sidelines if they did. That
supports the notion that Johnson won't suit up for Thursday's prime-time game
against the 49ers, but he still has two more practices to record practice reps.
Chase Edmonds (hamstring) is considered doubtful, putting Kenyan Drake, who the
Cardinals acquired via trade from the Dolphins, in line for a hefty workload if
both backs sit out.
----------
Diontae Johnson (WR) PIT - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430343
Johnson caught 5 of 7 targets for 84 yards and a
touchdown in Monday's 27-14 win over the Dolphins.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The return of Mason Rudolph at
quarterback resulted in the rookie receiver having his best game this season.
He converted a 3rd-and-20 for a 45-yard touchdown and now has three touchdowns
in his last five games. Week 9 has Johnson facing an Indianapolis defense that
has allowed just two passing touchdowns in their last three games but he still
warrants consideration in most fantasy formats.
Interim coach Bill Callahan said Monday that Keenum
remains in the NFL's concussion protocol but noted that the quarterback would
start Week 9 in Buffalo if cleared to play, Kyle Stackpole of the Redskins'
official site reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Redskins currently are viewing
Keenum as day-to-day while he works through the protocol. At this point, he
hasn't seemed to have made much tangible progress in his recovery since
suffering the head injury last Thursday in the loss to the Vikings, as he
wasn't cleared for non-contact work during Monday's practice. Dwayne Haskins
handled the first-team reps and presumably will be in line for the Week 9 start
in the event Keenum is ruled out.
Knox was targeted just once with no catches during
Sunday's loss to the Eagles.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was the rookie's first career
game where he did not have at least one reception, though the end result is
perhaps not as surprising as the first glance at the empty line, given that
starter Tyler Kroft is back in action and both teams were forced to throw in
gusty winds. Knox was a trendy pickup a few weeks ago following a couple of
decent games, but sharing time with Kroft is going to make consistent
production for either player a tough task, especially when you consider the
Bills offer an unpolished passing attack.
Kroft caught two balls on four targets for 32 yards
during Sunday's loss to the Eagles.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Both of Kroft's catches went for
first downs on a nasty, windy day that made it tough for even the strong-armed
Josh Allen and Carson Wentz to throw the ball. Kroft was on the field for 58
percent of the offensive plays, while rookie Dawson Knox saw 45 percent,
blocker Lee Smith 32 percent, and Tommy Sweeney was inactive. Kroft didn't get
a single target in his first game of the season last week, so the modest Week 8
production represents improved involvement in the offense. Still, this isn't an
effective passing team and Kroft has to share looks with too many others to
offer consistent value.
Kumerow caught two of four targets for 48 yards during
Sunday's 31-24 win over the Chiefs.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kumerow's receiving yardage total
was the highest of any Green Bay wideout in Week 8. Of course, Aaron Jones'
seven-catch, 159-yard performance didn't leave much on the table for anyone
else. The Wisconsin-Whitewater product has now eclipsed 45 receiving yards in
two consecutive contests, though it's worth noting that Kumerow played fewer
snaps (51 percent) than Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Geronimo
Allison. Kumerow could play a similar role in Green Bay's aerial attack Week 9
against the Chargers if Davante Adams (toe) is unable to retake the field.
Latimer caught two of three passes for 28 yards during
Sunday's loss to the Lions.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Latimer ranked third among New
York's wide receivers with 33 offensive snaps but wasn't significantly involved
in the passing game. Darius Slayton played 62 snaps, caught two of five targets
for 50 yards and two touchdowns and clearly has stepped into the No. 2 spot at
wide receiver with Sterling Shepard (concussion) sidelined.
Lazard caught all five of his targets for 42 yards during
Sunday's 31-24 win over the Chiefs.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Lazard saw the largest snap count
(67 percent) of any Green Bay wideout during the Week 8 win, and he outpaced
fellow receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison in terms of
receiving yards. The Iowa State product appears to be entrenching himself as a
reliable weapon in the Packers' aerial attack, though it remains to be seen
what sort of role he'll play when Davante Adams (toe) eventually returns to the
lineup.
Coach Vic Fangio said Monday that Lock's sprained right
thumb has healed, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports. Fangio wouldn't disclose
whether Lock would resume practicing this week.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Among their 10 players on injured
reserve, the Broncos are considering multiple candidates for their two
"designated-to-return" spots. GM John Elway already has suggested
that one of those spots will be reserved for receiver Tim Patrick (hand), so
the team may want to evaluate Lock for a little longer before deciding whether
to commit the other spot to him. Lock's potential return from IR took on
greater import Monday, when Fangio revealed that top quarterback Joe Flacco
(neck) was dealing with a disc issue that could require season-ending surgery.
Fangio has already named Brandon Allen the starter for Sunday's game against
the Browns, so Lock -- if he practices this week -- could be activated right
away and slot in as the backup. Practice squad quarterback Brett Rypien is
another candidate to be added to the 53-man roster.
McCoy was limited to just 40 yards on nine carries and
caught all four of his targets for 23 yards Sunday against the Packers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCoy saw one fewer snap in Week 8
than fellow back Damien Williams, but the veteran did more with his share in
terms of yardage. Unfortunately, he didn't find pay dirt, while Williams did,
and the committee approach being used in Kansas City will likely force a RB to
do just that to reach fantasy relevance in most leagues on a given week.
McDonald caught 3 of 4 targets for 19 yards in Monday's
27-14 win over the Dolphins.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The tight end has become an
afterthought in the Pittsburgh offense, with McDonald averaging 24.3 yards on
less than three receptions per game. Outside of his seven catch, two touchdown
game against Seattle, he has done little to merit fantasy consideration this
season. Fantasy owners shouldn't expect that to change in Week 9 against the
Colts who have allowed opposing tight ends to score just one touchdown in their
last four games.
McKissic rushed once for minus-1 yard and secured all
three of his targets for two yards during Sunday's 31-26 victory over the
Giants.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McKissic was penciled in for an
elevated workload in Detroit's first game without Kerryon Johnson (knee), but
the Lions instead deployed a full-blown committee approach to the running back
position. Each of Ty Johnson (25 snaps), Tra Carson (19), McKissic (16) and
Paul Perkins (six) took reps with the offense, and each of Carson (12 carries),
Johnson (seven) and Perkins (three) were given more rushing attempts than
McKissic. Even though the latter likely remains the team's preferred
passing-down back, this Detroit backfield is probably one to avoid for fantasy
purposes unless some runner eventually emerges from the pack.
Meyers logged 25 a possible 69 snaps on offense in
Sunday's 27-13 win over the Browns, en route to catching one of his two targets
for five yards.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Mohamed Sanu now in the team's
wide receiver mix along with Julian Edelman and Phillip Dorsett, Meyers slots
in no higher than New England's No. 4 option at the position, given that N'Keal
Harry (ankle) could join the mix as soon as this coming weekend's tilt against
the Ravens.
Moore caught one of four targets for 23 yards in Sunday's
27-20 win over the Falcons.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Moore played 30 of 61 offensive
snaps in the victory, clearly out-snapping Jaron Brown (17) and Malik Turner
(seven). It has essentially been a rotation between Moore and Brown as the
Seahawks' No. 3 wideout, although the majority of the meaningful reps have gone
to Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf this year. Moore has yet to surpass 36 yards in
a game this season.
Mosley (groin) is expected to be sidelined at least the
next five weeks, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Adam Gase said Monday that Mosley
visited a specialist to address his lingering groin issue, according to Connor
Hughes of The Athletic. Mosley plans to treat his injury through non-surgical
means, keeping hope alive for him to avoid landing on injured reserve and
return later this season. For the immediate future, however, Blake Cashman and
Albert McClellan (concussion) will see increased opportunities on defense.
Mostert (knee) was listed as a limited participant on
Monday's estimated injury report.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the third week in a row,
Mostert's practice reps have been impacted by a knee injury, but he is coming
off his best performance of the season. During Sunday's blowout of the
Panthers, he racked up 60 yards and a TD on just nine carries, working
primarily in garbage time. Assuming he gets cleared to play Thursday at
Arizona, he'll likely be contained to special teams work again with Tevin
Coleman, Matt Breida (ankle) and Jeff Wilson occupying the top three spots on
the RB depth chart.
Coach Ron Rivera confirmed Monday that Newton (foot)
wouldn't be cleared to start Week 9 against the Titans, David Newton of
ESPN.com reports. "We've got to make sure he's ready,'' Rivera said of
Newton. "The last update I got more so than anything else is he's going
through his rehab. We'll see. Right now, we're going into this game with Kyle
[Allen] as the starter."
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Rivera didn't rule Newton out
from returning to practice this week, the franchise quarterback unsurprisingly
will be sidelined for a sixth straight game while he continues to work back
from a Lisfranc injury. Allen has been mostly impressive while guiding the
Panthers to four wins in five starts in Newton's absence, but he endured his
worst showing to date in Sunday's 51-13 loss to the 49ers, completing only 19
of 37 passes for 158 yards and tossing three interceptions.
Parker caught six of eight targets for 59 yards during
Monday's 27-14 loss to the Steelers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Parker has now either eclipsed 50
receiving yards or scored a touchdown in seven of eight contests this season.
The 2015 first-round pick has also led the team in targets for two consecutive
weeks. He and Preston Williams are operating as the clear top options in
Miami's aerial attack, and Parker's consistency makes him worth legitimate
fantasy consideration in deeper formats.
Pascal had just one reception for six yards on two
targets in Sunday's win over Denver. He also had two kickoff returns for 76 yards,
including a 47-yard return.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After a career-best game the prior
week where he had 106 yards receiving and two touchdowns, Pascal didn't have
much impact other than special teams. Pascal was a starting receiver in a
three-wideout set with T.Y. Hilton and Chester Rogers and played the second
most snaps to Hilton (59 snaps to Hilton's 60 snaps). However, like earlier in
the season, that high snap count hasn't always translated into many targets.
Pettis had one reception on three targets for five yards
in Sunday's 51-13 win over the Panthers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 24-year-old was bumped out of
the starting lineup in favor of rookie Deebo Samuel for the first time since
Week 2. It is no secret that Pettis has been a colossal disappointment in his
sophomore season. From having his motivation questioned by his head coach in
the preseason, to poor statistical results despite technically being a starter
(10 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown over seven games), there isn't a
positive takeaway from his 2019 campaign so far. In fact, following the
acquisition of Emmanuel Sanders earlier this week, there was a report that
Pettis could be dealt before Tuesday's trade deadline, according to NFL Insider
Adam Caplan. A trade to a more pass-happy offense could be the recipe he needs
to tap back into the potential the 2018 second-round pick displayed last
season, but if he sticks in San Francisco, Pettis will not carry much fantasy
value heading into Thursday's matchup against the Cardinals.
Rogers had one reception for seven yards on two targets
in Sunday's win over Denver.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rogers started as the slot receiver
as the Colts opened in a three-receiver set and played on 40 of the offense's
64 snaps. However, that didn't translate into a large workload on a day when
the Colts completed just 15 passes. Rogers looks set to remain as the third
receiver but could face increased competition from Parris Campbell with
Campbell returning after missing three weeks with an abdominal injury.
Rudolph completed 20 of 36 passes for 251 yards, two
touchdowns, and one interception in Monday's 27-14 win over the Dolphins.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Looking rusty after returning from a
concussion suffered in Pittsburgh's Week 4 overtime loss to Baltimore,
Rudolph's first pass of the game was intercepted by Xavien Howard. Rudolph
continued to struggle and had a second interception reversed and ruled
incomplete on the next offensive series. Trailing 14-0 after one quarter
Pittsburgh got things going on offense, including a 45-yard touchdown pass to
Diontae Johnson and a 26-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster. The
Steelers have now won three of their last four games after starting the season
0-3 but face a tough Indianapolis team that has held opponents to an average of
just 16 points in their last three games in Week 9.
Coach Dan Quinn said Monday that he expects Ryan (ankle)
to be a "full go" following the Falcons' Week 9 bye, Jason Butt of
The Athletic reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the first time in a decade, Ryan
was unable to start in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Seahawks while nursing the
sprained right ankle, paving the way for understudy Matt Schaub to receive the
nod. Considering Ryan was able to practice in a limited fashion Friday, the
Falcons never seemed fearful he would be in store for a lengthy absence. Quinn
confirmed as much Monday, stating that the 34-year-old probably would be able
to play if the Falcons had a game Week 9. The bye week nonetheless comes at a
convenient time for Ryan, who has a real chance at entering the Nov. 10 game
against the Saints minus an injury designation entirely.
Samuel caught all three of his targets for 19 yards
Sunday, and he also rushed twice for 29 yards and a touchdown in a 51-13 win
over Carolina.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Samuel had a quiet day as a
receiver, but he was able to do some damage as a runner. Coach Kyle Shanahan
dialed up the same jet sweep play for his rookie wideout on both carries, and
Samuel cut his second attempt back inside and hit paydirt for the second time
in six games. Usual starter Marquise Goodwin missed Sunday's contest for
personal reasons, so new acquisition Emmanuel Sanders took his spot in the starting
lineup, but it was Samuel -- and not Dante Pettis -- who started opposite the
veteran. The latter had started every game he has been healthy for up until
this point, so this could signal a change in the depth chart moving forward. It
will be interesting to see who ends up starting alongside Sanders against the
Cardinals on Thursday (assuming Goodwin is available), but it appears that
Samuel will occupy one of the three primary WR slots.
Samuels (knee) is inactive for Monday night's game
against the Dolphins, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Steelers electing to hold
Samuels out for another game even though he practiced fully this past week,
Benny Snell will continue to serve as James Conner's top backup Monday night.
Coach Doug Pederson said Monday that Sanders (shoulder)
is "gonna be OK" and is being viewed as day-to-day after X-rays
cleared the running back of any structural damage, Daniel Gallen of The
Harrisburg Patriot-News reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Pederson's comments offer
assurance that Sanders avoided a major injury in Sunday's win over the Bills,
it's worth noting that the coach tends to throw around the
"day-to-day" terminology liberally. With that in mind, more clarity
on Sanders' outlook for the Week 9 game against the Bears probably won't come
until the Eagles have a chance to evaluate him in practices Wednesday through
Friday. If Sanders is sidelined next weekend, the Eagles could be forced to
lean more heavily on Boston Scott as the top change-of-pace option behind
Jordan Howard.
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Jordan Scarlett (RB) CAR - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430118
Scarlett rushed four times for nine yards in Sunday's
51-13 loss to the 49ers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Scarlett's carries all came on
Carolina's final offensive drive when the game result was already long past
being decided. The rookie played only those four snaps on offense, trailing
fellow tailback Reggie Bonnafon's 12, as both continue to be used very
sparingly behind superstar Christian McCaffrey.
Scott rushed five times for six yards and a touchdown in
Sunday's 31-13 win over Buffalo. He also lost a fumble.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Scott gained two-thirds of his yards
on his first touch of the game, a scoring run up the middle that made it 24-13
in the third quarter. After the defense forced a Buffalo three-and-out on the
next possession, he muffed the ensuing punt, keeping the Bills in the contest
momentarily. The team went back to the 24-year-old for mop-up duty after they
had salted the game away with another touchdown, but he lost yards or was
tackled for no gain on three of them. In all, the sixth-round pick from 2018
played just nine snaps on offense and probably has at most one more week of
playing time left with Darren Sproles (quad) due to return to practice this
week.
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Ricky Seals-Jones (TE) CLE - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430311
Seals-Jones was untargeted over 31 snaps in Sunday's
27-13 loss to the Patriots in Week 8.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Seals-Jones was the position leader
in snaps for the second straight week, followed by Pharaoh Brown (29) and
Demetrius Harris (13). He's blipped on the radar a couple of times this season,
most recently catching three passes on six targets with a 31-yard touchdown in
Week 6. He also had an 82-yard game with a score in Week 4's romp over the
Ravens. The Browns don't have a tight end in the top 50 in receptions, but a
Cleveland tight end has accounted for five of quarterback Baker Mayfield's six
touchdowns. At some point, David Njoku (wrist) could return to dominate the
position, but that won't happen until Week 12 at the earliest.
----------
Trent Sherfield (WR) ARZ - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430244
Sherfield (knee) was listed as a non-participant on
Monday's estimated injury report.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Sherfield was the Cardinals'
second-most utilized outside receiver during Sunday's 31-9 loss at New Orleans,
earning a 53 percent share of the offensive snaps. He ranked behind Damiere
Byrd (88 percent) and ahead of Andy Isabella (two percent while KeeSean Johnson
was inactive, but the workload didn't amount to any production, as Sherfield
was unable to gather in either of his targets. With a knee injury in tow,
Sherfield's availability now is in question ahead of Thursday's divisional
matchup with the 49ers.
----------
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR) PIT - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430337
Smith-Schuster caught five passes for 103 yards and a
touchdown in Monday's 27-14 win over the Dolphins.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: No Pittsburgh receiver was happier
to have Mason Rudolph back under center than Smith-Schuster, who saw a
season-high nine targets and had his first 100-yard game in 2019. His touchdown
came on an impressive catch of an underthrown pass off the top of the defensive
back's helmet to give Pittsburgh their first lead of the game. Smith-Schuster
entered the contest averaging less than 57 yards per game but has now scored
twice in his last three games. He faces a difficult challenge in Week 9 against
an Indianapolis defense that has not allowed opposing wide receivers to catch
more than one touchdown in a game this season.
Snead agreed to a one-year, $6 million extension Monday,
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The deal is fully guaranteed and
locks Snead into the 2020 campaign with the Ravens. He's proved to be a solid
fit with Lamar Jackson, reeling in 15 of 22 targets for 223 yards and two
touchdowns in seven games this season. Those numbers aren't eye-popping, but
they are decent enough in a run-based offense, and behind more explosive
options like tight end Mark Andrews and rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown (ankle).
Snell ran for 13 yards on five carries in Monday's 27-14
win over the Dolphins.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Jaylen Samuels (knee) inactive
it was all James Conner (150 total yards and a touchdown), leaving Snell to
pick-up scraps. Conner was seen with his right shoulder in a sling after the
game, which could give Snell an opportunity for a larger role in the coming
weeks. Monitor Conner's status, but even if Snell sees more touches fantasy
owners should temper their expectations for Week 9 against a Colts defense that
allows an average of just 85.6 rushing yards per game, has not allowed an
opposing running back to run for more than 88 yards this season, and has
yielded just one rushing touchdown to a running back in their last five games.
----------
Diontae Spencer (WR) DEN - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430278
Spencer caught both of his targets for 22 total yards and
added a five-yard rush during Sunday's 15-13 loss in Indianapolis. He also had
39 yards on a pair of kick returns and 22 yards on three punt returns.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Spencer's three touches aren't bad
when you consider that he only saw the field for seven offensive snaps. The CFL
alum and starting returner showed a little wiggle with the ball in his hands on
a 20-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter. Spencer's size probably makes him
more of a gadget player than anything else, but he should definitely see a
handful of touches per game as Denver otherwise doesn't have much speed at
receiver following the trade of Emmanuel Sanders.
Coach Doug Pederson said Monday that he expects Sproles
(quadriceps) to practice "a little bit" during Week 9, Reuben Frank
of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Even if Sproles only practices on a
limited basis this week, that activity would still represent a step forward
after he hadn't practiced in any capacity since sustaining the quad injury in
Week 5 against the Jets. The Eagles haven't formally ruled Sproles out for the
Week 9 matchup with the Bears, but the team is more realistically eyeing him
for a return to action following its Week 10 bye.
Tomlinson was on the field for 31 of a possible 69 snaps
on offense in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Browns.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tomlinson was not targeted in the
game and currently is off the fantasy radar in his role behind Ben Watson.
Additionally, his workload figures to take a hit once Ryan Izzo (concussion)
and/or Matt LaCosse (knee) are able to return to action.
----------
Mitchell Trubisky (QB) CHI - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430289
The Bears will continue starting Trubisky, though the
team expects to see improvement soon, Patrick FInley of the Chicago Sun TImes
reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Coach Matt Nagy explained that
Trubisky has time to turn things around this season, and he noted that his
quaterback is still learning the offense, though if the mistakes continue, the
staff will be forced to make some tough decisions. Obviously, Trubisky hasn't
been a solid fantasy option this year, as he's thrown touchdown passes in just
two games while his rushing yardage has mostly evaporated from what he produced
in 2018. Should he eventually lose the starting job, Chase Daniel would be a
slight upgrade for fantasy owners. For now, Trubisky's downside makes him a
risky player to trust in fantasy lineups.
Walton carried the ball 11 times for 35 yards and fumbled
once during Sunday's 27-14 loss to the Steelers. He also caught three of six
targets for 19 yards.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Rumors of Kalen Ballage drawing the
start were greatly exaggerated, as he saw just three carries while Walton
logged 11. Following the trade of Kenyan Drake to the Cardinals, Walton still
appears firmly entrenched as the No. 1 option in Miami's backfield. However,
game flow didn't work out in the second-year pro's favor versus Pittsburgh, as
the Dolphins spent the second half of the contest playing catch up. That's a
pattern that could continue to play out for Walton (and the winless Miami
offense) this season, but he at least has a solid matchup against the Jets'
porous defense coming up Week 9.
----------
James Washington (WR) PIT - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430348
Washington had one reception for 21 yards in Monday's
27-14 win over the Dolphins.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was a game to forget for
Washington who was targeted six times and now has just 10 catches on 27 targets
for 161 yards and no touchdowns this season. At this point there is little
reason to roster him except in deep fantasy leagues heading into Pittsburgh's
Week 9 clash with Indianapolis.
Watkins reeled in five of his eight targets for 45 yards
during Sunday's game against the Packers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Watkins' stay on the sideline lasted
the better part of three games, but the Chiefs' receiving corps is now firing
on all cylinders. All that awaits them is the return of quarterback Patrick
Mahomes, which could come as soon as next Sunday versus the Vikings. Watkins
has turned in mediocre outings across the board since his Week 1 explosion, but
perhaps having all of the team's offensive weapons back will benefit him.
Watkins logged 86 percent of the offensive snaps Sunday, compared to 92-plus
percent in each of the first four games, so he may see additional run in his
second game back from injury next week.
Watson was on the field for 48 of a possible 69 snaps on
offense in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Browns, en route to catching his only
target for 26 yards.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Watson is the team's top
pass-catching option at tight end these days, it's not a role that figures to
yield consistent fantasy production in the post-Rob Gronkowski era.
Watt (pectoral) will have season-ending surgery this
week, with his recovery time estimated at four months, Ian Rapoport of NFL
Network reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Watt suffered a torn pectoral in
Sunday's 27-24 win over Oakland, thus finishing his season with 24 tackles (15
solo) and four sacks in eight games. It's a huge loss for a Texans defense that
already has been struggling to generate a pass rush, ranking 24th in sack rate
(5.2 percent) and 26th in pressure rate (17.9 percent). Watt's injury should
open up more snaps for Carlos Watkins and Charles Omenihu.
Wilkins had two carries for five yards in Sunday's win
over Denver.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Wilkins played just six snaps on
offense as he had a limited reserve role. Wilkins isn't likely to get many
touches per game as long as Marlon Mack is healthy.
----------
Leonard Williams (DE) NYG - Oct. 28
https://www.rotowire.com/football/player.php?id=430152
The Giants acquired Williams from the Jets on Monday in
exchange for a 2020 third-round draft pick and a fifth-round selection in 2021,
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 2015 first-round pick has seen
his performance decline steadily since he posted 68 tackles and seven sacks in
his second NFL campaign, but the Giants will see if a change in scenery can
help him rediscover the promising form he showed earlier in his career.
Williams should step into the starting lineup right away in the Giants' Week 9
game against the Cowboys, giving the organization a half of a season with to
evaluate him for a potential contract extension before he hits free agency next
March.
Willson caught his only target for seven yards in
Sunday's 27-20 win over the Falcons.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Willson is clearly the Seahawks' top
tight end with Will Dissly (Achilles) out of the picture, as he garnered 43 of
61 offensive snaps (70 percent). However, neither Willson or Jacob Hollister
(two catches for 18 yards) have made a real impact as a receiving option yet.
Wilson caught one of two targets for five yards and a
touchdown during Monday's 27-14 loss to the Steelers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Wilson's first score of the season
came via a connection with Ryan Fitzpatrick early in the first quarter. The
shifty slot receiver has now gone two consecutive games with just two targets,
but it's at least encouraging to see him receiving looks in the red zone.
Wilson will be a risky fantasy option against the Jets in Week 9, but he could
have appeal in deep leagues.
Wilson (stinger) wasn't listed on Monday's estimated
injury report, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Wilson exited Sunday's win over the
Panthers to be evaluated for a head injury, though it was later clarified to be
a stinger. The 49ers have a short week of preparation for Thursday's game
against the Cardinals, so the fact he isn't listed at all with the short
turnaround indicates he's fully clear of the injury.
Woods caught both his targets for 31 yards and rushed
four times for six yards during Sunday's 24-10 win over Cincinnati.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Woods was overshadowed by Cooper
Kupp's seven-catch, 220-yard showing, and it was also No. 4 receiver Josh
Reynolds who benefited most from Brandin Cooks exiting with a concussion.
Reynolds turned his eight targets into three receptions, 73 yards and a
touchdown. Woods has struggled to make a fantasy impact this year, as he's been
held below 80 receiving yards in six of eight games and is still looking for
his first touchdown.
Wright caught two of four targets for 12 yards in
Sunday's 51-13 loss to the 49ers.
ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Wright was actually carted off with
a leg injury during the second half, but ultimately was able to return to
action, easing concern over his status. Besides that scare, Wright put up a
relatively standard stat line for himself, as he's caught more than two passes
only once this season. Despite his return Sunday, it could be worthwhile to see
whether he's listed on the injury report this week. If he is, DeAndrew White
and Brandon Zylstra could compete for additional snaps.
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