Browns RB Kareem Hunt (wrist, knee) is listed as questionable for this weekend's game vs. the Cardinals. He only got in a limited practice on Friday, although we haven't heard any concern about his status. Assuming those injuries aren't a limiting factor on Sunday, Hunt should get workhorse usage with RB Nick Chubb out.
Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins (illness) missed his 2nd straight practice on Thursday. We usually don't worry about guys missing time with illnesses, but it's a different climate with COVID. ESPN's Dan Graziano reported earlier today that the Cardinals have had 3 positive COVID tests this week. To be clear, we don't know that Hopkins is 1 of them. We'll get another update on his status by Friday afternoon at the latest.
The Chiefs placed RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee) on IR. So we now know that he'll miss at least the next 3 games vs. Washington, Tennessee and the Giants. It sounds like there's a good chance he's ready when first eligible to return in Week 9. Darrel Williams is the favorite to step in as Kansas City's lead back in the meantime, with Jerick McKinnon mixing in on passing downs.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire sprained the MCL in his left knee in Sunday night's loss to the Bills. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the injury will keep him out for "a few weeks." Kansas City has just Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon behind Edwards-Helaire on the roster, with Derrick Gore the only RB on the practice squad. We'd bet on them adding someone else this week, though anything short of a trade is unlikely to bring in a RB with immediate fantasy football relevance. Williams figures to be the lead back for an upside scoring matchup with Washington in Week 6. After that come soft RB matchups with the Titans, Giants and Packers.
Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster underwent shoulder surgery on Sunday night and will miss the remainder of the 2021 season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Smith-Schuster is set to hit free agency next offseason after inking a 1-year deal with Pittsburgh back in March. His absence the rest of this season will make WR Chase Claypool a safer weekly target bet. WR Diontae Johnson, of course, will continue to see plenty of volume.
The Bengals have placed RB Samaje Perine on the COVID list. His specific status isn't yet clear, but he at least looks very iffy for Week 6. Perine isn't much of a standalone fantasy option when Joe Mixon is healthy, but he did eat up 11 carries (for 59 yards) and catch 4 balls for 24 yards and a TD in Sunday's loss to the Packers. Perine played more than 3 times as many snaps as Mixon in that game and beat him in rushing attempts and targets. As long as Mixon avoids any setback with his sprained ankle, we'd assume more work for the starter in this Sunday's visit to Detroit. If Perine is out, then Chris Evans should see some involvment. We wouldn't expect him to be an option for fantasy football lineups, though.
The Steelers are expected to place WR JuJu Smith-Schuster on IR and fear he may miss the rest of the season with the shoulder injury that knocked him out of Sunday's win over the Broncos, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. With James Washington already out, Ray-Ray McCloud got 52% playing time vs. Denver, behind only Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool at the position. More of a slot player than Johnson, Claypool or Washington, McCloud could continue to see significant playing time for as long as Smith-Schuster is out. We'll see about Washington's status heading into Week 6. We'll also see about the specific diagnosis on Smith-Schuster's shoulder.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce suffered a "stinger" on a hard hit late in Sunday night's loss to the Bills, HC Andy Reid told reporters after the game. That's a generally minor injury to the neck/shoulder area. We'll watch Kelce's status this week but don't expect his availability to be threatened for a Week 6 trip to Washington, barring some change in the diagnosis.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire injured his left leg in the 3rd quarter of Sunday night's game vs. the Bills. He was in obvious pain and had to be helped off the field by teammates. We'll update his status when we know more.
Update: K.C. quickly ruled him out for the game with a left knee injury.
Chies DL Chris Jones (wrist) is inactive for tonight's game against the Bills. He has been dealing with the injury for multiple games but must have aggravated it against the Eagles in Week 4.
Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster injured his shoulder in the 2nd quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Broncos and is questionable to return. We'll update his status when we know more.
Update: Smith-Schuster has been ruled out.
Chiefs DL Chris Jones is questionable for Sunday night's game against the Bills with a wrist injury. He played through a questionable tag for the same issue at Philadelphia last week, but Jones then missed the entire week of practice. We'd try not to use him in IDP lineups this weekend, especially because you'll need to wait until about 7 p.m. ET Sunday to confirm that he's playing.
Colts QB Carson Wentz (ankles) is active for today’s game vs. the Dolphins. He remained limited in practice all week and still isn’t at 100%. Wentz is a low-end QB2 in fantasy football.
The Chiefs have downgraded DE Frank Clark (hamstring) and CB Charvarius Ward to out for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. That hurts what has already ranked among the league’s worst defenses this season
Chiefs DE Frank Clark (hamstring) and CB Charvarius Ward (quad) are questionable for Sunday's game at Philadelphia. Each guy put in limited practices all week after missing last Sunday's loss to the Chargers. We'd try not to use either player in IDP lineups even if active. DL Chris Jones, meanwhile, is of the final injury report after putting in a full Friday workout. He played through a questionable tag last week with a wrist injury and fell short of his usual playing time. Jones then opened this week with a pair of limited practices. It seems the wrist should be better for Sunday's game, though.
Colts QB Carson Wentz (ankles) remained limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game vs. the Dolphins. He'll start, but this is a reminder that he's still operating at less than 100%.
Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (ribs) isn’t listed on the final injury report and will play vs. the Packers on Sunday. His target projection gets a boost if WR Chase Claypool sits with his hamstring injury.
Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (ribs) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. Dealing with bruised ribs, JuJu figures to play vs. the Packers this weekend. But check back tomorrow for another update.
Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins (ribs) returned to practice on Thursday. He's going to play Sunday vs. the Rams -- but between the rib injury, his slow start and a matchup vs. CB Jalen Ramsey, Hopkins looks like just a WR2 for Week 4.
Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins (ribs) did not practice on Wednesday. He sat out all 3 practices last week before playing 91% of the snaps vs. Jacksonville. But Hopkins mustered just 3 catches on 6 targets for 21 yards. We're fully expecting him to play against the Rams this weekend, but consider Hopkins more of a WR2 until we know he's healthy.
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