Washington Commanders Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler logged just 4 carries for 5 yards in Sunday's lopsided loss to the Jaguars. The score might have been a factor in the 2nd half, but Ekeler carried just twice through the entire 1st half of a game that stood at 16-10 early in the 3rd quarter. Ekeler did lead the Chargers with 8 receptions (for 48 yards) to salvage some PPR value. But he was splitting opportunities with Sony Michel early in the game. Ekeler wound up running 26 routes to 13 combined for Michel and Joshua Kelley, but that pair played just 7 fewer snaps overall. Ekeler ranks just 25th in the league in carries through 3 games, with Ezekiel Elliot close enough to pass him Monday night. Ekeler ranked 16th in the league in rushing attempts last season; 20th in carries per game.

Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (knee) is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Giants. So we wait another week for his return from last January's torn ACL. NFL Network's Jane Slater reports that the Cowboys are "hopeful" that Gallup will be able to play vs. the Commanders on Sunday.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero hears that Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (knee) is expected to be inactive for tonight's game vs. the Giants. Gallup had seemingly been trending toward returning for this one, putting in a full week of practice. We'll get Dallas' inactives around 7 pm ET.

ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that “signs point toward” Cowboys WR Michael Gallup making his season debut Monday night against the Giants. “It won't be a full allotment of snaps but it could be enough to impact the game,” he says. We wouldn’t plan to put Gallup in fantasy football lineups yet

As expected, Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. He's on track to make his 2022 debut vs. the Giants on Monday night, but expect him to be on some type of snap count in his first game since last January's ACL tear.

Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (knee) "will take a full slate of reps" in practice this week, HC Mike McCarthy said Wednesday. Insider Clarence Hill believes Gallup is "on track" to play vs. the Giants on Monday night. He won't be a Week 3 fantasy option in his 1st game off a torn ACL and with Cooper Rush under center. But Gallup is worth stashing in fantasy leagues of 12+ teams.

Cardinals TE Zach Ertz made his way off the injury report for Week 2 after playing through a "questionable" tag in Week 1. His playing time rose from 60% in the opener to 84% in the comeback win over the Raiders. Ertz, in turn, drew 11 targets to tie Marquise Brown for the team lead. He caught 8 of them for 75 yards. Brown made 6 catches for 68 yards. WR Greg Dortch checked in 3rd with 55 receiving yards on 4 catches (4 targets) and snagged Murray's only TD pass. A.J. Green was the only other Cardinal with more than 4 targets. He caught just 3 of his 7 looks for 16 yards.

"It's certainly possible" that Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (knee) plays vs. the Giants next Monday night, EVP Stephen Jones said. Gallup took team reps in practice last week for the 1st time since last January's ACL tear and is clearly getting close to a return. Of course, he won't be a fantasy option out of the gate coming off a serious injury and with QB Cooper Rush under center. But Gallup is worth stashing as a potential asset over the 2nd half of the season.

Commanders S Kamren Curl (thumb) is out for today's game against the Lions. It'll be his 2nd straight missed game. Darrick Forest had a nice outing in Curl's place in Week 1 and is a viable IDP option. DT Jonathan Allen (groin) is active. Originally listed without a game status on the final injury report, Allen got added as questionable over the weekend. There might be elevated risk to using him in IDP lineups, though injuries to the Detroit O-line counter with upside.

Cardinals TE Zach Ertz (calf) is not listed on the final Week 2 injury report after putting in full practices on Thursday and Friday. He was limited to 60% of the snaps in the opener, but it looks like he's ready for a full-time role vs. the Raiders on Sunday. Ertz could see big volume in that game with WRs Rondale Moore and DeAndre Hopkins out.

Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (knee) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Bengals. He increased his practice participation this week, but "there is still a process of return to play that he has to finish," HC Mike McCarthy said. CeeDee Lamb (98%), Noah Brown (86%) and Dennis Houston (64%) operated as Dallas' top 3 WRs with Gallup out last week.

After underwhelming usage and production in the opener, Chargers RB Austin Ekeler turned in a more promising Week 2. He carried 14 times for just 39 yards but added 9 catches on 10 targets for 55 yards. Ekeler's snap rate climbed from 49% in Week 1 to 63% in Week 2; his route rate from 37% to 60%. If he can stick around that level of usage, Ekeler will be an easy PPR RB1.

Cardinals TE Zach Ertz (calf) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. It was his 1st full practice of the season and suggests he's getting close to 100%. If Ertz is not listed on the final Week 2 injury report tomorrow, he'll be a solid TE1 option vs. the Raiders.

Cardinals TE Zach Ertz (calf) did not practice on Wednesday. He seemed to make it out of last week's loss to the Chiefs without a setback, and we're tentatively expecting him to play vs. the Raiders on Sunday. But it's a reminder that he's still not at 100%.

Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy said WR Michael Gallup (knee) will take team reps in Wednesday's practice for the 1st time since last January's ACL tear. It's unclear if Gallup will play against the Bengals this weekend, but he looks close to a return. Of course, Gallup will be tough to get excited about in fantasy lineups until Dallas gets QB Dak Prescott back.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler registered a 49% snap rate and 18 opportunities (carries + targets) in the Week 1 win over the Raiders. He played 58+% of the offensive snaps in all 14 of his healthy games last season. Ekeler averaged 19.1 opportunities across those 14 games, dipping below 18 just 5 times. We'll continue to monitor Ekeler's usage going forward. He remains an obvious must-start but might not be the elite fantasy RB he was last year if the Chargers are serious about scaling back his snaps and touches.

Niners WR Deebo Samuel fulfilled the Deebo Samuel role in Sunday's opening loss to the Bears. He drew a team-high 8 targets but caught just 2 for 14 yards in rain-drenched conditions. Samuel added 52 yards and a TD on 8 carries, trailing only QB Trey Lance among 49ers in rushing yards. We certainly can't count on rushing scores every week for Samuel, but the target count to go with the rushing work is encouraging. That's what lacked in the 2nd half of last year, when he was getting more handoffs than passing looks. Brandon Aiyuk drew just 2 target against the Bears, catching both for 40 yards. WR Jauan Jennings posted team highs of 4 receptions and 62 yards on 6 targets.

Falcons QB Marcus Mariota was Atlanta's 2nd-leading rusher in Sunday's narrow loss to the Saints, taking 12 rushing attempts for 72 yards. That trailed Cordarrelle Patterson's 22-120-1 rushing line, but no other Atlanta player carried more than twice. Mariota even scored from 2 yards out in the 3rd quarter. That strong rushing line accompanied just 215 passing yards with no TDs. So Mariota will need to do more on the passing side to make him truly fantasy viable. But the rushing will be key if he is to work his way to starter consideration.

Cardinals TE Zach Ertz (calf) is active for today’s game vs. the Chiefs. Still dealing with a calf injury he suffered back on August 4, Ertz got in just limited practices on Wednesday and Friday. And HC Kliff Kingsbury hinted Friday that Ertz could be on a snap count in this one. But rookie TE Trey McBride is a healthy scratch, which might suggest optimism about Ertz’s health.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Commanders RB Brian Robinson has a "realistic chance" of returning when he's first eligible in Week 5. Robinson is recovering from a pair of gunshot wounds sustained to his lower body on August 28. There was no structural damage, though, and Robinson is already off crutches. He's expected to pick up his conditioning work this week, per Schefter. Robinson looked like Washington's lead ball carrier before the shooting and could reassume a significant role once he's close to 100%.