Steelers WR George Pickens finished Thursday night's game vs. the Titans with negative-one yard. He caught two of his five targets -- the first for two yards and the other for a loss of three. Pickens failed to get his second foot in bounds for what should have been a relatively easy 12-yard TD in the third quarter. In his defense, one of the other misconnections was a sailed pass from QB Kenny Pickett on a crossing route for what could have gone for a big gain. But Pickens wasn't good in this one. And, more importantly, he was out-targeted nine to five by WR Diontae Johnson. That gives Johnson 23 targets over the last two weeks to Pickens' 10. So we're right back where we started, with Pickens as the No. 2 WR in a bad passing game. Consider him a risk/reward WR3 going forward.
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson scored what proved to be the game-winning three-yard TD with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter of Thursday night's game vs. the Titans. It was Johnson's first trip to the end zone since Week 17 of the 2021 season. Ben Roethlisberger was still Pittsburgh's QB at that point. Johnson went an absurd 199 targets and 119 receptions without a TD. It's nice to have that monkey off his back. But the bigger fantasy takeaway is that Johnson dominated Steelers receiving production in this one. He posted a 7-90-1 line on nine targets, accounting for 30% of the team's targets, 37% of the receptions, and 56% of the receiving yards. After being out-targeted by WR George Pickens in his Week 7 return, Johnson has now out-targeted Pickens 23 to 10 over the last two games. QB play remains a concern, but Johnson will be a comfortable weekly fantasy starter on this type of volume. He gets a neutral Week 10 matchup vs. the Packers before a challenging Week 11 draw against the Browns.
Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins had a nice first half in Pittsburgh on Thursday night, catching four balls for 60 yards. But he went catch-less over the final 30 minutes as the Steelers defense put the clamps on QB Will Levis. The good news for Hopkins is that he drew a team-high 11 targets for a 28.2% share. He's now totaled 17 targets on a 25% share from Levis over the past two games. And the rookie again flashed impressive arm talent in this one. That should be enough to at least support Hopkins as a WR3 going forward -- and there will be ceiling games like we saw in Week 8 as long as Levis is under center. Hopkins gets slightly positive matchups vs. the Bucs and Jaguars the next two weeks. Tennessee has the 10th easiest WR schedule from Week 10 through 17.
After tossing four TDs in his debut last week, Titans QB Will Levis finished without a score in Thursday night's loss to the Steelers. He went 22 of 39 (56.4%) for 262 yards (6.7 YPA) and a game-ending INT in the end zone with just a few seconds left. Levis' A+ arm talent was on display throughout the night. But it's tough for the rookie in a run-leaning offense behind a bad offensive line with a thin pass-catching corps. Dynasty owners should be encouraged by how Levis has played these last two games. But we don't expect him to ascend beyond QB2 status the rest of this season.
Titans WR Treylon Burks was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of Thursday night's game vs. the Steelers. The back of his head slammed against the ground after he tried to make a catch on a deep ball. Burks was able to give a thumbs-up as he left the field. We'll update his status when we know more.
Update: Burks has full movement in all of his extremities, according to Amazon Prime's Kaylee Hartung.
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb left in the first half of Thursday night's game against the Titans with a left knee injury. He needed to be carted off. Afterward, play-by-play man Al Michaels called it an injury that didn't need to be shown again. Pittsburgh quickly ruled Holcomb out for the game, and this seems likely to be a season-ender. We'll watch for more details. Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts would lead the position if Holcomb is out. Roberts has topped 44% playing time just once through seven games. Alexander has played more, with five games of 54% snap share or more. But he has yet to reach 70% in a game. Alexander looks like the better bet for more playing time while Holcomb is out.
Colts LB Zaire Franklin missed his second Thursday with a knee injury he sustained in Sunday's loss to the Saints. He returned quickly, though, and missed just two of Indy's defensive snaps for the game. That makes his practice absences a bit surprising. Friday should tell us whether they were more maintenance days of if Franklin is in danger of missing Sunday's clash with the Panthers. E.J. Speed would likely pick up more playing time if Zaire Franklin can't go and makes sense as a stash right now in deeper IDP leagues.
Chargers WR Josh Palmer (knee) did not practice on Thursday. He battled through this injury last week but managed just three catches for 24 yards on a deflated 68% snap rate. Between the knee and a matchup vs. the Jets' top-ranked WR defense, Palmer is shaping up as a shaky Week 9 fantasy play.
Chargers TE Gerald Everett (hip) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. He's on track to return for Monday night's game vs. the Jets. Everett ranks 18th among TEs in PPR points per game.
Bills QB Josh Allen (shoulder) returned to a full practice on Thursday. It's confirmation that he'll be good to go for Sunday night's showdown with the Bengals.
Colts WR Josh Downs was added to Thursday's injury report with a knee and was limited in practice. That likely means that Downs was injured in practice today. We'll look for further updates on his status and get Indianapolis' final injury report tomorrow.
Panthers WR D.J. Chark (elbow) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. That should put him on track to play vs. the Colts this weekend, but we'll see how Chark is listed on tomorrow's final injury report.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) remained limited in Thursday's practice. He said afterward that his participation in practice is part of his rehab plan and doesn't necessarily mean that he's playing vs. the Cardinals this weekend. We're still projecting QB P.J. Walker to start that one but will update Watson's status again tomorrow.
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) missed his second straight practice on Thursday. His absence vs. the Browns this weekend would leave Zach Pascal as Arizona's No. 2 outside WR -- and potentially mean more targets for WR Marquise Brown, WR Rondale Moore, and TE Trey McBride.
Cardinals RB Emari Demercado (toe) missed his second straight practice on Thursday. He's seemingly in danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Browns. RB Damien Williams was placed on IR earlier this week, leaving Keaontay Ingram and Tony Jones as Arizona's healthy RBs. We'll update Demercado's status again tomorrow.
Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf (hip) did not practice on Thursday. That follows a full practice on Wednesday. It's unclear if Metcalf just got the day or suffered a setback. Check back tomorrow to see how Metcalf is listed on the final injury report for Sunday's game vs. the Ravens.
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. It's an upgrade over last week, when he didn't practice at all on Thursday. Lockett should be ready for his usual role in this weekend's game vs. the Ravens.
Ravens RB Gus Edwards (toe) returned to a full practice on Thursday. He'll be ready to rock for this weekend's game vs. the Seahawks.
Falcons WR Drake London (groin) remained sidelined on Thursday. We'll see if he hits the field for Friday's practice, but fantasy owners should not be banking on London playing vs. the Vikings this weekend.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) will not travel with the team to Germany and is out for Sunday's game vs. the Dolphins. CEH has averaged only 2.2 carries and 0.6 targets over the last five games, so his absence leaves just a few touches behind for RBs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon.
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