Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr. and nickel CB Tykee Smith are officially questionable for Monday night's game against the Chiefs, but both are expected to play. Smith cleared the concussion protocol Saturday morning and practiced in full Friday and Saturday. Winfield missed practice Saturday after coming down with a foot injury Thursday. But HC Todd Bowles said Winfield "is fine" and will play, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine.
Jaguars WR Brian Thomas (chest) is expected to play vs. the Eagles today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. But WR Gabe Davis is considered a "long shot." Davis figures to be replaced by WR Tim Jones, who is not a fantasy option. Thomas carries elevated risk playing through the chest injury, but there's also exciting target upside with Davis and WR Christian Kirk out.
Jaguars RBs Travis Etienne (hamstring) and Tank Bigsby (ankle) are expected to play vs. the Eagles today, "barring a setback," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. We haven't seen these guys together for a full game since Week 5. We're projecting Bigsby to have the slight lead in carries today, but for Etienne to continue to dominate passing-down snaps. The Jaguars are 7.5-point underdogs in Philadelphia.
ESPN's Adam Schefter tweets that Rams WR Puka Nacua (knee) is expected "to be able to try to play" vs. the Seahawks today. It's notable wording from Schefter -- and a reminder that Nacua comes with elevated risk in Week 9 fantasy lineups after aggravating his knee injury in Thursday's practice. See where Nacua sits in the Week 9 WR Rankings.
Panthers WR Xavier Legette (toe) is expected to play vs. the Saints today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The rookie was added to the injury report on Thursday and limited again on Friday. That adds some risk to his Week 9 fantasy profile, although there are plenty of targets available in Carolina with WR Diontae Johnson now in Baltimore and WR Adam Thielen out again today with his hamstring.
ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that Titans RB Tony Pollard (foot) is expected to play vs. the Patriots today. Schefter's colleague, Jeremy Fowler, said on Saturday that RB Julius Chestnut is expected to get more run today with Pollard battling this foot issue. We suspect that Chestnut's usage will ultimately depend on how Pollard is feeling during the game. Consider Pollard a risk/reward RB2 in Week 9 fantasy lineups. Chestnut would be a total desperation play.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson (hamstring) is expected to play vs. the Giants today, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Washington elevated RB Chris Rodriguez from the practice squad on Saturday, suggesting at least some concern about Robinson's status. We'll get the Commanders' inactives around 11:30 am ET, but Robinson will carry elevated risk in Week 9 fantasy lineups if he ends up playing.
Packers RB Josh Jacobs (ankle) is expected to play in today's game vs. the Lions, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jacobs only got in limited practices on Thursday and Friday, but we never sensed any concern about his status for this one. The matchup against a stout Detroit run defense is a bigger issue than the ankle.
ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that Packers QB Jordan Love (groin) is expected to start vs. the Lions today. His mobility figures to be limited, and there's some chance of an in-game aggravation. That has Love sitting lower than usual in the Week 9 QB Rankings.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the Titans are "hopeful" RB Tony Pollard (foot) can play vs. the Patriots on Sunday. Fowler adds that RB Julius Chestnut "will get an extended look" even if Pollard plays. It makes sense that the Titans would want to lighten Pollard's load considering he didn't practice all week with this foot injury. We'd still expect him to lead this backfield if he ends up active tomorrow, but consider him more of a low-end RB2. Chestnut won't be a viable fantasy play unless Pollard is inactive.
Titans QB Mason Rudolph is expected to start Sunday's game vs. the Patriots, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "Will Levis had a good week of practice, but his shoulder is not quite ready," Rapoport adds. Rudolph shouldn't be in Week 9 fantasy lineups but at least helped WR Calvin Ridley to a big Week 8. Consider Rudolph a slight upgrade for Ridley's Week 9 fantasy stock.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen (hamstring) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game vs. the Saints. He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday but did not practice on Friday and was originally listed as doubtful. It looks like he suffered a setback -- unless Carolina is holding him out in hopes of trading him before Tuesday's deadline.
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (knee) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game vs. the Saints. He put in a full week of practice, but HC Dave Canales hinted Friday that Brooks wasn't ready to play yet. We'll see if he makes his NFL debut in Week 10. Brooks' absence ensures another heavy workload for RB Chuba Hubbard this weekend.
Chargers WR D.J. Chark (hip) has been activated from IR, putting him in line to make his 2024 debut vs. the Browns on Sunday. Chark could provide some juice to Los Angeles' downfield passing game, but we'd be surprised if he was higher than fourth in line for snaps behind WRs Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Josh Palmer. Chark should not be in Week 9 fantasy lineups.
Bucs WRs Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard are listed as questionable for Monday night's game vs. the Chiefs with hamstring injuries. McMillan was added to the injury report and limited in practice on Saturday, which likely means he got hurt in that practice. Shepard was sidelined on Thursday and Friday before returning to a limited practice on Saturday. With the late kickoff and a tough matchup against the Chiefs' third-ranked WR defense, try to avoid McMillan and Shepard in Week 9 fantasy lineups.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving (toe) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game vs. the Chiefs. He only got in a limited practice on Saturday. HC Todd Bowles said earlier this week that this is an injury Irving will need to manage all season. He played -- and played well -- in spite of the injury last week. We're expecting Irving to play on Monday, but that late kickoff makes it a trickier situation for fantasy managers. If you're hoping to start Irving, you'd ideally have RB Sean Tucker rostered as insurance.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott did not travel with the team to Atlanta and won't play vs. the Falcons on Sunday. Zeke is out for disciplinary reasons, according to multiple reports. His absence could mean an expanded role for RB Rico Dowdle. Or RB Dalvin Cook could soak up Elliott's snaps and touches. Dowdle remains the only viable fantasy play in this backfield. His ceiling is a bit higher now than it was a few hours ago.
The Saints have placed RB Kendre Miller (hamstring) on IR. That’ll knock him out for games against the Panthers, Falcons, Browns, and Rams. New Orleans promoted RB Jordan Mims to the active roster in a corresponding move. With Jamaal Williams also out for Sunday, Alvin Kamara will remain busy. Taysom Hill might rank second on the team in carries and presents some fantasy value in leagues where he carries TE eligibility.
Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) did not practice all week and is out for Monday night's game vs. the Bucs. Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, and Mecole Hardman operated as Kansas City's top four WRs last week, with all four seeing some snaps in the slot. Worthy and Hopkins both sit in WR3 range in the Week 9 Rankings.
Patriots QB Drake Maye has cleared concussion protocol and been removed from the Week 9 injury report. He'll start Sunday's game vs. the Titans. Maye has turned in QB8 and QB7 fantasy finishes in his two full games this season. He threw for 23 yards and ran for 46 yards and a score in a little more than a quarter of action before getting knocked out last week. The Titans rank 14th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs and will be without top CB L'Jarius Sneed tomorrow. Maye projects as a strong QB2 and a lower-end spot-start option in 1-QB leagues.
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