Bengals RB Zack Moss (neck) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Raiders. We still don’t have any details on the neck injury that sidelined him on Friday and had him listed as doubtful. Moss’ absence today figures to mean a healthy boost in touches for RB Chase Brown, who’s a borderline must-start. RBs Trayveon Williams and Kendall Milton are active behind Brown.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins (quad) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Raiders. He remained sidelined in practice all week and doesn’t seem like a good bet to play vs. the Ravens this coming Thursday night. TE Mike Gesicki has been the biggest beneficiary of Higgins' absence this season, averaging 7.0 targets across three games sans Higgins. WRs Jermaine Burton and Charlie Jones are also inactive today.
Bills WR Amari Cooper is inactive for today’s home game against Miami. Cooper was listed as questionable after putting in limited practices all week. Without the veteran, Buffalo will rely on Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir, and Keon Coleman. Shakir and Coleman are WR3s with upside, while Kincaid projects as a top-10 TE. Meanwhile, Curtis Samuel is active. He remains off the fantasy radar.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (leg) is expected to resume practicing in 2-3 weeks and is targeting a late-November return, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It sounds like Pacheco is most likely to return for the Week 12 game against the Panthers (Nov. 24) or Week 13 against the Raiders (Nov. 29). He might be eased back in during his first game, but we're expecting Pacheco to eventually reclaim clear lead duties in Kansas City's backfield. If you've held onto him this long, keep holding. Pacheco could be a RB1 during the fantasy football playoffs.
CBS' Tracy Wolfson reports that Broncos RB Audric Estime is expected to be more involved in today's game vs. the Ravens. The rookie has just 10 carries across four games this season, so "more involved" is a low bar to clear. Estime isn't a viable Week 9 fantasy play. But this report is another reason to shy away from RB Javonte Williams today against Baltimore's eighth-ranked RB defense.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh told CBS' Tracy Wolfson that WR Diontae Johnson is expected to play 10-15 snaps vs. the Broncos today. We'd expect most of those snaps to come on passing plays, but it's still not nearly enough to make Johnson a viable Week 9 fantasy play. We'll continue to monitor his playing time as he settles into his new offense.
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.
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