The Colts have ruled CB JuJu Brents (quad) out for Sunday's game against the Panthers. It'll be the second straight game he has missed. Undrafted rookie Tony Brown took his spot in the lineup, joining CB Jaylon Jones and slot CB Kenny Moore. Moore should be the only one in starter consideration for most IDP leagues.
Rams WR Puka Nacua (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Packers. He was limited in practice all week. We’ve heard nothing to suggest that Nacua is in danger of missing this one. But between the knee issue and QB Matt Stafford’s likely absence, Nacua looks more like a WR3 this week.
Rams QB Matt Stafford (thumb) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Packers. He didn’t practice all week, but HC Sean McVay said Friday that he wants to take it all the way up to game time before deciding whether Stafford will play. McVay added that Stafford’s swelling and grip strength have improved throughout the week. We’re still not expecting him to play this weekend but will continue to monitor the situation. QB Brett Rypien will draw the start if Stafford is out.
Colts LB Zaire Franklin missed his third straight practice Friday with a knee injury. Mike Chappell of Fox 59 in Indianapolis reports that Franklin will be a game-time decision. Unfortunately, that game carries a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff. So we might not know Franklin's status until after the first set of Sunday games has begun. On top of that, Franklin figures to carry some re-injury risk even if active. It'll be scary to sit fantasy's No. 2 scoring LB (in most formats) for anyone if he's active. But we're moving Franklin down the Week 9 LB rankings for those risk factors. E.J. Speed would likely see full or near-full playing time if Franklin goes inactive.
Seahawks WRs D.K. Metcalf (hip) and Tyler Lockett (hamstring) are off the final Week 9 injury report. Both guys were full participants in Friday’s practice and should be ready for their usual roles in this weekend’s game vs. the Ravens.
Ravens RB Gus Edwards (toe) is not listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He put in full practices on Thursday and Friday and should be ready for his usual role in this weekend’s game vs. the Seahawks.
The Raiders have ruled LB Divine Deablo (ankle) and LB Luke Masterson (concussion) out for Sunday's game against the Giants. That removes a starter and the guy who would have filled in for him. LB Robert Spillane is also questionable with a hand injury. He managed limited practices Thursday and Friday, though, after missing Wednesday. We haven't seen an indication on how likely he is to play but would lean toward betting he'll be out there. Amari Burney -- a sixth-round rookie -- should be the next guy up. He played 45% of snaps in Monday night's loss to the Lions, which Deablo missed and Masterson left early. Curtis Bolton checks in behind Burney on the current depth chart. Spillane will be an easy start if he's active. Burney can be a low-end option for deeper leagues but would be risky. Week 8 marked his first NFL action. Check the Week 9 LB rankings for final positions before you set your IDP lineups.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game vs. the Bucs. That leaves Houston with RBs Devin Singletary, Mike Boone, and Dare Ogunbowale. Singletary should handle the majority of the work, bumping him up to low-end RB2 status for Week 9.
Texans WR Robert Woods (foot) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Bucs, as expected. That leaves Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Noah Brown as Houston’s clear top three WRs. See where they sit in the Week 9 Rankings.
Browns RB Jerome Ford (ankle) is not listed on the final injury report for this weekend’s game vs. the Cardinals. He put in a full practice on Friday, which feels significant after he suffered what was reported as a low-grade high-ankle sprain in Week 7. Ford ended up playing in a 3-RB committee last week – but handled eight of 10 RB opportunities in the fourth quarter. We’re projecting Ford to lead Cleveland RBs in touches against Arizona on Sunday.
As feared, Steelers LB Cole Holcomb will miss the rest of the season with the left knee injury that knocked him out of Thursday night's win over the Titans. Details of the injury have yet to surface, but multiple reports say he'll need surgery and has been discharged from the hospital after staying over night. Holcomb's injury removes the team's lead LB and should mean more playing time for both Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts. It shouldn't mean much difference for the defense's overall performance. Pro Football Focus grades Roberts -- No. 3 in playing time among the trio to date -- slightly better than Holcomb in run defense. PFF also rates both Roberts and Alexander better in coverage and pass rushing. Holcomb has two more years on his contract, but the Steelers could dump him ahead of the 2024 season at a roughly $3.3 million hit in dead cap space.
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Browns. He didn’t practice all week and shouldn’t be in Week 9 fantasy lineups. Wilson’s absence would leave Zach Pascal as Arizona’s No. 2 outside WR and potentially mean extra targets for WR Marquise Brown, WR Rondale Moore, and TE Trey McBride.
Cardinals RB Emari Demercado (toe) missed practice all week and has been ruled out for Sunday's game vs. the Browns. RB Damien Williams landed on IR earlier this week, so Arizona is down to RBs Keaontay Ingram and Tony Jones. The Cardinals are 10-point road underdogs with a 14.25-point implied total against the Browns' 8th-ranked RB defense, so you're best off avoiding this backfield in fantasy lineups.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (knee) is officially questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Browns. He was listed as doubtful last week. HC Jonathan Gannon wouldn’t say Friday who will start at QB this weekend. We’re still expecting it to be Clayton Tune but will keep you updated on the situation.
The Rams have ruled LB Ernest Jones (knee) out for Sunday's game against the Packers. He missed practice all week after playing through "questionable" tags the previous three games with the same issue. Jones' absence should leave Christian Rozeboom as the Rams' top LB, and we've moved him into LB3 territory in the Week 9 rankings. Troy Reeder looks like the next guy up to join him but isn't a good IDP bet. If he takes on Rozeboom's role, Reeder would fill in for a player who has been on the field for 57.8% of defensive snaps through eight games.
Patriots WR DeVante Parker (concussion) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Commanders. We’ll see if he can get cleared for Week 10. With WR Kendrick Bourne done for the season with his torn ACL, New England is down to WRs Demario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton, and Kayshon Boutte. Thornton (foot) is listed as questionable for Week 9. Douglas is the favorite for targets here and a viable WR4 or flex play in PPR leagues.
The Bears have ruled S Jaquan Brisker out for Sunday's game against the Saints with a concussion. We highlighted earlier in the week what HC Matt Eberflus called Brisker's "unique situation." Brisker initially got out of the league concussion protocol but then went back in after a re-test following an illness. This will be his second straight missed game, and the three missed practices this week say we can't count on a Week 10 return. We'll be watching Brisker's status throughout the coming week. Elijah Hicks looks like the next man up. He'll join S Eddie Jackson, who put in full practices all week and carries no injury designation into Sunday. Jackson missed the past two games with a foot injury.
The Bears have ruled LB Tremaine Edmunds out for Sunday's game against the Saints. Edmunds missed every practice this week, so he'll need a serious rebound to make it back for Week 10 against Carolina. LB Jack Sanborn elevates to a full-time role with Edmunds out and carries upside into LB1 range for IDP lineups. We'll see about Edmunds' status next week.
Update: ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports that HC Matt Eberflus is now calling Edmunds "week to week," another signal that he might remain out beyond this Sunday.
Colts TE Kylen Granson (concussion) put in a full week of practice and isn’t listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He should be back as Indianapolis’ lead TE in Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers. Granson has averaged 4.3 targets, 2.7 catches, and 28 yards per game this season.
Panthers WR D.J. Chark (elbow) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Colts. He only got in limited practices on Thursday and Friday. A very fringey fantasy option to begin with, Chark shouldn’t be in Week 9 lineups. If he’s out or limited on Sunday, it could mean more action for WR Jonathan Mingo.
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