Packers HC Matt LaFleur said Friday that RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) is ready for an expanded role. “Ready to cut him loose," LaFleur said. Jones has totaled 15 carries and 10 targets over the past two weeks, easing back in after hurting his hamstring. It sounds like we can expect him back in something close to his usual role in Sunday's game vs. the Rams. We're moving Jones up the Week 9 RB Rankings.
Colts WR Josh Downs (knee) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Panthers. He was added to the injury report on Thursday but was at least able to get in a limited practice on Friday. We’ll look for further updates on Downs’ status. Colts-Panthers doesn’t kick off until 4:05 pm ET on Sunday.
Bears QB Justin Fields (thumb) is listed as doubtful for this weekend’s game vs. the Saints. He returned a limited practice on Friday. QB Tyson Bagent will start in New Orleans, but this sets Fields up to potentially return for Week 10’s game against the Vikings.
Giants QB Daniel Jones (neck) put in a full week of practice and isn’t listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He’ll start Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders. Jones won’t have TE Darren Waller (hamstring) but might get starting OTs Evan Neal and Andrew Thomas back. Both guys are listed as questionable. Jones is still only in play in 2-QB and superflex leagues.
Bills QB Josh Allen (shoulder) is not listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He put in full practices on Thursday and Friday after sitting out on Wednesday. There’s nothing to suggest that the shoulder will be a factor in Sunday night’s showdown vs. the Bengals.
Titans WR Treylon Burks is in concussion protocol, HC Mike Vrabel said Friday. Vrabel added that Burks will be at the team's facility on Friday. It sounds like he avoided any significant injury beyond the concussion -- excellent news after he was taken off the field on a stretcher on Thursday night. We'll keep an eye on Burks' recovery, but he remains off the redraft radar for now.
Falcons WR Drake London (groin) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Vikings. That leaves Atlanta with WRs Van Jefferson, KhaDarel Hodge, Mack Hollins, and Scotty Miller. Seriously. TEs Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith should draw more targets with London out. RBs Bijan Robinson and Cordarrelle Patterson could also play expanded roles in the passing game.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel (toe) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Patriots. He was replaced last week by WR Jamison Crowder, who caught all seven of his targets for 95 yards and a score. We wouldn’t go chasing that production. Samuel’s absence should mean a few extra targets to divvy between WR Terry McLaurin, WR Jahan Dotson, and TE Logan Thomas.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will start Sunday's game vs. the Cardinals, HC Kevin Stefanski said Friday. Watson was listed as a full participant in Friday's practice and took the first-team reps in the portion of practice open to the media, according to insider Mary Kay Cabot. This will be Watson's second time returning from this shoulder injury in the past three weeks. The first go-around, he lasted just 12 snaps before giving way to QB P.J. Walker. There's theoretical upside here in a plus matchup against Arizona, but Watson would be a high-risk Week 9 fantasy play.
Dolphins WR Braxton Berrios (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday morning's game vs. the Chiefs. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then limited in Friday's practice. Berrios has averaged 3.1 targets per game as Miami's No. 3 WR this year, so his absence would have a minimal fantasy impact.
Dolphins TE Durham Smythe (ankle) is questionable for Sunday morning's game vs. the Chiefs. Smythe has totaled three catches on four targets over the past four weeks, so hopefully he's not in your Week 9 fantasy plans. His absence would leave Miami with TEs Julian Hill and Tyler Kroft.
Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) is not listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He got in just limited practices on Thursday and Friday but is in no danger of missing Sunday morning’s game vs. the Chiefs in Germany.
The Giants are signing K Cade York, HC Brian Daboll said Friday. He'll compete with K Randy Bullock for the right to kick for the Giants' 32nd-ranked scoring offense. You can continue to avoid this situation in all fantasy leagues.
Steelers RB Najee Harris turned in a solid Week 9, totaling 76 yards and a score in Thursday night's win over the Titans. RB Jaylen Warren was the more explosive player (as usual), but Harris ran tough, scored a 10-yard TD, and even broke off a 25-yard run in the third quarter. This was his third straight useful fantasy outing, following RB13 and RB22 PPR finishes the previous two weeks. Harris continues to lose significant work to Warren but has tallied 12+ opportunities in seven straight games, averaging 13.4 carries and 2.7 targets per game over that span. That's enough to at least make Harris a solid RB3 play. Week 10 brings a plus matchup vs. the Packers' 25th-ranked RB defense.
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren totaled 113 yards on 14 touches in Thursday night's win over the Titans. Four of his 14 touches went for 13+ yards, highlighted by a 22-yard near-TD in the fourth quarter. Warren's foot landed out of bounds just before he got the ball over the goal line. It was still a nice fantasy performance against a tough Titans run defense. Warren's 11 carries and 88 rushing yards were both season highs, but his 3 catches give him 3+ grabs in seven of eight games this season. He remains the 1B in this backfield behind Najee Harris, but Warren is getting enough work to be a RB3 or flex play, especially in PPR leagues. He gets a plus Week 10 matchup vs. the Packers before a tough draw against the Browns in Week 11.
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.
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