Fantasy managers who trusted 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (oblique) in their lineups in Week 7 were rewarded with a pair of TDs vs. the Vikings. The veteran RB recorded 15 carries for 45 rushing yards to go along with 3 catches for 51 yards as a pass-catcher in the contest. Always remember: if CMC is healthy enough to play, you start him in your lineup. Next week, McCaffrey will take on the Bengals.
49ers QB Brock Purdy completed 21 of 30 passes for 272 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs in Week 7’s loss vs. the Vikings. The second-year starter has hit a skid of late. After starting the season with five weeks of turnover-free football, Purdy has thrown 3 INTs in his last two games and now sits as the QB16 in fantasy points per game in 2023. He’ll still be a respectable starter in 2QB/superflex formats, but we’ll be less enthusiastic to roll out Purdy in 1QB formats this coming week against the Bengals.
Saints WR Chris Olave was arrested on Monday night for reckless operation of a motor vehicle, insider Nick Underhill reports. Olave was clocked going 35 mph over the speed limit. "He did not resist and was cooperative with law enforcement," Underhill adds. This is unlikely to draw Olave a suspension, but we'll keep an eye on the situation.
Niners LB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) is active for tonight's game against the Vikings. Use him as planned in your IDP lineups.
Seahawks Edge Uchenna Nwosu needs season-ending surgery after tearing a pectoral muscle in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. That will leave Seattle without its lead edge player. Boye Mafe and Darrell Taylor finished Sunday's game as the top two. Mafe played a season-high 79% of the snaps and notched a sack for the fourth straight game. Taylor tallied his first 1.5 sacks of the season against the Cardinals. His 59% snap share marked an uptick vs. the week before but not a season high in either share or total snaps. Mafe -- a second-round pick in 2022 -- is the much better IDP bet between them the rest of the way. We'll see what else changes up front for the Seahawks. Nwosu remains signed through 2026, with dead-cap penalties that should keep him with the team at least through 2025.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (oblique) is active for tonight's game vs. the Vikings. He got in just one limited practice this week and didn't take a hit, ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show earlier today. There's elevated risk with CMC tonight, although there's been no report on his snaps being limited. RB Ty Davis-Price is a healthy scratch, leaving RBs Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason behind McCaffrey.
Browns RB Jerome Ford is expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a “low grade, high ankle” sprain, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's relatively good news, but Ford owners will be without him at least for Sunday's game vs. the Seahawks. That'll leave Cleveland's backfield to RBs Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong. We'll see if Ford can make it back for Week 9.
Bills HC Sean McDermott told reporters Monday that TE Dawson Knox needs wrist surgery. Knox first appeared on the injury report for the issue in Week 6 but has played through it the past two games. McDermott said they don't know yet how long the TE will be out. His absence obviously helps TE Dalton Kincaid's playing time. The rookie drew a season-high 8 targets in Sunday's loss to the Patriots but ran a route on just 63% of Josh Allen dropbacks. We're betting that will increase, which should steady his target counts at least while Knox is out.
The league has suspended Broncos S Kareem Jackson for four games because of his love for committing dirty hits. His latest infraction was a "forceful blow to the head/neck area" of Packers TE Luke Musgrave. He previously took similar shots at Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers and Commanders TE Logan Thomas. NFL Network reports that Jackson is appealing the suspension. Expect a quick resolution to that appeal, and we'll see if there's any adjustment to the suspension's length. P.J. Locke filled in after Jackson got ejected from the win over Green Bay. he figures to start while Jackson's out.
The Buccaneers have designated RB Chase Edmonds (knee) to return from IR. That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be involved in Thursday night's game against the Bills. But Edmonds can rejoin the active roster at any point over the next three weeks. We'll see what his return means for a struggling backfield, whenever it happens. Edmonds totaled four opportunities (all carries) before landing on IR, so he's not worth any waiver attention in most leagues right now.
Lions rookie DB Brian Branch returned Sunday after missing two games with a sprained ankle. But returned to a smaller role than what he left. The second-round pick played 68% and 69% of snaps the first two games. That grew to 100% in Week 3, after the team lost S C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Branch again started in Week 4 and appeared headed for similar use but left that game early with the ankle injury. But in his return game against the Ravens, the rookie played just 50% of snaps. He closed the practice week with a full Friday workout and carried no injury designation into the game. So we're not betting the ankle limited his time. Instead, it appears the Lions preferred to keep more LBs on the field and run fewer alignments of 5+ DBs. That left Branch, the nickel CB, less involved. Based on how Detroit has run its defense otherwise, we're guessing it was a specific shift for Lamar Jackson. It did not work. Branch's usage will make him tough to trust in Week 8 IDP lineups for an upside Raiders matchup. We'll watch for some indication that his playing time will increase.
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that the Titans are trading S Kevin Byard to the Eagles for fifth- and sixth-round picks in 2024 and S Terrell Edmunds. Byard clearly upgrades the secondary for a defense that ranks just 17th in DVOA against the pass so far this season. Byard is working on a career-low Pro Football Focus coverage grade at the moment but finished the past two seasons ranked eighth and first among safeties in that category. Moving to Philly shouldn't alter Byard's IDP outlook. We'll see whether Edmunds steps right into Byard's vacated role in Tennessee. The Titans certainly look thin enough at safety for that to be the case. Just be careful about counting on it right away for fantasy purposes.
Saints HC Dennis Allen said Monday that he wants to balance out the backfield work a bit more going forward. RB Alvin Kamara racked up 17 carries and 14 targets in the Thursday night loss to the Saints, while RB Jamaal Williams finished with five carries and RB Kendre Miller none. Allen said that Williams was on a snap count in his first game back from a hamstring injury and that Miller had shoulder irritation pre-game. Any work those guys take from Kamara figures to come on the ground. Kamara should continue to dominate passing-game work.
Saints HC Dennis Allen said Monday that he expects TE Juwan Johnson (calf) back for this weekend's game vs. the Colts. Johnson has missed the last three games with a calf injury. Taysom Hill has led Saints TEs in routes in all three of those games and racked up 13 targets over the last two. We'll see what the TE room looks like with Johnson back in the mix. His return makes Hill a risky Week 8 fantasy play.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says Falcons RB Bijan Robinson "won't be affected" by the headaches that wiped him out of Week 7's game vs. the Bucs. "Not something long-term that's gonna affect him. Not something that's gonna affect him next week," Rapoport added. Robinson averaged 13.3 carries and 5.3 targets over the first six games of the season and should be back in a similar role vs. the Titans this Sunday.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said Monday that they'll take it "day-to-day" with QB Deshaun Watson's shoulder issue. Considering Watson missed two games with this injury the first time around, there's certainly a chance that he's unable to play vs. the Seahawks this weekend. We'll keep you updated on his status throughout the week.
Bears RB Roschon Johnson (concussion) will likely practice on Wednesday, HC Matt Eberflus said. Johnson has one more stage of the concussion protocol to pass through, Eberflus added. Barring a setback, the rookie is on track to return for Sunday night's game vs. the Chargers. It's unclear what kind of role he'll be returning to, though, with RB Khalil Herbert out but RB D'Onta Foreman coming off a big Week 7.
Bears HC Matt Eberflus said Monday that QB Justin Fields is doubtful for Sunday night's game against the Chargers because of his right thumb injury. That would mean a second straight start for undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent. The backup performed solidly in the win over the Raiders. But it's also worth noting that Chicago catered the game plan to him. Bagent's 2.1 air yards per attempt in that game marks the shortest average depth for any qualifying QB game this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That's obviously not a knock on the player or the game plan. Just a reminder to keep your expectations in check for Bagent's stat line in Week 8.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Chiefs LB Nick Bolton will need surgery on his dislocated right wrist and is expected to miss "roughly two months." That would put Bolton's estimated return at Week 16 (Dec. 25) against the Raiders. Unfortunately, that timeline means Bolton is probably worth dropping in most redraft IDP leagues -- unless you can stash him in an IR spot. Drue Tranquill should reclaim a full-time role while Bolton's out. He'll be regularly usable in fantasy lineups but doesn't match Bolton's scoring upside.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams posted a mini breakout in Week 7. On a season-high 15 carries, he gained 82 yards (5.5 per attempt) while adding 3 receptions. Williams easily led the way in snaps (31) and narrowly edged Samaje Perine in routes (13 to 10) and targets (4 to 3). Jaleel McLaughlin remained a factor with 2 targets and 5 catches. Ultimately, Williams’ health looks to be on the rise, so there’s reason for optimism going forward. He’ll look for his first TD of 2023 this week vs. Kansas City.
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