Bills HC Sean McDermott said Friday on WGR 550 in Buffalo that WR Khalil Shakir won't play Sunday against the Texans. Shakir sprained an ankle late in the Week 4 loss to Baltimore and has missed practice all week.
Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) is not expected to play vs. the Bills this weekend, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Mixon was limited in practice last Friday but has missed the first two practices of this week. So it looks like he suffered a setback.
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White had his most efficient rushing outing of the season in the Week 5 loss to the Falcons, taking 10 carries for 72 yards. The majority of that damage came on a career-long 56-yarder in the second quarter. White's other nine carries totaled 16 yards (1.8 YPC). And his three catches went backward six yards.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts set season highs across the board in the Thursday night win over the Bucs with eight targets, seven catches, and 88 yards. QB Kirk Cousins found Pitts wide open up the seam for a 32-yarder on the second play of the game. Pitts had a nice 18-yard catch and run in the second quarter. His other five grabs went for 10 yards or fewer.
Falcons WR Darnell Mooney recorded his first career two-TD game in Thursday night's 36-30 overtime win over the Bucs. The first was an impressive 24-yarder in between multiple defenders. Mooney went up to get the ball and absorbed contact before tumbling into the end zone. His second TD came from 12 yards out. Mooney ran a quick out, spun away from his defender, and then beat the angle of another defender to get into the paint. Those were two of Mooney's nine catches for 105 yards on the night. He could have had an even bigger game but had an ugly drop in the fourth quarter for what could have gone for a 36-yard TD.
Falcons WR Drake London caught 12 of 13 targets for 154 yards and a score in Thursday night's 36-30 overtime win over the Bucs. Atlanta attacked the seams of Tampa Bay's Cover 3 defense all night, with London doing a lot of the damage. He opened the scoring with an 18-yard catch-and-run TD on the first drive of the game. London created big separation and then spun off a would-be tackler to get into the end zone. He had four other catches of 15+ yards on the night, including an 18-yarder on third and three in overtime. London appeared to suffer a chest injury on that catch and exited the game. WR KhaDarel Hodge, filling in for London, scored the game-winning TD on the next play. London did a post-game interview and was going bananas in the post-game locker room celebration, though, so it doesn't seem like the injury is serious.
The Falcons scored 36 points and produced 550 yards of total offense in Thursday night's win over the Bucs. Surely Bijan Robinson had a big game. Right? Nope. He finished with 77 scoreless yards. Atlanta went pass-heavy in this one, throwing 59 passes vs. 18 runs. Robinson handled 12 of those runs and produced 61 yards (5.1 yards per carry). The highlight was a 28-yarder at the end of the third quarter that included impressive burst and balance. Robinson, though, was not very involved in the passing game. His three targets tied for fifth on the team and were just 5.1% of the Falcons' total. Robinson caught all three for 16 yards.
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins threw for 509 yards in Thursday night's 36-30 overtime win over the Buccaneers. That was a career-high, a franchise record, and the 15th-most in NFL history. Cousins was hot from the start of this one, connecting with WR Drake London for an 18-yard TD on the first drive of the game. His best throw came in the second quarter: A dart to WR Darnell Mooney in between multiple Bucs defenders for a 24-yard TD. Cousins found Mooney for another score from 12 yards out in the fourth quarter. Then in overtime, he threw WR KhaDarel Hodge open with a well-placed ball. Hodge then out-raced the defense for the game-winning 45-yard TD.
Saints K Blake Grupe (right hip) did not practice on Thursday. His status for Monday night's game vs. the Chiefs is uncertain. But, with the Saints sporting an 18.75-point implied total for that one, even a healthy Grupe wouldn't have been a recommended fantasy starter.
Cardinals TE Trey McBride (concussion) upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice. Barring a setback, he'll return for this weekend's game vs. the 49ers. San Francisco sits eighth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs but could be without LB Fred Warner on Sunday.
After putting in a limited practice on Wednesday, Raiders RB Zamir White (groin) did not practice on Thursday. His status for this weekend's game vs. the Broncos is now in serious question. White's absence would likely turn Alexander Mattison into something close to an every-down back. We'll update White's status again tomorrow.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson (knee) missed his second straight practice on Thursday. His availability for this weekend's game vs. the Browns is now in real question. We'll update Robinson's status again tomorrow. RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) upgraded to full participation on Thursday and is on track to play against Cleveland.
Commanders WR Noah Brown (groin) went from a limited practice on Wednesday to no practice on Thursday. It looks like he suffered a groin injury on Wednesday and is now in danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Browns. Brown has emerged as Washington's No. 2 WR in terms of routes but hasn't done enough to become a fantasy option yet.
Browns TE David Njoku (ankle) did not practice on Thursday. That follows a limited practice on Wednesday. It's unclear if Njoku suffered a setback with his high-ankle sprain or just got Thursday off. We'll see what he does on Friday and how he's listed on the final injury report for this weekend's game vs. the Commanders.
Panthers WR Diontae Johnson (ankle) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. HC Dave Canales said he fully expects Johnson to play vs. the Bears this weekend. We'll see what he does in Friday's practice and then how he's listed on the final injury report. Johnson can stay penciled into fantasy lineups for now.
The Chiefs placed WR Rashee Rice (knee) on IR on Thursday. That means he'll miss at least the next four games. Kansas City has a Week 6 bye, so Week 10 would be Rice's earliest return date. He's still likely to miss more time than that. We're expected to get a timeline for his return next week.
Packers WR Romeo Doubs did not practice on Thursday due to a personal matter, HC Matt LaFleur said. LaFleur added that they're "taking it day by day" as to whether Doubs will play vs. the Rams this weekend. Green Bay, of course, is already likely to be without WR Christian Watson for that one. Doubs' absence would leave some combination of Bo Melton and Malik Heath as the No. 3 WR behind Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks.
Saints HC Dennis Allen said Thursday that TE Taysom Hill has been diagnosed with "rib fractures." Allen didn't give a timeline for Hill's return, but we imagine he'll miss multiple games.
Titans QB Will Levis has been diagnosed with an AC joint sprain in his right (throwing) shoulder but "should be ok" for Week 6's game vs. the Colts, according to insider Paul Kuharsky. Levis gets a well-timed Week 5 bye, and HC Brian Callahan said earlier this week that a healthy Levis remains the starter. That doesn't mean Levis won't be on a short leash if he continues turning the ball over like he has so far this season. He won't be a recommended Week 6 starter in any format. The Colts DST will be a streaming option.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid said Thursday that WR Rashee Rice is scheduled for additional testing on his knee next week after the swelling subsides. He added that there's "no greater sense of optimism" on Rice's injury. It seems like there's still a strong chance that Rice misses the rest of the season, and he's at least looking at an extended absence. Rice owners should keep him stashed until we learn more next week -- while also bracing for bad news.
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