Fantasy football injury report: Week 9

Latest status of fantasy football weapons who are on the mend entering Week 9.

This is a team-by-team review of any key fantasy football player injury news after this week’s practice activity and team statements. Only those players listed on the team’s official injury report will be addressed, unless the situation warrants further attention.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFL releases their final official injury report late on Friday (after 5:00 p.m. ET). Teams on the West Coast often report their injuries late and may not be included in the initial publication.

Week 9 fantasy football injury report

This week’s key game-time decisions: WR Allen Lazard, WR Christian Watson, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Damien Harris, TE Darren Waller, RB James Conner, QB Ryan Tannehill, TE Mark Andrews, RB Gus Edwards, WR Jarvis Landry

ARIZONA CARDINALS 
WR Marquise Brown (foot) and RB Darrel Williams (hip) are on IR. RB James Conner (ribs) is questionable this week after a limited session Friday.

ATLANTA FALCONS 
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

BALTIMORE RAVENS – Monday night
TE Mark Andrews (knee, shoulder) and RB Gus Edwards (hamstring) are worth a close eye over the weekend as they have yet to practice.

BUFFALO BILLS 
S Jordan Poyer (elbow) has been ruled out.

CAROLINA PANTHERS
RB Chuba Hubbard (ankle) will miss the Week 9 game with an ankle injury.

CHICAGO BEARS 
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

CINCINNATI BENGALS 
WR Ja’Marr Chase
(hip) will miss his second straight game. He’s expected to miss at least four weeks, but the team has refrained from putting him on IR to this point. RB Samaje Perine (finger) has been bothered by a finger injury, but he’ll play.

CLEVELAND BROWNS – Bye week
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

DALLAS COWBOYS – Bye week
RB Ezekiel Elliott (knee) missed last week’s game with a sprained MCL and could be ready after the bye week.

DENVER BRONCOS – Bye week
RB Mike Boone (ankle) is on IR with an ankle injury.

DETROIT LIONS
WR Josh Reynolds (back) is doubtful after only advancing to limited practice. RB D’Andre Swift (shoulder, ankle) was limited the last two days and is questionable, but he’ll probably play.

GREEN BAY PACKERS 
WR Allen Lazard (shoulder) and WR Christian Watson (concussion) are both questionable. They both managed limited work in Friday and will probably be game-time calls. QB Aaron Rodgers (thumb) will continue playing through the thumb ailment.

HOUSTON TEXANS – Played Thursday
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 
RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and QB Matt Ryan (shoulder) are out.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 
WR Jamal Agnew (knee) is questionable after limited work all week.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 
RB Jerick McKinnon (shoulder) and WR Mecole Hardman (heel) will be out there.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 
TE Darren Waller (hamstring) draws the questionable tag after he and WR Mack Hollins (heel) were limited all week. Hollins has no injury designation. QB Derek Carr (back) and WR Davante Adams (illness) missed some practice time, but they’re good to go.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
WR Keenan Allen (hamstring), WR Mike Williams (ankle) and TE Donald Parham (hamstring) are all out this week. RB Austin Ekeler (abdomen) and WR Josh Palmer (concussion) mustered full practices Friday and are good to go.

LOS ANGELES RAMS 
WR Van Jefferson (knee) is questionable again with his troublesome knee. WR Cooper Kupp (ankle) and RB Cam Akers (personal) are both expected to suit up.

MIAMI DOLPHINS 
Per usual, WR Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) will be in there.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 
TE Irv Smith (ankle) is on IR. WR Adam Thielen (knee) practiced all week and is good to go.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 
WR DeVante Parker (knee) is out. RBs Damien Harris (illness) and Pierre Strong (hamstring) are questionable. Harris was limited all week, and the nature of his illness is unknown.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – Monday night
WR Michael Thomas (foot) is expected to miss the rest of the season on IR. WR Jarvis Landry (ankle) and RB Mark Ingram (knee) are worth monitoring. Landry has been limited, and Ingram has yet to practice.

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NEW YORK GIANTS – Bye week
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

NEW YORK JETS 
WR Corey Davis (knee) is out once again.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – Played Thursday
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS – Bye week
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – Bye week
WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring) missed the game before the bye and will need monitored next week.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
WR Marquise Goodwin (groin) has been ruled out. TE Noah Fant (hamstring), WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring, ribs), WR DK Metcalf (knee) and LB Jordyn Brooks (ankle) will all be out there.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
TE Cameron Brate (neck) and WR Russell Gage (hamstring) are out once again. WR Julio Jones (knee) practiced Friday and will go.

TENNESSEE TITANS 
QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle) is questionable with an ankle injury. RB Derrick Henry (foot) doesn’t have an injury designation, but he might not have a heavy workload with a foot ailment plaguing him.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
RB J.D. McKissic (neck) and WR Jahan Dotson (hamstring) are out. TE Logan Thomas (calf) practiced fully Friday and is good to go.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 9

Check your waiver wire for these IDP options ahead of Week 9.

The 2022 NFL season keep chugging along, and we’re past the league’s trade deadline into Week 9. There are still moves you can make that can make a difference in your season. We’re here to help guide you in the right direction.

Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.

Defensive Linemen

DT Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers

The 2020 No. 7 overall pick gave pretty marginal results over his first two seasons, but he has begun to break out. Over the last four games, he has 28 tackles and a sack in what could be the beginning of his prime seasons. DE Brian Burns is staying put, and that can only mean good things for Brown moving forward.

DE Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars

The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft really didn’t have high expectations in fantasy because he was viewed by many as more of a project. That project has been getting extra credit lately as he has five tackles in four of the last five games. He also picked up 1.5 sacks over the last two games after being shut out since Week 1. He should be owned more often than he is because of his tackling ability.

Linebackers

LB Za’Darius Smith, Minnesota Vikings

If he’s DE-eligible in your league, even better, but Smith has wreaked havoc the last two weeks with five sacks. Rushing the passer opposite of elite EDGE Danielle Hunter has really served him well as Smith has been the lesser of the two evils in pass-blocking schemes. More importantly, Smith has 11 tackles over the last two weeks after needing five games to acquire his first 11.

LB Sione Takitaki, Cleveland Browns

He’s on a bye this week, so your roster construction will dictate whether you can afford to stash him for a week. Takitaki has had his two best tackling games the last two weeks with eight and 13 on Monday night. He also picked up his first sack Monday night as the 27-year-old looks to be blossoming in his fourth season. He’s more of a deep-league pickup, but keep him on your watch list if you can’t stash him for a week.

Defensive Backs

S Myles Hartsfield, Carolina Panthers

The injury to stud S Jeremy Chinn opened the door for the third-year product out of Ole Miss. Hartsfield has taken it and ran with it with seven or more tackles in three straight weeks. It’s hard to find that kind of consistency on the wire at this point in the season, and he could serve as a one-week play in Week 9 if Chinn isn’t available to play once more.

CB Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

The 2021 second-round pick from Georgia quietly had a solid rookie season with 73 tackles and two INTs last year. He has matched the INTs and is on pace to surpass the tackles as he already has 40 on the year. Campbell has racked up five tackles in five straight games. Over the last three, he has 19 tackles, a forced fumble, an INT and four pass defenses. It’s time to take notice on the up-and-comer as the former Bulldog should be busy against the Raiders and Chiefs the next two weeks.

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Tunnel Vision

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Tua Tagovailoa  382-19 3
 Kyler Murray 326-36 3
 Jalen Hurts 285-10 4
 Dak Prescott 250-34 3
 Marcus Mariota 253-43 3
Running Backs Rush
Receive
TD
Derrick Henry 33-219
1-9
2
Alvin Kamara 18-62
9-96
3
Tony Pollard 14-131
1-16
3
Christian McCaffrey 18-94
8-55
3
D’Onta Foreman  26-118 3
Wide Receivers Yards TD
A.J. Brown 6-156 3
Jaylen Waddle 8-106 2
DeAndre Hopkins 12-159 1
D.J. Moore 6-152 1
Tyreek Hill 12-188 0
Tight Ends Yards TD
Tyler Conklin 6-79 2
Kyle Pitts 5-80 1
Isaiah Likely 6-77 1
Evan Engram 4-55 1
George Kittle 3-39 1
Placekickers XP FG
Nick Folk 1 5
Younghoe Koo 4 3
Chase McLaughlin 1 3
Jason Meyers 3 2
Mike Badgley 3 2
Defense Sack – TO TD
Seahawks 5-2 0
Cowboys 4-1 1
Eagles 6-2 0
Vikings 4-3 0
Falcons 1-1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

RB Mark Ingram (NO) – Knee
WR Christian Watson (GB) – Concussion
WR Cooper Kupp (LAR) – Ankle
WR DeVante Parker (NE) – Knee
WR Richie James (NYG) – Concussion
TE Irv Smith (MIN) – Ankle
TE Tyler Higbee (LAR) – Neck

Chasing Ambulances

After 26 years of writing this article every Monday, I honestly cannot recall a Sunday with so few notable injuries. That’s a wonderful thing to say.

WR Cooper Kupp (LAR) – Twisted his right ankle and left the loss to the 49ers.  According to Kupp, the ankle feels “pretty good.” and the hope is that he avoided any serious injury. The next few days will be key with how he responds to treatment. The Rams already had their bye in Week 7, and three of the next four games are on the road. If he misses any time, it increases the targets for Allen Robinson, Van Johnson, and Ben Skowronek.

RB Mark Ingram (NO) – Ingram injured his knee in the win over the Raiders after just one reception. There was no immediate word as to how badly is was hurt, though he was ruled out of the game. Dwayne Washington filled in but Alvin Kamara needed no help on Sunday.

WR DeVante Parker (NE) – Left after the first offensive play with a knee injury that was initially termed “questionable” to return and then he was ruled out. His status will be known when the Patriots have to issue injury reports on Wednesday.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR Van Jefferson (LAR) – Was finally taken off injured reserve after he  healed his knee. He was active in the loss to the  49ers and listed as a starting wide receiver. Jefferson was slated to have “a normal workload” but was never thrown a pass. With Cooper Kupp banged up, he needs to show up this week in Tampa Bay. If Kupp is injured with any severity, it sparks the chance that the Rams would trade for another receiver like Brandon Cooks.

TE Isaiah Likely (BAL) – Back on Thursday, Mark Andrews left with a shoulder injury and Isiah Likely filled in with six catches for 77 yards and a score to lead the Ravens. HC John Harbaugh said that the shoulder injury for Andrews wasn’t serious but practice this week will confirm it. And Andrews has from last Thursday until this Monday to heal. But Likely is already impressive as a rookie and ends up as a great handcuff for the Andrews owner. And worth stealing if you have a dead roster spot.

Tight Ends are not dead – The position experiences a major difference between Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce, as compared to all other NFL tight ends. This week had six tight ends not named Andrews or Kelce lead their team in receiving – Isaiah Likely, Greg Dulcich, Evan Engram, Kyle Pitts, T.J. Hockenson, and Pat Freiermuth. The position typically gets weaker as receivers as the season progresses. But this may well be yet another way this season is just different.

RB Travis Etienne (JAC) – James Robinson did not play in Week 7 and was traded away. And for two weeks, Etienne is on fire with his larger workload. He rushed for 114 yards and one score on 14 runs versus the Giants and  Sunday, he gained 156 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in London. He added three catches for six yards. Etienne keeps improving as a runner which played into letting Robinson go to the Jets.

RB D’Onta Foreman (CAR) – He ran for 118 yards on 15 carries in Week 7 after Christian McCaffrey left. On Sunday, he again rushed for exactly 118 yards only on 26 carries. And he scored three times. McCaffrey only totaled three scores over his first six games this season. Foreman was a capable replacement for Derrick Henry last year and gained over 100 yards in three games when he took over in the second half of the season in Tennessee.

RB Tyler Allgeier – Caleb Huntley (ATL) – This is a free agent idea for Week 9 with six NFL teams on bye. The Falcons like to run the ball. Maybe it is because they don’t pass that well, but they prefer to run. Against the Panthers, Tyler Allgeier ran for 39 yards on 14 carries and caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Caleb Huntley gained 91 yards on 16 carries. It will remain a committee approach, but consider their next opponents and where they rank against running backs – Chargers (28), Panthers (23) again, and Bears (31).

RB Tony Pollard (DAL) – With Ezekiel Elliott out, Tony Pollard took over as the primary back with spectacular results. He ran for 131 yards and three scores that included a 54-yard touchdown as the final score in the game. And that was with the Cowboys giving Malik Davis eight carries and two receptions in his NFL debut. Jerry Jones quickly mentioned that Ezekiel Elliott remains the primary rusher when he is healthy. Pollard’s fine performance happened at home against the No. 31 defense versus running backs, but it was still thoroughly impressive.

TE Dalton Schultz (DAL) – Even though he’s been playing injured for the last two weeks, reuniting with Dak Prescott resulted in 11 catches for 123 yards over those two games and he didn’t even finish Week 7. There is at least one fantasy owner in your league who was not a fan of Cooper Rush.

RB D’Andre Swift (DET) – After missing five games, Swift returned against the Dolphins. He only ran for six yards on five carries, and caught five passes for 27 yards and one fantasy-salvaging touchdown. Jamaal Williams gained 53 yards and two scores on his ten runs and added three catches for 23 yards. By this point, Williams is not the handcuff for Swift. It is Swift being just a throw-in for the Williams’ owner.

WR Rondale Moore (ARI) – Marquise Brown has been gone for two games, and Robbie Anderson was acquired but has yet to catch a Kyler Murray pass despite four targets. DeAndre Hopkins has been back for two weeks and topped 100 yards in each as an instant upgrade for the passing attack. But Moore has stepped up too and benefits from the defensive focus on Hopkins. He caught seven passes for 92 yards and a score in the loss to the Vikings and even gained 12 yards on two rushes.

RB Alvin Kamara (NO) – He’s gained around 100 total yards per week, but hadn’t scored for 2021. He fixed that against the Raiders when he rushed in one touchdown (18-62, TD) and scored twice as a receiver (9-96, 2 TD) which is how it was always supposed to be. It’s good to see the Saints turning to Kamara as the primary receiver since Jarvis Landry and Michael Thomas cannot stay healthy.

QB Zach Wilson (NYJ) – This changes everything.  At least it did on Sunday. The Jets’ first game without Breece Hall did not go nearly as well as hoped. Instead of a guaranteed 100 yards and a touchdown, the Jets backfield sputtered between Michael Carter (7-26) and James Robinson (5-17) but that forced Wilson to pass for 355 yards and two scores – but three interceptions. And that let Garrett Wilson finally come back to life with  six catches for 115 yards. Wilson was held to around 25 yards per game while Wilson was just handing off to Hall. And Tyler Conklin had been held to nearly no catches for the last month. He gained 79 yards and scored twice on his six receptions. The Jets team fell back a step with the loss of Hall, but at least it is perking the fantasy values of Wilson and Conklin back up.

QB Malik Willis (TEN) – Ryan Tannehill is likely to return this week, but Willis had his debut as the guy that gives the ball to Derrick Henry (32-219, 2 TD). Willis only completed 6-of-10 for 55 yards and one interception. He ran for 12 yards on five rushes as well. It was Henry’s day, as it always is when they face the Texans. Willis gets a mulligan on that start.

QB Sam Ehlinger (IND) –  His debut included  201 passing yards and no scores. To his credit, the top three receivers were all wideouts so he didn’t just check down to a running back or tight end.  He even ran for 15 yards on six rushes. The Colts lost to the Commanders, but only in the final seconds. Ehlinger played far better than a rookie (see above, Malik Willis).

RB Ronnie Rivers (LA) – The Rams backfield ranks No. 32 in the NFL for fantasy points and adding Rivers only mixed up the mediocrity with eight rushes for 21 yards. Darrell Henderson (4-16) and Malcolm Brown (5-10) also spent time not helping. Kyren Williams wasn’t taken off injured reserve, but they still have a couple of weeks to make that decision. He fell in the draft as being too small (5-9, 194 pounds) and slow (4.65) but was highly productive as the two-year starter in Notre Dame. The Rams say that they may welcome Cam Akers back when he discovers that no other team wants him. It’s all a mess and only getting worse.

Huddle player of the week

Alvin Kamara –On a day that saw several monster games – Christian McCaffrey, A.J. Brown, Derrick Henry, etc., Kamara stands on top. He had not scored a touchdown this season, but when he faced the visiting Raiders (or whatever that was in silver and black on the field), Kamara ran for 62 yards and caught nine passes for 96 yards along with three total touchdowns. He looked like the same Kamara that wrecked opponents back when Drew Brees played.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Taylor Heinicke 308 2 QB Derek Carr 100 0
RB D’Onta Foreman 118 3 RB Brian Robinson 20 0
RB Nyheim Hines 49 1 RB Josh Jacobs 53 0
WR Damiere Byrd 67 1 WR Davante Adams 2 0
WR Zach Pascal 57 1 WR Courtland Sutton 13 0
WR Devin Duvernay 64 1 WR DeVonta Smith 23 0
TE Isaiah Likely 77 1 TE Mark Andrews 33 0
PK Nick Folk  1 XP   5 FG PK Daniel Carlson nope
Huddle Fantasy Points = 130 Huddle Fantasy Points = 18

Now get back to work… and keep your helmet on…

Fantasy football injury report: Week 8

Latest status of fantasy football weapons who are on the mend entering Week 8.

This is a team-by-team review of any key fantasy football player injury news after this week’s practice activity and team statements. Only those players listed on the team’s official injury report will be addressed, unless the situation warrants further attention.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFL releases their final official injury report late on Friday (after 5:00 p.m. ET). Teams on the West Coast often report their injuries late and may not be included in the initial publication.

Week 8 fantasy football injury report

This week’s key game-time decisions: RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Davante Adams, WR Mack Hollins, TE Darren Waller, WR Nelson Agholor, WR DK Metcalf, WR Tyler Lockett, QB Ryan Tannehill, WR Brandin Cooks, WR Nico Collins

ARIZONA CARDINALS 
WR Marquise Brown (foot) was placed on IR due to a fractured foot. RB James Conner (ribs) is out once again. RB Darrel Williams (knee) is questionable after he was limited in practice all week.

ATLANTA FALCONS 
RB Caleb Huntley (illness) practiced Friday and is good to go.

BALTIMORE RAVENS – Played Thursday
RB J.K. Dobbins (knee) remains on injured reserve.

BUFFALO BILLS 
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

CAROLINA PANTHERS
RB Chuba Hubbard (ankle) is out this week. WR Laviska Shenault (hamstring) practiced all week and doesn’t carry an injury designation.

CHICAGO BEARS 
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

CINCINNATI BENGALS – Monday night
WR Ja’Marr Chase
(hip) is out four to six weeks with a hip injury and could wind up on IR.

CLEVELAND BROWNS – Monday night
DE Myles Garrett (shoulder, biceps) and TE David Njoku (ankle) didn’t practice Friday and will get official status clarity come Saturday afternoon.

DALLAS COWBOYS
RB Ezekiel Elliott (knee) is doubtful after suffering a sprained MCL on a hit to his knee last week. WR Noah Brown (foot) and TE Dalton Schultz (knee) are questionable for Week 8. Brown didn’t practice all week, and Schultz was limited Friday.

DENVER BRONCOS
RB Mike Boone (ankle) landed on IR with an ankle injury. QB Russell Wilson (hamstring) practiced Friday and has been cleared to start in London.

DETROIT LIONS
WR D.J. Chark (ankle) was placed on IR due to an ankle injury. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (concussion) managed a full practice Friday, but he’s still questionable. WR Josh Reynolds (knee), TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) and RB D’Andre Swift (shoulder, ankle) are good to go.

GREEN BAY PACKERS 
WR Randall Cobb (ankle) was placed on IR due to an ankle injury. WR Allen Lazard (shoulder) is also out. WR Sammy Watkins (hamstring) will play, and WR Christian Watson (hamstring) is questionable after limited work all week. QB Aaron Rodgers (thumb) will be under center even though he was limited all week.

HOUSTON TEXANS 
WR Brandin Cooks (wrist) had a full session Friday, but he’s listed as questionable. WR Nico Collins (groin) has some real concern after not practicing all week. He’s questionable.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 
QB Matt Ryan (shoulder) is out but was benched anyway. LB Shaquille Leonard (back) is poised to return without an injury designation, though he’ll be on a snap count.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 
WR Jamal Agnew (knee) is questionable after being limited in practice all week.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – bye week
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 
WR Davante Adams (illness), WR Mack Hollins (heel) and TE Darren Waller (hamstring) are all questionable after they were limited Friday. Adams doesn’t seem to have much danger of missing the game. QB Derek Carr (back), RB Josh Jacobs (foot) and WR Hunter Renfrow (hip) should all play after full practices Friday.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – bye week
WR Mike Williams (ankle) is out multiple weeks with a high-ankle sprain. RB Joshua Kelley (knee) was placed on IR due to a knee injury.

LOS ANGELES RAMS 
RB Cam Akers (personal) remains out. RB Darrell Henderson (illness) and WR Van Jefferson (knee) missed some practice time, but they’ll play.

MIAMI DOLPHINS 
WR Jaylen Waddle
(shoulder) and RB Raheem Mostert (knee) are good to go despite Mostert’s limited work all week.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 
WR Nelson Agholor (hamstring) is the only major offensive player that’s questionable this week with the typical limited work. Several defenders drew questionable tags, including CB Jonathan Jones (ankle), LB Matt Judon (back) and S Adrian Phillips (shoulder).

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 
WR Michael Thomas (foot) and WR Jarvis Landry (ankle) are out again. QB Jameis Winston (back, ankle) is healthy, but the team is sticking with QB Andy Dalton.

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NEW YORK GIANTS 
TE Daniel Bellinger (eye) and WR Kenny Golladay (knee) are out this week.

NEW YORK JETS 
RB Breece Hall (knee) was lost for the season with a torn ACL. WR Corey Davis (knee) will also be on the sidelines.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 
TE Pat Freiermuth (ankle) saw some limited work in the week, but doesn’t carry injury designations.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 
WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring) is another one of the critical receivers out this week.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring, ribs) and WR DK Metcalf (knee) are questionable. Friday’s practice wasn’t complete at publication time, but Lockett was a full-go Thursday and probably has a better chance to play than Metcalf.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS – Played Thursday
WR Russell Gage Jr. (hamstring) and TE Cameron Brate (neck) were out for Week 8.

TENNESSEE TITANS 
QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle) was downgraded to “did not practice” Friday but is questionable and a game-time decision.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
QB Carson Wentz (finger) was placed on IR with a fractured ring finger on his throwing hand. WR Jahan Dotson (hamstring) is also out. WR Dyami Brown (groin) and TE Logan Thomas (calf) are questionable after limited work this week. QB Taylor Heinicke (calf) is good to go.

Fantasy footballers will lose Ja’Marr Chase for multiple weeks

Where to turn after losing Chase in fantasy football?

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (hip) will miss four to six weeks of action, barring a new prognosis as he seeks multiple opinions on how best to move forward. Stash Chase on your bench or IR spot.

If the Bengals opt to place him on the Reserve/Injured list, Chase will miss meetings with Cleveland, Carolina, Pittsburgh and Tennessee — robbing fantasy football gamers of matchups with three top-six opponents when using data from the last five weeks of play.

Cincinnati should send more work toward the two most obvious options in Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, but Mike Thomas and Hayden Hurst should garner upticks in action.

No one is going to step in to replace Chase outright. What makes this worst for fantasy owners is the timing of it all since waivers processed already in the vast majority of leagues, presumably picking clean the positional wealth. Therefore, any high-quality replacement is likely to come via trade or from within one’s roster personnel.

If you’re looking just to get by for a few weeks playing the matchups and need a warm body in a lineup, consider checking your waiver wire for the likes of Marvin Jones, Darius Slayton, Mack Hollins, Marquise Goodwin, Kalif Raymond, Sammy Watkins, the aforementioned Thomas, and Olamide Zaccheaus. It won’t be pretty, but that’s what we have to deal with given the dire circumstances.

Fantasy football IDP free-agent report: Week 8

Check your waiver wire for these IDP options ahead of Week 8.

Welcome to Week 8. About half of the fantasy season is down, and eight teams are through their bye weeks. This is a pocket you really can thrive in with IDP depth your competition doesn’t have.

Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.

Defensive Linemen

DE/LB Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins

The 18th overall pick in 2021 had a breakout-esque game against Pittsburgh last week with eight total tackles and 1.5 sacks. He had 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season entering the game, primarily playing as a linebacker, so there could be dual eligibility in some leagues that include DEs and outside ‘backers as EDGE. Can this be the game that catapults him to the upside they saw when he was taken that high? He has good matchups with Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland upcoming to find out.

DT Grover Stewart, Indianapolis Colts

We’re not sure what’s in the water in Indy, but their defensive tackles are feasting. Stewart had five tackles and a sack two games ago, and he busted out with 12 tackles in Week 7. He has run-heavy Washington next week to eat up even more tackles in deeper leagues.

Linebackers

LB Isaiah Simmons, Arizona Cardinals

Let’s face it, the 2020 No. 8 overall pick has looked like a bust until recently. He had 12 tackles three weeks ago and returned to irrelevance with two tackles in Week 6. Simmons came back with big game in Week 7 with five tackles and a Pick-6. He can’t be relied upon weekly, but he’s certainly an intriguing flex option in the right matchup.

LB Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys

He’s on a bye next week – so keep that in mind when pondering this one. But Vander Esch has resurfaced as a fantasy option. Gone are the days when his ascension was taking reps away from Jaylon Smith, but he has had seven tackles or more in five of seven games this season. He had a season-high 10 last week. He’ll have the opportunity for a bunch more for the run-focused Chicago Bears in Week 8.

Defensive Backs

S Ryan Neal, Seattle Seahawks

The undrafted product out of Southern Illinois has had an eye-opening two-week window. Over the last two games, he has stuffed the stat sheet with: 14 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, an INT and five pass defenses. Depending on your scoring system, he could be one of the highest-scoring DBs in fantasy. He doesn’t have the track record, but seven tackles in three straight games gives him staying power.

S Geno Stone, Baltimore Ravens

This guy just has a football name where you know not to mess with him. Over the last two weeks, he has delivered 14 tackles, a forced fumble and a recovery. Stone, a former seventh-round pick out of Iowa, is receiving his first real chance to succeed in the league, so he may be more of a watch-list player outside of deep leagues.

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Tunnel Vision of Week 7

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Joe Burrow 481-20 4
 Andy Dalton 361-21 4
 Patrick Mahomes 423-0 3
 Daniel Jones 202-107 2
 Justin Herbert 293-22 2
Running Backs Yards TD
Josh Jacobs 20-143
3-12
3
Kenneth Walker 23-168 2
Austin Ekeler 9-31
12-96
2
Travis Etienne 14-114
1-5
1
Aaron Jones 8-23
9-53
2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Ja’Marr Chase 8-130 2
Tyler Boyd 8-155 1
Mecole Hardman 4-32
2-28
3
JuJu Smith-Schuster 7-124 1
Parris Campbell 10-70 1
Tight Ends Yards TD
George Kittle 6-98 1
Juwan Johnson 5-32 2
Travis Kelce 6-98 0
David Njoku 7-71 0
Gerald Everett 5-63 0
Placekickers XP FG
Jason Meyers 4 3
Robbie Gould 2 3
Randy Bullock 1 4
Justin Tucker 2 3
Greg Zuerlein 1 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Cowboys 5-5 0
Titans 3-3 1
Cardinals 0-3 2
Chiefs 5-2 0
Raiders 1-1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Ryan Tannehill (TEN) – Ankle
RB Chuba Hubbard (CAR) – Ankle
RB Breece Hall (NYJ) – ACL
RB Mike Boone (DEN) – Ankle
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) – Concussion
WR Corey Davis (NYJ) – Knee
WR Allen Lazard (GB) – Shoulder
WR DK Metcalf (SEA) – Knee
WR Nico Collins (HOU) – Groin
WR Mike Williams (LAC) – Ankle
WR Russell Gage (TB) – Hamstring
TE Daniel Bellinger (NYG) – Eye
TE David Njoku (CLE) – Ankle

Chasing Ambulances

QB Ryan Tannehill (TEN) – Injured his ankle and wore a walking boot after the game. He admitted it didn’t “feel great” but that he would try to be available for the trip to Houston for Sunday.  This could be a good time for the Titans to roll out third-round rookie Malik Willis. The Titans are atop the AFC South, so they’ll likely stick with Tannehill if possible, but depending on how the week goes, they may not have a choice.

RB Chuba Hubbard (CAR) – Injured his ankle, but it was considered minor and is not expected to be an issue this week.

RB Breece Hall (NYJ) – This is a heartbreaker. The talented rookie rusher is thought to have torn his ACL and would miss the rest of the season. When they “think” it may be an ACL on Sunday, it’s about 100% going to be an ACL. Michael Carter will become the No. 1 back again.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) – Was hard hit in the loss to the Cowboys, staggered a little when he tried to stand up and was sent to the blue medical tent. He was reported to be concussed which is made even worse with  DJ Chark out and Josh Reynolds playing through a knee injury.

WR Corey Davis (NYJ) – Left in the first half with a knee injury, he was cleared to return but was held out as a precaution. He’s expected to be fine.

WR Allen Lazard (GB) – The Packers’ best receiver suffered a shoulder injury and his status for the matchup at the Bills isn’t yet known. Lazard has been the only consistently productive receiver for the Packers and his loss would be  just another step down for the offense.

WR DK Metcalf (SEA) – The wideout was injured in the first quarter of the win over the Chargers and ruled out. X-Rays came back negative but an MRI today will determine if there is any soft-tissue damage. He was in good spirits after the game, which is encouraging but the tests will determine if he needs to miss any time.

WR Mike Williams (LAC) – Sprained his right ankle in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Seahawks and wore a walking boot after the game. He had problems putting any weight onto his leg and needed help to get to the treatment room. He’ll have tests on Monday to determine the severity of the injury but the Seahawks are already relying on Tyler Lockett who is playing through his hamstring injury.

TE David Njoku (CLE) – He already had seven catches for 71 yards but left with an ankle injury. Njoku was in a walking boot and on crutches after the game. He was reported to only have a sprained ankle but he’ll have an MRI on Monday to determine if there is any damage.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Malik Willis (TEN) – If Ryan Tannehill’s ankle keeps him out this week, Willis will take the start. He was an effective passer at Liberty with up to 27 touchdowns in a season, but he was also a dangerous runner with around 900 yards and 13 scores as a runner in both of his seasons as the starter. The Titans play at the Texans next.

RB Michael Carter (NYJ) – He becomes the No. 1 running back for the Jets with the injury to Breece Hall. Ty Johnson is the only other back on the active roster. Zonovan Knight is on the practice squad. If Hall is gone, don’t rule out the Jets trading for another back. The backfield needs a veteran and the offense needs someone more than Carter to rely on.

WR Kalif Raymond (DET) – Replaced DJ Chark who is on injured reserve and led the Lions with  five catches for 75 yards in the loss to the Cowboys.  Amon-Ra St. Brown has a concussion, Josh Reynolds is playing with a knee injury, and the Lions face the visiting Dolphins and Packers next. Raymond was the most targeted (6) receiver on Sunday.

WR Marquise Goodwin (SEA) – With DK Metcalf injured in the first quarter, Goodwin stepped up to lead the Seahawks with four catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Chargers. Tyler Lockett caught seven short passes as he played through a hamstring injury. Goodwin’s worth owning if Metcalf misses time and they face the Giants this week.

RB D’Onta Foreman (CAR) – Chuba Hubbard took the start in Carolina for the first game after the Christian McCaffrey trade, but Foreman was the lead back with 118 yards on 15 carries and two catches for 27 yards. Hubbard was also involved with nine runs for 63 yards and a score, plus two catches for ten yards. It’s more touches (28) than what McCaffrey would normally handle. But this is going to be a committee with plenty of both runners. That will cut into each others production in games that do not go as well as the Buccaneers upset did.

WR DeAndre Hopkins (ARI) – First game off suspension and he led the Cardinals with ten catches for 103 yards. No other receiver caught more than two passes. Sadly, Marquise Brown is gone.

RB Gus Edwards (BAL) – Tore up his knee in the summer of 2021 and never played until Sunday. By all accounts, he was to be eased into playing again in light of his extensive knee injury and recovery. J.K. Dobbins landed on injured reserve from his own “still a problem” knee injury. But Edwards started the game and took over the backfield. He ran for 66 yards and two scores on 16 rushes. Kenyan Drake only gained five yards on his eleven rushes.

WR D.J. Moore (CAR) – The Panthers stripped the offense of Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson and was down to P.J. Walker at quarterback. Facing the Buccaneers, or at least what passes for the Buccaneers these days, Moore logged a season-high seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. No other receiver caught more than two passes. Maybe the offense needs to remove all talent so that only Moore remains. It was nice to see him displaying his talent again.

QB Dak Prescott (DAL) – Returned from his thumb surgery and showed mild rustiness, especially at the first of the game. He only threw for 207 yards and one touchdown in the win over the Lions. It seemed like an opportunity missed with a mediocre performance, but he connected with CeeDee Lamb (4-70) and Dalton Schultz (5-49).  The Cowboys have a home game against the Bears that may play out much the same on Sunday, but at least Schultz was again a factor when playing with Prescott.

RB Travis Etienne (JAC) – It was a positive to see him run 14 times for 114 yards and one score (almost two). But it was even more notable that James Robinson never had a touch. Etienne handled every carry and the one catch from the Jaguars’ backfield.

WR Parris Campbell (IND) – The often-injured receiver that’s never met his expectations scored a touchdown and caught seven passes for 57 yards in Week 6. That was easily explained as just one of those blips in an otherwise mediocre season. But Campbell led the Colts with ten catches for 70 yards and a score in the loss to the Titans. He led the team with 12 targets. Michael Pittman (6-58) was the next best but two scoring weeks in a row for Campbell has to be noted. Playing at home against the Commanders this week would be a decent situation for a three-in-a-row for Campbell.

WR Terry McLaurin (WAS) – He hadn’t scored since Week 1 and wasn’t very productive in recent weeks. His first game with Taylor Heinicke as the starter gave him a healthy five catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Packers. His score was over the top of CB Jaire Alexander. McLaurin caught 58 passes for 919 yards and seven scores over the 14 games he shared with Heinicke last year.

RB Isiah Pacheco (KC) – He was reported to be the starter over Clyde Edwards-Helaire and caused a free-agent frenzy and plenty of lineup swapping before the early-game kickoffs on Sunday. It was exactly what every fantasy owner who overpaid for the hype monster this summer wanted to hear. But… he only ran eight times for 43 yards. And Edwards-Helaire gained 32 yards on six carries that included a 16-yard run for a touchdown. The Chiefs are not only a committee backfield, but even all combined doesn’t often call for more than 15 rushes.

RB Christian McCaffrey (SF) – The 49ers immediately made up a set of plays for McCaffrey, who ran for a team-high eight carries for 38 yards and two catches for 24 yards.  His workload will ramp up when he learns the offense better, but brings to light the question – does McCaffrey add to the offense, or just take away touches  from others?  He’s not needed to be the center of the offense as he was in Carolina. But his presence will render Jeff Wilson outside of fantasy relevancy and will cut into the other receivers’ workload at least a bit.

Huddle player of the week

RB Kenneth Walker III (SEA) –  He wasn’t quite the highest-scoring fantasy player this week but he was close and in the second start of his career. The rookie ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Chargers. His second score was on a 74-yard run midway through the fourth quarter that helped put the game away. With Breece Hall potentially gone, Walker can work his way into the Rookie of the Year conversation if he keeps up the production.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Andy Dalton 382 4 QB Lamar Jackson 179 0
RB Gus Edwards 66 2 RB Leonard Fournette 26 0
RB D’Onta Foreman 135 0 RB Christian McCaffrey 62 0
WR Mecole Hardman 60 3 WR DK Metcalf 12 0
WR Parris Campbell 70 1 WR Deebo Samuel 44 0
WR Marquise Goodman 67 2 WR Amon-Ran St. Brown 4 0
TE Juwan Johnson 32 2 TE Mark Andrews 4 0
PK Jason Meyers  4 XP   3 FG PK Ryan Succop   1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 157 Huddle Fantasy Points = 24

Now get back to work…

Fantasy football injury report: Week 7

Latest status of fantasy football weapons who are on the mend entering Week 7.

This is a team-by-team review of any key fantasy football player injury news after this week’s practice activity and team statements. Only those players listed on the team’s official injury report will be addressed, unless the situation warrants further attention.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFL releases their final official injury report late on Friday (after 5:00 p.m. ET). Teams on the West Coast often report their injuries late and may not be included in the initial publication.

Week 7 fantasy football injury report

This week’s key game-time decisions: TE Mark Andrews, WR Rashod Bateman, WR Josh Reynolds, RB D’Andre Swift, WR Mack Hollins, WR Hunter Renfrow, WR Marvin Jones, QB Russell Wilson, WR Jaylen Waddle, WR Tyler Lockett, WR Keenan Allen, QB Mac Jones

ARIZONA CARDINALS – Played Thursday
WR Marquise Brown
(foot) was placed on IR with a foot injury. RB James Conner (ribs) and RB Darrel Williams (knee) missed the Week 7 game.

ATLANTA FALCONS 
No injuries with fantasy relevance.

BALTIMORE RAVENS 
RB J.K. Dobbins (knee) will miss four to six weeks as he’s slated to undergo knee surgery next week. TE Mark Andrews (knee) and WR Rashod Bateman (foot) are questionable after being limited Friday. RB Justice Hill (hamstring) and QB Lamar Jackson (hip) are good to go.

BUFFALO BILLS – bye week
No injuries with fantasy relevance.

CAROLINA PANTHERS
QB Baker Mayfield (ankle) upgraded to limited work Thursday and Friday, but he’s doubtful. WR Laviska Shenault (hamstring) manged a full practice in Friday but is questionable.

CHICAGO BEARS – Monday night
No injuries of fantasy relevance

CINCINNATI BENGALS 
WR Ja’Marr Chase
(hip), WR Tee Higgins (ankle) and TE Hayden Hurst missed some practice time during the week, but they don’t carry injury designations.

CLEVELAND BROWNS
DE Myles Garrett (shoulder, biceps) was limited all week, but he’s off the report. CB Denzel Ward (concussion) will not play, and DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) is questionable.

DALLAS COWBOYS
WR CeeDee Lamb (hip), QB Dak Prescott (thumb) and TE Dalton Schultz (knee) practiced Friday and are good to go.

DENVER BRONCOS
QB Russell Wilson (hamstring) was limited all week and is questionable, but it’s hard to envision him sitting. RB Melvin Gordon (neck, ribs) practiced all week and is good to go.

DETROIT LIONS
WR D.J. Chark (ankle) has been ruled out. RB D’Andre Swift (ankle, shoulder) and WR Josh Reynolds are questionable and were limited Friday. They have a good shot to play. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) is ready to go once again.

GREEN BAY PACKERS 
WR Randall Cobb (ankle) and WR Christian Watson (hamstring) are out. QB Aaron Rodgers (thumb) is off the report.

HOUSTON TEXANS 
TE Brevin Jordan (ankle) mustered a full practice in Friday, but he remains questionable. WR Nico Collins (Achilles, wrist) was limited early in the week, but he’s good to go.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 
LB Shaquille Leonard (concussion, nose, back) is out once again. RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle), RB Nyheim Hines (concussion) and RB Deon Jackson (quadriceps) all practiced Friday and are good to go.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 
WR Jamal Agnew (knee) is out. WR Marvin Jones (hamstring) is questionable after he was limited all week.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 
WR Mecole Hardman (heel) practiced all week and will play.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS 
TE Darren Waller (hamstring) is out for Week 7. WR Mack Hollins (heel) and WR Hunter Renfrow (hip) were limited and deemed questionable.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
RB Joshua Kelley (knee), WR Josh Palmer (concussion) and TE Donald Parham (concussion) are all out. WR Keenan Allen (hamstring) was limited all week, but he has a good chance to make his return. TE Gerald Everett (illness) will go.

LOS ANGELES RAMS – bye week
There is buzz that WR Van Jefferson (knee) could return in Week 8.

MIAMI DOLPHINS 
WR Jaylen Waddle
(shoulder) was limited all week and is questionable again. It’s an issue he has been playing through. RB Raheem Mostert (knee) practiced Thursday and Friday. He’ll play.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS – bye week
No injuries with fantasy relevance.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – Monday night
RB Damien Harris (hamstring) and TE Jonnu Smith (ankle) practiced fully Friday. They’ll probably get the usual questionable tag but will likely play. WR Nelson Agholor (hamstring) and QB Mac Jones (ankle) were limited Friday. Jones is expected to return.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – Played Thursday
WR Jarvis Landry (ankle) and WR Michael Thomas (foot) missed the Week 7 game. QB Jameis Winston (back, ankle) was active in Week 7, but he served as the No. 3 QB.

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NEW YORK GIANTS 
WR Kenny Golladay (knee) and WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring) are out again. RB Saquon Barkley (shoulder) practiced Friday and is fine.

NEW YORK JETS 
WR Elijah Moore (personal) is out. WR Braxton Berrios (back) was limited all week, but he’ll play.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – bye week
No injuries with fantasy relevance.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 
TE Pat Freiermuth (concussion) and QB Kenny Pickett (concussion) cleared protocols and will play.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 
DE Nick Bosa (groin) and OT Trent Williams (ankle) are expected to return this week.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring) is probably on the wrong side of questionable after he didn’t practice all week, but he’ll be a game-time decision. Lockett is expected to play, if you can believe Pete Carroll’s coachspeak. RB Kenneth Walker (knee) and TE Noah Fant (illness) are good to go.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
TE Cameron Brate (neck) and WR Julio Jones (knee) are out.

TENNESSEE TITANS
WR Kyle Phillips (hamstring) is questionable coming out of the bye.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
TE Logan Thomas (calf), WR Dyami Brown (groin) and QB Carson Wentz (finger) are out. WR Jahan Dotson (hamstring) was limited early in the week, but he is unlikely to play after tweaking his hammy in practice.

Tunnel Vision of Week 6

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Joe Burrow 300-25 4
 Josh Allen 329-32 3
 Matt Ryan 389-(-4) 3
 Trevor Lawrence 163-23 3
 Marcus Mariota 129-50 3
Running Backs Yards Rush
Receive
TD
Deon Jackson 12-42
10-79
1
Rhamondre Stevenson 19-76
4-15
2
Christian McCaffrey 13-69
7-89
0
Leonard Fournette 13-69
6-38
1
Breece Hall 20-116
2-5
1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Ja’Marr Chase 7-132 2
Stefon Diggs 10-148 1
Tyreek Hill 12-177 0
Brandon Aiyuk 8-83 2
Michael Pittman 13-134 0
Tight Ends Yards TD
Mike Gesicki 6-69 2
Mark Andrews 7-106 1
Travis Kelce 8-108 0
Robert Tonyan 10-90 0
George Kittle 8-83 0
Placekickers XP FG
Ryan Succop 0 4
Will Lutz 2 4
Jason Meyers 1 4
Harrison Butker 2 2
Cade York 0 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Seahawks 6-2 0
Commanders 5-2 0
Jets 4-1 1
Panthers 1-1 1
Cardinals 5-1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Skylar Thompson (MIA) – Hand
QB Kenny Pickett (PIT) – Concussion
QB P.J. Walker (CAR) – Neck
RB J.K. Dobbins (BAL) – Knee
RB Deon Jackson (IND) – Quad
WR Kendrick Bourne (NE) – Toe
WR Randall Cobb (GB) – High Ankle
WR Jamal Agnew (JAC) – Knee
WR Jaylen Waddle (MIA) – shoulder
WR Marquise Brown (ARI) – Foot
WR Robbie Anderson (CAR) – Benched
TE Cameron Brate – Neck

Chasing Ambulances

QB Skylar Thompson (MIA) – Injured his hand when it hit a helmet after he passed. Teddy Bridgewater finished the game. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to return for Week 7, which makes this inconsequential.

QB Kenny Pickett (PIT) – Suffered a concussion after a hard hit in the third quarter and did not return. Mitchell Trubisky finished the winning effort against the Buccaneers and would start again in Miami this week if needed.

QB P.J. Walker (CAR) – Injured his neck and gave way to Jacob Eason. Walker later said he would be fine for Week 7 hosting the Buccaneers, but everything in Carolina is murky right now with running backs, wideouts, and quarterbacks.

RB J.K. Dobbins (BAL) – His knee tightened and was held out from the second half. He seemed to be back to form in Week 4 but now has struggled in the last two weeks. His status for this week will be determined later in the week but he’ll likely play, the question is how much if he is active?

RB Deon Jackson (IND) – The third-string back that turned into a stud against the Jaguars left the game for most of the fourth quarter with a quad injury. Jonathan Taylor went through limited practices last week, so he’s likely to return. Jackson was a great as a replacement and makes a prudent hold for the Taylor owner.

WR Randall Cobb (GB) – Was carted off the field and was reported to have a high-ankle sprain. The early speculation is that he’ll miss  multiple weeks.  Amari Rodgers is the next man up, but the entire receiving corps for the Packers has disappointed and digging through the depth chart will not likely improve anything.

WR Jaylen Waddle (MIA) – Hurt his shoulder late in the game but had 129 yards before he left. Waddle later said that he would be okay for this week’s matchup with the Steelers, plus Tua Tagovailoa should be back as well. Barring negative practice reports, Waddle should be fine.

WR Marquise Brown (ARI) – He was injured near the end of the loss to the Seahawks when a defender fell on his foot. He wore a walking boot after the game and was limping. The Cards host the Saints on Thursday night, so there isn’t much time to heal up.

 WR Robbie Anderson (CAR) – He argued with his position coach on the sideline about never getting a pass thrown to him and he was sent to the locker room in the fourth quarter. Anderson is rumored to be on the trading block and it appears that the Panthers may not want too much just to get rid of an obviously unhappy player.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

TE George Kittle (SF) – The 49ers star tight end still has not scored this season, but he led the team with eight catches for 83 yards when they fell behind and needed to abandon the run. It’s encouraging to see him return to high-volume usage, and hosting the Chiefs this week should spark the need to throw more.

TE Kyle Pitts (ATL) – He finally scored a touchdown this season but still was held to only three catches for 19 yards in the win over the 49ers. It was nice to see but cannot be considered more than just a single-play event and not a growing trend. So long as Marcus Mariota is the quarterback, there is no reason to expect Pitts to be used up to his potential.

WR Tyquan Thornton (NE) – The speedy rookie debuted in Week 5 with just two catches for seven yards. Versus the Browns, he turned in a fantasy breakout with four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown, plus three rushes for 16 yards and a second score. The lower volume of passing in New England will make him a risky start no matter how much confidence he builds, but his addition as a rusher will help him to offer more consistent stats if they continue his dual role.

TE Robert Tonyan (GB) – He’s had minimal use this year, but against the Jets, Tonyan led the Packers with ten catches for 90 yards. That may be more than just a one-week blip. The Packers lost Randall Cobb to a high-ankle sprain, so the tight end may continue to see more targets as Aaron Rodgers contends with a marginal set of receivers.

RB JaMychal Hasty (JAC) – Because two running backs just were not enough, the Jags are now using three. Travis Etienne had 12 touches, James Robinson had 13 touches, and Hasty is getting playing time. His second of three runs went for a 61-yard touchdown in the second quarter. His other two touches lost four yards. But the Jaguars are leaning toward being more of a rushing team than a passing team. Hasty adds to the committee but takes away from the other two backs.

RB Deon Jackson (IND) – The Colts missed Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, but Jackson stepped in to great effect. He ran twelve times for 42 yards and a touchdown, plus caught ten passes for 79 yards as the top fantasy running back for the week. Taylor is likely back this week for the game in Tennessee, but Jackson could potentially cut into Hines’ role as a receiving back.

WR Rashid Shaheed (NO) – The undrafted free agent wideout was called up from the practice squad to help fill in for the three starting wideouts who were out. The Weber State product failed to catch his one pass but ran for a 44-yard touchdown on his only rush.  He’ll likely head back to the practice squad when the starters return, but the 4.4/40-time speedster looked sharp for his score.

RB Kenyan Drake (BAL) – J.K. Dobbins had his knee “stiffened up” and sat out of the second half of the loss to the Giants. Drake was limited to ten carries but gained 119 yards and a touchdown. And it wasn’t just one long run that spiked the total. He turned in runs of 30, 30, 20, and 15 yards. He stopped running in the fourth quarter when the Ravens went to a pass-heavy script. Depending on Dobbins’ health, Drake could see more use on Sunday when the Browns visit.

WR Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG) – The rookie returned from his four weeks off with a knee injury and  caught three passes for 37 yards and one touchdown. His four targets were second only to Daniel Bellinger (5). The Giants are not a good passing team, but Robinson was a second-round pick that runs a 4.4 40-time and is expected to become a starter. The Giants’ wide receiver depth chart may be the most open one in the league, so Robinson deserves a spot on a roster.

WR Allen Robinson (LAR) – After a three-game stretch that saw Robinson total seven catches for 42 yards combined, it was safe enough to give up on Robinson. Not so fast. Versus the Panthers, Robinson turned in a season-best five catches for 63 yards and one score. His six targets were second only to Cooper Kupp (8). It can’t be considered more than a one-week blip, but it also means that you cannot dump him on the waiver wire.

RB Kenneth Walker (SEA) – The second running back taken in the 2022 NFL draft ran for 97 yards and one score on 21 carries. He added two catches for 13 yards in his debut in the wake of Rashaad Penny’s season-ending leg injury. DeeJay Dallas only ran twice for one net yard, so Walker is likely to maintain his heavy workload if his success continues.

WR DeAndre Hopkins (ARI) – Returns to the Cardinals after a six-week suspension and maybe just in time since Marquise Brown injured his foot and the Cardinals play the Saints on Thursday night.

Huddle player of the week

Joe Burrow  –  The Bengals haven’t seen the same success that they had in 2021 when they went to the Super Bowl, but he just turned in his best effort of the season and the best of anyone in Week 6. Burrow threw for exactly 300 yards and three scores, plus ran for 25 yards and a fourth touchdown. His play lifted the Bengals to a win at the Saints.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Matt Ryan 385 3 QB Tom Brady 244 1
RB Kenyan Drake 127 1 RB Aaron Jones 44 0
RB JaMycal Hasty 57 1 RB JK Dobbins 15 0
WR Chase Claypool 96 1 WR Mike Evans 42 0
WR Tyquan Thornton 53 2 WR DK Metcalf 34 0
WR Dante Pettis 84 1 WR Elijah Moore 0 0
TE Mike Gesicki 69 2 TE Tyler Higbee 7 0
PK Will Lutx   4  FG PK Robbie Gould   2 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 144 Huddle Fantasy Points = 32

Now get back to work…

Fantasy football injury report: Week 6

Latest status of fantasy football weapons who are on the mend entering Week 6.

This is a team-by-team review of any key fantasy football player injury news after this week’s practice activity and team statements. Only those players listed on the team’s official injury report will be addressed, unless the situation warrants further attention.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFL releases their final official injury report late on Friday (after 5:00 p.m. ET). Teams on the West Coast often report their injuries late and may not be included in the initial publication.

Week 6 fantasy football injury report

This week’s key game-time decisions: WR Cooper Kupp, TE Tyler Higbee, WR Robbie Anderson, WR Tee Higgins, TE Hayden Hurst, WR Chris Olave, QB Jameis Winston, WR CeeDee Lamb, WR Marvin Jones, WR Zay Jones, RB Jonathan Taylor, RB Nyheim Hines, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Jakobi Meyers, RB Damien Harris, QB Mac Jones, TE Kyle Pitts, WR Keenan Allen

ARIZONA CARDINALS 
RB James Conner
(ribs) and RB Darrel Williams (knee) have been ruled out.

ATLANTA FALCONS 
TE Kyle Pitts (hamstring) is questionable after limited work all week. He’ll be a game-time decision, but there is optimism he could return.

BALTIMORE RAVENS 
WR Rashod Bateman (foot) has been ruled out for Week 6. RB Justice Hill (hamstring) is likely to join him on the sidelines as he’s doubtful.

BUFFALO BILLS 
TE Dawson Knox (foot, hamstring) was limited all week but doesn’t have an injury designation. WR Isaiah McKenzie (concussion) practiced all week and is good to go.

CAROLINA PANTHERS
WR Laviska Shenault (hamstring) is out. QB Baker Mayfield (ankle) is doubtful, but he won’t play. WR Robbie Anderson (illness) popped up Friday with an illness, and he’s questionable. WR DJ Moore (shoulder) practiced all week and is good to go.

CHICAGO BEARS – Played Thursday
QB Justin Fields (shoulder) said after the Thursday night game that he aggravated a previous left shoulder injury and was sore.

CINCINNATI BENGALS 
WR Tee Higgins
(ankle) and TE Hayden Hurst (groin) have been deemed questionable. Both were limited Friday and are game-time calls.

CLEVELAND BROWNS
DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee, elbow) and CB Denzel Ward (concussion) have been ruled out.

DALLAS COWBOYS
WR CeeDee Lamb (hip) and QB Dak Prescott (thumb) are questionable this week. Lamb didn’t practice Friday, and Prescott was limited. Prescott is not expected to play, whereas Lamb is shaping up to be a game-time decision. LB Micah Parsons (groin) and TE Dalton Schultz (knee) also missed time this week, but they’re good to go.

DENVER BRONCOS – Monday night
RB Melvin Gordon (ribs, neck) and RB Mike Boone (foot) were limited Thursday and Friday. Monitor them over the weekend. QB Russell Wilson (shoulder) went from limited Thursday to full Friday and is expected to start.

DETROIT LIONS – Bye week
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

GREEN BAY PACKERS 
WR Christian Watson (hamstring) was ruled out. QB Aaron Rodgers (thumb) remains OK to play after full sessions all week.

HOUSTON TEXANS – Bye week
No injuries of fantasy relevance. 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 
LB Shaquille Leonard (concussion, back, nose) will miss another game. RB Nyheim Hines (concussion) and RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) are questionable. Hines practiced fully Friday, and Taylor was limited. It’s possible they roll with Hines and keep Taylor back another week, but it’s a game-time decision.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 
WR Marvin Jones (hamstring) and WR Zay Jones (ankle) both draw questionable tags after limited sessions Friday, which typically creates a game-time call.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 
WR Mecole Hardman (heel), TE Travis Kelce (hip, back), WR Skyy Moore (ankle) and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring, quadriceps) had full practices Friday and are off the report.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – Bye week
No injuries of fantasy relevance.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – Monday night
WR Keenan Allen (hamstring) was limited Thursday, and he could have a chance to play. Keep tabs on him Saturday. QB Justin Herbert (ribs) and WR Josh Palmer (ankle, knee) practiced Thursday and should be good to go.

LOS ANGELES RAMS 
RB Cam Akers (personal) has been ruled out due to a personal matter. DT Aaron Donald (foot), TE Tyler Higbee (ankle) and WR Cooper Kupp (foot) headline the star-studded questionables. All three were limited Friday. It’s hard to imagine any of them missing Week 6.

MIAMI DOLPHINS 
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(concussion, ankle) will miss another week of action. QB Teddy Bridgewater (concussion, pectoral) and RB Raheem Mostert (knee) are both questionable. The team said earlier in the week they were planning to start QB Skylar Thompson – so expect Bridgewater to be out. Mostert said he’d be able to play. WR Tyreek Hill (quadriceps, foot) and WR Jaylen Waddle (groin) were on the report but carry no injury designations.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 
RB Alexander Mattison (shoulder) is questionable after limited work all week.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 
WR Nelson Agholor (hamstring), RB Damien Harris (hamstring), QB Mac Jones (ankle), WR Jakobi Meyers (knee) and TE Jonnu Smith (ankle) are the usual questionables. Harris and Jones have the slimmest chance of playing as they’re expected to miss more time.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 
WR Michael Thomas (foot) and WR Jarvis Landry (ankle) will miss Week 6. WR Chris Olave (concussion) and QB Jameis Winston (back, ankle) are questionable. Olave was a full participant, and Winston was limited Friday, but Andy Dalton will start. TE Taysom Hill (rib) practiced fully and is good to go.

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NEW YORK GIANTS 
WR Kenny Golladay (knee) and WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring) are out. WR Wan’Dale Robinson (knee) is questionable after he was limited all week. RB Saquon Barkley (shoulder) was limited as well, but he doesn’t carry an injury designation.

NEW YORK JETS 
OT Duane Brown (shoulder) was activated but managed to earn a questionable tag. If he’s healthy, expect him to start at left tackle.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 
RB Kenneth Gainwell (rib) practiced in full and should play.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 
TE Pat Freiermuth (concussion) and S Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) won’t play this week. WR Diontae Johnson (hip) made it through a full practice Friday, and he’ll play.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 
DE Nick Bosa (groin) is questionable after limited practice sessions. OT Trent Williams (ankle) is out. RB Jeff Wilson Jr. (shoulder) mustered a full session Friday, and he’ll play.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
RB Rashaad Penny (ankle) is on IR with a season-ending fibula fracture and ankle injury that required surgery. RB Kenneth Walker (shoulder) and WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring) were on the report at various times during the week, but both will play.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
WR Julio Jones (knee) is doubtful this week and didn’t practice all week. TE Cameron Brate (concussion), WR Chris Godwin (hip, knee), WR Breshad Perriman (knee, hamstring) and WR Russell Gage (ankle) all practiced Friday and are good to go.

TENNESSEE TITANS – Bye week
WR Treylon Burks (toe) is on IR.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS – Played Thursday
TE Logan Thomas (calf) missed the Week 6 game.