Zack Moss is heading to Cincinnati. What does that mean for the Colts?
Indianapolis Colts pending free agent running back Zack Moss found a new home in free agency, agreeing to a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals late Monday night.
It was expected that Moss could have outpriced himself in the market for the Colts after his impressive showing during the early portion of the 2023 season while Jonathan Taylor was absent between an ankle injury and a contract dispute.
Now, the Colts have to find a new backup running back to supplant Moss’ role as a change-of-pace option.
Former Colts RB Zack Moss is signing a 2-year; $8 million deal with the Bengals that includes a $4.525m payout in year one, per source.
Losing Moss isn’t a massive deal in terms of the on-field impact. He’s a good player, of course, but there are plenty of running backs capable of filling the void behind Taylor, who will continue to be the starter.
Moss will be missed in the locker room, though, and there’s a good chance he works his way into the starting role in Cincinnati, especially after the team cut Joe Mixon.
Where the Colts go from here will be interesting. They can look to free agency to add a veteran backup. If they do, we shouldn’t expect them to go after any big names or sink any significant salary-cap space into the position.
Maybe they re-sign Trey Sermon, who served in a depth role during the 2023 season. They’re expected to get 2023 fifth-round pick Evan Hull back from a knee injury that claimed his entire rookie season, but it isn’t clear how the Colts view his outlook.
They could also go after a bruiser like D’Onta Foreman or opt for cheaper options like Rico Dowdle and Royce Freeman.
There’s a chance the Colts use another draft pick at the position, but that likely wouldn’t come until Day 3.
Either way, the Colts have another backup position to fill this offseason after Moss got a well-deserved contract with the potential to be a starter.
Given what they gave Miles Sanders last year, the Carolina Panthers probably won’t be sifting through the open market for a big-name running back this spring.
But just in case you were curious, here are the top 12 free-agent rushers for the offseason:
Some intriguing free-agent RBs for the Colts to consider.
The Indianapolis Colts have plenty of positional needs entering free agency in 2024 and even though the running back position isn’t at the top of the list, some depth could be added.
With Jonathan Taylor returning in the first year of his new contract extension, the Colts know who the leader in the backfield is and should be. Zack Moss, who was impressive during his stint as a starter, is set to hit the market. They also have second-year back Evan Hull, but he missed his rookie season due to a knee injury.
Re-signing Moss is certainly an option the Colts should entertain, but they shouldn’t be willing to overpay. Moss may be seeking a chance to compete as a starter, but we also know the running back market is extremely down right now.
So for this article, we’re taking the mindset that Moss walks in free agency, and the Colts would need to find his replacement.
Here are five running backs the Colts should target in free agency:
Disclaimer: We should note that we understand a handful of these players won’t even hit the market, but we’re working under the hypothetical scenario that they become available, regardless of how slim the chances are.
Four running backs the Titans should target in free agency this offseason.
This offseason, the Tennessee Titans are likely to see the departure of a franchise legend at the running back position, as Derrick Henry’s illustrious tenure in Nashville is seemingly coming to an end.
It appears that the Titans already have an heir-apparent in place in the form of electric rookie Tyjae Spears, who was one of the few bright spots for Tennessee on offense in 2023.
Nevertheless, Tennessee is going to need a complementary back for the Tulane alum, and chances are the Titans won’t break the bank to add one.
The Bears have ruled out RB D’Onta Foreman and WR Darnell Mooney for Sunday’s game against the Falcons
The Chicago Bears have released their inactives list ahead of Sunday’s NFC matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and a few key players won’t be suiting up. Bears running back D’Onta Foreman and wide receiver Darnell Mooney were both ruled out on Sunday morning.
Foreman is a healthy scratch while Mooney was ruled out on Friday. On the flip side, Bears tight end Cole Kmet is active for Chicago, as you can see below.
The Falcons dodged a bullet on their inactives list as right tackle Kaleb McGary is officially good to go for Sunday’s game. Sunday’s game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET in Chicago.
There’s good and bad news for the Bears offense ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals.
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for a Christmas Eve showdown against the Arizona Cardinals, where there are some notable updates about the statuses of two important offensive contributors.
Tight end Cole Kmet has been battling a quad injury this week, and he was dubbed questionable for Sunday. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kmet is expected to play against the Cardinals, giving quarterback Justin Fields one of his most dependable weapons.
Unfortunately, the Bears will be without running back D’Onta Foreman, who’s been dealing with a personal matter this week. Foreman has established himself as Chicago’s top running back this season, and the offense will certainly miss him. Luckily, they’ve got two capable backs in Khalil Herbert and rookie Roschon Johnson to shoulder the load.
The #Bears are expected to have TE Cole Kmet, who is questionable with a quad injury, for today's game, source said.
Meanwhile, RB D'Onta Foreman (personal matter) is expected to be out.
The Bears and Cardinals kick things off at 3:25 p.m. CT at Soldier Field, where Chicago is looking to get back in the win column after last week’s brutal loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Check out the top waiver wire targets for Week 15.
Only two more games Monday night stand before the start of the playoffs in the majority of fantasy football leagues, and the waiver wire will be a busy marketplace entering Week 15.
The bye weeks also are finally over, so it will be just good old-fashioned fantasy football. With trade deadlines concluded in the majority of leagues as well, the waiver wire becomes the most vital tool for fantasy managers over the three weeks.
We’re also getting to the point of the season in which stashing FAAB isn’t as crucial. Don’t be afraid to spend a bit more on a player who might give your team an edge down the stretch.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Trevor Lawrence
262-17
4
Brock Purdy
333-14
3
Justin Herbert
260-73
2
Josh Allen
275-15
3
Lamar Jackson
264-54
2
Running Backs
Yards
TD
Saquon Barkley
14-83
4-57
2
Jaylen Warren
9-129
3-16
1
Jahmyr Gibbs
8-36
6-59
1
Christian McCaffrey
21-78
5-25
1
Gus Edwards
12-62
2-8
2
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
Calvin Ridley
7-103
2
Tyreek Hill
10-146
1
Tank Dell
8-149
1
Keenan Allen
10-116
1
Brandon Aiyuk
5-156
1
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
George Kittle
8-89
1
David Njoku
7-56
0
Stone Smartt
1-51
1
Dalton Schultz
2-32
1
Logan Thomas
5-58
0
Placekickers
XP
FG
Tyler Bass
2
4
Cairo Santos
2
4
Jason Meyers
1
3
Justin Tucker
4
2
Jason Sanders
2
2
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Bills
6-4
0
Giants
4-6
1
Cowboys
6-2
1
Cardinals
4-3
0
Bears – Comm
2-4
0
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Geno Smith – Elbow
RB D’Onta Foreman – Ankle
RB De’Von Achane – Knee
RB Aaron Jones – Knee
RB Kenneth Walker – Oblique
WR Darius Slayton – Arm
WR Cooper Kupp – Ankle
WR Tyreek Hill – Wrist
Chasing Ambulances
QB Geno Smith – Injured his elbow and left the game. Drew Lock played for two series in the fourth quarter, but Smith returned for the final drive and got the Seahawks in position for a 55-yard field goal that was missed and prevented a win. Smith has bruised triceps, and his status for Thursday night isn’t certain. Lock would replace him if needed.
RB D’Onta Foreman – He injured his ankle early in the game but returned. He later reaggravated the same ankle and was held out for the rest of the contest. He’ll be examined on Monday to determine the severity. Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson take up the slack if Foreman misses any time.
RB De’Von Achane – The rookie hurt his knee when he was tackled, and HC Mike McDaniel said that Achane wanted back into the game, but was held out because “I was a little worried with the rust.” Which sounds more proactive and preventative than reactive to a serious injury. Practice reports will indicate how much of a setback Achane has (or doesn’t have). Raheem Mostert just handles all the touches if Achane isn’t back this week at the Jets.
RB Aaron Jones – He was no longer on the injury report from his season-long hamstring issue but then injured his knee in the win over the Chargers. He was carted to the locker room, though HC Matt LaFleur said he didn’t believe the issue was severe. AJ Dillon takes over in any absence of Jones, though earlier this year, it happened, and Dillon wasn’t much of a factor. Jones himself said he feared it was an ACL at first but that he didn’t think it would be anything serious. He’ll have an MRI on Monday to determine the prognosis.
RB Kenneth Walker – Injured his oblique and was in a lot of pain. HC Pete Carroll said that Walker’s injury was significant and that he may miss games. Zach Charbonnet will replace him for any missed time, and the Seahawks did not bump up any other backs’ workload. Charbonnet will see a workhorse role if Walker is out.
WR Cooper Kupp – He only caught one pass before the injury when he was blocking for Royce Freeman. HC Sean McVay said after the game that Kupp wanted to return but that he wasn’t 100% healthy, and they held him out. McVay said he did not know how severe the ankle injury might be. We should know more on Monday. Austin Trammel replaced him for the rest of the game. Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown in five games.
WR Tyreek Hill – Left the game in the second quarter with a wrist injury that sent him to the locker room, presumably for X-rays. He returned in the third quarter but then had no catches in the fourth quarter when the Dolphins went to a run-heavy script to finish the game. Apparently, there were no fractures, but it is unknown what soft-tissue injury may still exist.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
QB Trevor Lawrence – He was the top fantasy quarterback for the week despite having been given up on by fantasy owners tired of single-touchdown efforts with 200 yards or so. He threw for 262 yards and two scores to Calvin Ridley and ran in two scores – his first rushing touchdowns of the year. That did reflect a down game for Travis Etienne.
QB Tommy DeVito – Another player that entered Sunday with no expectations and yet left after passing for 246 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Commanders. The game was still almost entirely about Saquon Barkley as a rusher and a receiver, but DeVito was not a liability like he had been the previous week when he had totaled just 86 passing yards.
RB Devin Singletary – Dameon Pierce disappointed this year and is currently out on injury. But Singletary took the primary role in Week 10 and ran for 150 yards and a touchdown. Yesterday, he gained 112 yards on 22 rushes and another score. His only two starts resulted in the only 100-yard games by a Houston rusher this year. The Texans’ next games are at home versus the Jaguars and Broncos.
RB Ty Chandler – He is still the No. 2 guy in Minnesota, but he just rushed for 73 yards on ten carries at the Broncos and caught a season-high four passes for 37 yards. He had 14 touches to only 15 for Alexander Mattison.
Bears backfield – Khalil Herbert returned from injured reserve and ran 16 times for 35 yards in the loss to the Lions. Roschon Johnson gained 30 yards on six runs, while D’Onta Foreman only ran for 14 yards on six carries but bulled in the score. Foreman injured his ankle, and his status for the matchup with the Vikings this week won’t be known until later, but Foreman is the best back for inside and goal-line work as the most physical rusher. And the Bears are willing to use all three backs, and they still combine for less than what Justin Fields (18-104) turned in as the leading rusher.
QB Jordan Love – Granted, it came at home against one of the worst secondaries in the NFL, but Jordan Love turned in a season-best 322 passing yards and two touchdowns for his best performance of the year. It was his first 300-yard game and primarily relied on the wide receivers who caught both touchdowns.
WR Tank Dell – The Texan’s rookie now owns three 100-yard games and he just turned in a season-best eight catches for 149 yards and a touchdown – his third straight game with a score.
WR Odell Beckham – He played back on Thursday, but he’s one to remember for free-agent pickups. He was just another over-the-hill player latching on to what he described as potentially his final year, and for the first half of the season, that looked like a reality. But he scored in Weeks 9 and 10 with around 50 yards in each. And against the Bengals, he caught four passes for 116 yards. He injured his shoulder, but it’s been described as not an issue. The loss of Mark Andrews means other receivers have to step up. Beckham looks like the most likely of the bunch.
WR Jayden Reed – The Packers’ wideout turned in marginal stats this year but then posted 80+ yards in three of the last four games and scored in both Weeks 10 and 11. Romeo Doubs has been the primary target in the red zone, but now Reed is scoring weekly and gains more yards than the other Green Bay receivers.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Calvin Ridley – He was much-maligned after six sub-40-yard performances that left him unreliable for a fantasy start. Facing the Titans seemed like just another chance to be disappointed but Ridley led all NFL receivers with seven catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns, plus an 18-yard run. That happened on many, many fantasy benches this week, but there had to be a few fantasy owners that started him from a lack of other options and discovered that they had “the guy” for the week.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
The season is just about two-thirds done on the fantasy calendar, and playoffs are starting to come into view in the distance. Some large contests start in Week 14, and most leagues happen in Weeks 16 and 17, so there is still time to move up the standings. But the waiver in your league is likely bare outside of some bonehead dropping a fantasy starter.
Defenses and kickers still offer worthwhile finds, but only injury will uncover a new starter. The rest of the way is more about making optimal starting decisions and starting to look toward matchups your players will have in your playoffs.
Injuries continue to degrade all positions, and quarterbacks seem to have an unusual number of injuries. Ten have missed at least one game, and that is eleven if Joe Burrow misses time with the wrist injury he suffered last night. That’s one in three quarterbacks that have been injured, and there are eight more games in the season.
The topic for this week is NFL backfields and how they continue to change. After ten games, some teams have soured on their Week 1 starter and others just see more from the No. 2 guy. Here are my Top-6 backfields that are – or may be – in transition for the next few weeks and could heighten the fantasy prospects for one back while decreasing the other.
Tony Pollard / Rico Dowdle(DAL) – The Cowboys rushing offense apparently left with Ezekiel Elliott. What was once a strength is now a weakness. Tony Pollard turned in 1,007 yards on 193 carries (5.2 YPC) last year under a different coach and as the No. 2 back. He’s gaining 3.9 yards per carry, looking like a No. 2 miscast as a No. 1 back. Last week, the Cowboys clobbered the Giants 49-17, and Pollard only had 15 runs for 55 yards. Rico Dowdle had a career-best 79 yards and a score on 12 rushes. Chances are high that neither back is going to shine, but at least Dowdle looks likely to get more work at the expense of Pollard. It was very telling when Pollard couldn’t score from the 1-yard line on a fourth down. Dowdle later scored from the 1-yard line on a first down.
D’Onta Foreman / Khalil Herbert (CHI) – Herbert has been on injured reserve since Oct. 13 with an ankle injury, but he’s entered the 21-day window to be activated and just had a full practice last week. Herbert averaged 5.7 YPC last year and 5.3 YPC through Week 5. But D’Onta Foreman has been very effective and handled 20 carries the last two weeks. At this point, it is most likely to see Foreman remain the primary but cede touches to Herbert and Roschon Johnson. The backfield cannot be truly evaluated until Herbert proves 100% healthy and is no longer being eased back in. The next two weeks should set the stage for expectations for after the Week 13 bye.
De’Von Achane / Raheem Mostert (MIA) – All eyes are on the Miami backfield. Achane is expected to return and add to his ridiculous 12.1 YPC. But Raheem Mostert is there and still healthy, amazingly enough. After his breakout in Week 3, Achane and Mostert split carries 11:10 and 8:7. They faced the visiting Broncos and Giants and did much less at the Bills. More soft matchups await for the next month and we’ll see how long Achane needs to be active and at full strength endurance. Miami will split their workload and doesn’t like a workhorse. Facing the Raiders this week is another soft matchup, so it should be productive. But the key will be the total amount of carries in this pass-first offense.
Dameon Pierce / Devin Singletary (HOU) – It appears that Pierce is no lock to return this week from his ankle injury. And in his absence, Singletary ran for 150 yards and a score on 30 rushes (5.0 YPC). The Texans host the Cardinals and their No. 32 defense versus running backs, so Singletary should really shine again. But the Houston O-line is one of the worst, and Singletary only totaled 62 runs for 209 yards through Week 9 (3.4 YPC). In Week 9, he was alone versus the Bucs and only gained 26 yards on 13 rushes. The passing game is improved in Houston as well. The most that will happen is that these backs start to split 50:50 and negate what minimal fantasy value there was.
Kyren Williams / Darrell Henderson (LAR) – Williams is expected to return in Week 12 when he is eligible to come off injured reserve where he landed with a high-ankle sprain. Henderson and Royce Freeman have filled in, and Henderson logged 18 rushes for 61 yards and a score versus the Steelers, while Freeman totaled 66 yards on 12 runs. Freeman scored in Dallas but that game went sideways early. Williams should return to his same role, and both Henderson and Freeman should take a step back to just relief work. HC Sean McVay is already talking about his excitement in getting Williams back. The backfield should look good this week versus the visiting Seahawks, who are weak versus the run, but whatever happens won’t dampen the switch back to Williams when he is active again.
Jaylen Warren / Najee Harris (PIT) – Last year, the Steelers’ run game took off in the second half of the season, and it appears that it may be repeating. The offensive line is playing better and Jaylen Warren is tearing off as many longer runs as anyone lately. The duo started the year with Harris as the 3:1 lead, but they have morphed into a true committee now with their best game of the year in Week 10 when they split 31 carries for 183 yards and two touchdowns versus the Packers. The last few games were at home and the next two are at the Browns and Bengals. The remaining schedule is better than most, though, and for now, these two swap out regularly. That helps Warren and dings Harris.
About last night…
Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports
Bengals 20, Ravens 34
There were more points than most Thursday games, but it is the aftermath of that game that will be more important. Joe Burrow injured his throwing wrist and he’ll be examined on Friday. The outward signs suggested it was a serious enough injury that he could miss a game or more. Mark Andrews had his ankle rolled up on a tackle and left the game after two catches. He’s expected to be out for the rest of the season with a high-ankle sprain “plus more.” Losing Anderson puts a ding in the Ravens’ offense, but one that the rest of the receivers can try to compensate for. Losing Burrow for any time sinks the fantasy value of the entire Bengals’ offense and signals that the 5-5 Bengals likely face the reality that the postseason is out of reach.
The Bengals had enough trouble moving the ball with Burrow, and after he left, Jake Browning took over with minimal success. Tight end Tanner Hudson led the Bengals’ receivers with four catches for 49 yards – the second-best performance of his four-year career. But Tyler Boyd (3-22) and Ja’Marr Chase (2-12, TD) were little used, and Chase’s score was with one minute left in the already-decided game. Joe Mixon was the only Bengal that met expectations when he ran for 69 yards on 16 rushes and caught a team-high five passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. The 5-5 Bengals host the Steelers in Week 12.
Lamar Jackson turned in a standard performance. He ran for 54 yards and threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson Agholor (1-37, TD) and Rashod Bateman (1-10, TD) caught those, while Odell Beckham (4-116) led all receivers before leaving with a shoulder injury. Zay Flowers (3-43) was quieter than expected. The win boost the Ravens to 8-3 still atop the AFC North and they head to Los Angeles to face the Chargers.
Check out the top waiver wire targets for Week 10.
As we enter into the home stretch of the fantasy football season, managers are either looking to stay in the hunt or play spoiler for the rest of the league. Either way, the waiver wire is a vital part of the process.
There will be another four teams on a bye in Week 10 while another four will return from their week off.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
