Texans WR Robert Woods (foot) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Bucs, as expected. That leaves Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Noah Brown as Houston’s clear top three WRs. See where they sit in the Week 9 Rankings.
Browns RB Jerome Ford (ankle) is not listed on the final injury report for this weekend’s game vs. the Cardinals. He put in a full practice on Friday, which feels significant after he suffered what was reported as a low-grade high-ankle sprain in Week 7. Ford ended up playing in a 3-RB committee last week – but handled eight of 10 RB opportunities in the fourth quarter. We’re projecting Ford to lead Cleveland RBs in touches against Arizona on Sunday.
As feared, Steelers LB Cole Holcomb will miss the rest of the season with the left knee injury that knocked him out of Thursday night's win over the Titans. Details of the injury have yet to surface, but multiple reports say he'll need surgery and has been discharged from the hospital after staying over night. Holcomb's injury removes the team's lead LB and should mean more playing time for both Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts. It shouldn't mean much difference for the defense's overall performance. Pro Football Focus grades Roberts -- No. 3 in playing time among the trio to date -- slightly better than Holcomb in run defense. PFF also rates both Roberts and Alexander better in coverage and pass rushing. Holcomb has two more years on his contract, but the Steelers could dump him ahead of the 2024 season at a roughly $3.3 million hit in dead cap space.
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Browns. He didn’t practice all week and shouldn’t be in Week 9 fantasy lineups. Wilson’s absence would leave Zach Pascal as Arizona’s No. 2 outside WR and potentially mean extra targets for WR Marquise Brown, WR Rondale Moore, and TE Trey McBride.
Cardinals RB Emari Demercado (toe) missed practice all week and has been ruled out for Sunday's game vs. the Browns. RB Damien Williams landed on IR earlier this week, so Arizona is down to RBs Keaontay Ingram and Tony Jones. The Cardinals are 10-point road underdogs with a 14.25-point implied total against the Browns' 8th-ranked RB defense, so you're best off avoiding this backfield in fantasy lineups.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (knee) is officially questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Browns. He was listed as doubtful last week. HC Jonathan Gannon wouldn’t say Friday who will start at QB this weekend. We’re still expecting it to be Clayton Tune but will keep you updated on the situation.
The Rams have ruled LB Ernest Jones (knee) out for Sunday's game against the Packers. He missed practice all week after playing through "questionable" tags the previous three games with the same issue. Jones' absence should leave Christian Rozeboom as the Rams' top LB, and we've moved him into LB3 territory in the Week 9 rankings. Troy Reeder looks like the next guy up to join him but isn't a good IDP bet. If he takes on Rozeboom's role, Reeder would fill in for a player who has been on the field for 57.8% of defensive snaps through eight games.
Patriots WR DeVante Parker (concussion) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Commanders. We’ll see if he can get cleared for Week 10. With WR Kendrick Bourne done for the season with his torn ACL, New England is down to WRs Demario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton, and Kayshon Boutte. Thornton (foot) is listed as questionable for Week 9. Douglas is the favorite for targets here and a viable WR4 or flex play in PPR leagues.
The Bears have ruled S Jaquan Brisker out for Sunday's game against the Saints with a concussion. We highlighted earlier in the week what HC Matt Eberflus called Brisker's "unique situation." Brisker initially got out of the league concussion protocol but then went back in after a re-test following an illness. This will be his second straight missed game, and the three missed practices this week say we can't count on a Week 10 return. We'll be watching Brisker's status throughout the coming week. Elijah Hicks looks like the next man up. He'll join S Eddie Jackson, who put in full practices all week and carries no injury designation into Sunday. Jackson missed the past two games with a foot injury.
The Bears have ruled LB Tremaine Edmunds out for Sunday's game against the Saints. Edmunds missed every practice this week, so he'll need a serious rebound to make it back for Week 10 against Carolina. LB Jack Sanborn elevates to a full-time role with Edmunds out and carries upside into LB1 range for IDP lineups. We'll see about Edmunds' status next week.
Update: ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports that HC Matt Eberflus is now calling Edmunds "week to week," another signal that he might remain out beyond this Sunday.
Colts TE Kylen Granson (concussion) put in a full week of practice and isn’t listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He should be back as Indianapolis’ lead TE in Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers. Granson has averaged 4.3 targets, 2.7 catches, and 28 yards per game this season.
Panthers WR D.J. Chark (elbow) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Colts. He only got in limited practices on Thursday and Friday. A very fringey fantasy option to begin with, Chark shouldn’t be in Week 9 lineups. If he’s out or limited on Sunday, it could mean more action for WR Jonathan Mingo.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur said Friday that RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) is ready for an expanded role. “Ready to cut him loose," LaFleur said. Jones has totaled 15 carries and 10 targets over the past two weeks, easing back in after hurting his hamstring. It sounds like we can expect him back in something close to his usual role in Sunday's game vs. the Rams. We're moving Jones up the Week 9 RB Rankings.
Colts WR Josh Downs (knee) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Panthers. He was added to the injury report on Thursday but was at least able to get in a limited practice on Friday. We’ll look for further updates on Downs’ status. Colts-Panthers doesn’t kick off until 4:05 pm ET on Sunday.
Bears QB Justin Fields (thumb) is listed as doubtful for this weekend’s game vs. the Saints. He returned a limited practice on Friday. QB Tyson Bagent will start in New Orleans, but this sets Fields up to potentially return for Week 10’s game against the Vikings.
Giants QB Daniel Jones (neck) put in a full week of practice and isn’t listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He’ll start Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders. Jones won’t have TE Darren Waller (hamstring) but might get starting OTs Evan Neal and Andrew Thomas back. Both guys are listed as questionable. Jones is still only in play in 2-QB and superflex leagues.
Bills QB Josh Allen (shoulder) is not listed on the final Week 9 injury report. He put in full practices on Thursday and Friday after sitting out on Wednesday. There’s nothing to suggest that the shoulder will be a factor in Sunday night’s showdown vs. the Bengals.
Titans WR Treylon Burks is in concussion protocol, HC Mike Vrabel said Friday. Vrabel added that Burks will be at the team's facility on Friday. It sounds like he avoided any significant injury beyond the concussion -- excellent news after he was taken off the field on a stretcher on Thursday night. We'll keep an eye on Burks' recovery, but he remains off the redraft radar for now.
Falcons WR Drake London (groin) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Vikings. That leaves Atlanta with WRs Van Jefferson, KhaDarel Hodge, Mack Hollins, and Scotty Miller. Seriously. TEs Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith should draw more targets with London out. RBs Bijan Robinson and Cordarrelle Patterson could also play expanded roles in the passing game.
Commanders WR Curtis Samuel (toe) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Patriots. He was replaced last week by WR Jamison Crowder, who caught all seven of his targets for 95 yards and a score. We wouldn’t go chasing that production. Samuel’s absence should mean a few extra targets to divvy between WR Terry McLaurin, WR Jahan Dotson, and TE Logan Thomas.
Search
