Bucs TE Cameron Brate (neck) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Panthers. When Brate missed Week 5, TE Cade Otton ran a route on 91% of pass plays and posted a 6-43 line on 7 targets. The rookie is a viable Week 7 spot starter.
Bucs WR Julio Jones (knee) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Panthers. Jones did get back on the practice field this week, so perhaps he'll be able to play in Week 8. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage will continue to serve as Tampa's top 3 WRs this weekend.
The Panthers list QB Baker Mayfield (ankle) as doubtful for Sunday's game vs. the Bucs. Interim HC Steve Wilks already named QB P.J. Walker the starter for that one. But it looks like Mayfield might be ready to return for Week 8. Fantasy owners, of course, can continue to avoid the situation.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan isn't yet sure whether RB Christian McCaffrey will play vs. the Chiefs on Sunday. "I'm still up in the air whether we're going to be able to get him here for Sunday or not," Shanahan said in a Friday radio appearance. "I know for sure he'll be here the following Sunday. But that's kind of why I'm in a wait-and-see approach right now ... This happened so fast, and we've just got to see where he's at." We'll continue to look for further updates on McCaffrey's Week 7 role (or lack thereof) leading up to Sunday's kickoff.
Jets HC Robert Saleh announced Friday that WR Elijah Moore won't play vs. the Broncos this weekend. Moore requested a trade earlier this week after going without a target in last week's win over the Packers. The Jets, as of now, say they're not trading him. We'll see where this goes. WR Denzel Mims is expected to replace Moore in the starting lineup on Sunday but isn't a viable fantasy play. WRs Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis get slight boosts with Moore out but remain uninspiring fantasy options in this run-heavy offense.
RBs D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard are expected to compete for the lead job in Carolina's Christian McCaffrey-less backfield, according to the Associated Press' Josh Dubow. Dubow adds that RB Raheem Blackshear could be "potentially in the mix for more work." Foreman has carried 12 times for 37 yards (3.1 YPC) and failed to see a single target through 6 games. Hubbard has 6 carries for 34 yards (5.7 YPC) and 1 catch on 1 target for 1 yard. They've both played exactly 31 snaps, while Hubbard has a slight edge in pass routes (17 to 16). Our initial guess is that this will be something close to a 50/50 committee -- and we'll see about Blackshear. In the league's worst offense, Foreman and Hubbard will struggle for more than low-end RB3 value unless 1 of them emerges as the clear lead back.
The Panthers are trading RB Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It's obviously a big upgrade in terms of supporting cast for McCaffrey. The 49ers rank 19th in points per game and 18th in yards per game, while the Panthers sit 27th in points per game and dead last in yards per game. San Francisco is also a balanced to run-leaning offense, so McCaffrey should see plenty of rushing volume. We do worry a bit about his target volume, though, in an offense that also features Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle. Overall, we'd consider this about a wash for the fantasy value of McCaffrey, who currently sits 4th among RBs in PPR points per game. We'll see if he'll play vs. the Chiefs this weekend. Carolina, meanwhile, is left with a backfield committee of D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard in a bad offense. We'll see exactly what that workload split looks like, but neither guy is an exciting fantasy option.
Update: Carolina will receive 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-round picks in 2023, plus a 5th-rounder in 2024, according to Schefter.
Update: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport calls McCaffrey "likely" to play vs. the Chiefs on Sunday and adds, "expect a red-zone package." We'll see what else we hear about McCaffrey's projected Week 7 role.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (concussion) and TE Pat Freiermuth (concussion) put in full practices again on Thursday. Both guys remain on track to play vs. the Dolphins on Sunday night.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) remained limited in Thursday's practice. We're expecting him to play vs. the Steelers on Sunday night, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring) missed his 2nd straight practice on Thursday. Uh oh. Lockett's availability for this weekend's game vs. the Chargers is now in question. We'll see if he's able to practice on Friday and how he's listed on the final injury report.
Chargers WR Josh Palmer (concussion) missed practice again on Thursday. He's now a long shot to be cleared in time for this weekend's game vs. the Seahawks.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen (hamstring) remained limited in Thursday's practice. He suggested Wednesday that he might sit out through the Week 8 bye, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow for this weekend's game vs. Seattle.
Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow was added to Thursday injury report with a hip and did not practice. His status for this weekend's game vs. the Texans is suddenly in doubt. Check back tomorrow for another update.
Raiders TE Darren Waller (hamstring) remained sidelined for Thursday's practice. He's looking like a long shot to play vs. the Texans this weekend. TE Foster Moreau (knee) was limited again on Thursday.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson (hamstring) remained limited in Thursday's practice. We'll see what he does on Friday and how he's listed on the final injury report.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (thumb) returned to a full practice on Thursday. He'll play vs. the Commanders this weekend, but it's unclear if that thumb will be an issue. He completed just 63% of his passes for 6.0 yards per attempt vs. the Jets last week.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) was upgraded to full participation in Thursday's practice. He's set to return for this weekend's game vs. the Jaguars.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (thumb) put in another full practice on Thursday. He remains on track to return for this weekend's tasty matchup vs. the Lions.
Lions RB D'Andre Swift (ankle, shoulder) remained limited in Thursday's practice. He's seemingly on track to play vs. the Cowboys this weekend, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.
Lions WRs D.J. Chark (ankle) and Josh Reynolds (knee) remained sidelined on Thursday. If they can't play vs. the Cowboys this weekend, Detroit would be down to WRs Kalif Raymond and Tom Kennedy behind Amon-Ra St. Brown.
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