NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that Steelers coaches have encouraged QB Kenny Pickett "all week" to continue taking shots downfield in his starting debut at Buffalo today. Pickett didn't hesitate to throw deep in his 1st regular-season action vs. the Jets last week. That helped lead to 3 INTs. This is good news for fantasy football, though. Pickett may well turn the ball over against a tough Bills defense, but throwing deeper presents more yardage and scoring upside for Pittsburgh's WR targets. There will be risk to playing anyone in the Steelers offense in this matchup. Myriad injuries in the Buffalo secondary help the upside as well, though. We're not playing Pickett in fantasy football lineups, but his 203.5 passing-yards line is interesting for Underdog Pick Ems, with his team likely to be chasing most of the day.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Commanders plan to play rookie RB Brian Robinson Jr. for about 20 snaps in his debut today against the Titans. That's roughly one-third of a game's worth of offensive snaps. We're betting on Antonio Gibson continuing to lead the backfield in playing time and touches today, but that sizable chunk going to Robinson -- plus the continued presence of J.D. McKissic -- lowers both the floor and ceiling for Gibson. He arrives as just RB19 in total PPR points for the season without Robinson involved to date.
Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt recently arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to address an issue that has lingered since August. ESPN reports that operation is expected to delay Watt's return another week or 2. He was already on IR for a pectoral injury, with a potential Week 8 return. Pittsburgh has a Week 9 bye, which might have motivated the surgery's timing. Week 10 vs. New Orleans looks like the new target date. We'll see about Watt's status as that draws closer.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder on Friday "in hopes of relieving discomfort," according to NFL Network. Wilson is reportedly dealing with a strained latissimus dorsi -- a similar injury to the one that sidelined Cowboys QB Dak Prescott for most of training camp last year. Per the report from Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the injury is not usually treated with an injection. Wilson plans on playing when the Broncos return to action next Monday night vs. the Chargers. We'll keep a close eye on him this coming week.
The Patriots activated WR Tyquan Thornton (collarbone) from IR. The rookie broke his collarbone in mid-August and just returned to practice this week. Don't expect him to play a big role in Sunday's game vs. the Lions, but we'll keep an eye on his development.
Bills WR Jamison Crowder (ankle) has been placed on IR. He'll likely miss the rest of the season with his broken left ankle and can be dropped from fantasy rosters.
Chiefs K Harrison Butker (ankle) is out for Monday night's game vs. the Raiders. Matthew Wright will kick again for Kansas City and is a fine fantasy football spot start.
Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (quad, hamstring) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game vs. the Raiders. He was a full-go in the first 2 practices of the week and listed with the quad, but he was limited on Saturday, when the hamstring was added to the injury report. HC Andy Reid said Smith-Schuster's hamstring "tightened up" but that he should be ok for Monday night. Underwhelming through the first 4 games of the season, JuJu now carries elevated risk in Week 5 fantasy lineups.
Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow (concussion) is off the final injury report and ready to play Monday night’s game against the Chiefs. We don’t have any worries about the team easing him back in. Mack Hollins’ playing time should remain strong, but target share figures to be spottier
The Titans placed WR Treylon Burks on IR with his turf toe. He's out at least the next 4 games, making Week 10 his earliest possible return. Burks is droppable in fantasy leagues without an IR spot.
The Buccaneers on Saturday added WR Russell Gage to the final injury report as questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons. Gage has been questionable for every game this season. It had been a hamstring issue for the previous 4. This time he's listed with a back injury after 3 days of limited practice. We'll see about Gage's status Sunday morning. He comes with a low ceiling anyway, though, now that the whole corps is intact.
The Commanders are activating RB Brian Robinson Jr. from the non-football injury list. The rookie will make his NFL debut in Sunday's game against the Titans. We wouldn't use him right away in fantasy football lineups, barring a clear message from Washington coaches that Robinson is headed for a backfield-leading share of opportunities. His return does knock Antonio Gibson down the Week 5 RB rankings, though, and take a little off J.D. McKissic's projection.
Steelers S Terrell Edmunds (concussion) and CB Cameron Sutton (groin, hamstring) are questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills. CB Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring) has been ruled out. S Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee), DL Cameron Heyward (elbow, ankle) and CB Levi Wallace (foot) are off the final injury report.
Titans S Amani Hooker (concussion), EDGE Bud Dupree (hip) and LB Zach Cunningham (elbow) are out for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Giants DL Leonard Williams is questionable for Sunday morning's game against the Packers with the MCL sprain that cost him the past 2 games. Williams did put in limited practices all week and is expected to play, according to SI.com's Patricia Traina, "albeit on a pitch count." That last bit makes Williams a risky IDP option. He might be fine for deeper leagues, given Green Bay's run-leaning offense and the sack upside of a shaky O-line.
Rams S Taylor Rapp (ribs) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. He opened the week with 2 limited practices but then sat out Friday. We'll check his status Sunday.
The Raiders have signed LB Blake Martinez to the active roster from the practice squad and reportedly plan to play him in Monday night's game against the Chiefs. LB Denzel Perryman also might be trending toward a return from the concussion that knocked him out of last week's game. Perryman put in a limited practice Thursday and then returned to full participation Friday. That all makes it tough to know how much LB Divine Deablo will play. He has been the full-timer in Perryman's absence. LB Jayon Brown might be trending toward getting out of the way because of a hamstring injury. After a limited Thursday practice, he missed Friday completely. We'll see about the status of the whole LB crew Saturday.
Packers S Adrian Amos (concussion) is questionable for Sunday morning's game against the Giants in London. He has yet to complete the league concussion protocol. We'd bet against him playing in the game but will confirm his status. CB Jaire Alexander (groin) is off the final injury report after putting in full practices each of the final 2 days.
Broncos CB Ronald Darby tore his right ACL in Thursday night's loss to the Colts. That obviously ends his season. We'll see whether it also marks the end of his time in Denver. Darby has 1 year remaining on his contract, but that year carries a $13 million cap hit vs. just $3 million in dead cap space if the team cuts him.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski deemed EDGE Myles Garrett "good to go" for Sunday's game against the Chargers, according to NFL.com. Garrett carries no injury designation into the game, despite remaining limited in practice this week with shoulder and biceps injuries from last week's car accident. Fellow EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) is questionable once again. He finished the week with a limited practice, the 1st time he has participated since Week 2. Clowney missed the past 2 games with the injury.
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