Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson confirms that Rams WR Van Jefferson (knee) won't play in Thursday night's opener vs. the Bills. But Wilson hears that Jefferson is expected back "within the first few games" of the season. We'll see if he's able to get on the practice field next week.
The Chargers list Sony Michel and Joshua Kelley as co-#2 RBs on their Week 1 depth chart. It feels notable that Michel has already climbed that high just a week after joining the Chargers. Rookie RB Isaiah Spiller remains 4th on the depth chart. We'll have a better feel for what this backfield looks like behind Austin Ekeler after Week 1, but Michel looks like the Chargers RB to target in remaining fantasy drafts behind Ekeler.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin (knee) was non-committal on his Week 1 availability on a recent podcast appearance. "I don't think any of us know that yet," Godwin said when asked if he'll play vs. the Cowboys. "I would imagine I have the final say. It's going to come down to feel. Because I understand what I'm capable of doing on the field when healthy. But I also understand what I'm capable of pushing through. ... In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter that much. I would love to be there for the entire season, but I think what's more important is being there for the second half of the season." We get the feeling that Godwin is leaning against playing Week 1, but we'll continue to keep a close eye on him.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin officially named QB Mitch Trubisky the starter for Sunday's opener vs. the Bengals. He played well enough in the preseason to hold off a hard-charging Kenny Pickett. “We're really comfortable with what Mitch has shown us," Tomlin said. We're still expecting Pickett to take over at some point this season. In the meantime, Trubisky's rushing ability and weaponry gives him some QB2 appeal.
Rachaad White is listed as the Bucs' #2 RB on the Week 1 depth chart. It's not a surprise after White was the 2nd RB to hit the field in the preseason finale -- but the confirmation is nice. We're still not expecting White to see enough action behind a healthy Fournette to be a reliable fantasy play. But a Fournette injury would turn White into a high-upside starter.
Patriots HC Bill Belichick said Tuesday that RB Ty Montgomery (ankle) "has a shot" to play in this weekend's opener vs. the Dolphins. We'll track Montgomery's practice participation over the next few days. He shouldn't be in your Week 1 fantasy plans, but Montgomery's absence would open up passing-down snaps -- likely for RB Rhamondre Stevenson.
Falcons HC Arthur Smith said after Monday's practice that rookie WR Drake London is "progressing" in his return from a knee injury but that this week of practice will determine whether London will play in the opener. Even if London's active for Sunday's game against the Saints, he'll make for a risky fantasy starter. That he's even contending to play, though, bodes well for the 1st-round pick's outlook beyond Week 1.
Bills S Jordan Poyer put in a full practice Monday, indicating that his preseason elbow injury won't stop him from starting Week 1. We'll watch for confirmation ahead of Thursday night, but it appears Poyer is all the way back.
Commanders TE Logan Thomas told reporters Monday that he's not yet sure whether he'll play in the regular-season opener. He said he expects to be cleared "this week or next" for a full return from his knee repair and that he's playing without limitations. "Still feel things here and there, but not anything that affects the way I play," he said, according to ESPN's John Keim. Don't plan on using Thomas in Week 1 fantasy lineups. But it seems like he'll be available soon. We'll most likely want to see at least a game out of Thomas before considering him as a fantasy starter.
Rams WR Van Jefferson (knee) did not practice on Monday. He's looking like a long shot for Thursday night's opener vs. the Bills after undergoing knee surgery at the beginning of August. Jefferson's absence will leave Tutu Atwell and Ben Skowronek at the Rams' #3 and #4 WRs -- and leave extra targets for WR Cooper Kupp, WR Allen Robinson and TE Tyler Higbee.
Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie (groin) put in a full practice on Monday. It's confirmation that he'll be ready to go for Thursday night's opener vs. the Rams. Check out where McKenzie sits in the Week 1 WR Rankings.
The Steelers' Week 1 QB depth chart reads: Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett. HC Mike Tomlin hasn't announced his Week 1 starter, but it sure looks like it'll be Trubisky under center vs. Cincinnati. We're still expecting to see Pickett make multiple starts this season.
The Steelers list RB Jaylen Warren as the #2 RB on their Week 1 depth chart. It's confirmation that the undrafted rookie beat out RB Benny Snell for that job. Warren won't be a fantasy factor as long as RB Najee Harris is healthy. But he'd be the pickup if Harris misses time this year.
Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said RB Kenneth Walker (hernia) "worked some" in Monday's practice and that his status for next Monday night's opener vs. the Broncos is uncertain. We'll track Walker's status this week but would be a little surprised if he's able to play 3.5 weeks after surgery. It at least sounds like the rookie is making progress and should debut at some point in September.
Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury labeled TE Zach Ertz (calf) "day to day" on Monday. Ertz remains sidelined after injuring his calf way back on August 4. He seems genuinely questionable for this weekend's opener vs. the Chiefs. We'll get Arizona's first official injury report of the year on Wednesday.
Cardinals WR Rondale Moore (undisclosed) returned to practice on Monday. We don't know exactly what he hurt or when -- but he's now on track to play in Sunday's opener vs. the Chiefs. Moore has a chance to play a big role during WR DeAndre Hopkins' 6-game suspension to open the season.
Bears WRs Byron Pringle (quad) and Velus Jones (undisclosed) returned to practice on Monday. That gives both guys a shot to play in Sunday's opener vs. the 49ers. Neither guy should be in Week 1 fantasy lineups, but we'll be keeping an eye on how snaps and targets are distributed behind WR Darnell Mooney.
Jaguars RB James Robinson will play in Sunday's opener vs. the Commanders, HC Doug Pederson said Monday. It's been an impressive recovery for Robinson from his December 26 Achilles tear. Now we'll see whether he can regain pre-injury form from an injury that tends to sap RBs' explosiveness. Robinson isn't a viable Week 1 fantasy play, but we'll see how much he eats into RB Travis Etienne's workload.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur was non-committal on WR Allen Lazard's status for Sunday's opener vs. the Vikings. "We'll see as the week progresses," LaFleur said Monday. Lazard was reportedly sidelined last week with an undisclosed injury and was working off to the side of Monday's practice. We'll get Green Bay's first official injury report of the season on Wednesday.
Falcons WR Drake London (knee) was on the field for the start of Monday's practice, according to Ashton Edmunds of the team's official website. London has been sidelined since his hurting his knee in the preseason opener on August 12. Insider Scott Bair wrote earlier today that he'd be "surprised" if London didn't play in Sunday's opener vs. the Saints -- and practicing today puts him on track. We'll continue to keep an eye on the rookie throughout the rest of the week.
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