Insider Doug Kyed reports that Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) is tentatively expected back for Thursday night's game vs. the Cardinals. He's been out since hurting his hamstring late in Week 3. Valdes-Scantling's return would be excellent timing for a Green Bay squad down WRs Davante Adams and Allen Lazard. MVS could step right back into a significant role, although he also carries some risk in his 1st game off a 4-week absence.
The Chargers released K Tristan Vizcaino and signed K Dustin Hopkins. It's surprising Vizcaino lasted this long considering he missed 5 XPs and 1 FG through 6 games. Hopkins was dumped by Washington last week after missing 2 XPs and 2 FGs in 6 games. But he sports a career 84.0% FG conversion rate and should bring more stability to the position for Los Angeles. Hopkins should also be a decent fantasy option in this high-scoring offense.
Packers WR Allen Lazard has joined WR Davante Adams on the COVID list. Both guys are virtual locks to miss Thursday night's game vs. the Cardinals. We'll see if Green Bay loses anyone else for that one. The Packers are currently down to WRs Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown and Amari Rodgers on the active roster. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is eligible to come off IR. WRs Juwann Winfree and Chris Blair are on the practice squad. RB Aaron Jones and TE Robert Tonyan figure to play big roles in the passing game on Thursday night.
The Dolphins have signed RB Duke Johnson to their practice squad. The 28-year-old spent a couple of weeks on Jacksonville's practice squad in September but has otherwise been unemployed since being released by the Texans in February. There's opportunity in after RB Malcolm Brown was placed on IR, but Johnson is only worth adding in the deepest of fantasy leagues right now. We'll see if he gets promoted to the active roster.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni labeled RB Miles Sanders "week to week" with his ankle injury. Sirianni wouldn't rule Sanders out for Sunday's game vs. the Lions but admitted that he's unlikely to be available for that one. Sanders' absence would leave Philly with RBs Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott and potentially Jordan Howard, who's currently on the practice squad.
NFL Network's James Palmer confirms that Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy will be back for Sunday's game vs. Washington. He's been out since suffering a high-ankle sprain back in Week 1. Jeudy racked up 6 catches on 7 targets for 72 yards in a little more than 1 half of action in the opener. He returns for a meeting with the league's worst defense in terms of adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs.
Saints K Wil Lutz announced that he suffered a setback in his rehab from core-muscle surgery and will miss the rest of the 2021 season. That leaves the starting job to K Brian Johnson, who made his lone XP and both FGs -- including the 33-yard game winner -- in his NFL debut against the Seahawks on Monday night.
The Jets acquired QB Joe Flacco from the Eagles in exchange for a 2022 6th-round pick that can become a 5th-rounder based on how much Flacco plays for New York, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Flacco spent 2020 with the Jets, but that was under a different coaching staff. ESPN's Rich Cimini expects QB Mike White to start Sunday's game vs. the Bengals. QB Zach Wilson is slated to miss 2-4 weeks with his knee injury.
After a non-committal press conference on Sunday, 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan named QB Jimmy Garoppolo his Week 8 starter on Monday. "We didn't go into that game thinking that Jimmy was one bad game away from losing his job or anything like that," Shanahan explained. "Jimmy didn't play as good as he could, which he knows that and I know that. I think there were some pretty hard circumstances for him -- for both quarterbacks, considering some of the weather. But I definitely thought he could play better." QB Trey Lance (knee) is expected to practice on Wednesday, so he'll presumably be available for this weekend's game vs. the Bears. But it'll be in a gadget role, not as the starter.
The Saints have activated LB Kwon Alexander and DE Marcus Davenport. Both players are active for tonight's game against the Seahawks. We'd still go ahead and use LB Pete Werner ahead of Alexander in IDP lineups if you were planning to.
Seahawks DE Darrell Taylor is inactive for tonight's game against the Saints. He was a game-time decision with the neck injury that had him leaving last Sunday night's game in Pittsburgh on a stretcher. Taylor seems like he should make it back for Seattle's Week 8 contest.
Seahawks RBs Alex Collins (groin) and Rashaad Penny (calf) are active for tonight's game vs. the Saints. Collins got in just 1 limited practice this week, so it's safe to assume he's not at 100% tonight. It's Penny's 1st game since Week 1. RBs DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer are also active for Seattle.
Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (calf) has been designated to return from IR. He's now eligible to practice, but we'll see if he's ready to play vs. the Vikings this weekend. Gallup is about 6.5 weeks removed from what was supposed to be a 3-5 week injury.
The Cardinals on Monday activated EDGE Chandler Jones from the COVID list. Their lead pass rusher missed the past 2 games but should be available for Thursday night's clash with the Packers. Arizona also activated DE Zach Allen from the COVID list.
As expected, the Seahawks have activated RB Rashaad Penny from IR. That makes him available to play against the Saints tonight. We certainly expect him to factor into the backfield work. Penny would get an upside boost if Alex Collins turns up inactive. He's questionable with a groin injury, but HC Pete Carroll said after Saturday's practice that Collins "looked good today, so he's ready to go," according to the team website. We'd bet on Collins leading the backfield tonight after he performed surprisingly well at Pittsburgh.
The Packers have placed WR Davante Adams on the COVID list. With their Week 8 game coming Thursday night in Arizona, that almost certainly means Adams will miss the game, regardless of his particular situation. That leaves Green Bay without the guy who has drawn 33% of Aaron Rodgers' pass attempts to date. It also leaves Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard as the top wideouts, with Equanimeous St. Brown likely factoring in as well. We'll see whether WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is ready to come off IR.
Dolphins RB Malcolm Brown will be placed on IR with a quad injury suffered in Sunday's loss to the Falcons, HC Brian Flores said Monday. Brown will be out at least the next 3 weeks vs. the Bills, Texans and Ravens. He's played 28% of Miami's offensive snaps and averaged 4.7 carries and .7 targets per game, so his absence leaves behind a little extra work for RBs Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed.
Eagles RB Miles Sanders suffered a low-ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Raiders, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Sanders is still undergoing tests to determine the severity, but Rapoport suggests that it's not a serious injury. We'll update you when we know more.
Browns RB Nick Chubb (calf) is expected back for Sunday's game vs. the Steelers, barring a setback in practice this week, according to insider Josina Anderson. We'll track Chubb's progress over the next few days. Despite RB D'Ernest Johnson's impressive Week 7, Chubb should return as Cleveland's feature back.
Texans QB Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) will return to practice on Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. HC David Culley confirmed that Taylor remains the team's starter when healthy. He was off to a strong start before going down about midway through Week 2, completing 70.5% of his passes and averaging 9.5 yards per attempt. Taylor still isn't much of a fantasy option but should at least be good news for WR Brandin Cooks.
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