The forecast for today's Titans-Bengals game calls for winds of 20-30 mph. That's just past the threshold of when we start to worry about the passing and kicking games. We're lowering our projections for both passing games a tad and would avoid both kickers in this game. Note that the Bengals will be without all 5 of their starting offensive linemen from Week 1 today. Their implied total has sunk from 25.75 to 21.5.
The forecast for today's Patriots-Bills game calls for a chance of rain and 20 mph sustained winds with gusts over 30. That certainly puts a damper on the passing games. New England figured to go run-heavy anyway, so the bigger impact is on Josh Allen and Co. We'd also avoid both kickers in this game.
The forecast for today's Vikings-Packers game calls for 25 mph sustained winds with gusts close to 40 mph. The wind is expected to die down a bit throughout the game. Temperatures will be in the 30s with a wind chill in the 20s. Those are tough conditions for the passing and kicking games. We've lowered our passing projections a bit for both teams and would avoid both kickers in this game.
Packers K Mason Crosby missed Wednesday's practice with left calf and back injuries. If you're a Crosby owner, you might want to line up an alternative for Week 8. We'll continue to monitor his status.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski confirmed that RB Nick Chubb (knee) won't play against the Raiders this weekend. Stefanski added that Chubb is "on schedule" in his rehab and "they'll see" if he's ready to go after the Week 9 bye. We'll continue to monitor his progress. Kareem Hunt gets at least 1 more game as Cleveland's feature back on Sunday.
49ers RB Jeff Wilson (calf) is expected to play against the Patriots today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. He'll join Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty in San Francisco's backfield. Wilson isn't a bankable fantasy play but could handle goal-line work for the 'Niners today.
Colts WRs Michael Pittman (toe) and Zach Pascal (ankle) are questionable for this weekend’s game against the Vikings. Pittman was limited in practice all week, while Pascal got in a full practice on Friday. Neither guy is a fantasy option, but their absences would mean more targets for WRs T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell.
Rams TE Gerald Everett (back) is questionable for this weekend’s game against the Eagles. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice, so we’re expecting him to play. Everett figures to need a Tyler Higbee injury to be a fantasy option this season.
Eagles QB Carson Wentz isn't listed on the Week 1 injury report. He missed some time late in camp with what was reported as a "minor soft tissue injury," but it's a non-issue now. Despite an beat-up WR corps (again), Wentz is a solid QB1 play against Washington this weekend.
Patriots RB Lamar Miller (knee) has been activated from the PUP list and is practicing on Monday. It's his 1st official work since tearing his ACL last August. With Miller and Sony Michel joining Damien Harris, James White and Rex Burkhead, New England's backfield is all of a sudden very crowded. (What else is new?) We'll see if the situation sorts itself out at all over the next couple of weeks. White's role in the passing game is the only sure thing for now.
The Seahawks have signed WR Paul Richardson. He spent his first 4 NFL seasons from 2014 to 2017 in Seattle, posting a career-best 44-703-6 line in that final year. Richardson figures to duke it out with Phillip Dorsett for the #3 WR job. He'd need an injury to Tyler Lockett or D.K. Metcalf to have a shot at real fantasy value.
Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy talked up TE Blake Jarwin on Sunday. “I think Blake is going to make a real impact on our offense," McCarthy said. "The ability to attack the middle of the field, in my view, is always critical to the passing game ... I’ve been so impressed with him and really the entire tight end group.” Jarwin has been efficient on somewhat limited opportunities over the past couple of seasons but gets a big opportunity in 2020 with Jason Witten gone. At a TE17 ADP, Jarwin is 1 of our favorite targets at the position.
ESPN's David Newton believes RB Mike Davis "might have the edge" for the Panthers' #2 RB job. His competition is Reggie Bonnafon and Jordan Scarlett. The battle is irrelevant as long as RB Christian McCaffrey is healthy, of course. We wouldn't bother spending a pick to "handcuff" CMC at this point.
ESPN's Jamison Hensley says Ravens rookie RB J.K. Dobbins will "be the primary backup in 2020 to Mark Ingram." Backup is probably the wrong word for this description, but we certainly won't be surprised if Dobbins opens his debut season running behind Ingram. The veteran didn't miss a game last season until Baltimore's meaningless finale, while averaging 5.0 yards per carry and 9.5 yards per catch for the year. We do, however, project the rookie to outscore Ingram -- who will turn 31 in December -- in fantasy for the season.
The Steelers selected Maryland RB Anthony McFarland in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Watch McFarland’s 298-yard, 2-TD dismantling of Ohio State back in 2018 and you’d think he’s 1 of the top backs in this class. That was part of an impressive redshirt freshman season that saw him tally 1,034 yards on 7.9 yards per carry. 39 of his 131 carries went for 10+ yards that year. McFarland took a colossal step back this past season, though, battling through a high-ankle sprain and totaling just 614 yards on 114 carries (5.4 YPC). He’s also fairly inexperienced in the passing game, with only 24 catches across the past 2 years. But McFarland’s flashes are exciting. And the 5’8, 208-pounder confirmed his big-play ability with a 4.44-second 40 time at the Combine. He’s an intriguing addition to Pittsburgh’s backfield alongside James Conner, Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels.
The Bears on Monday reached a 2-year, $16 million deal with TE Jimmy Graham, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Graham is a surprising addition at a somewhat surprising cost. His playing time and production fell off late last season, and he'll turn 34 midway through the coming campaign. Chicago also still has TE Trey Burton under contract, though he could be a cut candidate. The Bears' TE corps looks like a situation to avoid for 2020.
The Redskins hired Scott Turner as OC. He's re-uniting with Ron Rivera after working with him in Carolina the past 2 years. Turner replaced his father, Norv, as Panthers OC for the final 4 games of last season. That's his only experience calling plays at the NFL level.
Eagles RB Miles Sanders (ankle) didn't practice on Wednesday. The Philadelphia media seems generally optimistic about Sanders' availability for this weekend's game against the Seahawks, but we'd still consider him truly questionable at this point. We'll get another update on his status tomorrow.
Bills WR Cole Beasley, WR John Brown, RB Devin Singletary and TE Dawson Knox are all inactive for today’s game against the Jets. Don’t expect to see much of QB Josh Allen or RB Frank Gore. Top CB Tre’Davious White is also inactive for Buffalo.
ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports that the Vikings are "leaning heavily" toward resting the "bulk" of their starters in Sunday's game against the Bears. Minnesota is locked into the NFC's #6 seed. Cronin mentions QB Kirk Cousins as 1 starter who isn't expected to play. RB Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is almost certain to be inactive. And we'd bank on WRs Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen getting the day off, too. QB Sean Mannion will get the start for the Vikings, making this an offense to try to avoid in Week 17 fantasy lineups. The Bears DST is a strong play.
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