2 days agoCarolina Panthers wide receivers
Adam Thielen (hamstring) and
Xavier Legette (toe) were listed as limited participants in Thursday's practice. Thielen has not played since Week 3 due to a hamstring injury that caused him to go on the Injured Reserve list. Legette has had a solid start to his NFL career, catching 22 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Both players saw a fantasy football value boost after
Diontae Johnson was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, but it's tough to get too high on either player with quarterback
Bryce Young under center. However, Thielen posted a 1,000-yard season with Young in 2023, so he could have PPR value in the second half of the 2024 campaign. Rookie
Jalen Coker is also a candidate to benefit from Johnson's departure. Fantasy managers should monitor Legette's and Thilen's status on Friday before Week 9 start-or-sit decisions.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: David Newton
2 days agoCarolina Panthers running back
Jonathon Brooks (knee) practiced in full for a second straight day, suggesting he is close to making his NFL debut. The rookie is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered at Texas in late November of last year, and with the Panthers struggling to begin the season, he has been eased into action. If Brooks plays against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, he should likely be left on the bench in fantasy football until we get an idea of what his potential workload will be.
Chuba Hubbard has been productive as the RB1 for the Panthers, so it would be a surprise if Brooks enters a workhorse role right away. Either way, fantasy managers should monitor his status for Friday's practice and his official game designation which will be announced on Friday afternoon. He could have legitimate RB2 value down the stretch.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: David Newton
2 days agoDallas Cowboys linebacker/edge rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) is once again not practicing on Thursday ahead of the Week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons. The three-time All-Pro in as many seasons suffered an ankle injury in the Week 4 win over the New York Giants and has not played since. His absence in the Dallas lineup is highly significant, especially since the Cowboys' defense is allowing the seventh-most yards per game (372.6) this season. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Parsons is "not quite there yet," so it's fair to assume he is trending toward missing his fourth consecutive game.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jon Machota -- The Athletic
2 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins (quad) is still not practicing after missing Wednesday's session with a quad injury. The 25-year-old suffered the injury in last week's Friday practice and was ruled out of the Week 8 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Injuries have become an issue for Higgins over the last year, as he has already missed three games in 2024 and sat out five games in 2023. The former second-round pick in 2020 had at least 77 receiving yards in each of his last three games and was trending up, but he's trending toward missing Week 9's contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. If he can't play, tight end
Mike Gesicki has been the greatest beneficiary of his absences this year.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Charlie Goldsmith
2 days agoGreen Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (groin) returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out on Wednesday due to a groin injury. The 25-year-old second-year starter was banged up in the Week 8 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and did not finish out the contest. However, his availability on Thursday is a great sign of his potential to play in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. Sunday's NFC North contest is crucial, so it would be somewhat surprising if he does not play. However,
Malik Willis, who has looked good in relief of Love this year, would draw the start if Love can't go. The Lions have allowed the 14th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, so Love is a solid low-end QB1 option if he's cleared for Week 9.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Wes Hodkiewicz
2 days agoGreen Bay Packers running back
Josh Jacobs (ankle) is practicing on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with an ankle injury. Hopefully, his Wednesday absence was precautionary and he'll be good to go for the Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions. Jacobs is the current RB9 in half-PPR formats, averaging 13.6 fantasy points per game behind 667 rushing yards, 115 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns. The Lions have surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season, but Jacobs remains a virtual must-start if he plays since he is averaging 20.3 touches per game (sixth-most).
Emanuel Wilson is the clear RB2 in Green Bay, so he'd be a must-add ball-carrier if Jacobs suffers any setbacks and cannot play in the NFC North showdown.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Wes Hodkiewicz
2 days agoBaltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (back/knee) is not practicing on Thursday and did not practice on Wednesday due to knee and back injuries. It's too early to suggest he is at real risk of missing the Week 9 game against the Denver Broncos, but this is a concerning development. Jackson missed 10 total games between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, so the team is likely to be extra cautious with its two-time MVP. Either way, his status should be closely monitored on Friday. If Jackson plays, he's a must-start option in all matchups. If he's out, veteran
Josh Johnson will get the start and will be a Superflex-league consideration in starting lineups. The Baltimore wideouts and tight ends will be heavily downgraded in the rankings if Jackson is absent against a strong Denver Broncos defense.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Zrebiec
2 days agoKansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (leg) has been on the Injured Reserve list since Week 2 due to a fractured fibula and is not expected to return to practice this week or next week. However, head coach Andy Reid said Pacheco is "doing fantastic," which is promising considering the team initially did not know if he would return this season. In his absence, veteran
Kareem Hunt has taken over the clear RB1 duties in Kansas City and has rushed 84 times for 308 yards and four touchdowns to go along with six receptions for 40 yards. Hunt has not been efficient, but the team has trusted him to carry the load. Whenever Pacheco returns, he'll surely be a significant contributor to the offense, but he could be eased into action and share touches with Hunt. For now, fantasy managers can continue to stash him in an IR spot and hope he returns to make a difference down the stretch.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Nate Taylor
2 days agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver
JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is not practicing to begin the Week 9 prep for Monday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran has not been in action since his seven-catch, 130-yard day against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5, and he looks to be trending toward missing another contest. It's difficult to know what his role will look like when he returns after the team traded for former All-Pro wideout
DeAndre Hopkins. However, fantasy managers in deep leagues might want to pick him up if they are desperate for potential flex options. He has a chance to return to practice later this week and nothing is official, so this will be a "wait and see" situation.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Nate Taylor
2
days
agoTampa
Buccaneers
running
back
Bucky
Irving
(toe)
will
not
practice
on
Thursday
and
might
not
practice
until
the
end
of
the
week.
According
to
senior
writer
Scott
Smith
of
the
Tampa
Bay
Buccaneers,
Irving
will
probably
deal
with
the
toe
injury
all
season.
read more...
2 days agoNew York Giants running back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (concussion) is working through the league's concussion protocol but was on the practice field in a red non-contact jersey on Thursday. The rookie out of Purdue will be listed as a limited participant on Thursday's official practice report, but being upgraded from a "DNP" to a limited session is promising for his potential Week 9 availability against the Washington Commanders. Tracy has been excellent since taking over the lead-back role from
Devin Singletary, posting at least 107 yards of total offense in three of his last four games. He has found the end zone three times during that stretch. If Tracy can suit up on Sunday, he'll face a Commanders' defense that is a neutral matchup for running backs. He has an RB2 outlook, making him a virtual must-start in most leagues. If he can't play, Devin Singletary will be worth consideration in lineups, but he has a lower ceiling than the explosive rookie.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Raanan
2 days agoGreen Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (groin) missed Wednesday's practice due to a groin strain. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Love sees a "realistic chance" of suiting up on Sunday against the Detroit Lions despite missing practice on Wednesday. The 25-year-old exited last Sunday's 30-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars early with a groin strain and is labeled day-to-day. He has been terrific this season, throwing for 1,547 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while rushing for 28 yards on 10 attempts over six games. Love will try to practice later in the week and look to play in a divisional battle against Detroit.
Malik Willis would start for Green Bay if Love is inactive. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring Love's status heading into Week 9. Love is currently QB10 in the latest RotoBaller Week 9 rankings and is a must-start if active in a plus matchup against the Lions.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter of ESPN
2 days agoNew York Jets wide receiver
Allen Lazard (chest) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Houston Texans. Lazard will miss his second consecutive game due to a chest injury. The 28-year-old has caught a touchdown in three of his last five contests. Overall, Lazard has caught 30 of 44 targets for 412 yards and five touchdowns across seven games in 2024. Lazard's next chance to suit up will be Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Garrett Wilson and
Davante Adams will lead the Jets wide receivers corps on Thursday, and
Mike Williams is expected to see an increased role with Lazard sidelined. Despite playing 58% of the offensive snaps, Williams wasn't targeted in last Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. The 30-year-old is off the fantasy radar outside deep leagues in a plus matchup against a vulnerable Texans secondary.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: New York Jets
2 days agoLas Vegas Raiders tight end
Michael Mayer (personal) has been sidelined with a non-football-related issue for over a month, but head coach Antonio Pierce said that the 23-year-old is "getting close" to making his return. Mayer played a depth role through three games at the start of the season, catching just four passes for 21 yards and zero touchdowns. He remains buried behind rookie
Brock Bowers and should be avoided in all fantasy leagues, even if he returns as soon as he's eligible in Week 11.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Tashan Reed
2 days agoTennessee Titans wide receiver
Tyler Boyd (shoulder) did not participate in Wednesday's practice. The 29-year-old's status suddenly appears to be in doubt ahead of Week 9 versus the New England Patriots. Both Boyd and
Calvin Ridley were non-participants during practice, leaving
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as the Titans' top healthy receiver. There's still plenty of time for both Boyd and Ridley to get healthy, but if they don't, Westbrook-Ikhine would step up as Tennessee's No. 1 receiver at home.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Tennessee Titans
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