play1:10What would Brian Thomas Jr. missing time mean for Travis Hunter in fantasy?Eric Moody reacts to Travis Hunter’s nice fantasy game vs. the Rams and breaks down how he could potentially be firmly on the WR2 radar.
What would Brian Thomas Jr. missing time mean for Travis Hunter in fantasy?Eric Moody reacts to Travis Hunter’s nice fantasy game vs. the Rams and breaks down how he could potentially be firmly on the WR2 radar.
Eric Moody reacts to Travis Hunter’s nice fantasy game vs. the Rams and breaks down how he could potentially be firmly on the WR2 radar.
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Mike Evans’ return to action ends abruptly with broken collarbone
Moody’s Sunday Notebook: The stats and news behind the fantasy box scores
Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our Fantasy Football Buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the league.
Oronde Gadsden II caught all five of his targets for 77 yards and a touchdown while playing 76% of the offensive snaps and leading the Chargers in routes run. He’s now posted three straight games with 11+ fantasy points, including two with 18 or more. Gadsden remains firmly on the TE1 radar in Week 9 against a Titans defense that has allowed the ninth-most total yards per game.
Kimani Vidal operated as the Chargers’ lead back with Hassan Haskins ruled out (hamstring) and Omarion Hampton on injured reserve. He dominated the backfield in snaps, routes run and touches (24), finishing with 19.7 fantasy points. The second-year running back next faces a Titans defense that’s allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
Johnston was on the field for nearly as many snaps as McConkey and Tre’ Harris and ran the third-most routes for the Chargers, yet Johnston finished with zero targets. His quiet outing may have been due to a lingering hamstring issue and Los Angeles’ run-heavy approach against Minnesota. Still, his total lack of involvement is concerning, making him a risky flex option next week.
Prior to the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 7 bye, there were hints that Jackson — who injured his right hamstring in Week 4 — would be returning the following week. Well, he did return somewhat … to practice on a limited basis. While it was encouraging for Jackson to be back at practice, without seemingly much progress on the field since then, it could be a little longer for his return to full game action.
For a player like Jackson who expects to run — even sprint — throughout the course of a game, returning off a hamstring strain with a second game looming on just three days rest is a high-volume demand. With official player game status designations yet to emerge for Sunday, it appears at least uncertain whether Jackson will play this week or take a few additional days.
Friday, 8 p.m. addendum: Jackson’s status remains uncertain on Friday evening with his questionable designation but there is a bit more information. He upgraded to a full practice session Friday leaving teammates like backup quarterback Tyler Huntley saying, “He’s getting back into the swing of things and he looks good.”
Still, the team needs to see how he responds to the uptick in work Friday and, if positive, hope things remain that way on Sunday morning before declaring him the starter. As of now, the path is clear for Jackson to take the field Sunday if there are no setbacks in the interim and he feels like he can go for four quarters. If Jackson is unable to play, Huntley will get the start.
What would Brian Thomas Jr. missing time mean for Travis Hunter in fantasy?
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans (concussion): Collins suffered a concussion late in the Monday night game and his status for Week 8 is uncertain. Concussion injury recovery is criterion-based, not time dependent, however it is often the case that an NFL athlete will miss at least one week of playing time while recovering. With the Texans on a short week after playing Monday night, it feels less likely at this point that Collins would be available when the team hosts the 49ers on Sunday.
Wide receiver Treylon Burks, formerly of the Titans, suffered a fractured collarbone in late July. He was cleared for all football activities the first week of October, approximately 10 weeks post-injury (although he has not yet played, he was recently signed to the Commanders practice squad).
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders (hamstring): Daniels suffered a right hamstring injury in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys early in the third quarter when he was sacked. He was escorted off the field by the medical staff to the blue tent, but later jogged to the locker room. He did not return to the game.
This is not the same leg Daniels injured earlier this year; in Week 2 he suffered a left knee injury that resulted in two missed games.
Given the recency of his knee injury, there is perhaps more inclination to be conservative in managing this latest hamstring injury. Not only is Daniels a true dual-threat quarterback whose functionality would be limited if he is at less than full health, his ability to protect himself would be compromised.
Coach Dan Quinn told reporters Monday afternoon that Daniels’ MRI showed no long-term issue. His status for next Monday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs remains uncertain.
Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins (pec): Waller has provided some hope for the Dolphins offense this season but his time away from the game may be showing up in injury form. Before recording any receptions in Week 7, Waller exited the game with a pectoral injury. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Waller sustained a pectoral (chest) muscle strain that will not require surgery but his status remains week to week.
Alvin Kamara finished with 14 touches and just 5.9 fantasy points against the Bears, despite Kendre Miller exiting in the middle of the first quarter with a knee injury and being ruled out shortly before halftime. Kamara led the Saints’ backfield in snaps, routes run and touches. It’s worth noting that sixth-round rookie Devin Neal did not rotate in after Miller’s departure. If Miller misses additional time, Kamara’s fantasy value should see a boost.
Tyjae Spears led the team with 22 rushing yards, but Tony Pollard dominated the backfield in snaps, including most of the third-down work. Pollard finished with 12.1 fantasy points compared to Spears’ 7.0. The Titans’ offensive line ranks 28th in run block win rate, and their schedule for running backs gets only tougher from here. Both Spears and Pollard are tough to trust in fantasy lineups right now.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was more involved in the Giants’ backfield on Sunday against the Broncos. Cam Skattebo still led New York in snaps, routes run, touches (19) and fantasy points (18.4), but Tracy finished with nine touches and 10.6 fantasy points thanks to a rushing touchdown. He may continue to cut into Skattebo’s workload and bring this backfield closer to a 50-50 split. Something to monitor moving forward.
The split between Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins in Week 7 against the Colts was eerily similar to last week, with Vidal playing roughly twice as many snaps as Haskins. He dominated touches with 13 but wasn’t very effective. The Chargers could trade for a running back before the deadline, but as I mentioned on Fantasy Football Now, I expect rookie Omarion Hampton to lead the backfield once he returns from injured reserve.
Bam Knight led the Cardinals’ backfield in snaps, touches (17) and fantasy points (9.4). Michael Carter remained involved with nine touches and 5.6 fantasy points. Both Knight and Carter are on the Flex radar in deeper leagues coming out of their Week 8 bye, as they’ll face the Cowboys in Week 9, a defense allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
DJ Moore entered Sunday’s game dealing with hip and groin injuries, yet the only Bears receiver to log more snaps, routes and targets was Rome Odunze. Even so, Moore (8.2) outscored Odunze (5.1) in fantasy points. As for Luther Burden III, despite the buzz, he’s still not seeing enough snaps or routes to be fantasy-relevant.
The Jets offense sputtered without Garrett Wilson, who missed Week 7 with a knee injury. Josh Reynolds operated as the top receiver, leading the team with nine targets but managing only three catches for 29 yards. Justin Fields left early with an injury and briefly returned before being benched. Tyrod Taylor took over in the second half but didn’t fare much better and threw two interceptions. With the offense struggling, New York may turn back to Fields in Week 8.
Marvin Mims Jr. finished with a season-high seven targets and 15.8 fantasy points. This was his first time playing over 50% of the offensive snaps since Week 1. Denver was playing from behind, which led them to lean more heavily on 11 personnel. While Mims might look like an appealing waiver wire pickup looking at the box score after finishing with six receptions for 85 yards and a 13-yard carry, his playing time will likely dip again moving forward.
The good news for his managers is that George Kittle led all 49ers tight ends in snaps and routes run. The bad news is that he failed to haul in either of his two targets, likely due to limited chemistry with Mac Jones. Once Brock Purdy returns under center, Kittle should be better positioned to deliver the kind of production fantasy managers have come to expect.
Cole Kmet suffered a back injury late in the third quarter against the Saints, was initially ruled doubtful, and did not return. Colston Loveland caught three of four targets for 24 yards, but the bigger takeaway is that it was the rookie who stepped in as Chicago’s full-time tight end, not Durham Smythe, and played 91% of the team’s final 23 snaps.