Early Sunday fallout: Dowdle takes control of Panthers’ backfield, Loveland saves Bears
What to expect from Puka Nacua in his return against the Saints
Beyond the numbers: What’s in store for McCaffrey, Chase down the stretch?
What does Saints’ move to Shough mean for Olave, Kamara?
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.
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Stroud left Week 9’s contest versus the Denver Broncos after attempting just 10 passes in the first half. He was later ruled out with a concussion for the remainder of the outing. Davis Mills took over under center, falling to the Broncos in a closely heated tilt. Despite the QB substitution, Nico Collins posted solid numbers, converting seven of 11 looks for 75 receiving yards and 14.5 fantasy points. The Houston Texans host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10.
Jefferson appeared to be shaken up on a play in the second half. After reportedly taking a few shots of pickle juice, however, the issue appeared to be cramps. The star wideout returned to the contest. He finished the day leading the team in looks, hauling in six of nine balls for 47 receiving yards and a score (16.7 fantasy points). With J.J. McCarthy looking capable, Jefferson’s fantasy stock remains, mercifully, intact.
With Cam Skattebo out of the lineup, Tracy was expected to handle the bulk of the backfield’s duties. Instead, he was out-carried by Devin Singletary by a margin of three totes. Not surprisingly, Tracy was more active as a receiver, converting three of four targets. Tracy finished the day with 37 scrimmage yards while “Motor” managed 51 total yards. The New York Giants backfield is shaping up to be a headache of an RBBC moving forward.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders (right hamstring): Daniels will return to start in Week 9 after missing just one week with a mild right hamstring strain. He injured his leg in the Week 7 contest and, despite wanting to reenter the game, sat out the bulk of the second half. The team ruled Daniels out early in advance of the Week 8 Monday night game, making it easy for him to focus on rest and recovery.
Daniels was back in practice as a full participant Wednesday and maintained that status throughout the week. He was removed from the game status report on Friday leaving no doubt as far as his availability. It should be noted that the injured hamstring is on the opposite side of the knee Daniels injured earlier this season, which resulted in a two-game absence (Weeks 3 and 4).
Still, it’s critical for a mobile quarterback such as Daniels to be fully past even a mild strain so as to avoid compensations that could stress other areas, or, result in an aggravation of the hamstring. The week of full practice sessions had to provide the team with the proof they needed that Daniels could be cut loose for full speed game action.
This week McCarthy told reporters his ankle feels “amazing” and that he’s “ready to go.” A week of full practices and his removal from the team’s game status injury report support the notion that he is indeed fully healthy. Now it’s up to McCarthy to show his readiness at the position.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Falcons (knee): Penix was visibly uncomfortable in the final minutes of the Week 7 game against the 49ers but limped through to the finish. Later diagnosed with a bone bruise in his knee, Penix only managed limited practice sessions in the leadup to Week 8 and was held out of that game.
This week, Penix started with two limited practices but upgraded to a full session Friday and was removed from the game status injury report indicating his readiness to start. Given that the biggest indicator of healing progression from a bone bruise is activity tolerance, Penix looks to be in good shape heading into Sunday.
Bryce Young, QB, Panthers (ankle): Young was reportedly diagnosed with a right high ankle sprain after being forced out of the Week 7 contest but appears on track to return Sunday. Coach Dave Canales told reporters Wednesday that Young wanted to return and they would try to force different movements on him in practice to challenge him and test the ankle. Apparently the tests were satisfactorily passed as Young practiced in full each day and was removed from the game status injury report Friday.
Still, this is a quick return, even for a low grade high ankle sprain, so it will be interesting to see how well Young moves around the field and in the pocket on Sunday. It is worth noting that backup quarterback Andy Dalton (who started in place of Young in Week 8) is listed as questionable with a thumb injury on his right (throwing) hand.
Nacua has missed only one game (with an additional week of recovery thanks to a well-timed bye), but it feels like forever to his fantasy managers. Aside from the Week 6 contest where he left early as a result of injury, Nacua’s least amount of yards from scrimmage this season was 85 in Week 5. Every week prior he amassed over 100 total yards, including 170 in Week 2.
“You want him to feel as good as possible because of all the different things we ask of him for his game to fully come to life,” McVay said. He went on to note Nacua has looked “really good” in practice and will be ready to play Sunday.
Coming off an ankle sprain, the key for Nacua has been functionality all along. If the ankle has healed to the point of feeling stable, then functional performance is high. He should return without limitation.
Travis Hunter (knee) has been placed on injured reserve and will miss at least four games, a major blow to both the Jacksonville Jaguars and fantasy managers. The rookie had been breaking out before the injury, setting season highs in targets (14), receptions (8) and yards (104), and he scored his first touchdown in Week 8. With Hunter sidelined, Parker Washington (rostered in just 1.9% of leagues) is the top beneficiary, as he’s likely to see more slot snaps.
Brian Thomas Jr. remains the Jaguars’ No. 1 receiver despite battling a shoulder injury, though his reliability will depend on his health heading into Sunday. Dyami Brown and Tim Patrick could also see increased roles if healthy, while the Jaguars’ banged-up receiver corps further limits Trevor Lawrence’s fantasy outlook. Jacksonville’s Week 9 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders is favorable, as Las Vegas’ defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Washington is my preferred player to stash and can be viewed as a low-end flex in deeper leagues while we see how the Jaguars’ receiver room shakes out against the Raiders.
All three of the Ravens tight ends had success against the Dolphins. Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar combined for 35.9 fantasy points, with Andrews leading the way with 16.6 points thanks to two receiving touchdowns. It was his 12th career game with multiple receiving touchdowns, the most by any tight end since he entered the league in 2018 and tied for the fourth most among all players in that span.
Derrick Henry led the Ravens’ backfield in snaps played, routes run, touches (20), and fantasy points (13.1), which shouldn’t come as a surprise. However, there’s one detail managers should be aware of. Justice Hill’s role continues to shrink as Keaton Mitchell has started to siphon early-down snaps. If Henry misses time, Mitchell is the insurance back fantasy managers will want on their watch list.
Jaylen Waddle led all Dolphins pass catchers in snaps played, routes run, targets (9), and fantasy points (14.2). He’s the only Miami receiver managers can truly rely on. Waddle has topped 80 receiving yards in four of his last five games and has seen at least six targets in four of them. Despite Tua Tagovailoa’s up-and-down play, Waddle belongs in lineups every week as a high-end WR2, and Miami’s rest-of-season schedule for receivers is very favorable.
Don’t underestimate the Ravens’ defense. Over the past three games, Baltimore’s defense has allowed just 13.0 points per game after giving up a league-worst 35.4 per game through Week 5.
It’s never too soon to prepare your fantasy football team for those stretch run weeks — particularly the Week 14 regular-season finale in which four NFL teams (Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers) are on bye — and the fantasy playoffs.
Beginning this week, we’ve got a new tool to help you make those critical trade and pickup decisions: The Fantasy Football Strength-of-Schedule Cheat Sheet, which breaks down each team’s past and remaining schedule at each of the six traditional fantasy football positions (QB, RB, WR, TE, K and D/ST). Before completing any trades, always make sure to check the cheat sheet to see where your players rank.
Matt Bowen: With New Orleans Saints rookie Tyler Shough expected to make his first pro start this Sunday on the road versus the Los Angeles Rams, let’s discuss the quarterback change for Kellen Moore’s team and the fantasy implications.
Shough has the arm talent to attack down the field, and I would expect Moore to scheme some vertical throws for the rookie on Sunday. Think max protection/two-man routes here that give Shough a clear picture down the field. Plus, Moore can define the reads for Shough underneath, while using the quick passing game to get him into a rhythm.
However, with a rookie making his first start versus a Rams defense that can rush the passer and ranks in the top-10 versus opposing quarterbacks, we should expect to see some teachable moments on the field. Shough will not warrant enough fantasy value to be played in 2QB Superflex formats this Sunday. However, his ability to throw down the field could open the door for both Olave and Shaheed to make some splash plays.