FFToday Updates
FFToday: Fantasy Football News
- Cobb will be a game-time decision
Hamstring injury
Randall Cobb looks like a bigger question mark than Ty Montgomery to play Sunday against the Colts. “Ty’s looking good,” coach Mike McCarthy said. But he added that Cobb will be a game-time decision. (ESPN)
FF Today’s Take: Cobb has been limited in practice this week and making matters worse for fantasy owners, the Packers and Colts play late afternoon on Sunday. It sounds like Cobb is on the wrong side of the questionable tag so Cobb owners should have plan B in place. WR/RB Ty Montgomery is expected to play.
- Carlos Hyde dealing with sprained AC joint
RB still sore and unsure about Week 9 status
Carlos Hyde indicated he has sprained AC joint; he’s still sore and doesn’t know if he’ll play Sunday. (Eric Branch on Twitter)
FF Today’s Take: Sprained AC joints tend to lead to multi-week absences, so it is likely San Francisco’s Week 8 bye didn’t give him enough time to heal. OC Curtis Modkins stated earlier in the week that he felt DuJuan Harris “earned more opportunities” after posting 57 total yards on 13 touches in Week 7, so he should be the target for desperate Hyde owners looking for a handcuff. Mike Davis and Shaun Draughn will also steal snaps if Hyde misses this week, making all three backs low-end options at best.
- Ty Montgomery expected to be Week 9 lead RB
James Starks, Jared Cook making progress
RB James Starks and TE Jared Cook made their return to practice Thursday, taking part in some individual drills at the start of the workout. While their return signals they are making progress toward a return, it’s unlikely it would happen this week against Indianapolis. Also, working extensively was WR/RB Ty Montgomery (illness). He didn’t appear to be slowed at all and worked with the running backs in all their individual drills. Assuming he’s cleared to play, Montgomery will probably be the lead running back Sunday with Don Jackson and fullback Aaron Ripkowski also seeing action in the backfield. (USA Today)
FF Today’s Take: Montgomery could conceivably be the lead runner in Green Bay for the rest of the season based on how Starks played prior to his injury. As for now, Montgomery warrants WR2/RB2 consideration (assuming he has dual eligibility), especially in PPR leagues. If Starks returns to a starting job, he’ll likely be a low-end flex option, while Cook will be in the TE2 discussion.
- Host of Chargers miss practice Thursday
WR Tyrell Williams, WR Travis Benjamin, TE Hunter Henry all sit
Chargers not practicing in early session include TE Henry, LB Perryman, LB Brown, CB Mager, WR Benjamin, WR Tyrell Williams. (Tom Krasovic on Twitter)
FF Today’s Take: The Chargers are in a good spot, facing a middling Titans pass defense but we’ll have to wait until Friday to get a better handle on who will suit up. For now, it appears Travis Benjamin is the most likely to sit. Antonio Gates would have increased value if Hunter Henry sits.
- Jerick McKinnon returns to practice Thursday
Ankle injury
Jerick McKinnon (ankle) returned to practice today for the Vikings (Andrew Krammer on Twitter)
FF Today’s Take: The Vikings have been woeful on offense the last two weeks so any help in the running game would be appreciated. The Lions have been decent against fantasy running backs allowing just one rushing touchdown this season.
- Carlos Hyde still in non-contact jersey
Shoulder injury
Kelly: Carlos Hyde is still in non-contact jersey, hasn’t taken any hits on shoulder. Sunday status TBD, will monitor end of week. (49ers on Twitter)
FF Today’s Take: Coming off a bye, most expected Hyde to be ready for Week 9 but as of Thursday his status is in doubt. This may be gamesmanship by the 49ers but Hyde owners should have plan B in place. DuJuan Harris, Mike Davis and Shaun Draughn are next up on the depth chart.
- James Starks to practice on limited basis
Knee injury
HC Mike McCarthy: RB James Starks (knee) will practice on a limited basis today. (ESPN)
FF Today’s Take: Starks hasn’t played since injuring his knee in Week 5. His availability is still in question for Week 9 but given the state of the running back position in Green Bay, he’s worth a speculative add in preparation for Week 10.
- Steve Smith misses practice Thursday
Ankle injury
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. didn’t practice Thursday, which puts his availability in doubt for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh. Smith hasn’t been on the field since injuring his ankle on Oct. 9. He would likely need more than one day of practice to get ready to play a game again. (ESPN)
FF Today’s Take: Smith hasn’t played since Week 5 and it appears he will miss this week’s game against the Steelers leaving WR duties to Mike Wallace, Kamar Aiken and Breshad Perriman. TE Dennis Pitta gets a slight bump in value with Smith out.
- Jets sign C.J. Spiller
New York waives Knile Davis a day after claiming him off waivers
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets hope C.J. Spiller can help boost their backfield with some speed and versatility. The veteran running back was officially signed Wednesday, and the Jets waived running back Knile Davis a day after claiming him off waivers. (AP Sports)
FF Today’s Take: After being jettisoned by the Seahawks, C.J. Spiller will add some much needed depth behind Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. Meanwhile, Knile Davis’s fantasy prospects are back on the decline after being let go by two teams in one week.
- RB Dion Lewis may return Week 10
Returned to practice last week
The New England Patriots are holding out hope that running back Dion Lewis will be ready to re-join the backfield rotation for next week’s showdown with the Seattle Seahawks, the Boston Herald reported. (NFL.com)
FF Today’s Take: This is great news for anyone who stashed away Dion Lewis. However, it will be tough for fantasy owners to gauge not only how effective Lewis can be after his second knee surgery but also how many touches he will receive in a backfield that already features LeGarrette Blount and James White. Lewis averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game when healthy last season.
- Jacquizz Rodgers ruled out by Bucs
Foot injury leaves Bucs with RBBC
The Buccaneers won’t have Jacquizz Rodgers in the lineup against the Falcons on Thursday night. Rodgers injured his foot in last Sunday’s loss to the Raiders and there was enough concern about his condition that the Bucs moved quickly to bring Mike James back into the organization. Rodgers was ruled out with the release of the Buccaneers’ official injury report for the NFC South matchup. (Pro Football Talk)
FF Today’s Take: After losing their top three running backs, Tampa Bay heads into Thursday night hoping that Peyton Barber, Antone Smith and Mike James can form a productive RBBC. Both Barber and Smith received touches last week and would likely split the bulk of the workload Week 9.
- Coleman, Tamme ruled out for Falcons
Devonta Freeman locked in as RB1
Falcons running back Tevin Coleman, defensive end Dwight Freeney and tight end Jacob Tamme were all declared out for Thursday night’s game against Tampa Bay by the team on Wednesday. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
FF Today’s Take: Coleman will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury leaving Devonta Freeman and Terron Ward to handle running back duties. Freeman should handle 70 percent of the RB workload Thursday against the Bucs. Rookie Austin Hooper will start at TE.
- Nick Foles to start at QB for Chiefs
Alex Smith expected to return Week 10
Coach Reid confirms that Nick Foles will start at QB Sunday vs. Jacksonville. (Chiefs on Twitter)
FF Today’s Take: Alex Smith was knocked out of Week 8 twice going through concussion protocol both times. He passed and would likely be cleared to play this week but the Chiefs will take a cautious approach and go with Foles this week against the Jaguars. Foles will be on the QB2 radar.
- Pat Shurmur in as Vikes OC, Norv Turner out
Vikings make switch at offensive coordinator
Vikings announce Pat Shurmur will assume the duties as Interim Offensive Coordinator effective immediately. (ESPN)
FF Today’s Take: It’s unclear why Norv Turner resigned today but the Vikes have struggled the last two weeks on offense registering 10 points against the Bears and Eagles the last two weeks. Given the injuries to the offensive line and injury to Adrian Peterson it’s unlikely the offense is going to get out their funk.
- Jamaal Charles headed to IR
May need another surgery on knee
The Chiefs on Tuesday placed running back Jamaal Charles on injured reserve, a league source told ESPN’s Field Yates. Charles has had soreness in his surgically repaired right knee. The move to IR means he will miss at least eight weeks. (ESPN)
FF Today’s Take: Charles missed last week’s game after suffering a setback in Week 7. He was scheduled to see Dr. Andrews today. Charles can be dropped in redraft leagues as the Chiefs will move forward with Spencer Ware (concussion) and Charcandrick West. Ware isn’t expected to play this week and the team is signed Bishop Sankey from the Packers practice squad.
- Percy Harvin signs with Bills
WR emerges from retirement to ink one-year, $1.5M deal
Sports agent Greg Barnett on Twitter: “My client Percy Harvin has come out of retirement to sign with the Buffalo Bills for the remainder of the season!” (Twitter)
FF Today’s Take: Wow. If this were 2011, the Bills would be looking stacked with LeSean McCoy, Reggie Bush and now Harvin, who will be getting around $1 million prorated. Harvin finished 2015 on IR and mulled a comeback before retiring. He’s 28 years old and hasn’t been fantasy relevant in years, so he’s probably left on the waiver wire until he gets in some games and we see what he can do.
- Jets might cut Darrelle Revis in 2017
Once-great CB declining — and due a whopping $15 million next season
Rich Cimini on ESPN: “Once considered a transcendent talent at cornerback, Darrelle Revis’ play has deteriorated to the point that the Jets may skip the switch to safety and simply release him after the season.” (ESPN)
FF Today’s Take: Revis is due to make $15 million in 2017, including a $2 million roster bonus on the second day of the league year in March — a deadline that will force the Jets (and Revis) to make a decision. At this point, the Jets are a team to target with opposing QBs and WRs.
- Jerry Jones now hinting Dak Prescott is starter
Cowboys owner finally admitting rookie is ahead of Tony Romo
Jon Machota on Twitter: “Jerry Jones on what they’ll do when Romo is healthy: ‘You want to be very mindful of what you got going. Chemistry has to be recognized.'” (Twitter)
FF Today’s Take: It makes plenty of sense to just come out and say that Dak Prescott is the starter going forward until there’s a reason for a change. Tony Romo is still recovering from a serious back injury and Prescott is playing very well in his stead.
- Jordan Howard makes case for starting RB job
Bears committee might be breaking down to workhorse role
Jordan Howard finished with 153 rushing yards on 26 carries with a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He also gained 49 yards on four receptions. (Chicago Tribune)
FF Today’s Take: Jeremy Langford had just one catch and no carries, and Ka’Deem Carey wasn’t much of factor. Following the team’s Week 9 bye, Howard should remain the lead back.
- Patriots deal Jamie Collins to Cleveland
New England receives compensatory third-round pick
The Patriots traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a compensatory third-round pick on Monday. The deal comes just one day before the NFL’s trade deadline. Collins, 27, had been a standout on the Patriots defense and was named to the Pro Bowl last season. He has 43 tackles, two interceptions a sack and a forced fumble so far this year. (USA Today)
FF Today’s Take: Former assistant Michael Lombardi suggested earlier Monday that Collins wasn’t coming close to maximizing his unlimited potential in New England and was part of the reason the Patriots’ defense hasn’t played well as a whole in 2016. The Browns are risking a potential second-day pick by trading for a player who is going to be a free agent after the season, but he is a huge upgrade over Demario Davis and Chris Kirksey in the interim.