Fantasy Football News | Page 57

Giants’ QB Tyrod Taylor was discharged from the hospital today after being taken there Sunday for precautionary reasons due to a rib injury, per source.

Related players: Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito

For now, Taylor is considered week to week, Schefter said. Reports say Jones is expected to practice this week and has a chance to play in Week 9. DeVito came in after Taylor went down and would likely get the call if neither Taylor nor Jones can play in Week 9. It's a situation worth monitoring but DeVito wouldn't seem to be an enticing fantasy option, even in the deepest of leagues.

Arthur Smith said he’ll announce on Wednesday who his starter is against Minnesota.

“I promise you, I’ll come in on Wednesday and tell you who’s starting,” Smith said, via Tori McElhaney of the Falcons.

Related players: Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Logan Woodside

Asked if Ridder would start assuming he’s 100 percent healthy, Smith answered, “I have to see where he’s at.” Heinicke came off the bench and played better than Ridder did, which would seem to indicate that Heinicke also gives the Falcons the better chance to beat the Vikings on Sunday, the story concluded. But Smith has invested a lot of time in developing Ridder and has indicated that he believes in Ridder going forward, and he may not be ready to bench his young quarterback just yet, the story added.

The expected news has come from the Vikings.

An MRI has confirmed that quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles on Sunday, Minnesota announced on Monday.

Related players: Jaren Hall, Sean Mannion, Nick Mullens

The team noted that the timeline and details of Cousins’ upcoming surgery will be determined this week. The Vikings have the rookie Hall on their active roster at quarterback and Mannion on the practice squad. Mullens is on injured reserve and has to miss at least one more game before a potential return. Suddenly sitting at 4-4, it's possible the Vikings bring in another QB.

Arthur Smith said they'll evaluate the QB position this week. Reiterated that health can affect performance and his No. 1 concern is Desmond Ridder's health.

"Whoever is going to play this week has got to get the reps."

Related players: Taylor Heinicke

Ridder was evaluated for a concussion and cleared protocol but Smith opted to stay with Heinicke instead of bringing Ridder back out. Heinicke played well during his time so the Falcons may decide to take advantage of this open door. No matter who plays, they could be without WR London Drake who is dealing with a groin injury. The Falcons host the Vikings in an early game. Those in deeper leagues or superflex leagues may want to add Heinicke with the chance he gets the start.

Leonard Fournette tells me he’s in Buffalo and is planning to sign with the Bills today, pending a physical.

Related players: James Cook, Latavius Murray

"Playoff Lenny" had nearly 1,200 all-purpose yards, including a career-high 523 receiving yards, along with 6 TDs last season, Schultz went on to say. Fournette's role in the offense could come in the passing game, an area where Cook has been hit and miss. In Week 8 Cook had just one catch for six yards, but collected three catches for 46 yards and a TD in Week 7. Fournette could also steal some goal line TDs should the Bills opt to go away from Allen in those situations.

Arthur Smith said Drake London's groin injury vs. the Titans "wasn't as bad as we thought."

Related players: Mack Hollins, Scott Miller, KhaDarel Hodge, Van Jefferson

It's good news but his status for Week 9 is likely still up in the air at this point. The Falcons say they'll see how the week goes with him. London led the way with seven targets and ended with a 5-55-0 line. Hodge had three catches for 75 yards and Miller caught a TD pass in Week 8. The Falcons have an early game against the Vikings in Week 9, so owners will have time to form a backup plan. The team's bye comes in Week 11.

The Steelers may have their starting quarterback for Thursday’s game against the Titans.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Monday press conference that “the door is definitively ajar” for Kenny Pickett to play, despite suffering a rib injury on Sunday.

Related players: Mitch Trubisky

It's a Thursday game for the Steelers this week against the Titans, which seems to be the bigger issue for Pickett as far as his status goes. Tomlin said Pickett will likely be a game-time call based on the information he had. The good news is there is no structural damage to his ribs. Tomlin added they will evaluate his ability to throw, his level of comfort and his ability of effectiveness, and "let that be our guide in terms of determining his availability.” If he can't go, Trubisky would get the start.

The Rams are evaluating a range of potential scenarios with QB Matthew Stafford and his thumb injury, per source, and he’ll have further testing plus assessment on how he’s gripping the ball through the week.

Related players: Brett Rypien, Stetson Bennett

Rodrigue said the team is pretty much looking at everything, including possible colder conditions in Green Bay in Week 9 - as far as gripping the ball goes. The Rams also have a bye in Week 10. Rodrigue added the team is considering the short term, but the Rams are also not ruling out injured reserve at this point, as they are still gathering information that helps discern a larger timeline for Stafford. Rypien came on in relief of Stafford in Week 8 and could be the assumed starter if Stafford has to miss Week 9. The team drafted Bennett this past spring.

Follow-up tests Monday revealed that New England Patriots leading receiver Kendrick Bourne tore his right ACL, according to a source.

Related players: DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte

The injury ends Bourne's seventh season in the NFL, which was on pace to be his best, as he faces a recovery that a source estimates in the six- to eight-month range. Bourne was injured on the first play of the fourth quarter Sunday. It's a big hit to the Pats offense as Bourne had a TD in each of the last two games and before that had a line of 10-89-0 in Week 6.

Titans quarterback Will Levis is expected to start Thursday night vs. the Steelers, per source.

Report: Ryan Tannehill, Malik Willis

Levis threw four TDs in his debut in Week 8. One may be thinking the Titans are telling Tannehill to take his time coming back, but the reality is the Titans play on a short week against the Steelers on Thursday night. Fowler included in his post that Tannehill is still recovering from a high ankle sprain, and likely needs more time.