October 2014 4for4 Player News Articles

Patriots QB Tom Brady (ankle, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Brady is good to go for his showdown with Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III (ankle, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Griffin has been medically cleared to play and will start, per HC Jay Gruden. He’s a risky start in his first game back, but given his weapons and ability add fantasy points in the running game, we believe he’s a high-end QB2 against the Vikings.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo (back, questionable) missed practice all week and is questionable for Week 9. Owner Jerry Jones said that the injury is a “function of pain tolerance,” and that it would come down to a game-time decision. Jason Garrett says he’s optimistic about Romo’s availability, though OC Scott Linehan said that “it’s rare” for a quarterback to play without having practiced all week. The Cowboys play early on Sunday, though we would shy away from using Romo since one hard hit could knock him out of the game. Brandon Weeden should post decent numbers if he gets the start.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith (right shoulder, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Smith should be fine for a great matchup against the Jets. He had a great matchup in Week 8, but failed to score a touchdown as the Chiefs found other ways to score.

Jets QB Geno Smith (right shoulder, questionable) took full practice reps again Friday and is questionable for Week 9. Michael Vick will get the start and is a decent desperation play due to his upside as a runner.

Broncos RB Montee Ball (groin, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 9. Ronnie Hillman is a strong play against a Patriots defense that has struggled against running backs this season.

Bengals RB Giovani Bernard (hip, out) has been ruled out for Week 9. With Bernard out, Jeremy Hill will see feature back duties and is a good bet for 16-20 touches against a so-so Jacksonville defense. Cedric Peerman will likely fill the change-of-pace role.

Texans RB Alfred Blue (ankle, probable) took limited practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9.

Colts RB Ahmad Bradshaw (not injury related) returned to take full practice reps Friday after missing practice Thursday. Bradshaw will play in a revenge game against his old team. We expect he’ll find the endzone against the Giants.

Chargers RB Donald Brown (concussion, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Brown makes his return after missing more than three weeks with a concussion. His presence will put a dent in Branden Oliver’s workload, though we expect Oliver to remain the lead back.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (back, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Charles will be fine to play in a so-so matchup against the Jets.

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington (foot, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 9. Ellington is in line for a big workload with primary backup Stepfan Taylor sidelined for a few weeks.

Ravens RB Justin Forsett (ankle, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 9. Forsett says he has a “minor” ankle injury and is fully expected to play in Week 9. Lorenzo Taliaferro appears to be the team’s RB2 at this point.

Texans RB Arian Foster (knee, probable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 9. Foster will be fine for a nice matchup against the Eagles.

Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman (shoulder, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 9. Hillman is supposed to see his normal workload in Week 9. Consider him a low-end RB1 in a nice matchup with the Patriots.

Giants RB Rashad Jennings (knee) missed practice again Friday. Jennings will miss at least one more week, which means Andre Williams should see 12-18 carries against the Colts.

Jets RB Chris Johnson (ankle, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9.

Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (not injury related, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 9. Lynch will be fine for a nice matchup against the Raiders. His workload has dipped a bit in recent weeks as the Seahawks have activated Christine Michael (since Robert Turbin is playing fullback with Derrick Coleman out for the season).

Buccaneers RB Doug Martin (ankle, doubtful) missed practice all week and is doubtful for Week 9. Martin will very likely sit, allowing the team to get a look at Charles Sims, who is a good bet to be active in Week 9. (We will know on Saturday if the team activates him from the designated-for-return list.) Bobby Rainey would figure to get a majority of the touches with Sims in line for 10-12 touches if things go to plan.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (knee, out) returned to take limited reps Friday after missing practice earlier in the week and is out for Week 9. It looks like Mathews will try to return in Week 11, after the team’s Week 10 bye. He should return to his lead back role with Branden Oliver moving to a Danny Woodhead-type role on third downs and in the hurry-up offense.

Raiders RB Marcel Reece (quadricep, probable) took limited practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9.

Eagles RB Darren Sproles (knee, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Sproles is expected to return in Week 9 and is a so-so option coming off an injury in a mediocre matchup against the Texans.

Cardinals RB Stepfan Taylor (calf, out) has been ruled out for Week 9. Marion Grice probably serves as Andre Ellington’s primary backup.

Broncos RB Juwan Thompson (knee, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Thompson is a decent Sneaky Start with Montee Ball still out and Hillman nursing a sore shoulder.

Chiefs WR Donnie Avery (groin, out) has been ruled out for Week 9.

Rams WR Kenny Britt (hip, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 9. Britt is expected to play against the 49ers. He’ll be the team’s WR1 going forward with Brian Quick out for the year.

Raiders WR Vincent Brown (hamstring, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 9.

Ravens WR Michael Campanaro (thigh, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 9.

Jets WR Eric Decker (hamstring, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Decker should be good to go for a tough matchup against the Chiefs, who are #7 in WR aFPA.

Cardinals WR Michael Floyd (knee, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Floyd tweaked his knee in Week 8, but finished the game. It’s not much of a concern at this point.

Bengals WR A.J. Green (toe, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 9. It looks like Green is going to play in Week 9. Kickoff is early on Sunday, so his owners won’t be in the dark when setting their lineups.

Chiefs WR Junior Hemingway (hamstring, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9.

Jaguars WR Allen Hurns (ankle, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 9. Hurns is currently the WR3 behind Allen Robinson and Cecil Shorts.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (rib, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 9. Jackson continues to nurse the rib injury but will be fine for a solid matchup against the Browns. He has been outplayed by rookie Mike Evans thus far, but should eventually get it going.

Texans WR Andre Johnson (ankle, probable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 9. Johnson has a great matchup with a shaky Eagles secondary this week.

Jets WR Jeremy Kerley (illness, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 9.

Jets WR Greg Salas (ankle, wrist, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9.

Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts (groin, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Shorts was not on the injury report last week, so he must have tweaked it again. The full practice participation tells us that it’s not severe. He will be fine to face the Bengals.

Raiders WR Kenbrell Thompkins (not injury related, probable) returned to take full practice reps Friday after missing practice Thursday and is probable for Week 9.

Colts WR Reggie Wayne (elbow, not injury related) returned to take full practice reps Friday after missing practice Thursday. Wayne is suddenly on track to play on Monday night. Donte Moncrief would be a Sneaky Start if Wayne can’t play, and Hakeem Nicks has some desperation appeal in a revenge game against his old team. If Wayne plays, then Moncrief would only hold desperation value as the team’s third wideout (at best).

Raiders TE David Ausberry (foot, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 9.

Browns TE Jordan Cameron (concussion, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 9. Jim Dray and Gary Barnridge will hold down the fort while Cameron recovers. This is his third concussion in two years, so the team will proceed with caution.

Eagles TE Brent Celek (back, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 9.

Dolphins TE Charles Clay (knee, probable) took limited practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9. Clay is good to go for a poor matchup against the Chargers, who are #4 in TE aFPA.

Jets TE Jeff Cumberland (finger, shoulder, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9.

Ravens TE Owen Daniels (knee, questionable) returned to take full practice reps Friday after missing practice Thursday and is questionable for Week 9. Daniels returned quickly from a knee scope, which typically requires 3-4 weeks of recovery. Then he missed practice on Thursday, but the full reps on Friday are encouraging. The Ravens play on Sunday night, so Daniels probably isn’t worth playing the wait-and-see game.

Chiefs TE Anthony Fasano (shoulder, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9.

Vikings TE Chase Ford (foot, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 9. Ford is a decent desperation start given his semi-consistent involvement in the Vikings’ passing game.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (ribs, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 9. Kelce should be fine to face the Jets.

Steelers TE Heath Miller (not injury related, probable) returned to take full practice reps Friday after missing practice Thursday and is probable for Week 9.

Seahawks TE Zach Miller (ankle, out) has been ruled out for Week 9. Luke Willson should continue to start in Miller’s place. He caught a touchdown in Week 8.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph (abdomen, groin, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 9. Rudolph is apparently targeting Week 11 for his return. Owners with issues at tight end would be smart to add him now while he’s still cheap.

Broncos K Brandon McManus (right groin, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 9.

Colts beat writer Mike Wells: The Colts are saying the right things publicly, but it's been a mystery why Hakeem Nicks hasn't been a factor. Last weekend's game basically summed up his time with the Colts. With Wayne out with an elbow injury, Nicks was the No. 2 receiver, but he was clearly outplayed by rookie Donte Moncrief. Nicks only caught one of the six targets from Luck for 27 yards while playing 60 of 66 snaps. Moncrief only needed 40 snaps to catch seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. You would have thought having a bigger role in the offense would help Nicks. Now you have to wonder if he'll fit in at all this season because Wayne will likely play Monday and Moncrief's performance may have been good enough to move him ahead of Nicks as the third receiver.

With Reggie Wayne looking iffy for Monday night, Moncrief would be a Sneaky Start against the Giants. Hopefully we'll know if Wayne will play by Sunday morning. If not, depending on Moncrief won't be for the faint of heart. He still has some upside as the Colts' WR3, even if Wayne plays, however.

While the Giants were practicing on Thursday, RB Rashad Jennings was working with a trainer on a side field. He was running and dragging a weighted sled behind him. It was the first time he's done this since the injury. "We can build off that," Jennings said.

This is the first step in helping rebuild his strength in the knee and get his endurance to a point where he can carry a significant workload in a game.

Up next is running in zigzags. The expectation is that will come in the next couple days or so. Jennings hasn't reached the point of planting his foot in the ground and changing directions. He isn't ready to cut.

"We haven't gotten the OK for that," Jennings said.

Jennings hasn't had a setback, it's just taking a bit longer than expected for the knee to be ready for cuts.

Saints Inactives
Jonathan Goodwin C
David Hawthorne ILB
Stanley Jean-Baptiste CB
Austin Johnson FB
Khiry Robinson RB
Pierre Thomas RB
Nick Toon WR

Mark Ingram will again be asked to carry the load at RB with Travaris Cadett chipping in on some passing downs. Jimmy Graham is active as expected.

Patriots QB Tom Brady (ankle) took full practice reps again Thursday. No worries here.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III (ankle) took full practice reps again Thursday. Griffin has been medically cleared to play and will start, per HC Jay Gruden. He’s a risky start, but given his weapons and ability add fantasy points in the running game, we believe he’s a high-end QB2 against the Vikings.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo (back) missed practice again Thursday. Owner Jerry Jones said that the injury is a “function of pain tolerance,” and that it would come down to a game-time decision. Jason Garrett says he’s optimistic about Romo’s availability. The Cowboys play early on Sunday, though we would shy away from using Romo since one hard hit could knock him out of the game.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith (right shoulder) took full practice reps again Thursday. Smith should be fine for a great matchup against the Jets. He had a great matchup in Week 8, but failed to score a touchdown as the Chiefs found other ways to score.

Jets QB Geno Smith (right shoulder) took full practice reps Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Michael Vick will start against the Chiefs in Week 9.

Broncos RB Montee Ball (groin) missed practice again Thursday. It looks like Ball will miss another week, but we’ll continue to monitor his progress. Ronnie Hillman is a strong play against a Patriots defense that has struggled against running backs this season.

Bengals RB Giovani Bernard (hip) missed practice again Thursday. The injury reportedly isn’t serious, but Bernard suddenly looks iffy for Sunday. If he can’t play, Jeremy Hill would be a very good start against the Jaguars. The Bengals play early on Sunday.

Texans RB Alfred Blue (ankle) took limited practice reps again Thursday.

Colts RB Ahmad Bradshaw (not injury related) missed practice Thursday. Bradshaw was just getting a day of rest ahead of a revenge game against his old team.

Chargers RB Donald Brown (concussion) took full practice reps again Thursday. It looks like Brown is on track to play in Week 9. His presence will put a dent in Branden Oliver’s workload, though we expect Oliver to remain the lead back.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (back) took full practice reps again Thursday. Charles should be fine for a so-so matchup against the Jets.

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington (foot) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Ellington is in line for a big workload with primary backup Stepfan Taylor sidelined for a few weeks.

Ravens RB Justin Forsett (ankle) returned to limited practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday practice. Forsett says he has a “minor” ankle injury and is expected to play in Week 9. He finished Sunday’s game against the Bengals, so we believe him. Lorenzo Taliaferro appears to be the team’s RB2 at this point.

Texans RB Arian Foster (knee) returned to limited practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday practice. Foster will be fine for a nice matchup against the Eagles.

Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman (shoulder) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Hillman is supposed to see his normal workload in Week 9. Consider him a low-end RB1 in a nice matchup with the Patriots.

Giants RB Rashad Jennings (knee) missed practice Thursday. Jennings will miss at least one more week, which means Andre Williams should see 12-18 carries against the Colts.

Jets RB Chris Johnson (ankle) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (not injury related) did not practice Wednesday. Lynch typically gets time off early in the week.

Buccaneers RB Doug Martin (ankle) missed practice again Thursday. Martin is out of his walking boot, but is looking very iffy for Sunday’s game against the Browns. The team may elect to sit him to get a look at Charles Sims, who is a good bet to be active in Week 9. Sims and Rainey would likely form a committee in a good matchup.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (knee) missed practice again Thursday. It looks like Mathews will try to return in Week 11, after the team’s Week 10 bye.

Raiders RB Marcel Reece (quadricep) took limited practice reps again Thursday.

Eagles RB Darren Sproles (knee) took full practice reps again Thursday. Sproles is expected to return in Week 9 and is a so-so option coming off injury in a mediocre matchup against the Texans.

Cardinals RB Stepfan Taylor (calf) was ruled out for Week 9. Marion Grice will likely be active and serve as Andre Ellington’s primary backup.

Broncos RB Juwan Thompson (knee) took full practice reps again Thursday. Thompson is a decent desperation play with Montee Ball out and six teams on bye. He’s a threat for another touchdown or two in the Broncos’ high-octane offense.

Chiefs WR Donnie Avery (groin) was ruled out for Week 9.

Rams WR Kenny Britt (hip) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Britt is expected to play against the 49ers. He’ll be the team’s WR1 going forward with Brian Quick out for the year.

Raiders WR Vincent Brown (hamstring) missed practice again Thursday.

Ravens WR Michael Campanaro (thigh) missed practice again Thursday.

Jets WR Eric Decker (hamstring) took full practice reps again Thursday. Decker should be good to go for a tough matchup against the Chiefs, who are #7 in WR aFPA.

Cardinals WR Michael Floyd (knee) took full practice reps again Thursday. Floyd tweaked his knee in Week 8, but finished the game. It’s not much of a concern at this point.

Bengals WR A.J. Green (toe) took limited practice reps again Thursday. It looks like Green is tentatively on track to play in Week 9. The Bengals play early on Sunday.

Chiefs WR Junior Hemingway (hamstring) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Jaguars WR Allen Hurns (ankle) took full practice reps Thursday after being limited Wednesday.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (rib) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Jackson continues to nurse the rib injury but should be fine for a solid matchup against the Browns.

Texans WR Andre Johnson (ankle) returned to limited practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday practice. ohnson typically rests early in the week. He has a great matchup with a shaky Eagles secondary this week.

Jets WR Jeremy Kerley (illness) returned to full practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday.

Jets WR Greg Salas (ankle, wrist) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts (groin) took full practice reps again Thursday. Shorts was not on the injury report last week, so he must have tweaked it again. The full practice indicates that it’s not severe. He should be fine to face the Bengals.

Raiders WR Kenbrell Thompkins (not injury related) was added to the injury report Thursday after missing practice.

Colts WR Reggie Wayne (elbow, not injury related) missed practice Thursday. It appears that Wayne is questionable for Monday night’s game. Donte Moncrief would be a Sneaky Start if Wayne can’t play, and Hakeem Nicks has some desperation appeal in a revenge game against his old team.

Raiders TE David Ausberry (foot) missed practice again Thursday.

Browns TE Jordan Cameron (concussion) missed practice again Thursday. It looks like Cameron is doubtful to suit up in Week 9, though we’ll continue to monitor his progress. This is his third concussion in two years, so the team will proceed with caution.

Eagles TE Brent Celek (back) was added to the injury report Thursday after taking limited practice reps. Midweek downgrades are generally a bad sign. If Celek isn’t able to practice on Friday and/or can’t play in Week 9, it would be a big boost for Zach Ertz and James Casey.

Dolphins TE Charles Clay (knee) took limited practice reps again Thursday. The knee injury has been an ongoing issue for Clay. He should continue to play through it.

Jets TE Jeff Cumberland (finger, shoulder) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Ravens TE Owen Daniels (knee) missed practice Thursday after taking limited reps Wednesday. Daniels returned quickly from a knee scope, which typically requires 3-4 weeks of recovery. Then he missed practice on Thursday. Consider him doubtful for Week 9. Crockett Gilmore will likely get another start.

Chiefs TE Anthony Fasano (shoulder) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Vikings TE Chase Ford (foot) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Ford is a decent sleeper at the tight end position provided he’s healthy enough to play.

Broncos TE Virgil Green (calf) was added to the injury report Thursday after taking limited practice reps.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (ribs) took full practice reps Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Kelce should be fine to face the Jets.

Steelers TE Heath Miller (not injury related) was added to the injury report Thursday after missing practice. Miller is probably just getting a day off.

Seahawks TE Zach Miller (ankle) was ruled out for Week 9. Luke Willson is a decent desperation option in Week 9.

Cardinals TE Troy Niklas (ankle) took limited practice reps again Thursday.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph (abdomen, groin) missed practice again Thursday. Rudolph is apparently targeting Week 11 for his return. Owners with issues at tight end would be smart to add him now while he’s still cheap.

Broncos K Brandon McManus (right groin) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Cardinals beat writer Josh Weinfuss: With WR John Brown, Arizona added a reliable speed option. Carson Palmer and Brown developed a great rapport while working together in Southern California this offseason and it’s just translated onto the field. While Larry Fitzgerald has shown he can make a tough catch in traffic and break free for 80 yards and Michael Floyd can go up and over anyone who challenges him, it’s Brown who can take the top off the defense. He has started showing up more and more on opposing game plans over the last few weeks, but after his game-winning touchdown catch Sunday, I’m sure he’ll be a point of emphasis going forward, which will spread secondaries thin and open up the middle and underneath for the rest of the Cardinals’ receivers.

Patriots QB Tom Brady (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday. No worries here.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday. Griffin has been medically cleared to play and Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 in Washington, D.C. reported via Twitter that Griffin will indeed start against the Vikings.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo (back) did not practice Wednesday. Owner Jerry Jones said that the injury is a “function of pain tolerance,” and that it would come down to a game-time decision. The Cowboys play early on Sunday.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith (right shoulder) practiced fully Wednesday. Smith should be fine for a great matchup against the Jets. He had a great matchup in Week 8, but failed to score a touchdown as the Chiefs found other ways to score.

Jets QB Geno Smith (right shoulder) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Michael Vick is expected to start against the Chiefs.

Broncos RB Montee Ball (groin) did not practice Wednesday. It looks like Ball will miss another week, but we’ll continue to monitor his progress. Ronnie Hillman is a strong play against a Patriots defense that has struggled against running backs this season.

Bengals RB Giovani Bernard (hip) did not practice Wednesday. The injury isn’t considered to be serious, but we’ll monitor his practice activity this week. If he can’t play, Jeremy Hill would be a very good start against the Jaguars. The Bengals play early on Sunday.

Texans RB Alfred Blue (ankle) took limited practice reps Wednesday.

Chargers RB Donald Brown (concussion) practiced fully Wednesday. It looks like Brown is on track to play in Week 9. His presence will put a dent in Branden Oliver’s workload, though we expect Oliver to remain the lead back.

Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (back) practiced fully Wednesday. Charles should be fine for a so-so matchup against the Jets.

Ravens RB Justin Forsett (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Forsett says he has a “minor” ankle injury and is expected to play in Week 9. He finished Sunday’s game against the Bengals, so we believe him. Lorenzo Taliaferro appears to be the team’s RB2 at this point.

Texans RB Arian Foster (knee) did not practice Wednesday. This is probably just a day of rest for Foster, who has been seeing a huge workload on Sundays.

Chiefs RB Cyrus Gray (hand) practiced fully Wednesday.

Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman (shoulder) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Hillman should be fine to face a shaky Patriots rush defense in Week 9.

Saints RB Austin Johnson (knee, out) did not practice Wednesday.

Jets RB Chris Johnson (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday.

Buccaneers RB Doug Martin (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Martin’s injury could open the door for Charles Sims, who is a good bet to be active in Week 9. The Bucs may want to proceed with caution, but a Martin injury would press Sims into service sooner rather than later.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (knee) did not practice Wednesday. It looks like Mathews will try to return in Week 11, after the team’s Week 10 bye.

Saints RB Khiry Robinson (forearm, questionable) did not practice Wednesday. Robinson will very likely miss Thursday’s game against the Panthers, so Mark Ingram will once again be an excellent play against a leaky Carolina rush defense.

Eagles RB Darren Sproles (knee) practiced fully Wednesday. Sproles is expected to return in Week 9 and is a so-so option coming off injury in a mediocre matchup against the Texans.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas (rib, shoulder, out) did not practice Wednesday. Thomas is expected to miss at least another week, so Travaris Cadet is a viable RB2/flex play, especially in PPR formats.

Broncos RB Juwan Thompson (knee) practiced fully Wednesday. Thompson is a decent desperation play with Montee Ball out and six teams on bye. He’s a threat for another touchdown or two in the Broncos’ high-octane offense.

Panthers RB Fozzy Whittaker (thigh, out) was ruled out for Week 9.

Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle, probable) practiced fully Wednesday. Williams is expected to start for the Panthers, per HC Ron Rivera. His return kills the value of Jonathan Stewart, though they are both decent flex/RB3-type starts during the Week 9 Byepocalypse in a nice matchup with the Saints.

Chiefs WR Donnie Avery (groin) was ruled out for Week 9.

Rams WR Kenny Britt (hip) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Britt is expected to play against the 49ers. He’ll be the team’s WR1 going forward with Brian Quick out for the year.

Ravens WR Michael Campanaro (thigh) did not practice Wednesday.

Jets WR Eric Decker (hamstring) practiced fully Wednesday. Decker should be good to go for a tough matchup against the Chiefs, who are #7 in WR aFPA.

Bengals WR A.J. Green (toe) took limited practice reps Wednesday. It looks like Green is tentatively on track to play in Week 9. We’ll wait and see if he’s able to practice on Thursday before putting him in our rankings.

Chiefs WR Junior Hemingway (hamstring) practiced fully Wednesday.

Jaguars WR Allen Hurns (ankle) took limited practice reps Wednesday.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (rib) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Jackson continues to nurse the rib injury but should be fine for a solid matchup against the Browns.

Texans WR Andre Johnson (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Johnson should be fine for a great matchup against the Eagles.

Jets WR Jeremy Kerley (illness) did not practice Wednesday.

Jets WR Greg Salas (ankle, wrist) practiced fully Wednesday.

Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts (groin) practiced fully Wednesday. Shorts was not on the injury report last week, so he must have tweaked it again. The full practice indicates that it’s not severe. He should be fine to face the Bengals.

Browns TE Jordan Cameron (concussion) did not practice Wednesday. It looks like Cameron is doubtful to suit up in Week 9, though we’ll continue to monitor his progress. This is his third concussion in two years, so the team will proceed with caution.

Dolphins TE Charles Clay (knee) took limited practice reps Wednesday. The knee injury has been an ongoing issue for Clay. He should continue to play through it.

Jets TE Jeff Cumberland (finger, shoulder) practiced fully Wednesday.

Ravens TE Owen Daniels (knee) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Daniels returned quickly from a knee scope, which typically requires 3-4 weeks of recovery. Perhaps his scope wasn’t very invasive. Either way, consider him questionable for Week 9.

Chiefs TE Anthony Fasano (shoulder) practiced fully Wednesday. It would be a boon to Travis Kelce’s outlook if Fasano were to miss Week 9, but the full practice indicates that he’ll be fine to play against the Jets.

Vikings TE Chase Ford (foot) took limited practice reps Wednesday.

Saints TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder, questionable) took limited practice reps Wednesday. After posting a pretty nice fantasy line in Week 8, we’re expecting Graham to play again on Thursday night.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (ribs) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Kelce should be fine to face the Jets.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph (abdomen, groin) did not practice Wednesday. Rudolph is apparently targeting Week 11 for his return. Owners with issues at tight end would be smart to add him now while he’s still cheap.

Dolphins TE Dion Sims (toe) did not practice Wednesday.

Broncos K Brandon McManus (right groin) practiced fully Wednesday.

Washington’s receivers weren’t too happy at halftime. It doesn’t take a lot of digging to realize why. The starting three combined for seven targets in the first two quarters of Monday night’s win at Dallas. Meanwhile, the offense had produced three points.

Nobody felt it more than Pierre Garcon, who had just one ball thrown his way in the first half (resulting in a 2-yard loss). In fact, Garcon has only had 24 passes thrown his way the past five games combined. This after being targeted a combined 31 times in the first three games.

“In the first half, everybody was a little frustrated,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. “I know the receivers were a little frustrated. I know Pierre was frustrated because there were so many things we felt we were leaving on the table. I ... put out some fires.”

Garcon averaged around 12 targets a game last year so it's easy to see why he's frustrated. The QB play for Washington has been inconsistent and Colt McCoy was the third QB to start this season. Garcon owners may want to try and stay patient as the return of QB Robert Griffin III could help Garcon's production in the second half of the season.

The Rams shipped fourth and sixth-round picks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for safety Mark Barron, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Scheffer. In making the trade, the Rams add the No. 7 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

On paper, adding any talent to a secondary ranked last in the league in opponent completion percentage is a good move, and Barron has long been considered an emerging talent with upside. The Rams liked him coming out of Alabama but passed on him to move down in the 2012 draft before selecting defensive tackle Michael Brockers with the 14th pick.

But the question the Rams must now answer is where, exactly, Barron fits within coordinator Gregg Williams' defensive scheme. At first blush, one would think that Barron could slide in and play alongside T.J. McDonald while the Rams keep tabs on injured safeties Rodney McLeod (knee) and Cody Davis (concussion).

The New Orleans Saints announced Thursday that receiver Joseph Morgan was placed on the reserve/suspended list and replaced by tight on Tom Crabtree on the 53-man roster. Coach Sean Payton declined to elaborate on the reason, and none has been revealed yet.

It appears as though it may have been a team suspension and not a league suspension, though that has not been confirmed. The move did not appear on the NFL’s transaction wire as of Tuesday.

Morgan, 26, has not played in a game since Week 1 (he’s been inactive five times this season). But when asked why during the course of the season, Morgan always insisted that there wasn’t any disciplinary reason for it. As Morgan has said, the Saints typically only use four receivers on game days, and the Saints had him below Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks, Kenny Stills and Robert Meachem in the pecking order.

The last thing Titans receiver Nate Washington wanted to do was spend his bye week in the training room, but that's what he's faced with over the next week.

Washington suffered an AC joint sprain while making a diving catch in Sunday's loss to the Texans.

"Of course it is still a little sore, but continuing to work with the trainers and coaches, I'll be OK,'' Washington said.

Washington landed on his shoulder while making a 43-yard catch in the second half. It was a highlight-reel catch, but Washington said he wouldn't rate it as one of the top five of his career.

The story said that he's feeling better, but he'll need to work to get himself ready for the second half of the season. If Washington misses time, or is limited, it would likely lead to more snaps for Justin Hunter.

The number of passing routes Arian Foster has run this season, ranking sixth among running backs behind Matt Forte, Le'Veon Bell, LeSean McCoy, Shane Vereen and Justin Forsett.

Foster has caught 24 passes on those routes for 166 yards, which ranks 13th in the league among running backs. Foster also has two receiving touchdowns, more than all running backs except Ahmad Bradshaw, Forte and Marshawn Lynch.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese was pleased to see Eli Manning make it through the bye week with just five interceptions after a disastrous 27-pick campaign in 2013.

But now, he has another set of instructions: Let it rip.

During his annual state of the organization on Monday, Reese said that he sees the offense under new coordinator Ben McAdoo as one that is developing some cautious tendencies.

Manning, he thinks, can take things in another direction by being more aggressive.

"I just think, as an offense, we have to be more aggressive," Reese said. "I think at times we're a little bit almost too cautious with what we're doing offensively. This is the National Football League. You've got to go out there and you have to win the game. You can't think something's going to fall into your lap. You've got to go out and take the games. I think we have to be more aggressive offensively. I appreciate Eli taking care of the ball and not turning it over because that correlates to wins a lot of the time, but you can't be too cautious."

The story pointed out that under the team's previous offensive coordinator, Kevin Gilbride, a system was in place where Manning could take more calculated shots down field than many other quarterbacks. It was the team's choice not to hire a coordinator with knowledge of that offense when Gilbride retired back in January.

Cowboys Inactives
Davon Coleman DT
Jack Crawford DE
Doug Free T
Jakar Hamilton DB
Donald Hawkins T
Keith Smith LB
Dustin Vaughan QB

For a player who has waited so long for his chance to shine, Patriots RB Jonas Gray seized that opportunity with his first carry of the day -- a 19-yard burst on the Patriots' second offensive play.

"It actually shocked me that it was that open," Gray said. "When you are in there you are doing everything you are supposed to do -- you are reading, you get your vision -- I'm like, oh, whoa, I just started sprinting full speed and couldn't believe that it just opened up like that. I was thinking I was supposed to score. I was so mad because I kind of stumbled a little bit. If I just hit it, I would have scored."

Gray had a breakout game on Sunday, leading the team with 17 carries and 86 yards on the ground. Gray's first run gave him a boost of confidence and set the tempo for him to carry the football a lot throughout the game. He displayed energy and confidence while showing his passion for the game.

It remains to be seen just what kind of role Gray will have going forward. He's the closest thing to Stevan Ridley, who is out for the year, the Pats had on their roster in terms of a bigger back, so there is certainly a need for Gray. Shane Vereen played but was battling an illness so that, along with a big lead, could have allowed the Pats to see what they have in Gray. For those struggling at the position, or just have a roster spot open to stash a player, Gray certainly has some fantasy potential, but it should probably involve at least another week of "waiting-and-seeing." The Pats host Denver in Week 9.

Bills RB Bryce Brown played on just 14 snaps.

Four of Brown's seven carries came in the first half but gained only six yards. Coach Doug Marrone said Brown would have received more time if the Bills were in a spread look on offense.

Instead, the Bills were in more of a ground-and-pound mode, playing with the lead for the entire game. That led to Dixon, the more bruising back, receiving more carries. He wasn't any more effective than Brown and finished with 22 carries for just 44 yards, his longest run was five yards. The Bills have a bye Week 9.

Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer reports that Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin was late for a team meeting on Saturday. Benjamin’s punishment didn’t extend to the field as he led the team in receiving yards during the 13-9 loss.

“I really didn’t worry about it,” Benjamin said. “When I got my chance and got in, I just wanted to make my mark and get the offense going and help the team.”

After the game, coach Ron Rivera said that Benjamin sat out those three plays to send the message that “you are accountable just like everybody else."

Rams coach Jeff Fisher and special-teams coach John Fassel called for a kickoff to go deep and to the left side. But kicker Greg Zuerlein mishit the kick and it didn't get much hang time, leaving plenty of room for Davis to scoop it up and take off down the right sideline. By the time Davis was done running, he had a 99-yard touchdown, the Chiefs had a 17-7 lead and were well on their way to 34 unanswered points and a blowout victory.

"It was a bad kick," Fisher said. "We were trying to get a deep left kick and he just shanked it and they got off and running. I haven’t seen it. Usually when that happens, you are going to get potentially a hold or two but it’s uncharacteristic of our cover team not to make that play. But that was a key play. It’s what they needed to win this game. We didn’t get that."

The mishit kickoff and the missed field goal are part of a disturbing trend for Zuerlein, who just two years ago was considered one of the most dangerous young kickers in the league as he converted his first 15 field goal attempts. But since Week 6 of 2012, he's 44-of-57 on field goal attempts, a 77.2 percent conversion rate. He only missed two field goals in 2013 but both came at the most inopportune times in losses to Seattle and Tennessee.

So far this season, Zuerlein is 8-of-11 on field goal tries. And though two of those misses have come from 50-plus yards, his ability to make long kicks was a big part of his appeal in the first place. He's made just five of his past 14 attempts from 50 yards or further. The story said it's not time to give up on Zuerlein just yet -- a 27-point loss certainly isn't all his fault -- but if his struggles continue, it's fair to wonder how much longer his leash extends.

Cornerback Patrick Peterson was diagnosed with a concussion in the second quarter and missed the rest of the contest. Peterson was hurt when teammate Deone Bucannon hit Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and drove him into Peterson with enough force that both Maclin and Peterson had to go to the locker room for evaluation.

Maclin would return, but Peterson wouldn’t and will now have to gain clearance by going through the concussion protocol. It’s too early to know whether he has a chance to do so in time to play against the Cowboys next week, although Peterson tweeted that he’s OK, in a game that will likely leave us with a frontrunner for home field advantage in the playoffs.

Torrey Smith (concussion) returned to the game.

Smith got evaluated, passed the necessary tests and came back to the game. It's something to monitor but it appears he'll be good to play Week 9 - a Sunday night game at Pittsburgh.

Packers Inactives
Carl Bradford OLB
Morgan Burnett SS
Garth Gerhart C
Jeff Janis WR
Datone Jones DE
Sam Shields CB
Scott Tolzien QB

Steelers Inactives
Justin Brown WR
Marcus Gilbert T
Landry Jones QB
Steve McLendon NT
Ike Taylor CB
Shamarko Thomas S
B.W. Webb CB

Browns Inactives
Pierre Desir CB
Robert Nelson DB
Vinston Painter T
Rodney Smith WR
Phillip Taylor DE
Billy Winn DE
Glenn Winston RB

Raiders Inactives
David Ausberry TE
Tony Bergstrom G
Vincent Brown WR
Bojay Filimoeatu LB
Matt McCants T
Keith McGill CB
Matt McGloin QB

Cardinals Inactives
Glenn Carson LB
Bruce Gaston NT
Thomas Keiser OLB
Troy Niklas TE
Alameda Ta'amu NT
Logan Thomas QB
Earl Watford G

The Saints have added a third tailback for Sunday night’s game vs. Green Bay.

The club promoted running back Edwin Baker from the practice squad on Saturday. To make room for Baker, the Saints released tight end Tom Crabtree. Both moves were announced on the NFL’s transaction wire.

The 23-year-old Baker signed with the Saints’ practice squad in September. He has played in three regular season games, all with the Browns at the end of 2013. In that three-game span, Baker rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries and caught eight passes for 57 yards. He started Cleveland’s final two contests.

In addition to playing for Cleveland, Baker has had stints with the Chargers, Broncos and Texans. A Michigan State product, Baker was a seventh-round pick of San Diego in 2012.

Baker will back up Mark Ingram and Travaris Cadet for New Orleans, which has ruled out tailbacks Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson.

RB Dri Archer's role with the Steelers is about to shrink even more.

Set to face the Colts on Sunday night, Pittsburgh has stripped Archer of his kick returning duties in favor of hammer-dropping running back LeGarrette Blount.

"Things didn't work out as well as they wanted before, so they switched it up," Blount said Friday, per The Associated Press. "(And) I'm excited about it. It's going to be fun. We're hoping that we can get everything done the way that we want to get it done, and we hope that we can be effective with it so we can keep it going."

Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson is getting close to returning to the lineup, but he remains a “long shot” to play Monday night in Dallas, Coach Jay Gruden said.

“We have not made that decision yet,” Gruden said, referring to Hankerson’s timeline. “We’ve got a logjam at wide receiver.”

Hankerson started the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list while he continued to rehabbed from major knee surgery. The 25-year-old returned to practice on Oct. 15, opening a three week window for the Redskins to decide whether to activate him, place him on season-ending injured reserve or release him.

Based on Gruden’s comments, the Redskins intend to eventually activate Hankerson and cut another player to make room for him on the 53-man roster. The only question is when.

Hankerson has something no other receiver on the roster possesses: height. At 6-2, he’s two-inches taller than any other player at his position. Offensive coordinator Sean McVay said it’s only a matter of time before Hankerson rejoins the lineup. The story also said Hankerson will need some reps. It remains to be seen what kind of role he'll have, as he'll at least be fourth on the depth chart behind DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Andre Roberts, but could see some red zone work if the Skins plan to take advantage of his height.

Patriots QB Tom Brady (ankle, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8. Brady will be fine to face the Bears.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III (ankle) took limited practice reps again Friday. Griffin is not expected to play on Monday night. Colt McCoy will get the start. He completed 11 of 12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in Week 7, though his numbers were inflated by a 70-yard catch and run by Pierre Garcon.

Titans QB Jake Locker (right hand, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8. Zach Mettenberger will get the start for the Titans. He has a strong arm, which may be good for deep threat Justin Hunter.

Buccaneers QB Josh McCown (right thumb, questionable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is questionable for Week 8. We’re expecting Mike Glennon to continue to start for the Bucs.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo (back) returned to take full practice reps Friday after missing practice Thursday. No worries here. The Cowboys don’t play until Monday night, so Romo was just getting his usual rest on Thursday.

Bengals RB Giovani Bernard (ribs, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8. Bernard will play in a tough matchup against the Ravens. He may not find much room to run, but he racked up 19 catches for 150 yards and a TD in his three meetings with the Ravens. The Bengals will be without A.J. Green, however, so the defense will be able to focus its attention on stopping Bernard.

Lions RB Reggie Bush (ankle, doubtful) missed practice again Friday and is doubtful for Week 8. The doubtful tag means that he's very likely out for Week 8. That makes Theo Riddick (hamstring, probable) a Sneaky Start in a great matchup against Atlanta. With Bush sidelined against Minnesota, Riddick had eight touches for 81 yards and a TD in the first half of the Minnesota game, before he injured his hamstring.

Seahawks RB Derrick Coleman (foot, out) was ruled out for Week 8.

Rams RB Benny Cunningham (knee, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8. It looks like Cunningham will be around to complicate matters for Tre Mason owners. The Rams say they’re going to use all three of their running backs.

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington (foot, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8. Ellington should be fine to face the Eagles in Week 8.

Texans RB Arian Foster (not injury related) was removed from the injury report Friday. Foster should continue to roll. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in five of six games this season.

Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart (foot, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 8. Gerhart will be in the mix for carries, though HC Gus Bradley said that Denard Robinson will get the start against the Dolphins.

Chiefs RB Cyrus Gray (hand, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8.

Titans RB Shonn Greene (hamstring, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8. It looks like Greene is back. His return might put a dent in Bishop Sankey’s weekly upside. The Titans have stubbornly given him carries when he’s active.

Bills RB Fred Jackson (groin, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8. Jackson is expected to miss around four weeks with the groin injury. Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown are likely to split the workload with Jackson sidelined and C.J. Spiller out for most of the year. Dixon was working with the starters in practice, and should see more carries and most of the goal line work, while Brown would serve as the pass-catching speed back.

Jets RB Chris Johnson (ankle, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8. Johnson should be fine to disappoint fantasy owners against a tough Bills rush defense.

Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (not injury related, probable) returned to full practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday and is probable for Week 8. Lynch should be fine for a great matchup against the Panthers, though the Seattle running game isn’t clicking like usual.

Redskins RB Alfred Morris (ankle) took full practice reps again Friday. Morris played through the injury in Week 7, so he should be fine for Monday night.

Panthers RB Chris Ogbonnaya (groin, questionable) missed practice Friday and is questionable for Week 8.

Eagles RB Chris Polk (hamstring, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8. Polk would see an expanded role if he’s active and Darren Sproles isn’t.

Jets RB Bilal Powell (foot, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8.

Raiders RB Marcel Reece (quadricep, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 8.

Colts RB Trent Richardson (hamstring, questionable) missed practice all week and is questionable for Week 8. The Colts play in the late round of games on Sunday, so it could be tough to capitalize on Richardson's absence. Bradshaw certainly gets a bump while Dan Herron could see 8-12 carries if Richardson is sidelined. Herron isn’t a bad Plan B for T-Rich owners who want to wait and see if he’s active.

Lions RB Theo Riddick (hamstring, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 8. Riddick might be in for a big role if Reggie Bush can’t play against the Falcons, as expected. He had eight touches for 81 yards and a TD in the first half of the Minnesota game (before re-injuring his hamstring) with Bush sidelined.

Saints RB Khiry Robinson (forearm, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8. Mark Ingram gets a big bump as he'll carry the load for the Saints against a not-so-good Packers rush defense. Consider him a top 10 play this week. Travaris Cadet is also a viable start in PPR formats as he's likely to see 4-6 catches in the pass-catching role in the Saints backfield.

Eagles RB Darren Sproles (knee, questionable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is questionable for Week 8. It appears that Sproles in on track to play in Week 8, though we wouldn’t want to start a gimpy player against a tough Cardinals defense. The game is late in the day, which only makes Sproles a less attractive play.

Packers RB James Starks (ankle, probable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 8. Starks will play, but teams generally have a tough time running the ball in New Orleans.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas (rib, shoulder, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8. Thomas is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with the shoulder injury. Travaris Cadet will see extra work on passing downs and is a viable flex start in PPR formats.

Seahawks RB Robert Turbin (shoulder, probable) took full practice reps Thursday after being limited Wednesday and is probable for Week 8.

Patriots RB Shane Vereen (illness, questionable) missed practice Friday and is questionable for Week 8. We’re not worried about Vereen’s status, though it will be something to monitor on Sunday morning when inactives are released. If he can’t play (not likely), then Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden and James White would divvy up the touches in the Patriot backfield. It wouldn’t be an attractive situation, though it would likely be Gray leading the team in carries in that scenario since he ran ahead of Bolden and White last week. Anything can happen with HC Bill Belichick calling the shots. If Vereen is active, he’s locked in as a high-end RB2 in a mediocre matchup against the Bears.

Panthers RB Fozzy Whittaker (thigh, out) has been ruled out for Week 8.

Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle, out) has been ruled out for Week 8. Jonathan Stewart will get the start against a tough Seattle rush defense that is giving up just 3.2 YPC.

Chiefs WR Donnie Avery (groin, out) has been ruled out for Week 8.

Rams WR Kenny Britt (ankle, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 8.

Cardinals WR John Brown (ankle, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8. Brown is a decent dart throw in a great matchup against the Eagles.

Raiders WR Vincent Brown (hamstring, out) missed practice Friday after taking limited reps Thursday and is out for Week 8.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (shoulder) took full practice reps again Friday. No worries here. Bryant should be good to go for a tasty matchup against the Redskins.

Jets WR Eric Decker (hamstring, probable) took limited practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8. Decker will be fine to play against the Bills. It’s a good matchup, so Decker should produce as long as he stays healthy.

Falcons WR Harry Douglas (foot, questionable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is questionable for Week 8. Douglas has a chance to play this week, but we won’t know until early Sunday morning. He’s not a good fantasy option even if he does play.

Bills WR Marcus Easley (knee, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 8.

Dolphins WR Brandon Gibson (knee) was removed from the injury report Friday after taking full practice reps Thursday.

Bills WR Marquise Goodwin (hamstring, doubtful) missed practice all week and is doubtful for Week 8.

Bengals WR A.J. Green (toe, doubtful) missed practice all week and is doubtful for Week 8. Green is getting closer, though he won’t return this week. It sounds as if the toe will be an issue for him for the remainder of the season.

Chiefs WR Junior Hemingway (hamstring, questionable) took limited practice reps again Friday and is questionable for Week 8.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (rib, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 8. Jackson is still dealing with a rib injury, though he should be able to play through it against the Vikings. Tampa plays early on Sunday. If V-Jax happens to sit, Mike Evans and Louis Murphy would both get a bump against a so-so Minnesota pass defense.

Texans WR Andre Johnson (ankle, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson (ankle, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 8. Johnson is a true game-time decision, per the team’s website reporter, Tim Twentyman. Owners will need to set their alarms for Sunday morning since the game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. If Calvin is active, he’ll be a top 10 play while Golden Tate will probably be ranked in the #16-#20 range in a great matchup against the Falcons.

Falcons WR Julio Jones (ankle, probable) took full practice reps again Friday and is probable for Week 8. Jones will be fine for a tough matchup with the Lions. He has already said not to expect a lot of deep balls with the current state of the Atlanta offensive line.

Ravens WR Steve L Smith (not injury related, probable) returned to take full practice reps Friday after missing practice Thursday and is probable for Week 8. No worries here. Smith will be ready for a tough matchup against the Bengals.

Bills WR Sammy Watkins (groin, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8. Watkins is ready to face a mediocre Jets secondary.

Colts WR Reggie Wayne (elbow, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8. Donte Moncrief played a bit more than Hakeem Nicks in Week 7, though Nicks has out-snapped Moncrief 277 to 96 on the season and 35 to 12 as recently as Week 6. Moncrief has offered a better FP/snap, per our Player Snap App. We'll keep our ear to the ground and try to determine which player would be the better desperation start in Week 8, though right now we would lean Nicks’s way, given his experience. Dwayne Allen might be the biggest beneficiary of extra work in the passing game.

Bears TE Martellus Bennett (hamstring, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8. Bennett is ready to go for a nice matchup with the Patriots.

Dolphins TE Charles Clay (knee, probable) took limited practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8. Clay is a streaming option this week against the Jaguars.

Ravens TE Owen Daniels (knee, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8. Daniels will miss Week 8 and possibly longer after having his knee scoped. There isn’t much opportunity for fantasy owners here, as Crockett Gilmore is more of a blocking tight end. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk may see snaps at tight end as well.

Lions TE Eric Ebron (hamstring, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8.

Lions TE Joseph Fauria (ankle, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8.

Vikings TE Chase Ford (foot, probable) took full practice reps all week and is probable for Week 8.

Saints TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 8. Last week, Graham played 41% of the snaps, or 30 plays in total. He’s likely to be somewhat limited again in Week 8 in what should be a high-scoring game against the Packers. We would recommend benching him for other elite-to-great TE options until he shows he’s ready to produce. He’s currently our #7 ranked tight end for Week 8 based on his reputation and the favorable matchup.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (ribs, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 8. Kelce is good to go for a matchup with the Rams, though there is always a slight chance of re-injury with a rib injury.

Seahawks TE Zach Miller (ankle, out) was ruled out for Week 8 and is out for Week 8.

Cardinals TE Troy Niklas (ankle, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8.

Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew (foot, doubtful) missed practice all week and is doubtful for Week 8.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph (abdomen, groin, out) missed practice all week and is out for Week 8. Owners who need help at TE may want to stash Rudolph. It appears that he’s getting closer.

Seahawks TE Luke Willson (groin, probable) took full practice reps again Thursday and is probable for Week 8. Cooper Helfet played well as the Seahawks’ starter, though Willson’s return will make the Seattle tight end even murkier than usual.

Rams K Greg Zuerlein (illness, probable) missed practice Friday and is probable for Week 8.

Patriots QB Tom Brady (ankle) took full practice reps again Thursday. Brady should be fine to face the Bears.

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III (ankle) took limited practice reps Thursday. Griffin is not expected to play on Monday night. Colt McCoy will get the start. He completed 11 of 12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in Week 7, though his numbers were inflated by a 70-yard catch and run by Pierre Garcon. HC Jay Gruden implied that Griffin may be back in Week 11.

Titans QB Jake Locker (right hand) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Zach Mettenberger will get the start for the Titans. He has a strong arm, which may be good for deep threat Justin Hunter.

Buccaneers QB Josh McCown (right thumb) took limited practice reps again Thursday. We’re expecting Mike Glennon to continue to start for the Bucs.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo (back) missed practice Thursday. No worries here. The Cowboys don’t play until Monday night, so Romo is just getting his usual rest.

Bengals RB Giovani Bernard (ribs) took limited practice reps again Thursday. We’re expecting Bernard to play in a tough matchup against the Ravens. He may not find much room to run, but he racked up 19 catches for 150 yards and a TD in his three meetings with the Ravens.

Lions RB Reggie Bush (ankle) missed practice Thursday after taking limited reps Wednesday. Midweek downgrades are usually a bad sign, but we’ll see if Bush is able to practice on Friday before making any assumptions about his availability in a great matchup against the Falcons. If he can’t play Theo Riddick would assume the pass-catching role in the Lions backfield and would be a Sneaky Start given the matchup. He had eight touches for 81 yards and a TD in the first half of the Minnesota game (before re-injuring his hamstring) with Bush sidelined.

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington (foot) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Ellington’s rib injury occurred in Week 7. The Cardinals are probably just being cautious with their diminutive running back.

Texans RB Arian Foster (not injury related) was removed from the injury report Thursday after taking limited practice reps Wednesday. Foster should continue to roll. He has rushed for 100-plus yards in five of six games this season.

Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart (foot) took full practice reps Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Gerhart will be in the mix for carries, though HC Gus Bradley said that Denard Robinson will get the start against the Dolphins.

Chiefs RB Cyrus Gray (hand) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Titans RB Shonn Greene (hamstring) took limited practice reps again Thursday. It looks like Greene is on his way back. His return might put a dent in Bishop Sankey’s weekly upside. The Titans have stubbornly given him carries when he’s active.

Bills RB Fred Jackson (groin) missed practice again Thursday. Jackson is expected to miss around four weeks with the groin injury. Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown are likely to split the workload with Jackson sidelined and C.J. Spiller out for most of the year. Dixon is first to work with the starters in practice, and should see more carries and most of the goal line work, while Brown would serve as the pass-catching speed back.

Jets RB Chris Johnson (ankle) took full practice reps again Thursday. Johnson should be fine to disappoint fantasy owners against a tough Bills rush defense.

Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (not injury related) did not practice Wednesday. No worries here.

Redskins RB Alfred Morris (ankle) took full practice reps Thursday. Morris played through the injury in Week 7, so he should be fine for Monday night.

Eagles RB Chris Polk (hamstring) took full practice reps again Thursday. Polk would see an expanded role if he’s active and Darren Sproles isn’t.

Jets RB Bilal Powell (foot) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Raiders RB Marcel Reece (quadricep) took limited practice reps Wednesday.

Colts RB Trent Richardson (hamstring) missed practice again Thursday. Richardson’s injury isn’t deemed serious, but this is something to monitor. Dan Herron would get a significant amount of snaps if T-Rich can’t play.

Lions RB Theo Riddick (hamstring) took full practice reps Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Riddick might be in for a big role if Reggie Bush can’t play against the Falcons. He had eight touches for 81 yards and a TD in the first half of the Minnesota game (before re-injuring his hamstring) with Bush sidelined.

Saints RB Khiry Robinson (forearm) missed practice again Thursday. Robinson downplayed the forearm injury, but two consecutive missed practices are a bit worrisome. We’re still expecting him to play against the Packers. He should see a few extra touches with Pierre Thomas out. If he can’t play, Mark Ingram will be a very solid RB2 and Travaris Cadet will be a worthwhile RB3/flex, especially in PPR formats.

Eagles RB Darren Sproles (knee) took limited practice reps again Thursday. It appears that Sproles in on track to play in Week 8, though we wouldn’t want to start a gimpy player against a tough Cardinals defense.

Packers RB James Starks (ankle) returned to limited practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday practice. It looks like Starks is on track to play.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas (rib, shoulder) missed practice again Thursday. Thomas is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with the shoulder injury. Travaris Cadet should see extra work on passing downs and is a viable flex start in PPR formats.

Seahawks RB Robert Turbin (shoulder) took limited practice reps Wednesday.

Panthers RB Fozzy Whittaker (thigh) missed practice again Thursday. Whittaker seems doubtful for Week 8.

Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle) missed practice again Thursday. Williams won’t play in Week 8. Jonathan Stewart will get the start against a tough Seattle rush defense that is giving up just 3.2 YPC.

Chiefs WR Donnie Avery (groin) was ruled out for Week 8.

Rams WR Kenny Britt (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Panthers WR Corey Brown (concussion) missed practice again Thursday.

Cardinals WR John Brown (ankle) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Brown being limited this early in the week is a good sign for his Week 8 availability.

Raiders WR Vincent Brown (hamstring) took limited practice reps Wednesday.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (shoulder) took full practice reps Thursday. No worries here. Bryant should be good to go for a tasty matchup against the Redskins.

Jets WR Eric Decker (hamstring) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Decker should be fine to play against the Bills. It’s a good matchup, so Decker should produce as long as he stays healthy.

Falcons WR Harry Douglas (foot) returned to limited practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday practice. Douglas may make his return this week, though he’s not much of a fantasy option at this point.

Bills WR Marcus Easley (knee) took limited practice reps again Thursday.

Dolphins WR Brandon Gibson (knee) took full practice reps Thursday after being limited Wednesday.

Bills WR Marquise Goodwin (hamstring) missed practice again Thursday.

Bengals WR A.J. Green (toe) missed practice again Thursday. Green is getting closer, though we’ll continue to assume he’s out until he returns to practice.

Chiefs WR Junior Hemingway (hamstring) returned to limited practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday practice.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (rib) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Jackson is still dealing with a rib injury, though he should be able to play through it against the Vikings.

Texans WR Andre Johnson (ankle) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Johnson should be fine for a nice matchup against the Titans.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson (ankle) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Johnson is trending towards a game-time decision early on Sunday morning. Owners will have to be on their toes since the Lions kick off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. If he plays, he should be in lineups given the great matchup and the Lions’ insistence that he isn’t going to play unless he’s a full go.

Falcons WR Julio Jones (ankle) took full practice reps Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Jones should be fine for a tough matchup with the Lions. He has already said not to expect a lot of deep balls with the current state of the Atlanta offensive line.

Ravens WR Steve L Smith (not injury related) was added to the injury report Thursday after missing practice. This was a “routine day off” per beat writer Jeff Zrebiec.

Bills WR Sammy Watkins (groin) took full practice reps again Thursday. Given the full participation, Watkins is looking good for Week 8.

Colts WR Reggie Wayne (elbow) missed practice again Thursday. The Colts are calling Wayne “day to day,” so he could play through the injury this week. If not, Hakeem Nicks and Donte Moncrief would see additional playing time. Moncrief actually out-snapped Nicks in Week 7.

Bears TE Martellus Bennett (hamstring) returned to limited practice reps Thursday after missing Wednesday practice. The hamstring injury wasn’t apparent on Sunday, so we’re assuming Bennett will play in Week 8 against the Patriots. He returned to practice, which is a great sign.

Dolphins TE Charles Clay (knee) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Clay has been bothered by the knee injury all season but he finally caught a TD against the Bears in Week 7.

Ravens TE Owen Daniels (knee) missed practice again Thursday. Daniels was rested during the preseason for what was described as “leg soreness,” but it’s not clear if this injury has anything to do with that. We’ll monitor his progress this week, though OC Gary Kubiak said that Daniels is “fine.”

Lions TE Eric Ebron (hamstring) missed practice again Thursday. Ebron seems unlikely to return this week.

Lions TE Joseph Fauria (ankle) missed practice again Thursday.

Vikings TE Chase Ford (foot) took full practice reps again Thursday.

Saints TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder) took limited practice reps again Thursday. It looks like Graham escaped Week 7 without a setback. He played 41% of the snaps, or 30 plays in total. He’s likely to be limited again in Week 8 in what should be a high-scoring game against the Packers. We would recommend benching him for other good TE options until he shows he’s ready to produce. He’s currently our #8 ranked tight end.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce (ribs) took limited practice reps again Thursday. The team hasn’t expressed much concern about the injury, so we’re expecting he’ll play against the Rams.

Seahawks TE Zach Miller (ankle) was ruled out for Week 8. Luke Willson and Cooper Helfet will continue to see extra work in his place.

Cardinals TE Troy Niklas (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew (foot) missed practice again Thursday. The Lions may be down to their 4th-string tight end, rookie Jordan Thompson.

Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph (abdomen, groin) missed practice again Thursday.

Dolphins TE Dion Sims (neck) took limited practice reps again Thursday.

Titans TE Taylor Thompson (knee) took limited practice reps again Thursday.

Seahawks TE Luke Willson (groin) practiced fully Wednesday. Cooper Helfet played well as the Seahawks’ starter, though Willson’s return will make the Seattle tight end even murkier than usual.

There's an interesting side story in terms of defending Lions WR Golden Tate. Falcons free safety Dwight Lowery, who played with Jacksonville last year, was unable to finish the season due to an illegal block thrown by Tate when Tate played with Seattle. I don't see Lowery going the cheap-shot route to get back at Tate, but you better believe he'll try his best to make sure Tate doesn't beat the secondary with a long ball.

But whether they're willing to admit it or not, Percy Harvin really does give Geno Smith and the Jets' decision-makers a better look at whether Geno can be the guy down the road. Or whether the Jets will need to give serious consideration to spending another high draft pick -- or going out on the free agent or trade market -- for a quarterback. With less and less patience when it comes to quarterback development in the NFL, these next nine games are pivotal to Smith's future.

If he can show consistent improvement with an explosive talent like Harvin on one side, the reliable Eric Decker on the other, and Jeremy Kerley, Jace Amaro and Jeff Cumberland as his other targets, then the Jets will get a better fix on whether Smith can be the guy.

Patriots QB Tom Brady (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday. Brady should be fine to face the Bears.

Titans QB Jake Locker (right hand) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Locker is expected to make his return this week, though we’ll continue to monitor his progress. His return would probably be good news for Justin Hunter and Delanie Walker, who have both suffered in his absence.

Buccaneers QB Josh McCown (right thumb) took limited practice reps Wednesday. We’re expecting Mike Glennon to continue to start for the Bucs.

Broncos RB Montee Ball (groin, out) did not practice Wednesday. Ronnie Hillman is expected to get another start, and may continue to start even when Ball returns.

Bengals RB Giovani Bernard (ribs) took limited practice reps Wednesday. We’re expecting Bernard to play in a tough matchup against the Ravens. He may not find much room to run, but he racked up 19 catches for 150 yards and a TD in his three meetings with the Ravens.

Chargers RB Donald Brown (concussion, out) did not practice Wednesday. With Brown sidelined again, Branden Oliver will continue to carry the load for the Chargers.

Lions RB Reggie Bush (ankle) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Bush is expected to play in a great matchup against the Falcons.

Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart (foot) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Gerhart will be in the mix for carries, though it looks like Denard Robinson will be the primary running back for the Jaguars moving forward.

Titans RB Shonn Greene (hamstring) took limited practice reps Wednesday. It looks like Greene is on his way back. His return might put a dent in Bishop Sankey’s weekly upside. The Titans have stubbornly given him carries when he’s active.

Bills RB Fred Jackson (groin) did not practice Wednesday. Jackson is expected to miss around four weeks with the groin injury. Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown are likely to split the workload with Jackson sidelined and C.J. Spiller out for most of the year. Dixon was working with the starters in practice, and should see more carries and most of the goal line work, while Brown would serve as the pass-catching speed back.

Jets RB Chris Johnson (ankle) practiced fully Wednesday. Johnson should be fine to face the Bills. It’s a bad matchup.

Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (knee, out) did not practice Wednesday. Mathews isn’t even running yet, apparently. It’s Branden Oliver’s show for now.

Eagles RB Chris Polk (hamstring) practiced fully Wednesday. Polk would see an expanded role if he’s active and Darren Sproles isn’t.

Jets RB Bilal Powell (foot) practiced fully Wednesday.

Colts RB Trent Richardson (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. Richardson’s injury isn’t deemed serious, but this is something to monitor. Dan Herron would get a significant amount of snaps if T-Rich can’t play.

Lions RB Theo Riddick (hamstring) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Riddick will serve as the third RB with Joique Bell and Reggie Bush relatively healthy.

Saints RB Khiry Robinson (forearm) did not practice Wednesday. Robinson downplayed the forearm injury, so we’re expecting him to play against the Packers. He should see a few extra touches with Pierre Thomas out.

Eagles RB Darren Sproles (knee) took limited practice reps Wednesday. It appears that Sproles in on track to play in Week 8, though we wouldn’t want to start a gimpy player against a tough Cardinals defense.

Packers RB James Starks (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. We’ll monitor his progress this week. If Starks can’t play, Eddie Lacy would be a safer start, while DuJuan Harris would serve as his primary backup.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas (rib, shoulder) did not practice Wednesday. Thomas is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with the shoulder injury. Travaris Cadet should see extra work on passing downs and is a viable flex start in PPR formats.

Broncos RB Juwan Thompson (knee, probable) practiced fully Wednesday.

Panthers RB Fozzy Whittaker (thigh) did not practice Wednesday. Whittaker seems doubtful for Week 8.

Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Williams probably won’t play in Week 8. Jonathan Stewart should get the start against a normally tough Seattle rush defense.

Rams WR Kenny Britt (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Jets WR Eric Decker (hamstring) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Decker should be fine to play against the Bills. It’s a good matchup, so Decker should produce as long as he stays healthy.

Falcons WR Harry Douglas (foot) did not practice Wednesday. Douglas once again seems doubtful to play in Week 8.

Dolphins WR Brandon Gibson (knee) took limited practice reps Wednesday.

Bills WR Marquise Goodwin (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.

Bengals WR A.J. Green (toe) did not practice Wednesday. Green is getting closer, though we’ll continue to assume he’s out until he returns to practice.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (rib) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Jackson is still dealing with a rib injury, though he should be able to play through it against the Vikings.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson (ankle) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Johnson made the trip to London (to help publicize the NFL?), but the general consensus is that he won’t play. We’ll continue monitor his practice activity this week. The Lions play early (9:30 a.m. ET) on Sunday morning.

Falcons WR Julio Jones (ankle) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Jones should be fine for a tough matchup with the Lions. Jones should be fine for a tough matchup with the Lions.

Jets WR Greg Salas (ankle, wrist) took limited practice reps Wednesday.

Bills WR Sammy Watkins (groin) practiced fully Wednesday. Given the full participation, Watkins is looking good for Week 8.

Colts WR Reggie Wayne (elbow) did not practice Wednesday. The Colts are calling Wayne “day to day,” so he could play through the injury this week. If not, Hakeem Nicks and Donte Moncrief would see additional playing time.

Bears TE Martellus Bennett (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. The hamstring injury wasn’t apparent on Sunday, so we’re assuming Bennett will play in Week 8 against the Patriots.

Dolphins TE Charles Clay (knee) took limited practice reps Wednesday. Clay has been bothered by the knee injury all season but he finally caught a TD against the Bears in Week 7.

Ravens TE Owen Daniels (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Daniels was rested during the preseason for what was described as “leg soreness,” but it’s not clear if this injury has anything to do with that. We’ll monitor his progress this week.

Lions TE Eric Ebron (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. Ebron seems unlikely to return this week.

Lions TE Joseph Fauria (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Vikings TE Chase Ford (foot) practiced fully Wednesday.

Saints TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder) took limited practice reps Wednesday. It looks like Graham escaped Week 7 without a setback. He played 41% of the snaps, or 30 plays in total. He’s likely to be limited again in Week 8 in what should be a high-scoring game against the Packers.