Team news | Page 96

The New York Giants have officially ruled out running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) for Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Barkley suffered an ankle sprain in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals and is considered week to week, but head coach Brian Daboll kept the door open Tuesday for Barkley to play in San Francisco.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, Eric Gray

Barkley's immediate reaction to the injury put Daboll's initial remarks to shame, as the RB was completely beside himself. It's not recommended that you start any Giants running back this week.

No practice today for Chiefs’ RB Isiah Pacheco (hamstring) and WR Kadarius Toney (sprained toe).

Some people don't appreciate the tag "injury prone," but there is no easier way to quickly describe Toney's NFL career. Toney followed up his blistering 1-1-0 (two drops) opening week with a 5-35-0 Week 2 in which his final aDOT was -0.8. He should remain on benches regardless of injury status.

Pacheco has put forth two very usable fantasy days so far, snagging four passes in Week 1 and hitting 70 rushing yards in Week 2. If he is forced to miss Week 3, the fantasy community may be forced to hold their nose and stick Clyde Edwards-Helaire in starting lineups.

Panthers QB Bryce Young didn't practice today because of an ankle injury.

Related Players: Andy Dalton

It's still early in the week, so we'll keep an eye on this, but it's just one more negative bit of news about a Panthers offense that already looks lost. In the deepest of deep Superflex leagues, feel free to go grab Andy Dalton.

Colts coach Shane Steichen tells reporters that QB Anthony Richardson is in the concussion protocol and won't practice today, which means it may be Gardner Minshew on Sunday.

Minshew performed great in emergency duty in Week 2, completing 82.6% of his passes. Minshew should be on radars in SuperFlex leagues if he gets the Week 3 start against the Ravens.

The Browns and veteran RB Kareem Hunt have agreed to terms on a one-year deal. Hunt scored 23 TDs over the past four seasons in Cleveland. Now he’s back — and figures to have a lot of opportunities after Nick Chubb’s season-ending injury.

Related Players: Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong Jr.

Hunt had been one of the least efficient ball carriers over the past two seasons and was no doubt a huge reason why the Browns let him walk in the first place. We are still expecting Jerome Ford to handle a vast majority of the workload, with Hunt rotating in with Strong.

Indications are Joe Burrow has been feeling better the last two days than he was on Sunday. No injury report today because the Bengals play on Monday. The extra day will surely help.

Related Players: Jake Browning

This is something we'll need to keep a close eye on, as the offense will be drastically different with Browning. The Bengals offense has been inept through two weeks and some of that blame could fall on Burrow's calf.

Saints’ RB Jamaal Williams is expected to need “some time” to recover from his hamstring injury, per HC Dennis Allen.

Related players: Kendre Miller, Tony Jones, Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill

It's another hit for the Saints backfield as Kamara is still suspended for two more games. But, the good news is Miller is expected to make his debut in Week 3. However, it could be an a messy situation until Kamara gets back and the team could opt to include Hill into the rushing attack like they did in Week 2. Jones carried 12 times for 34 yards but scored twice. Hill ran nine times for 75 yards.

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns are exploring Rams running back Cam Akers and former Cleveland running back Kareem Hunt.

Related players: Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong

Just as we posted this news item, it broke the Browns are hosting Hunt for a visit. The Browns would obviously have to give up a draft pick to get Akers. As for Hunt, he spent the last four seasons with the Browns so a reunion makes sense. He has not signed with anyone since his contract expired following last season. In late August, Hunt had reportedly received offers from four teams. But the running back was waiting for “the right offer” and didn’t sign any of them, the story went on to say. The team recently said the RB1 duties will go to Ford while Strong sits behind him on the depth chart for now.

Q: Are we seeing the signs of what possibly this offense in the first year was missing a dual threat TE that stays on the field all 3 downs?

Indeed. Now, it’s all Durham Smythe. He played all but two offensive snaps in Sunday’s win over the Patriots, after playing every single one in the opener.

As the story said, and we witnessed last year, McDaniel always seemed uncomfortable having to work in Mike Gesicki last year, when his blocking didn’t fit everything the coach wanted to do with the tight ends, especially with the outside-zone runs.

The story added Smythe has six receptions for 67 yards in two games this season. While those are fantasy stud numbers at the position, Smythe could be an option in deeper leagues, or as a TE2, with a hope for improvement.

According to source, Brandon Aiyuk had a CT scan yesterday. It revealed no break to the clavicle area.

Those in the medical field believe Aiyuk is dealing with an AC sprain. And as the post said, his status for Thursday night's game will be all about pain tolerance. It all makes Aiyuk a potential risky fantasy play even if he's active for TNF. Continue to monitor his progress.