Fantasy Football News | Page 31

Tua Tagovailoa missed his second consecutive practice with an oblique injury and has yet to participate this week.

Related Players: Cooper Rush, Michael Penix Jr., Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus

Tagovailoa is trending toward an absence, but Atlanta’s replacement remains uncertain. Rush offers the safer health profile, while Penix would carry more volatility after returning from a significant knee injury. London and Pitts would retain starting consideration with either quarterback, though both would have reduced passing-game ceilings.

Olave was added to Thursday’s injury report because of a hamstring injury. He was able to participate on a limited basis.

Related Players: Tyler Shough, Devaughn Vele, Bryce Lance, Barion Brown, Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant

Friday’s participation will be important because Olave was added rather than carried over from Wednesday. Vele would become New Orleans’ leading wide-receiver option if Olave cannot play, with Johnson and Fant potentially absorbing additional middle-of-the-field opportunities. Shough would receive a significant downgrade without his clear No. 1 target.

Flowers did not practice Thursday because of his hamstring injury, his second consecutive absence. Head coach Jesse Minter has described Flowers as day-to-day.

Baltimore is already without rookie Ja’Kobi Lane, who was placed on injured reserve with a wrist injury. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle acknowledged that the team may need to adjust its game plan if Flowers is unavailable.

Related Players: Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, Chris Moore, LaJohntay Wester, Devontez Walker, Elijah Sarratt

Flowers will likely need to return Friday to enter the weekend without a highly concerning designation. Bateman and Andrews would be the primary beneficiaries of an absence, while Moore, Walker, Wester and Sarratt could all receive additional reps. Baltimore also had two starting offensive linemen miss Thursday, adding modest downside to the entire offense.

McConkey remained sidelined Thursday because of his rib injury, marking his second consecutive missed practice.

The Chargers have not indicated that McConkey is expected to miss Sunday’s game against Las Vegas, but he will likely need to practice Friday—or receive a particularly encouraging game designation—to avoid carrying substantial Week 2 uncertainty.

Related Players: Justin Herbert, Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris, Brenen Thompson, David Njoku, Oronde Gadsden

A third consecutive absence would leave McConkey genuinely questionable for Sunday. Johnston and Harris would become the Chargers’ leading wide receiver options if he cannot play, while Njoku could also benefit in the short and intermediate areas. Herbert’s projection would take a hit without his primary receiver.

Alvin Kamara practiced fully Wednesday after missing the season opener with a knee injury. Head coach Kellen Moore indicated that Kamara probably could have played in Week 1 and is expected back against Baltimore.

Related Players: Travis Etienne, Kendre Miller, Tyler Shough, Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson

Kamara’s return should reduce Etienne’s passing-down involvement and remove Miller from fantasy consideration. Etienne remains the better bet to lead the Saints in carries, but Kamara can immediately reclaim a receiving and hurry-up role, depending on how efficient he ends up being with those touches.

Demond Claiborne is expected to receive an expanded opportunity while Jordan Mason misses at least four games following thumb surgery. The sixth-round rookie was inactive in Week 1. Minnesota has also promoted DeeJay Dallas to the active roster and added Jerome Ford to the practice squad, so Claiborne’s precise place behind Aaron Jones remains unsettled.

Jones should lead the backfield, but Claiborne is the most interesting longer-term addition because of his speed and receiving ability. He is a deep-league stash rather than a Week 2 starting option. Dallas could initially handle more passing-down and special-teams responsibilities.

Texans WR Nico Collins injured his hamstring at Wednesday’s practice, met with doctors after and they “don’t believe it’s serious,” per source. Yet Collins’ status for Sunday’s game vs. the Bengals is in jeopardy.

Related Players: C.J. Stroud, Dalton Schultz, Xavier Hutchinson, Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel

The early medical assessment is reassuring, but this was a new injury suffered during practice rather than a maintenance limitation. Collins can remain in projected lineups for now, though a Thursday absence would create legitimate concern. Hutchinson, Boutte and Noel would compete for additional receiver reps if Collins cannot play, with Schultz also positioned for more targets. Stroud’s ceiling would take a noticeable hit.

Lane will be placed on injured reserve after undergoing wrist surgery, head coach Jesse Minter confirmed. He will miss at least four games.

Related Players: Mark Andrews, Elijah Sarratt, Rashod Bateman, Chris Moore, LaJohntay Wester, Devontez Walker, Zay Flowers

Lane’s absence removes one developmental option from Baltimore’s rotation. Bateman and Andrews remain the most likely beneficiaries if Flowers also misses time, while Moore, Wester, Walker and Sarratt will compete for complementary snaps.

Joe Burrow is dealing with some back tightness, he explained Wednesday.

“I feel alright. Normal gameday soreness. I feel alright,” Burrow described.

The Bengals star was limited at Wednesday’s practice, but the back tightness will not keep him from playing against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Related Players: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas, Mike Gesicki, Chase Brown, Joe Flacco

Burrow remains on track to start. Thursday’s practice will determine whether this can be dismissed as routine soreness or needs to become a genuine Week 2 concern.

Stribling underwent ankle surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss approximately 10 weeks, according to Kyle Shanahan.

The 49ers had already placed Stribling on injured reserve, but the initial designation only established a four-game absence. Wednesday’s timeline suggests he will remain unavailable until late November.

Related Players: Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, KhaDarel Hodge, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins, George Kittle

Stribling can be dropped outside of dynasty formats. Evans, Samuel and Robinson should continue handling the overwhelming majority of San Francisco’s wide-receiver routes, while Hodge, Cowing and Watkins provide the next layer of depth.