Fantasy Football News | Page 32

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.

RB Jordan Mason underwent surgery on his fractured thumb and has been placed on injured reserve.

Related Players: Aaron Jones, DeeJay Dallas, Jerome Ford, Demond Claiborne

Jones now has the clear path to leading Minnesota’s backfield for at least the next four games. Dallas is the most immediate deep-league addition, although the Vikings could use Ford or add another back rather than giving Dallas a significant rushing workload. Mason can be moved to an IR spot but is unlikely to help fantasy teams before Week 7.

Zay Flowers is not practicing Wednesday as the Ravens begin preparations to take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.

After exploding with 150 yards and a touchdown in the first half in Indianapolis, Flowers was sidelined by a hamstring injury, which he also dealt with during training camp. On Monday, Head Coach Jesse Minter said Flowers is day to day.

Fellow wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane is not at practice after suffering a wrist injury. Cornerback T.J. Tampa (knee) and several veteran leaders were also not spotted at the start of practice.

Related Players: Mark Andrews, Elijah Sarratt, Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker

A Wednesday absence does not rule Flowers out, but the recurring hamstring issue makes Thursday’s participation especially important. With Lane also sidelined by a fractured wrist, Bateman and Andrews would become Baltimore’s most established receiving options if Flowers cannot play. Sarratt and Walker would have opportunities to avoid otherwise dormant player pages, but neither would immediately become a dependable fantasy starter.

While the team still has hope, the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice week began Wednesday without starting tight end Brock Bowers and conerback Darien Porter working on the practice field.

Before practice began, Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak said neither Bowers nor Porter will practice. However, he said he is hopeful they could practice this week before Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Like he said Monday, Kubiak said both Bowers and Porter are “day-to-day.”

Related Players: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas, Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech

Bowers still has two opportunities to return to practice, but fantasy managers should prepare an alternative. Mayer profiles as a viable TE1 streamer if Bowers misses another game after handling the starting role in Week 1. Bowers would carry additional workload uncertainty even if cleared.

Jalen McMillan was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice as he continues working back from a knee injury.

Related Players: Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Ted Hurst, Tez Johnson, Cade Otton

McMillan appears on track to return, although another full practice Thursday would strengthen that expectation. His presence would likely push rookie Ted Hurst out of the three-receiver package and make both Hurst and Tez Johnson difficult to use. McMillan himself remains a bench option until his role becomes clearer.

49ers rookie WR De'Zhaun Stribling is being placed on injured reserve due to his ankle injury, sidelining him at least four games, per sources.

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

Stribling’s absence further consolidates San Francisco’s passing game around its veteran playmakers. Evans and Samuel should remain the primary receivers, while Robinson has a clearer path to regular three-receiver sets. Hodge, Cowing, and Watkins provide depth but are not yet redraft considerations.

Keenan Allen was formally charged Tuesday with two misdemeanors stemming from his August arrest: operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of at least 0.15 and operating while intoxicated.

Allen posted a $500 cash bond, and his attorneys waived an initial hearing scheduled for Wednesday. An attorney conference is scheduled for Oct. 26. Colts coach Shane Steichen declined to discuss the case Wednesday morning, but Allen was expected to participate in practice.

Related Players: Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Laquon Treadwell, Tyler Warren

There is currently no indication that the charges will affect Allen’s Week 2 availability. Fantasy managers can proceed normally while monitoring for any response from the Colts or NFL. A future suspension would create additional target opportunities for Pierce, Downs, and Warren, but projecting one at this stage would be premature.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports that the Vikings are expected to start Carson Wentz if Kyler Murray cannot clear the concussion protocol before Sunday’s game against Chicago.

J.J. McCarthy could dress as Wentz’s backup in that scenario. Minnesota believes Wentz’s veteran experience gives the offense a better short-notice option, rather than this being a definitive demotion for McCarthy.

Wentz produced three touchdowns after replacing Murray in Week 1 and would be a viable lower-end Superflex starter against Chicago. The report also provides clarity for Jefferson managers: Wentz, not McCarthy, appears positioned to direct the offense if Murray cannot play.

Tagovailoa's injury, an oblique strain, can linger, which puts his Week 2 status up in the air. So, Cooper Rush starting another week wouldn't be shocking. What helps Tagovailoa's case is his accuracy, which Stefanski highly values. If Tagovailoa's body doesn't totally break down in the short term and he can return before Penix is ready, perhaps Tagovailoa can provide a spark.

Related Players: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson

Rush would be a low-end QB2 for Superflex managers against Carolina. Another Rush start would introduce additional volatility for London and Pitts, while Robinson’s workload makes him considerably less sensitive to Atlanta’s quarterback uncertainty.