Fantasy Football News

Kansas City Chiefs veteran tight end Travis Kelce (ankle) upgraded to a full practice on Thursday, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. Kelce should be fine to play in the Week 9 contest on Sunday against the visiting New York Jets after being limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer has not been turning heads with his production so far in what could be his last year in the NFL, but he has quietly led the team in receptions and receiving yards in each of the last two weeks, both losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. Kelce has caught nine of his 15 targets over that span for 111 yards and a touchdown, and he will remain at least a low-end TE1 option for fantasy managers as the Chiefs look to get back in the win column at home against the Jets this weekend. Overall, through eight weeks (seven games), Kelce has caught 29 passes for 410 yards and two touchdowns on 42 targets. The 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro continues to be a reliable safety valve for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb dismissed the idea of trading fellow wideout George Pickens on Thursday, according to Nick Harris of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I don't know why that's a thing. Everything I've been able to accomplish is because of him and what he's done the year before, and vice versa. And everything I've accomplished the year before, he exposed them. We take what the defense is giving us. I feel like that's where we go hand in hand while I'm able to do what I'm doing at a great pace," Lamb said. It is a thing because Pickens is currently on the franchise tag, and he is not under contract with the organization beyond this season. The Cowboys continue to say that they are interested in keeping the 25-year-old around beyond this year, but they were unable to agree to a long-term extension before the deadline to do so in mid-July. The former second-rounder had a career year in 2025 in his first year with the team, with a 93-1,429-9 line in 17 games. Pickens has taken a back seat to Lamb through eight weeks in 2026, but he has remained involved with 39 catches on 62 targets for 533 yards and two scores. Pickens and Lamb make for one of the best WR duos in the league, yet the Cowboys as a team continue to struggle. Getting out from under the shadow of Lamb could be ideal for Pickens from a fantasy perspective, but the grass won't necessarily be greener if he were to be traded.

Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said that rookie quarterback Carson Beck has prepared well and continues to make progress in his development, according to Bo Brack of PHNX Sports. "We'll find out whenever he goes in," Hackett said. The 24-year-old third-rounder from the University of Miami is now Arizona's backup behind veteran Gardner Minshew II after the Cardinals traded Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. Beck will be on the active game-day roster for the first time in his career in the Week 9 divisional battle against the Seattle Seahawks this weekend, and it would not be a surprise to see him making starts before the end of the 2026 season. Minshew is not the long-term answer for the organization, so if the Cardinals continue to struggle, Beck could be an option to become the starter sooner rather than later. For fantasy purposes, Beck is still best served as a dynasty/keeper-league stash.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) was absent from the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Samuel also missed practice on Wednesday and is unlikely to return from a hamstring injury in Week 9 against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday despite having last week's bye to rest up. The 30-year-old veteran has not practiced or played since suffering a hamstring injury in the Week 5 win over the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, and fantasy managers should not expect him to return this weekend. The next chance that Samuel will be able to return will be in Week 10 on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. With fellow wideout Mike Evans (Achilles, ribs) also expected to miss Week 9, San Francisco will be down to Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks, and Jacob Cowing at the WR position. Veteran Christian Kirk also missed Thursday's practice with a knee injury after he was limited on Wednesday.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (Achilles, ribs) was not seen participating in the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Despite the 49ers coming off their bye in Week 8, they are not expected to have either Evans or Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) for their Week 9 contest on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 33-year-old Evans was also a non-participant in Wednesday's practice. Fantasy managers should move him to their bench now in anticipation of him sitting out another game this weekend. With both Evans and Samuel sidelined again, tight end George Kittle will continue to have a high fantasy ceiling and floor as quarterback Brock Purdy's most trusted weapon. Evans has seemingly been battling various injuries since training camp back in the summer, but when on the field, he has been electric for the Niners in his first year with the team, catching 27 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns in six games. His next chance to return will come in Week 10 on Sunday, Nov. 15, for a showdown in Dallas against the Cowboys.

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (knee) was added to the team's injury report on Thursday, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Lloyd was downgraded to limited practice participation after practicing in full on Wednesday, which could indicate that he suffered the knee injury during practice on Thursday. Lloyd has been Green Bay's RB2 since star back Josh Jacobs returned to the field in Week 7. If Lloyd is unable to play in Week 9, Jacobs could see an even larger share of the team's backfield work on Sunday against the New England Patriots. Either way, Jacobs profiles as a must-start running back in Week 9.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle, foot) "should be good" to play in his team's Week 9 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football "barring any pregame setbacks," per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The 23-year-old was held out of practice on the short week while he battles an ankle/foot issue, but it appears he is gearing up to play on Thursday night. Tuten has emerged as a breakout star for Jacksonville so far this season, recording 673 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns on 125 touches across seven games. He's also played some of his best football lately, logging 246 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over the last two weeks. As long as Tuten is active, he profiles as a must-start running back for fantasy managers in Week 9.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (toe) was officially placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. Huntley suffered a turf-toe injury in Sunday's Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills and is now expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season. Lamar Jackson (thumb) was also placed on IR, and he, too, is expected to miss the rest of the year, which is why the Ravens acquired veteran signal-caller Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday. Undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano will make his first NFL start on Thursday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Brissett will take over starting in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. The 28-year-old Huntley will wrap up his seventh year in the NFL with five games played (three starts) in place of the injured Jackson, who also missed time with a high-ankle sprain. Huntley completed 69.1% of his pass attempts for 727 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He has similar qualities to Jackson, but he simply could not replicate Jackson's elite dual-threat traits at the QB position.

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) was limited in practice on Thursday with a groin injury, per Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram. Fannin Jr. was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, so his limited designation on Thursday could indicate that he suffered the injury in practice. Across eight games in 2026, Fannin Jr. has recorded 35 catches for 411 yards and three touchdowns on 51 targets. The 22-year-old has also played some of his best football lately, hauling in 16 receptions for 245 yards on 21 targets over Cleveland's last two games. If Fannin Jr. is unable to play in the Browns' Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland wideouts KC Concepcion Jr. and Denzel Boston (calf) could both see an increase in targets.

The Baltimore Ravens officially placed quarterback Lamar Jackson (thumb) on Injured Reserve on Thursday, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. The Ravens also put backup QB Tyler Huntley (toe) on IR, with both signal-callers expected to miss the rest of the season after they were injured in the Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Jackson is technically out indefinitely, but he could officially be ruled out for the rest of the year once he undergoes surgery on his right thumb. Undrafted rookie QB Joe Faganano will make his first NFL start on Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but after that, veteran Jacoby Brissett is expected to become Baltimore's starter under center after the Ravens acquired him in a trade from the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday. Jackson, 29, has now had two straight injury-plagued years and will head into the final year of his contract with Baltimore in 2027 with a lot on the line. If the two-time MVP is indeed out for the year, as expected, he will finish his ninth year in the league with a career-low five games played in 2026.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (back) returned to practice on Thursday, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Kamara is battling a back injury, but it appears he could be trending toward playing in the Saints' Week 9 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The veteran running back has not been particularly effective in 2026, recording 258 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 63 touches across six games. However, Kamara recorded seven catches for 57 yards in the Saints' final game before their Week 7 bye. With Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. still on Injured Reserve due to a hamstring issue, Kamara and Kendre Miller appear likely to split backfield work in Week 9 for New Orleans.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) was back in uniform and participating in practice in the early portion open to the media on Thursday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. McCaffrey did not take part in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, but he was confident he would return to practice and be ready to play in this weekend's home tilt against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The 30-year-old All-Pro RB tweaked his left hamstring in the Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but he thankfully had the bye week to recover. Barring a setback in practice on Friday, fantasy managers should have CMC available against the Raiders as a must-start, elite RB1. Still, any mention of an injury for McCaffrey can be scary when considering his lengthy injury history, so we will continue to keep a close eye on his status going into Week 9 action. In the meantime, rookie Kaelon Black is a must-have insurance policy off the waiver wire in case McCaffrey's hamstring injury worsens. McCaffrey has been the RB10 in half-PPR scoring through eight weeks with 389 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while adding 34 catches for an additional 251 receiving yards.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. The star running back was held out of practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, but it's not expected to impact his availability for the 49ers' Week 9 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Across seven games so far in 2026, McCaffrey has recorded 389 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 84 carries and hauled in 34 catches for 251 yards on 42 targets. San Francisco may give a few extra touches to RB2 Kaelon Black in Week 9 to preserve McCaffrey's legs. Still, McCaffrey's ability to impact the game as both a rusher and a receiver makes him one of the highest-floor players in fantasy as long as he's active. He profiles as a high-end RB1 option in Week 9 against Las Vegas.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (quad) practiced in full for the second straight day on Thursday, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Hall has not played since Week 3 due to a quad injury, but it appears he is trending toward a return in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 25-year-old opened the year as the clear RB1 in New York, recording 265 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 61 touches across three games. However, his role as the Jets' workhorse back may have been usurped by fellow running back Braelon Allen, who has been excellent in Hall's absence. Across his last five games, Allen has recorded 573 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 106 touches. Upon Hall's return, it seems likely that the Jets will split touches fairly evenly between the two backs. As a result, Hall profiles as a flex option at best for fantasy managers in Week 9.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (foot) was upgraded to full participation in practice on Thursday, per River Wells of Sports Illustrated. Egbuka has missed Tampa Bay's last two games due to a concussion and a foot injury, but it appears he could be trending toward a return in Week 9 against the Chicago Bears. Across six games in 2026, Egbuka has recorded 28 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns on 49 targets. Upon his return, the 24-year-old will be reunited with Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was sidelined by a thumb injury in Egbuka's three most recent games. If Egbuka is able to play in Week 9, he would profile as the clear WR1 in Tampa Bay and would be startable in three-wide receiver fantasy leagues.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk could still return to the organization, although general manager John Lynch stopped short of suggesting a reunion is likely. Speaking Thursday on KNBR, Lynch said "everything's possible" when asked whether San Francisco would consider bringing Aiyuk back, according to Harrison Rich of the San Francisco Chronicle. The comments represent a softer stance than Lynch's January declaration that Aiyuk had likely played his final snap with the 49ers. Aiyuk has applied for reinstatement from the reserve/left squad list and plans to report to the team's facility Friday afternoon. Lynch explained that San Francisco is working with the NFL Management Council toward a resolution, with releasing, trading or retaining the receiver among the possibilities. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Wednesday that he has mentally moved on from Aiyuk, who hasn't played since suffering a significant knee injury in October 2024. With his playing future unresolved, Aiyuk remains without immediate redraft fantasy value.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (right elbow) said Thursday that his injured elbow feels good and that he has been "letting it rip" in practice while preparing to start Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Gregg Bell. Lock was listed as limited on Wednesday's estimated injury report after spending the previous two games as Seattle's emergency third quarterback. Head coach Mike Macdonald has indicated that Lock's throwing workload will be managed throughout the week, with Jalen Milroe also receiving practice repetitions. Sam Darnold (quadriceps) has already been ruled out, putting Lock in line for his second start of the season. The 29-year-old previously completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns in Seattle's Week 2 victory over Arizona, with all three scores going to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Lock has thrown for 422 yards and four touchdowns without an interception across two appearances this season. His previous success against Arizona offers some streaming appeal in Superflex leagues, although the lingering elbow issue adds uncertainty.

Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (toe, thumb) was listed as a non-participant in practice on Thursday for a second straight day this week, according to Sean Hammond of The Chicago Tribune. Unless Monangai can return to practice on Friday in some capacity, he looks set to miss yet another game for the Bears on Sunday night at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 24-year-old is battling through turf toe and a thumb injury and has not played since Oct. 4. His absence has been good news for RB1 workhorse back D'Andre Swift, who found the end zone three times in the team's impressive Monday night victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. With Monangai out, Roschon Johnson has been operating as the change-of-pace backup to Swift, although he has only been in play as a flex option in deep point-per-reception leagues. In four games before his injuries, Monangai was averaging a healthy 5.4 yards per carry with three rushing touchdowns and 324 rushing yards, so the bruising between-the-tackles back should remain stashed in most fantasy football leagues. The Bears have a bye coming in Week 10, so if Monangai does not play this Sunday night, his next chance to return to Chicago's backfield will come in Week 11 at home against the New Orleans Saints.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (ribs) wore a yellow non-contact jersey during Wednesday's practice and was officially listed as a limited participant, according to Bo Brack and the team's injury report. Wilson has been managing two broken ribs, which also limited his participation throughout last week's practices. Despite the injury, he delivered one of his strongest performances of the season against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, catching eight of 15 targets for 111 yards and the game-tying touchdown with six seconds remaining in regulation. Gardner Minshew II, who threw that touchdown pass, has since been named Arizona's starting quarterback for Sunday's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson's substantial target volume despite the injury supports his continued fantasy relevance as a potential WR3, provided he remains available.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (undisclosed), who was seen working with trainers during Thursday's practice, said he will "be good" for the team's Week 9 divisional clash this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Art Stapleton of The North Jersey Bergen Record. It is still unclear what exactly the 23-year-old is dealing with physically, but it apparently will not keep him from playing this weekend. That is great news for fantasy managers, who should keep the former first-rounder from LSU locked into their lineups in Week 9 as a high-end receiver. Nabers has so far shown great chemistry with new quarterback J.J. McCarthy, catching 19 of his 24 targets for 276 yards, although he did not find the end zone over that two-game span. Fantasy managers who took a chance on Nabers following his torn ACL early last season have been rewarded, as he has gone over 100 yards receiving in each of his last four games. Nabers will have a good chance to make it five straight this Sunday against the Eagles, who have lost six games in a row.