DFS Alerts
Eddie Royal misses practice again Thursday
Royal is still dealing with a calf injury that caused him to miss practice all of last week as well. He ended up playing in Week 5, catching seven of nine targets for 43 yards. If he plays, he’ll be an unreliable boom-or-bust option against a Jaguars team that ranks 7th in pass DVOA. Cameron Meredith, who is cheaper than Royal on FanDuel and $100 more on DraftKings, is probably a better fantasy option. Currently, Meredith projects as our top points-per-dollar receiver on DK.
As reported by: Brad Biggs Other tagged players: Cameron Meredith
Arian Foster limited again on Thursday
He’s looking like a good bet to suit up in Week 6, but with the Dolphins offense still in shambles, he’s not going to be a viable target against a Steelers defense that has been much more vulnerable through the air. Opponents are running against the Steelers just 29.8% of the time, the lowest rate in the league, and the Dolphins offense has struggled mightily over the last few games. They’ve run 41 and 43 plays in the last two games, the lowest totals for any team in any game so far this year. Unless Ryan Tannehill and the offensive line figure things out, it’ll be really tough to feel comfortable targeting the Miami running game.
As reported by: Adam Beasley
Kelvin Benjamin has limited practice Thursday
Benjamin hasn’t been on the injury report all season, but was listed today for a sore knee. It appears as though this was simply a rest day. The Panthers are just being careful with him as he missed all of last season with a torn ACL. He has a really great matchup with the Saints in the Superdome this weekend. He’ll line up across from Ken Crawley most of the day. Crawley has a 64.2 grade from Pro Football Focus, which provides Benjamin (78.8) a 14.6-point advantage.
As reported by: Max Henson Rashad Jennings expected to start against the Ravens
Jennings’ exact quote was, “we’re rockin’ this week.” It’ll be his first game back since injuring his left thumb Week 2. In that matchup with the Saints he was limited to 34 of the team’s 79 offensive snaps and rushed for just 27 yards on 13 attempts. Against the Cowboys in Week 1 he was much better, running for 75 yards on 18 carries. Jennings will have a tough opponent this week in the Ravens, a team that ranks 1st in rush DVOA and 2nd in adjusted line yards per carry (2.67), per Football Outsiders. We expect Jennings to jump back into a workhorse role, but despite his expected volume, this matchup makes him an unappealing target.
As reported by: Bob Glauber Jeremy Hill upgraded to full; should play Sunday
Hill had been limited in practice this week with a chest injury but has been upgraded to full for the Bengals game against the Patriots this week. Hill is a TD dependent fantasy option and is not a viable DFS option in a game where the Bengals will likely be behind and forced to pass.
As reported by: Geoff Hobson on Twitter
Randall Cobb practices; should be fine to play Sunday
Cobb suffered a slight scare last week taking a big hit on a key 3rd down conversion on the way to his best game of the season. He returned to practice today and appears as if he will be fine to play this weekend against the Cowboys. Cobb will square off mainly against Orlando Scandrick, who grades out middle-of-the-pack in Pro Football Focus’s CB grades. It’s a good match up and if Cobb can continue off his performance from last week he makes for an intriguing GPP option.
As reported by: Rob Demovsky on Twitter Vontae Davis will not shadow DeAndre Hopkins
Colts defensive coordinator Ted Monachino stated today that their star CB will not shadow Houston’s struggling #1 WR. It’s an upgrade for Hopkins and a slight downgrade for Will Fuller who figured to benefit from Davis shadowing Hopkins – both are still in play, however, going against a Colts defense that is 30th in Pass DVOA.
As reported by: George Bremer on Twitter Other tagged players: Will Fuller Chiefs RB situation will be a tough one to figure out
While Jamaal Charles is expected to return to an increased workload, cryptic messages yesterday from Andy Reid (“he’ll do a little more”) and today from offensive coordinator Brad Childress (“We’ll sprinkle him in where we feel he’s most effective.”) makes it seem as if that workload is shaky at best. While he’s at a great price point at $5,100 on DraftKings, these statements make Charles nothing more than a GPP flyer at best. He’ll likely split time with Spencer Ware. It’s a good match up in terms of DVOA as their opponent, the Raiders, rank 21st in RB (Run) and 28th in RB (Pass) and Reid has a way of showing up big after a bye week so you’ll likely want some exposure to one of these two backs. Figuring out which one is the hard part – Charles probably gets the slight nod as he should be more utilized in the pass game.
As reported by: Pete Sweeney on Twitter Other tagged players: Spencer Ware Cody Kessler practices in full; good to go for Sunday
Browns Head Coach Hue Jackson stated that Cody Kessler practiced in full today, looked good, and is ready to go for their game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans who are top 10 in defensive and pass DVOA. Kessler is not a viable DFS option.
As reported by: Tony Grossi on Twitter Theo Riddick, Dwayne Washington, and Eric Ebron all miss practice for Lions
The Lions are banged up on offense as three of their key players missed practice today. Ebron is the most questionable of the group and appears unlikely to play this week when the Lions take on the Los Angeles Rams. Riddick and Washington are both questionable and if they are unable to go, the RB work would be left to Zach Zenner and recently signed Justin Forsett. That seems like a situation to avoid, even going against a Rams team dealing with a depleted defensive line.
As reported by: Dave Birkett on Twitter Other tagged players: Dwayne Washington, Eric Ebron, Zach Zenner, Justin Forsett Ryan Griffin returns to practice
Griffin has missed time with a concussion but returned to practice today. He should be able to play this week against a Colts defense that is 31st in TE DVOA and makes for an intriguing option at his cheap price. If anything changes with Griffin, we’ll let you know.
As reported by: John McClain on Twitter No Jordan Reed at practice again
Reed was placed in the concussion protocol by the Redskins yesterday and is not at practice again today. It’s an ominous sign heading into the weekend as history typically shows it’s hard to clear the concussion protocol in just a couple days. We’ll keep a close eye on this situation but if he can’t go Vernon Davis would get the start with Niles Paul getting some work as well. Neither are attractive DFS options going against an Eagles team that is 4th in TE DVOA.
As reported by: Mike Jones on Twitter Other tagged players: Vernon Davis, Niles Paul Dez Bryant practices again; trending towards playing this Sunday against Packers
The Cowboys star WR has practiced every day this week and is trending in the right direction to play this week against the Packers. It’s a relatively good match up if Bryant does go as he’ll be under owned and going against a Packers defense that is 19th in Pass DVOA but has shown some vulnerability to WR1’s this season. His presence would be a downgrade to Terrance Williams and remove Brice Butler from DFS consideration. We’ll keep you updated on Bryant heading towards kick off.
As reported by: Jon Machota on Twitter Larry Donnell practices (limited)
The Giants starting TE practiced for the second straight day, albeit limited, and looks as if he will be able to play this weekend when the Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens. It’s a hit on the value of Will Tye, but even if Donnell sat Tye was a shaky play going against a Ravens team that is 3rd in TE DVOA. Both are easy fades this weekend.
As reported by: Zach Braziller on Twitter Other tagged players: Will Tye Eddie Lacy looking better; James Starks won't practice until Saturday
Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy said Eddie Lacy’s ankle is looking good and it appears as if he’ll be taking the field this Sunday against the Cowboys. Backup RB James Starks suffered a knee injury in practice Tuesday and won’t practice until Saturday. Starks is only viable if Lacy does not play and that appears as if it won’t be happening. We’ll keep you updated on the Packers RB situation as the week progresses.
As reported by: Rob Demovsky on Twitter Other tagged players: James Starks