DFS Alerts
Seahawks confident in Russell Wilson's Week 2 availability
QB Jake Heaps was added to the Seahawks practice squad today, but the team still reportedly does not feel that Wilson is in serious danger of missing this week’s tilt with the Rams. Wilson was able to play through the ankle issue this past week and while he didn’t have much success from a fantasy perspective, he’ll get a better draw this week against a Rams defense that was just gashed by a much less talented 49ers offense. Wilson may go under-owned as a result of the injury concern, so if he plays he’ll become a fine GPP option. The Seahawks running game should also find more success this coming Sunday, although it’s still not totally clear whether Thomas Rawls will regain his role as the lead back just yet. He was vastly outsnapped by Christine Michael, yet finished with just two fewer touches.
As reported by: Mike Garafalo Other tagged players: Thomas Rawls, Christine Michael
Saints cut ties with C.J. Spiller
The Saints have released RB C.J. Spiller, setting up Travaris Cadet to act as a complementary receiving back behind Mark Ingram. It’s a bit surprising to see the Saints cut ties at this point in the season, but Spiller wasn’t even active in Week 1 despite being healthy. Spiller should catch on with another team in the coming days.
As reported by: Field Yates Other tagged players: Travaris Cadet, Mark Ingram Chris Ivory released from hospital, no word on his Week 2 status
Ivory was admitted to the hospital on Saturday and has been released this afternoon, which at least gives him a shot at being able to suit up Sunday against San Diego. T.J. Yeldon finished with 25 total touches in the opener against Green Bay (21 carries, four receptions) but was only able to rack up 69 total yards with those looks, although he did salvage his day with a touchdown. If Ivory sits again, Yeldon will be a very strong mid-range play in any format against a San Diego defense that was gashed by opposing running games last season. We’ll update Ivory’s practice situation over the course of the week.
As reported by: ESPN Other tagged players: T.J. Yeldon Jeremy Kerley targeted 11 times in 49ers season opener
Kerley wasn’t even with the team at the beginning of camp, but may end up being Blaine Gabbert’s most heavily utilized pass-catcher considering that he roams out of the slot. It’s an area of the field where Gabbert appears to be far and away the most comfortable delivering the ball, and the 49ers had plenty of success on plays where Kerley was the intended target – he was also overthrown on what should have been an easy 40+ yard TD, so his line could have been much, much bigger. Given Chip Kelly’s style of playing up-tempo, the 49ers will run plenty of plays each game and it’s not out of the realm of possibility to expect Kerley to receive somewhere around ten looks per game in the near future. Torrey Smith was targeted six times, although he was able to do very little (2-13) with his chances, while Quinton Patton caught all of his five targets for 60 yards. Kerley will likely only see the field in 3 WR sets – he played on 54 of 82 offensive snaps last night – but he’s going to be targeted often when he’s out there. He’s still priced at the minimum on most DFS outlets, so he’ll be one of the stronger DFS value plays in PPR formats in Week 2.
Other tagged players: Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton Josh Brown reinstated, Randy Bullock released by Giants
Brown will be the Giants kicker in Week 2, so those of you playing on sites that require you to roster a kicker should take note. The Giants take on the Saints at home in what is expected to be one of the highest scoring games of the weekend, so Brown will certainly be playable.
As reported by: Tom Rock Other tagged players: Randy Bullock Tavon Austin targeted 12 times Monday night, finishes with just 13 yards
The Rams offense was painfully unproductive on Monday night, looking completely overwhelmed by what is expected to be an average-to-below-average defense. Austin was just one of a bevy of Rams to struggle, and while we can’t put most of the blame here on Austin himself, he dropped a few catchable balls and simply wasn’t able to find any running room the few times he was able to corral Case Keenum’s throws. St. Louis may already be looking to Sean Mannion in Week 2, as Jeff Fisher reportedly considered benching Keenum during last night’s game. Austin finished with twice as many targets as the next closest Rams receiver (Kenny Britt had six), and there will certainly be weeks when he breaks a big play or two. He’s never going to be a cash game option, but if his target totals remain in this neighborhood, he’ll be a viable deep-GPP target almost every week.
Chris Ivory remains hospitalized
The Jaguars RB remains in the hospital with what is being deemed a general medical issue. More should be known within the next two days. If he is unable to go again this week, T.J. Yeldon is in line for a good game as they face a bad San Diego run defense. We’ll update you on Ivory when more news comes in.
As reported by: Adam Schefter on Twitter Other tagged players: T.J. Yeldon
Jamaal Charles possibly out another week
Sources have stated that it’s possible that Jamaal Charles will miss this week as well – not surprising news after the monster game Spencer Ware put up last week (with most of it coming via the pass game). Ware will be a viable option again, likely highly owned again, but in a much tougher match up against the Texans. We’ll keep an eye on the Chiefs RB situation and update it as we hear more.
As reported by: Ed Werder on Twitter Other tagged players: Spencer Ware Markus Wheaton ruled out for Monday night; Matt Jones is active
This news was expected throughout the week and opens up the door for the likes of Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers and Darrius Heyward-Bey to see extra looks alongside Antonio Brown. Rogers is the most intriguing of the bunch as he figures to run out of the slot, but Coates is a fine GPP punt play as well if you’re playing the Primetime slate. DeAngelo Williams and Jesse James may be next in line for looks behind Brown, so all of the Steelers complementary WRs have very low floors. On the Washington side, Matt Jones is active as expected. Robert Kelley figures to see some run behind Jones with Chris Thompson seeing the field in passing situations.
Other tagged players: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers, Matt Jones Sammy Watkins looking likely to suit up on Thursday, says he'll play
Watkins said he went to the training staff after yesterday’s game because his foot was “tired.” Everything reportedly checked out and Watkins himself is saying that he’ll be on the field this coming Thursday, so there is little reason to think he’s going to miss time. We’ll update his status over the course of the week, but consider him a starter at this point in the week.
As reported by: @ChrisBrownBills Dolphins hopeful that DeVante Parker (hamstring) will return in Week 2
Parker was reportedly close to playing this week and if he’s able to get in at least a practice or two this week, he should be good to go on Sunday. Kenny Stills could still end up seeing a higher target total (he finished with five on Sunday, half of what Jarvis Landry finished with), although no WR outside of Landry and Stills finished with more than two targets in the opener. Parker isn’t likely to be a DFS option very often given Ryan Tannehill’s shortcomings and Jarvis Landry’s presence as a target monster.
As reported by: @Flasportsbuzz Other tagged players: Kenny Stills Sources say there is no shot Zach Ertz plays this week
A beat writer for the Eagles stated sources have stated that Zach Ertz has no shot of playing in the Eagles Monday Night Football game against the Bears. That’ll leave the TE duties to Brent Celek with Trey Burton also being hurt. We’ll update any news we get on the Eagles TE situation over the week as we learn more.
As reported by: Eliot Shorr Parks on Twitter Other tagged players: Brent Celek, Trey Burton Robert Griffin III placed on IR
What a start to the season for the Browns. Their new QB will now be out of action for quite some time; he can return as early as Week 10, although it’s still very unclear if he’ll be able to do so. Josh McCown will be back under center for the Browns, which isn’t necessarily terrible news for the Browns pass-catchers. Gary Barnidge may actually benefit as a result of Griffin’s injury.
As reported by: Aaron Wilson Other tagged players: Josh McCown RGIII "in pain" - status up in air for this week
Robert Griffin III told reporters he was in pain and after having limited mobility at the end of the game and requiring an MRI today his status is uncertain for this week. If he is unable to go, Josh McCown would regain the starting role temporarily as home underdogs against the Ravens, who looked excellent defensively yesterday. McCown playing would be a definite upgrade for Gary Barnidge who was shut out yesterday. We’ll update RGIII’s status as more news comes in.
As reported by: Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter Other tagged players: Josh McCown, Gary Barnidge Zach Ertz "week to week" with rib displacement
Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson stated Ertz has a rib displacement under a shoulder and is week to week. Brent Celek would be in line to get most of the TE snaps if Ertz misses any playing time and is a marginal DFS option going against the Bears on Monday Night Football. We’ll update you on Ertz’s status as more information becomes available.
As reported by: Ed Kracz on Twitter Other tagged players: Brent Celek