DFS Alerts
BUF WR Emmanuel Sanders returned to practice Wednesday; RB Taiwan Jones DNP
Emmanuel Sanders returned to practice Wednesday, while Taiwan Jones logged a DNP ahead of the Bills matchup with the New England Patriots this weekend. Sanders seems to be trending in the right direction to make his return this week and should immediately slot back in as WR2 opposite Stefon Diggs. Sanders could see a little more work due to the fact the Bills will be without Cole Beasley this week. Sanders potential return could limit the upside of Gabriel Davis, who had a tremendous game in Sanders’s absence. Jones is not expected to play a major role this weekend but if he were to be ruled out it would open the possibility of Zack Moss being active after being inactive three of the last four weeks.
As reported by: Buffalo Bills Other tagged players: Taiwan Jones
KCC K Harrison Butker (COVID) ruled out Sunday; Elliott Fry expected to handle kicking duties
Harrison Butker is unvaccinated and therefore has been ruled out for Sunday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Elliott Fry is expected to handle the kicking duties.
As reported by: Ian Rapoport Other tagged players: Elliott Fry DET RB D'Andre Swift and RB Jamaal Williams returned to practice Wednesday
D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams both returned to practice Wednesday ahead of Detroit’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday. It remains to be seen just how much both Swift and Williams are able to do in their returns but practicing this early in the week is a good sign for their availability this weekend. Swift would likely return to his role as the lead back and play a prominent role in the passing game while Jamaal Williams would back him up and handle some of the early down work. HC Dan Campbell said that if Craig Reynolds is active he would also see some work but didn’t specify how much. It will be important to monitor the practice progress of both Swift and Williams as the week progresses and ultimately their listing on the injury report released Friday.
As reported by: Eric Woodyard Other tagged players: Jamaal Williams CHI TE Jesper Horsted has been placed on the COVID list
Jesper Horsted has been placed on the COVID list just a couple days after catching a touchdown pass from Justin Fields as time expired against the Minnesota Vikings. Horsted made the most of his two offensive snaps but looks like he will be unable to suit up this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks. The Bears will continue to have Cole Kmet and Jimmy Graham see most of the tight end snaps with J.P. Holtz and Jesse James (still on COVID list currently) likely available to back them up.
As reported by: Chicago Bears NYG RB Gary Brightwell DNP Wednesday
Gary Brightwell logged a DNP Wednesday ahead of the Giants matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Brightwell is not expected to play a major role in the offense for New York and would only serve as running back depth if he were to be active. The injury report for the Giants is surprisingly clean after many weeks of being rather lengthy. This is in part due to the Giants moving some players to IR as well as players on the COVID not being listed on the report. Kadarius Toney is one of these players that is expected to be activated tomorrow off the COVID list but his status remains in question for this weekend’s game due to his hamstring injury.
As reported by: Pat Leonard CLE TE Austin Hooper activated from COVID list
Austin Hooper has been activated from the COVID list ahead of the Browns matchup Saturday with the Green Bay Packers. This will likely be the first time since Week 12 that all three Browns tight ends will be active at the same time. They should all see snaps and be utilized in the passing game but the split will limit their upside. Njoku and Hooper have seen the bulk of the snaps when all three have been active and this will likely remain the case with Harrison Bryant only mixing in.
As reported by: Adam Schefter CAR K Zane Gonzalez to be placed on IR; K Lirim Hajrullahu expected to handle kicking duties
Zane Gonzalez will be placed on IR ahead of the Panthers matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lirim Hajrullahu is expected to handle the kicking duties.
As reported by: Ian Rapoport Other tagged players: Lirim Hajrullahu RB Ryquell Armstead signed to Jacksonville Jaguars active roster off Green Bay practice squad
Ryquell Armstead has been signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars active roster off of the Green Bay practice squad. Armstead should serve as running back depth with Carlos Hyde out for the season. Armstead should slot in behind James Robinson and Dare Ogunbowale as the teams third running back. Armstead is not expected to be DFS relevant at this time.
As reported by: Jacksonville Jaguars WAS WR Antonio Gandy-Golden and TE Sammis Reyes listed inactive for Tuesday
Antonio Gandy-Golden and Sammis Reyes have been listed inactive for Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Gandy-Golden was not needed to serve as receiver depth after Cam Sims was activated from the COVID list on Sunday. Sammis Reyes is dealing with a concussion and would likely not be needed now that Ricky Seals-Jones is clear to play. John Bates will serve as Seals-Jones’s backup and in emergencies FB Alex Armah could also play the position. Neither absence is expected to be DFS relevant.
As reported by: Washington Football Team Other tagged players: Sammis Reyes SEA RB Josh Johnson and WR Cody Thompson elevated from practice squad for Tuesday
Josh Johnson and Cody Thompson have been elevated from the practice squad for Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson is expected to serve as the third running back behind Rashaad Penny and DeeJay Dallas. It is important to note that Adrian Peterson was not elevated and will not play today. Johnson is not expected to play a major role in the Seattle offense but HC Pete Carroll will likely rotate all three backs in with Penny slated to see the bulk of the work. Thompson is expected to serve as receiver depth and should not be considered in DFS contests at this time.
As reported by: Bob Condotta Other tagged players: Cody Thompson WAS FB Alex Armah elevated from practice squad for Tuesday
Alex Armah has been elevated from the practice squad for Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Armah is not expected to play a major role for Washington and will likely only be used as a lead blocker in certain formations. Armah is not expected to be DFS relevant even on a two-game slate.
As reported by: Washington Football Team WAS QB Taylor Heinicke and QB Kyle Allen both officially ruled out; QB Garrett Gilbert will start Tuesday
Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen have both officially been ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles after being unable to test out of COVID protocols. Garrett Gilbert will start Tuesday after being with the team for only a week. All Washington pass-catchers will take a hit in expected production and Washington could lean on their rushing attack more but this is still far from an ideal scenario. The Eagles are up to 9.5 point favortes and should easily handle the makeshift offense led by Gilbert.
As reported by: Tom Pelissero Other tagged players: Kyle Allen, Garrett Gilbert LAR RB Jake Funk activated from IR to active roster
Jake Funk has been activated from IR to the active roster ahead of the Rams game Tuesday night against the Seattle Seahawks. Funk figures to be used as the third running back behind Darrell Henderson and Sony Michel and could also be used on special teams. Funk doesn’t figure to play a large enough role to be DFS relevant at this time.
As reported by: Los Angeles Rams Adam Thielen officially inactive for MNF
Thielen won’t play Monday night, as the Vikings will play it safe here and give him an extra week to heal. Justin Jefferson becomes arguably the top play on the Showdown slate along with Dalvin Cook – both players benefit from Thielen’s absence, but Jefferson becomes the unquestioned top target in the aerial attack. KJ Osborn is also a big winner for single-game slates, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette also becomes a viable dart-throw as the WR3. Both the TE and RB positions should see a slightly elevated target share as well with Thielen creating a big hole at WR that will not be filled entirely by the receiving corps.
Other tagged players: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, K.J. Osborn, Justin Jefferson
Darren Waller officially inactive Monday afternoon
No surprise here, but passing along confirmation given the island game. With Waller out of action, some of the target share will shift over to the WR/RB positions, but Foster Moreau should eat up the majority of what is left behind for the TEs with Daniel Helm and Nick Bowers also potentially factoring into the equation. Hunter Renfrow benefits here, as does Bryan Edwards and Zay Jones.
Other tagged players: Nick Bowers, Foster Moreau, Daniel Helm