DFS Alerts
TB TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) officially listed as doubtful Sunday
Despite reports earlier in the day saying that Gronk would be all systems go, the Bucs listed him as doubtful ahead of the Brady Bowl against the Patriots. We’ll likely know if Gronk will be ruled out tomorrow, as there’s a chance he doesn’t travel with the team. His absence is certainly a big deal as the Bucs-Patriots game is on a showdown slate. Should Gronk end up sitting, Cameron Brate would be the biggest winner, as he’s run 53 routes on the year compared to O.J. Howard’s 13. Both TEs will be behind the Bucs big three WRs (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and the returning Antonio Brown). Still, Brate may be a sneaky option as Brady looks to exact his revenge against his former squad.
As reported by: Adam Schefter via Twitter
HOU WR Danny Amendola (hamstring), ruled out for Sunday
Amendola will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury, as the Texans prepare to play the Buffalo Bills as 17 point underdogs. Brandin Cooks will continue to be the target hog for this team, while Anthony Miller vies as a secondary option. Chris Conley will also run more routes with the playing time, but other than Cooks, this Texans team is not going to produce much.
As reported by: the Houston Texans via Twitter Broncos WR David Moore will play Sunday
After losing Jerry Jeudy for a few weeks and K.J. Hamler for the year, the Broncos will be getting a reinforcement in the form of Moore as they prepare to play the Baltimore Ravens. He’ll likely round out three WR sets, as Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick will be the clear top two options. Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam will also vie for targets, as the Broncos go up against their biggest test of the year. Moore shouldn’t be played in DFS this week.
As reported by: Mike Klis via Twitter KC WR Josh Gordon won't play Sunday
Gordon won’t make his Chiefs debut yet, according to coach Andy Reid. Reid stated that he’s in good shape and is “knocking the rust off”, but the debut won’t come right away. The Chiefs offense should continue to flow through Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, with Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson as ancillary pieces.
As reported by: Aaron Ladd via Twitter IND RB Jonathan Taylor (knee) and QB Carson Wentz (ankle) both listed as questionable for Sunday
Taylor and Wentz were both listed as questionable against the Miami Dolphins, but both are fully expected to play. Both players were able to get in a limited practice every day this week, and it seems that their status should be safe. The Colts did lose Quinton Nelson to injury, and are in one of the worst DFS environments against Miami. Taylor’s price has dropped since week 1, but Nyheim Hines stealing snaps makes him tough to trust.
As reported by: the Indianapolis Colts via Twitter Other tagged players: Carson Wentz PIT WR Chase Claypool (hamstring) listed questionable Sunday; WR Juju-Smith Schuster and WR Diontae Johnson available to play
The Steelers WR room had only one player questionable, but not who we would’ve expected at the beginning of the week. Diontae missed last game, but will be available to play, as will Juju; neither were listed on the injury report. Claypool was listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, and is in jeopardy of missing the game against the Packers. With Johnson, Juju, and Najee Harris garnering plenty of targets, Claypool will be difficult to trust if he plays, as Ben Roethlisberger’s demise has hurt the big play weapon. If Claypool does sit, James Washington would likely take his place, but would not be DFS relevant.
As reported by: the Pittsburgh Steelers via Twitter Other tagged players: Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster GB WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) ruled out Sunday
MVS couldn’t get a practice in all week, and was ruled out against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a hamstring injury. It’s a tough matchup, and the Packers offense is usually very concentrated, so the replacements may be tough to factor in DFS. Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb will both see a few more snaps and targets, but this passing game will flow through Davante Adams almost entirely, with Aaron Jones and Robert Tonyan the next two options. The Steelers still do have a stout defense and will be getting some bodies back, so it’s tough to trust anyone outside the Packers main options.
As reported by: Aaron Nagler via Twitter RB Darrell Henderson (ribs) will play Sunday; officially listed as questionable
In his session with the media, Coach McVay stated that Henderson would play through his ribs injury against the Cardinals. Henderson missed last week with the rib injury, and is officially listed as questionable, but McVay’s claim that he’ll play likely trumps the injury designation. Sony Michel will go back as the backup role, but possibly will chip in more due to Henderson’s injury.
As reported by: Adam Schefter via Twitter Other tagged players: Darrell Henderson CHI QB Andy Dalton (knee) listed questionable; starting QB not yet named; Darnell Mooney (groin) listed questionable
Dalton was listed as questionable with a knee injury as the Bears look to rebound from last week’s showing against the division rival Lions. Coach Matt Nagy said that the starting QB will be a game-time decision Sunday, an uncommon plan for an NFL team. It’s likely that Nagy knows his QB already, but due to the different offensive styles Dalton and Justin Fields both have, he may be playing coy to try to have a matchup advantage. We are currently projecting Fields as the starting QB, but there’s certainly a chance that it could be Dalton. At least Nagy ruled out Nick Foles as an option! Mooney was listed as questionable, but has been for the last two Fridays and has ended up playing, so there’s no real concern for him.
As reported by: Jeff Dickerson via Twitter Other tagged players: Justin Fields, Darnell Mooney NYG WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring), and WR Darius Slayton (hamstring) both officially ruled out for Sunday
As expected, Shepherd and Slayton were both ruled out on Friday due to hamstring injuries as the Giants prepare to play the New Orleans Saints. Neither of them were able to get in a practice, and the Giants will be shorthanded taking on a tough defense. Kenny Golladay should be the top receiver; he had 5 targets last game and should be on the field for every snap. Kadarius Toney should be right behind him; he ran a route on 74% of dropbacks last week, and will likely be an every down player. Collin Johnson and C.J. Board will likely fill out the WR3 snaps, but both will be difficult to trust from a DFS perspective. Golladay and Evan Engram will be the top two options, with Toney chipping in, but there’s certainly a chance that nobody is worth playing against a great Saints defense.
As reported by: Dan Salomone via Twitter Other tagged players: Darius Slayton TEN WR Julio Jones and WR A.J. Brown both ruled out Sunday; TE Anthony Firkser will play
The Titans will be down their top two options at WRs, as Julio and Brown will both miss the game. Both players are dealing with hamstring injuries; Brown was looking more doubtful as he suffered the injury early last game, while Julio’s issue came towards the end of the game. Meanwhile, Firkser will be able to make his return after missing the last two weeks due to injury. He’ll join a crowded TE room with Tommy Hudson, MyCole Pruitt, and Geoff Swaim all there. The Titans WRs are incredibly thin, but there certainly is value to be had. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will likely be the top chalk value; he played 78% of snaps last week when Brown went down early, and should be out there most often. The remaining WRs are a hodge podge of sorts: Chester Rogers, Cameron Batson, and Josh Reynolds will compete for snaps, but it’s a guessing game of knowing who will be the top option. The Titans will likely still use two TE sets, but this will likely be the Derrick Henry show against the Jets.
As reported by: Paul Kuharsky via Twitter Other tagged players: A.J. Brown MIN RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) listed questionable for Sunday
Cook was officially listed as questionable with an ankle injury as the Vikings prepare to play the Cleveland Browns. Cook seems to be on a much better track to play this week, as he was able to get a few practices in this week. If he ends up sitting, it’ll be the Alexander Mattison show again, but Cook feels closer to probable than questionable.
As reported by: Ben Goessling via Twitter WAS RB Antonio Gibson (shin) questionable Sunday; WR Curtis Samuel will be active and "ready to roll"
In his giving his pre-game media session, Coach Ron Rivera said that Samuel will play Sunday and is ready to roll. How big a role he ends up having in his first game back is still up in the air, but he is the flat minimum on DK, which will certainly make him playable over there. Gibson, meanwhile, will be questionable with a shin injury. He missed practice yesterday, but was able to get in a limited practice today. It certainly feels like he’s leaning towards probable, but that’s not an official injury designation anymore. Samuel’s snaps will most directly hurt Adam Humphries and Dyami Brown. If Gibson ends up sitting, J.D. McKissic would get some more work, but unlikely to be the lion’s share of rushing work, as Jarrett Patterson may take those roles, leaving McKissic in his 3rd down back role.
As reported by: Nicki Jhabvala via twitter Other tagged players: Curtis Samuel ATL WR Russell Gage (ankle) ruled out for Sunday
Gage will miss his second straight week with an ankle injury as the Falcons prepare to play the Washington Football Team. Olamide Zaccheus will continue to be the WR2 with Tajae Sharpe mixing as well, but neither player will be very DFS relevant. The Falcons also run two TE sets often, so Hayden Hurts may get a few more snaps, as Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts will be clear top two options for the team.
As reported by: Michael Rothstein via Twitter TB RB Gio Bernard (knee) ruled out for Sunday; TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) a "game-time decision" but expected to play
Bernard was ruled out due to a knee injury he suffered last week, and will miss the battle between Brady and Belichick. Coach Bruce Arians said Gronk would be a game-time decision, but nearly all beat reporters expect Gronk to play his usual TE 1 role against his former team. With no Bernard, Leonard Fournette should soak up a few more snaps on third and passing downs, while Ronald Jones and Ke’Shawn Vaughn will also chip in. Since it’s a showdown slate, both players’ status will need to be monitored.
As reported by: Jenna Laine via Twitter Other tagged players: Rob Gronkowski