DFS Alerts

Jonathan Stewart (ankle) and Devin Funchess (knee) listed as non-participants on Monday's practice report

Carolina didn’t practice actually practice Monday but they would’ve held Stewart and Funchess out if they had. Neither player appeared to be injured Sunday, so they should be ready for their Thursday night matchup with the Eagles. Funchess has been targeted at least eight times for three straight weeks and he’s scored three times over the past two as quarterback Cam Newton came back to life. He’ll have a very nice matchup with Eagles CB Jalen Mills this week. Mills has been targeted more than any corner this year (54) and he’s rewarded quarterbacks with 354 yards (second-most), three touchdowns (fifth-most), and a 94.2 rating. Stewart leads the Carolina backfield with 77 carries but he’s struggled to 3.3 ypc and he’s been out-snapped by Christian McCaffrey each game. McCaffrey leads the team in targets (36), receptions (27), and he’s tied with Funchess for a team-high five red zone looks. He’ll have a favorable matchup with an Eagles defense that ranked 21st in receiving RB DVOA heading into Week 5 (per FO), before letting Andre Ellington rack up nine receptions for 65 yards this past Sunday. Whether Stewart plays or not, McCaffrey should be heavily involved Thursday night.

Andrew Luck ruled out for Week 6

The Colts continue their Monday ritual of ruling Luck out, a routine that may continue into November. Jacoby Brissett will remain the starting quarterback and he’ll have an excellent matchup with the Titans secondary in Week 6. Tennessee was able to limit Jay Cutler and the Dolphins this past weekend but the Dolphins have had the worst offense in the game this year. Even including that 92-yard, one-score performance from Smokin’ Jay, the Titans have given up the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Brissett is coming off the first 300-yard game of his career in which he completed 64.7% of his passes. He wasn’t able to find the end zone through the air though, scoring once on the ground instead – he’s now scored more rushing touchdowns (3) than passing (2) this season. Given the favorable matchup, his price has increased to $5,800 on DraftKings but he’s down $200 to $6,800 on FanDuel. Stacking T.Y. Hilton with Brissett looks like an appealing option – heading into Week 4, the Titans were allowing the most passes (12.5) and third-most yards (98.2) to WR1s (per FO)

Jets activate Jalin Marshall

Marshall completed his suspension last week and was eligible to return for Week 5’s game against the Browns but the Jets chose to keep him off their active roster. That’s a good indication of where he stands on the depth chart; barring any injuries to guys ahead of him on the depth chart, Marshall won’t be on the fantasy radar.

Brandon Marshall expected to miss "multiple games"

He was expected to miss some time after spraining his ankle on Sunday. New York is extremely thin at receiver heading into Week 6 with Odell Beckham and Dwayne Harris out for the season and Sterling Shepard considered day-to-day. They’ll take on the stout Denver secondary this Sunday night and have an implied total of 15.0 points. Considering their poor offensive line play on top of the concerns at receiver, the Broncos DST figures to be as popular as ever.

Lions "optimistic" Matt Stafford will be able to play Week 6

Stafford had his ankle and quad heavily taped by the end of Sunday’s matchup with the Panthers but he was able to finish the game. The team believes he’ll be able to suit up this weekend when they take on the Saints. New Orleans has shaken up their secondary following their poor start to the season and may be better than it seems. Rookie Marshon Lattimore and Ken Crawley are now the starting corners and limiting receivers to 0.74 and 0.94 yards per cover snap (per PFF), respectively. Since jumping into the starting lineup in Week 3, Crawley has impressively limited opposing quarterbacks to a 31.3 passer rating even though he’s been picked on the most – he now leads the Saints corners in targets despite only playing in half their games. He’s notably earned PFF’s fourth-best cover grade among corners. New Orleans weak point remains in the slot where they roll up safety Kenny Vaccaro – who replaced DeVante Harris following his disastrous Week 1 performance. He’s allowing a 121.3 rating when in the slot and the seventh-worst covers snaps per reception rate (8.7). That sets up a great spot for Golden Tate, who’s leading the team in targets (40, 23.1%) and receiving yards (267). This game currently has the highest total of the week at 51 points and the Lions have an implied total of 23.5 as +4 road dogs.

Browns may bench DeShone Kizer for Week 6

The league-leader in turnovers (11) was benched for the second half of Cleveland’s Week 5 loss to the Jets. Coach Hue Jackson left it open for Kizer to remain in the backup role going forward, saying he’ll evaluate tape this week in order to determine who will be their starting quarterback in Week 6. Kizer threw two interceptions in the red zone yesterday, which encouraged Jackson to put Kevin Hogan under center. He did well, completing 16-of-19 passes for 194 yards and two scores. He’s now connected on 68.4% of his passes on the season for three touchdowns, two picks, and a 73.7 QBR. Usually when a coach says he’ll take some time with a quarterback decision in this type of situation it means a change is coming. Hogan appears to be on track to get the nod against the Texans this weekend.

Michael Floyd activated for Week 5, Stevan Ridley released

Floyd will make his season debut tonight against the Bears. He’ll likely operate as the fourth receiver though given his time away from the team while he served a suspension. Sam Bradford’s primary targets will be Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Kyle Rudolph. Chicago currently ranks 31st in WR1 DVOA and they’ve given up the 11th-most fantasy points to receivers this season which sets up a nice spot for Diggs. On top of that, he’s expected to square off with the Bears’ weaker corner, Kyle Fuller. Heading into Week 5, he was targeted the fourth-most (30) and gave up the 13th-most yards total (220), 12th-most yards per cover snap (1.76), and had the sixth-worst cover snap per reception rate (6.9), per PFF. If Minnesota struggles to get their running game going tonight with Dalvin Cook sidelined, Bradford could go to the air quite a bit and should look for Diggs often.

Buccaneers sign K Patrick Murray

Tampa Bay wasn’t thrilled with Nick Folk’s 0-for-3 performance that essentially cost them the game last Thursday, so they worked out several kickers and decided to sign Murray. He isn’t available on FanDuel this weekend.

Terrance West expected to miss "some time"

The running back re-aggravated a calf injury but it doesn’t appear serious. Seems like he’s doubtful for Baltimore’s next game and is probably in a week-to-week situation. West is essentially the third running back behind Javorius Allen and Alex Collins but his absence should provide a slight snap boost for the other two. Allen has now played 62.6% of the snaps and he’s out-carried Collins 66 to 37. However, Collins has been a much more effective back on the ground; his 7.1 ypc has him leading the team with 261 rushing yards to Allen’s 232. Collins hasn’t even been targeted once in the passing game though and Allen is second on the team with 24 looks. Volume should be on Allen’s side again when they take on the Bears in Week 6. He’ll continue to have more appeal in full PPR formats as he’s averaged 5.0 receptions per game over the past four weeks.

Charles Clay underwent a knee scope Monday, out "multiple weeks"

The tight end is expected to miss about a month following the procedure. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is now without two of his top three pass-catchers with Jordan Matthews also sidelined. Running back LeSean McCoy ended up leading the squad in Week 5 with nine targets while tight end Nick O’Leary posted a team-high 54 receiving yards. Receiver Zay Jones matched O’Leary with six targets but continued to be inefficient, catching just one of those passes for nine yards. The Bills have a bye in Week 6 and will host the Bucs after that. Depending on how Tampa’s injuries at safety and linebacker play out, O’Leary, who’s now the second on the team among non-injured players with 106 receiving yards, could have a solid matchup.

Tyler Boyd dealing with sprained MCL, out for a few weeks

Boyd was forced from Cincy’s Week 5 game early with a knee injury and it’s been diagnosed as a sprained MCL. The Bengals have a bye this week and John Ross could make his return by Week 7 to take over the WR3 role. That means by the time Boyd returns, he could be the fourth receiver and he’ll continue to be off the fantasy radar. If Ross isn’t ready for their next game, Alex Erickson would be their third receiver.

Odell Beckham will undergo surgery, out for season; Sterling Shepard considered day-to-day

Beckham has a broken fibula and opted for surgery after seeking a second opinion – he’s expected to miss the rest of the year. Sunday was an awful day for the Giants receiving corps as Sterling Shepard and Brandon Marshall both suffered a sprained ankle and Dwayne Harris fractured his foot, ending his season as well. Shepard was originally expected to miss a couple of weeks but he apparently has a chance to return for Week 6 as he’s considered day-to-day; we’ll have to see what he does in practice this week. With the litany of injuries at the position, they promoted WR Travis Rudolph from the practice squad Monday morning and signed WR Tavarres King. Roger Lewis will likely be elevated to a starting role this weekend – unless Marshall and Shepard can both suit up – and tight end Evan Engram should become more involved. Engram was held without a catch on just four targets this past weekend but he has a decent spot against Denver next Sunday, whose defense is allowing the sixth-most PPR points to tight ends this season. However, the Giants offense as a whole may struggle to move the ball and put drives together, limiting his potential upside. New York currently has an implied total of just 15.0 points.

Julio Jones (hip) is practicing Monday; Mohamed Sanu (hamstring) isn't participating

Jones and Sanu were both forced from Atlanta’s Week 4 game. Jones is dealing with a hip flexor injury but he’s looking ready to go this weekend after rehabbing during their bye week. Sanu still has a shot to play if he can get back on the field later this week. Starting RT Ryan Schraeder was able to return to practice Monday after missing the past two games with a concussion. If he had enough snaps to qualify, he’d be a top-20 tackle in both run and pass blocking – he’d be a welcome addition to the offensive line for Matt Ryan and Devonta Freeman if he can play this weekend. The Falcons host the Dolphins on Sunday and opened up as monster -10.5 favorites with an implied total of 29.0 points. Although game flow may not work in Jones’ favor, he could do plenty of damage early against Dolphins CB Xavien Howard. Prior to playing a Titans team with Matt Cassel under center, Howard had the fifth-worst cover snaps per reception rate (6.8). As a unit, Miami ranked 31st in pass DVOA and 30th against WR1s specifically (per FO). Plus, if Sanu misses the game, Jones’ market share should increase.

Rob Kelley (ankle) isn't practicing Monday

Kelley suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 against the Chiefs, he’s tentatively expected to play Week 6 against the 49ers after having a bye week to heal. San Francisco has been better against the run than the pass but they got worked by Marlon Mack for 91 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Chris Carson and Toddy Gurley posted 93 and 113 rushing yards, respectively. Kelley will continue to lose passing-down snaps to Chris Thompson though, so his volume could be shaky, especially in this matchup considering how effective receiving backs have been against this defense. The 49ers have allowed the sixth-most receptions to RBs (7.0 per game) and fourth-most yards (60.0).

Week 5 injury roundup

Odell Beckham has a broken fibula and is likely headed to the IR. He’s reportedly seeking a second opinion before undergoing surgery. It was an awful day for the Giants receiving corps as Sterling Shepard sprained his ankle and could be out for two weeks, per Adam Schefter. Brandon Marshall went down with an ankle sprain as well but his timetable isn’t clear, and Dwayne Harris fractured his foot and is done for the year. With the litany of injuries at the position, they promoted WR Travis Rudolph from the practice squad Monday morning and signed WR Tavarres King. Roger Lewis will be elevated into a starting role this weekend and tight end Evan Engram should become more involved. He was held without a catch on just four targets this past weekend but he has a decent spot against Denver in Week 6 as the Broncos are allowing the sixth-most PPR points to tight ends this season. However, the Giants offense as a whole may struggle to move the ball and put drives together, limiting his potential upside. New York currently has an implied total of just 15.0 points.

J.J. Watt has a left tibial plateau fracture, a season-ending injury. To make matters worse, Houston also lost linebacker Whitney Mercilus for the year after he tore his pectoral muscle Sunday night. He posted a team-high 7.5 sacks last season while Watt was sidelined for all but three games. Houston’s front seven isn’t nearly as intimidating without these two guys but the Browns may not be able to take advantage in Week 6. Isaiah Crowell has struggled to a 3.1 ypc rate while the team ranked 25th in adjusted line yards per carry heading into Week 5. The situation could help the struggling DeShone Kizer (if he maintains his starting job), who’s leading the league with 11 turnovers.

Charles Clay was carted off the field with a knee injury that’s believed to be at least an MCL sprain – he’ll have an MRI Monday to see if there’s further damage. As of now, the Bills leading receiver is expected to miss a few weeks. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is now without two of his top three pass-catchers with Jordan Matthews also sidelined. Running back LeSean McCoy ended up leading the squad with nine targets while tight end Nick O’Leary posted a team-high 54 receiving yards. Receiver Zay Jones matched O’Leary with six targets but continued to be inefficient, catching just one of those passes for nine yards. The Bills have a bye in Week 6 and will host the Bucs after that. Depending on how Tampa’s injuries at safety and linebacker play out, O’Leary, who’s now the second on the team among non-injured players with 106 receiving yards, could have a solid matchup.

Chris Conley ruptured his Achilles Sunday night, ending his season. Conley was leading the team with 15.9 yards per reception and third in total receiving yards (175). His absence will elevate Albert Wilson into the WR2 role, although the offense will continue to run through Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt. Wilson has been pretty efficient this season, catching 80% of his targets, but his 1.42 yards per route run (per PFF) leaves a lot to be desired. He has a poor matchup with the Steelers tough secondary next weekend.

Players to monitor this week:

DeVante Parker exited Week 5 early with a sprained ankle and left the stadium on crutches. It’s believed to be minor and he’ll have a shot to play the Falcons in Week 6. If he ends up sidelined, Jarvis Landry could see some extra targets but this offense has been terrible and they weren’t even able to take advantage of a poor Titans secondary – QB Jay Cutler finished with 92 passing yards and one score.

Jordy Nelson is apparently dealing with a hamstring issue, which is why he wasn’t on the field for Green Bay’s final drive Sunday afternoon. If he misses any time, it’s a boost for Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, and would elevate Geronimo Allison into the WR3 role when they take on the Vikings in Week 6. If Nelson plays, he’ll have a difficult matchup with CB Xavier Rhodes

Matthew Stafford had his ankle and quad heavily taped by the end of their Week 5 matchup with the Panthers. He was able to finish the game but missed his post-game news conference in order to get treatment. He says he’s fine – we’ll need to see him practice this week to believe him.

Travis Kelce is in the concussion protocol. He was originally cleared to return to Sunday night’s game but wasn’t able to go in the second half. If he misses any time, it’ll help Tyreek Hill and Albert Wilson.

Bilal Powell was sidelined Sunday after suffering a calf injury in the second quarter. It doesn’t appear serious and Matt Forte is still dealing with turf toe – it’s possible he resumes the featured role against the Patriots this weekend. New England is allowing the third-most yards per carry (5.0) and they ranked 27th in receiving RB DVOA heading into Week 5.

Tyler Boyd went down with a knee injury, the extent of which is currently unknown. Rookie receiver John Ross has a chance to suit up following their Week 6 bye, in which case he’d take over the WR3 role. If neither guy can go, those duties will fall to Alex Erickson. The Bengals also lost both starting corners, Dre Kirkpatrick and Adam Jones, during the game yesterday. Their injuries could help Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers in Week 7 if they’re not able to return.