Kenneth Walker III Injury Update: Will the Seahawks RB Play in Week 8? Fantasy Impact and More

Ben Rolfe
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Kenneth Walker III Injury Update: Will the Seahawks RB Play in Week 8? Fantasy Impact and More

Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III has sent fantasy football managers and Seahawks fans into a spin with the news he’s dealing with a calf injury in Week 8. Let’s look at the latest injury update for Walker, whether he is expected to play in Week 8, and what it all means for his and Zach Charbonnet’s fantasy managers.

Latest Injury Update on Kenneth Walker III

It was somewhat of a surprise when Walker popped up on the Seahawks’ injury report as a non-participant on Wednesday. Then he remained absent from practice on Thursday, which sent the concern level skyrocketing.

What we currently know is that Walker is dealing with a calf injury bad enough to stop him from practicing for two straight days. We haven’t had any word from Seattle on the severity of the injury, so all eyes and ears will be trained on their practice report and Pete Carroll when he speaks on Friday.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

On Friday the Seahawks released their game statuses and Walker was not given any designation suggesting he is cleared for Week 8.

Walker did not appear to show any signs of the calf injury last week, playing 80% of the offensive snaps. That was actually his highest snap share of the season, with his 29 opportunities also a season high.

Will Walker Play This Week?

As of Thursday, things did not look good for Walker’s availability in Week 8. However, with him not being given any status for Sunday it would suggest he will be good to go when the Seahawks play the Browns in Week 8.

Rarely do we see a player not practice all week and then suit up on Sunday. Usually, we need to see them get in at least one limited practice a week to be available on game day. Therefore, all attention was always going to be directed to the Seahawks’ practice reports on Friday.

As it turns out we found out before that when Seattle released its game-day status. The Seahawks are one of several teams that release their game-day status report ahead of their final practice report.

What Does This Mean for Walker’s and Zach Charbonnet’s Fantasy Ranking?

Early in the week, PFN’s Consensus Rankings had Walker inside the top-10 RB options in all formats. However, the injury news has seen a couple of our analysts starting to drop him as it becomes less clear whether he will play and in what capacity.

If Walker is questionable, then expect his ranking to settle somewhere around the top-24 mark. As long as we don’t hear that he will be on a snap count, the talented RB is likely someone fantasy managers will still want to lean on.

Walker leads the team with 109 rush attempts for 450 yards and six rushing touchdowns. He has also added 106 receiving yards on 13 receptions from 16 targets.

If Walker is out or limited, then Charbonnet would be expected to take on a bigger role. The rookie RB has 23 carries for 109 yards and 36 receiving yards on six receptions. He has played second fiddle to Walker for the majority of the season but is the only other Seahawks back with more than 10 opportunities this season.

Deep-league fantasy managers may want to consider a speculative add on either DeeJay Dallas or Kenny McIntosh. Dallas played as the RB2 last week when Charbonnet was ruled out. However, Seattle chose to use him mostly on special teams as they leaned heavily on Walker.

McIntosh is the wild card that hasn’t played all season, but the seventh-round pick could be trending to get on the field this week. If Walker is out, could we see an all-rookie backfield for Seattle in Week 8?

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Dolphins Injury Update: Secondary in Flux as Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, and Jevon Holland Are All Uncertain for Week 8

Justin Hier
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Dolphins Injury Update: Secondary in Flux as Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, and Jevon Holland Are All Uncertain for Week 8

The Miami Dolphins will face off against a New England Patriots team that might finally be finding a groove after Bill Belichick’s squad took down the Buffalo Bills in Week 7.

Though no one is mistaking New England’s offense for a high-octane aerial attack, QB Mac Jones put together a strong outing against the Bills and will look to keep the good times rolling at Hard Rock Stadium.

Of course, the Dolphins will have an easier time stopping Jones and the Pats if Miami has even half of its starters available in the secondary, something that is in doubt ahead of Week 8’s divisional matchup.

Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, and Jevon Holland All in Danger of Missing Week 8

“I have no clue.” That was the bottom line of head coach Mike McDaniel’s answer when he was asked whether any of the top three players in his secondary would be available against the Patriots.

That said, the odds are that at least one of Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, or Jevon Holland will be able to take the field on Sunday, given that all three seem to be on the verge of playing despite being listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report.

Ramsey has yet to take his first snap as a Miami Dolphin after injuring his knee during a training camp practice. He underwent surgery to repair a meniscus issue that has kept him sidelined all season, and the team activated him from injured reserve as he returned to practice last week.

Several reports surfaced indicating that Ramsey would play in Week 8, but the cornerback refuted the notion that his status is already decided.

“Full transparency, there’s a CHANCE that I can play this Sunday, but that decision genuinely isn’t made yet so that is news to me just like it is to y’all lol,” the star defender posted on X. “I have to go through a whole process to feel GREAT enough to play. I won’t play if I feel any less than GREAT.”

Howard’s status is equally muddled. When asked who his starting cornerbacks will be this week, McDaniel simply offered, “I don’t know who they are.”

MORE: Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Shares Strong Stance on Eagles’ Tush Push: ‘I Feel It’s Legal’

“I really have to go through practice and listen to them. I already know I’m going to like the way they look,” McDaniel said on Friday about Howard and Ramsey. Howard is working his way back from a groin injury, and despite being confident that he would be able to play against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, he was ultimately inactive. He was limited in practice this week on Wednesday and Thursday.

Holland, Miami’s stud safety, has been working his way through the concussion protocol after entering it following Miami’s Sunday night matchup. Though McDaniel noted that Holland wasn’t fully cleared yet, Holland was spotted without his red no-contact jersey at Friday’s practice, indicating that he’s in the later stages of the protocol.

At cornerback, Miami will likely rely on a combination of Kader Kohou, Eli Apple, Parry Nickerson, Nik Needham (if he’s active), and Justin Bethel should Howard and Ramsey be unable to suit up. DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones will hold down the safety position if Holland is unable to play.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Raheem Mostert Injury Update: Fantasy Impact on Jeff Wilson Jr. and Salvon Ahmed

Ben Rolfe
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Raheem Mostert Injury Update: Fantasy Impact on Jeff Wilson Jr. and Salvon Ahmed

It is not unusual to see Miami Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert absent from practice on a Wednesday. Usually, Mostert’s absence is more about rest and workload management, but this time, it appears that things might be a little more serious. Let’s take a look at the latest injury update on Mostert and what it might mean for the fantasy football value of the Dolphins backfield.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Latest Injury Update on Raheem Mostert

Initially, when we heard that Mostert was not practicing on Wednesday, alarm bells did not ring. Mostert frequently misses Wednesday practice, but ahead of Week 8, an ankle injury has caused him to be listed as a non-participant on the Dolphins’ first injury report of the week.

At this stage, we have no idea how serious the injury is, but it very well could be that Mostert could have practiced Wednesday in some capacity but didn’t need to because of his usual schedule. That theory was reinforced with Mostert being able to return to the field for practice on Thursday.

Ahead of practice on Friday, McDaniel told the media that Mostert was “getting himself ready for Sunday, he’s very good at that. I was very happy with the way he looked yesterday. We’ll see how that plays out.”

Mostert later told reporters that he would play Sunday and the ankle injury was just a little tweak that caused him to miss practice. Mostert was ultimately listed as questionable for Week 8.

Will Mostert Play in Week 8?

It seems that Mostert is set to play despite the questionable tag. Mike McDaniel did not address Mostert’s injury in his pre-practice press conference Wednesday, but he did not address Tyreek Hill’s injury, which seemed to be reasonably concerning. However, McDaniel didn’t seem overly pessimistic on Friday when he next spoke to the media and Mostert was fairly adamant he would be active.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

In the end, Mostert saw his usual pattern of missing Wednesday practice and returning on Thursday and Friday. The only difference this time is that it was listed as an ankle injury rather than a rest situation. Assuming he does not get downgraded over the weekend, the assumption should be that Mostert will play on Sunday.

Should Fantasy Managers Target Jeff Wilson Jr. or Salvon Ahmed on Waivers?

Last week saw Jeff Wilson Jr. activated from injured reserve ahead of the Dolphins’ Week 7 game against the Eagles. However, it was Salvon Ahmed who got the bulk of the backup work. Granted, we are talking four opportunities to one, but it is still worth noting.

MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings

The other thing to note is that Mostert dominated the backfield work with nine carries and three targets. The starting RB dominated more than 70% of the touches from RBs in Week 7.

Out of the two, Wilson has the better pedigree as a starting RB. Ahmed does not fit the profile of this Dolphins offense, and the prevailing belief for many is that he is more of a change-of-pace or gadget option for the unit. Thus, the expectation would be that if Mostert missed time, Wilson would be in line to draw the start on Sunday.

Based on what we know Friday, fantasy managers should only look to add Wilson to their roster as a back-end-of-the-bench-type option. However, if Mostert is also downgraded over the weekend, then that urgency would increase, with Wilson potentially in line to be a starting RB for one of the best offenses in football.

When the Dolphins faced the Patriots in Week 8, Mostert rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts. However, that was because the Patriots were designing their defense around the electric playmaking of Hill, who could also be missing. Even so, the potential starting RB for the Dolphins should be an option for fantasy managers to consider adding this week.

Awful Timing as Cincinnati Bengals Running Back Ruled Out for 49ers Game

Jay Morrison
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Awful Timing as Cincinnati Bengals Running Back Ruled Out for 49ers Game

The Cincinnati Bengals will be without running back Chase Brown on Sunday against San Francisco, and possibly for even longer.

Chase left practice on a cart Thursday with a hamstring injury and was not present Friday. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed Brown will not play against the 49ers, and the team will have a better idea of his timeline next week.

Why the Timing Is So Bad for Chase Brown’s Injury

It’s awful timing for the rookie, whom the Bengals were planning to get more involved after the bye.

“I think it’s a reasonable expectation to see him play more,” offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said Wednesday. “(Joe) Mixon’s been playing a lot of snaps, and just like the defensive line, you’re trying to make sure your guys are fresh over the long haul. We’ve got to keep Joe fresh over the course of the season.”

In five games since being a healthy scratch for the season opener, Brown has two carries for six yards and three receptions for seven yards.

“He was practicing well and making the most of his opportunities in practice,” Taylor said.

Brown has played just eight snaps, four of which came in the most recent game against the Seattle Seahawks.

“Just like anything, when you get an opportunity, it might be a small one, but if you do something with it, it tends to breed more opportunity,” Callahan said.

The other two backs behind Mixon are Trayveon Williams (five carries for 20 yards and four catches for seven yards on 67 snaps) and Chris Evans (two rushes for 12 yards and one reception for -1 yard on 12 snaps).

On the positive side of the injury report, Taylor said left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is good to go Sunday.

MORE: Why Tee Higgins Hasn’t Been Involved, and How the Bengals Can Change That

Brown was listed as a full participant today after going limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday with a groin injury that forced him to leave the Seattle game in the third quarter. He didn’t practice Monday in the team’s light, post-bye walk-through, but he said he expected to play, and Taylor confirmed he would.

That’s a big boost for an offensive line that will have to deal with Nick Bosa and the rest of the San Francisco front on Sunday.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Fantasy Injury Update: Darren Waller and Luke Musgrave Impacting Week 8 Rankings

Derek Tate
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Fantasy Injury Update: Darren Waller and Luke Musgrave Impacting Week 8 Rankings

The tight end market is one of the thinnest positions in all of fantasy football. Well, it could get a bit thinner depending on how injuries to New York Giants TE Darren Waller and Green Bay Packers TE Luke Musgrave impact their status for Week 8.

Let’s take a closer look at the most recent injury updates we have on these two tight ends and how it could impact the fantasy landscape at the position heading into this weekend.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision.

Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy

Darren Waller, New York Giants

With seven receptions for 98 yards and a score against the Washington Commanders, Waller is coming off his best fantasy performance in a Giants uniform. This is particularly encouraging when you consider the fact this game came with a backup quarterback — Tyrod Taylor — under center.

Unfortunately for the Giants in 2023, as soon as they get a big performance from a star player… they immediately have an injury the next week.

According to a report from Jordan Raanan, Waller wasn’t on the practice field during the portion of Wednesday’s session that was open to the media. At this time, we don’t have specifics as to what type of injury Waller is dealing with, but his absence from the field is certainly noteworthy.

Waller leads the TE position in team-target percentage this season at 22.7%. When you combine his best performance of the season along with his continued involvement in the passing game, it does provide fantasy managers with optimism for the remainder of the 2023 season.

If Waller is available to play against the New York Jets, he will still be a viable TE1 option in Week 8. If Waller is unavailable to play, Daniel Bellinger would be the first to see an expanded role at tight end in the Giants’ offense.

Editor’s note: Waller is listed as questionable heading into Week 8.

This analysis was last updated at 2:15 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2023.

Luke Musgrave, TE, Green Bay Packers

The Packers’ rookie tight end has caught a mild case of the injury bug recently. After being knocked out of the game against the Detroit Lions due to a concussion back in Week 4, Musgrave suffered an ankle injury against the Denver Broncos in Week 7.

According to a recent report from Tom Silverstein, Musgrave was not practicing during Wednesday’s session. Musgrave still has two more practices this week to get back on the field and participate in some capacity before their game on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

MORE: Week 8 TE Waiver Wire Targets

Over the last two games, Musgrave has 12 targets which he turned into 10 receptions for 64 yards. Green Bay’s passing offense is still a work in progress, but Musgrave currently ranks second on the team with 22 receptions this season.

If he is active against the Vikings, Musgrave is a fringe top-10 TE option in Week 8. If Musgrave is unable to play, Tucker Kraft would be first in line for an expanded role in the Packers’ offense.

This analysis was last updated at 2:49 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2023.

Injury Updates
Justin JeffersonWRMINJustin Jefferson Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-justin-jefferson-davante-adams-travis-kelce-waiver-wire/
Travis KelceTEKCTravis Kelce Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-update-travis-kelce-amon-ra-st-brown-mike-evans-fantasy-week-6-nfl-2023/
Aaron JonesRBGBAaron Jones Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-james-conner-aaron-jones-saquon-barkley-waiver-wire/
James ConnerRBARIJames Conner Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-james-conner-aaron-jones-saquon-barkley-waiver-wire/
Saquon BarkleyRBNYGSaquon Barkley Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/saquon-barkley-elijah-mitchell-injury-update-week-6-2023/
Austin EkelerRBLACAustin Ekeler Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/austin-ekeler-amon-ra-st-brown-keaontay-ingram-fantasy-injury-update-week-6-2023/
Javonte WilliamsRBDENJavonte Williams Injury Updatehttp://profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-austin-ekeler-saquon-barkley-javonte-williams/
Tee HigginsWRCINTee Higgins Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/tee-higgins-marquise-brown-injury-update-2023/
Jahmyr GibbsRBDETJahmyr Gibbs Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-saquon-barkley-jahmyr-gibbs-jeff-wilson-jr/
Tank DellWRHOUTank Dell Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/tank-dell-robert-woods-injury-update-2023/
Amon-Ra St. BrownWRDETAmon-Ra St. Brown Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/austin-ekeler-amon-ra-st-brown-keaontay-ingram-fantasy-injury-update-week-6-2023/
Mike EvansWRTBMike Evans Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/mike-evans-injury-update-week-6-fantasy-2023/
Keaontay IngramRBARIKeaontay Ingram Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/austin-ekeler-amon-ra-st-brown-keaontay-ingram-fantasy-injury-update-week-6-2023/
Davante AdamsWRLVDavante Adams Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-davante-adams-dk-metcalf-jordan-addison/
Jordan AddisonWRMINJordan Addison Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-davante-adams-dk-metcalf-jordan-addison/
DK MetcalfWRSEADK Metcalf Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-davante-adams-dk-metcalf-jordan-addison/
Jeff Wilson Jr.RBMIAJeff Wilson Jr. Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/fantasy-injury-updates-news-saquon-barkley-jahmyr-gibbs-jeff-wilson-jr/
Marquise BrownWRARIMarquise Brown Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/tee-higgins-marquise-brown-injury-update-2023/
Elijah MitchellRBSan Francisco 49ersElijah Mitchell Injury Updateshttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/saquon-barkley-elijah-mitchell-injury-update-week-6-2023/
Robert WoodsWRHOURobert Woods Injury Updatehttps://www.profootballnetwork.com/tank-dell-robert-woods-injury-update-2023/

Fantasy Injury Update: DeAndre Hopkins, Curtis Samuel, and Diontae Johnson Impacting Week 8 Rankings

Kyle Yates
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0
Fantasy Injury Update: DeAndre Hopkins, Curtis Samuel, and Diontae Johnson Impacting Week 8 Rankings

Fantasy football managers have to be exhausted from reading seemingly endless injury updates this season. It seems like every 20 minutes, there’s new breaking news that alters fantasy rosters in some way, and the hits just keep on coming.

This week, fantasy managers got some concerning news regarding DeAndre Hopkins, Curtis Samuel, and Diontae Johnson. What is the latest news and information from these wide receivers, and should fantasy managers expect them to be available for them in Week 8?

Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

Let’s acknowledge the obvious right off the bat: Hopkins isn’t exactly locked into starting fantasy football lineups this season. Despite showing very little drop-off from a skills standpoint, the veteran WR has slowly been moving further and further down fantasy rankings due to the state of the offense that he plays in.

The WR — affectionately known as “Nuk” — has finished inside the top 24 at the position just once so far this season! In fact, he’s finished outside of the top 36 on the week all but twice!

To say that it hasn’t worked here in Tennessee for Hopkins is an understatement, and now trade rumors are circling the contested-catch specialist as the NFL trade deadline looms. To throw a potential wrench into all of that, though, is the fact that Hopkins has now missed practice on Thursday.

MORE: Fantasy Injury Updates — News on Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson, and Aaron Jones Impacting RB Rankings

Hopkins has had numerous instances already this season where he’s missed practice early in the week, only to return in time for the game. However, this seems to have a different level of concern surrounding it, and it wouldn’t shock me to see Hopkins moved to a different team here in the next week.

If Hopkins isn’t able to play, Treylon Burks would see an uptick in opportunity. He’s now back and appears set to suit up in Week 8, but the QB situation makes him a very questionable play.

Analysis last updated at 8:15 p.m. EST on Thursday, Oct. 26.

Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders

Samuel has certainly had his moments so far this season as a viable fantasy receiver. From Weeks 4-6, Samuel was a top-25 WR all three weeks and found the end zone in each game.

However, as has been the case for much of Samuel’s career, he’s been a volatile asset for fantasy that has been difficult to predict when his big performances will (or won’t) happen.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

It won’t help matters this week that Samuel was listed as a DNP to begin the week, while he also got in a limited practice on Thursday. The Commanders will need Samuel this week as the short and underneath receiving option in a game where Sam Howell figures to be under duress from the first snap.

We’ll continue to monitor the situation and update as any relevant news comes out. Make sure to check back in here frequently.

Editor’s Note: Samuel is being listed as questionable for Week 8.

Analysis last updated at 2:07 p.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 27.

Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Johnson came into this year as a highly sought-after fantasy asset in the middle-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts due to the value that he presented. The veteran WR saw 147 targets in 2022, but he was essentially overlooked by the general public because of the fact that he didn’t reel in a single receiving touchdown on that opportunity all season long.

Unfortunately, a hamstring injury landed the Steelers’ veteran on injured reserve after just one game, which only continued fantasy managers’ frustrations.

He did make his return to the lineup in Week 7, though, with a solid performance of five receptions for 79 yards on six targets and seemed on track to be a solid play in Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

News came out earlier today, however, that Johnson missed practice on Thursday after not being on the injury report at all on Wednesday. This could potentially signal that he had a setback with his hamstring injury, but we’ll hope that it was merely a rest day for the talented playmaker.

We’ll continue to update as more news comes out regarding Johnson’s status for Week 8, so make sure to check back in frequently.

Editor’s note: Johnson was back at practice on Friday and confirmed that he is good to go for Sunday.

Analysis last updated at 12:45 p.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 27.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

David Montgomery Injury Update: Will Montgomery Play in Week 8? Fantasy Impact and More

Ben Rolfe
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David Montgomery Injury Update: Will Montgomery Play in Week 8? Fantasy Impact and More

Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery is an NFL player that many fantasy football managers are keenly waiting to see the status of this week. The ripple effects of Montgomery’s status impact not only him but the fantasy value of Jahmyr Gibbs in a significant way. Let’s take a look at the latest Montgomery injury update and the fantasy impact of his situation.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Latest Injury Update on David Montgomery

Editor’s note: Montgomery has missed practice on both Thursday and Friday.

This analysis was last updated at 12:32 p.m. EST on Thursday, October 26.

With the Lions playing on Monday Night Football in Week 8, we have yet to hear from Detroit with regards to Montgomery’s status. The Lions will open practice on Thursday, and we should get some kind of indication on whether we will see Montgomery on the field for Monday.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

The last injury update we got for Montgomery was this past Monday, when head coach Dan Campbell gave the impression that he would not play for a couple of weeks. “He’s probably going to be down for a little bit. I don’t know how long … at his position, that’s not an easy thing to deal with, so we’ll just take it as it comes, but I think there’s a chance we won’t have him for a little bit,” Campbell told reporters.

Montgomery was ruled out for Week 7 due to a rib injury he suffered landing on the ball in Week 6. Montgomery was a non-participant all week on the Lions’ injury report before being ruled out Friday.

 

Will Montgomery Play This Week?

Based on what we heard from Campbell on Monday, current estimations would put Montgomery as “doubtful” to play on Monday Night Football in Week 8. We cannot definitively say he won’t be able to suit up until we know a little more, but it doesn’t look likely at this stage.

We would want to see Montgomery get back to at least limited participation at practice ahead of Saturday when the Lions make their final decision. In some ways, the best outcome for fantasy managers will be for Montgomery to be ruled out because at least we would have clarity.

MORE: NFL Injuries Week 8

The best-case scenario for Montgomery right now feels like a “questionable” tag, which is arguably the worst-case scenario for fantasy managers. That would force managers to make a decision Sunday as to whether they risk waiting on Montgomery’s status Monday or benching him Sunday in favor of someone with a clearer injury situation and role.

Adding to the complication is that Week 9 is the Lions’ bye week. That might make them more likely to rule Montgomery out for Week 8 — they would be gaining two weeks of recovery time for just one lost game. With Detroit sitting at 5-2 and Week 8 not being a make-or-break game, erring on the side of caution would make a lot of sense.

What Does This Mean for Montgomery’s and Jahmyr Gibbs’ Fantasy Ranking?

If Montgomery was active and a full go on Monday, he would most likely be at least a top-15 RB for fantasy. When he’s healthy, Detroit leans on him as their main back.

It’s hard to imagine the Lions would want to have a less than 100% Montgomery on the field unless they really have to. Right now, he’s unranked in our PFN Consensus Fantasy Rankings, reflecting the feeling that he won’t play this week.

In his place, Gibbs is ranked inside the top 20 at the position at RB16 overall. All four of our analysts have Gibbs inside their top 50, indicating they all believe he should be starting for fantasy managers this week.

Dolphins Injury Update: Tyreek Hill Will Play ‘For Sure’, Raheem Mostert Trending Up

Justin Hier
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Dolphins Injury Update: Tyreek Hill Will Play ‘For Sure’, Raheem Mostert Trending Up

The Miami Dolphins are looking to bounce back from last week’s Sunday Night Football loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and having the team’s most productive offensive weapons would go a long way toward accomplishing that goal.

Luckily for head coach Mike McDaniel and Co., Miami’s blazing-fast playmakers are trending in the right direction for Sunday’s Week 8 divisional showdown with the New England Patriots.

Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert Likely To Play in Week 8

Tyreek Hill scared all of South Florida when he missed Wednesday’s practice with a hip injury. The Sunshine State (at least the southern half) then breathed a collective sigh of relief when he suited up for Thursday’s practice and told reporters, “I just wanted some attention, man, because my mom wouldn’t talk to me yesterday, so I needed some attention from somebody. I’m good, though.”

McDaniel confirmed Hill’s optimistic outlook on the superstar wideout’s status, saying on Friday, “I would expect [Hill] to play. For sure.” It sounds like Wednesday’s absence was more about maintenance than anything else for Tua Tagovailoa’s number one weapon.

“Would you run on E if you had a Ferrari? You’d probably make sure it has gas. Take care of it on the front end,” McDaniel told reporters. The comparison to a Ferrari is, of course, an apt one. Hill has the fastest recorded speed of any ball carrier this season, a 22.01 mph sprint on a 64-yard reception against the New York Giants in Week 5.

As for Mostert, his status is on the upswing ahead of Sunday’s contest. “Getting himself ready for Sunday, he’s very good at that,” McDaniel noted when asked about his starting RB. Mostert missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle issue before returning on Thursday for a limited session. “I was very happy with the way he looked yesterday. We’ll see how that plays out,” McDaniel said on Friday.

On Friday, Mostert told NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe that he’s expecting to play on Sunday, saying that the ankle tweak that caused him to miss Wednesday’s practice was a minor issue.

Mostert, for the record, has the fifth-fastest recorded speed of any ball carrier this season with a 43-yard touchdown run in Week 2 against the Patriots. The only two players ahead of him? Hill (twice) and fellow Dolphins RB De’Von Achane (twice).

MORE: Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Shares Strong Stance on Eagles’ Tush Push: ‘I Feel It’s Legal’

The 31-year-old brings both the lightning and the thunder to the RB position for Miami. He’s is sixth in the league in rushing yards (474), first in rushing touchdowns (nine), and second only to New York Jets RB Breece Hall in yards per carry (5.6) among running backs with at least 50 rushes on the year.

If the Dolphins list either of the team’s two offensive stars with an injury designation for Week 8, they’ll likely be on the right side of questionable.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Jerome Ford Injury Update: Will Browns RB Play in Week 8? Fantasy Impact and More

Kyle Yates
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Jerome Ford Injury Update: Will Browns RB Play in Week 8? Fantasy Impact and More

Fantasy football managers struck gold off of the waiver wire when they spent up to get Jerome Ford after Nick Chubb’s devastating season-ending injury. The second-year RB has filled in nicely for the Cleveland Browns and has been a solid option for fantasy lineups since that point.

Unfortunately, it seemed as though fantasy managers were going to be without the explosive RB for a few weeks after an ankle injury in Week 7, but is that still the case? Is there a possibility that he’s available going into Week 8?

Latest Injury Update on Jerome Ford

Ford was on his way to a monstrous performance in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts as he had put up 74 rushing yards and a touchdown before his injury. Unfortunately, Ford was forced to exit the game after a tackle that forced him to be evaluated for an ankle injury and he never returned.

Tests following the game revealed that Ford had suffered a low-grade, high ankle sprain that was expected to sideline him for 1-2 weeks, but fantasy managers got some positive news on Friday regarding Ford’s status.

There’s a strong possibility that Ford will now be available for the Browns in Week 8 in their matchup against the Seattle Seahawks as the talented RB has returned to practice ahead of Sunday.

Will Ford Play This Week?

At the time of writing, Ford is being listed as questionable for this game, which is an upgrade from when he was listed as doubtful earlier in the week. We still have a little bit of time for the Browns to decide whether or not he’ll be fully ready to go, but this is at least positive news that he’s returning to practice this soon.

MORE: NFL Injuries Week 8 — Tracking Every Injury

Expect a game-time decision for Ford this week, which doesn’t exactly help fantasy managers as they’re set to play at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday after all of the 1:00 p.m. ET games are done and lineups lock. Stay tuned to Pro Football Network as we’ll be sure to update you as the latest injury information rolls in.

What Does This Mean for Ford’s Fantasy Ranking?

Even if Ford does make it back for Week 8, he’s highly unlikely to see his usual workload as he won’t be at 100%. This means that it becomes incredibly risky to play him, but it also becomes a dart throw to play Kareem Hunt, too.

If Ford were to completely miss this game, Hunt would easily be in the low-end RB2 conversation, but it becomes difficult to trust either one if both are active. We’ll continue to monitor the latest news and information and update as the situation becomes clear.

If you’re interested in whether or not you should start Ford — or Hunt — on Sunday, we have a free Start/Sit Optimizer that can help make the decision easy for you! Simply choose your league settings, enter the players on your roster, and view our consensus projections!

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Diontae Johnson Injury Update: Will the Steelers’ WR Play in Week 8? Fantasy Impact and More

Ben Rolfe
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Diontae Johnson Injury Update: Will the Steelers’ WR Play in Week 8? Fantasy Impact and More

Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson has had a tough time of it so far in 2023, and fantasy football managers have ridden that roller coaster with him. Just one game after returning to the field, Johnson is back on the injury report, and there is significant concern that he could miss time again.

Let’s take a look at Johnson’s latest injury update, whether he is expected to play in Week 8, and what it all means for fantasy managers.

Latest Injury Update on Diontae Johnson

The latest injury update for Johnson is significant news. The WR has gone from being a full participant on Wednesday to being listed as a non-participant on the Steelers’ injury report on Thursday. Mid-week downgrades are rarely good signs, especially with soft tissue injuries such as a hamstring.

We didn’t get any clarity on the situation from Pittsburgh’s coaching staff Thursday as they spoke before practice when the media was unaware of any concerns surrounding Johnson. If offensive coordinator Matt Canada was aware of the issue, he showed a good poker face when asked a more general question about Johnson by the media.

Fortunately, on Friday, Johnson allayed any fears for fantasy managers by saying that his absence from practice was merely the team being cautious. We should get confirmation after practice when the final injury report is released.

Will Johnson Play This Week?

The last time Johnson dealt with a hamstring injury this season, he missed four games while on injured reserve. He could have potentially missed more time had it not been for the Steelers having a bye in Week 6. The positive news is that this injury does not seem to be as serious, and Johnson was optimistic he would play in Week 8.

If this injury has been anywhere near as significant as the one suffered in Week 1, then Johnson would almost certainly miss this week.

As mentioned, mid-week downgrades are rarely a good sign for players, fans, and fantasy managers. Unless the downgrade is more about rest purposes, the chance of a player getting back to a playing level with just a couple of days of recovery time is a tough ask.

The only positive here is that the fact he did not participate at all on Thursday would suggest Johnson picked up the injury on Wednesday, giving him a few more hours of recovery time. Unfortunately, with a hamstring issue, even if Johnson plays, he’ll likely be significantly hampered.

What Does This Mean for Johnson’s and George Pickens’ Fantasy Ranking?

Johnson’s hamstring issue has led to a significant downgrade in PFN’s Consensus Fantasy Rankings this week. He currently sits just outside the top 35 WRs, with two of our analysts having him right around 100th overall.

If it wasn’t for the health concerns, Johnson would likely be at least a few spots higher after five receptions for 79 yards in his return last week.

MORE: Week 8 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet

Based on that ranking, our analysts are concerned that even if Johnson suits up, he won’t be healthy enough to make a significant difference for the Steelers and fantasy managers.

With Johnson sliding down the rankings, it has opened space for George Pickens to jump up inside the top 25 at the position. Pickens had 107 yards on five receptions from eight targets last week. It was his third 100-yard receiving game this season and his fourth with more than 10 fantasy points (PPR scoring).

Whether Johnson is active or not, Pickens should likely be in consideration as a starting WR or Flex option this week. If Johnson is out, Pickens could very well finish the week as a top-20 fantasy wide receiver.

Johnson missing time could also benefit Allen Robinson, who sits second on the team in targets with 27. However, Robinson has been far from consistent this year, with only three games over five fantasy points and has not topped 10 points since Week 1.

Deeper-league fantasy managers may want to consider a speculative add in Calvin Austin III. The speedy WR had one monster game while Johnson was out but would be nothing more than a dice roll in Week 8. In all likelihood, with no teams on a bye, Austin will be surplus to requirements for most managers.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

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