NFL Player News

If his first exhibition (forced fumble, INT, seven tackles) was any indication, Hayes could be a huge IDP. Karlos Dansby (toe) may return and push him, but who knows when that’ll be.

Rapoport notes that Hendruckson broke his finger “into several pieces this week.” Ouch. He will play with a cast on his hand for Week 2 and likely much longer. With Hendrickson available, the Ravens’ defense is one of the better fantasy options versus a pass-happy Saints offense this week.

Jones was limited in practice throughout the week, though it was likely little more than maintenance for the NFL veteran. The Chiefs are also expected to have first-round rookie Mansoor Delane available for Sunday Night Football.

Young experienced some soreness in his calf during the week and left Thursday’s practice early. His departure was considered precautionary, though the team ultimately listed him as questionable for Week 2 on Friday. Having Young available is a good start for a Saints defense trying to slow down Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.

Atlanta is also going to have AJ Terrell (shoulder) available for Week 2. Both players were listed as questionable on Friday. It’s a good start for Atlanta, but what the team really needs is a healthy quarterback. Even third-stringer Cooper Rush is playing through a back injury, and the results were downright pitiful in Week 1.

The Bengals called up Josh Johnson from the practice squad over the weekend, raising some eyebrows regarding Burrow’s health. The move, however, was purely a precaution. Burrow has already said he is playing this week. He remains near the top of the QB1 ranks despite a tough matchup with the Houston defense.

Webb took over play-calling duties from Sean Payton this year. The results were disastrous in Week 1. Denver scored 10 points against the Chiefs, Bo Nix was held to 131 yards, and Jaylen Waddle caught one pass all night. It’s a little early for the Broncos to be reminding us that switching to Webb as play-caller wasn’t a bad decision, but the Week 1 results were alarming. If the team continues to struggle on offense, Payton could be back on the headset by midseason.

Porter Jr. missed training camp and the first two weeks of the regular season with the back issue. His absence was initially believed to be purely related to his contract situation. He lobbied for a new deal all summer and never seemed to make much progress. But the fact that he is seeking additional medical opinions indicates the back issue is real. The Steelers, on the other hand, aren’t buying it. According to Schefter, they are planning for him to potentially play in Week 3. This situation is getting uglier by the week. It’s possible a trade is best for everyone involved. Until some progress is made, the Steelers will continue to be without their top corner.

This stems from Allen’s pair of misdemeanor charges related to a drunk driving arrest that occurred in August. A three-game suspension is the minimum allowed for a DUI or similar arrest under the current collective bargaining agreement. As Schefter notes, the league can make the suspension longer, and Allen’s blood-alcohol content was three times the legal limit. The NFL will wait for the legal process to play out before stepping in with a suspension of its own. That could take several months depending on how things unfold in court.

Nacua was added to the injury report on Friday as a DNP. He failed to get in any reps on Saturday but still received the questionable designation. Given that the game is on Monday, fantasy managers won’t have many contingency options left. With Jordan Whittington also expected to miss Week 2, the Rams’ No. 2 receiver will be either Konata Mumpfield or Xavier Smith if Nacua doesn’t suit up. Both players would be WR5/6 options in the event of a Nacua absence.

McConkey suffered a cracked rib in the Chargers’ Week 1 loss to the Cardinals. He logged one limited practice this week before being listed as questionable. According to Rapoport, McConkey has “improved more steadily than anticipated.” He notes that the team did not elevate a receiver from the practice squad over the weekend, indicating some optimism that McConkey will play. Fantasy managers will want to check inactives 90 minutes before kickoff, but all signs point to McConkey suiting up today. He will be a high-risk WR2.