NFL Player News

The deal includes a $10 million signing bonus, and $16 million “fully guaranteed.” Grubbs provides the Saints a soft landing after they lost LG Carl Nicks to the Bucs, but at a surprisingly steep cost. Grubbs landed just $11.5 million less total money, and will average roughly $2 million less per season. Grubbs graded out as Pro Football Focus’ sixth-best left guard in 2011, but Nicks was significantly better in both run and pass blocking. Nicks is also more than a year younger. The Ravens will likely now focus on signing free agent Evan Mathis to replace Grubbs.

Harris missed Week 6 before the team’s Week 7 bye but could be held out for an additional week given the nature of his injury. Fantasy managers will want to confirm his status on the team’s final injury report Friday to gauge the viability of entering him back into lineups for Week 8. Fellow wide receiver Ladd McConkey (concussion) got in his second consecutive full session and should be good to go for Week 8.

Harvey was added to the injury report Thursday after being limited in practice due to a knee injury, something fantasy managers will want to monitor as the weekend approaches. Either way, Harvey now has two healthy backs to compete with for touches with the return of Jonah Coleman in Week 7, keeping him on the fringes of FLEX consideration entering a difficult matchup against the Chiefs.

Waddle aggravated an existing chest injury on a trick play late in the fourth quarter of Week 7. A return to the practice field, in any capacity, Thursday keeps the door open for him to be available to play the Chiefs in Week 8, although fantasy managers are likely looking for an excuse to bench the over-hyped receiver. It would be prudent to look at other viable options in a difficult matchup.

Diggs shook of the absence Wednesday with a full showing Thursday, indicating he is tracking well to suit up when the Commanders face off against the Eagles on Sunday Night Football. The tam previously indicated that Diggs’ modest role would not grow in the absence of Terry McLaurin, potentially paving the way for rookie Antonio Williams to see an increase in role and opportunity in the second half of the season. Fantasy managers will want to confirm Diggs’ status on the final injury report Friday, but it appears as if he will be available in Week 8.

Burks downgraded from a limited showing Wednesday to a “DNP” Thursday, indicating he might be headed toward an absence when the Commanders take on the Eagles on Sunday Night Football. Considering the team is already without Terry McLaurin, who was lost for the season in Week 6, this would appear to be setting up for the best chance for rookie Antonio Williams to finally break out in Washington. Fantasy managers will want to confirm the status of Burks on the team’s final injury report Friday.

It’s the second consecutive limited showing for the co-alpha receiver, who will likely need to upgrade to a full showing on Friday to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend. Pickens has played through the shoulder issue for two weeks, but the hamstring ailment is worth monitoring as the weekend approaches. Pickens is a viable WR2 in a solid matchup against the Cardinals, if active.

It was the second consecutive day in which Wilson practiced with a yellow non-contact jersey after stating Wednesday that the team was simply being overly cautious. Wilson appears on track to maintain a high-volume role in the pass-heavy Cardinals offense in Week 8 against the Cowboys, where he will be a borderline WR1, if active.

The consecutive limited showings seems to indicate Moore is on track to return from a two-game absence, something we should get further fidelity on after Friday’s practice. There remains a possibility that Moore carries a questionable designation into the weekend if he is unable to upgrade to a full participant Friday, leaving fantasy managers hopeful yet uncertain as we near the weekend. Moore would return to a WR2 profile when the Bills take on the Ravens, if active.

Chase quickly puts his fantasy managers’ worries to rest, returning to a full session Thursday after being limited Wednesday. The Bengals will be playing without two tight ends and their WR3 in Andre Iosivas, but their primary contributors remain one of the healthier units as we approach the half way point in the regular season. Chase can be started as a top tier WR1 against the Titans.

It’s an upgrade from a Wednesday limited session. We’re pretty sure Allen will play this week and was just being managed on Wednesday, but how often he’ll be playing will depend on how Breece Hall’s situation shakes out on Friday.