NFL Player News

Jags GM Gene Smith is known for targeting players with “clean” resumes. Neither Coples nor Blackmon fits that description. ESPN Florida’s Charlie Bernstein suggests the Jaguars might target LSU CB Morris Claiborne in a small trade up, or try to trade out of the No. 7 slot if another team is trying to move ahead of the Dolphins (No. 8) for Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill.

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.

Harvey was listed as limited on Wednesday, though the team didn’t actually hold a practice. They were back on the field for the next two days and listed him as limited. The fact that he practiced in any capacity should mean this isn’t a long-term issue, but the Broncos are playing it safe this week. J.K. Dobbins will see the bulk of the carries and rookie Jonah Coleman could be in line for some of Harvey’s designed touches. Dobbins is locked in as an RB3 for Week 2, while Coleman is more of a deep-cut FLEX play.

The Bucs are going to ease McMillan back into the lineup after he missed Week 1 with the knee injury. McMillan will take rookie Ted Hurst’s spot in the lineup once healthy, but that might not happen until Week 3. Until we see what their split looks like, neither Hurst nor McMillan should be in fantasy lineups.

Black picked up 14 carries while Christian McCaffrey dealt with cramps in Week 1. Now it’s Black who is banged up, meaning we might get more CMC versus Miami this week. Black was added to the injury report midweek and logged two limited practices before receiving the questionable designation. He is in the RB4 range for Week 2, making him a middling FLEX play.

Olave left Thursday’s practice as a precaution and was limited again on Friday. The team listed him as questionable heading into the weekend. It seems like the Thursday departure truly was a precaution, and Olave is good to go for a potential shootout with Baltimore. With plenty of passing volume to go around in the Saints’ offense, Olave sits at the end of the WR1 mix for Week 2.

The team pulled the plug on Flowers’ potential to play in Week 2 after the veteran receiver departed the team’s Week 1 win with a hamstring injury. No word yet on how long the injury is expected to sideline Flowers, who appears to have a good shot at suiting up when the team faces off against the Cowboys on the road in Week 3. Tight end Mark Andrews could see a slight uptick in volume in the interim.

The Texans received relatively good news from initial testing, which revealed a Grade 1 hamstring injury. Even so, word around the team is that they are preparing to be without their star receiver for two games, which makes sense considering his lengthy soft tissue injury history. Fantasy managers will want to make alternate plans after losing one of their top selections off the board.

Also listed questionable is LB Micah McFadden, while CB Greg Newsome, T Andrew Thomas, DL Chauncey Golston, and OL Francis Mauigoa were removed from the injury report and will play. While Banks’ status is of particular concern against the high-flying Rams aerial attack, their opponent could be without All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua, who is listed as questionable with a groin injury.

Nacua did not practice for the second consecutive day Saturday, prompting the questionable designation for Monday Night Football. The issue is now being called a groin ailment and is reportedly unrelated to the psoas injury he dealt with during the offseason. Fantasy managers will want to start making alternate plans for their first-round pick considering the Rams don’t play until the final game of the week. Jordan Whittington is listed as doubtful with a quad injury.

Davis was unable to practice all week with a neck injury and will ultimately be held out of the team’s Week 2 game against the Steelers. Pittsburgh will be without starting wide receiver Michael Pittman, so it will be interesting how the Patriots choose to deploy Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez could find himself in shadow coverage of opposing alpha DK Metcalf.