NFL Player News

Simpson released a top five of Auburn, Georgia, Miami, UNC and Tennessee back in May. Auburn wins. For now, anyway. The Charlotte native is considered one of the best linebackers in the country, and ranks as the 52nd best prospect overall in the 2020 class in 247Sports rankings, and fourth among outside backers. He’s the fifth four-star prospect to join the class for the Tigers, and 247Sports ranks that group 18th overall in their rankings.

Fannin was a genuine question mark after missing Thursday’s session, but his limited Friday session seems to have gotten him back on track. The problem is, David Njoku is also playing, and this is a Browns offense that is going to want to ride the running game in Quinshon Judkins’ return. All that is conspiring to make Fannin more of a TE2 than TE1 for Week 10.

Swift missed Friday’s practice with a personal issue after practicing in full on Thursday, but it would appear he’s good to go after his lingering groin issue finally cost him a game in Week 9. The problem for Swift and his fantasy managers is that Kyle Monangai, who had already been pushing close to 50 percent of the Bears’ snaps, went off in his absence. This could be a much more evenly split backfield going forward, especially if Swift is not 100 percent healthy. Then again, maybe Swift will immediately resume his normal role. Both backs find themselves inside the top 30 for Week 10.

Golden started the week off with a limited showing but was unable to retake the practice field for the final two practices this week, indicating a high likelihood he could be looking at an absence for Monday Night Football against the Eagles depsite head coach Matt LaFluer labeling him “day-to-day” earlier in the week. Fantasy managers might want to make alternate plans considering the Packers play in the final game of the week in Week 10.

Both players found themselves on the injury report early in the week coming off the team’s bye week, but both were removed Saturday as the Eagles prepare to face the Packers on Monday Night Football. Center Cam Jurgens was ruled out but his absence didn’t affect Barkley’s rushing output in Week 8. Treat Barkley as a locked-in RB1, even in a difficult matchup, while Brown has fallen slightly to WR2 status of late.

Tillman returns to a lineup with a new signal caller but had operated as the team’s top option through the air prior to his injury. The second-year receiver’s fantasy ceiling remains relatively low considering the current state of the team, but he should continue to provide consistent production now that he is back in the field.

Jurgens remained sidelined in practice on Saturday and appears headed for another absence when the Eagles play the Packers on Monday Night Football. Look for Brett Toth to once again be relied upon in the trenches when two top NFC teams meet on Monday.

The positives, according to Fowler, are that Daniels doesn’t need surgery and hasn’t been placed on injured reserve yet. The 24-year-old quarterback will be re-evaluated during the Commanders’ bye week, which is in three weeks. According to Fowler, depending on Daniels’ condition and the team’s record going into the bye, a course of action will be charted for his return that will be in the 3-6 week range. Marcus Mariota will continue to start for Washington in the meantime.

While Golden may be fighting to play, that doesn’t mean he will. LaFleur wouldn’t commit to the 22-year-old receiver practicing Saturday after he was absent from the practice field on Friday. He did say that Golden hasn’t suffered a setback and is day-to-day, but he also said that earlier this week. Golden is a strict avoid for fantasy managers even if he is active in Week 10 as targets will likely condense around Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Luke Musgrave anyway.

Jones suffered an AC joint sprain at the end of Week 9’s victory over the Lions. The 30-year-old running back missed practice on Wednesday before getting in a pair of limited sessions on Thursday and Friday. Jones told reporters he was in a good spot on Friday and now it’s reported that he’s expected to play. He’s a borderline RB2 this week coming off totaling 98 yards a week ago.

Presumably those discussions will take place after the season. Murray was benched in favor of Jacoby Brissett after seven seasons as the starting quarterback with the Cardinals and then placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. Murray is eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 14. The Cardinals will have to act fast this offseason as $19.5 million of Murray’s 2027 base salary becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year, which will come in mid-March. Schefter passes along that many sources believe Murray will be on a new team next year with one source saying a separation is imminent. Murray won’t turn 29 until next August, but his market could be limited due to a lackluster track record. While head coach Jonathan Gannon and GM Monti Offenfort weren’t part of the Cardinals organization when Murray was drafted and signed to an extension, they’ll incur a dead-cap hit of upwards of $50 million in 2026 if Murray is released.