NFL Player News

Thornton ran 21 routes as part of a mix of four Patriots wide receivers that split playing time. This wide receiver rotation is enough to keep them all from fantasy relevancy until a receiver or two separate themselves. Thorton appeared to be emerging as one of the top receivers in training camp, but that didn’t lead to significant usage in the season opener. He’s in wait-and-see mode heading into Week 2’s home matchup with the Seahawks.

It’s an admission that normal snapper of snaps that are longer than usual Scott Daly may need some time off after suffering a knee injury in London. McQuaide will kill Cole Kmet’s value in points per long snap leagues.

Nichols suffered stingers in back-to-back games for the Cardinals and must now miss the next four weeks. Adam Schefter reported that Nichols is expected to miss the remainder of the season. He had started five of six games for the Cardinals on the interior line, notching just six tackles and one tackle for loss on the season. Naquan Jones and Khyiris Tonga will likely get playing time boosts.

Chad Ryland kicked for Arizona in Weeks 5 and 6 and should continue to be the team’s main kicker until Prater is healthy again. Prater will miss at least four more games with an injury that has already sidelined him the previous two weeks.

He’ll miss at least four games after leaving Monday night’s loss to the Bills. Clark had 17 solo tackles and one pass defensed for the Jets in six starts. Ashtyn Davis replaced him in the lineup after he left and would seem likely to step in to a starting role in Clark’s absence.

The 31-year-old vet appears likely to be an elevation this week as the 49ers try to fill a void at safety after injuries to Talanoa Hufanga and Malik Mustapha. Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum were the only two healthy safeties on the 49ers active roster heading into the week. Amos played in 16 games last year for the Jets and Texans and had 23 solo tackles and one pass defensed.

Smith was a sixth-rounder in 2022 for the Cardinals. The Patriots continue to see record turnover along the offensive line with two more injuries last week. Smith should find a second chance to play after starting two games for the Cardinals in 2022.

He was a roster spot casualty of the Amari Cooper trade. Valdes-Scantling, who turned 30 last week, had just nine targets and two receptions in six games for the Bills this year. He played more than 40 percent of the snaps just once, against the Jaguars in Week 3. He’ll try to catch on elsewhere. (Is he in good enough graces with House Rodgers?)

Tyjae Spears’ availability is in question. Only Julius Chestnut — a special teamer who has 10 rush attempts in three NFL seasons — joins Tony Pollard on the roster currently. Kelley has a chance of finding real NFL snaps for the suddenly run-heavy Titans as an elevation this week. Kelley was part of a huge running back workout a few weeks ago for the Titans and apparently impressed them the most.

He left Thursday night’s loss to the 49ers — his only game so far this year — and did not return. Burns, 29, had two passes defensed and one tackle in the game. Seattle will need to find another depth corner.

Cooper’s contract adjustment that pushed his salary cap figure down earlier this year pointed strongly at the idea that he would be available and the Bills swoop in and get the deal done. There probably isn’t a bigger upgrade from a fantasy perspective than being excised from Deshaun Watson and dropped into place as the clear No. 1 target for a team with Josh Allen. Cooper should step in and start providing WR2 numbers even if the direction of the offense remains run-focused. This is not great news for Khalil Shakir or Dalton Kincaid. David Njoku and Jerry Jeudy stand to benefit in Cleveland, or would if they were playing with a better quarterback.