NFL Player News

Fortunately for the McAfee Show, his mouth continues to work. Indeed, our Sunday blurb on Rodgers was titled “Rodgers gets banged up in Week 4 loss” and noted that he received attention from Jets trainers for a leg injury. It’s possible he pops up on the injury report this week ahead of Sunday morning’s tilt with the Vikings in London. We doubt it’s serious enough to make him miss Week 5, but if it were serious, the Jets would likely to turn to Tyrod Taylor.

What Mayo doesn’t specify is whether or not Stevenson will miss Week 6’s contest against the Texans, although the comment lends itself to suggesting he will miss at least his week. We’ll get a clearer sense of Stevenson’s Week 6 availability when the Patriots release their final injury report on Friday, but for now, it sounds like Antonio Gibson could be in line for a busy day against the Texans.

The Bears will already be without several members of their defense as safety Jaquan Brisker, defensive lineman Zacch Pickens, and corner Terell Smith have already been ruled out for Sunday’s contest. With Stevenson likely to miss Sunday’s game as well, the Bears’ secondary will likely rely heavily on Jaylon Jones and Elijah Hicks as his replacements. In addition to Stevenson, the Bears also listed Teven Jenkins as questionable with an ankle injury. Jenkins was limited in two of the team’s three practices this week.

Robinson hasn’t practiced this week but could still log a limited session on Friday. We saw something similar from him in Week 5, when he was a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday before he eventually suited up for Friday’s practice. The concern for Robinson, however, could be his overall workload. He ran seven times for 18 yards in last week’s win over the Browns, but bailed his fantasy managers out with two short rushing touchdowns. Head coach Dan Quinn said it was “a coaching decision” to sit Robinson in the second-half of last week’s game out of caution because of his knee injury. Even if he’s able to go against the Ravens, Robinson could be a risky play if he’s unable to get into the end zone. Austin Ekeler should have plenty of upside, especially in PPR leagues, even if Robinson does go, while Jeremy McNichols would make for an interesting deep flier if Robinson sits.

The six grabs matched Fant’s season high, while his 63 yards were a new 2024 best. It was nevertheless “blink and you’ll miss it” production on an evening where Geno Smith attempted 52 passes. Fant hasn’t displayed any upside and isn’t drawing red-zone looks. He’s a floor-based TE2 in 12-team re-draft leagues.

Charbonnet has posted touch counts of seven, five and six in three games since Kenneth Walker returned from injury. He has not looked explosive in the process, with even the broadcast booth having to note this evening he didn’t exactly appear fast. Charbonnet obviously has major contingency value behind injury magnet Walker, but he’s lacking standalone relevance for the time being.

With each of Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle finally healthy of late, gravity has returned for slot man Jennings, who has just four grabs for 40 yards over the past two weeks. He has seven catches across his past three appearances. With injuries deepening and bye weeks raging, Jennings is probably waiver wire fodder in most standard-sized 12-team leagues.

Coming off by far his best game of the year, Aiyuk posted a season low for looks as Brock Purdy attempted a modest 28 passes. George Kittle led the team with six targets, though five players commanded at least four. It’s maddening that Aiyuk continues to see such inconsistent usage, but we know he can’t keep finishing below 50 yards forever. He will be needed for much more in Week 7 against the Chiefs, though that’s a tough matchup for any wideout.

Lockett’s nine-yard score with 1:44 remaining was his first of the season. It came after a failed end zone look just a few moments before. Like every other Seahawks pass catcher, Lockett has been seeing plenty of volume the past three weeks as comeback game script has forced Geno Smith into bushels of attempts. He’s gone at least 4/61 every week in the process. Good, though he has not eclipsed 75 yards since Week 1. Lockett is ultimately looking like a middle-of-the-road WR4 with DK Metcalf dominating the big-play opportunities and Jaxon Smith-Njigba cleaning up on aisle PPR. Seattle visits Atlanta for Week 7.

JSN has now reached nine targets in 3-of-6 contests. Not bad, though this evening’s 53 yards were his second most of the season. It speaks to a high-floor, low-upside PPR dink-and-dunk game. It wasn’t been working in the real world, with the Seahawks turning in three straight thoroughly mediocre offensive performances. JSN did at least get targeted in the end zone this evening, but it was, for some reason, on a fade. That’s not his game. Expect more of the same in Week 7 against the Falcons, where the Seahawks are unlikely to have the luxury of playing conservatively.

Tonight was the third game in a row where Samuel saw five-or-fewer looks, but he had a 100-yard outing thanks to a 76-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The safety jumped Samuel’s route. He then proceeded to outrun LB Boye Mafe to the house. With Jordan Mason missing over half the game with a shoulder injury, Samuel’s four carries were his most since Week 1. He had an injury scare of his own, but it turns out he just hit his funny bone. The Chiefs await for Week 7.