NFL Player News

This role comes with positives and negatives. Lining up in the slot gives the receiver a chance to run routes against linebackers and safeties. It can also mean he is forced to leave the field when the offense switches to two-wide receiver sets — a role that fellow rookie, boundary WR Ja’Kobi Lane, will likely get the first crack at. Sarratt logged 2,435 snaps lined up on the perimeter and 396 lined up in the slot in college, but he was very efficient on a per-route basis in the latter role. Sarratt’s training camp progress is worth following closely. The slot role will give him the chance to earn PPR-friendly lay-up targets, but he may need to command at least a mild-to-moderate perimeter snap share to become a matchup-based FLEX starter.

Collins injured his hamstring in practice last week and has already been ruled out for the second game in a row. He did not practice this week, so the Texans’ first injury report of Week 4 will be telling. Dalton Schultz will continue to vacuum up targets in the meantime. He saw 14 targets last week and caught 12 of them for 140 yards.

Pittman missed last week’s game with the foot issue and was limited in practice throughout this week. He was given a questionable designation on Friday. Pittman will return as the No. 2 receiver on a struggling offense, and he’s likely not back to full strength. Fantasy managers should keep him on the bench for at least one more game before getting him back into lineups.

Schefter noted that the team doesn’t believe he will need surgery, but it could be an option if things don’t improve. The team is listing it as a hip injury, but the main issue has been a groin injury which would presumably require core muscle surgery. That would sideline him for multiple months. Schefter added that Nacua could return as soon as Week 4 if he does improve. Nacua did not practice once this week before being listed as doubtful versus Denver. Nacua’s short and long-term status hangs in the balance right now. It sounds like we’ll know pretty soon whether this is a lost season or not.

Schefter noted that Williams could return sooner, and the timeline is simply an estimate from the doctors. Still, it would be risky for the team to rush him back, even if he is pushing to play. Williams has already been ruled out for Week 3 and Tyson Bagent is questionable because of a concussion. If he isn’t ready when the Bears take on the Eagles on Monday, Case Keenum will draw the start.

Warren was limited in practice throughout the week because of the shoulder issue. The team listed him as questionable on Friday, though he always looked more likely than not to suit up. He will see the bulk of the backfield touches with Rico Dowdle (toe) out for Week 3, putting him in the RB2 mix.

Parkinson did not practice once this week because of the knee issue, so it’s a bit of a surprise that McVay sounds optimistic about him suiting up today. The team may have kept him out of practice as a precaution. He will handle an inline tight end role while Terrance Ferguson handles de facto WR2 duties with Puka Nacua out. Ferguson remains in the TE1 mix while Parkinson is a touchdown-or-bust TE2.

Schefter did add, “The team doesn’t sound as if it is counting on him playing.” The Ravens are taking on Dallas in Brazil, so the team wants to get him on the field for warmups to see how he responds to the reportedly spotty and uneven turf. There’s still a chance he plays, but it has already been reported that he will be on a snap count if active. At this point, fantasy managers should treat Flowers as if he’s out. Rashod Bateman took over the No. 1 receiver duties last week and went for 88 yards plus a touchdown. He will be in the WR3 mix once again if Flowers is inactive.

The high-ankle injury will now cost the veteran receiver a minimum of four games, thinning an already reeling group of pass-catchers in San Francisco. Jacob Cowing is technically the next man up, although the offense appears more likely to concentrate on the remaining veterans.

Smith’s week of practiced steadily increased from a limited showing to full-go, paving the way for him to operate as the clear-cut top option through the air against a porous Bears secondary. Fantasy managers can start him with confidence is an upside WR2 in Week 3.

Barkley briefly left the team’s Week 2 win with a stinger but would return in the second half to finish the game. He’ll be a back-end RB1 against the Bears through clear offensive struggles from the Eagles.