NFL Player News

A Mike Shanahan favorite, Beck became expendable when the Redskins drafted Robert Griffin III on Thursday and Kurt Cousins this morning. Now 30 years old, he’s probably seen his last NFL start, but could garner some attention as a backup. In four appearances last season, Beck completed 60-of-132 passes for 858 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He continues to be hampered by poor pocket presence and check-down tendencies.

Robinson continued to operate as the third option through the air on a night quarterback Matthew Stafford attempted a robust 46 passes. Even so, the two were not on the same page on this night, hooking up just once for a 23-yard gain in the fourth quarter. All of Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, and backup tight end Davis Allen saw more targets than the veteran receiver, highlighting the current role for Robinson moving forward.

Kupp’s seven looks paled in comparison to the 14 of Puka Nacua, with the talented second-year receiver now finally healthy after multiple injury scares with his knee. Even so, Kupp made numerous key catches to move the football as quarterback Matthew Stafford’s preferred intermediate target. The Rams struggled in the red zone and were held out of the end zone for only the second time with Stafford under center, capping Kupp’s fantasy upside in the process. Kupp will look to get back in the scoring column in Week 11 when the Rams travel to face the Patriots.

Nacua returned from injury to a subdued role in Week 8 before banging his injured knee on the ground in practice ahead of Week 9. He would ultimately suit up in that game but was swiftly ejected for throwing a punch, making the 14-target performance a week later soothing to fantasy managers that have missed his presence in their rosters this season. Two miscues from quarterback Matthew Stafford in the red zone could have made Nacua’s night that much bigger, but both passes ultimately fell incomplete as the Rams failed to score a touchdown for only the second time during Stafford’s career with the team. Up next for Nacua and the Rams is a much more forgiving Patriots team in Week 11.

Lead back Kyren Williams maintained one of the most robust backfield shares in the league in Week 10, something drafters that speculated on Corum this offseason have grown all too familiar with this season. Corum remains one of the better pure handcuff backs in the league, albeit requiring an injury to Williams to return viable counting stats.

Williams continued to garner one of the most robust running back roles in the league but went the way of the team, largely struggling to find room against a reinvigorated Dolphins defense. The team also struggled mightily in the red zone and failed to score an offensive touchdown for only the second time with Matthew Stafford under center. Fantasy managers can take solace in the fact that Williams’ robust role should make performances like this one few and far between, even though that doesn’t help ease the pain for those counting on his production in Week 10. Williams could find better success against another AFC East opponent in the Patriots in Week 11.

Stafford led an offense that failed to score a touchdown for only the second time in his career with the Rams, struggling to move the football against a reinvigorated Dolphins defense that got numerous key defenders back from injury ahead of their Week 10 meeting. They would also clearly struggle in the red zone, leading to five field goals on six attempts for kicker Joshua Karty. Stafford’s lone interception came on a tipped pass near the end of the first quarter with the team down 10-0, setting the tone for the remainder of the game. With the loss, the Rams fall to 4-5 and suddenly find themselves 1.5 games back from the division lead with eight games remaining to play. The Rams travel to Foxboro to face the Patriots in Week 11.

Washington took a jet sweep 18 yards to the house to cap off the team’s first possession, marking only the second opening possession touchdown of the season for the Dolphins. He continued to split snaps with veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the latter of whom played more offensive snaps but managed just 17 scoreless yards on his two touches. Washington likely needs an injury ahead of him on the depth chart to return consistent fantasy production.

Smith would be tackled at the one on his final reception of the game, something that could have made his fantasy week much different had he found his way into the end zone. The modest yardage production have become something of an accepted expectation for the veteran tight end, a man who is unlikely to see robust weekly volume in this offense outside of his typical schemed usage. Even so, fantasy managers in deeper leagues could consider Smith one of the more consistent TE2s in the league for that same schemed usage in this offense.

Two of Waddle’s three grabs came on the team’s opening drive, a possession that led to only the second first-drive touchdown for the Dolphins this season on a Malik Washington 18-yard rush on a jet sweep. Waddle would add just one more catch for two yards the rest of the way while the Dolphins transitioned into game management mode with the Rams struggling to put points on the board. Waddle’s next chance to return viable counting stats comes in Week 11 when the Dolphins play host to the Raiders.

Hill came into Monday listed as questionable and appeared to be a true game-time decision following consecutive missed practices with a wrist injury to end the practice week. He would ultimately suit up but finished sixth on the team in receiving, a fourth quarter touchdown salvaging an otherwise pedestrian fantasy performance. Fantasy managers will want to monitor his practice status closely in the coming short week leading up to a conference clash with the Raiders in Miami.