NFL Player News

McGrone is fitting to be a top-75 pick, if not a top-50 pick, this spring. For him to not leave, with all the coaching changes Michigan are about to endure, would have been a shock. At 6-foot-1 and 232-pounds, McGrone has fantastic size for the position and has all the athletic tools you want to see from a young Day 2 linebacker. McGrone played in all but one of Michigan’s six games this year, racking up 26 tackles and a half-sack. Much of that production came after an upper body injury he suffered on Halloween, though, so it’s possible scouts may be looking more at his healthy 2019 tape for his projection.

Krafts’ six targets tied with Jayden Reed for the second-most on the team. The second-year tight end had a pedestrian day through the air as the Packers struggled to extend drives and converted just three of their 12 attempts on third down. With the Packers now headed for their Week 10 bye, Kraft will resume his role as a fringe TE1 in Week 11 against the Texans.

Conner briefly exited to get checked for a concussion but was quickly cleared and got back to dominating the Bears’ defense. While no field-tilting plays were made, Conner routinely knifed through the Bears’ defense on runs up the middle, accurately reflected in his 5.9 yards per carry average. Week 10 sledding will be tougher against the Jets but Conner remains a talent- and volume-based RB1/2.

Wilson was a non-factor in the run-heavy win. The Cardinals’ No. 3 pass catcher is largely a matchup-based flex option and the situation simply did not call for his services. He is a WR5/6 against the Jets in Week 10.

McBride nearly scored on a long gain down the middle, eventually being tackled on the Bears’ two-yard line. Jonathan Gannon made sure to give McBride another opportunity, sending McBride in motion from left to right, and back again before Murray handed the ball off to McBride on the way back. A foot race between the tight end and Bears S Kevin Byard III ensued, which ended in a successful stiff arm and a score just before they reached the pylon. The athletic tight end is a high-end TE1 against the Jets in Week 10.

Doubs has seen five or more targets in each of his last three games. His five targets were good for fourth-most in this one, but his 28 receiving yards marked his lowest total since Week 3. Fantasy managers shouldn’t be counting on Doubs as anything more than a WR3/WR4. He and the Packers now enter their bye week and will return for Week 11 against the Bears.

Harrison’s biggest impact on the game occurred in the second quarter when UDFA CB Reddy Steward punched the ball out of Harrison’s hands. Game script then rendered Harrison obsolete, pushing the volatile rookie wide receiver out of OC Drew Petzing’s mind. Harrison is a WR4 against the Jets in Week 10.

Travis Etienne, returning from a hamstring injury, logged three carries. Bigsby ran a pass route on about 40 percent of Trevor Lawrence’s drop backs but was not targeted. Week 9 showed just how game script sensitive Bigsby can be, especially with Etienne back in the fold. The Jaguars abandoned the run in the second quarter, leaving Bigsby almost no way to rack up the touches he would need to be a reliable fantasy option. In Week 10, Bigsby will be a touchdown-dependent RB3 play against Minnesota.

Much of Engram’s production came on a 24-yard reception in the third quarter in tight coverage. He also caught a two point conversion in the second half. Engram, with 14 receptions over the past three games, easily led all Jacksonville pass catchers in targets as Trevor Lawrence’s primary check down option. Engram should continue functioning as a reliable PPR option in Week 10 against the Vikings.

The Cardinals’ ground game dominated the Bears’ banged-up defense, reducing Murray to a managerial role. Fantasy managers were also dealt a pair of brutal hands. Murray connected with Trey McBride for a big gain and he was eventually brought down inside the Bears’ five-yard line. McBride scored a rushing touchdown on the following play after being sent in motion pre-snap and taking the handoff from Murray on his way back from the right side of the formation. Murray is also credited with having lost a fumble in this one but equal (or more) blame should be placed on RB Emari Demercado, who bobbled the fumbled handoff. Murray is a low-end QB1 against the Jets in Week 10.

The Seahawks were without DK Metcalf for the second week in a row. Smith-Njigba got off on the wrong foot in his first game sans Metcalf with an underwhelming six catches for 69 yards. Seattle couldn’t buy a chunk play in that game and switched up JSN’s role for Week 9. They made a clear effort to get him looks downfield and it paid off with five gains of 20+ yards for the second-year receiver. He also had two catches for a combined 78 yards that were called back because of offensive holding. This is the JSN Seattle thought they were getting with the No. 20 overall pick and then some. The Seahawks will likely get Metcalf back after their Week 10 bye, but JSN’s breakout performance will earn him more high-value looks going forward. He will sit on the WRR2/3 border versus San Francisco.