NFL Player News

“I see him every day,” Zimmer said in response to a follow-up question on why he wouldn’t want Mond to get some regular season playing time in the Vikings’ meaningless Week 18 game against the Bears. It was an ice-cold response from a coach who will surely be fired at season’s end after two straight seasons in which his team missed the playoffs. Zimmer’s inglorious run as Minnesota’s head coach was doomed by a forced marriage between him and Kirk Cousins, who missed the team’s critical Week 17 game against the Packers with COVID-19. Zimmer chose Sean Mannion over Mond -- the team’s second-round draft pick -- despite Mannion’s disastrous track record. The Vikings will likely start from scratch in 2022.

Otton was the primary point of emphasis through the air for the second consecutive week following the injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, the former of whom is out for the season while the latter is likely to return following the team’s Week 11 bye. That means fantasy managers are likely to get one more week of Otton as the lead pass-catcher when the Buccaneers play host to the 49ers in Week 10.

White’s six opportunities fell behind the 10 of backfield mate Bucky Irving, but only 52 offensive plays run from scrimmage capped the upside of all three backs in the Tampa backfield. White could continue to remain an integral piece of the offense through the air in Week 10 when the Buccaneers host the 49ers.

The Buccaneers ran only 52 offensive plays to the 83 of the Chiefs, limiting the backfield trio to just 13 combined carries in the process. Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker would remain vital pieces through the air as they combined for seven targets, but the decreased play volume once again hindered their chances at fantasy utility. Irving’s next chance to return fantasy viability comes in Week 10 when the Buccaneers play host to the 4-4 49ers.

Mayfield watched from the sidelines as Patrick Mahomes drive the Chiefs down the field in the fourth quarter to take a 24-17 lead with just over four minutes remaining. The Bucs would go thee-and-out on the following possession but their defense held when they had to, giving the ball back to the offense with enough time for Mayfield to drive the field to bring the team within a point. Head coach Todd Bowles elected to kick the field goal to tie the game with 27 seconds remaining as opposed to trying for the two-point conversion, which sent the game into overtime. Mayfield would then watch from the sidelines again as Mahomes drove the length of the field, a drive capped off by a Kareem Hunt touchdown plunge from two yards out to send the Buccaneers to 4-5. Things don’t get any easier for the Buccaneers in Week 10 when they host the 49ers, likely to once again be without their top three wide receivers.

Hardman fell awkwardly on his shoulder on a punt return in the first quarter and was slow to get up, eventually being taken to the locker room with the training staff for further evaluation. Hardman was not targeted prior to departing.

Edwards-Helaire has yet to make his season debut as the team has turned to Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine, and Carson Steele. Smith-Schuster will miss another week with a hamstring injury sustained in Week 7. Recent acquisition DeAndre Hopkins could see his snap and route participation rates grow in his second game with the team, particularly after a long week. Also inactive for the Chiefs are CB Nazeeh Johnson, OL C.J. Hanson, OT Ethan Driskell, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, and DE Mike Danna.

McMillan suffered a hamstring injury Friday and will be unable to go in Week 9 against the Chiefs, while Evans continues to nurse his own hamstring injury. Their collective absences potentially open up additional snaps for Rakim Jarrett on the perimeter. Jarrett played 20 offensive snaps with McMillan on the field a week ago and is likely the best fill-in for a deep role in the offense. Also inactive for the Bucs are TE Devin Culp, DL Greg Gaines, LB Antonio Grier, OG Royce Newman, and LB Jose Ramirez.

Mitchell has been working his way back from a torn ACL late in the 2023 season and has yet to make his season debut. Harbaugh’s comments indicate the blazing running back could return to the game-day roster for the team’s Week 10 meeting with the Bengals on Thursday Night Football, although the Ravens could theoretically hold him out another week considering he has another nine days remaining on his 21-day practice window. The Ravens held a walkthrough Monday, so fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Mitchell’s practice status Tuesday and Wednesday before making firm plans.

Williams can resume practicing with the Lions this week and play in Week 10 when the Lions visit the Texans on Sunday Night Football on NBC. The young receiver found himself in the midst of a “gun case” while suspended and could be looking at another suspension if the league deems it necessary. For now, fantasy managers should expect to have Williams available this week and can view him as a boom-or-bust WR3.

Metcalf has missed the last two games since suffering a Grade 1 MCL sprain in Week 7 against the Falcons. His two-game absence comes as a bit of a surprise after there was some hope he would not miss any time, but hopefully, a third week of rest will buy him enough time to return for Week 11 against the 49ers.