NFL Player News

Signed to a one-year, $8 million contract last offseason, Fisher returned from a January torn Achilles to start 15-of-17 games for the Colts. His pass protection dropped off while playing injured, allowing seven sacks and struggling throughout the season. Re-signing Mark Glowinski and extending Quenton Nelson are considered priorities over keeping Fisher. The Colts don’t have a first-round pick or in-house replacement at left tackle if they let Fisher walk.

Thomas, returning from a chest injury, did not appear to be 100 percent but gutted it out. Thomas was targeted in the end zone in the second half but couldn’t come up with an errant throw from Trevor Lawrence. Once he’s fully healthy, Thomas should be the Jaguars’ clear WR1 again with Christian Kirk (shoulder) out for the season. The boom-bust Thomas takes on a tough Vikings secondary in Week 10.

Noah Fant was sidelined with a groin injury this week, thrusting Barner into the starting role. His seven targets were good for second-most on the team, though he failed to do much with the increase in opportunities. With Seattle on bye next week, Barner is only worth an add in deep leagues or TE premium formats. He will sit in the middle of the TE2 ranks for Week 11 versus the 49ers if Fant is unable to return after the bye.

It was Gainwell, not rookie RB Will Shipley, operating as the Eagles’ No. 2 back. It’s worth noting should Saquon Barkely miss any time in the second half of the regular season. Gainwell would likely split backfield duties with Shipley.

Charbonnet broke off a 24-yard reception for his only explosive play of the day. He hasn’t touched the ball more than eight times in a game since Week 3. That, of course, was the last game Kenneth Walker missed because of an oblique injury. Charbonnet is purely a backup at this point. With Seattle on bye next week, fantasy managers can send him to the waiver wire on Tuesday.

Walker had topped 14 carries in one game before this week and his season-high in attempts was 20. That came all the way back in Week 1. While it was an elite day from a volume perspective, Walker failed to break off any gains of more than 10 yards on the ground, resulting in his fourth game under four yards per carry in the past five weeks. Walker is in a minor slump and has been able to stay afloat with a larger role through the air this year. He will look to get back on track coming out of Seattle’s Week 10 bye. With San Francisco on tap next, Walker may spend a week outside of the RB1 ranks because of the tough matchup.

Lockett reeled in a 30-yard touchdown just before halftime but was used as an ancillary weapon in this game. With DK Metcalf out for a second game because of a knee injury, Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepped up in a major way, corraling seven passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets. This was Lockett’s fifth game over 60 yards but his ninth under 80. With no ceiling games in sight and Metcalf likely to return after Seattle’s Week 10 bye, Lockett will be relegated to the WR4/5 ranks when he returns in Week 11.

Hurts had yet another rushing touchdown in a game that saw the usually-unstoppable tush push fail three times. In another run-heavy game plan, Hurts made the most of his limited pass attempts, hitting Saquon Barkley for an early wheel route touchdown before connecting with DeVonta Smith for a back-of-the-end-zone score in the fourth quarter. It was only the third time this season Hurts had more than one touchdown pass in a game. Hurts will be an elite fantasy option in Week 10 against the terrible Cowboys defense.

Kupp saved a quiet Week 8 box score with a touchdown. His stat line didn’t need saving this week as he was able to dominate LA’s targets and top 100 yards for the first time since Week 1. Kupp’s lofty target total could be written off as the product of Puka Nacua getting ejected at the end of the first half, but Kupp had nine targets to Nacua’s four before the second-year wideout was tossed. The more likely explanation is that Nacua is still working through his knee injury and his opportunities were limited. If Nacua isn’t at full strength for LA’s Week 10 matchup with Miami, Kupp will jump him in the fantasy rankings in route to a WR1 projection.

Returning from a multi-week injury absence, Etienne played behind Tank Bigsby, who had eight carries on the day. Etienne was the Jaguars’ primary pass-catching back, though it didn’t amount to much. The split Jacksonville backfield won’t amount to much for fantasy purposes going forward. Etienne won’t be playable next week against Minnesota.

Robinson scored twice for the second week in a row. He put together a far more complete box score this time around after going for just 35 yards (plus the pair of touchdowns) on two grabs last week. Robinson’s uptick in target volume came as the result of Puka Nacua getting ejected for throwing a punch late in the first half of this game. His first score was an easy grab from one yard out. His second score was a game-winner in overtime. Robinson reeled in the 39-yard strike from Matthew Stafford with one hand while winning a hand fight with the other. Robinson’s role will fade with Nacua not likely to miss half of Week 10 because of an ejection, but his touchdown potential will keep him on the WR5/6 periphery versus Miami.