NFL Player News

Murphy (6'5/276) was one of the best run-stopping edge rusher in the country in 2021 with a run-stop grade of 92.2. But he’s also one of the best overall players at the position in the nation according to Pro Football Focus, which listed him as the No. 2 edge rusher in the country behind Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) and as the No. 10 overall player.

The Raiders were put in a bind at quarterback after Aidan O’Connell hit injured reserve with a thumb injury. Ridder is likely to serve as the primary backup behind Gardner Minshew while O’Connell is on injured reserve. Ridder was signed to the Arizona practice squad after Clayton Tune beat him out this offseason for the primary backup role behind Kyler Murray.

This makes sense considering the team then goes to their bye in Week 9. The 49ers have been bitten hard by the injury bug this season, notably missing McCaffrey to this point in the season and losing wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a torn MCL and wide receiver Deebo Samuel to pneumonia in Week 8. That could leave the team extremely thin for the team’s Sunday Night Football matchup against the Cowboys.

No major surprises here as the Ravens remain one of the healthier teams in the league. The biggest absence is DT Broderick Washington, normally a starter off the edge for the Ravens.

This was though to be the case after White logged a full practice on Saturday, with his status now confirmed with the release of the Week 7 inactives list. The Tampa backfield situation remains unclear after rookie Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker performed well in White’s absence, with head coach Todd Bowles indicating the team would ride the hot hand moving forward. Also active in Week 7 is DT Vita Vea, who was added to the injury report late in the week. Inactive for the Buccaneers are DL C.J. Brewer, P Jake Camarda, TE Payne Durham, OG Royce Newman, and LB Jose Ramirez.

Fluid in the lungs technically means Samuel is struggling through pneumonia, which can be treated. Even so, head coach Kyle Shanahan said he was unsure how long Samuel would be in the hospital and out of the lineup. Shanahan also added that rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing are likely going to be required to have big roles for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. The reports of Samuel’s sickness popped up on Saturday before he played only four offensive snaps in the loss against the Chiefs, now clearly due to the fluid in his lungs.

Valdes-Scantling was released by the Bills following the acquisition of Amari Cooper and lands in New Orleans after the season-ending knee injury to Rashid Shaheed. Valdes-Scantling has experience operating in a downfield role like the one left behind by Shaheed, albeit with spotty success. Even so, he is likely to be given every opportunity to return significant value for fantasy managers in a bind at wide receiver.

Harry was a first-round pick by the Patriots who has never caught more than 33 passes in a season and hasn’t brought in a reception since 2022. Someone will likely give him a chance on the practice squad because of his 6-foot-4 size, but his chances of ever making a fantasy impact are slim and none.

Metcalf is now considered week-to-week. The injury occurred during the Seahawks’ Week 7 victory over the Falcons, and saw the 6-foot-4 wideout carted off the field late in the contest. Mike Macdonald confirmed the sprain, but called it “minor” and that he’ll do everything he can to not miss any time. If he can’t go it will lead to increased targets for Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jake Bobo will likely be the third wideout for Week 8 against the Bills.

It’s an estimation as the team did not actually hold practice. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert speculated earlier that Hockenson stands a decent chance of being activated ahead of Week 8’s Thursday night game against the Rams. He practiced in a limited capacity last week as well, and was a true game-time decision. Hockenson was designated to return on October 4th so if he isn’t activated for Week 8, he will need to be activated by Friday or returned to IR.

The Vikings didn’t actually practice Monday but with are required to list availability before the Thursday Night Football contest. Jones was able to run for 93 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s close loss to the Lions, and while fantasy managers will need to make sure, it seems very likely that he’ll be in the lineup for the showdown with Los Angeles.