NFL Player News

Slovis (6'3/205) didn’t blow expectations out of the water in 2021 the way some anticipated he might ahead of last season, but it’s important to note the external factors -- including the firing of head coach Clay Helton early on in the season -- that created a difficult environment for Slovis to find success in. Crissy Froyd of NBC Sports EDGE and Sports Illustrated recently caught up with Slovis, who said he felt he was adjusting to a pro-style Pitt offense that features a complex run game element at a quick pace. The change in schemes could serve Slovis, who comes from an offense filled with Air Raid concepts, well. " feel like I can run this offense pretty well and do it pretty perfectly,” he said. “I try not to let other people dictate where I’m at or how good I am because I know how good I am, my coaches know how good I am and my teammates know how good I am. At the end of the day, that’s going to come to fruition and show up on the field.”

Schultz notes this “is the same knee [All] tore his ACL on in October ’23.” It’s an extremely unfortunate end to a promising rookie season. All now faces a long road to recovery in an offseason that should have been spent honing his craft. He finishes the year with 20 receptions and 158 yards on 21 targets, averaging 1.48 yards per route run. The Bengals may now feel compelled to re-sign veteran TE Mike Gesicki, who is scheduled to hit free agency after this season.

Benson’s explosive aerial gain was a second-drive catch-and-run explosion down the sideline that treated viewers to an impressive showing of fancy feet and spatial awareness. He was notably effective on runs up the middle. The game appears to be slowing down for Benson. Over the last three games in which he participated as a rusher, Benson is averaging 5.2 yards per carry and one explosive run play per game. He is a must-stash backup re-draft leagues.

Raymond also took an end around for a 12-yard loss in this one. The veteran receiver has seen just three targets in his last two games and has a 3-36-1 line to show for it. What little fantasy upside Raymond had will fade back into the ether as Jameson Williams is set to return from his two-game suspension on Monday.

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.