NFL Player News

Henley (6’1/225) worked his way up the college ranks, spending 2017-2021 at Nevada where he was named Second Team All-Mountain West Conference before transferring as a graduate to Washington State. He made a seamless transition to the Power Five level, earning First Team All-Pac-12 recognition while becoming the first Butkus Award finalist in Wazzu history. A textbook finisher thanks to his 33” arms, Henley led the P5 with a 90.3 PFF tackling grade thanks to his relentless motor and pristine 5.2% missed tackle rate last year. He ran a 95th percentile 4.54s 40-yard dash and has had demonstrable success in coverage, holding opponents to a 39.0 NFL Passer Rating when targeted and picking off four passes in 2021. He can sometimes make bad reads and needs to keep his pad level low when engaging blockers. However Henley has shown the ability to be a complete linebacker, be it bringing pressure off the edge with ferocity, crashing down on run plays or, dropping into coverage. A physical middle linebacker whose play strength far outweighs his size, Henley has legitimate NFL starter potential.

The Rams’ offensive line is quietly trending toward a midseason turnaround after operating as one of the league’s worst units early on. Hopefully, Jackson can stack another full practice on Saturday and suit up for the first time since Week 2. Fellow OL Steve Avila (knee) likewise practiced in full on Thursday.

Whittington is trending toward a Week 10 return from his multi-week shoulder injury. Demarcus Robinson’s hot streak likely relegates the promising rookie to that of a bench stash though.

Robinson has scored five touchdowns over his last four games, somewhat inflating his fantasy-scoring potential; he is averaging just 1.23 yards per route run during that span, which more accurately reflects his expected weekly productivity. That said, a capable player in a high-end passing offense remains WR3/4-viable, particularly with four teams on bye.

Brooks was activated from the reserve/NFI list this week and practiced in full during all three sessions. Still, head coach Dave Canales was non-committal on his status for Week 10. The good news is that fantasy managers will get to see Carolina’s inactives before every game other than Thursday’s kicks off. The bad news is that’s because the Panthers take on the Giants in Germany for a game kicking off bright and early stateside. Playing in his first game in nearly a year, Brooks will be eased back into the lineup this week if he plays at all. Fantasy managers wanting to get their full eight hours of sleep should just keep Brooks on the bench.

Sanders was back in action on Friday, practicing in full with the rest of his Panthers’ teammates. The enticing rookie tight end is averaging 2.43 yards per route run over the last three weeks and the Giants’ tight end-coverage unit is among the league’s worst. He is firmly on the streaming TE1 radar.

Hunt’s inclusion on the injury report is seemingly a formality at this point. He regularly takes it easy during the practice week before suiting up come game day. This is just the Chiefs smartly managing the 29-year-old’s repetitions. He is an RB2.

Hardman got banged up in Week 9 but returned to catch three passes for 17 yards. The gadget receiver will continue seeing a handful of schemed touches a week but is not on the fantasy radar heading into Week 10.

The Ravens released Ngakoue yesterday, prompting the 2-7 Patriots to unexpectedly bolster their thinned-out pass rush. Ngakoue can hardly be projected for a robust snap count but he should chip in from time to time. His signing does not move the needle on the Patriots’ D/ST unit for fantasy purposes. The team released LB Raekwon McMillan in a corresponding move.

Williams joined the Lions as a UDFA this year and cracked the team’s 53-man roster at the end of camp. He did not play until Week 8 when he caught two passes for six yards. Williams was cut after Week 9. He gives the Bengals an extra depth option with Tee Higgins banged up and Jermaine Burton’s rookie season spiraling.

McMillan only got in one limited practice this week and missed Week 9’s game with the hamstring injury. Tamp Bay gets their bye in Week 11 meaning McMillan would get a lengthy recovery time if he is held out for one more game. We suspect that is the route the Bucs will ultimately take. Sterling Shepard will operate as the Bucs’ top receiver if McMillan is out.