NFL Player News

Wilson will be the emergency third quarterback against the Seahawks on Sunday behind Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham. Franklin was a fourth-round pick who struggled early in camp, and will need to pick things up in practice to not earn the inactive designation going forward.

Lamar Jackson dropped a deep shot in the bucket for a 24-yard grab from Hill in the second quarter. Hill also got a crack at goal line duties in the third quarter but couldn’t punch it in from four yards out. Fullback Patrick Ricard caught a three-yard touchdown on the next play. Hill has made the occasional splash play for Baltimore but doesn’t see the ball enough to escape the RB5 ranks. He will fall off the fantasy radar entirely when Keaton Mitchell returns from injured reserve.

Since Tolbert’s breakout game against the Steelers in Week 5, he’s been targeted 13 times over three games and managed just 106 yards. The touchdown saved any deep-league or emergency starters, but Tolbert has not shown any signs of being consistently useful for fantasy purposes.

Allen’s three highest pass attempt totals have now come in the three games since the Bills acquired Amari Cooper. He’s also combined for just 12 rushes in that timespan. Cooper, of course, did not play this afternoon as he nursed a wrist injury, but it’s safe to say his arrival signaled a commitment to a more pass-first approach after months of middling returns as a run-based offense. Not that Allen’s running has been completely buried. He had a beautiful 21-yard ground score called back by a phantom holding penalty in the dying moments of the second quarter. It was enough to make a fantasy manager sick, but Allen compensated with boffo second half passing production, including all three of his scores. Allen was forced to target Mack Hollins far too often, while Keon Coleman (arm) joined Cooper on the shelf late. That will be something to monitor closely ahead of Week 10 against the Colts.

The Bengals offense continued its ho-hum ways, with Burrow completing his first 15 passes, nearly all thrown less than 10 yards downfield. With Tee Higgins out, the game plan continues to be screen passes to Ja’Marr Chase with short-yardage tosses to tight ends and running backs and the occasional deep shot. It all clicked against a weak Raiders defense as Burrow threw five touchdowns to four different receivers. His sole interception was in the second half, on a screen play to Chase that Raiders DB Jack Jones returned for a touchdown. A 47-yard touchdown to a wide-open Mike Gesicki inflated Burrow’s yardage totals as fantasy managers can expect tight ends and short throws to be a big part of Burrow’s game while Higgins is out. He will have more chances to throw the ball downfield on a short turnaround Thursday game against a weak Ravens defense.

It was the highest volume of targets Brooks has had since Week 6, where he had six in a blowout loss to the Lions. Brooks also set a season-high with the two catches. We’re very happy for him. He is not a recommended fantasy football play in any format at this point.

Hebert overcame nearly constant pressure — he was sacked six times — to pick apart the Cleveland secondary in an easy victory. It’s the second straight game in which Herbert has thrown for multiple touchdowns in the newly pass-first LA offense. The uptick in drop backs has made Herbert something of a fantasy option as he develops a connection with pass catchers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Herbert, who hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 2, has quietly been excellent as the head of a conservative Chargers offense. He’ll be a top-20 fantasy play in Week 10 against the Titans.

The only pass Henry didn’t snag was a deep throw from Drake Maye that he couldn’t quite pull down. Outside of that the two showed a solid connection, albeit with the majority of the work being for short-yardage and with no scores. He remains a TE2 going forward, including the Week 10 tilt against the Cardinals.