NFL Player News

Love is expected to miss about three weeks according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, and at least for Week 2 against the Colts it will be Willis under center and not Sean Clifford. Green Bay made the trade for Willis just before the start of the year, and the speedy 25-year-old will have one of the better group of weapons to throw the football to. Willis also hasn’t shown in the preseason and his limited action in actual games that he may not be the guy to get those players the football. The ability to run makes Willis interesting on top of those receiving corps, but there’s a ton of volatility in using Willis as a fantasy fill-in.

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.

Dortch’s athleticism and gadget usage occasionally yields fantasy-friendly results but with four targets over the last three weeks, he is not worth starting in 12-team re-draft leagues. Dortch can be dropped.

Puka Nacua got ejected late in the first half freeing up some routes for LA’s depth receivers. With Jordan Whittington out this week, Johnson was the next man up. He reeled in a 24-yard grab in overtime that led to a Demarcus Robinson game-winning touchdown four plays later. Johnson isn’t on the fantasy radar for Week 10 but is a good depth option for the Rams.

Parkinson drew a short target in the third quarter, but Seahawks corner Tariq Woolen committed an illegal contact penalty, negating the play entirely. Fellow LA tight ends Hunter Long and Davis Allen each caught one pass. With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp mostly healthy, Parkinson’s role in the Rams’ offense has vanished. Fantasy managers can cut ties with him ahead of Week 10.

Demercado was the featured player in the Cardinals’ two-minute drill, touching the ball on 2-of-4 plays. On third-and-five from the Cardinals’ own 47-yard line, Cardinals’ OC Drew Petzing called a strong-side run play against the Bears’ six-man box, gifted to them by Matt Eberflus and his prevent-style coverage defense. Demercado simply followed his blocks before breaking loose for a 53-yard score. Demercado later bobbled a handoff from Kyler Murray, though Murray was dinged with the lost fumble in the box score. Demercado is a worthwhile bench stash in 12-team PPR leagues.