NFL Player News

“Obviously, [Joe] Flacco is a really good player and been playing good ball for us,” Steichen said Tuesday. “But when Anthony’s healthy, he’s our quarterback.” It’s the latest confirmation that Richardson would resume as the team’s quarterback when he’s ready to return from his oblique injury. That could come as soon as Week 7 against the Dolphins. Richardson’s presence would make for a more run-first Indy offense and would be a downgrade for all Colts pass catchers. With Richardson under center, the Colts were 24th in EPA per play; with Flacco, they were eighth. It’s worth reminding that the team can move the goalposts on “healthy” any way they want.

Cooper’s contract adjustment that pushed his salary cap figure down earlier this year pointed strongly at the idea that he would be available and the Bills swoop in and get the deal done. There probably isn’t a bigger upgrade from a fantasy perspective than being excised from Deshaun Watson and dropped into place as the clear No. 1 target for a team with Josh Allen. Cooper should step in and start providing WR2 numbers even if the direction of the offense remains run-focused. This is not great news for Khalil Shakir or Dalton Kincaid. David Njoku and Jerry Jeudy stand to benefit in Cleveland, or would if they were playing with a better quarterback.

The Panthers have been extremely cautious with Brooks to this point as he’s three months behind the initial timetable Dan Morgan laid out when they drafted the Longhorns back. Brooks’ practice window was opened this week and given the fact that he’ll likely be given a slow start, it sure feels like Brooks is only going to be a fantasy factor once we get to Thanksgiving.

So he does have eyes. The Cowboys wasted eight touches on Ezekiel Elliott and Dowdle only started getting major run in the fourth quarter. Dallas is on bye, but perhaps they’ll come back in Week 8 with a more coherent plan for their running game and Dowdle can start delivering some RB2/RB3 lines.

That’s a pretty strong indication that they believe they’ll be in need of reinforcements for Thursday night’s game against the Broncos. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed each missed practice on Monday and we suspect we’ll see the same today. Pettis could be a quick elevation as the Saints try to give five wideouts for Spencer Rattler on Thursday.

Detroit fans surely have never rooted for anyone else with this name. Thomas will be tasked with helping to replace Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport after both have been lost for the season. Thomas played in 10 games for the Browns in 2022 as a rotational end and special teamer, notching two pass deflections, one tackle for loss, and four solo tackles.

Certainly there’s no reason for Williams to want to stick with the Jets after the Adams trade, and it appears the Jets recognize this as well. Williams is on a one-year, $10 million deal with a ton of void years. He’d be an interesting fit on a number of teams, but the type of teams he’d help the most (the Bills and Chiefs immediately come to mind) are not teams that the Jets would want to help. Williams has been targeted 17 times in six weeks and has just 145 scoreless yards on the season.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who has seemingly been itching to bench Justin Fields for the past few weeks, said Wilson is “in consideration” for the starting job against the Jets after Fields helped the team start the season 4-2. Tomlin could just be playing games with the Jets. He said Tuesday that he had not determined the “minutiae” of who will start at QB for Pittsburgh going forward. The Steelers offense would remain one of the league’s run-heaviest units with Wilson under center, though pass volume could tick up because Wilson doesn’t run the football like Fields. That could be a boon for George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers are 18th in offensive success rate with Fields under center.

Jake Moody is expected to miss more time with a serious ankle injury and Matthew Wright hurt his shoulder in the fourth quarter of last week’s win over the Seahawks. That might leave the Niners no choice but to roll with Carlson in Week 7 against the Chiefs. Carlson made 27 of his 33 field goal tries last season and missed five extra points for the Packers and lost his starting job in the 2024 preseason. The 49ers average three field goal tries per game, the second highest mark in the NFL this season.

Aaron Rodgers made sure to call out Williams for apparently running an incorrect route late in the fourth quarter, resulting in a game-ending interception from Rodgers. Williams is likely done as a relevant part of the New York offense now that he’s on the wrong side of the mercurial Rodgers. It won’t help that the Jets on Tuesday acquired longtime Rodgers ally Davante Adams. Williams is at best the team’s No. 4 wideout.

Aaron Rodgers gets his buddy to New York as the Jets season is on the brink following a devastating Monday night loss to the Bills. Adams, who has missed three straight games with a supposed hamstring injury, could suit up for the Jets as soon as Week 7 against the Steelers if his injury suddenly heals. The third round draft pick acquired by the Raiders could turn into a second round pick if Adams performs well for the remainder of the 2024 season. The Jets will pick up the remaining $11.6 million on Adams’ 2024 deal. Adams’ inclusion in the Jets offense is a major blow to Garrett Wilson’s fantasy prospects. Wilson has lived off of target volume this season and Adams will surely step in as the team’s unquestioned alpha wideout. Brock Bowers should continue seeing as many opportunities as any tight end in the NFL with Adams leaving Las Vegas, and Jakobi Meyers should be somewhat reliable as a WR3 with Adams gone.