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The first two months of the NFL season are in the books, and it's time for the Week 9 slate. As always, there are plenty of key injuries to monitor ahead of Sunday's kickoff. Our injury updates and reports for Week 9 as of Friday, November 3, 2023, will give you the latest updates on key guys.
As always, some players have more "real" risk of missing Week 9 than others, but things change quickly, so it's important to stay up to date. Kyler Murray, Deshaun Watson, Drake London, Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Puka Nacua, Daniel Jones, Josh Downs, and more are in danger of missing Week 9. Fantasy managers should be ready to pivot should things go south.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NFL, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the updates for some top fantasy assets at all positions and see whether they may play in Week 9.
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Kyler Murray Injury Update
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (knee) was briefly removed from the injury report this week but has popped back up as questionable against the Cleveland Browns in Week 9. The 26-year-old has yet to play a game since tearing his ACL late last season and it seems more likely that he'll sit out one more week before returning.
Since the team traded away temporary starter, Joshua Dobbs, it showed that they thought Murray would return in the near future, but right now it looks like Clayton Tune will get the start in the meantime. If he's still available, fantasy managers that need a quarterback should add Murray to their bench as soon as possible.
Josh Allen Injury Update
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (shoulder) was removed from the final Week 9 injury report on Friday and will play on Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. Allen was held out of practice on Wednesday with a right-shoulder injury that he initially suffered in Week 6, but he was back to a full practice a day later and is good to go for this weekend. The 27-year-old star signal-caller's shoulder is worth monitoring, but for now fantasy managers shouldn't be very concerned and should leave him in all starting lineups.
Allen remains the overall QB1 in fantasy points through eight weeks and has thrown for 589 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in the last two weeks while also producing two rushing scores.
Deshaun Watson Injury Update
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will start in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Watson returned from a sprained right rotator cuff in Week 7 but aggravated his shoulder injury on a hard fall and sat out of the Week 8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
He will now return in Week 9 in a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, although Watson hasn't exactly looked great in 2023 when he's been on the field. Still, the 28-year-old's return is good news overall for Cleveland's offense, as backup P.J. Walker had thrown just one touchdown and five interceptions filling in for Watson. Fantasy managers should temper expectations for Watson in his return, but he could have high-end QB2 upside in this favorable matchup at home.
Justin Fields Injury Update
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (thumb) doesn't seem to be on track to play in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints as he was officially tagged as doubtful on Friday. He did, however, participate in practice on Friday in a limited fashion, so he's making some progress toward a return. This would be the third game in a row that he has to watch from the sidelines if he doesn't progress between Friday and their game on Sunday in the early window.
Fantasy managers shouldn't depend on him making that type of progress and should count on Tyson Bagent being under center again. Bagent isn't a great streaming option in Week 9 against a tough Saints defense, so it's better to look elsewhere on the waiver wire.
Drake London Injury Update
The Atlanta Falcons have officially ruled out wide receiver Drake London (groin) for their Week 9 contest against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday due to a groin injury that he sustained in the Week 8 loss to the Tennessee Titans. It's bad timing for London and his fantasy managers with quarterback Taylor Heinicke taking over under center for the struggling Desmond Ridder this week. Move London to your benches for the week and look for a replacement.
In London's absence, Van Jefferson, Mack Hollins and KhaDarel Hodge should start in three-wide sets this Sunday against a vulnerable Vikings secondary. Tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith will also both become more attractive in fantasy lineups with more targets expected to come their way.
Puka Nacua Injury Update
Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) is being listed as questionable to play in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers, according to head coach Sean McVay. Nacua came out of the Week 8 loss to the Dallas Cowboys with some swelling in his knee and has been limited in practice this week. The good news is that fantasy managers will know right away on Sunday morning whether the impressive 23-year-old rookie will be suiting up.
On top of his injury, Nacua could be taking passes from backup quarterback Brett Rypien on Sunday if Matthew Stafford (thumb) is not cleared to play. It all adds up to Nacua being as risky as he's been in fantasy lineups all year. If he's unable to play, Tutu Atwell will have some added deep-league flex appeal as the No. 2 behind Cooper Kupp.
Joe Mixon Injury Update
ESPN's Ben Baby writes that Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (chest) is good to go for the Week 9 Sunday night game against the Buffalo Bills, according to head coach Zac Taylor. However, on the team's official injury report on Friday he's listed as questionable despite practicing in full on Thursday and Friday. Mixon was a limited practice participant on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old's chest injury never appeared very serious after he had 16 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown in the Week 8 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Mixon hasn't been particularly impressive yet in 2023, but he remains a must-start in fantasy lineups in a Bengals offense that looks to finally be hitting its stride going into a Week 9 showdown against the visiting Bills in primetime.
Dameon Pierce Injury Update
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (ankle) will not play in the Week 9 game on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to an ankle injury he suffered in the Week 8 loss to the Carolina Panthers. With Pierce sidelined this weekend, it will allow Devin Singletary to work in a lead-back role for Houston, with Mike Boone and Dare Ogunbowale serving in change-of-pace roles behind him.
With the added playing time and touches, Singletary will be on the RB3/flex radar for fantasy managers in Week 9. After a strong rookie campaign before suffering a season-ending injury in 2022, the 23-year-old Pierce has taken a step back in his sophomore year, averaging a paltry 3.0 yards per carry and just one rushing touchdown on 109 carries through seven games.
Josh Downs Injury Update
Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Josh Downs (knee) was limited in practice the last two days and is questionable to play in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers. Downs tweaked his knee in practice on Thursday and was added to the injury report. The fact that the 22-year-old was able to practice at all on Friday after that is good news, but he's still up in the air to play this weekend, and the Colts playing in the late Sunday slate makes things more difficult.
Downs has emerged as the clear No. 2 wideout in the Colts' passing attack behind Michael Pittman Jr. and is a suitable WR4/flex if he's active with quarterback Gardner Minshew at QB for Indy the rest of the year. If Downs is held out this weekend, Alec Pierce and Isaiah McKenzie will have bigger roles, as could Juwann Winfree.
Daniel Jones Injury Update
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) is officially off the Week 9 injury report on Friday and will play on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jones will be returning under center for the G-Men after missing the last three games. Meanwhile, backup Tyrod Taylor (ribs) has been ruled out. It means that Tommy Devito, who was forced into action in the Week 8 overtime loss to the New York Jets, will likely serve as Jones' backup this Sunday.
The 26-year-old Jones hasn't been helped by an ineffective and beat up offensive line this year, but he could be getting tackles Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and Evan Neal (ankle) back from injuries this weekend. Jones has a fine matchup against Vegas in his return, but he'll also be without tight end Darren Waller (hamstring). Consider Jones as a QB2 with some upside in Week 9.
Matthew Stafford Injury Update
The Los Angeles Rams are listing quarterback Matthew Stafford (thumb) as questionable for Sunday's Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Sean McVay said he's willing to take it right up to game time to decide whether Stafford will play after spraining the UCL in his right thumb in the Week 8 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Rams have their bye coming in Week 10, so our money is on them resting the veteran signal-caller this week and handing the offense to backup Brett Rypien.
The Packers aren't exactly a defense to be feared, but starting Stafford in fantasy lineups at less than 100 percent wouldn't be ideal. A move to Rypien would be a clear downgrade for wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua (knee). We should know more by Saturday night which way the Rams are leaning on Stafford's status.
Taysom Hill Injury Update
New Orleans Saints quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill (hip) was a full participant at practice on Friday and has been removed from the injury report. The do-it-all specialist will be available again for the Saints as they take on one of the softest defenses in terms of fantasy points allowed to both opposing tight ends and quarterbacks. They also rank 26th in fantasy points given up to opposing running backs, so every position they throw Hill into, he has the chance to score some points for fantasy managers.
Hill is still a risky start because he's not the No. 1 option at any of those positions, but he could be started in a pinch in a great matchup.
Emari Demercado Injury Update
Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (toe) has officially been listed as out for the team's Week 9 contest against the Cleveland Browns. The Cardinals signed Tony Jones Jr. to the active roster this week for this exact reason since James Conner (knee) remains out until at least next week.
The backfield should be split between Keaontay Ingram and Jones with the former most likely getting a bigger share of the work. Ingram could be a flex option in a pinch but neither one of them are great streaming starts against a solid Browns defense.
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