Nov 5, 2026, 2:54 PM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) remains absent from the team's practice on Thursday, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. Brown is trending toward missing a second straight practice this week after not being able to play in Sunday's Week 8 win over the division-rival Miami Dolphins due to ankle and knee issues. The 29-year-old suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and landed on Injured Reserve. Brown was not 100% when he returned for two games against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, catching six of his 12 targets for 75 yards and no touchdowns, and now he is in danger of missing a second straight game this weekend when the Green Bay Packers come to town in Week 9. Brown will most likely need to practice in some capacity on Friday to avoid being officially ruled out for a second straight game, but even if he somehow gets cleared to play against the Packers, he will be a volatile starting fantasy receiver. With Romeo Doubs still on IR, DeMario Douglas has been the biggest beneficiary of Brown's ailments, finding the end zone four times in the last four games as New England's top pass-catcher.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar

Nov 5, 2026, 2:44 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring, back) is practicing with the team on Thursday, according to Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Barkley did not practice on Wednesday, so this is a good sign that he is trending in the right direction for the team's Week 9 game this Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Fantasy managers will want to check back for the 29-year-old's official practice status, but Barkley will most likely be limited as he continues to manage hamstring and back injuries. Barkley missed Weeks 5 and 6 with a hamstring injury before returning in the Week 7 Monday night loss to the Dallas Cowboys, when he immediately tweaked his hamstring and added a back injury. He played just 15% of the offensive snaps in that game, but he was effective with his nine touches, totaling 71 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown. Barkley played 32% of the snaps in the Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, carrying the ball 13 times for 30 yards and a touchdown while adding a 24-yard reception, but he was seen stretching all game and was not on the field late in the game. If Barkley continues to play through his hamstring/back injuries, he could continue to yield valuable playing time to Elijah Mitchell, making him a volatile RB2 for fantasy managers, at risk of another setback this Sunday if he is active.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena

Nov 5, 2026, 2:33 PM ET

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (hamstring) is missing a second straight practice on Thursday, according to the New York Daily News' Pat Leonard. However, Skattebo was spotted working off to the side with the training staff as he attempts to work his way back from a hamstring injury that he suffered in the overtime win over the Houston Texans in Week 7. The Giants had their bye last week, but the 24-year-old still might not be ready to play this weekend against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. He will most likely need to get back on the practice field in some capacity on Friday to have a shot at playing. With Tyrone Tracy Jr. on Injured Reserve and Najee Harris no longer on the roster, Devin Singletary would be in line for lead-back duties for the G-Men this weekend if Skattebo is limited or ruled out entirely in Week 10. Fantasy managers should scoop Singletary up off the waiver wire immediately if he is still available. Behind Singletary, the Giants only have Greg Desrosiers and Eric Gray, and Phil Mafah on the practice squad.--Keith Hernandez
Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard

Nov 5, 2026, 2:25 PM ET

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (undisclosed) had his jersey and helmet on but stayed with the training staff as the rest of the receivers did their early drills during Thursday's practice, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Leonard speculates that Nabers may go down as a non-participant with an undisclosed injury. Nabers was not listed on the first injury report of the week on Wednesday, so this is something for fantasy managers to keep a close eye on as the Giants prepare to face the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Week 9. We will update you on the Giants' Thursday injury for what the exact nature of the 23-year-old's injury is. Not having the former sixth overall pick from LSU would be a big loss against the Eagles this weekend, as Nabers has had a nice bounce-back season in 2026 after tearing his ACL early last year. Through his first seven games, Nabers has caught 48 passes for 605 yards (12.6 yards per catch) and two touchdowns, and he has shown good chemistry with new quarterback J.J. McCarthy so far. If Nabers' injury is serious enough to keep him out on Sunday, rookie Malachi Fields and Darnell Mooney would see big fantasy boosts, as would tight end Isaiah Likely.--Keith Hernandez
Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard

Nov 5, 2026, 2:18 PM ET

Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady said that wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) will practice in some capacity on Thursday, according to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550. Moore made his return to the field in Sunday's blowout win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 after missing time with a shoulder injury and then left late in the game, although he later downplayed it. Fantasy managers should not be too concerned if Moore is limited in Thursday's practice, as he should be available for the Monday night contest in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings unless he suffers a setback with his shoulder before the weekend. In his return last weekend, Moore played 66% of the offensive snaps and caught four of his seven targets for 82 yards and his second touchdown of the season. The Bills have a tough matchup against one of the best defenses in the league on Monday night on the road in Minnesota, but as quarterback Josh Allen's top target, Moore should be kept in all starting fantasy football lineups if he is active, as expected, in Week 9.--Keith Hernandez
Source: WGR 550 - Sal Capaccio

Nov 5, 2026, 2:01 PM ET

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (hamstring), who will miss the team's Monday night matchup with the Buffalo Bills, is not a candidate for Injured Reserve, according to beat writer Alec Lewis. Murray has completed less than 60% of his passes in back-to-back weeks, has thrown only five touchdowns in his six starts, and is now considered week-to-week with what the team has described as a "sore hamstring." With Murray sidelined, the Vikings will turn to veteran Carson Wentz, who came on in relief in Week 1 before starting the team's Week 2 win over the Bears. As a team, the Vikings' 165.6 passing yards per game rank 31st of 32 teams, ahead of only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who recently became the first NFL team since 1974 to finish a game without a completed pass.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Alec Lewis

Nov 5, 2026, 1:48 PM ET

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz will get the start under center for Monday night's primetime matchup with the Bills, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray, who has completed less than 60% of his passes in back-to-back weeks and has thrown only five touchdowns across his six starts, is dealing with what the team has called a "sore hamstring". Wentz has appeared in two 2026 contests, throwing for 133 yards and three touchdowns in relief of Murray in Week 1 before leading the Vikings to victory over the Bears despite throwing for only 143 yards and zero touchdowns in Week 2. Four-time All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who currently ranks as the fantasy WR24, had by far his most productive outing of the season in that Week 1 pairing with Wentz, recording season-highs of eight receptions, 92 yards, and two scores.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Ian Rapoport

Nov 5, 2026, 1:37 PM ET

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (concussion) is still not practicing on Thursday after reporting delayed concussion symptoms following a Week 8 loss to the Steelers and landing in the NFL's concussion protocol. Watson has been the fantasy QB17 through eight weeks, but if he is unable to play in a Week 9 matchup with the Saints, Cleveland will turn to second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sanders threw for less than 200 yards per game across his seven starts in 2025, while averaging a single touchdown per start. He did, however, form an obvious connection with tight end Harold Fannin Jr., while his propensity for throwing underneath could also help provide a usable fantasy floor for rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Daniel Oyefusi

Nov 5, 2026, 1:25 PM ET

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (concussion) is absent from his second straight practice on Thursday as he deals with the concussion that landed him on Wednesday's injury report. Wilson sustained a head injury in a Week 8 loss to the Raiders and has since landed in the NFL's concussion protocol. Should he miss Sunday's Week 9 matchup with the Chiefs, fantasy managers can look to both Adonai Mitchell and rookie Omar Cooper Jr. to see expanded roles, each having featured in recent spike weeks. Mitchell caught seven passes for 142 yards and a score in his first game back from a multi-week absence, while it was Cooper who went for 115 yards and a touchdown in a Week 7 loss to the Dolphins.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Rich Cimini

Nov 5, 2026, 1:13 PM ET

Returning from a three-week absence, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring, knee) led the team with seven receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown in a Week 8 loss to the Broncos, and he has now topped double-digit fantasy points in his last three full games played. While he has struggled to stay on the field since the Chiefs selected him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Rice has consistently proven himself a favorite target of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and he could emerge as a second-half fantasy difference maker through steady volume and a reliably high floor. Facing a relatively stout Jets defense in Week 9, Rice is RotoBaller's WR17.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Nov 5, 2026, 12:54 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor said on Thursday that he did not request a trade, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. Taylor has been the hottest name around the league with the NFL trade deadline quickly approaching next Tuesday. The Colts have already traded Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson and Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and the 27-year-old Pro Bowl running back could be the next to go. Indianapolis is not going to just give Taylor away, though, and it could require two first-round picks to secure his services. It remains to be seen if a contending team will step up to meet the Colts' high asking price for Taylor. For now, he is still a member of the Colts and will have a great bounce-back opportunity this weekend against the visiting Dallas Cowboys and their shaky run defense. JT had a season-low eight rushing attempts for 23 yards and caught four passes for 24 yards in the blowout loss to the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8, but he remains a high-end RB1 talent in fantasy and should be started in all formats if he is still with the Colts for kickoff of Sunday's game against Dallas. Despite the Colts struggling as a team, Taylor is the RB5 in half-PPR scoring in 2026 with 610 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, adding 202 receiving yards.--Keith Hernandez
Source: 107.5 The Fan - Kevin Bowen

Nov 5, 2026, 12:43 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers continue to work with the NFL to navigate the situation surrounding wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who has hired new representation in an attempt to get reinstated back into the league for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "This is kind of a unique situation, not one you have, so there's really no playbook. But I always go back to what's my charge, what's my job? My job is to look out for the best interest of the 49ers. And as such, in this particular situation, we're working with the NFL Management Council to navigate through a different situation. And so it's fluid. I'm going to kind of leave it at that because I've been recommended to do so, and I think it's the right thing to do for a pathway for both sides here that works... We can talk a little more in detail about the process because it's kind of a fluid situation." The 28-year-old former first-rounder has been on the left-squad list since late last year, but the former first-rounder is now fully healthy after missing all of last year due to a torn ACL in his knee and is ready to join a team, even if the 49ers still do not want him back amidst all of their WR injuries. As for Aiyuk's rest-of-season fantasy football outlook, that is also a fluid situation. He had two straight 1,000-yard seasons before getting hurt in 2024, but we have no idea how he will look post-injury, or whether he will have a strong market if he ends up being released by San Francisco.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner

Nov 5, 2026, 12:35 PM ET

Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks (foot) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Burks also missed the first practice of the week on Wednesday due to a foot injury, putting his status up in the air for Sunday's Week 9 contest at home against the Los Angeles Rams. The Commanders are already without Terry McLaurin (knee) for the rest of the 2026 season, so they can ill-afford to lose another valuable member of their aerial attack, especially against a formidable defense like the Rams'. The 26-year-old Burks did not take part in the first two practices last week either, before returning to a limited session on Friday and then playing in the Sunday night win over the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Burks played 67% of the offensive snaps in that contest and caught three passes for 81 yards. He has become a deep-league flex option with McLaurin out for the year, but he will be battling rookie Antonio Williams for the WR2 role behind veteran Stefon Diggs. If Burks cannot play this weekend, Van Jefferson, Dyami Brown, and Luke McCaffrey could step up for more snaps behind Diggs and Williams.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed

Nov 5, 2026, 12:29 PM ET

The New York Jets could use a hot-hand approach in their backfield between the returning Breece Hall (quadriceps) and Braelon Allen in the Week 9 game this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. "It's a great problem to have. You got two No. 1 backs. Breece is obviously the bell cow -- he's our guy -- but it'll be a mix. And as far as hot hand, not hot hand, I think that's always an in-game, feel thing," offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. With Hall missing the last five games, Allen has stepped up in a big way, carrying the ball 93 times for 504 yards and two rushing touchdowns while adding 13 catches for 70 yards on 17 targets in the passing game. He has certainly earned a bigger role in the backfield moving forward, but if the Jets do not trade Hall before Tuesday's deadline, the two will have to coexist for the rest of the season. Both Hall and Allen will be involved on Sunday in a tough matchup, which means both of their fantasy ceilings will be lowered in a shared backfield with a potential hot-hand approach. Allen is probably the slightly better fantasy play this weekend, if only because of the fact that he has been on a roll over the last five weeks.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Rich Cimini