RADIO
Morez Johnson Jr. Likely to Play Saturday
Dallas Mavericks forward Morez Johnson Jr. (shin) is probable for Saturday's matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a left shin/tibia contusion. Johnson returned Thursday after a one-game absence but went scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting with two rebounds in 13 minutes against Minnesota. The rookie is averaging 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 16.7 minutes through 11 appearances, highlighted by a 13-point, 17-rebound effort against Utah. Dereck Lively II (foot) remains sidelined, but Johnson still has to compete with Santi Aldama for reserve frontcourt minutes behind Daniel Gafford.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Tyler Shough Set for Another High-Volume Outing Against Panthers
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 21-of-35 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown while adding 50 rushing yards on 10 attempts in Week 9's win over the Browns. Shough's passing volume was relatively low through the first three quarters, as he attempted just 15 passes during that span. However, the Browns began moving the ball more effectively as the game progressed, forcing Shough and the Saints' offense to increase their pace and throw more often. He eventually connected with tight end Juwan Johnson for a 15-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime. Shough has now surpassed 250 passing yards in six of eight games this season, though he has thrown multiple passing touchdowns just three times. He should see plenty of volume again in Week 10 against the Panthers and ranks at QB7 in RotoBaller's rankings this week.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Nolan Traore Probable Against Memphis
Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (calf) is probable for Saturday's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies after missing Wednesday's win over New Orleans with right calf tightness. It was his first absence of the season after appearing in each of Brooklyn's first 10 games, including seven starts. The 20-year-old is averaging 12.9 points, 2.6 assists, 1.8 threes, and 1.4 steals while shooting 51.6% from the field. Egor Demin scored 22 points in his return Wednesday, so Traore may not immediately reclaim the same starting role. He should still have a steady place in the rotation, especially if Mikel Brown Jr. (illness) remains out.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Cooper Kupp Can be Avoided in Most Leagues for Week 10
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp can be left on the bench in fantasy leagues with 14 or fewer teams heading into Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders. His volume has been inconsistent lately, and he's headed for an even smaller role this week now that Rashid Shaheed is returning from injury. Kupp is expected to operate as the team's No. 3 receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Shaheed, and his target volume could also be scaled back with Drew Lock starting in place of Sam Darnold (elbow) for the second week in a row. So far, the 33-year-old is having the worst fantasy season of his career, despite not missing any games. He is the overall WR63 in PPR scoring with just 22 catches, 238 yards, and two touchdowns. There's some merit to leaving him on the bench in leagues with at least 12-14 teams in case Smith-Njigba gets hurt, but it's justify actually inserting him into lineups for Week 10. He ranks as the overall WR62 in RotoBaller's Week 10 fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mikel Brown Jr. Iffy for Saturday
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (illness) is questionable for Saturday's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies and could miss a third straight game. Brown sat Wednesday against New Orleans due to the illness after previously being held out at Dallas for back injury management. The No. 6 pick is averaging 12.9 points and 3.9 assists in 23.1 minutes through seven appearances, all off the bench, while shooting 34.6% from the field. Brooklyn's backcourt is getting healthier with Nolan Traore (calf) probable and Egor Demin back in the mix, so Brown may have to fight for his usual touches once he returns. Keon Ellis would be one of the players in line for extra minutes if Brown remains out Saturday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kingston Flemings Exits with Back Tightness
Atlanta Hawks guard Kingston Flemings (back) was ruled out for the remainder of Friday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls due to back tightness. The rookie had entered the game questionable with a lumbar spasm after starting each of Atlanta's previous four contests. Flemings is averaging 8.5 points and 4.4 assists this season and has carved out a steady role in the backcourt. If the injury keeps him out Sunday against Milwaukee, CJ McCollum would be the leading candidate to return to the starting lineup after recently shifting to a reserve role.
Source: Hawks PR
Source: Hawks PR
Ben Sinnott Earning More Targets Despite Modest Snap Share
Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott caught four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown on Thursday night, showcasing himself as one of quarterback Jayden Daniels' preferred targets in the victory. It was encouraging to see the third-year Kansas State product finally carve out a role, as he had only caught one pass in his previous eight games this season. This increased volume share could generate some low-end appeal in deeper fantasy football leagues going forward. With that said, there are still some concerns with Sinnott's workload. Specifically, he played just 35% of the snaps on Thursday night, which ranked last among the Commanders' three tight ends. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Sinnott in fantasy leagues, but it's probably a bit too early to spend a roster spot on him in leagues with 14 or fewer teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ben Yurosek Draws the Start in Week 10
Minnesota Vikings tight end Ben Yurosek is expected to earn the start against the Green Bay Packers in Week 10. The Vikings have ruled out T.J. Hockenson for this week, bumping Yurosek up to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. The second-year Georgia product has been used very sparingly since entering the NFL, so Sunday's game will be his first opportunity to carve out a noteworthy role on offense. Through 16 career games, the 24-year-old has just four catches and 48 receiving yards. We expect his volume to increase as the starter this week, but perhaps not enough to get him on the fantasy radar in leagues with 14 or fewer teams. He can be left on waivers in most leagues as newly acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins instead targets the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison (thumb), and Myles Price.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaxson Hayes Exits with Left Knee Injury
Utah Jazz center Jaxson Hayes (knee) was ruled out for the remainder of Friday's matchup with the Houston Rockets due to a left knee injury. Hayes was productive before exiting, recording 12 points, five rebounds, and one assist on 5-for-6 shooting in 13 minutes. Utah is already thin up front with Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Jusuf Nurkic (foot) sidelined, so another absence would leave even more work for Mo Bamba. Bamba has shown some defensive-stat upside in limited minutes and would be the main fantasy name to watch if Hayes can't return Sunday against San Antonio.
Source: Ben Anderson
Source: Ben Anderson
Rashod Bateman Upgrades to Full in Friday's Practice Estimation
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (calf) was upgraded to a full participant on Friday, according to the team's official injury report. Bateman had been limited on Thursday, so his upgraded status on Friday should be seen as a very encouraging sign. With that being said, the Ravens held a walkthrough on Friday, so this latest practice report is merely an estimate. Nevertheless, we would expect Bateman to be able to play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 10, barring a setback. The bad news for Bateman is that the Ravens' offense is currently on its fourth quarterback, and we have yet to see if Jacoby Brissett can support any additional fantasy-relevant receivers beyond Zay Flowers. For now, Bateman can be avoided in fantasy football, despite his favorable matchup against the 0-8 Chargers.
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Source: Baltimore Ravens
David Njoku Logs Another Limited Practice on Friday
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (fibula) remained limited during practice on Friday ahead of Week 10, according to the team's official injury report. Njoku is currently on injured reserve, and it remains unclear whether the Chargers will choose to activate him for this week's Monday Night Football contest against the Baltimore Ravens. It's worth noting that Njoku also logged two limited practices in Week 9, but did not end up getting activated prior to kickoff. Therefore, he may need to log a full practice on Saturday in order to have a realistic chance of playing this week. The 30-year-old posted a solid stat line of five catches and 58 yards during his only healthy game of the season back in Week 1. If he does play this week, he could be in the mix to handle a very large target share with wide receiver Ladd McConkey (back, did not practice) trending in the wrong direction. In such a scenario, Njoku would rank as a mid-range TE2 with low-end TE1 upside.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Ryan Fitzgerald Has Chance to Bounce Back in Week 10 Vs. Saints
Carolina Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald went 3-for-3 on extra points, but missed his lone field-goal attempt from 43 yards out in Week 9. Since the Panthers' Week 5 bye, Fitzgerald has only made four field goals on five attempts and has made six extra points on eight attempts. This poor scoring stretch has brought him down to the 23rd-ranked kicker in points per game (8.1) for the season. Nevertheless, Fitzgerald has an opportunity to bounce back in the Panthers' Week 10 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, whose defense has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing kickers. In addition, both teams are towards the top in total points against on the season, so the result could be a high-scoring back-and-forth competition. With this opportunity, Fitzgerald should greatly improve upon his Week 9 outing, but still, there are likely better streamers for fantasy managers to utilize. He slots in as RotoBaller's 17th-ranked kicker in Week 10.
Source: CBS Sports
Source: CBS Sports
Jalen Coker Has Potential for Get-Right Game Against the Saints
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker has been on a disappointing run the past three weeks, only drawing 14 combined targets and catching seven of them for 74 yards and one touchdown; this after exciting production and a strong target share to begin the season. With tight end Darren Waller's 10-target showing in Week 9, and the potential return of fellow wide receiver Xavier Legette (knee) in Week 10, Coker could see some more target competition, but a substantial increase in targets for him is not outside the realm of possibilities. This Week 10 bout has the makings of a shootout, with both teams towards the top of the league in most points allowed per game. Additionally, QBs Bryce Young and Tyler Shough are tied for first in pass attempts per game. The Saints' defense is middle of the pack in fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers this season. Coker no doubt remains the number two option in this Panthers' passing game and has a good chance to capitalize in this matchup. Fantasy managers can plug Coker into their lineups as a low-end WR2, WR20 in RotoBaller's Week 10 rankings.
Source: StatMuse
Source: StatMuse
Tre' Harris Practices in Full on Friday
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris (calf) was upgraded to a full participant during Friday's practice. Harris was limited in practice to begin the week, but he appears to be making good progress. The 24-year-old appears to be on track to suit up against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night. If active, Harris will likely play a bigger role than normal with fellow wideout Ladd McConkey (back) trending in the wrong direction. Harris saw seven targets during last week's loss to the Houston Texans. The expectation is that he'll see a similar volume this week. He could be a possible deep league flex option, assuming he doesn't get downgraded during Saturday's practice. Fantasy managers should check back on Saturday, just in case, ahead of Monday's game.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Carson Beck Facing An Uphill Battle In NFL Debut
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck will make his first career start and regular-season appearance in an NFL game on Sunday. Beck is taking over in the aftermath of Jacoby Brissett being traded to the Ravens and Gardner Minshew (elbow) hitting injured reserve. Unfortunately, this opportunity is marked with significant challenges. For one, Beck will be up against the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles is allowing 198.7 passing yards per game, has the third-highest pressure rate (39.7%) in the NFL, and last week got Myles Garrett (knee) back on the field for the first time since Week 1. On top of the challenging opponent, Arizona's wide receiver room has been gutted by injuries. Michael Wilson (neck) is the latest to fall, leaving Beck with the likes of Reggie Virgil, Devin Duvernay, and Simi Fehoko as his next options behind tight end Trey McBride. In Week 10, Beck is only viable as a last resort in two-QB formats.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
