Team news | Page 28

Todd Bowles says RB Bucky Irving (toe) is in play for Sunday. Confirms both WR Mike Evans (hamstring) and S Tykee Smith (concussion) have been ruled out.

Related Players: Rachaad White, Sean Tucker

A murky backfield situation gets even murkier. At this point, it's hard to trust any of the options heading into Week 8. Even if White operates as the RB1, that still makes him an RB3 for fantasy purposes.

Tua Tagovailoa has been cleared through concussion protocol.

He will play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

Related Players: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, De'Von Achane, Skylar Thompson

We are so back. Tua has a great matchup, and can be considered as a low-end QB1 for managers who are looking to stream him in his first game back. Hill returns to WR1 consideration with the upside for a top-3 weekly finish, while Waddle managers can shake off the cobwebs and stick him in as a WR2.

Bills HC Sean McDermott said he doesn't think WR Curtis Samuel will need to go on IR, but he could miss more than just this week's game.

Related Players: Amari Cooper, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Dalton Kincaid

Samuel has been a non-factor on a team- and fantasy-level this season. It's possible his missing slot usage adds a small boost to Shakir and/or Kincaid.

John Lynch on KNBR said Jauan Jennings is doubtful with his groin injury this week.

Related Players: Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, George Kittle

If Deebo is good to go, we can assume the 49ers will be heavily targeting himself and Kittle this week in a good matchup. This makes both huge assets to fantasy squads, and rookie Ricky Pearsall is an interesting deep-league play in his second career game.

Jaguars injury updates: LT Cam Robinson has cleared concussion protocol. RB Travis Etienne (hamstring) will be a gametime decision. LB Foye Oluokon (foot) & S Andrew Wingard (knee) are trending well but no decision yet about whether they'll be activated vs. Packers.

Related Players: Tank Bigsby, D'Ernest Johnson

The Jaguars do kick off at 1:00, so that helps our lineup decisions quite a bit. If Etienne sits, slot Bigsby back in as a low-end RB2.

Now official: The Rams have activated Puka Nacua from injured reserve. Don’t expect him to play a normal snap count tonight, but another boost for L.A. nonetheless.

Related Players: Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell

Signs point toward this being a heavy Cooper Kupp game, but it's obviously nice to see Nacua healthy enough to suit up. Keep Nacua on benches unless you're incredibly desperate, but things are looking up for the offense moving forward.

Vikings downgraded TE T.J. Hockenson to out for tonight’s game against the Rams. Hockenson’s return from a major knee injury 10 months ago now will wait.

Vikings officially will activate Hockenson on Friday and the plan is for him to play next week vs. the Colts, per source.

Related Players: Johnny Mundt

Just one more week until we can fire Hock back into lineups as a TE1.

Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and DeForest Buckner (ankle) both practiced FULL on Thursday.

Colts who haven’t practiced this week:

-Jaylon Carlies
-Genard Avery

Related Players: Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson

If Taylor is indeed 100% heading into Houston, he should be back on RB1 radars.

Looks like #Eagles LB Zach Baun (shoulder) is back at practice in some capacity.

TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring) and G Mekhi Becton (concussion) are still out.

Related Players: Grant Calcaterra

Looks like Calcaterra might get another run as the TE1 but that worked out to a 1-5-0 line last week. If Goedert doesn't go in Week 8, we can safely ignore the situation.

No Bucky Irving at Bucs practice today, so that toe injury could definitely impact Sunday's game against the Falcons. Still have Rachaad White and Sean Tucker healthy, but the three-headed monster might not be fully active this week.

Rachaad White should be the RB1 if Irving misses, but don't count out Tucker to make a few plays of his own. White would be in RB2 territory with Tucker a low-end RB3.