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Eric MoodyESPN
Learn ESPN’s fantasy soccer Each day Notes each weekday to remain caught up on the information you want to know and get a head begin on the fantasy soccer content material coming as we speak and tomorrow to ESPN.com and the ESPN Fantasy App.
The information: Saints WR Michael Thomas wants toe surgical procedure and can be positioned on injured reserve.
What it means in fantasy: Thomas will doubtless miss the remainder of the season based on head coach Dennis Allen. The veteran receiver had a dislocated second toe and may have surgical procedure to restore it. Thomas has not performed in a sport since injuring the toe towards the Panthers in Week 3. After setting an NFL report with 149 catches and being named Offensive Participant of the 12 months in 2019, Thomas signed a five-year, $100 million extension. Because the begin of the 2020 season, he has missed 31 video games. For the remainder of the season, rookie Olave needs to be considered as a high-end WR2. Jarvis Landry, who hasn’t performed because the Saints’ sport towards the Vikings again in Week 4 because of an ankle damage, practiced on Thursday and will work his method onto the Flex radar, however we have to see what function he carves out for himself behind Olave and Alvin Kamara.
Going deeper: Since Week 3, when Thomas injured his toe, Olave has averaged 9.4 targets and 16.7 fantasy factors per sport.
The information: Texans RB Dameon Pierce rushed for a career-high 139 yards on Thursday night time towards the Eagles.
What it means in fantasy: Pierce had 27 dashing makes an attempt towards an Eagles protection that allowed 5.1 yards per try and was lacking defensive sort out Jordan Davis. This was the second-most dashing yards Philadelphia has allowed since Week 1 when it surrendered 144 yards to D’Andre Swift. Perce has averaged 18 fantasy factors since ascending to the beginning function in Week 3. Fantasy managers can proceed to view him as a low-end RB1.
The information: Texans WR Brandin Cooks is predicted to return to the staff on Friday after being dominated out of Thursday’s sport towards the Eagles.
What it means in fantasy: Cooks missed a number of practices this week because of unhappiness about not being traded. Cooks’ totally assured base wage of $18 million for 2023 doubtless factored in Houston’s failure to search out potential commerce companions, however now Cook dinner faces the danger of shedding that cash if he does not return; Mike Florio of Professional Soccer Speak obtained a replica of Cooks’ contract, which stipulates that the wage turns into void if Cooks “defaults” on the phrases. A participant might “default” if he doesn’t observe with or play for the staff for causes apart from an damage or sickness associated to soccer except he has the written consent of the group to take action. Cooks may be considered as a flex choice come Week 10, however not one fantasy managers needs to be ecstatic about.
Going deeper: This season, Cooks has solely scored 10 or extra fantasy factors in three video games and had 10 or extra targets in two video games.
The information: Rams WR Cooper Kupp and RB Cam Akers returned to observe on Thursday.
What it means in fantasy: Kupp’s fantasy managers are pleased to listen to this, because the stories early this week of him taking part in towards the Buccaneers this week appear to be bearing out. Kupp has averaged 12.0 targets and 24.5 fantasy factors per sport. After not buying and selling Akers earlier than the commerce deadline, head coach Sean McVay and the Rams will proceed to restore their relationship. Contemplating how crowded Los Angeles’ backfield has grow to be, Akers is difficult to belief from a fantasy perspective at the same time as a flex choice. Among the many backfield’s different gamers are Darrell Henderson Jr., Ronnie Rivers, Malcolm Brown, and rookie Kyren Williams. Fantasy managers ought to keep away from this mess if in any respect attainable.
The information: Lions RB D’Andre Swift practiced on Thursday.
What it means in fantasy: The information is nice for fantasy managers, as Swift continues to be recovering from ankle and shoulder accidents. Swift is extra of a flex choice if he performs towards the Packers because of his doubtless restricted workload; he hasn’t had a full workload since Week 1, when he gained 144 dashing yards on 15 carries and caught three passes for 31 extra yards towards the Eagles. Swift has performed in solely three video games with simply 27 touches since then. If Jamaal Williams is in your staff, it’s best to nonetheless really feel snug beginning him as a low-end RB2 no matter Swift’s standing.
The information: Titans RB Derrick Henry and QB Ryan Tannehill didn’t observe on Thursday.
What it means in fantasy: Henry has a foot damage and Tannehill has an ankle damage. Henry missed half of final season with a foot damage that required surgical procedure. Throughout his press convention on Thursday, Henry didn’t make clear if it was the identical foot, however he did insist he would have the ability to play towards the Chiefs on Sunday. Tannehill’s standing this week is extra optimistic than final week as a result of it boils all the way down to his ache tolerance. If for some motive the veteran is dominated out, rookie Malik Willis would begin his second consecutive sport. Though Willis struggled as a passer final week, he ought to provide some dashing worth within the towards the Chiefs. 5 of the Titans’ final six video games with the Chiefs have been victories, together with a 27-3 triumph in Nashville final season.
Going deeper: Henry has rushed for not less than 100 yards in every of the Titans’ previous 4 video games. He leads the league with 166 makes an attempt and 108.0 dashing yards per sport and has had 4 video games with 23 or extra fantasy factors, together with a season-high 35.8 towards the Texans final week.
The information: Colts RB Jonathan Taylor missed Thursday’s observe because of an ankle damage.
What it means in fantasy: Taylor’s availability this week is doubtful once more because of this damage. He had returned from the damage on Sunday after lacking two video games however aggravated it throughout that sport and missed observe on Wednesday. Deon Jackson needs to be rostered in all leagues; he gathered 212 whole yards and a landing on 39 touches from Weeks 5 by means of 6. If Taylor is sidelined, Jackson can function a dependable RB2 towards a suboptimal Patriots’ run protection.
The information: Raiders TE Darren Waller was restricted at Thursday’s observe.
What it means in fantasy: Fantasy managers should not get too excited as a result of Waller was a restricted participant in observe main as much as Week 8’s sport towards the Saints and was ultimately dominated out. A full observe on Friday can be a greater indicator that Waller will play towards the Jaguars on Sunday. Waller has missed seven of the Raiders’ previous 14 video games. Derek Carr‘s latest efficiency makes move catchers within the Raiders troublesome to belief in fantasy as he has averaged solely 194 passing yards in his previous three video games.
Going deeper: Since 2021, Waller has averaged solely 6.8 targets and 10.2 fantasy factors per sport.
The information: Ravens WR Rashod Bateman will endure season-ending Lisfranc surgical procedure.
What it means in fantasy: Bateman has been listed on the staff’s damage report with a foot damage since Week 5 and performed 49 snaps over the previous two video games. Bateman finishes the season with 15 receptions for 285 receiving yards and two touchdowns after he caught 46 passes for 515 yards and a landing as a rookie final season. The void left by Bateman can be stuffed by Devin Duvernay, who’s rostered in solely 42.1% of leagues. In opposition to the Buccaneers final Thursday night time, Duvernay caught all 4 of his targets for 31 yards, in addition to dashing for 33 yards and a landing. DeSean Jackson, who will doubtless be energetic this week, can be picked up by fantasy managers in deeper codecs. Mark Andrews and Gus Edwards didn’t observe on Thursday so it is attainable that the Ravens will give each of them Week 9 off to go forward of Baltimore’s Week 10 bye. It could be smart for fantasy managers with both on their rosters to stash Isaiah Doubtless or Kenyan Drake as a contingency plan because the Ravens play on Monday.
At this time on ESPN.com/Fantasy and within the ESPN Fantasy App
Mike Clay’s Playbook: projections and evaluation for each sport
Eric Karabell’s scorching seat: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Derek Carr amongst gamers below most strain in Week 9
• Daniel Dopp and Liz Loza: NFL commerce reactions, when endurance pays off and every part Detroit Lions
• Fantasy Focus podcast (10 a.m. ET)
Sunday
• The Fantasy Soccer cheat sheet: the week’s finest recommendation in a single place
• Inactives Watch: who’s in, who’s out and what does it imply?
• After the video games: Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft’s fantasy highs and lows
• Fantasy Soccer Now: Sunday at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2
In Case You Missed It:
Discipline Yates’ Fantasy Discipline Go: Endurance with Hopkins, Fields, Kamara has paid off
Mike Clay’s TNF Playbook: Eagles vs Texans
Tristan H. Cockcroft’s most and least favorable matchups at QB, RB, WR and TE for this week’s video games
Matt Bowen’s fantasy movie room: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tom Brady amongst Week 9 upgrades, downgrades
Al Zeidenfeld’s DFS Finest Buys for Week 9
• Fantasy Focus podcast: Discipline Yates, Mike Clay and Daniel Dopp preview Thursday Evening Soccer earlier than speaking the WR’s who you want to begin and a operating again who might be a high 10 play that you want to choose up. Then, Adam Schefter joins to speak the storylines to look at in Week 9 together with the impression of some key trades. Pay attention | Watch
