With some of the most exciting games of the season taking place this weekend, you’ll want to get your fantasy football lineup in order. If Aaron Rodgers is out for sure, and Le’Veon Bell likely won’t play due to his sore groin injury, we’re going with a Packers stack here at numberFire HQ.
6:51 a.m. Eastern Time
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AJ Mass is a staff writer at ESPN.
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With whom should you begin? Should you take a seat next to whom? We’ll provide fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here when NFL clubs issue their official inactives lists, usually around 90 minutes before kickoff, to help you plan your fantasy football lineups and prevent starting a player who won’t be participating. Any rankings in this column are based on our ESPN Fantasy staff.
Official Sunday inactives should arrive roughly 90 minutes before the planned start time, at 11:30 a.m. ET for early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for late games.
For the most up-to-date information, refresh often.
Games begin at 1 p.m. ET.
Offense
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CLE’s Anthony Schwartz (WR) is out with a concussion. Jarvis Landry and Donovan Peoples-Jones should also get plenty of attention.
COVID-19 — OUT, David Njoku, TE, CLE Harrison Bryant (ankle) has also been ruled out. Austin Hooper will be backed up by Miller Forristall.
Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys: Foot — Questionable Impact: Did not practice late in the week, therefore Ezekiel Elliott might have a much larger workload.
Wrist — Tyrod Taylor, QB, Houston Texans Impact of not starting: Davis Mills will start for the rest of 2021, according to coach David Culley.
HOU’s Brandin Cooks, WR: Back — If Cooks is unable to play, Nico Collins may have a few extra targets.
Pharaoh Brown and Jordan Akins will split TE targets, according to Brevin Jordan, TE, Houston Texans.
COVID-19: Jalen Richard, RB, LV — Josh Jacobs will receive the most of the touches here, which is a questionable impact.
Knee — OUT for Darren Waller, TE, LV. Foster Moreau will step in again, despite the fact that he didn’t exactly dazzle everyone last week.
RB Mark Ingram II, COVID-19 — Alvin Kamara will handle the bulk of RB touches, which is a questionable impact.
RB Ty Montgomery, COVID-19 — Tony Jones Jr. may be the only healthy backup running back in the Saints’ backfield.
Tevin Coleman, New York Jets running back: Concussion — OUT Ty Johnson and Austin Walter are likely to split time in the backfield.
Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets: Quad — OUT/IR Impact: Vyncint Smith was promoted from the practice squad to replace Jeff Smith, who was placed on the COVID-19 list.
Ryan Griffin, New York Jets TE: Ankle — Questionable Impact: Expected to play, however fantasy managers may dream with Kenny Yeboah.
RB Adrian Peterson of the Seattle Seahawks is back — OUT. Alex Collins and Rashaad Penny should be able to share carries.
DeeJay Dallas would be the lone backup option. Travis Homer, RB, SEA: Calf — OUT
Julio Jones, WR, TEN: Hamstring — Questionable Impact: He was activated off injured reserve on Sunday and might start.
Concussion — J.D. McKissic, RB, WAS Questionable Impact: If McKissic misses this game, Antonio Gibson should receive practically all of the RB touches.
Curtis WR Samuel (WAS): Groin — Samuel’s Impact: If it’s Sunday, Samuel’s impact must be suspect.
Defense
DE, ATL Adetokunbo Ogundeji: Ankle — Questionable
CB, BAL Anthony Averett: Knee — Questionable
Brandon Stephens, CB, Baltimore Ravens: Shoulder —
Malik Jackson, DT, Cleveland Browns: Knee — doubtful
COVID-19 — OUT Anthony Walker, LB, CLE
CB Greg Newsome II of the Cleveland Browns is out with a concussion.
Ankle — Questionable, Ronnie Harrison Jr., S, CLE
Jonathan Greenard, DE, Houston Texans: Foot — Doubtful
Denzel Perryman (LB, LV): Ankle — Questionable
Cameron Jordan, DE, COVID-19 — Controversial
Kaden Elliss, LB, NO: Hamstring — OUT Kaden Elliss, LB, NO: Hamstring — OUT Kaden Elliss, NO:
DE, NYJ John Franklin-Myers: Hip — Doubtful
C.J. Mosley, LB, New York Jets: Questionable return
S, NYJ Michael Carter: Concussion — OUT
S, SEA Quandre Diggs: Calf — Questionable
OUT David Long Jr., LB, TEN: Hamstring
Janoris Jenkins, CB, TEN: Ankle — OUT Janoris Jenkins, CB, TEN: Ankle — OUT Janoris Jenkins, CB
Jamin Davis, LB, WAS: Questionable concussion
S, WAS: Landon Collins: Foot — Doubtful
COVID-19 — DE James Smith-Williams — OUT
OUT: Casey Toohill, DE, WAS: COVID-19
Games start at 4 p.m. ET.
Offense
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CIN’s Joe Mixon, RB: Illness — Although he is likely to participate, having Samaje Perine as a backup option wouldn’t hurt.
Tee Higgins, Wide Receiver, CIN: Ankle — Questionable Impact: Despite being injured throughout this week’s sessions, he is anticipated to participate.
RB Melvin Gordon III of the Denver Broncos has a questionable hip injury. Expected to play, but keep an eye on the Broncos’ RB situation after Mike Boone was placed on the COVID-19 list late.
RB D’Andre Swift (DET) is out with a shoulder injury. Because Jamaal Williams (COVID-19) is also absent, the Lions are expected to rely on the duo of Jermar Jefferson and Godwin Igwebuike.
DET’s T.J. Hockenson (TE): Hand — Brock Wright will almost certainly start in his stead. Brock Wright isn’t the same as T.J. Hockenson.
Riley Patterson, DET: Illness — Questionable Impact: The kicker is one of many Lions suffering with a non-COVID virus.
COVID-19 — Keenan Allen, WR, LAC — Increased targets for Jalen Guyton and/or Joshua Palmer are a possibility.
COVID-19 — Mike Williams, WR, LAC — Williams was taken off the disabled list on Saturday and should be ready to play.
QB Daniel Jones of the New York Giants: Neck — OUT For better or worse, veteran Mike Glennon is slated to start.
WR Kadarius Toney, New York Giants: Oblique — OUT Impact: Darius Slayton would be a major fantasy stretch.
Quad — Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants Questionable Impact: This team seems to be ready to compete, but the quarterback issue is one to avoid.
NYG WR Kenny Golladay: Ribs — Impact is debatable: For the Giants, he’s also leaning toward starting. But what about fantasy? Most likely not.
Elijah Mitchell, RB, SF: Concussion — OUT Impact: Jeff Wilson Jr. and JaMycal Hasty are the only remaining committee members.
Deebo Samuel (WR, SF) has a groin injury. Impact: He practiced late in the week, so there’s a high possibility he’ll be able to play.
Defense
Shoulder — OUT for Logan Wilson, LB, CIN.
Foot — Questionable, Chidobe Awuzie, CB, CIN
Shelby Harris, D-Delaware, DEN: Ankle — Doubtful
Shoulder — Questionable for LB Bradley Chubb of the Denver Broncos.
Julian Okwara, DE, DET: Ankle — OUT Julian Okwara, DE, DET: Ankle — OUT
Knee — Questionable for Michael Brockers, DT, DET.
Nick Williams, DET, Nick Williams, DT, Nick Williams, DT, Nick Williams, DT, Nick Williams, DT, Nick Williams, DT, Nick
Shoulder — Austin Bryant, DE, DET: Questionable
Alim McNeill, DT, DET: Questionable Illness
Jalen Reeves-Maybin (LB, DET) is out with a shoulder injury.
DET: COVID-19 — OUT: Tracy Walker III, S, DET: COVID-19
Chris Harris Jr., LB, LAC: COVID-19 — Saturday was removed off the list.
Ankle — Questionable for Justin Jones, DT, LAC.
Concussion, Asante Samuel Jr., CB, LAC — EXIT
Derwin James Jr., S, LAC: Questionable hamstring
Quad — OUT Adoree’ Jackson, CB, NYG
LB/SF Dre Greenlaw: Groin — OUT
Emmanuel Moseley, CB, San Francisco 49ers: Ankle — OUT
Knee — Questionable, according to William Gholston, DE, TB.
OUT Jordan Whitehead, S, TB: Calf
Game on a Sunday night
Andy Dalton, CHI quarterback: Hand — Impact: Doubtful Justin Fields is expected to start, with Nick Foles as his backup.
Foot — Marquise Goodwin, WR, CHI Allen Robinson II seems to be healthy enough to return to the WR mix, but his impact is questionable.
DE Akiem Hicks, CHI: Ankle — Doubtful
Randall Cobb, WR, GB: Groin — OUT/IR Impact: Cobb’s 2021 season might be over. Amari Rodgers has the potential to be a dart-throw flex gamble.
De’Vondre Campbell, LB, GB: Questionable illness
