Fantasy Football News

Bryce Love (ACL) needs to undergo yet another surgery on his injured right knee. (Source: JP Finlay on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The fourth-round rookie was once a legit running back prospect but has been slowed by his ACL injury this year. This was always going to be a "redshirt" year for him, however. It remains to be seen when he'll start practicing.

Adrian Peterson says he plans to play Thursday night despite dealing with a Grade 1 high-ankle sprain. (Source: Chris Tomasson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The 34-year-old running back claims he is "feeling good". We are skeptical he actually plays, which means Wendell Smallwood could see a lot of run versus the Vikings this week.

Chris Thompson (toe) didn't practice on Tuesday. (Source: Washington Redskins on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Thompson will likely be ruled out for Week 7 as Washington plays on Thursday night. Adrian Peterson is also banged up, which could mean we see a lot of Wendell Smallwood versus Minnesota.

Xavier Rhodes (hip) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice. (Source: Minnesota Vikings on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Rhodes' status isn't in doubt. He isn't the lockdown corner he once was and will match up with stud rookie Terry McLaurin this Thursday night.

Adam Thielen (hamstring) remained sidelined on Tuesday. (Source: Chris Tomasson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Thielen said earlier today that he is "optimistic" about playing on Thursday Night Football. It's worth noting that players are always optimistic about their injury timelines. Furthermore, Minnesota likely won't need Thielen to beat the Redskins this week. Our money is on him getting the week off before returning in Week 9.

Kerryon Johnson is being placed on IR after undergoing surgery on his knee today. The Lions are hoping Johnson will return to play this season. (Source: Michael Rothstein on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Can we say “running back by committee?” Ty Johnson should be the first priority for all waiver claims and situation-dependent, owners should use 50%+ of their FAAB. J.D. McKissic would warrant 10-20% of FAAB. Please note, this news makes a trade or bringing back C.J. Anderson more of a reality for the Lions.

Sterling Shepard told reporters that he expects to return soon and is very confident that he'll play again this season. Shepard has been sidelined by another concussion. (Source: Art Stapleton on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Head injuries are taken very serious, especially in today's NFL, so given Shepard has had two concussions already this season, there's not a clear timeframe on his return. That being said, he expects to be back at some point this year. His absence boosts the opportunity for receiver Golden Tate and tight end Evan Engram, but this offense as a whole remains hard to trust as shown in a smash matchup Week 7 against the Cardinals.

James Washington is expected to return Week 8 against the Dolphins, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. (Source: Dale Lolley)

Fantasy Impact: Washington was sidelined for Week 6's contest against the Chargers due to injury, but early in the week it looks like he'll be back this week. Still, he's not someone that can be counted on for fantasy purposes given the limits of the offense in general and Washington's questionable role to this point.

Vance McDonald has a "good chance" to play Week 8, according to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. (Source: Dale Lolley on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: McDonald has been dealing with a shoulder injury but was able to play Week 6 against the Chargers prior to the team's Week 7 bye. McDonald entered the season as a fantasy-relevant target, but given the struggles and injuries on offense along with his own ailments he hasn't been someone that owners can trust in outside of 2TE leagues.

Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that running back Jaylen Samuels is back to practicing "partially." (Source: Dale Lolley on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: When Samuels initially suffered his knee injury, it was expected that he would miss about a month of action. That would have him back around early November. The team has used rookie Benny Snell in Samuels' absence, and we've seen over the years that the backup role in Pittsburgh is a valuable stash, even with the depleted offense of 2019.

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is officially active for the team's Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. (Source: Mark Daniels on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Edelman has been dealing with a chest injury and was listed as questionable, but he was never really in any danger of missing this game. He caught nine of his 15 targets for 113 yards last week and should be in line for a similar workload on Monday night.

Patriots wide receiver Phillip Dorsett is officially active for the team's Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets on Monday. (Source: Mark Daniels on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Dorsett missed last week's game against the Giants with a hamstring but could be in for an increased role with fellow wideout Josh Gordon sitting out Monday night's game.

Jets tight end Chris Herndon is officially inactive for the team's Week 7 matchup against the New England Patriots. (Source: New York Jets on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Herndon has yet to suit up this season after serving a suspension and then suffering a hamstring injury in practice. He will have a chance to suit up for the team's Week 8 matchup against the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

Patriots running back Rex Burkhead is officially inactive for the team's Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football due to a foot injury. (Source: Mike Reiss on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Burkhead will miss his third straight game with a foot injury. Sony Michel, James White, Damien Harris, and Brandon Bolden are all active and could see touches with Burkhead still out.

New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley is officially active for the team's Week 7 matchup against the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. (Source: Brian Costello on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Mosley has missed New York's last four games with a groin injury but was able to practice this week and is active for the divisional tilt against the Patriots and should be an added boost to a defense that has already been playing well in recent weeks.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh says he is "optimistic" that Marquise Brown (ankle) will return in Week 9. (Source: Jamison Hensley on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Ravens have a bye in Week 8. Brown's shine faded a bit before his latest injury but it's reasonable to assume he will be more effective following this long layoff. However, fantasy owners might want to sit him his first game back as Baltimore will be playing the Patriots.

Ito Smith (head/neck) has entered the NFL's concussion protocol and has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 8 contest against the Seahawks, confirmed Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn. (Source: D. Orlando Ledbetter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Smith was removed from the Falcons' Week 7 loss to the Rams with what were termed as head and neck injury, but follow-up tests revealed that the running back had sustained a concussion. The Falcons were not confident enough that he would clear the concussion protocol by then and have ruled him out for Week 8. Kenjon Barner or Brian Hill will backup starter Devonta Freeman.

Matt Ryan sprained his ankle in Sunday's 37-10 loss to the Rams, but the quarterback hasn't been ruled out Sunday's Week 8 game against the Seahawks, Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn confirmed. (Source: Will McFadden on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Coach Quin "wouldn't define" Ryan 's injury as a high ankle sprain, but the veteran signal-caller's availability for Week 8 still looks to be up in the air. Monitor his practice participation status in the next few days. Matt Schaub would step in for what would be his first regular-season start since 2015.

Will Fuller (hamstring) is expected to miss three-to-five weeks with a significant hamstring pull. (Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Fuller who suffered a “rather significant” hamstring pull in Sunday’s 30-23 loss and is expected to miss several weeks as a result of this injury. The Texans should provide an update in the next few days. He will most likely miss Sunday’s Week 8 matchup against the Raiders and additional contests. Keke Coutee and Kenny Stills will fill in as the Texans deep ball threat.

Saints beat writer Mike Triplett is reporting QB Drew Brees (thumb) is expected to resume practicing this week. (Source: ESPN)

Fantasy Impact: If Brees indeed practices this week, the "goal" would be for a Week 8 return against the Cardinals. However, since the Saints have been winning without the future Hall of Fame signal-caller, plus, the fact that their bye is in Week 9, it may make more sense for the team to hold Brees out until Week 10 to give him the extra time to recover.