This article will be published Friday and continuously updated through Sunday morning.
Sunday Update
Actives/Expected Actives
Derek Carr, highly volatile not a must-start, Deebo Samuel moderate to highly volatile, Miles Sanders, moderate reinjury concern since this is a preseason injury, Marquise Brown, moderate reinjury concern, Tyler Higbee
Inactives/Expected Inactives
Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O’Connell to start
This is in addition to a Tuesday update with transaction recommendations, and a Thursday Night Football preview. Remember that these projections are an imperfect analysis working with the most current information and five years of historical data. If players practice in full, they’ll be excluded from any specific analysis and should be assumed healthy unless otherwise stated.
The following fantasy-relevant players are officially OUT this week, doubtful, or trending in the wrong direction:
“*” indicates full breakdown below
Austin Ekeler* (doubtful)
Saquon Barkley* (limited in practice)
Rashod Bateman (OUT)
Odell Beckham Jr. (OUT)
Treylon Burks (OUT)
Zay Jones (OUT)
Miles Sanders* (did not practice on Friday)
Here are more players to keep an eye on:
“*” indicates full breakdown below
Joe Burrow*
Patrick Mahomes*
Jimmy Garoppolo*
Bryce Young*
Logan Thomas
Marquise Brown*
Jaylen Waddle*
Anthony Richardson*
Justice Hill*
Salvon Ahmed
Kadarius Toney
Jaylen Waddle*
Deshaun Watson*
Jimmy Garoppolo*
Derek Carr*
Kareem Hunt*
Tyler Higbee - Achilles injury has kept him sidelined this week. Find another streamer in case he does not go.
Deebo Samuel*
Jonathan Mingo*
Salvon Ahmed
Gus Edwards*
Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow - Calf
Laughably, Burrow is off the injury report. Given how limited he was just 5 days ago, this means very little. He’s still highly volatile due to re-injury risk. Fantasy gamers can hold on to him and hope for the best or wait for an inevitable big game and ship him off. I’m likely doing the latter and avoiding the headache.
Patrick Mahomes - Ankle
Patrick Mahomes rolled his ankle. He will be fine and you should start him everywhere.
Derek Carr - Shoulder
Carr surprisingly practiced on Friday, but there’s little chance he was involved in game planning. In the event that Carr does play, understand that QBs see a 20% touchdown production dip and a 10% dip in fantasy points per game. On average, QBs miss 17 days (essentially 2.5 weeks) with this injury — plan to be without Carr for at least that long for now. Jameis Winston is worth a look for SF and 2-QB leagues.
Bryce Young - Ankle
Young is coming off an ankle injury. What you should know is this leads to no change in touchdown production or fantasy points. This may not be a ceiling week for Young but he’ll still be… Bryce Young.
Deshaun Watson - Shoulder Contusion
Watson is dealing with a shoulder contusion and “barely threw” according to reports. He’s been limited all week and he has until Sunday to get right. Gamers should prepare to be without Watson but it seems like he’s gonna give it a go. His ceiling will be capped overall as he’ll be unlikely to throw it deep but will also be wise to avoid designed runs.
Anthony Richardson - Concussion
Richardson should be back in your lineups. The sample is too small to know what type of runner he’ll be so understand that if he’s Josh Allen levels of reckless, another concussion is part of the risk you’re taking on.
Jimmy Garoppolo - Concussion
Garoppolo is in the concussion protocol for the first time in his career. The sample of fantasy-relevant QBs to sustain concussions since 2018 is small, but 50% don’t miss any time at all. Watch his practice status closely this week. As of Friday he is still in the protocol but has a chance to clear it before Sunday.
Running backs
Saquon Barkley - High Ankle
Barkley returned to practice in a limited fashion this week but given the early reports this would be a 3 week absence along with the data that agrees, it’s not likely we see Barkley in action this week. But as always what coaches will do vs. what they should do rarely matches up. Keep up with reports on this one throughout the weekend. In any league I have Saquon, I’m likely just pivoting and living with the result.
Miles Sanders - Groin
Sanders did not practice on Friday and is at high risk to sit out Week 4. As we’ve seen with Amari Cooper maybe 2 days is enough to get right with this issue. Then again, he’s been dealing with this since the pre-season. Plan to be without Sanders in Week 4 and if he is active, assume reinjury risk. Avoid in DFS lineups.
Justice Hill - Foot
Hill is returning after missing 1 game due to a foot injury. There’s a 15% reinjury rate, though gamers should be aware of but overall players tend to do okay after this injury.
Gus Edwards - Concussion
Edwards is not in protocol anymore but will face a 5% re-injury rate which is generally negligible. Depending on how Baltimore decides to utilize the injured backfield, expect Edwards to achieve his usual production.
Kareem Hunt - Ribs/Groin
Hunt has a history of this groin issue and the ribs injury is not surprising for a RB. He was limited all week so there’s a chance we see more of Jerome Ford in this matchup.
Wide Receivers
Deebo Samuel - Ribs, Knee
Samuel has not practiced as of Friday afternoon, which is concerning. The Niners do not need Samuel to win games, given their other weapons. So unless he gets in a limited session, expect to be without him. Otherwise, you’ll need to hope for some TD luck as he’s not going to be a huge focal point of the game plan. He should be avoided in DFS lineups.
Jaylen Waddle - Concussion
Waddle cleared concussion protocol. He should be starting in leagues of all shapes and sizes.
Marquise Brown - Thumb
Brown has a mystery thumb injury from practice and is being called a game-time decision. Gamers need to prepare to be without him. If he plays, he’s highly volatile due to the mysterious nature of the injury.
Jonathan Mingo - Concussion
Mingo was limited all week. He has until Saturday to clear the protocol.
Good luck!
