Buffalo Bills
Right before the season started, I was told to expect an estimated 60-40 touch split between starter Devin Singletary and rookie RB Zack Moss.
I still believe that will wind up being the case most weeks as long as they're not behind (see last week's game against the Chiefs).
And he could wind up being their closer (if the team is up big in 4th quarter) in some games.
Moss missed 3 games and parts of another with a lingering toe injury, but is not on the injury report this week.
If you're struggling for a bye week replacement as a flex option, Moss is worth a shot this week against the bad Jet defense.
Cleveland Browns
You might have noticed starting TE Austin Hooper's production took off the past 3 games and his role in the passing game.
I'm told that's because he's not just playing the "Y" position in the team's offense; he started playing the "F" position, which is more of a pass-catching role.
That came about the last 2 games once 4th-year TE David Njoku returned from his MCL sprain. So once Hooper is cleared to play after this week's appendix surgery, he might actually be worth starting.
Denver Broncos
WR Tim Patrick will remain as the starter at the "X" position (for Courtland Sutton-ACL-IR) the rest of the way and as we saw the last few games, he runs better than most think. And he’s really good with leveraging his size against smaller CBs.
Now that starting QB Drew Lock is over his shoulder injury, Patrick's numbers should be worthy of starting most weeks as your #3 WR.
Jacksonville Jaguars
RB Devine Ozigbo (hamstring) practiced quite a bit and well this week, so the team activated him off IR this weekend. He should be the long-term handcuff for starter James Robinson. The team was using veteran RB Chris Thompson as his handcuff in addition to being their main 3rd down RB. He's out this week as he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Ozigbo has really good size (6-1, 225) and showed at Nebraska that he could catch when given the chance (25 receptions his Senior season).
Kansas City Chiefs
Once head coach Andy Reid feels that new RB Le'Veon Bell is ready for a role each week (Reid said he'll likely play a limited role today), it's likely you'll see Bell get carries behind starter Clyde Edwards-Helaire as well as see time on 3rd downs and potentially short-yardage and goal-line situations. 8-12 touches per game is certainly within reason.
Among the reasons why the signed Bell: Should CEH suffer an injury and is out a while, the team clearly did not think Darrel Williams was the answer. Bell can still handle a full role if CEH can't play in a given week. And they really need to improve in short-yardage situations. CEH is just 5-7, 205-ish, so getting Bell in for those situations is a big reason why Bell was signed.
New Orleans Saints
Keep an eye on rookie WR Marquez Callaway today. He should start opposite 3rd-year WR Tre'Quan Smith. Callaway has good size (6-1 1/4, 205) and runs better than his 40-time (4.55). The team thought so highly of him that he guaranteed him a decent amount of money as an undrafted free agent.
Also keep in mind the Panthers have injury issues at CB: Starter Rasul Douglas, who the coaches have been blown away by since he was claimed off waivers, is out after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. And fellow starter Donte Jackson (toe) has been dealing with his injury since Week 1 and was limited by his injury during last week's game.
Philadelphia Eagles
I've gotten a lot of questions on all of their key injuries on offense, roles, etc, so I'll address them here.
Rookie WR Jalen Reagor (thumb surgery) may start practicing this week, but is expected to be back after the team's Week 9 bye. He'll likely eventually start at the "Z" position over fellow rookie WR John Hightower. Veteran WR DeSean Jackson (broken ankle) will go on IR and will miss 6-8 weeks, but the team thinks he'll still be able to return before the season ends. However, for fantasy purposes, his season is over. It's all about Reagor and Hightower the rest of the way.
2nd-year WR Travis Fulgham is expected to remain the starter at "X" even when/if veteran WR Alshon Jeffery (foot surgery, calf) returns from his injuries. He had foot surgery in mid-December of last year. Jeffery should have been back weeks ago. His situation is puzzling, but that's good for Fulgham owners. If you have Fulgham in a keeper or dynasty league, you have quite a find.
As for TEs Zach Ertz (high ankle-IR) and Dallas Goedert (broken ankle): Ertz is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, but knowing how he is and how he typically returns from injuries earlier than expected, it wouldn't be surprising to see him return for their Week 11 game at the Cleveland Browns.
As for Goedert, he may do some limited work this week, but the team is hopeful that he'll return after their bye in Week 10 at the New York Giants or against the Browns the following week. Tennessee Titans
The team did not activate CB Adoree’ Jackson off IR on Saturday, so they’ll go with veteran CBs Malcolm Butler and Johnathan Joseph. They might have one of the slowest and oldest starting tandems (Butler-30, Joseph-36) at that position in the NFL, which is good for Steeler WRs Diontae Johnson (back), JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, and James Washington. The Texans attacked the Titan secondary with mostly “11” personnel last week, which is almost certain to happen later today with Johnson back in the lineup. I’m told he suffered a back contusion during the team’s Week 5 game against the Eagles, but was fine this week in practice.
