Whom should you start? Whom should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won’t be in the lineup, we’ll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactives lists. Any rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL: Knee — OUT
Impact: He’ll have to wait yet another week before getting a chance to spell Derrick Henry.
Amari Cooper, WR, BUF: Wrist — Questionable
Impact: Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir could well get the majority of WR targets, with Cooper picking his spots.
Curtis Samuel, WR, BUF: Pectoral — Questionable
Impact: Even if he plays, he’s not likely to be on the field enough to matter for fantasy.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, CAR: Knee — Questionable
Impact: Next week would be the last chance the Panthers have to activate the rookie if he sits this one out. Chuba Hubbard is expected to start again.
Tommy Tremble, TE, CAR: Back — Questionable
Impact: He is looking likely to play and split targets with Ja’Tavion Sanders.
Adam Thielen, WR, CAR: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Why risk re-injuring him? Diontae Johnson is gone and Thielen might also be heading elsewhere with the trade deadline looming.
Xavier Legette, WR, CAR: Toe — Questionable
Impact: He should be able to suit up and start opposite WR Jalen Coker.
Zack Moss, RB, CIN: Neck — Doubtful
Impact: His late-Friday add to the injury report means we should expect a lot of Chase Brown.
Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: Quad — Doubtful
Impact: Andrei Iosivas will most likely start alongside Ja’Marr Chase.
Charlie Jones, WR, CIN: Groin — Questionable
Impact: His potential absence might put Trenton Irwin on the deep-league flex radar.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL: Team decision — OUT
Impact: The Cowboys are getting Rico Dowdle back and have elevated Dalvin Cook to take the place of Elliott, who did not travel with the team.
Stone Smartt, TE, LAC: Ankle — Doubtful
Impact: We’re only talking about him so that we can report that fellow TEs Hayden Hurst and Will Dissly are not on this week’s injury report.
DJ Chark Jr., WR, LAC: Groin — Questionable
Impact: He’s been activated from IR and should play, as will Quentin Johnston, who was removed from the injury report.
Zamir White, RB, LV: Quad — Questionable
Impact: While he may be able to play, Alexander Mattison is still expected to be the lead back here.
Drake Maye, QB, NE: Concussion — Questionable
Impact: He has cleared the league’s concussion policy and will start on Sunday.
Kendre Miller, RB, NO: Hamstring — OUT/IR
Impact: Alvin Kamara is pretty much the only healthy running back on the Saints roster.
Jamaal Williams, RB, NO: Groin — Doubtful
Impact: Fullback Adam Prentice might get some touches along with the practice-squad-elevated Jordan Mims.
Bub Means, WR, NO: Ankle — OUT/IR
Impact: Returning QB Derek Carr may have to throw some to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Cedrick Wilson Jr., WR, NO: Hip — Questionable
Impact: Expect Mason Tipton to start alongside Chris Olave.
Greg Joseph, K, NYG: Abdomen — OUT/IR
Impact: Welcome Jude McAtamney to the NFL.
Will Levis, QB, TEN: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Although this is technically a game-time call, Mason Rudolph is expected to start again with Levis not at 100 percent.
Tyjae Spears, RB, TEN: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: This is where we would normally say that Julius Chestnut will be the team’s No. 2 RB…
Tony Pollard, RB, TEN: Foot — Questionable
Impact: … but Chestnut might even have to start if Pollard, who did not practice all week, can’t go.
Tyler Boyd, WR, TEN: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Calvin Ridley (shoulder) was removed from the injury report and will play.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, WAS: Hamstring — Questionable
Impact: Limited all week in practice, Robinson still might play. However, any setbacks and Austin Ekeler will get a fantasy value boost.
4 p.m. ET games
Jordan Love, QB, GB: Groin — Questionable
Impact: Most reports have been leaning towards Love starting on Sunday.
Josh Jacobs, RB, GB: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: He missed practice early in the week, but appears to be in line to play.
Tank Bigsby, RB, JAX: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: He’s likely to get a lot of touches if he can go and Etienne cannot. Speaking of which …
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, JAX: Hamstring — Questionable
Impact: Etienne is a risky Week 9 start in fantasy as a late-window game-time call.
Gabe Davis, WR, JAX: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Even after participating in practice all week, he’s still going to be a game-time decision.
Christian Kirk, WR, JAX: Collarbone — OUT
Impact: Limited all week long, it’s also going to come down to the last minute until we know about Thomas.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, JAX: Chest — Questionable
Impact: Parker Washington and Tim Jones could be the only WR options for Trevor Lawrence this week.
Jordan Whittington, WR, LAR: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: He’s only going to have fantasy value if one of the Rams’ WR starters return to the sidelines due to injury …
Puka Nacua, WR, LAR: Knee — Questionable
Impact: … and the fact Nacua is back on the injury report is scary. However, he did travel with the team and appears to be in line to play.
Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Grant Calcaterra will start, but he is no Dallas Goedert.
Noah Fant, TE, SEA: Groin — OUT
Impact: A trip to the IR is not currently planned, but it still might be Week 12 before we see Fant again.
DK Metcalf, WR, SEA: Knee — OUT
Impact: It’s looking like Metcalf may be on track to return to the field following next week’s bye.
Sunday night game
T.J. Hockenson, TE, MIN: Knee — Activated from IR
Impact: Hockenson will make his 2024 debut, but may still need a week or two to get back to full speed.
