Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (foot) vs. Arizona Cardinals
When: Sunday, 1pm ET
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was added to the injury report Thursday with a foot injury. Teams often limit veteran players from practice as a precautionary or workload-related measure, but limited participant injury reports added midweek typically indicate that a player was injured during practice. Suggests.
Hill’s participation in Friday’s practice may completely allay concerns, but his Week 8 appearance is definitely in jeopardy.
Miami’s No. 2 wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is expected to remain a limited practice participant through Thursday. If Hill is inactive, he will be expected to lead the team in achieving goals. No. 3 wide receiver Malik Washington has played 25 offensive snaps over the past two weeks, more than twice as many as the next closest wide receiver, according to ProFootballFocus.
Miami tight end Jonnu Smith would likely provide the most effective pivot option for those looking to take advantage of Hill’s potential absence. Among the 32 NFL tight ends with at least 100 receiving snaps, Smith ranks sixth in target percentage (22.9 percent) and fifth in yards per route run (YPRR, 2.00). The Arizona Cardinals’ tight end coverage unit is tied for 13th-highest yards allowed per coverage snap (7.94).
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Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf (Grade 1 MCL sprain) vs. Buffalo Bills
When: Sunday, 4:05pm ET
DK Metcalf, the Seattle Seahawks’ No. 1 wide receiver, suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain in Week 7, leaving him in doubt for Week 8. Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Roma Odunze suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain in Week 1, but was able to play in Week 2. Jeff Mueller, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), kindly reminded us that Seattle is a bye in Week 10, suggesting that Seattle may play Seattle will keep Metcalf out until Week 11 This allows us to proceed with things conservatively. Seattle could keep Metcalf on the bench in Week 8 and then have him play in must-win games against the Los Angeles Rams (Week 9) and San Francisco 49ers (Week 11).
If Metcalf is successful, he will likely face shadow coverage from Rasul Douglas, the Buffalo Bills’ No. 1 cornerback. No. 2 perimeter cornerback Christian Benford and slot cornerback Taron Johnson are among the best players in the league at their respective positions.
Redraft fantasy managers and DFS players who want to take advantage of Metcalf’s absence or possible decoy use include tight end Noah Fant, pending linebacker Terrell Bernard (ankle), and linebacker Dorian Williams (knee). ), may consider starting safety Taylor Rapp (foot/ankle). health. According to Banged Up Bills, Bernard may not only have a sprained ankle, noting that this is the third time Bernard has injured his right ankle. Banged Up Bills added, “After viewing additional footage, including the two plays he returned to prior to his ejection, this injury may be more complicated than I anticipated.” There may be damage to the peroneal tendon, which is seen when rotating the ankle during a lateral ankle sprain. ”
The running back coverage unit specifically allows for the league’s second-highest explosive pass play rate (19.6 percent).
San Francisco 49ers WR, RB, TE Injuries vs. Dallas Cowboys
When: Sunday, 8:20pm ET
The San Francisco 49ers will be without running back Christian McCaffrey (bilateral Achilles tendonitis) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL and MCL, injured reserve) against the Dallas Cowboys. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) remained sidelined through Thursday’s practice. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel (wrist/pneumonia) returned to practice on a limited basis on Thursday, but if he is active he could undergo surgery after a severe snap count. Tight end George Kittle (foot) tends to play through injuries, but could be limited in games.
Dallas’ run defense averages the 10th-deepest tackle depth (4.56) and allows the most expected points added (EPA) per play (0.155). Given the current state of the team, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan will undoubtedly turn to running back Jordan Mason. Isaac Guerend, a 6-foot, 221-pound backup running back with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, could be effectively used as an explosive play generator.
Backup tight end Eric Saubert performed well in a can’t-lose matchup that turned out to be slimy in Week 3’s Top 5 NFL Injuries and Contingency Plans. Dallas’ tight end coverage unit ranks in the bottom five in both yards allowed per coverage snap (9.00) and explosive pass plays allowed (20.8 percent).
Rookie wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing have an interesting small sample. Pearsall ranked third on the team in goals (5) in his NFL debut in Week 7. Cowing is averaging a 20.0 percent target rating and a 5.00 YPRR on 10 receiving snaps.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR and RB injuries vs. Atlanta Falcons
When: Sunday, 1pm ET
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers in Week 7. No. 1 wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) is expected to miss several weeks, while slot receiver Chris Godwin (dislocated ankle) has already been ruled out for the remainder of the game. season. With rising rookie running back Bucky Irving (toe) conspicuously absent during practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Tampa Bay’s backfield has likely turned into a fantasy-friendly two-man show.
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield has attempted 33 passes under pressure this season. Evans (7 targets, 12.7% target rate), Godwin (9 targets, 13.6% target rate) and Irving (4 targets, 16.7% target rate) account for 20 of those targets. Tight end Cade Otton accounted for six additional targets and a pressure target rate of 9.2 percent, and running back Rathard White accounted for three targets and a pressure target rate of 8.1 percent. .
With Irving out, White could start as running back, while explosive No. 3 running back Sean Tucker could start as a flex option with big play potential. The Atlanta Falcons’ run defense has missed 40 tackles, the second-most in the NFL.
Otton ranks third on the team in look-ahead targets (28) and similarly third in target percentage on plays designed for Otton (17.3%). Jalen McMillan, the de facto fill-in No. 1 wide receiver, ranks fourth (12) and fifth (15.6 percent) in target completion rate, respectively.
His explosive pass play allowed rate (19.1 percent) ranks 25th among Atlanta’s tight end coverage units, further increasing Otton’s scoring potential.
Baltimore Ravens WR Zai Flowers (ankle) @ Cleveland Browns
When: Sunday, 1pm ET
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zai Flowers injured his right ankle in Week 7. DPT Mueller noted that this mechanism is consistent with that of a high ankle sprain. According to DPT Adam Hutchison’s 2023 injury report, only 3.7 percent of wide receivers missed games with ankle sprains. Flowers missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, likely indicating that a Week 8 absence is imminent.
Fantasy managers can pivot the game to Rashod Bateman, Baltimore’s No. 2 wide receiver. Rashod Bateman sits quietly at 26th WR in points per reception (PPR). Bateman has finished inside the top 36 at his position for three straight weeks, most recently finishing as the No. 2 overall WR in Week 7.
Among 67 NFL wide receivers with at least 155 receiving snaps, Bateman ranks 18th in YPRR (1.99), 16th in deep target percentage (23.3 percent) and fourth in yards per reception (18.8). , ranks tied for fourth in explosive pass plays (13). ).
