Who should you start with? Who should you sit with? 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-related updates and analysis here when NFL teams release their official inactive rosters. Any rankings mentioned in this column come from the ranks of the ESPN Fantasy staff.
Official inactives on Sunday must begin arriving approximately 90 minutes prior to scheduled kickoff times: approximately 11:30 AM ET for early games and 2:30 PM ET for late afternoon games.
Update frequently to get the latest information.
Games are at 4 p.m. ET
Curtis Samuel, WR, BUF: bra — outside
Impact: He’s targeting a Week 9 return, but his value is less now that Amari Cooper is in town.
Andy Dalton, QB, CAR: thumb — questionable
IMPACT: Bryce Young will start while Dalton recovers from a car accident on Tuesday.
Jonathan Brooks, RB, CAR: knee — outside
Impact: Chuba Hubbard will be the Panthers’ main man for at least another week.
Tommy Trimble, TE, Car: behind — questionable
IMPACT: Ja’Tavion Sanders (groin/wrist) was also limited in practice all week. Either TE could start at end.
Deontay Johnson, WR, CAR: ribs — outside
Effect: He will sit down, even though he claims he is ready to go. Xavier Leggett and Jonathan Mingo start.
Adam Thielen, WR, CAR: Hamstrings – outside
Impact: Still not ready to return from IR; We could see if David Moore or Jalen Coker shows up.
Travis Homer, RB, CHI: finger — questionable
Impact: After he graduates from IR, he’ll be able to spell D’Andre Swift.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC: Hamstrings – outside
Impact: At least he’s not in IR. Having just arrived in town, DeAndre Hopkins will suit up with Xavier Worthy.
Will Disley, TE, Latin America and the Caribbean: shoulder — questionable
Impact: He caught eight assists last week with Hurst out but that will likely be a call come game time.
Hayden Hurst, TE, LAC: thigh — questionable
Impact: If Hurst and Dissly both sit, Eric Tomlinson could be asleep at TE.
DJ Shark Jr., WR, LAC: thigh — Inactive
Impact: He was on IR heading into the week and wasn’t activated in time for the game — his team could have used him.
Derrius Davis, WR, LAC: Hamstrings – questionable
Impact: If he can’t go, Brenden Rice or Simi Fehoko could end up in the pool for some snaps by default.
Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC: ankle — questionable
Impact: Joshua Palmer seems to be the only Charger you can count on to start. Jaylen Johnson and Jalen Reagor were both promoted from the practice squad.
Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC: loin — questionable
Impact: He has to suit up (out of necessity) even though he missed two practices this week and saw only limited action on Friday.
Aidan O’Connell, QB, LV: thumb — outside/infrared
IMPACT: Gardner Minshew, whose mustache was usually more impressive than his stat line, will once again start at quarterback.
Jacoby Myers, WR, LV: ankle — questionable
IMPACT: He is expected to play for the first time in several weeks. It may be “at the expense of the playing field.”
Derek Carr, QB, No: perverted – questionable
IMPACT: Spencer Rattler will make another start as Carr tries to get back into throwing shape.
Cedric Wilson Jr., WR, NO: loin — outside
IMPACT: Chris Olave, on the other hand, is expected to return this week after being held out due to a concussion.
DK Metcalf, WR, SEA: knee — questionable
IMPACT: Tyler Lockett and Jackson Smith-Njigba will be in charge of all your pass-catching needs.
Jayden Daniels, QB, was: ribs — questionable
Impact: This will be a game-time decision, and Marcus Mariota is ready to go, if necessary. Sam Hartman remains on the practice squad, which is a good sign.
Sunday night game
John Stevens Jr., TE, DAL: knee — outside/infrared
Impact: His season is over. The roster spot helped make room for RB Dalvin Cook, who was promoted from the practice squad.
Jake Moody, K, SF: ankle — outside
Impact: Anders Karlsson takes his place again, even after missing an extra point last week.
Joan Jennings, WR, SF: loin — outside
IMPACT: With Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk out (on IR with a torn ACL), Ricky Pearsall may be tasked with starting.
Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, SF: illness — questionable
IMPACT: Jacob Cowing and Chris Conley may also see some targets while Samuel deals with pneumonia, although he is currently expected to play.
George Kittle, TE, SF: foot — questionable
Impact: Given his WR issues, expect Kittle to play through the injury.
Games are at 1 p.m. ET
Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL: knee — outside
Impact: The 21-day return window is now open. Once he returns, he could replace Justice Hill as the No. 2 option RB.
Rasheen Ali, RB, BAL: ankle — outside
Impact: Given the above news, once Ali is able to return, he may only be used on special teams.
Zee Flowers, WR, BAL: ankle — active
Impact: Looks like he’ll try to make plays, but don’t be surprised if Rashod Pittman is more effective.
T. Higgins, WR, CIN: Quad — Inactive
Impact: His late addition to the injury report on Friday did not bode well. Andrei Iosivas received a slight increase in fantasy value.
Jerome Ford, RB, CLE: Hamstrings – outside
IMPACT: Nick Chubb will be spelled Pierre Strong Jr.
Deshaun Watson, QB, CLE: Achilles — outside/infrared
Impact: Jameis Winston will get a chance to block Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) to start thinking about moving forward.
Jameson Williams, WR, DET: comment
Impact: He will be absent this week and next. Calif Raymond and Tim Patrick get value boosts.
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacks: Hamstrings – Inactive
IMPACT: Tank Bigsby and Dirnest Johnson are once again asked to step up.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA: concussion– active
IMPACT: He has cleared the league’s concussion protocol and will return to the huddle on Sunday. Tyler Huntley (shoulder) takes his place on IR.
Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA: foot — active
Impact: Jaylen Waddle could be the first WR option for Tua’s return if Hill isn’t 100%.
Jalen Polk, WR, NE: concussion– outside
Impact: He remains in the league’s concussion protocol. Kayshon Boutte is the Patriots’ “safest” receiver at the moment.
Allen Lazard, WR, New York: chest — Inactive
Impact: Even if he plays, the Jets didn’t trade for Davante Adams so as not to throw as much to him as possible.
Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: Hamstrings – outside
Impact: Grant Calcaterra takes the call for him.
Bucky Irving, RB, TB: toe — active
Impact: He was always expected to play, but Sean Tucker was lurking around him.
Mike Evans, WR, TB: Hamstrings – outside
IMPACT: Chris Godwin (ankle/IR) finished out the season. Evans could return in Week 12 if all goes well.
Rakim Jarrett, WR, TB: knee — active
IMPACT: Activated from IR this week as the Bucs look to restock their depleted WR room.
Will Levis, QB, TEN: shoulder — Inactive
IMPACT: Mason Rudolph got the most reps with the first team this week, so this isn’t a shock.
Tyjay Spears, midfielder, ten: Hamstrings – outside
Impact: Tony Pollard should get most of the passes, with the remaining touches going to Julius Chestnut.
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