It's Sunday morning and a game kicks off in just over an hour. A few updates related to Saturday and Sunday developments, and a concerning one from the Colts.
Ty Warren (groin) was added to the Colts injury report on the weekend. He was not listed on the report posted at the team website on Friday, used for the Friday update. But he suffered the injury in practice went from questionable to gametime decision to officially INACTIVE this morning. Find another TE (I would not use a Colts backup).
Cam Skattebo's fumble may have cost the Giants a win last week, and there's talk that he might be demoted, with Najee Harris starting. Hard to know how accurate that is, but Skattebo now looks riskier than he did; unfortunate, with a choice matchup with the Saints. I liked Harris plenty as the No. 2 and like him even more as a possible No. 1. Skattebo is now someone to shy away from if you have a good alternative.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) has been ruled out for the Monday night game. Washington is facing San Francisco, so not a great matchup, but Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler are the available running backs and both look better now. I re-ran the PPR rankings and White moves up into the top 20, the Marks-Tuten area, while Ekeler shows up in the low 30s. We don't really know how Washington will divvy up the work, but neither is likely to play full-time giving both some value, especially in PPR if Washington is playing catchup for some of the game, which seems pretty likely.
Same game, Stefon Diggs (hamstring) is questionable. Hard to know if he'll wind up active, so if you're hoping to use Diggs, best to have someone else in the same game. Also uncertain in Christian Kirk (calf). Since I don't know if he's playing, I have little desire to use either him or Brandin Cooks. Mike Evans (rib, Achilles) is also uncertain. Evans should play, he always does, but there's a small amount of risk there and limited snaps must be considered. I would like to use him if active but can't endorse him with full confidence. He was ranked in the top dozen on Friday, but the injury situation makes that too high; I'd like to go with a safer choice. Unfortunate since the matchup is really favorable.
Sounds like TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) is expected to play. There is no part of me that would consider using Henderson this week, what with him supposedly dealing with a high ankle sprain after last week's game. I'll move Rhamondre Stevenson down a little, but I think he's still a top 15 to 20 option and the lead running back. And somebody doing the injury reporting for New England can't really be trusted.
Pat Freiermuth (calf) popped up on the injury report yesterday, but apparently he's fine and can be used as ranked.
Alvin Kamara (back) and Chris Olave (illness) expected to play. Players showing up with illness reports on Wednesday and Thursday I usually don't worry about. Olave had some chicken noodle soup and is good to go. Kamara is always dealing with some sort of injury but he's old, understandable he's got some aches and pains.
Quinshon Judkins (ankle) is a gametime decision. Not really helpful. He's facing the Ravens and my general lean is to totally avoid Cleveland running backs this week.
Jalen Hurts was placed on IR yesterday. Not surprising. I'm not really endorsing Tanner McKee but as noted the Eagles passing game wasn't great with Hurts, so it might not be worse. I would continue to use DeVonta Smith, Dameon Pierce and Dallas Goedert as ranked on Friday.
Kenyon Sadiq (concussion) is playing. Not a recommended option this week, however.
Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) will play for the Ravens. I like Lane but would rather see a game out of him before starting him. I had zero interest in Rashod Bateman anyway.
--Andy Richardson
