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NFL schedule gives Chiefs, Jets major exposure

Wed May 15 9:59pm ET
Field Level Media

The Kansas City Chiefs will open the season with a difficult one-two punch as they seek their third Super Bowl championship in a row.

The NFL released its full regular-season schedule on Wednesday night, when the Chiefs got a full look at the challenges in store for them in 2024. They will face Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL's "Kickoff Game" on Sept. 5, and one week later they will play a Cincinnati Bengals team that has beaten them in six of the past eight regular-season meetings.

Plenty of other tests await the Chiefs, such as a road contest on Oct. 20 against the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of last season's Super Bowl.

In other highlights from the schedule release, Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets learned that they will be in prime time six times this season. The Jets' national slate includes a Week 1 matchup against the 49ers on "Monday Night Football," another Monday night matchup in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills, and a Week 9 game against the Houston Texans on Amazon's Thursday night schedule.

Rodgers and the Jets also will travel to London, where they will kick off against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The league's international schedule includes four other matchups. The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles will face off on Sept. 6 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in what will be the NFL's first regular-season game to be played in South America.

Two more London games feature the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. the Chicago Bears on Oct. 13 and the New England Patriots vs. the Jaguars on Oct. 20, and the final international game showcases the New York Giants vs. the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 10 in Munich, Germany.

The NFL again will play three games on Thanksgiving. The action starts with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Bears visiting the Detroit Lions, and it continues with a midafternoon matchup between the Giants and Dallas Cowboys. The nightcap features the Miami Dolphins at Green Bay.

One day later, on "Black Friday," the Las Vegas Raiders will visit Kansas City. This marks the second year that the NFL has broadcast a game on the day after Thanksgiving.

On Dec. 8, Kirk Cousins will visit a familiar environment when his Atlanta Falcons travel to play the Vikings. Cousins left Minnesota during free agency in the offseason to sign with the Falcons, who guaranteed him $100 million and surprised him weeks later by selecting fellow quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with their first-round draft pick.

The schedule also includes a pair of games on Christmas Day, a Wednesday, that will air on Netflix -- a first-time broadcast partnership for the NFL. The streaming service will feature the Chiefs vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Ravens vs. the Texans.

"We couldn't be more excited to be the first professional sports league to partner with Netflix to bring live games to fans around the world," said Hans Schroeder, NFL's executive vice president of media distribution.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9

Player Notes
Kareem Hunt Oct 31 6:00pm CT
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (quad) was downgraded to limited during Thursday's practice session. The Chiefs have limited Hunt throughout the season at times due to various minor injuries. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about this unless Hunt is limited again on Friday and Saturday. The expectation is that he'll be a full-go for Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hunt has seen a heavy workload over the last three games. During that span, Hunt has seen over 20 carries for more than 50 yards each game. Fantasy managers can go ahead and consider Hunt a strong RB2 ahead of Monday's game.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Ridley Oct 31 5:50pm CT
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (shoulder) has been upgraded to full during Thursday's practice. Ridley didn't practice to open the week, but it appears that might've been for rest purposes. He's back to being a full participant following a 10-catch performance last week. The trade of DeAndre Hopkins as made Ridley the primary focus in the receiving game. He'll draw a tough matchup against the New England Patriots secondary in Week 9. Ridley has enough upside to be considered a low-end WR2 in PPR formats this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Oct 31 5:40pm CT
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (foot) was unable to suit up for Thursday's practice session. Pollard has yet to practice this week which is a bad sign heading into the Week 9 matchup against the New England Patriots. The loss of Pollard would be a significant hit to the Titans backfield. Pollard has seen over 15 carries in each of the last four games. Fellow back Tyjae Spears (hamstring) is still working his way back, so if they both sit then Julius Chestnut would move into the lead back role. He'd have some streaming appeal as the lone back for Sunday's game.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Oct 31 5:30pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (ribs) was a limited participant during Thursday's practice session. This is now back-to-back limited practice sessions for the rookie quarterback. Daniels was able to tough it out and play through the ribs injury during last week's win over the Chicago Bears. Fantasy managers should expect Daniels to play against the New York Giants this weekend, barring any setbacks. He'll remain a strong QB1 against a struggling Giants secondary.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Oct 31 5:30pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (hamstring) was unable to suit up for Thursday's practice session. Spears was limited to open the week, but downgraded to did not practice on Thursday. Possibly, Spears sat out for rest purposes, but he's also been sidelined since Week 7 due to a hamstring issue. Fantasy managers will have to check back for another update after Friday's practice. Tony Pollard (foot) hasn't practiced this week, so the Titans could be extremely shorthanded. Julius Chestnut could become the lead back this weekend if both backs sit out. There would be some streaming appeal if Chestnut becomes the lead back.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Oct 31 5:20pm CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) was able to get through his second straight limited practice session on Thursday. It sounds like Etienne has a good chance at getting back on the field for the first time since Week 6. Head coach Doug Pederson said that he felt good about Etienne's chances of getting back on the field this week. His return would mean that Tank Bigsby would lose some stream after being the lead back over the last few games. Etienne is more of a flex option because Bigsby might've done enough to make it a 50/50 split in the backfield.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 31 4:10pm CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) were both limited participants for the second-straight day. Thomas was originally expected to miss at least two weeks of action earlier in the week but seeing him continue to participate in practice is a promising sign as he may not even miss one game. Davis also suffered an injury in last week's game and he could be in line to return this weekend if he continues to progress well. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status on Friday as they will likely carry an injury designation into the weekend. If Thomas can suit up, he should be viewed as a high-end WR2 facing the Philadelphia Eagles while Davis projects to be a solid flex option as the Eagles have allowed the 22nd-most PPR points to opposing wideouts.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Oct 31 3:50pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. (back) and Josh Downs (toe) both logged a full practice on Thursday according to James Boyd of The Athletic. This is a great sign as both wideouts were non-participants during Wednesday's initial practice session. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status during Friday's practice in case they face a setback. Pittman has been dealing with this back injury for a few weeks but has not missed any games. Downs has also been dealing with a lingering injury but has also not missed any time due to it. Both wideouts should be viewed as a solid options this weekend as they will face the Minnesota Vikings who have allowed the most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Oct 31 3:50pm CT
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (ankle) returned to practice on Thursday as a full participant. This is a great sign for Goff as he sat out during Wednesday's practice after rolling his ankle. Seeing return to practice the next day puts him in great position to suit up this weekend. The 30-year-old has led the Lions to five straight victories since falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. During this span, Goff has held a stellar 83.0% completion rate while averaging 23.0 PPR points per game. Goff remains a solid QB1 option in all formats this weekend when he faces the Green Bay Packers who have allowed the 18th-most points to opposing QBs this season.

From RotoBaller

Riley Patterson Oct 31 3:40pm CT
Riley Patterson

New York Jets kicker Riley Patterson is expected to be elevated from the practice squad to make his New York debut on Thursday evening against the Houston Texans. On Wednesday, starting kicker Greg Zuerlein (knee) was placed on the injured reserve with a knee injury which opened the spot for Patterson. Before his injury, Zuerlein struggled as he went 9-for-15 on attempts this season. Patterson played for the Washington Commanders during the preseason but did not make the final roster. Throughout his NFL career, he has held a 88.1% FG% and has gone 93-for-97 on extra-point attempts. Patterson should be left on the waiver wire and remains a high-risk flex option for DFS formats on Thursday evening.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Oct 31 3:30pm CT
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) did not practice on Thursday according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Njoku was a full participant on Wednesday but seeing him pop up on the injury report on Thursday could put him in danger of missing this weekend's game. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the 28-year-old's status during Friday's practice as it may provide clarity on his availability for Sunday. Njoku has already missed time earlier this season with an ankle injury. If Njoku is unable to suit up this weekend, fantasy managers should expect Jordan Akins to operate as the lead option.

From RotoBaller

Amari Cooper Oct 31 3:20pm CT
Amari Cooper

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) remained limited during Thursday's practice according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during Friday's practice as the wideout may carry an injury designation into the weekend if he is unable to upgrade to a full participant. After tallying 66 yards and a score in his Buffalo debut in Week 7, Cooper took the backseat in Week 8 as he brought in just one pass for three yards. If Cooper is unable to play this weekend against the Miami Dolphins, fantasy managers should expect rookie Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir to see an increase in opportunities.

From RotoBaller

Allen Lazard Oct 31 3:10pm CT
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest) was placed on the injured reserve according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Lazard was unable to participate in any team practices this week and was previously ruled out for Thursday. However, he will now have to sit out for at least the next four games. Lazard has been a stable contributor in the New York offense this season averaging 58.9 yards per game with a high of 114 in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills. Fantasy managers should expect Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams to see the majority of passing work going forward with Mike Williams now operating as the No.3 option.

From RotoBaller

Jonathon Brooks Oct 31 2:10pm CT
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) practiced in full for a second straight day, suggesting he is close to making his NFL debut. The rookie is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered at Texas in late November of last year, and with the Panthers struggling to begin the season, he has been eased into action. If Brooks plays against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, he should likely be left on the bench in fantasy football until we get an idea of what his potential workload will be. Chuba Hubbard has been productive as the RB1 for the Panthers, so it would be a surprise if Brooks enters a workhorse role right away. Either way, fantasy managers should monitor his status for Friday's practice and his official game designation which will be announced on Friday afternoon. He could have legitimate RB2 value down the stretch.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Oct 31 2:10pm CT
Xavier Legette

Carolina Panthers wide receivers Adam Thielen (hamstring) and Xavier Legette (toe) were listed as limited participants in Thursday's practice. Thielen has not played since Week 3 due to a hamstring injury that caused him to go on the Injured Reserve list. Legette has had a solid start to his NFL career, catching 22 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Both players saw a fantasy football value boost after Diontae Johnson was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, but it's tough to get too high on either player with quarterback Bryce Young under center. However, Thielen posted a 1,000-yard season with Young in 2023, so he could have PPR value in the second half of the 2024 campaign. Rookie Jalen Coker is also a candidate to benefit from Johnson's departure. Fantasy managers should monitor Legette's and Thilen's status on Friday before Week 9 start-or-sit decisions.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Oct 31 2:00pm CT
Micah Parsons

Dallas Cowboys linebacker/edge rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) is once again not practicing on Thursday ahead of the Week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons. The three-time All-Pro in as many seasons suffered an ankle injury in the Week 4 win over the New York Giants and has not played since. His absence in the Dallas lineup is highly significant, especially since the Cowboys' defense is allowing the seventh-most yards per game (372.6) this season. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Parsons is "not quite there yet," so it's fair to assume he is trending toward missing his fourth consecutive game.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Oct 31 1:50pm CT
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (groin) returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out on Wednesday due to a groin injury. The 25-year-old second-year starter was banged up in the Week 8 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and did not finish out the contest. However, his availability on Thursday is a great sign of his potential to play in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions. Sunday's NFC North contest is crucial, so it would be somewhat surprising if he does not play. However, Malik Willis, who has looked good in relief of Love this year, would draw the start if Love can't go. The Lions have allowed the 14th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, so Love is a solid low-end QB1 option if he's cleared for Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Oct 31 1:50pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad) is still not practicing after missing Wednesday's session with a quad injury. The 25-year-old suffered the injury in last week's Friday practice and was ruled out of the Week 8 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Injuries have become an issue for Higgins over the last year, as he has already missed three games in 2024 and sat out five games in 2023. The former second-round pick in 2020 had at least 77 receiving yards in each of his last three games and was trending up, but he's trending toward missing Week 9's contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. If he can't play, tight end Mike Gesicki has been the greatest beneficiary of his absences this year.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Oct 31 1:40pm CT
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) is practicing on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with an ankle injury. Hopefully, his Wednesday absence was precautionary and he'll be good to go for the Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions. Jacobs is the current RB9 in half-PPR formats, averaging 13.6 fantasy points per game behind 667 rushing yards, 115 receiving yards, and four total touchdowns. The Lions have surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season, but Jacobs remains a virtual must-start if he plays since he is averaging 20.3 touches per game (sixth-most). Emanuel Wilson is the clear RB2 in Green Bay, so he'd be a must-add ball-carrier if Jacobs suffers any setbacks and cannot play in the NFC North showdown.

From RotoBaller

Isiah Pacheco Oct 31 1:30pm CT
Isiah Pacheco

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) has been on the Injured Reserve list since Week 2 due to a fractured fibula and is not expected to return to practice this week or next week. However, head coach Andy Reid said Pacheco is "doing fantastic," which is promising considering the team initially did not know if he would return this season. In his absence, veteran Kareem Hunt has taken over the clear RB1 duties in Kansas City and has rushed 84 times for 308 yards and four touchdowns to go along with six receptions for 40 yards. Hunt has not been efficient, but the team has trusted him to carry the load. Whenever Pacheco returns, he'll surely be a significant contributor to the offense, but he could be eased into action and share touches with Hunt. For now, fantasy managers can continue to stash him in an IR spot and hope he returns to make a difference down the stretch.

From RotoBaller