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Bears stand behind OC Shane Waldron

Mon Nov 4 3:47pm ET
Field Level Media

With 24 points in a pair of losses since the bye week, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus expected to field questions about his offensive play-caller.

But the Bears (4-4) are not planning a change at offensive coordinator or taking any responsibility from first-year play-caller Shane Waldron.

"Changes we're going to make is we're going to look inward and make sure we do a good job of utilizing our talents and our skill and really just general, basic execution of our plan," Eberflus said Monday. "And we have to make sure we're doing that going forward, and we'll put that plan into place here in the next 48 hours."

Waldron was offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks last season and was hired from a pool of candidates that included current Washington Commanders play-caller Kliff Kingsbury. Waldron replaced fired coordinator Luke Getsy in Chicago; Getsy was fired by the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday.

The Bears scored five touchdowns in their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London before the bye week. After going scoreless in the first half at Washington, the Bears had three scoreless quarters and didn't reach the end zone on Sunday at Arizona in a 29-9 loss.

Eberflus said rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was still in that game in the final minute because his team is always going to fight to the end. Williams suffered an ankle injury and was sacked six times.

"We're sitting at 4-4. Right now that's where we are and it's important that we focus on this week. That's all we can control and doing a better job of putting our guys in position as coaches to be successful, and that's ultimately my job and the coordinator's job secondly," Eberflus said. "So it's important that we do a great job of that with the position coaches, partnering up with players and putting those guys in position to succeed."

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Player Notes
Jauan Jennings Nov 4 2:50pm CT
Jauan Jennings

ESPN's Nick Wagoner reports that it appeared as though San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) returned to practice on Monday as the team comes off their bye week and into a Week 10 battle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said last Monday that Jennings was expected to return after the bye week after missing Weeks 7 and 8. With Brandon Aiyuk (knee) out for the season and Chris Conley (hamstring) also banged up, Jennings should return to a prominent role in San Fran's passing attack. Deebo Samuel (oblique, rib) is also banged up. We'll have a better idea of the 27-year-old's Week 10 status once the Niners start releasing official practice reports on Wednesday, but Jennings appears to be on track to play. If he's available on your league's waiver wire, pick him up immediately.

From RotoBaller

Jonathon Brooks Nov 4 2:40pm CT
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he's very optimistic that rookie second-round running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will be ready for Week 10 against the New York Giants in Germany. Canales said a "critical" decision will have to be made on Wednesday as to whether to officially activate Brooks. The 21-year-old rookie has had the start of his first NFL season delayed in 2024 as he recovers from a torn ACL in his right knee last November while playing at Texas. He was able to practice in full all three days last week and appears primed to be activated in order to make his NFL debut this Sunday in Europe. Brooks should be rostered in all fantasy leagues for his upside potential, but there's a very good chance he's eased in behind Chuba Hubbard and alongside Miles Sanders initially. His impending return has made Sanders a trade candidate.

From RotoBaller

Dave Canales Nov 4 2:40pm CT
Dave Canales

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that he still hasn't made a decision on who will start at quarterback for the team in Week 10 in Germany against the New York Giants. The head coach wants to make sure everyone is on the same page and also admitted that gamesmanship is part of the decision to wait to announce the starter between either second-year man Bryce Young or veteran Andy Dalton. Dalton injured his thumb in a car accident several weeks ago, leading to Young starting each of the last two games. Young went 40-for-63 for 395 yards, three TDs and three picks while also leading the team to their second win over the division-rival Saints in Week 9. Our best guess is that Carolina will stick with Young again in a Week 10 tilt in Germany against the New York Giants, where Young will be a low-end QB2 for fantasy purposes.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Nov 4 2:30pm CT
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said that "Derek Carr is going to be the quarterback this Sunday as far as I'm concerned." Carr returned in the Week 9 loss to the division-rival Carolina Panthers after missing three games with an oblique injury. The 33-year-old veteran went 18-for-31 for 236 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions while mostly utilizing running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Taysom Hill to move the ball with top wideout Chris Olave (concussion) out for most of the game. It shouldn't come as a big surprise that the Saints are sticking with Carr after the firing of head coach Dennis Allen, as the alternative is rookie Spencer Rattler, who was very shaky in place of the injured Carr. He'll be firmly in QB2 territory in fantasy in Week 10 against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, especially if Olave isn't cleared to play.

From RotoBaller

Erick All Nov 4 2:20pm CT
Erick All

ESPN's Ben Baby reports that Cincinnati Bengals rookie tight end Erick All Jr. (knee) tore the ACL in his right knee, and he'll now miss the remainder of the season. It's a crushing blow for the rookie, as it is the same knee he injured in October 2023. Cincinnati feared that this was the case, and now it is confirmed. The rookie tight end had reportedly earned the trust of quarterback Joe Burrow, but he'll now begin the long road to recovery. In his absence, teammates Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson will pick up the slack in the Bengals' tight end room, with the former likely to benefit most from the rookie's absence. Gesicki has come on in recent weeks with wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad) listed as inactive, racking up 12 catches, 173 yards, and two touchdowns over the team's prior two contests.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Nov 4 2:20pm CT
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring), who is eligible to be designated to return from Injured Reserve this week, is recovering and running 20 mph in training sessions, according to a source. However, head coach DeMeco Ryans sounded non-committal on Collins' status for Week 10 against the Detroit Lions, saying, "We'll continue to evaluate Nico throughout the week and see where he is." The 25-year-old hasn't had any setbacks with the right-hamstring injury he suffered on Oct. 6, but it's unclear if he'll actually be available to play this weekend versus Detroit. If Collins is active in Week 10, there's the risk for fantasy managers that he won't play his typical amount of snaps. Before his injury, Collins was a must-start WR1 and he should be the clear WR1 in Houston eventually now that Stefon Diggs (knee) is out for the year.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Nov 4 2:10pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is "optimistic" that wide receiver DK Metcalf (knee) will return for the team's Week 11 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Metcalf has missed Seattle's prior two contests with a knee injury he picked up in the 34-14 Week 7 win over the Atlanta Falcons, and with the team on bye in Week 10, he could be ready to roll coming out of it. The 26-year-old was initially dubbed as week-to-week, and it appears that designation was accurate. It's worth noting that Macdonald stopped "short of saying he for sure will be" back, but with another week of rest on tap, Metcalf should have a good chance of doing so. If not, fellow wideouts Tyler, Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will continue to operate as the Seahawks' top two pass catchers in the divisional tilt.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Nov 4 2:10pm CT
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier received just six carries, compared to Bijan Robinson's 19, but it was Allgeier who found paydirt in Week 9's 27-21 victory over the Cowboys, his second score of the season. Allgeier gained 18 yards on his six totes and was not targeted in the passing game. The 24-year-old was averaging 5.7 yards per carry through Week 7, but over the last two weeks, he's averaged just 2.8 YPC. His usage has been pretty volatile, so he'll be hard to trust even in a favorable matchup versus the Saints in Week 10, a team in which he ran for 60 yards against on eight carries earlier this season.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Nov 4 1:50pm CT
CeeDee Lamb

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) has an AC joint sprain. Lamb has been designated as week-to-week due to his shoulder injury, but according to Schefter, there is still optimism that he can play this Sunday despite the soreness he's experiencing. With the news that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple weeks due to an injury of his own, Dallas is in danger of being down two critical pieces of their offense this coming Sunday. The fact that there is optimism surrounding Lamb's status for this weekend hints that maybe it will be a pain tolerance issue for the 25-year-old. In the meantime, fantasy managers might want to assume the worst and begin putting a contingency plan in place in case the superstar wideout can't go in Week 10's divisional clash against the Philadelphia Eagles. Keep an eye on his practice status this week.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey Nov 4 1:30pm CT
Christian McCaffrey

The NFL's Adam Schefter reports that the San Francisco 49ers have opened the 21-day practice window for star running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles). Finally, some good news. McCaffrey has yet to appear in a game this season, but, per Schefter, he is tracking to play this Sunday when the team lines up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Stanford alum would not likely handle a full workload if he suits up. Still, it's excellent news for the 49ers and fantasy managers, as he'll be a boon on the field and in fantasy lineups. Keep an eye on his status over the next few days, but things are looking up for the 28-year-old heading into Week 10. If he plays, he'll get one of the better matchups of the weekend against a Buccaneers squad that's allowed the most yards per carry to their opponents in 2024 (5.2).

From RotoBaller

Zack Moss Nov 4 1:20pm CT
Zack Moss

In a report by ESPN's Ben Baby, he noted that Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) will be out indefinitely due to his neck injury. Yikes. Per Baby, the team is seeking more information on the 26-year-old's injury this week, but it's not looking good for his availability moving forward. Fellow backfield mate Chase Brown had his best outing of the season in Sunday's 41-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, totaling 157 yards and a touchdown on his 32 touches. Brown projects to be the team's lead rusher moving forward, with Trayveon Williams and Kendall Milton mixing in behind him as a change of pace. Brown played on 80% of snaps in the team's Week 9 win and has his outlook on the rise heading into the back half of the season. Cincinnati will square off against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Nov 4 1:10pm CT
Dak Prescott

Per the NFL's Tom Pelissero, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's (hamstring) injury is worse than initially expected. Prescott sustained a hamstring injury in Sunday's 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and an MRI revealed that the ailment would keep him out of the lineup for multiple weeks. It's a massive blow to the Cowboys, who fell to 3-5 with their third straight loss in Week 9. A decision has not been made on whether to put him on injured reserve, hinting that it's a possibility for the 31-year-old veteran. Quarterback Cooper Rush took over in relief on Sunday and is presumably the starter moving forward, but this is a downgrade for the entire Cowboys offense. Dallas will line up against their division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, at home in Week 10.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Carlson Nov 4 12:30pm CT
Daniel Carlson

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson converted his only field-goal attempt, a 46-yarder, and hit all three of his extra points in the team's 24-41 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. He moved to 16 for 18 on FG tries on the season, a clip of 88.9%. He also remained perfect on extra points, as he's sank all 14 of those successfully. He's still held back by Las Vegas' general ineffectiveness on offense. He ranks just 10th in the league in total field goal attempts despite not having had his bye week yet, and is 23rd in the NFL in extra points attempted. The "free points" nature of XP's, and his lack of volume on those opportunities, make him a decent start only in deeper leagues. He'll head into a Week 10 bye before facing the brutal Kansas City Chief defense yet again in Week 11.

From RotoBaller

Tre Tucker Nov 4 12:30pm CT
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker had his second-least productive game of this season in the 24-41 Week 9 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was targeted six times, but came up with just two catches for five yards. He did not have a rush attempt. It wasn't his worst game of the season, as he was blanked in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but 2.5 PPR fantasy points isn't a start-worthy stat line in any league. Whether it's the loss of No. 1 wideout Davante Adams, the return of WR Jakobi Meyers or lack of chemistry with the quarterbacks, Tucker now profiles as a bench stash only in the deepest of fantasy leagues. He'll head into a Week 10 bye before another game against the Miami Dolphins.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Nov 4 12:20pm CT
Joe Burrow

The Las Vegas Raiders defense/special teams managed to pick off opposing quarterback Joe Burrow and return it for a touchdown on Sunday. They also sacked him once. Unfortunately, the team lost the game 24-41, so they had yet another poor fantasy day. They've struggled to prevent opposing offenses from scoring, and now have surrendered 27.9 points per game to opposing offenses. Despite the highlight turnover, they're tied for dead-last in the NFL with just five takeaways through nine games. They're also tied for sixth-worst in sacks, with 17 on the season. This unit has struggled all year, and there's little reason for optimism. They're the 31st ranked fantasy defense on the season and don't belong on rosters in most leagues. They have a bye week in Week 10 before facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11, against whom the D/ST scored just 3 points in Week 8.

From RotoBaller

Brock Bowers Nov 4 12:10pm CT
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers didn't score his touchdown until the fourth quarter in garbage time during a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but that still counts for fantasy scoring. The Raiders were eviscerated 24-41 by the Bengals, who showed that there are levels to this game. Fortunately, Bowers seems destined to be involved heavily in all games the Raiders play this season, and backup quarterback Desmond Ridder threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to him after the starter, Gardner Minshew II, was benched. It doesn't matter who starts as signal-caller. The rookie tight end will always get his fair share of targets. The freshman TE finished with five catches on eight targets for 45 yards and the touchdown grab. He has an opportunity to rest up heading into his Week 10 bye before a Week 11 showdown with the rival Kansas City Chiefs yet again.

From RotoBaller

Audric Estime Nov 4 12:00pm CT
Audric Estime

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he expects to use rookie running back Audric Estime more down the stretch in 2024. Estime played only 10 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 9 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday but had as many carries (five) as Jaleel McLaughlin and was more efficient with 35 rushing yards. The 35 yards on the ground was a season-high for the 21-year-old fifth-round selection out of Notre Dame, and he's been quite efficient with 6.3 yards per carry on his 15 rushing attempts through the first five games of his career. Estime probably still won't be worth adding in 12-team fantasy leagues, but this statement from Payton is surely bad news for McLaughlin, who has averaged 3.9 yards per tote in 2024 after averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his rookie campaign in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Zamir White Nov 4 12:00pm CT
Zamir White

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White carried the ball six times for 10 yards and a touchdown and wasn't targeted in the team's 41-21 beatdown loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He averaged just 1.67 yards per carry and didn't see double-digit carries. This comes despite head coach Antonio Pierce indicating before the game that he wanted to get the third-year pro more involved in the offense. It's starting to look like touchdowns are White's only chance to be fantasy relevant this season. Without the starting job or receiving upside, he's not a player that should be started in fantasy leagues. Moving forward, his backfield mate Alexander Mattison will remain the starter, leaving the former Georgia Bulldog best thought of as a handcuff option. He'll face the tough Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11 after his upcoming bye week in Week 10.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Nov 4 12:00pm CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that quarterback Daniel Jones remains the team's starting QB heading into the team's Week 10 battle against the Carolina Panthers in Germany this Sunday. Daboll also said that he won't change anything with the practice repetitions at the position this week. While Jones didn't do anything special in the Week 9 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders on Sunday, going 20-for-26 for 174 yards, he did throw two touchdowns to end a 672-day TD drought at MetLife Stadium. The 27-year-old former first-rounder also ran for his first touchdown of the year in the 27-22 loss but added a lost fumble. Drew Lock will remain the backup to Jones in Germany, where Jones will be an upside QB2 in fantasy in an excellent matchup against Carolina's defense.

From RotoBaller

Alexander Mattison Nov 4 12:00pm CT
Alexander Mattison

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison retained his starting job and carried the ball nine times for 36 yards in a massive 21-41 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. The game got out of hand quickly, leading to few rushing opportunities for the team's RBs overall. He wasn't targeted in the passing game, though, and had a rushing touchdown snagged by his backup, Zamir White. Should White continue to handle the goal-line opportunities, Mattison could see his already shaky fantasy value fall even further. The lack of involvement in the passing game is also concerning. Moving forward, he's best viewed as a RB3/FLEX option in deep PPR leagues. He'll have a bye week in Week 10 before facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.

From RotoBaller