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Giants QB Daniel Jones 'moving forward' after benching

Thu Oct 24 5:24pm ET
Field Level Media

Daniel Jones has been told he's the New York Giants' starting quarterback going forward, but he declined to say if coach Brian Daboll has given him assurances about how long that will remain the case if the offense's struggles continue.

Jones was benched for Drew Lock during the fourth quarter of the Giants' 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. The following day, Daboll said that Jones will be under center when the Giants (2-5) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) next Monday night.

Both said Thursday that the two have spoken this week, but declined to provide details of what was said about Jones' job security.

"We went over the game, watched the film and spoke about the game," Jones said. "I'll leave a lot of that private. But, like I said, I'm getting ready to play Pittsburgh.

"Obviously, no one's happy about the way the game went last week. I think there's a number of issues that we're all looking to address and improve. That's what we got to do. Starting with me, I'm taking that approach. But we're moving forward this week. I think that's our mindset."

The Giants enter Week 8 ranked 28th in total offense, averaging 290.7 yards per game, while the passing game is 23rd at 189.1 yards per game. After an impressive 29-20 upset at Seattle in Week 6, New York has scored a combined 10 points in consecutive losses.

Lock also struggled while playing from multiple scores down and behind an offensive line that struggles to pass protect.

Asked if he has provided Jones any reassurances about his job security, Daboll offered only that "we've had conversations. Those would be private conversations, and our focus is on getting ready to play Pittsburgh."

The offensive line has surrendered 22 sacks through seven games, and Jones has been sacked once every 11.4 pass attempts. He also has a paltry 44.9 passer rating when under pressure, according to data analytics company Inside Edge.

Meanwhile, the Steelers enter with the league's eighth-ranked defense and have 15 sacks to go with 13 takeaways this season.

The Giants' protection issues have been magnified by the season-ending injury to left tackle Andrew Thomas. Joshua Ezeudu is in line to make his second consecutive start in Thomas' place, with Christopher Hubbard also under consideration.

The team worked out veteran offensive tackle DJ Humphries this week. He wasn't immediately signed, with Daboll saying only that, "He's a good young man. We had a good visit with him. So, we'll see where that goes."

Another glaring disparity is the Giants' 2-1 record on the road compared to going winless through their first four home games while averaging 7.75 points. They return to the road on Monday night, although it will be at Pittsburgh, which is a notoriously difficult venue in prime-time games.

"Good defense, tough place to play," Jones said. "Obviously, we've heard about it. But we're focused on us. I think putting so much time and energy into them and what they do -- I'm focused on us and playing well as a group together. Getting back to doing a lot of the things we were doing and then improving those from there.

"Obviously, last week, not a good game. But at points, we've played with the rhythm, executed. We got to get back to that and that's what we're focused on."

The Giants could be thin at cornerback, with Adoree Jackson (neck), Tre Hawkins III (ankle) and Cor'Dale Flott (groin) all sitting out practice again Thursday. Also sidelined were punter Jamie Gillan (hamstring), defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence (hip), and linebacker Ty Summers (ankle). Lawrence leads the NFL with nine sacks.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns (groin), who has four sacks and six tackles for loss, was able to participate as was wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles).

"Still just trying to make sure everything is smooth for Sunday, but yeah, I feel better," Burns said.

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Player Notes
Chris Olave Oct 24 4:10pm CT
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) was seen practicing again on Thursday according to Sean Fazende of FOX8. Olave returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity. This is a great sign to see the wideout back at practice but he will need to pass concussion protocol before being able to return to game action. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the 24-year-old's status on Friday as he may carry an injury designation into the weekend. Olave has struggled with consistency this season as he eclipsed double-digit PPR points in three games but fell under 5.0 PPR points in the other three. However, if he suits up, he should be viewed as a solid WR2 facing the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Jerome Ford Oct 24 4:00pm CT
Jerome Ford

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (hamstring) did not practice again on Thursday after sitting out on Wednesday. Ford was unable to suit up last week due to this hamstring injury. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during Friday's practice. However, he will likely carry an injury designation into the weekend given that he has not been able to participate in any team practices this week. If Ford misses his second-straight game on Sunday, fantasy managers should expect Nick Chubb to lead the backfield with Pierre Strong and D'Onta Foreman serving as change of pace options.

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Mason Rudolph Oct 24 3:50pm CT
Mason Rudolph

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph saw the majority of first-team reps during Thursday's practice according to Jim Wyatt of the TennesseeTitans.com. Wyatt further noted that Will Levis (shoulder) is still dealing soreness. Fantasy managers in Superflex formats should expect Rudolph to get the starting nod once again this weekend. Last week, Rudolph had a modest performance against a tough Buffalo defense as he threw for 215 yards with a score and an interception. He added 13 yards on the ground. Rudolph should only be started in deeper Superflex formats facing a Detroit Lions defense who has allowed the 20th-most points to opposing QBs this season.

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Ladd McConkey Oct 24 3:40pm CT
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Quentin Johnson (ankle) and Ladd McConkey (hip) remained sidelined during practice on Thursday. Both wideouts sat out during Wednesday's initial practice session as well. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status on Friday as they both could be in danger of missing Sunday's game. Johnson sat out during last Monday's game due to an ankle injury while McConkey is still battling a lingering hip injury. He was able to suit up in Week 7. If both wideouts are unable to play or limited during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, Joshua Palmer and tight end Will Dissly should see an increase in targets.

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Jonathan Taylor Oct 24 3:30pm CT
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) returned to full participation during Thursday's practice. This is a great sign for his potential status for this Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. The star running back has been sidelined since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 4. Fantasy managers should pay close attention his status during Friday's practice as he may carry an injury designation into the weekend. If Taylor suits up, he should be viewed as an RB1 in all formats facing a tough Houston Texans defense. If he misses his fourth-straight game, Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon will likely share backfield duties once again.

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Tyreek Hill Oct 24 3:30pm CT
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (foot) was limited during Thursday's practice according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Hill was not on Wednesday's injury report so this situation is worth monitoring. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on the 30-year-old's participation during Friday's practice as he may carry an injury designation into the weekend. Since scoring 26 PPR points in the opening week, Hill has been in a slump as Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) has been sidelined. During this stretch, Hill has averaged just 32.8 yards per game. However, with Tagovailoa expected to return this weekend, Hill should be viewed as a high-end WR1, if he is able to suit up.

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Puka Nacua Oct 24 3:20pm CT
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) will play on Thursday night against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Nacua has been sidelined since the opening week of the season with a PCL sprain. He was able to log two limited practice sessions this week. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable putting Nacua into their starting lineups in all formats, although his bust factor will be a lot higher with potential limited snaps. Last season as a rookie, Nacua enjoyed an incredible debut season, as he caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six scores. The Rams will also be welcoming back Cooper Kupp (ankle) on Thursday after he was sidelined since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2. Nacua should be viewed as a solid WR1 facing a weak Minnesota secondary that has allowed the most PPR points to opposing wideouts this season.

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T.J. Hockenson Oct 24 3:10pm CT
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) will not play on Thursday evening, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Hockenson was able to log three limited practice sessions this week but will now hope to get ready to make his season debut in Week 9. Hockenson has yet to see game action this season due to a torn ACL and MCL he suffered late last year. Fantasy managers should expect Minnesota wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor to see the majority of the targets this evening against the Rams. No. 2 tight end Johnny Mundt is worth a look in deeper formats, as he should see starting reps once again on Thursday and was able to bring in four of his five targets last weekend.

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Dallas Goedert Oct 24 2:40pm CT
Dallas Goedert

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (hamstring) has yet to practice this week after missing another session on Thursday. Goedert strained his hamstring in the Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns and didn't practice at all last week before missing the Week 7 divisional win over the New York Giants. The 29-year-old is tracking towards missing a second straight game this Sunday against the Bengals in Cincinnati, so fantasy managers shouldn't count on having him this weekend. Backup Grant Calcaterra caught all four of his targets for a season-high 67 yards in Week 6 and played 71% of the offensive snaps last Sunday with Goedert out, but it led to only one catch on one target for a five-yard gain. Calcaterra will be more involved again this weekend if Goedert is ruled out, but he'll be a boom/bust TE2 streamer, at best.

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Zay Flowers Oct 24 2:30pm CT
Zay Flowers

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (ankle) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday after tweaking his ankle in Monday night's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Flowers injured his ankle in the first half on Monday and quickly came back into the game, but he was barely involved after that, finishing with just one catch on one target for 11 yards while carrying the ball one time for a pickup of 19 yards in the 41-31 victory. The 24-year-old pass-catcher's status for Week 8 against the division-rival Cleveland Browns is now firmly up in the air, and if he doesn't return to practice on Friday, he'll likely be ruled out. Flowers has sandwiched two one-catch performances around back-to-back 100-yard games and has been boom/bust for fantasy managers. If he's unavailable against Cleveland, both Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor will have higher fantasy ceilings.

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Jonathon Brooks Oct 24 2:20pm CT
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) was listed as a limited practice participant for the second straight day this week. Brooks is making progress from a torn ACL that he suffered late last year while in college, but he's not guaranteed to be activated from the Non-Football Injury list to make his NFL debut this Sunday in Denver against the Broncos. And even if the 21-year-old is activated on Saturday and active on Sunday, he figures to be eased into Carolina's backfield alongside lead back Chuba Hubbard and veteran backup Miles Sanders. With that said, the first RB off the board in April's NFL draft should absolutely be rostered in all fantasy formats, especially now that he's nearing his NFL debut. By season's end, Brooks should have a pretty substantial role in the Panthers' backfield as long as he stays healthy.

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Adam Thielen Oct 24 2:20pm CT
Adam Thielen

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) was limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week after his 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve was officially opened on Wednesday. Thielen will be eligible to come off Injured Reserve to play in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos after missing the required four games, but it remains to be seen if the Panthers feel that the 34-year-old veteran has made enough progress to play on Sunday. He's likely to be listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report. Thielen's status will be even more important with Diontae Johnson's (rib) Week 8 status in question after two DNPs this week. If Thielen remains out and Johnson is also out or limited against Denver, quarterback Bryce Young might have rookie Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo as his top two wideouts.

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Ja'Tavion Sanders Oct 24 2:20pm CT
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Carolina Panthers tight ends Ja'Tavion Sanders (groin, wrist) and Tommy Tremble (back) were both limited participants in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. With Tremble inactive last weekend, Sanders was one of the few bright spots for the Panthers on offense in their 40-7 loss to the Washington Commanders, catching all six of his targets for 61 yards. However, the 21-year-old could struggle to replicate those numbers in Week 8 versus a strong Denver Broncos defense on the road this Sunday, especially with second-year quarterback Bryce Young back in as the starter following an injury to Andy Dalton (thumb). In addition, Sanders probably won't see as many snaps on offense if Tremble is able to return to the fold this weekend. Sanders has only 19 receptions on 24 targets for 151 scoreless yards in his first seven NFL games in 2024.

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Andy Dalton Oct 24 2:10pm CT
Andy Dalton

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb) missed a second straight day of practice on Thursday after spraining his thumb during a car accident that he was involved in earlier this week. Head coach Dave Canales already said that second-year QB Bryce Young will return to a starting role in Week 8 on Sunday against the Denver Broncos with Dalton injured. Depending on how Young fares this weekend, the Panthers could continue on with him as their starter under center. Dalton gave Carolina's struggling offense an immediate shot in the arm when he took over for Young in Week 3, but in recent weeks, the Red Rifle hasn't been as productive and was pulled late in a 40-7 blowout loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 7. Against a top-five defense in the Broncos, Young is going to have his work cut out for him in his return to the starting role.

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Luke Schoonmaker Oct 24 2:00pm CT
Luke Schoonmaker

Dallas Cowboys tight end John Stephens Jr. (knee) will miss the rest of the 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL during Wednesday's practice, according to NFL.com. The second-year undrafted free agent out of Louisiana has been with Dallas since the 2023 offseason but has not logged any stats. This injury is not consequential for fantasy football, but it depletes depth behind tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker.

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Diontae Johnson Oct 24 2:00pm CT
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (rib) did not practice on Thursday due to a rib injury. The veteran was also absent from Wednesday's practice, but it's worth noting he logged two straight "DNPs" to begin last week's preparation and still suited up against the Washington Commanders. Johnson could still play in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, so fantasy managers should monitor his status. However, Bryce Young will start on Sunday in place of the injured Andy Dalton (thumb), which is bad news for Johnson's potential fantasy outlook. With Young under center in Week 1 and Week 2, Johnson scored a combined 5.9 half-PPR points. With Dalton at QB, he scored at least 16.8 fantasy points in three of six games. The Broncos have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to WRs, so Johnson is a clear sit candidate on Sunday.

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Allen Lazard Oct 24 1:50pm CT
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest) is not practicing on Thursday due to a chest injury. The veteran and longtime teammate of quarterback Aaron Rodgers (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice either, so he could be trending toward missing Sunday's AFC East showdown against the New England Patriots. Lazard's stock is down after the Jets traded for All-Pro pass-catcher Davante Adams, as Lazard now has to compete with Garrett Wilson and Adams for targets. That said, he could still have spike weeks and is the current WR12 in half-PPR leagues. If he plays in Week 8, he'll likely be somewhat limited, so he's probably best left on the bench. Adams should be more involved in the offense after another week of practice under his belt.

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Rhamondre Stevenson Oct 24 1:40pm CT
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) is back on the practice field on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session. The team listed him with a foot/not-injury-related designation on Wednesday, so he was likely held out as a precaution. Stevenson missed the Week 6 outing against the Houston Texans before returning to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7. Based on what we know so far, he is trending toward playing in Week 8 in a matchup with the New York Jets. The Jets have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, and Stevenson has been a boom-or-bust option this season. That said, consider him an RB3 option with a low floor this Sunday if he's active.

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Ja'Lynn Polk Oct 24 1:40pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (concussion) remains out of practice on Thursday as he works through concussion protocol. The rookie second-round pick out of Washington is looking less likely to play in Week 8 as the week moves forward after suffering a concussion in Week 7. That said, Polk should not be in starting fantasy football lineups even if he does play against a New York Jets defense that has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Polk has hauled in just 10 of his 26 targets for 78 yards and one touchdown through Week 7. Demario Douglas and Hunter Henry are the early favorites to be Drake Maye's favorite targets in 2024.

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Josh Downs Oct 24 1:30pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Josh Downs (toe) and Michael Pittman Jr. (back) are on the practice field on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with toe and back injuries, respectively. The pair of Indy wideouts have logged "DNPs" or limited practice sessions often this year, and that will likely continue as they work through their ailments. Fantasy managers should follow their latest updates, but both wideouts have lower floors and ceilings with Anthony Richardson at quarterback instead of Joe Flacco. Although the Houston Texans have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to receivers this year, neither is a must-start stud given Richardson's struggles as a passer. Consider both WR4 or WR5 types with a touchdown-or-bust outlook. If one or both of them do not play on Sunday, Alec Pierce will carry the same outlook.

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