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Steelers QB Justin Fields (hamstring) inactive for MNF

Mon Oct 28 7:47pm ET
Field Level Media

Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is inactive for Pittsburgh's Week 8 game against the visiting New York Giants on "Monday Night Football."

Kyle Allen will back up Russell Wilson, who is making his second straight start after Fields started the Steelers' first six games.

Fields (hamstring) popped up on Sunday's injury report and was listed as questionable for Monday despite being a full participant in practice all of last week. He tested his hamstring during pregame warmups before being ruled out. He'll serve as Pittsburgh's emergency quarterback against the Giants (2-5).

NFL Network reported that Fields' injury is not major, but the Steelers (5-2) are being cautious with the 25-year-old as the team enters its bye week following Monday's game.

Fields competed with Wilson for the starting job throughout the summer in each veteran's first season with Pittsburgh. Wilson was named QB1 before the season opener, but a lingering calf injury resurfaced and kept him inactive for the Steelers' first five games.

Pittsburgh went 3-2 with Fields under center during that span and stuck with the fourth-year veteran in Week 6 even after Wilson was activated. The Steelers won 32-13 at Las Vegas that week despite Fields completing just 14 of 24 passes for 145 yards.

Pittsburgh's offense was pedestrian at best with Fields at the controls. The Steelers ranked 28th in passing and 20th in points through Week 6, prompting them to give Wilson a shot.

The 35-year-old started Pittsburgh's Week 7 game against the visiting New York Jets and flourished in his team debut. The 13th-year veteran threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a rushing score as the Steelers set their season-high scoring mark in a 37-15 win.

Pittsburgh enters Monday's contest with a half-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.

The Steelers will also be without running back/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), center Zach Frazier (ankle) and linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring). Cornerback C.J. Henderson is also inactive.

The Giants are without cornerbacks Adoree' Jackson (neck) and Cor'Dale Flott (groin).

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 8

Player Notes
Jordan Mason Oct 28 6:10pm CT
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason (shoulder) was injured and unable to return during Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys. Afterwards, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Mason maybe could've returned to the contest. Rookie back Isaac Guerendo didn't miss a beat as he rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown in Mason's absence. It sounds like the plan is for Mason to be evaluated after the Week 9 bye. Fellow back Christian McCaffrey is expected to return in Week 10, so Mason's value could be taking a huge hit here soon. Fantasy managers who have Mason rostered should prepare for his value to decrease here soon.

From RotoBaller

Allen Lazard Oct 28 6:00pm CT
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest) was unable to suit up for the Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots. Afterwards, the Jets said Lazard is week-to-week after being a considered a game-time decision ahead of Week 8. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich doesn't believe that Lazard will need to be placed on the injured reserve. However, it seems unlikely that Lazard is going to be able to suit up for the Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans. It's a quick turnaround with a Thursday Night matchup, so fantasy managers should prepare to be without Lazard. Fellow wideout Mike Williams figures to take over the WR3 role if Lazard sits out, but he hasn't been a reliable option this season.

From RotoBaller

Greg Zuerlein Oct 28 5:50pm CT
Greg Zuerlein

New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein has been inconsistent throughout the first half of the season. The veteran kicker missed a field goal and extra point during the loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8. Zuerlein is now 9-for-15 on field goal attempts this season. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said the team will hold a kicking competition on Tuesday. That being said, it seems like the Jets are ready to move on from Zuerlein with their season quickly slipping away. Zuerlein won't be a reliable fantasy option even if the team sticks with him for Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Roman Wilson Oct 28 5:40pm CT
Roman Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (hamstring) has been placed on the injured reserve on Monday. Wilson came into the season with plenty of hype, but sadly injuries have slowed him down. He suffered an ankle injury before the season began and now he's dealing with a hamstring issue. Wilson has only played in one game up to this point. He'll miss the next four games after getting placed on the IR. The third-round pick is worth holding in dynasty leagues, but is unlikely to have value in redraft formats.

From RotoBaller

Jaire Alexander Oct 28 5:30pm CT
Jaire Alexander

Green Bay Packers defensive back Jaire Alexander (knee) was removed early during Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Afterwards, Alexander underwent an MRI on his knee, but the testing didn't reveal any significant damage. It sounds like the team plans on monitoring Alexander throughout the week. That being said, Alexander could still end up missing the Week 9 matchup against the Detroit Lions. Alexander has been banged up throughout the season, but has still managed to play in six games. The absence of Alexander would be a significant loss to this secondary ahead of an important divisional game.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Oct 28 5:20pm CT
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (quad) is currently considered as day-to-day, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Higgins suffered a quad injury late last week and was unable to suit up for the Week 8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It doesn't sound like the Bengals consider this to be a long term issue. Higgins reportedly is already feeling better which is good news ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Fantasy managers can be hopeful to get Higgins back in their lineups this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Oct 28 2:30pm CT
Anthony Richardson

Per Arye Pulli of the NFL, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen would not commit to Anthony Richardson starting at quarterback in Week 9. "We're evaluating everything," proclaimed Steichen. Yikes. It's a rough turn of events for the second-year starter, but not exactly one that's a surprise. The former Florida Gator has had a tough go in his appearances this season, failing to complete more than ten passes in 4-of-5 contests that he's played the entire game. Alternatively, veteran Joe Flacco excelled in his three outings, tossing seven touchdowns to just one interception. Fantasy managers must track this developing story ahead of the team's Week 9 road matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. If the team does turn to Flacco, it'd be an instant boost for the outlooks of Indy's pass-catchers. Stay tuned.

From RotoBaller

Bub Means Oct 28 2:10pm CT
Bub Means

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) has reportedly picked up a high-ankle sprain and will "miss time," per Rod Walker of The New Orleans Advocate. Ouch. It's yet another ailment afflicting a Saints' offensive player as the injuries continue to pile up for them. The amount of time he'll miss is unclear, but one has to assume it will be at least a couple of weeks before he returns to action. With quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) projected to return to practice this week, New Orleans' offense is trending positively. Still, it appears they'll be without another one of their skill players for at least a short while. Wide receivers Mason Tipton and Equanimeous St. Brown figure to pick up more snaps, while newly acquired Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be pushed into action sooner than initially anticipated.

From RotoBaller

Derek Carr Oct 28 2:00pm CT
Derek Carr

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) will practice on Wednesday in preparation for the team's Week 9 matchup, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Additionally, head coach Dennis Allen is "optimistic" he'll play on Sunday when the team lines up against the Carolina Panthers on the road. It's fantastic news for New Orleans, which has been without their starting quarterback since the team's loss in Week 5 to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Saints are reeling after their sixth-straight defeat, and while it isn't yet confirmed, Carr's activation would be a massive boost to the offense's outlook. If he does return in Week 9, he'll get a juicy matchup against a tissue-paper-soft Panthers defense. Keep an eye on his status over the coming days.

From RotoBaller

Christian Kirk Oct 28 1:50pm CT
Christian Kirk

According to head coach Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (collarbone) underwent surgery this morning on his broken collarbone. He'll miss the remainder of the season, as Kainani Stevens of the team reported. While Jacksonville's 2024 is in turmoil -- sitting at 2-6 -- it's still a considerable blow to the team, who could have potentially traded Kirk to a contender before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. He'll now begin the road to recovery. It's the second consecutive season that an injury has cut the 27-year-old's campaign short after missing the final five games of 2023 with a core muscle injury. The Texas A&M alum has potentially played his last snap for the Jaguars, with one year left on his four-year deal after being the subject of trade rumors recently. With rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) dinged up as well, wide receivers Gabe Davis (shoulder), Parker Washington, and Tim Jones figure to see an increase in usage.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Oct 28 1:40pm CT
Jordan Love

Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, there is optimism around Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love's (groin) status for this Sunday, and he is considered day-to-day. Love underwent an MRI on Monday, confirming he escaped Sunday's victory having avoided a long-term injury. It's excellent news for Green Bay, as the 25-year-old remained in Week 8's 30-27 win over the Jaguars even after initially tweaking his groin. Still, his status for Week 9 remains to be determined. Fantasy managers will want to monitor this situation, as the Packers' game plan could change with third-year QB Malik Willis under center -- particularly the potential for a more run-centric attack. Green Bay will host their division-rival Detroit Lions this Sunday -- one of the more staunch defensive units in the league.

From RotoBaller

Jameis Winston Oct 28 1:20pm CT
Jameis Winston

According to head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Cleveland Browns will continue to roll out quarterback Jameis Winston. Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram reported the news. It's of little surprise, considering the effectiveness Winston displayed in his first start since 2022. The 30-year-old tossed for 334 yards and three touchdowns in Cleveland's 29-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens -- two benchmarks that Deshaun Watson (Achilles) never hit in his Browns tenure. In fact, Watson had not eclipsed even 200 passing yards in any of his 2024 appearances. The former first-overall pick did an excellent job moving the Browns' offense, and he'll get a chance to build on his performance in Week 9 when Cleveland hosts the visiting Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Oct 28 1:10pm CT
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) is out of the hospital and defensive back Denzel Ward (concussion) is currently in concussion protocol according to Kelsey Russo. Koramoah left Sunday's game on a cart after enduring a collision and went to the hospital out of precaution. Thankfully, the 24-year-old was discharged and did not suffer any serious injuries. Ward suffered his second concussion of the 2024 season on Sunday and will likely miss at least one game as he progresses through the league's protocol. The Browns are slated to face the Los Angeles Charges next week. If both players are unable to suit up, the Browns defense should not be considered as a potential streaming option without two of their top starters.

From RotoBaller

Frankie Luvu Oct 28 1:00pm CT
Frankie Luvu

Chicago Bears offensive tackle (knee) avoided a serious injury and may only be sidelined for a week or two according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Jones was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders early. He was replaced by third-round rookie Kiran Amegadjie who struggled to contain Washington edge rusher Frankie Luvu as quarterback Caleb Williams was under pressure all afternoon. In this game, Williams threw for a mere 131 yards and completed just 41.7% of his passes. As a result, the Chicago offense was unable to find much rhythm. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Jones' status throughout the week as his absence would weaken the Chicago line and limit Williams' weekly upside.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Oct 28 12:50pm CT
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb finally put together the performance that fantasy managers have been waiting for. The fifth-year receiver was targeted 17 times on Sunday night in the loss to San Francisco. He caught 13 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns with both scores coming late in the fourth quarter. The outing was just Lamb's second WR1 weekly finish of the season but with an astounding 45% target share, fantasy managers can expect more of the same in the future.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Tolbert Oct 28 12:50pm CT
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert was targeted three times in the comeback loss against San Francisco on Sunday night. Tolbert caught all three targets for 44 yards, making minimal fantasy impact. With CeeDee Lamb (45%) taking a massive target share, Tolbert will likely remain a touchdown-dependent deep flex option going forward.

From RotoBaller

Jake Ferguson Oct 28 12:50pm CT
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson worked in the short field on Sunday night in the loss to San Francisco. The 25-year-old averaged just 3.8 yards per reception despite being targeted eight times. He caught six passes for 23 yards, failing to make much of an impact in the box score. The receptions were encouraging for PPR formats and the 21% target share remains encouraging, but Ferguson has still failed to find the end zone in 2024 after leading all tight ends in red zone targets in 2023. He will remain a TE1 option heading into next week's matchup with Atlanta.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Oct 28 12:40pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (knee) is optimistic he will be able to return in Week 9 to face the Los Angeles Rams according to Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. Metcalf was held out of action this past Sunday due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 7 and was unable to practice all week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression this week as a return to practice could suggest he will be able to suit up this weekend. Metcalf has been very productive through the first half of the season as he has totaled 568 yards and three scores on 35 receptions. After scoring just 5.9 PPR points in Week 1, Metcalf has gone on to average 17.3 PPR points since Week 2. Fantasy managers should lock the 26-year-old into their lineup as a high-end WR2 if returns this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Oct 28 12:40pm CT
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott struggled for most of the night on Sunday against San Francisco. It wasn't until halfway through the fourth quarter when Prescott and the Cowboys' offense came to life, pushing too little too late. Prescott's two touchdowns both came with under eight minutes remaining in the game. He finished the night 25-for-38 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 31-year-old will be back in action next week with a slightly easier matchup against Atlanta.

From RotoBaller

Ezekiel Elliott Oct 28 12:40pm CT
Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott drew the start on Sunday night with Rico Dowdle (illness) being a late scratch. The veteran led the rushing attack with 10 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. He added a reception for four yards in what turned out to be his best fantasy outing since Week 1. With Dowdle likely to be back next week, Elliott's fantasy relevance was likely short-lived.

From RotoBaller