UPDATE: 10:11 p.m. Saturday
There is a whole lot of injury news on the eve of Week 7, and it’s led by some good news from the home of the improbable NFC leaders.
Tampa Bay got standout receivers Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka back on the practice field on Friday, and it’s looking like both may be available Monday night for the Buccaneers’ showdown in Detroit. They’re listed as game-time decisions. Considering that RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin are ruled out, this could give Tampa a chance against the favored Lions.
The news is much less rosy in Washington. The Commanders have ruled out their top three wide receivers: Terry Mcl;aurin, Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown.
Several headlines have been given the seal of approval for this week. Carolina gets RB Chuba Hubbard back to pair with suddenly all-world Rico Dowdle. Dallas wideout CeeDee Lams is also good to go, as is 49ers TE George Kittle.
But plenty of standouts are out: Niners QB Brock Purdy, and seven pass catchers (Rams’ Puka Nacua, Titans’ Calvin Ridley, Packers’ Christian Watson, Colts’ Josh Downs, Giants’ Darius Slayton and Cleveland’s David Njoku), And Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Jets WR Garrett Wilson are doubtful.
Still carrying questionable designations are two running backs (Packers’ Josh Jacobs, Bears’ D’Andre Swift), four pass catchers (Patriots’ Stefon Diggs, Atlanta’s Darnell Mooney and Commanders’ Zach Ertz) and Arizona QB Kyler Murray.
ORIGINAL POST: 6:00 a.m. Wednesday
It’s been said that a good man is hard to find. In the seventh week of this fantasy football season, a good quarterback is even rarer.
Two of the preseason favorites for NFL Most Valuable Player, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, are on bye this week. Jackson was already injured, and Allen is hurting after his Bills dropped two in a row.
Most of the better replacement QBs are likely already gone in your league (Caleb Williams, Jaxson Dart, Sam Darnold). So, too, are some really poor options (Justin Fields, Cam Ward, Geno Smith).
So we’ve got a short list of QB options for this week that are, if nothing else, going to top Fields’ historically and comically bad performance last Sunday in London:
Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons) — The sophomore, who looked great Monday night in Atlanta’s classic uniform, is coming off his best two games of the season. This week he faces a reeling San Francisco defense now missing its best player, all-world linebacker Fred Warner.
Aaron Rodgers (Steelers) — No. 12 has apparently been inoculated against serious competition in the AFC North, and this week he opposes the fading Bengals. He’s averaging two TD passes per game and should at least match that Thursday night in Cincinnati.
C.J. Stroud (Texans) — While he still has a patchwork offensive line and a tough foe (Seattle) this week, Stroud is coming off a season-best performance against the Ravens: 23 of 27 for 244 yards and four touchdowns.
Bryce Young (Panthers) — The once-too-small Heisman Trophy winner has feasted on bad Miami and Dallas defenses the past two weeks (with five TD passes), and now he gets to play the Jets, the new Worst Team on the Planet outside of Penn State.
Sitting stars
The Chiefs’ defense is rounding into form and will mostly put clamps on Vegas RB Ashton Jeanty. … Tennessee RB Tony Pollard will do little against New England, especially now that Tajae Spears is back to take some of his workload. … The Vikings’ defense will disrupt Eagles’ inconsistent passing game, so that will limit receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. … Seattle will devote massive coverage to stopping Houston star wideout Nico Collins. … Giants QB Jaxson Dart will do better against Denver than Jets’ Fields did last week, but not by much. … And embattled Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa could get battered by Cleveland’s Myles Garrett.
Matchup game
Who’s the NFL’s top running back over the past two weeks? Why it’s Carolina’s Rico Dowdle, who will have another big day against the Jets with teammate Chuba Hubbard still iffy … Kimani Vidal is now No. 1 with the Chargers and should hit paydirt against the Colts. … Same goes for his teammate, WR Ladd McConkey. … Dallas’ George Pickens will stay hot against Washington. … As will Cincy WR Tee Higgins, becoming a favorite of Joe Flacco, against Pittsburgh. … And this week’s top quarterbacks will be, in no particular order, the Patriots’ Drake Maye vs. Tennessee, Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield vs. Detroit and the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, looking to rebound against Dallas’ defensive mediocrities.
Injury watch
The league’s receiving corps took a big hit last week with injuries to the Rams’ Puka Nacua, Bucs’ Emeka Egbuka, Cards’ Marvin Harrison Jr., Niners’ Jauan Jennings, Jets’ Garrett Wilson, Titans’ Calvin Ridley and Cleveland tight end David Njoku. … Tampa Bay has again already ruled out RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin. … Also likely out: Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. … The long list of questionables includes six receivers (Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, Chargers’ Quentin Johnston, Tampa’s Mike Evans, Washington’s Terry McLaurin, Chicago’s D.J. Moore, Atlanta’s Darnell Mooney) and three quarterbacks (Arizona’s Kyler Murray, Niners’ Brock Purdy and Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy).
Deepest sleeper
His friends and Arizona teammates call him Bam. We’ll refer to the Cardinals’ running back with a very light resume by his given name of Zonovan Knight. The third-year pro out of North Carolina State has emerged as the Cards’ No. 1 back thanks to a slew of injuries. He eclipsed teammate Michael Carter last week in Indianapolis, rushing 11 times for 34 yards and scoring a touchdown for the second consecutive week. He’ll have fantasy value at least until Trey Benson returns from the injured list in November.
The Thursday pick
Steelers at Bengals (+5½)
Pick: Steelers by 3
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.
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