2 years agoLos Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson (ankle) will play on Thursday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to a source. Jackson came into the game with a questionable tag after missing the season-opening win over the Las Vegas Raiders, but he was moving around really well during workouts this week. Against quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw five touchdown passes in Week 1, the return of Jackson is a big boost for the Chargers secondary. Despite the good news for the Bolts D, Jackson should be avoided in IDP fantasy leagues, while the Chargers defense/special teams unit is still one to fade in standard leagues despite their solid performance against the Raiders.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - James Palmer

2 years agoNew York Giants rookie wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (knee) missed practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Robinson is currently looking very iffy to play in the Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers this weekend. The 21-year-old will need to get back on the practice field on Friday in order to have a shot at suiting up. In his NFL debut in the Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans, he played 15 percent of the offensive snaps and caught his only target for a five-yard gain. Robinson was extremely impressive during training camp, but this injury could set his development back early in the 2022 season. If he's unable to go this Sunday, Kenny Golladay and Sterling Shepard should be the team's top two receivers, with Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and Richie James battling for bigger roles.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Giants.com - Dan Salomne

2 years agoNew York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hamstring) was added to the injury report this week after getting in a limited practice session on Thursday. Toney dealt with lower body issues for much of training camp and in his rookie season in 2021, so this is not what his fantasy managers want to see early in the season. It's especially disappointing after he played only 12 percent of the offensive snaps and didn't see a single target in the Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans. He carried the ball twice for 23 yards. If the 23-year-old plays this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, he could see a bigger role with rookie Wan'Dale Robinson (knee) iffy to play, but it's hard to recommend him as a flex play after his Week 1 performance, outside of deeper leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Giants.com - Dan Salomne

2 years agoBaltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins (knee) was a full participant in practice for a second straight day on Thursday. It's a good sign for his prospects of making his 2022 debut in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins for the first time since 2020. Dobbins missed all of last year after tearing his ACL, so there's still a chance the Ravens ease him back into the fold if he's actually active on Sunday. As a result, he'll be an extremely shaky fantasy play against Miami if he's active, even though he's fully expected to lead this backfield when he's fully healthy. Kenyan Drake was the Ravens' primary ball-carrier in the Week 1 win over the New York Jets, with Justice Hill and Mike Davis also pitching in.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe

2 years agoNew Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (ribs) was present but not participating in the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media after he was limited in practice on Wednesday with a rib injury. It's possible that the Saints are giving Kamara a day to rest, but we'll know more about his Week 2 status on Friday. Fantasy managers should have a backup plan in place just in case the 27-year-old is unable to go on Sunday in a divisional clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons in which he saw just nine carries for 39 yards on 62% of the snaps, Kamara's fantasy stock is already falling. Tight end Taysom Hill was more productive on his four carries and also scored a touchdown. Hill and veteran Mark Ingram II figure to split backfield touches if Kamara is inactive.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NewOrleans.Football - Mike Triplett

2 years agoSan Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (groin) remained sidelined at Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week. Kittle injured his groin last Monday and hasn't practiced or played since. The 28-year-old will almost certainly have to get back on the practice field on Friday in order to have any shot at making his 2022 regular season debut in Week 2 against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. With Kittle out in the Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears, Tyler Kroft saw 55 percent of the offensive snaps but caught just one of his two targets for a nine-yard gain. Ross Dwelley played just 27.9 percent of the team's 68 snaps. If Kittle misses his second straight game, fantasy managers should look to avoid the TE situation in San Fran.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Jose Mercury News - Cam Inman

2 years agoTampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday for the second straight day. It's good news for the Bucs after receivers Mike Evans (calf), Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) all missed practice. Godwin was already expected to miss Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, but if one or both of Evans and Jones are also inactive, it will just mean even more work for Fournette and rookie backup Rachaad White. The 27-year-old Fournette had 21 carries for 127 yards and also caught both of his targets for 10 yards in the Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Barring something unforeseen, Fournette should check in as a low-end RB1 for fantasy managers this weekend.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Greg Auman

2 years agoIndianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard (back) put in a second straight day of full practice on Thursday. On the flip side, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (hip) missed his second straight day of work. Cornerback Kenny Moore II (hip) was also listed as a DNP after being limited on Wednesday. Leonard is coming off offseason back surgery in June and was inactive for the Week 1 tie with the Houston Texans, but he's making progress and could be available to make his 2022 season debut in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If he does suit up, he'll be in play as a starting linebacker in IDP formats, but he'll still be a bit risky if the Colts choose to limit his defensive snaps in his first game back. Buckner is looking very iffy for this Sunday after tallying four tackles in the season opener.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter

2 years agoIndianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Alec Pierce (head), who is in the league's concussion protocol, was upgraded to a limited practice on Thursday after he didn't practice on Wednesday. Pierce hasn't been cleared for contact yet, but he's clearly making progress after suffering a concussion in the Week 1 tie with the Houston Texans. Still, the 22-year-old will likely be questionable for Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With No. 1 receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (quadriceps) also on the injury report this week, Parris Campbell, Ashton Dulin and Mike Strachan could be looking at bigger roles in Week 2. Pierce, who was a standout during training camp, failed to catch his only two targets in the season opener while playing 51% of the offensive snaps.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter

2 years agoPittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson finished Week 1 with seven catches for 55 yards on 12 targets. Even more importantly, Johnson showed that he was over a preseason shoulder injury and has not popped up on the injury report following practice on Wednesday or Thursday leading up to a Week 2 matchup with the New England Patriots. The Patriots struggled against wide receivers in 2021, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the position. Those struggles continued in Week 1 when they allowed Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to combine for 12 catches, 163 yards, and a touchdown. Treat Johnson as a rock-solid WR2 in fantasy for Week 2.--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: Steelers.com

2 years agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (quadriceps) missed practice on Thursday after he was listed as limited on Wednesday. The Colts might just be resting their No. 1 receiver ahead of Friday's practice, but it's something for fantasy managers to keep an eye on heading into the team's Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The 24-year-old is the Colts clear top pass-catcher after he caught nine of his 13 targets for 121 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 tie with the Houston Texans. If Pittman is active this weekend, he's a must-start in fantasy in what could be a breakout year in 2022.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter

2 years agoPittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was a popular waiver pickup following Week 1 after starting running back Najee Harris (foot) left the season opener with a foot injury. Fantasy managers who added Warren are likely going to have to wait to deploy the rookie in fantasy lineups as Harris practiced fully on Thursday and appears on track to play in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. Warren still holds fantasy value as a handcuff in case Harris gets hurt again but he should not be in lineups for Week 2 unless Harris suffers a setback and is a surprise inactive on Sunday.--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com

2 years agoDetroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (ankle) is expected to play in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders despite dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined at practice on both Wednesday and Thursday this week. A league source emphasized Swift is "good to go." "He's going to be ready," the source predicted. "He's good." Swift himself didn't sound particularly worried about his injury either. The 23-year-old handled 15 carries for 144 yards and a touchdown and also caught all three of his targets for 31 yards in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Expect Swift to return to practice on Friday. If active this Sunday, Swift will be a must-start in fantasy, but Jamaal Williams' heavy involvement in the season opener was a bit concerning.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Network - Aaron Wilson

2 years agoPittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (foot) got in a full practice on Thursday as his team gears up for a home matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 2. Harris left his team's Week 1 matchup early with a foot injury and practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday, but his upgrade on Thursday bodes well for his ability to suit up on Sunday. That being said, the Patriots represent a tough matchup for Harris as they allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in 2021 and held Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert to just 41 yards on 17 combined carries in Week 1. Treat Harris as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in fantasy for Week 2.--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: Field Yates on Twitter

2 years agoPittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky turned in a pedestrian outing in a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Trubisky averaged just 5.1 yards per pass attempt in his debut with Pittsburgh in the overtime victory. He will look for a bigger game in Week 2 when he faces off against the New England Patriots at home. He could struggle as the Patriots allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2021 and held Tua Tagovailoa to 270 yards and one touchdown in Week 1. Trubisky will have to show more than he did in Week 1 to be trusted as a fantasy option, leaving him as a QB3 for Week 2.--Matt T - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com