Lacerated kidney
It’s official: Chargers WR Keenan Allen out for year, source says. Lacerated kidney. Headed to IR. But expected to make a full recovery. (Michael Gehlken on Twitter)
Nerdy Football Analysis: Week 8 was a rough one in the NFL and Allen is the latest season-ending causality. In his absence, Malcom Floyd, Steve Johnson should see increased work along with Dontrelle Inman.
The San Francisco 49ers, beset by a number of injuries at the running back position, signed veteran Pierre Thomas on Tuesday, according to the player’s agent, Lamont Smith.
But should fantasy owners care?
Well, maybe. Starting running back Carlos Hyde has been dealing with a foot injury all season that could continue to sideline him, Reggie Bush was potentially lost for the season due to a knee injury, and backup Mike Davis suffered a hand injury this past week as well, leaving the team’s backfield in disarray, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.
If Hyde, the team’s starting running back, remains sidelined for the foreseeable future, Thomas is absolutely worth owning and potentially even flexing for fantasy owners. He’ll certainly be the most appealing option in a backfield that, at the moment, includes recently signed veteran Shaun Draughn, per 49ers.com, and Kendall Gaskins, who was promoted from the team’s practice squad this past week.
Matthew Berry of ESPN.com sees a fit for Thomas in San Francisco:
Still, fantasy owners shouldn’t assume they are getting a weekly, guaranteed starter in Thomas. He was out of the league for a reason, and the 49ers currently rank 18th in rushing yards per game and 32nd in yards per contest. Add in the fact that starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been benched, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, and Thomas is walking into an offense that is an absolute mess.
Should he be owned in all formats? Yes.
Should he be started on a weekly basis? Nope.
If Hyde is healthy, Thomas has very limited fantasy value, and even if Hyde remains sidelined, it’s unlikely Thomas will ever be anything more than a flex consideration depending on the matchup. Pick him up, but temper your expectations.
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The past week of football was devastating due to injuries, but it is always about the next man up in the NFL. One player going down creates an opportunity for another to shine.
Le’Veon Bell is out for the season with a torn MCL, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as well as Steve Smith Sr., who suffered a torn Achilles. Matt Forte is also a question mark along with a number of other high-profile players.
While you shouldn’t complain about how injuries to real players affect your fantasy team, the fact is there are always ways to work your way around any situation. If you pick up some key players on the waiver wire, you could remain in good shape in Week 9 and beyond.
Even with six teams on bye, these players will be good pickups while being available in over 50 percent of ESPN leagues.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s disappointing to see Bell go down with a knee injury, but this automatically means DeAngelo Williams is once again the top option on the waiver wire.
Those without locking rosters certainly didn’t waste any time making this move, as Yahoo Fantasy Sports pointed out:
Not only is the veteran running back the primary backup for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he already proved he can handle the full-time workload this season. With Bell suspended for the first two games, Williams came through with 204 rushing yards on 41 carries with three touchdowns.
After Bell went down Sunday, Williams once again showed his ability with 71 rushing yards on nine carries, including a 55-yard run. He also had four catches for 39 yards in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
No one is capable of replacing Bell, but Williams will get a lot of touches in a high-powered offense. Although ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Steelers added Isaiah Pead, Williams is a safe bet for a big second half of the season.
Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Although his rookie year hasn’t been completely smooth sailing, Jameis Winston continues to show glimpses of why he was the No. 1 pick in the draft. The former Heisman Trophy winner posted a 93.0 QBR in an upset win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, which included both a passing and rushing touchdown.
Over the past few weeks, things have started to click for Winston, as Nerdy Football’s Luke Easterling detailed:
“He was confident and calm,” Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith said after the latest win, per ESPN.com’s Matt Winkeljohn. “Each week, he has shown more leadership.”
Even with his lowest passing total of the year (177), Winston has been productive both on the field and in fantasy football. With an upcoming matchup against the New York Giants—a defense that just allowed seven passing touchdowns in Week 8—the rookie quarterback has a chance for some more big numbers.
Derek Carr is likely still the best option thanks to the talent around him and its ability to pick up yards after the catch, but Winston can still be productive going forward.
Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis Rams
Malcom Floyd is tough to trust after two touchdowns, but he could have a bigger role in the San Diego Chargers offense if Keenan Allen is forced to miss time with his back injury. The big day might not be as much of a fluke as it seems at first glance.
The same could be said about Tavon Austin, who didn’t see any injuries in front of him but is finally being used to his full potential with the St. Louis Rams. The receiver had two touchdowns Sunday, one on a jet sweep near the goal line and the other on a screen pass that he took 66 yards to the house.
In both of those he showed off his incredible speed (4.34-second 40-yard dash), the second also showing off his shiftiness, as described by Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated:
He is still a “gadget” player, but the Rams are finally finding ways to get Austin the ball in ways he can succeed. He had four catches on seven targets in Week 8 to go with three rushing attempts. He has been targeted at least five times in five consecutive games.
As long as he keeps getting touches, Austin can remain a high-upside fantasy receiver.
There are some intriguing running backs worth considering if you have room on your roster.
The San Francisco 49ers might make some transactions during the week, but for now Kendall Gaskins is the only healthy player on the roster, as ESPN’s John Clayton noted:
While he didn’t do much against the Rams, there could be better days ahead if he does end up being the go-to option in the depleted backfield.
David Cobb is set to return in Week 9 and should have a role in the Tennessee Titans backfield, although it is not yet clear what kind of role he will have right out of the gate. You can’t start him, but he is worth adding and figuring it out later.
Tre Mason and Christine Michael are clear backups at this time, although both are getting touches and have clear talent. If you are desperate and are looking for upside, these could be some valuable additions.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for all your fantasy football and daily fantasy needs.
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The NFL continues to add more games to its upcoming London slate, with Chris Lehourites of The Associated Press reporting that the league will begin playing games at Twickenham Stadium, the home of England’s national rugby team, during the 2016 season. The NFL has since confirmed the agreement with the Rugby Football Union.
The partnership is for three years, and it’s a good bet that if it goes well, the two sides will extend it beyond 2018. For now, the NFL is scheduled to play one game per season at Twickenham Stadium from 2016 through 2018, though the agreement gives the league the opportunity to stage two additional games there over that period.
“We are committed to continuing to grow our sport in the UK and believe that adding Twickenham Stadium to our roster of host venues in London is further evidence of that commitment,” said Mark Waller, the NFL’s executive vice president of international, in a statement. “We are very excited to give our fans the opportunity to enjoy NFL action at another world-class venue famous for attracting loyal and passionate fans from across the globe.”
In addition to the games at Twickenham Stadium, the NFL will also play at least two games per season at Wembley Stadium through at least the 2020 season, and will begin playing at least two games per year at Tottenham’s new soccer stadium in 2018.
In 2018 then, there will be at least five London games on the NFL’s schedule, with a good chance for more. The league has also indicated a desire to play games in countries beyond the U.K., such as Mexico and Germany, as early as next season.
After the Broncos’ starting left tackle, Ryan Clady, went down earlier this year, the team engaged in trade talks with the Browns, offering Cleveland a first-round pick for Joe Thomas, reports Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. However, according to Grossi, the Browns also asked for second-year linebacker Shaquil Barrett, and the Broncos balked.
Those trade discussions reportedly occurred early in the season, before the Broncos’ lost another left tackle, Ty Sambrailo, to a season-ending injury of his own. As such, it’s possible Denver will increase its offer for Thomas as today’s trade deadline approaches. Still, Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald tweets that he’d be shocked if Cleveland moves its standout left tackle, adding that a club would have to overpay to land Thomas.
Jason Cole of Nerdy Football and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com have also weighed in with the latest on the Browns’ asking prices, with Cole tweeting that an NFC GM told him Cleveland wants a first- and second-round pick for Thomas. Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that Cleveland wants a third-round pick for either Alex Mack or Barkevious Mingo, so none of the club’s trade candidates will come cheaply.
If those asking prices are met, the Browns could become the NFL’s biggest seller at today’s deadline, but it’s also possible the team ends up simply standing pat — GM Ray Farmer and company have less than six hours to make decisions on Thomas, Mack, and others.