by -
AJ Mass, ESPN editor
Who should you start with? Who should you sit? To help you figure out your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won’t make the roster, we’ll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactive lists. All rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy team rankings.
Official Sunday inactives should begin arriving approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time: around 11:30 a.m. ET for early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for late afternoon games.
Update often for the latest information.
Games at 4 p.m. ET
Curtis Samuel, WR, BUF: Pectoral — OUT
Impact: He’s targeting Week 9 for a return, but he’s worth even less now that Amari Cooper is in town.
Andy Dalton, QB, CAR: Thumb — Doubtful
Impact: Bryce Young will start as Dalton recovers from his car accident on Tuesday.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, CAR: Knee — OUT
Impact: Chuba Hubbard will be the Panthers’ main man for at least one more week.
Tommy Tremble, TE, CAR: Back — Questionable
Impact: Ja’Tavion Sanders (groin/wrist) was also limited in practice all week. Either TE could end up starting.
Diontae Johnson, WR, CAR: Ribs — OUT
Impact: He will sit, even if he claims to be ready to leave. Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo start.
Adam Thielen, WR, CAR: Hamstrings — OUT
Impact: Still not ready to return from IR; we could see if David Moore or Jalen Coker would get any looks.
Travis Homer, RB, CHI: Finger — Questionable
Impact: Fresh off the IR, he will spell D’Andre Swift.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC: Hamstrings — OUT
Impact: At least he’s not on IR. Having just arrived in town, DeAndre Hopkins will suit up alongside Xavier Worthy.
Will Dissly, TE, BAC: Shoulder — Active
Impact: He caught eight passes last week while Hurst was out. It was a game time call, but he will dress.
Hayden Hurst, TE, BAC: Elder — Inactive
Impact: With Hurst out and Dissly ill, Eric Tomlinson could be a sleeper TE.
DJ Chark Jr., WR, BAC: Elder — Inactive
Impact: He was on IR earlier in the week and wasn’t activated in time to play – and his team could have used him.
Derius Davis, WR, BAC: Hamstrings — Inactive
Impact: Brenden Rice or Simi Fehoko could find themselves in the group for a few shots by default.
Quentin Johnston, WR, BAC: Ankle — Inactive
Impact: It seems like Joshua Palmer is the only Chargers player you can count on to start. Jaylen Johnson and Jalen Reagor were both elevated to the practice squad.
Ladd McConkey, WR, BAC: Hip — Active
Impact: He will wear the uniform (perhaps only out of necessity) even though he missed two practices this week and saw little action Friday.
Aidan O’Connell, QB, LV: Thumb — OUTPUT/IR
Impact: Gardner Minshew, whose mustache is usually more impressive than his stat line, will once again start at quarterback.
Jakobi Meyers, WR, LV: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: He should play for the first time in several weeks. He may be “about to count.”
Derek Carr, QB, NO: Oblique– Inactive
Impact: Spencer Rattler will make another start as Carr attempts to get back into shape.
Cedrick Wilson Jr., WR, NO: Hip — OUT
Impact: Chris Olave, meanwhile, will be back this week following a sit-out due to a concussion.
Márquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, NO: Team decision — Inactive
Impact: Only signed earlier in the week, receiver needs more time to get up to speed with the playbook.
DK Metcalf, WR, WED: Knee — Inactive
Impact: It’ll be Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba for all your pass-catching needs.
Jayden Daniels, QB, WAS: Ribs — Questionable
Impact: This will be a game-time decision, and Marcus Mariota is ready to go, if necessary. Sam Hartman remains on the practice squad, so that’s a good sign.
Sunday evening match
John Stephens Jr., TE, DAL: Knee — OUTPUT/IR
Impact: His season is over. The vacated roster spot made room for RB Dalvin Cook, who was elevated to the practice squad.
Jake Moody, K, SF: Ankle — OUT
Impact: Anders Carlson subs in again, even after missing an extra point last week.
Jauan Jennings, WR, SF: Hip — OUT
Impact: With Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk (on IR with torn ACL) out, Ricky Pearsall could be tasked to start.
Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, SF: Disease — Questionable
Impact: Jacob Cowing and Chris Conley could also see targets as Samuel suffers from pneumonia, although he is currently expected to play.
George Kittle, TE, SF: Foot — Questionable
Impact: Especially given the WR issues, expect Kittle to play through his injury.
Games at 1 p.m. ET
Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL: Knee — OUT
Impact: Its 21-day return window is now open. Once he returns, he could supplant Justice Hill as the No. 2 RB option.
Rasheen Ali, RB, BAL: Ankle — OUT
Impact: Given the news above, once Ali is able to return, he will only be able to be used on special teams.
Zay Flowers, WR, BAL: Ankle — Active
Impact: Looks like he’ll try to play, but don’t be surprised if Rashod Bateman is more effective.
Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: Quad– Inactive
Impact: His late addition to the injury report on Friday does not bode well. Andrei Iosivas gets a slight increase in fantasy value.
Jérôme Ford, RB, CLE: Hamstrings — OUT
Impact: Nick Chubb will be spelled by Pierre Strong Jr.
Deshaun Watson, QB, CLE: Achilles — OUTPUT/IR
Impact: Jameis Winston will have the chance to hold off Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) to start considering the future.
Jameson Williams, WR, DET: Suspension
Impact: He will be absent this week and next. Kalif Raymond and Tim Patrick benefit from an increase in value.
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, JAX: Hamstrings — Inactive
Impact: Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson are once again invited to intervene.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA: Concussion — Active
Impact: He followed the league’s concussion protocol and will be back in the lineup on Sunday. Tyler Huntley (shoulder) takes his place on IR.
Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA: Foot — Active
Impact: Jaylen Waddle could be the No. 1 WR option for Tua’s return if Hill isn’t 100%.
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, NE: Concussion — OUT
Impact: He remains in the league’s concussion protocol. Kayshon Boutte is currently the Patriots’ “safest” receiver.
Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ: Chest — Inactive
Impact: Even if he had played, the Jets didn’t trade for Davante Adams so as not to throw to him as much as possible.
Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: Hamstrings — OUT
Impact: Grant Calcaterra gets the call for him.
Bucky Irving, RB, TB: Toe– Active
Impact: He was always expected to play, but Sean Tucker is hiding.
Mike Evans, WR, TB: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Chris Godwin (ankle/IR) finished the season. Evans could be back in Week 12 if all goes well.
Rakim Jarrett, WR, TB: Knee — Active
Impact: He was activated from IR this week as the Bucs look to restock a depleted WR room.
Does Lévis, QB, TEN: Shoulder — Inactive
Impact: Mason Rudolph took most of the reps with the first team this week, so this isn’t a shock.
Tyjae Spears, RB, TEN: Hamstrings — OUT
Impact: Tony Pollard should get most of the carries, with the remaining touches going to Julius Chestnut.
