The 49ers are trading LB Kwon Alexander to the Saints for LB Kiko Alonso and a conditional 5th-round pick, according to multiple reports. Alexander has missed the past 2 games with a high-ankle sprain but should be back soon. San Francisco HC Kyle Shanahan said originally that the team believed it to be a "minor" sprain. Alexander should join Demario Davis in playing full-time snaps, likely sapping playing time from LB Alex Anzalone. We'll keep an eye on Alexander to see when he'll officially jump into the lineup. A healthy Alexander enhances the upside of the New Orleans team defense. The Niners, meanwhile, can now keep LB Dre Greenlaw in his full-time role alongside Fred Warner. He has seen increased playing time with Alexander out.

The Saints have worked out a trade to acquire LB Kiko Alonso from the Dolphins, NFL Network reports. That removes a veteran LB who was clearly on his way out of Miami anyway. Jerome Baker and Sam Eguavoen look like the top 2 fantasy LB options there. Alonso joins a crowded LB situation in New Orleans that will need some sorting. Demario Davis remains the top fantasy option ... and, really, the only Saints LB worth rostering in most IDP leagues for now.

Three incumbent defensive starters could be out of the plans for the 2019 Dolphins, according to The Miami Herald. S Reshad Jones and LB Kiko Alonso have reportedly been dangled in trade talks. Neither has played in a preseason game so far. Jones has reportedly said he'd accept the decreased defensive role that's expected to greet him this season. Alonso, meanwhile, has been mentioned by multiple reporters as a cut candidate if he isn't traded. MLB Raekwon McMillan is also rumored to be dropping out of the starting lineup. He also has yet to play in a preseason game. The team's official site still lists Alonso and McMillan as starters alongside Jerome Baker, but CFL import Sam Eguavoen has been starting alongside Baker in the exhibitions and reportedly working with the 1st team in practice as well. Baker and Eguavon have both reportedly impressed the new coaching staff. We've knocked Alonso and McMillan way down our LB rankings and moved Baker and Eguavon up. Jones also took a tumble down the DB rankings today. Alonso, McMillan and Jones all look like players worth skipping in IDP drafts this weekend. Bobby McCain and Minkah Fitzpatrick have been the top Miami safeties in preseason.

Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso and DE Robert Quinn were ejected in the 3rd quarter of Sunday's loss to the Bills for fighting (along with Buffalo RT Jordan Mills).

Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso (ankle, hamstring) is active for today's game against the Bills. He's expected to play after sitting out a week ago despite being active then. Alonso will be risky but also in play for IDP usage. CB Xavien Howard (knee) and S T.J. McDonald (ankle) are inactive.

Dolphins S T.J. McDonald (ankle) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Bills. It'll be the 2nd straight game he has missed. LB Kiko Alonso (knee, hamstring) is questionable for the 2nd straight week. Alonso was active last week but didn't play a snap. It sounds like Alonso will actually play this time around. HC Adam Gase told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday: “He looks a lot better this week. It’s probably good that we didn’t play him [last week] because it could have gotten worse. He could have pulled it. He looks night and day from what I saw Sunday.” The hamstring appears to be the bigger issue. If active, Alonso will be usable this week. But he'll also carry elevated risk. Lead Dolphins CB Xavien Howard (knee) is also questionable after missing the past 3 weeks. He's not an IDP factor, and his status shouldn't matter for any particular Bills WR option.

Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso (knee, ankle) is active for today's game against the Jaguars after arriving "questionable." He's fine for normal IDP usage in a strong scoring matchup. S T.J. McDonald is inactive, as expected. His ankle injury had him doubtful.

Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso is questionable for Sunday's game against the Jaguars because of knee and ankle issues that limited his practice participation all week. Alonso did, at least, take part every day and played 100% of the snaps in last week's loss to the Vikings. We're betting he'll be active for his high-ceiling fantasy matchup with Jacksonville.

Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso (shoulder) is active for today's game against the Saints and ready to use in IDP lineups. He entered the day questionable.

Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso is questionable for Sunday's game because of a shoulder issue. There doesn't seem to be much more information available on it than that. We'll confirm his game status Sunday morning.

The Dolphins on Tuesday suspended LB Lawrence Timmons indefinitely. The veteran, of course, went AWOL as his team was getting ready to open its season against the Chargers. He reportedly showed up at Steelers practices in Pittsburgh over the weekend, though former teammates and coaches reportedly wouldn't comment on the situation. Miami started LB Chase Allen in Timmons' spot against the Chargers, but Allen played only 14 snaps. MLB Mike Hull joined OLB Kiko Alonso for all 58 of the team's defensive snaps. We'll see how Rey Maualuga fits into the picture once he's healthy enough to play. For now, Alonso is the safest IDP bet among Dolphins LBs. Hull carries Week 3 upside against the Jets -- barring word that his role will change by then. Fantasy owners should drop Timmons.

Dolphins MLB Raekwon McMillan tore the ACL in his right knee in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Falcons. That takes away a rookie Miami planned to start in the middle this season. According to The Miami Herald, Mike Hull is the next guy up in McMillan's spot. The rookie's injury will only make it easier for OLBs Kiko Alonso and Lawrence Timmons to stay on the field in all defensive packages. The Dolphins reportedly don't plan to move Alonso back to the middle, where he started last year. We'll see if that changes through the preseason, though.

The Dolphins have agreed to a 3-year extension with LB Kiko Alonso. The Miami Herald reports that it's a $28.8 million deal, while the Palm Beach Post reports that it includes $18.5 million in guarantees. That's all for a guy the Dolphins could have kept on a 1-year RFA deal. Miami's committed here. And the team clearly likes recent signee Lawrence Timmons as well. We'd bet on both filling 3-down roles, regardless of who settles into the middle and who plays the weak side. Both players carry top-24 IDP potential among LBs.

The Dolphins on Friday agreed to a 2-year, $12 million deal with LB Lawrence Timmons. That's starter money, but it's tough to see just how Miami envisions Timmons fitting. The Dolphins also placed a 1st-round tender on LB Kiko Alonso, which pretty much guarantees he won't get any other offers. Alonso manned the middle for Miami in 2016. Either Timmons or Alonso could shift outside in Miami's 4-3 base defense. We'll wait to learn more before projecting IDP values here.

Dolphins MLB Kiko Alonso (hamstring) is active for today's game against the Bills, playing through a "questionable" tag for the 2nd straight week. He's OK to use at his normal level though not a special IDP option. DE Mario Williams (ankle) is also active but shouldn't be in IDP lineups.

Dolphins CB Byron Maxwell (ankle) is doubtful for Saturday's game against the Bills. LB Kiko Alonso (hamstring) is questionable. He played through that designation last week, but we'll check on his status when the inactive lists come out.

Dolphins MLB Kiko Alonso (hamstring, hand) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets. He's listed for both issues, but the hamstring has reportedly been a bigger hindrance. He put in limited practices all week, which would seem to point toward Alonso likely playing. We'll update his status Saturday night.

As expected, Dolhins MLB Kiko Alonso (thumb, hamstring), OLB Jelani Jenkins (knee) and DE Mario Williams (ankle) are out for today’s game against the Cardinals. All 3 entered the day doubtful. According to the Sun-Sentinel, Alonso's hamstring has hampered him more than his repaired thumb fracture this week. Second-year LB Mike Hull is expected to start in Alonso's place, with Spencer Paysinger likely in for Jenkins. (Paysinger was questionable with an ankle injury but is active.) Avoid the Miami LB situation in your IDP lineups. S Isa Abdul-Quddus (neck) is active an ready for normal fantasy usage. CB Xavien Howard (knee) remains out despite advancing to a questionable tag this week.