The Jets released RB Michael Carter. The 2021 fourth-round pick totaled just eight carries and 20 targets in nine games this season, including three carries and nine targets over the last four. Carter's departure is just a slight boost for RB Breece Hall's passing-game usage. RB Dalvin Cook remains fantasy-irrelevant. We'll see where Carter lands, but he's obviously a long shot for 2023 fantasy value and is not a must-hold in dynasty. He'll turn 25 in May.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones was arrested Monday on misdemeanor domestic battery charges. Jones has been released from jail and is scheduled for arraignment on Dec. 6. We're likely a long way from finding out whether this incident will produce any suspension for the WR, but misdemeanors haven't generally tended to do so with NFL players. This case isn't likely to impact Jones' availability the rest of this season. He's still dealing with a knee injury, though, that's kept him out since Week 5.
Falcons HC Arthur Smith said Monday that he'll wait until after the Week 11 bye to name a starting QB going forward. QB Taylor Heinicke struggled in the loss to the Cardinals before exiting early in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. QB Desmond Ridder went four of six for 39 yards and scored a nine-yard rushing TD over the final 14 minutes. Smith praised Ridder's play in his Monday press conference, so our guess is that he'll be back under center come Week 12. But we'll let you know what Smith makes an announcement next week.
Cardinals RB James Conner claimed 16 of 19 RB carries Sunday in his return from the knee injury that landed him on IR for four games. Conner took those for 73 yards (4.6 per rush) but watched QBs Kyler Murray and Clayton Tune claim the team's two rushing scores. No Cardinals RB drew a target, but Conner's 13 pass routes led the position and marked a 36% route rate. That last number marks potential trouble once RB Emari Demercado returns to health. But Conner can help fantasy lineups even just as lead rusher and part-time backfield receiver going forward. Arizona gets a solid RB-scoring matchup with Houston in Week 11.
Cardinals TE Trey McBride led the team in targets (9), receptions (8), and receiving yards (131) in Sunday's win over the Falcons, the first game this season with QB Kyler Murray. McBride drew a target on 28.1% of Murray's attempts, claimed 42.1% of the team's receptions, and accounted for 52.6% of the team's receiving yards. It marked his third straight game of heavy usage following the injury that landed TE Zach Ertz on IR. McBride has drawn target shares of 25% or better in each of those games, with three different starters at QB. We'd be surprised if the second-year TE falls out of fantasy relevance even after Ertz is eligible to return. McBride looks like a weekly fantasy starter going forward. WR Rondale Moore checked in second on the team in targets (8), receptions (5), and receiving yards (43). WR Marquise Brown managed just 1 reception for 28 yards on 4 targets. Expect the pass offense -- beyond McBride -- to improve as Murray gets further into his return.
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) is active for today’s game vs. the Falcons. The rookie is more intriguing with QB Kyler Murray back under center but would still be a flier in Week 10 fantasy lineups.
Cardinals RB James Conner (knee) is active for today’s game vs. the Falcons. He’s been out since Week 5 and was limited in practice all week, so it’s possible that Conner is on some type of touch count today. But he projects to see enough work to at least be a low-end fantasy starter. See where Conner sits in the Week 10 RB Rankings.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Cardinals are activating RB James Conner from IR and will play him Sunday against the Falcons. We've been assuming all week this would be the case. We'll watch for any early Sunday reports about Conner's expected playing time and/or touch count. For now, he sits low in RB2 territory in our Week 10 RB rankings.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones (knee) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the 49ers. He got in three limited practices this week, so Jones should have a shot to return for Week 11. But WR Christian Kirk, WR Calvin Ridley, and TE Evan Engram should continue to dominate targets this weekend.
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Falcons. QB Kyler Murray’s return helps Wilson’s fantasy outlook, but he’d be a shaky Week 10 fantasy play at less than 100%.
Cardinals RB James Conner (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Falcons. He was limited in practice all week after being designated to return from IR. HC Jonathan Gannon said Friday that Conner is “trending in the right direction” to play this weekend. We’ll look for further updates on Conner’s status – and how much work he might be in for in his first action since Week 5. RB Emari Demercado (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon officially named QB Kyler Murray the Week 10 starter on Friday. Sunday's game vs. the Falcons will mark Murray's first action since tearing his ACL last December. His rushing figures to be curtailed coming off that knee injury. And remember that this will be Murray's first game in OC Drew Petzing's offense. He'd be a risky QB1 fantasy play in Week 10 but could quickly work his way into the top-12 discussion.
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. It gives the rookie a shot to return for this weekend's game vs. the Falcons. Wilson will carry more fantasy intrigue with QB Kyler Murray set to get back under center, but he's still not a reliable fantasy play at this point.
Cardinals RB James Conner (knee) was limited in Wednesday's practice. He's seemingly on track to return for this weekend's game vs. the Falcons, but we'll keep an eye on his status over the next few days. RB Emari Demercado (toe) remained sidelined on Wednesday after missing last weekend's game.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones (knee) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. It's a pleasant surprise after HC Doug Pederson did not rule out the possibility of Jones landing on IR earlier this week. Fantasy owners still can't be banking on Jones playing vs. the 49ers this weekend, but we'll monitor his status over the next few days.
The Cardinals have officially designated RB James Conner to return from IR. That allows Conner to practice with the team this week. Arizona now has three weeks to decide whether to return him to the active roster. Signs have pointed to Conner returning to game action this week against the Falcons. We'll watch the RB's status throughout the week.
When asked about Jaguars WR Zay Jones (knee) on Monday, HC Doug Pederson said that the wideout "is getting better and is day-to-day" but would not rule out possibly sending him to IR if the injury continues to hold him back. Jones has been effective at times (17% target share, 2 TDs in three games played), though he hasn't been active for a game since Week 3 vs. the Colts. Landing on IR ahead of Sunday's game against the 49ers would knock Jones out until at least Week 14. There's not much to do with the veteran WR in fantasy until we know more.
Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon said Monday that QB Kyler Murray will start Sunday against the Falcons, assuming he has another good week at practice, according to Darren Urban of the team website. This has been the expected return date for weeks now, despite Murray rejoining practices in Week 7. Arizona's caution and patience in bringing Murray back from his ACL tear should mean we get something close to a full-strength version. Of course, we can't know how often or how effectively Murray will run until we see him in games. His return can only help a passing game, though, that got just 58 yards, 2 INTs and 7 sacks from rookie Clayton Tune in Sunday's shutout loss to Cleveland. We're hoping for Murray to bring top-12 fantasy upside among QBs. We're betting on him enhancing the fantasy outlooks for other Arizona skill-position players.
Update: The Cardinals officially activated Murray from the PUP list on Tuesday.
Cardinals QB Clayton Tune completed 11 of 20 passes for 58 yards and 2 INTs in Week 9 vs. the Ravens. The rookie wasn’t very successful on Sunday. The same can be said for the rest of the Arizona offense. WR Marquise Brown hauled 4 of 8 targets for 24 yards, and TE Trey McBride accumulated 22 yards on 3 receptions. These two were the only Cardinals who totaled greater than 10 yards gained, rushing or receiving, in the contest. There’s not much fantasy-wise to take away from this contest, though it’s very likely that Week 10 will see the season debut of QB Kyler Murray (ACL). Next weekend’s matchup against the Falcons should be a good spot for both Murray and McBride as Atlanta ranks within the top 10-easiest matchups in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs and TEs this season.
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Browns. He figures to be replaced by WR Zach Pascal. Wilson’s absence could mean an extra target or two for WR Marquise Brown, WR Rondale Moore, and TE Trey McBride.
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