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NFL Week 9 Fantasy Injury Report – Matthew Stafford is IN for Lions, Calvin Ridley is OUT for Falcons

Before you finalize your Week 9 rosters, check up on the latest injury updates from our expert SI Fantasy insiders.

Roy Larking

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FULL INJURY REPORT

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions

INJURY: COVID-19

STATUS: ACTIVE

Detroit has placed Stafford on the reserve/COVID-19 list after determining he had close contact with a high-risk non-team member. He is still eligible to play against Minnesota, if he tests negative each day this week, but would do so without any practice time. Backup Chase Daniel will start if Stafford doesn’t clear COVID protocol. Whoever starts will do so without leading wide receiver Kenny Golladay who is out with a hip injury.

Gardner Minshew – Jacksonville Jaguars

INJURY: THUMB

STATUS: OUT

Minshew is dealing with multiple fractures and a sprained ligament in his right thumb. He has been ruled out ahead of the Jaguars Week 9 home game against Houston. Rookie Jake Luton will get the start, against the porous Texans pass defense, with Mike Glennon serving as his backup. Head coach Doug Marrone wants to see what Luton brings to the table and he will take his first NFL snap on Sunday. The Jaguars had a bye last week and are riding a six-game losing streak.

Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers

INJURY: HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN

STATUS: ACTIVE

Out since Week 2, the Panthers have activated McCaffrey from injured reserve.. It’s encouraging that CMAC was able to get in a full practice on Wednesday. McCaffrey is an obvious “must start” against Kansas City. Though he may share snaps with Mike Davis who has started the last six games.

Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas Cowboys

INJURY: HAMSTRING

STATUS: QUESTIONABLE

While the injury isn’t considered serious, Elliott was limited during practice on Wednesday. What’s more concerning is Dallas not having an experienced quarterback plus an offensive line that’s been terrible during the first half of the season. Elliott is expected to play against Pittsburgh but he posted just 124 total yards and no scores against Washington and Philadelphia during his last two starts.

Chris Carson – Seattle Seahawks

INJURY: FOOT

STATUS: OUT

As was the case last week, Carson sat out practice until the end of the week. He was scheduled to  be a dreaded game-time decision for the Seahawks Week 9 game against the Bills in Buffalo, but has now been ruled out. Veteran RB Carlos Hyde (hamstring) is already out, so rookie DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer will split time. Dallas posted 22.80 points in SI fantasy football leagues last week as he handled 18 of the Seahawks 28 rushing attempts and caught all five of his pass targets.

Kenyan Drake – Arizona Cardinals

INJURY: ANKLE

STATUS: OUT

Despite having a bye week to get healthy, and coach Kliff Kingsbury labelling him as day-to-day, Drake did not practice on Wednesday and is out for Week 9. That points to Chase Edmonds rising to RB1 status against the Miami defense that’s allowing 125.1 rushing yards per game. The Dolphins have also given up nine touchdowns to running backs during their first seven games. Edmonds ($6,800) is the sixth most expensive running back in Week 9 DFS contests at DraftKings and will be worth the price if he gets the start.

Myles Gaskin – Miami Dolphins

INJURY: KNEE - MCL

STATUS: OUT

Expected to miss three weeks, Gaskin hurt his knee late in the fourth quarter during the Dolphins Week 8 victory against the Los Angeles Rams. Backup Matt Breida (hamstring) sat out practice on Wednesday and is questionable to play in Week 9 against the Cardinals on the road in Arizona.

A healthy scratch the last three weeks – Jordan Howard may finally get a chance to earn his $9.75M offseason free agent contract. Acquired from Chiefs, prior to the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, RB DeAndre Washington is also in the mix and is worth waiver wire consideration prior to Week 9.

Philip Lindsay - Denver Broncos

INJURY: FOOT

STATUS: ACTIVE

Lindsay was confirmed active early Sunday morning by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Devonta Freeman – New York Giants

INJURY: ANKLE

STATUS: OUT

After missing practice all last week, and then sitting out the Giants Week 8 MNF loss to Tampa Bay, Freeman sat out practice on Wednesday. Wayne Gallman and Alfred Morris now top the New York running back depth chart with Dion Lewis as the pass catching back. Gallman posted 62 total yards and one touchdown against the Buccaneers. The Giants have a tough matchup on the road against Washington this week.

Mark Ingram – Baltimore Ravens

INJURY: ANKLE

STATUS: OUT

Inactive during Week 8 against Pittsburgh, Ingram was limited during practice on Wednesday. He is questionable for the Ravens Week 9 road contest against the Colts. Rookie J.K. Dobbins (113) and Gus Edwards (87) posted 190 combined rushing yards against the Steelers. They will share snaps again this week against the Indianapolis run defense that’s allowing just 79.9 rushing yards per game this season.

Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas – New Orleans Saints

INJURY: ANKLE + HAMSTRING

STATUS: EXPECTED TO PLAY

Limited in practice all last week, Thomas sat out the Saints Week 8 game against Chicago. Thomas hasn’t played since Week 1 and was limited during practice on Wednesday. While his practice time needs to be monitored, Thomas will likely play against Tampa Bay. Emmanuel Sanders has been removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list and he is expected to start.

Drew Brees (shoulder) and Alvin Kamara (foot) are also listed on the Saints Week 9 injury report. With first place in the NFC South on the line - neither player is expected to sit out against the Buccaneers. Rookie WR Marquez Callaway (ankle) missed Week 8 and was limited in practice on Wednesday. The Saints beat the Bucs 34-23 during a shootout in New Orleans back in Week 1.

Chris Godwin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

INJURY: FINGER

STATUS: EXPECTED TO PLAY

Following surgery, to repair a broken finger suffered in Week 7, Godwin didn’t play against the Giants last week. He participated in the Bucs walk-through practice on Wednesday and is listed as questionable to start the Sunday Night Football showdown against New Orleans. Scotty Miller (hip) is also questionable while Antonio Brown is expected to make his first start for Tampa Bay. Brown will be “boom or bust” as head coach Bruce Arians has said his snap count will be between 10 and 35 plays.

Kenny Golladay – Detroit Lions

INJURY: HIP

STATUS: OUT

Detroit has ruled Golladay out for their Week 9 game in Minnesota against the Vikings. He was injured late in the second quarter last week and his timetable for return is uncertain at this point. Marvin Jones (3/39/2) stepped up as the Lions most productive receiver against the Colts in Week 8. A solid waiver wire addition in weekly leagues - Jones also has a reasonable $5,100 price in Week 9 DFS contests at DraftKings.

Calvin Ridley – Atlanta Falcons

INJURY: FOOT

STATUS: QUESTIONABLE

Escaping serious injury, Ridley is dealing with a foot sprain suffered during the Falcons Week 8 victory against the Panthers. He was held out of practice on Wednesday and is considered day-to-day as Atlanta prepares to host Denver on Sunday. Russell Gage (shoulder) was limited practice on Wednesday but is expected to start opposite Julio Jones against the Broncos.

Keenan Allen - Los Angeles Chargers

INJURY: SORE THROAT

STATUS: PROBABLE

After potential concern regarding COVID-19, Keenan Allen is likely to play today in the Chargers' home matchup vs the Raiders.

Brandon Aiyuk – San Francisco 49ers

INJURY: COVID-19

STATUS: OUT

San Francisco has placed rookie WR Brandon Aiyuk on their reserve/COVID-19 list and he won’t play against Green Bay on Thursday night. Aiyuk received his designation due to close contact with WR Kendrick Bourne who is also out. Deebo Samuel is on IR (COVID/hamstring) and that leaves Trent Taylor and Richie James as the only healthy receivers on the active rooster. While it’s surprising that the NFL is allowing this game to be played – fantasy owners should bench everyone on 49ers offense.

Tight Ends

Jimmy Graham – Chicago Bears

INJURY: KNEE + HAMSTRING

STATUS: QUESTIONABLE

Dealing two injuries, Graham was held out of practice on Wednesday. He is listed as questionable to start the Bears Week 9 contest against the Titans in Tennessee. Graham has caught 29 of 49 targets for 247 yards and four touchdowns over eight games. Rookie TE Cole Kmet will take over as the starter if Graham lands on the inactive list on Sunday.

Greg Olsen – Seattle Seahawks

INJURY: FOOT

STATUS: QUESTIONABLE

Normally held out of early week practices, for veteran rest, Olsen didn’t practice on Wednesday due to a foot injury. This is notable as Olsen was hampered by a foot injury during the last two seasons in Carolina. A risky play when healthy - Olsen has a 17/158/1 line over seven games. Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister will share snaps if Olsen is sidelined in Week 9. Neither player has much fantasy value. The Seahawks travel to Buffalo to battle the Bills on Sunday.

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Roy Larking
ROY LARKING

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