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AJ Mass, ESPN Staff Writer
Whom should you start? Whom should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won’t be in the lineup, we’ll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactives lists. Any rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.
Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: around 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for the late-afternoon games.
Refresh often for the latest information.
1 p.m. ET games
Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL: Knee — OUT
Impact: His 21-day window to return is now open. Once he comes back, he could supplant Justice Hill as the No. 2 RB option.
Rasheen Ali, RB, BAL: Ankle — OUT
Impact: Given the above news, once Ali can make it back, he may be only utilized on special teams.
Zay Flowers, WR, BAL: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: It’s likely he’ll try to play, but don’t be surprised to see Rashod Bateman be more effective on Sunday.
Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: Quad — Questionable
Impact: His late addition to the injury report on Friday doesn’t bode well. Andrei Iosivas gets a slight uptick in fantasy value.
Jerome Ford, RB, CLE: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Nick Chubb will be spelled by Pierre Strong Jr.
Deshaun Watson, QB, CLE: Achilles — OUT/IR
Impact: Jameis Winston will get a chance to hold off Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) for starting consideration going forward.
Jameson Williams, WR, DET: Suspension
Impact: He will miss this week and next. Kalif Raymond and Tim Patrick gets value boosts.
Travis Etienne Jr. , RB, JAX: Hamstring — Questionable
Impact: This will be a game-time call, with Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson ready to step up if he can’t go.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA: Concussion — Questionable
Impact: He has cleared the league’s concussion protocol and will get back in the huddle on Sunday. Tyler Huntley (shoulder) takes his place on IR.
Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA: Foot — Questionable
Impact: Jaylen Waddle could be the No. 1 WR option for Tua’s return if Hill isn’t at 100%.
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, NE: Concussion — OUT
Impact: He remains in the league’s concussion protocol. Kayshon Boutte is the “safest” Patriots receiver at present.
Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ: Chest — Doubtful
Impact: This is, at best, a game-time call. Even if he plays, the Jets didn’t trade for Davante Adams to not throw to him as much as possible.
Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Grant Calcaterra gets the call in his stead.
Bucky Irving, RB, TB: Toe — Questionable
Impact: Fully expected to play, but Sean Tucker is lurking.
Mike Evans, WR, TB: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Chris Godwin (ankle/IR) is done for the season. Evans might be back in Week 12 if everything goes well.
Rakim Jarrett, WR, TB: Knee — Questionable
Impact: He was activated from IR this week as the Bucs look to restock a depleted WR room.
Will Levis, QB, TEN: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Mason Rudolph took most of the reps with the first team this week, so that should tell you a lot.
Tyjae Spears, RB, TEN: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Tony Pollard should get most of the carries, with leftover touches going to Julius Chestnut.
4 p.m. ET games
Curtis Samuel, WR, BUF: Pectoral — OUT
Impact: He’s targeting Week 9 for a return, but he has even less value now that Amari Cooper is in town.
Andy Dalton, QB, CAR: Thumb — Doubtful
Impact: Bryce Young will start as Dalton recovers from Tuesday’s automobile accident.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, CAR: Knee — OUT
Impact: Chuba Hubbard gets to be the main man for the Panthers 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, despite claiming to be ready to go. Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo start.
Adam Thielen, WR, CAR: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Still not ready to return from IR, we could see David Moore or Jalen Coker get looks.
Travis Homer, RB, CHI: Finger — Questionable
Impact: Fresh off the IR, he’ll get to spell D’Andre Swift.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC: Hamstring — 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, LAC: Shoulder — Questionable
Impact: He caught eight passes last week with Hurst out, but is likely to be a game-time call.
Hayden Hurst, TE, LAC: Groin — Questionable
Impact: If both Hurst and Dissly sit, Eric Tomlinson could be a TE sleeper.
DJ Chark Jr., WR, LAC: Groin — Questionable
Impact: He was on IR heading into the week but there’s a ton of WR openings here.
Derius Davis, WR, LAC: Hamstring — Doubtful
Impact: If he can’t go, either Brenden Rice or Simi Fehoko might end up in the huddle for some snaps by default.
Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC: Ankle — Doubtful
Impact: It looks like Joshua Palmer is the only Chargers wideout you can count on to start. Jaylen Johnson and Jalen Reagor were both elevated from the practice squad.
Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC: Hip — Questionable
Impact: He should suit up (out of necessity) even though he missed two practices this week and only saw limited Friday action.
Aidan O’Connell, QB, LV: Thumb — OUT/IR
Impact: Gardner Minshew, whose mustache has typically been more impressive than his stat line, will once again start at quarterback.
Jakobi Meyers, WR, LV: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: He is expected to play for the first time in several weeks. He may be “on a pitch count.”
Derek Carr, QB, NO: Oblique — Doubtful
Impact: Spencer Rattler will make another start as Carr attempts to get back into throwing shape.
Cedrick Wilson Jr., WR, NO: Hip — OUT
Impact: Chris Olave, on the other hand, is expected to return this week following a sit-out due to a concussion.
DK Metcalf, WR, SEA: Knee — Doubtful
Impact: It will 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 needed. Sam Hartman remains on the practice squad, so that’s a good sign.
Sunday night game
John Stephens Jr., TE, DAL: Knee — OUT/IR
Impact: His season is over. The freed-up roster spot helped make room for RB Dalvin Cook, who was elevated from the practice squad.
Jake Moody, K, SF: Ankle — OUT
Impact: Anders Carlson fills in again, even after missing an extra point last week.
Jauan Jennings, WR, SF: Hip — OUT
Impact: With Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL/IR) out, Ricky Pearsall may be tasked with starting.
Deebo Samuel Sr. , WR, SF: Illness — Questionable
Impact: Jacob Cowing and Chris Conley might also see some targets as Samuel deals with pneumonia, though he is currently expected to play.
George Kittle, TE, SF: Foot — Questionable
Impact: Especially given the WR issues, expect Kittle to play through the injury.
