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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.
4 p.m. ET games
Trey McBride, TE, ARI: Concussion — OUT
Impact: WR Michael Wilson could end up as the biggest beneficiary here, though TE Elijah Higgins will “replace” McBride in the huddle.
Pierre Strong Jr., RB, CLE: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: D’Onta Foreman will get the table scraps behind Jerome Ford (knee).
David Njoku, TE, CLE: Ankle — OUT
Impact: Jordan Akins gets the starting nod for the Browns, but there’s no reason for fantasy managers to do the same.
Justin Herbert, QB, LAC: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: All signs point to him starting this one, but who knows if he’ll be able to finish?
Michael Mayer, TE, LV: Personal — OUT
Impact: Even more reason to like Brock Bowers this week.
Davante Adams, WR, LV: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker get slight upticks in value.
Deebo Samuel Sr. , WR, SF: Calf — Active
Impact: As expected, he will play. TE George Kittle (hamstring), who was removed from the injury report Friday, is also active.
Austin Ekeler, RB, WAS: Concussion — OUT
Impact: Jeremy McNichols could see some passing-down work, but Brian Robinson Jr. presumably will do most of the RB work.
Sunday night game
Neither the Bills nor the Ravens have any significant fantasy-relevant injuries of note.
1 p.m. ET games
Diontae Johnson, WR, CAR: Groin — Active
Impact: He is expected to play alongside Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo. Adam Thielen (hamstring) was placed on IR earlier this week.
Keenan Allen, WR, CHI: Heel — Active
Impact: Rome Odunze (hip) was already cleared to play and now it is confirmed that Allen will join him in the huddle.
Jordan Love, QB, GB: Knee — Active
Impact: He is going to play. Still, the Packers could end up going with a handoff-heavy game plan.
Dameon Pierce, RB, HOU: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Cam Akers is likely to once again handle the majority of backfield duties here.
Joe Mixon, RB, HOU: Ankle — OUT
Impact: Mixon tested his ankle this morning, but the team decided not to risk it. Dare Ogunbowale has some deep-sleeper value.
Tank Dell, WR, HOU: Chest — OUT
Impact: It’s Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs for the Texans.
Evan Engram, TE, JAX: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: Brenton Strange could be good for two to three catches in his absence.
Gabe Davis, WR, JAX: Shoulder — Active
Impact: He will play — in as much as you can trust the No. 3 WR in the Jaguars’ offense these days.
Davis Allen, TE, LAR: Back — Active
Impact: Colby Parkinson saw only five targets last week with Allen out.
Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR: Ankle — OUT
Impact: With a Week 6 bye, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Kupp sit out next week as well.
Alvin Kamara, RB, NO: Hip — Active
Impact: He ramped up as the week went on, so we always expected him to start.
Chris Olave, WR, NO: Hamstring — Active
Impact: Suffering the injury Friday didn’t bode well, but he will at least try to play. Mason Tipton could still get some extra looks …
Cedrick Wilson Jr., WR, NO: Ankle — Active
Impact: … with Bub Means also in the mix should either Olave or Wilson struggle. A.T. Perry (hamstring) is inactive.
A.J. Brown, WR, PHI: Hamstring — OUT
Impact: A Friday practice opened the window for optimism, but he’s not ready. Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson were the only healthy Eagles WR options on the roster as of Friday.
DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI: Concussion — OUT
Impact: Expect TE Dallas Goedert to continue to see a ton of targets. WRs Parris Campbell and John Ross were both elevated from the practice squad Saturday.
Russell Wilson, QB, PIT: Calf — Designated as QB3
Impact: The story remains the same: Justin Fields starts, with Wilson as the emergency QB.
Jaylen Warren, RB, PIT: Knee — OUT
Impact: Najee Harris will have a heavy workload, with Cordarrelle Patterson potentially in line for a few touches.
Rachaad White, RB, TB: Illness — Active
Impact: Added to the injury report Saturday due to food poisoning. He apparently is well enough to play.
Bucky Irving, RB, TB: Hamstring — Active
Impact: He will also play, but the workload breakdown in the Tampa Bay backfield remains in flux.
Jalen McMillan, WR, TB: Hamstring — Inactive
Impact: Trey Palmer will pick up the slack for him, as Kameron Johnson (ankle/active) is also nursing an injury.
