Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who had surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee on Oct. 17, returned to practice Monday. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suspects that Roethlisberger is "on track to play" at Baltimore this Sunday, and his teammates sound optimistic. Roethlisberger owners will want to have a backup plan for Week 9, but things are looking good.
In other news ...
With RB Jacquizz Rodgers (foot) unlikely to play Thursday night against the Falcons, look for a committee between Antone Smith, rookie Peyton Barber and the newly re-signed Mike James. Smith seems like the best bet of the three, and is available in literally all FOXSports.com leagues as of this morning. His ownership percentage is a Blutarsky-esque zero-point-zero.
The Bills aren't yet sure if RB LeSean McCoy (hamstring) will be ready for Week 9. Since the Bills play at Seattle on Monday night, McCoy gets an extra day before practice begins on Thursday.
Reminder: Your byes this week are the Cardinals, Bears, Texans, Bengals, Patriots and Redskins.
The Packers cut RB Knile Davis, who had fantasy owners way too excited a couple of weeks ago. Ty Montgomery (sickle-cell trait) is expected to return against the Colts, while the status of WR Randall Cobb (hamstring) is TBD. Some media around the Packers suspect that Davis' release is a hint that James Starks (knee) is nearing a return.
So much for the Bears' running back-committee - Jordan Howard had 202 yards from scrimmage on 30 touches Monday night. Also, WRs Stefon Diggs (8-76-1 on 13 targets) and Alshon Jeffery (4-63-1 on eight targets) returned to fantasy relevance. Thanks, Jay Cutler!
Cardinals WR J.J. Nelson caught eight passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. After the game, head coach Bruce Arians said, "J.J. didn't step in. That's his job right now, and somebody is going to have to take it away from him." Nelson is owned in just one percent of FOXSports.com leagues, and should be a prime free-agent target even with a bye coming. The Nelson news should be the final nail in Michael Floyd's fantasy coffin, if you still needed one.
Through eight weeks, the Lions are allowing a disgusting 6.3 receptions, 64.3 yards and a touchdown per game to opposing tight ends. Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph is up next.
Falcons TE Jacob Tamme (shoulder) won't play Thursday at Tampa, so rookie Austin Hooper (5-41 vs. GB in Week 8) will be the main fill-in. RB Tevin Coleman (hamstring) didn't practice Monday, and due to the short week his continued absence seems likely.
In Chiefs' news, QB Alex Smith did not suffer a concussion on Sunday, but RB Spencer Ware did. We probably won't know more about either player until the team practices on Wednesday, so backup RB Charcandrick West (4.5 percent owned) looks like a logical free-agent target, especially since Jamaal Charles got his knee checked out again on Monday.
Potentially bad news below for Chargers WR Travis Benjamin. Tyrell Williams and Dontrelle Inman might be the only decent, healthy wideouts left in San Diego, though Williams is dealing with knee issues of his own. Even TE Hunter Henry is battling a knee injury.
#Chargers WR Travis Benjamin, who has been battling a PCL sprain for weeks, is getting a 2nd opinion, source said. Discomfort has continued.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2016
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Monday that QB Tony Romo isn't ready to play yet. Even when he is, it probably won't matter in Dallas.
Browns WR Corey Coleman (hand) has been cleared to play, and is expected to return Sunday against the Cowboys.
If you have any free-agent questions, you can always reach me on Twitter (@jhalpin37). Good luck this week!
