| | | | Sunday, October 31, 2021 | | Tom Brady is the No. 1 QB this week heading into Sunday Night Football. Mike White was No. 2. Joe Mixon and Austin Ekeler were No. 2 and 3 at running back, right behind Michael Carter. A.J. Brown just barely edged out Michael Pittman for the top spot at wide receiver, while Pat Freiermuth was just behind T.J. Hockenson at tight end. It's been that kind of Sunday. | | It has also, unfortunately, been a Sunday with quite a bit of bad news from a Fantasy perspective. We learned just before kickoff that Calvin Ridley would not be active for the Falcons, and then we learned later in the afternoon that he is stepping away from the team for the time being to focus on his mental wellbeing. I wish Ridley all the best as he goes through this process, obviously, but we'll have to deal with his absence in the coming weeks. | | I wrote about that with some potential wide receivers to add in my early look at the waiver wire column Sunday evening, but Ridley isn't the only potential absence we'll have to deal with. The following players also left with injuries Sunday: | | Sam Darnold left with a concussion. He had just 129 yards on 24 pass attempts before the injury. If Darnold is out for Week 9 against the Patriots, P.J. Walker would barely register as a low-end starter in SuperFlex or two-QB leagues. Jameis Winston left with a knee injury and had to be carted back to the locker room. After the game, coach Sean Payton said the injury was serious and Winston was on crutches. Taysom Hill hasn't played since Week 5 due to a concussion, so Trevor Siemian took over at QB for the Saints. If Hill is able to play in Week 9 against the Falcons, he might be a top-12 QB; Siemian would be a low-end QB2 if he starts. James Robinson left with an ankle injury and did not return to the game. The Jaguars play the Bills in Week 9, and Carlos Hyde would be no more than an RB3 for that matchup if he is the starter. Rob Gronkowski left with back spasms, and Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said after the game he probably shouldn't have played. Hopes to be OK after the Week 9 bye. | | T.Y. Hilton was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter. He still has upside worth stashing, but Michael Pittman seems like the clear and obvious No. 1 WR here even if Hilton is healthy. | | Additionally, we saw Justin Jackson (quad), Jalen Reagor (ankle), Damien Williams (knee), and Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (concussion) forced out. We'll have to navigate those potential absences in Week 9 and beyond. In tomorrow's newsletter, we'll have winners and losers from Sunday's games plus a recap of the top storylines from around the NFL. For now, here's an early look at the top waiver-wire targets for Week 9. | | | | Early Week 9 Waiver Wire Targets | | | | | | Here's who I'm looking at coming out of Sunday's action: | | | | Top targets: | | DeVanter Parker, WR, MIA 51%Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF 48%Boston Scott, RB, PHI 49%Justin Fields, QB, CHI 31%Pat Freiermuth, TE, PIT 18% | | For the rest of my top early priorities and why I'm targeting them, head here. | | | | | | | | Europe's Best on P+ | | Just Women’s Sports Podcast | The 2021/22 UEFA Season promises to be one of the most exciting and thrilling in recent times! Watch Europe's Elite on the road to glory exclusively on Paramount+.
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