New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) has been removed from Friday's final injury report and will be good to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Henry was a full participant in the first official practice of the year on Wednesday, so there was never really any doubt whether he'd suit up and play this weekend after dealing with a foot injury during training camp. Fantasy managers can't really get too excited about any of the offensive skill players in New England's offense this year in what is expected to be one of the most lackluster units, but the 29-year-old Henry could be a valuable safety blanket for both quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye as they play catchup on the scoreboard more often than not. Heading into Week 1, fantasy managers should treat Henry as a TE2 sleeper against Cincy.

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When asked if there's any doubt in his mind that he will play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday against the visiting New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles, calf) simply said, "No." When asked if he's expecting a normal workload, McCaffrey said, "I hope so." For the second straight day on Friday, CMC was listed as limited on the team's injury report. ESPN's Nick Wagoner writes that McCaffrey seemed to be moving at full speed with no issues on Friday. The 28-year-old All-Pro RB missed most of training camp and all of the preseason due to an Achilles/calf injury, but he's been working on side fields since mid-August and should be active on Monday night. However, the top overall pick in most fantasy drafts will have more of a bust factor in the season opener against a nasty defense if he's limited at all. Fantasy managers would be wise to handcuff him with Jordan Mason.

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The Los Angeles Rams' defense/special teams is not in a good fantasy situation in Week 1 at the Detroit Lions. The Lions feature a loaded offense led by former Rams quarterback Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery in the backfield. Not helping issues is the fact that the Rams will be without starting defensive back Darious Williams while they deal with the Lions' explosive offense. Williams was placed on IR with a strained hamstring. The post-Aaron Donald era could get off to a rough start for the Rams in this matchup. In a game that features one of the highest totals of the week, it is best to stay away from the Rams' defense. There should be better D/ST options available in your league.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (hamstring) was a full participant on Friday for the second day in a row and was removed from the final injury report for Week 1's contest on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Warren was listed as limited in the team's first official practice of the year, creating some uncertain as to whether he'd be available for the season opener. However, the 25-year-old has now been cleared and will suit up against Atlanta as he continues to share Pittsburgh's backfield with Najee Harris. Warren produced 784 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 149 carries (5.3 yards per attempt) and added a healthy 61 receptions for 370 yards in 17 regular-season games. With Pittsburgh's pass-catching depth suspect, Warren should be able to be a solid RB3/flex on a weekly basis again in 2024 with quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) leading the offense.

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Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) is inactive for Friday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. To fill the gap, the Packers have promoted Ellis Merriweather from the practice squad. Lloyd, who is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, has not played in the last two preseason games but was seen at practice this week. With Lloyd sidelined, Emanuel Wilson, who has also been dealing with a hip injury, will serve as Josh Jacobs's primary backup. Jacobs, a key offseason acquisition for the Packers with a four-year, $48 million contract, is expected to carry the bulk of the workload in the backfield. Given the circumstances, Jacobs should be considered an RB1 for this week's matchup against the Eagles.

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Los Angeles Rams rookie kicker Joshua Karty will be put to the test early in his career in a hostile environment Sunday night against the Lions. The Stanford rookie, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 Draft, figures to be involved heavily in a game that could be a shootout. He should get plenty of opportunities for extra points and field goals if the Rams stall out on a few drives. In a raucous environment, it is hard to predict how the rookie will fare if he is faced with some long field goal attempts. The good news is he will be kicking indoors at Ford Field so he won't have to deal with inclement weather or wind. Karty is likely on the waiver wire in shallow leagues so it might be best to see how he does with his first assignment before deciding whether he should be your fantasy kicker this season.

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Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson has been thrust into the starting tight end role for the Rams after signing from Seattle in the offseason. With Tyler Higbee recovering from an ACL injury, Parkinson will operate in the lead role until Higbee is healthy enough to return. The matchup is decent against the Lions in Week 1 after Detroit allowed 12.53 points per game to tight ends in fantasy last season. But the fantasy tight-end landscape makes it difficult to elevate Parkinson into a starting role in leagues that play just one at the position. Parkinson could command some looks on Sunday night but with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp both healthy it's difficult to see him getting too many valuable targets. Parkinson's night is therefore largely touchdown dependent which makes him a risky play.

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Las Vegas Raiders' first-round tight end Brock Bowers (foot) is off the injury report and ready to make his NFL debut this Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. After limited participation in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Bowers was a full participant on Friday, confirming his availability for the game. Bowers, selected in the 2024 first round, is expected to be a key target in the Raiders' passing game, including WRs Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, as well as fellow TE Michael Mayer, a 2023 second-round pick. Known for his impressive college career at Georgia, where he had three consecutive seasons with over 50 catches, Bowers is regarded as one of the top tight end prospects to enter the NFL. With a favorable matchup against the Chargers' relatively weaker linebackers, Bowers' ability to read coverages and excel after the catch makes him a strong start for Week 1.

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Los Angeles Rams rookie Blake Corum could end up having some stand-alone value in fantasy aside from being a handcuff for Kyren Williams. But in Week 1, fantasy managers would be wise to see how he is used before putting him in the fantasy lineups in his matchup at Detroit. The Lions had a good run defense last year and Corum will be operating behind a healthy Williams on the depth chart. The Michigan product has the potential to score a touchdown in a short-yardage situation but until his usage is more defined it is best to take a wait-and-see approach with Corum. He has a high upside and could end up being a valuable player to roster in the second half of the season, but there is too much unknown in Week 1.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (plantar fascia) is off the injury report and cleared to play in Sunday's opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite being listed on the injury report earlier this week due to a foot issue, Herbert has recovered and is set for action. He mentioned that he's not using any special footwear or insoles for support and that no specific play or moment triggered the injury. With a revamped offense featuring new starters at wide receiver, tight end, and running back, Herbert's leadership will be crucial this season. Although he should be at close to full strength, the Chargers' new emphasis on the running game and the absence of DJ Chark make it wise to consider other options for starting quarterback this week. In Chark's absence, the team will rely on wide receivers Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, and Ladd McConkey.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams is one of the best fantasy options at his position but faces a tough matchup against the Lions in Week 1. In what should be a high-scoring game, the Rams figure to exploit the passing game against Detroit which allowed 15.79 fantasy points to opposing running backs last season, the best mark in the NFL in that category. Put another way, the Lions were the stiffest test for fantasy running backs last season. That could continue into this season. Williams made some plays in the passing game last season so that could help him a bit in this matchup. The other wild card is the unknown usage of rookie Blake Corum, who theoretically could take away goal-line carries from Williams. Add it all up and this is not an ideal matchup for Williams. Fantasy managers will still likely want to start Williams without a better option in most cases. But expectations should be lowered in Week 1.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark (hip) will miss Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Chark, who joined the Chargers on a one-year deal this offseason, was expected to be a key starter. With him sidelined, Joshua Palmer, Ladd McConkey, and Quentin Johnston will lead the Chargers' receiving corps in Week 1. Palmer is likely to see the most significant boost in opportunities, but McConkey and Johnston will also get a chance to prove themselves. Given the anticipated run-heavy approach for the Chargers, it may not be wise to start any of their wide receivers this week. Chark, who didn't practice this week, aims for a return on September 15 against the Panthers.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is set up nicely for success against the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Nacua will line up against the Lions' revamped secondary of rookie Terrion Arnold and veteran Carlton Davis III. He should see success with Matthew Stafford under center and pick up where he left off during a breakout rookie campaign last year. He had a knee issue in the preseason but is fully off the injury report and is ready to go. The BYU product commanded 9.4 targets per game last season and racked up 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. With Cooper Kupp back fully healthy the red-zone usage might be a bit of a concern for Nacua as Stafford seems to look for Kupp a lot in those situations. But Nacua should work the middle of the field on the short and intermediary routes and is a high-upside PPR play, who could be in for a huge game if he can find the end zone.

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Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet is not a recommended starter this week due to the tough matchup against a strong Titans secondary and a decreased target share. The Titans allowed the third-fewest fantasy points and receiving yards to tight ends last year, as well as the second-fewest touchdowns. With the addition of Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Gerald Everettwho is expected to see more snaps than anticipatedKmet's role in the offense will likely diminish. While Kmet still has the potential to capitalize on his opportunities, the presence of other top fantasy tight ends in less crowded offenses makes him a riskier choice. Kmet could be a valuable asset and a key player for the Bears, but his value as a fantasy starter is uncertain, given the current dynamics.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore remains a solid WR2 option this week, but adjusting expectations is vital given the challenging matchup against one of the league's most improved secondaries. Last season, Moore was a key target for the Bears, receiving 28.5% of the targets and averaging about 80 receiving yards per game. While his target share may go down with Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze added to the team, with Caleb Williams now at quarterback, there's potential for enhanced productivity. However, the Titans' defense has seen significant upgrades, including the addition of L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie at cornerback, alongside returning starter Roger McCreary. Sneed will likely be matched against Moore frequently, which could limit Moore's production. In their previous matchup, Moore was held to just 41 yards on three catches when facing Sneed while he was with the Kansas City Chiefs last season, although he did score a touchdown during garbage time in a blowout loss. While Moore remains a worthwhile starter, don't expect him to deliver a game-changing performance this week.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) will debut in the Windy City this Sunday against a significantly revamped Tennessee Titans secondary. Allen is expected to be utilized in various roles, with his most significant impact likely coming from the slot, where he received nearly half of his targets in 2023. The Titans will probably match him against Roger McCreary, creating an intriguing clash between experience and youth. Given that L'Jarius Sneed will be focused on covering the outside, Allen should have ample opportunities, provided he is healthy. However, Allen has been dealing with a heel injury, described by GM Ryan Poles as a "cleat issue," and was limited in practice this week. While Allen could serve as a solid flex option for those who drafted him for that role, the combination of his injury and the adjustment to a new team might make it wise to consider alternative options for this week.

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Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze will make his NFL debut this Sunday against a significantly upgraded Tennessee Titans secondary. With the Titans adding L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie to their cornerback lineup, they aim to transform a weakness from last season into a strength. While the allure of starting Odunze in Week 1 might be tempting, it's wiser to keep him on the bench for now. Rookies, especially receivers, often take time to develop their fantasy value, and Odunze will be starting behind established stars Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore. Although he has the potential to be a standout asset later in the season, his current role makes him a high-risk, boom-or-bust flex option. The Bears' offense should be capable of supporting two key pass catchers, but it remains to be seen who will emerge alongside Moore. While Odunze could make a few notable plays this Sunday, his role and target share are still uncertain, making him a risky play for now.

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Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift is a borderline RB2/RB3 for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, who present a challenging matchup. In their final three games of last season, the Titans allowed only 83.7 rushing yards per game, the best in the league during that period. Their defensive line, now bolstered by the addition of T'Vondre Sweatwho stands 6'4 and weighs 366 poundsposes a significant challenge. Sweat's presence is likely to draw double-teams, which could complicate inside runs for Swift. However, Swift might find success running to the edges. In this area, he performed well last year in Philadelphia, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and showing better efficiency and yardage after contact compared to his inside runs. Swift also has the potential to contribute in the passing game. However, the Titans were effective against receiving backs last season, allowing the fourth-fewest receptions and ranking 16th in yards per reception. This game will also be notable for the distribution of snaps, as Swift will share the backfield with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. While Swift will get plenty of work in Week 1, tempering expectations against a formidable run defense is wise.

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Free-agent wide receiver Kadarius Toney visited the Cleveland Browns for a tryout earlier on Friday, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Toney failed to make the Chiefs roster earlier this offseason and recently visited the Seahawks this week. Toney, who was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants in 2021, has struggled to find his footing at the professional level. He had a career-high 420 yards in his rookie campaign before joining the Chiefs, where he totaled just 169 receiving yards last fall. While Toney has flashed elite speed at times, he held an underwhelming 71% catch rate last season. If Toney were to sign with the Browns, he would likely only be deployed sparingly throughout the season and would not be worth a look in most formats.

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Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is a high-risk, high-reward option as a borderline QB1 against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Williams displayed impressive potential during the preseason, with notable throws on the run and exceptional arm angles. However, this will be his first official game, so some growing pains are to be expected. In the preseason, Williams showcased his significant upside with a 13% big-time throw rate and 8.5 yards per attempt despite an adjusted completion rate of 61.1%. Williams must utilize his talented offensive weapons, including DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet, to capitalize on his opportunities, especially given the Titans' potentially improved pass defense. Last year, Tennessee allowed the ninth-highest yards per attempt and CPOE and had the seventh-highest adjusted completion rate. However, they've bolstered their secondary with Quandre Diggs, Chidobe Awuzie, and L'Jarius Snead. While the Titans' secondaryfeaturing Sneed (56.6 passer rating allowed in 2023), Roger McCreary, and Awuzie is seen as a strength, their safety corps could be a weak spot. The critical storyline will be how Williams performs in his debut, and leveraging his top targetsnotably Moore, Allen, and Odunzewill be crucial.

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