Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the team hopes to open up the 21-day practice window for rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) this week. Brooks, a second-round selection by the Panthers out of Texas back in April, is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in college. The 21-year-old appears to be nearing his return to make his NFL debut, but just because his practice window is set to open this week doesn't mean he'll be active in the Week 7 contest against the Washington Commanders. And with Chuba Hubbard being one of the best running backs in the league over the last few weeks, the Panthers have no need to rush Brooks back into the fold before he's ready. Brooks should already be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues, but now that he's getting close to joining Carolina's backfield, he's not a bad stash in deeper redraft leagues, either, especially if you're hurting at the RB position.

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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Monday that barring a setback, quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) will play in Week 7 on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was looking like Richardson was trending towards a return to play in the Week 6 win over the division-rival Tennessee Titans after returning to full practice last week, but the Colts decided to play it safe and hold him out a second week in a row. Even though the veteran Joe Flacco has looked better than Richardson in his two starts, the Colts will turn back to the 22-year-old second-year signal-caller when he gets the green light. Richardson provides elite rushing potential from the QB position, but he's proven injury-prone early in his NFL career and has been pretty bad as a passer in his first eight NFL starts, dating back to last year. If he returns this Sunday, fantasy managers should consider him a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 against Miami.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) will not practice this week, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. Week 7 was the earliest possible period of return for Nacua after reaggravating a preseason knee injury in Week 1. Still, it's no surprise seeing him shelved longer after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that he'd likely be unavailable for 5-to-7 weeks. The Rams have dealt with a litany of injuries on both sides of the ball this year, but things could be looking up for the offense, with wide receiver Cooper Kupp slated to work with trainers today. However, the 23-year-old will have to wait at least one more week for his return -- and likely longer. If Kupp fails to be designated as active again, wideouts Jordan Whittington, Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, and Tyler Johnson will handle the pass-catching duties in the team's Week 7 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Per Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, Jamison Hensley reports there is "no change" on the status of running back Keaton Mitchell (knee). Harbaugh and the Ravens are "optimistic" about the 22-year-old returning at some point this season. However, he has yet to progress enough to consider being taken off the Physically Unable to Perform list. Mitchell, whose stint on the PUP stems from a knee injury he suffered in Week 15 of last season, was reported on by his head coach two weeks ago to be "right on schedule," and "the schedule is for him to be back this season." They're vague comments from the long-time Ravens head coach, though Baltimore doesn't necessarily need Mitchell right now with the backfield duo of Derrick Henry and Justice Hill performing admirably in a high-powered attack. Still, he'll evidently suit up at some point in 2024. When that will be remains to be seen.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) is scheduled to work on the side with trainers today in LA's first practice since their Week 6 bye, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. Currently, no designation has been made about his status for Sunday. It's ideal news for Kupp ahead of the earliest anticipated target date for his return. However, fantasy managers will want to monitor his status over the coming days ahead of the team's Week 7 home tilt against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 31-year-old hasn't appeared in a game since he was forced from the Rams' Week 2 loss to the Cardinals early, and he would be an immediate boost to LA's offense and fantasy lineups upon his return. The Raiders have been one of the stronger matchups against opposing passing attacks, but Kupp would present as a solid WR2/3 in his first game back if he's healthy enough to suit up.

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Per David Furones of the Sun Sentinel, Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (concussion) was back at practice on Monday following the team's Week 6 bye. He was listed as a limited participant and wore a red non-contact jersey. Despite the limited session, it's a significant milestone for Achane, who appears to be progressing well through the league's concussion protocol. He still has a hurdle to clear, but it's fantastic news for him and the Dolphins, who are still navigating a period without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion). It's imperative to monitor his status over the coming days, but he evidently has a good shot at suiting up for a road tilt against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7. If he's active, the 23-year-old is an intriguing play against a Colts defense that's allowed the most yards in the league opposing rushing attacks.

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Per Tom Withers of the Associated Press, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is trending toward returning to the field in Week 7. Head coach Kevin Stefanski reports Chubb is taking it "day to day" this week. If that's the case, it's excellent news for the team and an incredible feat from the 28-year-old just 13 months removed from a brutal knee injury. It also comes with superb timing, as running back Jerome Ford (hamstring) was forced from Sunday's loss to the Eagles early and did not return. Ford is considered week-to-week, so it's possible that if Chubb is active, he gets more work than he initially would have. However, he would undoubtedly be on a snap count, and D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. would likely handle most of the Browns' backfield work. Logically, the former Georgia Bulldog would need to log at least one full practice before suiting up for the contest against the Bengals -- a feat he has yet to accomplish. For now, it's best to take a wait-and-see approach for fantasy managers who have been holding onto him.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the team will continue with quarterback Deshaun Watson as their starter after another loss in Week 6 to the Philadelphia Eagles. "I think Deshaun (Watson) gives us the best chance to win, continues to give us the best chance to win," Stefanski said. Watson has been really bad so far in 2024, although he was able to avoid any turnovers on Sunday against Philly. The 29-year-old went 16-for-23 for 168 yards without a touchdown and has yet to even throw for 200 yards in six games this season. It appears that the surgery on his right shoulder has sapped him of much of his arm strength, but Watson has also made plenty of head-scratching decisions to lead the Browns to a 1-5 record after six weeks. The impending return of running back Nick Chubb (knee) may not be enough to salvage Watson's starting job the rest of the season.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that running back Jerome Ford (hamstring) is week-to-week after injuring his hamstring in the Week 6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Ford suffered his hamstring injury in the first quarter and didn't play at all in the second half, finishing with only two carries for 14 yards to really let his fantasy managers down. Not only is it possible that both Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee) could be back for Week 7 against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, but Ford might not even be available to play in that game. In what has been an atrocious Browns offense this year, Ford's fantasy stock is going to plummet even further heading into Week 7. If Chubb and Hines aren't ready to come off the PUP list and Ford is inactive against Cincy, D'Onta Foreman would likely serve as Cleveland's lead back.

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After Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley had zero catches in the Week 6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, head coach Brian Callahan said the team has "to find ways to get him involved, so he can help us win." It wasn't as though the Titans didn't try to get him involved in their 20-17 loss (he was targeted a team-high eight times), but he just wasn't able to connect with struggling quarterback Will Levis at all. The 29-year-old carried the ball once for a nine-yard gain. Along with Tennessee's ugly offense, Ridley's fantasy stock has tanked in the last three games, as he has two catches for 14 yards on 14 targets over that span. The good news for Ridley is that the Titans aren't going to stop trying to get him the ball, but he's going to need to improve his catch rate drastically to get out of his current rut. Fantasy managers need to stick with Ridley for another week against the Buffalo Bills.

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Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (hamstring) is considered week-to-week due to the hamstring injury he suffered in the Week 6 loss to the division-rival Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, according to head coach Brian Callahan. Spears' injury is significant enough that he'll be in question to play in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills. Before getting injured against the Colts, Spears saw six carries and picked up 27 yards on the ground. He was not targeted through the air. The 23-year-old has mostly played second fiddle to Tony Pollard in Tennessee's backfield in 2024. Outside of his 15-carry day in Week 4 against the Dolphins, Spears hasn't had more than six carries in five games this year. He's also averaging just 3.5 yards per carry on his 33 rushing attempts. Pollard will benefit with an even higher fantasy ceiling if Spears misses any time. Pollard has three rushing touchdowns and has 16-plus carries in four of five games.

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In the opinion of the North Jersey Bergen Record's Art Stapleton, New York Giants running back Devin Singletary (groin) will serve in the role that Eric Gray had in the Week 6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night when he returns from his injury. Stapleton thinks rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. will continue on as the lead back after another impressive performance against Cincy with 17 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown while adding six catches for 57 yards. Tracy had 129 rushing yards against Seattle last week and has earned a bigger role in the backfield. Stapleton thinks Singletary's snap percentage will drop from something like 70% to 30% if he's active in Week 7 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. The 24-year-old Tracy, a former receiver in college, looks electric with the ball in his hands and will be a top waiver-wire priority this week. Tracy is rostered in less than half of Yahoo leagues.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (shoulder) is considered "week-to-week" after suffering a shoulder that caused him to leave the Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals, according to sources. It was a bad day for any fantasy managers that started Wicks on Sunday, as the 23-year-old had just one catch on three targets for nine yards before leaving and not returning. He had two touchdowns in the Week 4 loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings and has big-play ability, but he's a boom/bust fantasy option in a crowded receiving corps in Green Bay, especially after both Romeo Doubs (suspension) and Christian Watson (ankle) returned on Sunday. We'll have a better idea of Wicks' status for the Week 7 game against the Houston Texans, but fantasy managers shouldn't be counting on his services this week. In terms of fantasy, Wicks is probably the most volatile out of Doubs, Watson and Jayden Reed in Green Bay.

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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said on Monday that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is expected to play again this season, but it won't come in Week 7 versus the Indianapolis Colts. Tagovailoa suffered yet another scary-looking concussion in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills and remains on Injured Reserve. The left-handed-throwing QB is eligible to resume practicing on Oct. 23, but that doesn't mean the 26-year-old will be able to return shortly after that. While Tagovailoa is worth stashing in two-QB fantasy leagues, managers should temper expectations for his return date and how he performs immediately after he returns. Tagovailoa put up career-best numbers last year and has perhaps the best 1-2 punch in the league at wideout, but he could be one more head injury away from his career being over. Tyler Huntley is expected to make his third straight start at QB for Miami against the Colts.

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Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner ran the ball just seven times for 24 yards in Sunday's disappointing 34-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Cardinals fell behind early and shifted to a pass-first game plan, diminishing Conner's role, though he did catch four passes for 22 yards. The Cardinals didn't adjust well to the weather and struggled to move the ball. Conner also dealt with ankle issues, although he was never on the injury report. With Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion) going down with a concussion, the Cardinals could rely more on the rushing attack in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers, and fantasy managers should still trust Conner for that matchup.

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Arizona Cardinals' Greg Dortch saw increased usage in the Week 6 loss, catching three passes for 36 yards, but hindered his production with a costly fumble in the red zone as the Cardinals were trying to come back. The Cardinals were blown out by the Green Bay Packers, losing 34-13, and the offense did not show up. Dortch hasn't found a clear role in the Cardinals' passing game this season but remains their primary slot receiver. With Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion) going down with a concussion, more targets will open up in the Cardinals' passing game, creating more opportunities for other receivers. While the potential target increase could make Dortch a streaming option in Week 7, he is a risky waiver wire target ahead of the Cardinals' matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland nailed two field goals (38, 40) and one extra point in the 34-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Ryland has stepped up well, filling in for Matt Prater (knee). Arizona's offense struggled to get into scoring position and keep the ball when doing so, limiting Ryland's opportunities. However, when called upon, he has performed well. It is unclear who the team's kicker will be next week against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, but there are better options at kicker at the moment for fantasy managers.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught four passes for 54 yards on six targets in a 20-17 loss against Indianapolis. The good news for Hopkins is this marked the third straight game that he has either led or tied for the team lead in receptions, yards, and targets. The bad news is this has led to a total of 12 receptions for 158 yards and one touchdown, with weekly finishes of WR16, WR68, and WR41. The Titans passing offense is in absolute disarray, seemingly getting worse on a week-to-week basis. If one pass-catcher on this team is playable in fantasy it's Hopkins, but the ceiling is extremely limited due to low volume and inconsistency. It does not get any easier from here, as Tennessee travels to Buffalo next week to take on the Bills and their stout secondary.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley did not record a catch in the loss to Indianapolis on Sunday, rushing one time for nine yards. It was only the third time in Ridley's six-year NFL career that he failed to record a reception. Quarterback Will Levis targeted the veteran eight times in the game, but could not connect even once, setting a new low bar for this already awful passing attack. It was only the 13th time in franchise history that a player recorded eight targets and had zero receptions. The fact that Ridley put up this kind of a dud against arguably the league's worst pass defense is as concerning as it gets for his fantasy prospects. He is unplayable in all formats until Tennessee proves they can move the ball through the air, which may not happen with the current state of the offense. Up next is a stiff test against Buffalo's formidable pass defense in Week 7.

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Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard rushed 17 times for 93 yards and a touchdown, adding three receptions for negative five yards in a loss to the Colts on Sunday. On a day in which the Titans passing attack looked the worst it has all season, Pollard was heavily relied upon to move the chains, and did so efficiently with a healthy 5.5 yards per carry mark. It's worth noting that Pollard and his RB teammate Tyjae Spears were splitting work fairly evenly until Spears left the game at halftime and did not return. From then on, Pollard was once again the workhorse, his day highlighted by a 23-yard touchdown scamper on a 3rd-and-19 that game Tennessee the lead. The speedster has been the only consistent part of this offense in 2024, and will likely be the focal point when the Titans head to Buffalo next week to face the Bills, who are allowing a league-low 5.2 yards per carry.

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