Fantasy Injury Updates: Latest news on Davante Adams, Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, more affecting Week 9 start-sit decisions

11/04/2021

Pass-catchers Davante Adams, Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Noah Fant are all in danger of missing their Week 9 games. That group features heavy-hitters and perennial Pro-Bowlers, so their latest status and injury updates will affect every fantasy football league as owners prepare their start ’em, sit ’em decisions.

For updates on Dak Prescott and Kyler Murray, go here; for news on banged-up RBs, Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, James Robinson, and Latavius Murray, click here. For all the latest fantasy news, follow us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.

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Is Davante Adams playing Week 9?

Adams was not at practice Wednesday, as he remained on the reserve/COVID list. We’re not sure whether he’ll be ready to go or it’s simply a matter of having to wait 10 days, as not much information has come out of Green Bay regarding his status. What we do know is Aaron Rodgers will not play after testing positive for the virus.

With Rodgers out, we have to move Adams down some, but surely Jordan Love will target Adams a ridiculous number of times. We moved Adams down to the WR5 in PPR and WR6 in standard leagues. His floor could be much lower, but given the matchup with Kansas City, he remains a must-start if he plays. If not, it’s tough to trust any Packers’ pass-catchers, but Allen Lazard would be the No. 1 target.

Julio Jones injury update

Jones (hamstring) practiced Wednesday, which feels like somewhat of a good sign. Now that Derrick Henry (foot) is presumably out for the rest of the regular season, Tennessee might opt to open up their passing game. A.J. Brown will remain the No.1 WR, but Jones has every opportunity to get involved if he can get healthy. He plays on Sunday night in a tough matchup with the Rams, so just stay tuned.

We rank Julio as the WR26 in PPR leagues and WR25 in standard. We understand if you’re too nervous to play him (or wait around until SNF), but he does have a 100-yard game on his resume this season and is still second on the team in targets (27), despite missing three games and leaving two games early. Tennessee should have to pass to stay competitive against a stellar Rams’ offense.

DeAndre Hopkins injury update

Hopkins (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, but he’s reportedly on the right side of “questionable” heading into a matchup with the 49ers. With 10 days since his last game, Hopkins has had plenty of time to rest. Even with the injury concern, if he’s active, you have to play him.

In the first meeting between Arizona and San Francisco, Hopkins caught six passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. This 49ers defense isn’t stellar against the pass, so Hopkins ranks as our WR5 in standard and WR6 in PPR leagues.

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Is Calvin Ridley playing Week 9?

Ridley (personal) is not with the team this week, and we shouldn’t expect him to play. Russell Gage and Tajae Sharpe are the top WRs against New Orleans — who gives up the fourth-most fantasy points to WRs. However, neither will likely be consistent studs, and Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson will probably be the only Falcons’ weapons you can depend on.

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Noah Fant COVID update

Fant was placed on the reserve/COVID list on Tuesday and needs to turn in two negative tests 24 hours apart. As usual, there’s no reason to speculate, so we’ll see if he can be ready against Dallas. If he is out, we like Albert Okwuegbunam as at least a TE2 with a TE1 ceiling. Dallas gives up the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends, so he’d be in a good spot if he can get the start in Fant’s absence.

We currently have Okwuegbunam as our TE17 in standard and TE18 in PPR leagues. Although we love his upside, it’s hard to rank him much higher until we see the production.

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