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Inactive Fantasy Football Week 9: Who's in and who's out?

Who should you start with? Who should you sit on? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid using an offensive player who won't be in the lineup, we'll be posting fantasy-related updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactive lists . All rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff.

Official inactive players on Sunday should arrive approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: approximately 11:30 a.m. ET for early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for late afternoon games.

Update regularly to get the latest information.

Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL: Knee — OUT OF
Impact: He has to wait another week before he can spell Dierick Henry.

Amari Cooper, WR, BUF: Wrist — Questionable
Impact: Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir could easily get the majority of WR targets, with Cooper picking his spots.

Curtis Samuel, WR, BUF: Breast — Questionable
Impact: Even if he plays, he probably won't be on the field enough to be fantasy significant.

Jonathan Brooks, RB, CAR: Knee — Questionable
Impact: Next week would be the last chance for the Panthers to activate the rookie if he sits out this time. Chuba Hubbard is expected to compete again.

Tommy Tremble, TE, CAR: Back — Questionable
Impact: It's likely he plays with Ja'Tavion Sanders and shares goals.

Adam Thielen, WR, CAR: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: Why risk hurting him again? Diontae Johnson is gone and Thielen could also go elsewhere as the trade deadline approaches.

Xavier Legette, WR, CAR: toe — Questionable
Impact: He should be able to suit up and start opposite WR Jalen Coker.

Zack Moss, RB, CIN: Neck — OUT OF
Impact: We knew his addition to the injury report late Friday would spell trouble. We'll be seeing a lot of Chase Brown.

Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: quad — Doubtful
Impact: Andrei Iosivas will most likely start alongside Ja'Marr Chase.

Charlie Jones, WR, CIN: groin area – Questionable
Impact: His potential absence could put Trenton Irwin on the deep league's flex radar.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL: Team decision – OUT OF
Impact: The Cowboys are bringing back Rico Dowdle and have promoted Dalvin Cook to replace Elliott, who did not travel with the team.

Stone Smartt, TE, LAC: Ankle — Doubtful
Impact: We're only talking about him so we can report that he's fellow TEs Hayden Hurst and Will Dissly not on this week's injury report.

DJ Chark Jr., WR, LAC: groin area – Questionable
Impact: He was activated from IR and was expected to play, as was Quentin Johnston, who was removed from the injury report.

Zamir White, RB, LV: quad — Questionable
Impact: While he may be able to play, Alexander Mattison is expected to take the lead here again.

Drake Maye, QB, NE: concussion — Questionable
Impact: He cleared the league's concussion policy and will start Sunday.

Kendre Miller, RB, NO: Hamstring – OUT/IR
Impact: Alvin Kamara is pretty much the only healthy running back on the Saints roster.

Jamaal Williams, RB, NO: groin area – Doubtful
Impact: Fullback Adam Prentice could get some touches along with practice squad call-up Jordan Mims.

Bub means, WR, NO: Ankle — OUT/IR
Impact: Returning QB Derek Carr may have to throw something to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Cedrick Wilson Jr., WR, NO: Hip — Questionable
Impact: Expect Mason Tipton to start alongside Chris Olave.

Greg Joseph, K, NYG: Belly — OUT/IR
Impact: Welcome Jude McAtamney to the NFL.

Will Levis, QB, TEN: shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Although this is technically a game time statement, Mason Rudolph is expected to be back in the starting lineup as Levis is not at 100 percent.

Tyjae Spears, RB, TEN: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: Here we would normally say Julius Chestnut will be the team's #2 RB…

Tony Pollard, RB, TEN: Foot — Questionable
Impact: …but Chestnut may even have to start if Pollard, who hasn't practiced all week, can't go.

Tyler Boyd, WR, TEN: shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Calvin Ridley (shoulder) has been removed from the injury report and will play.

Brian Robinson Jr., RB, WAR: Hamstring – Questionable
Impact: Limited throughout practice week, Robinson could still play. However, Austin Ekeler receives a fantasy value boost in the event of setbacks.


4 p.m. ET games

Jordan Love, QB, GB: groin area – Questionable
Impact: Most reports lean toward “love” starting Sunday.

Josh Jacobs, RB, GB: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: He missed training earlier in the week but appears ready to play.

Tank Bigsby, RB, JAX: Ankle — Questionable
Impact: He'll probably get a lot of touches if he can walk and Etienne can't. Speaking of which…

Travis Etienne Jr., RB, JAX: Hamstring – Questionable
Impact: Etienne is a risky start to Week 9 in fantasy as a late-game player.

Gabe Davis, WR, JAX: shoulder — Questionable
Impact: Even after participating in practice all week, he will still be a game-time decision.

Christian Kirk, WR, JAX: collarbone – OUT OF
Impact: Limited all week, it will also come down to the last minute until we find out about Thomas.

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, JAX: Breast — Questionable
Impact: Parker Washington and Tim Jones could be the only WR options for Trevor Lawrence this week.

Jordan Whittington, WR, LAR: shoulder — Questionable
Impact: He will only have fantasy value if one of the Rams' starting WRs returns to the sidelines due to injury…

Puka Nacua, WR, LAR: Knee — Questionable
Impact: …and the fact that Nacua is back on the injury report is scary. However, he has traveled with the team and appears ready to play.

Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: Grant Calcaterra will start, but he's no Dallas Goedert.

Noah Fant, TE, SEA: groin area – OUT OF
Impact: There are no plans for a trip to IR at this time, but it could be Week 12 before we see Fant again.

DK Metcalf, WR, SEA: Knee — OUT OF
Impact: It looks like Metcalf is on track to return to the field after next week's bye.


Game on Sunday evening

TJ Hockenson, TE, MIN: Knee — Activated via IR
Impact: Hockenson will make his debut in 2024, but he may need another week or two to get back up to speed.