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NFL Quick Hits: McFadden may start, but Randle will carry Cowboys' load
What did we learn from Thursday night's Steelers-Pats game? Not too much. Brady, Gronk, Antonio, Edelman ... check, check, check, check. Dion Lewis won't get 19 touches again with LeGarrette Blount back in the mix, but DeAngelo Williams might get 22 one more time before Le'Veon Bell returns.
On behalf of Antonio Brown owners everywhere, I'd like to thank him for that garbage-time touchdown. I mean, with three seconds left? What a great guy.
In other news ...
Bucs WR Mike Evans hasn't practiced since suffering a hamstring injury Aug. 24, and if he doesn't practice today, it would normally be a bad sign for his Sunday availability. However, according to both the team's website and the Tampa Bay Times, head coach Lovie Smith is leaving the door open for Evans to play if he's cleared by the trainers on Sunday. Despite this sliver of hope, Evans owners shouldn't expect to see him against the Titans, and fantasy owners should note that a gametime decision is bad for someone with a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. Vincent Jackson should be viewed as a locked-in WR2 if Evans can't go.
Bears WR Alshon Jeffery (calf) was limited again on Thursday, as were teammates Eddie Royal (hip) and Marquess Wilson (hamstring). As of late Friday afternoon, Jeffery and Royal both were listed as questionable.
Good news out of Cleveland, where rookie RB Duke Johnson (concussion) has been cleared to play against the Jets. Head coach Mike Pettine said Wednesday that Johnson could have a "significant role," but beat writer Mary Kay Cabot thinks the Browns will "proceed with a little bit of caution." I'll hedge on Duke at RB44, making him a no-go in most cases, with Isaiah Crowell at RB30.
LeSean McCoy (hamstring) was a full participant at Thursday's practice in Buffalo, so start him if you've got him.
D.J. Foster and I previewed the remaining Week 1 games on Friday's Fantasy 15 podcast. Listen by pressing the "Play" button below.
The Cardinals say that game flow will determine how they deploy their running backs on Sunday. Gee, thanks for that insight, fellas. I've got Andre Ellington at RB10, but you should forget about the Johnsons. In other Cardinals' news, WR Michael Floyd (hand) is still TBD for the opener.
A Fort Worth Star-Telegram report earlier this week suggested that Darren McFadden would be the Cowboys' starting running back Sunday night. Today's Dallas Morning News notes that Joseph Randle "has been getting the majority of the work with the first-team offense, making him the favorite to be the starter on Sunday." Even if McFadden (RB40) starts, Randle (RB23) should be the busier back.
After an injury-marred preseason, the Dolphins expect rookie WR DeVante Parker (foot) to play Sunday. If you drafted Parker, it was as a bench stash, and that's where you'll want to keep him for now.
Chargers TE Ladarius Green apparently suffered a concussion in Wednesday's practice, and you should count him out for Sunday.
Lions RB Ameer Abdullah will be "used extensively in the pass game," according to OC Joe Lombardi.
Rams RB Tre Mason (hamstring) missed practice again on Thursday. Keep Benny Cunningham on speed dial in case of emergency, even if he won't be a strong option against the Seahawks.
With Victor Cruz unlikely to play Sunday night, I've got Rueben Randle up to WR29. Randle can be maddeningly inconsistent, but the G-Men figure to throw the ball a lot, and can't always go to OBJ against the Cowboys' shaky secondary.
If you're playing daily fantasy this week, you're probably salivating at Packers WR Davante Adams ($4,400 on DraftKings) being so cheap. Just remember that everyone else sees the same thing you do. That doesn't make Adams a bad play, especially in cash games. However, if you're trying to stand out from the other 572,000 entries in the DK Millionaire Maker, fading Adams isn't a bad idea.
Other DFS nuggets: With Sam Bradford and Tyrod Taylor also likely to be popular plays, Carson Palmer ($6,500) makes for an interesting, mid-priced QB against the usually putrid Saints' defense. Stacking Palmer with John Brown ($4,500) will be cheap ... I know DraftKings is full-point PPR, but Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart seems awfully friendly at $5,800. He's going to get the ball at least 20 times ... Cowboys WR Terrance Williams ($4,000) looks like a good tournament option versus a bad Giants defense ... Doesn't every rookie QB need a security blanket? TE Delanie Walker ($3,400) is likely to fill that role for Marcus Mariota ... I love, love, love the Jets' DST ($2,900) against the Browns, in all forms of fantasy football ... Here's a link to more DFS recommendations from the FOXSports.com fantasy staff.
Need help over the weekend? Find us on Twitter (@jhalpin37, @FOXSportsFowler, @FOXSportsMeyer, @FOXSportsFoster), check out our Week 1 rankings and come to our chat on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET (I'll have the 11 o'clock hour). We'll have your questions covered, but can't stress enough that waiting to ask us until 15 minutes before kickoff is a bad plan.
Finally, I publish the item below every Sept. 11:
I didn't know Steven Hagis very well, but he walked and sat next to me during our graduation from Monsignor Farrell High School in 1987 (we were arranged in alphabetical order). Steve was 6-foot-9 and I'm 5-6, and watching for the tallest kid in our class of 300 made it easy for my parents to keep track of where I was during the ceremony.
After graduation, Steve went on to play basketball at Fairfield University, and later became a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald. Steve died Sept. 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center, leaving behind a wife and two young children. Read his obituary when you get a chance, as we remember all those we lost on that terrible day.
Good luck in Week 1, folks.
