Unfortunately, the most critical game-time decision this week is the Houston backfield. Arian Foster's status isn't likely to be updated with certainty until this evening. Elsewhere, the trend is mostly positive. Marshawn Lynch, Demarco Murray, Zac Stacy and C.J. Spiller are all likely to return to their usual roles. Jimmy Graham is also a more trustworthy option this week than last.
NOTE: This column is a living document and will be updated throughout the morning. Major changes to the content will be in red. Check back often for additions as gameday inactives are announced and lineup / depth chart changes are reported. I'll also be retweeting those reports with quick bits of analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter.
Arian Foster | hamstring | questionable
Ben Tate | ribs | probable
We've suspected for two weeks that Foster and Tate would be game-time decisions and that it would be very unlikely that they or Gary Kubiak would provide any real insight leading up to tonight's game. With luck, one of the national media reporters will have a early morning update. Most likely, we'll have only Friday's post-practice press conference to go on.
Foster took limited reps this week and was reportedly feeling better. That's not helpful. Foster has been dealing with a hamstring injury for weeks and this latest aggravation has the feel of a 2-4 week recovery. He may be active today, but it will be a surprise if he's able to handle anything close to his usual workload. Tate practiced this week despite -- reportedly -- four cracked ribs. He's listed probable and will play. However, that's too large an area to reliably inject with local anesthetic and kevlar only goes so far. Any hit to the area could send Tate to the sideline for large parts of any given series.
Fantasy recommendation: There's a wide range of expectation for both players today. I wouldn't trust Foster as more than a flex play, but won't fault you for risking him as a RB2 if you're struggling to find other options in a heavy bye week. Tate is a boom-bust RB2. He had no setbacks this week in practice, briefly played through the injury two weeks ago and indications are that he'll get the larger workload tonight.
JIMMY GRAHAM | FOOT | QUESTIONABLE
Plantar fascia tears need a long period of rest (1-3 months) to heal, so Graham is likely to be dealing with his condition for awhile. I've referenced Antonio Gates as a comparison for Graham's condition, noting that this injury should be seen as a snap-to-snap issue. Last week's performance from Graham came on just 18 snaps and three targets, so big contributions are possible in limited time. Graham told reporters that he's unsure whether he'll see more snaps this week than last. However, he was considered healthy enough to take practice reps earlier in the week. I believe that means the Saints would like to expand his role if his foot allows today.
Fantasy recommendation: Graham is a risky play until he shows he can move better than he did last week. But his usage pattern gives him TE1 fantasy value, even if his floor is much lower than usual.
marshawn lynch | knee | probable
The Seahawks often put Lynch on the injury report and limit his reps during the week. It's rare that Lynch isn't practicing in some capacity on Friday and then running at full strength on Sunday. With his full practice participation this Friday, there's little worry about his workload today unless Seattle gets out to a big lead early.
Fantasy recommendation: Use Lynch as you normally would.
rob gronkowski | hamstring | questionable
There isn't much to go on with Gronkowski today. He's now also limited by a hamstring injury. None of the strong New England sources expect him to miss this week's game, however. The matchup and upcoming bye week work in Gronkowski's favor as well.
Fantasy recommendation: Barring another plot twist in the long-running 2013 series of Pregame Gronk Drama, Gronkowski is safe to start today.
c.j. spiller | ankle | probable
Spiller has made progress in his recovery from a high ankle sprain and fully practiced Friday. However, Fred Jackson and Tashard Choice are still heavily in the mix and Spiller will have to prove he can play effectively on back-to-back snaps to get back to his usual 12-20 touch role.
Fantasy recommendation: Despite the full practice, there are too many unknowns to reliably project Spiller to the 15 touches he needs to be considered a strong RB2+. Put him in the boom-bust category if you're using him as more than a flex.
demarco murray | knee | probable
Murray fully practiced all week. That's a strong sign that he's feeling no give in his knee joint and didn't have any swelling after increasing his practice participation this week. It's also a sign that the coaches have seen enough to trust him as a big part of their weekly gameplan.
Fantasy recommendation: There's always a risk with players coming off multi-week injuries, but it's safe to use Murray as you normally would today.
marques colston | knee | questionable
Usually, missing practice on Friday with a chronic injury is reason for concern. It may be for Colston, but the Saints have been limiting Colston's midseason practice reps for years. Beat reporters noted that Friday practices were primarily red zone reps last week during the Jimmy Graham reports, so it's not necessarily a major worry that Colston sat late in the week.
Fantasy recommendation: Colston has been a boom-bust WR3 play for most of the season. Today will be no different.
1130 ET: Well, this time it is different. Colston is inactive today. It's too soon to say how severe his latest flare is, but it's a concern for players who have had microfracture procedures. I'll have more tomorrow.
roddy white | hamstring / ankle | questionable
White managed only a limited Friday practice. While there are some indications that he'll try to play this week, one limited in practice in three weeks is nowhere near enough to regain football conditioning and prove that his hamstring is ready to respond to game conditions. I'll be surprised if he's active and shocked if he contributes anything close to meaningful snaps.
Fantasy recommendation: White should remain on your bench until he shows he's able to run routes comfortably and be targeted frequently. Next week is the earliest that will happen.
zac stacy | ankle | questionable
daryl richardson | foot | questionable
Both St. Louis running backs saw their practice participation go backward on Friday. Stacy was limited Friday after a full Thursday practice. Richardson didn't practice on Friday. Stacy's injury is reportedly a low ankle sprain and he was reportedly moving well later in the week. Richardson has struggled with a foot injury at multiple points this year and it's concerning that he was back on the DNP line after trying to go on Thursday. I'm speculating, but it looks like the Rams decided to limit Stacy knowing that Richardson was a game-time decision at best.
Fantasy recommendation: Despite the drop in practice participation, Stacy is safe to start today. I'd be more leery of using Richardson as anything more than a boom-bust flex and make sure you confirm he's active before leaving him in your lineup.
james jones | knee | questionable
All signs point to Jones playing Monday night, but it's unlikely he'll see a heavy workload. Expect him to be a part of a handful of designed packages only. But don't expect this to be a Jimmy Graham / Calvin Johnson situation, where Jones is the primary read on those plays.
Fantasy recommendation: Jones is an extreme boom-bust WR3 / flex play. There's also a chance that he's not comfortable in pre-game warmups and doesn't make the active list. Leave him on your bench and hope he finishes the game without any setbacks.
jonathan stewart | ankles | activated off PUP
deangelo williams | quad | probable
Stewart needed nine months to recover from arthroscopic surgery on his ankles. He's reportedly looking good in practice this week, but that may be relative to how he looked a few weeks ago. There's no guarantee he's ready to take on a large role and Ron Rivera expects him to see fewer than 10 touches today. Williams saw out most of this week's practice reps, but is listed probable. That puts the Carolina backfield into the same situation it's been in many times. While it's possible one player may end up needing to take the bulk of the workload, expect a rotation of snaps between two less than full strength players.
Fantasy recommendation: The matchup is strong enough to consider Williams a RB2 today. If you have no other strong options this week, Stewart can be considered as a risky flex. It's better to wait to see how well Stewart moves before trusting him in your lineup.
Best of luck in your fantasy games this weekend. I'll be back on Monday morning to review all the Week 9 injuries in the Injury Rounds column. Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking news and analysis during the games today.
