Inactives watch: Walker, Montgomery out; Pickens expected to play

• Michael F. FlorioNov 15, 2026, 07:00 AM ET

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  Michael F. Florio is a fantasy football writer and analyst for ESPN Fantasy. He is an analyst on NFL Network's NFL Fantasy Live and frequent guest on other network shows. He has been a fantasy football analyst for the last 15 years, with his work featured at a number of publications, and is an FSWA award winner.

Biggest injury concerns for Week 10

Players in Germany

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions (ribs): The "Sun God" was limited at practice this week and is listed as questionable but appears to be likely to play in Week 10. He played through the injury last week and surpassed 16 fantasy points. St. Brown, who is a German citizen, will look to put on a show.

A.J. Brown, WR, Patriots (ankle/knee): Brown has been limited at practice this week and was listed as questionable headed into Sunday's game. However, he is currently expected to play. Brown averaged eight targets per game for the two times that he played on over 75% of snaps. Given all the missed time, he brings some risk. Still, fantasy managers should probably take the chance here as Brown has a fantastic matchup against the Lions, who have allowed the fourth-most WR fantasy PPG.

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots (knee): Stevenson was able to return in a limited fashion after missing practice to start the week. He is listed as questionable for Sunday, but is expected to play. He has a tough matchup against the Lions, who have allowed the second-fewest fantasy PPG. They rank bottom six in rushing touchdowns and rushing yards per game allowed to RBs. Assuming he suits up, he's a risky flex option.

Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots (foot): Henry has been limited at practice this week but does not currently carry an injury designation for Week 10. That means he is expected to play. Henry is a TE1 worth starting against the Lions, who have allowed the most yards, touchdowns and fantasy points to tight ends.

Don't forget to check these out: Mike Clay's Playbook | Week 10 Buzz
Week 10 Rankings | Matchup rankings for Week 10

Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: around 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for the late-afternoon games.

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Players with early starts

Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Browns (groin): While Fannin was limited at practice this week, he has been removed from Cleveland's injury report and will play in Week 10. The Texans' defense is tough on tight ends, having allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy PPG to the position. Still, consider Fannin to be a TE1 this week in a game where the Browns might be trailing and needing to throw.

Denzel Boston, WR, Browns (toe): Boston missed practice on Thursday before returning Friday. He is questionable for Week 10, but HC Todd Monken said on Friday that Boston is "trending in the right direction." On paper, Boston has a favorable matchup against the Texans, although they have been tougher as of late. He is in the WR3/flex range. If he were to sit, KC Concepcion gets the biggest boost and would be in a similar range as Boston. Fannin, albeit in a tough matchup, would also likely see a few more targets.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jaguars (ankle/foot):  Despite missing practice this week, Tuten is off the practice report and will play in Week 10. Tuten should be started in fantasy this week. The lone concern is the potential for him to see a reduced workload (just like last week). That would especially be the case if the Jaguars pull ahead, which is very likely against the Titans.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, Jaguars (ankle):  Meyers returned to practice Thursday and is off the injury report, meaning he will play in Week 10. Meyers has played through a number of injuries this season. He is a flex option for those in deeper leagues. The Titans have allowed the most WR fantasy PPG and allow explosive pass plays at the third-highest rate.

Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets (concussion): After sitting out Week 9, Wilson has been limited at practice and is questionable for Week 10. If Wilson suits up, fantasy managers should start him as a WR2. While he has been up and down, the Bills are allowing the 10th-most WR fantasy PPG. Plus, the Jets are likely to be playing from behind in this one and, thus, will have to throw.

Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Jets (ankle): Cooper was limited at practice this week before upgrading to full on Friday. He is questionable for Week 10. If Cooper plays, he'd be in the WR3 range but with much more upside. Cooper saw 11 targets last week and has surpassed 13 fantasy points in three of his past four games, including two 22-point efforts. Plus, Geno Smith should be very effective airing the ball out against a Bills secondary that has been very leaky at times. Adonai Mitchell (knee) popped onto the injury report Friday and is also questionable for the Jets.

Travis Etienne Jr, WR, Saints (hamstring): Etienne, who has not played since Week 3, was limited at practice this week before upgrading to full participation Friday. He has been activated off the IR and is expected to play in Week 10, per Adam Schefter. Do not be surprised if he has a reduced workload in his first game back. Even so, he would be in the RB2 range against the Panthers, who rank top-two in terms of the most rushing TDs and fantasy RB PPG allowed. Audric Estime, who was a popular streaming option can be benched if Etienne plays.

Players with late starts

Bam Knight, RB, Cardinals (concussion): Knight has cleared the league's concussion protocol and will play in Week 10. Expect him to handle the bulk of early-down opportunities. Tyler Allgeier is the preferred fantasy play because he handles passing downs on a team that will likely throw often. Still, both are just flex options. Trey McBride is the only Cardinal who should be started this week.

George Pickens, WR, Cowboys (hamstring): Pickens has been limited at practice but was removed from the injury report, meaning he will play Sunday. Even though he has not duplicated his success from last season, Pickens is still good enough that when he plays, you start him in fantasy. If he were to sit, Ryan Flournoy becomes a streaming option in what could be a high-scoring game against the 49ers.

Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, 49ers (hamstring): Samuel has practiced in a limited fashion this week and has been removed from the injury report, meaning he will play in Week 10. He is a WR3/flex play with upside against the Cowboys, who have allowed the seventh-most WR fantasy PPG. The 49ers will be without Mike Evans this week but did add Keenan Allen at the trade deadline. Expect Allen to be used only in a limited fashion for his first game with a new team.

Drew Lock, QB, Seahawks (right elbow/oblique): Lock had been limited at practice this week but has since been removed from the injury report, meaning he will play in Week 10. He's a streaming option for those in need of a bye week/injury replacement. He faces the Raiders, who have allowed the most passing touchdowns and third-most QB fantasy PPG.

Players on Sunday night

No fantasy relevant injuries of note.

Players on Monday night

Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers (back spasms): Twice in the past five weeks, McConkey has been active for his game but did not play a single snap. Last week, fantasy managers did not know he would not be playing until after kickoff. This week, he is listed as questionable. Simply put, it's very tough to trust him -- especially since McConkey did not practice to start the week and this game is on Monday night. Sitting all your Chargers is probably the way to go.

Ruled out before Sunday

Michael Wilson, WR, Cardinals (neck): Wilson has been placed on IR and is out for the rest of the season. Arizona's receivers moving forward are Reggie Virgil, Simi Fehoko, Devin Duvernay with Zay Jones, Phillip Dorsett II and James Proche II on the practice squad. The preferred options would be Virgil and Jones (if he's elevated). However, this is a situation to avoid unless you are both in a deep league and desperate.

Gardner Minshew II, QB, Cardinals (elbow): Minshew has also been placed on the IR and is out for the rest of the season. It will be Carson Beck starting moving forward for Arizona. He's worth an add in 2-QB formats, but even there, he is just "depth" until we see otherwise. For the time being, consider the Cardinals' offensive motto to be "McBride or bust" and act accordingly.

Jake Ferguson, TE, Cowboys (knee/ankle): Ferguson is out for Week 10 and might miss multiple weeks. That likely means more volume for the Cowboys trio of WRs and makes Ryan Flournoy a more appealing flex option. Go with the replacement options listed above if you need a TE this week.

Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Texans (hamstring): Harrison was limited Wednesday before missing practice Thursday, which indicates that he was likely injured during practice. He has since been ruled out for Week 10. That makes Tank Dell a bit more appealing. However, he would still be no more than a "boom or bust" option.

David Montgomery, RB, Texans (groin): Montgomery returned to practice this week but is not ready to return and is out for Week 10. That puts Marks, who missed Thursday but is not on the final injury report, as the top option. He is a flex option in a favorable matchup against the Browns, who have allowed the third-most rushing yards per game to the position.

Kenneth Walker III, RB, Chiefs (groin): Walker will be held out in Week 10, per Adam Schefter. The Chiefs "want to give him a week," Schefter reports. That makes Emmett Johnson a top 15 running back that fantasy managers should get in their lineup. Johnson has played extremely well as both a runner and receiver when given opportunities behind Walker. Play him over Chase Brown, Tony Pollard, Quinshon Judkins and Woody Marks.

Puka Nacua, WR, Rams (knee): Nacua was placed on IR and will miss a minimum of four games. The Rams also placed Jordan Whittington on IR this week (back). That leaves the Rams with Konata Mumpfield and Tutu Atwell as their top receivers. Both are deeper-league flex options. However, I expect a lot of targets to go to the team's RBs and TEs. Both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum should be started this week, while Higbee is a streaming option.

Malik Willis, QB, Dolphins (groin): Willis was placed on the IR this week, meaning he will miss a minimum of four games. The Dolphins will start Kyle McCord in his place. For the time being, fantasy managers should avoid all Dolphins pass catchers. Ollie Gordon II is the lone Miami player worth starting this week. The Colts D/ST is a solid streaming option against the McCord-led Dolphins.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings (chest/wrist): Hockenson has not practiced this week and is out for Week 10. This likely means even more volume for Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, who is listed as questionable with a thumb injury. Some potential alternatives for Hockenson are Hunter Henry, Darren Waller and Tyler Higbee.

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Patriots (illness): On Saturday, the Patriots placed Henderson on IR. The running back will miss at least four games due after saying he recently experienced "an unexpected and unusual medical emergency involving a series of unexplained neurological symptoms."

Carnell Tate, WR, Titans (shoulder): Coming out of the bye week, Tate has still not practiced. He has been ruled out for Week 10. Expect Wan'Dale Robinson to get a boost in targets. The Titans are likely going to be trailing and will need to throw plenty in a game facing a Jaguars team that has allowed the most WR receiving yards per game. That's enough to make Robinson a flex option in 12-team leagues.