Inactives watch: Saquon Barkley, Breece Hall expected to play

Whom should you start? Whom should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won't be in the lineup, we'll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactives lists. 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. Refresh often for the latest information. Don't forget to check these out: Mike Clay's Playbook | Week 9 Buzz Week 9 Rankings | Matchup rankings for Week 9 Biggest concerns ahead of Sunday Players in Spain No injuries of note Players with early starts Deshaun Watson, QB, Browns (concussion): Watson missed practice to start the week before upgrading to limited on Friday. While he is listed as questionable for Week 9, Shedeur Sanders will start in his place. Sanders does add some value with his legs, having rushed for over 20 yards in five of eight games last season. However, he had just one game where he threw for multiple TDs or more than 210 yards (both coming in the same game). Even in a favorable matchup against the Saints, Sanders is only for those in need in superflex leagues. Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Browns (groin): Fannin was added to the injury report Thursday, before being removed on Friday. He does not carry an injury designation and will play in Week 9. He is a strong play in fantasy this week. It's a favorable matchup against the Saints for Fannin, who averaged 14.6 fantasy PPG with Sanders last year (9.9 with other QBs) and is coming off two huge performances. George Pickens, WR, Cowboys (hamstring): Pickens was limited all week at practice and the Cowboys are hopeful he will play, despite him being listed as questionable for Week 9. Even though he has not duplicated his success from last season, Pickens still needs to be started each week. If TE Jake Ferguson sits, it could mean some added targets his way. If Pickens were to sit, Ryan Flournoy would be a worthy streaming option. Jake Ferguson, TE, Cowboys (ankle): Ferguson exited early in Week 8 and missed practice Wednesday and Thursday before returning in a limited fashion on Friday. He is questionable heading into Week 9. Some replacement options are Greg Dulcich, Chig Okonkwo and T.J. Hockenson. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions (ribs): St. Brown has been limited at practice this week and is questionable for Week 9. If he plays for the Lions, he is a must start in fantasy option. If he sits, expect Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta to get more volume. Both are already strong starts. Isaac TeSlaa becomes an upside streaming option for those in need of a deeper option. Malik Nabers, WR, Giants (knee): Nabers popped up on the injury report Thursday, which normally isn't ideal. However, it seems to just be a rest day, as he told reporters he was "good" after practice and returned on Friday. He is not on the final injury report and will play in Week 9. He is a must start in fantasy football. Cam Skattebo, RB, Giants (hamstring): Skattebo has not practiced this week and is doubtful for Week 9. While it seems unlikely he plays, the Giants are not ruling it out. If he were to sit, Devin Singletary would be worth using as an RB2 or flex option. RB1s have averaged 18 fantasy PPG against the Eagles the last three weeks. Breece Hall, RB, Jets (quad): Hall will play in Week 9. Braelon Allen has played great in Hall's absence, so expect him to have a larger role than he did previously. But Hall is still the Jets' RB1. The Chiefs are a tough matchup, so fantasy managers should temper expectations, but Hall is still in play as an RB2. As for Allen, managers should certainly hold him as he is one of the best backup RBs in the NFL. It's also possible that he has a large enough role to have standalone flex value. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Saints (hamstring): The Saints' first round pick practiced in a limited fashion this week and is questionable for Week 9. While it is exciting to potentially have Tyson back, fantasy managers should take a "wait-and-see" approach. Not only would it be his first regular-season NFL game, but the Browns are a tough defense. If he sits, it would mean more opportunities for Devaugh Vele. Also worth noting with the Saints is that Travis Etienne Jr. has not yet returned to practice. Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles (hamstring/back): Barkley returned to the practice field Thursday and is off the practice report meaning he will play in Week 9. While he has been toughening it out through these injuries, it has led to him seeing limited usage. His big-play potential and touchdown upside keep him in the RB2 range. Some backs I would play over him are Jonah Coleman, Ollie Gordon II, Chase Brown, Josh Jacobs, Ashton Jeanty and Quinshon Judkins. However, unless you have enough of those backs to play over Barkley, start him. Players with late starts Christian Watson, WR, Packers (rib): Watson has been limited at practice but does not carry an injury designation and will play in Week 9. He literally returned from the hospital and continued playing last week, so I would expect him to play this week. Watson is the WR3 entering Week 9. He is a must-start option. Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers (hamstring): After sitting out Wednesday, McCaffrey was able to return to practice. He does not carry an injury designation for Week 9, meaning he will play. That means you start him in fantasy football. Mike Evans, WR, 49ers (Achilles): Evans has not practiced this week and is unlikely to play in Week 9. The Niners will also likely be without Deebo Samuel. That leaves Christian Kirk and Demarcus Robinson, who is expected to return this week, as the top receivers for Brock Purdy. Both are deep league options. This ultimately means more targets for George Kittle and McCaffrey (if he plays). Players on Sunday night Emeka Egbuka, WR, Buccaneers (foot): Egbuka sat out Wednesday before returning to practice in a full fashion Thursday. He is questionable for Week 9. Prior to being injured, Egbuka had been playing well, posting 17-plus fantasy points in each of his last two games. Baker Mayfield has just 64 passing yards the last two weeks combined (one was a weather game), but Egbuka is still worth playing as a WR3 with upside. Play him over Stefon Diggs, Jaylen Waddle, Makai Lemon and the Jets receivers. Players on Monday night DJ Moore, WR, Bills (shoulder): Moore has been limited this week, just as he has in past weeks, but he seems likely to play in Week 9. In the three full games he has played this season, he has a 29% target share, 42% air yard share and averaged 16.8 fantasy PPG. Even in a tough matchup, he is in play as a WR2. It is worth noting that Keon Coleman was limited and wearing the noncontact jersey at Bills practice. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills (chest): Kincaid was limited to start the week before upgrading to full on Friday. Still, fantasy managers should look to avoid this matchup against the Vikings. Minnesota has allowed the fewest fantasy PPG and zero touchdowns to tight ends this season. Ruled out before Sunday Bam Knight, RB, Cardinals (concussion): Knight has not practiced this week and is out for Week 9. Tyler Allgeier should handle the bulk of work if Knight sits. Allgeier is coming off a huge performance, but he faces a much tougher matchup against the Seahawks. Seattle has allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game to RBs. Allgeier is a volume flex option. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Cardinals (ankle): Love suffered a high ankle sprain that is expected to hold him out four to five weeks. He has been placed on IR, meaning he will miss a minimum of four weeks. Tyler Allgeier is coming off his biggest game as a Cardinal and could once again see a heavy workload. Volume has him as a flex option. He does have a tough matchup though, as the Seahawks allow the sixth-fewest rush yards per game to RBs. Terrance Ferguson, TE, Rams (ankle): The Rams' TE was nearing a return from the IR and was expected to play in Week 9. However, he hurt his hamstring on Friday and will now be out for Week 9. He is still worth stashing, as his last healthy game, he turned nine targets, for six receptions, 54 yards and a touchdown. He could be the number two target for the Rams moving forward. However, his availability, or lack thereof, is becoming an issue. Colby Parkinson (ribs) and Jordan Whittington (back) are both questionable for the Rams as well. Kyler Murray, QB, Vikings (hamstring): Murray has been ruled out for the Week 9 matchup against the Bills and potentially longer. Carson Wentz will start in his place. Wentz threw for 143 yards and no touchdowns in his prior start this season. He played most of Week 1 as well, throwing for 133 yards and three touchdowns. He is a streaming option this week against a Bills team that is top five in passing yards per game and touchdowns allowed. I would play him over Bryce Young, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith and Justin Herbert. A.J. Brown, WR, Patriots (ankle/knee): Brown has not practiced this week and is out for Week 9. That would leave the Patriots with DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, Kyle Williams and potentially Mack Hollins, who is nearing a return from a calf injury, as their receivers this week. Douglas is the top fantasy option of this group. Some replacement options for Brown are KC Concepcion, Keenan Allen, Malik Washington and Ryan Flournoy. The Patriots have also ruled out RB TreVeyon Henderson. Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots (foot): Henry has not practiced and is out for Week 9. That leaves Eli Raridon would be the top tight end on a Patriots team that is shorthanded in the pass-catcher department. That is enough to make him a streaming option this week. Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets (concussion): Wilson has not practiced this week and is out for Week 9. That would leave Omar Cooper Jr. and Adonai Mitchell as the top targets in an extremely tough matchup. The Chiefs have allowed the fewest touchdowns and second-fewest yards and fantasy points per game to WRs. Try to avoid Jets receivers this week. Sam Darnold, QB, Seahawks (quad): Darnold is out for Week 9 against the Cardinals. Drew Lock will start in his place. Lock started earlier this season against Arizona and thew for 235 yards and three touchdowns. The Cardinals have allowed the most touchdown passes and second-most fantasy PPG to QBs. Lock is a streaming option for those in need. I would play him over Wentz and the other QBs listed above.