Players to Watch
Austin Hooper • TE • Atlanta Falcons • First Season • @AustinHooper18
Hooper sits atop the Atlanta depth chart at tight end with Jacob Tamme ruled out for Thursday's clash with Tampa Bay. The rookie third-rounder appeared on 73 percent of snaps against Green Bay in Week 8, more than double his previous career-high. He caught all five targets for 41 yards, and has a chance on Thursday to cement himself in the Falcons' league-leading offense.
Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • Fourth Season • @ZERTZ_86
Ertz was forced to answer questions about his lack of production following Philadelphia's 29-23 overtime loss at Dallas. The fourth-year tight end has 15 catches for 150 yards in 2016, and Eagles' beat reporter Mike Sielski insists they must get him more involved in the offense. The Eagles face the New York Giants in Week 9 -- in two matchups against New York last season, Ertz caught 15 balls for 195 yards.
Andrus Peat • T/G • New Orleans Saints • Second season • @AndrusPeat
Since being drafted 13th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, Peat has slowly but surely established himself worthy of his price tag. Peat and the Saints should have a field day against San Francisco's front seven, which has allowed 185.1 rushing yards per game, nearly 40 more than any other team.
Matchup to WatchColts at Packers
Six former Cardinal -- Henry Anderson, Andrew Luck, David Parry, Blake Martinez, Ty Montgomery and Kyle Murphy -- are involved in a Week 9 matchup between Indianapolis and Green Bay. Anderson and Montgomery are both in question due to injury, but Luck, Parry, Martinez and Murphy are all expected to suit up in a Stanford-heavy affair on Sunday.Injury ReportHenry Anderson returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity, but remains questionable ahead of the Colts' trip to Green Bay. Packers wideout Ty Montgomery was held out of Sunday's loss at Atlanta due to illness, but could also return to face Indianapolis. Saints guard Andrus Peat played the entire game Sunday and appears to have shaken off a groin injury.
Week 9 Schedule
| Date | Time (PT)/TV Network | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Nov. 3 | 5:25 p.m./NFL | Falcons (Austin Hooper, Levine Toilolo) at Buccaneers |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | 10:00 a.m./FOX | Lions (Johnson Bademosi) at Vikings |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | 10:00 a.m./CBS | Steelers (David DeCastro) at Ravens |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | 10:00 a.m./CBS | Jets at Dolphins (Michael Thomas) |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | 10:00 a.m./FOX | Cowboys at Browns (Kevin Hogan, Ed Reynolds) |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | 10:00 a.m./FOX | Eagles (Zach Ertz) at Giants |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | 1:05 p.m./FOX | Saints (Andrus Peat, Coby Fleener) at 49ers (Joshua Garnett, Shayne Skov) |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | 1:25 p.m./CBS | Titans at Chargers (Griff Whalen) |
| Sunday, Nov. 6 | 1:25 a.m./CBS | Colts (Henry Anderson, Andrew Luck, David Parry) at Packers (Blake Martinez, Ty Montgomery, Kyle Murphy) |
| Monday, Nov. 7 | 5:30 p.m./ESPN | Bills at Seahawks (Doug Baldwin, Richard Sherman) |
Week 9 Byes
Cameron Fleming • TE • New England Patriots • Third season • @cammyjfresh
Fleming has appeared in all eight games for the 7-1 Patriots, including four starts. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick heaped praise on Fleming for his spot start at left tackle in place of Nate Solder. Out of 78 eligible players, Fleming is the 27th-ranked offensive tackle in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus.
Tyler Gaffney • RB • New England Patriots • Third season
New England elevated Gaffney from the practice squad on Oct. 29 to fill out its 53-man roster. Gaffney will wear number 35 for the 7-1 Patriots.
Ryan Hewitt • TE/FB • Cincinnati Bengals • Third season • @Huey85
Hewitt's snaps have been limited in 2016, but is rated as the seventh-best fullback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. In Hewitt's last appearance, he posted an excellent 84.5 PFF rating, helping the Bengals rush for 152 yards and three touchdowns.
Josh Mauro • DE/DL • Arizona Cardinals • Third season • @JustJoshin90
Mauro has been an efficient component of Arizona's defense, which holds the second-highest overall grade (92.6) in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. In only 152 snaps, Mauro's +4.5 PFF run defense grade ranks 11th in the NFL out of 55 eligible players.
Trent Murphy • DE/OLB • Washington Redskins • Third season • @TMurphy_93
Murphy is tied for eighth in the league with 6.0 sacks, including a streak of six games with at least one half sack. He has also excelled in run defense, holding an overall +5.4 season grade in run defense according to Pro Football Focus, which ranks seventh among NFL 3-4 defensive ends.
Jordan Richards • S • New England Patriots • Second season
Almost exclusively a special-teamer thus far, Richards has had little opportunities in the secondary behind the likes of Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung. Richards continues to be a reliable special teamer for New England, which prides itself on special teams efficiency.
Stepfan Taylor • RB/ST • Arizona Cardinals • Fourth season • @KULABAFI
Stanford's all-time leader in rushing yards has carried the ball four times for 12 yards in 2016 and is one of Arizona's most oft-used special teamers.