Fantasy Pulse

Las Vegas Raiders
Bowers misses a second straight practice
Brock Bowers · Did not practice (knee) Michael Mayer · Start him

CBS Sports reports, via ESPN's Ryan McFadden, that Bowers was again absent from the media portion of practice. Two full misses this week point toward a second straight inactive at the Chargers, though Friday is still a chance to change that. Athlon notes Las Vegas has not used injured reserve on him, which signals they expect him back well before Week 5.

TSP read: This is the change from midday. Mayer went from a contingency to a starting tight end. He led the team in targets in Week 1 without Bowers.

Baltimore Ravens
Flowers sits again; receiver room down to four
Zay Flowers · Did not practice (hamstring) Rashod Bateman · Start him

RotoWire reports, citing Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun, that Flowers was a non-participant for the second time this week. With Ja'Kobi Lane already on injured reserve, Bateman, Devontez Walker, Elijah Sarratt and LaJohntay Wester are the healthy receivers for Sunday against New Orleans. Flowers would need to practice in some form Friday to have a realistic case.

TSP read: Plan without Flowers. Bateman is the beneficiary and belongs in lineups, and Walker is worth a deep-league look.

Minnesota Vikings
Murray limited again and trending toward Sunday
Kyler Murray · Limited (concussion) Blake Cashman · Wrist Andrew Van Ginkel · Chest

The Vikings' report lists Murray as limited for a second day, with defensive starters Cashman and Van Ginkel also added. Ian Rapoport said Thursday that Murray's limited work means he at least has a chance to play at Chicago if he keeps progressing. He still needs to clear an independent neurologist.

TSP read: Do not drop Wentz yet, but do not plan around him either. Aaron Jones is the Minnesota start either way, and rain at Soldier Field argues for a run-leaning game plan.

Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow still limited on paper, better on the field
Joe Burrow · Limited (back)

Burrow's official designation did not change, but the Thursday report and practice video showed him in full pads throwing harder than Wednesday and working through drills. Cincinnati has given him no game designation and is ramping him up deliberately ahead of Houston.

TSP read: Unchanged. Start Burrow. Friday's designation is the last thing to watch, and nothing today suggests one is coming.

Houston Texans
Nico Collins added with a hamstring injury
Nico Collins · Limited (hamstring)

ESPN reported that Collins hurt a hamstring at Wednesday's practice and is uncertain for Week 2 against Cincinnati. He appeared on the Thursday report as a limited participant.

TSP read: Hamstrings this early are rarely worth the risk. Have a replacement ready and treat Friday's designation as the decision point, not a game-time call.

New Orleans Saints
Olave and Young added; Kamara full
Chris Olave · Limited (hamstring) Alvin Kamara · Full (knee)

NBC Sports reports Olave, Chase Young and long snapper Zach Wood were added Thursday. Olave left as a precaution and the injury is not expected to be a problem, and Young has calf soreness the team feels good about. Wood is the real loss, with a calf strain that could cost him over a month. Kamara practiced in full, and tight end Juwan Johnson was limited after sitting Wednesday with an illness.

TSP read: Kamara practicing in full is the signal to watch after he sat out Week 1; Friday decides whether he is startable at Baltimore. Keep Olave in lineups for now but check Friday, since a precautionary exit can still turn into a designation.

Atlanta Falcons
Tagovailoa misses again; the Week 2 starter is unsettled
Tua Tagovailoa · Did not practice (oblique) Michael Penix Jr. · Knee

RotoWire reports Tagovailoa was a non-participant for a second straight day and is likely to miss a second straight game against Carolina. Penix gets the start if he is cleared from his knee injury; otherwise Cooper Rush makes his second start of the season.

TSP read: Nobody in this quarterback room is startable in one-quarterback leagues until Friday sorts it out. Atlanta's pass catchers take a modest hit either way.

Detroit ruled out guard Mahogany and tackle Miller, with cornerback D.J. Reed questionable; safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph were already out. Buffalo listed Cole Bishop, Ty Johnson and T.J. Sanders as questionable, while Terrel Bernard, Bradley Chubb and Jordan Hancock were cleared without a designation. Nobody was ruled out on the Bills' side.

TSP read: Inactives land about 90 minutes before kickoff. Johnson is a third-down flier only, and Detroit's thinner line trims the run-game outlook without pushing the skill players out of lineups.