NFL Player News

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (foot) was limited in practice Wednesday as the team prepares for Week 9 at N.Y. Jets. Graham was able to play in a limited role Week 8 despite the foot injury, totaling three catches for 37 yards and two touchdowns.

In his first game starting in place of the injured Jermichael Finley, Packers tight end Andrew Quarless caught both his targets for 13 yards against Minnesota. Quarless figures to start again Monday against Chicago, but his role won't change. He's primarily a blocker.

Leave Quarless on the waiver wire.

The Chiefs waived tight end Kevin Brock, who made three catches in four games.

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham played just 18 snaps Sunday against the Bills because of a foot injury, but Graham didn't need a ton of plays to make a huge impact for Fantasy owners. Two of Graham's three catches went for touchdowns Week 8, proving even a less-than-100-percent Graham is a must-start Fantasy option.

Graham and the Saints will be back in action Week 9 at N.Y. Jets. Tight ends have fared pretty well against the Jets lately. In the last six games against New York, tight ends are averaging 73.3 receiving yards and 10.8 Fantasy points per week. Tight ends have also totaled four touchdowns in the last six games against the Jets.

Graham will likely see a reduced amount of snaps again Sunday as he continues to get back to 100 percent, but as we stated earlier, if Graham is active, then start him in all Fantasy formats.

Lions tight end Joseph Fauria was noticeably absent in red-zone situations during Sunday's game against the Cowboys. The Lions often went with three-receiver sets against Dallas' nickel defense, meaning only one tight end was on the field for Detroit, which was starter Brandon Pettigrew.

Fauria played just 15 of 82 offensive snaps Sunday (18.3 percent) and finished without a reception.

"Every week is going to be a little bit different," coach Jim Schwartz said, per MLive.com. "I think that everybody's role is going to change from week-to-week, and things like that. He can contribute in other ways other than the red zone.

"We used a lot of three-wide receiver personnel, and it only keeps one tight end on the field. That's no reflection on him. He wasn't benched or de-emphasized. We wanted to keep them in nickel packages."

Saints coach Sean Payton thinks tight end Jimmy Graham will be able to manage the pain from his partially torn fascia, which limited Graham to 18 snaps Sunday.

“I think from a pain standpoint, my understanding is it can begin to diminish,” Payton said, via ESPN.com. “I know this – we’re not gonna sit here week to week discussing it. But I think it’s something he’ll be able to manage.”

Graham made the most of his snaps, catching a pair of touchdowns against Buffalo. He's expected to play Week 9 at the Jets.

The Packers got a slew of offensive contributions in their easy win in Minnesota. Among them, tight end Andrew Quarless caught both his targets for 13 yards, and fullback John Kuhn hauled in one of his two targets for 7 yards.

Quarless started for Jermichael Finley, who's out indefinitely with a neck injury.

The Redskins received minor contributions from several key role players during Sunday's loss to the Broncos in Week 8.

In the passing game, wide receiver Josh Morgan caught a pass from Robert Griffin III for a gain of 3 yards. Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson and tight end Logan Paulsen were each held without a reception. Robinson was targeted once while Paulsen had two targets in a 45-21 defeat.

When your backup quarterback is your leading rusher, you know you've had a bad game. But that was the sad reality for the Jets in Cincinnati on Sunday, when Matt Simms paced the team with 35 yards on three attempts. Simms was 3 of 7 passing for 17 yards.

Simms was one of several meager contributors in the 49-9 loss. Among the others was running back Alex Green, who added 20 yards on three carries and one reception for 7 yards.

Also catching passes were tight ends Zach Sudfeld (2-10) and Jeff Cumberland (1-9). Sudfeld was a surprise co-starter at that position.

The Eagles received minor contributions from running back Bryce Brown, tight end James Casey and wide receiver Damaris Johnson Week 8 vs. N.Y. Giants. 

Brown had three carries for minus-1 yard and one catch for 2 yards. Casey had one catch for 11 yards and Johnson had one catch for 6 yards.

The Eagles are back in action Week 9 at Oakland.