The Texans and Raiders have announced their injuries for the Monday night game, and they’re as expected. No surprises on either side.
The Texans have ruled out running backs Alfred Blue and Jonathan Grimes. With Blue out, I have some interest in Akeem Hunt. They just added him off the practice squad a week ago, but he pumped some juice into that running game at Jacksonville, where I thought he was the best running back on the field. Hunt weighs only 190 pounds, but he’s quick and he’s running hard. I expect him to get about 10 touches in this game, and my guess is that he’ll be more effective (yards-per-carry) than any of the other four notable running backs in this game – Lamar Miller, Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard.
I can’t think of a fantasy format where I would use Hunt this week (or even pick him up in hopes of him doing something next week) but thought I will concede I like the way he plays.
Texans have also ruled out Jaelen Strong. They’ll definitely use Braxton Miller as their slot receiver. Miller had a couple of nice catches in the preseason but hasn’t really done anything all year – unlikely to make any real impact until 2017.
Houston is calling Will Fuller questionable. Bill O’Brien said something about Fuller being a game-time decision and being optimistic about him. Fuller was limited in practice all week; he should play. But he’s done very little since opening the season with a pair of 100-yard games. With Brock Osweiler really struggling, Fuller has essentially no value right now.
For the Raiders, Amari Cooper, Latavius Murray and their two highest-priced offensive linemen (Kelechi Osemele and Rodney Hudson) are all questionable. But all of these players were able to practice some all week. They should be fine.
HOUSTON TEXANS at OAKLAND RAIDERS
HOUSTON TEXANS
OUT: RB Alfred Blue (calf), RB Jonathan Grimes (illness), WR Jaelen Strong (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Will Fuller (knee), RB Jay Prosch (hamstring), DT Vince Wilfork (groin)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: RB Alfred Blue (calf), RB Jonathan Grimes (illness), WR Jaelen Strong (ankle)
Friday: RB Alfred Blue (calf), RB Jonathan Grimes (illness), WR Jaelen Strong (ankle)
Saturday: RB Alfred Blue (calf), RB Jonathan Grimes (illness), WR Jaelen Strong (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: T Duane Brown (knee), T Chris Clark (hip), DE Jadeveon Clowney (wrist), WR Will Fuller (knee), RB Lamar Miller (ankle), LB Brian Peters (quadricep), S Eddie Pleasant (neck), LB John Simon (shoulder), DT Vince Wilfork (groin)
Friday: T Duane Brown (knee), T Chris Clark (hip), DE Jadeveon Clowney (wrist), WR Will Fuller (knee), RB Lamar Miller (ankle), DT Vince Wilfork (groin)
Saturday: DE Jadeveon Clowney (wrist), WR Will Fuller (knee), RB Lamar Miller (ankle), DT Vince Wilfork (groin)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: G Oday Aboushi (shoulder), CB A.J. Bouye (ankle), TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (neck), G Xavier Su'a-Filo (finger)
Friday: G Oday Aboushi (shoulder), CB A.J. Bouye (ankle), TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (neck), LB Brian Peters (quadricep), S Eddie Pleasant (neck), LB John Simon (shoulder), G Xavier Su'a-Filo (finger)
Saturday: G Oday Aboushi (shoulder), CB A.J. Bouye (ankle), T Duane Brown (knee), T Chris Clark (hip), TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (neck), LB Brian Peters (quadricep), S Eddie Pleasant (neck), RB Jay Prosch (hamstring), LB John Simon (shoulder), G Xavier Su'a-Filo (finger)
OAKLAND RAIDERS
QUESTIONABLE: WR Amari Cooper (back), C Rodney Hudson (knee), DT Stacy McGee (ankle), RB Latavius Murray (ankle), G Kelechi Osemele (knee), CB Sean Smith (shoulder)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: WR Amari Cooper (back), C Rodney Hudson (knee), DT Stacy McGee (ankle), RB Latavius Murray (ankle), G Kelechi Osemele (knee), CB Sean Smith (shoulder)
Friday: WR Amari Cooper (back), C Rodney Hudson (knee), DT Stacy McGee (ankle), RB Latavius Murray (ankle), G Kelechi Osemele (knee), CB Sean Smith (shoulder)
Saturday: WR Amari Cooper (back), C Rodney Hudson (knee), DT Stacy McGee (ankle), RB Latavius Murray (ankle), G Kelechi Osemele (knee), CB Sean Smith (shoulder)
—Ian Allan