tradeTrade deadline: Giants pull Taylor offer; Ridley drawing interest
The Giants withdrew their offer of second- and fifth-round picks for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Saturday after Indianapolis declined it, per Jay Glazer. The Colts reportedly want a package resembling what the 49ers gave for Christian McCaffrey and are now expected to keep Taylor through Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, per Jordan Schultz. Separately, the Titans are fielding calls on WR Calvin Ridley, who per Tom Pelissero could be dealt for a day-3 pick, while the Chargers again said Khalil Mack isn't going anywhere.
Fantasy take
Giants were unwilling to meet Indianapolis's price on Taylor and backed off rather than bid against themselves; Colts are now the ones setting the market, pointing to the McCaffrey trade as the comp. Ridley's situation is more straightforward — Tennessee's listening and a day-3 pick reportedly gets it done, which is a lot cheaper than what Indy wants for Taylor. Mack's going nowhere; the Chargers and Harbaugh said as much again.
Shedeur Sanders gets first career start as Watson cleared but held out
Watson cleared concussion protocol Saturday, but the Browns listed him questionable and then inactive Sunday morning at New Orleans. Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round pick, gets his first career start; Taylen Green is up as the emergency third quarterback, meaning Watson can't play today under any circumstance.
Fantasy take
Watson's clearance and subsequent inactive status points to a team decision rather than a medical setback, with Taylen Green's elevation as emergency QB closing the door on any in-game change. Sanders takes his first career start on the road against New Orleans, throwing to the same room — Jeudy and Tillman as the primary targets, Fannin underneath — that's worked with Watson under center. The start itself is the data point; how Cleveland's passing offense looks with Sanders at the controls is still unknown.
Week 9 injury wave: Wilson, Skattebo, Pickens inactive; McCaffrey full-go
The Jets ruled out WR Garrett Wilson (concussion) against the Chiefs after a team-high 43 catches for 527 yards and 3 touchdowns through 8 games. The Giants' Cam Skattebo (hamstring) is inactive against the Eagles a week after a career-high 124 rushing yards vs. Houston, with Tyrone Tracy Jr. already on IR with his own hamstring injury. The Cowboys held WR George Pickens (hamstring) out against the Colts for a second straight week limited in practice. The 49ers' Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) was cleared off the injury report entirely for a full workload against the Raiders.
Fantasy take
Garrett Wilson is out against the Chiefs with a concussion, breaking his run as the Jets' clear target leader through eight weeks. Cam Skattebo is inactive against the Eagles with a hamstring injury one week after his career-high 124-yard game, and with Tyrone Tracy Jr. also on IR with a hamstring issue, the Giants' backfield carries are without both of their top two options. George Pickens sat out against the Colts after a second consecutive week limited in practice by hamstring, extending a pattern rather than a one-off absence. Christian McCaffrey cleared the injury report entirely and takes a full workload against the Raiders, closing out the hamstring issue that had limited his practice time.
A.J. Brown out again — 6th missed game in nine for Patriots
The Patriots ruled out WR A.J. Brown (ankle/knee) for Sunday's home game against the Packers, his sixth missed game through New England's first nine contests this season. In his three appearances, Brown has 9 catches for 101 yards.
Fantasy take
A.J. Brown sat out again, the sixth game he's missed in New England's nine contests, with the ankle and knee issues unresolved. When healthy enough to play, he's totaled 9 catches for 101 yards across three appearances, production that reflects limited availability more than usage. The absences remain the defining pattern of his first season with the Patriots.
Micah Parsons ruled out again; Week 12 now the target
The Packers ruled out DE Micah Parsons (knee) for Sunday's game at New England. Parsons returned to practice Wednesday to open a 21-day return window but won't play today; his target return has shifted to Week 12 against the Rams (Nov. 25), per multiple reports.
Fantasy take
Parsons is out again before he's suited up once this season for Green Bay, so the knee is still setting the terms rather than the calendar. In standard formats this is a defensive add with no bearing on anyone's lineup beyond IDP leagues.
Aiyuk reinstatement stalls over $13M repayment demand
The NFL has not reinstated 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk from the reserve/left-squad list despite his Oct. 27 filing. The league wants him to repay roughly $13 million in bonuses as a condition of reinstatement. Aiyuk met with the 49ers Friday; Shanahan and GM John Lynch have both said he won't play for San Francisco again, with release considered the likeliest outcome once he's reinstated.
Fantasy take
No reinstatement has followed the October filing; the league's repayment condition is the sticking point rather than a roster decision by the 49ers. Friday's meeting points toward a negotiated split once that financial issue clears, consistent with Shanahan and Lynch's prior statements that Aiyuk's future is elsewhere. The situation remains unresolved, with the exit mechanism — reinstate, then release — still pending on the league's repayment terms.
Trade deadline closes Tuesday at 4pm ET — Taylor, Ridley, and whatever else surfaces in the next 48 hours will be the next update.
yac.football