
Wed Nov 5 3:35pm ET
Field Level Media
Six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick is among nine coaches still in the running for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The nine semifinalists announced Wednesday are Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert and Mike Shanahan.
The Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee initially narrowed the list from 15 nominees to 12 in late October. The committee will meet virtually in mid-November to select one finalist for the Class of 2026, to be enshrined in August in Canton, Ohio.
Coaches previously had to be retired for at least five years before becoming eligible, but the Hall of Fame announced in August 2024 the rule was changed to one year.
Belichick, who parted ways with the New England Patriots in January 2024, was not eligible for the 2025 class because the selection process already had begun.
Only Don Shula (328-156-6) and George Halas (318-148-31) have more regular-season wins in NFL history than Belichick, who was 302-165 in 29 seasons with the Cleveland Browns (1991-95) and Patriots (2000-23). He has the most career playoff wins (31-13 record) in collecting Super Bowl titles with the Patriots in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Belichick, 73, currently is the head coach at the University of North Carolina.
Six of the nine coaches in the semifinals won at least one Super Bowl or NFL title game: Coughlin (2007, 2011), Holmgren (1996), Seifert (1989, 1994), Shanahan (1997, 1998) and Parker (league championships in 1952, 1953).
Holmgren was the finalist for the Class of 2025, Parker in 2020 and 2024, and Reeves in 2020.
Voting for modern-era players, seniors and contributors also is taking place, with 20 finalists eventually submitted for the selection committee's annual meeting in advance of the Super Bowl.
The selection committee will vote on 15 modern-era players, three seniors, one coach and one contributor, but no set number is required to be enshrined -- only a range of four to eight to be selected.
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Wednesday that quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) will be out in Week 10 against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Backup Davis Mills will make the start with Stroud still in the concussion protocol following his head injury in the first half of the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos. The Texans will hope that the 24-year-old Stroud can make enough progress in the league's concussion protocol to be cleared to play in another divisional clash next week against the Tennessee Titans. Stroud being out in Week 10 will make the Jaguars' defense/special teams unit a popular streaming option. This will be Mills' first NFL start since his second year in the league in 2022. He went 17-for-30 passing for 137 yards with no touchdowns or picks in relief of Stroud last week. Consider him a low-end QB2 streaming option in superflex leagues this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry saw his volume rebound in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. Just one week removed from a one-target game, Henry bounced back with six targets, four catches, and 51 receiving yards last Sunday. All three of these statistics represented his highest mark since Week 3, suggesting that he's back on track as a fantasy-relevant tight end. He ranks as the overall TE9 in PPR leagues this year, mainly operating with a high floor and low ceiling. After all, he has double-digit fantasy points in only three of nine games this year, as well as 12+ fantasy points just once. Managers should continue to view Henry as a fringe top-10 tight end for Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Wednesday that quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) will go on Injured Reserve, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. "He needs to get healthy," Gannon said. Murray will be forced to miss at least four games, meaning that he won't be eligible to return until Week 14 against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 7. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a mid-foot sprain in the Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The two-time Pro Bowler didn't look good in his five starts before getting hurt, going 110-for-161 for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. Veteran Jacoby Brissett has elevated the offense in his three starts in place of Murray, and if he continues to play well, Murray may remain on the bench when he returns from IR.
From RotoBaller
When asked whether he expects to play on Sunday in Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields said, "We'll see," according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. The Jets were leaning toward starting veteran Tyrod Taylor in their Week 8 win over the Cincinnati Bengals before he came down with a knee injury that sidelined him. Even though Fields looked good in the comeback victory over Cincinnati, the Jets remain undecided on who to start under center this weekend against the Cleveland Browns as they come off their bye week. Head coach Aaron Glenn is probably going to play it close to the vest, so we may not know who is starting at QB for Gang Green until this weekend. The matchup is not fantasy-friendly, but Fields has much more fantasy upside because of his rushing ability outside of the pocket.
From RotoBaller
When asked about Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud's (concussion) status for the Week 10 divisional contest this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "I do not see C.J. playing this week," according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Stroud suffered a concussion in the first half of the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos and did not return, and he also did not practice on Wednesday while in the league's concussion protocol. It sounds as though Stroud will miss one game and hopes to return next weekend against the division-rival Tennessee Titans in Week 11. With Stroud likely to be inactive against the Jags, backup Davis Mills is in line to make his first start of the year. The 27-year-old signal-caller went 17-for-30 for 137 yards passing with no touchdowns or interceptions in relief of Stroud last week against Denver. Mills will be a low-end QB2 streamer, at best, in superflex leagues this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team is being smart with running back Rico Dowdle (quadriceps), which is why he was held out of Wednesday's practice, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. "We're counting on him this weekend," Canales said. It sounds as though the Panthers are expecting Dowdle to be fine to play this Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints, but he'll need to get back onto the practice field in the coming days. The 27-year-old has taken over lead-back duties from Chuba Hubbard in Carolina by running for 652 yards and three touchdowns on 103 carries in the last five games while adding 10 catches for 112 yards and another trip to paydirt. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on Dowdle's status the rest of the week, but as long as he's active in Week 10, he's a no-doubt RB1 against the Saints.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson played a season-high (and, thus, career-high) 75 percent of the offensive snaps during Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie took advantage of Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) being sidelined and tallied 14 carries, 55 rushing yards, four receptions, and 32 receiving yards. While he did earn the bulk of the backfield snaps, carries, and targets, he shared more touches than expected with Terrell Jennings, who had 11 carries and one catch. Nevertheless, the backfield mostly belonged to Henderson, and we could see this trend continue in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stevenson did not practice on Wednesday, leaving Henderson to handle first-team reps as the Patriots prepare for the Bucs. Stevenson will likely need to get on the field in some capacity on Thursday or Friday to have a chance to play in Week 10. Even if Stevenson does suit up, he's not a lock to start; his 3.4 yards per carry and three lost fumbles in 2025 are concerning, and Henderson's decent showing last week could be enough for the Patriots to give him the keys to the backfield. To make a long story short, Henderson will continue to face competition from Stevenson or Jennings no matter what, but the rookie out of Ohio State is one step closer to taking full control of the New England backfield. At the moment, he ranks as a low-end RB2 in redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
When asked about wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck), Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said his timetable for a return hasn't changed with the news that he's dealing with broken bones in his neck, in addition to a severe sprain that he suffered in the preseason. When asked if a December timetable is still in play, Bowles said, "See how it heals." The 23-year-old has shown some improvement, and the Bucs still have hope that he can return at some point this season, but for fantasy purposes, it's unlikely that McMillan is going to have any kind of impact. Tampa could sure use the help at receiver, though, with Mike Evans (collarbone) potentially missing the rest of the year, and Chris Godwin (leg) still not practicing. The injuries at wideout for the Bucs have opened the door for rookie Tez Johnson to become a weekly flex play in fantasy behind rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson saw limited playing time over the first five weeks of the season, but his role has increased lately. The rookie has three catches for 85 yards and a touchdown over his last two games, averaging 8.8 fantasy points (PPR) during that span. Specifically, he has emerged as a big-play threat for the Rams. Two of Ferguson's last three catches have gone for at least 31 yards, allowing him to emerge as an intriguing target and chain-mover for Matthew Stafford. It will be tough for Ferguson to carve out a consistent target share behind Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and Colby Parkinson, but he has significant upside thanks to his receiving skills and high draft capital. He's a very appealing dynasty stash.
From RotoBaller
The New Orleans Saints signed running back Audric Estime to their active 53-man roster on Wednesday from the practice squad, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Estime didn't make the Denver Broncos' final roster out of training camp and then latched on with the Saints' practice squad late last month. The 22-year-old will be active for the first time in 2025 when the Saints take on the division-rival Carolina Panthers in Week 10, now that Kendre Miller (knee) is out for the year with a torn ACL. Estime will operate as the No. 3 running back for New Orleans, so he won't have any fantasy value for the time being behind starter Alvin Kamara and rookie Devin Neal. In his rookie season with Denver last year, Estime had 76 rushing attempts for 310 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns while adding five catches for 27 yards in 13 regular-season games.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee continues to see a healthy dose of targets despite increased competition within his position group. Last week against the Saints, he caught three of four targets for 13 yards, and he salvaged his fantasy performance with a touchdown. He has 19 targets over his last four contests, as well as a touchdown in two of his last three games. The 32-year-old continues to play north of 50 percent of the snaps, even as players like Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson continue to get involved. The Rams run plenty of two-tight end sets, creating additional opportunities for Higbee to get on the field. He already has the trust of quarterback Matthew Stafford, so as long as he continues to see a solid snap share, he'll remain a threat in the Rams' offense. He ranks as a mid-range TE2 with streaming appeal ahead of Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Updating a previous report, Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (quadriceps) was unable to practice on Wednesday due to a quad injury, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Dowdle has been one of the hottest players in football in recent weeks, so this is a situation to watch heading into Carolina's Week 10 game on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. The 27-year-old ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns in last week's upset win over the Green Bay Packers. He is only the fourth player in franchise history to have at least 125 rushing yards in three games in the same year, joining Stephen Davis, Christian McCaffrey, and DeAngelo Williams. If Dowdle is unable to play this weekend, it will thrust Chuba Hubbard back into the RB1 role for Carolina. Dowdle's strong play when Hubbard missed time with injury has vaulted him to lead-back duties.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku appeared ecstatic on Wednesday, as the passing of the trade deadline ensures his stay with the team through the season. The nine-year veteran has appeared in seven games this season, recording 27 receptions for 260 yards and two touchdowns. While there was speculation the explosive tight end could be moved at the deadline, he reiterated his intent to work out an extension with the team and continue to build something in the state of Ohio. Njoku should be considered a low-end TE1 ahead of the team's Week 10 matchup with the lowly Jets.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) was not available for the team's Wednesday practice, leaving him in doubt for Sunday's matchup with the Jaguars. Stroud left Sunday's loss to the Broncos after being hit while sliding. Davis Mills will be tasked with quarterback duties if the 24-year-old QB is unable to play. Mills completed 17 of 30 passes last week for 137 yards. With the question marks at quarterback, fantasy managers should proceed with caution when considering Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz in starting lineups this week. The Jaguars defense has allowed the second-most points to tight ends and 12th-most to wide receivers this season.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) was practicing on Wednesday ahead of the team's Week 10 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. Wilson leads all Jets with 36 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns on the season, despite missing the last two games. Quarterback Justin Fields has struggled to generate yardage in the passing game, but the team will look to build off of their Week 8 win as they return from their bye. Barring a setback, Wilson should be started in all formats as the primary target for Fields, despite facing the Browns' second-ranked defense. Despite the Browns' strong defense, they've allowed 15 passing touchdowns this season, largely due to the offense failing to generate long fields for opposing offenses.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) has progressed enough in his recovery to begin running. Despite the progression, Irving is still not ready to take contact on his injured shoulder. Irving has been sidelined since suffering the injury in Week 4. Rachaad White remains the lead back as Irving recovers, with Sean Tucker serving as the change-of-pace option. White should remain on the bench heading into a brutal Week 10 matchup with a Patriots defense that is allowing just 75.4 rushing yards per game.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson has emerged as a go-to weapon in the passing game with Jacoby Brissett under center. Brissett continues to heap praise on the young receiver, stating, "If need be, he could be the No. 1 target." The passing game has continued to improve with Brissett under center, with Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. finally living up to their potential. Despite the praise, you should proceed with caution for Wilson in a Week 10 matchup with a stingy Seattle Seahawks defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) looked like his normal self in his return to practice on Wednesday. Egbuka used the bye to recover and seems ready for a big Week 10 matchup with the New England Patriots. The rookie leads all Bucs players with 34 receptions for 662 yards and five touchdowns. He has seen 21 targets over his last two games, further proving his emergence in this offense. Egbuka should be started in all formats this week, as he faces a Patriots defense that ranks 15th against fantasy wide receivers.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Wednesday that he feels wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) is "getting close" to being able to play in a game, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. However, McDermott won't put a timeline on Davis being active on game day. Davis rejoined the Bills in September but has yet to make his 2025 debut as he recovers from a knee injury. The 26-year-old spent the first four years of his NFL career in Buffalo, catching 163 passes for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns in 64 regular-season games. He played in only 10 games due to injury in his lone season with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, and now he's back with the Bills. Davis will help Buffalo's offense stretch the field once he's healthy, but he faces an uphill battle for fantasy value in a WR corps that also includes Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, and Elijah Moore.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (undisclosed) was practicing off to the side on Wednesday in the portion of practice open to the media, according to David Newton of ESPN. It's unclear what Dowdle is dealing with, but this will be a situation to watch heading into Carolina's Week 10 divisional battle on Sunday versus the New Orleans Saints. Dowdle has taken over RB1 duties for the Panthers by rushing for an astounding 652 yards and three touchdowns in his last five games while also adding 10 receptions for 112 yards and another score. If the 27-year-old's injury is serious enough to limit him or keep him out entirely this weekend, Chuba Hubbard would once again become a must-start in fantasy lineups everywhere in a plus matchup against New Orleans. Dowdle has had over 20 carries in three of the last five games and has even topped the 200-yard mark in that span.
From RotoBaller