\nWell we didn\u2019t see this one coming, at least not this soon. But the San Francisco 49ers traded a boatload for Carolina\u2019s Christian McCaffrey<\/strong> in what is arguably the biggest NFL trade since the Vikings traded their entire future for a future U.S. Senate wannabe.<\/p>\n
Of course, the Vikings\u2019 1989 deal for Herschel Walker<\/strong> did prove historic \u2026 for the Dallas Cowboys, who turned their bounty of draft picks into a mid-1990s dynasty.<\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s deal will not turn the 49ers into NFC favorites. That still looks like Philadelphia. But provided that he stays healthy, CMC will now pair with Deebo Samuel<\/strong> in what is arguably the NFL\u2019s best runner-receiver combo.<\/p>\n The trade is not the only good news for the Niners, as two standouts, offensive tackle Trent Williams<\/strong> and defensive end Nick Bosa<\/strong>, have been cleared to play this week against Kansas City.<\/p>\n The news isn\u2019t as good in Baltimore, where J.K. Dobbins<\/strong> will miss the next four to six weeks after having his injured knee scoped. So Kenyan Drake<\/strong> will stay at No. 1 RB for the Ravens a while longer.<\/p>\n Dobbins is not the only notable scratched for this week. Jets WR Elijah Moore<\/strong>, who is mid-tantrum, is a healthy scratch. And players ruled out include Tampa Bay WR Julio Jones<\/strong>, Detroit WR D.J. Chark<\/strong>, Green Bay wideout Randall Cobb<\/strong>, Giants receivers Kenny Golladay<\/strong> and Kadarius Toney<\/strong>, and two decent tight ends: the Raiders\u2019 Darren Waller<\/strong> and Washington\u2019s Lane Thomas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Denver quarterback Russell Wilson<\/strong> is considered a game-time decision. Others still considered questionable include Detroit RB D\u2019Andre Swift<\/strong>, Chargers wideout Keenan Allen<\/strong> and Seattle WR Tyler Lockett<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Indy expects to get top running back Jonathan Taylor<\/strong> back in the lineup. And two notable quarterbacks are expected to return to the starting lineup: Dallas\u2019 Dak Prescott<\/strong> and Miami\u2019s Tua Tagovailoa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ORIGINAL POST: 9:23 a.m. Wednesday<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember when George Constanza went to great lengths to get fired from his job with the New York Yankees? Well the \u201cSeinfeld\u201d favorite has nothing on Robbie Anderson, the mercurial wide receiver.<\/p>\n Frustrated by his Carolina Panthers\u2019 inability to utilize his great skill set, Anderson on Sunday got into several shouting matches with his coaches, leading interim coach Steve Wilks to kick him off the sideline and out of the game.<\/p>\n Come Monday, Anderson got his wish when he was traded for two late-round draft picks to Arizona, hardly an offensive juggernaut itself. Anderson had produced paltry numbers this season (13 catches and 1 touchdown in six games), so his sideline soliloquy was his most successful play of the year.<\/p>\n But Anderson is not the only prominent player whose numbers have been hurt badly because of underperforming offenses. Here are a handful of other players who might be searching for an exit strategy:<\/p>\n Christian McCaffrey (Panthers)<\/strong> — Carolina reportedly is accepting trade offers for its only star, who\u2019s arguably STILL the fantasy king. Despite the Panthers\u2019 ineptness, that has limited CMC to only three touchdowns, he\u2019s still averaging more than 110 total yards per game. Imagine how great he would be with a functioning offense.<\/p>\n D.J. Moore (Panthers)<\/strong> — Moore was considered a top 15 receiver before the season. Now he might be top 150. Carolina\u2019s deep threat receiver has averaged a mere 34 yards per game and has but a single TD. But his proximity to Anderson\u2019s tantrum could mean Moore knows what magic words could get him traded out of Charlotte.<\/p>\n Cam Akers (Rams)<\/strong> — The Rams apparently got sick of Akers\u2019 attitude, announcing that he would not be playing in Week 6 because of personal issues. He probably won\u2019t be back, which won\u2019t hurt the Rams since he had but a single TD and was rushing for just 30 yards per game.<\/p>\n Najee Harris (Steelers)<\/strong> — Pittsburgh\u2019s offensive line woes have carried into this season, and combined with subpar quarterback play, Harris has been struggling against stacked defenses. Only 44 rushing yards per game and one rushing touchdown are a huge disappointment for folks who drafted Harris in the first round.<\/p>\n Terry McLaurin (Commanders)<\/strong> — While Carson Wentz\u2019s passing numbers haven\u2019t been horrible, that hasn\u2019t helped the presumptive No. 1 receiver. McLaurin hasn\u2019t scored since the opener and has only one game where he topped 76 yards. The former Ohio State standout would likely thrive in another offense.<\/p>\n Jerry Jeudy (Broncos)<\/strong> — No one has been more affected by Russell Wilson\u2019s demise than Denver\u2019s No. 1 pass catcher. He has managed to score two TDs despite topping 53 yards only once. And thanks to the season-ending injury suffered by No. 1 RB Javonte Williams, the entire Broncos offense is a sinking ship.<\/p>\n SITTING STARS<\/strong> MATCHUP GAME<\/strong> INJURY WATCH<\/strong> THE DEEPEST SLEEPERS<\/strong> THE THURSDAY PICK<\/strong> BREAKING NEWS<\/strong> You can hear Kevin Cusick<\/a> on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere\u2019s \u201cBS Show\u201d podcast<\/a> on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow<\/a>. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Carolina](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22289833139390.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
![\"Carolina](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22284024490441.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
![\"Los](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22282774286908.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22289738450890.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
![\"Washington](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22288751173749.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22285589019685.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
\nYou never want a bad quarterbacking performance to ruin your week on Thursday night, so maybe you should find someone other than Arizona\u2019s flailing Kyler Murray<\/strong>? \u2026 Veteran QBs that will continue to struggle include Green Bay\u2019s Aaron Rodgers<\/strong> vs. the Commanders and Denver\u2019s Russell Wilson<\/strong> against the surprising Jets. \u2026 Chicago RB David Montgomery<\/strong> will have trouble making much ground against New England. \u2026 Same goes for San Francisco\u2019s Jeff Wilson<\/strong> vs. the Chiefs. \u2026 And with the uncertainty at quarterback, you should be wary of starting any Steelers receivers on Sunday night in Miami.<\/p>\n![\"Arizona](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22290692546669.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
\nTampa Bay\u2019s offense has struggled of late, but RB Leonard Fournette<\/strong> won\u2019t against lowly Carolina. \u2026 Houston rookie RB Damion Pierce<\/strong> could have another big game against Las Vegas. \u2026 Baltimore needs a win badly against Cleveland, and tight end Mark Andrews<\/strong> will be very busy against the Browns. \u2026 Atlanta finally rediscovered tight end Kyle Pitts<\/strong> last week. Look for him to score again vs. the Bengals. \u2026 Detroit WR Amon-Ra St Brown<\/strong> should be healthy coming out of the bye against Dallas. \u2026 And two receivers should follow up big Week 6 performances: Indy\u2019s Michael Pittman<\/strong> vs. Tennessee and the Chiefs\u2019 JuJu Smith-Schuster<\/strong> against the 49ers.<\/p>\n![\"Tampa](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22289752527798.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
\nArizona\u2019s train wreck of a season got worse when WR Marquise Brown<\/strong> suffered what could be a season-ending foot injury. DeAndre Hopkins<\/strong>\u2019 return from suspension can\u2019t come soon enough. \u2026 Baltimore\u2019s J.K. Dobbins<\/strong> reinjured his knee, which set up Kenyan Drake<\/strong> for his biggest game in ages and could push him into the starting lineup this week. \u2026 Washington QB Carson Wentz<\/strong> had surgery on his broken finger, but no one will be rushing to grab replacement Taylor Heinicke<\/strong>. \u2026 Quarterbacks who may or may not return this week include Dallas\u2019 Dak Prescott<\/strong>, Miami\u2019s Tua Tagovailoa<\/strong>, New England\u2019s Mac Jones<\/strong> and Pittsburgh\u2019s Kenny Pickett<\/strong>. \u2026 Indy RB Jonathan Taylor<\/strong> is expected to return, but status is still uncertain for three notable running backs (Detroit\u2019s D\u2019Andre Swift<\/strong>, Arizona\u2019s James Conner<\/strong> and New England\u2019s Damien Harris<\/strong>) and four notable receivers (Chargers\u2019 Keenan Allen<\/strong>, Ravens\u2019 Rashod Bateman<\/strong> and Saints\u2019 Michael Thomas<\/strong> and Jarvis Landry<\/strong>).<\/p>\n![\"Seattle](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22289841369640.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
\nIn a week with four of the NFL\u2019s top receivers on bye (Rams\u2019 Cooper Kupp<\/strong>, Vikings\u2019 Justin Jefferson<\/strong>, Bills\u2019 Stefon Diggs<\/strong> and Eagles\u2019 A.J. Brown<\/strong>), a lot of fantasy mavens will be scrounging for pass catchers. So here are two guys just breaking onto the scene. New England rookie Tyquan Thornton<\/strong> caught a TD pass and ran for another on Sunday in Cleveland, and Giants rookie Wan\u2019Dale Robinson<\/strong> caught his first TD pass against Baltimore. They\u2019re nothing if not readily available in most leagues.<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22289664832548.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
\nSaints at Cardinals (-1\u00bd):<\/strong>
\nPick: Saints by 3<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.twincities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/AP22289678338613.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
\nWe\u2019ll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday\u2019s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com\/theloop.<\/p>\n