To help you set your lineups and avoid starting a player who doesn't take the field, we will post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their Sunday inactive lists before kickoff. Any rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.

Teams on bye this week: Bills, Lions, Colts, Raiders.

Refresh often for the latest information.

Ruled out before Sunday

WR Jeremy Maclin (groin), LB Justin Houston (knee), DE Derek Wolfe (elbow), RB Tevin Coleman (hamstring), TE Jacob Tamme (shoulder), RB Jacquizz Rodgers (foot), LB Denzel Perryman (hamstring), LB Jatavis Brown (knee), S Tyrann Mathieu (shoulder), S Barry Church (forearm), RB DeAngelo Williams (knee), RB Thomas Rawls (leg), DE Michael Bennett (knee).

Early games, 1 p.m. ET (eight scheduled)

WR Will Fuller V (knee, questionable) -- inactive

LB Derrick Johnson (hamstring, questionable) -- active

WR Allen Hurns (concussion, questionable) -- active

RB Todd Gurley (thigh, questionable) -- active

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (knee, questionable) -- active

RB Doug Martin (hamstring, questionable) -- active

RB James Starks (knee, questionable) -- active

WR DeSean Jackson (shoulder, doubtful) -- inactive

Late games, 4:05 and 4:25 p.m. ET (three scheduled)

WR Jarvis Landry (shoulder, questionable) -- active

WR Kenny Stills (calf, questionable) -- active

WR Travis Benjamin (knee, doubtful) -- inactive

WR Tyrell Williams (knee, questionable) -- active

TE Hunter Henry (knee, questionable) -- active

RB Carlos Hyde (shoulder, questionable) -- active

WR Dez Bryant (knee, questionable) -- active

Sunday night game, 8:30 ET

RB Christine Michael (hamstring, questionable) -- active

WR Chris Hogan (back, questionable) -- active

TE Martellus Bennett (ankle, questionable) -- active

RB Dion Lewis (knee) -- inactive

WR Julian Edelman (foot, questionable) -- active

Updates/analysis (most recent first)

Late-game running backs (7:07 p.m.): Dion Lewis will not be active for the Patriots tonight, setting up a continued passing-game role for James White. On the other side of the ball, Christine Michael is active after being added to the injury report during the week. There's still reason for concern about his workload and ability to finish the game, as we've seen with other hamstring injuries this season.

Dak Prescott (3:15 p.m.): There's no need for the Cowboys to have Prescott looking over his shoulder today. That's why it makes complete sense to see that Tony Romo, although resigned to being a backup QB for now, is inactive this afternoon.

Carlos Hyde (3 p.m.): Hyde is active, and given that Mike Davis is inactive for the 49ers, it would appear that the team is not all that concerned about his ability to handle (at a minimum) a significant share of the workload.

Travis Benjamin (2:50 p.m): He did not participate in practice all week, so nobody should be surprised to hear that Benjamin will sit this one out for San Diego. There is good news for the Chargers, though, as both Hunter Henry and Tyrell Williams will be active this afternoon.

Miami Dolphins (2:45 p.m.): A trio of injured pass-catchers will all be active for Dolphins today. Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills and Dion Sims all will be on the field this afternoon. However, CB Chris Culliver (knee) will need at least one more week to recover from before suiting up for Miami.

Denver Broncos (12:02 p.m.): With the Saints sitting LT Terron Armstead, the decision to roll the dice on the Broncos D/ST becomes a little easier. Meanwhile, on offense, the Broncos have dressed only two RBs: Devontae Booker and Kapri Bibbs.

Matt Jones (11:55 a.m.): While the fact that WR DeSean Jackson is out with an injured shoulder this week is not a surprise to most fantasy owners, news that Jones would be a healthy scratch today might have snuck up on some people. However, the Washington Post saw this coming as early as Thursday. Robert Kelley has the starting RB job on lockdown.

Doug Martin (11:50 a.m.): Tampa Bay finally gets Martin back after the RB injured his hamstring two months ago. The timing is fortuitous, as Jacquizz Rodgers (foot) is inactive today for the Buccaneers.

Will Fuller V (11:45 a.m.): Jacksonville's defense should have an easier time stopping Houston today, with Fuller (knee) out. The duo of Keith Mumphery and Braxton Miller will share second-fiddle duties to DeAndre Hopkins.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (11:40 a.m.): Although Fitzpatrick is active for today's game, he will be the backup quarterback for the Jets. Bryce Petty will start, while Christian Hackenberg is inactive.

Derrick Johnson (11:30 a.m.): Warm-ups seem to have gone well this morning for the Kansas City linebacker. He tells the NFL Network that he's "good to go" for today's game.

Ryan Kalil (11:25 a.m.): The Panthers center is close to returning, but despite working out this morning and declaring that his shoulder "feels better," he is expected to be inactive again today. Gino Gradkowski (knee) should start for the second straight game, though he is also ailing a bit.

Bryce Petty (9:05 a.m.): Either Ryan Fitzpatrick's knee is not up to par, or perhaps the Jets simply want to give their young quarterback a start to see what he can do. In any event, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter that Petty will start today for the Jets against the Rams.

Carlos Hyde (7:45 a.m.): ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers running back does plan to play against the Cardinals this afternoon. That said, he also notes that DuJuan Harris, who "has impressed," will still have a part in the team's game plan, keeping him in flex consideration.

James Starks (7:40 a.m.): While optimistic, Green Bay is planning to wait until after warm-ups to see whether Starks can make his return from knee surgery today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Todd Gurley (7:35 a.m.): A source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Rams RB is expected to play today against the Jets. Gurley has been dealing with a thigh injury and missed two practices this week, so temper fantasy expectations even if he does suit up.

Allen Hurns (7:30 a.m.): Hurns was cleared to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday, even as he spent the week in the league's concussion protocol. Unless he suffers a last-minute setback, the Jaguars fully expect him to play today.

Christine Michael (7:25 a.m.): Thomas Rawls has been ruled out, and now Michael is questionable because of a hamstring issue. Sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter that Michael "should be good," but C.J. Prosise definitely looks to be the "safer" fantasy option, given the Sunday night kickoff.

Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in at approximately 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games, 2:30 p.m. ET for the late games and 7 p.m. ET for the Sunday night game.