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Zachariah Branch Off the Fantasy Radar Entirely?
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch is not expected to have a starting role in Week 1, and his low position on the depth chart likely takes him off the redraft radar entirely. The Falcons' latest depth chart lists Branch with the second-team offense, likely putting him in the No. 4 or No. 5 receiver role. He's penciled in behind Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Jahan Dotson, as well as potentially Chris Blair. Branch was a third-round pick, so it's not a total shock to see him lower on the depth chart to open his career. With that said, he caught 81 passes at Georgia last year, so we know that he can produce against a strong caliber of opponent. Nevertheless, it looks like fantasy managers will have to be patient with Branch, who is likely headed for a more consistent role on special teams than on offense. He caught just four passes for 21 yards in the preseason, and he has fallen to WR81 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
More Recent News
Emeka Egbuka Moves to Contact Jersey, Nears Return
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (concussion, foot) took a clear step toward a Week 8 return, wearing a contact jersey at Thursday's practice after working in a non-contact jersey Wednesday, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. The second-year receiver drew 25 targets across his last two appearances before the injury, so a return would give quarterback Baker Mayfield one of his primary receiving options back against the Atlanta Falcons. He was officially limited Wednesday, another encouraging development after missing the Week 7 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Thursday's official participation level has not yet been announced, and Egbuka still needs to clear concussion protocol before being eligible to play Sunday.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
Trevor Lawrence Earns a Firm QB1 Look With Passing Surge
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has earned a firm spot in the QB1 conversation heading into Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, where RotoBaller ranks him fifth among quarterbacks for the week. The Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback has paired impressive touchdown production with a notable jump in passing volume, averaging 26 attempts through his first four starts before throwing 39 passes against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 and 41 against the Houston Texans in Week 6. Those two games produced 637 yards and six touchdowns, including a 306-yard, four-score performance against the Texans. Lawrence has now thrown 14 touchdowns against four interceptions through six games without the rushing scores that helped his fantasy value in 2025, when he recorded nine rushing touchdowns. The passing volume of Weeks 5 and 6 may not continue at the same rate, but the production backs the case for treating him as a QB1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Harold Fannin Jr. Turning the Corner After Six-Catch Performance?
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is trending up in fantasy football after an impressive Week 7 performance. Fannin made an enormous impact as a rookie last year, and although he started this season strong, he cooled off in Weeks 5 and 6. Now, he's back on track after catching six of nine targets for 91 yards last Sunday. The Browns have plenty of solid weapons on offense, but Fannin seems to have solidified himself as one of quarterback Deshaun Watson's preferred targets, especially after Week 7. Plus, although his productivity briefly dipped, his usage was never affected; he has played at least 82% of the snaps in every game this season. Fannin is firmly entrenched as a low-end TE1 with additional upside. He'll look to remain productive, starting with Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his last outing against Pittsburgh, Fannin tallied 27 yards and a touchdown.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ja'Marr Chase Expected to Play in Week 8
Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (ankle) was rested in Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury, but it is not considered to be a major deal, and Chase is expected to be out there for the team's Week 8 game this Sunday against the visiting Tennessee Titans, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The Bengals apparently held Chase out of the first practice of the week more for rest purposes, so he should be back at practice on Thursday and Friday and be available for fantasy managers this weekend as a must-start WR1 in a smash spot against the one-win Titans. The 26-year-old five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro has caught 32 of his 45 targets for 351 yards and five touchdowns through his first six games in 2026, and although he does not have a 100-yard game yet, he remains an elite, high-end WR1 that should be locked into starting fantasy lineups this week despite nursing an ankle injury. He caught five of seven targets for 62 yards and scored for the second straight week in Sunday's 35-13 win over the division-rival Baltimore Ravens.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Tony Pollard Likely Staying Put Before Trade Deadline
Running back Tony Pollard looks likely to stay with the Tennessee Titans, who reportedly prefer to keep him ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, according to Ari Meirov. Tennessee has informed teams it does not want to move offensive contributors such as Pollard while continuing to evaluate quarterback Cam Ward, who has yet to throw a touchdown pass in the first three quarters of a game in 2026. Despite his potential value to interested teams, Tennessee appears reluctant to weaken an offense that relies heavily on Pollard while Ward develops. Thursday's trade of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears has raised further questions about the Titans' plans. Pollard is in the final year of his contract and has rushed for 478 yards and four touchdowns through seven games, including 129 yards and three scores against the Cleveland Browns in Week 7.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Patrick Mahomes Has Lost His Must-Start Status
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes struggled in Sunday's 20-3 loss to Seattle, throwing for just 165 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. After throwing nine touchdowns in his first four games of the season, he has had zero touchdowns in his last two, adding just 437 passing yards and two interceptions in those outings. This lack of production continues to show Mahomes is no longer the key cog in the Chiefs' offense. Instead, they now rely on Kenneth Walker and the ground game. With a depleted receiving room (Rashee Rice remains questionable for Week 8), don't expect those vintage Mahomes performances to return anytime soon. Mahomes will still have weeks where he produces QB1 numbers, but with an offense no longer solely reliant on him and his production declining, he no longer warrants an automatic start tag. And with a Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos, he should remain on your bench.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonah Coleman Making Case for Larger Backfield Role
Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman is a priority waiver add in 10-team and deeper leagues after returning from a four-game absence as the busiest running back in the Broncos' backfield. He played 49% of the offensive snaps against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7, up from 40% in his previous appearance before the injury, and his 30 snaps outpaced the 16 for RJ Harvey and 14 for J.K. Dobbins. Coleman led the group with nine carries for 54 yards and added two receptions for 15 yards. He had practiced fully throughout the week before his return, and head coach Sean Payton afterward praised his explosiveness and said he had earned additional opportunities. Dobbins still handled a goal-line carry for a touchdown, and Harvey scored on a 52-yard reception, so both remain involved. Yet Coleman getting the largest workload of the three right away is an encouraging sign, and he could develop into a more dependable flex option if his touches keep increasing.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Warren Holds Lead Role as Steelers Backfield Evens Out
Running back Jaylen Warren remains a dependable fantasy RB2 because the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to feed him, even with Rico Dowdle back. He rushed 18 times for 101 yards and caught three passes for 36 yards in Pittsburgh's Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints, with Dowdle finishing at nine carries and six receptions. Warren has logged at least 14 carries in five consecutive contests after combining for just 21 rushing attempts in the first two games, and he's topped 100 scrimmage yards four times in that span. Dowdle's role is expanding elsewhere, though. He played 44% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps against the Saints, led the team with six catches, and head coach Mike McCarthy said he liked how the workload was distributed. That growth is what keeps Warren from the near-every-down role he held before Dowdle's return.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jake Ferguson Gives Fantasy Managers Little Reason to Roster Him
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson didn't record a single reception on just one target in Monday's 38-21 Week 7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. It's just the latest underwhelming box score in an already frustrating season. What's truly concerning, though, is his lack of usage. He only ran a route on 52% of dropbacks in Week 6 and 54% in Week 7, earning measly 6% and 4% target share in those two weeks. And it's no longer just CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens working ahead of him. Ryan Flournoy is becoming an increasingly important part of this passing attack. Flournoy ran a route on 91% of dropbacks in Week 6 and 75% in Week 7, earning a respectable 17% and 15% target share in those two weeks. Even fellow tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford is eating into Ferguson's role, outearning him in targets in back-to-back games. With his routes limited and his target share nearly nonexistent, Ferguson shouldn't be rostered in any standard league and should only be rostered in the deepest of TE-premium leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
D'Andre Swift Currently Operating as a Workhorse
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift ascended into a workhorse role during a Week 7 win over the New England Patriots. After consistently playing a slight majority of the snaps for most of this season, Swift exploded last Thursday with an 86% snap share and 26 total touches. He averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, but he also impressed with four receptions and a rushing touchdown. Swift's larger workload lately is the direct product of a key injury within the Chicago backfield. Kyle Monangai (thumb, toe), who averaged 15 carries per game when healthy, has now missed three consecutive games and is trending toward missing Week 8. Roschon Johnson wasn't very involved last week, so if Monangai does sit out Monday's game, Swift should see 20+ touches again in a workhorse role. That increased volume, coupled with the fact that he has four touchdowns in his last three games, vaults Swift to the high-end RB2 tier with additional upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bears Acquire Jeffery Simmons From Titans in Blockbuster Deal
The Chicago Bears have acquired star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Simmons is a superstar on defense, earning four Pro Bowl honors throughout his career. He was also named a First Team All-Pro last season after amassing 11 sacks, 67 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 21 quarterback hits. He is on a similar trajectory this year with four sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Trading two first-round picks is a big decision for the Bears, but if the trade works out as planned, those selections will be later in the first round. Plus, it's a fair price to pay for a team looking to not only separate themselves in the NFC North, but also solidify their roster for a Super Bowl run. Simmons will now be tasked with serving as a game wrecker in a division that features Jared Goff, Kyler Murray, and Jordan Love.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Elijah Mitchell Likely the Lead RB if Teammate Can't Play Sunday
Philadelphia Eagles running back Elijah Mitchell signed with the team's practice squad just over a week ago and made his team debut against the Cowboys. He seems to be in position for a much larger role this week if Saquon Barkley (back, hamstring) is unable to play through his multiple injury issues. With Dameon Pierce (undisclosed) landing on the injured reserve along with Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, and Carson Steele, the Eagles will be very short-handed in the backfield if Barkley is not able to carry the full workload. The team resigned Jaydon Blue to the active roster as well, but Mitchell is a much more established option and is expected to be the lead back. Mitchell appeared in 27 games for the 49ers across three seasons from 2021 through 2023, totaling 1,523 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 327 carries, but he had not gotten a carry or a target since the end of the 2023 season until last Sunday. He had three carries for 11 yards and three catches for 23 yards against Dallas in his return. Mitchell will have instant fantasy relevance if he is in a big role against the Commanders on Sunday Night Football this week, so watch Barkley's status closely in practice this week.
Source: Andrew DiCecco
Source: Andrew DiCecco
James Cook III Carrying a Heavy Workload
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III has been very involved and productive in his team's 5-1 start to the season. He has 20-plus carries in four of his last five games and has run for at least 95 yards in each of those four games with a heavy workload. He has scored six rushing touchdowns in his last five games as well and added three catches for 58 yards against the Raiders in the team's most recent game before a Week 7 bye. The Bills return from their bye against the Ravens in a big game this Sunday and then face the Vikings on Monday Night Football in Week 9. Cook doesn't have an easy schedule, but his heavy workload in an offense that is very productive makes him one of the top running back options to consider, as long as he stays in such a heavily involved role in Buffalo's offense.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Jacobs Looks Strong in His Return
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs made his season debut in Week 7 against the Lions, and he immediately stepped into a productive role. Jacobs played over half the team's offensive snaps and took 11 of the 17 RB carries. He only managed 36 rushing yards on those 11 carries but saved his fantasy day with five catches on seven targets for 55 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown catch. Jacobs' meaningful role as both rusher and receiver sets him up to be a strong option in the backfield down the stretch of the fantasy season, rewarding owners who stashed him through the first six weeks of the season. Jacobs has a very favorable matchup against the Panthers in Week 8 before facing the Patriots and Vikings in two tougher matchups before his Week 11 bye.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Golden Trending Towards Playing on Thursday
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder/foot) is trending towards playing on Thursday Night Football against the Panthers, according to the latest from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Golden was unable to practice on Monday or Tuesday but was able to get in a limited session on Wednesday and is on track to play on Thursday despite battling both a shoulder and a foot injury. Golden has been excellent this season, leading the team with 69 targets and catching six passes in each of his last three games. He has three games with over 100 yards already this season and has also scored three touchdowns. If he's available, he'll be a strong starting option in all formats, but if he is limited at all, Christian Watson, Savion Williams, Tucker Kraft, and Bo Melton could all get more targets. Check back before kickoff for the final word on Golden, but it looks like he's trending towards being active at this point.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Lamar Jackson Poised to Return in Week 8
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice and is ready to return from his injury, barring a setback, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He left at halftime of the Ravens' Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans and has missed the last three games. He'll return just in time for a tasty matchup against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8, and Rapoport reports that the team wanted to be sure that Jackson was 100% before he returned to the field. Before leaving that Week 4 game at halftime, Jackson racked up 967 yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception while adding 144 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. He'll be a strong play in his return against Buffalo and will also give the rest of the offense a boost. After taking on the Bills, Jackson will have a short week before the Ravens host the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football in Week 9.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Quinshon Judkins Proves Capable of Producing Big Results
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins has recently emerged as a top "riser" in fantasy football rankings. Judkins enjoyed an enormous performance against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7 as he tallied 17 carries, 96 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns. This was a big step in the right direction for Judkins, who had previously taken somewhat of a backseat with fewer than 10 PPR points in four of his first five games this year. The 27-year-old had 18 touches in his last game, so we're intrigued by the volume, although we would like to see him start playing more than 60% of the snaps. For context, he played just 53% in Week 7. A Week 8 matchup against the Steelers could be tricky, but for the most part, Judkins has a very intriguing rest-of-season outlook now that he has shown a high volume of playing time and efficiency, often in the same game.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Colston Loveland Seems to Have Turned a Corner After Big Week 7
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland had a very slow start to the season, but he has come on strong in recent weeks and established himself as a mid-to-high TE1 in PPR leagues once again. Over just his last two games, Loveland has 19 targets, 13 catches, 134 yards, and two touchdowns. He posted his season-high fantasy output last Thursday against the Patriots, and he seems to have re-established himself as one of quarterback Caleb Williams' favorite targets in the passing game. Loveland's participation rates also work in his favor, as he has played at least 79% of the snaps in every game so far -- even when he was struggling to produce. All in all, the 22-year-old is back to ranking as a mid-range TE1 in fantasy football, especially in a Bears passing attack that has been forced to throw more often in recent weeks.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalton Kincaid Limited with a Chest Injury on Wednesday
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (chest) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, according to the team's official injury report. The 27-year-old is coming off a bye week, but he did play through a rib injury in Week 6. With that being said, it's unclear if that injury has any connection to his latest ailment. Kincaid has been the epitome of a boom-or-bust player this year, scoring higher than 10.5 PPR points or lower than 4.0 PPR points in each of his six games so far. He's a talented player in a high-powered offense, but the Bills' passing game does a good job spreading the ball around. As a result, Kincaid's volume has been somewhat inconsistent. We do expect him to play without any significant limitations in Week 8, and he'll rank as a low-end TE1 with additional upside.
Source: Buffalo Bills
Source: Buffalo Bills
Myles Garrett Will Not be Designated to Return Ahead of Week 8
Los Angeles Rams star pass rusher Myles Garrett (knee) will not have his practice window opened this week, head coach Sean McVay told Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. Garrett has been on injured reserve since the days following Los Angeles' Week 1 loss in Australia. He has missed six consecutive games and is now on track to miss a seventh. NFL teams have the option to designate players to return, which allows them to practice for a certain amount of time without being activated from injured reserve. However, the Rams aren't ready to open Garrett's practice window quite yet, which suggests that he could still be at least 1-2 weeks away from returning. The 30-year-old wasn't himself in the season opener, logging zero tackles on a 40% snap share. However, he posted a whopping 23 sacks last year in Cleveland, so we expect him to be a game wrecker once he's healthy again.
Source: Gary Klein
Source: Gary Klein
More News About Zachariah Branch
