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A.J. Brown Missing From Practice on Thursday
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) was not in attendance at the team's practice on Thursday, according to Sophie Weller of Patriots Wire. The knee injury for Brown was added to the injury report on Wednesday, so Weller wonders if something happened to him during the first practice of the week. It is not what Brown's fantasy managers want to hear as he works to regain his explosiveness following the high-ankle sprain that he suffered in his Patriots debut in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler has played in two games since being activated from Injured Reserve, but he has not looked like himself, catching six of 16 targets for 75 yards without finding the end zone. Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins both remain on IR for the Patriots, so if Brown is unavailable to play in Week 8 versus the division-rival Miami Dolphins, DeMario Douglas could serve as quarterback Drake Maye's top target in an excellent matchup alongside trusted tight end Hunter Henry. Brown has been a fantasy bust so far in 2026 in his first year in New England, playing in only three games while grabbing nine of his 20 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns.
Source: Patriots Wire - Sophie Weller
Source: Patriots Wire - Sophie Weller
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Ja'Marr Chase in Uniform for Thursday's Practice
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (ankle) is in uniform for Thursday's practice, according to Charlie Goldsmith of FOX 19. Chase did not practice on Wednesday, but it was primarily for rest purposes, and the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said that Chase's ankle injury is nothing major and that he is expected to play without restrictions in Sunday's Week 8 contest against the Tennessee Titans. The 26-year-old Pro Bowler should return to full practice by Friday and eventually be cleared from the final Week 8 injury report, so fantasy managers should have nothing to worry about as far as Chase's health status this week. The former fifth overall pick from LSU has yet to record a 100-yard game in 2026, but he has made up for it by finding the end zone five times in the first six games while catching 32 of his 45 targets for 351 yards (11.0 yards per reception). Chase continues to be an elite, high-end WR1 in fantasy who needs to be locked into all starting lineups this weekend against the one-win Titans.
Source: FOX 19 - Charlie Goldsmith
Source: FOX 19 - Charlie Goldsmith
Amon-Ra St. Brown Back on the Practice Field on Thursday
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) was back at practice on Thursday after he was a non-participant on Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy. St. Brown came out of the Week 7 win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers with some ankle soreness, but after returning to practice on Thursday, the Lions expect him to be fine for their upcoming game on Sunday at home against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. The 27-year-old was most likely just being rested for maintenance purposes on Wednesday in the team's first practice of the week. Fantasy managers should expect the four-time Pro Bowler to be a full-go this weekend, and he will be a must-start in all fantasy leagues despite the tough matchup against the Vikings. The Sun God did not appear to be slowed by his ankle on Sunday against Green Bay, catching nine of 11 targets for a season-high 153 yards. It was St. Brown's second 100-yard game of 2026, and he enters Week 8 action as the WR4 in half-PPR scoring with 46 catches for 525 yards and five touchdowns on 68 targets through only six games played. The Sun God leads all receivers in points who have played only six games this year.
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Jahmyr Gibbs Returns to Practice on Thursday
The Detroit Lions got some good news on Thursday, with starting running back Jahmyr Gibbs (shoulder) returning to practice after he did not suit up on Wednesday, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. The Lions most likely gave Gibbs a rest day in their first practice of the week. Now that the 24-year-old is back on the field a day later, he should be just fine to play in Week 8 in a divisional clash against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Gibbs, who was the No. 1 overall pick in most fantasy football leagues this year, has lived up to expectations and is currently the top overall RB in half-PPR scoring with 620 rushing yards on 134 carries for seven touchdowns, adding 32 receptions on 40 targets for 270 yards and another two scores as a receiver. The former 12th overall pick from Alabama will be going for his third straight 100-yard rushing game this weekend, but the sledding will be tough against one of the top defenses in football. Gibbs should still be a set-and-forget RB in all fantasy lineups in Week 8.
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Tyjae Spears Misses Practice Again on Thursday
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (knee), who missed the team's Week 7 loss to the Browns with a knee injury, was absent again on Thursday after missing the first practice of the week. Also missing practice on Thursday, according to beat writer Terry McCormick, is starting running back Tony Pollard, who was given a veteran rest day on the Thursday leading up to his season-best 155-yard, three-touchdown Week 7 performance. Fantasy managers will need to monitor the team's official injury report, but if Pollard's absence is again non-injury related and Spears is unable to suit up for a second week, the veteran becomes a high-floor play against a Bengals defense that has been more beatable on the ground than through the air.
Source: Terry McCormick
Source: Terry McCormick
Bucky Irving's Absence Chalked up to Rest
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (rest) was not spotted at Thursday's practice, but beat writer Greg Auman has since reported that his absence was a simple rest day for the third-year veteran. Irving is coming off a dominant 110-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Panthers and is the fantasy RB13 through seven weeks, so any missed time is a rightful cause for concern after injuries limited him to only 10 games in 2025 while sapping him of the explosiveness put on display both before and since. That said, he appears to be well on track to suit up for a Week 8 matchup with the Falcons and is RotoBaller's RB13 ahead of the divisional clash.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
Carnell Tate Still Not Practicing Thursday
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday after suffering a shoulder injury in the team's Week 7 loss to the Browns, and he will miss his second consecutive session on Thursday, according to senior team writer Jim Wyatt. The fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Tate has become the unquestioned focal point of the Titans' passing attack. His 413 receiving yards are more than double the next closest player on the team, but if he is unable to suit up for a Week 8 matchup with the Bengals, veteran Wan'Dale Robinson should see an influx of opportunities and becomes an intriguing flex play.
Source: Jim Wyatt
Source: Jim Wyatt
Lamar Jackson Practicing Again on Thursday
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) is practicing again on Thursday after logging a full participation on Wednesday. Jackson has missed the last three games with the ankle injury sustained in a Week 4 win over the Titans, with the Ravens going 1-2 in his absence. After returning to practice on a limited basis ahead of the Week 7 loss to the Bengals and now looking to string together a number of unencumbered sessions, he appears to be on track to return for a heavyweight Week 8 matchup against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Jackson was the fantasy QB9 through the first four weeks of the season, and while managers will still need to wait for an official injury designation, he is RotoBaller's QB4 heading into Sunday.
Source: Jamison Hensley
Source: Jamison Hensley
Jordan Mason Back in Lead Role, Could Handle Even More Volume
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason returned from injured reserve last week and immediately stepped back into his No. 1 role with 15 carries. He was also targeted twice in the passing game, but he didn't convert either opportunity into a reception. Mason now has an opportunity to handle even more volume going forward, as teammate Aaron Jones Sr. (knee) suffered an injury in Week 7 and didn't practice on Wednesday. It's too early to tell whether Jones will miss time, but if he does, Mason should handle even more volume on the ground and through the air than before. In such a scenario, he would theoretically increase his snap share from last week's 64% mark to at least 75% in Week 8. He's averaging nearly five yards per carry since the start of the 2023 season, vaulting himself into high-end RB3 or low-end RB2 territory going forward.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jakobi Meyers Remains a Usable Floor Play Coming Off Big Game
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is coming off his most involved game of the season and should continue to provide a usable fantasy floor moving forward. Before a Week 7 bye, Meyers saw 10 targets in a narrow loss to the Texans, his highest total since the mid-season trade that landed him in Jacksonville in 2025, while his 83 receiving yards were his second-most as a Jaguar. Fourth-year player Parker Washington has emerged as the star of Jacksonville's passing offense, but Meyers remains one of the most consistent complementary pieces in the NFL, and he is RotoBaller's WR40 ahead of a Week 8 divisional matchup with the Colts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carnell Tate Consistently Among the Titans' Top Contributors
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate has solidified himself as the top target for quarterback Cam Ward. Ward is just seven games into his rookie season, but he has already produced at a high level while maintaining a consistent target share. He has seven targets in each of his last two games, totaling 11 catches, 139 yards, and one touchdown during that span. He currently ranks as the WR24 in PPR scoring this season, and he will continue to be a WR2 in fantasy football going forward. Tate benefits from playing in an offense that has to throw the ball a lot because they often find themselves trailing on the scoreboard. Plus, he's the No. 1 target in Tennessee, ahead of players like Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, and Gunnar Helm. Not only does the 21-year-old rookie have impressive long-term dynasty value, but he's a very intriguing rest-of-season option in redraft leagues, too. He should continue to produce as he and Ward solidify their rapport in Year 1 together.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenny Gainwell Returns to Practice on Thursday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell (hip) returned to practice on Thursday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Meanwhile, fellow RB Bucky Irving (undisclosed) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media after he was a full-go on Wednesday. The Buccaneers' backfield has some question marks right now as they prepare to take on the division-rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 this Sunday. If Gainwell is cleared to play and Irving is inactive this weekend, Gainwell would instantly have RB2 upside after a disappointing start to his first year with the team. The 27-year-old came out of nowhere to catch a career-high 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but so far through seven weeks this season, he has just 12 catches on 17 targets for 61 yards and one score, adding 33 carries for 149 yards (4.5 yards per attempt). The efficiency has been there, but the volume is lacking with Irving settled in as the lead back. Gainwell had a season-high 14 carries for 88 yards on the ground in the Week 7 blowout win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers, but fantasy managers cannot count on that happening every week as long as Irving is healthy.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Jonathan Taylor Meets With Ownership Amid Trade Speculation
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has met with owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon to discuss his role with the franchise amid rampant trade speculation as the Nov. 10 deadline nears, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Taylor was clear with the media that he has demanded a trade out of town, although he acknowledges that his future is out of his hands at this point. The 2-5 Colts traded Pro Bowl offensive guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, and they might not be done selling. Taylor would be the biggest piece to be moved, but reports suggest that the Colts would prefer to keep the star RB around as they build for the future. Despite the Colts' offense struggling in the first half of the season, JT has been a constant source of production on the ground, rushing for 587 yards on 140 carries (4.2 yards per attempt) with a league-high eight rushing touchdowns. He has also added 17 catches for 178 yards on 26 targets through the air. A trade to a contender would likely raise his already high fantasy ceiling, but it remains to be seen if the Colts will pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal.
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Bucky Irving Not at Thursday's Practice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (undisclosed) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Pewter Report. Meanwhile, fellow RB Kenny Gainwell (hip) was back on the field after not participating in practice on Wednesday. It is unclear what is keeping Irving off the field for the team's second practice of the week, but if he cannot play this weekend against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, both Gainwell (if he is active) and Sean Tucker would have expanded backfield roles for the Bucs on Sunday. Irving had his second 100-yard rushing game in the last three weeks and scored two times on a season-high 24 carries in the Week 7 blowout win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers, and he has been the clear leader of Tampa's backfield through the first seven weeks of the season. Check back for an update on the 24-year-old RB as to why he was not on the field for practice on Thursday. If he is active this weekend, he will be a must-start fantasy RB against the Falcons.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Courtland Sutton Remains Difficult to Roster
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has disappointed all season, and Week 7 in Arizona was no exception. Sutton finished with just three receptions for 45 yards, bringing his season totals to 16 receptions for 168 yards and one touchdown. That's a good afternoon for Jaxon Smith-Njigba; that's a whole season for Sutton. The Broncos' passing game has struggled all year (to put it politely). Bo Nix averages just 181.6 passing yards per game, which severely limits his wide receivers' production. Sutton's production has cratered largely because of this. In 2025, when Bo Nix averaged 231.2 passing yards per game, Sutton got 7.3 targets per game and finished with 74 receptions, 1,017 yards, and seven touchdowns. In 2026, that has fallen to 4.7, a roughly 36% decrease. Jaylen Waddle's arrival hasn't helped. He's been Bo Nix's favorite(ish) target, seeing 45 targets to Sutton's 33. Even with Waddle questionable for Week 8, Denver's struggling passing game gives little reason to trust Sutton. He belongs on the bench and is cuttable in shallower leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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
More News About A.J. Brown
