October 30, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Thursday that the team is preparing quarterback
Kyler Murray (foot) to start on Monday night in Week 9 versus the Dallas Cowboys. However, Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports is reporting that Murray and backup
Jacoby Brissett are splitting reps with the main pass-catchers during the open portion of Thursday's practice. Brissett led off the drills, followed by Murray, which was similar to what happened on Tuesday. Murray missed Weeks 6 and 7 due to a foot sprain, but he's trending in the right direction coming out of the team's Week 8 bye. The report from Drake makes things a little less certain as to whether Murray will actually start over Brissett in a great matchup against Dallas. While Murray is trending up and would be a low-end QB1 in fantasy if he starts, nothing is official just yet.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
October 30, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Nikola Topic was diagnosed with testicular cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, according to General Manager Sam Presti. The 20-year-old is expected to make a complete recovery, according to the Thunder's medical team. The No. 12 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has yet to make his NBA debut, but the primary concern now is dealing with this more important issue. There has been no discussion of a timeline to get on the floor for OKC, but the team's main goal at this point is simply to ensure his health and well-being.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Ryan Stiles
October 30, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers guard
Jared McCain (thumb) is now under contract to stay with the Sixers through the 2026-27 season, after the team exercised his option on Thursday. Last year as a rookie, he produced 15.3 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game in 23 games before a knee injury ended his rookie campaign in mid-December. He looked very promising and should be a big part of the team's rotation this year, once he recovers from a UCL tear in his thumb that was suffered in a September workout. He's one of several Sixers coming back from injury, but the standout guard is definitely in the team's plans going forward.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Matt Murphy
October 30, 2025
Seattle Mariners right-hander
Bryce Miller (elbow) said he doesn't expect to need surgery for a right-elbow injury that kept him out for half of the 2025 season. The same can be said for right-handed starters
George Kirby (shoulder) and
Logan Gilbert (elbow), who also missed around two months each in the first half of the season. Miller added that he has a follow-up exam with Dr. Keith Meister early this offseason to determine his next steps for a small bone spur in his right elbow. The 27-year-old had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow in early June and didn't return to the rotation until Aug. 19, making eight starts over the final eight weeks of the regular season. Miller may receive a cortisone injection early in the offseason, and then maybe another one at the start of spring training. But barring a setback, Miller should be ready for the start of 2026. Fantasy managers shouldn't forget that he ranked among the American League leaders in 2024 with a 2.94 ERA and 180 1/3 innings over 31 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Seattle Times - Adam Jude
October 30, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) has missed a second consecutive practice leading up to the team's Week 9 matchup with the Chicago Bears. Hendrickson's four sacks pace a defense in desperate need of a spark. The team has allowed a league-high 3263 yards of offense, and ranks 31st and 32nd against the pass and run, respectively. If Hendrickson were to miss Sunday's matchup, Bears quarterback
Caleb Williams will have extra time in the pocket to carve an already overmatched secondary.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Ben Baby
October 30, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Thursday that they re-signed right-hander
Rico Garcia to an undisclosed one-year major-league deal for the 2026 season. The Orioles will have Garcia back next year after he finished up the year strong with Baltimore, posting a 2.84 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 19 innings pitched over 20 appearances (one start). He also pitched with the New York Mets and New York Yankees in 2025, posting a combined 0-2 record, 3.15 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 38:10 K:BB in 34 1/3 big-league frames. The 31-year-old veteran will report to spring training next February, looking to win a middle-relief role for the O's out of spring training. Garcia is not on the fantasy radar at all and holds a career 5.27 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in his 70 big-league innings over five seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Orioles
October 30, 2025
The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal on Thursday to hire Blake Butera as their new manager, which would make him the youngest person to hold a managerial job in the big leagues in more than half a century, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. Butera, who is 33, will be the youngest manager since Frank Quilici was hired by the Minnesota Twins in 1972. The Nationals fired both manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo in July. Former Boston Red Sox assistant GM Paul Toboni took over as the team's president of baseball operations in late September. Butera began his managerial career at 25 years old and has managed four minor-league seasons. He previously worked as the senior player development director for the Tampa Bay Rays. Butera was also drafted in the 35th round in 2015 out of Boston College. He played two seasons in the minors before transitioning to coaching.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
October 30, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Flacco (shoulder) returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's session. The Bengals will need Flacco on the field as they face the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Through three games, the veteran has tossed seven touchdowns without a single interception. Flacco's ability to manage the game and distribute the ball to the Bengals' many weapons solidifies him as a strong option moving forward. If Flacco were to miss time,
Jake Browning would regain a temporary starting role. A Browning-led offense would greatly limit the ceilings of
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins, so monitor the injury report closely heading into Sunday's 1 pm kickoff.
UPDATE: Flacco was limited in Thursday's practice.--Shaun AlbinSource: Ben Baby
October 30, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray (foot) will likely return to action when the team faces the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. Head coach Jonathan Gannon was recently asked if the team was preparing Murray to start this week, and he stated, "Yeah." Murray is a must-start if he suits up, as the Cowboys have allowed a league-high 2,069 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air. Continue to monitor injury reports, and if Murray is a late scratch, be prepared to pivot to
Jacoby Brissett as a strong alternative.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Darren Urban
October 30, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (knee) is not practicing on Thursday for the second straight day this week, according to Rob Collins of FOX4 Kansas City. Pacheco is considered week-to-week after suffering an MCL sprain late in the win over the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football. Nothing is official yet, but fantasy managers should not be expecting the 26-year-old to be active for Sunday's road tilt versus the Buffalo Bills, especially with the Chiefs' bye coming next week. The good news for Pacheco is that due to the timing of the bye next week, he could only end up missing one game. With Pacheco likely sidelined this weekend, veteran
Kareem Hunt should take over RB1 duties in KC's backfield, with rookie
Brashard Smith also seeing an uptick in playing time, putting him on the RB3/flex radar in fantasy football.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX4 Kansas City - Rob Collins
October 30, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks (calf) remains out of practice on Thursday, according to Dominique Yates of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Wicks injured his calf in the Week 7 win over the Arizona Cardinals and hasn't practiced or played since. He still has one more day to get back on the field, but it's looking likely that he will miss a second straight contest this weekend when the team takes on the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field. The 24-year-old is off the fantasy radar in most leagues to begin with, especially after
Christian Watson made his season debut in last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. Through eight weeks of the 2025 campaign, Wicks has had limited production, with only 13 receptions for 134 receiving yards. He's still searching for his first touchdown of the year, too.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Dominique Yates
October 30, 2025
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Joshua Palmer (ankle, back) is back at practice on Thursday, but Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN reports that he is moving at a "very light speed." Palmer injured his ankle in the Week 6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and did not play Sunday's win over the Carolina Panthers despite having extra time to heal up during the team's bye in Week 7. The 26-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, so it's a good sign that he's back on the field on Thursday. However, it doesn't guarantee that he'll be able to play this weekend in a showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. If he can get the green light to play this weekend, Palmer could be limited on the field on game day. Palmer's limited role in his first year in Buffalo has kept him off the fantasy radar in 12-team leagues, as he has only 14 catches on 20 targets for 234 yards and no touchdowns through six games (three starts).
UPDATE: Palmer was officially limited on Thursday.--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Alaina Getzenberg
October 30, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk is practicing again on Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander. Kirk has missed the last two games with another hamstring injury, but he returned to a limited practice on Wednesday and could be trending towards making his return this Sunday against the visiting Denver Broncos in Week 9. The 28-year-old slot man might have to upgrade to a full practice before Friday, though, to avoid going into the weekend with a questionable tag. In addition to Kirk, the Texans' offense could be getting top pass-catcher
Nico Collins back on Sunday after he missed last week's win over the San Francisco 49ers due to a concussion. Kirk will be a pretty shaky, low-upside flex option for fantasy managers against Denver if he's active this weekend. But more importantly, if both Collins and Kirk return, it will be bad news for rookies
Jaylin Noel and
Jayden Higgins, and
Xavier Hutchinson.
UPDATE: Kirk practiced in full on Thursday.--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
October 30, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins (concussion) is back at practice again on Thursday and is expected to clear the league's concussion protocol if all goes well, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Collins suffered a concussion in the Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and sat out of the Week 8 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. However, he returned to a limited practice on Wednesday and is on track to clear the concussion protocol and play this weekend when the Texans host the Denver Broncos. Denver has not been a good matchup for opposing wideouts, but Collins is typically matchup-proof with WR1 upside, and the Broncos' top cornerback, Patrick Surtain II (pectoral), will not be active due to injury. If Collins is officially cleared by Friday, he should be a must-start in fantasy lineups.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
October 30, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs (hip) appears to be returning to practice on Thursday after he did not practice on Wednesday due to a hip injury. Downs missed the Week 7 game due to a concussion but returned in Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans, playing 64% of the offensive snaps while catching all three of his targets for 39 yards and a touchdown, his second in as many games. The 24-year-old is now dealing with a hip injury as the team prepares to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9, but his return to practice on Thursday means he's trending in the right direction. Downs has been the team's WR2 in healthy in a much-improved offense led by MVP candidate
Daniel Jones in 2025. If Downs gets cleared to play in Pittsburgh this Sunday, he'll certainly have WR3 upside against a Steelers secondary that has not performed up to expectations this year.
UPDATE: Downs was a full-go on Thursday.--Keith HernandezSource: Kevin Bowen
October 30, 2025
Seattle Seahawks tight end
AJ Barner had a dud of a performance in the team's Week 7 win over the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, as he caught just one of his three targets for seven yards. It came a week after he had a season-high 71 receiving yards on three receptions in the victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The two weeks before that, the 23-year-old second-year TE had three total touchdowns. Seattle is now coming out of their bye in Week 8, and Barner will be on the TE2 streaming map this weekend against the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, with four teams on bye this week. Target volume has been hit or miss for anyone in Seattle not named
Jaxon Smith-Njigba this year, so Barner obviously comes with some risk. The good news is that Barner has been on the field a lot, playing at least 85% of the offensive snaps in four of his seven games this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 30, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Cooper Kupp entered last week's bye at a low point, having caught just three passes on four targets for 72 yards in his last two games, although he did salvage it with his first touchdown reception in the Week 6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 32-year-old veteran caught his only target for a gain of 32 yards in the Week 7 win over the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, and he also threw an interception on a trick play. Kupp enters the Week 9 contest this Sunday night against the Washington Commanders with 24 receptions on the year for 293 yards and one touchdown on 33 targets through seven games. He'll have a good matchup against Washington's banged-up defense this week, but fantasy managers haven't been able to rely on Kupp at all in his first year in Seattle. Kupp has been a distant No. 2 behind breakout star
Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the Seahawks' offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 30, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (knee) most likely will not be available for Sunday's Week 9 showdown against the Buffalo Bills, which means that rookie
Brashard Smith will see the field more as the complement to veteran
Kareem Hunt in KC's backfield. The 22-year-old seventh-rounder only played 13% of the offensive snaps in the Monday night win over the Washington Commanders and had just three carries for eight yards. However, in Week 7, he played a season-high 35% of the snaps and had a season-high 14 rushing attempts for 39 yards while also catching all five of his targets for an additional 42 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders. Although Pacheco might only miss one game due to his knee injury with the Chiefs having their bye in Week 10, fantasy managers should expect Smith to be much more involved this weekend against Buffalo, making him a potential flex option in deeper fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
October 30, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Darius Slayton is a candidate for an elevated touch share moving forward in the team's offensive attack. With running back
Cam Skattebo (ankle) going down with a gruesome injury, head coach Brian Daboll may deploy a more pass-heavy approach. Through eight weeks, New York has attempted a pass at the ninth-lowest rate in the league (54.39%). However, as
Jaxson Dart grows and matures, it makes sense that Daboll would allow him more freedom in the passing game. That may come sooner, as New York will be without the driving force of its offense for an extended period. With teammate
Wan'Dale Robinson in the fold, consistency could be hard to find for Slayton. Still, the latter is the only other active Giants' wideout who's accrued more than 160 snaps (341).
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said that he is going to do a better job at getting wide receiver
Jameson Williams "more involved," according to Eric Woodyard of ESPN. Morton told Williams he's "failed him" so far. "He just goes and plays. Like I told him, 'I wouldn't fault you if you're pissed at me,'" Morton said. Many fantasy managers will have Williams sitting on their benches coming out of the team's Week 8 bye when they face the division-rival Minnesota Vikings this weekend, but don't be surprised if Williams gets the squeaky-wheel treatment after failing to catch his two targets in the Week 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 24-year-old has had two or fewer targets in two of the last three games and hasn't had a 100-yard performance for Detroit since Week 2 back on Sept. 14. Williams will likely continue to be a high-risk, high-reward fantasy wideout in a Lions offense with lots of mouths to feed.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Eric Woodyard
October 30, 2025
The Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams was giving up historic amounts of points through the first five weeks of the season. Since then, they've given up 17 to the Los Angeles Rams and 16 to the Chicago Bears. They also forced two turnovers, limited both teams to under 100 rushing yards, and collected three sacks. With a healthier squad and a Miami Dolphins offense that has given up an average of 8.00 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses, it makes the Ravens an interesting streaming option. They're not an automatic start every week like they once were, but their improvements over their last couple of weeks have made them a stash candidate, if possible, with a much easier schedule the rest of the way.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star
Travis Hunter usage on both sides of the ball in his first NFL season has been fluid through the first eight weeks of the season. However, he played a season-high 87% of the offensive snaps in London in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and head coach Liam Coen has hinted that the 22-year-old Heisman Trophy winner's role on offense could continue to grow in the second half of the year. ESPN's Michael DiRocco says not to be surprised if Hunter "starts getting the WR1 treatment." In the blowout loss to L.A. before the team's Week 8 bye, Hunter had his breakout game, catching eight of 14 targets for 101 yards and his first touchdown of the year. It will be interesting to see how Hunter is used on both sides of the ball down the stretch, but if he does end up becoming more of a full-time offensive piece, he'll have clear WR2 upside to close out his rookie campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 30, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs (hip) remains a solid bet in fantasy, despite the team's aversion to 11 personnel. Through eight weeks, Indianapolis has run three-wide-receiver sets at one of the lower rates in the league (58.81%). Still, Downs has finished with double-digit fantasy points in four of seven appearances while participating on more than 60% of snaps just twice. Unfortunately, the former North Carolina Tarheel began the week as a DNP due to a hip injury, so fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his status ahead of Sunday's road outing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Downs can't go, fellow wide receiver
Alec Pierce projects to see a bump in targets alongside
Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end
Tyler Warren.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens kicker
Tyler Loop bounced back in a big way in the Week 8 win over the Chicago Bears. He made three field goals from 42, 28, and 32 yards while making all three of his extra point attempts as well. Now,
Lamar Jackson returns in Week 9 against a Miami Dolphins defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing kickers and is tied for seventh-most points per game to opposing teams. That puts Loop firmly into the K1 conversation, and he's currently projected in the RotoBaller rankings to finish as the K5 in Week 9.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens running back
Justice Hill hasn't held much value throughout this season despite being the main pass-catching back for the team. He's had two finishes in the top 25 of running backs in half-PPR formats, and saw his snapshare fall a bit in Week 8 as
Keaton Mitchell was active for the first time.
Lamar Jackson returns for the Week 9 tilt against the Miami Dolphins, which means some more running plays designed for the QB and fewer touches for Hill. The Dolphins are ranked 28th against opposing backfields after giving up a total of 941 yards and six touchdowns on the ground versus 322 yards and one touchdown through the air. That likely means even more work for
Derrick Henry, and if Mitchell keeps getting some snaps, that leaves Hill off the fantasy radar.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
Per the team, the Carolina Panthers have signed veteran quarterback
Mike White from the practice squad to the active roster. Offensive lineman Brady Christensen (Achilles) was placed on IR in a corresponding move. Fortunately,
Bryce Young (ankle) got in a full practice on Wednesday. However, that wasn't the case for teammate
Andy Dalton (thumb). The 38-year-old picked up a thumb injury, presumably in Carolina's loss to Buffalo in Week 8, that kept him from practicing altogether. White's addition to the roster is likely just precautionary, as Young appears on track to play after a promising start to the week. Still, if Dalton trends in the wrong direction, it'll be White backing up Young when the team takes on the hosting Green Bay Packers this Sunday.
--Alex CiullaSource: Darin Gantt
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
DeAndre Hopkins got everyone's hopes up after finding the end zone in each of the first two games of the season. Since then, he's only received more than two targets once and hasn't caught a touchdown pass either. To make things even tougher on fantasy managers wanting to start Hopkins, the Miami Dolphins are ranked as the toughest defense against opposing receivers, only allowing 25.84 fantasy points per game to the whole receiver group. Fantasy managers will want to look for other options outside of Hopkins if possible.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
October 30, 2025
When asked about Dallas Cowboys rookie running back
Jaydon Blue and his performance following Sunday's 44-24 loss to the Broncos, head coach Brian Schottenheimer was disappointed in his output. "[Jaydon Blue] is a young back learning the speed of the game and the physicality of the game," said Schottenheimer. "But to me, I'm always going to go back to the consistency...You have to do those things." The "consistency" Schottenheimer referred to is blitz pickups and ball protection, something he feels Blue still needs to work on. Furthermore, Schottenheimer sang the praises of fourth-year pro
Malik Davis after his second elevation from the practice squad. Blue has remained ahead of Davis in the depth chart, but the backfield split this weekend will be telling of Schottenheimer's sentiment about the duo moving forward. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely in Dallas' home meeting with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night.
--Alex CiullaSource: Nick Harris
October 30, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Max Brosmer shouldn't be a factor in fantasy this Sunday when the team takes on the hosting Detroit Lions. Although he gains some modest fantasy appeal, considering he's the second-string option behind fellow rookie signal-caller
J.J. McCarthy (ankle). If all goes according to plan, McCarthy is Minnesota's starting QB moving forward. Encouragingly, he logged a full practice on Wednesday for the first time since Week 2. However, the high-ankle sprain he's been battling may linger, leaving Brosmer as the Vikes' only other option at QB. While fantasy managers may not call upon him in Week 9, the 24-year-old should at least be stashed in superflex dynasty leagues on the off-chance his team needs him down the stretch. In three appearances, he's completed 5-of-8 passes for 42 yards.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Rashod Bateman has registered just one week finishing in the top 36 of his position. That came back in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions when the Ravens were in a shootout that ended in a 30-38 loss.
Lamar Jackson is back under center, which automatically increases Bateman's value, but the matchup isn't the best. The Miami Dolphins are ranked as the number-one defense against opposing receivers, and they tend to play zone more often than not, which doesn't play to Bateman's strong suit. Since the fifth-year pro is always a threat to take a deep-ball to the house, he still presents some flex appeal, but is a risky option compared to others that are likey on the waiver wire.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
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