5 days agoNew York Jets wide receiver
Mike Williams could see some more snaps on Sunday versus the Patriots. With
Allen Lazard (chest) doubtful, the former Charger may serve as the No. 3 wideout on the depth chart behind
Davante Adams and
Garrett Wilson. Williams tenure with the Jets hasn't been productive, amassing only 11 catches (19 targets) for 160 yards. There's been talk he'll be traded at some point. But for now, it appears he'll remain a Jet and may get some attention from
Aaron Rodgers in Week 8. However, Williams is far from a starting-caliber fantasy option.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoTennessee Titans wide receiver
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has only three catches this season. However, two of them resulted in a trip to the end zone. While the 27-year-old has a way to go before earning trust from fantasy managers, the door is open for more involvement after
DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Chiefs. Granted,
Tyler Boyd could also significantly benefit from Hopkins' departure. But Westbrook-Ikhine is at least worth adding to fantasy rosters in case he gets more involved moving ahead. For now, fantasy managers would be taking a risk by including him in their starting lineups for Week 8 versus the Lions.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoDetroit Lions wide receiver
Tim Patrick has just 10 catches for 165 yards this season. However, with
Jameson Williams (suspension) out for the next few games, Patrick is starting to gain attention from fantasy managers heading into the Week 8 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. Without question, it will be business as usual for
Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has a touchdown in each of the last four games. Yet, Patrick is worth considering for streaming purposes for those taking part in deeper fantasy formats.
Kalif Raymond, coming off a three-catch, 39-yard, one-touchdown showing versus the Vikings, could also benefit from Williams' absence.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers running back
Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) is now listed as doubtful for Monday night against the New York Giants. He's been limited at practice throughout the week, and head coach Mike Tomlin indicated there was a shot he'd be back for Week 8. However, it appears the veteran will miss his fourth straight game because of the ankle injury. Patterson has 16 carries for 92 yards this season, adding five grabs for 34 yards. However, with
Najee Harris and
Jaylen Warren active, Patterson wouldn't have been involved enough to be relevant for fantasy managers.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Steelers
5 days agoSan Francisco 49ers kicker
Anders Carlson will kick off to the Dallas Cowboys at home in Week 8 on Sunday Night Football. The former Auburn Tiger and Green Bay Packer is the third kicker the 49ers have deployed this year, after
Jake Moody (ankle) and
Matthew Wright (shoulder) both were injured on tackle attempts. Last week, Carlson made field goal attempts from 55 and 24 yards but missed an extra point. Carlson has a big-league leg but has struggled with accuracy during his short career, leading the NFL in missed field goals in 2023 and missing five extra points, including playoffs. The 49ers offense has been brutally decimated with injury, so the days of assuming they'll get their kicker plenty of opportunities may be put on hold. This uncertainty along with Carlson's struggles make him a risky start this week. He's the K20 in RotoBaller's rankings this week.
--Brad Beltz - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Reference
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren has been quiet this season but could finally break through for fantasy purposes against the New York Giants in Week 8. Warren dealt with injuries to begin the campaign and started to look more like his explosive self last week. He took the field for over 50% of the Steelers' offensive snaps for the first time in 2024 and saw more opportunities in the passing game than backfield mate
Najee Harris with
Russell Wilson at quarterback. With this contest shaping up to be a low-scoring, defensive-oriented affair, Pittsburgh should be expected to rely heavily on its ground game against a Giants defense allowing the eighth-most rushing yards per game. We haven't yet seen enough from Warren to consider him a weekly fantasy starter, but he's worth considering as a low-end flex option for fantasy managers in a pinch this week.
--Jorden Hill - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
5 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers' defense led the charge in a victory over the Jets last week and will hope to repeat this success against the New York Giants in Week 8. This contest has defensive slugfest written all over it, with the lowest over/under of the week and both defenses performing at a high level this season. Pittsburgh ranks top-five in takeaways per game and the Giants are surrendering sacks at the sixth-highest rate. Fantasy managers should have supreme confidence in the Steelers DST, especially in this Monday night showdown at Acrisure Stadium. Fire up Pittsburgh as a top-five option in all formats.
--Jorden Hill - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Reference
5 days agoThe Denver Broncos D/ST is a top option in Week 8 when they square off against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. Denver's defense has been one of the more staunch tests for opposing offenses in 2024, and they get a tantalizing outing this Sunday against the
Bryce Young-led Panthers offense. Carolina is scoring just 15.7 points per contest -- the fifth-lowest mark in the league -- and has turned the ball over 12 times in seven games, the second-most in the NFL. Additionally, the Broncos' defense will be at near-full strength with the return of lockdown cornerback Pat Surtain II after a one-game absence. This week, the unit tops the list, ranking as RotoBaller's No. 1 overall ranked D/ST ahead of Sunday's contest.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
5 days agoNew York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (groin) is off the injury report and is expected to play on Monday evening against the Pittsburgh Steelers according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Burns opened the week as a limited participant in practice but was then downgraded to a non-participant on Friday. However, he was able to return in a limited capacity on Saturday. Burns has tallied at least one sack in each of the past three games and tallied 27 tackles (18 solo) through his first seven games in the Big Apple. In addition, the former Panther had registered one forced fumble with six pass deflections this season. With Burns set to play, the Giants defense is worth a look as a deep-league streaming option facing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
5 days agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver
Alec Pierce has had some big plays this season, however, they've come on few catches. The 24-year-old owns a superb 25.5 yards per reception average thus far but has just 15 total catches in seven games. One of those catches was a 60-yard touchdown back in Week 1 versus the Texans, which is his opponent in Week 8. It was
Anthony Richardson who threw him that ball and it will be Richardson under center again this week, while Houston has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Whether or not that translates to fantasy points for Pierce again seems like more of a roll of the dice with the second-year QB's poor completion rate (48.5%), so view the former second-round draft pick as a boom/bust candidate in the rematch versus the Texans as a WR5.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoThe San Francisco 49ers D/ST hosts the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 on Sunday Night Football. They come into the game as the fifth-most productive unit in fantasy, averaging eight points per game. Last week the 49ers D sacked
Patrick Mahomes twice and picked him off twice, but allowed 28 points. Dallas' offense ranks near the middle of the league in yardage but was dreadful last week, scoring no touchdowns against Detroit and turning the ball over five times. Both the Niners' defense and Cowboys' offense are healthy, but Dallas is coming off of a bye. Given the Cowboys' extra time to prepare and their offensive competency before last week, San Francisco's D/ST is just outside the Top 12 in Week 8.
--Brad Beltz - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.COM
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers kicker
Chris Boswell continued what has been a sensational 2024 campaign in Week 7 and will stay at home this week for a Monday night showdown against the New York Giants. While it is worth noting that the Giants have not surrendered a ton of production to fantasy kickers, and that this contest is expected to be the lowest-scoring bout of the week, there are reasons to be optimistic about Boswell in this matchup. The Steelers are running the ball at the second-highest rate in the NFL and both defenses have done a good job keeping opponents out of the end zone. In what should be a slow-paced duel, Boswell could be called upon often, especially if New York can prevent Pittsburgh from pushing the ball downfield. There are many kickers in more enticing game environments this week, but Boswell has been steady enough to earn a permanent spot in fantasy lineups.
--Jorden Hill - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
5 days agoDenver Broncos kicker
Wil Lutz is one of the better Week 8 options when his team takes on the Carolina Panthers. Lutz has been outstanding this season, knocking through all 12 of his extra-point attempts while drilling 17-of-18 field goal tries (94.4%). The 30-year-old gets an excellent matchup this Sunday against a Panthers squad that's allowed 34.7 points per game to their opponents -- the highest mark in the league. With rookie quarterback
Bo Nix playing sound football in his first taste of NFL action, the former Georgia State Panther should continue to be among the fantasy leaders at the kicker position. Lutz ranks as RotoBaller's K7 ahead of Sunday's outing.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
5 days agoTennessee Titans running back
Tyjae Spears (hamstring) was downgraded to out for Week 8. Spears did not suit up last weekend but returned to practice this week in a limited capacity. However, he was unable to progress enough and will now set his sights on returning in Week 9 to face the New England Patriots. Spears has been deployed as the No.2 option out of the backfield this season behind
Tony Pollard and has only averaged a mere 22.8 rushing yards per game with just one score. Fantasy managers should expect Pollard to see a heavy dose of work on Sunday afternoon but faces a tough challenge as the Lions have allowed the second-fewest PPR points to opposing running backs this season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Jim Wyatt
5 days agoIndianapolis Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (ankle) was activated off the injured reserve and will return to action on Sunday. In a corresponding move the Colts waived running back
Evan Hull. Buckner has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during the second week of the season. In the season opener, Buckner had a productive afternoon as he tallied six tackles (five solo) with 1.5 sacks. Last season, the lineman posted a career-high 81 tackles with seven pass deflections and eight sacks. Buckner should expected to return to his typical starting role on Sunday afternoon facing the Houston Texans.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Indianapolis Colts
RADIO
