5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers tight end
Pat Freiermuth has been underwhelming in recent weeks and will look to get back on track against the New York Giants in Week 8. With
Russell Wilson under center, Pittsburgh's passing attack was much more exciting last week, but Freiermuth ceded a surprising amount of opportunities to fellow tight end
Darnell Washington. The Giants have been stout against opposing tight ends all season, surrendering the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Because this contest is expected to be slow-paced and Freiermuth seems to have only a few guaranteed targets, it will be difficult for fantasy managers to rely on him as anything more than a TE2 on Monday night.
--Jorden Hill - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
5 days agoDenver Broncos tight end
Lucas Krull will face the Carolina Panthers in Week 8 this Sunday. The third-year tight end was the team's second-leading receiver in Week 7's 33-10 domination of a depleted Saints squad. Despite being listed as the second-string option behind teammate
Adam Trautman on Denver's depth chart, Krull has out-targeted, out-received, and out-gained Trautman over the last three weeks. Still, even in a juicy matchup against a porous Panthers defense, the 26-year-old will not be a viable fantasy option. The former undrafted free agent is RotoBaller's PPR TE31 ahead of the Week 8 outing.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
5 days agoDallas Cowboys running back
Dalvin Cook was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad on Saturday and is expected to make his Dallas debut on Sunday evening in San Francisco according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The veteran running back joined the Cowboys during the last week of August but has yet to see any regular season action. Fantasy managers should monitor his usage on Sunday evening as he could eventually work out a role going forward. Top option
Rico Dowdle should be expected to continue to operate as the lead back as he has averaged 62.8 total yards per game with 11.0 PPR points per game while
Ezekiel Elliott and
Deuce Vaughn have been very unproductive serving as change-of-pace options. Cook is worth taking a flier on in deeper 14+ team formats for the time being.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
George Pickens finally got rolling this season with
Russell Wilson at quarterback in Week 7 and could continue heating up against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Pickens has been Pittsburgh's clear top option in the passing game all year but his talents seem to align perfectly with Wilson's style of play. Although the Giants have been solid defensively in 2024, Pickens' near-30% team target share keeps him in fantasy WR2 territory. It's worth noting that this contest is expected to be incredibly low-scoring, so while expectations should be managed, Pickens could still certainly end up on the receiving end of a few if not all deep balls from Wilson. Fantasy managers can confidently deploy him as a top-24 option in Week 8.
--Jorden Hill - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
5 days agoNew England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) was added to the injury report and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Jets. Dugger initially opened the week as a limited participant during Wednesday's practice but then upgraded to full participation on Thursday. However, seeing Dugger return to the injury report and now carrying a designation is not a positive sign for his status on Sunday. Through six games this season, the 28-year-old has tallied 35 tackles (26 solo) with one sack and one forced fumble. If he is unable to suit up, fantasy managers in IDP formats should expect Jaylinn Hawkins to see an increase in snaps.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: New England Patriots
5 days agoDenver Broncos wide receiver
Devaughn Vele will square off against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday in Week 8. Vele recorded just one catch on three targets for 20 yards in last Thursday's win over the Saints, the lowest totals of his career thus far. It's a stark contrast to the 78 yards on 4-of-6 receiving he racked up the week prior, but in his defense, rookie quarterback
Bo Nix was asked to do less in the win over New Orleans as opposed to the loss against the Chargers. The rookie wideout gets a juicy outing against a sieve-like Panthers defense this Sunday. Still, the seventh-round pick in this year's draft is not a reliable fantasy option just yet. His early career involvement, however, is encouraging. As RotoBaller's PPR WR74 ahead of Week 8, the rookie wideout is little more than a desperate dart throw.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers running back
Najee Harris got off to a slow start this season but has turned in two consecutive 100-yard performances with a touchdown. He should have a good shot of continuing this productive stretch against the New York Giants in Week 8. The Giants have given up the eighth-most rushing yards per game in 2024 and were carved up for 269 yards on the ground by
Saquon Barkley and the Eagles in Week 7. Pittsburgh's defense has been elite and will likely make things difficult for New York's offense on Monday night. The Steelers should be expected to lean on the running game led by Harris with
Jaylen Warren mixing in. Harris arguably looks the best he ever has through four years in the NFL and should be fired up as a solid fantasy RB2 in this matchup.
--Jorden Hill - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
5 days agoLos Angeles Chargers tight end
Will Dissly (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Dissly did not participate during Wednesday's and Thursday's practice but returned to practice on Friday in a limited capacity which is a promising sign for his status this weekend. Last weekend, the 28-year-old tight end saw a hefty 11 targets and was able to bring in eight of them for a season-high 81 yards. With wideouts
Quentin Johnston and
Ladd McConkey also listed as questionable, the Chargers may lean heavily on their rushing attack facing one of the worst rushing defenses in football. Fantasy managers should expect
J.K. Dobbins to be heavily involved on Sunday and be viewed as a high-end RB2.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Chargers
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Russell Wilson will follow up an impressive Week 7 outing with a Monday night showdown against the New York Giants. Wilson found the end zone three times last week in what should have been a difficult matchup against the Jets' defense. The Giants have been much more generous to quarterbacks this season than their New York counterparts, surrendering the 10th-most fantasy points per game to the position. However, this contest is projected to be the lowest-scoring affair of the week and should make for a relatively slow-paced environment. Wilson could be a potential streaming candidate in single-quarterback leagues at some point in 2024, but for now, he's best viewed as a low-end QB2 in superflex formats and should only be started as such in Week 8.
--Jorden Hill - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
5 days agoWashington Commanders rookie quarterback
Jayden Daniels (ribs) remains questionable for Sunday's game according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Rapoport further reported that the rookie will do a walk-through, and go through further treatment on Saturday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress throughout the weekend as the former number-two overall selection will likely be a game-time decision. If Daniels is able to suit up, he should be locked into all lineups as a high-end option as he has averaged an impressive 25.1 PPR points per game through his first six NFL games. If not,
Marcus Mariota should be viewed as a solid QB2 in deeper Superflex formats.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
5 days agoDenver Broncos wide receiver
Troy Franklin will line up against a weak Carolina Panthers defense this Sunday in Week 8. The rookie wideout started the season cold in a part-time role, playing fewer than 20 snaps in each of his first four appearances. However, he's seen his snap share tick up over the last few weeks (36/33) and responded with increased production. Franklin had his best outing of the season on Thursday Night Football a week ago, racking up 50 yards while hauling in 5-of-6 targets. He gets an even better matchup this week against a Panthers D that's been the worst in the league on a per-play basis against opposing pass attacks. The former Oregon Duck can't precisely be trusted as an every-week option just yet, but his usage may continue to increase as the season wanes on. Additionally, his collegiate connection with quarterback
Bo Nix could prove helpful in the back half of the season. Franklin is the PPR WR58 this week in RotoBaller's ranks.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
5 days agoDenver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton gets one of the better matchups this Sunday when his team squares off against the Carolina Panthers. The SMU alum goose-egg'd fantasy managers last Thursday night in Denver's 33-10 route of the New Orleans Saints. Though, cornerback Marshon Lattimore may have played a large part in that. This week, however, he'll get a much softer matchup against one of the worst defensive units in the league. Carolina allows the most pass yards per play to opposing offenses (7.6) and has turned opponents over just six times this year -- thrice through the air. It's possible Denver leads with a run-heavy game plan, mainly if second-year Panthers QB
Bryce Young can't make it a contest. Still, this matchup is as good as any to start the 29-year-old. Sutton is RotoBaller's PPR WR35 ahead of Sunday's outing.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
5 days agoDenver Broncos running back
Javonte Williams could be in store for a massive day this Sunday when his team lines up against the Carolina Panthers. The fourth-year back had his best outing of the season last Thursday night in the Broncos' 33-10 trouncing of the New Orleans Saints. In Week 8, he'll take on a Panthers defensive unit that's afforded their opponents an average of 162.1 rush yards per game and the most rushing touchdowns in the league (13). Additionally, the 24-year-old has a solid role in Denver's passing game, racking up less than three catches just twice in seven games -- leading his team with 23 receptions. Williams ranks as RotoBaller's PPR RB19 ahead of Week 8.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
5 days agoDenver Broncos quarterback
Bo Nix gets an intriguing matchup in Week 8 when his team lines up against the Carolina Panthers. The former Oregon Duck hasn't wowed with his stat lines this season, but he's done an excellent job keeping Denver in games. While he's only thrown five touchdown passes, the rookie's production on the ground has afforded him a higher fantasy floor (36.4 yards per game). This week, he'll face a Panthers defense that's allowed the most yards per pass play to their opponents (7.6 yards per attempt). Additionally, they've let up 14 touchdown passes to just three interceptions forced. The Broncos' game script may lean run-heavy -- as Carolina has also allowed the most rushing yards to opposing offenses -- but Nix is a strong start in superflex and 2QB formats and a fringe streaming option elsewhere. He's RotoBaller's QB17 in this week's rankings.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
5 days agoAtlanta Falcons running back
Tyler Allgeier tallied just six touches in Week 7 compared to
Bijan Robinson's 24, returning to his clear backup role after leading the backfield in touches the week before. Despite averaging 5.7 yards per rush, which is top five among qualified running backs and better than Robinson's 4.7 YPR, Allgeier does not get many opportunities unless the game script warrants it. Week 8 has Atlanta as only slight favorites, so the BYU product will likely play second fiddle again unless the Falcons get up big. Should that happen, the Bucs have been generous, allowing 5.3 yards per rush which is third-worst in the NFL. With Tampa Bay missing their top two receiving options, they may lack the firepower to keep up with Atlanta this time around, so there is potential Allgeier sees more volume than last week. Regardless, as backup to Robinson, the 24-year-old is hard to trust as anything more than a low-end RB3/Flex in Week 8.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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