October 29, 2025
ESPN's Mike Reiss writes that the New England Patriots are most likely to target a running back and a veteran pass-rusher before next Tuesday's trade deadline, according to sources familiar with the team's thinking. The Patriots already have
Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie
TreVeyon Henderson in their backfield, but it sounds as though they'd like to add depth for the second half of the season as they look to make a run to the playoffs. It's purely speculation right now, and the Patriots added running back
D'Ernest Johnson directly to their active 53-man roster on Wednesday. It could be a sign that they are standing pat at the position. Stevenson did miss practice due to undisclosed reasons on Wednesday, though, so everything remains on the table. If an RB is brought in to bolster the backfield, it will obviously be bad news for the fantasy values of both Stevenson and Henderson. Stay tuned.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
October 29, 2025
Tennessee Titans running back
Tony Pollard was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. The Titans never reported an injury for Pollard coming out of Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but Pollard did play only 46% of the offensive snaps, his second-lowest mark of the 2025 season. Fantasy managers will want to check back later for an update on why Pollard wasn't on the practice field.
Tyjae Spears would have plug-and-play RB2 upside against the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend if Pollard is limited in any way or out completely. Pollard had only two more carries than Spears in Week 8 and finished with 44 rushing yards and nine receiving yards on his lone catch. Even if Pollard is fine heading into the weekend, his role is diminishing as Tennessee looks to get Spears more involved out of the backfield.
--Keith HernandezSource: TitanInsider.com - Terry McCormick
October 29, 2025
New England Patriots running back
Rhamondre Stevenson was not seen on the practice field on Wednesday during the portion open to the media, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. It's unclear exactly why Stevenson wasn't seen at practice on Wednesday, but it's worth noting that he wasn't on the field for the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter in Sunday's blowout win over the Cleveland Browns. The 27-year-old played 72% of the offensive snaps in Week 8 and had 49 total yards on 15 touches. Fantasy managers will want to check back in later to see if Stevenson is dealing with an injury as the team begins preparations for a Week 9 tilt against the visiting Atlanta Falcons. If he is limited in any way this weekend or out altogether, rookie
TreVeyon Henderson would finally be in line for a heavy workload as the team's RB1.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
October 29, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) will be a full participant in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Meanwhile, head coach Pete Carroll said that Bowers has "looked great" and is "playing at full speed," per ESPN's Ryan McFadden. The Raiders were saying before their Week 8 bye that the second-year TE was expected back in Week 9 to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a full practice for Bowers on Wednesday confirms that. The 22-year-old initially suffered a PCL injury and a bone bruise in the season opener and tried to play through it. He hasn't played since Week 4, though, so fantasy managers are certainly itching to get him back into their starting lineups. As long as Bowers doesn't suffer a setback with his knee in practice this week, he should start on Sunday against the Jags, where he'll be a TE1 in all fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
October 29, 2025
Updating a previous report, Carolina Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young (ankle) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice, according to David Newton of ESPN. Despite Young's return to a full practice, head coach Dave Canales said that the team will decide on the starting QB in the next few days for Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. The 24-year-old is being considered day-to-day for now, but a full practice on Wednesday suggests he has a good chance of returning this weekend after missing the Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills due to a high right-ankle sprain that he suffered in Week 7 against the New York Jets. Veteran
Andy Dalton was forced to make the start last weekend and came out of the blowout loss with a right-thumb injury. All signs are pointing toward Young making his return this Sunday at Lambeau Field.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - David Newton
October 29, 2025
It looks as though Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) has "taken a step toward a return to practice," according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Reed was "running off to the side" while the rest of the team practiced on Wednesday. Although it appears as though Reed is making progress from a broken collarbone that he suffered in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, he still has a way to go before being activated from Injured Reserve, as the Packers have yet to open his 21-day practice window. The 25-year-old had surgery to fix his broken collarbone and is also recovering from surgery to fix a Jones fracture in his foot. There remains no timetable for his return. When Reed returns, he'll be part of a crowded WR mix in Green Bay now that
Christian Watson is back from his torn ACL that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale in 2024.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
October 29, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk (hamstring) has been sidelined since the team's Week 5 matchup with the Ravens. Kirk returned to practice on Wednesday, ahead of the team's Week 9 showdown with the Broncos. The 29-year-old's availability would be a major addition to a passing game averaging just 215.3 yards per game. Kirk has tallied 10 receptions for 109 yards over just three games. The Texans have remained in contention, largely due to their defense. As the offense gets healthy, a strong second half could be on the horizon for quarterback
C.J. Stroud and the passing game.
UPDATE: Kirk was officially limited in Wednesday's practice.--Shaun AlbinSource: Aaron Wilson
October 29, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins (concussion) returned to practice as he continues to progress through concussion protocol ahead of the team's Week 9 matchup with the Denver Broncos. The 3-4 Texans hope to have their leading receiver back ahead of a difficult test against the stout Broncos secondary. Through six games, Collins has tallied 26 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns. Collins' availability could be a major blow to the usage of
Jayden Higgins and
Jared Wayne, who filled in during the team's victory over the 49ers last week.
UPDATE: Collins remains in the concussion protocol, but he's expected to be cleared in the next few days. He was limited in Wednesday's practice.--Shaun AlbinSource: Aaron Wilson
October 29, 2025
Green Bay Packers running back
MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) won't be practicing anytime soon, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. Lloyd continues to be an enigma for fantasy owners, as his hype has been consistently derailed by one injury after another. Lloyd joined the Packers as a third-round pick in 2024, but has appeared in just one career regular-season game, gaining 15 yards on six carries last season. The team will continue to operate with
Josh Jacobs and change-of-pace option
Emanuel Wilson for the foreseeable future. Jacobs has managed 447 yards and nine touchdowns through seven games.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Rob Demovsky
October 29, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Dontayvion Wicks (calf) missed another practice Wednesday, which is especially concerning following his absence in Week 8. Wicks has seen his role diminish in recent weeks, coinciding with the emergence of
Matthew Golden. The Packers are taking on a Carolina Panthers team that allows just 198.4 passing yards per game, which will pose a stiff challenge for
Jordan Love and the offense. If Wicks continues to miss time, the team will likely utilize
Christian Watson,
Romeo Doubs and Golden on most three-receiver sets.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Rob Demovsky
October 29, 2025
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Joshua Palmer (ankle) failed to practice on Wednesday ahead of a marquee matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. Palmer hasn't played since Week 6, but the team is hoping to have its big-play threat back to stretch the field against an elite Chiefs defense. If Palmer is unavailable this week, expect another
Elijah Moore to continue to see an expanded role. Last week, Moore appeared on a season-high 46% of the team's offensive plays. He was targeted four times, hauling in one reception for 14 yards.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Maddy Glab
October 29, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Marquise Brown (illness) was absent from practice on Wednesday. Brown failed to haul in his lone target on Monday night against the Commanders and has struggled to remain fantasy relevant with the return of
Rashee Rice. In the two games since Rice returned, Brown has seen a total of five targets, resulting in two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown. If Brown continues to miss time this week, fantasy owners should be comfortable benching the big-play receiver ahead of a Week 9 matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Matt McMullen
October 29, 2025
Carolina Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday after missing Week 8 due to a high-ankle sprain. Young was seen practicing on a wet field, which bodes well for his availability this week. The Panthers have emerged as a playoff contender behind the 24-year-old signal caller. The team will face the Green Bay Packers on the road this week, in a pivotal NFC matchup. If Young can play, it will set up a matchup of rising signal callers as he takes on
Jordan Love. Rookie wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan could also benefit from a full-strength offense.
--Shaun AlbinSource: David Newton
October 29, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (knee) will not be on the practice field on Wednesday, according to head coach Andy Reid. Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain late in the Monday night win over the Washington Commanders in Week 8 and is considered week-to-week, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he's not practicing. The 26-year-old is unlikely to be active for a Week 9 showdown against the Buffalo Bills, but the good news is that KC will head into their bye in Week 10, so it's possible Pacheco will only end up missing one game. With Pacheco unlikely to be able to play this weekend, veteran
Kareem Hunt should take over lead-back duties, with rookie
Brashard Smith also having an expanded role and being in play as a flex option for fantasy managers. Pacheco has been a big disappointment in fantasy leagues in 2025, running for 329 yards and just one touchdown on 78 carries over his first eight games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
October 29, 2025
As of right now, the Denver Broncos are not planning to place cornerback Patrick Surtain II (pectoral) on Injured Reserve, a source told Luca Evans of The Denver Post. Surtain suffered an injury to his pectoral muscle in last week's win over the Denver Broncos and is unlikely to play in Week 9 this Sunday on the road against the Houston Texans. If Surtain were to land on Injured Reserve, last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year would be required to miss at least four games. After this weekend's game against the Texans, the Broncos have home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs before going on their bye. The 25-year-old defensive back is expected to miss anywhere from four to six weeks with his injury, so Denver's secondary will be a little more vulnerable in the coming weeks without their star defender. Jahdae Barron is expected to have an increased role with Surtain sidelined.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Denver Post - Luca Evans
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