Mason Taylor Worth Stashing Through Jets' Week 9 Bye?
New York Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor recorded five catches for 34 yards and a touchdown in his team's Week 8 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The 21-year-old has now hauled in 29 catches for 242 yards and a score on 42 targets across the first eight games of his NFL career. Taylor has emerged as the number two option in the Jets' passing game behind star wideout Garrett Wilson (knee), earning at least five targets in five out of his last six games played. Given New York's struggles as a passing offense, that still leaves Taylor with a relatively limited ceiling as a fantasy tight end. Further complicating matters, the Jets have their bye in Week 9. However, Taylor has shown enough that he could be worth stashing through the bye in deeper fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Washington Emerging as a Consistent Target-Earner in Miami?
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington had arguably his best game of the season in Week 8, recording four catches for 36 yards and a touchdown on five targets in his team's win over the Atlanta Falcons. The 24-year-old has now hauled in 25 catches for 135 yards and a score on 38 targets across eight games so far in 2025. Washington emerged as a consistent target-earner in Miami over the last month. In four games since star Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill (knee) went down for the season in Week 4 due to a knee injury, Washington has seen 23 targets. However, Washington is currently averaging a miserable 5.4 yards per reception, which limits his fantasy upside. Still, in deep PPR-scoring leagues, Washington should be rostered for his relatively safe target floor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Emanuel Wilson Looks Impressive in Win on Sunday Night
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson was able to break out with a solid performance on the ground during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wilson saw a season-high 11 carries for 61 yards on the ground. He also hauled in three of his four targets for 26 additional yards through the air. Lead back Josh Jacobs struggled on the ground, which gave Wilson additional carries. The 26-year-old made the most of his chances, but is unlikely going to take away a ton of carries from Jacobs. Wilson shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a desperation play for Week 9.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Samaje Perine Rushes for Nearly 100 Yards in Week 8 Loss
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine posted his best game of the season during Sunday's game against the New York Jets. Perine rushed nine time for 94 yards and a touchdown in the loss. The 30-year-old remains the backup in Cincinnati, but has seen more work lately. In fact, Perine has seen his carries increase every game since Week 5. Chase Brown remains the starter, but Perine could be forcing more of a split backfield if he continues playing like this. Perine could be worth a stash for fantasy managers in need of running back depth.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Devin Singletary Likely to See Larger Role
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary is expected to see a larger role in the backfield going forward. Sadly, the Giants lost Cam Skattebo (ankle) for the rest of the season during Sunday's game. That means, Tyrone Tracy Jr. figures to take over as the lead back with Singletary as the primary backup. Singletary began last season as the starter, but eventually gave up the role to Tracy. The assumption is that Tracy will get a majority of the carries, but Singletary should be more involved than he was as the third string back. Fantasy managers in desperate need of running back depth should consider adding Singletary. He might be able to offer flex value depending on the split in the backfield.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Troy Franklin Getting More Involved
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin is beginning to build more chemistry with quarterback Bo Nix. Over the last two games, Franklin has seen 18 targets and hauled in nine receptions for 100-plus yards with three touchdowns. The 22-year-old posted a few decent games early in the season, but has really come alive as of late. The two-score effort on Sunday will make Franklin the top waiver priority in plenty of fantasy formats. The six-catch contest in Week 8 was the most for Franklin since Week 2. He has shown an ability to make plays and figures to be a viable flex option going forward.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Cade Otton Picking Up Steam
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton started the season by posting some duds, but he has turned it around lately. Over the last four games, Otton has hauled in four receptions or more in every game. The 26-year-old has also finished with 40 receiving yards or more in all of those contests. The Bucs are extremely shorthanded with multiple playmakers out for the foreseeable future. That being said, Otton figures to continue seeing the ball coming his way during the second half of the season. The Bucs head into a bye in Week 9, but Otton should be a viable TE2 in the second half.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Julian Hill Still Not Practicing
Miami Dolphins tight end Julian Hill (ankle) was a non-participant on the team's estimated injury report on Monday, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Hill did not play in the team's Week 8 upset win over the Atlanta Falcons and appears to be on track to miss a second straight game during a short week for a Thursday night contest against the Baltimore Ravens. Darren Waller (pectoral) is on Injured Reserve, so the Dolphins were down to Tanner Conner and Greg Dulcich at TE on Sunday. Conner caught both of his targets against Atlanta for only six yards, while Dulcich wasn't targeted at all. Until further notice, fantasy managers should continue to ignore the Dolphins' TE situation with Waller on IR. In seven games in his third year in the NFL, Hill has only 10 catches on 13 targets for 77 yards and no touchdowns.
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Plans to Sign With Steelers
Free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Valdes-Scantling will be reuniting with quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the two played together in Green Bay. The 31-year-old veteran reached the open market earlier in October after he reached an injury settlement with the San Francisco 49ers, and now he'll head to the AFC North, where he'll give the Steelers some WR depth behind DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, and Roman Wilson. MVS might have plenty of chemistry with Rodgers from their days with the Packers, but it would be a surprise if he suddenly became a big part of Pittsburgh's passing attack in the second half of the 2025 campaign. The former fifth-round pick is mainly a deep threat down the field. In five games with San Fran this year, Valdes-Scantling had only four catches on eight targets for 40 yards.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Patrick Surtain II Could Land on Injured Reserve With Pectoral Strain
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (pectoral), the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, suffered a strained pectoral in the Week 8 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and could land on Injured Reserve, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Surtain is considered week-to-week and is probably unlikely to suit up this Sunday on the road against the Houston Texans. If the 25-year-old defensive back lands on IR, he'd be forced to miss at least four games and wouldn't be eligible to return until a Week 14 divisional contest on Sunday, Dec. 7, against the Las Vegas Raiders. He is expected to avoid surgery, but he could be sidelined for up to four to six weeks. Although Denver's defense/special teams unit will remain a must-start this week against Houston, Surtain's injury is a big blow to their secondary moving forward.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Mac Jones Day-to-Day With Knee Contusion
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (knee) suffered a knee contusion in the Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans and is considered day-to-day, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Jones' injury doesn't sound serious, but he could head back to a backup role this upcoming weekend against the New York Giants if Brock Purdy (toe) is deemed ready to return from a turf-toe injury that he aggravated back in Week 4. Jones has also played through a knee sprain this year with Purdy injured and has kept the team's offense afloat. However, the 27-year-old has underwhelmed in two straight weeks and is now up in the air to play this Sunday against the G-Men. In his six starts in 2025, Jones has completed 65.9% of his 226 pass attempts for 1,597 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions. If he's forced to make another start in Week 9, he'll continue to be a low-end QB2 option in superflex fantasy leagues.
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Brandon Aiyuk Won't Resume Practicing on Wednesday
The San Francisco 49ers do not plan to open wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's (knee) 21-day practice window on Wednesday, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said late last week that Aiyuk could resume practicing this week, but it won't happen on Wednesday, meaning he's unlikely to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list to make his season debut in Week 9 against the New York Giants. The 27-year-old pass-catcher is still recovering from suffering a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee in Week 7 of last year. Once he returns to practice, the 49ers are expected to take things slow with him, and he could need the full 21 days before he's officially activated to the active 53-man roster. Fantasy managers stashing Aiyuk need to remain patient, and it's possible that he's not back to full speed until the 2026 season.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
Nyheim Hines Maxes Out Elevations, Will the Chargers Keep Him?
Los Angeles Chargers running back Nyheim Hines was elevated from the practice squad for the third time this season but made little impact in Thursday's 37-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Hines saw only seven snaps, four on offense and three on special teams, and finished with two carries for minus 2 yards. He was clearly behind Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson on the depth chart and has since returned to the practice squad. Now that Hines has reached the maximum number of elevations allowed from the practice squad, the Chargers must decide whether to sign him to the active roster to keep him available, as per NFL rules. With Hassan Haskins (hamstring) and Omarion Hampton (ankle) still sidelined, there's a possibility Hines gets signed. However, his limited usage on Thursday might suggest otherwise. Either way, he's off the fantasy radar heading into Week 9 against a struggling Tennessee Titans defense.
Source: NFL
Source: NFL
Rams Acquire Roger McCreary From the Titans
The Los Angeles Rams acquired cornerback Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans on Monday in exchange for a conditional fifth-/sixth-round pick swap, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Titans will get a fifth-rounder closer to the beginning of the round, which most likely will be the team's original fifth-round pick. The Rams will receive a sixth-rounder that will be closer to the end of the round. The Titans now have three sixth-round picks for next year. McCreary, a former second-round pick by the Titans in 2022 out of Auburn, had four sacks, 253 tackles (196 solo), 22 tackles for loss, five QB hits, three interceptions, and a forced fumble in his four years with Tennessee. He had 33 tackles, one sack, and an interception in eight games (three starts) this year for the Titans before the trade. The 25-year-old is projected to start out of the slot in L.A.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Ed Oliver Out Indefinitely With Torn Biceps
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps) suffered a torn biceps muscle in the Week 8 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and will undergo surgery, according to Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News. According to head coach Sean McDermott, Oliver is out indefinitely. It's unclear exactly when the 27-year-old interior defensive lineman will be able to return, but he probably will not play again this season unless the Bills advance to the playoffs. It's a notable loss for the Bills' defensive line moving forward, and the team will now look for more contributions from the likes of DaQuan Jones, Larry Ogunjobi, and Deone Walker. Oliver has only played in three games for the Bills this year and has three sacks, 12 tackles (10 solo), seven tackles for loss, five QB hits, and one forced fumble.
Source: The Buffalo News - Jay Skurski
Source: The Buffalo News - Jay Skurski
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