October 29, 2025
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced on Wednesday that rookie quarterback
Tyler Shough will start for the team for the rest of the season. Moore said that he feels Shough is ready and that he is "really excited for him." The Saints benched
Spencer Rattler in last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Shough went 17-for-30 passing for 128 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception in relief in just his second NFL appearance. The second-rounder out of Louisville will now lead the Saints offense for the rest of the year, and he'll get a tough matchup on the road against the Los Angeles Rams this weekend in his first career start. Shough has a strong arm and good size at 6-foot-5, 219 pounds, but he won't give fantasy managers any additional upside with his legs in what has been a very inconsistent Saints offense. Expect plenty of growing pains. Shough should remain on the waiver wire in single-QB, 12-team redraft leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Jeff Nowak
October 29, 2025
Dallas Mavericks guard
Dante Exum (knee) won't be available for Wednesday's matchup against the Indiana Pacers. This comes as little surprise, as Exum continues to deal with a right knee issue and has yet to make his season debut. Health problems also limited him to just 20 appearances during the 2024-25 campaign, when he averaged 8.7 points and 2.8 assists. Given his extensive injury history, the 30-year-old is expected to have a minimal fantasy impact this season with restricted minutes when healthy.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
October 29, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will have a full week to prepare before returning as the starter for Week 9 against the Detroit Lions, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. McCarthy is expected to step back in as Minnesota's starting quarterback for the first time since Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, when he suffered a high-ankle sprain that caused him to miss five games. The 2024 first-round pick struggled to adjust to the speed of the NFL in his first two games, completing 24 of 41 pass attempts for 301 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions to go with nine sacks taken. The 22-year-old will have plenty of growing pains after missing all of his rookie year with a knee injury, but head coach Kevin O'Connell has expressed confidence in him as their starter going forward. It's a tough spot to make his return, with a hostile road environment awaiting in Detroit for Week 9.
UPDATE: McCarthy was a full-go in Wednesday's practice.--Kyle McCarthySource: Ben Goessling
October 29, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) will practice in full all week, according to Tashan Reed of the Washington Post. Head coach Dan Quinn said on Tuesday that Daniels had a positive rehab session on Sunday and will be part of the practice plan this week, and now confirmed that the 24-year-old will be a full participant in practice ahead of their Week 9 matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. Daniels already missed two games earlier in the season with a knee injury, but could wind up only missing one game this time because of the hamstring injury suffered in their Week 7 loss at the Dallas Cowboys. His return will be a big boost to the entire Washington offense, as they scored only seven points last week against Kansas City, their lowest in a game since the 2023 season. Washington's QB1 will be without
Terry McLaurin on Sunday, however, as he re-injured his quad and has been ruled out.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Tashan Reed
October 29, 2025
Toronto Raptors center
Jakob Poeltl (back) is unavailable for Wednesday's matchup with the Houston Rockets. Poeltl has been dealing with a back issue since the preseason. He was unable to finish Monday's contest against the San Antonio Spurs due to lower back tightness. Poeltl has disappointed many fantasy managers so far this campaign, posting averages of 6.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23.0 minutes. With the 30-year-old out of action,
Sandro Mamukelashvili will likely start at center, while
Collin Murray-Boyles could also see extra minutes on the floor this evening for the Raptors.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
October 29, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin (quad) has been ruled out for Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks, according to JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports. McLaurin re-injured the quad that caused him to miss four consecutive games during Monday night's loss to the Chiefs. It's not great to see the 30-year-old wideout already ruled out for Sunday, but head coach Dan Quinn is hopeful that the setback won't "knock him out for a long time." McLaurin made multiple splash plays in his Week 8 return despite playing only 47.2% of snaps, catching three of his four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown. He'll hope to return for their Week 10 matchup against the Lions. In the meantime,
Deebo Samuel Sr. will take on a bigger target share with
Chris Moore,
Luke McCaffrey, and
Jaylin Lane all likely to see bumps in playing time as well.
--Kyle McCarthySource: JP Finlay
October 29, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles are trading wide receiver
John Metchie III and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for cornerback Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Metchie played the most offensive snaps of the season with the Eagles in Week 8 with
A.J. Brown (hamstring) out, but it was only nine snaps, and he didn't record a target in the game. The 25-year-old will join his third team since August, beginning the offseason with the Texans before being dealt to the Eagles in August. Metchie mostly served as a special teamer with Philadelphia, but lands with a Jets team that needs help at wide receiver, with
Garrett Wilson (knee) banged up. He could be in the mix for opportunities early in New York, and he gets a Week 9 bye to get up to speed with his new team.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Dianna Russini
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
October 29, 2025
Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy said that wide receiver
Calvin Ridley (hamstring) will not practice on Wednesday, per Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Ridley was injured in Week 6 and hasn't practiced or played since, and he's trending in the wrong direction early in the week to make his return this Sunday to face the visiting Los Angeles Chargers. Even if the 30-year-old returns to practice in the next couple of days and suits up in Week 9, fantasy managers won't be in a rush to throw him back into their starting lineups. Ridley just hasn't shown much chemistry with rookie first-round quarterback
Cameron Ward this year when he's been on the field, catching 16 of his 35 targets for 290 yards and no touchdowns in six games. If Ridley misses another game, rookies
Elic Ayomanor and
Chimere Dike will have elevated roles for the third straight contest.
--Keith HernandezSource: TennesseeTitans.com - Jim Wyatt
October 29, 2025
According to a source, there's "no chance" that Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett gets dealt ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "People have a better chance of winning the lottery," the source said. The Browns surely would be asking for much more than any team is willing to offer for Garrett, so he will remain with Cleveland for at least one more season. The 29-year-old defensive end is having another fantastic season and is coming off an absolute dominant performance in the Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots, in which he had five sacks, six tackles, and a forced fumble. Garrett and the Browns will be on bye in Week 9, but he should be right back in starting fantasy lineups in IDP leagues in Week 10 against the New York Jets. He is already at 10 sacks through eight games in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
October 29, 2025
Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. benefitted from receiver
Drake London's (hip) absence in the Week 8 upset loss to the Miami Dolphins, catching all nine of his targets from quarterback
Kirk Cousins for 59 yards. "He's going out there and executing at a very high level," head coach Raheem Morris said. Although Pitts has scored just once so far in 2025, the 25-year-old former fourth overall pick has been more involved this year under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, catching 39 of his 47 targets for 344 yards through seven games. Those numbers have made him the TE13 in half-PPR scoring through eight weeks. London's potential return in Week 9 against the New England Patriots could put a damper on Pitts' overall fantasy upside this weekend, but he has proven to be a low-end TE1/high-end TE2 every week so far in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Terrin Waack
October 29, 2025
Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said on Wednesday that he expects wide receiver
Darnell Mooney (hamstring, shoulder) to take "major steps forward" in his play going forward after dealing with hamstring and shoulder injuries this year, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. It certainly didn't happen in last week's upset loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, when Mooney caught only one of his four targets for 11 yards. It was especially disappointing, with
Drake London (hip) out due to injury, but it also came with veteran quarterback
Kirk Cousins making his first start of the year, with
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) sidelined. If London is back this weekend against the New England Patriots, fantasy managers will most likely be avoiding Mooney as a WR4/flex option after he has put up two one-catch performances in his last three games.
UPDATE: Mooney was limited in practice on Wednesday with his hamstring issue.--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
October 29, 2025
The Buffalo Bills activated wide receiver
Gabe Davis (knee) from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Davis has been on the IR since early September with a knee issue, but he's back now and will practice with the team on Wednesday as they begin preparing for a showdown this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 26-year-old returned to Buffalo this offseason after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Bills. In 2024, he played in a career-low 10 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars and caught 20 of 42 targets for 239 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury. Davis will be looking to earn his way onto Buffalo's active 53-man roster in the second half of the season, but if he does, he'll be an unpredictable deep threat who probably won't be on the field all that often.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
October 29, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Drake London (hip) is day-to-day coming out of the team's Week 8 upset loss to the Miami Dolphins, in which he was ruled out, according to AtlantaFalcons.com's Terrin Waack. "Drake is in the building, feels good, planning on practicing. Get a chance to look at him moving around a little bit today. Those guys are both feeling day-to-day but a lot better than we felt last week," head coach Raheem Morris said. London popped up on Atlanta's injury report late last week and was a surprise inactive on Sunday, but the fact that he'll be back on the practice field on Wednesday (even if he's limited) is a sign that he could return this weekend to face the New England Patriots. Quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is also day-to-day after missing Week 8, so the Falcons could be getting both London and Penix back. The 24-year-old London is a must-start in fantasy lineups if he's active against New England.
UPDATE: London was officially limited in Wednesday's practice.--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com - Terrin Waack
October 29, 2025
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales strongly suggested on Monday that Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers "will be the week he ditches the shared carries approach and rides the hot hand and feet of
Rico Dowdle," according to Joseph Person of The Athletic.
Chuba Hubbard missed some time earlier this year with a calf injury, which coincided with Dowdle having the best two-game stretch by a Panthers running back in team history. Carolina leaned on Hubbard in Canales' first season in 2024. They gave him a four-year, $33.2 million extension last year, and the Panthers don't want to trade him at this year's deadline. Hubbard will still be involved in the backfield if he's not traded, but Dowdle's production this year -- 5.7 yards per carry, 605 rushing yards, and two touchdowns -- makes him deserving of lead-back duties. Dowdle has earned more work over Hubbard and will be the one with RB2 upside this Sunday against Green Bay.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person
October 29, 2025
For most of the season, it was looking like a slam dunk that New York Jets running back
Breece Hall would be traded, but ESPN's Dan Graziano's sense now is that "it's no longer a sure thing." Hall is in the final year of his deal with the Jets, and the team has a pair of RBs they like behind him in
Braelon Allen (knee) and
Isaiah Davis. However, Allen is already out for the rest of this season, and there are people in the Jets building who are "leery of the idea of trading Hall." The 24-year-old showed in the Week 8 upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals that he's still explosive, going for 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and throwing a touchdown. If the Jets receive a really strong offer for Hall, they will probably take it, but he's no longer a slam dunk to be traded. Ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline, Hall's chances of being dealt could be 50-50.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
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