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Sione Vaki Unlikely to See Significant Workload in Week 8
Despite holding his team's RB2 role, Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki has played a minimal role on offense in 2026. Across six games, the 25-year-old has recorded 108 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches. The Lions have leaned very heavily on star RB1 Jahmyr Gibbs, leaving very little opportunity for Vaki to rack up fantasy-relevant production. Gibbs missed practice on Wednesday of this week with a shoulder injury, but he returned to full participation on both Thursday and Friday and is off the injury report heading into Detroit's Week 8 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Vaki may see a few extra touches if Gibbs is battling a minor injury, but Minnesota has been one of the best defenses in football in 2026 and enters Week 8 ranked third in the NFL in total rushing yards allowed (587). All in all, Vaki should not be in starting consideration for fantasy managers on Sunday against the Vikings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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Michael Penix Jr. a Volatile QB2 with QB1 Upside in Week 8
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. defied the odds and guided his team to a win over the previously undefeated 49ers last week, completing 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards and tallying three touchdown passes for the second week in a row. It also marked the fourth straight contest in which the left-handed quarterback did not throw an interception, and he brings a sterling 9:1 TD:INT into Week 9's road matchup against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has made life difficult for opposing signal callers so far this season, ranking as the seventh-stingiest unit in terms of allowing fantasy points to opposing QBs, recording eight interceptions (second-most) through seven games and racking up five sacks against Carolina in their Week 7 contest. But they've been one of the best units against the run, too, which could force Atlanta to pass more. With legit stars on offense, Atlanta can come at teams through the air or on the ground, which could make Penix a volatile play on a week-to-week basis, and he ranks as a mid-range QB2 at RotoBaller for Week 8. However, with back-to-back weeks finishing as a top-10 fantasy QB, the 26-year-old has some upside for those looking for a streamer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jahmyr Gibbs a Must-Start Running Back in Week 8
Through his first six games played this season, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has combined productivity with a massive workload. The 24-year-old has rushed for 620 yards and seven touchdowns on 134 carries and also hauled in 32 catches for 270 yards and two scores on 40 targets. Gibbs has a very tough matchup in Week 8 against the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota's defense enters the week ranked third in the NFL in total rushing yards allowed (587) and has allowed just three rushing touchdowns in six games. However, Gibbs has topped 30 touches in each of his last two contests and has recorded at least 27 touches in four out of Detroit's six games. As long as he continues to see that type of volume, Gibbs should have a good chance to produce like a high-end running back for fantasy managers in Week 8.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Growing Belief that Jaguars Could Trade Brian Thomas Jr.
After the Jacksonville Jaguars stated they have no intention of trading wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., league sources believe the team will move him by this year's trade deadline. Since his monster rookie season, when he totaled over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns, Thomas has struggled in Liam Coen's offense, hauling in just 57 of 111 targets for 812 yards and three touchdowns over his last 20 games. With Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Travis Hunter, and even rookie Josh Cameron emerging as the lead receivers in Jacksonville, Thomas has seen his role reduced over the last two games. Teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to be in the market for a wide receiver by this year's trade deadline. While it's unclear whether the Jaguars have changed their stance on Thomas, his name will be one to watch before the November 10 deadline.
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Jared Goff Remains a Low-End Starter in Tough Week 8 Matchup
Across six games in 2026, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has completed 67.3% of his pass attempts and thrown for 1,788 yards, 14 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The 32-year-old has thrown multiple touchdown passes in five out of his games this season and currently leads the NFL in passing yards per game (298.0). However, Goff and the Lions face a tough Week 8 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Through seven weeks, Minnesota ranks first in the NFL in both total passing yards allowed (1,085) and passing touchdowns allowed (three). Goff also struggled against the Vikings in 2025, throwing two interceptions and taking 10 sacks across two games. Still, Detroit's offense is healthier than it was in 2025, and the Lions may have to throw the ball to stay in the game. All in all, Goff profiles as a low-end QB1 option for fantasy managers in Week 8.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Maxx Crosby Trade Rumors Could Resurface Ahead of Deadline
While star pass rusher Maxx Crosby wants to be a Las Vegas Raider, general manager John Spytek is expected to field calls about him ahead of the trade deadline. During the offseason, Crosby demanded a trade from the Raiders and was sent to the Baltimore Ravens, but he failed his physical, which led to his return to Las Vegas. Now, Crosby wants to remain in Las Vegas and has no desire to leave. In seven games this season, Crosby has recorded only two sacks, three tackles for loss, and 18 tackles, putting him on pace for his worst career season. With the Raiders 3-4 and on a four-game losing streak, the team could try to gain value for the aging pass rusher, but that appears unlikely at this time.
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Colts Have Not Discussed Benching Daniel Jones
After struggling to start his 2026 season, quarterback Daniel Jones has not been discussed as a potential bench candidate by the Indianapolis Colts, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Pelissero notes that Jones is still recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in Week 14 of last season, and that a depleted weapons group is another reason for his struggles. In seven games, Jones has completed 143 of 240 passes (59.6%) for 1,398 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions, along with 68 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. After his stellar performance prior to the Achilles injury, Jones signed a two-year, $88 million contract with the Colts this offseason, including $60 million guaranteed. With the Colts trading offensive lineman Quentin Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and in active conversations to trade Jonathan Taylor and Josh Downs, they appear to be in rebuild mode, and Jones' struggles appear likely to continue.
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Micah Parsons Expected to Practice Next Week, Targeting Possible Week 12 Return
Green Bay Packers star linebacker Micah Parsons (knee) is expected to return to practice next week, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Pelissero reports that Parsons is aiming for a November return, with the most likely date being Thanksgiving Eve against the Los Angeles Rams. Parsons was traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Packers just before the 2025 season and was having another elite season, recording 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 41 tackles in 14 games. He then tore his ACL against the Denver Broncos, ending his 2025 season. With the ACL injury carrying into the 2026 season, speculation has mounted about when the star pass rusher will return to the lineup. Now that a possible return date is on the table, expect the Packers to improve significantly on that side of the ball with Parsons in the lineup.
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Source: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
Colts Now Open to Trading Jonathan Taylor
After stating they had no intention of trading Jonathan Taylor, the Indianapolis Colts are now open to trading the star running back, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Schefter reports that multiple teams have reached out to Indianapolis, and those talks are active and ongoing. After trading away star guard Quentin Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner earlier in the week, Taylor appears to be the next star to depart as the team enters a rebuild. In seven games, Taylor has totaled 140 carries for 587 yards and eight touchdowns, along with 17 receptions for 178 yards. Teams likely to be involved in trade talks include the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, and New York Giants, all of whom are currently in contention. If Taylor is traded, rookie Seth McGowan is a priority pickup, as he would be in line to take over the backfield unless another back is traded to Indianapolis.
Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN
Source: Adam Schefter - ESPN
Police Department Releases Hundreds of Unredacted Files in Josh Jacobs Case
The Hobart/Lawrence Police Department has released hundreds of unredacted files in the Josh Jacobs case. According to NBC26's Kelly Hallinan, the requested records were delivered shortly after 9:00 p.m. on Friday. The four department emails include arrest records, incident reports, and additional documents. Hallinan also reported that the police department will withhold several items of video evidence but will release some versions, including body-worn and squad camera video of Jacobs' arrest and transport to jail. The Green Bay Packers running back was placed on the commissioner's exempt list in late August and removed before Week 7, after which Jacobs promptly returned to the field. The NFL has left a possible suspension on the table, but it's unclear whether the league will take action following these reports. Fantasy managers should stay in the loop on any updates about Jacobs, which could affect his season-long outlook.
Source: Kelly Hallinan - NBC26
Source: Kelly Hallinan - NBC26
Chris Bell A High-Risk Start in Week 8
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chris Bell served as the team's third receiver in Week 7 behind Malik Washington and Caleb Douglas. The rookie caught three of his four targets for 25 yards in his team's first win of the year over the Jets, while playing 48% of snaps. The rookie helped fill in while Douglas was out with an ankle injury, but has not been a steady enough producer to be a good fantasy option in the Dolphins' inconsistent passing game. Bell did have four catches for 67 yards against the Chiefs in Week 3, but he has only had a total of two catches in his three games since then. The third-round rookie has long-term potential, but for his Week 8 matchup against the Patriots, he's RotoBaller's No. 64 wide receiver, leaving him outside starting consideration in almost all formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Caleb Douglas A High-Risk FLEX Play Vs. New England
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas returned from his ankle injury in Week 7 and made an immediate impact with two catches for two touchdowns and 70 receiving yards. Douglas was only targeted three times but played 68% of his team's offensive snaps against the Jets. The rookie looked ready to be the team's top receiver before the injury, and he has a good connection with Malik Willis. This week, he faced the Patriots in a tougher matchup, but if Willis has another good performance, Douglas brings good upside. He is risky due to the offense around him and the fact that he's still ramping back up, but he brings enough upside to be a fringe FLEX play. He's the WR36 in RotoBaller's Week 8 rankings and can be started in deep leagues or if you are being stretched by injuries or bye weeks.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Greg Dulcich Still Only A Deep-League Sleeper
Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich has been trending in the right direction over the last few weeks, but he is still a high-risk start since his team's passing game has been unreliable. Dulcich led the team in targets in Week 7, catching all five of the passes thrown his way for a season-high 86 yards in Miami's win over the Jets. He has at least five targets in three of his last four games and has averaged 44.3 yards per game over that stretch. He was held to zero targets against the Vikings in Week 4, but has been moderately productive besides that, although he is still scoreless for the season. Dulcich and the Dolphins will host the Patriots in Week 8, who have been a neutral matchup for tight ends this season. Even though he does have some recent momentum, Dulcich is only the TE25 in RotoBaller's Week 8 ratings, making him only a starter in two-TE formats or very deep leagues. However, if you're desperate or looking for a bargain DFS play, he does have a little streaming appeal based on his recent production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Washington Only A Deep-League Starter
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington is still a viable emergency option at wide receiver, but his team's offense continues to struggle too much to make him reliable. Washington caught all three of his targets last week for 27 yards and added eight rushing yards as well. With Caleb Douglas back from IR, Washington's workload could shrink in the coming weeks, although he will still be on the field enough to have volatile upside. This week, the Dolphins host the Patriots, who have been a slightly favorable matchup for receivers. However, since Malik Willis's passing production has been so erratic, Washington is only the WR37 in RotoBaller's Week 8 rankings. He can be a deep league FLEX play or WR3 in an emergency, but he doesn't have a very high ceiling since he has no touchdowns and has not yet reached 70 receiving yards in any of his six games this season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Wright Ready for Backup Role
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright left last week's game with a quadriceps injury and is also still dealing with a foot injury that cost him a game in Week 3. Wright has been available for each of the three weeks since then, but has been getting only minimal work behind Ollie Gordon II, who has seized the lead back role after the injury to De'Von Achane (knee). Wright matched his season-high with six carries last week against the Jets, but he only had eight rushing yards before departing with a quad injury. He was able to practice this week despite the injury and does not have an injury designation, but his minimal role and lack of effectiveness leave him as the RB56 in RotoBaller's Week 8 rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ollie Gordon II A High-End FLEX Play
Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II has taken over as the team's top running back since De'Von Achane (knee) was lost for the season, and he has been a reliable producer in his four games since stepping up. He has found the end zone in each of those four games, while averaging 83 rushing yards per game. He had 103 rushing yards and a touchdown last week to help the Dolphins beat the Jets for their first win of the season, and he took a season-high 25 carries in that contest. This week, he and the Dolphins host the Patriots in a division game, and Gordon will be a key part of Miami's attempt to control the clock. The Patriots have been a tough matchup for opposing RBs, allowing the 12th-fewest fantasy points to the position. Despite his recent consistency, Gordon is RotoBaller's No. 22 running back this week, making him a high-end RB3 or strong FLEX option in standard-sized leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Willis Emerging as QB2 Option for Week 8
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis helped his team get their first win of the season last week, and he had his best fantasy game of the season as well. Willis threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns while running for 37 yards and a third score in the Jets' 28-25 win. He also had a rushing score, a passing score, 74 rushing yards and 137 passing yards in the team's loss right before its Week 6 bye. With back-to-back big games that showcased his dual-threat upside, Willis is a solid QB2 to consider this week as he and the Dolphins host the Patriots in Miami. The Patriots have done a good job against QBs this year, but Willis brings enough rushing potential to still have a high enough ceiling to be a solid second QB or deep-league fill-in this week. He is the No. 18 QB in RotoBaller's Week 8 rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonathan Taylor An RB1 Lineup Lock Despite Trade Rumors
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is still in Indianapolis, as the start of this sentence suggests, and he has denied rumors that he wants out of Indy. In fact, he's been loyal to the organization throughout his tenure and has shown it with his fantastic play as the team's starting running back. He has RB1 upside in every game he plays, no matter how strong the opposing defense. The Jacksonville Jaguars, who the Colts will face in Week 8, have one of the best run defenses in the NFL. They allow just 3.2 yards per carry to opposing running backs, which is comfortably the lowest mark in the NFL. That doesn't matter because Taylor is an elite RB. You start him no matter what and hope for the best. Usually he does very well. You can't blame him for a bad game given the state of the Colts' offense, but he overcomes it week to week. He's a clear RB1 for fantasy football in Week 8.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Josh Downs A Low-Floor, Low-Ceiling Fantasy Option In Week 8
When the Indianapolis Colts take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8, they'll have their top slot wide receiver, Josh Downs, healthy and active. He's not been very productive this season, though. Colts starting quarterback Daniel Jones, to the detriment of the team, has opted not to get the ball to Downs, and instead focus on his outside receivers and tight ends. Downs is separating very well this season -- he has no issues with getting open, but just isn't getting the ball as much as he should be. With just 12 receptions over the past four games combined, he's not been start-worthy in any fantasy football leagues this year. He requested a trade away from the Colts, likely due to his lack of involvement, but remains with the team for now and will be active for Week 8. He should be on benches in all leagues for now, and his current value in redraft leagues is very low.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Tyler Warren Good to Go, A Must-Start TE In Return From Injury For Week 8
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (groin) should be started in all fantasy football leagues for Week 8, when he takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Warren is good to go for Sunday's game against the Jaguars after missing the last two weeks with a groin injury. They're not a soft defense against tight ends by any means, but with Colts WR1 Alec Pierce (heel) sidelined with a heel injury, Warren has been the clear No. 1 target in the passing game when healthy. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has played poor football this season, but Warren can thrive in PPR fantasy leagues even when he's not gaining a lot of yardage, as his receptions alone have made him fantasy relevant. Jones appears to have regressed massively from last season, but still targets Warren heavily -- it's been the team's other pass-catchers that have been mostly unproductive this season. The Colts offense may look ugly, but Warren can still produce for fantasy managers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Daniel Jones A Bench Candidate For Week 8
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is probably best left on the benches outside of deep superflex leagues for Week 8. He's not even a top-24 QB in fantasy football this season despite not having had his bye week yet. With five total touchdowns and 10 turnovers on the season, he's arguably been a detriment to his teams offense as he continues to recover from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered late last season. The Colts will be without their top wideout, Alec Pierce (heel), as he recovers from a heel injury. He will at least get back his top remaining target, tight end Tyler Warren, who's been cleared to play in Week 8. Jones is a low-end QB2 when he's not having one of his awful turnover-ridden games and an unstartable player when he is. It's best to look elsewhere to fill your QB and superflex spots in your lineups this week.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
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