October 21, 2025
Fantasy managers in need of running back help might have been running to the waiver wire for Green Bay Packers RB
Emanuel Wilson in Week 7 when it was announced that
Josh Jacobs was questionable to play against the Arizona Cardinals due to a calf injury and an illness. Jacobs ended up suiting up and handled 13 carries for 55 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, the third straight week he's had two rushing scores. Jacobs did end up playing a season-low 55% of the offensive snaps in the 27-23 win over Arizona, while Wilson handled a season-high 34% of the snaps. Still, it led to only seven touches for Wilson -- six carries for 17 yards and one catch for a loss of two yards. The lead-up to Week 7 in Arizona was a reminder that the 26-year-old Wilson is the primary handcuff option for fantasy managers who have Jacobs in their weekly lineups, but Wilson remains nothing more than an insurance policy.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
October 21, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) hasn't practiced much at all in the last three weeks due to a bruised heel that kept him out for the Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but it's looking like he might only miss one game. "The plan is to have full weeks of practice for them," head coach Dan Quinn said on SiriusXM's "Movin' The Chains" about Samuel and fellow wideout
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps). Samuel carried Washington's offense in three of the games that McLaurin missed and is tied with tight end
Zach Ertz with a team-high four touchdowns. He's the only receiver on the team with more than 10 catches through seven games, so a return on Monday night in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs would be huge. However, Samuel's fantasy upside will come down a bit when McLaurin returns, and the Commanders could be without quarterback
Jayden Daniels in KC after he injured his hamstring on Sunday.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ben Standig
October 21, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) hasn't played since Week 3, but it sounds as though he'll have a good chance to return on Monday night in Week 8 in a showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. "The plan is to have full weeks of practice for them," head coach Dan Quinn said on SiriusXM's "Movin' The Chains" about McLaurin and receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel). McLaurin has missed the last four games, but Washington has won three of those contests. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback in practice this week, it appears he's on track to make his return this week. McLaurin is typically a must-start for fantasy football purposes when active, but he'll be much more risky against a tough defense on the road if he's back in Week 8, especially if quarterback
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) is unable to play. It's also possible that the Commanders limit McLaurin's snap count in his first game back.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ben Standig
October 21, 2025
New York Giants kicker
Graham Gano (groin) is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve this week and could return this Sunday when the team faces the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8, according to The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov. Former Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl placekicker
Younghoe Koo is also still on the practice squad, so either Gano or Koo will kick for the G-Men this weekend after
Jude McAtamney was released on Tuesday. The 38-year-old Gano has already missed the required four games while on IR, but the Giants have yet to officially open his 21-day practice window. If New York decides to give him one more week to recover, they can go with Koo against the Eagles after McAtamney missed two crucial extra points in the one-point loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 7. Gano made all 10 of his kicks (six field goals and four extra points) in three games this year before his injury. When he's back, he'll be on the streaming radar in a Giants offense that has come to life under rookie quarterback
Jaxson Dart.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
October 21, 2025
The New York Giants released kicker
Jude McAtamney on Tuesday after he missed two crucial extra points in the 33-32 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Week 7, sources told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. McAtamney can return to the team's practice squad without taking up a roster spot because of an international exemption, but it's unclear if that will be in the cards. With McAtamney out, either
Younghoe Koo or
Graham Gano (groin) will kick for the Giants in Week 8 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. While filling in as the Giants' placekicker for the last four games, McAtamney made both of his field-goal tries but missed three of his 12 extra-point attempts. The 25-year-old wasn't on the fantasy radar during his short time as the team's fill-in kicker.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Ryan Dunleavy
October 21, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
Jonathan Mingo (knee) was officially activated from the Injured Reserve to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday, according to Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com. Mingo will be eligible to make his 2025 debut this Sunday on the road against the Denver Broncos in Week 8, and he'll be joining a crowded Dallas WR room that also includes
CeeDee Lamb,
George Pickens,
KaVontae Turpin,
Jalen Tolbert, and
Ryan Flournoy. The 24-year-old will give the Cowboys even more depth at the position, but it's highly unlikely he's going to suddenly appear on the fantasy radar anytime soon. The former second-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2023 out of Ole Miss joined the Cowboys midway through last season and had only five receptions on 16 targets for 46 yards and no touchdowns in eight games (one start).
--Keith HernandezSource: DallasCowboys.com - Patrik Walker
October 21, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers (knee, toe) said that he still wants to be traded. "Oh, for sure. But I'm a professional at the end of the day. I'm just trying to play good football," Meyers said when asked if he still wants a trade this year. The Raiders are already looking at another lost season after starting 2-5 and sitting in last place in the AFC West as they head into their Week 8 bye in the first year with Pete Carroll as head coach. The 28-year-old Meyers asked for a trade earlier this season and wasn't granted one, but with Vegas out of contention coming up on the trade deadline, he could get his wish. He missed his first game in the Week 7 blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs due to knee and toe injuries, but Meyers is expected to be back after the bye to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9. After reaching the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career in 2024, Meyers has taken a back seat to
Tre Tucker so far in 2025, posting a 29-329-0 line on 43 targets through six games.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
October 21, 2025
The Atlanta Falcons released wide receiver
Ray-Ray McCloud III on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. McCloud was a healthy scratch for the Falcons each of the last two weeks and was sent home from practice last week. The 29-year-old pass-catcher will now be free to sign with any team on the open market after catching six of his 14 targets for 64 yards and no touchdowns in his four games played with Atlanta this year. In 17 games (13 starts) for the Falcons last year, McCloud had career-highs across the board in catches (62), targets (87), and receiving yards (686) while finding the end zone one time. In addition to operating as a depth receiver, McCloud has extensive experience as a kick returner on special teams, so he should latch on with another team, but he's unlikely to suddenly surface on the fantasy radar in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
October 21, 2025
NFL teams are monitoring the 0-7 New York Jets ahead of this year's trade deadline, and names that teams are keeping an eye on include running back
Breece Hall, wide receiver
Allen Lazard, and defenders Quincy Williams, Jermaine Johnson II, Will McDonald IV, and
Michael Carter II, sources tell Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. "There's an element of trying to figure out who are Glenn's guys are and who aren't. Remember when Detroit suddenly traded
T.J. Hockenson? A building block from the last regime is not going to be a guaranteed building block in this one," one source said. The Jets' 2025 season has already gone off the rails in Glenn's first year at the helm, and it appears that quarterback
Justin Fields will be benched going into Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals in favor of veteran
Tyrod Taylor. Hall hasn't been bad as the Jets' RB1, but their lack of a passing attack has led to defenses stacking the box to stop him. He would almost certainly benefit from a change of scenery from a fantasy standpoint.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
October 21, 2025
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that if the team were playing on a Sunday in Week 8, quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) "might have a chance to go." Veteran
Carson Wentz will make a fifth straight start in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, but O'Connell's comments seem to put McCarthy on track to be available to start in Week 9 against the division-rival Detroit Lions, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. McCarthy was put through an on-field workout on Tuesday morning. The Vikings are encouraged by his progress from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered back in Week 2, but "he's just not there" on a short week. The 22-year-old will be the emergency QB3 again this week behind
Max Brosmer on Thursday night. Minnesota still believes in McCarthy as their QB of the future, but more growing pains should be expected from fantasy managers when he eventually returns to the starting gig this year, whether it be in Week 9 or later.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
October 21, 2025
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said on Tuesday that veteran quarterback
Carson Wentz (shoulder) will make another start in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football against the hosting Los Angeles Chargers, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic.
Max Brosmer will serve as the backup, with
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) likely serving as the emergency third QB on game day again. McCarthy will be Minnesota's starting QB again when he's fully recovered from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Week 2, but the Vikes aren't going to rush the former first-rounder back. Barring a setback, it's more likely that McCarthy makes his return as the starter in Week 9 versus the division-rival Detroit Lions. Wentz has played through an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder since Week 5, but he's fine to play through it and will make for a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues this week against the Bolts. He has completed 66.9% of his 142 pass attempts for 1,072 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions in his four starts in place of McCarthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
October 21, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings are designating running back
Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) to return from Injured Reserve on Tuesday, meaning he could potentially come off IR to play in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The Vikings will now have 21 days to activate Jones from IR officially, but since he did not practice on Monday, it seems likely that Minnesota will wait another week to bring him back, which would come in Week 9 on Sunday, Nov. 2, against the division-rival Detroit Lions. The 30-year-old was serving as the Vikings' lead back before he injured his hamstring in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 14 in Week 2. Since Jones' injury,
Jordan Mason has been the team's clear lead back, and he should continue in that role for one more week on Thursday in L.A. This is fantasy managers' cue to check to see if Jones is available on the waiver wire.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
October 21, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) left Sunday's game against the Chiefs after taking a low block to the knee, but that apparently has not stopped the Dallas Cowboys from inquiring about his availability. With the NFL trade deadline less than two weeks away, the Cowboys have reportedly reached out to see what it would take to acquire him. Crosby and the Raiders agreed to a three-year contract extension before the 2025 season, so it's unlikely the team has any plans to deal him. Still, in IDP leagues, Dallas would be a dream landing spot for the All-Pro pass rusher, as the Cowboys have forced opponents into obvious passing situations far more commonly than the Raiders. In most other fantasy formats, though, the Cowboys' defense has been a gift for opposing offenses, and fantasy managers should be rooting for the status quo, especially those rostering pass catchers from the Vikings, Chargers, or Commanders, as those three teams make up Dallas' fantasy playoff schedule.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Trey Wingo
October 21, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Alec Pierce has had at least four catches and 65 yards in three of his five games played this season, and he is coming off a season-high five catches for 98 yards against the Chargers. While he has yet to find the endzone in 2025, he's seen increasing involvement in a Colts offense that has been historically good through seven weeks. Likely, he's already rostered, but he is a priority waiver add wherever he's still available, as he's virtually guaranteed at least one big play per game. Only once in his five games has he failed to bring in a catch of at least 25 yards, and his 21.1-yard average depth of target trails only
Tyquan Thornton. He should continue to provide an untraditional floor, with the potential for a huge game if he's able to pop one for a score.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
October 21, 2025
Carolina Panthers second-year wide receiver
Xavier Legette is coming off the best game of his career, having caught nine passes for 92 yards and a score in a win over the Jets. With
Bryce Young leaving the game in the third quarter with a high ankle sprain, three of those catches came from backup
Andy Dalton, accounting for 54 yards on a 57% target share. It's obviously not much of a sample size and could have been skewed by the fact that rookie
Tetairoa McMillan drew the attention of the Jets' top corner Sauce Gardner, but Legette and Dalton have shown a connection in the past. In an uninspiring waiver week, while six teams are on bye, Legette should be added wherever he's available and can be considered for a flex start against the Bills.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
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