October 21, 2025
Los Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford is playing at an extremely high level so far in 2025. Across seven games, the 37-year-old has completed 66.1% of his pass attempts for 1,866 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. Stafford's average of 7.7 yards per pass attempt is his best since the 2021 season, when he finished the year with 4,886 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. The Rams have their bye in Week 8, so fantasy managers won't be able to deploy Stafford this week. Still, given how he has played this season, fantasy managers may be wise to stash Stafford through the bye, even in single-quarterback formats. For fantasy managers looking to beat the waiver wire in shallow leagues where Stafford might not already be rostered, the Rams have a favorable matchup in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
October 21, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars beat writer Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union speculates that the team's view of how to use rookie wide receiver
Travis Hunter is "ever-evolving" heading into their Week 8 bye. Hunter had by far the most productive game of his career as a wide receiver in Week 7, recording eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets against the Los Angeles Rams. Through seven games this season, Hunter has hauled in 28 receptions for 298 yards and a score on 45 targets. Jacksonville continues to split Hunter's workload between offense and defense, which limits his fantasy upside. However, Hunter has now played at least 78% of the team's offensive snaps in each of the past two weeks after failing to eclipse 67% in any of the first five weeks. Coming out of the bye, the Jaguars may place an even greater emphasis on getting Hunter involved in the offense.
--Will BradySource: The Florida Times-Union
October 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end
Cade Otton set season-highs in both targets and catches in Week 7, hauling in seven catches for 65 yards on nine targets in his team's 24-9 loss to the Detroit Lions. The 26-year-old has now hauled in 16 receptions for 197 yards on 20 targets over the last three weeks. With star Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans (collarbone) now set to miss significant time after breaking his clavicle in Week 7, Otton could continue to see consistent usage in his team's passing game. Tampa Bay could be without wide receiver
Chris Godwin (leg) in Week 8 as well, which would likely leave either Otton or veteran wideout
Sterling Shepard as the number two target behind wide receiver
Emeka Egbuka for Buccaneers quarterback
Baker Mayfield. Otton should be rostered in all fantasy leagues with 14 or more teams heading into a Week 8 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
October 21, 2025
With Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans (collarbone) suffering a broken clavicle in Week 7, which will likely land him on Injured Reserve, Bucs wideout
Sterling Shepard appears to be in line for a significant long-term role in the team's offense. With
Chris Godwin (leg) also currently sidelined, Shepard looks like Tampa Bay's WR2 alongside
Emeka Egbuka. The 32-year-old Shepard hauled in seven catches for 25 yards on seven targets in Tampa Bay's Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions, giving him 26 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown on 34 targets so far this season. Shepard is not an explosive downfield player, which limits his ceiling. Still, he's proven to be a trusted target of Buccaneers quarterback
Baker Mayfield and should be rostered in fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
October 21, 2025
Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud had one of the least efficient games of his career in his team's 27-19 Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Stroud completed just 23 of 49 pass attempts for 229 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Across six games this season, the 24-year-old has completed 64.8% of his pass attempts for 1,305 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions. Houston struggled mightily to run the ball in Week 7, as Stroud was the team's leading rusher with just 25 yards. The Texans' overall offensive inefficiency makes Stroud tough for fantasy managers in single-QB formats to trust. Stroud will likely profile as a mid-tier fantasy QB2 in Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
October 21, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz had his best game of the season so far in Week 7, recording nine catches for 98 yards on 10 targets in his team's 27-19 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Schultz has now recorded 30 catches for 284 yards on 37 targets across six games played. The 29-year-old is not an explosive player, and he's yet to find the end zone this season. Still, Schultz has now earned at least six targets in each of his last four games. For fantasy managers looking for a tight end option who can provide a safe floor, Schultz could be a decent streamer off the waiver wire. He and the Texans will host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
October 21, 2025
Seattle Seahawks running back
Zach Charbonnet recorded 12 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns in his team's 27-19 Week 7 win over the Houston Texans on Monday night. Seattle heavily features both Charbonnet and
Kenneth Walker III out of the backfield, but Charbonnet has carved out a consistent role as the team's preferred back at the goal line. The 24-year-old has now recorded 72 carries for 205 yards and five touchdowns across six games played so far this season. In games where both Charbonnet and Walker III are healthy, both backs have limited upside. Still, Charbonnet provides a safe floor as a good bet for double-digit touches and a feature back at the goal line. Charbonnet profiles as a low-end flex option for fantasy managers heading into a Week 8 matchup with the Washington Commanders.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
October 21, 2025
Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. tied for the team lead in targets (10) and recorded the most catches (seven) in Sunday night's 20-10 loss to the 49ers, totaling 62 yards in the contest. It was a nice bounce-back performance after a 3-18-0 line in Week 6, and reestablished his place as the No. 3 pass-catcher in this offense with a 19.3 percent target share on the season, just slightly behind
Bijan Robinson's 19.8 percent. The effort puts the 25-year-old on pace for 85 catches this season and 800-plus yards. Though
Darnell Mooney was active for this game, he received only five targets and has been targeted more than Pitts only one time this season in the four games in which he's played. The 6-foot-6 tight end gets a matchup with Miami in Week 8, a defense that has yielded the ninth-most fantasy points to TEs thus far and is allowing opponents to score 29.3 points per game, fourth-most in the NFL.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Max Brosmer could be the team's starter on Thursday night, when they visit the Chargers on a short week.
Carson Wentz (shoulder) has started the last four games for Minnesota, but he was banged up again in the team's loss to the Eagles on Sunday. If he can't recover in time for Thursday, it seems likely that Brosmer would get the nod over
J.J. McCarthy (ankle), who is eligible to return from IR but doesn't seem to be ready to return to action. Coach Kevin O'Connell has made it clear he doesn't want to rush McCarthy back, and with limited practice reps this week, it seems unlikely he'd go to McCarthy as the starter. Brosmer is an undrafted rookie free agent the Vikings signed out of Minnesota, and he'd likely be a downgrade for the rest of the Vikings' passing game in a tough matchup against the Chargers. Stay tuned for Wentz updates from the team's practice reports this week, and be familiar with Brosmer as his potential replacement if McCarthy needs more time.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
New York Jets quarterback
Justin Fields could be in jeopardy of losing his starting job after another rough outing on Sunday against the Panthers. Before the game, coach Aaron Glenn dismissed any discussion about a change at quarterback, but then, midway through the game,
Tyrod Taylor came on in place of Fields. Neither QB led a touchdown drive or was especially effective, but Taylor's game does seem to fit the scheme of offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand a little better. Taylor is more willing to take shots down the field as a traditional pocket passer, while Fields tends to dink and dunk while scrambling around. Taylor started against the Bucs in Week 3 while Fields was out with a concussion, and he almost led the Jets to a road win with 197 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Fields has more individual fantasy upside due to his scrambling and rushing contributions, but Taylor could make the rest of the Jets offense better fantasy contributors if he takes over.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Chris Godwin (fibula) missed his team's Week 7 loss to the Lions on Monday Night Football, and even though he's recovering, head coach Todd Bowles didn't seem confident that the veteran receiver will be ready to return in Week 8 against the Saints. With a bye week in Week 9, the Bucs may play it safe with Godwin, who played two games after returning from his dislocated ankle and broken fibula suffered last season. This leg injury is in a different place, according to Bowles, but he still looks like a long shot to play in Week 8. If Godwin is out again, he'll join
Mike Evans (collarbone) on the sidelines, leaving lots of work for rookies
Emeka Egbuka and
Tez Johnson, while
Cade Otton would also stay more involved as a pass-catching tight end option.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Pewter Report
October 21, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had eight catches for the third straight week and finished with 123 yards and a touchdown in his team's 27-19 win on Monday over the Houston Texans. JSN has been one of the top receivers in the league this year, and
Sam Darnold continues to give him plenty of targets. He has 36 targets over the last three weeks and has emerged as a true WR1 in Seattle after the departure of
D.K. Metcalf this past offseason. Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks are on a bye this week, but he'll look to pick up where he left off in a great matchup in Week 10 against the Commanders. After Washington, Seattle faces the Cardinals, Rams, Titans, and Vikings. At this point, Smith-Njigba is an every-week lock in your lineup, aside from his bye this week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) is progressing in his recovery from both of his injuries, but he may not be quite ready to return just yet, according to head coach Todd Bowles. The Bucs are on a short week before visiting the Saints in New Orleans, before heading into their bye week. The team will likely be cautious with Irving, who was posting huge numbers before his injury. He had at least 99 rushing and receiving yards in three straight games, but he hasn't been able to play since Week 4. If Irving misses a fourth straight game,
Rachaad White and
Sean Tucker would remain the backfield rotation for Tampa, with White taking most of the work as a strong RB2 with RB1 upside in New Orleans. Tucker can be a flex play if you're desperate due to bye weeks, but White should continue to dominate the workload until Irving is ready to return.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Pewter Report
October 21, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. (leg) is dealing with a bone bruise in his lower leg, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, and the second-year QB should be "good to go" for Sunday's home game against the Dolphins. Penix and the Falcons are looking to bounce back from a 20-10 loss on Sunday Night Football to the 49ers, and they'll be in a very favorable matchup to do that against the 1-6 Dolphins, who were just crushed by the Browns. Penix threw for 241 passing yards and a touchdown in the loss while also turning the ball over once with a fumble. Since he was able to play through the injury in Week 7, it's no surprise that he should also be able to play in Week 8. If he is surprisingly out,
Kirk Cousins would step in and start in his place. Most of the Dolphins' defensive troubles have been against the run, so Penix's injury could mean even more work and more success for
Bijan Robinson and
Tyler Allgeier in a smash spot this Sunday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Tom Pelissero
October 21, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Jaylin Noel stepped in for
Christian Kirk (hamstring) on Monday night in Seattle, and the rookie posted four catches for 77 yards. The 77 receiving yards were the highest total of all of Houston's wide receivers in the game and a new personal best for the third-round pick from Iowa State. He has been getting more work each week, and he should continue to be involved at least while Kirk is out. Kirk missed the first two weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, and he suffered another hamstring injury Friday in practice, but there's no word on how long he'll be out. Noel brings good upside out of the slot if he gets another start against the 49ers in Week 8, and there could be even more targets available if top receiver
Nico Collins (concussion) is limited or out after suffering a concussion on Monday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
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