October 21, 2025
San Francisco 49ers running back
Brian Robinson Jr. had his most productive game since Week 1 on Sunday night. San Francisco leaned heavily on their rushing attack in their Week 7 win over the Atlanta Falcons, allowing Robinson nine carries, tying his season high. Robinson also hit new highs in rushing yards (36) and snap share (26%). His on-field involvement in Week 7 is significant. In Weeks 1 and 2, he had shares of 24% and 23%, respectively, but his rate fluctuated between 7% and 15% in the games since then. Robinson's rebound in usage in Week 7 might be an indicator that the team is realizing they need to do better at divying up the backfield workload to take pressure off
Christian McCaffrey. Robinson is not producing enough in his change-of-pace role to start in fantasy football, but he is one of the more valuable handcuffs in the league.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
October 21, 2025
New York Jets running back
Isaiah Davis is the clear RB2 behind starter
Breece Hall, with
Braelon Allen (knee) injured, but he wasn't able to get anything going on just four touches in Sunday's ugly 13-6 loss to the visiting Carolina Panthers in Week 7. Davis had only two rushing attempts for 10 yards and caught two of his four targets for 22 yards on a day when starting quarterback
Justin Fields was benched in favor of veteran
Tyrod Taylor in the second half. The 23-year-old is the fantasy handcuff to Hall as long as Allen remains out, but Davis has seen more than two carries in a game just once this year and has yet to rush for over 18 yards in a bad Jets offense. Davis is averaging 4.4 yards per carry on his 10 rushing attempts through seven games. Perhaps the Jets' offense can improve if Fields is benched permanently, but Davis won't have any standalone fantasy value behind Hall. Davis is rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
October 21, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
Jake Tonges saw just seven snaps in the team's 20-10 win on Sunday Night Football in Week 7. With
George Kittle (hamstring) back from injured reserve, the former All-Pro reclaimed his spot at the top of the depth chart, and Tonges fell to third in the pecking order behind
Luke Farrell as well. Tonges operated as San Francisco's top tight end while Kittle was on injured reserve after injuring his hamstring in Week 1. Injuries to wide receivers
Ricky Pearsall (knee) and
Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs, shoulder) over the subsequent weeks turned Tonges into a streaming candidate. During Kittle's absence, Tonges had three top-12 finishes at his position. Kittle's return tanks Tonges' fantasy value for San Francisco's Week 8 matchup against Houston and beyond. He can be dropped in all leagues.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
October 21, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Calvin Austin III (shoulder), who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, is scheduled to work back into practice this week, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. The head coach said he's "optimistic" for Austin potentially returning on Sunday night to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 8, but as always, his participation in practice will be the guide for whether he plays on Sunday. The 26-year-old wideout might need a full practice at some point this week to be cleared to play this weekend. If he does make his return, he should slot back in as Pittsburgh's WR2 behind
DK Metcalf. In his four games this year before his shoulder injury, Austin had 10 catches on 17 targets for 139 yards and two touchdowns. With six teams on bye in Week 8, Austin would be in play as at least a WR4/flex in fantasy football if he's able to make his return against the Packers.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
October 21, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) returned from injured reserve in time for the team's 20-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7. To the dismay of fantasy football managers awaiting his return, Kittle finished the game with zero receptions and saw only two targets. If there is a silver lining, it is that the 49ers did not hold back on getting Kittle on the field. The tight end saw an 81% snap share, which was the second-highest rate among the team's offensive skill position players. Rather than rely on Kittle as a pass-catcher, San Francisco utilized him primarily as an extra blocker in the run game. A healthy Kittle usually operates as one of the 49ers' primary targets, and with wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall's (knee) status for Week 8 up in the air, a rebound to TE1 territory against the Houston Texans is within reach.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
October 21, 2025
In his first game action since Week 4 due to injury, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Darnell Mooney was the team's leading receiver in Sunday night's 20-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, catching three of his five targets for 68 yards. While his 68 yards led the team on a night where Atlanta's offense was stuck in the mud, Mooney's targets were third behind receiver
Drake London and tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. Most of the 27-year-old's production came on a 38-yard hookup with quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. late in the second quarter. Mooney and the Falcons' passing game have a get-right matchup upcoming this Sunday against the 1-6 Miami Dolphins, but he figures to continue to be an inconsistent boom/bust WR4/flex for fantasy football managers. Mooney has caught only 10 of his 21 targets through four games this year for 147 yards, and he has yet to find the end zone. He's currently rostered in just 29% of Yahoo leagues. Don't rule him out as a decent flex streamer this week with six teams on bye.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
October 21, 2025
Denver Broncos tight end
Evan Engram got off to an inauspicious start to his Broncos tenure this year with four catches for only 33 yards in the first two weeks, and then he missed the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers with a back injury. Head coach Sean Payton kept talking up Engram in the offseason as a key weapon in the offense, but there was no evidence to back that up early on. The 31-year-old might be starting to come around for fantasy managers, though, as he has back-to-back five-catch, 42-yard performances in Weeks 6 and 7, and he also scored for the first time in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Right now, Engram is only rostered in 57% of Yahoo fantasy leagues. With six teams on bye in Week 8, he should be on your radar this week if you're in need of a TE, especially in a matchup this Sunday against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has been friendly to opposing passing attacks this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 21, 2025
Washington Commanders veteran backup quarterback
Marcus Mariota may be forced to make his third start of the season if
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) is unable to play on Monday Night Football in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. It makes the 31-year-old signal-caller worth a look on the waiver wire in two-QB superflex leagues heading into Week 8 action. Daniels tweaked his hamstring in the Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and although his injury isn't considered a long-term one, his status is up in the air to play this week. Mariota replaced the injured Daniels on Sunday in the third quarter and finished 4-for-10 for 63 yards and an interception while also carrying the ball twice for 34 yards. In his two starts earlier this year when Daniels was out with a knee sprain, Mariota went 31-for-48 passing for 363 yards, three TDs, and one pick while rushing for 60 yards and another score. Mariota is still mobile at his age, but it will be a bad matchup on the road against a strong KC defense if he's forced to make his third start of 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
October 21, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
George Pickens is having an excellent first season in Dallas, and the Cowboys could be considering an extension for him. "Any and everything about George Pickens has crossed our minds. ... Certainly he's a topic of interest and discussions because of the success he's having," owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan. The 24-year-old currently has 36 receptions on 54 targets for 607 yards and a career-high six touchdowns through the first seven weeks of the 2025 campaign. Those numbers have been good enough to place Pickens as the No. 4 fantasy wideout in half-PPR scoring. It helped that fellow wideout
CeeDee Lamb missed three games due to a high-ankle sprain, but Pickens was still productive with four catches and 82 yards in Week 7 after Lamb returned. He should continue to remain heavily involved in Dallas' pass-heavy attack along Lamb, making him a weekly must-start in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jon Machota
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
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