October 28, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk (knee) has yet to begin practicing as he continues rehabbing from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in Week 7 of last season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that the 49ers do not plan on opening his 21-day practice window and that he won't practice on Wednesday after mentioning it as a possibility last week. The 27-year-old wideout will, in all likelihood, have to wait at least another week before being activated off the Physically Unable to Perform List and making his season debut, as the team has taken things slow in his recovery. Aiyuk is still a very talented player who is worth stashing if fantasy managers have an open bench or IR spot, but he will likely take some time to get ramped up when he is able to return.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
October 28, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Trevor Lawrence only led the team to one touchdown in their 35-7 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London in Week 7, but he also threw for a season-high 296 yards on 23-for-48 passing with one touchdown. The Jags were on bye last week, but now head into a favorable Week 9 matchup on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday. The 26-year-old former first overall pick probably won't see as much volume this weekend as he did against the Rams in a positive game script, but he deserves streaming consideration at the QB position in fantasy against a Raiders defense that has been a top-15 matchup for opposing signal-callers this year. Lawrence's overall numbers don't jump off the page so far in his fifth NFL season, but his arrow could be pointing up in the second half of the season if he begins to start targeting rookie receiver
Travis Hunter more often.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 28, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (hamstring), who was listed as a full participant at the team's walkthrough practice on Monday, said on Tuesday that he's "ready to go now." "I just started to feel good," according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The two-time MVP missed three games due to a hamstring injury, but he's trending towards returning for Thursday night's contest in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins. Head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that he expects Jackson to be out there this week as well. Jackson could be limited in what he does with his legs, but even so, fantasy managers must get him back into their starting lineups if he's active for Thursday Night Football. Miami's defense shut down Falcons QB
Kirk Cousins on Sunday, but overall this year, they've allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
October 28, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray (foot) "got plenty of throws in with main pass-catchers" during practice on Tuesday, which is something that Arizona Sports' Tyler Drake points out that Murray has not done in recent weeks. Veteran backup
Jacoby Brissett is "still getting his looks" as well, but Murray's workout at Tuesday's practice is a "sign things are headed in the right direction" for Murray. We'll be keeping a close eye on the 28-year-old's practice statuses this week, but right now, it's looking like he will have a chance to return following the bye week to face the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday. Murray missed two games before the team's bye with a foot sprain. Although Murray has been pretty inconsistent as the team's starter when healthy, the Cardinals have made it clear that he is still the starter over Brissett. If Murray returns to a great matchup this weekend in Dallas, he'll be in play as a low-end QB1 option for fantasy managers.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
October 28, 2025
The Dallas Cowboys have not engaged in contract extension talks with wide receiver
George Pickens or his representatives with a week remaining before this year's trade deadline, a source told Ed Werder of ESPN. Pickens is on an expiring contract that will end after the 2025 season. Werder mentions that placing the franchise tag on Pickens is an option to Dallas that would cost a projected $28 million for the 2026 campaign. The 24-year-old former second-round pick has been an excellent addition to the Cowboys' offense this year, catching 43 of his 63 targets for 685 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in eight games played. Not only has Pickens been an excellent WR2 to help take attention off
CeeDee Lamb, but he has also avoided any off-the-field distractions and has had a mature approach after character concerns surfaced in Pittsburgh. Even though an extension hasn't really been discussed, it doesn't mean he won't be back in Dallas next year.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Ed Werder
October 28, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that quarterback
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) had a good rehab session on Sunday, and the team plans "on him being a part" of the practice plan this week, according to JP Finaly of NBC Sports. Daniels sat out of Monday night's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but he might only be looking at a one-game absence due to a right-hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 7. The 24-year-old signal-caller should be back on the practice field on Wednesday, but it's unclear as of now if he'll be limited or a full-go. He might need to practice in full at some point this week to avoid a questionable designation going into Sunday night's Week 9 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Daniels also missed two games earlier this season with a knee sprain, but he's trending up towards playing this weekend. That would be great news for the Commanders' offense that only scored seven points in the loss to KC.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Washington - JP Finlay
October 28, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter thinks that the New Orleans Saints will trade at least one of their wide receivers before the NFL's trade deadline next Tuesday, Nov. 4. If he had to bet, Schefter says that
Rashid Shaheed is "the guy that interests most teams for his speed and his talent." Shaheed's contract will also be up at the end of the 2025 season, and the Saints could be most willing to deal him if the compensation is right. Top wideout
Chris Olave has also been mentioned plenty in trade rumors, with the deadline approaching, as the Saints sit at 1-7 on the season. Schefter mentions the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Denver Broncos as teams that are calling around, taking the temperature of the receiver market. Shaheed, 27, has 39 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns on 57 targets over eight starts this year and would add an explosive deep threat for a contender. He could certainly become a more consistent flex option for fantasy managers in a better offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
October 28, 2025
The Arizona Cardinals announced on Tuesday that they re-signed running back
Michael Carter to their practice squad and released running back
D'Ernest Johnson in a corresponding move. The move to add Carter back to the team was made after they released him on Monday. Coming out of their Week 8 bye, the Cardinals currently only have
Bam Knight and
Emari Demercado (ankle) on the active 53-man roster at the RB position, so if Demercado cannot play in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, Carter will most likely rejoin the active roster this weekend. The 26-year-old was Arizona's lead back for the first game after
Trey Benson (knee) landed in Injured Reserve, but Knight took over lead-back duties the following week and hasn't looked back. Carter is only averaging 2.8 yards on the ground on 35 rushing attempts in his four games in 2025 with the Cardinals and is only a bench stash for RB depth in deeper fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Cardinals
October 28, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Jalen Coker was on the field for 40 of his team's 61 offensive snaps in a Week 8 loss to the Bills. This came after taking 26 of 71 snaps in Week 7, his first game of 2025 after a hamstring injury caused him to sit out the first six weeks. After failing to record a catch in that first game back, Coker caught three of four targets on Sunday for 36 yards, and as he continues to play his way back into football shape, he should see his snap count and target share increase. With starting quarterback
Bryce Young currently considered day-to-day with an ankle injury, there's a chance he returns for Week 9 against the Packers, making Coker an intriguing waiver add who could be started in a pinch this week, but should continue to see his value increase on a depth chart begging for a secondary option behind
Tetairoa McMillan.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
October 28, 2025
With
Cole Kmet (back) missing the team's Week 8 loss to the Ravens, Chicago Bears rookie tight end
Colston Loveland saw season highs in snap count, targets, and yards. Following the game, head coach Ben Johnson spoke glowingly about his first-round draft pick, stressing that he wished they'd gotten him the ball more. While Kmet will still have a role following his return from injury, there's a sense that Loveland is ready to take the second-half leap that has turned many a rookie into fantasy league winners. While managers will need to see more than the 38 yards that Loveland put up on Sunday before making him an every-week starter, he's worth a stash by anyone who has been streaming the position to this point.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
October 28, 2025
After missing two games with a hamstring injury, New York Giants receiver
Darius Slayton caught two of five targets for 26 yards in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. As one of the last men standing in a battered Giants offense, it's reasonable that he'll receive some waiver wire buzz this week, but having topped 45 yards only once this year without finding the endzone, he provides a very unstable floor with almost no ceiling. With rookie running back and human spark plug
Cam Skattebo (ankle) recently undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated ankle, the Giants' offense is likely to hit a rough patch, with the clearest path through coming on the legs of
Jaxson Dart rather than his arm.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
October 28, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver
Tez Johnson has strung together four straight games of at least 6.8 fantasy points in half-PPR formats. His early success came on the back of big plays, but he's now seen at least six targets in back-to-back games. While the Buccaneers' passing attack has struggled as a whole over the past two weeks, Johnson has managed a respectable nine catches for 101 yards and a score over that time. With the Buccaneers on a Week 9 bye and
Chris Godwin nearing a return, there's a chance Johnson could be dropped this week, making him an intriguing add for those with the luxury of not needing an immediate plug-and-play starter. Brighter days should be ahead for the Buccaneers' passing attack, and Johnson looks as if he will be a major part of it.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
October 28, 2025
Green Bay Packers tight end
Tucker Kraft has been thriving over the last few weeks, culminating in a 33.3-point fantasy effort against the Pittsburgh Steelers that saw him finish as the TE1 in Week 8. Kraft brought in 7-of-9 targets for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and led the NFL in yards after the catch (128) amongst all pass-catchers. There's no doubt that Kraft has untapped upside entering this season, and it's coming out this season as the Packers' most explosive and efficient pass-catcher. With six touchdowns in seven games, Kraft should actually be featured MORE in the Packers' game plan as he's second to
Romeo Doubs in team target share at just 19.1 percent. While Kraft has been a volatile tight end option for fantasy managers over the first few weeks of the season, Kraft is now in must-start territory when the Packers host the Carolina Panthers in Week 9.
--Kevin TompkinsSource: RotoBaller
October 28, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco (knee) is considered week-to-week after leaving Monday night's win with an MCL sprain. Pacheco was seen on the broadcast laughing with the training staff, so there was hope that he'd avoided serious injury, but it appears that he will miss time. Following a Week 9 matchup with the Bills, Kansas City has a Week 10 bye, so there's a chance Pacheco only misses one game. It's been difficult to fully trust any of the backs in what has become a three-headed Chiefs running back room, but with Pacheco likely sidelined for at least one Sunday, both
Kareem Hunt and
Brashard Smith become priority waiver adds going into a matchup with a surprisingly susceptible Bills run defense. Hunt is coming off one of his best games of the season and has a lock on the Chiefs' goal line role, while Smith could see increased usage in a game with one of the week's highest projected point totals.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tom Pelissero
October 28, 2025
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love put up a sparkling performance in Week 8, where he completed 29-of-37 passes for 360 yards and three touchdown passes. Love was on fire, as he had 20 consecutive completions against a sinking Pittsburgh Steelers' pass defense. With Love's Week 8 game, that performance moved him up to QB11 through eight weeks of this season, but is Love more than a QB streamer? The opportunity is certainly lacking in most weeks as Love has the second-fewest pass attempts per game (30.4) among the top-12 fantasy quarterbacks, only behind
Josh Allen. Love isn't a running quarterback with just 109 rushing yards on the season, so his only avenue for fantasy scoring is passing efficiency downfield. In Week 9 against Carolina, a team that just gave up 245 rushing yards to the Buffalo Bills, the Packers may opt to attack through the run rather than the pass. Love is a high-upside streaming option rather than a locked-in fantasy starter for this matchup.
--Kevin TompkinsSource: RotoBaller
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