October 23, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol after failing to practice on Thursday. With Collins' injury coming on Monday night, it leaves a slim likelihood of clearing protocol in time for Sunday's game. The team enters a Week 8 matchup with the 49ers with the possibility of being without both Collins and
Christian Kirk (hamstring). The Texans have struggled to get
C.J. Stroud and the passing game going, even when healthy, averaging just 198.2 passing yards per game. If their primary wide receivers are unavailable, the team would likely focus on
Dalton Schultz and
Jayden Higgins in Week 8.
Xavier Hutchinson is another player likely to see an increased target share in the event of a missed start for Collins.
--Shaun AlbinSource: DJ Bien-Aime
October 23, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (hamstring) logged a limited practice again on Thursday. The star of the offense has missed the last two games for the Ravens, both losses. The Ravens return to action this week to host a Bears defense allowing 350 yards per game. If Jackson finds a way to play this week, he has an excellent opportunity to jumpstart an offense that has struggled, averaging just 251.5 yards per game with
Cooper Rush under center. A return of Jackson would increase the Ravens' ability to get rest for a defense that has been gashed this season. Fantasy owners should continue to monitor Ravens injury reports throughout the weekend and be ready to plug in Jackson if healthy.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Jamison Hensley
October 23, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Malik Nabers (knee) has yet to undergo surgery to repair his torn ACL he suffered back on Sept. 28. Nearly a month after the injury, it appears doctors are still waiting on swelling to subside before operating on the superstar receiver. Before his injury, Nabers appeared in four games, catching 18 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. The former sixth overall pick should be ready for the 2026 preseason, but further delays to surgery could make his timeline unclear moving forward. Nabers has WR1 potential moving forward, despite the emergence of
Wan'Dale Robinson in the Giants' offense.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Ari Meirov
October 23, 2025
Minnesota Vikings running back
Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) has been activated from Injured Reserve and is expected to suit up in Thursday night's matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Jones appeared in just two games, recording 13 carries for 46 yards before suffering the injury.
Jordan Mason has established himself as the featured back, meaning Jones should be eased back in gradually. His return is a welcome sight for the league's 20th-ranked rushing offense. The boost to their run game should also assist their time of possession, as the Vikings are averaging just 58.8 offensive snaps per game. Jones should be added if available as a likely committee member in the Vikings' backfield.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Ian Rapoport
October 23, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) will practice on Thursday, according to ESPN's John Keim. Samuel did not look the same while playing through a bruised heel in Week 6, and he was inactive for the Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys this past Sunday. The 30-year-old veteran has made progress, though, with Quinn saying earlier this week that Samuel was on track to practice in full this week. If Samuel is a full-go for practices this week, it would suggest that he will play on Monday night in a tough road matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, with starting quarterback
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) already ruled out. Washington's offense ran through Samuel since
Terry McLaurin suffered a quad injury in Week 3, but McLaurin is also on track to return in Week 8. Samuel's fantasy floor and ceiling will be lowered if he's back on Monday.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - John Keim
October 23, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that wide receiver
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) will practice on Thursday, per John Keim of ESPN. McLaurin looked like he had a real shot to return for the first time since Week 3 in last week's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but the Commanders ultimately ruled on the side of caution and held him out. Quinn said earlier this week that the 30-year-old pass-catcher would practice in full this week, but it remains to be seen if that will be on Thursday. If McLaurin upgrades to a full-go at some point this week, his chances of suiting up on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs will be much better. However, for fantasy purposes, McLaurin will be more of a risky WR4/flex if he returns with several factors working against him. For one, he could be on a snap count after his extended absence. Washington is also facing a tough matchup on the road in KC, and starting quarterback
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) has already been ruled out.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - John Keim
October 23, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Thursday that the team ruled out quarterback
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) quickly for the Week 8 game on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs so that he could focus only on his rehab/treatment, according to ESPN's John Keim. "All of the week will be focused on rehab in hopes of [playing] the following week," Quinn said. The hamstring injury that knocked Daniels out of the Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys early on Sunday is not a long-term one, so the team is hoping he'll be able to make it back next weekend to face the Seattle Seahawks. Injuries have hampered Daniels in his sophomore season, as this week will be his third missed game of 2025. If the 24-year-old only misses one game this time around -- he missed two contests earlier this year with a knee sprain -- he'll be returning to a tough matchup against Seattle in Week 9.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - John Keim
October 23, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs (concussion) has upgraded out of the red non-contact jersey that he wore during practice on Wednesday, according to Jake Arthur of Locked on Colts. Downs suffered a concussion in Week 6 and was inactive in last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the 24-year-old was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday and is trending in the right direction to gain clearance from the league's concussion protocol by the weekend. Downs is still up in the air to play in Week 8 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans, but if he continues to make progress, he could return on Sunday. Before his head injury, Downs was on an upward trajectory as the Colts' WR2, catching 12 of his 15 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in his last two games. If he returns against the Titans, it will be bad news for fantasy managers looking to stream
Alec Pierce in Week 8.
--Keith HernandezSource: Locked On Colts - Jake Arthur
October 23, 2025
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Chris Olave and
Rashid Shaheed are being monitored by receiver-needy teams ahead of this year's trade deadline, sources are telling Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Both Olave and Shaheed are set to become free agents after the 2025 season and share the same representation. The Saints are currently sitting at 1-6, and several teams around the NFL are wondering if they might move one of the two wideouts for future assets. Olave, who is a former first-rounder, is the bigger name and has been a fantastic value pick for fantasy managers this year, catching 44 passes for 440 yards and three touchdowns through seven games. The 25-year-old continues to be a must-start in fantasy lineups despite working with quarterback
Spencer Rattler in a limited Saints offense, but his fantasy stock has room to rise if he's traded elsewhere. Shaheed, meanwhile, has been an even more volatile boom/bust deep threat, catching 30 of his 45 targets for 356 yards and two TDs in his seven games.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
October 23, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Julian Hill (ankle) was not seen practicing on Thursday, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Hill also missed practice on Wednesday with his ankle injury and appears headed towards missing the team's Week 8 contest on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. He isn't really on the fantasy radar, but it's worth noting for a flailing Dolphins team that just placed tight end
Darren Waller (pectoral) on Injured Reserve this week. If Hill is also unavailable this weekend, the Dolphins will be down to
Tanner Conner and
Greg Dulcich at the position. With quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa struggling mightily through seven weeks, don't be surprised to see Miami lean more on its backfield going forward. Fantasy managers should avoid Miami's TE situation entirely.
--Keith HernandezSource: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
October 23, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Garrett Wilson (knee) was not seen at practice on Thursday, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Head coach Aaron Glenn said that Wilson was day-to-day, but the star wideout has yet to practice this week and looks headed for a second straight absence in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals after hyperextending his knee in the Week 6 loss to the Denver Broncos in London. At this time, fantasy managers shouldn't plan on having Wilson available for this weekend's action. If he misses a second straight game, the Jets will once again go with
Josh Reynolds,
Allen Lazard, and
Arian Smith as their top three receivers, with rookie tight end
Mason Taylor also being one of the top pass-game targets for either quarterback
Tyrod Taylor (knee) or
Justin Fields. That would not be a recipe for success as the Jets seek their first victory of 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
October 23, 2025
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said last week that running back
MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring), who has been on Injured Reserve for the first seven weeks, was getting closer to practicing. However, the team still has not designated Lloyd to return from IR, and he has not resumed practicing with the team as they prepare this week for a Sunday night battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8. Perhaps Lloyd will have his 21-day practice window opened next week, but even then, he wouldn't be a lock to make his 2025 debut in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers. There have been rumors that the Packers are making calls ahead of the trade deadline on RBs, so maybe Lloyd isn't as close to a return as the Packers are leading on. The former third-rounder has been a major bust for the Packers so far due to injuries, playing in just one game since the start of last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
Miami Dolphins running back
Jaylen Wright has "practiced well recently" and has "been great in meetings," according to running backs coach Eric Studesville. Wright was active for the Week 7 blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday after he was a healthy scratch the two weeks prior, but he still didn't see a carry while playing only nine offensive snaps. The 22-year-old speedster got a late start to the season due to an injury suffered at the end of training camp, and he has so far been relegated to RB3 on the team's depth chart behind workhorse
De'Von Achane and rookie
Ollie Gordon II. The 1-6 Dolphins could be transitioning to more of a run-heavy approach going forward, with quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa struggling mightily as a passer without receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee). The Dolphins may look to involve Gordon and Wright more alongside Achane in Week 8 against the Atlanta Falcons. Still, Wright isn't rosterable in the vast majority of fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Palm Beach Post - Joe Schad
October 23, 2025
Kicker
Jude McAtamney has returned to the New York Giants' practice squad on Thursday on an International Player Program exemption after the team released him earlier in the week, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. With regular kicker
Graham Gano (groin) on Injured Reserve, McAtamney was the team's fill-in placekicker from Weeks 4-7, but he was cut this week after his two crucial missed extra points proved to be the difference in the team's 33-32 loss at the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Gano has returned to practice this week and could make his return from IR this Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, but if he doesn't, they have the option of elevating former Atlanta Falcons kicker
Younghoe Koo from the practice squad. The 25-year-old McAtamney, who is from Northern Ireland, made both of his field-goal attempts but missed three of his 12 extra points in his four games with New York.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
October 23, 2025
The Miami Dolphins restructured the contract of starting linebacker Jordyn Brooks on Thursday by converting his base salary into a signing bonus, which in turn creates $3 million in salary cap space for this season, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Brooks has been one of the few bright spots for the 1-6 Dolphins this year, as he currently leads the league with 75 tackles (46 solo) through the first seven weeks. The 28-year-old is under contract with Miami through the 2026 season. In addition to his NFL-high 75 tackles, Brooks has 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Miami will need him to be at his best in Week 8 as they look to slow down Atlanta Falcons running back
Bijan Robinson, who is one of the best at his position.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
RADIO
