October 22, 2025
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Joshua Palmer (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice as the team returned from its bye, and head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that Palmer is considered week-to-week. The veteran receiver has quietly carved out a role in Buffalo's revamped passing attack, appearing in every game this season and posting 14 receptions for 234 yards while operating as a reliable secondary option for
Josh Allen. However, his recovery timeline remains uncertain, and the Bills may choose to be cautious to avoid a longer-term setback. With
Dalton Kincaid,
Keon Coleman, and
Khalil Shakir firmly established as the top three targets in the offense, Palmer offers limited fantasy upside even when healthy. For now, he should remain on the waiver wire in standard formats, though he may warrant monitoring in deeper leagues if his role expands later in the season.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Maddy Glab
October 22, 2025
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid (oblique) was limited in practice on Wednesday, raising some concern about his status for Week 8 despite the benefit of extra rest over the team's bye week. Kincaid has quickly emerged as one of the most reliable tight ends in fantasy football, scoring three touchdowns in five games and catching 83.3% of his targets while operating as a featured weapon for
Josh Allen. Even after missing one contest, his 287 receiving yards lead the team, and he also holds a team-high three scores through the air. The Bills will travel to face the 4-3 Carolina Panthers in what has quietly become a tougher-than-expected matchup, making Kincaid's health even more critical for Buffalo's passing attack. Fantasy managers should monitor his practice progression closely, as another limited session or downgrade could put his Week 8 availability in jeopardy.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Maddy Glab
October 22, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Marcus Mariota will make his third start of the season on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect much production in a difficult matchup. Mariota has been serviceable in his limited action, completing 64.6% of his passes with a 3:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, while adding some mobility outside the pocket. However, he now faces a Chiefs defense that ranks among the league's best, allowing the fifth-fewest yards per game and just 17.7 points per contest, good for third in the NFL. To make matters worse, Mariota could once again be operating without two of his top pass-catchers as Deebo Samuel (heel) and
Terry McLaurin (quad) both remain questionable. With limited weapons and a brutal defensive matchup, Mariota lacks fantasy upside and should remain on the waiver wire in all formats outside of deep superflex leagues.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Nicki Jhabvala
October 22, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk (hamstring) did not participate in Wednesday's practice and remains questionable for Week 8 as he works his way back from a lingering soft-tissue injury. Kirk has not appeared in a game since October 5 and was unavailable for Monday night's loss to the Seahawks, marking yet another setback in what has been a frustrating stretch for the veteran receiver. Dating back to last season, Kirk has struggled to stay on the field, playing in just eight games in 2024, and durability has become a growing concern. When healthy, however, Kirk has proven to be a reliable playmaker. His last full season came in 2022, when he delivered 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns. With
Nico Collins (concussion) also uncertain for Week 8, Houston could desperately use Kirk's return, but fantasy managers should monitor practice reports closely before trusting him in lineups.
--Shaun AlbinSource: DJ Bien-Aime
October 22, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins (concussion) did not practice Wednesday after exiting Monday night's game against the Seahawks when the back of his head hit the turf. Collins remains in the league's concussion protocol and should be considered questionable for Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers. The fifth-year receiver has seen a modest start to the season, totaling 26 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns, but he still leads the team in receiving and remains
C.J. Stroud's most trusted target in a struggling passing attack. With Collins' availability in doubt, Houston may be forced to lean on depth options
Xavier Hutchinson and
Jayden Higgins, while tight end
Dalton Schultz could also see a bump in volume. Fantasy managers should monitor practice reports closely.
--Shaun AlbinSource: DJ Bien-Aime
October 22, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Sean Tucker is expected to see an uptick in opportunities in Week 8 with
Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) ruled out. Tampa Bay relied heavily on
Rachaad White last week, giving him a massive 90% snap share, but that workload isn't sustainable long term and the team is likely to rotate in a second back more frequently. Tucker has been used sparingly this season with just 11 carries for 34 yards and one touchdown, but he is the clear favorite to slot into the No. 2 role behind White this week. Still, Tucker remains more of a watch-list name than a priority waiver pickup in fantasy leagues, as White continues to dominate both rushing and receiving work in Tampa Bay's offense. Managers in deeper formats may consider adding Tucker as a speculative bench stash.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Pewter Report
October 22, 2025
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson (hamstring) was seen on the practice field on Wednesday in the portion of practice open to the media, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. It was Jackson's first appearance at practice since straining his hamstring on Sept. 28 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He "mostly did warmup throws" with the media watch but did also "run around a little bit." The 28-year-old two-time MVP missed Weeks 5 and 6 with his hamstring strain and had last week's bye to heal up. The Ravens have been optimistic that he will return to play in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, but nothing is set in stone just yet. We'll check back on Jackson's official practice status later on Wednesday, but he might need to practice in full by Friday to be cleared to suit up this Sunday. If Jackson is active against Chicago, he needs to be returned to all starting fantasy lineups.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
October 22, 2025
Miami Dolphins running back
De'Von Achane has 89 more touches than the next closest Dolphins RB this year. "I am looking to (diversify the offense), but there are a lot of factors that play into that for it to be executed," head coach Mike McDaniel said when asked by ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques whether he was OK with the current RB split or if the team is looking for ways to "diversify the offense." McDaniel pointed to the game against the Buffalo Bills as the ideal touch distribution for their backfield, when Achane had 12 carries and rookie
Ollie Gordon II had nine carries. Through seven games in 2025, Achane has a healthy 212 touches. Fantasy managers are surely happy about that, but the touch distribution could change if the Dolphins can be more competitive in games. It sounds like Miami would like to get Gordon more work, but things just haven't worked out that way. Until further notice, Achane is a set-and-forget RB1 with a high floor given his hefty volume.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
October 22, 2025
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has refrained from announcing his starting quarterback for the Week 8 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, citing his desire not to give the opposition a competitive advantage. The Jets benched struggling QB
Justin Fields at halftime last Sunday in their loss to the Carolina Panthers, and reports have suggested early this week that the team is moving toward starting veteran
Tyrod Taylor (knee) against Cincy. Taylor is now day-to-day with a knee injury, though, so it's unclear if that will affect Glenn's decision this week. Either way, New York's passing attack will most likely continue to be below average, especially if top receiver
Garrett Wilson (knee) is forced to miss a second straight game. The Bengals' defense will allow the Jets to get right, but can the Jets take advantage? At best, Taylor will be a desperation low-end QB2 streamer in superflex leagues if he makes his first start of the year this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: Josina Anderson
October 22, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans (collarbone) is scheduled to have surgery this week to fix the broken collarbone that he suffered in Monday night's loss to the Detroit Lions, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Evans suffered a clean break of his clavicle, and the Buccaneers "should have Evans back in eight weeks or fewer." Head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday that the 32-year-old veteran wideout will be "touch and go" to return during this year's regular season, which means fantasy managers in redraft leagues can probably let go and replace him going into Week 8 action. However, if the Bucs make the postseason, Evans could be in play to rejoin the team if everything goes smoothly during his rehab. In the meantime, with
Chris Godwin (leg) set to miss a third straight game this Sunday against the Saints, rookie first-rounder
Emeka Egbuka,
Sterling Shepard, and
Tez Johnson will operate in starting three-wide sets for Tampa.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
October 22, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday that wide receiver
Chris Godwin (leg) will not be back this Sunday to take on the division-rival New Orleans Saints in Week 8, according to FOX Sports' Greg Auman. Godwin got a late start to the 2025 campaign while recovering from a season-ending dislocated ankle that he suffered in Week 7 of last year, and then suffered a fibula injury that will now keep him out for a third straight game. In addition to Godwin's injury, Tampa lost future Hall of Fame wideout
Mike Evans (collarbone) for most of the rest of the season when he fractured his clavicle in Monday night's loss to the Lions. Fantasy managers who have been stashing Godwin will be keeping their fingers crossed that he'll be able to return after next week's bye to take on the New England Patriots in Week 10. With Evans now potentially out the rest of the year, Godwin figures to be heavily involved in the passing attack next to rookie first-rounder
Emeka Egbuka whenever he returns.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
October 22, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday that running back
Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) will not make it back for Sunday's divisional contest against the New Orleans Saints in Week 8, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Irving will be missing his fourth straight game due to a foot sprain and a subluxation of his shoulder. However, with Tampa's bye coming in Week 9, perhaps he'll be ready to make his return in Week 10 when the team takes on the New England Patriots on Nov. 9. With the 23-year-old set to miss yet another game,
Rachaad White will be in play as an RB2 in all fantasy formats while making his fourth straight start as the lead back for the Buccaneers, with
Sean Tucker handling backup duties again.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
October 22, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (hamstring), who suffered a low-grade hamstring strain on Sunday in the loss to the Dallas Cowboys, will not play on Monday night in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Veteran
Marcus Mariota will make his third start of the season. Fantasy managers will have to go in another direction this week, but hopefully the second-year signal-caller can make it back to play in the Week 9 contest against the Seattle Seahawks. After a phenomenal rookie season in 2024 in which he nearly led the Commanders to the Super Bowl, the 24-year-old QB will now miss his third game of his second season due to an injury after previously sitting out Weeks 3 and 4 with a knee sprain. Mariota can still use his legs to pick up yards and could be getting both receivers
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and
Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) back from injuries, but he'll be a tough QB2 sell in fantasy against a stout Chiefs defense on the road.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
October 22, 2025
The Miami Dolphins placed tight end
Darren Waller (pectoral) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday due to the pectoral injury he suffered in the Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Waller will now be sidelined for at least the next four games. In a corresponding move, the Dolphins promoted tight end
Greg Dulcich to the active 53-man roster. Waller won't be eligible to come off IR until after the team's Week 12 bye to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 13 on Sunday, Nov. 30. In the meantime, the 1-6 Dolphins will try to get by with
Julian Hill,
Tanner Conner, and Dulcich at the TE position. None of them are really worthwhile waiver targets in standard-sized fantasy leagues in the Dolphins' struggling offense. The 33-year-old Waller got a late start to the season after coming out of retirement, but he scored four touchdowns in his first three games before injuring his pec last Sunday.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
October 22, 2025
New York Jets quarterback
Tyrod Taylor (knee) is dealing with a knee injury this week and is considered day-to-day, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. Although nothing has been confirmed, the Jets are reportedly heading towards naming Taylor as the starter over
Justin Fields for their Week 8 contest this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, although it's unclear if Taylor's new knee injury will factor into the final decision. The 36-year-old veteran played the second half of the team's 13-6 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday after Fields was benched at halftime. Taylor was unable to lead the Jets to their first win, going 10-for-22 passing for 126 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. The matchup this weekend against Cincy's porous defense is a good one, but Taylor still won't be much more than a desperation low-end QB2 play in superflex leagues if he makes the start over Fields.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Brian Costello
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