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 Jr. (fibula) missed his team's Week 7 loss to the Lions on Monday Night Football, and even though he's recovering, Coach Todd Bowles didn't seem confident 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
October 21, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Woody Marks led the backfield in carries on Monday Night Football, and even though he wasn't very efficient, he saved his fantasy day with a late touchdown as a receiver. Marks played 61% of snaps and had 10 of the team's 15 running back carries against the Seahawks. He only had 15 rushing yards on those 10 carries, though, while quarterback
C.J. Stroud led the team with 25 rushing yards on his two carries. Marks found the end zone on one of his three catches on five targets for 20 receiving yards. While his rushing total is disappointing, his workload is a positive sign moving forward that the fourth-round pick from USC maintains his role in a timeshare.
Nick Chubb will still get early down work, but Marks seems to be the go-to option on passing downs and brings nice RB2 upside as a result. The Texans are home next week against the 49ers.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
New York Jets tight end
Mason Taylor bounced back a little bit from a one-catch game in London, hauling in three of his five targets on Sunday for 31 yards. The second-round pick played 93% of the snaps for the Jets and has been almost an every-down option for New York the last few weeks. With
Garrett Wilson (knee) out, Taylor finished second on the team with five targets behind only
Josh Reynolds, who drew nine targets from
Justin Fields and
Tyrod Taylor. Neither quarterback made the offense look great, but Taylor is involved enough to be worth a look if you need help from the waiver wire at tight end, especially if Wilson is out another week. Taylor and the 0-7 Jets visit the Bengals this week before their Week 9 bye week. The Bengals have been the most generous matchup in the NFL for tight ends this season, so Taylor has upside to consider as a one-week solution.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
New York Giants quarterback
Jaxson Dart was in a tough road matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 7, but his final numbers were excellent. He threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns while adding a fourth score on the ground with 11 rushing yards. Dart was one of the top scoring quarterbacks of the week, but his day was spoiled by taking the loss to the Broncos, who stormed back with 33 points in the fourth quarter to win 33-32. Dart did throw a brutal interception to help fuel the comeback, but the kicking game and his team's defensive struggles ultimately led to the loss. Dart and the Giants have shown a lot of promise and upside, and they'll head to Philadelphia this week for a rematch against the Eagles. The Giants beat the Eagles in Week 6 in New York, and they'll look to pull off the upset again this week, but this time they'll be on the road. Even in tough environments, Dart has shown enough upside to be considered as a starter in most formats, with his rushing potential keeping both his floor and ceiling very high.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
Tennessee Titans wide receiver
Chimere Dike stepped up with
Calvin Ridley (hamstring) sidelined on Sunday against New England. The fourth-round pick from Florida played a season-high 57% of snaps and caught all four of his targets for 70 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Dike has multiple catches in three straight games and five of his last six. He should stay in a key role for the Titans as they look to develop a young core with rookie QB
Cam Ward and rookie WR
Elic Ayomanor, along with Dike. The Titans' offense could shift in the next few weeks with the trade deadline approaching and Mike McCoy now in place as the interim head coach. Dike has flashed enough upside, though, that he has to be included in the team's plans, and he is an interesting speculative pickup as the Titans head to Indy in Week 8 and try to keep up with the Colts.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Tez Johnson continued his strong string of performances with a nice game against the Lions, and he could be lined up for more work going forward as well. Johnson had four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown against the Lions and finished with nine targets, which was tied for second on the team. It was his second straight week with an impressive touchdown, and over the last three weeks, the seventh-round pick from Oregon has become a regular contributor in the passing game, producing nine catches for 158 yards to go with his two scores. With
Mike Evans (collarbone) out for "most of the year" according to coach Todd Bowles, Johnson should have a clear role going forward behind his fellow rookie,
Emeka Egbuka. The Bucs will look to bounce back from their Week 7 loss with a game in New Orleans next week before a Week 9 bye week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
October 21, 2025
Updating a previous report, the Houston Texans announced that wide receiver
Nico Collins (concussion) was downgraded to out in Monday night's Week 7 game against the Seattle Seahawks after suffering a concussion early in the fourth quarter. Collins' helmet hit the turf when he came down on a contested catch in Seattle, and he will now enter the league's concussion protocol. On a short week, it's possible that he will not be cleared in time for Sunday's Week 8 tilt against the San Francisco 49ers. Before leaving, Collins caught only four of his 10 targets for 27 yards. Tight end
Dalton Schultz led Houston in receiving on Monday night, catching nine of 10 targets for 98 yards, and could be in for another big workload in Week 8 if Collins doesn't get the green light. In addition to Schultz, rookie wideouts
Jaylin Noel and
Jayden Higgins, and
Xavier Hutchinson would be in line for more targets if Collins misses additional time. Noel was second in receiving on Monday night with four grabs for 77 yards on seven targets.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Texans
October 21, 2025
Houston Texans star wide receiver
Nico Collins (head) suffered a head injury in the fourth quarter of the Monday night game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 and is being evaluated for a concussion, according to the team. Collins is considered questionable to return. The 26-year-old injured his head when he went up for a catch at the beginning of the fourth quarter and hit his head on the turf when he came down to the ground. He went to the locker room with trainers after being evaluated in the medical tent on the sidelines. Collins was having a quiet night against Seattle before the injury, catching only four of his 10 targets for 27 yards receiving. If Collins doesn't return and if he misses more time going forward, tight end
Dalton Schultz and receivers
Jaylin Noel,
Jayden Higgins, and
Xavier Hutchinson would be asked to step up for Houston's WR corps.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Texans
October 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end
Cade Otton caught seven of nine targets for 65 yards in Monday night's 24-9 loss to the Lions. Otton led the team in receptions and yard on Monday night with a banged up receiver room and
Mike Evans (collarbone) leaving with a significant injury. Quarterback
Baker Mayfield leaned on Otton as his primary short-yardage target, with Otton frequently finding space open downfield. The 26-year-old has a chance to establish himself as a reliable tight end option in the coming weeks, as the Bucs continue to deal with significant injuries on offense.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
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