October 24, 2025
San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy (toe) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 8 contest against the Houston Texans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Specifically, Rapoport said that Purdy is "not quite yet" ready to return from his multi-game absence. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since Week 4 and has only appeared in two games so far, leaving
Mac Jones as the team's fill-in starter. Jones has been serviceable through five starts, completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,404 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions. He'll get the nod again in Week 8, while Purdy directs his focus toward a potential return against the New York Giants in Week 9.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
October 24, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will return to the starting role in Week 9 if he's fully healthy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. McCarthy has missed five consecutive games, leaving
Carson Wentz as the team's starting quarterback. The veteran is now 2-3 while filling in for McCarthy, and the urgency to hand the reins back to the Michigan product could be growing after Wentz struggled in the Vikings' 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. Rapoport cautions that while the starting job will belong to McCarthy, he's only going to play if he's fully healthy. The 22-year-old will now have 10 days to get healthy before a quarterback decision must be made in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
October 24, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Omarion Hampton (ankle) was seen wearing a walking boot following the team's win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Hampton has required the boot ever since Week 5, when he injured his ankle and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. The rookie was spectacular when healthy, averaging 5.6 rushing yards per carry as the team's primary running back, as well as 5.7 receptions and 0.7 touchdowns per game. Fantasy managers are surely ready for Hampton to return so that he can continue to offer RB1 production, but they may have to be patient given that the rookie still hasn't been able to shed his boot.
Kimani Vidal remains the lead running back in Los Angeles for the time being.
--Andersen PickardSource: Daniel Popper
October 24, 2025
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Jordan Addison caught three of his four targets for 26 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 8 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Addison's trip to the end zone came on a four-yard reception with fewer than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown salvaged his fantasy performance and brought him to four consecutive games with double-digit fantasy points (PPR). He's averaging 16.0 fantasy points per game since his season debut in Week 4, which is tied for the 17th-highest average among all NFL receivers during that span. He's a solid low-end WR2 heading into Week 9 against the Detroit Lions.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
October 24, 2025
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Justin Jefferson caught seven of his 11 targets for 74 yards during Thursday's Week 8 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jefferson was heavily targeted by quarterback
Carson Wentz, who made yet another start in place of the injured
J.J. McCarthy (ankle). The star receiver had a relatively modest showing by his standards, finishing with fewer than 75 yards for the first time since Week 1. He remains Wentz's No. 1 target, but his upside is capped when the offense struggles to stay on the field. Jefferson will look to bounce back as a solid WR1 against the Detroit Lions in Week 9, especially if McCarthy can return from his five-game absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
October 24, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey caught six of his 10 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings. McConkey had a relatively underwhelming start to the season, but he seems to have turned a corner with 27 catches and three touchdowns over his last four games. Since Week 5, he is averaging 18.8 fantasy points per game (PPR), which ranks as the eighth-most among all NFL wide receivers during that span. McConkey's rapport with
Justin Herbert continues to solidify, and he should be treated as a low-end fantasy WR1 going forward. He'll face off against the struggling Tennessee Titans in Week 9.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
October 24, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers tight end
Oronde Gadsden caught all five of his targets for 77 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings. His touchdown came on an eight-yard pass in the first quarter, and he also delivered an impressive 40-yard reception in the second quarter. Gadsden, a rookie, has quickly emerged as one of the most intriguing breakout tight ends in fantasy football. Over his last three games, the Syracuse product has totaled 19 catches, 309 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He's averaging 20.3 fantasy points (PPR) since Week 6, which is the second-highest among tight ends during that span, trailing only
Trey McBride. The 22-year-old should be treated as a solid TE1 option heading into a favorable Week 9 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
October 24, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal totaled 23 carries, 117 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He also caught one of his two targets for an additional 10 receiving yards. The 24-year-old capitalized on a positive game script and turned in a high-volume, high-efficiency performance on primetime. He has been quite effective since taking over for
Omarion Hampton (ankle), averaging 16.7 rushing attempts, 2.7 receptions, 100 scrimmage yards, and 0.7 touchdowns per game over the last three weeks. Los Angeles is rumored to have serious interest in an external running back addition, but until that comes to fruition, Vidal will remain the Bolts' lead back. He has firmly established himself as the preferred option over
Hassan Haskins, who had just one carry for three yards on Thursday Night Football.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
October 24, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert completed 18 of his 25 pass attempts for 227 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He also took two sacks and rushed for a season-high 62 yards. Herbert has been an effective fantasy quarterback all season long, but he has truly taken his game to the next level over the last three weeks. During that span, he has a total of eight touchdowns. He does have three interceptions in that timeframe as well, but fantasy managers will tolerate the slight uptick in turnovers if he continues to throw to the end zone at such a high success rate. Herbert will continue to rank as a mid-range QB1 heading into a very favorable Week 9 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
October 23, 2025
San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy (toe) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday due to a turf-toe injury, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Although Purdy is making progress after aggravating his turf-toe injury in Week 4, he is trending toward missing his sixth game of the year since he has been unable to upgrade to a full practice. The 25-year-old initially suffered a turf-toe injury in the season opener and missed Weeks 2 and 3 before returning in Week 4. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that it would be a "stretch" for Purdy to return this weekend. His next chance to return will come in Week 9 against the New York Giants if he's ruled out for the Week 8 contest this Sunday against the Houston Texans. It's shaping up for
Mac Jones to make yet another start against a tough Houston defense this Sunday. He'll be a low-end QB2 streamer in superflex leagues, at best.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
October 23, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee) missed another practice on Thursday, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Pearsall, who sprained the PCL in his right knee in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, is trending towards missing his fourth straight game this weekend when the team heads to Houston to take on the Texans. The 25-year-old will most likely officially be ruled out for Week 8 action on Friday. Pearsall's next chance to return to action will be in Week 9 against the New York Giants. Now that tight end
George Kittle has returned from Injured Reserve, Pearsall will have more competition for targets in San Fran's passing game whenever he returns. The former first-round pick had 20 catches on 29 targets for 327 yards and no touchdowns in four games before he injured his knee. Fantasy managers should keep him on their benches.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
October 23, 2025
After being activated from Injured Reserve earlier in the day, Minnesota Vikings running back
Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) is officially active and will return to play against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football. Jones is returning to action this week for the first time since injuring his hamstring in the Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. It's surely a boost for Minnesota's ground game, but on a short week after he returned to practice on Tuesday, it seems unlikely that the 30-year-old veteran will see more touches in the backfield over
Jordan Mason, who has been serving as the team's lead back when Jones was on IR. The Chargers were just dominated on the ground by Colts RB
Jonathan Taylor, but Jones is an extremely risky lineup option on a short week without much practice time. Mason is the better play against the Bolts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Minnesota Vikings
October 23, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs (chest) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday due to a chest injury. Diggs' chest injury isn't considered serious, so the 31-year-old veteran pass-catcher should be able to play without any restrictions for this Sunday's upcoming matchup against the visiting Cleveland Browns. The four-time Pro Bowler is still searching for his first touchdown of the member of the Patriots, but he has been impressively efficient while working with improved quarterback
Drake Maye so far this year. Diggs has caught 39 of his 44 targets for 456 yards and is coming off a seven-catch, 69-yard performance in the Week 7 win over the Tennessee Titans. Diggs and the Patriots' passing game will face a difficult matchup against Cleveland's defense this weekend, where he should be considered more of a low-end WR2 play.
--Keith HernandezSource: New England Patriots
October 23, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara (ankle) was limited on Thursday for the second straight day this week due to an ankle injury. Kamara has been dealing with an ankle injury for three weeks, but it hasn't kept him from playing in any games, and he should be fine to suit up for a divisional clash this Sunday versus the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fantasy managers should be comforted by the fact that the 30-year-old veteran played a season-high 84% of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Chicago Bears after backup
Kendre Miller (knee) suffered a season-ending torn ACL. The Bucs have been a top-10 matchup for opposing RBs this year in terms of half-PPR points allowed per week, but Kamara is also averaging a career-low 3.6 yards per carry in seven games for the 1-6 Saints. With six teams on bye in Week 8, Kamara is still more of a low-end RB2 for fantasy purposes with minimal upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: NewOrleansSaints.com
October 23, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week due to a bone bruise in his knee. However, he told reporters on Wednesday that he was feeling good after he injured his knee late in the Sunday night loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. When asked if he plans to play this Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins, the second-year signal-caller said, "Yes, that's the plan." The 25-year-old southpaw has completed only 61% of his 195 pass attempts through six games in 2025, throwing for 1,409 yards, five touchdowns, and three picks in his first full year as Atlanta's starter. The matchup in Miami is an excellent one, but the Falcons may not need to rely much on Penix's left arm. Fantasy managers should consider the Washington product as a midrange QB2 play this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: AtlantaFalcons.com
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