October 23, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell has cooled off significantly after his breakout Week 4 performance. With
Jaylen Warren returning to full strength, Gainwell has managed just nine carries for 36 yards over the past two games. Over that span, Gainwell has played 36% of the snaps, while Warren has commanded 61%, establishing himself as the team's lead back. Gainwell now profiles as a third-down back and a handcuff option in fantasy formats. While Gainwell could offer some PPR upside, unless Warren misses time, Gainwell holds little standalone fantasy value moving forward.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Kameron Johnson failed to build on his breakout Week 6 performance. After posting 64 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers, Johnson was shut out on Monday night versus the Detroit Lions. Johnson played just 20% of the offensive snaps in Week 7, falling behind
Emeka Egbuka,
Sterling Shepard, and
Tez Johnson in the receiver rotation. While injuries in the Buccaneers' receiving corps could eventually create opportunities, Johnson appears firmly locked into a backup role for now. Fantasy managers can safely drop him in all formats.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
There's been no doubting that 2025 has been disappointing so far for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (shoulder, ankle, ribs), who has seen injuries impact his availability and performance throughout the first seven weeks. But for managers still hanging on, there is some hope. Jennings played 85% of the team's snaps and drew seven targets last week, both his second-highest marks of the year and more in line with his normal usage. As Jennings' health improves, starting quarterback
Brock Purdy (toe) is also getting close to returning. Jennings has been prone to ups and downs during his career, but finished as the No. 24 overall PPR receiver in 2024. With Purdy coming back and some good matchups on the horizon, Jennings could see his stock rise in future weeks.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs has had a steady, but unspectacular, start to the 2025 season. Through six games, Downs has logged 26 receptions on 34 targets for 217 yards and a touchdown, ranking as the WR51 on a per-game basis. While the production hasn't fully taken off, the Colts' offense has been one of the league's best, leading the NFL in scoring (33.1 PPG) and ranking fourth in total yards per game (387.1). Downs missed Week 7 against the Chargers while in concussion protocol, but a limited practice on Wednesday suggests he's trending in the right direction for Week 8. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress closely ahead of a favorable matchup against the Titans.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
New York Giants tight end
Daniel Bellinger delivered the best performance of his NFL career in Week 7, hauling in three receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. Bellinger's production has noticeably climbed since the team turned to
Jaxson Dart at quarterback and lost star wideout
Malik Nabers to a Torn ACL. Since Week 4, the Giants have leaned heavily on 12 personnel (two-TE sets), ranking among the league leaders in usage. Both Bellinger and rookie
Theo Johnson have logged over 50% of the offensive snaps in three consecutive games, including last week, where they each played over 65%. While New York's brutal schedule has limited consistency, Bellinger's emergence is a bright spot. He'll face a tough challenge in Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. Bellinger isn't fantasy relevant just yet, but if this upward trend continues, he could work his way onto the fantasy radar in deeper leagues.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
Running back
Bhayshul Tuten of the Jacksonville Jaguars is still looking for a breakout week as the Jags take their bye in Week 8. A popular mid-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, the rookie landed in a situation with two established running backs in
Travis Etienne Jr. and
Tank Bigsby, but the Jags traded Bigsby to Philadelphia early in the season. The move ostensibly opened the way for Tuten, but he has yet to play more than 30% of the team's snaps in a game so far. The rookie scored touchdowns in Weeks 2 and 3, but recorded just 19 touches in the four games that followed. Tuten remains a hold in dynasty formats, but he can be left on waivers in most redraft leagues as long as Etienne is healthy.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been among the most injury-impacted teams in the league so far this season, which should keep the door open for receiver
Sterling Shepard. Coming off a seven-catch performance against Detroit, the veteran looks in line for similar work in future weeks. The Bucs had to put
Mike Evans (concussion) back on injured reserve, which will sideline him for at least a month, while
Chris Godwin (leg) and
Jalen McMillan (neck) have yet to play this season.
Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) is also dealing with an injury and didn't practice on Wednesday, leaving Shepard, for the time being, as one of the team's top options along with tight end
Cade Otton. Managers in deeper formats or facing bye-week roster crunches should consider Shepard as a capable option under these circumstances.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
Coming off a strong showing last week against San Francisco, Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. could be entering regular starting territory, even in one-tight-end formats. We'll pause for the groaning from the managers who had buyer's remorse on Pitts in previous years, but in 2025, his overall usage has been consistently good, and there could be even better fantasy production in future weeks. So far, the fifth-year tight end is playing 81% of the team's snaps and drawing more than six targets per game, and he enters Week 8 with three top-15 finishes in six tries. He has only three red-zone targets in six games, but the Falcons have one of the most favorable remaining schedules for a tight end in the NFL, giving him additional potential as the season goes on.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
Denver Broncos quarterback
Bo Nix could be primed for more fantasy success following his best game of the season in a Week 7 comeback against the New York Giants. The sophomore QB led the way in a wild fourth quarter that began with Denver trailing 19-0 and ended with the Broncos kicking a field goal as time expired to win 33-32. Along the way, Nix showed his best self: 279 yards passing, 48 yards rushing on just five carries, and four total touchdowns. He's rushed for at least 20 yards in five of seven weeks and has just one interception in his past 186 attempts, and now ranks as the No. 6 overall fantasy QB. Even better for Nix, his next game is against the Dallas Cowboys, who have surrendered more points to fantasy quarterbacks than any other team so far this season.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
Following an excellent start to the 2025 season, Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Travis Etienne Jr. has cooled off as the team heads into its Week 8 bye. The fifth-year back is the No. 16 overall PPR running back, but has now recorded fewer than 50 yards rushing and no touchdowns in three straight games for the Jags, who were thoroughly quieted by the Los Angeles Rams in a 35-7 loss last week. Etienne drew only eight carries and one catch, his fewest number of touches in a game this season. The Jags traded
Tank Bigsby to Philadelphia earlier this year, and rookie
Bhayshul Tuten has yet to play more than a third of the team's snaps in a game, so Etienne is still the clear top option, but managers should continue to watch his usage in the weeks to come. Jacksonville travels to Las Vegas in Week 9.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
October 23, 2025
Chicago Bears kicker
Cairo Santos (thigh) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, according to the team. Santos sustained the injury in Week 4 against the Raiders, before Chicago's Week 5 bye, and has missed the past two games. The 33-year-old kicker has been able to practice over the last few weeks, but hasn't yet gotten to the point of trusting it in a game setting.
Jake Moody has handled the kicking duties well in his absence, hitting eight of nine field goal attempts, including a game-winner in Week 6 at Washington. Moody would be a solid streaming option in Week 8 at Baltimore if Santos can't play again.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Chicago Bears
October 23, 2025
The New York Giants have signed former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Ray-Ray McCloud III to their practice squad pending a physical, according to Art Stapleton of USA Today. McCloud was released from the Falcons on Tuesday after serving as a healthy inactive for the past two weeks. The 29-year-old wideout caught just six of 14 targets for 64 yards in four games with the Falcons before being released, but now lands with a New York Giants team that is desperate for wide receivers with star
Malik Nabers (knee) out for the season. McCloud was a useful receiver for Atlanta last season while also having plenty of experience as a return man on special teams. He figures to be in the mix for routes early in New York, but likely won't be relevant for fantasy purposes.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Art Stapleton
October 23, 2025
Green Bay Packers kicker
Brandon McManus (quadriceps) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, according to the team. McManus missed his second game of the season in Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals and is trending in the wrong direction to start the practice week ahead of Week 8's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 34-year-old kicker has been solid when he's played, making seven of nine field goal attempts and 10 of 11 extra points. If McManus is unable to go again,
Lucas Havrisik will take his place as the Packers' kicker on Sunday Night Football in Pittsburgh.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Green Bay Packers
October 23, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs (chest) was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday, according to the team. Diggs dealt with the same injury last week in practice and was ultimately able to play through it, and ran his normal route share in Week 7 against the Titans. It was another productive game for the 31-year-old wideout, catching all seven targets for 69 yards. Diggs will likely be good to go again in Week 8 against the Browns and ranks as a fringe WR1/WR2 option.
--Kyle McCarthySource: New England Patriots
October 23, 2025
The Los Angeles Chargers D/ST struggled significantly against the Indianapolis Colts offense on Sunday, allowing 38 points and being heavily dominated on the ground by running back
Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns. The defense has now surrendered a staggering 10 rushing touchdowns this season and an average of 140 yards rushing over the last three games. They now face a tough, well-coached Minnesota Vikings offense on a short week, which might include a returning Aaron Jones (activated from IR) to support tough, downhill runner
Jordan Mason. The presence of elite wide receivers like
Justin Jefferson and
Jordan Addison also makes the Vikings a dangerous matchup. Although the Bolts recorded a sack with the return of edge rusher Khalil Mack, their ongoing run-defense struggles against a strong Vikings ground game remain risky. RotoBaller ranks the Chargers D/ST 14th this week. Although six teams are on bye, managers should consider alternative options.
--Don FanelliSource: RotoBaller
RADIO
