RADIO
Amon-Ra St. Brown Back on the Practice Field on Thursday
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) was back at practice on Thursday after he was a non-participant on Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy. St. Brown came out of the Week 7 win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers with some ankle soreness, but after returning to practice on Thursday, the Lions expect him to be fine for their upcoming game on Sunday at home against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. The 27-year-old was most likely just being rested for maintenance purposes on Wednesday in the team's first practice of the week. Fantasy managers should expect the four-time Pro Bowler to be a full-go this weekend, and he will be a must-start in all fantasy leagues despite the tough matchup against the Vikings. The Sun God did not appear to be slowed by his ankle on Sunday against Green Bay, catching nine of 11 targets for a season-high 153 yards. It was St. Brown's second 100-yard game of 2026, and he enters Week 8 action as the WR4 in half-PPR scoring with 46 catches for 525 yards and five touchdowns on 68 targets through only six games played. The Sun God leads all receivers in points who have played only six games this year.
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
D.J. McKinney to Miss Extended Time with Ankle Injury
Notre Dame defensive back D.J. McKinney (ankle) is set to miss extended time, according to head coach Marcus Freeman. There's a chance he'll be able to play in the College Football Playoff if the Fighting Irish make it. Across seven games so far this season, McKinney had nine combined tackles. One of those tackles was for a loss and he also has an interception that he returned for a touchdown and two total passes defended. This is McKinney's fifth collegiate season, and his first at Notre Dame. Over 47 career games, McKinney has 146 combined tackles, five interceptions, 21 passes defended and one fumble recovered and forced.
Source: Pete Sampson - The Athletic
Source: Pete Sampson - The Athletic
Jahmyr Gibbs Returns to Practice on Thursday
The Detroit Lions got some good news on Thursday, with starting running back Jahmyr Gibbs (shoulder) returning to practice after he did not suit up on Wednesday, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. The Lions most likely gave Gibbs a rest day in their first practice of the week. Now that the 24-year-old is back on the field a day later, he should be just fine to play in Week 8 in a divisional clash against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Gibbs, who was the No. 1 overall pick in most fantasy football leagues this year, has lived up to expectations and is currently the top overall RB in half-PPR scoring with 620 rushing yards on 134 carries for seven touchdowns, adding 32 receptions on 40 targets for 270 yards and another two scores as a receiver. The former 12th overall pick from Alabama will be going for his third straight 100-yard rushing game this weekend, but the sledding will be tough against one of the top defenses in football. Gibbs should still be a set-and-forget RB in all fantasy lineups in Week 8.
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Tyjae Spears Misses Practice Again on Thursday
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (knee), who missed the team's Week 7 loss to the Browns with a knee injury, was absent again on Thursday after missing the first practice of the week. Also missing practice on Thursday, according to beat writer Terry McCormick, is starting running back Tony Pollard, who was given a veteran rest day on the Thursday leading up to his season-best 155-yard, three-touchdown Week 7 performance. Fantasy managers will need to monitor the team's official injury report, but if Pollard's absence is again non-injury related and Spears is unable to suit up for a second week, the veteran becomes a high-floor play against a Bengals defense that has been more beatable on the ground than through the air.
Source: Terry McCormick
Source: Terry McCormick
Bucky Irving's Absence Chalked up to Rest
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (rest) was not spotted at Thursday's practice, but beat writer Greg Auman has since reported that his absence was a simple rest day for the third-year veteran. Irving is coming off a dominant 110-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Panthers and is the fantasy RB13 through seven weeks, so any missed time is a rightful cause for concern after injuries limited him to only 10 games in 2025 while sapping him of the explosiveness put on display both before and since. That said, he appears to be well on track to suit up for a Week 8 matchup with the Falcons and is RotoBaller's RB13 ahead of the divisional clash.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
Carnell Tate Still Not Practicing Thursday
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday after suffering a shoulder injury in the team's Week 7 loss to the Browns, and he will miss his second consecutive session on Thursday, according to senior team writer Jim Wyatt. The fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Tate has become the unquestioned focal point of the Titans' passing attack. His 413 receiving yards are more than double the next closest player on the team, but if he is unable to suit up for a Week 8 matchup with the Bengals, veteran Wan'Dale Robinson should see an influx of opportunities and becomes an intriguing flex play.
Source: Jim Wyatt
Source: Jim Wyatt
Lamar Jackson Practicing Again on Thursday
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) is practicing again on Thursday after logging a full participation on Wednesday. Jackson has missed the last three games with the ankle injury sustained in a Week 4 win over the Titans, with the Ravens going 1-2 in his absence. After returning to practice on a limited basis ahead of the Week 7 loss to the Bengals and now looking to string together a number of unencumbered sessions, he appears to be on track to return for a heavyweight Week 8 matchup against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Jackson was the fantasy QB9 through the first four weeks of the season, and while managers will still need to wait for an official injury designation, he is RotoBaller's QB4 heading into Sunday.
Source: Jamison Hensley
Source: Jamison Hensley
Jordan Mason Back in Lead Role, Could Handle Even More Volume
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason returned from injured reserve last week and immediately stepped back into his No. 1 role with 15 carries. He was also targeted twice in the passing game, but he didn't convert either opportunity into a reception. Mason now has an opportunity to handle even more volume going forward, as teammate Aaron Jones Sr. (knee) suffered an injury in Week 7 and didn't practice on Wednesday. It's too early to tell whether Jones will miss time, but if he does, Mason should handle even more volume on the ground and through the air than before. In such a scenario, he would theoretically increase his snap share from last week's 64% mark to at least 75% in Week 8. He's averaging nearly five yards per carry since the start of the 2023 season, vaulting himself into high-end RB3 or low-end RB2 territory going forward.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jakobi Meyers Remains a Usable Floor Play Coming Off Big Game
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is coming off his most involved game of the season and should continue to provide a usable fantasy floor moving forward. Before a Week 7 bye, Meyers saw 10 targets in a narrow loss to the Texans, his highest total since the mid-season trade that landed him in Jacksonville in 2025, while his 83 receiving yards were his second-most as a Jaguar. Fourth-year player Parker Washington has emerged as the star of Jacksonville's passing offense, but Meyers remains one of the most consistent complementary pieces in the NFL, and he is RotoBaller's WR40 ahead of a Week 8 divisional matchup with the Colts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hollywood Smothers Probable for Week 9
Texas running back Hollywood Smothers (shoulder) is probable for the team's Week 9 game against Mississippi State. He has missed two of the team's seven games so far, including Week 8 against Ole Miss. Smothers has 289 rushing yards and two touchdowns across 65 attempts so far, plus has caught 10 passes for an additional 79 yards and a score. He has at least 10 rushing attempts in every game, and has caught at least one pass in each contest, so he's been pretty involved when healthy. The Bulldogs allow 124.6 rushing yards and 27.7 points per game, so if Smothers is active, his outlook for Week 9 is favorable. Raleek Brown has led the backfield without Smothers around for a couple of games, while quarterback Arch Manning and RBs Derrek Cooper and Michael Terry III have helped out a bit.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Avery Johnson Ruled Out for Week 9
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson (shoulder) has been ruled out for the team's Week 9 game against Colorado. This will be his second straight missed game. Across his first six appearances, Johnson completed 63.1% of his passes for 1,301 yards and 10 touchdowns. He threw three interceptions, but made up for those with 462 rushing yards and three scores over 51 attempts. Jacob Knuth replaced Johnson in the starting lineup last week - he completed 26 of his 41 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. He avoided an interception and also rushed for 19 yards and a score across nine attempts. Colorado allows 391.6 total yards and 30.1 points per game, so it would be a favorable matchup for Knuth, or whoever replaces Johnson.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Carnell Tate Consistently Among the Titans' Top Contributors
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate has solidified himself as the top target for quarterback Cam Ward. Ward is just seven games into his rookie season, but he has already produced at a high level while maintaining a consistent target share. He has seven targets in each of his last two games, totaling 11 catches, 139 yards, and one touchdown during that span. He currently ranks as the WR24 in PPR scoring this season, and he will continue to be a WR2 in fantasy football going forward. Tate benefits from playing in an offense that has to throw the ball a lot because they often find themselves trailing on the scoreboard. Plus, he's the No. 1 target in Tennessee, ahead of players like Wan'Dale Robinson, Calvin Ridley, and Gunnar Helm. Not only does the 21-year-old rookie have impressive long-term dynasty value, but he's a very intriguing rest-of-season option in redraft leagues, too. He should continue to produce as he and Ward solidify their rapport in Year 1 together.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenny Gainwell Returns to Practice on Thursday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell (hip) returned to practice on Thursday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Meanwhile, fellow RB Bucky Irving (undisclosed) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media after he was a full-go on Wednesday. The Buccaneers' backfield has some question marks right now as they prepare to take on the division-rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 this Sunday. If Gainwell is cleared to play and Irving is inactive this weekend, Gainwell would instantly have RB2 upside after a disappointing start to his first year with the team. The 27-year-old came out of nowhere to catch a career-high 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but so far through seven weeks this season, he has just 12 catches on 17 targets for 61 yards and one score, adding 33 carries for 149 yards (4.5 yards per attempt). The efficiency has been there, but the volume is lacking with Irving settled in as the lead back. Gainwell had a season-high 14 carries for 88 yards on the ground in the Week 7 blowout win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers, but fantasy managers cannot count on that happening every week as long as Irving is healthy.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Julian Lewis Recovering From Medical Emergency
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis suffered a medical emergency at the school's athletic facility on Wednesday. His father, T. Carlton Lewis, revealed the news on social media and noted that his son was now recovering. He last played for Colorado on September 26 against Baylor. Across four games this season, Lewis completed 64.2% of his passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns, while tossing two interceptions. He rushed for a touchdown across 15 attempts as well. Isaac Wilson and Kaneal Sweetwyne have held down the QB spot since then for the 2-5 Buffaloes. The team's next game will be against Kansas State in Week 9.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Jonathan Taylor Meets With Ownership Amid Trade Speculation
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has met with owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon to discuss his role with the franchise amid rampant trade speculation as the Nov. 10 deadline nears, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Taylor was clear with the media that he has demanded a trade out of town, although he acknowledges that his future is out of his hands at this point. The 2-5 Colts traded Pro Bowl offensive guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, and they might not be done selling. Taylor would be the biggest piece to be moved, but reports suggest that the Colts would prefer to keep the star RB around as they build for the future. Despite the Colts' offense struggling in the first half of the season, JT has been a constant source of production on the ground, rushing for 587 yards on 140 carries (4.2 yards per attempt) with a league-high eight rushing touchdowns. He has also added 17 catches for 178 yards on 26 targets through the air. A trade to a contender would likely raise his already high fantasy ceiling, but it remains to be seen if the Colts will pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal.
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
