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Jordan Love Picks Apart Panthers on TNF
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 30 of 41 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception in his team's 27-19 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. Love kept it going in Week 8, tossing multiple TDs for the seventh time in eight tries. The 27-year-old had it all on display, layering passes with deft touch and letting them rip into tight windows. Running back Josh Jacobs' return indeed dampens some of Love's upside. However, the latter could still be valuable, especially if Jacobs remains inefficient after an extended absence at the start of the season. The former first-round pick has now attempted at least 41 passes in each of his last three outings. At this rate, he could challenge his 2023 personal best of 579. Love was the QB5 that year. Green Bay will host the New England Patriots next time out.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Coker Stays Relevant with Late Touchdown
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker caught two of five targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Bryce Young didn't have a ton of time to get through his progressions on Thursday, and Carolina's passing game struggled as a result. Fortunately for owners, Coker came through late in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard catch-and-run that he cashed in for his third touchdown of the season -- tying a career high. After an electric start to the campaign, the third-year pro out of Holy Cross has caught two or fewer passes in two straight appearances. It's unclear whether a shoulder injury he dealt with during the week contributed to the down performance. Regardless, he's still a key piece on one of the league's most pass-heavy attacks, and better days should be ahead for this offense as a whole. That said, Coker and Carolina won't have it easy in Week 9 when they take on the Denver Broncos at home.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Matthew Golden Again Paces Packers in Targets
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden reeled in seven of 13 targets for 79 yards and a touchdown in the team's 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. It was the second-year pro's third straight appearance with at least six catches and 12 targets, as he's putting together a strong sophomore campaign following a dud in 2025. For what it's worth, Golden needs to clean up his drops, considering he was at six (depending on your source) entering Week 8 and collected a few more. However, quarterback Jordan Love keeps feeding him, and he's at worst a 1B option in the Packers' passing attack. That, combined with Green Bay's lack of an effective run game, should remain a lucrative combination for fantasy managers. Golden and Green Bay will be put to the test next weekend when they square off with the New England Patriots.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Josh Jacobs Overcomes Inefficiencies with Two Short TDs
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs rushed for 39 yards and a touchdown on 21 totes and caught all six of his targets for 13 yards and another score in his team's 27-19 win over the visiting Carolina Panthers. Jacobs' receiving work was a nice plus, but there's no getting around how inefficient he was with his touches. The 28-year-old hasn't looked explosive after a long layoff, but he's still getting it done for fantasy with considerable touchdown upside. On the bright side, Jacobs appears to have a stranglehold on Green Bay's backfield. He was up to 71% of the Packers' snaps in this one, and ceded just five combined opportunities to running mates MarShawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong Jr. So long as the veteran can maintain his role in the receiving game and modestly improve his efficiency, he'll be a boon to fantasy managers who held onto him. Next up for the Pack is a road date with the New England Patriots.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Caleb Durbin Undergoes Surgery on his Finger
Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (finger, toe) had another surgery, with the Red Sox saying it was "a successful partial excision of the fifth metatarsal base with tendon repair," according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. The procedure was performed by Dr. Anish R. Kadakia in Chicago. In addition to having finger surgery, Durbin also had surgery on a toe on his right foot recently. Neither procedure was very serious, so the right-handed slugger should be ready in plenty of time before the start of spring training next year. In his first season in Beantown and just his second year in the big leagues, the 26-year-old former 14th-round pick by the Atlanta Braves from Washington University in St. Louis hit .248/.332/.378 with a .710 OPS, a career-high 13 home runs, 64 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 74 runs scored in 153 games across 586 plate appearances during the regular season. He only hit four long balls in the second half, but he was more productive overall with a .274 average (61-for-223) compared to a .228 first-half average with nine homers. Durbin is not a prototypical power bat as a third baseman, but his speed on the basepaths makes him a valuable corner-infield asset in deeper fantasy leagues.
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
Chuba Hubbard Rebounds with Workhorse Volume
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in Thursday night's 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He added 38 yards and seven receptions on eight looks. Hubbard rebounded from a subpar outing by his standards with a third game of 100-plus scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown on a day when the Panthers' passing game struggled mightily. As has been the case for most of the 2026 campaign, the Oklahoma State product was Carolina's engine, consistently grinding out yardage behind a severely depleted offensive line. Moreover, Hubbard has collected 13 targets over his past two appearances, raising an already solid fantasy floor. He'll get a tougher ask in Week 9 when his team takes on the visiting Denver Broncos.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bo Bichette Exercises his 2027 Player Option
New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette is exercising his $42 million player option for the 2027 season and will stay with the Mets, league sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. The 28-year-old holds another player option worth the same amount for the 2028 campaign. Bichette had a miserable start to his first year in Queens, but he rebounded to finish with a .260/.312/.390 slash line with a .702 OPS, 18 home runs, 78 RBI, 76 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 160 games and 696 plate appearances in his eight years in the majors. By May 17, he was hitting just .210 with a .531 OPS. But over his final 114 games, Bichette had a .281 batting average and a .772 OPS with 16 long balls. Bichette will return to try to help the Mets get back to the postseason after two straight seasons of the organization missing the playoffs. The two-time All-Star is more of a contact-oriented hitter with limited speed on the base paths. He has not reached the 20-homer mark since doing so for three straight seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2021 to 2023.
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon
Braves Pick Up the 2027 Option for Ronald Acuna Jr.
The Atlanta Braves announced on Thursday that they exercised the $17 million 2027 option for outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. It is no surprise that the Braves picked up Acuna's option for next season, even though he missed more time with injuries in 2026. The right-handed slugger and former MVP missed roughly seven weeks this year with hamstring and knee injuries, which ultimately made him more of a bust for fantasy purposes. The 28-year-old Venezuelan outfielder finished with a .255/.345/.451 slash line with a .796 OPS, 20 home runs, 55 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored in 107 games and 469 plate appearances. The five-time All-Star still has league-winning upside, but his lengthy injury history has made him a risk/reward fantasy outfielder going into the 2027 season. Acuna has only played in 150-plus games twice in his nine MLB seasons, but despite missing valuable time with injury in each of the last two seasons, he has still managed to reach the 20-homer mark for Atlanta. The Braves can tolerate Acuna's injuries while he plays on one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Treylon Burks Downgraded to a DNP on Thursday
Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks (foot) was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice, according to the team's official website. Burks' status for the Week 8 Sunday night matchup against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles is up in the air after a mid-week downgrade; he was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. The 26-year-old's status on Friday will go a long way in determining his status for Sunday's game, but either way, there is a good chance he will be listed as either questionable or out. Washington's receiver depth is compromised with Burks hobbled and Terry McLaurin (knee) out for the rest of the season. Burks' foot injury gives fantasy managers even more of a reason to take a flier on rookie Antonio Williams off the waiver wire, as he will have a clear path to WR2 duties behind Stefon Diggs, even if Burks is able to play against Philly. Burks, a former first-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2022, has caught only nine passes on 17 targets for 152 yards in his first five games in his second year in D.C., but he has already set a career high with two touchdowns. He is only rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Commanders.com
Source: Commanders.com
Jadarian Price Limited in Thursday's Practice
Seattle Seahawks rookie first-round running back Jadarian Price (chest) was listed as a limited participant on Thursday, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. Price remains on Injured Reserve, but he has returned to practice and has a realistic chance of being activated and playing on Monday night against the Chicago Bears in Week 8. The 23-year-old 32nd overall pick from Notre Dame has a lot of long-term fantasy upside and is rostered in nearly 70% of Yahoo leagues despite being on IR, but the problem for his immediate fantasy value is that Zach Charbonnet (knee) is primed to make his 2026 season debut on Monday night against Chicago, and he is expected to be Seattle's primary RB once he is back to full speed. Price deserves to be rostered in most leagues for his upside, but he cannot be seriously trusted as a starting fantasy option in Week 8 with his status up in the air for a Monday night game. With Emanuel Wilson and George Holani also in the fold, Seattle's backfield is about to become one of the most crowded in the NFL, which is bad news for fantasy purposes.
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Zach Charbonnet Practicing in Full in Week 8
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) was listed as a full participant in the team's practice on Thursday, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. The Seahawks activated Charbonnet from the Physically Unable to Perform list last weekend, but he did not make his 2026 season debut in the Sunday night win over the Kansas City Chiefs. With the 25-year-old a full-go in the first practice of Week 8 preparation, it looks like he will make his season debut on Monday night against the Chicago Bears. The problem for Charbonnet's case as a fantasy starter in his first game back is that he could be eased back into a crowded backfield picture in Seattle, and rookie first-rounder Jadarian Price (chest) has a realistic chance to come off Injured Reserve as well, making things even cloudier in the Seahawks' backfield. Charbonnet had 730 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 16 regular-season games in 2025 before tearing his ACL in the postseason, and he has 20 rushing scores in the last two years. But with a potentially limited workload in his return against Chicago, fantasy managers should treat him as a shakier RB3/flex in Week 8.
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Jeremiyah Love Stays Limited on Thursday
Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) remained limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Love has been battling a lingering ankle injury that has sidelined him for the last two games, but two limited practices this week give him a chance to make his return in Week 8 on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. Tyler Allgeier has been dealing with a toe injury this week as well, so Arizona's backfield is a little unsettled heading into the weekend. Bam Knight, who has outproduced Allgeier in each of the last two weeks with Love sidelined, could maintain a big role and be a plug-and-play option in fantasy football if one or both of Allgeier and Love cannot play this weekend. The 21-year-old Love, who was the third overall pick in April out of Notre Dame, has been a bit of a disappointment so far in his first year in the NFL, averaging 3.7 yards per carry for 245 yards and one rushing touchdown on 67 carries in five games, adding 11 catches for 36 yards and another score in the passing game. Still, Love holds the most fantasy upside in Arizona's backfield for the rest of the season and should at least be an RB3/flex option against Dallas if he is cleared to play Sunday.
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Christian Watson Suffers Broken Rib But Returns on Thursday
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (rib) left the Thursday night game against the Carolina Panthers with a chest injury and went to the hospital, but after being cleared, he returned to Lambeau Field and finished out the team's 27-19 victory, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official website. Watson later told ESPN's Rob Demovsky that he was coughing up blood and had broken a rib, but everything else checked out fine at the hospital, so he got the OK to return to action. Despite leaving the game and going to the hospital, Watson led the team in receptions (eight) and receiving yards (113) and finished second in targets (10), behind only Matthew Golden. The 27-year-old's injury came on a 53-yard catch in the second quarter, when a Panthers defender landed on top of him after a hard fall. Watson could miss some practice time next week, but the good news is he will have 10 days to rest before the Packers' next game in Week 9 against the New England Patriots. In Green Bay's aggressive downfield passing attack, Watson has been one of the most valuable fantasy receivers in his fifth year in the NFL.
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Alpha Diallo Questionable Against Phoenix
Denver Nuggets forward Alpha Diallo (personal) is questionable for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns. Diallo missed two games with a right wrist sprain before sitting out Wednesday for personal reasons. The 29-year-old made his NBA debut against Oklahoma City, finishing with four points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 22 minutes. The reigning EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year could eventually carve out value through steals, but his role is still taking shape. If he remains out Friday, Bryce Hopkins should stay involved, while Trevon Brazile and Cam Whitmore could also pick up extra minutes on the wing.
Source: Kellan Olson
Source: Kellan Olson
Cameron Johnson Carries Questionable Tag for Friday
Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (ankle) is questionable for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns, according to Kellan Olson. Johnson sprained his ankle in the season opener against Oklahoma City and has missed the past three games. He dealt with inflammation in the same ankle last season, so Denver has reason to be careful with his return. Trevon Brazile has taken advantage of the opening, finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes Wednesday against New Orleans. Bryce Hopkins has also seen time in the starting lineup, but Brazile looks like the better bet for another sizable role if Johnson remains out.
Source: Kellan Olson
Source: Kellan Olson
