NFL fantasy football news and player signals for Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Jacobs was removed from the commissioner's exempt list and is eligible to return after serving a six-game suspension for a battery incident. The Packers have not yet clarified his playing time allocation in the upcoming matchup against the Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, leaving his immediate role and usage uncertain upon reinstatement.

Wide receiver Mike Evans left Monday's game early with an Achilles injury; he had missed all of practice the prior week and was questionable to play due to a pre-existing Achilles issue and rib injury. NBC Sports Bay Area insider Jennifer Lee Chan reported Evans' Achilles tendon remained "intact" but San Francisco is preparing for him to miss next week's game.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel did not practice on Wednesday and missed last week's game due to a hamstring injury, leaving his status for the upcoming game uncertain.

Rookie Omar Cooper returned to the lineup in Week 6 after missing four games and posted the first 100-yard game of his career; the source highlights this as a positive offensive development for the Jets as they get healthier.

Running back Breece Hall, injured against the Lions with a quad injury, did not practice but coach Aaron Glenn offered hope for his potential availability in Week 7 against the Dolphins; Glenn indicated Hall will be evaluated as the week progresses, suggesting a realistic chance of return.

Starting wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, sidelined since Week 2 with a finger injury, returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity; the source notes this as positive movement in the Jets' injury situation as the team approaches Week 7.

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots face Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football; Maye is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class alongside Williams, and the Patriots hold a prior 2024 season victory over the Bears.

Caleb Williams faces the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football with a revenge narrative; the Patriots defeated the Bears in a 2024 game, and this TNF matchup gives Williams a chance for redemption against one of the 2024 draft class's top quarterbacks, Drake Maye.

Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love did not participate Wednesday with an ankle injury, making his Week 7 status questionable.

Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck was limited Wednesday with a back injury, with his Week 7 status against Denver pending further practice participation.

Running back Tyler Badie did not participate Wednesday with a thumb injury, putting his Week 7 availability in question.

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was limited Wednesday with a chest injury, with his full availability for Week 7 pending continued practice participation.

Designated to return from injured reserve with an ankle injury and participated fully in Wednesday practice, clearing the path for potential game action against Arizona in Week 7.

Did not participate in practice Wednesday with thumb injury; status for Week 7 uncertain.

Listed with chest injury; limited practice participation on Wednesday.

Designated to return from injured reserve and was a full practice participant on Wednesday; eligible to play in Week 7 against Arizona.

Lions tight end Sam Laporta expressed frustration on the Bus and with the Boys podcast regarding his contract situation, stating he would prefer to be paid by Detroit but is prepared to leave in free agency if the team does not offer him a new deal; no progress has been made in contract negotiations with the Lions.

Drake May, the number three overall pick from 2024, is set to face Caleb Williams, the number one overall pick, in a quarterback matchup to open week seven.

Caleb Williams, the number one overall pick from 2024, is set to face Drake May, the number three overall pick, in a quarterback matchup to open week seven.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are facing the Seahawks at Lumen Field in a Sunday night matchup. The Chiefs are described as playing complimentary, team football with efficiency and explosiveness; they stay ahead of the sticks, have very few penalties and takeaways, and are the most explosive offense in the league.

Sam Darnold turned into a turnover machine the last couple of weeks, creating challenges for the Seahawks heading into their Sunday night matchup against the Chiefs.

Alvin Kamara and the Saints beat the Giants in France, which led to a Giants quarterback change. The source questions whether the Saints can keep this momentum going against the Steelers, with Kamara benefiting from the Saints' ability to throw the ball all over the yard and the offense's explosive dimension.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were previously doing their great run primarily on the strength of his right arm and big plays/explosive factor, but the Kenneth Walker addition has shifted the offensive approach to include more balance and the ability to control the game through the running game rather than relying solely on Mahomes' arm.

Kenneth Walker is a legitimate MVP candidate, ranked number two on NFL.com's MVP rankings. He leads the league in rushing and has the most explosive plays from a running back, continuing to validate the Chiefs' confidence in running the football as their best path to victory.

Kenneth Walker has given the Kansas City Chiefs the balance they needed for years; he is the number one rusher in football who can control the game as both a runner and receiver. Eric Bieniemy's presence and influence on running backs, combined with Walker's addition, has given the Chiefs confidence to stay balanced and hand the ball to Walker to go to work, moving away from relying primarily on Patrick Mahomes' arm and big plays.

Kyler Murray and the Minnesota Vikings, led by Brian Flores and Kevin O'Connell, are one of three remaining undefeated teams in the league. The source expresses belief in the team's staying power.

Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers are one of three remaining undefeated teams in the league, alongside the Chiefs and Vikings.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are one of three remaining undefeated teams at 5-0. The source notes the Chiefs are strong at every level of defense—defensive line, linebackers, secondary—with a great scheme that makes opponents earn every drive.

Josh Jacobs was reinstated from the commissioner exempt list and practiced on Wednesday after pleading no contest to two misdemeanor charges related to domestic violence. His availability for the Packers' upcoming game against the Lions remains uncertain.

Baker Mayfield missed the last three games for the Buccaneers due to a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand that required surgery. He returned to full practice participation on Wednesday, wearing a white glove on the injured hand.

Lamar Jackson returned to practice on Wednesday but remains limited. Ravens are 1-1 in the last two games with Snoop Huntley filling in during his absence.

Jalen Hurts underwent medical evaluation following a game; team protocols were followed and chief medical officer reviewed the evaluation. The focus is on his health and future status.

Isaiah Likely is highlighted by Bucky Brooks as able to control the middle of the field in the Giants offense. He is positioned as a key receiving option alongside Malik Nabors in an offense designed to distribute the ball effectively under new QB J.J. McCarthy.

Malik Nabors has posted three straight 100-yard games for the Giants. Bucky Brooks highlights him as a key receiving weapon in the Giants offense alongside Isaiah Likely, suggesting the team's ability to distribute the ball effectively to complement their running game and defense.

After looking good off the bench in week six, J.J. McCarthy is now QB1 for the Giants following a trade before week four. Bucky Brooks characterizes him as a 'game manager plus' who played at Michigan with a 27-1 winning pedigree under John Harbaugh's brother. With the Giants, he will manage the moment and make plays with his legs when available, functioning as a distributor in an offense featuring Malik Nabors (three straight 100-yard games) and Isaiah Likely controlling the middle of the field. Brooks believes if the Giants can get the running game going to complement their defense, McCarthy can win and win big in New York.

Backup QBs that have played this season: Jack Strand Cooper Rush Athan Kaliakmanis Tanner McKee Tyson Bagent JJ McCarthy Case Keenum Carson Wentz Marcus Mariota Drew Lock Jalon Daniels Tyler Huntley Jameis Winston It’s only Week 7.

Backup QBs that have played this season: Jack Strand Cooper Rush Athan Kaliakmanis Tanner McKee Tyson Bagent JJ McCarthy Case Keenum Carson Wentz Marcus Mariota Drew Lock Jalon Daniels Tyler Huntley Jameis Winston It’s only Week 7.

McCarthy was promoted to starter after Jameis Winston was benched following four starts; McCarthy will start Sunday for the first time since the final game of last season with the Vikings. McCarthy called Winston a 'great teacher' who has helped him since arriving with the Giants, and Winston praised McCarthy's 'curiosity' and execution, noting he 'came in, took the position by the horns and executed very well' and 'embraced a fresh start.'

Dart was lost for the season with a knee injury, prompting the Giants to turn to Jameis Winston as a starter and eventually J.J. McCarthy as the primary option moving forward.

Winston was signed by the Giants as a backup quarterback and started four games after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury, but was benched in favor of J.J. McCarthy in Sunday's loss to the Saints and will return to the bench as the Giants head to Houston. Winston stated he understands his current role and will embrace whatever the Giants ask him to do, which may include mentoring another young quarterback similar to his role a year ago.

Mentioned as flex alternative to Kirk. No strong community discussion.

Mentioned as potential drop candidate for Kirk in PPR. No strong community consensus.

Mentioned as alternative to Kirk in flex. One manager said 'If he plays, I'm plugging him over Waddle'; another countered 'Waddle has a pretty good matchup. If he doesn't have a good game against Arizona then he's officially cooked'.

Mentioned as underperforming option. One manager noted 'Downs is getting disrespected with targets to old man Keenan', implying Allen is eating into Downs' target share.

Mentioned as underperforming flex option. One manager noted 'Daniel Jones is horrendous and Downs is getting disrespected with targets to old man Keenan' and considered dropping Downs for Kirk, implying Hyatt's QB situation is problematic.

Mentioned as alternative to Kirk in flex decisions. One manager noted 'Godwin has not put up 10 points yet this year with or without Baker' and predicted 'Now that I wrote this comment 2 TD game incoming.' Community generally prefers Kirk over Godwin this week.

Mentioned as speculative flex option. One manager preferred him over Kirk/Flournoy ('Liked his usage'), but another called it 'Absolute insanity to play Savion over the other 2'.

Mentioned as alternative flex option to Kirk. One manager noted 'If your league does return yards then Washington is probably the choice. He's averaging 12 pts/game.'

Out with injury; Kirk's role expansion is contingent on Deebo's absence. Community expects Deebo to return and reclaim role, limiting Kirk's long-term value.

Out with injury; Kirk's role expansion is contingent on Evans' absence. Community expects Evans to return and reclaim WR1 role, limiting Kirk's long-term value.

Full participant in Wednesday walkthrough after calf injury; cleared to play. Community bullish on his return and immediate flex value given 49ers WR injuries (Evans, Deebo out). Consensus: solid start this week with 5+ catch upside due to volume, but role will be temporary/inconsistent once Evans and Deebo return. Multiple managers debating him as bye-week fill-in or flex over Flournoy, Tate, Vele, Godwin, Waddle, and others.

One owner notes they wouldn't trade Aaron Jones + Waddle for another player, suggesting Jones is valued higher than Waddle. No substantive discussion of Jones' role.

One Eagles fan owner notes 'Nothing is fun anymore' and is 1-5, suggesting Hurts/Eagles underperformance. No substantive discussion of Hurts' role or value.

Arizona held Puka in check last week, cited as evidence that favorable matchup narrative may be overstated. Used as comp for Waddle's potential outcome vs Arizona.

Described as 'dud wr1 with MHJ' and having 'now have Marvin Harrison's role in the offense,' suggesting he's underperforming. One owner notes they wouldn't trade Aaron Jones for Waddle + Wilson, implying both are low-value. No target share or snap count provided.

Multiple owners dropping Waddle for Douglas, citing Douglas's recent emergence and hot hand. One comment: 'I just dropped him for Demario Douglas. He is getting open now.' Described as better alternative to waiting on Nix to improve.

One owner notes they 'trust him more than Waddle' despite not drafting him this year, suggesting Jamo is preferred flex option. Comparison implies Waddle's inconsistency makes Jamo more trustworthy despite similar boom/bust profile.

Emerging as preferred flex alternative to Waddle this week. Multiple owners debating Waddle vs Cooper, with several choosing Cooper for 'more fun' and hot-hand narrative. One comment: 'you'll just have more fun playing Cooper.' Described as better risk/reward than Waddle's inconsistency.

Receiving deep targets from Nix instead of Waddle, suggesting Nix's preference hierarchy. Described as 'bum ass' by one commenter concerned about Waddle's fit in offense.

Mentioned as having vacated starting role to Chuba (RB), suggesting offensive dysfunction. One comment notes Marvin Mims receiving deep targets instead of Waddle, indicating Nix's preference for other receivers on vertical routes. No detailed discussion of MHJ's role or usage.

Quarterback play is the core issue limiting Waddle and entire Broncos passing game. Nix averaging ~174 pass YDs/game (vs Goff's 260 for comparison), cannot throw accurately beyond 8-10 yards, heavily checkdown-dependent, inaccurate at all ranges. Comments describe him as playing with 'yips,' possibly injured, combative in press conferences, 'terrified' since ankle injury vs Bills. One Broncos fan owner warns to avoid all Broncos pass catchers until Nix proves otherwise. Sean Payton's play-calling criticized as outdated ('1920s football'). Consensus: matchup irrelevant if QB won't throw downfield; Nix is the ceiling for all Broncos receivers.

Post claims 24% target share over recent weeks and favorable ARI matchup (4th-most fantasy points to WRs); Week 2 comp: 8/10, 138 YDs, 21.8 pts vs JAX. Community heavily skeptical: Bo Nix's poor play (limited throws >8-10 yards, ~174 pass YDs/game, checkdown tendency) is primary blocker, not matchup. Waddle has recent drops and appears disconnected from Nix. Many forced to start due to injuries/byes but express zero confidence. Boom/bust profile (0 or 20 points). Arizona held Puka/Davante in check last week; their pass rush strong. Consensus: this is likely Waddle's last chance before permanent benching; if he fails vs ARI, he's done for season. Some hold for schedule (Broncos have easies...

KEEP/TRADE/CUT - DYNASTY: Bryce Young Arch Manning Trinidad Chambliss

Romeo Doubs has been placed on injured reserve by the Patriots; despite this roster loss, the source still feels confident in the Patriots' ability to find success in the passing game against the Bears.

Kyle Monangai will be unavailable for the Bears; Chicago will be without its No. 2 running back for this matchup against the Patriots.

D'Andre Swift is more than capable of creating problems for the Patriots run defense, which has struggled this season; the source notes Swift can operate effectively on his own despite the Bears being without their No. 2 running back Kyle Monangai, and the Patriots' defensive lapses (missed tackles, insufficient angles) make them vulnerable to the Bears' run game.

Colston Loveland will be kept in check by the Patriots pass defense; the source believes New England will successfully defend the tight end and prevent him from being exploited despite the Bears pass offense winning individual battles.

Caleb Williams is a pretty good quarterback with talented players around him, but the source likes the Patriots pass defense in this matchup despite Williams' quality; the Bears pass offense will win individual battles but the Patriots should win the overall war.

Drake Maye's presence helps the Patriots' passing game confidence against the Bears; the source believes having him at quarterback supports the team's ability to find success and scheme around personnel shortcomings despite offensive line injuries.

A.J. Brown should be better than he was last week; the source expects improved performance from the Patriots' receiver against a Bears pass defense missing its two most disruptive defenders and likely one starting linebacker, with the middle of the field available to attack.

D'Andre Swift is more than capable of creating problems on his own for the Patriots run defense; the Bears are without their No. 2 running back Kyle Monangai, but Swift's ability to generate pressure remains a concern for a Patriots run defense that has struggled with missed tackles and insufficient angles similar to lapses against the Jets.

The source believes Colston Loveland will be kept in check by the Patriots pass defense; a lot will depend on how New England defends the tight end and if Charles Woods can continue his hot streak as a replacement starter, but the source expects Loveland to be contained and not exploited.

The Patriots just placed Romeo Doubs on injured reserve, removing him from the passing game personnel and further depleting receiving options alongside the absence of starting guards.

A.J. Brown should be better than he was last week; the source expects performance improvement in the Patriots pass offense against the Bears pass defense, which is missing its two most disruptive defensive linemen and likely one of its starting linebackers, creating opportunities in the middle of the field.

Former Missouri quarterback Drew Lock was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Running back Zach Charbonnet, now with the Seahawks after three seasons as Kenneth Walker's backfield partner in Seattle, tore his ACL during the postseason and remained on the team's Reserve/Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) list. Charbonnet returned to practice on October 1 and was listed as a full participant for the first time on Wednesday. He is highly likely to make his return against the Chiefs.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) was a full participant in practice, indicating recovery from knee injury.

Wide receiver Cyrus Allen (knee) was a full participant in practice, indicating recovery from knee injury.

Tight end Travis Kelce (ankle) was a limited participant in practice. Kelce briefly left in Week 6 against the Chargers and was seen multiple times having his ankle taped.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice (Hamstring) did not participate in practice. He tweaked his hamstring during the first quarter of the Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Head coach Andy Reid said Rice is "getting better as we go, by the day, so that helps" on Wednesday, indicating gradual recovery but continued absence from practice.

Quinshon Judkins should be ranked higher than his current position if he plays, as Todd Monken is optimistic about his availability for the upcoming game against the Titans.

Tyjae Spears is effectively non-existent in the current Titans backfield rotation, leaving Tony Pollard as the primary back by default.

Tony Pollard is ranked as the RB25 in C-tier against the Browns. His value is hindered by the Titans trailing in the first half of every game, which removes him from the game script, and he averages only 1.3 receptions per game with limited explosive plays.

Jordan Mason is expected to continue splitting work with Aaron Jones; he is not being downgraded for previous injury concerns as he is considered healthy. He played approximately 47% of snaps.

Aaron Jones is ranked as the RB24 against the Colts, with expectations that the team will continue to split snaps and touches with Jordan Mason on a drive-to-drive basis.

The Saints' backfield remains a three-way committee, with CJ Donaldson's involvement limiting the individual upside of other running backs.

Kendre Miller is ranked as the RB23 against a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense that allows very few red zone trips; he needs the Saints to lead for him to be fantasy-relevant, and the backfield remains a three-way committee involving CJ Donaldson.

Rome Odunze is currently ranked closer to the RB30 mix, benefiting from a high team total for the Bears.

Luther Burden is currently ranked as the WR20 in Jim Brown's rankings.

AJ Brown remains a must-start following his performance last week, though he is currently ranked closer to the RB30 mix in this specific analysis.

Rhamondre Stevenson faces increasing uncertainty in the Patriots' backfield due to a three-way committee threat from Corey Kiner and TreVeyon Henderson. In the five games Henderson has been active, Stevenson has produced as the RB26 on RB33 usage, and coach Mike Vrabel may reward Kiner with early carries, further complicating Stevenson's outlook.

J.K. Dobbins is a split-backfield asset for the Broncos, ranking as the RB16 in back-to-back weeks. While Sean Payton's play-calling has shifted toward more carries for Dobbins, he faces competition for goal-line work from RJ Harvey, who recorded an inside-the-five-yard-line score in the second quarter; Dobbins did show signs of life with three receptions in Week 6.

Tyler Allgeier is viewed as a limited player who lacks the necessary speed for his role. He is losing snaps and goal-line opportunities to Bam Knight, leaving the Falcons' backfield as a committee that is currently up for grabs.

Bam Knight is emerging as a primary option in the Falcons' backfield, having outplayed Tyler Allgeier in recent usage. Knight took over the second drive of the game and has received goal-line opportunities, including a carry inside the five-yard line.

Jeremiah Love's status is uncertain as he missed practice last week and is not practicing this week, making him a difficult player to rely on. He is considered a potential candidate to compete for Falcons' backfield work, though his role remains unclear.

Christian Watson has been utilized in red zone packages, specifically receiving looks at the two and three-yard line, which may impact the team's goal-line rushing identity.

Baker Mayfield practiced in full, but concerns persist regarding his performance while playing through a thumb injury.

Bucky Irving's fantasy outlook is hindered by Sean Tucker's return, which adds goal-line competition. Irving is also dealing with an illness, and the Buccaneers' offensive line is struggling with upfield disruption, which could limit his efficiency against a tough Panthers defensive front. Irving recently finished as the RB33 with only 49 total yards against the Steelers.

Sean Tucker has returned to full practice, which introduces an added layer of goal-line competition and complexity to the Buccaneers' backfield, negatively impacting Bucky Irving's fantasy outlook.

Pierre Strong is expected to serve as the primary pass-game complement in the Packers' backfield, similar to the role previously held by Chris Brooks.

The Packers appear to be moving on from MarShawn Lloyd, as he has struggled with drops and poor decision-making on runs, leading to a reduction in his role.

Josh Jacobs is expected to start immediately upon his return. However, due to a potentially weaker offensive line compared to last season and his recent absence, his role is uncertain, leading to a slight downward adjustment from his previous RB12 finish.

Ranked as the RB17 for Week 7, Dameon Pierce is a high-volume play if Saquon Barkley is unavailable. Pierce handled 16 of 17 backfield touches and played 95% of snaps (61 of 64) last week. He faces a favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed an average of 130 yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game to running backs.

Chase Brown is ranked as the RB15 for Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens. Despite being a disappointment this season and facing a solid linebacker group, he is expected to return to his normal role, which has historically ranged from high-end RB1 to upside RB2. His past performances against Baltimore include finishes as RB19, RB15, RB4, and RB12.

Dylan Laube has been observed mixing into the Raiders' backfield rotation, providing additional depth to the team's running back usage.

Ashton Jeanty is an RB2/PPR scam who ranks dead last in total rushing EPA. He has underperformed his expected points total in every game since Week 2 and is struggling with efficiency, potentially due to foot/ankle issues and poor offensive line play. The team is trending toward a committee approach with Mike Washington and Dylan Laube.

Jaylen Warren is a strong start in the B-tier against the Saints, who allow a league-high 26 red zone trips and the most fantasy points to RBs. Despite Rico Dowdle's return, Warren maintained a 75% snap share last week and remains the preferred option for goal-line work and passing-game involvement.

Breece Hall's status is uncertain after not practicing on Wednesday, which keeps Braelon Allen in the A-tier of fantasy running back rankings.

Braelon Allen is an upside RB2 play against the Dolphins, especially if Breece Hall remains sidelined. Allen has been the RB20 over the past three weeks in Hall's absence and benefits from a clean matchup against a Dolphins defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs.

David Montgomery's absence has served as the catalyst for Woody Marks' recent fantasy production, where Marks finished as the RB11 and RB19 in consecutive weeks.

Woody Marks is considered a fringe RB1 due to his expected volume and favorable game script against the Giants. He has performed as the RB11 and RB19 in half-PPR scoring over the last two weeks without David Montgomery, and his receiving ability makes him a strong play if the Texans air it out.

Jawar Jordan has been moved to practice squad injured reserve, further consolidating the Texans' backfield touches toward Woody Marks.

Jonathan Taylor is ranked as RB12, significantly lower than his consensus ranking of RB7, due to a brutal matchup against the Vikings. Minnesota allows the fewest fantasy points to RBs, ranks 3rd against the run and 2nd against receiving backs, and the Colts have a low 17.5-point team total. Taylor is also averaging a career-low 4.0 yards per carry.

Chuba Hubbard is ranked as the RB9 and is considered the cost-adjusted fantasy MVP of the season. He is currently the RB5 in points per game and has not finished worse than the RB12 in any week this season. He ranks fifth in the NFL in yards after contact and serves as a key outlet for Bryce Young's dynamism. Despite a difficult matchup against a Buccaneers defense that allows the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, Hubbard's consistent usage and performance make him a must-start with a high floor.

Javonte Williams is ranked as the RB8, supported by his recent production of six rushing scores over his last four games. He has maintained RB8 status on RB9 usage during that stretch, mirroring his profile from last season. Despite a tough matchup against the Eagles' healthy secondary and an improving Jalen Carter, Williams remains a high-upside touchdown scorer.

Ranked as the RB5 despite facing the Seahawks' elite defensive front, Walker is expected to see increased passing volume if the Chiefs are trailing, especially if Rashee Rice remains sidelined.

Roschon Johnson is a viable flex play who is inheriting approximately 80% of the role previously held by Khalil Herbert. His fantasy outlook is bolstered by the fact that 72% of Chicago's touchdowns this season have been rushing, the highest rate in the league.

D'Andre Swift is ranked as the RB7, which is higher than his consensus ranking of RB10. He has operated as the RB5 in usage over the last two games without Khalil Herbert, handling 18 of 25 backfield touches heading into the fourth quarter of his most recent contest. He benefits from a high team total of nearly 27 points.

Kyren Williams is a high-volume fantasy asset with a 71% snap share and increased receiving usage, having already recorded five games with a 10%+ team target share compared to only four such games all of last season. He serves as the Rams' primary offensive safety valve, though his heavy workload may lead to increased early-game carries for Blake Corum to manage his total touches.

Derrick Henry is ranked as the RB4 for Week 7, supported by strong efficiency metrics including 2.42 yards after contact per attempt through the first six weeks. He remains a strong start due to a high team total of 25 points, despite a recent dip in yards after contact per attempt compared to previous years.

Bijan Robinson is placed in the 'A-tier' of running backs for Week 7. Despite recent usage frustrations under Tommy Reese, Robinson remains an elite talent. While the 49ers are strong against the run, they allow the most fantasy points per game to running backs in the receiving game, which aligns with Robinson's skill set and provides a solid floor.

Christian McCaffrey is ranked as the RB2 for Week 7. With Mike Evans expected to be out, McCaffrey is projected to see heavy volume as an underneath target in tandem with George Kittle. He is coming off his best game of the season (26 points) and recorded 26.1 expected points last week, his highest mark in at least 10 games.

Jahmyr Gibbs is ranked as the RB1 for Week 7, coming off a historic start to his career; he ranks as the RB7 all-time in fantasy points through the first five weeks of a season. He is expected to benefit from the return of center Cade Mays and faces a Packers defense that allows the fourth-most fantasy points per game to running backs.

Nix has thrown for 1,049 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions through his first six games this season. He holds a 38.5 quarterback rating, which ranks better than just three quarterbacks in the league. Nix has thrown for more than 200 yards in only two of his starts so far, though he's now gone three games without an interception. Despite the performance concerns, he's guided the Broncos to a 4-2 start heading into a Week 7 matchup against Arizona.

Fitzpatrick criticized Nix's competitiveness and effort in Denver's 17-14 OT win over Seattle, noting the offense ended six straight drives with punts in the second half. Nix completed 17 of 27 for 107 passing yards. Fitzpatrick said "I don't think the effort and the competitiveness that he's shown in the past, I don't think he was showing that at the end of the game," though he walked back calling it "disrespectful to the quarterback position" as too harsh. Fitzpatrick maintained his core criticism was fair, observing that Nix lacks the fourth-quarter competitiveness shown by peers like CJ Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, and Matthew Stafford.

The host expects Travis Etienne to return to fantasy relevance and be in a much better situation once he is back on the field.

The host considers Rachaad White a capable running back and plans to start him in his RB2 slot for next week's fantasy lineup.

Tyjae Spears is a G-tier running back who should be benched and is only considered playable in the most desperate of circumstances.

Samaje Perine is a G-tier running back who should be benched and is only considered playable in the most desperate of circumstances.

Roschon Johnson is a G-tier running back who should be benched and is only considered playable in the most desperate of circumstances.

Kenneth Gainwell is a G-tier running back who should be benched and is only considered playable in the most desperate of circumstances.

TreVeyon Henderson is ranked in the G-tier and should be kept on benches, as he is only playable in the most desperate of circumstances.

Despite seeing a 35-40% snap share, Tyrone Tracy Jr. is an unappealing fantasy option because the Giants are projected to score the fewest points in the NFL.

Cam Akers is expected to lead the Giants backfield with a 60-65% snap share, but he remains a high-risk start due to the Giants' projection as the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL.

Kendre Miller is seeing an increasing snap share (31-44%) and presents a legitimate argument as a preferred starting option over Alvin Kamara, though Kamara maintains a higher ranking due to his superior receiving role.

Alvin Kamara remains a starter despite low snap shares (26-27%) due to consistent production as a top-12 running back, though his receiving upside is being challenged by Kendre Miller.

Rico Dowdle is splitting time with Jaylen Warren, and because Warren handles the receiving work, Dowdle is likely only startable if Warren suffers an injury.

Despite recent touchdowns, Blake Corum's snap share remains low at 27-28%; comments from Kyren Williams suggest the team leans heavily on Williams, limiting Corum's fantasy upside.

Zach Charbonnet returned to full practice on Wednesday, and there is a legitimate argument that he should be the starting running back for Seattle.

Emanuel Wilson is ranked in the F-tier because Zach Charbonnet has returned to full practice; it is recommended to avoid all Seattle running backs until the starter is confirmed.

Tyler Allgeier is a risky start currently stuck in a committee with Bam Knight, limiting his snap share to 56% in what is considered a tough matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Aaron Jones's fantasy outlook is currently unpredictable due to the return of Jordan Mason; it is advised to wait and see how the backfield split shakes out before trusting either player, as it could result in a full-blown Mason workload.

Jordan Mason is expected to be healthy, but his return creates a volatile backfield split with Aaron Jones, making both players difficult to trust immediately. It is advised to wait and see who leads the committee before trusting either.

If Jonah Coleman is sidelined, JK Dobbins is projected to handle first and second-down duties in a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals where the Broncos are 4.5-point favorites.

J.K. Dobbins is a strong start if Jonah Coleman is inactive, as he would serve as the primary early-down back in a favorable matchup against Arizona. If Coleman is sidelined, Dobbins is projected to handle first and second-down duties in a game where the Broncos are 4.5-point favorites.

Quinshon Judkins should not be relied upon due to an ankle injury and the expected return of Dylan Sampson, who may steal targets.

Woody Marks is a set-and-forget must-start running back for the current week due to a massive 10.5-point spread favoring the Texans. He will likely lose value once David Montgomery returns to split the backfield in future weeks.

Dameon Pierce is ranked at 21, but his fantasy value is highly uncertain due to the unknown status of Saquon Barkley for the Monday night game.

Rhamondre Stevenson is ranked as RB20 due to a three-man committee involving Trevion Henderson and Corey Kiner, making him a risky start.

Braelon Allen is expected to serve as the Jets' starting running back for one more week. If he starts, he is projected to see almost every touch out of the backfield in a favorable matchup where the Jets are 4.5-point favorites.

Tony Pollard is ranked low because the Tennessee Titans offense is poor, though this week's matchup against the Browns offers a rare opportunity for a positive game script.

Ollie Gordon is a touchdown-or-bust running back with limited receiving usage in the Miami offense, making him an unexciting fantasy option.

MarShawn Lloyd is considered to have zero competition in the Packers backfield, but the backfield as a whole has proven to be ineffective outside of Josh Jacobs. He is a G-tier running back who should be benched and is only considered playable in the most desperate of circumstances.

Jonathan Taylor is ranked lower than usual due to a difficult matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, who possess one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Colts are 6.5-point underdogs with a low projected team total of 17.5 points.

Josh Jacobs is a must-start running back this week as the clear lead back for the Packers, facing an incredible matchup against the Detroit Lions in what is expected to be the highest-scoring game of the week.

Despite a step backward in usage following the addition of Rico Dowdle, Jaylen Warren remains a must-start running back. He is the preferred back in his committee for receiving usage, making him the more valuable asset over Dowdle in PPR formats, and he benefits from a favorable upcoming matchup against a soft New Orleans Saints defense.

Bucky Irving missed Wednesday's practice due to an illness, but expectations are that he will play. However, Sean Tucker's full participation in practice suggests he will eat into Irving's workload, particularly at the goal line.

Ashton Jeanty is the RB13 in points per game and maintains incredible receiving volume, having recorded fewer than six targets in only one game this season. Despite his value, he is currently dealing with health concerns and faces a tough matchup against the Rams.

Chase Brown remains a must-start running back, averaging 14.2 carries and 5.6 targets per game for a total of 19 opportunities. Despite previous usage concerns alongside Samaje Perine, he is positioned well for his upcoming matchup.

Chuba Hubbard is a high-end running back option who could be ranked as high as RB5; current rankings at RB9 are considered disrespectful given his consistent production.

Javonte Williams has been a locked-in top-10 running back all season and remains a strong play as the Cowboys are favored against the Eagles.

D'Andre Swift is a locked-in top-10 running back while competing only with Roschon Johnson; he is a strong play against the Patriots, though he may become a sell-high candidate once Khalil Herbert returns.

Derrick Henry's outlook is tied to Lamar Jackson's health; his fantasy value is higher when Jackson is active to facilitate red zone trips and touchdown opportunities.

Kyren Williams remains a strong start despite recent usage concerns; he saw six targets and 10 carries in a 'bad' game, and the team may lean more run-heavy in the red zone without Davante Adams.

Kenneth Walker III has outperformed Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson this season, leading to a higher ranking in rest-of-season projections; he faces a massive revenge game against the Chiefs.

Jahmyr Gibbs is in his own tier as the top running back, averaging over 30 fantasy points per game; he dominates backfield targets and red zone opportunities in a high-scoring game environment.

Kraft has been a solid contributor through six games with 29 receptions on 43 targets for 297 yards and two touchdowns. Last week against Detroit, he recorded four catches for 48 yards and a score, finishing fourth in targets (six) when Love threw 45 times. Green Bay offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said "Anytime we can get Tuck the ball is great for our offense. Obviously, he's one of our top playmakers" and indicated target volume should be "around 10-ish." With Matthew Golden dealing with foot and shoulder issues, the source projects Kraft will be the beneficiary in the passing game, particularly in the red zone, and backs him to score for the second consecutive week at +170 (FanDuel).

Hubbard had a quiet Week 7 with seven carries for 33 yards (season lows) in the blowout loss to Tampa Bay, but the source attributes this to game script and notes no cause for concern. Hubbard ran for 242 combined yards and three touchdowns in wins against Detroit and Philadelphia. The source backs Hubbard as an anytime TD scorer (-115, FanDuel), citing Green Bay's poor run defense (nine rushing touchdowns allowed, tied for third-worst with Carolina and New Orleans) and Hubbard's dual-threat ability (two receiving touchdowns) as reasons for confidence in a bounce-back opportunity.

Jacobs made a solid debut for Green Bay with 11 carries for 36 yards and five receptions on seven targets for 55 yards and a touchdown. The source projects strong production against Carolina's dead-last run defense (153.2 rushing yards allowed per game, 11 rushing touchdowns allowed tied for league worst). Jacobs had 87 yards and a touchdown against Carolina last season, and the source backs both the 60+ rushing yards (-108) and 70+ yards rushing (+154) props, expecting him to clear both numbers in this favorable matchup.

Young is 12-0 against the spread coming off a loss in his career, and head coach Dave Canales' teams are 8-2 ATS exiting home defeats. The source backs Young and the Panthers at +4.5 alternate spread (-122, FanDuel) as a value play, citing Young's historical ATS performance after losses and Canales' track record as reasons to take Carolina to keep the game close.

Young has been a model of consistency this season with 1,712 passing yards (10th overall) and 12 touchdown passes against four interceptions. Prior to last week's loss, he had thrown for at least 281 yards in the first five games and cleared the over 1.5 TD passes prop four times, including two games with three touchdown passes. The source projects a bounce-back spot for Young against Green Bay's tough pass defense (208 yards allowed per game, 38.5% pressure rate without blitzing), citing his weapons in Tetairoa McMillan, Darren Waller (who caught a 50-yard TD from Young last week), and Chuba Hubbard in the passing game as reasons to expect offensive fireworks and at least two touchdowns.

Jonathan Taylor is listed as not injury related rest (NIR-Rest) and is a limited participant in practice; his status for Sunday against the Vikings is unclear.

Keenan Allen is listed as not injury related rest (NIR-Rest) and did not practice Wednesday; his status for Sunday against the Vikings is unclear.

Alec Pierce is on injured reserve (IR-OUT) with a foot injury and will not play on Sunday against the Vikings.

Tyler Warren missed the Colts' last game with a groin injury and his not practicing Wednesday does not bode well for his availability on Sunday against the Vikings.

Justin Jefferson is still working through a minor ankle injury but is expected to play on Sunday against the Colts after the Vikings' bye week.

Jordan Addison is back practicing after missing time with a hamstring injury and is expected to play on Sunday against the Colts.

Jordan Mason is back practicing after thumb injury and is expected to be removed from IR and play on Sunday against the Colts.

T.J. Hockenson is in the last phase of the concussion protocol (practicing) and is expected to clear the protocol and play on Sunday against the Colts after the Vikings' bye week.

Jonathan Taylor is listed as not injury related rest (NIR-Rest) and is a limited participant in practice; his status for Sunday against the Vikings is unclear pending further updates.

Keenan Allen is listed as not injury related rest (NIR-Rest) and did not practice Wednesday; his status for Sunday against the Vikings is unclear pending further updates.

Alec Pierce, a starting wide receiver for the Colts, is on injured reserve with a foot injury and will not play on Sunday against the Vikings.

Tyler Warren missed the Colts' last game with a groin injury and his continued non-participation in practice does not bode well for his availability on Sunday against the Vikings.

Justin Jefferson is working through a minor ankle injury but is expected to play on Sunday against the Colts.

Jordan Addison is back practicing after hamstring injury and is expected to play on Sunday against the Colts.

Jordan Mason is back practicing after thumb injury and is expected to be removed from IR and play on Sunday against the Colts.

T.J. Hockenson is in the last phase of the concussion protocol (practicing) and is expected to clear the protocol and play on Sunday against the Colts after missing time.

Jonah Coleman (ankle) fully practices Wednesday.

Great news: Christian Kirk (calf) was a full participant at practice today 🔥

JK Dobbins is seeing high volume but producing inefficient results, with only one game this season averaging over four yards per carry. His role is being challenged by younger backs, and his injury history suggests he may miss time.

Jonah Coleman is a recommended buy-low target for managers seeking exposure to the Denver backfield. Despite currently being on injured reserve, Green Bay views him as the most talented runner among the Broncos' running backs. His acquisition is suggested as a dirt-cheap move alongside RJ Harvey to monitor how the backfield role distribution evolves, especially as the team leans more on the run game due to Bo Nix's recent struggles.

RJ Harvey is a recommended buy-low running back due to his strong pass-catching role, boasting an 18% target share and ranking sixth among all running backs in targets despite playing only five games. He remains a dirt-cheap target in the Denver offense, maintaining a role that includes both carries and receiving work, evidenced by recent usage of six carries and four targets.

Parker Washington is a strong buy-low candidate during his bye week. He remains the most valuable receiver in Jacksonville, ranks top 20 in several metrics, and has a favorable second-half schedule including matchups against Indianapolis, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, and Washington.

Jaylen Warren is a buy-low candidate because market sentiment has soured on him. Despite a recent 9.8-point performance against Tampa Bay, he maintains significant volume advantages over Rico Dattle, including double the carries (14 to 7) and triple the snap count. Warren is the superior receiver and is expected to see increased target volume moving forward.

Jaylen Wright has seen his usage drop significantly compared to Ollie Gordon, recording only a 15% snap share and one route run in their most recent game.

Ollie Gordon is a top waiver-wire add and buy candidate who should be valued closer to RB20 than his current market perception of RB30. He has secured a full-time role, evidenced by a 65% snap share and 17 routes run in his last game, and has shown efficiency with 159 yards after contact over his last three games. Market sentiment is low due to lack of confidence in the Miami offense, but he is a buy-low candidate as offenses can improve post-bye.

Tucker Kraft is a strong streaming option for the current week due to a favorable matchup against the Lions, who have allowed 545 passing yards and nine touchdowns to opposing tight ends. While he faces target competition from Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, his high-volume passing offense makes him a viable play.

Luther Burden is generating significant analytical buzz due to a high targets-per-route-run rate (over 40%) despite a part-time role (sub-50% routes run). He is a strong start against New England, though his week eight matchup against Seattle is more challenging.

Tyler Warren is currently ranked higher than Colston Loveland but has been dealing with injuries, making him a potential trade chip to acquire Loveland plus additional assets like a flex starter or quarterback upgrade.

Colston Loveland is a buy-low target whose usage is trending upward despite modest season-long counting stats (7.1 PPR points per game). He has seen high utilization in the red zone and end zone, highlighted by a 20% target share and a touchdown in Caleb Williams' first game back. He is in a full-time role and currently undervalued by the community compared to the hype surrounding Luther Burden. He can be acquired in trades by leveraging higher-ranked but injured players like Tyler Warren.

Jahmyr Gibbs is positioned for high-scoring outcomes in Detroit's upcoming schedule, with the potential for multi-touchdown games as both a runner and receiver in projected shootout matchups.

Jared Goff is a strong buy candidate as a high-end QB2 who offers significant spike-week potential within a high-scoring Detroit offensive ecosystem. While he lacks mobility, he provides valuable passing touchdowns, especially in six-point passing touchdown formats. His upcoming schedule features several potential shootout environments, including games against Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Atlanta, making him an ideal target in two-for-one trade scenarios.

DK Metcalf is suggested as a potential trade piece to acquire Jameson Williams. While Metcalf has had a good role recently, Green Bay prefers Williams for his higher ceiling in spike weeks and favorable fantasy playoff schedule.

Jameson Williams is a prime buy-low target because fantasy managers are over-indexing on his low counting stats (18 catches) rather than his recent performance and upcoming schedule. He historically produces spike weeks post-bye, and his upcoming schedule features five home games in the next six weeks, including a favorable playoff matchup against the Giants in Week 16. Green Bay prefers Williams over DK Metcalf for his higher ceiling in spike weeks.

Romeo Doubs is currently dealing with an injury, which is noted as a factor affecting the team's offensive context.

Drake Maye is playing at a high level, recording at least three touchdown passes in three consecutive games, which serves as a catalyst for AJ Brown's fantasy upside.

AJ Brown is a buy-low candidate following a poor performance. Despite the low yardage, he commanded a 30% target share and 90% route participation, indicating WR1 usage. The connection with Drake Maye is viewed as a 'perfect storm' for future production, and the coaching staff is clearly dialing up plays for him.

Lamar Jackson is expected to take over as the primary quarterback for the second half of the season, which is projected to improve the offensive outlook for Zay Flowers.

Zay Flowers is a high-priority buy candidate with top-five to top-eight rest-of-season potential. Theo is even higher on Flowers than on Matthew Golden. Flowers boasts a 31% season-long target share, including a 33% share last week, and has demonstrated elite efficiency with over 3.5 yards per route run. He has successfully survived the 'Tyler Huntley weeks' and is expected to see improved production with Lamar Jackson returning. Theo would trade Christian Watson or Chris Olave to acquire him.

Despite the return of Josh Jacobs to the Green Bay backfield, Theo argues that the offense will remain a passing-centric unit, dismissing concerns that Jacobs' presence as a workhorse back will fundamentally change the team's passing volume.

Despite being personally bullish on Christian Watson, Theo would trade him away to acquire Zay Flowers in fantasy leagues. Watson is currently used as a benchmark for Matthew Golden's rapid ascent in the Green Bay offense, with Golden closing in on Watson's production.

Theo recommends buying high on Matthew Golden, viewing him as a fringe WR1 for the rest of the season. Golden leads the NFL in air yards and is coming off a massive 22.4 PPR point performance (6 catches, 104 yards, 1 TD on 13 targets). He is considered a year-two breakout player whose role in the Green Bay passing attack is sustainable despite the return of Josh Jacobs. Theo suggests he is a perfect candidate for a two-for-one trade, and would trade T. Higgins or Garrett Wilson for him in a heartbeat due to the superior Green Bay offensive environment.

Christian Kirk (calf) fully practices Wednesday.

Multiple managers mention holding Barkley alongside Charbonnet and other RBs, suggesting strong RB depth. One comment: 'I got Charbs, Jacobs, and Mason… I might be rich or I might not.' Another: 'I have Charbonnet, Jacobs, Dobbins, Saquon, and Gordon. I feel like I finally have options.' Barkley appears as part of strong RB room, not directly discussed.

Chiefs WR listed on official injury report with hamstring/knee injury; did not participate (DNP) on Friday. One community comment mentions trading Charbonnet for Rice: 'Guy offered Charbs for my Rashee Rice and I am soooo tempted' and 'Do not take charbs in a 1 for 1 for rice (as someone with both of those players on my team.) the value is just not there in my opinion.' Suggests Rice remains valuable despite injury status.

Chiefs QB listed on official injury report with knee injury; full participation (FP) on Friday. No community discussion or fantasy reaction in thread.

Chiefs TE listed on official injury report with ankle injury; limited participation (LP) on Friday. No community discussion or fantasy reaction in thread.

Chiefs RB; Seahawks face Kansas City this week. One comment: 'I play against Jacobs this week. Am I in danger?' Another: 'I got a feeling Jacobs will make a statement vs Charb looking to ease in.' Jacobs noted for goal-line TD prowess ('Goalline TDs is Josh Jacob's name to fame'). Appears in context of managers' roster decisions but no direct injury or role news.

Former Seahawks RB1 traded away; context for Charbonnet's opportunity. Seattle moved on from Walker partly due to comfort in Charbonnet's ability to handle more work. One comment: 'part of the reason Seattle was ok moving on from Kenneth Walker was some level of comfort in Charbs, a belief he can do more.' However, another counters: 'They've always wanted to have multiple RB's rotating. They just thought KW3 was replaceable and went out and replaced him with Price. What they were dead wrong about is the fact KW3 is actually a very special player.' Walker's absence opens door for Charbonnet but also highlights Seattle's misjudgment in RB evaluation.

Ravens RB mentioned as safer play option for managers deciding between him and Charbonnet this week. Johnson plays Thursday night (before Charbonnet's Sunday game), forcing decision without confirmation of Charbonnet's actual snap count. One comment: 'Only viewing roschon as safer because if I don't play him tomorrow I don't have the option if they don't start charb Sunday.' Community notes Johnson is 'replacement level' and not a strong play; one comment flags his 4-year resume as not 'the safe play.' Appears in multiple start/sit debates but lacks strong conviction either direction.

Backup RB who filled in during Charbonnet's absence; community consensus is he will lose work upon Charbonnet's return. Described as having 'zero juice' and getting only what is blocked for him; fantasy value limited to goal-line TD upside. One comment: 'Wilson gets what is blocked for him and nothing more. I've watched him play every game. He has literally no juice.' Fumble issues noted. Expected to be dropped or benched once Charbonnet fully integrated. Some managers held both and now preparing to cut Wilson.

Full practice participation after knee injury; cleared to return. Seahawks injury report shows FP (full participation) on Friday. Community expects easing-in approach despite full clearance; many held him through IR stash and see upside. Historical context: averaged 22 touches in 5 games when Kenneth Walker missed in 2024 under McDonald; was RB18, RB5, RB8 in final 3 weeks of last season with Walker in lineup. Coaching staff described as 'in love with' Charbonnet; Seattle moved on from Walker partly due to comfort in Charbonnet's ability. Concerns: coming off major surgery on accelerated timeline; backfield remains committee with Wilson and incoming Price; Lions defense solid against run....

Running back Quinshon Judkins led the Browns in receptions in Week 4 of the 2026 season, demonstrating that target distribution varies week-to-week based on game script and defensive matchups. This reflects the offense's approach of spreading the ball among multiple weapons rather than feeding one player consistently.

Rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion led the Browns in receptions in Weeks 1 and 2 of the 2026 season, establishing early-season target volume. Head coach Todd Monken stated the offense would like to get the ball more to Concepcion, suggesting his early-season target share may not be sustainable and the team is managing distribution across multiple weapons.

Rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston is one of the new weapons competing for targets in the Browns offense alongside KC Concepcion. Head coach Todd Monken stated the offense would like to get the ball more to Boston, indicating he is part of the receiving committee but has not yet reached his target ceiling. Deshaun Watson identified Boston as one of four skilled guys competing for one football.

Fannin led the Browns in 2025 with 72 receptions, 731 receiving yards, and 6 receiving touchdowns, finishing sixth in yards per catch at 10.2. The source notes that despite early-season target distribution among multiple receivers in 2026, Fannin has shown he can dominate in specific weeks (seven receptions and two touchdowns against Carolina) and remains a high-volume target option when game script favors him.

Head coach Todd Monken explicitly identified Fannin as a weapon the offense is trying to get the ball to and expects his touches to rise as the team does a better job collectively distributing targets. Monken noted that some designed plays for Fannin were covered by elite defenders like Kyle Hamilton, but Fannin also excelled in blocking and other roles when asked. The source emphasizes that Fannin's opportunity will come, citing his track record and a recent seven-reception, two-touchdown performance against Carolina.

Through six games of the 2026 season, Fannin has 19 receptions (second on team), 166 receiving yards (third), and three receiving touchdowns (tied for first), averaging 5.0 targets per game compared to 6.5 last season; yards per catch declined to 8.7 from 10.2 in 2025. Despite the slight dip in volume and efficiency, the source notes extenuating circumstances related to offensive weapons distribution.

Allen is described as ridiculous; he had a notable flip pass of 20 yards against the Rams, and the Bills played well overall, with the Raiders staying competitive despite the loss.

Walker is expected to be targeted out of the backfield by the Chiefs as a weakness in the Seahawks defense; McDonald is aware of this tendency and the Chiefs plan to attack the Seattle defense with Walker in pass-catching situations.

The Eagles are using Shahid (likely Saquon Barkley) in some situations to diversify their offense, but the overall offensive scheme remains problematic with limited success after the catch and reliance on hitch routes.

Hurts' absence from the Eagles lineup is a critical loss; Nick Sirianni has never won a game as a home underdog (0-8 straight up), and the Eagles' offense is a complete disaster with unblocked pressures at an astronomically high rate and poor quarterback protection.

Stafford hasn't looked good this season; the Rams' offense is struggling despite their Super Bowl odds, and Stafford's performance is a concern as the team faces a difficult upcoming schedule with injuries to key receivers and offensive linemen.

Nix is playing horrendously and is a fade candidate; his ADOT (average depth of target) is the lowest in the NFL at approximately 5 letters (matching his name length), indicating he is not pushing the ball downfield; the Cardinals' four wins have all come by one possession, suggesting they are overperforming relative to Nix's poor play.

Prescott has been dominant against division opponents, particularly the Eagles, and has a strong track record in these matchups; this is a key advantage for the Cowboys in their Monday night game against Philadelphia.

Lamb appeared to quit or check out during stretches of the Cowboys' recent game, particularly in the fourth quarter; this reflects broader concerns about the Cowboys' effort and focus, with Lamb and other star players not delivering consistent effort throughout games.

McKee, starting in place of Hurts, looked bad under pressure in his Eagles debut; despite being viewed as a potential late-bloomer prospect coming out of Stanford, he did not perform well when the Eagles offense faced pressure situations.

Hurts is out for the Eagles-Cowboys game; his absence is a significant loss to the locker room and team leadership, as he is described as a big force in the Eagles organization despite not being an MVP-caliber player.

Mahomes is 13-3 ATS as a road underdog hovering around 7 points; in those spots, the Chiefs typically win by 4-6 points, suggesting they are undervalued at 3-point underdogs in Seattle; Mahomes is also 10-1 ATS with road dogs of 7.7 points, indicating strong performance in similar situations.

Cousins and the Seahawks face a Chiefs offense that is exposed, especially with wide receiver injuries; the Seahawks defense will force methodical movement down the field, which could limit explosive plays and force the Chiefs into red zone situations where the Seahawks have been unlucky defensively.

Derek Carr and the Saints offense have been limited; Carr has been really limited the last couple games, and the Saints got bailed out with special teams last week.

T.J. Hockenson (Hawkinson) practiced for the Vikings coming off their bye week, indicating he will be available for the Colts game; the Vikings are expected to be much healthier.

Justin Jefferson (Addison) practiced for the Vikings coming off their bye week, indicating he will be available for the Colts game; the Vikings are expected to be much healthier.

Stefon Diggs (Darasol) should be back for the Vikings coming off their bye week, contributing to their expected health improvements heading into the Colts game.

Tyler Warren is a question mark for the Colts heading into the Vikings game; his status is uncertain as the Colts deal with various injuries.

Alec Pierce is out for the Colts, limiting their offensive weapons against Minnesota; his absence means the Colts' receivers will have limited options without him.

Case Keenum and the Texans were the last team the Browns beat as a road favorite, which came in December 2023; this is the most recent road favorite win for Cleveland.

Justin Fields was the Browns' starting quarterback when they were a road favorite against the Jets last November; the Browns lost that game 27-20, contributing to their poor record as road favorites.

Kyle Pru notes that Gardner Minshew is better than Derek Carr at this stage of Carr's career, but the Browns still lost when facing Minshew as a road favorite.

Kyle Pru trusts JSN to make enough plays for Seattle against Kansas City; he believes JSN will be a key weapon for the Seahawks offense in this matchup.

Kyle Pru notes that the Chiefs have wide receiver injuries with Xavier Worthy and others banged up; their tackles are also banged up, which limits their ability to move the ball against Seattle's defense.

Kyle Pru highlights that the Vikings offense has been one of the worst in the NFL statistically this year, but there were some signs of improvement against the Saints where Murray was using his legs; coming off a bye with more time to work and get reps, the question is whether you trust the Vikings offense enough to lay six and a half points against the Colts.

Kyle Pru notes that Daniel Jones will have no recourse against Minnesota's blitz in the Vikings-Colts game; the Vikings defense should feast on Jones under pressure, as they have feasted on many quarterbacks this season.

Kyle Pru notes that Geno Smith will be in predictable third-down situations against Kansas City, where Spags will bring pressure and Smith can't handle it; Seattle's offense has been broken partly because they can't run the ball, leaving Smith exposed in obvious passing situations.

Kenneth Walker left Seattle to join Kansas City and has jump-started the Chiefs offense; he's been arguably the best back in the NFL this year and is setting up play action through increased run volume, contrasting with Seattle's inability to run the ball which has hurt their play action.

Kyle Pru fades Watson as a road favorite; he states 'I have to fade him' because of Watson's poor track record in these spots, noting Cleveland's last win as a road favorite came in December 2023 against Case Keenum and the Texans.

Kyle Pru expects Watson to turn the ball over and take a ton of sacks against Tennessee; he won't be able to beat the Titans through the air without making mistakes or taking a couple sacks, which Pru believes will be the difference in a Titans win.

Kyle Pru references Derrick Henry's fumble in the Browns' lucky upset win over Baltimore, noting the Titans got a short-field touchdown off the turnover, suggesting the Browns' recent success was aided by turnover luck rather than dominant play.

Kyle Pru is highly critical of Watson, saying people have rushed to praise him because he completed a couple short passes against Tampa but he's been awful overall; he has seven touchdowns and two interceptions but also six big-time throws and 11 turnover-worthy plays, takes way too many sacks, can't read a blitz, and his eyes duck, with turnovers coming.

Evan notes that Zach Taylor, with a three-plus day rest advantage over his opponent, has lost six in a row outright, with the last win coming in 2023; this streak is remarkable given Burrow's presence as quarterback, suggesting systemic issues beyond individual talent.

Kyle Pru explains that the biggest difference between Ravens with and without Lamar is that Huntley doesn't throw it downfield; they play within a box with no explosiveness, relying on the run game with everything short, which limits offensive upside and supports an under bet.

Kyle Pru assesses Lamar Jackson's status as limping today and not practicing, and does not think he's going to play; market says he obviously doesn't play; Pru would have Ravens as slightly above a field goal at full strength with fully healthy Lamar, but if Lamar is out, Bengals should be a small one-to-one-and-a-half point favorite.

Kyle Pru and Evan both highlight Jordan Love's strong recent play; Love has been playing really well with excellent ball placement on deep throws (Golden had a drop that would have gone up 14-0), is top-tier in downfield passing, and has dealt with drops from receivers, suggesting his performance is being masked by receiver issues rather than his own play.

Evan flags uncertainty around Baker Mayfield's status for Tampa Bay's game against Carolina, noting the Winfield question mark and additional concerns about Abuka's concussion and foot injury, plus an illness ripping through the Buccaneers' locker room, all of which weigh against backing Tampa in this spot.

Evan notes that Bryce Young has faced Todd Bowles' Buccaneers defense six times and is 5-1, with Carolina averaging just 15 points per game in those matchups, suggesting a favorable historical edge for Young in this spot.

Kyle Pru projects McCarthy will struggle against Houston's defense built to shut down bad quarterbacks; McCarthy has been miserable in his career when under pressure (minus 10% completion percentage over expectation), lacks timing with his entire offense and playbook, and won't move the ball against Houston's salty defense despite his legs potentially suiting their desired scheme.

Kyle Pru says Stroud is playing extremely well at an extremely high level, looks like rookie Stroud, and is top 10 in pretty much every metric; he's third in air yards and now has his full complement of weapons with Nico back and Tank Dell potentially returning, positioning him to rip apart the bad Giants secondary with weather assistance.

Kyle Pru notes Bijan is fantastic and the Falcons are very good as front runners who can keep feeding him; last week he was ripping apart the Bears' defense but didn't get the ball enough because the Falcons were in comeback mode, suggesting volume upside when Atlanta gets a lead.

Cousins and the Falcons offense have opportunities to move the ball against the 49ers; Cousins went 29-39 for 300 yards and two touchdowns in a recent game, and the Falcons' explosive plays with Cousins and Robinson are dangerous.

Purdy is 3-6 ATS in domed stadiums; the game is being officiated by Clay Martin, under whom favorites are 42-61 ATS, and Shanahan is 0-4 ATS with Martin, suggesting unfavorable conditions for the 49ers.

Robinson could have a big game against the 49ers; the 49ers haven't really seen many teams that can run the ball, and with Upton Stout (their nickel) potentially missing and Bosa likely out again, Robinson has a favorable matchup to exploit the run game.

Nacua is the second-highest in EPA per target at .25 in the next-gen era, behind only Mike Evans, indicating his value as a receiver in the 49ers offense.

Evans' injury is significant for the 49ers offense; he's averaging .33 EPA per target, the highest in the next-gen era, and serves as the critical safety valve and contested-catch target on third down. The 49ers' offense with and without him was night and day in their last game, and his absence cannot be understated.

Brown returned from injury but there is uncertainty about whether he can catch a pass this week, suggesting lingering concerns about his availability or effectiveness.

May is playing better after the Buffalo game significantly boosted his confidence; he had the yips and wasn't seeing it before, but is now starting to play much better and showed no ill effects in recent play.

Williams is playing within the structure of Ben Johnson's offense and has taken a significant leap; he's gone from dead last in completion percentage over the past two years to number one, with a really low ADOT, showing he's finally adapted to Johnson's system while still making explosive off-script plays when needed.

TE Blake Whiteheart, quoted by Cleveland radio announcer Andrew Siciliano, characterizes HC Todd Monken's leadership style as 'demanding but not demeaning,' indicating that Monken has earned player respect and buy-in while maintaining high expectations—a dynamic that appears to be contributing to the Browns' early success.

Deshaun Watson's fourth-quarter clutch performance is cited as a contributing factor to the Browns' 4-2 record and early-season success under HC Todd Monken, suggesting his ability to deliver in high-leverage moments is playing a meaningful role in team wins.

Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet (knee) was listed as a full participant today, per @​CorbinSmithNFL

Brock Purdy is our No. 1 ranked fantasy QB this week 👀

Zach Charbonnet (knee) fully practices Wednesday.

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Top 12 Fantasy TEs through Week 6: 1 - Isaiah Likely 2 - Trey McBride 3 - George Kittle 4 - Brock Bowers 5 - Sam LaPorta 6 - Tyler Warren 7 - Juwan Johnson 8 - Pat Freiermuth 9 - Travis Kelce 10 - Dalton Kincaid 11 - Brenton Strange 12 - Michael Mayer

Big High-Stakes Waiver Wire tonight I know scared money don't make money, but Omar Cooper Jr - really like him overall However, the Jets are so weird with rotations (see Mason Taylor vs Sadiq) - my main concern is AD Mitchell is back to WR2 Also is WR2 on the Jets valuable?

Broncos' most explosive and consistent playmaker this season; Rj Harvey pairs him with Coleman as the two young backs expected to spark the struggling offense moving forward.

Broncos QB has been struggling in recent weeks along with entire offense; improved run game with Coleman's return and Harvey's playmaking could help spark both Nix's performance and overall offensive production.

Veteran RB has scored in back-to-back weeks but overall performance has not been great; since Sean Payton retook play-calling duties, Dobbins has seen increased role with offense despite sub-par results; Rj Harvey expects this increased role to continue in near term, though Coleman's return will likely create competition for touches in run game.