With Cole Kmet (back) missing the team's Week 8 loss to the Ravens, Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland saw season highs in snap count, targets, and yards. Following the game, head coach Ben Johnson spoke glowingly about his first-round draft pick, stressing that he wished they'd gotten him the ball more. While Kmet will still have a role following his return from injury, there's a sense that Loveland is ready to take the second-half leap that has turned many a rookie into fantasy league winners. While managers will need to see more than the 38 yards that Loveland put up on Sunday before making him an every-week starter, he's worth a stash by anyone who has been streaming the position to this point.

From RotoBaller

After missing two games with a hamstring injury, New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton caught two of five targets for 26 yards in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. As one of the last men standing in a battered Giants offense, it's reasonable that he'll receive some waiver wire buzz this week, but having topped 45 yards only once this year without finding the endzone, he provides a very unstable floor with almost no ceiling. With rookie running back and human spark plug Cam Skattebo (ankle) recently undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated ankle, the Giants' offense is likely to hit a rough patch, with the clearest path through coming on the legs of Jaxson Dart rather than his arm.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson has strung together four straight games of at least 6.8 fantasy points in half-PPR formats. His early success came on the back of big plays, but he's now seen at least six targets in back-to-back games. While the Buccaneers' passing attack has struggled as a whole over the past two weeks, Johnson has managed a respectable nine catches for 101 yards and a score over that time. With the Buccaneers on a Week 9 bye and Chris Godwin nearing a return, there's a chance Johnson could be dropped this week, making him an intriguing add for those with the luxury of not needing an immediate plug-and-play starter. Brighter days should be ahead for the Buccaneers' passing attack, and Johnson looks as if he will be a major part of it.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft has been thriving over the last few weeks, culminating in a 33.3-fantasy point effort against the Pittsburgh Steelers that saw him finish as the TE1 in Week 8. Kraft brought in 7-of-9 targets for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and led the NFL in yards after the catch (128) amongst all pass-catchers. There's no doubt that Kraft has untapped upside entering this season, and it's coming out this season as the Packers' most explosive and efficient pass-catcher. With six touchdowns in seven games, Kraft should actually be featured MORE in the Packers' game plan as he's second to Romeo Doubs in team target share at just 19.1 percent. While Kraft has been a volatile tight end option for fantasy managers over the first few weeks of the season, Kraft is now in must-start territory when the Packers host the Carolina Panthers in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) is considered week-to-week after leaving Monday night's win with an MCL sprain. Pacheco was seen on the broadcast laughing with the training staff, so there was hope that he'd avoided serious injury, but it appears that he will miss time. Following a Week 9 matchup with the Bills, Kansas City has a Week 10 bye, so there's a chance Pacheco only misses one game. It's been difficult to fully trust any of the backs in what has become a three-headed Chiefs running back room, but with Pacheco likely sidelined for at least one Sunday, both Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith become priority waiver adds going into a matchup with a surprisingly susceptible Bills run defense. Hunt is coming off one of his best games of the season and has a lock on the Chiefs' goal line role, while Smith could see increased usage in a game with one of the week's highest projected point totals.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker has been the most reliable pass catcher for the team this season, recording 29 receptions for 389 yards and four touchdowns in seven games. Tucker leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns, and is tied with Jakobi Meyers for the lead in receptions. The 24-year-old wideout could see more opportunities in the second half of the season with the trade deadline looming on November 4th and Meyers' name being brought up in multiple reports. Tucker will have to compete with star tight end Brock Bowers, however, as he is expected to return to the lineup after battling a knee injury that has caused him to miss three games. Tucker is a player to monitor on the waiver wire, but the current state of the Raiders' offense limits some of the upside.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love put up a sparkling performance in Week 8, where he completed 29-of-37 passes for 360 yards and three touchdown passes. Love was on fire, as he had 20 consecutive completions against a sinking Pittsburgh Steelers' pass defense. With Love's Week 8 game, that performance moved him up to QB11 through eight weeks of this season, but is Love more than a QB streamer? The opportunity is certainly lacking in most weeks as Love has the second-fewest pass attempts per game (30.4) among the top-12 fantasy quarterbacks, only behind Josh Allen. Love isn't a running quarterback with just 109 rushing yards on the season, so his only avenue for fantasy scoring is passing efficiency downfield. In Week 9 against Carolina, a team that just gave up 245 rushing yards to the Buffalo Bills, the Packers may opt to attack through the run rather than the pass. Love is a high-upside streaming option rather than a locked-in fantasy starter for this matchup.

From RotoBaller

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) did not participate in the Jets' bye week practice on Tuesday, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. Wilson has missed two games after suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter of their 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London, but now will get the bye week to ensure he is healthy for the second half of the season. The star wideout was having a fantastic season despite poor quarterback play, catching 36 balls for 395 yards and four touchdowns on 56 targets in six games. He currently ranks as the WR7 in PPR points per game (16.6), and there should be more updates on his status over the next week. If he is unable to suit up again in Week 10, rookie tight end Mason Taylor would be in line for a heavy target share along with wide receivers Arian Smith, Tyler Johnson, and Allen Lazard mixing in.

From RotoBaller

The New England Patriots and CB/PR Marcus Jones have agreed to terms on a three-year extension, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Jones has been a key contributor to the New England defense and special teams as a punt returner since being drafted in the third round in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 27-year-old was voted first team All-Pro as a punt returner in his rookie season and is having an excellent season as a cornerback so far in 2025. He's made plays all over the field, recording 36 tackles, two interceptions, nine pass breakups, and one sack in eight games this season. Jones gets a much-deserved contract extension, and New England locks down an important piece of their defense.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Scotty Miller had surgery to repair his broken finger, but it is still to be determined how "functional" he is to determine his practice status, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Miller suffered the injury during practice on Thursday and was ultimately ruled out for Week 8's matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The 28-year-old had played in all six games up until last week, but has only played 69 total snaps for the season, recording one catch for nine yards on two targets. His status will be updated in the coming days. If he is unable to go again in Week 9, rookie Ke'Shawn Williams would be the next man up, but he shouldn't be on any fantasy radars.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson returned to the Packers' lineup in Week 8 following an ACL injury that ended his 2024 season in Week 18. Watson was an immediate focal point of the offense in his 2025 debut, bringing in all four of his targets for 85 yards. The big question: can Watson be a fantasy-relevant player this season? While it was great to see Watson back and receive immediate involvement in the passing game, he's still behind Tucker Kraft, Romeo Doubs, and Josh Jacobs in the pecking order on offense. Watson's game has always been as a vertical receiver, and for fantasy, those types of players are boom-or-bust in nature. That makes it hard to start him in most weeks, even with bye weeks in full swing. For the Packers' Week 9 matchup against the Panthers, consider Watson a low-end flex play.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary is expected to serve as the No. 2 running back with rookie Cam Skattebo (ankle) out for the season after suffering a gruesome injury in Sunday's game against the Eagles. Second-year back Tyrone Tracy Jr. will take over as the lead back, but Singletary figures to be involved a decent amount. The 28-year-old began last season as the starting running back for the Giants, but eventually conceded the role to Tracy as the season went on. Singletary now projects as the handcuff to Tracy, with the potential for more depending on how the team splits up the touches. He's a worthwhile add off the waiver wire for fantasy managers in need of running back help.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has disappointed many fantasy managers this season, as he's felt like he was on the cusp of breaking out but hasn't. In Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Golden had one of his least productive fantasy outings this season, with three receptions for just four yards. Golden, the 2025 first-round pick, has just two games of five or more targets and has been a top 24 fantasy wide receiver just once through seven games. His involvement in the Packers' offense took another hit when Christian Watson played his first game of the season and immediately caught 4-of-4 targets for 85 yards. While the thought is that better days are certainly on the horizon for Golden, he can't be a starting option right now for fantasy managers in Week 9 against the Panthers until we see the Packers show true intent to involve Golden more in the offensive game plan.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz said that rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike has "really taken advantage of his opportunities" recently in the offense. Holz also mentioned that Dike is "going to be a really good player in this league," and the team is excited for what is to come for him this year. Dike played a season-high 89% of the offensive snaps in the Week 8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and he responded with a breakout performance, catching seven of his eight targets for 93 yards. The 23-year-old had his first career touchdown the previous week against the New England Patriots, catching all four of his targets for 70 yards in that contest. With Tyler Lockett now in Vegas, Dike should continue to be more involved in the passing attack in Tennessee, especially with Calvin Ridley (hamstring) injured. Dike is squarely on the radar for fantasy managers looking for a waiver-wire pickup at WR this week.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said on Tuesday that quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is "expected to have a full week of prep" leading up to the Week 9 contest this Sunday versus the division-rival Detroit Lions, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. O'Connell also said that QB Max Brosmer "will step into the No. 2 role." Veteran Carson Wentz will undergo season-ending left-shoulder surgery, so McCarthy is expected to step back into the starting role for the first time since suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 22-year-old former first-rounder missed all of his rookie season with a knee injury that required surgery, so the jury is still out on the Michigan product. In his two starts to open 2025, McCarthy completed 58.5% of his passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and three picks. It will not be a soft landing spot for his return on the road in Detroit this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz had some good things to say about rookie tight end Gunnar Helm on Tuesday, saying he is "developing quickly, which is tough to do for tight ends." Holz also said Helm has been "impressive physically." Helm is now up to 19 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown on 24 targets in his first eight NFL games. The 23-year-old isn't a household name yet or anything like that in fantasy, but he should be on the radar as a young, rising TE. He has played at least half the team's offensive snaps in three of the last four games, and he found the end zone for the first time in his career in Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. If the Titans ship Chig Okonkwo away at the trade deadline, Helm will become popular on the waiver wire, and he should continue to see his role grow in Tennessee's offense.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz said Sunday "was a reminder of what running back Tyjae Spears can do with the ball in his hands," according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Holz is "hoping it's a sign of more things to come," and Spears is expected to remain involved alongside Tony Pollard in the backfield. Spears played over 50% of the offensive snaps in the Week 8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and outproduced Pollard on two fewer carries while also scoring his first touchdown of the year. The 24-year-old missed time earlier this year due to injury, but now that he's back to full health, he's become a bigger part of the offense. It sounds like the Titans envision more of a split backfield between Spears and Pollard. It's good news for Spears' fantasy managers, but the timeshare situation still probably caps his fantasy value as an RB3/flex in PPR leagues.

From RotoBaller

The New Orleans Saints informed rookie Tyler Shough on Tuesday that he will be their starting quarterback, with Spencer Rattler remaining on the bench, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN. Rattler was benched after another rough performance in the Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Saints will continue to move forward with Shough as their starter for a Week 9 tilt on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. The 26-year-old second-rounder will have a tough matchup on the road for his first NFL start, and fantasy managers should consider him a low-end QB2 streamer, at best, this weekend. In relief of Rattler last weekend against Tampa, Shough went 17-for-32 passing for 128 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception while carrying the ball three times for 12 yards. He has plenty of arm strength, but little mobility outside the pocket. The switch to Shough could be bad news for top wideout Chris Olave, who had developed nice chemistry with Rattler.

From RotoBaller

Veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett has joined forces with the Las Vegas Raiders after seven underwhelming games with the Tennessee Titans this year. Lockett will be reuniting with quarterback Geno Smith, whom he played with in Seattle, but will that suddenly make him fantasy relevant again? It's unlikely. Lockett, 33, had just 10 catches for 70 yards and no touchdowns on 20 targets in his seven games in a struggling Titans offense led by a rookie QB. He'll be reuniting with a familiar face in Vegas, but the Raiders' offense hasn't been much better in 2025, and both tight end Brock Bowers (knee) and receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee, toe) are expected to return following the bye to play this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Meyers is healthy, Lockett could end up being the WR5 behind Meyers, Tre Tucker, and rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has played some of his best football in recent weeks. Across his team's last three games, Stroud has thrown for 791 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. Perhaps most importantly for his fantasy outlook, Stroud has attempted 88 passes over his last two games alone. That marks a notable shift in the Houston offense, as Stroud cracked 28 pass attempts just once over his first five games. If the Texans' game plan on offense is shifting to a more pass-heavy approach, Stroud could be a more viable streaming option for fantasy managers in single-quarterback formats going forward. Houston has a difficult matchup in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, so Stroud may not be a player to target specifically for this week. However, his uptick in pass attempts is still a trend worth monitoring for fantasy managers as the Texans hit the second half of their season.

From RotoBaller