

Fri Oct 24 3:16pm ET
Field Level Media
Carolina Panthers veteran quarterback Andy Dalton will start Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills whether or not Bryce Young is active, ESPN reported Friday.
Carolina listed Young as doubtful on Friday due to the sprained right ankle that prevented him from practicing all week. Panthers coach Dave Canales didn't rule Young out of the game, but ESPN cited a team spokesman saying Dalton will start regardless of Young's availability.
Young was injured during last Sunday's 13-6 victory over the New York Jets and exited the game in the third quarter.
"He's made progress every day, and we want to just keep our options open right now," Canales said Friday. "Didn't want to rule him out, just wanted to say, ‘OK, you woke up today, it was better than you did yesterday, so tomorrow we'll move around.' We rested it pretty good today. We had two good days of work on that ankle, so we'll take a look at it again tomorrow, and then we'll make the best decision from there."
Dalton is in his third season with Carolina and will be making his seventh career start for the team. He compiled a 1-5 record in the first six.
"Every opportunity I get to be out there, I'm going to enjoy every moment," Dalton said earlier this week. "You never know how many you're going to get.
"Obviously, you hate that Bryce got hurt, but I get to be in there and get to be a part of it and impact the game, so every chance you get you look forward to it."
Dalton, who turns 38 on Wednesday, has seen action in three games this season. He's completed 9 of 13 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown, including completing 4 of 7 attempts for 60 yards after relieving Young against the Jets.
The 15-year veteran was a Pro Bowl pick three times during his nine seasons (2011-19) with the Cincinnati Bengals before bouncing around the league. He has totaled 39,618 passing yards, 254 touchdowns and 150 interceptions in 178 games (168 starts).
Young, 24, has passed for 1,288 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven games this season, his third in the NFL. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) is officially listed as questionable to play in his team's Week 8 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Jackson was able to log his first full practice of the week on Friday, but the team has not yet committed to him making his return against Chicago. The superstar signal-caller has been sidelined since Week 4 due to a hamstring injury. In four games before getting hurt, Jackson recorded 869 yards and 10 touchdowns as a passer and 166 yards and a score as a rusher. If Jackson remains out in Week 8, veteran Tyler Huntley would get the start for Baltimore. Should Jackson be healthy enough to play, he profiles as a must-start fantasy quarterback. His presence would also significantly benefit Ravens skill position players like wide receiver Zay Flowers and running back Derrick Henry, who have struggled in his absence.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (groin) is officially listed as questionable to play in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens due to a groin injury. Swift was held out of practice on Wednesday before logging limited practices on both Thursday and Friday due to the injury. The 26-year-old has recorded 585 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 105 touches across six games so far this season. His two best games have come over the last two weeks, as he's recorded 313 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in his last two games combined. If Swift were to miss Week 8, Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai would likely see the majority of the backfield work. Monangai recorded a career-high 13 carries in Week 7 and scored his first NFL touchdown. Assuming Swift can play, he profiles as a must-start fantasy running back in Week 8 against Baltimore.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (hip, knee) is officially questionable to play in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Even while stuck behind star running back Bijan Robinson in Atlanta, Allgeier has been a productive player so far this season. Across six games, the 25-year-old has rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 57 carries. If Allgeier cannot play in Week 8, Robinson could be in line for an absolutely monstrous game in a very favorable matchup against the Dolphins. Miami has allowed the most rushing yards (1,115) and third-most rushing touchdowns (nine) in the NFL. Should Allgeier be able to go, he profiles as a high-end flex option for fantasy managers in Week 8.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (back) has been ruled out for his team's Week 8 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens due to a back injury. Kmet suffered the injury during his team's Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints and did not practice at all this week. With Kmet sidelined, Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland should have his best opportunity of the season to break out. The 21-year-old rookie has had a quiet start to his NFL career, recording eight catches for 78 yards on 13 targets across five games. Loveland has yet to play more than 67% of the Bears' offensive snaps in any game this season, but that should change in Week 8 against Baltimore. Given his lack of production so far, it will be tough for fantasy managers to trust Loveland as a starter. Still, Loveland may be a player to stash in case he has a big week and Kmet's injury proves to be a long-term ailment.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (ankle) is off the injury report and good to go for his team's Week 8 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. In six games (four starts) so far this season, Dart has completed 60.2% of his pass attempts for 791 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions. The 22-year-old rookie has also been one of the NFL's most dynamic rushing quarterbacks, recording 178 yards and three touchdowns on 37 rushing attempts. Week 8 will be Dart's second game in three weeks against Philadelphia. In Week 6, he recorded 253 total yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles. Dart profiles as a low-end fantasy starter in single-QB formats and a must-start quarterback in two-QB leagues in Week 8.
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) is off the injury report and will play in Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles, per Dan Salomone of Giants.com. Slayton has missed each of New York's last two games due to a hamstring injury. Before getting hurt, the 28-year-old had recorded 12 catches for 166 yards on 18 targets. Upon his return to the lineup, Slayton should slot in alongside wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson as one of the top two targets for Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. In the lone game Slayton has played this season without star Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee), he earned a season-high six targets. Slayton profiles as a low-end flex option for deep-league fantasy managers in Week 8 against Philadelphia.
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Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is questionable to play in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins due to a knee injury. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter also reports that Morris said Falcons backup quarterback Kirk Cousins has taken more reps later in the week. Through six games, Penix Jr. has completed 61% of his pass attempts for 1,409 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. If he is unable to play against Miami, the Falcons have one of the most experienced backups in the league in Cousins. In 14 starts for Atlanta last season, the 37-year-old Cousins completed 66.9% of his pass attempts for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Should Cousins get the start in Week 8, he would profile as a solid fantasy QB2 but should likely be avoided in single-quarterback formats.
From RotoBaller
Following a four-week stretch that saw him put up nearly 60 yards per game and three scores, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has fallen off the fantasy radar. He's seen two of his lowest snap counts of the season over the past two weeks, while making only one catch. Rashee Rice, in his first game back from a six-game suspension, was targeted nine times on only 19 pass routes, signaling that he has stepped right back into being the focal point of the team's passing offense, and he'll only continue to see the field more as he plays himself back into shape. What's left of the team's pass work opportunities will be divvied up between Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, and emerging rookie Brashard Smith, leaving Thornton on the outside looking in. While his speed will always make him a big-play threat, his occasional spikes will be too rare and difficult to predict to give him any fantasy value moving forward.
From RotoBaller
After missing the team's first practice of the week on Thursday, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (ankle/knee) will reportedly get back to work in some capacity on Friday. Hunt is dealing with a bone bruise that could have contributed to his season-low 15 snaps in a Week 7 win over the Raiders. With the Chiefs playing on Monday night, Hunt will have an extra day to recuperate, so his Saturday practice participation should be monitored. While Hunt has seen his workload decrease over the past few weeks, a full absence on Monday night would put Isiah Pacheco in a position to see his heaviest usage of the season against a Commanders team that has been middle of the pack at defending the run. Rookie Brashard Smith, coming off a season-high 14 carries, also has flex appeal in a matchup that sees Washington without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Chiefs favored heavily at home.
From RotoBaller
In his first game back from a six-game suspension, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was on the field for 33 of his team's 81 offensive snaps against the Raiders, and OC Matt Nagy says he will continue to be brought along gradually. While a ramp-up is to be expected, the good news for fantasy managers is that 22 of those 33 snaps came on passing plays, and Rice was targeted a staggering nine times on the 19 routes that he ran. It's clear the team intends to run the passing offense through their third-year star, and as he sees more involvement, he should be viewed as a locked-in WR1, rewarding managers who held onto him through his lengthy absence. While Patrick Mahomes might see a dip in the rushing numbers that have made him one of the best fantasy quarterbacks to begin the year, the tradeoff is an electric receiver who can rack up yards and fantasy points with the ball in his hands.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring) has been ruled out of Sunday's divisional matchup with the Colts, according to interim head coach Mike McCoy. This marks the second straight game missed by Ridley, after battling through injury in a Week 6 loss to the Raiders. In his absence last week, it was the Titans' rookie pass catchers who were leaned on, as Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Gunnar Helm combined for 14 targets, with Dike connecting on a long touchdown grab from Cam Ward. While Ward's lowlights from last week included an unforced fumble that led to a defensive score, he still posted a season-high completion percentage and passer rating. While the Titans' offense has left much to be desired, and they face another formidable opponent in the Colts, desperate fantasy managers can throw a dart at Ayomanor or Dike in a week that sees six NFL teams on a bye.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) was a full participant in Friday's practice, and head coach John Harbaugh said the team will "see where it's at going forward." After beginning the week with two limited practices, Jackson's ramp-up is a positive sign for his availability when the Ravens host the Bears in Week 8. With Baltimore off to an unexpected 1-5 start, there is an urgency to get their two-time MVP quarterback back onto the field as soon as possible. Jackson exited the team's Week 4 loss to the Chiefs before missing two games and getting an additional week's rest with a Week 7 bye. While Cooper Rush started and struggled in the previous two games, Harbaugh has indicated that Tyler Huntley would start on Sunday if Jackson is unable to go. Jackson's status should be monitored by all when early-game inactives are announced, as his presence heavily affects the fantasy value of Ravens pass catchers Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman.
From RotoBaller
If Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) cannot play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Tyler Huntley, not Cooper Rush, would be in line to be the potential replacement in Week 8. Rush started the team's last two games before the Week 7 bye with Jackson out, but the 31-year-old veteran went 25-for-39 passing for 251 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions in two blowout losses to the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams. Huntley, 27, would definitely be more attractive than Rush for fantasy managers desperate for a QB2 streamer in Week 8 in superflex leagues. The 27-year-old has six years of NFL experience and has made 14 starts in his career (nine with Baltimore). Huntley's rushing ability alone would give him more upside. In five starts in 2024 with Miami, he went 86-for-133 for 829 yards, three touchdowns, and three picks, adding 26 carries for 135 yards and two more scores.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) said on Terron Armstead's podcast that he's undecided if he wants to continue his playing career after suffering a season-ending left-knee injury on Sept. 29 against the New York Jets. "At the end of the day, I feel like that decision is based upon how I feel and where my mindset is at the moment," Hill said. "I'm happy with the career that I've had. I love playing football. I love it, but it takes a lot. It takes a lot on you mentally, it takes a lot on you physically." The 31-year-old had back-to-back 1,700-yard receiving seasons in his first two years in Miami, including a league-leading 1,799 yards in 2023. However, the five-time All-Pro had a down year in 2024 with 81 catches for 959 yards, his lowest totals since 2019. The Cheetah's contract with the Dolphins runs through next season, but at this point, it's unclear if he even wants to play football again.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) is listed as questionable to play in Week 8 versus the hosting New England Patriots on Sunday, according to Mark Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Njoku missed the blowout win over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday due to his knee injury, and he's in danger of missing his second straight game. There has been optimism that Njoku will be able to return this weekend, but his status for Sunday's game in Boston might come down to the wire on Sunday morning. If he misses a second straight game, rookie Harold Fannin Jr. would once again be a clear top-12 option at the TE position in fantasy. The 29-year-old has become more of a high-end TE2 in fantasy this year because of Fannin's presence and immediate production in his rookie year. In six games so far, Njoku has 23 catches, 223 yards, and only one touchdown for the Browns.
From RotoBaller
A Carolina Panthers spokesman said on Friday that Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton will start in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, regardless of Bryce Young's (ankle) availability, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. Young suffered a high-ankle sprain in last week's win over the New York Jets and is listed as doubtful to play this weekend. Dalton has been preparing all week with the first-team offense to face the Bills, and the Panthers have already generated their game plan around the veteran signal-caller. Buffalo's defense is banged up, and Dalton has plenty of weapons on offense to surprise some folks, but fantasy managers shouldn't treat him as much more than a low-end QB2 option as a game manager for the Panthers in his first start of 2025.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (concussion) has cleared the league's concussion protocol and is ready to suit up for Sunday's divisional game against the Tennessee Titans, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. A concussion sidelined Downs for the Week 7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but he'll return this weekend after missing just one game with his head injury. The 24-year-old should slot back in to WR2 duties behind Michael Pittman Jr., making Alec Pierce a more volatile flex play for fantasy managers this Sunday in a game where the Colts probably won't need to air the ball out. Before his head injury, Downs was on the rise, catching 12 of his 15 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in the previous two games. The former third-rounder has 26 receptions, 217 yards, and one touchdown in six games in 2025 and will be in play as a WR3/flex in Week 8 now that he's officially back.
From RotoBaller
The Carolina Panthers are listing quarterback Bryce Young (ankle) as doubtful to play in Week 8 this Sunday against the visiting Buffalo Bills, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Young is not going to play this weekend after sustaining a high-ankle sprain in last week's win over the New York Jets, and is also probably going to be in question going into the Week 9 contest at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Nov. 2. With Young unavailable to play this Sunday, veteran Andy Dalton will make his first start of 2025 for the Panthers. Dalton has the weapons to put up some numbers for fantasy managers in need of a second QB in two-QB leagues, but the Panthers could lean on their strong backfield of Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, as long as the game script allows. At best, consider Dalton a low-end QB2 streamer in fantasy this week.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller's pectoral injury is not season-ending, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Waller suffered a pectoral injury in the Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and was placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, but he should be able to make it back this season. However, the 33-year-old veteran will need to miss at least four games and will not be eligible to return for Miami until Week 13. In the meantime, the team will have to make due with a combination of Julian Hill (ankle), Tanner Conner, and Greg Dulcich at the position in an offense that already lost star receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) for the year. Fantasy managers should be avoiding Miami's TE situation until Waller can return. Waller, who came out of retirement after not playing at all in 2024, got a late start in 2025 due to another injury, but he scored four touchdowns in his first three games before getting injured in Week 7.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni declined to give a status update on wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) on Friday for his availability on Sunday versus the division-rival New York Giants in Week 8, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Sirianni did say, however, that Brown is a player who could suit up without practicing at all during the week. Brown has not practiced all week, which typically means a player will not play, but the 28-year-old wideout apparently is still an option to suit up this weekend against the G-Men. Still, fantasy managers have to be pretty unsettled, and if Brown is active on Sunday, he could be operating on a snap count at less than 100% health. If Brown is out or limited this weekend, more targets will be available for DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, while Jahan Dotson and Xavier Gipson could join starting three-wide sets for Philly.
From RotoBaller