San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) returned from injured reserve in time for the team's 20-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7. To the dismay of fantasy football managers awaiting his return, Kittle finished the game with zero receptions and saw only two targets. If there is a silver lining, it is that the 49ers did not hold back on getting Kittle on the field. The tight end saw an 81% snap share, which was the second-highest rate among the team's offensive skill position players. Rather than rely on Kittle as a pass-catcher, San Francisco utilized him primarily as an extra blocker in the run game. A healthy Kittle usually operates as one of the 49ers' primary targets, and with wide receiver Ricky Pearsall's (knee) status for Week 8 up in the air, a rebound to TE1 territory against the Houston Texans is within reach.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder), who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, is scheduled to work back into practice this week, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. The head coach said he's "optimistic" for Austin potentially returning on Sunday night to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 8, but as always, his participation in practice will be the guide for whether he plays on Sunday. The 26-year-old wideout might need a full practice at some point this week to be cleared to play this weekend. If he does make his return, he should slot back in as Pittsburgh's WR2 behind DK Metcalf. In his four games this year before his shoulder injury, Austin had 10 catches on 17 targets for 139 yards and two touchdowns. With six teams on bye in Week 8, Austin would be in play as at least a WR4/flex in fantasy football if he's able to make his return against the Packers.

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In his first game action since Week 4 due to injury, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney was the team's leading receiver in Sunday night's 20-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, catching three of his five targets for 68 yards. While his 68 yards led the team on a night where Atlanta's offense was stuck in the mud, Mooney's targets were third behind receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. Most of the 27-year-old's production came on a 38-yard hookup with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. late in the second quarter. Mooney and the Falcons' passing game have a get-right matchup upcoming this Sunday against the 1-6 Miami Dolphins, but he figures to continue to be an inconsistent boom/bust WR4/flex for fantasy football managers. Mooney has caught only 10 of his 21 targets through four games this year for 147 yards, and he has yet to find the end zone. He's currently rostered in just 29% of Yahoo leagues. Don't rule him out as a decent flex streamer this week with six teams on bye.

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Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram got off to an inauspicious start to his Broncos tenure this year with four catches for only 33 yards in the first two weeks, and then he missed the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers with a back injury. Head coach Sean Payton kept talking up Engram in the offseason as a key weapon in the offense, but there was no evidence to back that up early on. The 31-year-old might be starting to come around for fantasy managers, though, as he has back-to-back five-catch, 42-yard performances in Weeks 6 and 7, and he also scored for the first time in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Right now, Engram is only rostered in 57% of Yahoo fantasy leagues. With six teams on bye in Week 8, he should be on your radar this week if you're in need of a TE, especially in a matchup this Sunday against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has been friendly to opposing passing attacks this year.

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Washington Commanders veteran backup quarterback Marcus Mariota may be forced to make his third start of the season if Jayden Daniels (hamstring) is unable to play on Monday Night Football in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. It makes the 31-year-old signal-caller worth a look on the waiver wire in two-QB superflex leagues heading into Week 8 action. Daniels tweaked his hamstring in the Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and although his injury isn't considered a long-term one, his status is up in the air to play this week. Mariota replaced the injured Daniels on Sunday in the third quarter and finished 4-for-10 for 63 yards and an interception while also carrying the ball twice for 34 yards. In his two starts earlier this year when Daniels was out with a knee sprain, Mariota went 31-for-48 passing for 363 yards, three TDs, and one pick while rushing for 60 yards and another score. Mariota is still mobile at his age, but it will be a bad matchup on the road against a strong KC defense if he's forced to make his third start of 2025.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing at an extremely high level so far in 2025. Across seven games, the 37-year-old has completed 66.1% of his pass attempts for 1,866 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. Stafford's average of 7.7 yards per pass attempt is his best since the 2021 season, when he finished the year with 4,886 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. The Rams have their bye in Week 8, so fantasy managers won't be able to deploy Stafford this week. Still, given how he has played this season, fantasy managers may be wise to stash Stafford through the bye, even in single-quarterback formats. For fantasy managers looking to beat the waiver wire in shallow leagues where Stafford might not already be rostered, the Rams have a favorable matchup in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is having an excellent first season in Dallas, and the Cowboys could be considering an extension for him. "Any and everything about George Pickens has crossed our minds. ... Certainly he's a topic of interest and discussions because of the success he's having," owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan. The 24-year-old currently has 36 receptions on 54 targets for 607 yards and a career-high six touchdowns through the first seven weeks of the 2025 campaign. Those numbers have been good enough to place Pickens as the No. 4 fantasy wideout in half-PPR scoring. It helped that fellow wideout CeeDee Lamb missed three games due to a high-ankle sprain, but Pickens was still productive with four catches and 82 yards in Week 7 after Lamb returned. He should continue to remain heavily involved in Dallas' pass-heavy attack along Lamb, making him a weekly must-start in fantasy.

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Jacksonville Jaguars beat writer Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union speculates that the team's view of how to use rookie wide receiver Travis Hunter is "ever-evolving" heading into their Week 8 bye. Hunter had by far the most productive game of his career as a wide receiver in Week 7, recording eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets against the Los Angeles Rams. Through seven games this season, Hunter has hauled in 28 receptions for 298 yards and a score on 45 targets. Jacksonville continues to split Hunter's workload between offense and defense, which limits his fantasy upside. However, Hunter has now played at least 78% of the team's offensive snaps in each of the past two weeks after failing to eclipse 67% in any of the first five weeks. Coming out of the bye, the Jaguars may place an even greater emphasis on getting Hunter involved in the offense.

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With Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (collarbone) suffering a broken clavicle in Week 7, which will likely land him on Injured Reserve, Bucs wideout Sterling Shepard appears to be in line for a significant long-term role in the team's offense. With Chris Godwin (leg) also currently sidelined, Shepard looks like Tampa Bay's WR2 alongside Emeka Egbuka. The 32-year-old Shepard hauled in seven catches for 25 yards on seven targets in Tampa Bay's Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions, giving him 26 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown on 34 targets so far this season. Shepard is not an explosive downfield player, which limits his ceiling. Still, he's proven to be a trusted target of Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and should be rostered in fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton set season-highs in both targets and catches in Week 7, hauling in seven catches for 65 yards on nine targets in his team's 24-9 loss to the Detroit Lions. The 26-year-old has now hauled in 16 receptions for 197 yards on 20 targets over the last three weeks. With star Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (collarbone) now set to miss significant time after breaking his clavicle in Week 7, Otton could continue to see consistent usage in his team's passing game. Tampa Bay could be without wide receiver Chris Godwin (leg) in Week 8 as well, which would likely leave either Otton or veteran wideout Sterling Shepard as the number two target behind wide receiver Emeka Egbuka for Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. Otton should be rostered in all fantasy leagues with 14 or more teams heading into a Week 8 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

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Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden exploded in Week 7 against the Colts with seven catches (nine targets) for 164 yards and a touchdown. Gadsden had been working his way into a full-time role at tight end in Los Angeles, and it's all come together over the past two weeks. He's logged a route on 77% of dropbacks in each of those games and should maintain a consistent role in the offense moving forward after a performance like this. The 2025 fifth-round pick was winning at all levels of the field and had an unreal catch and run for 53 yards early in the third quarter. His 164 yards were the most in a game by a rookie tight end since Kyle Pitts in 2021. Gadsden should be the priority waiver add in all formats this week.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had one of the least efficient games of his career in his team's 27-19 Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Stroud completed just 23 of 49 pass attempts for 229 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Across six games this season, the 24-year-old has completed 64.8% of his pass attempts for 1,305 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions. Houston struggled mightily to run the ball in Week 7, as Stroud was the team's leading rusher with just 25 yards. The Texans' overall offensive inefficiency makes Stroud tough for fantasy managers in single-QB formats to trust. Stroud will likely profile as a mid-tier fantasy QB2 in Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers.

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Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz had his best game of the season so far in Week 7, recording nine catches for 98 yards on 10 targets in his team's 27-19 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Schultz has now recorded 30 catches for 284 yards on 37 targets across six games played. The 29-year-old is not an explosive player, and he's yet to find the end zone this season. Still, Schultz has now earned at least six targets in each of his last four games. For fantasy managers looking for a tight end option who can provide a safe floor, Schultz could be a decent streamer off the waiver wire. He and the Texans will host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8.

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Dynasty | Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans broke his collarbone in Monday night's loss to the Lions. Dynasty Analysis: Oh boy. Evans will be placed on injured reserve and miss most if not all of the rest of the regular season. His streak of 1,000-yard seasons to begin a career will undoubtedly end at 11 as Evans has just 14 catches for 140 yards and one touchdown in parts of four games played this season. At 32, dynasty managers have wondered when the bottom would fall out of his value and it seems this injury will likely be the trigger for that happening.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet recorded 12 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns in his team's 27-19 Week 7 win over the Houston Texans on Monday night. Seattle heavily features both Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III out of the backfield, but Charbonnet has carved out a consistent role as the team's preferred back at the goal line. The 24-year-old has now recorded 72 carries for 205 yards and five touchdowns across six games played so far this season. In games where both Charbonnet and Walker III are healthy, both backs have limited upside. Still, Charbonnet provides a safe floor as a good bet for double-digit touches and a feature back at the goal line. Charbonnet profiles as a low-end flex option for fantasy managers heading into a Week 8 matchup with the Washington Commanders.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. tiedfor theteam lead in targets (10) and recorded the most catches (seven) in Sunday night's 20-10 loss to the 49ers, totaling 62 yards in the contest. It was a nice bounce-back performance after a 3-18-0 line in Week 6, and reestablished his place as the No. 3 pass-catcher in this offense with a 19.3 percent target share on the season, just slightly behind Bijan Robinson's 19.8 percent. The effort puts the 25-year-old on pace for 85 catches this season and 800-plus yards. ThoughDarnell Mooney was active for this game, he received only five targets and has been targeted more than Pitts only one time this season in the four games in which he's played. The 6-foot-6 tightend gets a matchup with Miami in Week 8, a defense that has yielded the ninth-most fantasy points to TEs thus far and is allowing opponents to score 29.3 points per game, fourth-most in the NFL.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer could be the team's starter on Thursday night, when they visit the Chargers on a short week. Carson Wentz (shoulder) has started the last four games for Minnesota, but he was banged up again in the team's loss to the Eagles on Sunday. If he can't recover in time for Thursday, it seems likely that Brosmer would get the nod over J.J. McCarthy (ankle), who is eligible to return from IR but doesn't seem to be ready to return to action. Coach Kevin O'Connell has made it clear he doesn't want to rush McCarthy back, and with limited practice reps this week, it seems unlikely he'd go to McCarthy as the starter. Brosmer is an undrafted rookie free agent the Vikings signed out of Minnesota, and he'd likely be a downgrade for the rest of the Vikings' passing game in a tough matchup against the Chargers. Stay tuned for Wentz updates from the team's practice reports this week, and be familiar with Brosmer as his potential replacement if McCarthy needs more time.

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New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields could be in jeopardy of losing his starting job after another rough outing on Sunday against the Panthers. Before the game, coach Aaron Glenn dismissed any discussion about a change at quarterback, but then, midway through the game, Tyrod Taylor came on in place of Fields. Neither QB led a touchdown drive or was especially effective, but Taylor's game does seem to fit the scheme of offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand a little better. Taylor is more willing to take shots down the field as a traditional pocket passer, while Fields tends to dink and dunk while scrambling around. Taylor started against the Bucs in Week 3 while Fields was out with a concussion, and he almost led the Jets to a road win with 197 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Fields has more individual fantasy upside due to his scrambling and rushing contributions, but Taylor could make the rest of the Jets offense better fantasy contributors if he takes over.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) missed his team's Week 7 loss to the Lions on Monday Night Football, and even though he's recovering, Coach Todd Bowles didn't seem confident the veteran receiver will be ready to return in Week 8 against the Saints. With a bye week in Week 9, the Bucs may play it safe with Godwin, who played two games after returning from his dislocated ankle and broken fibula suffered last season. This leg injury is in a different place, according to Bowles, but he still looks like a long shot to play in Week 8. If Godwin is out again, he'll join Mike Evans (collarbone) on the sidelines, leaving lots of work for rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson, while Cade Otton would also stay more involved as a pass-catching tight end option.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) are both recovering from their injuries, but Coach Todd Bowles said they may not play this week against the Saints. With a Week 9 bye following just one more game, it makes sense that the team would be cautious with the two playmakers, with the hopes of getting them back in Week 10 when they host the Patriots. If Irving misses a fourth straight game, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker would remain the backfield rotation for Tampa, with White taking most of the work as a strong RB2 in New Orleans. If Godwin is out, he'll join Mike Evans (collarbone) on the sidelines, leaving lots of work for rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson, while Cade Otton would also stay more involved as a pass-catching tight end option.

From RotoBaller