Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder) has missed each of his team's last two games due to a shoulder injury. However, he's been able to log two full practices so far this week and appears to be trending towards returning to the field in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. In four games before getting injured, Austin III recorded 10 catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Upon his return to the lineup, Austin III should slot in as Pittsburgh's WR2 alongside DK Metcalf. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been productive this season, recording 1,270 passing yards and 14 touchdowns across six games. If Rodgers has another big game this week against Green Bay, Austin III could be one of the beneficiaries. In Week 8, Austin III profiles as a low-end flex option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine recorded a season-high seven carries in his team's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The veteran back has been eating into the workload of Bengals RB1 Chase Brown in recent weeks, as Perine has logged at least 28 offensive snaps in three straight games for Cincinnati. Perine's upside remains limited, as he's recorded just 123 yards from scrimmage on 28 touches across seven games so far this season. However, the Bengals get a favorable matchup in Week 8 against the New York Jets, which helps Perine's fantasy outlook. Still, expectations for what Perine's upside should remain limited. He's currently ranked as RB45 by RotoBaller in half-PPR scoring heading into Week 8.

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The New York Jets could be without both star wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) and rookie tight end Mason Taylor (quad) in Week 8, as both players missed practice on Thursday due to injury. That would likely put veteran wide receiver Josh Reynolds in position to be his team's top option in the passing game in a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. With Wilson sidelined in Week 7, Reynolds was targeted nine times, hauling in three catches for 29 yards. New York has yet to name a starter at quarterback for Week 8, and neither Tyrod Taylor (knee) nor Justin Fields projects to provide Reynolds with top-tier quarterback play. Still, the opportunity for massive target volume makes Reynolds a viable streaming option for fantasy managers. In Week 8 against Cincinnati, Reynolds profiles as a low-end PPR flex option in deep leagues.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has emerged as a more consistent feature in his team's offense in recent weeks. Over his last three games, Otton has recorded 16 catches for 197 yards on 20 targets. Given that Tampa Bay will be without wide receivers Mike Evans (collarbone) and Chris Godwin (leg) for its Week 8 matchup against the New Orleans Saints and possibly longer, Otton could have an extended runway as one of the lead target-earners for the Buccaneers. In the three games that both Evans and Godwin missed in 2024, Otton recorded 22 catches for 193 yards and three touchdowns on 29 targets. He profiles as a low-end starting tight end option for fantasy managers in Week 8.

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With star quarterback Jayden Daniels (hamstring) out for Week 8, the Washington Commanders will turn to veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota to make his third start of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mariota has been reasonably productive across three games' worth of action so far this season, completing 60.3% of his pass attempts for 426 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 32-year-old also remains a threat with his legs, as he's recorded 94 yards and a touchdown on 10 rush attempts. The Commanders have a tough matchup in Week 8, as they will travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs. On the bright side, Washington could get back both of its top wide receivers in Terry McLaurin (quad) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel). Both wideouts practiced in full on Thursday after being sidelined in Week 7. In Week 8, Mariota profiles as a low-end starting fantasy quarterback in single-QB formats and a must-start player in two-quarterback formats.

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Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. returned in Week 8 from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for four games. The 30-year-old had a quiet game in his team's 37-10 Week 8 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, recording five carries for 15 yards and hauling in two catches for 15 yards on four targets. It was a miserable night for the Minnesota offense overall, as it recorded just 164 yards of total offense. On the positive side for Jones Sr., he earned more total touches (seven) than fellow Vikings running back Jordan Mason (five). That could change in future weeks when Minnesota has a more neutral or positive game script. Most likely, Jones Sr. and Mason will split backfield work relatively equally, making the Vikings' backfield a difficult one for fantasy managers to parse.

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Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson caught two of three targets for 26 yards in Thursday night's 37-10 loss to the Chargers. After back-to-back games with six receptions, Hockenson took a step back in this game with his quietest performance since Week 2 against the Falcons. It was a struggle for the Vikings offense as a whole, as the Chargers dominated them up front. Veteran quarterback Carson Wentz was under heavy pressure most of the night, and the team averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. The 28-year-old tight end tied Jordan Addison for the second-most receiving yards on the night, which speaks to the struggles of the passing game. Hockenson will look to get back on track against his former team, the Detroit Lions, in Week 9.

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Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason had only four carries for three yards and one catch for three yards in Thursday night's blowout loss to the Chargers. Mason was outcarried by Aaron Jones Sr. as he made his return off injured reserve from a hamstring injury. Jones wasn't overly efficient on his touches either, handling five carries for 15 yards and adding two catches for 15 yards. It was a good matchup on paper coming into the game for the Vikings' ground game with the Chargers being ranked 28th in yards per carry and 31st in rushing touchdowns allowed, but Minnesota averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in the game. Mason and Jones will likely see a pretty even split moving forward, with Jones handling most of the pass-down duties. They will head on the road again in Week 9 for another tough matchup in Detroit.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz completed 15 of 27 pass attempts for 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Thursday night's 37-10 loss to the Chargers. He took five sacks for a loss of 27 yards and fumbled, but was able to recover it. It was not a pretty game for Wentz as he clearly battled through the left shoulder injury that he entered the game with. The 32-year-old was under heavy duress for much of the night, with the Minnesota offensive line also missing multiple starters. And he also wasn't helped out by the run game, as the running backs combined for just 34 yards on 11 carries for the game. Wentz was able to at least provide decent floor games for Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but it was a game to forget for the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy (ankle) should be expected to be ready for Week 9's matchup in Detroit, but more will be known on his status in the coming days.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnson did not see a target in Thursday night's 37-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Johnston has trended in the wrong direction after a remarkable first four games of the season, catching 22 of 36 targets for 337 yards and four touchdowns. The third-year wide receiver missed Week 6, but he has totaled just six catches on 10 targets for 70 yards and a touchdown in three games since, with Week 8 marking the low point. It was the first game of his career in which he was held without a target and the third game without a reception. The emergence of rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden has made it difficult for all the Chargers' pass catchers to be involved consistently, and Johnston may be the odd man out. He'll look to bounce back in Week 9 when the Chargers go on the road to face the Tennessee Titans.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen caught four of his five targets for 44 yards in the team's 37-10 win on Thursday night over the Minnesota Vikings. Allen was coming off a vintage performance in Week 7 against the Colts, catching 11 of 14 targets for 119 yards and a touchdown. But the 33-year-old took a backseat to the young Chargers' playmakers in Week 8, with second-year wide receiver Ladd McConkey leading the way with 88 yards and a touchdown, while rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden continued his emergence with 77 yards and a score. The Chargers played from ahead for the vast majority of this game, leading to the running backs carrying the ball 36 times as they aimed to milk the clock for the most part. The 33-year-old wideout should bounce back in Week 9 as the Chargers face the Titans on the road.

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Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith played his highest snap share of the season in Week 7 against the Raiders and could continue to see his role expand in the coming weeks. Head coach Andy Reid spoke glowingly of Smith in Thursday's press conference, noting that "we're going to keep utilizing his talents." The star quarterback shared a similar feeling about the rookie running back, saying, "he's made a ton of progress." The seventh-rounder out of SMU handled a season high 19 touches for 81 total yards last week against the Raiders and figures to be a big piece of the puzzle in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football. Veteran running back Kareem Hunt (knee) also missed Thursday's practice, which would open up opportunities for Smith if he is unable to go. He is a viable flex play in Week 8 with many teams on bye.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 8 contest against the Houston Texans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Specifically, Rapoport said that Purdy is "not quite yet" ready to return from his multi-game absence. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since Week 4 and has only appeared in two games so far, leaving Mac Jones as the team's fill-in starter. Jones has been serviceable through five starts, completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,404 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions. He'll get the nod again in Week 8, while Purdy directs his focus toward a potential return against the New York Giants in Week 9.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) was seen wearing a walking boot following the team's win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Hampton has required the boot ever since Week 5, when he injured his ankle and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. The rookie was spectacular when healthy, averaging 5.6 rushing yards per carry as the team's primary running back, as well as 5.7 receptions and 0.7 touchdowns per game. Fantasy managers are surely ready for Hampton to return so that he can continue to offer RB1 production, but they may have to be patient given that the rookie still hasn't been able to shed his boot. Kimani Vidal remains the lead running back in Los Angeles for the time being.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will return to the starting role in Week 9 if he's fully healthy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. McCarthy has missed five consecutive games, leaving Carson Wentz as the team's starting quarterback. The veteran is now 2-3 while filling in for McCarthy, and the urgency to hand the reins back to the Michigan product could be growing after Wentz struggled in the Vikings' 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. Rapoport cautions that while the starting job will belong to McCarthy, he's only going to play if he's fully healthy. The 22-year-old will now have 10 days to get healthy before a quarterback decision must be made in Week 9 against the Detroit Lions.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson caught seven of his 11 targets for 74 yards during Thursday's Week 8 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jefferson was heavily targeted by quarterback Carson Wentz, who made yet another start in place of the injured J.J. McCarthy (ankle). The star receiver had a relatively modest showing by his standards, finishing with fewer than 75 yards for the first time since Week 1. He remains Wentz's No. 1 target, but his upside is capped when the offense struggles to stay on the field. Jefferson will look to bounce back as a solid WR1 against the Detroit Lions in Week 9, especially if McCarthy can return from his five-game absence.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison caught three of his four targets for 26 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 8 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Addison's trip to the end zone came on a four-yard reception with fewer than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown salvaged his fantasy performance and brought him to four consecutive games with double-digit fantasy points (PPR). He's averaging 16.0 fantasy points per game since his season debut in Week 4, which is tied for the 17th-highest average among all NFL receivers during that span. He's a solid low-end WR2 heading into Week 9 against the Detroit Lions.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey caught six of his 10 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings. McConkey had a relatively underwhelming start to the season, but he seems to have turned a corner with 27 catches and three touchdowns over his last four games. Since Week 5, he is averaging 18.8 fantasy points per game (PPR), which ranks as the eighth-most among all NFL wide receivers during that span. McConkey's rapport with Justin Herbert continues to solidify, and he should be treated as a low-end fantasy WR1 going forward. He'll face off against the struggling Tennessee Titans in Week 9.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 18 of his 25 pass attempts for 227 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He also took two sacks and rushed for a season-high 62 yards. Herbert has been an effective fantasy quarterback all season long, but he has truly taken his game to the next level over the last three weeks. During that span, he has a total of eight touchdowns. He does have three interceptions in that timeframe as well, but fantasy managers will tolerate the slight uptick in turnovers if he continues to throw to the end zone at such a high success rate. Herbert will continue to rank as a mid-range QB1 heading into a very favorable Week 9 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal totaled 23 carries, 117 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He also caught one of his two targets for an additional 10 receiving yards. The 24-year-old capitalized on a positive game script and turned in a high-volume, high-efficiency performance on primetime. He has been quite effective since taking over for Omarion Hampton (ankle), averaging 16.7 rushing attempts, 2.7 receptions, 100 scrimmage yards, and 0.7 touchdowns per game over the last three weeks. Los Angeles is rumored to have serious interest in an external running back addition, but until that comes to fruition, Vidal will remain the Bolts' lead back. He has firmly established himself as the preferred option over Hassan Haskins, who had just one carry for three yards on Thursday Night Football.

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