The Arizona Cardinals released veteran running back Michael Carter on Monday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. It comes as a surprise with the Cardinals coming off their Week 8 bye. James Conner (foot) is already out for the year, and Trey Benson (knee) isn't eligible to come off Injured Reserve until Week 10. Bam Knight became the team's RB1 several weeks before the Cardinals went on bye, but Emari Demercado (ankle) was unable to play in Week 7, so Arizona's RB depth was already a bit thin. With Carter now on the street, D'Ernest Johnson and Jermar Jefferson would be the next men up behind Knight in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys if Demercado misses another game. In his four games with the Cardinals, Carter averaged just 2.8 yards per carry for 97 rushing yards and a touchdown on 35 carries.

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ESPN's Michael DiRocco suggests that the Jacksonville Jaguars need to get first-rounder Travis Hunter more involved on offense over their final 10 games if they are going to be in the playoff hunt, and head coach Liam Coen hinted at a lineup shift coming out of their bye week. "We are going to play the best 11 [on each side of the ball] as much as humanly possible," Coen said. It sounds as though Hunter is going to be a "significant player in the offense going forward." In the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London before the bye, Hunter led the team in targets (14), catches (eight), and receiving yards (101) while playing a season-high 64 snaps. The former Heisman Trophy winner now leads the Jags in catches (28) and is second in receiving yards (298). DiRocco doesn't think we should be surprised if Hunter "starts getting the WR1 treatment" in the second half of the season. How it will impact Hunter's role on defense is unclear, but this would be excellent news for Hunter's fantasy managers going forward.

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Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Monday that wide receiver Drake London (hip) will be day-to-day this week, according to Terrin Waack of AtlantaFalcons.com. London was a late addition to last week's injury report with a hip injury and ended up being inactive for the team's upset loss to the visiting Miami Dolphins on Sunday in Week 8. Darnell Mooney was a bust as Atlanta's WR1 with London out, as he caught just one pass on the day. Tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. was the primary beneficiary in the passing game for a Falcons offense that couldn't get anything going with backup quarterback Kirk Cousins running the show, with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) also out. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on London's practice statuses this week, but if he's able to play in Week 9 against the New England Patriots, he should be considered a must-start in fantasy.

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Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Monday that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will be day-to-day this week, according to Terrin Waack of AtlantaFalcons.com. Penix suffered a bone bruise in his knee late in the Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and did not play in Sunday's upset loss to the visiting Miami Dolphins. Atlanta's offense didn't have any juice with both Penix and top receiver Drake London (hip) both inactive. Backup QB Kirk Cousins fell flat in his first start of 2025, throwing for only 173 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against a soft Dolphins defense. It's unclear if Penix will be able to return to action in Week 9 against the New England Patriots, and it will depend on how much he's able to do at practice this week. If Penix makes progress and returns on Sunday against the Pats, he'll be back in play as a midrange QB2 in fantasy football lineups.

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The Washington Commanders announced on Monday that kicker Matt Gay (back) has been downgraded to out for the Week 8 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. In a corresponding move, the team signed Matthew Wright to the active 53-man roster from the practice squad, and he will serve as their placekicker in Kansas City. The team also released wide receiver Robbie Chosen from the practice squad. It's unclear if Gay's back injury is serious enough to keep him out for another game in Week 9 when the team squares off against the Seattle Seahawks. Wright, who is in his sixth season in the NFL, played in one game for the Tennessee Titans this year, making his only field-goal attempt and his only extra-point try. He is a career 87.5% field-goal kicker in his 30 NFL games with six different teams. Wright should be avoided in DFS lineups in a tough road matchup with starting quarterback Jayden Daniels (hamstring) sidelined.

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The Los Angeles Rams placed wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) on Injured Reserve on Monday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Now that he's on IR, Atwell will be forced to miss at least four games and won't be eligible to return until Week 13 against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 30. The 26-year-old has been a depth option for the Rams' WR corps this year, but he did have a two-week streak with three catches, 160 yards and a touchdown as a deep threat for quarterback Matthew Stafford. He was unable to capitalize on Puka Nacua's (ankle) absence in Week 6 in London in the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he played just 10 offensive snaps due to his hamstring injury. While Atwell is on the shelf, look for Jordan Whitting to play a bigger role as a complementary piece behind Nacua and Davante Adams, who have been target hogs in the Rams' passing attack.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (shoulder) will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder and will be placed on Injured Reserve, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. To fill Wentz's spot on the active 53-man roster, the Vikings claimed tight end Ben Sims on waivers from the division-rival Green Bay Packers. The 32-year-old Wentz started the team's last five games with J.J. McCarthy working his way back from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Wentz was in undeniable pain every time he was hit last Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and now he won't play again this year. There were questions as to whether McCarthy would be ready to play in Week 9 against the division-rival Detroit Lions, but now that Wentz is out, the Vikes will be left with Max Brosmer if McCarthy isn't cleared to start this Sunday. Wentz finishes his 10th year in the NFL with 1,216 passing yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions in his five starts.

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The Commanders signed veteran kicker Matthew Wright to the practice squad and elevated him to fill in for Matt Gay, who has been ruled out for tonight's game at Kansas City.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that "all went well" with rookie running back Cam Skattebo's ankle surgery on Monday, according to Dan Salomone of Giants.com. "He's recovering. Obviously, he'll be missed. On the road to recovery," Daboll said. Skattebo suffered a gruesome-looking dislocated right ankle in Sunday's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and had to be carted off the field. While there is no official timetable for the 23-year-old Arizona State product's return, he will miss the rest of his rookie season. It's a very disappointing end to 2025 for the fourth-round pick, who ran for 410 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries while adding 24 catches for 207 yards and two more scores in his first eight games in the NFL. With Skattebo done for the rest of the year, Tyrone Tracy Jr. will be New York's lead back, with Devin Singletary elevating into RB2 duties.

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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that "we'll see how he progresses this week" when asked about wide receiver Nico Collins' (head) status in the league's concussion protocol. Collins is "doing well and trending toward a return" for a Week 9 contest against the Denver Broncos at this point, a source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. The 26-year-old was unable to practice last week and didn't play in Sunday's win over the visiting San Francisco 49ers, but if he can get back on the field this week, he's trending toward playing this Sunday in a tough matchup against Denver. With fellow wideout Christian Kirk (hamstring) missing a second straight game over the weekend, Xavier Hutchinson led the team in receiving yards, with rookies Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins also seeing expanded workloads. Collins will be a must-start in Week 9 if he's cleared from the concussion protocol.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (shoulder) is being considered day-to-day with a shoulder injury after the team's Week 8 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Flacco is sore the day after the team's one-point loss. In the 39-38 loss, the 40-year-old signal-caller went 21-for-34 passing for 233 yards and two touchdowns while adding 14 rushing yards and a third touchdown. The Bengals gave the Jets their first win of the year, but Flacco was once again very adequate for fantasy managers who had him in their starting lineups. He has thrown for over 200 yards in each of his three starts with the Bengals, and he has made receiver Ja'Marr Chase elite again. While it sounds like Flacco's injury isn't a serious one, fantasy managers will want to monitor his status ahead of the Week 9 game versus the Chicago Bears.

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Multiple NFL teams have "shown interest" in trading for Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who is in the final year of his contract and has publicly said he still wants to be traded, sources tell Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. However, teams have "had a hard time getting a clear read on whether Las Vegas is truly willing to move him." The belief is that it would take at least "a Day 2 pick" for the Raiders to even consider moving him. The 28-year-old missed the Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs due to knee and toe injuries, but he's expected to be ready to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9 after a bye in Week 8. A change of scenery might be what Meyers needs to get going, as he has a 29-329-0 line through six games in 2025 while working with quarterback Geno Smith. If Meyers is traded, Tre Tucker and rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech would start in three-wide sets for the Raiders.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (ankle) is expected to practice on Wednesday and play in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, according to head coach Sean McVay. Nacua injured his left ankle in the Week 6 win over the Baltimore Ravens and was held out for the team's Week 7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The Rams were on their bye in Week 8, and it sounds like Nacua has made enough progress to be able to return this weekend against the Saints. If he is active, fantasy managers need to get the second-year wideout back into all starting lineups. Even with one fewer game played than many of the other receivers in the league, Nacua ranks as the WR5 in half-PPR scoring with 54 receptions on 65 targets for 616 yards and two touchdowns through six games played in 2025. Even with Davante Adams in town, quarterback Matthew Stafford looks Nacua's way more often than not when he drops back to pass.

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (ankle) had a good running session on Monday, according to his head coach, Dave Canales. While he is still considered day-to-day, there is a chance he returns this week after missing one game with an ankle injury. With Andy Dalton running the show in a Week 8 loss to the Bills, the Panthers' offense struggled mightily, failing to gain 250 total yards and turning the ball over three times. While Dalton completed only 16 passes on the day, seven of those went to Tetairoa McMillan for 99 yards, signaling that the rookie receiver should be able to produce a safe fantasy floor on volume alone, regardless of who is under center when the Panthers face the Packers in Week 9.

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When asked about the team's running back situation involving both Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said, "Chuba Hubbard has meant a lot to this team. We wanted to give him an opportunity following his calf injury. But we can't ignore the fact that Rico [Dowdle] has been exceptional." Canales' tone "suggests Dowdle will get a heavier workload," according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. In the team's Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills with a negative game script, Dowdle had eight carries for 54 yards and wasn't targeted in the passing game on just 36% of the offensive snaps. Meanwhile, Hubbard had a team-high 12 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown and didn't catch his only target on 57% of the snaps. Dowdle was more efficient on the ground on Sunday and has 123 yards on 25 carries in the two games since Hubbard returned from injury. Even if Dowdle sees a bit more work going forward, this backfield split is going to cap his fantasy value every week.

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In what is becoming part of his weekly routine, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters on Monday that he has no update on the injury status of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon (foot). Mixon has been on the team's NFI list since the beginning of training camp after injuring his ankle/foot during a spring workout. More than halfway through the fantasy football regular season, managers who have kept him stashed on IR are potentially weighing their options as injuries continue to mount around the league. With the emergence of rookie Woody Marks and the loudening rumors that Mixon could miss the entirety of the season, he should no longer be viewed as a must-hold. At the same time, managers with the luxury of an open IR spot should monitor their own league's waivers, as he's dropped in more leagues each week.

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Tennessee tight end Chig Okonkwo has been named among a list of Titans players that could be made available to trade. Having fired their head coach two weeks ago and recently dealing away cornerbacks Jason Brownlee and Roger McCreary, the team is clearly making moves for the future. With the emergence of rookie tight end Gunnar Helm, the 26-year-old Okonkwo is apparently no longer viewed as part of that future. A fourth-round draft pick in 2022, Okonkwo has topped 50 receptions in each of the last two seasons and is currently on pace for a career-high 57 catches. Currently playing on the final year of his rookie deal, he's the type of sensible depth piece that could help contribute to a deep playoff run.

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Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins (shoulder) is considered day-to-day after leaving Sunday's loss to the Patriots with a shoulder injury. Judkins has been a bright spot on an otherwise pedestrian Browns offense, but in limited action on Sunday, he was held to only 19 yards on nine carries by a New England defense that has yet to allow a 50-yard rusher this season. With the Browns on a Week 9 bye, Judkins' next chance to see the field will be in a much more favorable Week 10 matchup with the New York Jets. His status should be monitored over the next two weeks, but if he is active when the team returns from the bye, he could see one of the week's highest projections.

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The Tennessee Titans have reportedly made running back Tony Pollard available in trade discussions after having already dealt away cornerbacks Jason Brownlee and Roger McCreary. The 28-year-old back has been workmanlike in his efforts this year, averaging just under four yards per carry on an offense that's had to fight for every inch. Pollard's contract runs through the 2026 season, but his dead cap for next year is only $2 million, and with him and 24-year-old Tyjae Spears seeing a near 50/50 split in recent weeks, he is clearly not a part of the Titans' long-term plans. With the NFL trade deadline just over a week away, some teams that have reportedly been in the running back market are the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and New England Patriots.

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Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears had his best game of the 2025 season in his fourth game in the 38-14 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8 on Sunday. Spears had nine carries for a season-high 59 rushing yards and also added his first touchdown of the year while also catching all three of his targets for an additional 23 yards as a pass-catcher. He played over 50% of the offensive snaps for the second time this year and had only two fewer carries than Tony Pollard, who rushed for 44 yards on his 11 rushing attempts on the day. It looks as though the 1-7 Titans plan on giving Spears more work in the backfield alongside Pollard the rest of the season, which will at least put Spears in play in fantasy football as an RB3/flex option every week. However, in one of the weaker offenses in the NFL led by rookie quarterback Cameron Ward, fantasy managers should temper expectations for Spears.

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