Following an excellent start to the 2025 season, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. has cooled off as the team heads into its Week 8 bye. The fifth-year back is the No. 16 overall PPR running back, but has now recorded fewer than 50 yards rushing and no touchdowns in three straight games for the Jags, who were thoroughly quieted by the Los Angeles Rams in a 35-7 loss last week. Etienne drew only eight carries and one catch, his fewest number of touches in a game this season. The Jags traded Tank Bigsby to Philadelphia earlier this year, and rookie Bhayshul Tuten has yet to play more than a third of the team's snaps in a game, so Etienne is still the clear top option, but managers should continue to watch his usage in the weeks to come. Jacksonville travels to Las Vegas in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos (thigh) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, according to the team. Santos sustained the injury in Week 4 against the Raiders, before Chicago's Week 5 bye, and has missed the past two games. The 33-year-old kicker has been able to practice over the last few weeks, but hasn't yet gotten to the point of trusting it in a game setting. Jake Moody has handled the kicking duties well in his absence, hitting eight of nine field goal attempts, including a game-winner in Week 6 at Washington. Moody would be a solid streaming option in Week 8 at Baltimore if Santos can't play again.

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The New York Giants have signed former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III to their practice squad pending a physical, according to Art Stapleton of USA Today. McCloud was released from the Falcons on Tuesday after serving as a healthy inactive for the past two weeks. The 29-year-old wideout caught just six of 14 targets for 64 yards in four games with the Falcons before being released, but now lands with a New York Giants team that is desperate for wide receivers with star Malik Nabers (knee) out for the season. McCloud was a useful receiver for Atlanta last season while also having plenty of experience as a return man on special teams. He figures to be in the mix for routes early in New York, but likely won't be relevant for fantasy purposes.

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Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus (quadriceps) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, according to the team. McManus missed his second game of the season in Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals and is trending in the wrong direction to start the practice week ahead of Week 8's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 34-year-old kicker has been solid when he's played, making seven of nine field goal attempts and 10 of 11 extra points. If McManus is unable to go again, Lucas Havrisik will take his place as the Packers' kicker on Sunday Night Football in Pittsburgh.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (chest) was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday, according to the team. Diggs dealt with the same injury last week in practice and was ultimately able to play through it, and ran his normal route share in Week 7 against the Titans. It was another productive game for the 31-year-old wideout, catching all seven targets for 69 yards. Diggs will likely be good to go again in Week 8 against the Browns and ranks as a fringe WR1/WR2 option.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Nyheim Hines was elevated from the practice squad last week but only played on special teams, with no offensive snaps in the team's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Hines is expected to be elevated once again, especially since fellow running back Hassan Haskins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's quick turnaround against the Minnesota Vikings. The veteran will likely spell Kimani Vidal and primarily be used as a pass-catching back during the game. This will be Hines' third elevation from the practice squad, and after Thursday's game, he would need to be signed to the active 53-man roster to play in any more games this season. Hines probably won't see enough volume to matter in fantasy and can be safely kept on the bench.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre' Harris saw his production decline to two catches for 23 yards on two targets last Sunday, overshadowed by the breakout of fellow rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden. Harris remains buried on the depth chart, and facing a quick turnaround against a blitz-heavy Minnesota Vikings secondary offers no clear path to fantasy relevance. While coaches may like him, the offense currently has too many established targets, and now with Gadsden's emergence, Harris's participation may be even more limited. Harris should stay on the bench and will only be a desperation, boom-or-bust WR5/6 if a major injury occurs to the team's top three wideouts.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker continued his perfect season despite the team's 38-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, successfully converting a 43-yard field goal and all three extra points. Ahead of Thursday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings, the Chargers are projected to score 24 points, indicating a stable environment for kicking opportunities, even if the game may be more defensive due to the short week. Dicker's proven accuracy and the expectation that the high-volume Chargers offense will move the ball effectively make him one of the safest options at the position. RotoBaller has Dicker ranked as K7 this week. He can confidently be started in your lineup.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston returned after missing one game due to a hamstring injury, catching two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown on six targets in the team's 38-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Although rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden's breakout performance overshadowed him, Johnston's snap count and high route participation (93.1%) indicate he is physically healthy and remains a key part of the offense. Facing a quick turnaround against the blitz-heavy Minnesota Vikings may limit his downfield opportunities because of Justin Herbert's limited pocket time. However, the Vikings just allowed Jalen Hurts to throw three passing touchdowns on Sunday, which suggests their talented secondary still has vulnerabilities. Johnston's steady red-zone involvement keeps his touchdown upside high, balancing his lower floor. RotoBaller ranks Johnston as WR18. He should be considered a WR2/FLEX with significant touchdown upside.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen reminded managers of his veteran prowess in Week 7, thriving in a negative game script with 11 catches on 14 targets for 119 yards and a touchdown. His elite 30.4% targets per route run shows he is Herbert's most trusted target. Despite the quick turnaround and facing a talented Minnesota Vikings secondary, Allen's route running and precise timing are exactly what's needed against a blitz-heavy defense. If the Chargers' offensive line struggles again, the game script could lead to more short targets to the veteran, reducing the impact of the Vikings' top-five pass defense. RotoBaller has Allen as WR21. He remains a reliable, high-floor WR2, expected to put up solid numbers even against a tough opponent.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal was limited in Week 7, rushing for only 20 yards on nine carries as the Bolts faced a negative game script for most of the day, throwing the ball 55 times. However, he remains the clear lead back, especially since backup running back Hassan Haskins (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday. This week, Vidal faces a Minnesota Vikings run defense that is middle-of-the-pack but showed strength last week by holding Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to just 2.4 yards per carry. With Haskins out, Vidal is expected to get nearly all the early-down work and see more red-zone opportunities. The Chargers might also focus more on the run game to help reduce the pressure on Justin Herbert. RotoBaller projects Vidal as RB23, making him a reliable low-end RB2/FLEX option based on volume and potential red zone touches.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey handled a heavy workload in the team's loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, leading the Bolts in targets for the second consecutive week with 15. McConkey leads the league in total routes run (278) and posted an impressive 28.2% targets per route run last week. He now faces a tough Minnesota Vikings secondary that allows just 26.9 PPR points per game to wide receivers. However, McConkey's reliable and quick routes are an effective counter to the Vikings' blitz-heavy defense, providing Justin Herbert with an immediate outlet under pressure. His three red-zone targets last week also highlight his growing importance near the goal line. RotoBaller ranks McConkey as WR17. His target share and versatile role make him a solid mid-range WR2 start in all league formats.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off a career-best performance with 420 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. However, in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts, he faced pressure 35 times, highlighting the ongoing pressure he's been under behind a battered offensive line for most of the season. Herbert now faces a top-five Minnesota Vikings pass defense on a short week, which poses an immediate risk because the Vikings run the second-highest blitz rate in the NFL. Still, volume matters: Herbert is the most-blitzed QB in the league and just threw 55 passes. Additionally, the Vikings recently allowed 326 yards and three touchdowns to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Key offensive linemen Joe Alt (ankle), Trey Pipkins (knee), and Jamaree Salyer (knee) all practiced in some capacity this week and are listed as questionable for Thursday's game. If they play, protection could improve enough to let Herbert continue airing it out in a must-win situation. RotoBaller projects Herbert as QB11. He remains a locked-in QB1 due to his high passing volume and playmaking ability.

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The Seattle Seahawks released TE Eric Saubert Wednesday, Oct. 22.

From TheHuddle

Detroit Lions LB Zach Cunningham (hamstring) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list Wednesday, Oct. 22.

From TheHuddle

Superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings has an outstanding matchup and should be viewed as a top-tier WR1 against the floundering Los Angeles Chargers defense in this week's Thursday Night Football game. The Chargers are giving up points on more than 46% of drives, which ranks 28th in the league, and were just ransacked by the Indianapolis Colts' pass-catchers, who piled up a whopping 288 yards in a Week 7 rout. Minnesota will be stuck starting backup quarterback Carson Wentz for another week, though the veteran QB is still putting up solid yardage numbers and has peppered Jefferson with double-digit targets three games in a row. Ranked as RotoBaller's No. 2 overall receiver heading into Week 8, managers should start Jefferson in every format.

From RotoBaller

With the Minnesota Vikings set to travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers this Thursday, tight end T.J. Hockenson is a solid TE2 option with some additional upside. The downside for the big tight end is that he's clearly the team's third option behind two stellar receivers, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and will be reliant upon backup quarterback Carson Wentz. The positive part is he's still averaging 6.5 targets per game with Wentz, including one red-zone target per week. The Chargers have been strong against fantasy tight ends, but are still allowing points on 46% of opposing drives -- one of the worst rates in the league -- and just surrendered 281 total receiving yards to Indianapolis last week. With the Chargers' foremost concerns likely centered around stopping the run and the Vikings' receivers, Hockenson could have a handful of key chances to do some damage.

From RotoBaller

Following an outsized fantasy performance last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard is a mid-tier option with his team facing a Thursday night matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Reichard is the No. 8 overall fantasy kicker so far in 2025, but largely because of a five-field-goal performance in Week 7 that included a make from beyond 50. However, Minnesota is still starting turnover-happy backup quarterback Carson Wentz, whose offense scored only one touchdown from six tries last week. Reichard is now 13-for-14 on field goals this year and a capable fantasy kicker, but managers should try to find a higher-volume option with a better matchup this week.

From RotoBaller

The Minnesota Vikings will give Carson Wentz (shoulder) another start at the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, during which managers should view him as a volatile Superflex option. At this point in his career, managers should know what they're getting with the veteran quarterback. Wentz could lead a surgical game-winning drive like Week 5, throw a horrific pick-six (Week 7), be a low-volume game manager (Week 3), or chuck it for 300-plus yards (Weeks 4 and 7). The suddenly struggling Chargers are middle of the pack against fantasy quarterbacks, presenting a decent matchup, though it should be mentioned that Wentz was openly grimacing last week due to the lingering injury to his non-throwing shoulder. He is still throwing to receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison against a defense that has had its fair share of issues, however, so there is a reasonable chance for a big fantasy game. Ultimately, managers will have to gauge their risk tolerance for a gunslinging backup on a short week.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (back, shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Schultz appears to be dealing with a pair of injuries, but that didn't stop him from having success on Monday. He hauled in nine receptions for 98 yards in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Texans are banged up right now, so Schultz could see a heavy workload again this weekend. If he sits, Harrison Bryant would be asked to pick up the slack during the Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

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