Fantasy Football News

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced that running back Jonathan Taylor and wideout Josh Downs are expected to have their normal workload in Week 8 against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Both players traveled with the team despite being involved in trade rumors ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, November 10, at 4:00 pm ET. Downs officially requested a trade Wednesday after the team traded away franchise cornerstones Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. Taylor announced on Thursday that he met with Colts ownership about his role and future with the organization, but he hasn't requested a trade. Both names will be worth heavily monitoring as we get closer to the trade deadline. Taylor remains a set-it-and-forget-it fantasy player, while Downs will continue to be seen as a flimsy flex option in Week 8.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell (hip) is expected to play in Week 8 against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. Gainwell was originally listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup, but the team has not elevated anyone from the practice squad, suggesting Gainwell will be active. In addition, the 27-year-old was a full participant in the Buccaneers' final practice on Friday. Gainwell enters Week 8 as RotoBaller's PPR RB41 and should be out of fantasy lineups if possible. He's been unable to replicate his fantasy production from his time in Pittsburgh a year ago and has operated as the RB2 behind Bucky Irving. In seven games, Gainwell has surpassed double-digit fantasy points once, and it took a receiving touchdown to do it.

Seattle Seahawks wideout Rashid Shaheed (knee) has been ruled out for Monday night's Week 8 game against the Chicago Bears, according to Gregg Bell of 93.3 KJR FM Seattle. Shaheed did not participate in practice this week leading up to the game. The 28-year-old sustained the knee injury during a collision with Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the end zone during their Week 7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. This marks the first game Shaheed has missed this season, but he could be in danger of missing more time after missing every practice this week. Shaheed has seen a limited role in the offense, catching 16 of his 29 targets for 163 yards and no touchdowns. In his absence, tight end AJ Barner and wideout Tory Horton could see their role grow in the passing game this week.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is a potential streaming option in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. The Bears' defense has been suspect at times this season, and Darnold seemed to be more under control in Week 7. The main factor holding Darnold back in fantasy throughout this season has been his turnovers. He has thrown multiple interceptions in three games, and he has thrown at least one interception in each game he has been healthy for. Darnold threw a red zone interception in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he played efficient, mistake-free football otherwise. It was an encouraging sign for his rest-of-season prospects. The Bears are No. 26 against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy, allowing 19.88 points per game. Darnold should be able to deliver in the range of 250 passing yards and multiple touchdowns. He should outperform his ranking as QB22. Given the throws of bye weeks we find ourselves in, Darnold is a potential fantasy option.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba could be the No. 1 wide receiver on the week in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. The Bears' defense is No. 15 against opposing wide receivers in fantasy. However, this unit does not have any players that are capable of matching up with JSN one-on-one. Smith-Njigba has only scored fewer than 22.80 fantasy points on one occasion this season. He has reached 31.30 fantasy points on three occasions this year, and he has as good a chance to do so in Week 8. Whether Seattle is ahead or trailing, this team heavily targets JSN, who leads the league with a 36.8% target share. If Seattle manages to fall behind in this game, JSN's ceiling will be exceptionally high. Either way, Smith-Njigba should confidently be in your lineup. He is a near guarantee to finish as a WR1 in a matchup that will be favorable.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp could see an extra target or two in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. For starters, fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed (knee) is slated to miss this matchup after suffering a knee injury in Week 7. Additionally, this game could be a high-scoring affair given Chicago's potential ability to put up points despite Seattle boasting an elite defense. Either way, Kupp could push for five targets in this game. However, Kupp still does not have much fantasy value even with the potential increase in volume. He generally only provides fantasy value in games in which he scores, or when Seattle is in a shootout. Predicting a Kupp touchdown is a difficult task, and even if Chicago can put up some points, it is hard to count on a shootout with Seattle's defense involved. Kupp is entering the week ranked at WR48. He would be a risky flex play at best should you decide to play him.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is not on the fantasy radar in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. The Bears are No. 17 against opposing tight ends in fantasy, but Barner does not receive enough consistent volume to be a predictable fantasy asset. However, if you are in absolutely dire straits at tight end in a deep league, there is a chance Barner receives an extra look or two due to the absence of wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) this week. Quarterback Sam Darnold could look his way in more third-down situations and short-yardage, but he would be a risky play. With wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba receiving the bulk of targets in the offense, there is little room for anyone else in fantasy. Barner plays his role within the offense very well, but that role is difficult to trust in fantasy. He should be left on waivers unless you have no other options and are counting on a potential touchdown.

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers should be a strong play in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. Myers is the K8 heading into this game. He has been a consistent producer in the seven- to eight-point range in fantasy. Myers' superpower has been his accuracy. He has only missed two total kicks this season, and the Seahawks have been kicking more field goals in recent weeks, leading to more fantasy points for Myers. No matter what, the Seahawks should be in scoring position plenty of times throughout this game. Chicago does not boast an elite defense, and it should take newly acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons a few weeks to get up to speed and make a marked impact. As such, you can fire up Myers as a top 10 option in a game with a 46.5-point over/under.

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) is a risky flex play in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. This will be Charbonnet's first game back from his torn ACL. He is unlikely to see much volume after missing the last 11 months rehabbing. However, you should keep a close eye on Charbonnet's usage and snap count in this game. Seattle's running game has been suspect this season, with Charbonnet missing the first seven weeks and rookie running back Jadarian Price (chest) missing the last four. The Seahawks have been long awaiting Charbonnet's return and are eager to use his skill set. Now that the team will enter a week with its entire running back room healthy for the first time this season, we could see a significant rotation of backs. Still, Charbonnet should work his way into a 50% snap share, which would be on par with what he enjoyed in 2025. He is always a threat to score a touchdown (12 in 2025), but it would be difficult to trust Charbonnet in fantasy this quickly off his injury.

Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (chest) is a low-end flex play at best in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. Price is coming off a stint on IR and will likely split time with Zach Charbonnet (knee) and Emanuel Wilson. Price was not incredibly effective before the injury, but with the entire running back room healthy, Seattle may be able to use Price to his strengths, allowing him to thrive. Still, it will be difficult to trust Price in Week 8, especially with Chicago allowing the seventh fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Keep a close eye on how Seattle utilizes its backs. Wilson has been relatively effective in the lead back role with Charbonnet and Price out, but he projects to phase out of the offense as the former two take over. However, Week 8 will likely feature a substantial rotation of the three, resulting in depressed fantasy value for all of them.

Seattle Seahawks rookie first-round running back Jadarian Price (chest) doesn't carry an injury designation into Monday's Week 8 contest against the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks still need to activate Price from injured reserve, but it sounds like that's merely a formality at this point, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Price is "expected to play" on Monday night. The rookie will return to action the same week that teammate Zach Charbonnet makes his season debut after recovering from a serious knee injury that he suffered during the 2025 playoffs. It should come as no surprise that Charbonnet will be the No. 1 ball-carrier in Seattle's backfield going forward, but Price has the skill set necessary to carve out standalone fantasy value in his role as the No. 2 running back. The Notre Dame product averaged an impressive 4.3 yards per carry before landing on IR after Week 3 this season, but he'll need to clean up his ball security issues, given that he fumbled twice on just 32 touches across three games. We'd recommend sitting Price in fantasy football this week because it's his first week back from injury, his exact role behind Charbonnet is uncertain, and he's going up against a revamped Bears defensive line led by Jeffery Simmons. However, Price is absolutely still worth stashing on the bench in most leagues, as he has a path to consistent RB3/flex value throughout the second half of the season.

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) does not carry an injury designation into Monday's Week 8 contest against the Chicago Bears, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Charbonnet will make his season debut on Monday Night Football, and he's not expected to have any limitations. As a result, he should lead the backfield in touches, making him an immediate RB2 in fantasy football. Charbonnet will have the tough luck of going up against newly acquired Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, but at the same time, he'll benefit from running behind an improved Seahawks offensive line that now includes guard Quenton Nelson. While the 25-year-old will operate as Seattle's No. 1 running back, he may share some volume with Jadarian Price (chest), who has also been cleared to play on Monday, pending his activation from injured reserve. Monday's game will provide fantasy managers with key context about how this backfield will operate throughout the second half of the season. As it stands, Charbonnet is the only Seahawks running back we'd feel very comfortable starting in Week 8.

Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey (knee) has been placed on short-term injured reserve with a knee injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. As a result, the second-year running back will not be eligible to return until December 6 to face the Miami Dolphins (Week 13). Harvey sustained the injury in practice this week but hopes to avoid an extended absence. While he has not been involved much on the ground (averaging just 4.0 attempts per game), he has been a top option in QB Bo Nix's passing attack. Through six games, Harvey has drawn 4.7 targets per game and averaged 36.2 receiving yards per game. While he remains on the shelf, managers should expect J.K. Dobbins to see a larger share of the early-down work, with rookie Jonah Coleman moving up to the No. 2 role in the backfield.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Konata Mumpfield has taken on a larger role over the last two weeks with Davante Adams (hamstring) injured, and that pattern should continue in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Over the last two weeks, Mumpfield posted a 45% snap share with five targets, three catches, and 30 receiving yards. These numbers aren't quite impressive enough to make him a reliable fantasy starter, but his role as the No. 2 wide receiver in Los Angeles' high-volume passing offense is certainly intriguing. There could be a few extra targets to go around this week, too, with Colby Parkinson (rib) questionable but trending in the wrong direction. Mumpfield is a solid stash in deeper fantasy formats, but we'd be hesitant to roll him out as a starter in leagues with 14 or fewer teams, especially in a projected positive game script environment.

New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III is expected to take on a substantial role in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins. With teammate A.J. Brown (knee) ruled out and both Mack Hollins (calf) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) on injured reserve, Chism enters this weekend as the projected No. 2 wide receiver. He presumably finds himself ahead of Kyle Williams and behind DeMario Douglas in the pecking order, although he'll likely also operate behind tight end Hunter Henry. Still, being the No. 3 target on offense is enough to generate some fantasy appeal, especially for someone who is in such a strong offense like the Patriots and finds themselves playing against a weaker team like the Dolphins. Chism has just one catch over his last two games, but he has played at least 62% of the snaps in each of his last three contests. Presumably, his snap and target share will jump in Week 8, and we'd expect to see him on the field for at least 70% of the offensive plays. Looking specifically at the matchup, we do have some concerns about game script. Offenses have consistently run the ball against Miami this year because the Dolphins have been weak on both sides of the ball, so this may be a better spot for the Patriots' running backs than their receivers. With that said, Chism's recent volume (and projected increase in snaps) should continue to get him on the low-end WR3/flex radar in deeper 14+ team leagues.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter appears to be taking on a larger role offensively, which puts him back on the fantasy radar for Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. When the Jaguars last played in Week 6, Hunter handled a low 13% snap share, but he was targeted four of the nine times he got on the field. He finished that game with four catches, 59 yards, and one touchdown. He also logged his second interception of the season. Predicting Hunter's week-by-week involvement on offense and defense is difficult, which makes him a riskier play for Week 8 against Indianapolis. However, he does remain an intriguing fantasy starter, especially as the Jaguars appear to reshuffle their depth chart. Brian Thomas Jr. has become a non-factor and Josh Cameron is still adjusting to the NFL, which leaves Hunter in the mix to be the team's No. 3 receiver behind Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers. The former first-round pick's increased volume in Week 6 is enough to get him on the low-end WR3/flex radar in deeper leagues this Sunday. He ranks as the overall WR55 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 8.

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little remains a top kicking option in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars offense should have no problem moving the ball against the Colts' defense, especially coming off a bye. Little is 10 of 12 on field goals and 16 of 17 through six games, and his season-long field goal is 60 yards. With his combination of power and accuracy, it is hard to imagine Little ever not being viewed as a top fantasy kicker this season as long as the Jaguars offense continues to hum. The Colts franchise is trending in the wrong direction, meaning a potential blowout is in store, confirmed by the Jaguars being viewed as double-digit home favorites according to betting lines. That is great news for fantasy managers. Just as he has all season, Little should be viewed as a top-tier fantasy kicker in Week 8.

The Las Vegas Raiders have activated wide receiver Jack Bech (forearm) from injured reserve. Bech is technically still listed as questionable for Week 8 against the New York Jets, but his return from injured reserve indicates that he will be active for Sunday's contest. Bech was off to a mediocre start to the season before getting injured. In two games (plus part of Week 3), he caught five passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. Now, he'll return to a passing attack that has been heavily anchored by Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker. In the receiver room, Bech may have a chance to occupy the No. 2 role behind Tucker, but he'll first have to beat out Jalen Nailor, who handled a season-high 75% snap share last week. For now, he's the No. 3 receiver behind Tucker and Nailor, leaving him off the fantasy radar in redraft leagues with 14 or fewer teams.

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (neck) has been removed from the injury report and will play in Monday's Week 8 contest against the Seattle Seahawks, according to Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune. Loveland popped up on the injury report Friday as a limited participant in practice, but he has since been cleared to suit up against Seattle. His availability will give quarterback Caleb Williams another reliable target alongside Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. Loveland got off to a quiet start this season, but he has recently turned a corner with 21 catches, 210 yards, and two touchdowns over his last four games. He ranks as a mid-range TE1 in fantasy football, but he'll also have to endure a tougher matchup against the Seahawks, who have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2026.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange has potential for a great outing in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts after practicing in full all week. The two franchises are heading in opposite directions, meaning a blowout could be brewing. With teammate Jakobi Meyers not practicing Friday, Strange could be second in line after Parker Washington for looks from Trevor Lawrence this weekend. The Colts rank just 20th against tight ends in fantasy, considerably worse than their 10th rank against wide receivers. If Meyers is ruled out, suddenly Strange has very little target competition in a great matchup. At a shallow position in fantasy, that combination makes Strange a clear top tight end option this week. Even if Meyers does play, he could be limited, meaning Strange should be viewed as a solid starter no matter what. With 19 of his 26 receptions coming in the last three weeks through six games, Strange seems destined to continue his recent success in Week 8.