Fantasy Football News

The Los Angeles Chargers are 0-7, and the backfield situation has been difficult for fantasy managers to figure out, with Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell all involved. While Hampton is the usual starter, Vidal is worth monitoring on the waiver wire, as his role is becoming more consistent. Vidal led the Chargers' backfield in snaps played with 28 in a 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. Mitchell played 19 snaps, while Hampton had 18 reps. None of the running backs were particularly productive for the Chargers against the Rams, but Vidal led the way with 23 rushing yards on eight carries (2.9 yards per carry), and added two receptions for seven yards. After having six combined carries through the first four games, Vidal has had 23 carries for 101 yards (4.39 yards per attempt) and a touchdown over the past three games. He has also recorded six receptions for 26 yards during that span. He has played at least 25 offensive snaps in each of the past four games. Vidal is currently available in 87% of Yahoo leagues. The offense for the Chargers doesn't instill much confidence for fantasy managers, and Vidal isn't a must-add player, but he is in streaming consideration for a Week 9 matchup against a stout Houston Texans defense that allows 98.0 rushing yards per game.

New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy provided a spark off the bench for his team in a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 6, and then earned the start against the Houston Texans in Week 7, leading the Giants to a 27-21 victory in overtime. McCarthy and the Giants are coming off of a bye week in Week 8, and have a Week 9 matchup with a Philadelphia Eagles defense that gives up 235.4 passing yards per game. In the past two games with the Giants, McCarthy has completed 31 out of 49 passing attempts (63.3%) for 495 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He has rushed five times for 29 yards in three games since joining the Giants. McCarthy is currently rostered in just 9% of Yahoo leagues and started in 2% of those. He could be considered a viable streaming play for fantasy managers in need against a reeling Eagles team this week, but he isn't a priority add by any means as things currently stand. McCarthy will need to show more consistency before being considered as a bench-stash option.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine has not seen a lot of opportunities as of late. In a 43-36 overtime win against the Tennessee Titans in Week 9, Perine played just 26 offensive snaps compared to 51 snaps for starting tailback Chase Brown. Perine carried the ball just four times for 10 yards (2.5 yards per carry) and made one reception for nine yards. Brown dominated touches with 12 rushes for 55 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and eight catches for 46 yards (5.8 yards per reception). After having a breakout game in a Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins with 78 total yards and a receiving touchdown, Perine has recorded just eight rushes for 26 yards and a touchdown and the lone reception for nine yards over the past two games. He played just 38 combined snaps between those two contests. Perine offers little fantasy value outside of being Brown's handcuff, and there are higher-priority waiver wire targets out there at running back.

In a 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had one of the most bizarre stat lines you will see from a starting signal-caller in the NFL. Mayfield did not complete a single pass, and he only had three passing attempts against the Falcons. It marked the first time since 1974 that a team won a game without completing a single pass. Of course, the heavy rain conditions and sloppy field played a big part in the Bucs not being able to throw the ball. Mayfield did add four rushes for 14 yards, and the Buccaneers leaned on Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell in the ground game to defeat the Falcons. The odds of Mayfield having another game like that are very slim. He will look to bounce back against the Chicago Bears in Week 9. The Bears allow 219 passing yards per game. However, in the two games since Mayfield has returned from a thumb injury, he has thrown the ball just 14 times, with seven completions for 64 yards and a touchdown. Mayfield is currently rostered in 26% of Yahoo leagues, and started in just 7% of those leagues. While desperate fantasy managers could look to stream Mayfield if absolutely needed, there are likely better waiver wire targets at the quarterback position available.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell is in his sixth season with the Rams after being drafted in the second round in 2021. He played in 10 games in 2025, earning only 15 targets and catching six of them. This year hasn't been much better, as he has caught five passes, two being in last week's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished Week 8 with 52 receiving yards on four targets, with a 40-yard long ball making up most of the receiving total. Atwell tied his season-high snap rate of 39%, producing his best outing of the year, but there is not much hope for a fantasy-viable role. He has been inactive (healthy scratch) in three games this season, which all but confirms he is not a priority in the passing game. Even with wide receiver Davante Adams' absence due to a hamstring injury likely to extend at least a few more weeks, Tutu Atwell is highly unlikely to produce fantasy-friendly outings. Atwell should remain on the waiver wire, even in deep leagues.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has been a popular name in trade discussions as of late. Recent reports are saying there is a lot of trade interest for Thomas ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. The 24-year-old has been a non-factor in this offense throughout most of the season. He was able to haul in a touchdown during last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts. Overall, this season, Thomas has only 10 receptions for 117 receiving yards and two scores. The hope is that a move elsewhere will help spark his fantasy value. Thomas had a strong rookie season in 2024, so he's capable of having success in the NFL. A change of scenery could be exactly what he needs to get back into a groove. Fantasy managers who are willing to be patient with Thomas should consider stashing him ahead of the trade deadline.

Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich has been quietly putting together decent numbers lately. Over the last three games, Dulcich has secured at least four receptions in all of them. He has also finished with 40 receiving yards or more in two of his last three games. The 26-year-old is getting the ball thrown to him consistently with 16 targets over the last three weeks. The expectation is that he'll continue to stay involved against the Detroit Lions in Week 9. The Lions have one of the worst pass defenses in the league, which could mean good results for Dulcich. Fantasy managers who are seeking a streaming option for Week 9 should consider picking up Dulcich.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter could be someone worth stashing ahead of the trade deadline. The trade rumors have been swirling that fellow wideout Brian Thomas Jr. could be moved soon. If that happens, Hunter could see more involvement as a wide receiver down the stretch of the season. His best performance so far came in Week 6 when he hauled in four receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans. Hunter is capable of being a decent receiving option, but he doesn't get enough playing time right now. He could be an intriguing stash candidate in deep leagues, assuming Thomas does end up getting traded at the deadline.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Elijah Mitchell was elevated from the practice squad for the second straight weekend on Sunday. This time around, Mitchell saw more involvement in the running game. He carried the ball 11 times for 34 yards and hauled in three receptions for an additional three yards in the loss. Lead back Saquon Barkley only had 13 carries, and he could still be dealing with a lingering back issue. It wouldn't be shocking to see Mitchell continue getting steadily involved in the rushing attack going forward. Barkley isn't going anywhere, but he could have a reduced role. Mitchell is someone worth considering as a deep league stash with Barkley banged up at the moment.

New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell is likely going to be a popular waiver-wire option after his breakout performance this past weekend. Mitchell torched the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8, when he hauled in seven of his nine targets for 142 yards and a touchdown in the loss. The 24-year-old was looking good through the first two games of the season, but he was forced to miss four straight contests due to injury. Now, Mitchell is healthy and looks like he's going to be a relevant contributor in this offense. He'll head into a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9 against a defense that has been in the middle of the road in terms of pass defense. Mitchell should be an interesting WR3 this week and is someone worth snagging off waivers.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said that veteran running back James Conner (foot) will not come off Injured Reserve to play against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, per Darren Urban of the team's official website. Arizona's backfield is suddenly very thin after the team placed rookie first-rounder Jeremiyah Love (ankle) on IR this week, and with Bam Knight in the league's concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the overtime upset of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Tyler Allgeier will be the Cardinals' lead back this weekend in Seattle, with Evan Hull and Jerome Ford set to back him up. Although the 31-year-old Conner will not be back this week, the Cardinals still think he has a chance to return in 2026 as he continues to work his way back from a right-foot injury that limited him to three games last year. The next step is for Conner to return to practice, but it does not look like that is going to happen this week. His next chance to make his season debut will come in Week 10, when the Cardinals take on the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. When/if Conner returns to Arizona's backfield, he is expected to be a change-of-pace option and not a candidate for a heavy workload.

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. "has been the area of interest for a lot of other teams." There are several receiver-needy NFL teams out there that have been shopping around for pass-catchers with the Nov. 10 trade deadline quickly approaching -- the Kansas City Chiefs are one of those teams -- and Thomas could be a target. What is unclear is whether the contending Jaguars would actually move the former first-rounder from LSU as they look to take the next step as a Super Bowl hopeful from the AFC. The 24-year-old has been the WR3 in 2026 in Duval behind Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers and has yet to exceed 40 receiving yards through seven games, but he found the end zone in the Week 8 win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts and is starting to see more reps. Thomas' dynasty and single-year fantasy value have tanked since his strong rookie year (87-1,282-10 line), but a change of scenery to a contender could jolt him back into fantasy relevance. Fantasy managers need to keep an eye on Thomas' situation with this year's trade deadline coming next Tuesday.

Former Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson was interviewed on Tuesday for the head-coaching job at North Carolina State, where he played for three seasons, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. NC State now has two former NFL greats who starred there, Wilson and Philip Rivers, as prominent head-coaching candidates. Wilson played for NC State from 2007 to 2010 before transferring to Wisconsin. The 37-year-old former third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks back in 2012 was deciding between a TV role at CBS or joining the New York Jets as the backup to Geno Smith in May, but now he is a candidate to head to the college-football coaching ranks. He officially announced his retirement from the NFL in June after playing in the NFL for 14 years with the Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants. In 205 career games during the regular season, Wilson completed 64.6% of his pass attempts for 46,966 yards, 353 touchdowns, and 114 interceptions while also rushing for 5,568 yards and 31 additional touchdowns. He was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection.

Indications point to Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (ankle) returning to practice this week after missing the required four games while on Injured Reserve, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. Bryant has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury on Oct. 4 in the loss on the road to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4, but if he returns to practice this week and looks good, he could be officially activated and return this Sunday to face the Carolina Panthers. Before getting hurt, the 23-year-old former third-rounder from Illinois caught nine of his 12 targets for 133 yards (14.8 yards per reception) and one touchdown in the first four games of his sophomore season in the NFL. Considering Jaylen Waddle's and Courtland Sutton's struggles in the passing game so far in 2026, Bryant is absolutely worth a flier off the waiver wire for fantasy managers seeking additional depth and upside at the position going into Week 9. Bryant is widely available and is only rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues with a strong upcoming matchup against Carolina's defense.

The New Orleans Saints' depth chart now lists Charlie Smyth as the starting kicker, even though he is not technically on the active roster, according to Saints reporter Jeff Nowak. The Saints cut veteran Daniel Carlson on Tuesday, and it looks like the 25-year-old Smyth is going to get the next chance to serve as New Orleans' starting placekicker as they come off their bye to face the Cleveland Browns at home this Sunday in Week 9. Smyth made his NFL debut last year with the Saints and went 12-for-16 on his field-goal attempts (4-for-6 from 50-plus yards out) and 13-for-13 on his extra points in six games played. He missed only a 56-yarder in the preseason for the Saints but still lost out on the starting job to the more experienced Carlson. Even if Smyth is officially named the Saints' new kicker, fantasy managers should be avoiding the Ireland product for this week and going forward.

The Indianapolis Colts and defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore agreed to terms on a two-year, $35 million contract extension on Tuesday that includes a $13 million signing bonus and $22.5 million in new money through next season, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The 25-year-old is cashing in on a breakout season and will still have a chance to hit the open market again in his mid-20s. The former fourth-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Northwestern had a career-high 36 tackles (14 solo), four sacks, five tackles for loss, six QB hits, and a fumble recovery in 17 games played in his third year in the league last year. Adebawore has already matched his sack total from 2025 through the first eight weeks of the 2026 season for the struggling Colts, adding 19 tackles (eight solo), four tackles for loss, eight QB hits, and two pass breakups.

The Washington Commanders placed running back Jeremy McNichols (foot) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, and he is not expected to return this season, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. It is the second time this year that McNichols has been on IR, and it will also be the last. The 30-year-old veteran injured his foot in the third quarter of the Sunday night win over the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles and never returned. He will finish his ninth year in the NFL (third with the Commanders) with only 10 carries for 34 yards and one reception for a seven-yard gain in just two games played. The Commanders also have second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) on Injured Reserve, so they are now down to Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler as their primary RBs as they head into a Week 9 contest at home against the Los Angeles Rams. With Croskey-Merritt out for at least three more games, one of Craig Reynolds or Devin Neal will likely be promoted to the active roster for this weekend's game.

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (groin) upgraded to a full practice on Tuesday after he was limited on Monday with a groin injury, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner. Hill should be good to go for Thursday night's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9 after upgrading to a full practice on Tuesday. In the Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, in a game in which both quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) were injured, Hill had three carries for 15 yards and caught four of a season-high eight targets for 20 yards in the passing game. The 28-year-old could be relied on more on short dump-offs by undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano on Thursday night, but Hill is still hard to recommend outside of the deepest of fantasy leagues this week and moving forward with Jackson likely out for the year and Huntley potentially going on Injured Reserve. In eight games in 2026, Hill has been efficient (6.5 yards per carry) on the ground and has caught 17 of his 25 passing-game targets. He should only be considered for a flex spot in PPR leagues.

For the second straight day, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (hand) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Tuesday due to a hand injury. Meanwhile, lead back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle, foot) missed practice for a second straight day with multiple injuries. Rodriguez has been the clear backup to Tuten in 2026, but with his backfield mate banged up and questionable to play in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, fantasy managers should consider picking up the 26-year-old off the waiver wire. Despite not having a ton of volume in Jacksonville's backfield, C-Rod has not been without fantasy value in his first year in Duval, recording 209 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 45 carries through seven games while adding two catches for 23 yards. He had a season-high 11 carries for 55 yards in the Week 6 win over the division-rival Houston Texans and found the end zone for the third time this year in Sunday's blowout win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts. If Tuten does not get cleared to play on a short week on Thursday night, Rodriguez will have clear RB2 upside for fantasy managers.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (hamstring, ankle) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Tuesday for the second straight day. Meyers is battling through multiple injuries and also put in two limited practices last week before sitting out of Friday's practice. The 29-year-old still ended up suiting up in the Week 8 blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts, but he caught just two of his three targets for a season-low 24 yards. Meyers' muted production on Sunday most likely had more to do with the blowout nature of the game against the Colts than anything else, and he should be ready to go on a short turnaround to kick off Week 9 action this Thursday night in a good matchup against the banged-up Baltimore Ravens. In his first full season in Jacksonville, Meyers has caught 22 of his 31 targets for 309 yards (14.0 yards per reception) and two touchdowns. Both he and Brian Thomas Jr. have taken a back seat to Parker Washington, but as long as he is active for Thursday Night Football, Meyers should be treated as a WR4/flex option for fantasy managers this week.