Fantasy Football News

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk owes the team roughly $13 million in bonus forfeiture, which is a potential complication in his efforts to secure his release by reporting to the 49ers' facility on Friday, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. The NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association are both involved in trying to resolve the situation. The sides could reach an agreement to pay back the money, or it could go to arbitration. The 28-year-old missed the entire 2025 campaign due to a torn ACL that he suffered in 2024, and the 49ers placed him on the left-team list late last year. If this goes to arbitration, it will delay Aiyuk's attempt to return to the NFL by forcing his release from the 49ers. It was already more of a long shot that Aiyuk would retain any kind of fantasy football value for the rest of the 2026 season, and this news makes it even more unlikely. The former first-rounder from Arizona State had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the Bay Area before his season-ending knee injury in 2025, but it remains to be seen what kind of shape he is in if/when he eventually gets another shot with a new organization.

New Orleans Saints rookie first-round tight end Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Thursday for the second straight day, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. However, Underhill added that Tyson does not look limited as he tries to convince the coaching staff that he is ready to come off Injured Reserve to make his NFL debut in Week 9 on Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Browns. The Saints are not going to rush the 22-year-old back, though, and they may require him to put in a full practice before they seriously consider activating the young pass-catcher from IR. If Tyson is active this weekend for his first NFL game, he will be an extremely risky option as a fantasy starter in his first game, which could come with a strict snap count. But eventually, Tyson is expected to develop into the Saints' WR2 across from Chris Olave, which makes him stash-worthy in most fantasy football leagues. When he returns, it will knock Devaughn Vele's fantasy stock down as a potential flex option in deeper fantasy leagues. Tyson has major upside, but his floor also remains low due to a lengthy injury history from his college days.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has surpassed his fantasy expectations so far this year, being drafted as the RB28 before the season, while returning RB20 value in fantasy points per game so far. He has gained 367 yards on the ground, 212 yards on 23 receptions through the air, and has scored three touchdowns in eight games. His running back mate, Treyveon Henderson, suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 5 but returned in Week 6 and has continued to be an afterthought in the Patriots' offense. Henderson may be inactive (illness) in Week 9, which would put Stevenson in line for even more work. Stevenson has rushed 39 times, averaging 3.59 yards per carry, and caught eight passes on eight targets over the previous three weeks. While he hasn't been the most efficient, Stevenson has maintained a solid workload. This should continue even with second-year RB Corey Kiner getting some work and the eventual return of Henderson, giving Stevenson mid-to-low-end RB2 value. The Patriots trust Stevenson on passing downs and in the red zone, so he should have plenty of opportunity there in their Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, which could result in a substantial point total.

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (chest) opened up the week with a limited practice session on Thursday. Kincaid was also nursing a chest injury last week before suiting up and catching four of his six targets for 86 yards and his second touchdown of the season in the 36-10 rout of the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Week 8. The 27-year-old should be fine to play again this weekend on the road against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night as long as he does not have a setback with his chest. The upcoming matchup is not great against one of the best defenses in the league, so fantasy managers should have Kincaid on the TE1/2 borderline as he comes off one of his best games of the season. In seven games played in 2026, Kincaid is the TE11 in half-PPR scoring with 27 receptions on 35 targets for 401 yards and two touchdowns. If Kincaid carries a questionable tag into the Monday night contest in Minnesota, fantasy managers may want to look for other streaming options that aren't as volatile this week.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (rib) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day on Thursday due to a rib injury, according to Tim Twentyman of the team's official website. St. Brown came out of Sunday's win over the division-rival Minnesota Vikings briefly with a rib injury but later returned. The Lions are taking it easy on the star receiver in practice this week, but he should be fine to play this weekend on the road in an excellent matchup against the Miami Dolphins. If the 27-year-old can upgrade to a full practice on Friday, he could be removed from the final Week 9 injury report. St. Brown is one of the highest-floor fantasy receivers in the game with 53 receptions on 76 targets for 571 yards and five touchdowns across the first seven games of the 2026 season. The four-time Pro Bowler saw only eight targets in Sunday's win over Minnesota, which was his first time without double-digit targets since the win over the New York Jets on Sept. 27. That was also the last time he found the end zone.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was held out of practice on Thursday due to a knee injury, according to Dan Salomone of the team's official website. Nabers was a non-participant and worked with trainers on Thursday after being a full-go on Wednesday, but he told reporters afterwards that he will "be good" for the Week 9 game on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. If the 23-year-old former first-rounder from LSU returns to practice on Friday, fantasy managers will feel a lot better about his status going into the weekend. Remember, Nabers tore his right ACL in Week 4 of the 2025 campaign and missed the rest of the year. He has had an incredible bounce-back season to this point in 2026, though, catching 48 of his 70 targets for 605 yards and two touchdowns for a 12.6 yards-per-catch average. As long as Nabers is cleared to go on Sunday in Philadelphia, he should remain locked into all starting fantasy football lineups. He will be going for his fifth straight game with 100-plus receiving yards this weekend if his knee allows him to play.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice filed for bankruptcy in federal court on Wednesday, claiming he has more than $3.45 million in debts, according to federal court records, per ESPN's Nate Taylor and Michael Rothstein. Rice claimed that more than $2.1 million of his debts are tied to varying plaintiffs suing him in civil litigations that have either been settled or are awaiting trial. The 26-year-old has been sued by multiple individuals for his role in a high-speed multi-car crash in Dallas in 2024 and an ex-girlfriend alleging he repeatedly assaulted her from 2023 to 2025. Rice claimed to have $677,054 in personal assets, including $421,825 in "deferred compensation." The filing claims he has $13,640 in his checking accounts. Rice claimed $39,241 of his personal assets to be non-exempt. He is in the final year of his rookie contract with the Chiefs and is expected to make $1,560,711 in base salary in 2026. Rice has already missed two games this year with a hamstring injury and has been mostly a disappointment as a WR2 for fantasy managers, with 20 catches for 243 yards and two touchdowns. If the Chiefs add a WR by Tuesday's trade deadline, Rice's fantasy ceiling for the rest of the year will take a hit.

Chicago Bears third-year wide receiver Rome Odunze has not been quite as effective as he was last year at the start of the season. Through eight games in 2025, Odunze amassed 473 receiving yards and five TDs on 31 receptions. In 2026, post Week 8, he currently has 468 receiving yards and no TDs on 28 receptions. However, the Bears offense has been humming, scoring 95 points over the past three weeks with QB Caleb Williams back at the helm, proving the team can support plenty of fantasy points. The team has 11 offensive touchdowns. Odunze comes in at WR70 (minimum three games played) in fantasy points per game, but has the 22nd most receiving yards in the league. The high-octane Bears offense will keep scoring, so if Rome Odunze can garner more red zone targets, of which he already has five, he will begin to tack on touchdowns, making him valuable as a fantasy WR3. The Bears' Week 9 opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing WRs at 27.5 points, and boast the fourth-highest blitz rate in the NFL. Odunze's Week 9 matchup may not be ideal for his high average depth of target, 15.1 yards, either. Regardless, Odunze is putting up solid receiving numbers, and if he can start scoring touchdowns, he should become a solid WR3/flex this season.

Despite quarterback Lamar Jackson's thumb injury that is expected to keep him out for the rest of the 2026 season, the Baltimore Ravens are willing to make Jackson the highest-paid player in NFL history, according to NFL on Prime's James Palmer. Baltimore officially placed Jackson on Injured Reserve on Thursday, and the expectation is that he will be ruled out for the year when he has right-thumb surgery in the coming days. The 29-year-old two-time MVP has a full no-trade clause and a no-tag clause. The Ravens will have to do something, as Jackson has an $84.34 million salary cap hit for next season in what will be the final year of the five-year, $260 million contract he signed with the Ravens in April of 2023. The two sides will attempt to get something done after the end of the 2026 season and before the start of free agency in 2027. The four-time Pro Bowler played in only 13 games due to various lower-body injuries in 2025 and will likely finish with five starts in 2026 due to thumb and ankle injuries. Injuries have become a major issue for Jackson over the last two years, but the Ravens know that QBs like Jackson do not grow on trees. Jackson will be a risk/reward high-end QB1 for his dual-threat abilities in 2027 in fantasy football.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) is trending toward being inactive this weekend against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals in Week 9 on Sunday after missing a second straight practice on Thursday due to a knee injury, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. Shaheed missed the Monday night loss to the Chicago Bears due to a knee injury and is likely to be ruled out for a second straight game unless he can get back on the practice field in some capacity on Friday. But even if the 28-year-old somehow is cleared to play this weekend against Arizona, he will be a boom-or-bust deep-league flex option at receiver, at best, especially with quarterback Sam Darnold (quadriceps) ruled out this week due to injury. If Shaheed misses a second straight contest, look for Tory Horton to have an elevated role as the WR2 behind superstar Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Shaheed continues to play more of a role on special teams as a returner for the Seahawks, as he has caught just 16 passes for 163 yards and zero touchdowns in seven games in 2026.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (ribs) missed practice for a second straight day on Thursday, according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Parkinson has not practiced since injuring his ribs in the Week 7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and he did not play in last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The 27-year-old is trending toward missing a second straight game this weekend unless he can return to practice in some capacity on Friday. With Terrance Ferguson (ankle) still on Injured Reserve, both Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen could have elevated roles this weekend in Washington against the Commanders if both Parkinson and Ferguson are sidelined in Week 9. Parkinson belongs on the waiver wire in most fantasy football leagues as an inconsistent contributor in L.A.'s crowded TE group this year. Through six games in 2026 in his seventh year in the NFL, he has only 14 receptions on 19 targets for 103 yards and one touchdown for the Rams.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson (ankle) was a limited participant in practice again on Thursday, according to Greg Beacham of The Associated Press. Ferguson remains on Injured Reserve and may need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to have a shot at officially being activated in order to return to action in Sunday's road matchup against the Washington Commanders in Week 9. The 23-year-old has been out since suffering an ankle injury in the Week 3 loss to the Denver Broncos and has missed five games. When he returns, he could immediately become the Rams' No. 2 pass-catching option behind star receiver Puka Nacua with Davante Adams (hamstring) still out for the foreseeable future, making him a priority waiver-wire stash for fantasy managers looking for more upside at the TE position. Ferguson caught seven passes on 12 targets for 63 yards and a touchdown in his first three games of the year after posting an 11-231-3 line on 25 targets in 14 regular-season games as a rookie in 2025. He is widely available on the waiver wire and is currently rostered in only 17% of Yahoo leagues.

Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett reportedly requested a trade from the Arizona Cardinals after being benched in favor of Gardner Minshew II in the Week 8 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys, according to Bo Brack of PHNX Sports. The 33-year-old went 10-for-23 passing for 119 yards and an interception at the time of his benching, and the Cardinals demoted him to the third-string QB role earlier this week before granting his trade request and shipping him to the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. In Baltimore, Brissett is expected to take over the starting duties under center, starting in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, with both Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) expected to miss the rest of the season. Brissett completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,719 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his first eight starts this year for the Cardinals after a career year in 2025 after taking over for the injured Kyler Murray. In Baltimore, Brissett will once again become a QB2 streamer in superflex fantasy leagues.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk (knee) was downgraded to a non-participant in Thursday's practice after he was limited in the first session of the week on Wednesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Although Kirk has not really moved the needle at all in fantasy football leagues in 2026, his absence at Thursday's practice is notable, with both veteran wideouts Mike Evans (Achilles, ribs) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) unlikely to return to action this weekend against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in Week 9. Mid-week downgrades are usually never good, so there is a real possibility that the Niners will also be without Kirk as they come out of their bye week. Sadly, even if Kirk is fine and plays on Sunday, he will be a hard-to-trust deep-league flex option despite the banged-up nature of the team's receiving corps. Kirk has had trouble staying on the field since the 2023 campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars and has played in just one game in 2026. He did not see a single target in the Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in his debut with the 49ers.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) is good to go and will be active on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens after going through a pre-game workout, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Tuten went through an extensive pre-game workout and plans to "let it rip," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The 23-year-old had a career-best day in the Week 8 blowout win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, recording 104 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries while adding 55 receiving yards and another score on two receptions, but he came out of that contest with an ankle injury that made him a game-time decision for Thursday's Week 9 tilt in Baltimore. Now that Tuten is officially cleared to play against the Ravens, fantasy managers should be looking to get him into their starting lineups for the week. Going into this week's action, Tuten is the RB15 in half-PPR scoring in what has been a breakout year for him as Jacksonville's clear RB1. Managers who were ready to use Chris Rodriguez Jr. as a plug-and-play option in case Tuten was inactive can stand down now.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) was limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Pickens is no longer listed with a shoulder injury on Dallas' injury report, but he remains limited with a hamstring issue that is not expected to keep him from playing on Sunday on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. In the Week 8 upset loss to the Arizona Cardinals in overtime, the 25-year-old played 57% of the offensive snaps and caught just two passes for 48 yards on four targets in a frustrating showing for fantasy managers in an excellent matchup. Pickens will have another strong matchup this weekend in Indy and could be funneled targets after owner Jerry Jones said earlier this week that the Cowboys need to get the star wideout more involved. Despite not producing at the elite level he did in 2025 in his first year with the team, Pickens should remain a must-start WR2 for fantasy managers going into Week 9.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring, knee) is on track to play in Week 9 on Sunday against the visiting New York Jets after upgrading to a full practice on Thursday, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. Rice was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, but now that he is back to a full-go, fantasy managers should not have any concerns about his status going into the weekend. The 26-year-old returned from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury in the Week 8 loss to the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sunday to catch seven of his eight targets for 53 yards and his second touchdown of the season. Another week removed from his hamstring injury, Rice should be in most starting fantasy lineups this weekend against a reeling Jets defense. In five games played so far in his fourth year in the NFL, Rice has posted 20 receptions on 25 targets for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He should be considered a solid WR2 option for fantasy managers as the Chiefs look to put an end to their current two-game losing streak.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) missed another day of practice on Thursday and is trending in the wrong direction to play in Week 9 on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants. Wicks is heading toward missing a third straight game, as is teammate DeVonta Smith (hamstring), who has not practiced or played since injuring his hamstring in the Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The 25-year-old Wicks was a buzzy player during training camp and the preseason as one of the primary beneficiaries of A.J. Brown being traded to the New England Patriots in the offseason. So far in 2026, in his first year in Philly, Wicks has failed to deliver on that promise, catching 19 of his 32 targets for 284 yards and just one touchdown in six games played. And with Jalen Hurts (blood clots) out for the remainder of the season, the likelihood of Wicks becoming an every-week fantasy starter is remote. Wicks is now only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues as he looks unlikely to return this weekend. The Eagles have their bye in Week 10, so if Wicks is not cleared this week, his next chance to play will not come until Nov. 22 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) missed another practice on Thursday and is trending toward missing a third straight game due to a hamstring injury in Week 9 against the division-rival New York Giants. Smith has not practiced since injuring his hamstring in the Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and he will likely need to return to practice in some capacity on Friday to avoid being ruled out for a third straight game this weekend. Additionally, fellow wideout Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) missed another practice as well. If both Smith and Wicks miss another game, rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper should continue to operate as Philly's top two receiving options for new starting quarterback Joe Milton II, who will be making his debut with the Eagles against the G-Men. Smith's fantasy stock has dropped drastically ever since it was announced that starting QB Jalen Hurts (blood clots) would miss the rest of the year. The good news is that Smith could have a higher fantasy ceiling once he returns now that the more athletic Milton is the team's starter under center. Smith has been a disappointment so far this year as the Eagles' WR1, catching 26 of his 41 targets for 310 yards and two touchdowns in only four games played.

Kansas City Chiefs veteran tight end Travis Kelce (ankle) upgraded to a full practice on Thursday, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. Kelce should be fine to play in the Week 9 contest on Sunday against the visiting New York Jets after being limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer has not been turning heads with his production so far in what could be his last year in the NFL, but he has quietly led the team in receptions and receiving yards in each of the last two weeks, both losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. Kelce has caught nine of his 15 targets over that span for 111 yards and a touchdown, and he will remain at least a low-end TE1 option for fantasy managers as the Chiefs look to get back in the win column at home against the Jets this weekend. Overall, through eight weeks (seven games), Kelce has caught 29 passes for 410 yards and two touchdowns on 42 targets. The 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro continues to be a reliable safety valve for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.