Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our Fantasy Football Buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the league.
Key links: Fantasy depth charts | Weekly rankings
Scoring leaders | Projections | The Playbook
Injury updates: McLaurin ready to roll, Watson on the verge of return
By Stephania Bell
Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders (quad): This finally looks to be the week that McLaurin returns from the quad injury that has sidelined him since Week 4. There was some early optimism last week that he might be active in Week 7 after returning to practice Wednesday, however a post-practice workout didn’t yield the desired results and McLaurin was held out of competition another week. He addressed the rationale when speaking with reporters Friday. “I’m an explosive athlete, so a lot of things that are part of my game, I need to feel that are at 100 percent before I can put myself out there because I’m not only hurting the team, but I’m hurting myself,” McLaurin said.
The awareness of his limitations at full speed and the wisdom of holding off another week before playing in a game (plus one extra day with this being a Monday night game) should contribute to him looking like his pre-injury self on the field. It also hopefully helps mitigate his re-injury risk, something that accompanies all soft tissue injury recoveries when returning to play. With Jayden Daniels sidelined due to a hamstring injury, the extra week of practice between McLaurin and Marcus Mariota (who will start in place of Daniels) can only help heading into the team’s big matchup against the Chiefs.
Christian Watson, WR, Packers (ACL): Somewhat quietly, Watson may be approaching his season debut on Sunday. It was earlier this year when he tore his ACL (January 5, 2025), during Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season. The Packers’ decision to open Watson’s practice window on Oct. 6 hinted at him being close to returning, but his increase in football activity has been gradual. He is now approaching the end of his 21-day practice window and must either be added to the 53-man roster or be placed on injured reserve. Packers coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Friday that “ultimately that’s going to be a medical decision.”
There are several possible options:
-
The Packers could opt to activate him before the game and have Watson play.
-
The Packers could wait until after the game against the Steelers and activate him at that time.
-
The Packers could activate him pregame and have him available but opt not to utilize him until the following week, barring an injury situation to other starters.
The hope is that any pregame transaction would come with some clarity as to his role.
It’s worth noting that wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf) will be out Sunday, wide receiver Matthew Golden was a late add to the injury report (Friday, hip) and is listed as questionable (although he appears likely to play), and wide receiver Jayden Reed remains on injured reserve as he recovers from surgery to repair a fractured collarbone and a Jones fracture in his foot.
The biggest injury risk for players like Watson coming off an ACL reconstruction is a secondary compensatory injury, most often a lower extremity strain on the same leg (i.e., hamstring, calf, quad), although opposite leg strains are known to happen as well. Given Watson’s extensive history of hamstring strains, he presents a greater risk. Watson had sought expert advice related to hamstring injury prevention in the offseason prior to the 2024 season and had shown improvement on that front. Still, coming off an ACL surgery, the hamstrings are often the most challenging muscle group to restore to pre-injury function, especially when it comes to acceleration. There will be a lot to watch when Watson returns, and the best indicator of his return to health will be how he fares after four quarters of football.
Not everybody eats on ‘Thursday Night Football’
By Eric Moody
How you feel about your fantasy team this morning likely depends not on if, but which Chargers you started Thursday night as Los Angeles put 37 points on the scoreboard against the Vikings.
Oronde Gadsden II caught all five of his targets for 77 yards and a touchdown while playing 76% of the offensive snaps and leading the Chargers in routes run. He’s now posted three straight games with 11+ fantasy points, including two with 18 or more. Gadsden remains firmly on the TE1 radar in Week 9 against a Titans defense that has allowed the ninth-most total yards per game.
Kimani Vidal operated as the Chargers’ lead back with Hassan Haskins ruled out (hamstring) and Omarion Hampton on injured reserve. He dominated the backfield in snaps, routes run and touches (24), finishing with 19.7 fantasy points. The second-year running back next faces a Titans defense that’s allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
Ladd McConkey led all Chargers wideouts in routes run, targets (10) and fantasy points (20.8). He’s now recorded nine or more targets and at least 15 fantasy points in three straight games. Keenan Allen played fewer than 50% of the Chargers’ offensive snaps for the first time this season as Los Angeles leaned more on one- and two-receiver sets. He’s primarily used in three-receiver sets with McConkey and Quentin Johnston, a role that naturally shrinks when the Chargers are ahead. Although his snap count dipped, Allen still saw solid target volume when on the field, and his usage should continue to vary based on game script.
Johnston was on the field for nearly as many snaps as McConkey and Tre’ Harris and ran the third-most routes for the Chargers, yet Johnston finished with zero targets. His quiet outing may have been due to a lingering hamstring issue and Los Angeles’ run-heavy approach against Minnesota. Still, his total lack of involvement is concerning, making him a risky flex option next week.
Aaron Jones Sr. returned from a four-game absence due to a hamstring injury and led the Vikings backfield in snaps, routes run and touches (7), while Jordan Mason had just five touches. However, this data should be taken with a grain of salt, as game script severely limited Minnesota’s ability to run a balanced offense. The fantasy value of Jones and Mason, as well as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, depends heavily on quarterback play and the health of the offensive line. The Vikings’ 164 total yards marked their lowest offensive output under Kevin O’Connell.
Lamar Jackson’s status uncertain for Sunday
By Stephania Bell
Prior to the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 7 bye, there were hints that Jackson — who injured his right hamstring in Week 4 — would be returning the following week. Well, he did return somewhat … to practice on a limited basis. While it was encouraging for Jackson to be back at practice, without seemingly much progress on the field since then, it could be a little longer for his return to full game action.
Although offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Jackson looked “really good” on Thursday, he did not sound certain about his availability for this weekend. It’s worth noting the Ravens host the Chicago Bears on Sunday and then travel to Miami just days later to play the Dolphins onThursday.
For a player like Jackson who expects to run — even sprint — throughout the course of a game, returning off a hamstring strain with a second game looming on just three days rest is a high-volume demand. With official player game status designations yet to emerge for Sunday, it appears at least uncertain whether Jackson will play this week or take a few additional days.
Friday, 8 p.m. addendum: Jackson’s status remains uncertain on Friday evening with his questionable designation but there is a bit more information. He upgraded to a full practice session Friday leaving teammates like backup quarterback Tyler Huntley saying, “He’s getting back into the swing of things and he looks good.”
Still, the team needs to see how he responds to the uptick in work Friday and, if positive, hope things remain that way on Sunday morning before declaring him the starter. As of now, the path is clear for Jackson to take the field Sunday if there are no setbacks in the interim and he feels like he can go for four quarters. If Jackson is unable to play, Huntley will get the start.
Oct. 24: Inside the numbers: A closer look at Mahomes, Ferguson, McMillan and more
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
In fantasy football, numbers are king.
Numbers make or break our fantasy matchups, but they can also tell us compelling stories that we can use to make future decisions regarding the numbers players could give us in future weeks. Possessing a thorough understanding of the numbers, and what they tell us about player skills, can make all the difference in our future matchups as well as trade and pickup analysis.
Two critical ESPN Fantasy tools help provide you this next-level insight:
-
First, Mike Clay’s Expected Fantasy Points leaderboards recalibrate players’ contributions to reflect how each player should have done based on the level of opportunity provided to him over the course of the season. This tool also uses information calculated by Clay’s Expected Touchdown Leaderboard, which determines the number of touchdowns an average player should have scored, given the player’s number of carries or targets and their location on the field. Both tools are a good way of identifying players who might progress or regress to the mean in coming weeks.
-
Second, my Consistency Ratings catalog which players have been the most consistently reliable fantasy performers week over week. These calculate the rate at which players earned your “start” for the week by ranking among a standard ESPN league’s total available lineup spots at the position, as well as offer insight as to which players score closest to their weekly averages.
Using these tools, let’s take a stroll through Week 8’s notable takeaways:
-
Patrick Mahomes‘ return to form as fantasy football’s top-scoring quarterback has been one of 2025’s top storylines to date, after he endured back-to-back disappointing seasons. He has already finished top seven at his position for the week six times, more such finishes than he had in the entirety of either 2024 (four) or 2023 (five), and he has one of the deepest groups of receivers in his career.
-
Although George Pickens’ role expanded significantly as a result of CeeDee Lamb’s injury — Pickens averaged 26.3 fantasy points during Weeks 4 through 6 — don’t underestimate the contribution of tight end Jake Ferguson in recent weeks. Ferguson, the No. 1 tight end for the season by total or average fantasy points per game, has scored 2.2 more touchdowns this year than he should’ve been expected to, thanks in large part to nine red zone targets over the past four weeks. That three came in Week 7, Lamb’s return to the lineup, was encouraging for Ferguson’s chances of maintaining weekly-starter fantasy value, but there’s bound to be a degree of regression for the tight end with the Cowboys’ passing game back at full strength.
-
Fantasy managers seeking to trade for a wide receiver should take a closer look at Carolina Panthers rookie Tetairoa McMillan, whose 25% target share ranks 15th and whose eight red zone targets are tied for 11th in the league. McMillan’s average weekly finish at his position ranks 32nd, but he would’ve been expected to score 1.1 more touchdowns and 11 fantasy points than he has thus far.
-
Sam LaPorta, the No. 1 tight end in fantasy as a rookie in 2023, has seen his per-game production drop in each of the past two seasons, and it’s now 10.7 through seven weeks of 2025. Additionally disconcerting is the fact that his production to date has been fueled by good fortune, as he has scored 20 more fantasy points than expected, largely because, per Next Gen Stats, he has totaled 92 more receiving yards than expected, second most at his position. LaPorta has finished more weeks outside the top 20 at his position (4) than within the top 10 (3), a level of production that labels him more of a matchup than a weekly fantasy option.
Mike Evans’ return to action ends abruptly with broken collarbone
By Eric Moody
Mike Evans suffered a concussion and broken collarbone against the Lions, likely sidelining him for the rest of the season. With Evans out, rookie Emeka Egbuka should take over as Tampa Bay’s primary “X” receiver, while Tez Johnson could see increased snaps if Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) remains out through Week 8. Cade Otton, who finished with nine targets and 13.5 fantasy points, also gets a boost as a reliable option in a thinned Buccaneers receiving corps. Expect Egbuka to see the biggest fantasy bump moving forward.
Other notes from “Monday Night Football” doubleheader
Jahmyr Gibbs found success both on the ground and through the air against the Buccaneers, surpassing 200 offensive yards for the first time in his career. He became the first player with at least 135 rushing yards, 80 receiving yards, and two rushing touchdowns in a game since Chris Johnson accomplished the feat with Tennessee in 2009. Gibbs led the Lions’ backfield with 20 touches and 36.8 fantasy points. It’s worth noting that Gibbs and David Montgomery weren’t far apart in snaps and routes run, as Montgomery still had 15 touches but only 5.9 fantasy points. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to trust Montgomery in fantasy lineups, even though the Lions’ rest-of-season schedule is among the easiest for running backs based on Mike Clay’s data.
The Seahawks’ backfield remains unpredictable. Kenneth Walker III handled most early-down work but struggled to produce with just 6.6 fantasy points, while Zach Charbonnet once again proved more effective for fantasy managers with 19.5 points. Charbonnet played key snaps on third downs, short yardage and goal-line situations, scoring two rushing touchdowns despite fewer carries. Walker’s lack of receiving involvement continues to cap his upside, and if Charbonnet maintains his red zone role, he could outscore Walker over the rest of the season despite a smaller workload.
Oct. 21: Week 8 injury updates
1:10
What would Brian Thomas Jr. missing time mean for Travis Hunter in fantasy?
Eric Moody reacts to Travis Hunter’s nice fantasy game vs. the Rams and breaks down how he could potentially be firmly on the WR2 radar.
By Stephania Bell
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans (concussion): Collins suffered a concussion late in the Monday night game and his status for Week 8 is uncertain. Concussion injury recovery is criterion-based, not time dependent, however it is often the case that an NFL athlete will miss at least one week of playing time while recovering. With the Texans on a short week after playing Monday night, it feels less likely at this point that Collins would be available when the team hosts the 49ers on Sunday.
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (collarbone/concussion): Any celebration of Evans’ return to action after three missed games was short-lived as he went to the ground hard in the second quarter while attempting a catch and lay motionless for several seconds afterwards. One of the biggest fears when an athlete returns from a hamstring injury is re-injury but the way Evans went down after tangling with Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (landing on both knees, then hitting his shoulder and head) looked nothing like a hamstring pull. His stillness immediately afterward told a different story. After being tended to by the medical staff, Evans slowly got to his feet and walked off with support, still appearing woozy.
Shortly after getting to the sideline, Evans was carted to the locker room, clearly in a great deal of pain. Coach Todd Bowles told reporters post-game that Evans had suffered a broken collarbone (clavicle) in addition to a concussion and that the former injury is expected to sideline him most of the season. “We’ll see what happens,” Bowles said. A hard direct hit with the right direction of force — whether it be from another player or the ground — is the most common mechanism of clavicle injury. There are many different types of fractures and that along with other player-specific considerations can influence whether surgery or non-operative care is the option. Either way, return to action requires good evidence of bone healing so as to minimize the risk of re-injury, especially in an athlete who plays a collision sport (like football or hockey).
Wide receiver Treylon Burks, formerly of the Titans, suffered a fractured collarbone in late July. He was cleared for all football activities the first week of October, approximately 10 weeks post-injury (although he has not yet played, he was recently signed to the Commanders practice squad).
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders (hamstring): Daniels suffered a right hamstring injury in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys early in the third quarter when he was sacked. He was escorted off the field by the medical staff to the blue tent, but later jogged to the locker room. He did not return to the game.
This is not the same leg Daniels injured earlier this year; in Week 2 he suffered a left knee injury that resulted in two missed games.
Given the recency of his knee injury, there is perhaps more inclination to be conservative in managing this latest hamstring injury. Not only is Daniels a true dual-threat quarterback whose functionality would be limited if he is at less than full health, his ability to protect himself would be compromised.
Coach Dan Quinn told reporters Monday afternoon that Daniels’ MRI showed no long-term issue. His status for next Monday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs remains uncertain.
Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins (pec): Waller has provided some hope for the Dolphins offense this season but his time away from the game may be showing up in injury form. Before recording any receptions in Week 7, Waller exited the game with a pectoral injury. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Waller sustained a pectoral (chest) muscle strain that will not require surgery but his status remains week to week.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (shoulder): Thomas exited the Jaguars’ Sunday morning game in London with an apparent right shoulder injury. The mechanism was not entirely clear but Thomas’s reaction suggested he was in significant discomfort. He appeared to engage briefly with Rams cornerback Cobie Durant but the contact was nothing out of the ordinary yet Thomas grabbed his right arm, visibly in pain. Perhaps there was a pre-existing issue with his right shoulder that predisposed his arm to being vulnerable to contact in certain positions.
Thomas had an injury scare in June minicamp after landing hard on his right shoulder and had to be tended to by the medical staff. He was able to return to practice the next day with what the team called a bruised shoulder but this latest episode hints at something underlying that can be aggravated with certain positions or contact. The Jaguars have a bye in Week 8 so the updates may not be forthcoming until the team returns to practice next week.
Moody’s Sunday Notebook: The stats and news behind the fantasy box scores
By Eric Moody
Alvin Kamara finished with 14 touches and just 5.9 fantasy points against the Bears, despite Kendre Miller exiting in the middle of the first quarter with a knee injury and being ruled out shortly before halftime. Kamara led the Saints’ backfield in snaps, routes run and touches. It’s worth noting that sixth-round rookie Devin Neal did not rotate in after Miller’s departure. If Miller misses additional time, Kamara’s fantasy value should see a boost.
Jordan Mason‘s snap count has increased every week, culminating in a season-high 77% against the Eagles. He’s recorded at least 15 touches in five of six games this year and has scored 10 or more fantasy points in four straight. Mason’s production has come behind a Vikings offensive line that ranks fourth in run block win rate. With Aaron Jones Sr. expected to return in Week 8, Mason’s workload may dip, but he has played well enough to force a near 50-50 split moving forward. According to Mike Clay’s strength of schedule data, the Vikings have one of the easiest remaining slates for running backs.
Tyjae Spears led the team with 22 rushing yards, but Tony Pollard dominated the backfield in snaps, including most of the third-down work. Pollard finished with 12.1 fantasy points compared to Spears’ 7.0. The Titans’ offensive line ranks 28th in run block win rate, and their schedule for running backs gets only tougher from here. Both Spears and Pollard are tough to trust in fantasy lineups right now.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was more involved in the Giants’ backfield on Sunday against the Broncos. Cam Skattebo still led New York in snaps, routes run, touches (19) and fantasy points (18.4), but Tracy finished with nine touches and 10.6 fantasy points thanks to a rushing touchdown. He may continue to cut into Skattebo’s workload and bring this backfield closer to a 50-50 split. Something to monitor moving forward.
The split between Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins in Week 7 against the Colts was eerily similar to last week, with Vidal playing roughly twice as many snaps as Haskins. He dominated touches with 13 but wasn’t very effective. The Chargers could trade for a running back before the deadline, but as I mentioned on Fantasy Football Now, I expect rookie Omarion Hampton to lead the backfield once he returns from injured reserve.
Bam Knight led the Cardinals’ backfield in snaps, touches (17) and fantasy points (9.4). Michael Carter remained involved with nine touches and 5.6 fantasy points. Both Knight and Carter are on the Flex radar in deeper leagues coming out of their Week 8 bye, as they’ll face the Cowboys in Week 9, a defense allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
Wide Receivers
DJ Moore entered Sunday’s game dealing with hip and groin injuries, yet the only Bears receiver to log more snaps, routes and targets was Rome Odunze. Even so, Moore (8.2) outscored Odunze (5.1) in fantasy points. As for Luther Burden III, despite the buzz, he’s still not seeing enough snaps or routes to be fantasy-relevant.
The Raiders ran just 30 offensive plays, their fewest in a game since 1999. Tre Tucker led the team with six targets and 8.3 fantasy points, continuing a trend of steady involvement with six or more targets in four of seven games. He has also had at least 10 fantasy points in four games, including a 40.9-point explosion against the Commanders back in Week 3. Jakobi Meyers, who requested a trade before the season and has since been the subject of ongoing rumors, could be on the move, a scenario that would further boost Tucker’s outlook.
Xavier Legette delivered a breakout performance in Week 7, catching nine of 11 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ win over the Jets. The second-year receiver led Carolina in targets, receptions and yards while running a route on nearly every dropback. With Bryce Young sidelined by an ankle injury late in the third quarter, Andy Dalton frequently looked Legette’s way, highlighting his growing role in the offense as he finished with a season-high 24.2 fantasy points. As Carolina’s emerging No. 2 receiver and a potentially reliable red zone option, Legette’s roster percentage should climb this week.
The Jets offense sputtered without Garrett Wilson, who missed Week 7 with a knee injury. Josh Reynolds operated as the top receiver, leading the team with nine targets but managing only three catches for 29 yards. Justin Fields left early with an injury and briefly returned before being benched. Tyrod Taylor took over in the second half but didn’t fare much better and threw two interceptions. With the offense struggling, New York may turn back to Fields in Week 8.
Marvin Mims Jr. finished with a season-high seven targets and 15.8 fantasy points. This was his first time playing over 50% of the offensive snaps since Week 1. Denver was playing from behind, which led them to lean more heavily on 11 personnel. While Mims might look like an appealing waiver wire pickup looking at the box score after finishing with six receptions for 85 yards and a 13-yard carry, his playing time will likely dip again moving forward.
Tight ends
The good news for his managers is that George Kittle led all 49ers tight ends in snaps and routes run. The bad news is that he failed to haul in either of his two targets, likely due to limited chemistry with Mac Jones. Once Brock Purdy returns under center, Kittle should be better positioned to deliver the kind of production fantasy managers have come to expect.
Cole Kmet suffered a back injury late in the third quarter against the Saints, was initially ruled doubtful, and did not return. Colston Loveland caught three of four targets for 24 yards, but the bigger takeaway is that it was the rookie who stepped in as Chicago’s full-time tight end, not Durham Smythe, and played 91% of the team’s final 23 snaps.
Harold Fannin Jr. finished with just 7.6 fantasy points, but his five targets were encouraging, especially in a game where Dillon Gabriel attempted only 18 passes. Fannin was on the field for 82% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps, a positive sign considering the Browns were without David Njoku, whose name continues to surface in trade rumors. According to Mike Clay’s strength of schedule projections, Cleveland’s rest-of-season outlook for tight ends gets much easier.
T.J. Hockenson has played 80% or more of the Vikings’ offensive snaps in four straight games. That’s an encouraging sign, as he’s seen at least five targets in each game, including a season-high nine on Sunday against the Eagles. Hockenson has also topped 10 fantasy points in three of those four games.
Chimere Dike made the most of his opportunity in Week 7, catching four passes for 70 yards and his first career touchdown with Calvin Ridley sidelined. The rookie has now played over 50% of the Titans 11-personnel snaps in three straight games, gradually taking time from Tyler Lockett in the slot. If Lockett is traded in the coming weeks, Dike’s role could expand further, making him a worthwhile pickup in deeper leagues. However, Elic Ayomanor has consistently run more routes per game than Dike this season.
Oronde Gadsden II exploded in Week 7, catching seven of nine targets for 164 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers’ loss to the Colts, the most receiving yards by any tight end in a game this season. The rookie played nearly 79% of offensive snaps and has now produced 41.2 fantasy points over the past two weeks.
More: Fantasy football Week 7 risers and fallers