Week 8 Injury Report, Week 7 Team by Team Notes, Recap
Week 8 Injuries
RB
Saquon Barkley (Elbow) — Expected IN
Bijan Robinson (Headaches) — Expected IN
Jerome Ford (ankle) — Expected OUT
Roschon Johnson (Concussion) — Questionable
David Montgomery (Ribs) — Expected OUT
Zach Charbonnet (Hamstring) — Expected OUT
WR
(MNF) Deebo Samuel (Shoulder) — Expected OUT
Christian Watson (Knee) — Questionable
DK Metcalf (Hip) — Expected IN
Zay Jones (knee) — Questionable
Justin Watson (Elbow) — Questionable
JuJu Smith-Schuster (Head) — Questionable
Laviska Shenault Jr. (Ankle) — Questionable
Chris Moore (Concussion) — Questionable
Tank Dell (Concussion) — Expected IN
Treylon Burks (knee) — Expected IN
TE
Luke Musgrave (ankle) — Questionable
Gerald Everett (Quad) — Questionable
Kylen Granson (concussion) — Questionable
Greg Dulcich (hamstring) — Questionable
Juwan Johnson (Calf) — Expected IN
Zach Ertz (Quad) — Placed on IR
Pat Freiermuth (Hamstring) — Placed on IR
QB
Deshaun Watson (Shoulder) — Questionable
Justin Fields (Thumb) — Expected OUT
Jimmy Garoppolo (Back) — Expected IN
Daniel Jones (Neck) — Questionable
Kyler Murray — Questionable
Ryan Tannehill (Ankle) — Off Bye; Expected OUT
Week 7 Recap
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WATCH: Week 7 NFL Recap, Week 8 NFL Spreads, Best & Worst Team Rankings | Cooking With Cust: Pop Tarts
TEAM BY TEAM NOTES
CLE: How bad can this offense be? The Colts entered the week ranked 23rd in yards per pass allowed ... the Browns had one completion and one interception through the first 26 minutes of this game. Game minutes, not minutes on your clock. Ford and Hunt both scored, but any member of this offense is going to be difficult to trust, even with a pair of plus matchups coming up (at SEA, vs AZ).
IND: I don't want to say that we got some vintage Jonathan Taylor work against the best defense in the NFL, but I'm not saying we didn't (20+ yard catch and a 20+ yard run, not to mention a TD carry). The Colts close the fantasy season with the Falcons and Raiders ... JT won't come cheap right now, but there's a chance he pays off at the perfect time.
BUF: The Dalton Kincaid breakout? Finally? Even in a big game for him, Dawson Knox had a TD taken off the board. I'm typically slow when it comes to counting on a rookie at the TE position and
NE: Not one. I understand that Kendrick Bourne paid off and that you spent up to draft Rhamondre Stephenson, but I expect successful fantasy teams to share a trait when this season is all said and done -- zero New England exposure.
WAS: Brian Robinson has scored in five of seven games this season. It's not pretty, ever, but his role is unquestioned and that holds value. It's boring, but useful and players like that have a way of helping you win your league.
NYG: Look at that, a Darren Waller sighting! I have no doubt that sporadic production is in his future, but his role as the alpha target earner is exactly why you start him every week. He's not a special option, but he's fine at the position and keeps you out of the streamer streets.
DET: Jahmy Gibbs got there in a bizarro game script. The upcoming schedule is glorious around their bye (Raiders, Chargers and Bears), so before you consider selling high in any sense, I'd wait until we get clarity on David Montgomery's status. The starting back in this offense is going to be a RB1 over the next month, we just need updated reports as to how bad the injury to Montgomery is.
BAL: In all of the craziness that occurred during Week 7, an 8-yard Gus Edwards catch might top it all (207 receiving yards for his career prior). The Ravens led for all but six of their offensive snaps and that created a positive environment, but this team does get the Cardinals and Seahawks over the next two weeks. Gus BUS is a fine Flex play in the short-term (we can worry about a late bye and a Week 16 game in San Fran at a later date).
LV: Even with Garoppolo out, Jakobi Meyers sees 13 targets and a garbage time TD. This dude can play and while I prefer Garoppolo be there, he's a weekly flex option and continues to give you great ROI.
CHI: It's tough to turn 8 catches into just 54 yards, but that's what DJ Moore did. No issue in moving on from him. None at all. This stat line was fine for PPR managers, but the floor is so low in this offense (with or without Fields).
ATL: The Bijan Robinson situation was a weird one and my guess is that we get more information with time. Tyler Allgeier is as average as it gets, but with this team being as run-centric as it is (38 rush attempts and 19 completions), he'd be on the Week 8 flex radar, even in a tough matchup, if Robinson sits.
TB: Rachaad White might be the most productive bad back in the league this season. He still doesn't have a rush attempt that has gained more than 13 yards this season, but he caught all six of his targets and was again a PPR asset. The Bucs are past their bye and committed to him ... you have to keep playing him, but there's no saying you have to watch him!
PIT: George Pickens and Diontae Johnson accounted for 61% of Kenny Pickett's targets. Good to see on that front, but pretty much eliminating the paths to success for Jaylen Warren as a punt DFS option. He scored, but if he isn't earning targets, he's a very thin play at best.
LAR: A down Cooper Kupp day (29 yards) isn't going to be the norm. I don't know when you sell Puka Nacua ... or if you do. This team has two alpha target earners, but we've seen offenses like that struggle to provide value for both this season (Tee Higgins, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith). Be careful in assuming this offense can produce consistently -- and I don't envision Kupp being on the wrong end of things very often.
GB: The Packers were, in theory, finally healthy and coming off of their bye. And playing Denver. AJ Dillon, for some reason, led them in receiving yards and out-carried Aaron Jones 15-8. This is a tough offense to feel good about, even with a pair of players we labeled as lineup staples this summer. I'll probably be back in, to a degree, on both Jones and Watson this week against the Vikes, but not with a ton of confidence.
DEN: Javonte Williams was clearly ahead of Jaleel McLaughlin and it wasn't a committee. McLaughlin should remain on rosters, but Williams looks like a low-end RB2 that should be fine moving forward. Courtland Sutton needs to be ranked ahead of Jerry Jeudy ... the targets are similar but Sutton is the one making plays.
LAC: Josh Palmer looks like the real deal and it doesn't hurt that Quentin Johnston is an afterthought. I'm not worried about Josh Kelley out-producing Austin Ekeler in the slightest ... this offense has three lineup locks and a player in Palmer who is going to grade out as a strong flex option more often than not.
KC: The guys who you wanted to produce came through for you -- and MVS did too. That I'm not banking on, but Kelce, Rice and Pacheo are all weekly staples that you can feel good about counting on. There's also no wrong way to stack this offense in DFS when things are clicking.
AZ: Emari Demercado dominated the backfield work because ... why not? There is no need to go that direction on waivers this week, you're never going to feel good about playing him and there aren't any teams on bye in Week 8 (why, I have no idea).
SEA: Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team in targets, catches and receiving yards on top of scoring a touchdown with DK Metcalf sidelined. This was the thought process behind him back in August -- even if the production in three-WR sets isn't there, he is the rare WR handcuff. I do think Metcalf will be back in Week 8 and that makes JSN a sell option if the asking price is right, but his value as a handcuff is here to stay and that's worth a stas in all formats.
— PM