Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears had his best game of the 2025 season in his fourth game in the 38-14 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8 on Sunday. Spears had nine carries for a season-high 59 rushing yards and also added his first touchdown of the year while also catching all three of his targets for an additional 23 yards as a pass-catcher. He played over 50% of the offensive snaps for the second time this year and had only two fewer carries than Tony Pollard, who rushed for 44 yards on his 11 rushing attempts on the day. It looks as though the 1-7 Titans plan on giving Spears more work in the backfield alongside Pollard the rest of the season, which will at least put Spears in play in fantasy football as an RB3/flex option every week. However, in one of the weaker offenses in the NFL led by rookie quarterback Cameron Ward, fantasy managers should temper expectations for Spears.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) made his 2025 debut in the Week 8 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football and didn't disappoint. Watson finished second on the team with 85 receiving yards while catching all four of his targets from quarterback Jordan Love. The 26-year-old pass-catcher finally made it back after tearing his ACL in the Week 18 regular-season finale last year, and he immediately contributed on offense as a deep threat for Love in the Packers' passing attack. He finished behind only tight end Tucker Kraft, who went off for 143 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. Watson's big-play abilities were on display in this one, and fantasy managers in need of WR help should certainly take notice. Especially with Jayden Reed (collarbone) still on Injured Reserve, Watson should continue to have a big role in the passing attack, continuing with a Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

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Cleveland Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson is worth a look on the waiver wire in fantasy football this week after fellow rookie RB Quinshon Judkins (shoulder) was forced out of the Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots and did not return. Sampson ended up playing a season-high 46% of the offensive snaps while carrying the ball three times for no yards in the 32-13 blowout loss. However, the 21-year-old also caught five of his six targets in the passing game for 29 yards. Both Sampson and Ford should have bigger roles in Cleveland's backfield if Judkins misses additional time, but the fact that the Browns are going into their bye in Week 9 should make fantasy managers temper their waiver-wire bids for Sampson. Sampson's eight touches were the most he had seen since the regular-season opener. If Judkins isn't ready in Week 10 against the New York Jets, Sampson should lead the team's backfield.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson had his best game of the season in Sunday night's loss to the visiting Green Bay Packers in Week 8, catching four of his five targets for a season-high 74 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Wilson's 74 receiving yards on the night led the team, even with Calvin Austin III returning from a multi-game absence due to a shoulder injury. Austin caught four of his six targets for only 28 yards. The 24-year-old's touchdown grab was a 24-yard connection with quarterback Aaron Rodgers late in the game with the Packers already comfortably ahead. Fantasy managers may be looking at adding Wilson this week off the waiver wire, but with Austin now back and Rodgers spreading the ball around outside of DK Metcalf, Wilson will probably be a long shot to produce numbers like this every week moving forward. He had not topped 17 receiving yards in any game going into Sunday night against Green Bay.

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According to Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, the team has "no plans" to trade wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Thomas had a fantastic rookie season in the NFL in 2024 with 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 133 targets in 17 games, but so far in 2025, the 23-year-old is in the midst of the dreaded sophomore slump. Coming out of Jacksonville's Week 8 bye, Thomas has 27 catches on 55 targets for 365 yards and only one touchdown in seven games played. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been spreading the ball around much more through the air to the likes of rookie Travis Hunter, Dyami Brown, and Parker Washington. Thomas is also coming off a shoulder injury that he suffered in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London, but hopefully, he'll be good enough to play in Week 9 in a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson caught five of his six targets for a team-high 69 yards and a touchdown in the 26-15 win over the visiting San Francisco 49ers in Week 8 on Sunday, with both Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) sidelined by injuries. Hutchinson was tied for second on the team in targets and also tied for the team lead with his five receptions in a Houston offense that has suddenly become pass-happy in recent weeks. The 25-year-old's touchdown catch was a 30-yard connection with quarterback C.J. Stroud. Although Hutchinson is worth a look as a short-term WR replacement after his strong Week 8 performance, his role is likely to shrink again once one of Collins or Kirk returns, and the Texans have a shy-away matchup next week at home against the Denver Broncos. If you're going to pluck Hutchinson off the waiver wire this week, we wouldn't recommend spending much on him.

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Despite leading the New York Jets to their first win of the season on Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8, head coach Aaron Glenn "would not commit" to Justin Fields as the starting QB for Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns in two weeks following the team's bye, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. When asked about the upcoming trade deadline, Glenn said the Jets "will listen when teams call, but that does not mean they will act." The 26-year-old was benched at halftime in the Week 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and the Jets were leaning toward starting veteran Tyrod Taylor (knee) under center on Sunday against Cincy before a knee injury knocked him out. Fields went 21-for-32 for 244 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions in the Week 8 win, adding 11 carries for 31 yards. The Jets will evaluate things during their bye, but it would be surprising if Fields doesn't get another start in Week 10 against a tough Browns defense.

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The Detroit Lions are designating linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (knee) to return from Injured Reserve, sources tell Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, meaning he'll begin practicing with the team this week. Rodriguez is returning from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 13 of the 2024 season, but he's nearing a return and will play a key role in defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's scheme down the stretch. It's great news that the 26-year-old is returning to practice, but the Lions still need to officially activate him from the Physically Unable to Perform list before he can make his 2025 debut. He almost certainly won't be ready to play in the team's Week 9 divisional contest this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, but he could be ready to make his season debut in Week 10 on the road against the Washington Commanders.

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Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (ankle) sustained a high-ankle sprain in Week 8's 32-13 road loss to the New England Patriots. The rookie left Sunday's contest in the fourth quarter with the issue, and testing on Monday confirmed the injury. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the news. It's a significant hit to Cleveland's defense, as the UCLA product currently leads the team in total tackles (64). Fortunately for Schwesinger, his team will get a week off in Week 9, affording him a bit of extra time to heal up. However, sprains of this variety usually take about a month to fully subside, provided they don't linger. Teammate Devin Bush will take over as the position's snap leader for the time being, with Mohamoud Diabate and Jerome Baker working behind him.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike caught 7-of-8 targets for 93 yards in Sunday's 38-14 loss to the hosting Indianapolis Colts. He added a yard on his lone carry and chipped in 175 yards on seven kick returns. The rookie surpassed former teammate Tyler Lockett as the team's preferred slot option a few weeks back and has steadily seen his snap share rise while he takes on a larger role in the offense. On Sunday, Dike ran on more snaps than fellow wideout Van Jefferson for the first time in 2025, leading Tennessee in receptions and yards -- tying for the team lead in targets. Calvin Ridley's (hamstring) return will dent some of the 23-year-old's value. However, he's clearly ascending and benefits from working closer to the line of scrimmage. Dike should be added in all 12-team formats.

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Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver (biceps) could miss the rest of the season, as the team fears he tore his bicep in their Week 8 win over the Carolina Panthers. Oliver left the 40-9 victory in the first half and did not return to the contest. The 27-year-old will undergo an MRI to confirm the severity of the injury on Monday, although it isn't looking good for the three-time Pro-Bowl defensive tackle. With Oliver's injury, Buffalo's defensive line is getting thin. Teammate Larry Ogunjobi picked up some more snaps in his stead, but the team figures to use a rotation including Jordan Phillips and Deone Walker -- their current snap leader at the position. For now, fantasy managers can assume the worst, which would be a massive blow to the Bills' defensive front.

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Bleacher Report's NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (calf) is scheduled to work out with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. The veteran wideout appeared in five of San Francisco's first six contests, hauling in 4-of-8 targets for 40 yards. However, Valdes-Scantling suffered a calf injury and was released after being placed on injured reserve. Pittsburgh has been on the lookout for another receiver, so the union makes sense if the 31-year-old has returned to health. If he signs with the team, Valdes-Scantling figures to take some playing time away from one of, if not both of, Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin III. Additionally, he could slightly eat into DK Metcalf's target share. The situation is worth watching.

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New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis was efficient in his team's 39-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, rushing for 65 yards on seven carries. He also added 44 more through the air on 5-of-5 receiving. Davis finally saw a more significant workload as the Jets nabbed their first win in Week 8. Most of his rushing production came on a long gain of 50 yards, but he broke a tackle in the hole and nearly broke free for an even longer touchdown. Either way, the receiving work was nice to see as New York showed some semblance of offense. Davis doesn't yet boast standalone value. However, maybe his performance on Sunday earned him a greater piece of the backfield pie moving forward. In any case, it was the first time he out-received Breece Hall, and would be a more enticing asset if that became a trend. It's also worth noting that his value would skyrocket if Hall were to be traded.

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Since being acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles in early September, running back Tank Bigsby has seen minimal usage. Heading into Week 8, Bigsby had seen just two total touches. However, that changed in Week 8 after Eagles RB1 Saquon Barkley (groin) was forced to exit the game early due to a groin injury. Bigsby recorded nine carries for 104 yards against the New York Giants with Barkley sidelined for a significant portion of the second half of the game. The Eagles have their bye week in Week 9, and Barkley reportedly appears confident that he'll be healthy enough to play in Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers. The bye week limits Bigsby's fantasy appeal, but he's still a name to monitor as long as there's any question about Barkley's health status. For deep-league managers with an available roster spot, stashing Bigsby through the bye week could pay dividends if Barkley's injury ends up being worse than it initially seems.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte scored his fourth touchdown in his last three games in Week 8, recording three catches for 75 yards and a score on five targets against the Cleveland Browns. The 23-year-old has now hauled in 23 catches for 431 yards and five touchdowns on 30 targets across eight games so far this season. Boutte has been a big-play merchant for New England, averaging 18.7 yards per reception. Perhaps most encouraging for his fantasy outlook, Boutte has led Patriots wide receivers in snaps in each of the team's eight games. Boutte's average of 3.8 targets per game leaves something to be desired. Still, with his explosive play ability and playing time floor, he profiles as a boom/bust deep league flex option and could be a player to target on the waiver wire heading into a Week 9 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.

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Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel has been a breakout player in recent weeks, recording 11 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets over his last three games played. Noel has benefited from the absence of veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk (hamstring), who has missed Houston's last two contests. If there's reason for concern with Noel, it's that he's yet to crack 45% of his team's offensive snaps this season, even in the games that Kirk has missed. He appears to be limited to working from the slot, which limits his playing time ceiling. Noel is a young player with upside, so he's definitely a name to monitor in deeper fantasy leagues. Still, it may be difficult for him to maintain his production in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, particularly if one or both of Kirk and Nico Collins (concussion) return to the field.

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Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins had the best game of his young NFL career in his team's Week 8 win over the San Francisco 49ers, recording four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. The 22-year-old has now hauled in 13 catches for 155 yards and two scores on 21 targets. Before Week 8, Higgins had not earned more than four targets in any game this season. It's worth noting that veteran Texans wideouts Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) were both sidelined against San Francisco, which certainly factored into Higgins' breakout game. However, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has attempted 88 passes over the team's last two games, which could signal that there will be more opportunity for Higgins even when Collins and Stroud return. In deeper leagues where available, Higgins could be worth stashing for his second-half breakout potential.

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New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has had a disappointing second season in some respects, recording just 227 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown across six games played. However, Tracy Jr. could now find himself back in a lead role in the Giants' backfield after star rookie running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) suffered a season-ending dislocated ankle in Week 8. Tracy Jr. was productive as a rookie in 2024, recording 1,123 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns on 230 touches across 17 games (12 starts). The Giants could also give veteran Devin Singletary some touches, but Tracy Jr. should be expected to dominate touches. In any fantasy league where he is available, Tracy Jr. is a must-add player off the waiver wire heading into a Week 9 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney caught one of his four targets for 11 yards in their 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Mooney was set up for a potential big game with No. 1 wide receiver Drake London (hip) ruled out, but Atlanta struggled to sustain any offense as veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins filled in for an injured Michael Penix Jr. (knee). Mooney finished a distant third on the team in targets, with tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. leading the way with nine and veteran wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge coming in right behind him with eight targets. Mooney is a name to watch on the waiver wire despite the down game because of the injury to London. His status will be updated in the coming days. If he's sidelined again for Week 9 against the New England Patriots, Mooney should be in line for additional targets and could also benefit from Penix's potential return for the road matchup.

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The Baltimore Ravens could be disciplined by the league after violating the NFL's injury report policy regarding Lamar Jackson, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh spoke on the issue and said it was "an honest mistake." Jackson was originally listed as a full participant in Friday's practice ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the Bears after being listed as limited for the Wednesday and Thursday practices. However, Jackson only ran the scout team on Friday, and then the Ravens later changed his Friday practice participation to limited on Saturday and ultimately ruled him out for Week 8 as he continues to work back from a hamstring injury. More news will certainly follow in the coming days on this story. Jackson is currently expected to suit up for their Thursday night matchup against the Dolphins, but Tyler Huntley will be in line to make his second start if he is unable to go.

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