Everything that happens in the NFL has 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.
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.
Oct. 29: Week 8 streaming guide
By Michael F. Florio
Kyler Murray has used his legs more lately, with 51 and 34 rushing yards in his past two games. This week, he gets the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the most pass yards per game, most fantasy PPG to QBs and second-most passing touchdowns. Every QB but one who faced them has finished in the top eight and scored at least 21 fantasy points. Plus, if you stream him this week you can use him again next week against the Buffalo Bills.
Jacoby Brissett is in play due to the matchup. He faces the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG and eighth-most passing touchdowns to QBs. Plus, the Arizona Cardinals likely will be trailing, which means added volume.
Deeper QB plays:
Malik Willis is coming off his two best fantasy games of the season and has been running effectively.
Geno Smith gets a revenge game against the Las Vegas Raiders, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG and second-most passing touchdowns to QBs.
Michael Penix Jr. has thrown three touchdown passes in two straight and faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are much easier to throw on than run against.
Tanner McKee faces the Washington Commanders, who are top five in passing yards per game and touchdowns allowed to quarterbacks. Overall, they have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to the position.
Blake Corum played 43% of the snaps with 18 touches last week. He went for 101 yards and a touchdown, while having two called back due to penalty. He has picked up explosive runs at the seventh-highest rate in the NFL and faces the Los Angeles Chargers, who give them up at the eighth-highest rate. The Chargers are also top seven in rushing yards allowed per game and touchdowns allowed to RBs.
Rhamondre Stevenson has 24 targets on the season, which by far leads the New England Patriots backfield. That is big this week as the Miami Dolphins are top 10 in catches and receiving yards allowed to backs. In total, they have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to RBs.
Jonah Coleman returned last week and led the Denver Broncos backs in snaps (50%), carries (nine) and rushing yards (54). He is by far their most explosive runner and I believe is their best dual-threat back as well. Even in a tough matchup, he is in play as a flex option.
Rachaad White played just under 70% of the snaps in his first game without Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Volume wins out here, and the Eagles have allowed 275 rushing yards and two touchdowns to opponents' RB1 in the last two weeks.
Carnell Tate is in play as long as he suits up. He has had at least a 25% target rate in five of his past six games. He has the fourth-highest target share against man coverage, which the Bengals play at an above-average rate. Tate, who has shown to have a safe floor, could show his upside this week as well.
Keenan Allen has nine or more targets in three of four games. That has led to him scoring 16-plus fantasy points in two of those games. Now he faces the Jacksonville Jaguars, who allow in the top five in most yards and fantasy points per game to opposing WRs. The Indianapolis Colts will likely be in catchup mode, so expect volume to go Allen's way.
Ja'Kobi Lane and Rashod Bateman are in play due to the matchup against the Bills. Buffalo has allowed the most fantasy PPG and touchdowns to wide receivers this season. The two have split targets against zone coverage, which the Bills play 81% of the time. Lane is the preferred option, but Bateman brings upside this week.
Chig Okonkwo saw a team-high seven targets in the Commanders' last game, and he turned them into seven catches for 69 yards. I expect him to be a top-two target moving forward for the Commanders. The volume has him in play as a streaming option.
T.J. Hockenson is in play due to the matchup against the Lions. Detroit has allowed the most yards, touchdowns and fantasy PPG to tight ends. Plus, the Minnesota Vikings may have to put up more points than normal in this one.
Injury watch for "Thursday Night Football"
Packers WR Matthew Golden (shoulder/foot) is questionable for Thursday. If he suits up, as long as there are no reports that he will be on a snap count, fantasy managers should play him. If he were to sit, expect more volume to go to Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft.
More:
Oct. 28: Need a defense as the Vikings head to Detroit? Get the Jags
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
We're officially entering the week where the No. 1 D/ST, the Minnesota Vikings (12.3 fantasy points per game, plus-2.8 over the next-closest team and plus-6.9 versus the league's average) face the toughest schedule-adjusted matchup in the Detroit Lions. And it's a road game, no less. Anyone care to guess the last time a visiting D/ST scored in double digits at Ford Field? It was the Green Bay Packers (10 fantasy points), back in Week 12 of 2023. Since then, only these same Vikings (9, Week 9 of 2025) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7, Week 7 of 2025) have scored as many as five points there.
It's remarkable that in this topsy-turvy NFL season -- the Cleveland Browns are division leaders and the Los Angeles Chargers and RB Omarion Hampton are off to a disastrous start, for two obvious examples -- that Week 8 presented perhaps my fewest Vampire league lineup dilemmas thus far.
Humble brag: Perhaps that's the result of my four-game winning streak, bolstering the roster with claims of Bhayshul Tuten, Bijan Robinson, Nico Collins and Jameson Williams. (On that note, sarcastic "thanks" to the manager who sat all his stars to protect any being claimed last week -- except Williams. You know who you are!)
But even putting those aside, only one lineup spot stood out and perhaps it's one that has been a frustrating spot to manage for many of you: Team defense/special teams.
Managers of the Vikings D/ST face a pair of decisions: Keep them around, or which unit to pick up as a substitution?
As far as the former, it doesn't get much easier for the Vikings over the coming weeks, much as they're a supremely talented defense. After the Lions game, the Vikings' remainder of November goes like this: BUF (on Monday Night Football), @GB, @SF (on Sunday Night Football), ATL. Using past-five-weeks, schedule-adjusted data, those are the Nos. 16, 18, 24 and 31 offenses for D/STs in terms of matchups. (The Buffalo Bills, by the way, are 27th if using full-season data, and the Green Bay Packers are 24th.)
I have no qualms about releasing a D/ST with a bad matchup, and that's any defense, though it'd be understandable if the only ones you're avoiding as a Vikings manager are the two Lions games (Week 15 at home is the other) and Bills. If you've got the bench space -- not an easy thing in these four-team bye weeks -- by all means keep them around. But you've got my permission slip to cut them otherwise.
Among pickups, there's one team that stands way, way out: The Jacksonville Jaguars, fresh off their bye week following a pair of games overseas. They play one of their six scheduled games all season at EverBank Stadium and they face the Indianapolis Colts, the No. 6 schedule adjusted matchup for D/STs and and that's before they traded an offensive lineman (G Quenton Nelson) and a defender (DT DeForest Buckner) on Tuesday, with Jonathan Taylor also rumored on the block.
While the Vikings are at a low point in their D/ST schedule, the Jaguars are at a high point. Their rest-of-November schedule looks great: @BAL (on Thursday Night Football), @TEN, @NYG, TEN. Those are the Nos. 14, 2, 10 and 2 matchups over the past five weeks, and in the case of the Baltimore Ravens, consider that quarterback Lamar Jackson's iffy status for Week 8 raises the question how healthy he might be with the quick turnaround next week, too.
From a rest-of-season perspective -- it's possible that managers with tighter rules on in-season pickups need more of a locked-in D/ST -- the Jaguars have few truly scary remaining matchups: In Weeks 13 (@CHI), 16 (@DAL) and possibly 14 (PIT).
Among other encouraging defenses to consider for Week 8: The Cincinnati Bengals, who have scored seven-plus fantasy points four times and get the Tennessee Titans at home; and the Washington Commanders, who have averaged six points in home games and face the Philadelphia Eagles, the No. 7 D/ST matchup over the past five weeks and No. 6 if using full-season data.
I'll have more full-November options for you in next week's updated D/ST Road Map, but for now, go get the Jaguars, still available in roughly 45% of ESPN leagues.
Oct. 27: Cowboys go off, Saquon scores but hurt again
By Michael F. Florio
The big story of "Monday Night Football" was Jay-Z being announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer. However, outside of that, the Dallas Cowboys stole the show by getting their offense back on track.
Dak Prescott bounced back in a big way, throwing for 212 yards and three touchdowns, He finished with 23.28 fantasy points. It was his second-best fantasy game of the season. Prescott has a great chance to stay hot against the Arizona Cardinals, who have allowed the most passing TDs in the NFL.
Prescott's success translated to his top receivers having big days as well. CeeDee Lamb saw 12 targets, catching five of them for 74 yards and two scores. He finished with 24.4 fantasy points. He's surpassed 20 fantasy points three times and has just one game with less than 15. That's elite, high-end WR1 production. George Pickens caught four out of six targets for 57 yards and a touchdown, good for 15.7 fantasy points. He brings an extremely safe floor, but we have not seen as many big performances like last year. Still, you should start him weekly.
Javonte Williams was the other star for the Cowboys in this one. He rushed for a career-high 155 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. That was good for 21.5 fantasy points. Williams brings an extremely safe floor and sees so much volume that he is also a weekly must-start.
Saquon Barkley returned from a hamstring injury -- before exiting last night's action due to a back injury. Before he left, he ran seven times for 62 yards and a touchdown, adding two catches for nine yards. If he's able to suit up next week against the Washington Commanders, you start him. Dameon Pierce, who turned 15 opportunities into 48 yards and a touchdown, also exited late. Elijah Mitchell finished the game for Philly. The health of both injured backs needs to be monitored. Pierce, or perhaps Mitchell, would be a streaming option if Barkley misses time.
Tanner McKee threw for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He finished with 10.54 fantasy points. McKee played well given the circumstances, but still has not had a big fantasy showing. He remains a streaming option for those diving deep (or in superflex leagues) against the Commanders next week. Washington has allowed the fourth-most passing TDs and the second-most QB fantasy PPG.
Makai Lemon and Dallas Goedert were the top targets for the Philadelphia Eagles. Lemon saw a team-high eight targets, catching seven for 67 yards and a touchdown. All were career highs, as were his 19.7 fantasy points. Lemon should be added off the waiver wire this week. He'd be in play once again if DeVonta Smith sits again next week. Goedert saw seven targets, catching five of them for 48 yards and scoring 9.8 fantasy points. The volume he sees, paired with his safe floor, keep him as a low-end TE1 -- especially next week against Washington.
Oct. 26: Who got the ball in Week 7?
By Eric Moody
The box score doesn't tell you everything. Here are the roles and usage trends from Sunday that stood out to me.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints
Germie Bernard came back down to earth after setting season highs with 12 targets and 25.7 fantasy points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. He finished with just five targets and 5.7 fantasy points against the Saints. However, Bernard and DK Metcalf played nearly the same number of snaps and ran a similar number of routes. Better games should be ahead for Bernard, especially with the Steelers having the 10th-easiest remaining schedule for fantasy wide receivers.
Jaylen Warren led the Steelers backfield in snaps, routes run, touches (21) and fantasy points (16.7). However, Rico Dowdle was still involved, finishing with 15 touches and 14.6 fantasy points. It's frustrating for fantasy managers, but both backs will continue to be involved moving forward.
Juwan Johnson's role continues to shrink as Noah Fant and Oscar Delp take away snaps. His route participation has fallen significantly in each of the past two games, while Fant is now getting more playing time on third downs. Johnson can be dropped in most leagues, especially with Jordyn Tyson possibly returning after the bye.
Alvin Kamara led the Saints backfield in snaps, routes run, touches (13) and fantasy points (13.2). The Saints struggled to run the football against the Steelers, but Kamara still had a solid fantasy day thanks to seven receptions for 57 yards. Travis Etienne Jr. will be eligible to return from injured reserve after the Saints' bye week, which could complicate things for Kamara and Kendre Miller's fantasy managers.
San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons
Christian McCaffrey left in the first quarter with a thigh injury and missed the entire second quarter. He returned after halftime, playing 68.4 snaps. The 49ers have a bye next week, giving McCaffrey extra time to recover. His health will be worth monitoring. It's another reminder that Kaelon Black (rostered in 21.9% of ESPN leagues), who finished with 13 touches and 10.9 fantasy points, could be a difference-maker in the 49ers offense if McCaffrey ever misses time.
Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans
KC Concepcion had his best game of the season against the Titans, catching eight passes for 129 yards and finishing with 23.2 fantasy points. His playing time hasn't changed much, but his 10 targets were a season high. Denzel Boston led the Browns in snaps and routes run but finished with just 5.7 fantasy points. After scoring at least 12 fantasy points in four of his first five games, Boston has combined for just 8.2 points over the past two weeks.
Harold Fannin Jr. caught six of nine targets for 91 yards and 13.1 fantasy points, his first game with more than 60 receiving yards this season. Fannin also ran a route on nearly every Cleveland dropback, but lost a fumble in the second quarter. Concepcion is on the flex radar, while Fannin remains a low-end TE1.
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Mason returned from injured reserve and led the Vikings backfield in snaps, routes run and touches (15), finishing with 6.8 fantasy points. Aaron Jones Sr. had nine touches and 3.6 fantasy points before leaving in the fourth quarter after aggravating his previous left knee injury. Mason was already getting more work before Jones left the game. If Jones misses Week 8 against the Lions, Mason would be a must-start for fantasy managers.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets
Malik Washington led the Dolphins' pass catchers in snaps, but Washington, Caleb Douglas and Greg Dulcich ran a similar number of routes. Dulcich led the team with five targets and 86 receiving yards, while Douglas scored 21.6 fantasy points thanks to two touchdowns in his return from injury. Douglas is worth adding off waivers and could have a bigger role in the second half of the season. Dulcich has had five targets in each of his last two games and is worth considering as a streaming option at tight end.
Omar Cooper Jr. continues to impress, finishing with five targets, five receptions and 22.5 fantasy points against the Dolphins. He ranked second among Jets pass catchers in snaps and routes run and has now topped 100 receiving yards in consecutive games. Garrett Wilson led the team in both categories but finished with just three targets and 4.6 fantasy points. Adonai Mitchell returned after missing four games but finished fourth among Jets wide receivers in snaps and routes, scoring zero fantasy points. He can be dropped in most leagues, while Cooper should be a priority waiver-wire addition. Tight end Mason Taylor ranked third in snaps and routes, catching five passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns. He's worth stashing if you need TE help.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
The Buccaneers rotated their running backs more than usual against the Panthers, but that was largely because they ran the ball 49 times. Bucky Irving still led the backfield with 25 touches and 24.0 fantasy points. Kenny Gainwell had 14 touches, while Sean Tucker had seven, mostly in garbage time. Irving should play more snaps when the Buccaneers get back to their usual run-pass balance.
Bryce Young struggled against the Buccaneers, completing just 14 passes with three turnovers. Tampa Bay's pass rush gave him problems all afternoon, sacking him five times and forcing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. That limited the opportunities for Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, but both still led the Panthers in routes run.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Chase Brown led the Bengals' backfield in snaps, routes and touches (15) against the Ravens. However, he finished with just 9.8 fantasy points, while Samaje Perine scored 7.6 points on only four touches thanks to a rushing touchdown. Brown's playing time is encouraging, but his lack of explosive plays and touchdown production remain concerns. He's best viewed as an RB2 for now. It's worth mentioning that the Bengals have the ninth-easiest schedule for running backs during the fantasy playoffs.
New York Giants at Houston Texans
Woody Marks played 89% of the Texans' offensive snaps against the Giants and led the backfield with 20 touches. Despite having the backfield essentially to himself, he finished with just 9.1 fantasy points. Houston's offensive line continues to struggle, and Marks hasn't scored a touchdown in three straight games. He remains a must-start while David Montgomery is sidelined, but Montgomery could return after the Week 8 bye. If that happens, Marks would be best viewed as a flex option.
Cam Skattebo reclaimed the lead role in the Giants backfield against the Texans, leading the running backs in snaps and finishing with 18 touches, 124 rushing yards, a touchdown and 19.1 fantasy points. Devin Singletary scored 14.5 fantasy points on eight touches, while Tyrone Tracy Jr. had 8.7 points before leaving with a left hamstring injury. Skattebo also "felt something in his hamstring" late in the game. The Giants have a Week 8 bye, giving both players time to recover. Skattebo is back on the RB2 radar, while Singletary is worth stashing in deeper leagues.
Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals
Bam Knight led the Cardinals backfield in snaps, routes run and fantasy points (9.4) against the Broncos, finishing with 10 touches and 63 scrimmage yards. Tyler Allgeier had 11 touches but managed just 49 yards and 7.9 fantasy points. Knight has been the more effective runner over the past two games, averaging 5.8 yards per carry compared to Allgeier's 2.2. It doesn't help that Arizona's offensive line ranks near the bottom of the league in run block win rate. Jeremiyah Love has missed two straight games with an ankle injury, and his eventual return could complicate an already crowded backfield. Knight is worth stashing, but none of these backs are particularly appealing fantasy starts right now.
Jonah Coleman returned from injured reserve and led the Broncos backfield in snaps, routes run and touches (11) against the Cardinals. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry but finished with just 8.9 fantasy points. RJ Harvey led the backfield with 14 fantasy points on only five touches thanks to a 52-yard receiving touchdown, while J.K. Dobbins scored 8.3 points on six touches, including a rushing touchdown. Coleman's playing time is encouraging, especially in his first game back, and he should be a priority waiver-wire addition. However, Denver's three-man rotation makes all three backs difficult to trust in lineups.
Michael Wilson's role hasn't changed since the Cardinals traded Marvin Harrison Jr. He led Arizona's wide receivers in snaps and routes against the Broncos, finishing with four receptions for 55 yards and 10.6 fantasy points. Wilson has seen at least seven targets in every game this season, but his target rate has declined over the past three weeks. Despite playing nearly every snap, he's now scored fewer than 11 fantasy points in three straight games. Wilson remains on the WR2 radar with a favorable Week 8 matchup against the Cowboys.
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Josh Jacobs returned for his season debut against the Lions and led the Packers' backfield in snaps, routes and touches (16). He struggled on the ground with just 36 yards on 11 carries but caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 20.1 fantasy points. MarShawn Lloyd had eight touches and 5.5 fantasy points, while Pierre Strong Jr. played just eight snaps. Jacobs played just over half of the offensive snaps, and his role should grow, although Green Bay may continue rotating its backs. The Packers have the ninth-easiest remaining schedule for running backs, but their next four matchups are less favorable. Jacobs remains an RB2 moving forward.
Los Angeles Rams at Las Vegas Raiders
The Rams used their tight ends more against the Raiders with Davante Adams on injured reserve. Davis Allen caught four passes for 20 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with 18 fantasy points despite running just 12 routes. Colby Parkinson caught five passes for 48 yards and 9.8 points on 14 routes, while Tyler Higbee ran 18 routes but scored just 3.4 points. Puka Nacua led the Rams with 21.8 fantasy points, while Konata Mumpfield was the only other wide receiver to catch a pass. Allen's limited routes are a concern, especially with Terrance Ferguson possibly returning in Week 8.
Ashton Jeanty struggled on the ground against the Rams, managing just 15 yards on eight carries. However, he caught eight passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 21.6 fantasy points. Mike Washington Jr. had six carries for 27 yards and 2.7 fantasy points. Washington has been the more effective runner this season, averaging 4.9 yards per carry compared to Jeanty's 3.1. He's also nearly matched Jeanty in carries over the past two games and could continue to earn more opportunities. Jeanty's receiving role keeps him in the RB2 conversation, but Washington is worth stashing in deeper leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks
Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the Seahawks pass catchers in snaps, routes run, targets (12) and fantasy points (31.3) against the Chiefs, as he has for most of the season. He now has 78 targets, well ahead of Rashid Shaheed, who ranks second on the team with 30. Smith-Njigba also accounts for 53.9% of Seattle's receiving yards, the second-highest percentage by a player through seven team games in the last 75 seasons, trailing only Lance Alworth in 1965 (54.6%), according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Xavier Worthy led the Chiefs wide receivers in snaps, routes run and targets (six) against the Seahawks but caught just three passes for 11 yards and 4.1 fantasy points. He's now scored five or fewer fantasy points in three games this season. Kansas City also used more two-tight-end sets, with Travis Kelce and Noah Gray leading the team in receiving yards. Worthy is becoming difficult to trust in fantasy lineups. Given the Chiefs' injuries and lack of production at wide receiver, a reunion with free agent Tyreek Hill could make sense.
Next week's bye weeks: Saints, Giants, 49ers, Texans
Oct. 25: Week 7 scoring leaders through Sunday's games
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans -- 36.5
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks -- 31.3
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals -- 28.8
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens -- 27.7
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots -- 27.44
Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals -- 27.1
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals -- 26.8
Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos -- 26.38
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions -- 26.1
Malik Willis, QB, Miami Dolphins -- 26.02
Click here for the complete list of Week 7's top scorers.