Panthers release Week 8 inactives vs. Packers

This wasn’t a big day for Bernard, but it wasn’t a big day for the Steelers’ passing attack either. Pittsburgh was able to control this game on the ground and with its defense. The good news for Bernard is that he was second on the team in targets and ran a route on 22 of Aaron Rodgers’ 26 dropbacks. Bernard is going to be more valuable in PPR leagues because of his shorter route tree, but he should be rostered in most formats given his ability and role.

This was not a great game for Metcalf. He and Rodgers struggled to connect all day, and one of Metcalf’s drops was a near-40-yard pass that hit him square in the chest. The receiver simply dropped the ball and wound up hitting it forward directly into the cornerback’s hands. The good news is that Metcalf ran a route on every single dropback today, but he and his quarterback are not on the same page. Maybe the bye week will help, so don’t drop him yet.

When asked if this is a potentially season-ending injury for Jackson, Minter’s response was, “We’ll see.” After seeing Jackson’s injury on replay, it was easy to assume the Ravens’ QB1 would be looking at another multi-week absence, but this sounds like the worst-case scenario. If Jackson doesn’t land on season-ending IR, he would be required to miss at least four games before he could even consider a return. Adding insult to injury, the Ravens also lost backup Tyler Huntley in this game to a toe injury, meaning rookie UDFA Joe Fagnano could be in line to start on Thursday night against the Jaguars in Week 9.

Dowdle looked good in this one, and while he didn’t hit the home run play that Jaylen Warren did, he was ripping off big gains throughout the day. Dowdle played just six fewer snaps than Warren, ran four fewer routes, and had two fewer carries, so he needs to be rostered as an RB3 who would have low-end RB2 value if Warren were to get hurt.

Warren tied a career-high in rushing, but the Steelers opted to try and run out the clock with Rico Dowdle, on Warren’s birthday no less, so Warren was unable to set a new personal best. Warren delivered plenty of chunk gains in this game, including a huge 51-yard run, but he split work pretty evenly with Dowdle. Warren had two more carries and ran four more routes, but this was as close to a split backfield as you can get, so Warren will really need to deliver on his touches to keep producing fantasy value. If you can get an RB1 in a deal for him, it might not be a bad idea to search for offers with Pittsburgh on a bye next week.

The Browns were never really a threat to win this game. The Steelers only led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, but the Browns gained nine total yards in that quarter. Even when the Browns were able to keep the game close, the Steelers always seemed to answer with a big defensive play, and Watson was sacked eight times. With the Browns trailing by two touchdowns for the entire second half, Watson was able to air it out, but of his 324 yards, 240 of them came to Harold Fannin Jr. and the two running backs. Despite the high yardage totals, it wasn’t really a great showing for Watson, who seemed flustered in the pocket and struggled to connect with his wide receivers. Things could get easier against the Saints next week though, so he remains on the QB2 radar.

Jefferson once again led the Minnesota offense in targets but it was Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson who had bigger statistical days in what was Kyler Murray’s best game as a Viking. Jefferson secured a short touchdown in the first half and was mostly invisible in the second half. He was seen shouting at no one in particular on the Minnesota sideline late in the fourth quarter. With just two games of more than 60 receiving yards, Jefferson is somewhat touchdown-reliant in the low-volume, run-first Vikings offense. He’ll face a porous Bills secondary in Week 9.

Allen set the Bills’ franchise record for passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter when he completed an 11-yard pass to DJ Moore to put the Bills up 29-10. He added to his total a few minutes later when he connected with Dalton Kincaid down the right sideline for a 23-yard score, as the Bills trounced the hapless Ravens, who were down to their third QB midway through the second quarter. Allen and the Bills’ offense struggled at times, but eventually made the most of multiple possessions, thanks in part to three Ravens turnovers and multiple short drives. Allen also found the end zone on the ground in this one, and came up short of a second rushing score in the second quarter when he was tackled for a three-yard loss while trying to break a run to the outside. Allen and the Bills draw a tough road matchup against the Vikings in Week 9, but Allen is a must-start QB regardless of matchup.