Stefanski: Pearce will be activated next week

Speaking with the media early Monday morning, Barkley said he was informed that the team would not be trading him despite falling to 2-6 on the season after Sunday night’s loss to Washington. Barkley rushed 13 times for 30 yards and a touchdown in the loss while catching one pass for another 24 yards. The soon-to-be 30-year-old back could have decent trade value for the Eagles in what is shaping up to be a lost season, but it sounds like he’s in the team’s future plans heading into 2027. Barkley is playing through injuries and has just 56 carries for 274 yards and two touchdowns this season, and has caught seven passes for another 41 yards. Assuming he can get in another week of practice this week, he’ll be a fringe RB1/RB2 in Week 9 against the Giants.

Even in the best-case scenario, Huntley felt like a long shot to play in Thursday night’s game against the Jaguars, but it sounds like this is going to be a multi-week absence. An MRI will confirm the severity of his injury in the days ahead, but for now, rookie UDFA Joe Fagnano is expected to draw the start against the Jags for the 4-4 Ravens. Lamar Jackson, who will be placed on IR in the coming days, will undergo surgery to repair the thumb he dislocated in Sunday’s game, meaning the Ravens will bring in a veteran QB through a trade or free agency in the near future. It should go without saying, but all of the Ravens’ key fantasy assets will receive a noticeable downgrade with Jackson and Huntley both out.

Diaby will undergo an MRI to confirm the severity of the injury, but according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the team his hopeful that this injury will “not cause him to miss extended time.” Diaby has 16 tackles, three sacks, and one interception this season, with all three of his sacks coming in the Bucs’ Week 7 win over the Panthers. Even if he doesn’t miss too much time, it’s possible he’ll be sidelined for at least Week 9’s game against the Bears on Sunday Night Football.

Okonkwo flashed his athletic ability with a full-stretch reception in the second half but it was not enough to overshadow a first quarter fumble. The spry veteran has now been held to four receptions or fewer in four of five appearances in the low volume Washington pass offense, unable to return consistent fantasy value through the absence of Terry McLaurin. He is best left on fantasy benches in a Week 9 matchup against the Rams.

Offensive coordinator David Blough ha made good on his promise not to increase the route participation or snap rate of the veteran receiver in the absence of Terry McLaurin, effectively keeping Diggs relegated to a situational role primarily from the slot. That has left Treylon Burks and rookie Antonio Williams to lead the team in routes the previous two weeks while limiting the true ceiling of Diggs in the process. Consider Diggs a touchdown-dependent FLEX option in a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 9.

Williams mostly operated in a short area role but added a 30-yard grab up the seam in the fourth quarter to pad his counting stats for fantasy managers hoping on a second-half rookie breakout. While the fantasy returns have yet to pop, managers can continue to hold the electric rookie in the hopes his role grows in the coming weeks. That said, he is likely best left on fantasy benches until his route structure improves.

A 53-yard reception toward the end of the third quarter did the bulk of the damage for Burks, who continues to give the Commanders their best deep option in the absence of Terry McLaurin. That doesn’t necessarily mean he carries weekly fantasy value considering the poor state of a Washington offense that got its first win in a Jayden Daniels start since 5 October of 2025. Burks is likely best left on the waiver wire ahead of a Week 9 meeting with the Rams.

White averaged just over two yards per carry on his first eight attempts before breaking loose for a 33-yard gain entering the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. He would find the end zone two plays later to salvage an otherwise underwhelming fantasy outing while operating in a three-way timeshare with Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols. Although White’s fantasy value is clearly higher in the absence of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, his performance in Week 8 goes down as his first fantasy-viable start through the first eight weeks of the 2026 season. Fantasy managers are likely better off exploring alternatives ahead of a poor matchup against the Rams in Week 9.

Daniels started the game going 4-of-10 passing in the first quarter, which included an interception that was called back due to penalty, two false start penalties in the red zone, and a missed field goal, causing the Commanders to quickly fall into a 10-point deficit. They would clean things up from there as they rattled off 27 unanswered points to improve to 2-4-1 as they chase the division-leading Giants. A 53-yard completion to Treylon Burks and 30-yard completions to Antonio Williams and Stefon Diggs gave the offense explosive plays in key situations during the final three frames to boost Daniels’ counting stats despite poor efficiency. The win was the first victory in a Daniels start since 5 October of the 2025 season as the Commanders saved their season, at least for the moment. They get a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 9, where Daniels will remain a middling QB2.

Goedert also committed a drop that was intercepted in the down performance, although the play in question was overturned through penalty. The veteran tight end continues to be limited by an ineffective offense with Tanner McKee under center in what has quickly become a lost season after the team’s sixth consecutive loss. Fantasy managers are likely better off looking for viable alternatives ahead of a Week 9 divisional clash with the Giants.