NFL Player News

Strachan, selected by the Colts in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft, was active for just six games as a rookie. In college, he was hyper productive, catching 127 passes for 2,332 yards with 27 touchdowns in three years at Division II Charleston. He likely won’t get significant snaps this year unless the Colts struggle with receivers injuries.

Thielen has been sidelined with the hamstring injury since Week 4. He had eight receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ first three games, with Bryce Young under center. Thielen, who demonstrated chemistry with Andy Dalton early in the 2023 season, could be fantasy relevant in deeper PPR formats upon his return. Diontae Johnson will likely continue operating as the team’s No. 1 wideout.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced the change on Wednesday morning ahead of Cleveland’s Week 8 game against the Ravens. The Browns, with now-injured Deshaun Watson under center, were one of the least productive offenses in the NFL. They are dead last in offensive success rate and third worst in EPA per play. Only the Raiders and Dolphins have been worse. Dorsey, fired as Bills OC in 2023, is known to lean on the pass game. It could be a positive for Cleveland pass catchers, including David Njoku and Jerry Jeudy.

Mitchell has been on the PUP list after sustaining a major knee injury in the middle of the 2023 season. Mitchell was productive in limited opportunity during his rookie season, rushing for 396 yards and four touchdowns on just 47 attempts over eight games. He also had 93 yards on a mere nine receptions. Mitchell, when he returns to the Baltimore offense, could cut into Justice Hill’s snaps as the team’s primary pass-catching back.

The standout defensive end hasn’t played since Week 2, when he suffered a serious ankle injury. The Colts defense without Buckner has been one of the worst in the NFL this season, especially against opposing rushing attacks. Buckner could return as soon as Week 8 against Houston.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Monday that he was optimistic Taylor would practice this week after missing three games with a severe ankle injury. Fantasy managers can tentatively expect to have Taylor back in Week 8 against the Texans, who allow the league’s seventh lowest rushing success rate. The Colts could ease Taylor back into the fold with a lighter-than-usual workload though.

Newman, a rotational center, was carried off on a stretcher Sunday night against the Steelers after sustaining a neck injury. He’ll miss the remainder of the season.

Etienne was sidelined last week against the Patriots, ceding control of the Jacksonville backfield to Tank Bigsby. Etienne should have a chance to suit up this week against the Packers if he can practice on Thursday or Friday. If he doesn’t, Bigsby — who had 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Pats — will be in for another heavy workload in Week 8.

Add that to the ankle and knee injuries Rodgers has played through over the past couple weeks and you have one beat-up 40-year-old quarterback. Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said Rodgers’ hamstring issue “flared up” during Sunday night’s game against the Steelers and may have affected his mobility. Rodgers doesn’t appear to be in any danger of missing New York’s Week 8 game against the Patriots, however.

White was released by the Eagles in early October after missing time with an ankle issue and leaving the team for “personal reasons.” A former star defender for the Bucs, White latches on with a Texans defense graded by PFF as the NFL’s 13th best unit. White last season had 83 tackles over 13 games with Tampa.