NFL Player News

Thompson-Robinson was penciled in as the Browns’ QB2 this week, with Jameis Winston being relegated to the emergency third QB role. Starter Deshaun Watson went down with an Achilles injury, thrusting Thompson-Robinson into the game in the second quarter. He struggled to get much going against the Bengals defense, mostly completing short-area passes. Thompson-Robinson threw a pair of interceptions as well before exiting in the fourth quarter due to a finger injury. With Watson likely out for the season, the Browns have decisions to make about their quarterback situation. Thompson-Robinson was boost into the QB2 role this week, but with Watson’s injury, Winston is back in the mix to start. The finger injury will also need to be looked at for Thompson-Robinson, but if he starts, he is no more than a fantasy QB3.

Minshew gave his team no real chance to compete. Debates will be had as to whether Minshew’s fumble, which was returned for a 33-yard touchdown by Rams S Kamren Curl, or Minshew’s game-sealing, third interception was his worst play of the day. He is an unideal QB2 streamer against the Chiefs in Week 8.

Returning from a concussion, Achane got the start and resumed his 1A role ahead of Raheem Mostert. His 77 yards rushing were by far his most since Tua Tagovailoa’s Week 2 concussion, a promising sign ahead of Tagovailoa’s expected Week 8 return. Tagovailoa’s injury has colored everything, but Achane was lagged disastrously from his 2023 production from both a raw output and efficiency perspective. He will check in as a back-end RB2 against the Cardinals.

Dalton was brutal in Sunday’s loss to the Commanders, throwing for 99 yards on 16 pass attempts while also drawing two picks. Despite his struggles, Canales continues to believe Dalton gives the Panthers the best chance to win — which doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering what we’ve seen from Bryce Young over the last year and a half. Dalton now finds himself in the unenviable position of starting Week 8 against a stout Broncos defense.

O’Connell was inefficient before exiting with his broken thumb. Official word should come early this week but it seems safe to assume he will be out for multiple weeks. Hopefully, the injury doesn’t create any long-term issues.

Robinson resumed his RB1 role in Sunday’s win over the Panthers. He handled 12 of the Commanders’ 37 rush attempts, and likely would have seen a busier day if not for the blowout victory. Robinson’s biggest gain of the day went for 11 yards, but he also found the end zone on an eight-yard run in the second quarter. Robinson continues to serve as a reliable RB2 in fantasy, but brings plenty of RB1 upside with him into any given week. He’ll be a must-start in Week 8 against the Bears.

With Tyler Huntley/Tim Boyle predictably struggling to get anything going down the field, Smith and his yards-after-catch skill-set popped up for the second most yards of his entire career. Smith’s 10-yard score was a Huntley dump-off where the seam man did all the work. Excellent stuff, though Tua Tagovailoa’s expected Week 8 return will reset the Dolphins’ entire offense. Despite his intriguing box scores of late, Smith will probably fall just outside the top 12 against the Cardinals with Tua more likely to funnel looks Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle’s way.

Jones has struggled in back-to-back games, leading the Giants to just 10 points over the last two weeks. Daboll said the decision to bench Jones in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss was to provide a “spark” for the offense, but Drew Lock only amplified the Giants’ issues at quarterback. Jones draws a challenging Week 8 matchup on the road in Pittsburgh.

This being Waddle, he also appeared to be briefly banged up but never left the game. He was not announced with an injury. Waddle’s latest disaster without Tua Tagovailoa will hopefully be his last, as Tagovailoa (concussion) seems to be trending to a Week 8 return. Barely even WR3 relevant sans his quarterback, Waddle will probably slot back in as a low-end WR2 if Tua is cleared to face Arizona next Sunday.

Mariota entered in the first quarter to replace an injured Jayden Daniels (ribs) and wound up leading the Commanders on three touchdown-scoring drives. His first touchdown pass came in the waning seconds of the first-half when he connected with Zach Ertz on a 12-yard pass in the end zone. He would then find rookie Ben Sinnott on a three-yard score in the third quarter and played a near-flawless game against the hapless Panthers. Daniels’ rib injury did not appear serious, although we’ll learn more about it in the coming days. In the event he can’t play in Week 8, Mariota would draw his first start of the season against the Bears.

Wilson managed just five snaps in his professional debut in Week 6 before departing with a hamstring injury, an ailment that will now hold him out of action again as the team faces the Jets on Sunday Night Football. Expect Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to dominate backfield opportunities with Patterson sidelined.