NFL Player News

Winston was surprisingly relegated to the emergency third quarterback role prior to the Browns’ Week 7 game against the Bengals. After Deshaun Watson (Achilles) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) both went down during the game, Winston came in and immediately led a touchdown-scoring drive in the fourth quarter. He attempted 11 passes on the drive, finding David Njoku for a jump ball in the back of the end zone and an eight-yard score. Winston also found Cedric Tillman for the two-point conversion, but a failed onside kick kept Winston and the offense on the sideline to close the game. With Watson likely out for the season, Winston and Thompson-Robinson are in consideration to start, though Winston has the better resume while Thompson-Robinson is now dealing with a finger injury. Winston enters the fantasy QB2 conversation should he be named the Browns starter.

With Mason Rudolph replacing Will Levis, Okonkwo posted new season highs for both catches and yards. In theory that’s good news until you remember those season highs were 4/50. That’s not going to be a likely weekly outcome behind Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins. Regardless of who is under center in Week 8 against the Texans, Okonkwo will struggle for TE2 relevance.

White ironically produced a season-best 4.3 yards per carry average, though the small sample size probably boosted him in this regard. The north-south rusher cannot be trusted against the Chiefs in Week 8.

With Amari Cooper joining the Bills’ offense, Shakir somewhat surprisingly posted a new season high for receptions, while the yardage was his second most. Interesting, though 5/50 of his production came on one fourth quarter drive. The one-game takeaway is that Cooper’s presence opens up the Bills’ offense and is a rising tide that can lift all boats, but this was one game against a bad team. We’ll see what happens in Week 8 against a Seahawks defense that can’t stop the run. Shakir is a low-ceiling WR4 for the time being.

Ertz continues to be an integral part of the Commanders’ passing attack. He unleashed his signature catch-and-fall on a 12-yard reception in the end zone for his first score of the season, and has been targeted five times in each of his last two games. A true hit-or-miss option in fantasy, fantasy managers in need of tight end help in Week 8 can consider Ertz as a boom-or-bust TE2 against the Bears.

Zamir White returned from a groin injury this week but totaled just four touches to Mattison’s 26. If Antonio Pierce continues piling 20-plus opportunities on Mattison’s plate moving forward, he would enter the volume-based RB3 category. This outcome is a distinct possibility, given the team’s quarterback situation. He is a shaky flex option against the Chiefs in Week 8 though.

Mitchell’s 30 yards matched his second most of the season. The rookie has now caught multiple passes in three straight games, but it hasn’t translated to fantasy value even when a more pass-happy Joe Flacco was under center. With today’s starter Anthony Richardson, Mitchell has essentially zero shot at posting WR4/5 statlines behind Michael Pittman, Josh Downs and Alec Pierce.

Pierce tied Michael Pittman for the team lead in looks, but it didn’t mean a whole lot with a returning Anthony Richardson completing just 10-of-24 throws. Pierce took the Colts down to the one-yard line in the first quarter only for the 28-yard grab to be nullified by offsetting penalties. He later committed a terrible drop. Today was unfortunately par for the course for Pierce in this volatile offense. He’s not a recommended WR5 for Week 8 against the Texans despite his down-field potential.

McLaurin showed a good rapport with with backup Marcus Mariota, who played on all but one of the Commanders’ offensive drives. On the final drive of the first half, McLaurin caught passes of 15 and 18 yards to help setup a Zach Ertz touchdown, and later hauled in a 25-yard pass on a scramble drill by Mariota. McLaurin’s Week 8 upside will be largely impacted by whether or not Jayden Daniels (ribs) can start against the Bears, but he should have solid WR2 upside regardless of who is under center.

Turner’s box score failings are hardly all his own, however, he has yet to prove himself as a NFL starter. He is off the re-draft radar against the Chiefs in Week 8.