NFL Player News

Meyers has missed two games because of the ankle injury. He returned to practice Wednesday but was downgraded to a DNP on Thursday, casting doubt on his availability for Week 8. Meyers got back on the field on Friday before being listed as questionable. He will return to a team without Davante Adams, who is now a Jet. With only Brock Bowers competing with him for targets, Meyers has WR2 upside based on the potential for elite volume.

Metcalf went down with the knee injury in Week 7 and needed to be carted to the locker room. He did not return and did not make an appearance at practice this week before being listed as doubtful. It’s a good sign for Metcalf’s long-term outlook that he’s making any effort to play today, though it doesn’t look like that will happen. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett will be leaned on by Geno Smith in Metcalf’s absence. Jake Bobo is expected to step in as Seattle’s No. 3 receiver.

Fowler said on Saturday night that the team will still need to see how he feels in the morning before making a final determination. As he noted, Cincinnati doesn’t want to push Higgins this week, only for his quad injury to turn into a long-term concern. Signs are pointing toward Higgins suiting up this week, but fantasy managers will want to check in on the Bengals’ inactives before kickoff. Andrei Iosivas will take Higgins’ spot in the lineup if he is ruled out.

Etienne was listed as questionable for Week 8 after getting in three limited practices. Tank Bigsby will vault into the RB2 ranks once Etienne is officially ruled out. Bigsby ran 26 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns last week. That came in an easy win over the Patriots. The Jaguars are underdogs versus Green Bay this week, so getting Bigsby rolling won’t be as easy. Still, his grip on the rushing work in Jacksonville and his big-play potential make Bigsby a strong fantasy option versus the Packers.

Schefter also mentioned Diontae Johnson as a receiver who could be on the move, and that is feeling closer to a given with every Panthers loss. Kirk has flown under the radar as a potential trade target for receiver-needy teams, but the move makes sense for all involved. The veteran receiver is averaging 3.6 catches for 46 yards per game this year. Those numbers were at 4.8 catches and 66 yards last year. The emergence of Brian Thomas Jr. has pushed Kirk down the target totem pole in Jacksonville, making him expendable for the offense. Kirk would land on a contending team with targets to spare, making most landing spots upgrades for his fantasy outlook.

Per Adam Schefter, teams have reached out to the Raiders to inquire about the star defender’s availability but have been consistently rebuffed. This won’t stop them from trying as the trade deadline approaches, but it does look like Davis and the Raiders have no interest in moving Crosby. Crosby has 6.5 sacks and a league-leading 10 TFLs this year. He has led the NFL in TFLs two years in a row and has 27 sacks over that stretch. Crosby would be a great addition for a team making a push to win now, though that appears to be out of the picture despite Vegas’s season circling the drain.

Kittle missed Wednesday’s practice with a sprained foot but returned for two limited sessions before being listed as questionable. Kittle has played through several injuries this year and will do so again on Sunday night versus Dallas. Injured or not, Kittle ranks as a top-five fantasy tight end for Week 8.

Daniels went down with the rib injury in Week 7 and did not return. He was held out of the first two practices of the week but got in some work after the media portion of Friday’s session. Daniels also took part in Saturday’s walkthrough. The rookie will need to get final clearance after pre-game warmups but is on track to suit up versus the Bears. Daniels has played so well through two months that he will remain in the QB1 ranks, even as he guts it out through the rib injury versus a shut-down Chicago defense.

Hill popped up on the injury report midweek as a limited participant. He was downgraded to a DNP on Friday before being listed as questionable. It’s possible the Dolphins were being cautious with their star receiver, though the questionable tag suggests there was at least some risk of him not suiting up. With Tua Tagovailoa officially back in the lineup for Week 8, Hill goes from being a barely-playable WR4 to a locked-in WR1 overnight. Hill caught seven passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in Tua’s only full game this year.

Flowers got banged up in the Ravens’ Week 7 win over the Bucs but played through the ankle issue despite going down early in the game. The Ravens gave him Wednesday and Thursday off and he returned for a light session to close the week. Baltimore listed him as questionable on their final injury report. Even a hobbled Flowers is still the Ravens’ best receiving option, keeping him in the WR2 ranks for his Week 8 matchup with Cleveland.

McConkey played through the hip issue last week so the news isn’t much of a surprise. McConkey missed two practices this week but returned for a limited session on Friday before being listed as questionable. Though McConkey is likely not playing at full strength, the Chargers don’t have many other options at receiver. McConkey will stick in the WR3 ranks for his upcoming matchup with the Saints.