NFL Player News

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Dowdle “became sick upon arriving to Levi’s stadium.” Players rarely miss games because of illnesses, but Dowdle being added to the report this late in the process is an obvious concern. Dalvin Cook, who was elevated from the practice squad this week, would be in line for a share of the Cowboys’ backfield by committee if Dowdle doesn’t suit up. Ezekiel Elliott led the Cowboys with eight carries last week and would be the starter without Dowdle.

Meyers played well in his return from a high-ankle sprain, notably winning a contested catch against Chiefs S Justin Reid for a seven-yard touchdown. Meyers’ seven targets can hardly be considered a high-volume outing but he did lead the team in targets this week. He is WR3/4-viable against the Bengals in Week 9.

Browns’ most meaningful catch was his last, as the veteran receiver found himself on the receiving end of a 52-yard Hail Mary to give the Commanders the walk-off win over the Bears. A deep pass by Jayden Daniels fell just short of the goal line, but Brown was in position to track the ball the whole time, which he did to perfection when his time came. The six targets Brown saw marked his second-highest total of the season, while his 73 yards set a new season-high. If not for his miraculous score, it would’ve been another forgettable outing for Brown. There’s no fantasy upside here, but it was an incredible moment for the eight-year vet who joined the team after being left off the Texans’ 53-man roster.

The Lions had just 225 yards of total offense in a game that their defense and special teams dominated. As a result, not many of their offensive players put up huge days. However, we should note that, with Jameson Williams suspended, Tim Patrick played the second-most snaps of any Lions wide receiver and ran the second-most routes on the team, one ahead of Sam LaPorta, and three behind Amon-Ra St. Brown. It didn’t lead to anything this week, but perhaps it could lead to deep-league fantasy points next week against the Packers.

Ertz turned in his best game of the season against the Bears and nearly secured a leaping touchdown were it not for a solid defensive effort from Tyrique Stevenson and the fact that the ground appeared to knock the ball loose as Ertz tumbled to the ground. Ertz’s 11 targets were his most in a game since Week 2 of the 2022 season. While we shouldn’t expect this output every week, he continues to be one of the top streaming option at the position and will have some upside in Week 9 against the Giants.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo called a good game. Bowers was held to just one target in both the second and third quarters, combined. Bowers flashed early, notably winning against the Chiefs’ No. 1 CB, Trent McDuffie, in the second quarter. Bowers was ultimately held to his lowest target total since Week 4 though. He is a high-end TE1 against the Bengals in Week 9.

Dissly’s stat line could have looked a whole lot better had he held on to a potential long gain in the first half. Emerging as an important part of the newly pass-first LA offense, Dissly now has 18 targets over his past two outings, running a strong route share. The team’s lack of viable passing game options should make Dissly a solid plug-and-play option next week against the Browns.

Minshew plays with impressive moxie but is now up to five turnovers over the last two games. He and his struggling squad face a volatile Bengals defense in Week 9, making him QB2-viable for desperate managers in two-quarterback and superflex leagues. He cannot be started in typical 12-team leagues though.

McLaurin continues to flourish in the Commanders’ new-look offense. The six-year vet has gone for 50-plus yards in his last six games and has four games with 98 or more yards. He barely missed a beat in Week 7 when the Commanders played all but one drive with Marcus Mariota. In Sunday’s win over the Bears, McLaurin continued his hot running. He finished second on the team with eight targets but caught the longest pass of the game when he hauled in a 61-yard reception in the first quarter. McLaurin is on pace for one of his best seasons as a pro, and will be a high-end WR2 next week against the Giants.

Vidal did not register a route or target in the victory. J.K. Dobbins continued leading the Chargers backfield with 17 carries, 57 yards, and a score. Vidal, who had four touches in Week 7 against the Cardinals, is a savvy bench stash for now.