Diontae Johnson is heading to the Baltimore Ravens according to ESPN's sources. (Source: Adam Schefter on X)
Fantasy Impact: Johnson being dealt to Baltimore is big fantasy news, with notable implications for the Ravens' pass catchers. This trade will likely boost Johnson's fantasy stock, even if he sees fewer targets overall. Baltimore’s offense is much more efficient than Carolina’s, ranking 2nd in yards per pass, 3rd in passing touchdowns, and 5th in passing yards per game. Johnson likely steps in as the WR2, with Zay Flowers remaining the WR1. This addition could siphon targets from tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews. Rashod Bateman's role will be interesting to watch, but given how often Flowers lines up in the slot, Bateman may be insulated from a drop-off in usage. It is worth noting that Bateman was a 1st round draft pick for the Ravens in 2021, and he has played well this season. Nelson Agholor may be the odd man out, although he can also play in the slot if Flowers shifts outside.
The Colts are benching Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The move was made by the coaches Tuesday morning. Flacco should bring more stability to Michael Pittman, Josh Downs and the entire Colts offense. Flacco will be in the QB2 range for fantasy managers in 2-QB and superflex leagues.
Stefon Diggs is officially out for the season due to a knee injury. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This was the expectation after Diggs left Sunday's game with a non-contact knee injury. It is a tough break for Diggs who is set to enter free agency this offseason. With Nico Collins also still sidelined, Tank Dell should take over the clear No. 1 wide receiver role for now with Dalton Schultz likely also taking on a bigger role.
Sun, Oct 27th 9:32pm EDT
By Garrett Ball
Christian Kirk suffered a broken collarbone in the Jaguars’ 30-27 loss to the Packers on Sunday. Before exiting, he caught two of five targets for 59 yards.
Fantasy Impact: While it may not be the biggest blow to the Jaguars, with rumors circulating that they were going to trade the receiver and might have planned to be without his services soon anyway, it is a big blow for Kirk himself. He should recover from the injury well before the start of next season, but his trade value has plummeted. He is still under contract for the Jags next season, but there are potential outs the team could take, making him a free agent. Coming off of an injury as a free agent is not ideal, but that is mere speculation. For now, Kirk remains a Jaguar and will look to rebuild his value next year.
George Kittle (foot) is officially active for Week 8 for the San Francisco 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Kittle will suit up after entering the weekend with a questionable designation for the 49ers, giving quarterback Brock Purdy a game-breaking option in the passing game against a struggling Dallas defense for head coach Kyle Shanahan Sunday night.
Deebo Samuel Sr. (wrist/illness) is officially active for Week 8 for the San Francisco 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Samuel Sr. is good to go after carrying a questionable designation into the weekend, giving a boost to a shorthanded San Francisco offense against a struggling Dallas Cowboys defense Sunday night. The dynamic wideout should see as many touches as he can handle for head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Tyreek Hill (foot) is officially active for Week 8 for the Miami Dolphins against the Arizona Cardinals. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Hill carried a questionable designation entering Sunday, but cleared through pregame tests without any setbacks. The superstar wideout is primed for a return to form with the return of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) against a susceptible Cardinals secondary Sunday.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins is officially inactive against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8 as he deals with a late quad injury (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The Bengals listed Higgins late with a quad injury, and he will not be available for Week 8 after not being seen during warmups. Higgins has a history of soft-tissue injuries, and fans certainly hope this will not develop into a multi-week injury as is common for Higgins. WR Andrei Iosivas and TE Mike Gesicki will likely see increased snaps and targets like they did when Higgins was out early in the year with a hamstring injury, and rookie WR Jermaine Burton is a deep player to monitor.
Thu, Oct 24th 4:42pm EDT
By Leo Sells
Puka Nacua (knee) has been activated off of injured reserve and is expected to play in at least a limited capacity on Thursday night. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The Rams haven't had Nacua since Week 1 due to a knee injury, but he is set to make his return on Thursday night. The team has officially activated him off of injured reserve, and they plan to play him in a matchup against the Vikings. They will determine how much playing time he will get based on how he feels in pregame warmups, so this creates a bit of an uncertain situation for fantasy managers of the young wideout.
Bryce Young is expected to be Carolina's starting quarterback in Week 8. (Source: Darin Gantt on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The Panthers are planning on starting Young in Week 8 due to the thumb injury that Andy Dalton is dealing with. The 23-year old was benched earlier in the season after a couple of rough games, but he will have a chance now to earn more opportunities for himself in the future. This isn't good news for players like Diontae Johnson (ribs) and Chuba Hubbard, who have seen a massive increase in fantasy value ever since Young has been benched.
The Titans and Chiefs are working on a trade to send veteran WR DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas City, according to a report from ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. (Source: Adam Schefter on X)
Fantasy Impact: With the Titans off to a 1-5 start and the Chiefs suffering season-ending injuries to WRs Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice, this is a connection many analysts made when it first looked like Hopkins could be available. As far as his fantasy value is concerned, this is a best-case scenario for the veteran WR. Kansas City has been piecing things together with rookie WR Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, and Skyy Moore. Assuming he can pick up the offense quickly, Hopkins should step in and immediately be one of the top options in the passing game for QB Patrick Mahomes. Hopkins was WR54 in the FantasyPros ROS Rankings before this trade, but this move should bump him all the way up into WR3 territory. In Tennessee, this should mean more opportunities for Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, but fantasy managers would be wise not to trust that Titans offense if they can avoid it.
Mon, Oct 21st 10:46pm EDT
By Ari Koslow
Jameson Williams is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances (PES) policy. (Source: Eric Woodyard on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Williams will miss the next two games for the Lions. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta should both see some more targets in his absence.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said they are worried that Brandon Aiyuk injured his ACL. (Source: Lindsey Thiry on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Aiyuk will undergo an MRI to confirm the results. His knee appeared to get hit when he was tackled before he had to be carted back to to the locker room during Sunday's game against the Chiefs. There should be more information on his status on Monday.
Cooper Kupp (foot) is officially inactive for Week 7 for the Los Angeles Rams against the Las Vegas Raiders. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Kupp will remained sidelined for the Rams, as the team hopes another week of rest and practice will benefit the talented pass-catcher. Fantasy managers can expect Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson to lead the Rams wideouts, while running back Kyren Williams looks to take advantage of a generous Las Vegas run defense Sunday.
Michael Pittman Jr. (back) is officially active for the Indianapolis Colts against the Miami Dolphins. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Pittman Jr. was able to clear through pregame warmups for the Colts, giving returning starting quarterback Anthony Richardson his top pass-catching weapon against a tough Miami secondary Sunday.
Aaron Jones (hamstring) is officially active for Week 7 for the Minnesota Vikings against the Detroit Lions. (Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Jones carried a questionable designation into Sunday, but is good to go for the Vikings against a strong Lions run defense in the NFC North divisional clash.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III (illness) will officially be active Sunday vs. the Falcons on his 24th birthday. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Walker was added to the injury report and listed as questionable on Saturday because of an illness that came up, but he will still get the start today.
Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) is officially active for Week 7 for the New England Patriots against the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Source: New England Patriots)
Fantasy Impact: Stevenson was able to progress enough during pregame activities to suit up for the Patriots, as the running back looks to take advantage of a porous Jacksonville defense Sunday.
Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) is officially inactive for Week 7 for the Jacksonville Jaguars against the New England Patriots. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Etienne Jr. will not suit up for the Jaguars, as the running back looks to use the upcoming bye week to return to full health. Tank Bigsby will receive the majority of the backfield touches while D’Ernest Johnson mixes in for head coach Doug Pederson against the Patriots Sunday.
Rashid Shaheed (knee) will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after undergoing a procedure to repair his meniscus. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Shaheed underwent surgery to repair his meniscus on Thursday and is set to miss the remainder of the season while he recovers. He's facing a four-to-six month recovery period, so it's likely that he will be fully ready to go for the 2025 season if all goes to plan with his recovery. This is bad news for New Orleans' offense, as they will now have to look to players like Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Juwan Johnson to step up and play a bigger role in his absence moving forward.
