25 October 2026
Cooks was out-targeted and outplayed by both Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing. Cooks did run the most routes of any receiver on the team, but he didn’t command targets or look like a key piece of the receiving game. With Mike Evans likely back in Week 9, it’s hard to hold onto Cooks through the Week 8 bye in fantasy leagues.25 October 2026
To add insult to injury, Mitchell had a two-point conversion catch called back because of a penalty. Omar Cooper Jr. once again stole the show, reeling in several long catches en route to his second 100-yard game in a row. Playing in his first game in over a month, Mitchell did not appear awfully involved in the team’s game plan. The hope will be that he earns more opportunities next week, but Cooper Jr. may have already cemented himself as the team’s No. 2 receiver. Mitchell will be stuck ...25 October 2026
He did draw a defensive pass interference and a defensive holding, so at least he helped in points per penalty leagues. The Giants had defenders draped all over Collins for the majority of the game, and he was punished when he did catch the ball. It was Collins’ worst box score return since his rookie season, and one of only four games in his career where he was targeted and did not return at least 13 yards. The Texans wideout situation is complicated, but we’d still bet on Collins returnin ...25 October 2026
Taylor once again operated as the Colts’ lead back, though rookie Seth McGowan took on more work as the game went on. A first quarter 38-yard touchdown by Taylor was the Colts’ most explosive play of the game; the rest of his rushes averaged just over three yards per carry. It was a tough matchup for the Colts against a high-motor Vikings defense and the offense was not able to sustain drives long enough for Taylor to get opportunities. He saw red zone snaps later in the game but the Colts ...
25 October 2026
Coker was also the intended target on the first of Bryce Young’s two interceptions. The wideout fell down, leading to the miscue. It was simply a nightmarish day for the Panthers’ offense, who also watched Young cough up a fumble-six. With the Panthers trailing 33-6 at halftime and 43-6 at the 10:21 mark of the fourth, the first-team offense sat for the game’s final 10 minutes. A disaster for fantasy managers, but likely a short-lived one with the Panthers heading to Green Bay for a short ...25 October 2026
Noel was spotted in a boot after the game and Ryans confirmed the injury at a post-game scrum. Noel is droppable at this point between the injury and the sudden integration of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tank Dell.25 October 2026
Feel lucky McMillan even reached those marks, as the Panthers simply did not compete in a game where they committed four turnovers and trailed 33-6 at halftime. The first-team offense sat for the game’s final 10 minutes. McMillan had a better go of it than Jalen Coker, who caught one pass and fell down to create an interception. A shambles, though one the Panthers have to move on from quickly, as they are headed to Green Bay for a potential short-week shootout on Thursday Night Football.25 October 2026
Watkins was second among receivers in routes, running a route on 30 of the team’s 43 dropbacks, and was also third on the team overall in targets. He made a few nice catches over the middle of the field, and his day could have been much better as he caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy in the second half. Unfortunately, while his feet were in bounds, the ball shifted a couple of inches when his back slammed into the ground, and replay review overturned the call of touchdown on the ...25 October 2026
Jennings caught a 20-yard pass, his longest reception of the season. He was targeted three times, nearly catching a long touchdown from Kyler Murray in the second quarter, but failing to haul it in. Jennings is outside of the top-three pass-catching options for the Vikings and is irrelevant for fantasy purposes in this role. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on him in case he is traded, but Jennings does not need to be in fantasy lineups heading in to Week 8.25 October 2026
Marks was the only game in town for the Texans, playing 54-of-61 snaps, but couldn’t convert the empty-box looks he was getting into real fantasy value. It was actually a reasonable game compared to most Texans box scores this year. Marks looked to have been hurt at one point in the third quarter but was able to escape the tent and go right back to work. Assuming David Montgomery (groin) is back after the bye week, Marks will head back to FLEX work on most fantasy rosters.25 October 2026
Watson again led the Browns to a heart-stopping fourth quarter comeback after the Titans tied the game late in the fourth quarter. Watson connected with Harold Fannin for a long gain that put the Browns in field goal range before they won the game at the buzzer. Watson targeted KC Concepcion a team high ten times, mostly on well-designed short area passes. He was 7 percent over his expected completion rate — one of his best rates of the 2026 season. Watson rushed for a touchdown in the second ...25 October 2026
Kirk was activated off the injured list this week after missing the first six games of the season with a calf injury. He played on just 20 of the team’s 66 snaps and ran a route on 14 of their 43 dropbacks. Kirk was always likely to be eased back into things, and the 49ers have a bye next week to get him more up to speed. That being said, he doesn’t figure to be a huge part of this passing game if the 49ers can get more of their receivers back healthy after the bye.25 October 2026
Nothing groundbreaking here, though this was more like reasonable low-end TE1 work than reasonable low-end TE2 work. Schultz heads into the Week 8 bye with 137 yards in six games against non-Bengals defenses this year and unless you’re in a TE-premium league likely does not need to be on the roster while on bye.25 October 2026
Allen almost turned a solid fantasy outing into an RB1 performance in the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins stonewalled him at the goal line. Geno Smith was sacked on the next play and the Jets settled for a field goal. Allen appeared to get banged up late in the game and missed a few snaps on the Jets’ final drive, but he ultimately got back on the field just before the team’s last snap on offense. With Breece Hall expected to return next week, Allen’s days as low-end RB1 might be at an e ...25 October 2026
Hockenson operated as the Vikings’ No. 2 pass-catcher on the day, seeing a lot of Kyler Murray’s targets in the flats. He caught a five-yard touchdown in the second half and finished with 35 receiving yards. Two of his targets came in the end zone, giving him a solid floor as a red zone receiver. Hockenson’s red zone usage is a good sign for his fantasy value; he is in the low-end TE1 range for Week 8 against the Lions.25 October 2026
With Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, De’Zhaun Stribling, and more out with injuries, Cowing was asked to do more as a receiver in this one. He ran the third-most routes of any receiver, but did have more targets and catches than Brandin Cooks, who ran the most routes. Still, with the 49ers on bye next week and likely to be healthier when they return in Week 9, Cowing is not a recommended add on waiver wires.25 October 2026
He added a two-yard rush on an end around. While it was good to see him back on the field, it should be noted that it looked like his 43-yard catch glanced off Jaylin Noel’s hands and seemed to immaculately find it’s way into Dell’s as he scampered off for some yards after the catch. Dell further confounded the Houston Wideout Situation, playing just 14 snaps. We have no idea what to trust here beyond Nico Collins. Dell seemed to be running just fine, though it sounded like at times his d ...25 October 2026
One of the carries came on Houston’s last goal-to-go sequence of the game, where they wound up setting up what looked like a Hutchinson pass only to see him tuck the ball and run. We got nothing. With Tank Dell back and Marvin Harrison Jr. looking for work as well, it would seem that Hutchinson’s days as a FLEX option are over. But we would have said that before this game as well, and Hutchinson wound up with more wideout snaps than anyone but Nico Collins.25 October 2026
The Dolphins shut down Wilson, opting to let Omar Cooper Jr. and Mason Taylor beat them through the air. The duo combined for 177 yards and three touchdowns while Wilson was stuck with decoy duties. Wilson was spotted screaming at Geno Smith in the fourth quarter after Smith took a back-breaking sack on third down at the goal line. Wilson downplayed the altercation after the game, saying he was “collaborating” and then noting that he wasn’t even talking to Geno. He was. With several young ...25 October 2026
Harrison had to come back to the ball in the end zone, one that was placed to his back shoulder by C.J. Stroud to fit it around a zone defender. That was the good. Harrison also added an egregious drop while playing just 13 snaps. Your guess is as good as ours about fantasy value here as we sort through the names. Harrison doesn’t necessarily need to be rostered through his Week 8 bye.
