Lineup Prep: Week 8

Wed Oct 22 9:26am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Nix can have big Week 8


We had two good teams in a bye last week but this week is the first time seeing six teams on a bye. And there are some really good fantasy players that will be off this week, including Jahmyr Gibbs, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Davante Adams. It is going to be a tough week for many fantasy teams, seeing the Cardinals, Lions, Jaguars, Rams, Raiders and Seahawks on a bye. As we have noted before, plan ahead for these bye weeks so you aren’t caught off guard. A proactive owner is a winning owner.

Now for my random thoughts for the week. . . . .

So Keenan Allen is eighth overall in fantasy receiver scoring while Ladd McConkey is 27th in scoring. Everyone thought those guys would be reversed but it is clear that Justin Herbert still has a ton of trust in Allen. And the crazy thing is Allen isn’t even out there as much as the other receivers. He is third in receiver snaps for the Chargers, playing less than 65 percent of the snaps each of the last three games. That is a tad concerning for him to keep his current pace but as long as he keeps getting the looks while on the field, Allen is going to be a big help to fantasy teams. At this pace, Allen is going to be a steal for fantasy teams while McConkey will be a bust despite getting around 90 percent of the snaps for the Chargers.

There are rumors of Breece Hall possibly getting dealt before the trade deadline. That likely would be great for his fantasy value. He has less than eight fantasy points two straight and fewer than double-digit points four games. He is struggling at times in this anemic offense. A move would be a real positive for Hall’s value. And if Hall gets dealt, Isaiah Davis would take over as the lead back for the Jets. He might be worth a speculative add for fantasy teams, being owned on just 22.1 percent of leagues on our site.

I think the Chiefs might be better than they were last season. This offense is really humming right now. The upgraded options at receiver are making a big difference for the passing game. And Patrick Mahomes is playing as well as ever. Plus, the offensive line is doing a much better job, giving Mahomes more time to throw. The running game is having more success lately, which will just help things even more. The Chiefs defense remains stout. Don’t be surprised if this team makes another run to the Super Bowl, especially with some of the top teams in the AFC scuffling.

I don’t know how the Lions are doing it but their entire secondary is basically hurt and many of the backups were as well, but this unit just held the Bucs high-powered passing game to nine points. They had guys stepping up last week that have barely stepped on the field in the NFL. The coaching staff in Detroit does such a great job with the next man up mentality. The Lions lost a ton of coaches last offseason, but head coach Dan Campbell seems to have a knack for finding more than capable replacements. I could not be more impressed with the coaching going on in Detroit.

He didn’t do a ton with his work last week but it seems we are finally seeing a changing of the guard at running back in Houston. Woody Marks played 63 percent of the snaps last week while Nick Chubb played just 25 percent. Marks has 13 touches, giving him 13-plus touches two of three games. Marks had a tough matchup against a good Seahawks defense last week, so look for better things from him in the weeks ahead. Marks could be a fantasy factor down the stretch. He is a three-down back that can help as a runner and receiver.

The Dolphins are a complete disaster right now. I think Devon Ahcane is the only fantasy player I would want on that team. I’m not sure how they can keep Mike McDaniel employed as head coach with some of the stuff coming out from the players and even him during talking with the press. It is not a good situation in Miami and could just keep getting worse as long as McDaniel remains head coach. Not good.

News and Notes: The Titans released receiver Tyler Lockett on Monday. He asked for his release and it was granted. Lockett will try to catch on with another team. . . . .Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham has come out of retirement to join the team for the remainder of the 2025 season. . . . .Atlanta released wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III on Tuesday. He has been a healthy scratch the last two weeks. . . . .The New York Giants released kicker Jude McAtamney on Tuesday. McAtamney missed some crucial extra points last week, leading to his release. The Giants are likely to turn to either Younghoe Koo or Graham Gano for the Week 8 game.

HOT PLAYS

D’Andre Swift, RB, Bears. Swift is playing his best football right now. He is 10th overall in fantasy running back scoring and seventh his last three games. He has two straight 100-yard games and double-digit fantasy points five straight games. He can keep it going this week against the Ravens. Baltimore allows the second most fantasy points to running backs. The Ravens have allowed 165-plus rushing yards two of four games. 

Bo Nix, QB, Broncos. Nix isn’t having quite the fantasy season most hoped but maybe last week gets him going. He had his best fantasy game of the season, scoring 42.75 fantasy points. He had four total touchdowns and threw for 279 yards. Nix played a great game late, making play after play. He has a shot to keep it going this week against the Cowboys, a team that is pretty awful defensively. Dallas allows the most fantasy points to quarterbacks and has struggled defensively all season long.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers. Doubs continues to be the most dependable Packers fantasy receiver. He is eighth overall in fantasy receiver scoring his last three games. He has double-digit fantasy points all three of those games and at least eight targets all three games. Expect more of the same for Doubs this week against the Steelers. Pittsburgh allows the fourth most fantasy points to receivers. The Steelers have allowed 300-plus passing yards two of three games.

Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens. Henry has really disappointed much of the season. He has just two 100-yard games and fewer than double-digit fantasy points three games. Injuries have derailed this offense, though, causing the entire unit to struggle at times. The positive is Henry was really good his last time out and Lamar Jackson is getting closer to a return. Either way, look for Henry to be leaned on heavily in Week 8 against the Bears. Chicago has allowed 120-plus rushing yards all but a game. The Bears allow the ninth most fantasy points to running backs.

A.J. Brown, WR, Eagles. Brown has been a frustrating fantasy player this season, posting numbers all over the map. He had his second 100-yard game of the season last week, though, and has 14-plus fantasy points two straight. He has at least eight targets five of six games. Brown gets his looks and is a must start no matter the matchup in this offense. We like his play to get more consistent going forward, especially this week against the Giants. He had six receptions for 80 yards on nine targets against the Giants in Week 6. This is a prime matchup for him to produce.

COLD PLAYS   

Jaylen Waddle. WR, Dolphins. Waddle had just a catch for 15 yards on four targets last week, his worst showing of the season. He has been pretty consistent much of the year, especially after Tyreek Hill was injured. But the Dolphins offense is a mess, so Waddle is no sure weekly thing. And he follows a tough matchup with another tough one, getting the Falcons. Atlanta has been terrific against the pass, allowing the second fewest fantasy points to receivers. The Falcons have yet to allow a 200-yard passing game this year.

Jaylen Warren, RB, Steelers. Warren had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season last week, running 16 times for 127 yards. He had fewer than 55-rushing yards, though, every game before Week 7. He has been pretty ho-hum. Warren took advantage of a great matchup against a bad Bengals run defense. Things will be much tougher for him this week against the Packers. Green Bay allows the fourth fewest fantasy points to running backs and has allowed more than 100-rushing yards just one game all season.

Mac Jones, QB, 49ers. We are guessing Jones gets another start this week but if it is Brock Purdy, we would avoid him as well. As for Jones. He is still playing fine but his numbers for fantasy teams have cooled. He has fewer than 18 fantasy points two straight and three of his last four games. It is the Christian McCaffrey show in San Francisco. He is carrying the offense. Look for more of the same this week against a very good Texans defense. Jones is likely to be held in check against a team that allows the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots. Stevenson had his best game of the season last week, rushing 18 times for 88 yards and a touchdown. He scored 16.8 fantasy points. Stevenson did this against an awful Titans rush defense, though. He had fewer than 40-rushing yards four straight games before last week. We wouldn’t get too high on him after one good game against a bad run defense. Stevenson will come back down to earth this week against the Browns, a team that allows the second fewest fantasy points to running backs. The Browns have allowed fewer than 100-rushing yards five of seven games.

Xavier Legette, WR, Panthers. Legette had his best game of the season last week, catching nine passes for 92 yards on 11 targets. He didn’t have a game with more than 35 yards before last week, though. Legette has been pretty quiet. And the return of Jalen Coker could cut into his those as well. We wouldn’t get too high on Legette after just one good performance. He can come back down to earth this week against the Bills, a team that has allowed fewer than 200-passing yards four of six games.

SLEEPERS

Michael Penix, QB, Falcons. Penix has fewer than 20 fantasy points two straight and has topped 20 points just two of six games. He has been more down than good most of the year for his fantasy owners. He is getting some yards, though, having at least 240-passing yards four games. He has the potential for the big game any given week and a game this week against the Dolphins is a good one for him. Miami is just a mess right now and allows the sixth most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

Mason Taylor, TE, Jets. Taylor didn’t have a great game last week but had three receptions for 31 yards on five targets. He got some chances in an offense that really struggled to throw the ball. Taylor might be the top target in the offense once again this week with Garrett Wilson hurting. This is a good thing for Taylor against a bad Bengals defense. Cincinnati has been awful against the tight end, allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends. The Bengals have allowed at least 249-passing yards all but a game.

Tyrone Tracy, RB, Giants. Tracy played 36 percent of the snaps last week, his highest total since Week 2. He remains a big part of the Giants offense, getting some weekly touches to make some big plays. He looked great last week, rushing nine times for 46 yards and a touchdown. Game script could cause him to play more again this week against the Eagles. You could see the Giants getting down and giving Tracy more playing time against a defense that allows the eighth most fantasy points to running backs. Tracy might be worth a look as a flex play in this one.

Chimere Dike, WR, Titans. Dike played a season-high 57 percent of the snaps last week, getting a chance to play more because of injury. And Dike looked good, catching four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. With a new coaching staff in place, Dike could be carving out a bigger role in the offense, especially after his performance last week. If Dike can find the field a lot against the Colts this week, he could do some damage. Indy allows the most fantasy points to receivers and 300-plus passing yards three of four games.

Troy Franklin, WR, Broncos. Franklin scored his second touchdown of the season last week. He had just three receptions for 19 yards but was targeted a season-high 10 times. He is getting his weekly looks in this offense, having at least three receptions four straight games. Franklin might be setup for his best game of the season this week against the Cowboys. Dallas really struggles to stop the pass and allows the second most fantasy points to receivers. Franklin is a good spot play in Week 8.

High/Low Scoring Games

Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.

High Scoring Games: Bears/Ravens, Giants/Eagles, Bucs/Saints, Cowboys/Broncos, Commanders/Chiefs.

Low Scoring Games: Browns/Patriots, 49ers/Texans.

Bye Weeks: Cardinals, Lions, Jaguars, Rams, Raiders, Seahawks.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9

Player Notes
Blake Corum Oct 29 1:40am CT
Blake Corum

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum is back on the fantasy radar after a high-volume outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. During that Week 7 contest, Corum rushed for 37 yards on a season-high 12 carries and 34 percent snap share. He also caught a pass. The 24-year-old capitalized on a positive game script, as he and Kyren Williams both handled a dozen rushing attempts in the 35-7 victory. While Williams will remain Los Angeles' lead back, Corum's high-volume showing could be a sign that he'll continue to handle an increased workload going forward. He should showcase this large workload during a projected positive game script against the Saints in Week 9. If Los Angeles takes a sizable lead early in the game, we could see Corum push for 10-12 carries once again. It's common practice for managers to pursue high-volume running backs in good offenses, so even though Corum is behind Williams on the depth chart, he's still an intriguing waiver wire target as a fringe top-36 running back in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Oct 29 1:30am CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has worked his way back onto the fantasy radar after a quiet start to the season. The veteran has 10 targets, seven catches, 59 yards, and one touchdown over his last two games, solidifying his role as the Rams' top tight end over Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson. He has capitalized on the impressive efficiency of Los Angeles' passing offense this season, led by Matthew Stafford. The quarterback and tight end have maintained a solid rapport despite the presence of several weapons on offense, including Puka Nacua (ankle) and Davante Adams. While Higbee's upside is highest with Nacua sidelined, he can still be a solid TE2 option if the star receiver returns for Week 9 against the Saints. Moving forward, Higbee will continue to warrant consideration as a top-24 tight end in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Oct 29 12:50am CT
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was busy once again in Week 8, hauling in eight receptions for 63 yards on 12 targets against the Buccaneers. It marked his sixth game this season with double-digit targets, and he now ranks second in the league with 83 overall. Olave has built strong chemistry with Spencer Rattler through the first half of the season, but rookie Tyler Shough is set to take over at quarterback in Week 9 against the Rams, adding some uncertainty to his outlook. Still, Olave's steady volume keeps him firmly in the WR1/WR2 mix, and Shough's big arm could lead to more deep-shot opportunities if the two can establish a connection of their own. With trade rumors swirling around Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, Olave's role as the undisputed top target in the Saints' passing attack appears even more secure.

From RotoBaller

Mack Hollins Oct 29 12:50am CT
Mack Hollins

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins has started to emerge as a potential fantasy football option after an impressive outing against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8. On Sunday, Hollins caught all seven of his targets for 89 yards while handling a season-high 72 percent snap share. He now has 138 yards over his last two games. The veteran receiver has officially supplanted DeMario Douglas as the team's new No. 3 receiver behind Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. However, if you're purely talking about workload, Hollins is actually the No. 2, because he has registered more snaps than Diggs in each of the last two games, as well as three of the last four. This doesn't mean managers should rush to add Hollins over Diggs, and the size of your league should dictate whether you try to add Hollins off waivers at all. He's certainly worth picking up for the back end of rosters in leagues with at least 14 teams, as his snap share, target share, and productivity have been very promising. He has a solid track record, too. Hollins led the Bills in receiving touchdowns last year, scoring more than players like Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Dalton Kincaid. In essence, managers should feel confident that Hollins' big week isn't necessarily a fluke, and that he'll continue to compete for more playing time going forward. He's a fringe top-50 fantasy receiver as he takes on Atlanta in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Oct 29 12:30am CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson's long-awaited emergence finally happened during last Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. The rookie rushed for 75 yards on 10 carries, with his best play being a 27-yard run. He wasn't involved in the passing game, nor did he lead the team in touches, but he was far more efficient than Rhamondre Stevenson and proved that he can excel even against a strong run defense like Cleveland's. An increased rushing workload is a good sign for Henderson going forward, as he should continue to earn more snaps on a wide variety of downs. His 21 percent snap share from last weekend is bound to increase, too. The biggest area of focus for Henderson now is ball security, as he lost his first career fumble against Cleveland. With that said, Stevenson hasn't been any better, losing three fumbles of his own in 2025. Moving forward, Henderson should continue to eat into Stevenson's workload while emerging as a fantasy football threat. He should be added off waivers in leagues with at least 10 teams, and he could be a worthwhile RB3/flex option in leagues with at least 12-14 teams when he takes on the Falcons in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Shough Oct 29 12:30am CT
Tyler Shough

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough replaced Spencer Rattler in the third quarter of the team's loss to the Buccaneers, completing 17-of-30 passes for 128 yards and one interception. Head coach Kellen Moore has since named Shough the starter heading into the Week 9 matchup against the Rams. The rookie has the arm strength and confidence to open up New Orleans' stagnant passing attack, which currently ranks 28th in the league at 6.2 yards per attempt. While he remains outside the QB2 range for now, Shough could be a sneaky Superflex play with four teams on bye in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Grant Calcaterra Oct 29 12:20am CT
Grant Calcaterra

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra has been a meaningful part of the offense this season, playing on 47.4% of offensive snaps in six games. Calcaterra missed Philadelphia's Week 6 matchup in Minnesota with an oblique injury, but has suited up for every other game as the team's No. 2 tight end behind Dallas Goedert. The 26-year-old has mostly served as a blocking tight end and has only caught four of his six targets for 40 yards this season, but he has proven capable of scaling up a little bit when Goedert misses time. In the seven games that Goedert missed last season, Calcaterra caught 14 of 15 targets for 165 yards and a touchdown. He'd be in TE2 territory if Goedert were to miss any games this season.

From RotoBaller

Luke Musgrave Oct 29 12:00am CT
Luke Musgrave

Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave has played on only 29.9% of offensive snaps so far through seven games this season, catching six of his seven targets for 54 yards and no touchdowns. Musgrave hasn't seen more than two targets in a game this season, as fellow third-year tight end Tucker Kraft has established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league. Kraft has been banged up some during his career, and if he were to miss any time this season, Musgrave would likely step into the starting tight end spot and run a full number of routes. The 25-year-old had plenty of positive moments in his rookie year as a downfield threat, which aligns with quarterback Jordan Love's style of play. But Musgrave also dealt with injury issues and has struggled to stay on the field at times. He's best left on the waiver wire for now.

From RotoBaller

Devaughn Vele Oct 28 11:40pm CT
Devaughn Vele

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele caught one of his five targets for 10 yards in their Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Vele played a season high 51.4% of the snaps and had his most targets in a game since Week 12 of last season with the Broncos. The 27-year-old was traded to the Saints for a fourth-round pick in late August and has mostly held a depth role through eight games, catching five of 10 targets for 39 yards and a touchdown. Barring a trade to either Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed, Vele is unlikely to be relevant for fantasy purposes this season.

From RotoBaller

Jimmy Horn Jr. Oct 28 11:30pm CT
Jimmy Horn Jr.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. has played in four of eight games this season, catching five of his eight targets for 65 yards and handling six carries for 37 yards. After being a healthy scratch for the first month of the season, the sixth rounder out of Colorado played at least 20% of the snaps with multiple touches in the first three weeks when he was playing. His snap share dipped to just 13.1% in their Week 8 blowout loss to the Bills, but they still made an emphasis to get the ball in his hands with two rush attempts and a target. The Panthers need another consistent pass-catching threat outside of fellow rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Second-year wideouts Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette have had moments, but Horn has 4.4 speed and shiftiness that make him a tough cover. He could be a rookie who emerges over the second half of the season.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Tolbert Oct 28 9:10pm CT
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has been a modest producer so far this season, recording 14 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets across eight games played. Tolbert's playing time and target share have been trending downwards in recent weeks. After earning 18 targets over his first four games of 2025, Tolbert has been targeted just six times over his four most recent contests. Tolbert was always projected to be behind star wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the Dallas depth chart. However, Tolbert was also out-snapped by both Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin in the Cowboys' Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. When Lamb was sidelined by an ankle injury from Weeks 4-6, Tolbert was largely outplayed by Flournoy. Even if Lamb or Pickens were to get injured, Tolbert may now still find it difficult to get on the field. He should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Allen Lazard Oct 28 9:00pm CT
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has seen minimal usage so far this season, recording seven catches for 45 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets across six games played. However, Lazard got a chance to play 78% of New York's offensive snaps in Week 8 due to injuries to top Jets wideouts Garrett Wilson (knee) and Josh Reynolds (hip). Wilson is expected to return in Week 10 following the team's Week 9 bye, but Reynolds must miss at least three more games on Injured Reserve. Still, Lazard's lack of production to this point makes him difficult for fantasy managers to rely upon. Even with Wilson and Reynolds sidelined in Week 8, Lazard recorded one catch for five yards in a game where the Jets scored 39 points. Lazard should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Oct 28 8:40pm CT
Adonai Mitchell

Ever since he dropped the football just before crossing the goal line for a costly fumble in Week 4, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has struggled to see the field. Across his last three games played, the 23-year-old has recorded one catch for eight yards on three targets. Mitchell played 89% of the Colts' offensive snaps in Week 4, but he's failed to crack 17% of the snaps since. Indianapolis has a trio of talented wideouts in Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, so there's not a huge need for Mitchell's services as long as the team's top three wide receivers are healthy. Mitchell has flashed upside at points in his career, but he appears to be facing an uphill battle for playing time in Indianapolis. Barring an injury to a player ahead of him on the depth chart or a trade, Mitchell can likely remain off the radar of redraft fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Jalin Hyatt Oct 28 8:30pm CT
Jalin Hyatt

With star wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 4, there have been plenty of opportunities for wide receivers to step up for the New York Giants. Unfortunately for both himself and the team, third-year wideout Jalin Hyatt has failed to cash in on that opportunity. Across five games played in 2025, Hyatt has recorded three catches for 17 yards on nine targets. He's clearly behind both Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton on the Giants' wide receiver depth chart, and Hyatt was out-snapped by wideouts Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Beaux Collins in New York's Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. Across his last 19 games played, Hyatt has just 11 total receptions. He should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Savion Williams Oct 28 8:30pm CT
Savion Williams

Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Savion Williams has primarily been limited to a special teams and gadget role through the early portion of his first NFL season. Across seven games, Williams has more rush attempts (seven) than receptions (five). The 23-year-old has not been particularly efficient as either a rusher or receiver, recording 59 yards and a touchdown on his 12 touches. The Packers have one of the deepest wide receiver corps in the NFL, which may make it difficult for Williams to be a consistent contributor this year. Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden are all definitely ahead of Williams on the depth chart, as are Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) when healthy. Williams should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Kaleb Johnson Oct 28 8:20pm CT
Kaleb Johnson

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson recorded his second straight game without a carry in Week 8. The 22-year-old appears to be completely buried on the Steelers' depth chart at running back behind veterans Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. Johnson has logged just 36 rushing yards on 14 attempts so far in his rookie season. Beyond his lack of touches, Johnson has not played an offensive snap in either of Pittsburgh's last two games. Unless there's an injury to one or both of Warren and Gainwell, Johnson should remain off the radar of redraft fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Shough Oct 28 8:00pm CT
Tyler Shough

Dynasty | The Saints will start Tyler Shough at quarterback against the Rams this week. Dynasty Analysis: This comes as little surprise with the Saints sitting at 1-7 and Shough having replaced an ineffective Spencer Rattler midway through last week's blowout loss to the Bucs. This will be no easy task against the Rams but Shough could provide a higher ceiling than Rattler. The danger is clearly the fact his floor could be lower but again, at 1-7, it's worth a shot. It's likely the Saints use the rest of the season to evaluate Shough and determine if they should spend what looks to be a top-5 pick on a quarterback in next year's NFL Draft. Shough is worth a roster spot but the fact he couldn't beat out Rattler this Summer could be telling.

Calvin Austin III Oct 28 7:50pm CT
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III returned to action in Week 8 after missing two games with a shoulder injury, finishing with four receptions for 28 yards in a loss to the Green Bay Packers. While his six targets were second-most on the team, Austin was outshined by second-year wideout Roman Wilson, who led the Steelers with 74 yards and a late touchdown. Wilson's growing involvement will be worth monitoring, but for the time being, Austin remains the team's WR2 behind DK Metcalf. Encouragingly, he played on 78% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, well ahead of Wilson's 46% snap share. Nonetheless, Austin cannot be trusted in most fantasy lineups. He profiles as a boom-or-bust WR4 in an enticing Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Oct 28 7:40pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf hauled in five of his seven targets for 55 yards and a touchdown in a 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Metcalf's score, his fifth of the season, came late in the first half on a two-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He's been a reliable red-zone weapon all year, converting six targets into six catches and three touchdowns inside the 20. While this has boosted his fantasy value, Metcalf's reception totals have been a bit underwhelming for a WR1. He hasn't caught more than five passes in any contest and is averaging fewer than four receptions per game. Still, Metcalf's 17.1 yards per catch rank fifth in the NFL. He should remain efficient and have a good chance of finding the end zone again in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

Omarion Hampton Oct 28 7:40pm CT
Omarion Hampton

Although it's unclear if Los Angeles Chargers rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) will be ready to come off Injured Reserve and play in Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he's eligible, head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Tuesday that the rookie RB is improving. "To me, it looks like he's getting better every day. We know he won't be there this week," Harbaugh said. The head coach added that he's "rather not speculate" on anything further. The 22-year-old North Carolina product was still in a walking boot after last Thursday's win over the Minnesota Vikings and has been on IR since injuring his ankle back in Week 5. The one thing we do know is that Kimani Vidal will get at least one more game as the Bolts' lead back, and he should be considered a must-start in Week 9 against the one-win Titans. Hampton needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats, and he is fully expected to take over lead-back duties in L.A. once he returns from IR.

From RotoBaller