ESPN’s Fantasy Football Week 8 injury tracker, featuring an aggregation of injury updates for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends whose teams are scheduled to play this week. Here we’ll track practice reports, injury updates and any other news that may affect a player’s short-term or long-term availability.
Injury news aggregated by Rotowire.com. Additional commentary provided by ESPN Sr. injury analyst Stephania Bell.
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Injury updates for the Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield, quarterback
Chris Godwin, QB
Monday, October 23: Due to a neck ailment, Godwin was classified as a non-participant on the Buccaneers’ first Week 8 practice report.
Recent Investor Relations Activity:
RB Chase Edmonds
Monday, October 23: According to Scott Smith of the Buccaneers’ official website, the Buccaneers designated Edmonds (knee) to return from injured reserve on Monday.
More Buccaneers injury information >>
Injury updates for the Buffalo Bills
TE Quintin Morris, Q
Monday, October 23: Morris (ankle) did not participate in Monday’s walkthrough, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com.
Dawson Knox (TE/D)
Monday, October 23: Knox is scheduled to play, according to coach Sean McDermott on Monday.
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
Latest Buccaneers Injury News
Baker Mayfield, QB
Chris Godwin, WR, QB
Monday, October 23rd: Godwin was listed as a non-participant on the Buccaneers’ first Week 8 practice report due to a neck ailment on Monday.
Recent IR Activity:
Chase Edmonds, RB
Monday, October 23rd: According to Scott Smith of the Buccaneers’ official website, the Buccaneers designated Edmonds (knee) for return from injured reserve on Monday.
More Buccaneers injury news >>
Bills Injury Updates
Quintin Morris, TE, Q
Monday, October 23rd: Morris (ankle) was labeled as a non-participant in Monday’s walk-through, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com.
Dawson Knox, TE, D
Monday, October 23rd: Knox is scheduled to play, according to coach Sean McDermott.
Mon, Oct 23: Saints head coach Dennis Allen said he hopes to have Johnson (calf) back in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Colts, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Anthony Richardson, QB
Wed, Oct 18: The Colts announced Wednesday that Richardson will require season-ending surgery to address a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Q
Mon, Oct 23: Barkley said after hyperextending his left elbow during Sunday’s 14-7 win over the Commanders that he will “be alright” for the Giants’ Week 8 game against the Jets, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers
Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Latest Jaguars Injury news
Zay Jones, WR, Q
More Jaguars injury news >>
Latest Steelers Injury news
No injuries to report
Recent IR Activity:
Pat Freiermuth, TE
Sat, Oct 21: Freiermuth (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
Anthony McFarland Jr., RB
Wed, Oct 18: McFarland (knee) was a full participant at the Steelers’ practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the team’s official website reports.
More Steelers injury news >>
Jalen Hurts, QB, Q
Mon, Oct 23: Hurts (knee) is not expected to miss any game action, and there’s a good chance he doesn’t even miss practice this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
More Eagles injury news >>
Latest Commanders Injury news
No injuries to report
More Commanders injury news >>
Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Sunday 1:00 PM ET
Latest Texans Injury news
Tank Dell, WR, Q
Mon, Oct 23: Dell (concussion) took part in the Texans’ unofficial practice session Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. “Getting Tank back is big for us. … He’s a guy we can count on for a big play,” head coach DeMeco Ryans told DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com.
More Texans injury news >>
Latest Panthers Injury news
Giovanni Ricci, TE, Q
Miles Sanders, RB, Q
More Panthers injury news >>
Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks
Lumen Field, Seattle
Sunday 4:05 PM ET
Latest Browns Injury news
Jerome Ford, RB, D
Mon, Oct 23: Ford is reportedly dealing with what Adam Schefter of ESPN describes as a low grade, high right-ankle sprain that is expected to sideline the running back for one-to-two weeks.
Deshaun Watson, QB, Q
Mon, Oct 23: Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Watson will undergo additional medical testing to ensure the quarterback isn’t dealing with any further damage to the right rotator cuff he strained Week 3, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. “We’ll continue to take that day to day,” Stefanski said, in regards to both Watson’s availability for next Sunday’s game in Seattle or whether the signal-caller will require a stint on injured reserve.
Mon, Oct 23: Coach Pete Carroll said Monday that McIntosh (knee) is “good to go,” John Boyle of the Seahawks’ official site reports.
Sat, Oct 21: Dulcich (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.
Mon, Oct 23: Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that Mitchell avoided a substantial hamstring strain during Sunday’s game versus Detroit and is week-to-week, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Q
Mon, Oct 23: Head coach Matt Eberflus said Monday that Johnson remains in concussion protocol, but the Bears are optimistic that the running back will play Week 8 against the Chargers, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Justin Fields, QB, D
Mon, Oct 23: Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Fields (thumb) is being classified as “doubtful” for Sunday’s game against the Chargers, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
More Bears injury news >>
Latest Chargers Injury news
No injuries to report
More Chargers injury news >>
Fantasy Football rest-of-season rankings: Alvin Kamara on the rise, Bijan Robinson dips
Eric Karabell ranks players based on their value for the rest of the 2023 season by position every week. Use the information to optimize the players on your bench for their future potential. Eric’s top 100 can be found below the positions in this column.
Rakings changes: The top tier of quarterbacks each finished among the top Week 7 scorers. The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson led the way in the rout of the Lions and moves up to No. 4 at the position, edging past the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa. After the top six passers, though, there are some doubts. The Bears’ Justin Fields sat. The Lions’ Jared Goff played poorly in Baltimore. The 49ers’ Brock Purdy doesn’t look as special anymore.
Cardinals star Kyler Murray may or may not come off the PUP list to face the Ravens in Week 8, but his season debut certainly seems close. He is available in more than 75% of ESPN standard leagues. Would you prefer Murray or Colts fill-in Gardner Minshew the rest of the season? Minshew is playing this and every week. He scored four touchdowns in Week 7. These are the big QB risers of the week, each venturing into QB2 range.
Trade for: There is risk outside the top six options. Some would say even within the top six there is risk. Jackson, for example, scored 27.06 PPR points in Weeks 5 and 6 combined, before his 33.88-point effort Sunday. Is he back to MVP form now? Jackson also played in only 12 games each of the past two seasons. Trade for Jackson, but not as if he is Jalen Hurts or Josh Allen. At a lower level, Goff should bounce back, and the schedule eases the next month. Cousins scored 21 PPR points on the 49ers on Monday.
Be cautious: Let’s start with Murray. The Cardinals can afford to be patient here, but fantasy managers, knowing their regular season is shorter, cannot. Same with the Bears’ Fields. The dislocated thumb on his throwing hand may be healed, but he wasn’t Dan Fouts throwing the football to begin with and the Bears are not contenders. Minshew comes off a great game, but don’t expect him to rush for touchdowns consistently. Half his career total came Sunday. Fantasy managers no longer love the Packers’ Jordan Love
Rankings changes: Saints pass-catcher Alvin Kamara, with a fantastic 35 receptions in four games, forces his way into the top 10, pushing out underachieving Raider Josh Jacobs. That is the main change among the top options, along with the Giants’ Saquon Barkley nudging ahead of the Chargers’ Austin Ekeler and Falcons’ Bijan Robinson. Each of them should be more productive moving forward. Disappointing Packers veteran Aaron Jones falls further in RB2 range, while Lions rookie Jahmyr Gibbs moves back in. Surprising Colts co-conspirator Zack Moss and the Browns’ Kareem Hunt may push their way in soon.
Several teams have unclear running back situations, and fantasy managers should proceed with caution. The Bears’ D’Onta Foreman led the position with 33 PPR points in Week 7, but the team has other options, along with a running QB. The Rams replaced injured Kyren Williams with veterans Darrell Henderson Jr. and Royce Freeman, but who knows about next week? It is also difficult to trust active Cardinals options until James Conner returns to health.
Trade for: Ekeler hasn’t looked 100% healthy in his first two games back from an ankle injury, though the schedule eases this week with a home game against the Bears. Still, he’s Austin Ekeler, and this isn’t a likely timeshare such as what the Colts are doing. Keep the faith. Kamara looks awesome, and the return of Jamaal Williams shouldn’t change that. Jaguars star Travis Etienne Jr. has scored multiple touchdowns in three consecutive games.
Be cautious: The Falcons sat Robinson due to illness, but it feels relevant to point out the rookie hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown, has rushed for 60 yards only twice and Tyler Allgeier and possibly Cordarrelle Patterson are involved. We may not view this situation similarly to the Colts with Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss, but is it? Taylor ran well on Sunday, but Moss remains a factor. In addition, Gibbs had his top fantasy performance, easily, but David Montgomery should play in Week 8.
Rankings changes: There are few changes in the top 20, though Rams rookie Puka Nacua slides back into the top 10, displacing the Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle, and the Commanders’ Terry McLaurin deserves WR2 status, while the Eagles’ DeVonta Smith no longer does. There is change in Jacksonville, too, as Christian Kirk boasts six consecutive games of double-digit PPR points. Calvin Ridley has achieved this twice in that span.
Trade for: Those who doubted Nacua probably feel different today, and it is noteworthy that he and Cooper Kupp have thrived statistically in two of their three games together. Convince a Kupp investor otherwise and try to acquire the star. McLaurin is having a consistent season, despite inconsistent QB play. The Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr. continues to thrive. Kirk isn’t slowing down. Seattle’s DK Metcalf missed Week 7, but he has a history of durability.
Be cautious: The 49ers’ Deebo Samuel, with a history of missing games, is missing games again. Do not assume health in November/December. Waddle has no 100-receiving yard games and inconsistent target share. The Buccaneers’ Mike Evans comes off a big game, but it followed two unremarkable ones. Chiefs WRs Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Rashee Rice scored touchdowns, but they are hardly dependable for fantasy.
Rankings changes: Travis Kelce remains the king, tied for 10th among all flex-eligible options in PPR points per game, but the Ravens’ Mark Andrews and Vikings’ T.J. Hockenson rise in the overall rankings. After all, they are outscoring more than a few top 20 running backs and wide receivers. Good to see NFC East options Dallas Goedert and Darren Waller with higher target shares recently — and goal-line work. Bills rookie Dalton Kincaid may be breaking out, and fantasy managers should pay attention. The Bears’ Cole Kmet has been quiet lately. The Steelers’ Pat Freiermuth is on injured reserve.
Trade for: Don’t be afraid to trade for a top tight end even if you already have one. Kelce averages more PPR points per game than Ja’Marr Chase and Travis Etienne Jr. Andrews averages more than Tony Pollard and Michael Pittman Jr. If you don’t have a top-five tight end, streaming may be the way to go rather than trading for Waller or George Kittle.
Another week of the NFL season is in the books, and there is no shortage of fantasy football news to digest.
Each Tuesday during the season, ESPN fantasy analyst Eric Moody will ask our NFL Nation reporters what to make of the fallout after games are played and the most pressing questions heading into the next weekend. Who is primed for a big performance, who is impacted by injuries and what roles might change? Here’s what our crew had to say about some of the biggest storylines after Week 7’s action as we head into Week 8.
Two months ago, Kareem Hunt didn’t have a team. For at least the next week or two, he will be Cleveland’s lead back. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that Ford will miss the next week or two with an ankle sprain. Until Ford is back to full speed, Hunt will carry the load in the Browns backfield. Hunt is averaging only 3.2 yards per carry this season. But he has three touchdowns in the past two games, including the game winner over the Colts on Sunday. Given that Pierre Strong Jr. is the only other real option in the Browns’ backfield right now, Hunt will be leaned on heavily — especially with the passing attack completely sputtering. — Jake Trotter
Divvying up touches in a stacked backfield is a good problem to have. Foreman rushed for two touchdowns and caught a short pass for another in his breakout performance against the Raiders, one week after Chicago struggled to generate consistency in the run game against Minnesota. Johnson has one hurdle to clear in concussion protocol, so it appears he could be back this week, which would give the Bears a nice one-two punch with the rookie and Foreman. Herbert isn’t eligible to return until Week 10. The hot hand at that point will decide who is up on game day and who is inactive. If Foreman continues to produce like he did Sunday, it’s hard to see the Bears making him inactive once again on game days. — Courtney
This might be a closer call than some would assume — Bobo actually out-snapped Smith-Njigba 45 to 38 in Week 7 — but the tie goes to the first-round pick over the undrafted player. Smith-Njigba had been building toward his breakout performance against the Cardinals, with a nice outing the week before in Cincinnati that would’ve been even better had Geno Smith seen him open for a would-be 30-yard touchdown. They had nearly identical stat lines vs. Arizona, except for Smith-Njigba getting two more targets, so he gets the nod here. — Brady Henderson
Possibly, yes. I don’t know if Rodriguez will take over the primary role, but at times he’s been more effective in this system. His patience and vision are a good fit for how the Washington Commanders want to run the ball, while it has been an adjustment for Robinson. Rodriguez runs with excellent power. They still like Robinson, but they need more consistency from the run game, especially with an offense that allows so many sacks. A stronger run game has become a must, and that means Rodriguez should continue to see more work. If nothing else, the load will be more split. — John Keim
Dontayvion Wicks looks like a breakout candidate. While he caught only one pass against the Broncos, it went for 17 yards. And he’s averaging 14.0 yards per catch this season. He also threw a pass Sunday, a sign the Packers coaches are gaining trust in him. Tucker Kraft got more snaps after Musgrave went out, but he’s limited as a receiver. In fact, undrafted rookie tight end Ben Sims had more targets against the Broncos than Musgrave. — Rob Demovsky
Kelley’s 49-yard touchdown run against the Chiefs on Sunday was the longest of his career. He led the Los Angeles Chargers running backs with 75 yards on seven carries, but he was still behind Ekeler in carries and snaps. Don’t expect anything to change in the Chargers’ backfield. Coach Brandon Staley said he was impressed by Kelley but that his workload would stay the same. Ekeler did limp off the field early in the game but returned, and Staley said the team would have more information Wednesday. If Ekeler is injured, Kelley will be the lead back. — Kris Rhim
Hyatt’s role has already been solid for several weeks. He has played at least 40 offensive snaps in three of the past four weeks. That’s not going to change. Coach Brian Daboll said recently that the New York Giants’ young receivers were going to play. “You’ve got to play them to develop them,” he said. The only question for Hyatt is if his target share can remain at its current level when the Giants go back to Daniel Jones. Tyrod Taylor has gotten the ball downfield more consistently, leading to nine targets in the past two games for Hyatt. He had two targets the previous two games on a similar number of routes with Jones at quarterback. — Jordan Raanan
ESPN’s weekly PPR, non-PPR and IDP fantasy football rankings are an aggregate of our rankers (eight PPR, four non-PPR, three IDP), listed alphabetically. They are Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates.
Rankings for the week will be published every Tuesday and are updated throughout the week for news and emerging analysis. Rankings are refreshed every Friday to take out players from Thursday’s game(s).
PPR rankings:
Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Kickers | D/ST
Non-PPR rankings:
Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Kickers | D/ST
IDP Rankings:
Top 50 DLs, LBs, DBs from Clay, Cockcroft & Moody
Eric Karabell’s Superflex Rankings:
Top 150 QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs
