Lions rookie DB Brian Branch returned Sunday after missing two games with a sprained ankle. But returned to a smaller role than what he left. The second-round pick played 68% and 69% of snaps the first two games. That grew to 100% in Week 3, after the team lost S C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Branch again started in Week 4 and appeared headed for similar use but left that game early with the ankle injury. But in his return game against the Ravens, the rookie played just 50% of snaps. He closed the practice week with a full Friday workout and carried no injury designation into the game. So we're not betting the ankle limited his time. Instead, it appears the Lions preferred to keep more LBs on the field and run fewer alignments of 5+ DBs. That left Branch, the nickel CB, less involved. Based on how Detroit has run its defense otherwise, we're guessing it was a specific shift for Lamar Jackson. It did not work. Branch's usage will make him tough to trust in Week 8 IDP lineups for an upside Raiders matchup. We'll watch for some indication that his playing time will increase.
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that the Titans are trading S Kevin Byard to the Eagles for fifth- and sixth-round picks in 2024 and S Terrell Edmunds. Byard clearly upgrades the secondary for a defense that ranks just 17th in DVOA against the pass so far this season. Byard is working on a career-low Pro Football Focus coverage grade at the moment but finished the past two seasons ranked eighth and first among safeties in that category. Moving to Philly shouldn't alter Byard's IDP outlook. We'll see whether Edmunds steps right into Byard's vacated role in Tennessee. The Titans certainly look thin enough at safety for that to be the case. Just be careful about counting on it right away for fantasy purposes.
Saints HC Dennis Allen said Monday that he wants to balance out the backfield work a bit more going forward. RB Alvin Kamara racked up 17 carries and 14 targets in the Thursday night loss to the Saints, while RB Jamaal Williams finished with five carries and RB Kendre Miller none. Allen said that Williams was on a snap count in his first game back from a hamstring injury and that Miller had shoulder irritation pre-game. Any work those guys take from Kamara figures to come on the ground. Kamara should continue to dominate passing-game work.
Saints HC Dennis Allen said Monday that he expects TE Juwan Johnson (calf) back for this weekend's game vs. the Colts. Johnson has missed the last three games with a calf injury. Taysom Hill has led Saints TEs in routes in all three of those games and racked up 13 targets over the last two. We'll see what the TE room looks like with Johnson back in the mix. His return makes Hill a risky Week 8 fantasy play.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says Falcons RB Bijan Robinson "won't be affected" by the headaches that wiped him out of Week 7's game vs. the Bucs. "Not something long-term that's gonna affect him. Not something that's gonna affect him next week," Rapoport added. Robinson averaged 13.3 carries and 5.3 targets over the first six games of the season and should be back in a similar role vs. the Titans this Sunday.
Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said Monday that they'll take it "day-to-day" with QB Deshaun Watson's shoulder issue. Considering Watson missed two games with this injury the first time around, there's certainly a chance that he's unable to play vs. the Seahawks this weekend. We'll keep you updated on his status throughout the week.
Bears RB Roschon Johnson (concussion) will likely practice on Wednesday, HC Matt Eberflus said. Johnson has one more stage of the concussion protocol to pass through, Eberflus added. Barring a setback, the rookie is on track to return for Sunday night's game vs. the Chargers. It's unclear what kind of role he'll be returning to, though, with RB Khalil Herbert out but RB D'Onta Foreman coming off a big Week 7.
Bears HC Matt Eberflus said Monday that QB Justin Fields is doubtful for Sunday night's game against the Chargers because of his right thumb injury. That would mean a second straight start for undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent. The backup performed solidly in the win over the Raiders. But it's also worth noting that Chicago catered the game plan to him. Bagent's 2.1 air yards per attempt in that game marks the shortest average depth for any qualifying QB game this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That's obviously not a knock on the player or the game plan. Just a reminder to keep your expectations in check for Bagent's stat line in Week 8.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Chiefs LB Nick Bolton will need surgery on his dislocated right wrist and is expected to miss "roughly two months." That would put Bolton's estimated return at Week 16 (Dec. 25) against the Raiders. Unfortunately, that timeline means Bolton is probably worth dropping in most redraft IDP leagues -- unless you can stash him in an IR spot. Drue Tranquill should reclaim a full-time role while Bolton's out. He'll be regularly usable in fantasy lineups but doesn't match Bolton's scoring upside.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams posted a mini breakout in Week 7. On a season-high 15 carries, he gained 82 yards (5.5 per attempt) while adding 3 receptions. Williams easily led the way in snaps (31) and narrowly edged Samaje Perine in routes (13 to 10) and targets (4 to 3). Jaleel McLaughlin remained a factor with 2 targets and 5 catches. Ultimately, Williams’ health looks to be on the rise, so there’s reason for optimism going forward. He’ll look for his first TD of 2023 this week vs. Kansas City.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirms that 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (oblique) is expected to play vs. the Vikings tonight. We'll look for any word on limitations for McCaffrey in that one and will get San Francisco's inactives around 7 pm ET.
Eagles WR A.J. Brown's 137 receiving yards against the Dolphins on Sunday night made five straight games of 125+ yards for him. That ties a record set by Pat Studstill in 1966 and matched by Calvin Johnson in 2012 -- both as Lions. Brown's 809 receiving yards through seven games trails only Tyreek Hill's 902 and puts him on pace for 1,965 for the season. Next comes a meeting with the league's worst WR defense to date: the Washington Commanders.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts played the second half of Sunday night's win over the Dolphins with a brace on his left leg. ESPN's Tim McManus reports that it's a knee issue. "I'll be fine," Hurts said afterward. Asked whether it will impact him going forward, he said, "I hope not." We'll watch for more on the knee, but we'll also continue playing Hurts when active. He threw for 136 yards and a TD in that second half.
Eagles WR A.J. Brown hauled 10 of 15 targets for 137 receiving yards and a TD in Week 7’s victory over the Dolphins. This marks the fifth consecutive game that Brown has recorded at least 100 receiving yards, by far the longest streak of his NFL career. TE Dallas Goedert also shined on Sunday night, finishing the contest with 5 catches for 77 yards and a receiving TD. Despite being limited by a hamstring injury in practice this week, DeVonta Smith compiled 4 catches for 49 receiving yards. This trio of pass-catchers will have a tremendous opportunity to produce for fantasy managers again in Week 8 vs. a struggling Commanders secondary.
Eagles RB D’Andre Swift carried the ball 15 times for 62 rushing yards in Week 7 vs. the Dolphins. He also added 3 catches for 13 yards as a pass-catcher in the contest. Unfortunately, his teammate Kenneth Gainwell siphoned off a rushing TD and limited Swift to just 10.5 PPR points. Still, he’s recorded double-digit PPR points in every game since taking over as the team’s starter in Week 2. Not all bad! Next week, the Eagles’ backfield will face slightly stiffer competition against their NFC East rival Commanders.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts completed 23 of 31 passes for 279 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT in Week 7’s win vs. the Dolphins. He also added 21 rushing yards with a ground score on 11 carries in the contest. Hurts has now recorded at least 19 fantasy points in 4-point per passing TD leagues in six of seven games in 2023. Expect Hurts to return high-end QB1 numbers again in Week 8 vs. the Commanders.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill hauled 11 of 15 targets for 88 receiving yards with 1 TD vs. the Eagles on Sunday night. Through seven weeks, the speedy veteran has now accumulated a league-leading 902 receiving yards. His teammate Jaylen Waddle concluded Week 7 with 6 catches for 63 yards despite spending a large portion of the game sidelined with a back injury. Assuming good health for both wideouts, they should be treated as high-end fantasy starters in Week 8 vs. the Patriots.
Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert struggled on Sunday night, tallying 45 rushing yards on 9 carries. The veteran added 1 catch on 3 targets for 6 receiving yards in Week 7, but those efforts only bumped his PPR score up to a mediocre 6.1 points. Such is the risk when going up against an Eagles defense that ranked as the fourth-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs in 2023 entering this weekend. We expect Mostert to perform better in next week’s matchup against the Patriots.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa completed 23 of 32 passes for 216 passing yards with 1 TD and INT apiece in Week 7’s loss vs. the Eagles. His 10.3 fantasy points (4-point per passing TD format) are the lowest of 2023 so far. Of course, part of these struggles can be attributed to the fact that WR Jaylen Waddle was sidelined for a decent portion of the contest with a back injury, but the strength of Philadelphia’s defense deserves credit here. Week 8’s divisional showdown vs. the Patriots should yield better results for Tagovailoa.
Commanders LB Cody Barton left in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to the Giants with a left ankle injury and did not return. The Athletic's Ben Standig reports that Barton was in a walking boot after the game. We'll watch for more on his status, but that all doesn't seem to bode well for Barton's chances of being ready for a Week 8 home date with the Eagles. If Barton misses further time, Jamin Davis looks like the full-time LB, with David Mayo taking on Davis' usual role. That could mean anywhere from 65-90% of defensive snaps, based on Davis' playing time to date and how much Mayo played Sunday.
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