Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our Fantasy Football Buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the league.
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Moody’s Sunday Notebook: The stats and news behind the fantasy box scores
By Eric Moody
1:06
Why Eric Karabell says Rhamondre Stevenson is a strong flex option
Eric Karabell details why Rhamondre Stevenson is the Patriots’ preferred running back and a strong fantasy flex option.
Alvin Kamara finished with 14 touches and just 5.9 fantasy points against the Bears, despite Kendre Miller exiting in the middle of the first quarter with a knee injury and being ruled out shortly before halftime. Kamara led the Saints’ backfield in snaps, routes run, and touches. It’s worth noting that sixth-round rookie Devin Neal did not rotate in after Miller’s departure. If Miller misses additional time, Kamara’s fantasy value should see a boost.
Jordan Mason‘s snap count has increased every week, culminating in a season-high 77% against the Eagles. He’s recorded at least 15 touches in five of six games this year and has scored 10 or more fantasy points in four straight. Mason’s production has come behind a Vikings offensive line that ranks fourth in run block win rate. With Aaron Jones Sr. expected to return in Week 8, Mason’s workload may dip, but he’s played well enough to force a near 50-50 split moving forward. According to Mike Clay’s strength of schedule data, the Vikings have one of the easiest remaining slates for running backs.
Tyjae Spears led the team with 22 rushing yards, but Tony Pollard dominated the backfield in snaps, including most of the third-down work. Pollard finished with 12.1 fantasy points compared to Spears’ 7.0. The Titans’ offensive line ranks 28th in run block win rate, and their schedule for running backs only gets tougher from here. Both Spears and Pollard are tough to trust in fantasy lineups right now.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was more involved in the Giants’ backfield on Sunday against the Broncos. Cam Skattebo still led New York in snaps, routes run, touches (19), and fantasy points (18.4), but Tracy finished with nine touches and 10.6 fantasy points thanks to a rushing touchdown. He may continue to cut into Skattebo’s workload and bring this backfield closer to a 50-50 split. Something to monitor moving forward.
The split between Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins in Week 7 against the Colts was eerily similar to last week, with Vidal playing roughly twice as many snaps as Haskins. He dominated touches with 13 but wasn’t very effective. The Chargers could trade for a running back before the deadline, but as I mentioned on Fantasy Football Now, I expect rookie Omarion Hampton to lead the backfield once he returns from injured reserve.
Bam Knight led the Cardinals’ backfield in snaps, touches (17), and fantasy points (9.4). Michael Carter remained involved with nine touches and 5.6 fantasy points. Both Knight and Carter are on the FLEX radar in deeper leagues coming out of their Week 8 bye, as they’ll face the Cowboys in Week 9, a defense allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
Wide Receivers
1:04
How Olave proved to be a top-20 fantasy WR in Week 7
Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down Chris Olave’s fantasy production in the Saints’ Week 7 loss.
DJ Moore entered Sunday’s game dealing with hip and groin injuries, yet the only Bears receiver to log more snaps, routes, and targets was Rome Odunze. Even so, Moore (8.2) outscored Odunze (5.1) in fantasy points. As for Luther Burden III, despite the buzz, he’s still not seeing enough snaps or routes to be fantasy relevant.
The Raiders ran just 30 offensive plays, their fewest in a game since 1999. Tre Tucker led the team with six targets and 8.3 fantasy points, continuing a trend of steady involvement with six or more targets in four of seven games. He’s also had at least 10 fantasy points in four games, including a 40.9-point explosion against the Commanders back in Week 3. Jakobi Meyers, who requested a trade before the season and has since been the subject of ongoing rumors, could be on the move, a scenario that would further boost Tucker’s outlook.
Xavier Legette delivered a breakout performance in Week 7, catching nine of 11 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ win over the Jets. The second-year receiver led Carolina in targets, receptions, and yards while running a route on nearly every dropback. With Bryce Young sidelined by an ankle injury late in the third quarter, Andy Dalton frequently looked Legette’s way, highlighting his growing role in the offense as he finished with a season-high 24.2 fantasy points. As Carolina’s emerging No. 2 receiver and a potentially reliable red zone option, Legette’s roster percentage should climb this week.
The Jets offense sputtered without Garrett Wilson, who missed Week 7 with a knee injury. Josh Reynolds operated as the top receiver, leading the team with nine targets but managing only three catches for 29 yards. Justin Fields left early with an injury and briefly returned before being benched. Tyrod Taylor took over in the second half but didn’t fare much better and threw two interceptions. With the offense struggling, New York may turn back to Fields in Week 8.
Marvin Mims Jr. finished with a season-high seven targets and 15.8 fantasy points. This was his first time playing over 50% of the offensive snaps since Week 1. Denver was playing from behind, which led them to lean more heavily on 11 personnel. While Mims might look like an appealing waiver-wire pickup looking at the box score after finishing with six receptions for 85 yards and a 13-yard carry, his playing time will likely dip again moving forward.
Tight Ends
The good news for his managers is that George Kittle led all 49ers tight ends in snaps and routes run. The bad news is that he failed to haul in either of his two targets, likely due to limited chemistry with Mac Jones. Once Brock Purdy returns under center, Kittle should be better positioned to deliver the kind of production fantasy managers have come to expect.
Cole Kmet suffered a back injury late in the third quarter against the Saints, was initially ruled doubtful, and did not return. Colston Loveland caught three of four targets for 24 yards, but the bigger takeaway is that it was the rookie that stepped in as Chicago’s full-time tight end, not Durham Smythe, and played 91% of the team’s final 23 snaps.
Harold Fannin Jr. finished with just 7.6 fantasy points, but his five targets were encouraging, especially in a game where Dillon Gabriel attempted only 18 passes. Fannin was on the field for 82% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps, a positive sign considering the Browns were without David Njoku, whose name continues to surface in trade rumors. According to Mike Clay’s strength of schedule projections, Cleveland’s rest-of-season outlook for tight ends gets much easier.
T.J. Hockenson has played 80% or more of the Vikings’ offensive snaps in four straight games. That’s an encouraging sign, as he’s seen at least five targets in each game, including a season-high nine on Sunday against the Eagles. Hockenson has also topped 10 fantasy points in three of those four games.
Chimere Dike made the most of his opportunity in Week 7, catching four passes for 70 yards and his first career touchdown with Calvin Ridley sidelined. The rookie has now played over 50% of the Titans 11-personnel snaps in three straight games, gradually taking time from Tyler Lockett in the slot. If Lockett is traded in the coming weeks, Dike’s role could expand further, making him a worthwhile pickup in deeper leagues. However, Elic Ayomanor has consistently run more routes per game than Dike this season.
Oronde Gadsden II exploded in Week 7, catching seven of nine targets for 164 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers’ loss to the Colts, the most receiving yards by any tight end in a game this season. The rookie played nearly 79% of offensive snaps and has now produced 41.2 fantasy points over the last two weeks.
More: Fantasy football Week 7 risers and fallers
Sunday’s Early-Game Week 7 takeaways: Rice jumps right into the fray, looks like Chiefs’ WR1
1:07
Why Daniel Dopp says Rashee Rice has WR1 upside on any given week
Daniel Dopp congratulates fantasy managers who stashed Rashee Rice and highlights why he has WR1 upside on any given week.
Tristan H. Cockcroft
Rust, schmust.
Rashee Rice showed no semblance of rust in his 2025 debut, effectively scoffing at the idea that he might need to work back to full speed after missing the season’s first six games while serving a suspension. He scored 23.2 PPR fantasy points, his fourth most in a single game, catching a pair of short touchdowns as his Kansas City Chiefs rolled to a 31-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Rice’s return led to a distinct shift in targeting strategy by quarterback Patrick Mahomes. After the Chiefs saw four different receivers lead the team in targets through their first six games, Rice easily led the way Sunday with 10, including a team-high four in the red zone. That came despite Rice running only 16 routes, which trailed the team-leading 26 by Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy. There’s every reason to believe that Rice should see a larger share of time on the field — he had a 39% snap count on offense Sunday — meaning he’ll have plenty of opportunity to match or exceed his number of looks as Mahomes’ clear No. 1 receiver going forward.
Consider Rice’s chances of a top-10 fantasy point total among wide receivers from this point forward excellent, and another big day might well be in store for him in a favorable Week 8 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
Other takeaways
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Chuba Hubbard‘s first game back following a pair of absences (Weeks 5-6) due to a calf injury saw him absorb a sizable backfield role, but his modest results will continue to fuel questions about who is the more deserving running back to start for the Carolina Panthers. Hubbard played 54% of the snaps Sunday and totaled 16 touches, while Weeks 5-6 star Rico Dowdle played 46% with 18 touches, but Hubbard’s fantasy production left a lot to be desired (7.5 PPR fantasy points). Dowdle saw more of the workload later in the game as the Panthers played clock control, which could further lean things back in his direction in the coming weeks. The Panthers have an extremely challenging Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, so neither is a trustworthy option as more than a flex while they split the rushing chores.
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Was Sunday’s game the signal that Rhamondre Stevenson has retaken the role as the New England Patriots‘ clear No. 1 running back? The veteran played a season-high 77% of the offensive snaps, his second consecutive game over 70%, and totaled 20 touches, turning them into 16.8 PPR fantasy points. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson, meanwhile, posted season lows in snaps (14%) and touches (2). Terrell Jennings (13% and 5) had nearly as big a role as Henderson. Stevenson had 30 more rushing yards than expected and three plays of 10-plus yards, and although the matchup against the Tennessee Titans was quite favorable, bear in mind that his Patriots are humming as an offense, which can only help the running back. Stevenson has fantasy RB2 potential for Week 8 even against the Cleveland Browns.
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For the second consecutive week, D’Andre Swift scored 20-plus PPR fantasy points and averaged better than 6 yards per carry. Five of his 19 carries went for double-digit yards, as he has looked decidedly quicker in his two games since the Chicago Bears‘ bye. Credit Ben Johnson and the coaching staff for the rushing game’s improvement. Rookie backup Kyle Monangai‘s 17.4 points, mostly accrued as the team worked to run out the clock, underscore how much this unit has improved. Swift could be in for a major hot streak with favorable matchups against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants upcoming.
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If you thought the 1 p.m. ET game block was a rough one for quarterbacks, you’re not mistaken. Yes, we had Mahomes (26.24 PPR points), Jalen Hurts (24.04) and Drake Maye (23.02), but beyond them, not a single quarterback scored as many as 12 points. In fact, the entire position combined for 140 points and averaged 11.7 per game (from a teamwide perspective) during the slate, easily beneath the previous season lows of 214.02 (Week 5) and 14.1 (Week 3). It’s the position’s worst per-game average from the 1 p.m. ET games since Week 15 of the 2018 season (11.5).
Big games from Stafford, Adams and Hunter in London: Another week, another poor performance from a team in a London game. Coming off a Week 6 that saw the New York Jets score 11 points while totaling 82 yards of offense, the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday were dominated by the Los Angeles Rams 35-7. The Jaguars began the game with a trio of punts and a missed field goal, totaling 58 yards over their first four possessions, and were down by three scores 19 minutes into the game.
Unlike last week’s game, however, this London contest had more fantasy goodness in it than the final score indicated:
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Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford scored 27.38 fantasy points, just shy of his season best (27.40, Week 4), and matched his career best with five passing touchdowns despite the absence of No. 1 target Puka Nacua. Stafford was excellent working with Davante Adams in the short game (where all three of Adams’ TDs came) and on play-action (146.8 passer rating on 15 attempts), signals that he can be a top-end superflex/2QB starter even without his top guy.
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Adams’ three touchdown catches came on end zone throws, doubling his total in that department and giving him his most touchdown receptions since 2021 (seven). He’s a useful fantasy WR2 with top-10 matchup upside once the team returns from its Week 8 bye.
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Travis Hunter enjoyed his first big day in the NFL, as his 24.1 PPR fantasy points exceeded his total from the past three weeks combined. The effort came with a mix of good and bad, however. The good: his team-leading 49 routes, 14 targets and 8 catches that remind us of his ability to be a big-play target for Trevor Lawrence. The bad: All of Hunter’s numbers came in clear garbage time, beyond that aforementioned three-score deficit and during the game’s second half, and some of it was the product of a nagging shoulder injury to Brian Thomas Jr. That said, if it’s a signal of what’s to come after coach Liam Coen hinted that the rookie would see a larger role, then Hunter could be in for a breakthrough after the Week 8 bye. He needs to be rostered in more than the 72.8% of ESPN leagues in which he is currently.
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Finally, as for Thomas, we’ll see whether the shoulder issue that bumped him from the game briefly, then for good during the fourth quarter, becomes a lingering issue. He has a bye week to rest, but it also bears mentioning that he totaled only 6.1 PPR fantasy points on seven targets before exiting, a significant step backward from what had been an encouraging 23.0-point Week 6.
Week 7 scoring leaders through 1 p.m. ET games
1. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals — 38.10 points
2. DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles — 33.30
3. A.J. Brown, WR, Eagles — 28.10
4. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers — 28.10
5. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams — 27.38
6. Chris Olave, WR, Saints — 26.80
7. Davante Adams, WR, Rams — 26.50
8. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Browns — 26.40
9. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs — 26.24
10. Joe Flacco, QB, Bengals — 25.98
Oct. 18: Evans, Egbuka game-time decisions, but Bucs optimistic
By Stephania Bell
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly have their hands full with the injury report, most notably at the wide receiver position, but there is some positive news on the horizon.
Mike Evans, who has been out since Week 3 with a left hamstring injury, returned to practice this week and appears likely to play Monday night. Evans suffered what ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported to be a “mild to moderate” hamstring strain, also known as a Grade 1-2 injury. Given that he suffered a similar injury last year (albeit to the opposite side) and was sidelined for three games, Evans is familiar with the recovery pathway and the challenges in returning to full speed.
After putting in a limited practice Thursday (the team’s first session of the week because the Bucs play Monday night), Evans was held out Friday in a planned absence, as the team carefully structures his return to play. He was back at practice Saturday and is considered a game-time decision, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Emeka Egbuka suffered a hamstring strain of his own in Week 6, and, after sitting out Thursday and Friday practices, made a bit of a surprising return to action Saturday. One limited session in advance of a game isn’t much of a test, and though Egbuka is also expected to be a game-time decision, it seems he is less likely than Evans to go. Consider that just last year, Evans had a mild hamstring strain, attempted to play through it and suffered a setback that cost him three games. Different athletes, different ages, different injury histories between the two … but still a reminder that hamstring strains have a higher rate of recurrence than any other soft tissue injury, all of which makes it feel more likely that Egbuka is out another week.
With Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) already ruled out for a second consecutive week, the Buccaneers would be happy to get Evans back in the mix.
