Kubiak: Still looking for a WR who can help us win

The new injury Love picked up in Week 8’s win over the Cowboys has been diagnosed as a high-ankle sprain and will sideline Love for a minimum of four weeks. Love, who has been dealing with multiple ankle injuries this season, has had a tough start to his NFL career. In six career games he’s rushed for 268 yards and one touchdown on 76 carries, while adding 11 receptions for 36 yards and another score. His injury comes as Bam Knight is in the league’s concussion protocol, leaving Tyler Allgeier and Evan Hull as the only two healthy backs on the Cardinals’ 53-man roster. Allgeier could be in line for a significant role in Week 9 against the Seahawks if Knight is unable to clear protocol, and veteran Jerome Ford could also be promoted from the practice squad in the coming days. Love will not be eligible to return until Week 13 against the Eagles.

Head coach Jesse Minter said on Monday that Fagnano was “dealing with some things physically,” but the rookie UDFA is still expected to make his first career start on Thursday against the Jaguars. Fagnano was wearing the guard/brace on his right ankle, but was on the field practicing with the team. The Ravens recently signed Austin Reed and Kedon Slovis to the practice squad, with Reed looking like the most likely backup to Fagnano on Thursday night. Hopefully the Ravens aren’t forced to go to fourth QB in less than a week, but Fagnano clearly isn’t operating at 100 percent.

After being an estimated DNP on Monday, Tuten was not spotted at Tuesday’s practice. With the Jaguars playing Thursday, this is a bit concerning for his Week 9 availability, as he will likely need to get in a limited practice on Wednesday if he hopes to suit up. In the event he can’t go, Chris Rodriguez, who ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on six carries last week, would be in line to handle a significant workload against the Ravens.

Nguyen studied Murray’s film in the Minnesota offense and noted the veteran is often late to recognize an open pass catcher. That could be related to Murray’s clear discomfort in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, as Nguyen noted. “When his first read doesn’t open up, he holds the ball and runs backward,” leading to drive-killing sacks. That’s exactly what unfolded a few times in high-leverage situations against the Lions in Week 8. Justin Jefferson on Sunday appeared frustrated by Kyler’s inability to make the proper reads on critical downs. All of this has an outsized impact on Murray’s fantasy prospects. He now ranks 31st among QBs in expected fantasy points per game, below Bo Nix and Daniel Jones.

Martinez, who played four seasons at Nebraska and one at Kansas State in college, was the the UFL MVP in 2024. He’s had stints with the Jets and 49ers, appearing in one NFL game. The Ravens are shoring up their QB room after Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) went down in Week 8. The Ravens on Tuesday signed journeyman QB Kedon Slovis.

Jones apparently isn’t happy with Pickens’ usage through Week 8. Pickens has been targeted on 22 percent of his pass routes on the season, well below CeeDee Lamb’s 34 percent rate. He’s accounted for 31 percent of the team’s air yards, nearly the same rate he saw in 2025. In the Cowboys’ humiliating Week 8 loss to the Cardinals, Pickens had nine targets, one short of Lamb’s ten. Perhaps Jerry has not adequately studied the spreadsheets. Either way, Pickens remains an upside WR2 headed into Week 9.

Slovis could, unbelievably, get the start Thursday night against the Jaguars with Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) out, and Joe Fagnano (ankle) iffy to suit up. If Fagnano can play, Slovis would presumably serve as Baltimore’s backup. Fagnano completed 48 percent of his passes for 91 yards and a pick last week against the Bills. Look for the Ravens to be ultra run-heavy against Jacksonville, one of the league’s best run defenses. It will be tough to trust anyone in the Ravens offense as a viable fantasy option for now.

Mike Washington, Jr. in Week 8 against the Jets took over as the team’s lead rusher, logging 25 carries to just two carries for Ashton Jeanty. While Kubiak said after the game that Jeanty would remain a part of the offense, it’s clear the Raiders are willing to experiment with backfield touches. “You see where your team is at and who’s playing the best ball at the time. It’s a 17-game regular season where things change every week. They’ve been changing at guard, they change up front defensively, they change at corner,” Kubiak said. “That’s the NFL. We have a young roster and we’re going to give guys opportunities and see what fits us best. But your 11, whether you’re playing really well or not playing well at all, it’s always going to change a little bit.” The Raiders through Week 8 rank dead last in EPA per rush and second to last in rushing success rate. Jeanty should remain viable as long as he’s the team’s primary pass catcher out of the backfield. Jeanty ranks fifth among all RBs in expected fantasy points per game.

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has knocked down suggestions that the Jets would trade Hall before the league’s trade deadline, as Braelon Allen continues as one of the NFL’s most productive rushers. When asked about how the backfield might look when Hall returns from his quad injury, Reich seemed to say Hall would remain the de factor lead runner. “Well, that’s obviously coach’s decision, but they’re both the guy … I mean, that’s a good problem to have,” Reich said. “That’s coach’s decision, but to me … Breece is our guy. I’m assuming Breece is our guy, you know what I mean? He’s one of the best in the NFL, but I think what’s been so excited is like, oh my gosh, we’ve got two of them. I mean, we’ve got two. This Braelon guy, he’s a beast as well.” Allen this season ranks third among running backs in rushing success rate; 11th in rush yards over expected per attempt; eighth in yards after contact per rush; and over the past three weeks he ranks eighth among RBs in expected fantasy points per game, proving the haters wrong along the way. Hall is expected to return to action this week against the Chiefs.

Barner is far from fantasy consideration having only one game through eight appearances with more than a modest five targets while failing to notch a single receiving touchdown. Fantasy managers can safely return him to the waiver wire in all formats.