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    Kaleb Johnson leads Packers in rushing in win

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    GB Running Back #26
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    Kaleb Johnson rushed eight times for 32 yards in the Packers’ Week 2 win over the Jets.

    Johnson actually led the Packers in rushing attempts and rushing yards in this one. He played on just 13 of the team’s 53 snaps, so we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves here, but he was also clearly the team’s best running back on the day, and he took the first carries in overtime after Marshawn Lloyd fumbled in the second half. There’s a real chance that Johnson steps into a bigger role in Week 3 against Atlanta. He deserves to be added in deeper formats just in case that comes to fruition.
Skattebo to see heavy usage amid Tracy Jr. injury
With Tyrone Tracy Jr. to miss four games on the IR with a hamstring injury, Kyle Dvorchak discusses the state of the Giants' backfield and what running backs would be good additions to a fantasy roster.

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  • GB Running Back #22
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    Strong’s 17 opportunities handily led the backfield on a night MarShawn Lloyd was in and out of the game due to an early injury scare. Even so, he managed only 2.8 yards per carry. With Josh Jacobs expected to be activated off the commissioner’s exempt list on Monday, Strong, Lloyd, and Kaleb Johnson can safely be returned to the waiver wire from whence they came.
  • GB Running Back #26
    Even with Chris Brooks (ankle) on injured reserve, Johnson remain mired in a three-man committee, as veteran journeyman Pierre Strong slid seamlessly into Brooks’ vacated “role.” In fact, it was worse than that, as Johnson could also only watch as MarShawn Lloyd and Strong formed an early 1-2 punch. Johnson wasn’t really involved before garbage time. Before that, Lloyd had the advantage in short-yardage situations, notching the first two rushing touchdowns of his star-crossed career. Yet to handle more than eight carries in a game, it just isn’t happening for Johnson in 12-team league fantasy. He’s a distant FLEX bet ahead of Week 6 against the Cowboys.
  • GB Running Back #30
    Brooks suffered the ankle injury in Week 4. He went down in the first half and did not return. Brooks underwent testing on his ankle after the game, though the exact nature of his injury has yet to be reported. He does appear to be on the wrong side of questionable for Week 5. If he can’t go, MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson will split the backfield. Johnson led the team in carries last week but also gave up a goal line fumble. We expect Lloyd to get the start versus Chicago on Sunday.
  • GB Running Back #30
    Brooks left the Packers’ Week 4 win over the Bucs with an ankle injury in the first half. He did not return after the break and LaFleur didn’t have any definitive answers about the injury on Monday. It sounds like his status for Week 5 is very much up in the air. After coughing up a goal line fumble, Kaleb Johnson would likely take a backseat to MarShawn Lloyd once again. Lloyd has some low-end RB3 appeal as the potential lead back, but this is ultimately a backfield to avoid for fantasy purposes if possible.
  • GB Running Back #26
    Johnson led the Packers in carries this week, though MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks combined for 11 rushes. Johnson was the most explosive of the bunch, breaking off a 31-yard run in the third quarter that eventually set up a Tucker Kraft touchdown. He undid all of that progress by coughing up the football inside the five-yard line later in the game. MarShawn Lloyd was on the field for the Packers’ penultimate drive, though it only lasted two plays. We can’t imagine the fumble will go over well with Matt LaFleur. Still searching for answers at running back, LaFleur may turn back to Lloyd or even give Brooks more work in Week 5.
  • GB Running Back #26
    The two backs combined for the only eight running back rush attempts on a night the Packers’ offensive line was completely manhandled by an aggressive and athletic Atlanta front. Lloyd took his four carries for 11 yards while Johnson managed only six on his four totes. Both backs were targeted three times through the air, with Johnson going for 10 yards on one reception and Lloyd managing just seven yards on two grabs. This backfield is a complete mess amidst Josh Jacobs’ absence and mounting injuries along the offensive line, with neither back anywhere near a usable fantasy asset ahead of a Week 4 road matchup with the pass-funnel Buccaneers.
  • GB Running Back #20
    Johnson had a star-crossed first season with the Steelers, losing most of his responsibilities after a key special teams error in Week 2. He was an interesting draft prospect and the Packers running back room has a lot of uncertainty to it with MarShawn Lloyd’s health seemingly always questionable and Josh Jacobs facing a potential suspension. Johnson is worth a speculative pick-up in deeper leagues.
  • PIT Running Back #20
    The Steelers’ front office spent a third-round pick on Johnson in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has drastically underperformed since then, and could probably do with a change of scenery. DeFabo also thinks that RB/WR Eli Heidenreich “is a good candidate for the practice squad.”
  • PIT Running Back #20
    Buried on the depth chart after a key special teams error last year, Johnson now has Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle ahead of him for carries. We’d still bet Johnson makes the roster — he was a third-round pick just last year — but the early run out has been wildly disappointing.
  • PIT Running Back #20
    Johnson, of course, finds himself behind Jaylen Warren and free-agent signing Rico Dowdle, so perhaps the slate is clean but that doesn’t exactly mean he’s going to find carries. Johnson’s in a precarious position on the depth chart at this point. He certainly doesn’t have much expected fantasy value this year without injuries ahead of him, and his dynasty stock is well down from where it was last offseason.

Rotoworld

  • ARI Wide Receiver #14
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    Michael Wilson (ribs) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Wilson was on the practice field wearing a non-contact jersey on Wednesday. He is dealing with a rib injury, presumably suffered in the Cardinals’ Week 7 loss to the Broncos. He will be limited as long as he wears the non-contact jersey and ideally finishes the week without it in order to play in Week 8 against the Cowboys. Kendrick Bourne suddenly becomes the WR1 if Wilson cannot go.
  • ARI Running Back #22
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    Tyler Allgeier (toe) did not practice Wednesday.

    Allgeier popped up on the injury report with a toe issue as rookie Jeremiyah Love (ankle) returned to practice in a limited fashion. Though we don’t know the severity of Allgeier’s injury, it may be worth keeping Bam Knight rostered despite Love’s return. If Allgeier cannot play in Week 8 against the Cowboys, Knight will get another week of fantasy viability.
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    Jihaad Campbell (hamstring/quad) did not participate in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

    Campbell came out of the Eagles’ Week 7 loss to the Cowboys dealing with hamstring and quad injuries. He starts out the week as an estimated DNP. Campbell will likely need to practice in some capacity in order to play Week 8 against the Commanders.
  • PHI Wide Receiver #6
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    DeVonta Smith (hamstring) did not participate in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

    Both Smith and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) were estimated DNPs for the Eagles’ walkthrough. Both players missed Week 7 against the Cowboys and start off on the wrong side of questionable to open Week 8. Smith and Wicks will need to at least get a limited practice session in before they can be considered as potential fantasy options against the Commanders. With Britain Covey (knee) also DNP, the receiving corps is sparse. If neither can go, Darius Cooper and Hollywod Brown get a boost from the WR group while TE Dallas Goedert becomes the No. 1 pass-catcher in the Eagles offense.
  • PHI Running Back #26
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    Saquon Barkley (hamstring/back) did not participate in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

    Barkley was predictably a non-participant after re-aggravating his hamstring injury and additionally injuring his back in Week 7 against the Cowboys. Despite the injuries, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Barkley said his hamstring “came out great” and he doesn’t believe his back will keep him out. With every other Eagles running back suffering long-term injuries, Barkley is attempting to gut out his injury issues. Given his re-aggravation last week, it is well within the range of outcomes for Barkley to see limited snaps in Week 8 against the Commanders. His motivation to play makes us think he is on track to be active on Sunday but Barkley is a risky RB2 as he deals with injuries.
  • WAS Defensive Tackle #99
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    Javon Kinlaw (knee) did not practice Wednesday.

    Kinlaw is dealing with a knee issue. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday it will “likely be tough” for the 29-year-old defensive tackle to play Sunday. We can expect Kinlaw to be on the wrong side of questionable for Week 8 against the Eagles.
  • WAS Wide Receiver #3
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    Stefon Diggs (hand/hamstring/rest) did not practice Wednesday.

    Commanders head coach Dan Quinn already said Diggs won’t practice Wednesday, so this is not a surprise. Quinn also confirmed the veteran will return to practice Thursday and the additional rest designation should stave off concerns of Diggs dealing with a long-term injury. He should be in the WR3/FLEX mix for Week 8 against the Eagles. Also not practicing for the Commanders was TE John Bates (shoulder).
  • WAS Wide Receiver #13
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    Treylon Burks (foot) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Burks was limited due to a foot injury; this is notable with the Commanders coming out of a bye week. With Terry McLaurin out for the season, Burks has the opportunity to earn an increased role in the receiving corps. Fantasy managers don’t need to roster the 26-year-old yet, but Dyami Brown and Antonio Williams could see a boost in targets if Burks sits out Week 8 against the Eagles.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
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    George Pickens (shoulder/hamstring) was limited in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

    Pickens played through a minor shoulder injury last week, but the hamstring designation is new. He was still a limited practice participant, indicating neither injury should be an issue for his Week 8 status. Meanwhile, WR/KR KaVontae Turpin (ribs) was an estimated DNP in practice after not playing last week. The Cowboys may be missing Turpin again as a kick returner and gadget player on offense, but Pickens should still be the WR2 for Sunday against the Cardinals.
  • PHI Defensive Tackle #98
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    Jalen Carter said he “probably won’t be 100-percent this year” due to a wrist injury.

    Carter has been dealing with a wrist injury since the beginning of the season, playing through it for the last seven weeks. He will continue to play through it, though the Eagles defensive tackle admits the wrist won’t be fully healed this season.