NFL Player News

Williams entered the league as a UDFA in 2020. He eventually latched on with the Rams and worked his way into a starting role in 2023. He totaled 49 tackles plus two sacks. He signed with Minnesota ahead of last season but was cut and later spent time in LA and Detroit.

Vidal was second on the team in rushing attempts behind Omarion Hampton (9) and ran the second most pass routes behind Keaton Mitchell. Vidal won’t be a legit fantasy option unless Hampton misses time in the coming weeks. He’s a decent stash in deeper formats for now.

Willis practiced in full this week despite being listed with a groin injury. Perhaps the soft tissue issue made him play a little more restrained than we would have liked him to. The Dolphins’ quarterback continues to hold the ball too long. He took five sacks today. His interception was not totally his fault. He was hit by a pass rusher, altering the pass’s trajectory, which bounced off a defensive lineman’s helmet before flying 29 yards downfield, where a Patriots defender picked it off. Willis had another interception called back due to defensive offsides, which was lucky. The Dolphins’ young wide receivers are learning the ropes and could help him churn out usable fantasy line as the season progresses. Willis will be a high-end QB2 against the Lions in Week 9.

It was yet another down game for Johnston, who did his work underneath in this one. He now has one game this season with more than two receptions in a Chargers offense that can be described as utterly dysfunctional on every level. Johnston should not be rostered in most fantasy formats.

It was business as usual for the plodding Hampton, who breaks no tackles and does nothing beyond what is blocked for him. Hampton, who now has less than 50 rushing yards in five games this season, was third in pass routes among LA running backs on the day and tied with Keaton Mitchell with three targets. Hampton’s role doesn’t offer much: Coming into Week 8, he ranked 31st among running backs in expected fantasy points per game (and 37th in actual fantasy points per game). With no ceiling of which to speak, Hampton should stay on benches in Week 9 against the Texans.

Kiner’s most notable usage note is that he was trusted with a carry on 3rd-and-1 during the Patriots’ eighth drive. He was unable to convert it for a first down. Kiner was involved today because TreVeyon Henderson (illness) was inactive. Kiner does not need to be stashed on fantasy football benches in 12-team formats.

Stevenson was held out of the end zone against the Dolphins, but comfortably paced his team with 22 touches and was handed the ball on each of the Patriots’ first three plays. Stevenson ran hard on inside runs and played well as a receiver, as usual. A fake pitch from inside the Dolphins’ five-yard line had at least one Dolphins defender convinced that Stevenson was headed for the end zone, but Drake Maye kept the ball and ran it into the end zone himself. Stevenson remains firmly in play as an RB2 next week against the Packers.

Mitchell, as usual, was third in rushing attempts, behind Omarion Hampton (9) and Kimani Vidal (8). His three targets led the backfield but didn’t amount to much. With the Bolts’ backfield being split three ways, Mitchell is going to struggle to get anything going without an explosive play or two. He should remain on most waiver wires ahead of Week 9.

This is particularly unfortunate because Henry was playing well early on, catching 3-of-3 targets for 30 yards. Drake Maye told reporters after the game that he is “worried” about his No. 1 tight end, but added that Henry was “walking around fine” with “a smile on his face” in the locker room post-game. Eli Raridon will be a streaming TE1 against the Packers next week if Henry cannot play.

The Patriots’ rookie tight end got involved early, chipping in a five -yard catch on the team’s first drive. He earned a target at the Dolphins’ five-yard line on the next play, but the pass was thrown inaccurately by a scrambling Drake Maye. Hunter Henry suffered a foot injury in the first half, which allowed Raridon to run as the Patriots’ top tight end. Although he earned a few more targets as the game progressed, unfortunately, Raridon’s lone box score contribution thereafter was a false start on the Patriots’ eighth drive. Despite Raridon’s quiet Week 8 outing, he will warrant streaming TE1 treatment next week against the Packers if Henry is unable to play.

McConkey was fully back from various injuries that kept him sidelined for much of the season’s first month and a half. He led the Chargers in all receiving categories, and had the team’s biggest play of the game — a 54-yard gain on a nicely thrown ball from Justin Herbert. McConkey will have a solid matchup in Week 9 against a struggling Houston secondary and should remain in 12-team league lineups. It remains to be seen whether he has any sort of ceiling in a pitiful LA offense.