NFL Player News

Smith would seem to push Trent Brown into a swing tackle role next year while giving the Texans a three-deep at tackle of Smith, Aireontae Ersery, and Brown. Smith, who turns 30 later in March, is coming off the two worst seasons of his career in Indianapolis but still managed a respectable 65.3 PFF blocking grade in 2025. It’s not an exciting move, but could lead to competency on the much-beleaguered Texans offensive line.

Franklin missed Week 7’s game due to the injury after accidentally getting kicked in practice. While Franklin is expected to miss some time, Rapoport reports the team is not planning to place him on injured reserve and believes he will miss “minimal games.” Franklin has totaled 41 tackles and one forced fumble this season.

Garafolo pointed out that Barkley isn’t a guarantee to play on Monday, but said “everything is looking good” for Barkley to make his return. Barkley was updated to a full participant in practice on Saturday but still carries a questionable tag into Monday night’s game against the Cowboys. While it’s always good to have a backup plan in case Barkley can’t go, we would be surprised if he doesn’t suit up, given his practice status all week and this latest report from Garafolo.

Kubiak was asked about the possibility of switching from Kirk Cousins to rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, and said the team is considering “everything” while also making it sound like their struggles were more of a team issue. Cousins struggled in the early part of Sunday’s loss to the Rams, but managed some late touchdowns in garbage time to save his stat line. If the Raiders are considering a switch, it’s possible we’ll learn their decision by Wednesday, when they begin preparing for their Week 8 game against the Jets.

Kupp saw sparse usage as Jaxon Smith-Njigba went off in the first half and the team transitioned to a run-heavy approach while playing with a lead after the break. Fellow receiver Rashid Shaheed departed with a knee injury following a collision with Smith-Njigba in the end zone at the end of the second quarter, which is something gamers will want to monitor ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the Bears on Monday Night Football. Kupp could work his way into the FLEX discussion if Shaheed missing time.

All three carries for Barner were tush push plays that resulted in first downs in key situations, while his five targets tied his second most of the young season. Even so, that was not enough to return a usable fantasy week outside of tight end premium leagues, keeping Barner best left on the bench of returned to the waiver wire, regardless of the severity of Rashid Shaheed’s injury.

Is there anyone in the league doing it better than Smith-Njigba at the moment? The reigning receiving leader put on an absolute show in this one, making two nearly identical bread basket catches down the left sideline in the second quarter, the first of which he snuck inside the pylon for his touchdown. He was forced out at the two on the second, resulting in an end zone interception from Sam Darnold two plays later. Those two long receptions before the break helped push Smith-Njigba to 126 yards and a touchdown before halftime, and he added an additional 24 yards on three more receptions in the final two frames as the Seahawks transitioned to a more ground-heavy attack while playing with the lead. Fantasy’s early-season cheat code has now gone over 100 yards in six of seven games while notching a league-leading eight receiving touchdowns. It goes without saying, but Smith-Njigba remains the overall WR1 in a solid matchup against the Bears in Week 8.

Wilson handily outperformed former Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker in the latter’s return to Seattle, spiking his fantasy production with a 21-yard touchdown scamper late in the fourth quarter with the Seahawks in ice mode. The outburst went down as the second time in Wilson’s career in which he hit the century mark in rushing, pleasing fantasy managers that were forced into his services in Week 7 through both byes and injuries. Wilson’s days as the lead back in Seattle are likely numbered with veteran Zach Charbonnet reportedly nearing a return from his 2025 torn ACL. That could occur as early as Week 8 when the Seahawks face the Bears.

Darnold continued to flaunt his connection with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba with zero regard to the naysayers, feeding his alpha 12 targets on 28 pass attempts, the latter of whom accounted for 157 of the 257 pass yards for Darnold. As you probably guessed, Smith-Njigba was also the recipient of Darnold’s lone touchdown throw, which was a dime down the left sideline on a corner route that the veteran signal caller dropped into the bread basket. The two would connect on another similar play later in the the same quarter in which Smith-Njigba was forced out at the two, with the result of that drive Darnold’s interception in the end zone. Darnold continues to do just enough for his team and not enough for fantasy managers that thought they could grab cheap production late in drafts. He’s better sent back to the waiver wire than inserted into starting lineups. The Seahawks next face the Bears on the second half of back-to-back Monday Night Football games, where Darnold remains a shaky fantasy option.

Worthy struggled to separate from primary coverage of the Seahawks throughout, also committing a drop in a crucial situation in the second half. The Chiefs continue to show hesitancy in utilizing Worthy in a downfield role, which is of particular concern for his fantasy managers considering the absence of Tyquan Thornton. Worthy is better left on fantasy benches ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the stingy Broncos, particularly if Rashee Rice returns from injury.

Allen was the recipient of Patrick Mahomes’ first target of the game, which he took down the right sideline for a tidy 18-yard gain. He would disappear into oblivion the rest of the way as he continued to play behind Andrew Armstrong and Jalen Royals, with Justin Watson also worked into the game plan in this one. Allen played just 16 offensive snaps. Head coach Andy Reid has a long history of taking his time to develop rookies, meaning fantasy managers are likely forced to be patient. In other words, keep Allen on fantasy benches, for the time being.