NFL Player News

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford hasn't been enjoying life without Calvin Johnson so far this season, and up until halftime Sunday, that trend looked like it was going to continue.

Stafford had just 2 Fantasy points at halftime in Week 8, as the Lions were being run off the field. However, he finally found his way in the second half, by leaning heavily on Golden Tate, his best receiver left. Stafford and Tate hooked up four times for 128 yards after the break, including a 59-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Stafford has usually found success in the past by leaning on Johnson heavily, so it is natural he might have trouble figuring out how to operate without him. Tate is no Johnson, but he has proven to be a pretty dependable No. 1 receiving option anyways, and someone Stafford needs to rely on moving forward, even when Johnson comes back. 

Sunday's game was a promising one for Stafford, since it is his first 20-plus Fantasy point effort since Week 4. With Johnson hopefully getting close to returning, this might be the perfect time to buy low on Stafford, who could be in line for a big second half after the team's Week 9 bye. 

The Jets have benched quarterback Geno Smith after four drives Sunday, turning to backup Michael Vick late in the first quarter of the team's Week 8 matchup with the Bills.

Smith began the game by going 1 for 2 for four yards on the first drive, and the Jets had to punt the ball after a three-and-out. He then fell apart, throwing interceptions on three successive drives, the last of which set the Bills up on the Jets' one-yard line. Barring an injury to Vick, Smith's day is poised to end with five yards on 2-of-8 passing with no touchdowns and the three picks.

Vick has seen extensive work in just one game this year, going 8 for 19 for just 47 yards in the team's 31-0 loss to San Diego in Week 5.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford led his team back from a 21-point halftime deficit in a last-second Week 8 victory over the Falcons in London.

Stafford surpassed Bobby Layne's record for most touchdown passes in a career with a 59-yard touchdown strike to Golden Tate in the third quarter. He found Theo Riddick for a short 5-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter. The Lions got the ball back with 1:38 remaining and Stafford led his team to an 11-play, 63-yard drive which led to a game-winning 48-yard field goal by Matt Prater as time expired.

Stafford compiled 325 yards through the air while completing 24 of 47 passes, registering a 78.8 passer rating. He added two touchdowns and one interception. Stafford cracked the 300-yard mark for the first time since the opening week.

The Lions are on a bye Week 9 before returning Week 10 at home against the Dolphins.

Titans quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, running back Antonio Andrews, wide receiver Kris Durham, tight end Taylor Thompson, tackle Will Svitek, defensive lineman DaQuan Jones and cornerback Coty Sensabaugh were ruled inactive Week 8 vs. Houston.

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, quarterback Tom Savage, wide receiver DeVier Posey, cornerback Darryl Morris, tackle Jeff Adams, linebacker Jeff Tarpinian and safety Josh Aubrey were among the team's inactives Week 8 at Tennessee.

Rams center Tim Barnes, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, cornerback Trumaine Johnson, quarterback Case Keenum, tight end Alex Bayer, defensive end Ethan Westbrooks and safety Maurice Alexander were all ruled inactive Week 8 at Kansas City.

Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (ankle) is listed as questionable on the team's final Week 8 injury report for Monday's matchup with the Cowboys.

Griffin hasn't played since Week 2 while recovering from a dislocated ankle, but he was able to get three limited practices under his belt this week. Even with the questionable tag, Colt McCoy is expected to start Monday night.

Cornerback Tracy Porter (hamstring) is also listed as questionable after being limited in practice all week. Safety Ryan Clark (ankle, shoulder) was limited in practice all week as well but is listed as probable. The team's other probables include running back Alfred Morris (ankle), defensive lineman Chris Baker (thigh), linebacker Perry Riley (knee) and offensive tackles Trent Williams (knee) and Tyler Polumbus (knee), all of whom practiced in full Saturday.

The Dolphins enter Week 8 at Jacksonville relatively healthy despite having 14 players on the final injury report for Sunday's game.

Jimmy Wilson (hamstring) was the only player that was unable to practice all week. He's been ruled doubtful for the game. Samson Satele (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice all week and was labeled questionable.

Meanwhile, Branden Albert (elbow), Charles Clay (knee), John Denney (knee), Cortland Finnegan (neck), Brandon Gibson (hamstring), Brian Hartline (finger), Lamar Miller (knee), Koa Misi (ankle), Shelley Smith (knee), Ryan Tannehill (ankle), Dallas Thomas (shoulder) and Philip Wheeler (shoulder, thumb) were all deemed probable.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is still widely available (owned in just 68 percent of CBSSports.com leagues) for Week 8 at Jacksonville. That's surprising considering his production over his past three games. Aided in part by an increased freedom to run the ball, Tannehill has averaged 24.0 Fantasy points per game during that stretch. For the season, Philip Rivers is averaging 25.0 Fantasy points per game.

Of course, Tannehill has benefited from a run of 30 or more yards the past two weeks, and that probably shouldn't be the expectation for him every week. But with Lamar Miller the only running game the Dolphins have, their quarterback has become more of a focal point on offense, throwing for two scores in four of six games this season.

For all their shortcomings offensively, the Jaguars have been pretty tough on defense the past three weeks, but they still rank only 30th against the pass, allowing 280.1 yards per game. Understandably, then, Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard both love Tannehill as a sleeper this week, ranking him 11th among quarterbacks, ahead of notables Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton and Nick Foles.

Coming off the best game of his life (at least from a statistical standpoint), Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is started in only 67 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues. Is that a problem to anyone else?

In case you haven't noticed, the Seahawks haven't been as dominant defensively this year, which has made Wilson's performance more critical to their success. The result is better numbers for the third-year passer. He's contributed at least two touchdowns in every game but one, and that one was sandwiched between two three-touchdown games, including Week 7.

In those three-touchdown games, Wilson also rushed for more than 100 yards, leading to some monster production that has made him the fifth-best quarterback in standard CBSSports.com leagues to date.

So he's consistent and has a high ceiling from week to week. So ... what's the deal, then? Certainly it's not the matchup steering you away from him in Week 8. The hosting Panthers have allowed the sixth-most Fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season and rank 22nd against the pass, giving up 250.7 yards per game.