NFL Player News

The 49ers re-signed quarterback Josh Johnson and released safety Raymond Ventrone.

The Texans declared linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (knee), quarterback Tom Savage, defensive backs Josh Aubrey, Darryl Morris (ankle) and Jumal Rolle, offensive tackle Jeff Adams and wideout DeVier Posey inactive for Monday's game at Pittsburgh.

If you were hoping it was finally time for the Browns to turn to Johnny Football following Sunday's loss to the Jaguars, then you will be disappointed to hear there is no quarterback change on the horizon.

Browns coach Mike Pettine said Monday he is not making a change at quarterback heading into Week 8 vs. Oakland. Brian Hoyer will remain the starter and Johnny Manziel will stay in a backup role.

"Brian is still firmly our starter," Pettine said.

Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy is expected to earn the starter reps this week, coach Jay Gruden told reporters on Monday, per ESPN. McCoy came off the bench for Kirk Cousins in the second half to lead his team to a 19-17 comeback victory over the Titans in Week 7. Barring a "big turnaround" from Robert Griffin's recovery from an ankle injury, McCoy will be the starter Week 8 against the Cowboys.

Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor credited quarterback Ryan Tannehill's ability to successfully run the read option as a reason for his team's success as of late. Tannehill completed his first 14 pass attempts and finished 25 for 32 with 277 yards and two scores in a 27-14 victory over the Bears in Week 7.

"Every day, practice and games, he gets better at it," Lazor said, per the Palm Beach Post. "He's confident in it. It helped us win the game."

In the past six quarters, Tannehill has completed 37 of 47 attempts for 437 yards, with four touchdown passes. He's also carried the ball seven times for 88 yards and a score.

You can understand the Redskins' switch from Kirk Cousins to Colt McCoy at halftime Week 7 against Tennessee. Cousins had already committed two turnovers in the contest after throwing seven interceptions in his previous three games. But in Fantasy, he was still a viable contributor, throwing for multiple scores in four of five games prior to his Week 7 departure.

You shouldn't expect that sort of production from McCoy, who has hardly played since failing to impress as the starting quarterback for the Browns, a team still in search of a long-term answer at the position, in 2011. Though he led the Redskins back from a 10-6 deficit and had an impressive final line, completing 11 of 12 passes for 128 yards, understand that 70 of those yards came on his lone touchdown pass, a simple curl route that Pierre Garcon turned into a big gain.

In other words, the play belonged to Garcon, not McCoy. If not for a nifty move after catching the ball and then outrunning the defense, it would have been just a short gain. Which was kind of the norm for McCoy. How do you complete 91.7 percent of your passes? You make it so none go for more than 10 yards. And apart from that one to Garcon, none did.

McCoy averaged 5.9 yards per attempt during that 2011 season and has yet to prove he can stretch the field. Cousins certainly has. From a Fantasy perspective, you'd like to see the Redskins go back to Cousins Week 8 at Dallas because you can't count on anything from McCoy.

Though it wasn't the case Week 6 against Dallas, when the Seahawks began what's now their first losing streak since 2012, quarterback Russell Wilson has thrived with the team's diminished dominance this season. Never was it more apparent than Week 7 at St. Louis, when a come-from-behind effort translated to a career high in total yards. He completed 23 of 36 passes for 313 yards and ran seven times for 106. It was his second 100-yard rushing effort in his last three games.

He also had three touchdowns -- two through the air and one on the ground -- giving him multiple scores in five of the team's six games this season. He had multiple scores in only eight of 16 games last season.

Though the Seahawks have done a fine job limiting yardage, they haven't been as dominant defensively as they were last season, and that's given them a greater need for offense late in games. Though they won't always be playing from behind against a defense that will allow them to make up ground, they may need to throw in the fourth quarter often enough for Wilson to keep this up.

He's a good choice to start again Week 8 at Carolina.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was shut down by the Cardinals Week 7. 

Carr completed 16 of 28 passes for 173 yards. He was unable to throw for any touchdowns, but also did not turn the ball over. Carr took just one sack during the contest, losing nine yards. He also had two rushing attempts, gaining two yards. Carr had a tough time getting things going. He tried to force balls to James Jones and Darren McFadden, but neither was able to get much done with their chances. 

Carr will take on the Browns Week 8.

Andy Dalton and the Bengals' offense failed to get much done in Week 7 against the Colts, and it was his second game of the season with fewer than 6 Fantasy points.

Dalton, coming off a 323-yard, two touchdown game in Week 6, managed to pass for just 126 yards Sunday. He completed just 18 of 38 passes in the game, against a Colts defense that had been third in the league in Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks.

This performance probably shouldn't change how anyone views Dalton; it was just an extreme example of what we've long known about him. He can be a useful Fantasy option at times, but it is asking too much from him to expect him to succeed against a tough defense without A.J. Green to throw to. As long as Green is out, Dalton should probably be avoided, especially with another tough matchup on the way in Week 8 against the Ravens. 

Playing without wideout Calvin Johnson, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford struggled mightily for most of Sunday's game against the Saints. Stafford turned things around with just under four minutes left when he hit receiver Golden Tate, who broke a tackle and outraced two defenders for a 73-yard touchdown.

Stafford capped the 24-23 comeback win with a 5-yard scoring toss to wideout Corey Fuller with 1:48 remaining. Stafford finished 27 of 40 for 299 yards and the two touchdowns with two interceptions. Stafford made a horrible decision on one pick, but the other was a good throw that deflected off tight end Jordan Thompson's hands.

Stafford plays the Falcons in London in Week 8.