NFL Player News

Njoku recorded five receptions on seven targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 29-24 win over the Ravens.

Njoku remained heavily involved in the offense, drawing at least seven targets for the third straight game. He did the majority of his damage against the Ravens on a pair of long grabs, the first being a 20-yard gain midway through the first quarter and the latter a 23-yard touchdown catch two quarters later. Njoku has a consistent role in the Cleveland offense and has shown improved efficiency with Jameis Winston under center, signaling the potential for a very productive second half of the season.

LaPorta recorded six receptions on six targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 52-14 win over the Titans.

LaPorta recorded a total of two receptions on three targets combined across his last two games, so any increase in involvement would have been positive. Sunday's performance was even better than it first appears, however, because Jared Goff attempted only 15 total passes due to game script. LaPorta also managed his second touchdown in his last three contests on a pass delivered by running back David Montgomery from three yards away on a trick play. LaPorta could be in for another solid performance in Week 9 against Green Bay due to Jameson Williams (suspension) being sidelined once again.

Dissly (shoulder) caught five of seven targets for 41 yards in Sunday's 26-8 win over the Saints.

Dissly tied J.K. Dobbins for the team lead in targets, and the tight end has racked up 18 targets in the Chargers' last two games. The heavy usage is encouraging, but Dissly has yet to score a touchdown this season. He'll look to stay busy in Week 9 against the Browns.

Calcaterra brought in all three targets for 58 yards in the Eagles' 37-17 win over the Bengals on Sunday.

With Dallas Goedert (hamstring) sidelined for the second straight game, Calcaterra drew another start and parlayed it into a productive afternoon. Calcaterra's numbers were somewhat surprising considering he'd drawn just one target from Jalen Hurts against the Giants in Week 7, but it wasn't completely unforeseen since he'd contributed a 4-67 line in Week 6 against the Browns. Calcaterra could be in a favorable position for a successful encore in a Week 9 home matchup against the vulnerable Jaguars defense if Goedert remains sidelined.

Gesicki secured seven of eight targets for 73 yards in the Bengals' 37-17 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.

Gesicki was the surprise leader for the Bengals in receiving yards while checking in second to Ja'Marr Chase in both receptions and targets as well. The veteran tight end had logged under 20 snaps in each of his previous two games while logging just one reception for minus-2 yards in that span, but Tee Higgins' (quadriceps) absence likely played a part in the unexpected surge. Gesicki could remain similarly involved in a Week 9 home matchup against the Raiders if his teammate logs a second straight absence.

Conklin caught three of four targets for 42 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 25-22 loss to the Patriots.

Conklin's two-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter gave him a two-game touchdown streak following a 32-game scoring drought. He finished third on the team in receiving yards behind Garrett Wilson (113) and Davante Adams (54), while no other Jets teammate had more than 14. Conklin will maintain some upside as a secondary option in the Jets' top-heavy passing attack Thursday against the Texans.

Schultz secured four of six targets for 52 yards in the Texans' 23-20 win over the Colts on Sunday.

Schultz tied for second on the team in receptions and targets while also serving as the runner-up in receiving yards. The veteran tight end's receiving yardage total was a season high as well, and he's now recorded a trio of four-catch tallies in his last four games. Schultz should continue seeing a slightly elevated role in a Week 9 road matchup against the Jets on Thursday night, especially if Stefon Diggs (knee) joins Nico Collins (IR-hamstring) in street clothes.

Fortson suffered a right knee injury during Sunday's 27-20 win over the Raiders, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.

The tight end did not catch his only target Sunday. Fortson saw two targets on 21 offensive snaps in two previous games this season, making one catch for five yards and no touchdowns. The Chiefs' top three tight ends, Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Jared Wiley, are all healthy.

Johnson was evaluated for a head injury late in Sunday's 26-8 loss to the Chargers, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

The results of Johnson's evaluation weren't immediately available. If a concussion is revealed, Johnson would need to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol in order to play in Week 9 against the Panthers. He had three catches for 48 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss.

Sanders caught his only target for seven yards in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Broncos.

The 2024 fourth-round pick out of Texas appeared to be emerging as a reliable receiving option after catching 11 passes for 110 yards across the Panthers' last two contests. However, Tommy Tremble's return from injury in Week 8 seemed to make Sanders an afterthought in Carolina's offensive game plan. Given the Panthers' recent struggles on offense, Sanders is likely best left out of fantasy lineups in Week 9 when the Saints come to Carolina.