NFL Player News

Long caught two of three targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 35-7 loss to the Rams.

With Brenton Strange (IR, hip) sidelined due to an injury, Long operated as the Jaguars' No. 1 tight end in the Week 7 loss. However, the increase in playing time didn't translate to production, as Long finished Sunday's contest with the sixth-most targets (three) and receiving yards (16) on the team. The 27-year-old is expected to remain Jacksonville's top tight end until Strange returns from injured reserve, but that likely won't yield significant fantasy value. His next opportunity to take the field will likely come in Week 9 against the Raiders.

Turpin caught his only target for 17 yards and added 80 kickoff return yards and four punt return yards in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders.

After missing the prior two games with a foot issue, Turpin returned to the lineup and resumed his usual role as the Cowboys' top kick returner and depth wideout. He had seen multiple touches on offense in each of his first four games of the season, although not more than six in any contest, so his lack of usage may have had something to do with him being eased back into action. Turpin could see more targets and jet sweep carries Week 8 if Dallas has any trouble generating yards against a stingy Denver defense, but he's no real threat to the volume of CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens.

Flournoy didn't see a target and played just 28 percent (19 of 67) of the offensive snaps for the Cowboys in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders.

The return of CeeDee Lamb from an ankle injury cost Flournoy his route to fantasy value, as both Jalen Tolbert (49 percent of the offensive snaps) and KaVontae Turpin (30 percent) were on the field more often, although that duo combined for only two catches on three targets for 33 yards. The Dallas passing game is dominated by Lamb, George Pickens and tight end Jake Ferguson, and as long as they stay healthy, Flournoy and the rest of the depth wideouts figure to see very little target volume.

McNichols rushed twice for 22 yards and caught two of three targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 44-22 loss to the Cowboys.

The Boise State product logged 21 offensive snaps and operated as Washington's No. 2 running back in the Week 7 loss, playing behind rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (33 snaps) but ahead of Chris Rodriguez (nine snaps). McNichols also led the Commanders' backfield in targets and receptions, serving as the team's primary pass-catching back. He's expected to maintain a similar role in the team's Week 8 matchup again Chiefs.

Tolbert caught one of two targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders.

With CeeDee Lamb back from his ankle injury, Tolbert retained his No. 3 role on the wide receiver depth chart, playing 49 percent of the offensive snaps (33 of 67) for the Cowboys while KaVontae Turpin saw 30 percent (20 snaps) and Ryan Flournoy dropped to 28 percent (19). Those three players combined for just a 2-33-0 line on three targets, however, as Dak Prescott's attention was mainly on Lamb, George Pickens and tight end Jake Ferguson. As long as the team's top two WRs are healthy, Tolbert's fantasy value will be minimal at best.

Blue carried the ball seven times for 29 yards and caught his only target for five yards in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders.

The rookie running back saw a career-high touch volume, although most of his work came on the Cowboys' final drive when the game was out of reach. Blue remains firmly behind Javonte Williams (116 yards and a TD on 16 carries) in the Dallas backfield, and his only real fantasy value is as an insurance policy for the former Bronco, who's already dealt with one serious knee injury in his NFL career.

Rodriguez rushed three times for 12 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 44-22 loss to the Cowboys.

The 25-year-old from Kentucky played a depth role in the Commanders' backfield again in the Week 7 loss, playing behind rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (13 carries for 33 yards) and Jeremy McNichols (two carries for 22 yards). However, Rodriguez was the only running back to find the end zone, receiving a goal-line carry in the third quarter. He's now rushed 26 times for 117 yards and one touchdown through five appearances this season. Expect Rodriguez to play a reserve role in Washington's backfield again in Week 8, when the team travels to Kansas City.

Young suffered a high-ankle sprain in Sunday's win over the Jets and is expected to miss at least a Week 8 contest against the Bills, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Pelissero added that Young's sprain typically requires a recovery timeline of 2-to-4 weeks, and Andy Dalton is expected to start against Buffalo. Young was injured on a third-quarter sack Sunday, though X-rays did come back negative. Young being sidelined shouldn't significantly impact the fantasy outlook of the Panthers' pass catchers, as Dalton is a reliable veteran backup.

Dalton is expected to start Sunday's game against the Bills, and potentially longer, after Bryce Young suffered a high-ankle sprain Week 7, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Dalton closed out Carolina's 13-6 win over the Jets after Young's fourth-quarter departure, completing four of seven pass attempts for 60 yards. The veteran also rushed twice for minus-2 yards. Last season, Dalton logged a five-game stretch under center from Weeks 3 through 7, a span in which he completed 66.7 percent of his pass attempts for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. The presence of new No. 1 receiver Tetairoa McMillan alongside second-year pro Xavier Legette could allow Dalton to improve upon those numbers during his 2025 starting stint. Pelissero reports that the Panthers are optimistic Young could miss as little as one contest, though high-ankle sprains typically carry a 2-to-4-week recovery timeline.

Hooper caught both his targets for 11 yards and a TD in Sunday's 31-13 win over the Titans.

Overall, Hooper has compiled a 10-116-1 receiving line on 11 targets through seven games, a rate of production that keeps the veteran tight end off the fantasy radar as long as Hunter Henry remains healthy.