Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will take on the 2-6 Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9. The 27-year-old crossed the century mark in scrimmage yards gained for the sixth time in seven games last week during the Eagles' statement win over the Bengals but left fantasy managers wanting more with no touchdowns scored. He has the chance to rectify that this week against the Jaguars. Jacksonville allows the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs this year and struggles to keep offenses out of the red zone in general. Barkley has about the safest fantasy scoring floor in the league and that is no different this week. He should be considered a top-three option heading into the weekend.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley took 22 carries for 108 yards and caught one of his three targets for a three-yard gain during the team's 37-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. After thrashing the Giants last week, the 27-year-old crossed the century mark in scrimmage yards for the second week in a row and for the sixth time in seven games played. The story here that is sure to frustrate fantasy managers is the three rushing touchdowns scored by quarterback Jalen Hurts. Two of these touchdowns were done via the brotherly shove while the other was a designed run for Hurts inside the 10. This was a fear heading into the season for Barkley, but he has been so productive in every other aspect that it has not caused fantasy managers many issues. The star back now faces a terrible Jacksonville defense that is reeling after a tough loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will go on the road to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8. The 27-year-old nearly broke his career rushing record in the team's win over his former team, the New York Giants, last week and ended the day with 187 total yards and a touchdown. With that revenge game behind him, Barkley looks to take on a Bengals defense that is much better at stopping the run than they are at stopping the pass. Quarterback Jalen Hurts only needed to throw 14 times last week, but do not expect the same run-heavy game script this week against the Bengals. Barkley is a set-it-and-forget-it RB1, but this game could see him being more involved as a receiver if the Eagles have to try and play catchup.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) are both considered game-time decisions for Sunday's tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles according to Mia O'Brien of 92.5 FM. Thomas was initially expected to miss at least two weeks of action but has been able to practice this week in a limited capacity which is a promising sign. Head coach Doug Pederson expressed that, "He's not going to be 100%, but no one is at this time... we also don't want any set backs" when referring to his rookie wideout. Davis has also participated in practice this week in a limited capacity. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status over the weekend. If one of the wideouts has to sit out, Parker Washington could be worth as a deep league flex option as he should be pushed up the depth chart.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) were both limited participants for the second-straight day. Thomas was originally expected to miss at least two weeks of action earlier in the week but seeing him continue to participate in practice is a promising sign as he may not even miss one game. Davis also suffered an injury in last week's game and he could be in line to return this weekend if he continues to progress well. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status on Friday as they will likely carry an injury designation into the weekend. If Thomas can suit up, he should be viewed as a high-end WR2 facing the Philadelphia Eagles while Davis projects to be a solid flex option as the Eagles have allowed the 22nd-most PPR points to opposing wideouts.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) were both limited in practice on Wednesday. Both players left the Jaguars' Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers early with their respective injuries. With wide receiver Christian Kirk (collarbone) already out for the season, the Jaguars are thin at the position. Head coach Doug Pederson inspired confidence in the fact that Davis "should be fine" which suggests that he may be back on the field in Week 9. However, Thomas was originally given a 2-4 week timeframe before receiving a second opinion that revealed that he could also be ready for Week 9. Given that many players dealing with any kind of injury are often held out of Wednesday's practice, it is a relief to see that Thomas is back on the field in some capacity so soon. While Davis has been primarily irrelevant in fantasy football, Thomas has been anything but. He currently sits as the WR7 and is sixth in the league in receiving yards with 573. He has also hauled in five touchdowns. Fantasy managers would be elated to see Thomas take the field in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, if Thomas is unable to suit up and Davis is, then Davis would step into the No. 1 wide receiver role for the Jaguars. Davis is a worthy bench stash with Kirk out for the year regardless of Thomas' Week 9 status.

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz has emerged as the No.2 option for Jayden Daniels and should continue to be viewed as a solid TE1 in all formats in Week 9. Since Week 5, Ertz has seen at least five targets in each game, with a season-high of 11 coming last weekend in their victory over the Chicago Bears. During this span, Ertz has scored double-digit PPR points in all but one game. Without a reliable No.2 wideout, fantasy managers should expect Ertz to continue seeing reliable targets weekly. Even though the New York Giants have allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points to opposing TEs, he remains a solid tight end in all formats due to his safe volume.

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz led the team in receptions in their victory over the Chicago Bears. Ertz brought in seven of his season-high 11 targets for 77 yards. Since struggling during Weeks 3 through 5, Ertz has now scored double-digit PPR points in each of the past three games and has seen at least five targets and four receptions in each of them. Without a proven No.2 wideout, the veteran tight end has emerged as a productive option in this offense and should be viewed as a high-floor TE1 going forward. Next week, Ertz will face the New York Giants, who have allowed the third-fewest PPR points to opposing tight ends.

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz remains a low-end TE1 heading into Week 8 as he faces the Chicago Bears. Last weekend, Ertz found the end zone for the first time in his Washington career last weekend and brought in four of his five targets for 40 yards. Over the past two weeks, Ertz has caught four passes in each game and seen at least five targets in each of them. Without a proven No.2 wideout, the veteran tight end has emerged as a consistent option in the Washington air attack. He remains a low-end TE1 on Sunday due to the reliable volume he has seen on a weekly basis.

Carolina Panthers wide receivers Adam Thielen (hamstring) and Xavier Legette (toe) were listed as limited participants in Thursday's practice. Thielen has not played since Week 3 due to a hamstring injury that caused him to go on the Injured Reserve list. Legette has had a solid start to his NFL career, catching 22 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Both players saw a fantasy football value boost after Diontae Johnson was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, but it's tough to get too high on either player with quarterback Bryce Young under center. However, Thielen posted a 1,000-yard season with Young in 2023, so he could have PPR value in the second half of the 2024 campaign. Rookie Jalen Coker is also a candidate to benefit from Johnson's departure. Fantasy managers should monitor Legette's and Thilen's status on Friday before Week 9 start-or-sit decisions.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette has had a modest start to his NFL career, catching 22 of his 35 targets for 211 yards and three touchdowns through his first eight games. However, the Panthers are trading Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens, opening the door for Legette to be the clear WR1 for Bryce Young or Andy Dalton. It's worth noting Adam Thielen (hamstring) is eligible to return from Injured Reserve and rookie Jalen Coker has come on in recent weeks, but expect the Panthers to feature its first-round pick heavily with an eye toward the future. Legette's upside is higher with Dalton in the lineup, but even if Young takes over the QB1 duties for the foreseeable future, Legette should see targets in bunches.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette caught his third touchdown of the season in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos. Legette, a striking 6-foot-2, 227-pound figure, is proving to be a solid red-zone threat, with all three of his touchdowns coming inside the 10-yard line. Legette's game has shades of A.J. Brown, as he can physically dominate defensive backs at the point of attack. However, his down-to-down consistency still leaves much to be desired. He finished with four receptions for 34 yards and has recorded just one 50+ yard game this year. Granted, the quarterback situation in Carolina has been among the most questionable in the league. With New Orleans up in Week 9, it would be encouraging if the South Carolina product started to show week-to-week consistency but is on the flex radar in deep league formats.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler could see increased usage as No.1 option Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. Last weekend, Ekeler continued to serve as the clear No.2 option in the backfield, carrying the ball seven times for 52 yards and bringing in two passes for six yards. This was his highest yardage total since Week 6 against Baltimore. Throughout his first eight games as a Commander, Ekeler eclipsed double-digit PPR points in all but two games due to his pass-catching ability. If Robinson plays, Ekeler should be viewed as a flex option in PPR formats but would move up to a solid RB2 in all leagues if he is the lead option facing the Giants, who have allowed the 16th-most PPR points to opposing RBs.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler was productive in his limited workload in their victory over the Chicago Bears. Ekeler tallied an impressive 52 yards on seven attempts (7.4 yards per carry). He caught two of his three targets for six yards. After totaling double-digit PPR points in each of his first five games, Ekeler has now fallen under that mark in back-to-back outings. The Washington offense struggled to convert in the red zone, limiting the 29-year-old's opportunities for valuable touches. Nonetheless, fantasy managers should continue to view Ekeler as a low-end flex option, as he will continue to serve as a change-of-pace option in the Washington backfield.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler should be poised for a bounce back performance in Week 8 after having his worst game of the campaign last weekend. Facing the Carolina Panthers, the Commanders had a sizeable lead all afternoon and did not need to deploy their primary pass-catching back too often. Ekeler totaled a season-low 4.0 PPR points in this game with just 20 all-purpose yards. However, facing the Chicago Bears, the Commanders may need to keep their foot on the gas throughout the game facing a potent Chicago offense. As a result, Ekeler should be viewed as a solid flex option in PPR formats and a low-end RB3 in standard leagues.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson just joined the team earlier in the week and was a full participant at practice each day. All signs are pointing to the new Raven suiting up on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, but his workload is a big question mark. Less than a week of practice isn't enough to learn much of the offense, so he may not be featured on many snaps immediately. Fantasy managers will want to wait a week or two and see how the trend of snaps and targets moves as he's more incorporated into the offensive system. So, he's not on the fantasy radar outside of desperate situations in Week 9, especially against a good defense like the Broncos.

New Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson practiced on Wednesday after being acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday. His participation suggests that he could be on track to playing in Week 9 when the Ravens host the Denver Broncos. According to recent reports, Johnson will slot in as the Ravens' No. 3 wide receiver behind Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers. After being traded to the Panthers this past offseason, Johnson now finds himself back on a contender. He has recorded 357 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2024 despite playing with subpar quarterback play. However, Johnson has excelled with quarterback Andy Dalton under center. Now that Johnson enters a situation with several quality weapons, his volume is sure to decrease. For fantasy purposes, the days of a relevant Johnson in 2024 may be behind us, at least in the short term. Johnson's talent may demand the Ravens to ensure he gets touches. However, the team seems to view Johnson as a missing chess piece for a potential Super Bowl run rather than a foundational player. Fantasy managers should monitor Johnson's snap share and targets over the next couple of weeks to determine how this trade will impact his outlook for the rest of the season.

The Baltimore Ravens traded for former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Tuesday, raising questions about the fantasy football outlooks of Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. However, NFL insider Josina Anderson said she was told the acquisition of Johnson "does not reflect a change in the view of Flowers and Bateman as the team's current WR1 and WR2," according to sources. Both Baltimore wideouts are inside the top 20 pass-catchers in total receiving yards this year, and the team remains confident in them. However, it's tough to believe Johnson will not make an impact or take at least some volume away from the young pair of wideouts. In all likelihood, he'll be eased into the offense, but the target pecking order could switch week-to-week later in the year. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is the biggest fantasy football winner in this trade, while Johnson, Flowers, Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely could all have lower floors in a suddenly crowded pass-catching group.