Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb) missed a second straight day of practice on Thursday after spraining his thumb during a car accident that he was involved in earlier this week. Head coach Dave Canales already said that second-year QB Bryce Young will return to a starting role in Week 8 on Sunday against the Denver Broncos with Dalton injured. Depending on how Young fares this weekend, the Panthers could continue on with him as their starter under center. Dalton gave Carolina's struggling offense an immediate shot in the arm when he took over for Young in Week 3, but in recent weeks, the Red Rifle hasn't been as productive and was pulled late in a 40-7 blowout loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 7. Against a top-five defense in the Broncos, Young is going to have his work cut out for him in his return to the starting role.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end John Stephens Jr. (knee) will miss the rest of the 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL during Wednesday's practice, according to NFL.com. The second-year undrafted free agent out of Louisiana has been with Dallas since the 2023 offseason but has not logged any stats. This injury is not consequential for fantasy football, but it depletes depth behind tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (rib) did not practice on Thursday due to a rib injury. The veteran was also absent from Wednesday's practice, but it's worth noting he logged two straight "DNPs" to begin last week's preparation and still suited up against the Washington Commanders. Johnson could still play in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, so fantasy managers should monitor his status. However, Bryce Young will start on Sunday in place of the injured Andy Dalton (thumb), which is bad news for Johnson's potential fantasy outlook. With Young under center in Week 1 and Week 2, Johnson scored a combined 5.9 half-PPR points. With Dalton at QB, he scored at least 16.8 fantasy points in three of six games. The Broncos have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to WRs, so Johnson is a clear sit candidate on Sunday.

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New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest) is not practicing on Thursday due to a chest injury. The veteran and longtime teammate of quarterback Aaron Rodgers (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice either, so he could be trending toward missing Sunday's AFC East showdown against the New England Patriots. Lazard's stock is down after the Jets traded for All-Pro pass-catcher Davante Adams, as Lazard now has to compete with Garrett Wilson and Adams for targets. That said, he could still have spike weeks and is the current WR12 in half-PPR leagues. If he plays in Week 8, he'll likely be somewhat limited, so he's probably best left on the bench. Adams should be more involved in the offense after another week of practice under his belt.

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New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) is back on the practice field on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session. The team listed him with a foot/not-injury-related designation on Wednesday, so he was likely held out as a precaution. Stevenson missed the Week 6 outing against the Houston Texans before returning to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7. Based on what we know so far, he is trending toward playing in Week 8 in a matchup with the New York Jets. The Jets have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, and Stevenson has been a boom-or-bust option this season. That said, consider him an RB3 option with a low floor this Sunday if he's active.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (concussion) remains out of practice on Thursday as he works through concussion protocol. The rookie second-round pick out of Washington is looking less likely to play in Week 8 as the week moves forward after suffering a concussion in Week 7. That said, Polk should not be in starting fantasy football lineups even if he does play against a New York Jets defense that has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Polk has hauled in just 10 of his 26 targets for 78 yards and one touchdown through Week 7. Demario Douglas and Hunter Henry are the early favorites to be Drake Maye's favorite targets in 2024.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Josh Downs (toe) and Michael Pittman Jr. (back) are on the practice field on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with toe and back injuries, respectively. The pair of Indy wideouts have logged "DNPs" or limited practice sessions often this year, and that will likely continue as they work through their ailments. Fantasy managers should follow their latest updates, but both wideouts have lower floors and ceilings with Anthony Richardson at quarterback instead of Joe Flacco. Although the Houston Texans have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to receivers this year, neither is a must-start stud given Richardson's struggles as a passer. Consider both WR4 or WR5 types with a touchdown-or-bust outlook. If one or both of them do not play on Sunday, Alec Pierce will carry the same outlook.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is back on the practice field on Thursday after logging a limited session on Wednesday. The former second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has missed each of the last three games with an ankle injury but could be trending toward a Week 8 return against the Houston Texans. Although Houston has surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, Taylor's potential usage makes him worth starting if he's active. If he's out again, backups Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson will likely split touches, and neither would have high ceilings in a tricky matchup. So far this season, Taylor has rushed 72 times for 349 yards and four touchdowns in four games.

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is not appealing his two-game suspension and will miss the Week 8 game against the Tennessee Titans and Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers. Williams is being sidelined for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing substances. This is an unfortunate development for the former Alabama wideout who is having the best season of his career. Through six games, Williams has racked up 17 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns. In his absence, wide receivers Kalif Raymond, Tim Patrick, and perhaps Allen Robinson II will see enhanced roles. That said, tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs could also see more targets. Amon-Ra St. Brown should remain the clear target hog in the Detroit offense led by Jared Goff.

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Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels (ribs) remained out of practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with an apparent rib injury. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was knocked out of the Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers and seems to be trending toward missing Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. Daniels scored at least 20 fantasy points in five of his first six NFL games, so his absence from fantasy lineups could be significant. If Daniels can't go, veteran and former No. 2 overall pick in 2015, Marcus Mariota, will get the starting nod. Mariota was excellent last week, throwing for 205 yards and two touchdowns while racking up 34 rushing yards. However, Chicago has surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs, making Mariota a low-end QB2 option if he starts.

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Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said that quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) looked good throwing the football on his first day back with his finger injury in Wednesday's practice. However, the Browns will continue to evaluate how Thompson-Robinson feels this week to see if he can serve as Jameis Winston's backup on Sunday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. The 24-year-old injured a tendon in his right middle finger in relief of Deshaun Watson (Achilles) in the Week 7 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, but the fact that he was a full-go in Wednesday's practice is a good sign for his availability this weekend. Cleveland added Bailey Zappe as insurance at QB in case DTR isn't active. If Winston struggles this weekend, it's possible that the Browns go back to Thompson-Robinson for Week 9 versus the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said he expects kicker Brandon Aubrey to be ready for the Week 8 game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. "We have a plan to make sure he'll be ready," McCarthy said. Aubrey is set to miss a second straight practice on Thursday while on jury duty, but it sounds like the Cowboys aren't worried that he won't be ready to go as their place kicker on Sunday. The 29-year-old is expected to return to practice on Friday and be ready to kick in the primetime game against Dallas, where he'll be a high-end, must-start kicker in fantasy against a 49ers defense that hasn't been nearly as good in 2024 as in years past. Aubrey ranks fifth among all kickers with 10.0 fantasy points per game this year, including making eight of his nine field-goal tries from 50-plus yards.

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The Kansas City Chiefs are placing wide receiver Skyy Moore (core) on Injured Reserve on Thursday with a core-muscle injury. Moore is the latest Chiefs wide receiver to go on IR, which will keep him out for at least the next four games. The earliest he will be able to return from IR will be in Week 12 versus the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 24. Even with KC losing receivers Rashee Rice (knee) and Marquise Brown (shoulder) for the entire season due to injuries, Moore remained without a reception on just three targets in six games played this year before his injury. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 has been a bust for the Chiefs, catching only 43 passes for 494 yards and one touchdown in 36 games (11 starts) since entering the league. KC acquired DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans this week to boost their decimated receiving corps, and he'll slot in next to rookie Xavier Worthy and Mecole Hardman with JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) injured.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (toe) was absent from a second straight practice this week on Thursday for a toe injury that could definitely impact Sunday's Week 8 contest against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Irving's status will likely come down to whether he can practice on Friday. If he cannot, he'll likely be ruled out, which would pave the way for Rachaad White and Sean Tucker to split backfield touches on Sunday. Fantasy managers that have been using the 22-year-old Irving in recent weeks need to start formulating a backup plan, while Tucker wouldn't be a bad waiver-wire pickup as a streaming flex play if Irving is out. In Week 6 with White inactive, Tucker had a season-high 14 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown and also caught three passes for 56 yards and another score.

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Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines (knee) was not officially activated from Non-Football Injury list within his 21-day practice window, meaning he will miss the remainder of the 2024 season. Hines will end up missing the entire season in Cleveland after tearing his ACL in a jet-ski accident in July of 2023. With Nick Chubb returning from his own devastating knee injury last week, there just wasn't room for the 27-year-old pass-catching specialist on the Browns' active 53-man roster heading into a Week 8 contest against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Jerome Ford (hamstring) missed the Week 7 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, but the Browns also have D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. as depth at the position behind Chubb.

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According to head coach Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard will be counted on more in the offense in the absence of teammates Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle). Specifically, reporters asked Bowles about Shepard and his familiarity with quarterback Baker Mayfield. "He's been a heck of a receiver in this league when he's healthy," said the Bucs' head coach. "He can make plays all over the field; we've seen that briefly over the last couple of weeks." The chemistry referred to by reporters stems from the time he and Mayfield spent together in college at Oklahoma. Seeing how targets shake out over the coming weeks will be interesting. For what it's worth, the former Oklahoma Sooner played fewer snaps than fellow wideouts Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan in the team's Week 7 loss. Still, production in this offense will need to come from somewhere, with Godwin done for the year and Evans not projected back until after the team's Week 11 bye.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) underwent an MRI Wednesday that confirmed his "moderate" hamstring injury. According to the NFL's Ian Rapoport, Evans' diagnostic test affirmed the notion that he'd be sidelined until at least the team's Week 11 bye. It's a massive blow to Tampa Bay's offense, as they've also just lost fellow wideout Chris Godwin (ankle) for the remainder of the season after dislocating his ankle. With the Bucs down their top two pass-catchers, wide receivers Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepherd, and Trey Palmer project to line up in three wide receiver sets. Additionally, tight end Cade Otton and running back Rachaad White should continue to see an increased role in Tampa Bay's passing attack. The team will host the visiting Atlanta Falcons this coming Sunday.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is reportedly trending to play this Sunday when his team squares off against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Pelissero also noted he was told that "Tua looks like Tua. He's ripping it all over the field, hitting bombs to Tyreek Hill. This is the guy they've been missing." It's a positive start to the week for the fifth-year QB, who is still required to gain clearance from an independent neurologist as his last hurdle of clearing the league's concussion protocol. Miami's offense desperately needs a spark, scoring just three touchdowns since the Alabama product's exit from the team's Week 2 loss to the Bills. If Tagovailoa can play, he'd give them just that. Fantasy managers will want to monitor him over the next day or so, as he'd supply a large boost to the Dolphins' skill players if active.

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According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Los Angeles Rams are "optimistic" that wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) will suit up against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football. The second-year wideout was able to log two limited sessions earlier this week after having his 21-day practice window activated. It'd be fantastic news for LA and fantasy managers if he can play, as Nacua has been shelved since way back in Week 1 when he reaggravated a preseason knee injury. Minnesota presents as one of the more difficult matchups to return to, but the former fifth-round pick should immediately slot back into his role as a top-two option in LA's passing attack. It's worth noting that he may be on a snap count -- though that has neither been confirmed nor denied. Stay tuned.

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Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (concussion) put in a full practice to open the week on Wednesday. Surtain suffered a concussion in the Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers and was unable to gain clearance to play on a quick turnaround in last Thursday night's blowout win over the New Orleans Saints. The 24-year-old isn't officially cleared from the league's concussion protocol, but that should happen by the end of the week as long as he doesn't suffer a setback with his head injury. Surtain is one of the better shutdown corners in the NFL, so getting him back would be a huge boost to a strong defensive unit that will be a must-start against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8. Surtain's return to the field on Sunday would be bad news for wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who will be taking passes again from second-year quarterback Bryce Young.