The Denver Broncos defense/special teams unit entered the Week 7 matchup on Thursday night with a juicy matchup against a New Orleans Saints offense that was missing most of their best players, and they did not disappoint in a 33-10 beatdown. Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler really had no chance against a swarming D that has been a top-five defense in the NFL this year. The Broncos' D finished with six sacks and two fumble recoveries, including one late in the game that linebacker Cody Barton returned for a touchdown to cap off the dominant victory on the road. Even more impressive is the fact that it was all done without top cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who was out with a concussion. The Broncos' D has proven they are legitimate, and they could have a similar dominant performance in a Week 8 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

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New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) exited during the third quarter of Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the contest. Lattimore finished Week 7 with four tackles, bringing his season total to 28. The Saints find themselves decimated by injuries all of a sudden, and the cornerback position is no exception. In addition to Lattimore potentially missing time, New Orleans is also expected to be without Paulson Adebo (broken femur) for the rest of the 2024 season. This is the second injury of the year for Lattimore, who missed Week 2 with a different hamstring issue.

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The Denver Broncos had their way with the hosting New Orleans Saints in Week 7 on Thursday night in a 33-10 win, which benefitted kicker Wil Lutz and any fantasy managers that streamed him in a plus matchup. Lutz made all four of his field-goal attempts (long of 52 yards) and all three of his extra-point attempts in what amounted to his best game of the 2024 season. It was a nice bounce-back performance after he made just one field goal and one extra point in the Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. The 30-year-old kicker has been money for the Broncos in seven games this year, missing just one of his 18 field-goal attempts while going 12-for-12 on extra points. In an offense that is improving slowly under rookie quarterback Bo Nix, Lutz will once again be on the streaming radar in a plus Week 8 tilt against the Carolina Panthers.

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After catching four passes for 53 yards and his second touchdown of the season in the Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton looked primed for another big week on Thursday night in primetime against the fading New Orleans Saints defense. That didn't end up being the case, as Sutton gave his fantasy managers a donut while not being targeted at all by rookie quarterback Bo Nix in the 33-10 blowout win. It was a very surprising performance by Denver's most targeted receiver, especially in a game in which Denver put up 30-plus points. Head coach Sean Payton explained at halftime that Sutton's lack of involvement was the product of the Saints D playing mostly zone coverage, forcing Nix to go elsewhere. It was a week-losing performance no doubt for Sutton's fantasy managers, but he should bounce back in Week 8 against the Panthers.

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The Buffalo Bills have signed kicker Lucas Havrisik to their practice squad. The move is intended to create some competition for Tyler Bass, who has gone just 9-for-12 on field goals and 18-for-20 on extra points this season. General manager Brandon Beane admitted the team wants Bass to be their kicker going forward, but his struggles have necessitated kicker workouts and the signing of Havrisik. Now 25, Havrisik is coming off a mediocre rookie campaign with the Los Angeles Rams in which he went 15-for-20 on field goals and 19-for-22 on extra points.

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Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin was rookie quarterback Bo Nix's favorite target on Thursday night in the team's 33-10 blowout win over the hosting New Orleans Saints. On a night where Courtland Sutton surprisingly was not targeted at all, Franklin led all Broncos pass-catchers in targets (six), catches (five) and receiving yards (50), although he was unable to find the end zone for the second straight week. The 21-year-old's longest reception of the game went for a 30-yard chunk gain. Franklin, the former college teammate of Nix at Oregon, now has seven catches for 81 yards and a score in two games with Josh Reynolds (finger) on Injured Reserve. It's clear that he'll continue to have a big role while Reynolds is out, making him worth a waiver-wire flier in deeper fantasy leagues heading into a great matchup in Week 8 versus the one-win Carolina Panthers.

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In just his third game this season, Denver Broncos tight end Lucas Krull was the team's second leading receiver in the 33-10 win over the hosting New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football. Krull caught three of his four targets for a season-high 41 receiving yards, which were second-most behind rookie wideout Troy Franklin's 50 receiving yards, in his third game in 2024. Meanwhile, fellow tight end Adam Trautman couldn't haul in any of his three targets on the night. It's becoming clear that Krull is the Broncos' preferred pass-catching TE over Trautman, Nate Adkins and Greg Dulcich, who was a healthy scratch yet again in Week 7. Coming into Thursday's game, Krull had only three catches on five targets for 16 yards and should remain on the waiver wire in the vast majority of fantasy leagues in Denver's low-volume passing attack.

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New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (leg) was diagnosed with a broken femur following Thursday's loss to the Denver Broncos. Adebo exited early in the second quarter after suffering a gruesome-looking leg injury. He was carted off the field in an air cast and taken to a nearby medical center for further evaluation. The Saints have suddenly become decimated with injuries on both sides of the ball, all while falling to 2-5 after their fifth consecutive loss. Alontae Taylor should handle more opportunities at cornerback with Adebo presumably done for the year.

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Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (concussion) upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday. He had been limited on Wednesday, so this development should be considered a step in the right direction. One would have to imagine that Tremble will clear concussion protocol in time to suit up for Week 7 against the Washington Commanders. He'll presumably re-enter the Panthers' offense as their No. 2 tight end behind Ja'Tavion Sanders, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most leagues.

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In the Denver Broncos blowout victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night in Week 7, rookie running back Audric Estime out-carried Jaleel McLaughlin five to four, although McLaughlin out-gained the rookie 35 to 29 on the ground in the 33-10 victory. Estime also lost a fumble. Lead back Javonte Williams was the real winner on the night for Denver's offense with 14 carries for a season-high 88 yards and his first two touchdowns of the year. Estime's five carries were a season-high after seeing two totes apiece in his first two NFL games in Weeks 1 and 6. Although Estime could be in head coach Sean Payton's doghouse after losing a fumble against New Orleans, the rookie's presence in Denver's backfield moving forward is yet another reason why McLaughlin cannot be trusted in starting fantasy lineups. Neither RB was targeted in the passing game on Thursday.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (hamstring) was added to the injury report after logging a limited practice on Thursday. The rookie was inactive throughout the first five weeks of the season for a variety of reasons, including injury and being a healthy scratch, but he did make his NFL debut in Week 6. He finished last Sunday's game with zero targets on a seven percent snap share. Going forward, even if Wilson continues to suit up, he'll remain off the fantasy radar in redraft leagues.

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San Francisco 49ers kickers Jake Moody (right ankle) and Matthew Wright (shoulder, back) were absent from Thursday's practice. As the Niners prepare to battle the Kansas City Chiefs next weekend, they could be without both of the kickers on their roster. Moody was injured in Week 5, and now his replacement, Wright, is on the injury report after getting banged up while making a tackle in Week 6. It's starting to look like both Moody and Wright will miss Week 7, which would force the 49ers to use their third kicker in three weeks. Presumably, that replacement option would be Anders Carlson, who went 27-for-33 on field goals and 34-for-39 on extra points with the Green Bay Packers in 2023.

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Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams went off in the team's 33-10 blowout victory over the hosting New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football, carrying the ball 14 times for a season-high 88 yards and his first two touchdowns of the year. He also caught all three of his targets for 23 yards. His first score was an eight-yard scamper in which he went untouched to the end zone. The 24-year-old had just one game of double-digit fantasy points coming into this one, but after his first career two-touchdown game, it's clear he's still the unquestioned lead back in Denver. Williams and the Broncos took care of business against a Saints defense that played uninspired football, and after this big game, fantasy managers will surely consider Williams for a starting lineup spot in another plus-plus matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) remained a full participant in practice on Thursday. The rookie is recovering from a gunshot wound he suffered less than two months ago during an armed robbery attempt. He missed the first six games of the year on the non-football list but appears to be on the verge of being activated and making his NFL debut. Pearsall has one more practice to showcase that he's healthy and ready to go before the 49ers release their final injury report. Presumably, if he logs one more full practice, he'd be activated on Saturday and good to go on Sunday. There's a chance Pearsall could immediately step in as the 49ers' No. 3 receiver with Jauan Jennings (hip) trending in the wrong direction for Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Robert Woods (foot) remained sidelined during practice on Thursday. The veteran pass-catcher is trending toward missing his second consecutive game, but Friday's practice will provide some additional context and confirmation surrounding his status. Regardless of whether Woods enters the weekend listed as out, doubtful, or questionable, he's a non-factor in fantasy football and can be left on waivers in all leagues.

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Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix didn't score a touchdown and threw for only 164 yards on 16-for-26 passing, but he also ran the ball 10 times for a season-high 75 rushing yards in the 33-10 dismantling of the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football on the road. Nix looked a little nervous early on and missed several wide-open receivers, but he was able to settle in and lead the Broncos to 30-plus points for the second time in the last three weeks. Denver's lockdown defense played a big role in that, but the 24-year-old first-rounder showed more progress and now has avoided turnovers in four of his last five games. There will continue to be ups and downs as Nix navigates his rookie season in the NFL, while his rushing ability is the strongest part of his game currently. Heading into a favorable Week 8 matchup against the Panthers, Nix will be a low-end QB2 with upside in fantasy.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) was a non-participant in practice on Thursday. The 27-year-old is in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which could clear the way for Ricky Pearsall to operate as the Niners' No. 3 wide receiver in his potential NFL debut. Jennings has come back down to earth ever since his absurd showing in Week 3; since then, he's averaging 2.3 catches and 42.7 receiving yards without finding the end zone. Friday's injury report will provide some additional clarity on Jennings' status for this weekend against Kansas City.

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Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) is set to return in Week 7 against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday after more than 13 months away and two surgeries to fix his ACL, MCL and more in his left knee. Chubb said he feels "good" and is "ready to be back to help this team however I can" after being one of the league's best RBs since he entered the NFL in 2018. He ranks behind only Jamaal Charles in highest career average per rush for RBs, but head coach Kevin Stefanski cautioned there isn't an exact snap or touch total that the team has in mind for Chubb's return. The 28-year-old thus won't be in line to see 20-plus touches in his season debut, making him a pretty volatile and low-upside RB3/flex this weekend. Chubb's return from the PUP list essentially makes Jerome Ford (hamstring) unplayable in starting fantasy lineups.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Ladd McConkey (hip), DJ Chark (groin) and Simi Fehoko (groin, shoulder) were all limited in practice on Thursday. In addition, Quentin Johnston (ankle) was a DNP, so LA's receiving corps is pretty banged up heading into a Monday night matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. Chark returned to practice this week for the first time since landing on Injured Reserve before the season opener, but it's unclear if he'll be activated this weekend in order to make his 2024 debut against the Cardinals. Whenever the 28-year-old does return, he'll merely be fighting for targets behind Johnston, McConkey and Joshua Palmer. The rookie McConkey has been quarterback Justin Herbert's favorite target and has 19 catches for 219 yards and two TDs in his first five NFL games. If he's active, fantasy managers should treat him as a WR3/flex against the Cardinals.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle) was held out of the team's first practice of the week on Thursday due to an ankle injury that he suffered in the Week 6 win over the division-rival Denver Broncos. The Chargers wideout corps is pretty banged up heading into a Monday night tilt this week against the Arizona Cardinals, with rookie Ladd McConkey (hip) and Simi Fehoko (groin, shoulder) also on the Week 7 injury report. The 23-year-old Johnston should be considered questionable for now, although he has two more days to get back on the practice field. Johnston was a waiver-wire pickup after scoring three touchdowns in Weeks 2 and 3, but since then, he's caught only four passes for 31 yards in two contests. If he's active against Arizona, he'll be a touchdown-dependent WR5/flex in a run-first offense.

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