The Indianapolis Colts have named veteran quarterback Joe Flacco the starter for the Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. This move comes after the continuous struggles of second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson despite the belief that he would take time to develop as a raw prospect out of the 2023 draft class. Through Richardson's first 10 starts, he has compiled a 5-5 record while completing just 50.2% of his passes for 1,535 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Flacco led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs in 2023 and has the chance to do the same for Indy in 2024. Flacco has appeared in four games this season, throwing for 716 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. He is now a must-add fantasy option in two-QB and Superflex leagues. His return to the starting lineup should provide a boost for wideouts Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr.

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The Cleveland Browns are releasing running back Gary Brightwell from the practice squad on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The 2021 sixth-round pick out of Arizona spent the first three seasons of his career with the New York Giants before joining Cleveland's roster this year. He played in two games in 2024 but did not log a carry or reception. Overall, the 26-year-old has rushed 41 times for 164 yards and one touchdown in 37 career games.

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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.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington will enter the team's starting lineup following the season-ending collarbone injury suffered by Christian Kirk. Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) are also dealing with minor injuries, so Washington should have the opportunity to earn targets moving forward. Washington, a 2023 sixth-round pick out of Penn State, caught 16 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season. As a depth wideout this year, he's been limited to six receptions for 67 yards. However, he reportedly had a strong training camp. The 22-year-old is not likely to be a significant factor in fantasy football leagues of 12 teams or fewer, but managers in leagues of 14+ teams could take the flier on him on the waiver wire.

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The Indianapolis Colts will roll with veteran Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback on Sunday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings following the early-career struggles of Anthony Richardson. Richardson has started in just 10 games since being selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, completing 50.2% of his passes for 1,535 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He's racked up 378 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The Colts are moving him to the bench, but that does not mean his time in Indianapolis is nearing an end. ESPN Colts writer Stephen Holder reporters a team source told him, "We are not quitting on Anthony. That will be the story, but that is not the case." Either way, this is somewhat of a surprising development since most viewed Richardson as a long-term project due to his lack of experience in college and the NFL. Fantasy managers might consider dropping Richardson in redraft leagues, but he remains a hold in dynasty formats.

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The Carolina Panthers are trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The former Pittsburgh Steeler is heading back to the AFC North. Johnson has been rumored to be on the trade block as Carolina is in the middle of the lost season, and he now joins a Ravens' squad that is firmly in Super Bowl contention. The 28-year-old has hauled in 30 of his 58 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns this season, though his best games have come with Andy Dalton at the helm. Johnson's fantasy ceiling likely takes a hit in the Baltimore offense that features a run-heavy attack. His presence could also negatively affect Zay Flowers, and it will surely hurt the fantasy outlook of Rashod Bateman. The biggest fantasy football winner here is quarterback Lamar Jackson.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (toe) is playing through a toe injury, but the rookie said he does not expect the ailment to limit his playing time. The fourth-round pick out of Oregon has handled at least 10 touches in seven of his eight games this season, and he caught a career-high seven passes in the Week 8 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Although he's not a must-start stud in a shared backfield with Rachaad White, he has provided solid value for fantasy managers considering his late-round cost in preseason drafts. However, he is set the face a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has surrendered the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season, so his ceiling and floor could be limited in Week 9. Expect him to be a fixture on the injury report, but it sounds like he's not at risk of missing time.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Sunday's win over the Indianapolis Colts. The veteran wide receiver went down with a non-contact injury while running a route. Unfortunately, many fantasy players knew Diggs' season was likely over after seeing him go down. The Texans' wide receiver core has gone from an elite unit to average, at best, until Nico Collins (hamstring) returns in a few weeks. In the meantime, Tank Dell will operate as the No. 1 wide receiver, with John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson, and Robert Woods also earning targets. Fantasy players with C.J. Stroud on their roster should explore replacement options on the waiver wire until Collins is back in the lineup.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has been benched, with Joe Flacco taking over as the starter. The veteran quarterback will start Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings, his fourth this season. Richardson has struggled this season, completing only 44.4% of his pass attempts in six games. Many wonder if the team is giving up on the former No. 4 overall pick too quickly. However, fantasy players welcome the change at quarterback. Flacco has been significantly better for the Colts' pass catchers, especially Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. Flacco is a must-add off the waiver wire in single-quarterback and superflex leagues. Meanwhile, Pittman and Downs have WR2 upside with the veteran under center. a

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Per Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson, wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) "should be fine" for Sunday's road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 25-year-old wideout exited Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter after picking up a shoulder injury, and although he was deemed questionable, he did not return to the contest. Jacksonville was down three WRs in this one, with Brian Thomas Jr. (chest) and Christian Kirk (collarbone) also forced from the matchup early. Unfortunately, Kirk is done for the season after undergoing surgery on his clavicle. However, Davis and Thomas Jr. appear to be in no danger of missing the team's Week 9 road matchup. With Kirk out, the former Buffalo Bill figures to see an uptick in usage.

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New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll confirmed quarterback Daniel Jones will remain the team's starter moving forward. Dan Duggan of The Athletic reported the news. Jones had another rough go in the team's 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, falling to 2-6 as a starter in 2024. It was the fifth outing this season that he failed to notch a touchdown pass, and the Giants now sit at the bottom of the NFC East's standings. The team has scored 117 total points through eight weeks of action, by far the fewest of their divisional opponents (no other NFC East squad has less than 150[Dallas]). Still, despite his lackluster performance thus far, Daboll stays true to his sixth-year QB. The former Duke Blue Devil will get an easier matchup in Week 9 when the team hosts the visiting Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium.

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New York Giants running back Devin Singletary handled two carries for 11 yards in the team's 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. He added 12 yards on 2-of-3 receiving. Singletary was the clear second option for New York in this one, as rookie RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. has evidently seized control of the backfield. Tracy racked up 145 yards and a touchdown on his 20 carries, matching Singletary's reception and target total in what was an official changing of the guard for the Giants. Both backs looked good against one of the league's top defensive units, averaging more than 5.0 YPC a piece. Still, while the snap counts were closer than the box score indicates -- 41-to-28 in favor of the rookie -- Singletary's usage was way down on a per-play basis in comparison. With a home matchup against the Washington Commanders on tap in Week 9, the 27-year-old is nothing more than a handcuff -- unlikely to garner standalone value with Tracy leading the way.

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Per Joe Person of The Athletic, it's only a matter of time before the Carolina Panthers trade wide receiver Diontae Johnson (rib). The 28-year-old is the most vied wideout on the market right now, and it appears he'll be shipped off to a contender before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. At this point, his most likely destinations are San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Washington, or "an AFC contender such as Los Angeles (Chargers) or Houston." It's an exciting development, as a move would instantly boost Johnson's fantasy value. With the deadline a week away, expect this situation to escalate quickly. We've already seen a few wideouts change hands over the last few weeks, and with the Panthers reeling at 1-7 -- the long-time Pittsburgh Steeler should be the next on the move. Fantasy managers who have held onto him may be handsomely rewarded in short order.

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Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's running ability has been frowned upon to a degree as owner Jerry Jones doesn't want him to run as much in order to remain healthy.

Fantasy Spin: Prescott is just the QB17 after finishing as the QB3 last season. He can still turn it around, and he had a 55-242-2 line on the ground. So that's not a huge factor, he just needs to improve upon the 10 TDs in seven games. View him as a mid-to-low-end QB1 for now.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (ankle) said the best-case scenario would be returning sometime during the playoffs.

Fantasy Spin: Godwin's fantasy season is over, and Bucs receivers outside of TE Cade Otton struggled last week. Otton is a top-five TE right now, and Sterling Shepard and Jalen McMillan look to be inconsistent flex options.

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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton led the team in receiving yards during Monday night's 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, hauling in four catches for 108 yards on seven targets. Slayton showcased his big-play ability with an impressive 27-yard average per reception, including a 43-yard grab highlighting his field-stretching role in the offense. Despite the high yardage, he could not reach the end zone, limiting his fantasy ceiling in a touchdown-free outing for the Giants. With 12.8 fantasy points, Slayton's deep-threat potential remains valuable in deeper leagues.

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New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson made a modest impact in Monday night's 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, hauling in all five of his targets for 30 yards. Robinson averaged just six yards per reception with a long of eight, finishing third on the team in targets and fourth in receiving yards. Despite the limited yardage, Robinson's efficiencycatching all of his targetsdemonstrates his reliability as a short-yardage option for the Giants. His 5.5 fantasy points underscore his role as a secondary piece in the passing game, though his consistent involvement hints at potential value in deeper PPR leagues.

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New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph was the team's top scorer in Monday night's 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, nailing all four field goal attempts to keep the Giants within reach. Joseph was perfect on the night, hitting from distances that included a long of 48 yards and finished with a 100% field goal accuracy. With no extra-point attempts needed as the Giants failed to score a touchdown, Joseph's leg accounted for all of the team's points, making him a standout fantasy performer with 14 points. His consistent reliability and range make him a strong option for fantasy managers, particularly given the Giants' offensive struggles to find the end zone.

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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers was heavily involved in Monday night's 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading the team with 13 targets and catching seven passes for 71 yards. Nabers finished with the second-most receiving yards on the Giants, trailing only Darius Slayton's 108, and posted a 10.1-yard average per reception with a long of 16. He was tantalizingly close to an even bigger night, nearly connecting on a few deep balls, dropping a couple of passes, and narrowly missing a touchdown after failing to get his second foot down in the end zone. Despite not scoring, Nabers' 10.6 fantasy points reflect his high volume in the Giants' offense, making him a must-start every week.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had a disappointing showing in Monday's 26-18 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, finishing with 264 passing yards and no touchdowns. Jones completed 24 of his 38 attempts, averaging 6.9 yards per throw, but was pressured heavily, taking four sacks that disrupted the Giants' offensive rhythm. His ground game offered little relief, as he managed just one rushing yard, leaving him with only 7.66 fantasy points on the night. With a final shot to tie the game, Jones threw a game-ending interception with 34 seconds remaining, leaving the Giants and his fantasy managers frustrated as he heads into a must-bounce-back matchup in Week 9 against Washington.

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