NFL Player News

Johnston had five receptions on six targets for 50 yards in Sunday's 30-13 win over the Bears.

Johnston set new highs in receptions, yards and targets, in large part because No. 2 wideout Joshua Palmer aggravated the knee injury he picked up in a loss to Kansas City in Week 7. Palmer was able to return after exiting in the first quarter and finished out the victory with no reported issues. That said, this is the second injury scare for Palmer within a week's time, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the him held out of practice this week for precautionary reasons. Johnston would receive a boost in value should he wind up starting opposite Keenan Allen next Monday against the Jets, and the rookie makes for a good insurance policy for those planning to play Palmer in Week 9.

Palmer (knee) temporarily exited Sunday's contest to have his right knee examined, only to return later and finish with three catches on four targets for 24 yards in a 30-13 win over the Bears.

Palmer appeared to have hurt the same knee that he injured in last week's loss to Kansas City. It was a positive sign that he returned and was able to finish the contest, but it is worth noting that two of Palmer's three receptions Sunday occurred before he went down in the first quarter. While no one would have questioned his toughness had he sat out the rest of the contest, it sounds like the receiver was playing at a limited capacity. Another piece of evidence in support of that theory was that No. 3 wideout Quentin Johnston (5-50-0) ended up having his most productive game of the season. The Chargers' first injury report of Week 9 should help clear up Palmer's status ahead of a Monday Night Football clash with the Jets.

Rice caught four of five targets for 56 yards in Sunday's 24-9 loss to Denver.

Rice finished second in receiving for the Chiefs behind Travis Kelce (6-58-0) in a rare game during which star quarterback Patrick Mahomes failed to throw a touchdown pass and turned the ball over three times. The rookie wideout is proving to be a reliable target with a 77 percent catch rate through eight weeks. Rice's production has gradually increased as he earns more of his quarterback's trust with each passing week, making him an upside play heading into a potential shootout against Miami in Germany next Sunday.

Slayton caught one of two targets for a one-yard loss in Sunday's Week 8 overtime loss to the Jets.

Starting QB Tyrod Taylor exited the contest with a rib cage injury in the second quarter and didn't return, resulting in the Giants turning to their ground attack almost exclusively for the remainder of the game. Though Slayton lost a yard on his lone catch, he was also the only Giants wide receiver to haul in a pass in the ugly offensive display -- in fact, Wan'Dale Robinson was the only other wideout to see a target for the G-Men, with running back Saquon Barkley leading the team with five targets and three catches that netted zero yards. Both Taylor and Daniel Jones (neck) are uncertain for a Week 9 game in Las Vegas, and if the Giants again need to turn to undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito under center, Slayton and the team's pass-catching corps as a whole could again struggle. Even if Taylor or Jones is able to play, Slayton doesn't inspire much confidence in fantasy given that he hasn't caught more than four passes or tallied more than 69 yards in any of his seven games so far this season and has yet to score a touchdown.

Allen had eight receptions on 10 targets for 69 yards in Sunday's 30-13 win over the Bears.

Allen recorded double-digit targets for the fourth time in seven starts this season. The 31-year-old is currently averaging 10.6 targets per game, which would set a new career high if maintained for the rest of the campaign. Allen may be forced to maintain this frenetic pace with the Chargers' No. 2 wideout Mike Williams (knee) done for the year as the team prepares to face the Jets next Monday.

Smith-Njigba recorded three receptions on four targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Browns.

Smith-Njigba was sporadically involved in the game, though he managed a 19-yard reception midway through the second quarter to set up Seattle's second touchdown of the game. He caught a touchdown of his own with 44 seconds remaining in the game, which turned out to be the winning score. Smith-Njigba has now found the end zone in consecutive games, though the return of DK Metcalf served to significantly limit his opportunities.

Moore had four receptions on six targets for 55 yards in Sunday's 30-13 loss to the Chargers.

Sunday Night Football featured teams with losing records in Week 8, but fans were treated to an individual battle between two of the league's top talents when Moore locked horns with Chargers lockdown corner Asante Samuel. Both players had their moments, with the end result being a solid receiving line for Chicago's young star. Moore hasn't been able to recapture the magic from his whopping three-touchdown game in Week 5, but his fantasy floor remains high heading into Week 9 after reaching 50 yards in three straight games.

Cooks recorded three receptions on four targets for 49 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 43-20 win over the Rams.

CeeDee Lamb dominated targets in the blowout win, leaving Cooks tied with Jake Ferguson for the second-highest mark on the team. Despite the limited volume, Cooks had a decent fantasy performance thanks to a 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. He now has a score in consecutive games, though his season-best yardage total is just the 49 he put up Sunday, and he has topped four targets only once this season.

Smith-Schuster brought in his only target for a three-yard touchdown in the Patriots' 31-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.

The veteran pass catcher returned from a two-game absence due to a concussion, but he was invisible except for his fourth-quarter scoring grab. Smith-Schuster could enjoy a larger role in a favorable Week 9 home matchup against the Commanders if DeVante Parker (head) and Kendrick Bourne (knee) are sidelined.

Douglas secured five of seven targets for 25 yards and rushed once for four yards in the Patriots' 31-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.

The rookie's catch and target totals were both team highs, with the former also qualifying as a new personal best in his young career. Douglas has flashed the type of skill set that would probably already see him thriving with a higher caliber of quarterback than Mac Jones, but he still retains plenty of upside based on his speed and apparently expanding role in the offense -- he's now drawn 13 targets over the last two contests heading into a Week 9 home matchup against a vulnerable Commanders secondary.