Rich Hribar’s Week 8 Worksheet pits the Indianapolis Colts against the Jacksonville Jaguars, highlighting a -7.5 spread and a 27.0 implied total. The Jaguars dominate the first half (+42 point differential) and lead the league in points‑off‑turnover (+31), while the Colts sit last in turnover margin (-9). Quarterback match‑up favors Trevor Lawrence, who posts a league‑high 7.6% TD rate and excels in play‑action, whereas Daniel Jones ranks near the bottom in passing efficiency. Both teams show contrasting success rates on rush and pass plays, making the Jaguars’ strong defense and the Colts’ road‑loss streak key factors for fantasy owners.
The Colts’ defensive staff announced that LB CJ Allen, slated to start at middle linebacker in Week 7, suffered an ankle injury in Thursday practice, leaving Akeem Davis‑Gaither to fill the outside spot. Meanwhile, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen reaffirmed his confidence in defensive star Travis Hunter, saying the team will stick with its current game plan and rely on Hunter’s impact despite limited snaps. Coen also praised WR Brian Thomas Jr., insisting the junior receiver can still make plays and will be positioned for success this week.
Seven weeks into the 2026 season, rookie offensive lineman Walter Rouse is finding his footing after a whirlwind trade from the Vikings to the New England Patriots. The 6‑foot‑6, 322‑pound former Oklahoma tackle, a sixth‑round pick in 2024, has already stepped in as a right guard in Week 3 against Jacksonville, filled in at left guard versus the Jets in Week 6, and earned his first start against the Bears. With starters Greg Van Roten, Mike Onwenu and Alijah Vera‑Tucker on IR, Rouse could see significant snaps against Miami this Sunday. He says he’s becoming more comfortable at guard and is embracing a "next‑man‑up" mentality, preparing as if he were a starter.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sit atop the AFC South with a two‑game lead and an 86.9% chance to win the division, according to ESPN’s FPI. Despite losing OT lineman Anton Harrison to season‑ending IR, the team remains healthy and ranks fifth league‑wide in playoff (92.1%), conference championship (32.5%) and Super Bowl odds (8.4%). With the Nov. 10 trade deadline looming, the SB Nation Reacts survey asks fans which position group—and which specific players—Jaguars should target to push from contender to champion. The poll also gauges confidence heading into the upcoming Colts matchup.
Seven weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs remain desperate for a wide receiver as injuries pile up on Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton. Tyreek Hill, still rehabbing a dislocated knee and ligament tears from 2024, is in the final stage of recovery, and his agent Drew Rosenhaus says multiple teams are watching his progress. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes the Chiefs are still calling around for a WR, with Jacksonville Jaguars' Brian Thomas emerging as a possible trade target, though options to significantly upgrade the position are scarce. A Hill‑Chiefs reunion could still happen before the November trade deadline if other deals fall through.
The Steelers are reportedly eyeing Los Angeles Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey as a potential trade target, according to Jason La Canfora. McConkey’s production has dipped—13 catches in five games this season and 66 receptions in 2025 after a standout rookie year—while the Chargers sit 0-6, making a trade plausible before the deadline. His versatility across the perimeter, slot, and inline could give Pittsburgh a 1,000‑yard receiving option and complement its offense, joining other rumored moves for Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora predicts the Steelers will be active at the trade deadline, looking to add another playmaker after acquiring DK Metcalf. A scout flags Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey—who posted 13 catches for 200 yards and a TD in a 0‑6 Chargers start—or Jaguars rookie Brian Thomas Jr., a 2024 Pro Bowler now down to nine catches for 105 yards this season, as potential targets. Both could bolster Pittsburgh’s offense amid coach Mike Tomlin’s push for deeper playoff runs.
The Los Angeles Rams could need to part with a Day‑2 draft pick to land former first‑round wideout Brian Thomas Jr., who the Jacksonville Jaguars might trade if they move on from the 2024 No. 23 pick. Thomas offers the speed to boost a receiving corps already featuring Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but his price mirrors the recent Marvin Harrison Jr. deal (2027 2nd‑round and 7th‑round picks). With the Rams now holding only four picks for 2027—a second, fourth, fifth and sixth—their draft capital is thin after the Myles Garrett trade, making any offer a high‑stakes gamble. A hypothetical trade would send the 2027 2nd‑rounder plus 2028 6th‑ and 7th‑rounders to Jacksonville in exchange for Thomas and a $2 million 2027 salary.
The latest NFL Week 8 power rankings from Blogging The Boys show the Dallas Cowboys climbing to #20 after their Monday night victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the Eagles’ struggles, the win nudges the Cowboys up from last week’s #24 spot. The rankings still favor the Buffalo Bills (#1) and San Francisco 49ers (#2), with the Detroit Lions surprising at #3. Notable moves include the Chicago Bears at #4, Jacksonville Jaguars #5, and a dip for the Kansas City Chiefs to #12. The list rounds out with the Los Angeles Chargers as the only winless team at #32.
Windy City Gridiron's Week 8 NFL Power Rankings spotlight quarterback play after Week 7. Josh Allen (Buffalo) leads an unbeaten 5-1 Bills, while Brock Purdy (San Francisco) remains an MVP contender despite recent wobbliness. Minnesota’s Kyler Murray earns a C‑ rating despite the Vikings’ perfect record, and Patrick Mahmares (Kansas City) impresses on his ACL comeback. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville) and Jared Goff (Detroit) receive A‑grade marks, with Goff’s 14‑0 TD‑to‑INT ratio highlighted as MVP‑worthy. Caleb Williams (Chicago) also earns an A as the Bears sit 5‑2. The rankings set the stage for the upcoming trade deadline and shifting playoff picture.
After the Chiefs’ first loss of the season, GM Brett Veach faces a deadline to overhaul a beleaguered WR corps missing Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Kansas City is exploring trade options before the Nov. 10 deadline, targeting eight possible receivers. The list includes veteran DeVonta Smith (Eagles), 26‑year‑old Garrett Wilson (Jets), speedster Quentin Johnston (Chargers), and former first‑rounder Brian Thomas Jr. (Jaguars), each with varying draft pick packages on the table. The article breaks down each prospect’s production, contract status, and fit with Patrick Mahomes’ passing attack, highlighting the urgency to secure a top‑tier target.
Colts coach Shane Steichen says rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson’s recent marijuana possession charge won’t affect his playing status, despite the 24‑year‑old being on the bench this season. Richardson admitted smoking in his car after a traffic stop in Carmel, Indiana on Oct. 12 and faced a citation for expired registration and a marijuana summons. The team is handling the misdemeanor privately and declined his fifth‑year option, making him a free agent next year. With Indianapolis at 2‑5 and on a three‑game skid, they host the Jaguars Sunday.
Week 7 AFC report cards reveal a mixed bag: the Broncos (A) dominate the Cardinals, while the Chiefs slip to D+ after a Seattle loss. The Bengals earn an A+ with a comeback win over the Ravens, who fall to D+. The Patriots sit at B‑, the Jets at C‑, and the Dolphins secure an A after beating New York. In the AFC South, the Titans earn B‑, the Colts D+, and the Texans C+. Bye weeks give the Bills, Chargers and Jaguars a reset. Grades highlight surprise victories and disappointing defeats across the conference.
In a Week 7 staff roundtable, Big Cat Country analysts dissect the Jaguars’ recent 4-2 run and warn that defensive lapses—especially a faltering pass rush and secondary health—could haunt close games. While Travis Hunter shines with a rare 1‑TD/1‑INT performance, the panel stresses that one player can’t shoulder the load and calls for the return of edge rusher BJ Green to spark the defense. They also point to sloppy play, penalties, and red‑zone inefficiency as areas needing tightening after the bye. The discussion previews how the Jags might tighten up for a playoff push.
The Baltimore Ravens add 10-year veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins to their practice squad, boosting a secondary thinned by Jaylinn Hawkins' knee injury. Jenkins, 32, most recently appeared in the Steelers' first six games before being released, and has a decade of experience with the Chargers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Browns and Steelers. He brings depth to both safety rotation and special teams, and could see snaps if the Ravens' young safeties struggle. A former fourth‑round pick who posted five interceptions and 84 tackles in 2020, Jenkins joins a defense under coordinator Jesse Minter.
The AFC roundup covers several key updates: Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr. defends himself amid a marijuana possession charge, while DT DeForest Buckner expresses frustration after the team falls to 2-5 in Week 7. Head coach Shane Steichen says QB Daniel Jones has earned the starter role and needs time to return to last year’s form. Jaguars coach Liam Coen remains confident in WR Brian Thomas Jr., expecting him to make plays soon. Titans head coach Robert Saleh highlights RB Michael Carter’s three‑down value for his pass protection and route running, notes RB Nicholas Singleton’s ongoing development, and confirms CB Alontae Taylor is being prepared for nickel duties.
The Kansas City Chiefs desperately need to get Patrick Mahomes some help in the WR room. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a perfect trade partner.
After a 35-13 loss to the Bengals that exposed Baltimore's secondary, the Ravens bolster safety depth by signing veteran Rayshawn Jenkins. The 32‑year‑old, a 2017 fourth‑round pick, has logged 145 games (93 starts) with the Chargers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Browns and most recently the Steelers, where he played six games before being released. Jenkins brings 578 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and four forced fumbles to a defense that allowed Joe Burrow 294 yards and four touchdowns. The move aims to add veteran leadership as Baltimore sits 4‑3 heading into Week 8.
Jaguars coach Liam Coen says wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will get a chance to contribute against the Indianapolis Colts after a quiet stretch that left him without a catch in the last two games. Thomas has 9 receptions for 105 yards and one TD in six games, far behind teammates Parker Washington (26 catches, 416 yards, 4 TDs) and Jakobi Meyers. Coen stresses putting Thomas in the right position and backs him publicly, though no roster change is announced. Jacksonville enters Week 8 at 4-2, while fantasy owners are advised to bench Thomas in most PPR lineups unless his snap count rises.
The Jacksonville Jaguars may trade first‑round WR Brian Thomas Jr., and the Los Angeles Rams appear poised to win the bidding war over the San Francisco 49ers. Rams GM ties to former Jaguars scout James Gladstone give them a front‑office edge, while the 49ers have returning receivers and established targets like Mike Evans and George Kittle. Crucially, Los Angeles can likely offer a higher draft package—projected 14th overall and a No. 45 second‑round pick versus the 49ers’ No. 62 second‑rounder—making the trade more attractive to Jacksonville.
The Chiefs are reportedly looking around for a wide receiver ahead of the trade deadline.
The Pro Football Focus mock draft shows the Jacksonville Jaguars rebuilding in 2027 after a 4‑2 start and a 34‑31 loss to the Texans. In the first round (pick 28) they target LSU safety Ty Benefield to boost a secondary that needs depth. The second round (pick 60) sees edge rusher Clev Lubin from Louisville, praised for motor and pass‑rush moves despite size concerns. In round three (pick 92) Indiana wideout Charlie Becker, a 6‑foot‑4, elite‑speed target, could add a new weapon to Jacksonville’s offense. The fourth round includes Georgia tight end Lawson Luckie (pick 126), a speedy but undersized option, and Florida State running back Quintrevion Wisner (pick 136), a former SEC thousand‑yard rusher returning from a hamstring setback. These picks aim to address the Jaguars’ secondary, pass rush, receiver depth, tight‑end versatility, and backfield talent.
The NFL is reportedly "furious" with the Philadelphia Eagles over their handling of quarterback Jalen Hurts' blood‑clot saga. Hurts played in the London Eagles‑Jaguars game on Oct. 12 despite a superficial clot diagnosis, then was later found with deep‑vein thrombosis and lung clots, likely ending his season. The league and NFLPA have launched a joint investigation, but the Eagles have offered only brief comments from coach Nick Sirianni, refusing to speak with medical staff or executives. NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills defended the team's protocols, yet the lack of transparency fuels league frustration.
Six weeks into the 2026 season, Jacksonville Jaguars GM James Gladstone’s draft class is already reshaping the team. Tight end Nate Boerkircher, once derided, has become a key blocker in multi‑TE packages that fuel the league‑leading 0.205 EPA per play. Guard Emmanuel Pregnon earned a starting role and proves a steal despite six penalties, while sixth‑round wideout Josh Cameron outscores veteran Brian Thomas Jr. with 117 yards, a touchdown and solid special‑team contributions (27.2‑yard kick returns, five tackles). Run‑stopper Albert Regis and big‑slot player Tanner Koziol add versatility, though both have limited snaps. The only real blemishes are third‑round safety Jalen Huskey and edge rusher Wesley Williams, who have seen virtually no action, marking the only doubts on Gladstone’s otherwise impressive rookie rollout.
Who Should I Drop? Who Should I Keep? Some of the most common Week 8 fantasy football cut candidates include […]