The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 8: Last-minute moves

Oct. 31—UPDATE: 10:44 p.m. Sunday

Some big news off the early inactives list. Atlanta wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been ruled out today because of a "personal matter." That elevates the value of Russell Gage and rookie tight end Kyle Pitts in today's matchup against Carolina.

Also out today is Detroit RB Jamaal Williams, which means D'Andre Swift will get a full workload as the Lions seek, and we're guessing get, their first victory of the season.

Pittsburgh TE Eric Ebron, Cleveland WR Donovan Peoples-Jones and Jets WR Corey Davis have been ruled out. And Dallas WR Michael Gallup, who had been eligible to return after a stint on injured reserve, will not be activated for tonight's game against the Vikings.

UPDATE: 9:53 p.m. Sunday

We got up a wee bit early today, hoping to get some definitive word on the status of Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. And what do you know? Nothing. Silence so far from Cowboys camp. So we wait, knowing we have the Giants' Daniel Jones in reserve as our Quarterback Emergency Plan.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler made the ultimate move to prove his viability for Week 8. He announced that he was starting himself in his fantasy league. So that seems pretty reliable.

It's looking optimistic today for the following questionables: Seattle RB Alex Collins, Tampa Bay tight end Rob Gronkowski, and three receivers: Indy's T.Y Hilton, Miami's Devante Parker and Cleveland's Odell Beckham Jr.

We'll be back in an hour or so when the early inactives are posted. Who knows? Maybe we'll hear something out of Jerryworld in the meantime ...

UPDATE: 12:28 p.m. Saturday

This big fantasy question today dealing with Sunday night's big Vikings-Cowboys game, and the availability of Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.

Prescott injured his calf on the game-winning pass to CeeDee Lamb two weeks ago in New England, and he had been expected to mend up nicely during the Cowboys' bye week. But he reportedly was sore after Thursday's practice, and coach Mike McCarthy was decidedly less than optimistic about No. 4 starting this week.

ESPN is reporting today that the Dallas quarterback will be a game-time decision, which will be about seven hours after fantasy mavens have to set their lineups.

While Prescott has been huge for the Cowboys this season, he also has been huge for The Loop's fantasy squad. Since our backup QB is on bye this week (Raiders QB Derek Carr), this created a Fantasy Crisis for yours truly.

What to do? We looked at the schedule and found a Monday night quarterback still available on waivers that we could start in emergency, even while holding our nose: the New York Giants' Daniel Jones.

The former Duke standout has hardly been Pro Bowl material since coming to Jersey, but he has a great matchup against a porous Kansas City defense. So we can insert him into our lineup late Sunday afternoon if the Dakota guys is scratched. We recommend all Prescott backers do the same.

There have been more than a handful of standouts ruled out over the past couple of days. The Giants have ruled out RB Saquon Barkley and WR Kenny Golloday. Also out are Jets RB Tevin Coleman, Titans wideout Julio Jones and two Washington receivers: Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown.

The news is better out of Cleveland, as both RB Nick Chubb and QB Baker Mayfield have been cleared to play against Pittsburgh. So forget about using D'Ernest Johnson or Case Keenum.

The list of questionables for now includes Chargers RB Austin Ekeler and six pass catchers: Cleveland's Odell Beckham Jr., the Jets' Corey Davis, Miami's Devante Parker, the Giants' Sterling Shepherd and Kadarius Toney, and Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith.

And one final note from Thursday night's epic Packers-Cardinals game. Green Bay tight end Robert Tonyan blew out his knee and is done for the season. So you might as well drop him now, if you can, instead of waiting for next week's waiver period.

ORIGINAL POST: 8:58 a.m. Wednesday

The NFL's bigger-than-ever 17-game schedule reaches its midpoint next week, and it's already obvious that having a high draft position this summer was no gift.

Some of fantasy football's biggest stars, such as Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Saquon Barkley and George Kittle, have been rendered almost irrelevant because of injuries. And fantasy mavens who took them with top picks, as the "experts" advised, were reminded once again that you can't believe everything you read on the Internets.

But even more painful has been watching formerly standout players make it onto the gridiron, where they have underperformed.

As we begin Week 8, here are the guys that, considering their draft rankings, have been among the biggest disappointments:

Stefon Diggs (Bills WR) — Our old Vikings favorite was the second-ranked receiver in the preseason polls. But despite Buffalo's strong start, Diggs has topped 100 yards only once, and he has but two touchdowns on the season. He could use another Minnesota Miracle.

Alvin Kamara (Saints RB) — Sure, he had a Kamara-esque game Monday night in Seattle with 30 touches for 179 yards and a touchdown. But the consensus top-three pick had only four scores coming into the game. Decent numbers, but nothing like the Titans' Derrick Henry, who was ranked below him.

Miles Sanders (Eagles RB) — Philly's No. 1 back was taken in the second round of most drafts, and all of those pickers are stewing. Sanders has yet to score a touchdown this season and has touched the ball only 82 times. And he's injured. Other than that, he's been just swell.

Myles Gaskin (Dolphins RB) — The other Myles was a third-round pick and has been almost as underwhelming as his almost-namesake. He had his best game Sunday against Atlanta with 77 total yards and a TD. But he did almost nothing before that for the disappointing Dolphins.

Calvin Ridley (Falcons WR) — Julio Jones' successor as Atlanta's No. 1 came into the season as the fourth-ranked wideout. But he's only made it into five games so far, hasn't topped 80 yards in any games and has but two touchdowns on the season. Much more was expected.

Keenan Allen (Chargers WR) — Speaking of disappointing, the Chargers' top receiver has posted decent numbers, 39 catches for 419 yards, but he has caught only one TD pass from the precocious Justin Herbert. Not what anyone expected with their third-round choice.

Robert Tonyan (Packers TE) — We told you last year's Green Bay surprise would not repeat his 11-touchdown showing. But come on! Just 15 catches and rwo touchdowns through the first seven games. Things might get busier for him, now that so many of his Packers teammates are sidelined.

Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars QB) — No one was expecting Patrick Mahomes-level numbers from the No. 1 draft pick in Jacksonville. But they also weren't expecting him to be among the league's lowest-ranked passers, averaging just over one TD and 200 yds per game. His Clemson glory days seem far, far away.

SITTING STARS

The most spectacular defensive rookie this season, by far, is Stefon's brother Trevon Diggs. That's not going to help the Vikings' Justin Jefferson on Sunday night. ... New Orleans QB Jameis Winston might be a bye week replacement option, but not this week against the Buccaneers. ... Same goes for the rapidly aging Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cleveland. ... Washington RB Antonio Gibson will again be limited this week against Denver. ... And there are no New York Jets you should consider vs. the Bengals and only one Houston Texan (WR Brandin Cooks) against the Rams.

MATCHUP GAME

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he feels good about QB Dak Prescott starting vs. the Vikings, and that's good enough for us. ... Cincinnati's dynamic duo of Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase will run up the score on the Jets. ... Giants QB Daniel Jones will be the latest to take advantage of the Chiefs' defense. ... Rams RB Darrell Henderson will rebound from a down week to run through Houston. ... If he gets another start, get Cleveland RB D'Ernest Johnson into the lineup against Pittsburgh. ... Atlanta's top running back now IS former Vikings receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, and he'll have another strong effort against Carolina. ... And the Bills should rout the Dolphins again, and among the beneficiaries of that mismatch will be Buffalo WR Cole Beasley.

INJURY WATCH

With Davante Adams and Allen Lazard on the COVID list, the Packers will be turning a lot to Aaron Rodgers' favorite, Randall Cobb, and maybe even a returning Marquez Valdes-Scantling. ... In Cleveland, RB Nick Chubb may be back, but QB Baker Mayfield could be watching Case Keenum again for another week. ... New Orleans star receiver Michael Thomas had been expected back by this week, but he won't be. ... Denver WR Jerry Jeudy, however, will be a welcome returnee for the Broncos. ... A long list of questionable players for this week includes the following pass catchers: Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith, Washington's Dyami Brown and Curtis Samuel, Indy's T.Y. Hilton, Miami's Devante Parker. Tampa Bay TE Rob Gronkowski and wideout Antonio Brown, Giants receivers Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay, Cleveland's Jarvis Landry and Carolina's Terrace Marshall.

THE DEEPEST SLEEPERS

Miles Sanders' injury means he'll be even more invisible to Philadelphia fans this week. So the running chores will fall to Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott. That is the order in which desperate teams should consider claiming them for the Eagles' matchup against winless Detroit. After Sanders went down against Las Vegas, Gainwell had nine touches for 61 yards and a touchdown, and Scott had eight touches for 29 yards and a TD. Scott has the more substantial history, scoring five TDs in 2019, but only three since.

THE THURSDAY PICK

Packers at Cardinals (-5 1/2 ):

Pick: Cardinals by 7

BREAKING NEWS

We'll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday's kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere's "BS Show" podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.