Inactive Fantasy Football Week 8: Who's in and who's out?

Who should you start with? Who should you sit on? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid using an offensive player who won't be in the lineup, we'll be posting fantasy-related updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactive lists . All rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff.

Official inactive players on Sunday should arrive approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: approximately 11:30 a.m. ET for early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for late afternoon games.

Update regularly to get the latest information.

4 p.m. ET games

Curtis Samuel, WR, BUF: Breast — OUT OF
Impact: He's targeting a Week 9 return, but he has even less value now that Amari Cooper is in town.

Andy Dalton, QB, CAR: Thumb — Inactive
Impact: Bryce Young will start while Dalton recovers from Tuesday's car accident.

Jonathan Brooks, RB, CAR: Knee — OUT OF
Impact: Chuba Hubbard becomes the Panthers' captain for at least another week.

Tommy Tremble, TE, CAR: Back — Active
Impact: Ja'Tavion Sanders (groin/wrist) was also limited in practice all week. Either TE could still start in the end.

Diontae Johnson, WR, CAR: ribs – OUT OF
Impact: He will remain seated despite claiming to be ready. Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo start.

Adam Thielen, WR, CAR: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: Still not ready to return from IR; We could see if David Moore or Jalen Coker turned heads.

Travis Homer, RB, CHI: fingers — Active
Impact: Fresh off IR, he gets to spell D'Andre Swift. Khalil Herbert sits.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: At least he's not on IR. DeAndre Hopkins just arrived in town and will compete alongside Xavier Worthy.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, KC: Team decision – Inactive
Impact: It looks like he might need some more time before making his debut in 2024.

Will Dissly, TE, LAC: shoulder — Active
Impact: He caught eight passes last week with Hurst out. He was scheduled for the game but will pass.

Hayden Hurst, TE, LAC: groin area – Inactive
Impact: With Hurst out and Dissly injured, Eric Tomlinson could be a sleeper TE.

DJ Chark Jr., WR, LAC: groin area – Inactive
Impact: He was on IR at the start of the week and wasn't activated in time to play – and his team could have used him.

Derius Davis, WR, LAC: Hamstring – Inactive
Impact: Either Brenden Rice or Simi Fehoko could end up in the huddle for a few snaps by default.

Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC: Ankle — Inactive
Impact: It looks like Joshua Palmer is the only Chargers outside hitter who can be counted on to start. Jaylen Johnson and Jalen Reagor were both removed from the practice squad.

Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC: Hip — Active
Impact: He will compete (perhaps just out of necessity), even though he missed two practices last week and saw little action on Friday.

Aidan O'Connell, QB, LV: Thumb — OUT/IR
Impact: Gardner Minshew, whose mustache was usually more impressive than his stat line, will start at quarterback again.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, LV: Ankle — Active
Impact: He will play for the first time in several weeks. He may be “on a pitch count.”

Derek Carr, QB, NO: Oblique – Inactive
Impact: Spencer Rattler will get another start as Carr tries to get back into throwing shape.

Cedrick Wilson Jr., WR, NO: Hip — OUT OF
Impact: Chris Olave, on the other hand, will return this week after sitting out due to a concussion.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, NO: Team decision — Inactive
Impact: The receiver just signed earlier this week and needs more time to familiarize himself with the playbook.

DK Metcalf, WR, SEA: Knee — Inactive
Impact: Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba take care of all your pass-catching needs.

Jayden Daniels, QB, WAR: ribs – Active
Impact: Marcus Mariota will grab the clipboard and hopefully won't have to put it down.

Game on Sunday evening

John Stephens Jr., TE, DAL: Knee — OUT/IR
Impact: His season is over. The vacated roster spot helped make room for RB Dalvin Cook, who was called up from the practice squad.

Jake Moody, K, SF: Ankle — OUT OF
Impact: Anders Carlson steps in again, even after missing an extra point last week.

Jauan Jennings, WR, SF: Hip — OUT OF
Impact: With Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk (on IR with torn ACL) out, Ricky Pearsall could be tasked with the starting role.

Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, SF: illness — Questionable
Impact: Jacob Cowing and Chris Conley could also see some targets as Samuel is battling pneumonia, although he is currently expected to play.

George Kittle, TE, SF: Foot — Questionable
Impact: Especially given the WR issues, it's safe to assume Kittle will survive the injury.

Play at 1 p.m. ET

Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL: Knee — OUT OF
Impact: His 21-day return window is now open. Once he returns, he could replace Justice Hill as the No. 2 RB option.

Rasheen Ali, RB, BAL: Ankle — OUT OF
Impact: Given the above news, once Ali returns, he will only be allowed to play on special teams.

Zay Flowers, WR, BAL: Ankle — Active
Impact: Looks like he's trying to play, but don't be surprised if Rashod Bateman is more effective.

Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: quad — Inactive
Impact: His late inclusion on the injury report on Friday didn't bode well. Andrei Iosivas gets a slight bump in fantasy value.

Jerome Ford, RB, CLE: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: Nick Chubb is cast by Pierre Strong Jr.

Deshaun Watson, QB, CLE: Achilles — OUT/IR
Impact: Jameis Winston will get a chance to hold off Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) for the starting lineup.

Jameson Williams, WR, DET: suspension
Impact: He will be missing this week and next. Caliph Raymond and Tim Patrick receive value increases.

Travis Etienne Jr., RB, JAX: Hamstring – Inactive
Impact: Tank Bigsby and D'Ernest Johnson are asked to step up again.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA: concussion — Active
Impact: He has cleared the league's concussion protocol and will rejoin the fold on Sunday. Tyler Huntley (shoulder) takes his place on IR.

Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA: Foot — Active
Impact: Jaylen Waddle could be the No. 1 WR option for Tua's return if Hill isn't at 100%.

Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, NE: concussion — OUT OF
Impact: He remains in the league's concussion protocol. Kayshon Boutte is currently the “safest” Patriots receiver.

Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ: Breast — Inactive
Impact: Even if he had played, the Jets wouldn't have made sure Davante Adams didn't throw to him as much as possible.

Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: Grant Calcaterra receives the call in his place.

Bucky Irving, RB, TB: toe — Active
Impact: He was always expected to play, but Sean Tucker is lurking.

Mike Evans, WR, TB: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: Chris Godwin (ankle/IR) is done for the season. Evans could be back in Week 12 if all goes well.

Rakim Jarrett, WR, TB: Knee — Active
Impact: He was activated from IR this week as the Bucs look to replenish a depleted WR room.

Will Levis, QB, TEN: shoulder — Inactive
Impact: Mason Rudolph took the most reps with the first team this week, so this is no surprise.

Tyjae Spears, RB, TEN: Hamstring – OUT OF
Impact: Tony Pollard should get most of the carries, with the remaining touchdowns going to Julius Chestnut.