Matt BowenOct 24, 2025, 07:46 AM ETCloseMatt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on “NFL Matchup.” After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons.Follow on X
Why Falcons’ defense can deliver for fantasy managers (0:49)Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down the projections for the Falcons’ defense and he says fantasy managers can expect them to deliver. (0:49)
At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2025 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer up some late-week pickup options to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.
With six teams on a bye this week, the options are pretty slim, but there are enough quality players available to drop into deep-league lineups. We’ll start at quarterback, with two longtime veterans coming off big-time games. I’m also eyeing a couple tight ends who are providing double-digit fantasy production, and we’ll hit on multiple running backs and wide receivers, too. As always, I’ll give you a defense to stream this week, and this one can pressure the quarterback.
In deeper formats, managers can take a look at Spears in this week’s meeting with the Colts due to his receiving numbers. He has caught at least three passes in back-to-back games, with four targets in each, and he can operate underneath as an outlet for quarterback Cam Ward. Yes, I’d like to see Spears get more carries (five in each of his past two games), but you can plan for 8-10 touches in the lineup. And with six teams on a bye this week, you might have to take a flier on him.
Legette had career highs in last week’s victory over the Jets, catching nine of 11 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown (24.2 points). And while backup quarterback Andy Dalton will start this week for an injured Bryce Young (ankle), Legette still has upside as the Panthers’ No. 2 versus a zone-heavy Bills defense. Scheme open the windows and script the shot plays for Dalton.
The Bills’ defense hasn’t taken the ball away at a high rate this season (eight total turnovers forced). I’d like to see a higher number there. But this unit has a pressure rate of 38.9% (second highest in the league), and they have at least two sacks in five of six games played. With the amount of teams on a bye this week, taking a defense that faces a backup quarterback (Dalton) is better than expected.
Flacco has attempted at least 45 passes in each of his two starts, with 18 or more fantasy points in both. While a negative game script did play a role, we know this is a heavy passing offense in Cincy. Plus, Flacco plays with an aggressive throwing mentality, and he has upper-level pass catchers in Ja’Marr Chase (23 targets in Week 7) and Tee Higgins. Sure, Flacco tends to get loose with the ball at times, the decision-making can decline, too. But with a Sunday matchup against a winless Jets team, you are betting on Flacco to stay hot in Week 8.
Schultz was limited in practice earlier this week (back/shoulder), so let’s monitor the reports. However, with the injury situation in the Texans’ wide receiver room, Schultz is a smart pickup for Sunday’s matchup with the 49ers — if he can go. In the Monday night loss to the Seahawks, with Nico Collins (concussion) exiting early and Christian Kirk (hamstring) down for the game, Schultz had season-highs in receptions (nine), targets (10), receiving yards (98) and points (18.8). That gave Schultz back-to-back games with double-digit points, plus he has at least five receptions in four straight. Schultz has the seam-stretching ability to work the 49ers’ zone coverages, and we know he can find open turf underneath as a target for C.J. Stroud.
I’m surprised Otton’s roster percentage isn’t higher after three straight games with 10 or more points. And just like the Texans, there are multiple injuries at the wide receiver spot in Tampa. Otton caught seven of nine targets for 65 yards (13.3 points) in the Monday night loss to Detroit, and he has at least four receptions and 50 yards in his past three games. He’s a reliable target for quarterback Baker Mayfield, with a solid matchup against a Saints defense that ranks in the middle of the road against opposing tight ends.
Mike Evans (collarbone) is likely done for the season and Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) is doubtful for Sunday’s game. So, we have two options for potential replacements in Tampa, depending on what you need. Johnson gives managers a higher ceiling. He has big-play juice, plus he is slippery after the catch. Johnson caught four of nine targets for 58 yards and a touchdown (15.8 points) in the Week 7 matchup with Detroit, his second straight game with a scoring grab. Shepard, meanwhile, has a higher floor. He netted only 25 yards receiving against Detroit, but he caught all seven of his targets, and he has two games with double-digit points this season. Me? I always take the higher-ceiling option (Johnson), but Shepard has PPR value this Sunday, too.
With Calvin Ridley dealing with a hamstring injury, wide receiver Elic Ayomanor (22.3% rostered) can also be picked up this week due to the positive matchup against the Colts. But I’ll go with Dike first because of the big-play ability he brings to the field. He is a burner, with 4.34 speed, and we saw that on his 38-yard touchdown catch last week against the Patriots. He can run away from coverage on deep overs and crossers. Dike caught all four of his targets for 70 yards, finishing with a career-best 16.9 points. Take the upside here with Dike — if Ridley is out.
Why Falcons’ defense can deliver for fantasy managers (0:49)Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down the projections for the Falcons’ defense and he says fantasy managers can expect them to deliver. (0:49)
Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down the projections for the Falcons’ defense and he says fantasy managers can expect them to deliver. (0:49)
CloseMatt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on “NFL Matchup.” After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons.Follow on X
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (34.1% rostered; vs. Packers)
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (39.6% rostered; at Saints)
Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears (31.5% rostered; at Ravens)
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (32.8% rostered; at Colts)
Tez Johnson (30.8% rostered) and Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16.4% rostered; at Saints)
Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (31.9% rostered; vs. Bills)
Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans (2.2% rostered; at Colts)
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (26.3% rostered; vs. Jets)
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (23.5% rostered; vs. 49ers)