Fantasy football Week 8 inactives: Who's in and who's out? ESPN

Whom should you start? Whom should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won't be in the lineup, we'll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactives lists. Any rankings cited in this column come from our ESPN Fantasy staff ranks.

Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: around 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for the late-afternoon games.

Refresh often for the latest information.

4 p.m. ET games

Editor's Picks

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Curtis Samuel, WR, BUF: Pectoral -- OUTImpact: He's targeting Week 9 for a return, but he has even less value now that Amari Cooper is in town.

Andy Dalton, QB, CAR: Thumb -- InactiveImpact: Bryce Young will start as Dalton recovers from Tuesday's car crash.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, CAR: Knee -- OUTImpact: Chuba Hubbard gets to be the main man for the Panthers for at least one more week.

Tommy Tremble, TE, CAR: Back -- ActiveImpact: Ja'Tavion Sanders (groin/wrist) was also limited in practice all week. Either TE could still end up starting.

Diontae Johnson, WR, CAR: Ribs -- OUTImpact: He will sit, despite claiming to be ready to go. Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo start.

Adam Thielen, WR, CAR: Hamstring -- OUTImpact: Still not ready to return from IR; we could see whether David Moore or Jalen Coker get looks.

Travis Homer, RB, CHI: Finger -- ActiveImpact: Fresh off IR, he'll get to spell D'Andre Swift. Khalil Herbert sits.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC: Hamstring -- OUTImpact: At least he's not on IR. Having just arrived in town, DeAndre Hopkins will suit up alongside Xavier Worthy.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, KC: Team decision -- InactiveImpact: It looks like he may still need a little more time before he makes his 2024 debut.

Will Dissly, TE, LAC: Shoulder -- ActiveImpact: He caught eight passes last week with Hurst out. He was a game-time call, but will suit up.

Hayden Hurst, TE, LAC: Groin -- InactiveImpact: With Hurst out and Dissly ailing, Eric Tomlinson could be a TE sleeper.

DJ Chark Jr., WR, LAC: Groin -- InactiveImpact: He was on IR heading into the week and was not activated in time to play -- and his team could have used him.

Derius Davis, WR, LAC: Hamstring -- InactiveImpact: Either Brenden Rice or Simi Fehoko might end up in the huddle for some snaps by default.

Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC: Ankle -- InactiveImpact: It looks like Joshua Palmer is the only Chargers wideout you can count on to start. Jaylen Johnson and Jalen Reagor were both elevated from the practice squad.

Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC: Hip -- ActiveImpact: He will suit up (perhaps only out of necessity) even though he missed two practices this past week and saw only limited Friday action.

Aidan O'Connell, QB, LV: Thumb -- OUT/IRImpact: Gardner Minshew, whose mustache has typically been more impressive than his stat line, will once again start at quarterback.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, LV: Ankle -- ActiveImpact: He will be playing for the first time in several weeks. He may be "on a pitch count."

Derek Carr, QB, NO: Oblique -- InactiveImpact: Spencer Rattler will make another start as Carr attempts to get back into throwing shape.

Cedrick Wilson Jr., WR, NO: Hip -- OUTImpact: Chris Olave, on the other hand, will return this week following a sit-out due to a concussion.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, NO: Team decision -- InactiveImpact: Only signed earlier in the week, the receiver needs more time to get up to speed on the playbook.

DK Metcalf, WR, SEA: Knee -- InactiveImpact: It will be Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba for all of your pass-catching needs.

Jayden Daniels, QB, WAS: Ribs -- ActiveImpact: Marcus Mariota will grab the clipboard and hopefully not have to put it down.

Sunday night game

John Stephens Jr., TE, DAL: Knee -- OUT/IRImpact: His season is over. The freed-up roster spot helped make room for RB Dalvin Cook, who was elevated from the practice squad.

Jake Moody, K, SF: Ankle -- OUTImpact: Anders Carlson fills in again, even after missing an extra point last week.

Jauan Jennings, WR, SF: Hip -- OUTImpact: With Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk (on IR with torn ACL) out, Ricky Pearsall may be tasked with starting.

Deebo Samuel Sr. , WR, SF: Illness -- QuestionableImpact: Jacob Cowing and Chris Conley might also see some targets as Samuel deals with pneumonia, though he is currently expected to play.

George Kittle, TE, SF: Foot -- QuestionableImpact: Especially given the WR issues, expect Kittle to play through the injury.

1 p.m. ET games

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Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL: Knee -- OUTImpact: His 21-day window to return is now open. Once he comes back, he could supplant Justice Hill as the No. 2 RB option.

Rasheen Ali, RB, BAL: Ankle -- OUTImpact: Given the above news, once Ali can make it back, he may be utilized only on special teams.

Zay Flowers, WR, BAL: Ankle -- ActiveImpact: It looks like he'll try to play, but don't be surprised if Rashod Bateman is more effective.

Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: Quad -- InactiveImpact: His late addition to the injury report on Friday didn't bode well. Andrei Iosivas gets a slight uptick in fantasy value.

Jerome Ford, RB, CLE: Hamstring -- OUTImpact: Nick Chubb will be spelled by Pierre Strong Jr.

Deshaun Watson, QB, CLE: Achilles -- OUT/IRImpact: Jameis Winston will get a chance to hold off Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) for starting consideration going forward.

Jameson Williams, WR, DET: SuspensionImpact: He will miss this week and next. Kalif Raymond and Tim Patrick get value boosts.

Travis Etienne Jr. , RB, JAX: Hamstring -- InactiveImpact: Tank Bigsby and D'Ernest Johnson are once again being asked to step up.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA: Concussion -- ActiveImpact: He has cleared the league's concussion protocol and will get back in the huddle on Sunday. Tyler Huntley (shoulder) takes his place on IR.

Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA: Foot -- ActiveImpact: 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 -- OUTImpact: He remains in the league's concussion protocol. Kayshon Boutte is the "safest" Patriots receiver at present.

Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ: Chest -- InactiveImpact: Even had he played, the Jets didn't trade for Davante Adams to not throw to him as much as possible.

Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI: Hamstring -- OUTImpact: Grant Calcaterra gets the call in his stead.

Bucky Irving, RB, TB: Toe -- ActiveImpact: He was always fully expected to play, but Sean Tucker is lurking.

Mike Evans, WR, TB: Hamstring -- OUTImpact: Chris Godwin (ankle/IR) is done for the season. Evans might be back in Week 12 if everything goes well.

Rakim Jarrett, WR, TB: Knee -- ActiveImpact: He was activated from IR this week as the Bucs look to restock a depleted WR room.

Will Levis, QB, TEN: Shoulder -- InactiveImpact: Mason Rudolph took most of the reps with the first team this week, so this is not a shock.

Tyjae Spears, RB, TEN: Hamstring -- OUTImpact: Tony Pollard should get most of the carries, with leftover touches going to Julius Chestnut.