As we approach Week 8, let's catch up some fantasy-relevant news that's hit the past couple days. The biggest news is CMC's impending return. Will it be tomorrow against Atlanta? This is an critical fantasy moment: If you have CMC and can trade him as a top-5 RB, do you do it? The 3-4 Panthers are longshots to reach the postseason, thanks to upcoming tilts against the Chiefs and Bucs. If they're 5-7 entering their bye, do they put him on the shelf? If he has a "nagging" injury, do they play it safe and rest him? I'm not just saying "trade him." I am saying if you can get top-5 RB value, I'd jump at the chance to offload him in exchange for some other elite talent.
Chris Godwin is out, giving short-term boosts to Mike Evans, Scotty Miller, and Rob Gronkowski. The following week things could get packed with Godwin and Antonio Brown potentially re-entering the lineup. Great for Tom Brady. Awful for those who drafted Godwin and Evans.
Carlos Hyde might join Chris Carson on the sidelines this week, which would propel rookie DeeJay Dallas into a streaming tier if he earns the starting nod. Unfortunately, he or Hyde would face the Niners, so "streaming" is probably more ceiling than floor.
Devonta Freeman appears questionable for this week, which would put Wayne Gallman back in the spotlight. Unfortunately, the Giants will face a Bucs D that's yielded only 3.0 YPC. I wouldn't trust any RB the Giants start this week.
Finally, Washington made Landon Collins the league's highest-priced safety last year in what seemed like a dumb move at the time, and which now seems par for the course for a franchise that can't find its way back to relevancy. Collins was up and down--and some would argue too far down--but his absence won't help this overachieving top-10 past defense / top-10 fantasy defense. They teed off on Dallas last week, but they get Dallas only one more time. This is not a DST1 in 2020, and losing Collins creates a hole they probably can't fill--while opposing QBs get a slight boost.