Fantasy football buzz: How Johnson trade impacts Ravens offense; Colts bench Richardson for Flacco

Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective.From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.

Our fantasy football buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the NFL.

Key links: Fantasy depth charts

Baltimore Ravens acquire WR Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers

Tristan H. Cockcroft: Johnson is one heck of an addition for the Ravens, especially for the price -- a swap of fifth- and sixth-round draft picks -- but not necessarily a big win for fantasy managers. Johnson's move from the Panthers' to the Ravens' offenses greatly elevates his supporting cast as well as the help he gets from his quarterback, but he's also going from being the leading man to a No. 2 role with the Ravens, a team that has averaged fewer than 30 passing attempts per game so far this season as well as in each of the previous two.

Johnson's fantasy production swelled to 12.7 PPR points per game once the Panthers switched to the more seasoned Andy Dalton at quarterback, with this trade representing a massive boost for Johnson at that position. Johnson is also much less likely to see the 26.5% target share in Baltimore that he did working with Dalton during that stretch. It wouldn't be shocking to see that number swing closer to the 17.8% he had in his final year in Pittsburgh in 2023. In short, Johnson's fantasy appeal remains that of a borderline WR2/3, albeit with more peaks and valleys. His arrival also pulls Zay Flowers closer to similar status.The deepening of the offense should also pay nice dividends for bothLamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, enhancing Jackson's prospects of a league-leading fantasy point total while continuing to bolster Henry's advantages in terms of game flow and touchdown production

Back in Carolina, rookie Xavier Legette should see a sizable boost in targets, probably averaging in the 8-10 range weekly, while Adam Thielen has a clearer path to a fantasy-relevant role in deeper leagues once he's healthy. Jalen Coker also warrants a look in deeper leagues. Legette might make it into the weekly fantasy WR3 tier, though Bryce Young's return to the starting role does greatly amplify his weekly downside.

Joe Flacco takes over for Anthony Richardson

Tristan H. Cockcroft:In a decision that was inevitable based upon season-to-date returns, Flacco supplants Richardson, a top fantasy football bust of the year candidate, under center for the Colts for the foreseeable future. With the switch, the Colts are turning to a more reliable, accurate passer, albeit one lacking in the mobility that can fluster opposing defenses. Fantasy managers no longer have the dynamic Richardson, who is only the fourth quarterback in history to rush for at least the 378 yards and five touchdowns that he has through his first 10 career games, with whom they could speculate on lofty scores, and instead must now pick only from Flacco's most favorable matchups.

Considering the Colts face the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets the next three weeks, Flacco shouldn't be a fantasy option outside of deep superflex or two-quarterback leagues. The challenging stretch of schedule, coupled with the possibility that the Colts can't hang in the AFC playoff hunt, enhances the chance that we haven't yet seen Richardson's final start of 2024.

Flacco's installation should provide a modest boost to his receivers, as the contrast between him and Richardson is stark: Flacco has 62.2% completion and 17.8% off-target rates and a 2.0-to-1 touchdown-interception ratio in seven starts between this and last season, while Richardson has 50.2%, 23.6% and 0.9 numbers in those same categories. Michael Pittman Jr. had his three best single-game fantasy point totals of 2024 in the three games in which Flacco handled a majority of the snaps, andJosh Downs averaged 15.2 PPR fantasy points during that same Weeks 4-6 span. This isn't to say that Flacco will elevate either into fantasy WR1 territory, but Pittman has more of a WR2 case and Downs a WR3 case with the switch.

Stefon Diggs out for season with torn ACL

Stephania Bell: The Texans confirmed on Tuesday that Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 and is done for the season. In a subtle yet classic presentations for this type of injury, Diggs' right knee bobbled as he made a plant in advance of a cut and he went to the ground, clutching his knee. Diggs walked off the field on his own, proving once again that today's athletes are strong enough to sometimes give the appearance of a less significant injury than what is actually the case. Given that it is still October, there is reason for optimism that Diggs can potentially return for the start of next season, unless there are other structures to be addressed in surgery.

Eric Moody:Diggs' injury leaves a huge void, especially as the Texans are already down Nico Collins, who landed on IR after Week 5. Collins is expected back by Week 10, but now Houston's passing game will have to adjust to life without Diggs, who ranked seventh in the league in receptions (47) and was second on the team in receiving yards (496).

What's next? Tank Dell should be featured more heavily. He had a season-high nine targets against the Patriots in Week 6, finishing with 18.7 fantasy points. Dell now moves into WR2 territory, even after Collins returns. As for Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinsonand John Metchie III, they'll be harder to trust in fantasy with them all sharing snaps.

Dalton Schultz, however, is moving up to the TE1 radar and should see increased targets. If he's available, he's a top waiver wire pickup -- and is rostered in only 51.4% of ESPN leagues.

Finally,C.J. Stroudis best viewed as a high-end QB2 now.You should hold on to him, but consider benching him if you have a QB with a better matchup. The Texans face the Jets in Week 9, so check out the waiver wire column for top pickups if you're looking to pivot.

Other injury buzz ahead of Week 9 -- By Stephania Bell

Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

Love was forced out of the Week 8 early in the third quarter and after the game coach Matt LaFleur initially expressed concern about his status. A subsequent MRI revealed a minor groin strain, less worrisome than what was initially thought and is not expected to result in an extended absence, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Love even has a chance to return this week, depending on how he feels as the week progresses. It's worth noting the Packers have a bye in Week 10 and if there is any hesitation with regards to Love's ability to protect himself, the team could opt for the additional recovery time. Given his latest injury along with his recent MCL sprain (Week 1) that sidelined him for two games, Love could be at risk for additional soft tissue injury if he returns too soon.

Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

When a player lands on the outside of his shoulder, the injury typically results in an acromioclavicular (AC) sprain (often referred to as a separated shoulder) or a clavicle (collarbone) injury and, rarely, a sternoclavicular (SC) sprain. In Kirk's case the result was a clavicle fracture. Unfortunately, the injury translates to the end of his season but if all heals well, he should be ready in plenty of time for next year. Thomas suffered an injury last Sunday that forced him out of the game after 29 snaps. Although there was initially concern for rib fractures and a multi-week absence, further evaluation on Monday indicated a chest contusion (deep bruise) on Thomas's left side. Coach Doug Pederson described Thomas as day to day and said he has a chance to suit up this weekend. With Gabe Davis also exiting Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, the Jaguars are particularly thin at the wide receiver position.

The anticipated Week 9 return of T.J. Hockenson, the Vikings' starting tight end, has everyone excited, especially given how strong he looked throughout his rehab process. Hockenson never hit as much as a speed bump during his ACL recovery process and he should hit the ground running after getting in some additional practice this week. While the Vikings will no doubt monitor his response to live game action, his trajectory back to a full workload should be fairly linear.

The 49ers intend to step up the work for RB Christian McCaffrey as he nears a return from bilateral Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has not experienced any setbacks since his trip to Germany for treatment and the team hopes to bring him back in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The real question will be just how much game action he sees out of the gate and how the team will increase his workload. Given the surprise setback he encountered right as the season began, it would seem likely that they control his initial return effort to gauge his response in the 24-48 hours postgame. Even if he were to be on limited snaps, the threat McCaffrey presents to opposing defenses can shift how the 49ers operate.

Will Bengals WR Tee Higgins return to practice this week? Higgins suffered a quadriceps injury in practice last week that resulted in his absence on Sunday. It sounded however like Higgins was close to being able to go with the team opting to be cautious to avoid a longer-term injury. If Higgins is able to practice daily, it would be a good indicator of his potential return to the lineup.

RB Christian McCaffrey could return by Week 10

Eric Moody: 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan plans to open McCaffrey's 21-day return window on Monday, which is welcome news for fantasy managers who were blindsided by his Achilles tendinitis diagnosis in September. Recent reports target Week 10 as McCaffrey's likely return date, but there's a chance the 49ers will hold him out longer if McCaffrey isn't ready. Fantasy managers should also keep this in mind -- the 49ers' priority is winning a Super Bowl, not a fantasy championship. So expect the team to err on the side of caution with CMC, as it has all season.

Jordan Mason has helped weather the storm while McCaffrey has been out, rushing for 685 yards and three touchdowns, but he's been managing a shoulder injury the past few weeks and aggravated it Sunday against the Cowboys. Speedy rookie Isaac Guerendo has also stepped up, even reaching the end zone against Dallas. However, if and when McCaffrey returns, most of the touches will likely go CMC's way -- McCaffrey has averaged 20.4 per game since joining the 49ers. Mason or Guerendo would likely serve as a change-of-pace option.

Pop Quiz

Who are the only two running backs who have posted a perfect 100 percent consistency rating through the first 7 weeks of the season? Hint: they both have had their bye week and have played each other this season. You can get the answer to this and other questions in Tristan H. Cockcroft'sESPN+ Consistency Rankings

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Last week, our own Matt Bowen listed McCaffrey as one of his favorite trade targets for fantasy managers. ESPN+ subscribers can click here to read more on that and Bowen's other top trade targets.