Here’s a look back at Week 8’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 8 RECAP

Rams 30 Vikings 20: Matthew Stafford finished as the overall QB5 in Week 8 after both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua returned to the lineup last Thursday night, throwing for 279 yards and four touchdowns at Minnesota. Stafford had only three TD passes in...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 12-4 (.750); season 78-45 (.634). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 8-8 (.500); season 67-55-1 (.549). Off: Steelers, 49ers...Read more

Kept the hot hand by spinning a 12-4 mark straight-up last week, including a trio of outright upset bull’s-eyes with Commanders over Bears, Rams over Vikings and Eagles winning at Cincy. Granted, got super-lucky with Washington on on that last-play Hail Mary touchdown, but we’ll take it, thank you. Big disappointment was misfiring on Miami�...Read more

SEATTLE — Halftime of Sunday's critical NFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field also marks the halfway point of the 17-game NFL season.

As the Seahawks look to improve on their last month — four losses in five games, all by nine points or more — one of focus for potential improvement is the rookie class.

A trademark...Read more

LAS VEGAS — A bettor turned $10 into $185,211.36 after hitting a nine-leg touchdown scorer parlay on “National Tight Ends Day.”

The gambler at FanDuel Sportsbook, which doesn’t operate in Nevada, used tight ends on all nine legs of the parlay: Kyle Pitts, Cade Otton, Mark Andrews, David Njoku, Tucker Kraft, Sam LaPorta, Dalton Kincaid, ...Read more

CHICAGO — When Matt Eberflus held his weekly meeting with the Chicago Bears’ leadership council Wednesday, the coach and players had a lot to address as they picked up the pieces from the 18-15, last-second loss to the Washington Commanders.

Just two days earlier, in the wake of the defeat on Jayden Daniels’ 52-yard Hail Mary, several of ...Read more

NEW YORK — Jayden Daniels’ game-winning Hail Mary to Washington Commanders receiver Noah Brown last Sunday was the highlight of the NFL season for the NFC East’s first-place darling.

Daniel Jones’ primetime Pittsburgh loss was again filled with team-wide lowlights that undercut any positives the last-place Giants might have put on the ...Read more

DETROIT — Following reports that Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has a warrant request for a charge of carrying a concealed weapon, the NFL on Tuesday released a statement.

"The Lions promptly notified the league upon learning of the matter. We have no further comment at this time," the statement read.

According to WXYZ-TV, Williams was...Read more

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Lions head coach Dan Campbell knew about the gun-related allegations against Jameson Williams last week when he issued a vote of confidence for the third-year receiver following his violation of the NFL's Performance Enhancing Substances policy.

Williams, 23, is possibly facing even more trouble, as it was reported Tuesday...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 9 THURSDAY PICK

TEXANS (6-2) at JETS (2-6)

Line: NYJ by 2.

Cote’s pick: HOU, 23-20.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

Upset! Sort of. (Well, technically.) Aaron Rodgers has now spent 1 1/2 seasons disappointing Jets fans, yet blinded-by-hope New Yorkers keep overbetting him, and the NFL keeps giving him big ...Read more

NEW YORK — Jets fans clamoring for a new kicker on social media finally got their wish on Wednesday.

Gang Green is signing Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader to its practice squad.

Either Patterson or Shrader is expected to kick in Thursday’s game against the Houston Texans. The team also placed Greg Zuerlein on injured reserve.

Zuerlein...Read more

PITTSBURGH — This is what the Steelers envisioned when they brought in Arthur Smith to be their offensive coordinator.

This is what they envisioned when they signed Russell Wilson in free agency.

This is why their offense is starting to operate at a productive and consistent level for the first time in six years.

And this is why they head ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Sunday in Cincinnati was a prove-it game for the Eagles, and they spent the afternoon proving it. Their 37-17 victory over the Bengals was, top to bottom, their most impressive win since the 2022 season, and it revealed and reaffirmed a few truths about them and about the NFL this season.

Truth No. 1: The conditions around a ...Read more

MIAMI — Hope is a funny thing.

At its best, hope can be a unifying, powerful force for change. At its worst, hope can lead to delusion. It might not mean much to Miami Dolphins fans across the globe but one thing’s certainly true: the team has hope.

“You can just feel something is in the air,” Alec Ingold said Monday. “And I can’...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — After losing left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a season-ending knee injury, the Vikings made a trade on Tuesday night to replace him.

The Vikings acquired Jacksonville’s Cam Robinson, a 29-year-old who has made 91 starts for the Jaguars since he was taken in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Alabama.

Robinson, who...Read more

DETROIT — Detroit police are investigating a traffic stop involving Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Williams was briefly detained and then released by Detroit police officers earlier this month after two guns were found in a vehicle driven by his brother during a traffic...Read more

NEW YORK — Brian Daboll needs to bench Daniel Jones or stand by him.

The Giants’ head coach can’t dime out Danny Dimes for making a critical mistake in Monday night’s 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and then commit to him as Sunday’s starter against the Washington Commanders as if he still believes in him.

Jones hasn’t played...Read more

SEATTLE — Few stadiums in any sport stay full to the bitter end if the game fans are watching is indeed bitter.

So it was hardly an indictment of the 12s when Lumen Field began to clear out in the second half of Sunday’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo. The Bills took a 31-3 lead early in the fourth quarter in what turned out to be the second-worst ...Read more