Key Week 8 NFL Injuries Bettors Need to Know
- Dameon Pierce, RB, Eagles
- Daron Payne, DL, Commanders
- Javon Kinlaw, DL, Commanders
- Talanoa Hufanga, S, Broncos
- Carnell Tate, WR, Titans
Sharp Betting Tools:
- NFL Injury Report
- NFL Props: Lines & Odds
- NFL Spreads, Totals, & Moneylines
- NFL Weather Forecast & Potential Impact
- NFL Implied Team Totals
Daron Payne & Javon Kinlaw Injuries: Saquon Barkley Over 55.5 Rushing Yards
The Philadelphia Eagles backfield looks more like a wasteland than a position group these days, but Saquon Barkley is expected to play against the Commanders on Sunday night.
Barkley was held out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but enters the weekend with no injury designation after full participation on Friday.
It's been a tough season for Barkley.
He has missed two games, left two others early, and was limited to just 10 total snaps last week due to injury.
However, when he has suited up, Barkley has been as good as ever, even running behind a less-than-stellar offensive line.
Barkley's 55.8% success rate in 2026 is the highest of his career, and his 5.7 yards per carry is just a tick below the 5.8 yards he averaged in 2024 on his way to 2,000 yards and AP Offensive Player of the Year.
On the other side of the ball this week, the Commanders defense will be without defensive linemen Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne, while Charles Omenihu is questionable after missing the last two weeks.
The loss of Kinlaw looms large here.
The Commanders are allowing 5.3 yards per carry when he's off the field this year, compared to 3.4 yards per carry when he's playing.
And now with Dameon Pierce joining Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby on the IR, the two running backs backing up Barkley this week are Jaydon Blue and Elijah Mitchell.
This pick is obviously based on Barkley getting through the game relatively unscathed, but the Eagles' 132 rushing yards in Week 1 vs. Washington was their season-high, and now the Commanders are without their top run defender on the line.
In the three games Barkley has survived all 60 minutes, he's rushed for 62, 82, and 83 yards, and that includes last week when he played just 10 total snaps.
With the Eagles still without their top two wide receivers, expect them to establish the run against an undermanned Commanders front.
Talanoa Hufanga Injury: Travis Kelce Over 45.5 Receiving Yards
The Denver Broncos have struggled to contain opposing tight ends this season, and things haven't gotten any easier with safety Talanoa Hufanga missing time with an ankle injury.
The Broncos also have fellow starting safety Brandon Jones considered questionable with a hamstring injury that limited him in practice on Thursday and Friday.
Hufanga has been the Broncos' best coverage player per PFF and has allowed just 3 receptions when targeted.
With question marks at both safeties this week, Travis Kelce could be in-line for a big week as the Chiefs try to bounce back from last week's three-point performance in Seattle.
Kelce has traditionally had success against Denver, posting at least 55 yards in five of his last six games against the Broncos dating back to the 2023 season.
While he hasn't been the same high-volume target he was for most of his career, Kelce is averaging a career-high 14.3 yards per reception this year, and his 59-yard reception against the Broncos in Week 1 was his longest catch in five years.
Last week with Hufanga on the sideline, the Broncos allowed Trey McBride to rip off 111 yards on 10 receptions.
The Chiefs are also expecting to get Rashee Rice back in the fold after he missed the last couple of weeks with a hamstring injury.
When Rice has been on the field this year, Kelce's target share does drop from 20.8% to 18.1%, but he's been far more efficient, catching nearly 86% of those targets and averaging 2.37 yards per route run compared to just 1.79 when Rice was out.
With Rice putting stress on the defense vertically and the Broncos missing their best player on the backend of their defense, Kelce could continue to enjoy success in the Mile High City.
Carnell Tate Injury: Wan'Dale Robinson Over 5.5 Receptions
Rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate will be inactive this week, leaving Cam Ward and the Titans without their leading pass-catcher.
Tennessee's air attack has struggled this season, averaging just 5.0 net yards per attempt and ranking 31st in the NFL in total passing yards despite trailing in every game they've played this year.
Tate has been the Titans' best offensive weapon this year, averaging nearly 5 receptions per game and pacing the team with 413 yards.
But without him in the fold on Sunday, Ward will likely have to turn to Wan'Dale Robinson, who has experience as a high-volume threat from the slot.
Robinson had 140 targets in each of his last two seasons with the New York Giants and caught 74 passes in the final 12 games of 2025 while Malik Nabers was out with a knee injury.
The Titans will also be without Tyjae Spears, who is inactive with a knee injury.
Spears is fourth on the team in targets this year, and his absence could open up more opportunities for Robinson in the underneath passing game.
It's hard to bet on this Titans offense to be efficient.
They've struggled to put up points and stay on the field, surpassing the 300-yard mark for just the first time in last week's loss to the Browns.
However, the Bengals defense ranks 30th in the NFL on third downs this season, and their offense is fifth in points per drive.
There's a script where the Titans are put in a shootout and will have the opportunity to throw the ball a little more than they have through seven games.
Because of their struggles, the safest bet is the over on Robinson's receptions.
After opening at 3.5 this week, the number has jumped to 5.5 with the Tate news, but Cincinnati slot corner Dax Hill is the team's most-targeted defender in the passing game.
Robinson might have a huge game, but he's no stranger to high-reception, low-yardage performances, and that's what we're betting on here.
