A week after being benched for fumbling issues, former Arizona State star running back Cam Skattebo dominated the touches in the New York Giants‘ backfield, re-establishing himself as the team’s RB1.
The young running back looks past a prior $7,073 fine and a looming $15,000 penalty for unnecessary roughness as the focal point of a physical Giants offense.
John Harbaugh is publicly backing his young star against league officiating, demanding clarity on a lowering-the-helmet rule that has rarely been flagged against offensive players this season. Skattebo remains defiant, stating he will “play for free” before altering the bruising, contact-seeking style that makes him successful.
Skattebo rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in an overtime victory last weekend against Houston but is nursing a hamstring injury he tweaked in OT.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. left the game in the first half and has since been placed on injured reserve with a far more serious hamstring injury, thinning the running back rotation.
But Devin Singletary is far from an afterthought. He out-snapped Skattebo 18 to 15 in the second half and overtime, providing 41 yards on five carries, including the game-winning 30-yard touchdown run.
The Giants will likely spend their Week 8 bye preparing a two-man committee, featuring Skattebo and Singletary.
Seahawks acquire Nelson in Colts fire sale
The Indianapolis Colts launched a dramatic midseason roster selloff, trading All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks.
Seattle sends a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Indianapolis, which should not burden the Seahawks’ draft flexibility. The front office expects to receive roughly five compensatory picks in the upcoming draft cycle.
Nelson provides an immediate, elite upgrade to a Seahawks offensive line pushing hard for a deep postseason run.
The trade marks an institutional shift in Indianapolis following the abrupt firing of longtime general manager Chris Ballard. Interim general manager Ed Dodds immediately began an aggressive asset-accumulation strategy, packaging Nelson to the Seahawks before dealing defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers just hours later.
Rashee Rice reshapes Chiefs’ passing attack
The Kansas City Chiefs’ top wide receiver, Rashee Rice, has been sidelined since Week 4 due to a lingering right hamstring injury and minor knee concerns.
Rice flashed elite upside early in the season, but his absence stalled the passing attack during a brutal 20-3 loss to the Seahawks.
Patrick Mahomes struggled to establish a rhythm with a heavily depleted receiving corps, forcing general manager Brett Veach to reportedly call opposing front offices to explore trading for an outside weapon before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Rice returned to the practice field this week. The team is optimistic that he can ramp up quickly to provide an immediate spark against a stout Denver secondary in Week 8.
Raiders’ defensive collapse sparks trade rumors
The blistering 3-0 start that once defined the Las Vegas Raiders‘ season has evaporated. After leading the NFL with nine takeaways and entirely shutting out opponents in the final period during their initial three games, the Raiders’ defense has collapsed during a devastating four-game losing streak.
The drop-off in late-game execution reached a tipping point over the past three contests, where the Raiders allowed a staggering 40 total fourth-quarter points. Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard’s unit, which once ranked first in pass defense, plummeted to dead last in defensive Expected Points Added (EPA).
Las Vegas has managed just five sacks and a lone takeaway since Week 3, leaving a strained secondary exposed without a consistent pass rush to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. Star defensive end Maxx Crosby could be traded.
Brock Purdy steps back in the MVP race
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy dropped from his status as the frontrunner for league MVP following a brutal 29-20 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The defeat snapped San Francisco’s unblemished 6-0 start to the season.
Operating with an incredibly depleted wide receiver room, Purdy threw for 288 yards and one touchdown but was plagued by two critical interceptions. The slip-up allowed Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen to leapfrog Purdy for the No. 1 spot in the MVP rankings on NFL.com, even though Buffalo spent the week on a bye.
Allen (+140) and Joe Burrow (+450) moved ahead of Purdy (+500) in the latest MVP odds list, per BetMGM.com.
Despite the sloppy four-turnover performance by the offense, Purdy’s season metrics remain elite as the team enters its Week 8 bye. He sits tied for second in the league with 15 passing touchdowns, ranks third in passer rating at 110.1 and remains third in Expected Points Added (EPA) per dropback at 0.27.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cam Skattebo facing roughness fine, Colts fire sale, new MVP leader
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