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Brian Thomas Jr. Now the Jaguars' No. 4 Receiver?
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. caught his only target for eight yards in the team's 35-6 blowout win over the New England Patriots on Sunday in Week 3, and Sports Illustrated's John Shipley writes that the Jaguars and Thomas "are going in different directions." Sunday was only the second game in Thomas' career where he recorded only one catch, and the first since Week 1 of last season. After averaging around 6.85 targets per game in the first seven games of 2025, which was before the Jakobi Meyers trade and the ascension of Parker Washington, Thomas averaged 5.14 targets over his final seven games of last year. Thomas is averaging just 4.33 targets per game through three weeks in 2026, a number that has been inflated by his nine-target game in the Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos. He only played 23 snaps and ran 13 routes against New England in Week 3. Meanwhile, sixth-round rookie Josh Cameron played the same number of snaps and saw more targets despite running five fewer routes. Head coach Liam Coen explained that Thomas saw the field less due to the Jags going with more 12-personnel looks. It all amounts to Thomas' fantasy football value hitting rock bottom heading into the team's Week 4 contest on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
More Recent News
Rico Dowdle a Non-Participant Again on Tuesday
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) was present, but he was not participating in the period of practice open to the media on Tuesday, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. Dowdle did not play in the Week 3 win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday due to a right-toe injury that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, which led to Jaylen Warren being used in a workhorse role. Travis Homer and Lew Nichols III combined for just six offensive snaps. Warren handled a season-high 17 rushing attempts for 127 yards and also caught three of his four targets for 49 yards as a receiver. The 27-year-old jump-started the Steelers' offense on the day after they looked very sluggish in the first two weeks of the 2026 season. Dowdle is not trending in the right direction to make his return on a short week on Thursday Night Football against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. If Dowdle is held out for a second straight week, Warren will be a must-start in all traditional fantasy football lineups as the Steelers' workhorse. After back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons the last two years with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, Dowdle is off to a slow start in the Steel City.
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Dontayvion Wicks Remains a Must-Add Wide Receiver Despite Quiet Week 3
Across three games so far in 2026, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks has recorded nine catches for 179 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. Like the rest of the Eagles offense, Wicks had a frustrating game in his team's Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears, recording just two catches for 30 yards. However, he topped 70 receiving yards in each of the Eagles' first two games and is averaging five targets per contest. Perhaps most importantly for fantasy managers, Wicks has been on the field for 78% of Philadelphia's offensive snaps this season and profiles as the team's WR2 alongside DeVonta Smith. With Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) currently sidelined by a knee injury, Wicks could be the number two option in the Philly passing game for the next several weeks. In leagues where he's not already rostered, Wicks profiles as a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dohnte Meyers an Intriguing Deep-League Stash Candidate
Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Dohnte Meyers had the best game of his young career in his team's Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording three catches for 29 yards on five targets. With Bengals wideout Andrei Iosivas (thumb) currently on Injured Reserve due to a thumb injury, Meyers appears to be the WR3 in Cincinnati behind star Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. As long as Chase and Higgins remain healthy, Meyers is unlikely to see enough consistent target volume to provide fantasy-relevant production. However, the 26-year-old is now just one injury away from potentially emerging as a key piece in the pass-heavy Bengals offense. In deeper fantasy leagues, Meyers profiles as an under-the-radar stash candidate to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Devin Neal Set to Sign with Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are signing running back Devin Neal, per Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report. Neal appeared in 10 games (three starts) for the New Orleans Saints in 2025, recording 206 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 57 carries and hauling in 17 catches for 104 yards on 19 targets. With running back Jordan Mason (thumb) currently on Injured Reserve, Minnesota has been looking to flesh out its running back depth behind veteran back Aaron Jones Sr. Neal now joins DeeJay Dallas and Demond Claiborne as potential rotational backs for the Vikings. As long as Jones Sr. remains healthy, he will likely handle the majority of Minnesota's backfield work for as long as Mason is sidelined. Still, Neal could be worth a speculative add in deep fantasy leagues as a potential handcuff running back option.
Source: The Schultz Report - Jordan Schultz
Source: The Schultz Report - Jordan Schultz
Kirk Cousins Emerging as a Must-Roster Quarterback in Two-QB Leagues
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins has been one of the surprise success stories of the 2026 season so far, completing 67.4% of his pass attempts for 661 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions across his first three games played. Cousins has thrown for exactly three touchdowns in each contest so far, which is likely to regress over the course of the season. Still, the Raiders offense has been much improved this year despite being without star tight end Brock Bowers for the first two weeks of the season. With Bowers making his return in Week 3 and looking like a true impact pass-catcher, fantasy managers can start to buy into Cousins' resurgence. In two-quarterback league formats, Cousins profiles as a must-add waiver-wire target ahead of his Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tank Bigsby Remains a High-End Handcuff RB Despite Rough Week 3
Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby had a rough game in his team's Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears, as he lost a fumble on his lone touch of the night. Bigsby has had some issues with ball security in his career, which could lead to a diminished role with the Eagles going forward. However, assuming Bigsby can avoid fumbles from here on out, he profiles as the primary backup running back in Philadelphia behind Saquon Barkley. As long as Barkley remains healthy, Bigsby's path to fantasy production is limited. Still, Bigsby profiles as a high-end handcuff option for fantasy managers who could emerge as a must-start running back if Barkley were to miss any time with an injury. In leagues with 12 or more teams, fantasy managers should consider targeting Bigsby on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Aaron Rodgers a Must-Add in Two-QB Formats Entering Week 4
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had his best game of the 2026 season in his team's Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, completing 19 of 34 pass attempts for 292 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The 42-year-old was not nearly as successful in Pittsburgh's first two games of the season, totaling just 408 passing yards and one touchdown pass. Still, Rodgers proved in Week 3 that he's still capable of putting together a productive fantasy performance in the right matchups. The Steelers have a relatively favorable run of opponents coming up, as they will take on the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the next three weeks. In any two-quarterback league where he's not already rostered, Rodgers should be a target on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kendrick Bourne Still Has Some PPR Appeal
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Kendrick Bourne still has some value in deeper PPR formats, even though his production has cooled considerably since Week 1. Bourne caught eight passes for 75 yards in the opener, but he has managed only four receptions for 33 yards over the last two games. That includes two catches for 22 yards in Sunday's loss to San Francisco. He remains Arizona's preferred option from the slot, which gives him a path to useful reception totals when the passing volume is there. The problem is that the targets have not stayed anywhere near his Week 1 level. Bourne enters Week 4 with 12 catches for 108 yards and no touchdowns through three games. RotoBaller currently lists him as a 14-team PPR add, which fits his role much better than the standard-league waiver conversation. He is not a player to chase aggressively, but the slot usage keeps him relevant as depth if the targets pick back up.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ryan Flournoy's Target Volume Keeps Him Interesting
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy remains worth watching in deeper PPR leagues after drawing a season-high eight targets in Sunday's loss to Baltimore. He caught only two of them for 22 yards, so the production still has not matched the opportunities. Flournoy now has nine receptions for 67 yards on 18 targets through three games while continuing to work behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in the Dallas passing game. That makes him difficult to trust as an immediate starter, but 18 targets through three weeks is enough to keep him in the conversation. Flournoy ranks 44th overall among RotoBaller's Week 4 waiver options, with the recommendation geared toward 14-team PPR formats. He is a reasonable bench stash in deeper leagues if the targets continue, while managers in standard 10- or 12-team leagues can still wait to see if the production starts to follow.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashod Bateman Better Suited to Deeper Leagues
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman remains a deeper-league waiver option after Zay Flowers returned to the lineup in Week 3. Bateman caught seven of nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown with Flowers out against New Orleans, then dropped to two catches for 37 yards in Sunday's win over Dallas. Flowers came back and immediately led Baltimore with five receptions for 84 yards, while Lamar Jackson attempted only 20 passes. Bateman still made one of the Ravens' bigger plays with a 31-yard catch, but his weekly target volume is harder to trust when Flowers is healthy. He has nine receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown through three games. Bateman sits 42nd overall on RotoBaller's current Week 4 waiver board, where the recommendation is for 14-team leagues. He is worth holding or adding in deeper formats, but he is more of a bench receiver than a priority claim in standard leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Hutchinson Has Short-Term Waiver Appeal
Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson has some short-term waiver appeal heading into Week 4, though his value could change quickly if Nico Collins returns. Hutchinson caught three of six targets for 51 yards in Sunday's loss to Indianapolis and added four yards on two carries. He has now seen 21 targets through three games, turning them into nine catches for 120 yards, with Collins missing the last two contests because of a hamstring injury. Houston is hopeful Collins can return against Dallas, which would likely push Hutchinson back down the target pecking order. Hutchinson also left Sunday's game late after a 28-yard catch and was evaluated in the medical tent, so his own status is worth monitoring. He sits 38th on RotoBaller's Week 4 waiver board at 7% rostered, with a recommendation for 12-team leagues. That makes Hutchinson a reasonable short-term add, but not someone fantasy managers need to chase aggressively if Collins is close to returning.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ben Johnson Non-Committal on QB Situation Entering Week 4
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson did not say much about the team's quarterback situation heading into Week 4 against the New York Jets when he was asked about it on Tuesday on ESPN 1000, according to Sean Hammond of The Chicago Tribune. "We'll see how it plays out all week," Johnson said. Starting QB Caleb Williams suffered a strained hamstring late in the Week 3 loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings and was ruled out for the Monday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles. With backup Tyson Bagent in the league's concussion protocol for most of the week, veteran third-stringer Case Keenum ended up making the start for Chicago in Week 3. The 38-year-old turned back the clock to stun the Eagles in a 27-7 win, in which he went 24-for-34 passing for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Keenum added a one-yard rushing score for good measure. It was an unexpectedly strong performance, but if Williams needs another week to recover, it seems likely that Johnson will give Keenum another start in Chicago this Sunday versus the Jets.
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Sean Hammond
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Sean Hammond
Titans Not Considering Benching Cam Ward
Tennessee Titans second-year quarterback Cam Ward continued to struggle in Sunday's Week 3 loss to the New York Giants, dropping the Titans to 0-3 and Ward to 3-17 since entering the league as the first overall pick in 2025. The Athletic's Mike Jones writes that Ward's overall play "raises central questions about whether he is truly grasping the mental demands of the position or whether a benching could spark much-needed growth." When asked if he would consider sitting Ward, head coach Robert Saleh offered a quick, unexpounded "No." The 24-year-old has completed 62.5% of his passes for 504 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in three games played. He has failed to go over 200 yards passing in a game this year and ranks 25th in passer rating (80.9), 22nd in completion percentage (62.5), and dead last in most advanced analytics categories, including EPA/play and success rate. If the Titans do eventually decide to bench Ward if his play does not improve, it would be veteran backup Mitchell Trubisky who would be the next man up under center for the Titans.
Source: The Athletic - Mike Jones
Source: The Athletic - Mike Jones
Jason Sanders Signed to Jets' Active Roster
The New York Jets waived kicker Blake Grupe on Tuesday and signed kicker Jason Sanders to their active 53-man roster, a source told Brian Costello of The New York Post. Sanders has been elevated from the practice squad in the first three weeks of the season and has been solid while serving as the starting placekicker early in the 2026 season. The 30-year-old former seventh-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2018 from New Mexico has made five of his six field-goal attempts (2-for-3 from 50-plus yards) and all five of his extra-point tries through his first three games with the Jets. Sanders missed all of last season with an injury, but now that he is healthy and kicking for an improved Jets offense, he will have some weekly streaming appeal in fantasy football in the right matchups. Fantasy managers should probably go in another direction in Week 4, with the Jets traveling to Chicago to take on the Bears. Through three weeks, the Bears defense has allowed only 17.7 points per game, and kicking in the Windy City is usually difficult.
Source: The New York Post - Brian Costello
Source: The New York Post - Brian Costello
Texans Open to Leaning More into the Passing Game
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle that he is willing to lean more into the passing game going forward with the running game stalling out. The Texans lost a close one on Sunday in Week 3 to the division-rival Indianapolis Colts to fall to 0-3, and they now face a must-win game this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Houston ranks 28th in yards per carry at 3.6 and 30th in rushing yards, averaging just 84.6 per game, through the first three weeks of the 2026 season. The Texans' lack of success on the ground is not just on running backs David Montgomery and Woody Marks, as the offensive line has struggled to open running lanes consistently. It has not helped that the Texans have been without top receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) for the last two games, but they could get him back this weekend against Dallas. Quarterback C.J. Stroud had his worst game of the year against the Colts, but he has completed 60% of his passes for 794 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions through three games. If the Texans lean more into the passing game once Collins returns, Stroud could continue what has been a strong fantasy season so far.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Michael Penix Jr. a Potential Streamer in Monday Night Divisional Matchup
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) made his first start in over 10 months in his team's Thursday night win over the Packers, and while he had obvious rust to work through early, he ended the night with 256 yards and a touchdown. With the strange scheduling quirk of going from Thursday to Monday, the Falcons now have four extra days of rest and preparation ahead of a divisional clash with the Saints. After finishing as the fantasy QB21 in his return to action, Penix is a viable streaming option in a Week 4 matchup with one of the week's highest projected scores, and he is readily available on most waiver wires after going largely undrafted in single-quarterback leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Marcus Mariota Remains One of the NFL's Best Backup Quarterbacks
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes in Sunday's upset victory over the Seahawks, finishing the week as the fantasy QB13. The veteran backup has now averaged 17.7 fantasy points across his last nine starts, topping 21 points four times in that span. Jayden Daniels (elbow) is expected to travel with the team to London, but his status remains up in the air, and after gutting out a victory against one of the league's premier defensive units, Mariota could be in line for a second start against an Indianapolis Colts team that has allowed the third most passing yards through three weeks. Still possessing elite rushing upside even at nearly 33 years old, Mariota makes for a strong potential streaming option in Week 4.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Makai Lemon a Week 4 Add as His Role Continues to Grow
Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon has seen his snap counts and route participation hold relatively steady through the first three games of his career, but in a Monday night loss to the Bears in which quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for only 153 yards, the rookie showed flashes of growth. Lemon converted his four targets into three receptions and a season-best 29 yards, racking up most of that yardage after the catch, and he should only see his involvement grow. The 2026 first-round pick is unlikely to be readily available on most waiver wires, but he is a must-add wherever still available, and he could soon work his way into the flex conversation as he continues to earn more targets.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Watkins a Name to Look for on Waiver Wires as Next Man Up
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jordan Watkins caught two passes in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, matching his total from his 2025 rookie season, and he could be thrust into a featured role in a Niners offense that continues to impress despite a growing list of injuries. Veteran Mike Evans (ribs) is considered day-to-day with the rib strain that knocked him out of Sunday's victory, allowing Watkins to turn his two receptions into 60 yards. Quarterback Brock Purdy is playing at an MVP level, and if Evans is unable to suit up against the Broncos, Watkins could feature heavily in two-receiver sets alongside Deebo Samuel Sr., making the 2025 fourth-round pick one of the week's top short-term adds.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte Still Holds Long-Term Value on Waivers
Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has caught only six passes through the first three games of his Texans tenure, but it's reasonable to assume he could soon work his way into a larger role. Boutte was acquired less than a month before the regular season began, and a gradual ramp-up period was always a possibility. With two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins (hamstring) missing the last two games, much of the Texans' passing offense has run through tight end Dalton Schultz, but even as Collins nears a return, the team could still benefit from another outside presence. Boutte scored a career-high seven touchdowns in his final season with the Patriots while averaging over 17 yards per reception, and if he can keep building chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud, he could work his way back into the flex conversation in deeper leagues, making him a worthy stash from this week's waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
More News About Brian Thomas Jr.
