Kenny Gainwell Could Offer Deep-League Flex Value 3mLink copied!

Oct 7, 2026, 8:06 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has failed to give fantasy managers much value over the last two weeks. Irving has been less effective on the ground lately, but that'll hopefully change in Week 5. The 24-year-old draws a juicy matchup against the Dallas Cowboys defense on Thursday. A defensive unit that has allowed four rushing touchdowns and nearly 100 rushing yards per game through its first four contests. The absence of Baker Mayfield (thumb) could mean that the Bucs try to pound the ball on the ground with Jalon Daniels under center. Irving has seen 15 or more carries in three of the first four games this season. He'll offer RB2 upside for the Thursday Night matchup in Dallas.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 7, 2026, 7:59 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels made his first career start against the Green Bay Packers last weekend. He completed 19-of-27 passing attempts for 148 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss. He also rushed the ball eight times for an additional 55 yards on the ground. He'll now have a quick turnaround against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. He won't get much time to practice, but Daniels will get to face the 31st-ranked defense in Dallas. They've allowed nine passing touchdowns through the first four games of the season. The Cowboys defense has also struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks. Their first three opposing quarterbacks all rushed for 50 yards or more on them. Daniels doesn't offer great value as a passer, but he has interesting upside because of his rushing ability. Fantasy managers looking for help in superflex leagues should consider starting Daniels in Week 5.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 7, 2026, 7:51 PM ET

Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson assumed the role of the clear workhorse RB1 in his team's offense in Week 4, and rewarded fantasy managers with a 27.0 PPR fantasy point game thanks to a massive volume of touches. He carried the ball 21 times for 81 yards and one touchdown and caught three of his four targets for 29 yards and another score in the game. This level of volume for any RB in a good offense can't be ignored. While the return of RB Zach Charbonnet (knee) is imminent, he's coming back from an ACL injury, and he may take several weeks to ramp back up to full participation in practice and start meaningfully eating into Wilson's workload. The Seahawks teased the signing of veteran RB Joe Mixon, but opted against it after a physical, meaning Wilson will be set up as the RB1 for the next few weeks. The impending return of Charbonnet will certainly lower Wilson's fantasy trade value, meaning he can be had for much cheaper than his scoring upside would suggest, making him a recommended buy-low target for fantasy football ahead of Week 5.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 7:45 PM ET

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele continues to capitalize on the absence of rookie first-round draft pick Jordyn Tyson (hamstring), who is on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury he suffered in training camp. Since Week 1, Vele has been the clear WR2 for the Saints behind WR1 Chris Olave (rest). Olave had an injury toward the end of Week 4 and didn't practice on Wednesday, but his absence was explained as a veteran rest day. Vele would have massive upside if Olave were to miss time, and Olave has had major injuries in the past, which gives Vele more contingent value. But even standalone value-wise, Vele's 31 targets, 21 catches, 226 yards, and two touchdowns have him on pace for the best season of his career by far. And he's racked up double-digit PPR fantasy points in all but one of his games this season. Saints head coach Kellen Moore has his team's passing offense playing at a high level, and second-year pro quarterback Tyler Shough is emerging as one of the league's most productive passers, making New Orleans' WR2 a valuable buy-low candidate in the process. He's someone worth targeting with trade offers in your fantasy football leagues.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 7:39 PM ET

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III was the subject of intense speculation in fantasy football circles this offseason as the potential breakout star WR1 for the Bears for 2026. That hasn't happened so far this year -- in fact, none of the Bears pass-catchers other than veteran wideout Kalif Raymond have exceeded expectations, as surprising as that is. Burden's target numbers are still solid, though, as he averages just under 7.3 targets per game. That resulted in a 19.8 PPR fantasy point performance in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he's now scored double-digit PPR fantasy points in two games in a row. He has a strong 25.6 percent target share on offense, good for 15th among all the league's wide receivers, and has been targeted six times in the red zone, which ranks no. 3 in the league. The production may not be ideal right now, but with those numbers he has a good chance of getting back on track and enjoying a breakout season. He had a respectable 63 receiving yards in Week 4 with backup QB Tyson Bagent throwing to him. His price in fantasy football has fallen significantly as a result of his low production, making him an ideal buy-low target. His fellow Bears pass-catchers have struggled despite being top draft targets, which could pave the way for Burden to dominate targets, receptions, and yards for his team moving forward.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 7:30 PM ET

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks is rostered in 54 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues ahead of Week 5, so he's not exactly a widely-available waiver pickup target at this point. But he is emerging as a solid buy-low candidate, as he's now outscored Texans RB1 David Montgomery in fantasy football in three consecutive games. While neither of them have had impressive box scores, Marks has seen more targets and is averaging slightly more yards per carry on the season. The Texans' offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL, and hasn't given either Montgomery or Marks much room to run. This could lead Houston to start calling fewer runs further away from the goal line, which could benefit Marks, as he was a solid pass-catching back last season. In addition, Marks has two rushing touchdowns in his last two games, and is getting carries at the goal line over Monty, who's been stuffed often. Neither of these players seem to have a ton of upside for fantasy football right now, but a shift in the backfield work designations could see Marks come out on time and start taking a majority of the touches as well as receptions out of the backfield. For that reason, he's a good buy-low candidate in fantasy football leagues ahead of Week 5.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 7:08 PM ET

Updating a previous report, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (foot) did not practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday. An initial report on Wednesday suggested that McConkey would be back at practice on Wednesday after aggravating a foot injury in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. McConkey failed to haul in either of his two targets in the eventual 30-23 loss on the road, and his status for the Week 5 divisional meeting at home against the Denver Broncos this Sunday is a bit up in the air. Quentin Johnston (chest) and Brenen Thompson (quadriceps) were limited participants in practice, so the winless Chargers' receiving corps is a little beat up this week. If McConkey is limited or out this weekend, Tre' Harris would be a worthwhile receiver streamer against a Broncos defense that does not look nearly as dominant as it did in 2025. Through four games, McConkey has not bounced back from a frustrating second year in the NFL, as he has only 12 catches for 183 yards and one touchdown with quarterback Justin Herbert struggling. Check back on McConkey's status over the next two days to get a better read on whether he will play Sunday against Denver.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Los Angeles Chargers

Oct 7, 2026, 7:06 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is emerging as one of the better buy-low players in all of fantasy football this season. The torn Achilles tendon he suffered last season depressed his draft value markedly, yet he's scored double-digit PPR fantasy points in his last three games. He was limited in Week 1, with just a 46 percent snap share on offense, but those numbers skyrocketed to 85 percent in Week 3 and 91 percent in Week 4. He's now playing without restrictions in an offense that's seen many of their pass-catchers get injured. WRs Ricky Pearsall (knee), Demarcus Robinson (ankle), Christian Kirk (calf), and Brandon Aiyuk (did not report) haven't been able to contribute on offense in recent weeks, leaving Kittle and WR Mike Evans (ribs) as the team's top passing game targets. Kittle's film doesn't show any obvious injury issues, and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is playing incredibly so far, with 11 touchdown passes and just one interception. San Francisco's passing offense is humming, and Kittle has the most upside of any TE not named Trey McBride. Buying him now makes sense if you can still get a decent price on him in any fantasy leagues.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 6:58 PM ET

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson started off the 2026 season slower than we expected, with just 14.4 PPR fantasy points across his first two games. He saw just seven targets in those two contests, so it wasn't really his fault that he didn't have impressive production. But in the last two games combined, he saw passes head his way a truly staggering 30 times. That's an obscene figure, and one that now has him as the 5th-most targeted player in the NFL so far. He had one fewer target than tight end Trey McBride, who's the Cardinals No. 1 pass-catcher, but there's plenty of room in this offense for both to shine bright in fantasy football. Wilson's elite target numbers last season appear to be carrying over, even with WR Marvin Harrison Jr. active and healthy. Harrison has hardly seen the ball, and it's apparent that Wilson, who's been much more talented on film thus far in his career, is the WR1 for Arizona. Wilson isn't priced as an elite WR1, but that's his ceiling, which makes him a priority buy-low in redraft leagues ahead of Week 5. He has league-winning upside, and should post some truly eye-watering fantasy finishes as long as he's healthy for 2026.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 6:46 PM ET

Updating a previous report, New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday after initial reports suggested that he would not practice. Head coach Mike Vrabel said there is a chance that Stevenson will play in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders after he injured his right knee in the big Week 4 win over the division-rival Buffalo Bills. If Stevenson is unable to put in a full practice on Thursday or Friday, he will likely go into the weekend with a questionable designation on the final injury report. If Stevenson is limited at all or out altogether this weekend, it would give TreVeyon Henderson a much higher fantasy ceiling as essentially a must-start in fantasy football lineups. The 28-year-old Stevenson had 13 carries for 47 yards and his first touchdown of the season on Sunday in Buffalo, adding three catches for 27 yards as a receiver. Because of his new knee injury, Stevenson is shaping up as an even more volatile RB3/flex play for fantasy managers in Week 5. The Patriots looking at signing free-agent veteran Jamaal Williams suggests that Stevenson could be set to miss his first game of the season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: New England Patriots

Oct 7, 2026, 6:37 PM ET

Updating a previous report, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (groin, neck) did not practice on Wednesday, according to Jay Morrison of Sports Illustrated. A previous report on Wednesday suggested that Higgins would be limited at practice. Both Higgins and star wideout Ja'Marr Chase (concussion) missed the first practice of the week, and their statuses need to be followed closely over the next two days. Even if Chase is cleared of the concussion protocol later this week and suits up this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, Higgins will be a must-start in fantasy football lineups if he returns to practice and plays this weekend. Higgins has 25 catches for 401 yards and a touchdown on 39 targets through the first four weeks in 2026, including an 11-catch, 157-yard day in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after Chase suffered a head injury. If both Higgins and Chase are unable to play against the Dolphins, Dohnte Meyers could be Cincy's No. 1 receiver, with tight end Mike Gesicki also having a larger target share.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jay Morrison

Oct 7, 2026, 6:32 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys have had one of the worst defenses in the NFL so far this season, on paper, on film, and on the stat sheet. In fantasy football, they're the worst defense, depending on your scoring system, and haven't scored double-digit fantasy points in any of their games. They've allowed 28 points per game to opposing offenses. They even dipped into negative scoring in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens. But the matchup is so good in Week 5 that they might finally be worth starting in deep leagues. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense fell completely flat in Week 4, as starting quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) missed the game with a thumb injury and was replaced by backup QB Jalon Daniels. He threw for just 148 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, and was sacked three times. Dallas will have home-field advantage for the contest. The Cowboys would benefit from having a real threat at pass-rusher, but in such an easy matchup, they have at least some upside in very deep leagues.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 6:31 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) was not seen at practice on Wednesday after suffering a hamstring injury in the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, according to Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. The Eagles are labeling Barkley as week-to-week after his injury on Sunday, and with backup Tank Bigsby (abdomen) going on Injured Reserve, Will Shipley is in line for a significant backfield workload for Philly on Sunday in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars if Barkley is officially ruled out on Friday. Fantasy managers should not plan on having Barkley available to them this weekend after what has been a disappointing first four games in 2026 so far. The Pro Bowl RB has yet to find the end zone and has carried the ball 36 times for 182 yards (5.1 yards per carry) while adding four catches for only eight yards. Barkley's efficiency has been strong, but he also missed time in a game with a stinger and now looks likely to miss at least one game for the Eagles. The team also added Dameon Pierce for backfield depth, and he could have a decent role right away this weekend if Barkley cannot go.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena

Oct 7, 2026, 6:24 PM ET

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) is "doing well" and will be limited in Wednesday's practice. Jefferson sprained his left ankle in the Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and did not practice last week before being ruled out for the Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins. The All-Pro receiver is not a lock to return for a Week 5 tilt on the road against the New Orleans Saints, but the fact that he is back at practice early in the week is a good sign. Fellow receiver Jordan Addison is nursing a hamstring injury this week as well, so Minnesota's receiving corps could be short-handed against New Orleans. Jefferson is a must-start in all traditional fantasy football leagues when he is active, but we will need to keep a close eye on his status over the next two days. With Jefferson out and Addison getting injured on Sunday, tight end T.J. Hockenson had a big game through the air. Jefferson has caught 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns in three games this year, and he has yet to really develop chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray, with the two players already missing time with injuries in 2026. UPDATE: Jefferson said on Wednesday that he is planning on playing on Sunday.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Minnesota Vikings

Oct 7, 2026, 6:14 PM ET

Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love's ankle injury is not expected to impact him in the Week 5 contest at home against the visiting Detroit Lions, head coach Mike LaFleur told Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. It sounds like "maintenance" will continue to be the keyword for the young RB. The 21-year-old from Notre Dame is dealing with a new ankle issue, but it is reportedly unrelated to the high-ankle sprain that he dealt with in the preseason in late August. The Cardinals will continue to give Love breathers during the week, so it would not be a surprise if he is listed as a non-participant in the first practice on Wednesday. Love should be all systems go for this weekend's contest against Detroit, where he will continue to split backfield touches with Tyler Allgeier. The young and powerful RB had 14 carries for 63 yards on the ground and caught one pass for a loss of eight yards in the Week 4 loss to the New York Giants. Love now has 35 rushing attempts in the last two weeks after carrying the ball 20 times in his first two NFL games. Against New York in Week 5, Love should have high-end RB2 upside if he continues to be more involved.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake

Oct 7, 2026, 6:08 PM ET

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was rested in practice on Wednesday but was not listed with an injury designation, according to Saints sideline reporter Jeff Nowak. Olave took a hard shot in the Monday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons to close out Week 4, but his absence on Wednesday was not related to that hit. The 26-year-old should be just fine to play this weekend against the visiting Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and he should be locked into all starting fantasy lineups despite the difficult matchup against the Vikings' defense. The former first-rounder is the team's unquestioned WR1 and has a great connection with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. After reaching the third 1,000-yard season of his career in 2025 with a career-best nine touchdowns, Olave leads the NFL in targets (48) through four games in 2026 and has added 35 receptions for 491 yards and one touchdown to begin his fifth year in the league. He already has three 100-yard games this season after catching eight of 12 targets for 116 yards on Monday night. Olave has at least 10 targets in all four games in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Jeff Nowak

Oct 7, 2026, 6:05 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy has yet to have his first breakout game of the 2026 NFL season. The return of Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb to full health has allowed him to ascend to elite, elite WR1 status, at the expense of every other pass-catcher on the team. Flournoy's big games last season were aided by injuries to the team's other wideouts, anyway, and he's best viewed as a handcuff that has legitimate upside only when either of the team's two starting wideouts, Lamb and George Pickens, go down. Dallas' targets are concentrated heavily on Lamb, with Pickens, tight end Jake Ferguson, and running back Javonte Williams also getting in on the action regularly. That simply doesn't leave much left over for a WR3 like Flournoy to have any kind of week-to-week upside. After four games, he's the WR74 in PPR Fantasy football leagues, which makes him a tough start even in deep dynasty leagues. He should be stashed on benches in those deep leagues for a rainy day for Lamb or Pickens, though.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 5:45 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey missed two of his four field goal attempts in a Week 4 win over the Houston Texans. Though he was a ridiculously accurate kicker in his first season in the NFL, he's been markedly less on-point since then. He hovered around 85 percent accuracy in his second and third season as the Cowboys kicker and now sits at just under 73 percent. The Cowboys have a high-powered offense that's gotten them into scoring range with regularity this season, but Aubrey's fall-off is concerning. He managed 10 fantasy points last game and is the 14th ranked kicker by fantasy scoring in the NFL, though. And a Week 5 matchup with a hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers team could be what Aubrey needs to log a top-5 finish at his position. A more accurate day would help him do so. The Bucs have allowed 13.8 fantasy points per game to opposing kickers this season, which is the worst mark in the NFL, due largely to their pass defense being so ineffective. Aubrey is worth a start in 10 and 12-team leagues for his upside for Week 5.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 5:36 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has taken a backseat to star Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb for most of this season, as he typically does. Ferguson's two-touchdown, 20.3 PPR fantasy point game in Week 2 was the exception rather than the rule for him, as he's failed to eclipse double-digit PPR fantasy points in each other game. Cowboys RB Javonte Williams has done a great job punching the ball in at the goal line this season, and when he's been effective, Dallas hasn't had much need to pass the ball on goal-to-go plays. Ferguson does have three touchdown receptions this season, but his target share simply isn't enough to support consistent fantasy results. After four games, he ranks as just the TE20 in PPR fantasy football leagues, meaning he's better suited as an auxiliary piece for best ball leagues rather than an every-week starter in redraft. Football is too random a sport to predict the games in which he'll get touchdowns, and he's mired in a snare of too much target competition from Lamb and WR George Pickens. Ferguson is a solid start at TE in very deep leagues, but there are better options out there, even on waivers in many weeks. He's a mid-range TE2 for now.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 7, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens has yet to score a touchdown or eclipse 20 PPR fantasy points in any of his games this season after scoring seven times and logging five such productive games in 2025. It's clear now that fellow Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb never returned to full health last season after his high-ankle sprain early in the year, and Pickens was able to capitalize by becoming Dallas' most productive receiver. That script has flipped this season. Pickens was disconcertingly only targeted three times in the Cowboys' Week 4 win over the Houston Texans despite the game featuring almost 800 yards of total offense. Pickens has not been living up to his second-round ADP in fantasy football, and looks more like an auxiliary piece than a WR1B to Lamb. A game against such a weak defense in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 is a great chance for him to get back on track, though. Fantasy managers should exercise patience with Pickens and leave him in starting lineups for now. He showed fantastic upside last season, and could be on the verge of a huge game on Thursday Night Football.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN