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Aaron Jones Sr. Handling Extremely High Volume with Ease
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. was seemingly phased out of a high-volume role last year, but he has bounced back as an every-down option out of the backfield this season. An early-season injury to Jordan Mason (hand) thrust Jones into the lead-back role, and he has averaged a whopping 23 touches per game in three weeks since then. He has been heavily featured on the ground, but he has also taken on an enormous role in the passing game with 14 targets over his last two contests. The 31-year-old is enjoying a volume-based career resurgence, putting him firmly back on the fantasy radar as an RB2 for as long as Mason remains sidelined. Jones will remain a borderline must-start in this week's game against the Saints before heading on to his bye week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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Carnell Tate Trending Up with Enormous Volume Share
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate has been one of the lone bright spots for his team this season. The No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft, Tate has quickly ascended into a high-volume role as one of quarterback Cam Ward's favorite targets. He has played at least 84% of the snaps in three of his first four NFL games, and he has seen his target total increase each of the last two weeks. He was especially dominant in Week 4, catching nine of 12 targets for 145 yards. The only blemish on his stat line was a lost fumble. Outside of the turnover, Tate proved that he is a consistent, reliable option for the Titans in the passing game, and the team should continue to feature him as they look to break out of a 0-4 start. Tate has surged into the mid-to-high WR2 tier for fantasy football, but managers must acknowledge that he has a slightly lower floor given that Ward is susceptible to dud outings as a passer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Caleb Williams Has Looked "Spry and Comfortable" Amid Recovery
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) has "looked spry and comfortable taking drops, planting, [and] slinging it around," according to Dan Wiederer of The Athletic. Williams is working his way back from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that he suffered in the Bears' Week 2 loss to the Vikings. Officially, he has not returned to practice, but sources have told Wiederer that the former No. 1 pick has looked very good while rehabbing and recovering. Williams has already been ruled out for Week 5, but the fact that the Bears never placed him on IR suggests that he has a chance to return in Week 6. With that being said, the Bears also have 11 days off between Weeks 7 and 8, so that could be a natural time for him to re-integrate into the offense. Whenever Williams does return, he'll look to pick up right where he left off as a QB1 in fantasy football.
Source: Dan Wiederer
Source: Dan Wiederer
Cowboys Activate Tyler Smith from Injured Reserve for Thursday Night
The Dallas Cowboys have activated guard Tyler Smith (thumb) from injured reserve, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Smith is coming off a full practice session and will make his season debut on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The All-Pro lineman landed on IR shortly before the regular season began, as he required surgery on his thumb. He missed no more than the minimum four games, and now he's back in action and will offer key protection in front of Dak Prescott and Javonte Williams. The former first-round pick will look to build off an impressive 2025 campaign that saw him post a career-high 81.0 PFF run-blocking grade.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Michael Pittman Jr. Battling Injury, Not Getting Targets
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) has been limited in practice while dealing with a foot injury, and he hasn't been able to get going this season with his new team. Pittman has been mostly an afterthought since returning from missing Week 2, even though the Steelers have scored 30 and 24 points in the last two weeks and Aaron Rodgers has thrown for over 290 yards and six touchdowns. Pittman didn't score any of those touchdowns and only had two catches in each game, for 16 yards and 15 yards. In deep leagues, you can hold on to Pittman and hope he overcomes the injury and becomes more productive later in the season, but with the offense going so well without him, that seems like it could be a long way away. If there are better short-term options on your waiver wire who are on the rise, Pittman is a drop candidate in standard-sized leagues coming into the Steelers Week 5 matchup with his former team, the Colts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lamar Jackson Dealing with a "Rare" Ankle Sprain
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) isn't dealing with a high-ankle sprain or a low-ankle sprain, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Instead, he's dealing with a "non-traditional" ankle sprain, which is what makes it tricky to put an exact timeline on his return. Jackson did not practice at all on Wednesday, but if he's able to practice on Thursday, there is still a chance he will play in Week 5 against the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday Night Football. If Jackson isn't able to practice on Thursday, it will likely be Tyler Huntley who gets the start in that contest after completing eight of his nine pass attempts for 63 yards and adding 16 rushing yards on four carries in the second half against the Titans last week. Keep a close eye on Thursday's practice report as you plan your strategy for Sunday regarding any of the Ravens' offense.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Chris Godwin Jr. Is a Drop Candidate in Most Leagues
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. is coming off his busiest game of the season, but things aren't looking great for the veteran wide receiver for the next several weeks. Godwin caught a season-high six passes in Week 4 against the Packers but only totaled 31 yards. QB Jalon Daniels only threw for 148 total yards on 27 attempts in that game, and his inexperience as an undrafted rookie limits the upside of the offense while Baker Mayfield (thumb) is out. Mayfield is expected to miss about six to eight weeks, which puts his return in November. While Godwin may still have PPR value due to getting plenty of targets, his ceiling is limited until Mayfield returns. With so many rising receivers on the waiver wire in most leagues, Godwin is a drop candidate in standard leagues if you can't just hold him until Baker gets back.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Brian Thomas Jr. Is Playing a Smaller Role in Jacksonville
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and racked up 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, but he has fallen into a smaller role in coach Liam Coen's offense for the last two seasons and has become a drop candidate in standard-sized fantasy leagues. Thomas has only totaled nine catches for 105 yards and a touchdown through the first four games of the season, playing well behind WRs Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers and ranking fourth on the team in targets behind TE Brenton Strange as well. Thomas only had three targets in the last two weeks combined, and his reduced role makes him hard to trust unless there is an injury or he is traded to a new team with more targets available. He still has the skills to give him upside and is on the field, but he's not getting enough targets right now to be an option you have to hold on to in standard-sized leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Nabers Expresses Visible Frustration with Lack of Targets in Victory
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is dealing with soreness in his surgically repaired right knee and is uncertain if he'll be able to play this week against the Commanders. Nabers said, "We'll see how the next day goes," when asked about his availability after practice on Wednesday. He also discussed his frustrations on the sideline in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. Nabers said, "I felt like I didn't get targeted much after halftime," which is why he was waving his arms at the Giants' sideline and yelling to the coaching staff several times during the game. He did only get three targets in the second half, but it remains to be seen if coach John Harbaugh and his staff will allow Nabers to behave this way or if it will get him any more work. If he does overcome his knee issues and plays this week, he will be a solid WR3, according to RotoBaller's rankings, where he is the No. 26 WR for Week 5.
Source: Pat Leonard
Source: Pat Leonard
Sean Payton Takes Over Some of the Offensive Play-Calling Duties
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has begun to take over some of the play-calling duties from first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb, according to former NFL wide receiver and current Denver Sports 104.3 contributor Brandon Stokley. He noted that Payton began the process of getting more involved with play-calling in last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and he'll be even more involved in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers. At this point, it's unclear whether Payton will assume full control of the offense, but at the very least, his influence will be substantial. "I'm hearing he's taking over the majority if not all of the play calling," Stokley wrote on X. The shift in coaching duties makes sense, as Denver's offense has ranked sixth-worst in total yards under Webb this year. They've also ranked fourth-worst in rushing yards and sixth-worst in offensive points scored. Those are unacceptable numbers from a unit with Bo Nix, Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, and a three-headed backfield of J.K. Dobbins, R.J. Harvey, and Jonah Coleman (ankle, IR). Perhaps Payton's expanded play-calling role and a matchup against the 0-4 Chargers will be an opportunity for this Broncos offense to get back on track.
Source: Brandon Stokley
Source: Brandon Stokley
Quentin Johnston Logs a Limited Practice Session on Wednesday
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (chest) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, according to the team's official injury report. The 0-4 Chargers continue to be the bearers of bad news, listing a whopping 18 players on their injury report, including three receivers: Johnston, Ladd McConkey (foot, did not practice), and Brenen Thompson (quadricep, limited). Johnston has been incredibly disappointing in his fourth NFL season, catching just seven passes for 108 yards and zero touchdowns through four games. After posting a career-best WR34 finish in PPR leagues last year, he has plummeted to WR88 in scoring so far this season. The only good news is that he has maintained a snap share of at least 75% every week. If McConkey is inactive against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, Johnston's fantasy appeal will increase slightly, but he's pretty tough to trust in most leagues right now. Plus, he'd need to clear injury hurdles of his own as he works to overcome this chest ailment.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Joe Alt Not Expected to Play in Week 5 Against Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt (neck) is expected to miss Sunday's Week 5 contest against the Denver Broncos, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. Alt initially suffered the injury in last weekend's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and although he won't be placed on injured reserve, the star lineman will miss at least a little time. This is brutal news for the Chargers, who have endured an ugly 0-4 start and cannot afford to lose their Pro Bowl right tackle for any amount of time. Quarterback Justin Herbert took a season-high four sacks last week, and he could endure even worse protection this week with Alt sidelined. His absence will presumably bump fourth-round rookie Travis Burke, a Memphis product, into the starting right tackle role against Denver.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Zach Charbonnet Limited in Practice as Potential Activation Lingers
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday as the team begins preparing for Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. Charbonnet tore his ACL in the playoffs last year, and he didn't quite recover in time for the season opener, so the Seahawks placed him on the PUP list to start the year. Now that he has missed the minimum four games, he's eligible to be activated. The Seahawks definitely don't have to activate him this week if they don't think he's ready, but it's worth noting that Seattle is actively looking to improve its backfield. After placing rookie Jadarian Price (chest) on injured reserve last week, the Seahawks tried to sign Joe Mixon to their practice squad, but the deal didn't progress beyond a physical. Getting Charbonnet back from injury would help answer the running back questions for Seattle, which gave a total of 32 touches to Emanuel Wilson and George Holani last week. Upon his return, Charbonnet would occupy the lead-back role, ranking as an RB2 in fantasy football.
Source: John Boyle
Source: John Boyle
Jalen Nailor Sidelined with a Concussion to Open Practice Week
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday as the team begins to prepare for Week 5 against the New England Patriots, according to Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee. Nailor initially suffered the injury in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, and it forced him to miss part of the game. Now, he's at risk of missing all of next week's game against the Patriots if he doesn't clear concussion protocol in time. It's not often that players are able to clear the protocol in seven days, but it's not impossible. Fantasy managers should monitor the Raiders' practice reports going forward, especially when they release their game status designations on Friday. If Nailor can't suit up this week, Tre Tucker and Cody White would step into larger roles in the passing game.
Source: Anthony Galaviz
Source: Anthony Galaviz
Brock Bowers Limited in Practice on Wednesday
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, according to Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee. As the Raiders prepare for their Week 5 matchup against the New England Patriots, Bowers appears to be less than 100%. It's too early to panic, though. After all, Bowers was limited on Friday last week, and he still managed to play 48 hours later, racking up six catches for 86 yards and one touchdown against the Chiefs. As long as Bowers doesn't take a step backward and miss a practice altogether, we feel pretty good about his chances of playing on Sunday afternoon. The Raiders and fantasy managers will both benefit from his availability, as he has posted a whopping 25 targets, 16 catches, 202 yards, and two touchdowns in two games since returning from his meniscus trim. He is an undisputed high-end TE1 in fantasy football week in and week out.
Source: Anthony Galaviz
Source: Anthony Galaviz
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Logs Limited Practice Session on Wednesday
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) logged a limited practice session on Wednesday due to a groin issue, per the team's official injury report. Croskey-Merritt recorded 2026 season lows in Week 4 in carries (nine), rushing yards (15), and rushing yards per attempt (1.7). He also had two receptions for 35 yards. Austin Ekeler, who recently signed back with the Commanders, outperformed Croskey-Merritt on the ground on fewer carries with 29 yards on four rushes (7.3 yards per carry). Ultimately, the Commanders were defeated 30-13 against the Indianapolis Colts in London in Week 4. Of note, fellow running back Rachaad White (shoulder) returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday after missing the game against the Colts in Week 4. Croskey-Merritt leads the Commanders with 56 rushing attempts for 157 yards and a touchdown, but he has been inefficient with an average of just 2.8 yards per carry. Croskey-Merritt's participation throughout the rest of the practice week will be telling, but he does not appear to be in danger of missing a Week 5 matchup with the New York Giants as of now.
Source: Washington Commanders
Source: Washington Commanders
Stefon Diggs Misses Wednesday's Practice Due to Hamstring Injury
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (hamstring) missed Wednesday's practice due to a hamstring injury. Diggs is coming off of a five-catch, 35-yard performance in a Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London. He saw nine targets in the game, but ended with a rather unproductive stat line. Diggs is Washington's leading wide receiver through four games in 2026 with 18 receptions for 170 yards (9.4 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Fellow wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring) also did not practice on Wednesday after he was forced to miss the Week 4 loss against the Colts because of a hamstring injury of his own. It would not be an ideal situation for the Commanders to be without both wideouts against the New York Giants in Week 5. Diggs' status is worth monitoring throughout the week.
Source: Washington Commanders
Source: Washington Commanders
Tyler Shough Limited With Hand Injury on Wednesday
Tyler Shough (hand), the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, was limited at Wednesday's practice due to a left hand issue, according to the team's injury report. However, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football noted that Shough's injury "doesn't sound concerning." The Saints are coming off of a 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. Shough completed 30 of his 48 passes (62.5%) for 286 yards and a touchdown. Through four games in the 2026 season, Shough currently ranks third in the NFL with 1,203 passing yards, and he is tied for third in the league in touchdown passes with nine. While fantasy managers will need to keep a close eye on Shough's status the rest of the week, his availability does not seem too worrisome right now.
Source: New Orleans Saints' Injury Report
Source: New Orleans Saints' Injury Report
Tony Pollard Does Not Practice Wednesday
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (foot) did not practice Wednesday due to a foot issue, according to the team's official injury report. Of note, Pollard also did not practice last week on Wednesday ahead of Week 4 before logging full practice sessions on Thursday and Friday. Ultimately, he was active and played 34 offensive snaps in a 24-18 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Pollard rushed 16 times for 48 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and scored a touchdown against the Ravens, while also adding two receptions for two yards. He is Tennessee's leading rusher with 54 carries for 221 yards and a touchdown. Pollard has also recorded eight receptions for 24 yards. While his status for the rest of the week is worth monitoring moving forward, his absence on Wednesday was most likely precautionary.
Source: Tennessee Titans PR
Source: Tennessee Titans PR
Jordan Addison Doesn't Practice on Wednesday
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that Addison is dealing with some hamstring soreness. He noted that it was a minor issue, so it sounds like Addison will be fine in time for the Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Addison is finally beginning to produce consistent numbers, so fantasy managers don't need him to go down with an injury right now. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week.
Source: Alec Lewis
Source: Alec Lewis
Baker Mayfield is Officially Ruled Out for Week 5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) has been officially ruled out ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. As expected, Mayfield will miss his second straight game with the Bucs taking on the Cowboys in Dallas on Thursday Night. The veteran quarterback could be sidelined as long as six to eight weeks while he recovers from his thumb injury. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will draw his second career start this week. Fantasy managers in most standard 12-team redraft formats can probably move on from Mayfield, with him expected to miss a good chunk of the season.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
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