Jalen Nailor Misses Another Practice 0mLink copied!

Oct 8, 2026, 3:45 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys waived running back Emari Demercado on Thursday to make room for offensive lineman Tyler Smith, who was activated from injured reserve. Demercado had already fallen out of the backfield picture after receiving five carries for 15 yards in the first two games. He was inactive the past two weeks, with Tyler Goodson taking over the backup work behind Javonte Williams. Goodson has nine carries for 34 yards in those games, so the change had essentially happened before Thursday's roster move. Dallas claimed Demercado off waivers from Kansas City at the beginning of September, but his stay lasted just over a month. He had a bigger role during his three seasons with Arizona, totaling 819 rushing yards and 50 receptions for another 324 yards. Demercado is off the fantasy radar for now and will need to find another opportunity elsewhere.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Joseph Hoyt

Oct 8, 2026, 3:42 PM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf) was not spotted at Thursday's practice during the portion open to the media, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. Hollins also missed the first practice of the week on Wednesday, so as of now, he is trending in the wrong direction to be available in Week 5 at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. Top wideout A.J. Brown (ankle) remains on Injured Reserve and will miss a fourth straight game this weekend, so the Patriots receiving room could be pretty thinned out against Vegas if Hollins cannot play. The 33-year-old Hollins has merely been a flex play in deeper fantasy leagues, even with Brown out, and he is still searching for his first touchdown of the year. In the three games without Brown, Hollins has caught 11 of his 15 targets for 158 yards. Romeo Doubs will have at least one more week as the top dog at WR for the Pats, and DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III will have bigger roles against the Raiders if Hollins does not play in Week 5.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar

Oct 8, 2026, 3:35 PM ET

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle) missed another practice Thursday, according to C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald. The rookie hasn't practiced since injuring his right ankle against San Francisco in Week 2 and has already missed two games. Douglas made a strong first impression with five catches for 94 yards in his NFL debut against Las Vegas, but his season has been on hold since the injury. He has seven receptions for 113 yards through two appearances. Malik Washington has been Miami's most reliable receiver in Douglas' absence, catching five passes in each of the last two games. Fellow rookie Chris Bell had four catches for 67 yards against Kansas City in Week 3 before being held without a reception on three targets last Sunday. Douglas hasn't been ruled out against Cincinnati, but another missed practice leaves his Week 5 availability in question.--Bruno Mulé
Source: C. Isaiah Smalls II

Oct 8, 2026, 3:25 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (groin, neck) was working on the rehab field Thursday, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. Higgins wasn't dressed for regular practice, having already sat out Wednesday's session. He suffered an adductor injury late in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville, finishing that game with 11 catches for 157 yards on 16 targets before leaving. There's still a chance he plays against Miami in Week 5, but he hasn't been able to get back into team drills yet. Ja'Marr Chase (concussion) was back in uniform Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice, although he still needs to clear concussion protocol. Higgins has 25 receptions for 401 yards and one touchdown through four games. Cincinnati has its bye next week, and Friday's practice should provide a better indication of whether Higgins will be available Sunday.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Ben Baby

Oct 8, 2026, 3:15 PM ET

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (shoulder) was no longer wearing a red non-contact jersey at Thursday's practice, according to Art Stapleton. Skattebo wore the jersey Wednesday and was officially listed as limited, so the change is encouraging ahead of Sunday's matchup with Washington. It remains to be seen how much work he actually handled Thursday. The Giants have leaned heavily on Skattebo through four games, giving him at least 18 carries in three contests. He hasn't done much with that volume, averaging 3.5 yards per carry on 68 attempts, but has remained the clear lead back. Skattebo also has eight receptions for 67 yards this season. His workload has been a big part of his fantasy appeal despite the modest rushing numbers, making his shoulder worth monitoring. Thursday's official practice report should give a better indication of where things stand.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Art Stapleton

Oct 8, 2026, 3:13 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said running back Omarion Hampton's decrease in snaps over the last two weeks is not because of a lack of faith, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. "I don't see any change in terms of the depth chart at all. I felt I was underutilizing a strength. I can't make the statement more emphatic: it's not because I lost any faith in O at all," McDaniel said. After seeing 35 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season, Hampton has had 24 rushing attempts for 101 yards and one touchdown over the last two weeks. The second-year back from North Carolina had a season-low nine carries for 45 yards in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but he was able to salvage his final fantasy line by scoring his third rushing touchdown. Hampton should lead L.A.'s backfield when all is said and done in 2026 if he stays healthy, but the presence of both Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal will keep him as more of a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex for fantasy lineups going into a Week 5 divisional tilt against the visiting Denver Broncos this Sunday. McDaniel also added: "I see Omarion Hampton as the starter but I see the RB room as a strength. If you don't disperse carries, it's very rare that guys are available every week. I don't see any change in the depth chart at all."--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim

Oct 8, 2026, 2:57 PM ET

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was seen practicing during the portion open to the media on Thursday, according to Art Stapleton of The North Jersey Bergen Record. Nabers might not be a full participant on the final report, but it is good news that he is practicing at all after he was listed as a non-participant for Wednesday's practice due to soreness in his surgically-repaired knee. The Giants are most likely just being extra cautious with their star wide receiver. Barring a serious setback on Friday, Nabers should be active as the Giants take on the division-rival Washington Commanders on the road on Sunday. The former first-rounder's overall fantasy ceiling took a hit early on this year when starting quarterback Jaxson Dart (knee) was lost for the season, but he is still a must-start each week when he is healthy. In the Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals, while working with veteran QB Jameis Winston, Nabers caught six of his seven targets for a season-high 112 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Check back on Nabers' status for Friday's final injury report to get a better idea of his availability this weekend.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The North Jersey Bergen Record - Art Stapleton

Oct 8, 2026, 2:50 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was seen getting some running in while working on a side field during the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. Smith did not suit up for the team's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and was held out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday. He could go down as a non-participant again in Thursday's practice, but it was at least a good sign to see him running around on the field. With that said, the team's WR1 might need to put in a full practice on Friday to avoid a questionable tag going into the weekend. If Smith misses a second straight game in Week 5, receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon will once again have elevated target shares. The Eagles could also be getting tight end Dallas Goedert back from a knee injury that has kept him out for the last couple of games. Smith is a must-start in fantasy leagues when he is active, and he has caught 19 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown in his first three games in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus

Oct 8, 2026, 2:44 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) was among the players that ESPN's Tim McManus did not see during a brief portion of practice open to the media on Thursday. Barkley injured his hamstring in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams and is now very questionable to play in London on Sunday in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tank Bigsby (abdomen) is having core-muscle surgery and landed on Injured Reserve this week, so he will be out for at least four games. The Eagles' backfield depth is going to be tested if Barkley does not get cleared to play this weekend. Philly added veteran back Dameon Pierce to their active 53-man roster this week for extra depth, but if Barkley is inactive, it will likely be Will Shipley seeing most of the backfield work. Barkley sitting out on Sunday would put Shipley immediately into flex territory against the Jaguars. A second straight day of missed practice on Thursday would put Barkley on the wrong side of questionable for Week 5. If he is a true game-time decision, the good news is that fantasy managers will know early on Sunday whether he is active.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus

Oct 8, 2026, 2:38 PM ET

It appears that New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) will at least be limited in Thursday's practice, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. Stevenson came out of the Week 4 win over the division-rival Buffalo Bills with a banged-up right knee, and he was also limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. It does not appear that the 28-year-old's knee injury is very serious, but we will continue to keep a close eye on his status going into this weekend's game on Sunday at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. If Stevenson were to be limited at all or out entirely, TreVeyon Henderson would have a much higher fantasy ceiling as the team's workhorse back. Stevenson has not been ruled out this week, but he might need to put in a full practice on Friday to avoid a questionable tag for Sunday's game. The sixth-year RB has 163 rushing yards and a touchdown on 44 carries (3.7 yards per attempt) through four games, adding 12 receptions for 90 yards through the air while sharing backfield touches with Henderson.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar

Oct 8, 2026, 2:32 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (head) is back at practice on Thursday as he continues to work his way through the league's concussion protocol, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Chase suffered a concussion in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and did not practice on Wednesday. His status for this weekend's game in Miami against the Dolphins is still up in the air, but his return to practice on Thursday at least gives him a chance to clear the NFL's concussion protocol by the weekend. Fellow wideout Tee Higgins (groin) is also on the Week 5 injury report and did not practice on Wednesday, so Cincy's receiving corps is banged up right now. Chase is a must-start in all traditional fantasy football leagues when he is active, but his status for Week 5 could be a game-time decision on Sunday. The five-time Pro Bowler has caught 21 of his 28 targets for 212 yards and three touchdowns through his first four games in 2026. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Chase's status for Friday's final injury report.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby

Oct 8, 2026, 2:26 PM ET

When Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady was asked about potentially letting wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) rest his injured shoulder in Week 5 on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams, he said that the team owes it to Moore to let him try if he thinks he can play as the team monitors his shoulder, per Andy Young. "DJ's a competitor. You see the difference with us with DJ out on the football field," Brady said. Moore originally suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder in the Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions, but he has not missed any game time before aggravating the injury in Sunday's divisional loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. The 29-year-old only caught one of two targets in that game for 11 yards. He also gave fantasy managers a donut in Week 2 when he injured his shoulder, which came after a 100-yard performance and a touchdown in his Bills' debut in Week 1. The good news is that Moore has an extra day to prepare his body before the Monday night contest in L.A. If he does not get the green light to play on Sunday, Keon Coleman will be firmly in play as a flex option after catching six passes for 116 yards and his first touchdown of the year in the loss to New England. UPDATE: Moore was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Andy Young

Oct 8, 2026, 2:19 PM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) has been in the locker room over the last few days and is eligible to return from Injured Reserve next week, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. The Boston Herald's Doug Kyed reported on Wednesday that Brown was not walking around the locker room with a limp. The 29-year-old has not yet returned to practice, but he is nearing the light at the end of the tunnel in his recovery from a right high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. Brown can officially return to the practice field next week, but even if he does, it is not a guarantee that he will come off IR to play in Week 6 against the division-rival New York Jets. The three-time Pro Bowler was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason to become quarterback Drake Maye's go-to target, but his ankle injury in Week 1 put a halt to those plans. Brown should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues as he nears the end of his recovery and will be a must-start in fantasy lineups whenever he returns to action.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar

Oct 8, 2026, 2:13 PM ET

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) was seen practicing in pads on Thursday. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime writes that it "is huge" and "means he is very close." Dell was listed as limited on Wednesday in his return to practice, which opened his 21-day window to be officially activated from Injured Reserve. The 26-year-old suffered a devastating knee injury late in the 2024 campaign and was unable to play at all last year. The Texans brought him along slowly in training camp this summer and placed him on IR to begin the regular season. But now that he has missed the required four games, he could be on the cusp of rejoining a Texans' receiving corps that is hungry for reinforcements and playmakers behind Nico Collins after Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason. It would be a bit of a surprise if Dell is activated to make his season debut in Week 5 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans, but he is clearly getting closer and deserves stashing in most fantasy football leagues for his big-play ability. The former third-rounder from Houston caught 98 passes for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns (seven as a rookie) in his first two years in the NFL.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime

Oct 8, 2026, 2:07 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson's fantasy football stock continues to rise on Thursday after head coach Mike McCarthy announced that receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) will be out for multiple weeks after aggravating a foot injury, according to Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. In the team's Week 4 loss to the division-rival Cleveland Browns last Thursday night, the 25-year-old Wilson caught three of his six targets for 74 yards and his second touchdown of the 2026 season. Wilson has now found the end zone in back-to-back weeks and has exactly six targets in each of the team's first four games. With Pittman now in line to miss multiple weeks, Wilson should see even more targets from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has voiced multiple times that he has plenty of trust in Wilson. He has already eclipsed the 166 receiving yards that he had in 13 regular-season games last year and matched the two touchdowns he scored. Wilson is only rostered in 13% of Yahoo leagues and will be a sneaky flex option for fantasy managers in deeper leagues this weekend against the Indianapolis Colts.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Chris Adamski

Oct 8, 2026, 2:00 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) played only the first half of the team's Week 4 win over the Titans, exiting early with an ankle injury, and for the second consecutive day he was not seen at practice. Jackson still finished as the QB11 on the week despite sitting out the second half, and he's been one of the safest starters of the year despite spending significant time without top wide receiver Zay Flowers. Unfortunately, Jackson's own injury history has become an inescapable piece of his own fantasy profile, having missed five games in 2025 and looking like a shell of himself for large swaths of the year. With his second missed practice of the week, Jackson is trending toward his first absence of 2026, and even upon his return, fantasy managers will have to hope that his signature mobility is not sapped by the ankle injury.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Cordell Woodland

Oct 8, 2026, 1:48 PM ET

New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger) has missed the past two games after matching Garrett Wilson's 14 targets through the first two weeks of the season, and after logging a DNP on Wednesday, he was again not seen during the warmup portion of Thursday's practice, according to team reporter Al Iannazzone. In Mitchell's absence, rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq has stepped up with a 21.6% target share over the past two weeks, though in order for that to matter for fantasy, the Jets will need to run more than the 32 total plays to which they were limited in a Week 4 loss to the Bears. Head coach Aaron Glenn has called Mitchell week-to-week with the finger injury, and with only one more chance to find the practice field ahead of a Week 5 matchup with the Browns, he is trending toward his third consecutive absence.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Al Iannazzone

Oct 8, 2026, 1:42 PM ET

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring) was not out on the field on Thursday during warmups and the portion of practice open to the media, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. McLaurin also missed practice after not playing in the Week 4 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London on Sunday. If McLaurin goes down as a DNP for a second straight day this week, he will not be looking good to return this weekend when the team takes on the division-rival New York Giants at home on Sunday. Fellow receiver Stefon Diggs also missed practice on Wednesday, but his return to the field on Thursday suggests he might have a better chance to play this weekend. Washington's receiving corps is a little banged up going into Week 5 action, but the good news is starting quarterback Jayden Daniels should be back after dislocating his left elbow in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. As of right now, McLaurin is on the wrong side of questionable to face the Giants. In three games so far in 2026, McLaurin has 10 catches on 22 targets for 141 yards and one touchdown.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Tashan Reed

Oct 8, 2026, 1:36 PM ET

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (quad), whom head coach Aaron Glenn has called week-to-week with a quad injury, was not present for the team stretch or warmup portion of Thursday's practice, according to team reporter Al Iannazzone. Hall did not practice on Wednesday after missing the team's Week 4 loss to the Bears. In his absence, third-year pro Braelon Allen was given a 100% rush share, but in a game in which the Jets ran an unfathomably low 32 total offensive plays, that amounted to only 59 yards on 14 carries. He also saw a healthy 14.3% target share, which again only translated to two total targets. With the Jets unlikely to match their offensive futility in a Week 5 matchup with the Browns, if Allen can maintain a similar level of involvement, he becomes a sneaky flex option as RotoBaller's RB30.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Al Iannazzone

Oct 8, 2026, 1:25 PM ET

After logging a limited practice participation on Wednesday, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (shoulder) was spotted back on the field on Thursday, wearing a red non-contact jersey. While it is unclear when Bateman picked up the shoulder injury that has limited him to begin the week, he was on the field for fewer than half of the Ravens' offensive snaps in a Week 4 win over the Titans, easily his lowest snap share of the season. Bateman became a popular waiver pickup with teammate Zay Flowers (hamstring, foot) hampered by injuries early in the year, but he has not topped three targets or two receptions in either of the last two games, and now, at less than full health, he is no longer a player who needs to remain rostered.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Jeff Zrebiec