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Lions Break Off Contract Talks with Sam LaPorta
The Detroit Lions and tight end Sam LaPorta "broke off contract talks after several weeks of discussions," according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The two sides had hoped to finalize an extension, but negotiations stalled, and the Lions will let LaPorta hit free agency in 2027. The 25-year-old is a huge part of the Detroit offense, catching 14 passes for 144 yards and one touchdown through the first three games this year. At just 25 years old, LaPorta will be one of the younger tight end options in free agency, and he'll offer premium production at the position, albeit at a premium price. From a fantasy football perspective, LaPorta has established himself as a mid-to-low TE1 as long as he's healthy. He'll look to continue his solid start to the season on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
More Recent News
Baker Mayfield Expected to Miss the Next Three to Six Weeks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) is expected to miss anywhere from three to six weeks, depending on how quickly he is able to grip the football, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Mayfield has avoided an injured reserve stint for now, but the Bucs will give him at least a few weeks off after he recovers from a dislocated thumb and works to regain his grip strength. Mayfield is just two years removed from a QB4 fantasy finish in 2024, but he has taken a step backward since then. Through the first three games this year, he completed just 63.5% of his pass attempts for 615 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown, 13 sacks, and three lost fumbles. Mayfield is a risky fantasy starter when healthy, and the same can be said of undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels, who will make his first career start as the Bucs' primary quarterback against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Puka Nacua Expected to Have a Full Workload in Week 4
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (hip) is not expected to have a limited workload as he returns from a two-game absence against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The Rams were patient with Nacua's recovery, holding him out of back-to-back games and refusing to rush him back. Fantasy managers should be encouraged that Nacua has no limitations on Sunday. Not only does it mean that he's back to 100%, but it also indicates that he'll handle a full complement of snaps, which could help him excel offensively and rank as this week's overall WR1 in fantasy football. Presumably, Nacua will seamlessly take over for Davante Adams as quarterback Matthew Stafford's No. 1 target. In Nacua's two-game absence, Adams racked up a whopping 15 catches, 332 yards, and two touchdowns.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Zay Flowers Expected to Play in Week 4 Without Limitations
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Tennessee Titans, and he won't be on a snap count, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The hamstring injury has sidelined Flowers for just one contest so far, but it also cut his season opener short and limited him to 33% of the snaps last week. Barring a re-aggravation or a new injury, Week 4 will be the first time that Flowers plays a complete game this season. That should be very exciting for fantasy managers, as Flowers showed a glimpse of his upside with five catches, 150 yards, and one touchdown in the first half alone back in Week 1. Without a pitch count, Flowers has the potential to feast as a fantasy WR1 against the Titans this week.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Darius Slayton Remains a Healthy Scratch for Week 4
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Darius Slayton (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Washington Commanders in London. It seemed like Slayton was in line to make his Colts debut after Keenan Allen (groin) was ruled out, but that's not the case. With Slayton, Allen, and Alec Pierce (heel, IR) on the sideline, the Colts will likely give more offensive snaps to Laquon Treadwell and Ashton Dulin. Both receivers will push for more targets in their role behind No. 1 receiver Josh Downs. Allen's absence creates an opportunity for Treadwell or Dulin to step in as the next man up, but we're not quite sure this offense can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers every week. Downs remains the only Indianapolis wideout that should be started for now.
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Ashton Dulin Suiting Up Sunday Against Commanders
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (ankle) is officially active for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Washington Commanders. Dulin had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after logging two full practices to close out the week. With Alec Pierce (heel) on injured reserve, Keenan Allen (groin) inactive, and Darius Slayton (coach's decision) a healthy scratch, there's a real opportunity for Dulin to step up as the Colts' No. 2 receiver behind Josh Downs. With that being said, he doesn't have enough of a track record to get onto the fantasy radar, especially since we're still not convinced the Colts' offense can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers every single week. For now, Dulin can be left on waivers in most leagues.
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Terry McLaurin Inactive for Week 4 Against Colts
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Indianapolis Colts in London, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. McLaurin, who was listed as questionable, was a late addition to the injury report this week after practicing in a limited capacity on Friday. The 31-year-old had a slower start to the season offensively, but he began to turn the corner last week with six catches, 77 yards, and one touchdown. His absence could be crucial as the Marcus Mariota-led Commanders look to win their second game in a row. Veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs should take McLaurin's place as Mariota's primary target, while rookie Antonio Williams also steps into a larger role in London.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Michael Penix Jr. Enters Superflex Conversation in Matchup vs. the Saints
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his season debut against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 after tearing his ACL last November. It was his first game back since Week 11. The 26-year-old was solid in his season debut, completing 18-of-25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while rushing twice for minus-2 yards. Penix will look to continue his solid play on Monday night against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are allowing about 229 passing yards per game. New Orleans was recently shredded by Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins for 248 passing yards and three touchdowns. Penix has a positive matchup and will only get more comfortable as the season wears on. He is a solid Superflex or QB2 option this week, with RotoBaller ranking Penix 24th among all quarterbacks in Week 4.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Eli Stowers Likely Headed for a Developmental Season
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eli Stowers (quad) opened his rookie season on injured reserve after a very disappointing training camp. The Eagles would surely like to have some extra tight end depth right now with Dallas Goedert (knee) injured, but even if Stowers returns before Goedert, he's still unlikely to occupy a sizable role. Stowers, who is eligible to play as early as next week, was reportedly taking a while to acclimate to NFL speed in his first training camp, and the quad injury didn't help his progression. Regardless of his exact position on the depth chart when he returns to the field, all signs point to Stowers focusing on his development this year, rather than producing at a fantasy-relevant level. He's a solid dynasty stash and perhaps even an intriguing buy-low in dynasty leagues where fantasy managers are losing faith. However, he can be dropped to waivers in all redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kimani Vidal Currently an Afterthought in Fantasy Football
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal can be dropped to waivers in all redraft fantasy football leagues. The 25-year-old has taken a backseat on offense this year, and he didn't even log his first touch of the season until last week. His snap share did jump to a season-high 25% mark last week, but he's still buried behind Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell on the depth chart. Given that the coaching staff has placed a significant amount of trust in those running backs, any path to weekly fantasy relevance for Vidal would likely require both Mitchell and Hampton to miss time. Barring anything unexpected, it looks like he will lack fantasy relevance for the rest of the 2026 season. Vidal can be left on waivers in all redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ricky Pearsall Worth Trading in Dynasty Leagues Amid Recovery?
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (right knee) is working his way back from a PCL injury that will sideline him for the entire 2026 season. Injuries have plagued the start of Pearsall's career, but we certainly won't discredit him for the gunshot wound that forced him to miss time as a rookie in 2024. With that being said, he will have played in just 20 of his first 51 career regular-season games, calling his long-term durability into question. He's averaging a modest 5.0 catches, 46.4 receiving yards, and 0.2 touchdowns per game in his career, and he has yet to reach 100 career receptions and 1,000 career receiving yards. Upon his return from injury next year, Pearsall will slot into the No. 2 receiver role (at best) behind Mike Evans, and it's still too early to tell whether he'll even be ready for Week 1. At just 26 years old, there's still plenty of time for Pearsall to get back on track as a solid dynasty receiver, but for now, we wouldn't blame managers for trying to trade him away and recoup some of their initial investment.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Juwan Johnson Remains a Reliable TE1 in Week 4 Against Falcons
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson hauled in all eight of his targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns in the team's Week 3 loss to the Raiders. Despite fellow tight end Noah Fant also seeing occasional involvement in the offense, Johnson continues to dominate the position in playing time, outsnapping Fant 158-109 through three weeks. He has clearly become one of Tyler Shough's favorite targets, and his current 78.9% catch rate, 57.7 yards per game, and 9.1 yards per target are all career highs. Through three weeks, Johnson has posted 15 receptions for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 19 targets, ranking as the PPR TE4. He remains a reliable TE1 heading into Monday night's matchup against the Falcons.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
No Path to Redraft Production for Ty Simpson
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson entered the season with very little redraft value, and he continues to slip down the rankings as the season goes on. Any value that Simpson had prior to the season was driven by his role on the depth chart, as many people expected him to be the backup quarterback and the insurance option behind Matthew Stafford. Instead, Simpson has been inactive as the emergency third quarterback, which means he wouldn't see the field even if Stafford were to get injured. Instead, the backup duties belong to Stetson Bennett, who has more experience in the Rams' system. As a first-round pick, Simpson still has plenty of dynasty appeal, but any glimmer of redraft value is slipping away as long as Simpson remains inactive.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Devaughn Vele Emerging as Intriguing Week 4 Option Against Falcons
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded three receptions for 39 yards on six targets in Week 3's loss to the Raiders. The third-year receiver has played a key role in the Saints' offense through the first three weeks, leading all skill-position players on the team with a 91% snap percentage. He faces a Falcons defense in Week 4 that has allowed opposing WR2s to average 5.3 receptions and 74.6 yards per game. With another key piece of the offense in Travis Etienne Jr. sidelined, the Saints could also lean more heavily on the passing game rather than putting too much on Alvin Kamara, potentially creating additional opportunities for Vele. He ranks as WR33 in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings but carries some additional upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ja'Kobi Lane Still a Priority Stash in Deeper Leagues
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) remains sidelined through Week 5 at the earliest, but he still has some appeal as a player to stash in deeper leagues, especially those that offer injured reserve slots. Lane underwent wrist surgery after the season opener, in which he played 40% of the snaps with three targets, one catch, and 11 yards. The rookie USC product was a third-round pick and has big-play upside, but he'll need to get healthy before he even begins to climb up the depth chart. Once he does return, he'll be no higher than third on the depth chart, putting him behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. With that said, Bateman has an iffy track record of production and Flowers is still less than 100% after a hamstring injury, so Lane could have a path to a meaningful role by the second half of the season. Managers with an open roster spot in deeper leagues should consider stashing Lane in a low-risk move.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shedeur Sanders' Redraft Value Slipping Away as Offense Surges
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders seemed like an inevitable choice to take over as the team's starter at some point this season, but the impressive production from Deshaun Watson has altered the former fifth-round pick's redraft outlook. Entering this season, it seemed like Watson was on a short leash, with Sanders pushing to take over as the team's No. 1 quarterback. Instead, Watson has led the Browns to a 3-1 start, which currently puts them first in the AFC North. The veteran signal-caller has completed 70% of his pass attempts for 855 passing yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions, plus an additional 127 rushing yards. He ranks as the overall QB5 in fantasy scoring so far, albeit with one more game than most quarterbacks because he played on Thursday night. At this point, Watson is trending toward occupying the starting role for the rest of the season, barring an injury. Sanders could still represent the long-term future in Cleveland, but his redraft value has declined significantly. He can be dropped to waivers in redraft formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Olave Set for Another Strong Showing in Week 4 Against Falcons
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave continued his hot start to the season, recording nine receptions for 107 yards in Week 3 against the Raiders. Through three games, Olave has 375 receiving yards, which ranks second in the league, while doing so on a 75.0% catch rate. He has been the focal point of the Saints' passing attack, tying for the league lead in both targets (36) and receptions (27). Olave has clearly developed strong chemistry with second-year starter Tyler Shough, making him one of the most reliable options in the Saints' offense. He now faces a Falcons defense allowing 263 passing yards per game, 29th in the league, setting up another favorable matchup in Week 4. Olave remains a weekly must-start and comes in as WR4 in RotoBaller's Week 4 rankings.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Kyle Williams is Losing Value as Fourth Receiver
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams was expected to see an expanded role with A.J. Brown (ankle) landing on the Injured Reserve. Instead, Williams operated as the fourth receiver during last week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old hauled in one of his three targets for 34 yards in the loss. It doesn't appear that even the injury to Brown will be enough to make Williams a real part of this offense. Williams has the speed to be a legitimate threat, but maybe the Patriots don't view him as an every-down wideout right now. Williams is worth holding in dynasty formats, but he doesn't need to be started versus the Buffalo Bills in Week 4.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kendre Miller Set for Increased Workload in Week 4
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller rushed four times for 14 yards and added two receptions for five yards in Week 3's loss to the Raiders. He was inactive in Week 2, but when called upon in Week 1, Miller looked solid, rushing nine times for 30 yards and a touchdown against the Lions. With a career average of 3.9 yards per attempt, Miller figures to be in line for additional work with starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. out for Week 4. He will likely be part of a timeshare with fellow running back Alvin Kamara and faces a difficult matchup against the Falcons, who surrender a league-low 47.7 rushing yards per game. Miller ranks as RB37 in RotoBaller's rankings for Week 4.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Jordan Mason Remains Worthy Stash Option
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (hand) hasn't played since the season opener due to a fracture in his thumb. Mason underwent surgery and was placed on the Injured Reserve following their Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Getting placed on the IR means that Mason is forced to miss at least four games. The Week 4 matchup versus the Miami Dolphins will be his third absence in a row. Mason could be back in the mix as early as the Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. He'll likely see significant involvement in the backfield once he's healthy enough to play again. Given he could be only a few weeks away from playing again, Mason is worth stashing on an IR spot in most leagues where he's available.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Alvin Kamara Faces Tough Week 4 Matchup Against Falcons
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara rushed nine times for 36 yards and added one reception for five yards in Week 3's loss to the Raiders. Most of his carries came after starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. exited with a hamstring injury, but Kamara was unable to turn the increased workload into much production. Though he has played just two games this season, his current mark of 2.8 yards per attempt is by far the lowest of his career. Kamara figures to serve as the team's top running back option against the Falcons on Monday night with Etienne Jr. on IR, but he faces a difficult matchup against a defense allowing a league-best 47.7 rushing yards per game. The difficult matchup puts Kamara at RB27 in RotoBaller's running back rankings for Week 4.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
