RADIO
Aaron Ekblad to Remain Out Tuesday
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (personal) is expected to remain out on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. On Sunday, Ekblad was a late scratch against Anaheim, and he isn't ready to return, with the Panthers making no changes to their lineup. Uvis Balinskis moved into the lineup over the weekend, but he isn't a great fantasy option. He logged only 14:40 of ice time in Saturday's overtime loss. Seth Jones and Gustav Forsling will carry a heavy workload on Florida's back end.
Source: Jameson Olive
Source: Jameson Olive
Aleksander Barkov to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (lower body) will miss 6-8 weeks. The Panthers captain was injured on Oct. 1 against San Jose and faces another spell on the sidelines after missing the entire 2025-26 season. "He's scheduled to be out 6-8 weeks, non-surgical rehab, and that's our best window," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "Could be a little less, could be a little more, but we think 6-8 is the right rehab time." Barkov finished scoreless in the first two games of the season. His third appearance won't come until late November at the earliest. Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell are expected to see more ice time during Barkov's absence.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Chase McLaughlin Misses Practice With Groin/Hip Injuries
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin (groin, hip) was added to the Week 5 injury report on Tuesday after missing practice due to groin and hip injuries, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. It is unclear how serious McLaughlin's injury is, but especially on a short week, a mid-week downgrade is not a good sign. The Buccaneers play the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 5 action. If the 30-year-old veteran's injury is serious enough to keep him from kicking this week, the Buccaneers will likely make a move to add a kicker quickly. McLaughlin has been a top-10 fantasy kicker through the first four weeks, but he was limited to just two points in the Week 4 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the first game without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb). McLaughlin's short-term fantasy value has taken a big hit with Mayfield injured, and he is expected to miss at least two more games. Fantasy managers should be looking elsewhere at the kicker position, even if McLaughlin is able to play on Thursday.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Jaylen Wright Still Worth Stashing Despite Quiet Week 4?
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright disappointed fantasy managers in his team's first game since losing star back De'Von Achane (knee) to a season-ending knee injury, recording just seven rushing yards on five carries in a Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Wright was significantly outperformed by fellow Dolphins back Ollie Gordon II, who racked up 100 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Going forward, Wright may end up playing a secondary role to Gordon II in the Miami backfield. However, Wright may have another chance to make an impact in an easier matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5. Even if Gordon II takes over as the lead back, Wright carries some fantasy value as a handcuff option. In deeper league formats, Wright could still be worth stashing off the waiver wire heading into Week 5.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Najee Harris Has Emerged as the Clear Handcuff to Roster in New York
Across three games so far in 2026, New York Giants running back Najee Harris has recorded 22 carries for 88 yards and has yet to earn a single target as a receiver out of the backfield. Harris' path to consistent production in New York is blocked by the presence of Giants RB1 Cam Skattebo. As long as Skattebo remains healthy, he profiles as a three-down workhorse who should see the majority of the Giants' high-value touches. However, Skattebo's physical running style could eventually result in him getting injured. Harris appears to have established himself as the clear RB2 in New York, as fellow reserve running backs Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary have combined for just two touches over the last two weeks. In deeper league formats, fantasy managers may want to consider targeting Harris on the waiver wire for his handcuff upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Makai Lemon Still Carries Waiver-Wire Intrigue Despite Week 4 Dud
Across the first four games of his NFL career, Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon has recorded just 10 catches for 65 yards on 15 targets. With Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) both sidelined in Week 4, Lemon looked to have a golden opportunity to assert himself. However, the 22-year-old recorded just three catches for 27 yards in Philadelphia's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. On the bright side, Lemon saw a season-high six targets and was on the field for a season-high 74% of the Eagles' offensive snaps. Lemon missed a significant chunk of training camp with a hamstring injury, which could explain his slow start to the year. Given the injuries to Smith and Goedert, Lemon could continue to see his role scaled up and remains a worthy waiver wire stash in most fantasy formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lane Johnson Retires From NFL Effective Immediately
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson has announced his retirement from the NFL, effective immediately. Johnson confirmed the decision Tuesday in a statement, saying he had wanted to play one final season but realized after considerable reflection that his personal and family priorities had changed. The 36-year-old specifically cited the need to focus on his mental health and spend more time with his children and family. Johnson started Philadelphia's first three games this season before missing Sunday's loss to the Rams for personal reasons. His career ends after 14 seasons with the Eagles, 171 starts, six Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors, and two Super Bowl championships. Rookie Markel Bell started at right tackle in Johnson's absence Sunday and is the most obvious in-house option as Philadelphia adjusts to losing one of the defining players of its offensive line.
Source: Lane Johnson
Source: Lane Johnson
Kyler Murray Remains a Deep-League Add Despite Underwhelming Start
Since returning from the concussion that knocked him out of his team's season opener, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray has thrown for 415 yards, one touchdown, and one interception across two games. Murray has not quite gotten going as a rusher yet either, recording 33 rushing yards on eight carries. While the 29-year-old's production has not been particularly useful for fantasy managers just yet, there's some reason to believe better days could be ahead. For one, Murray has barely shared the field with star Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson (ankle), who could return in the team's Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Murray could also start using his legs more as he gets further removed from the concussion. In his last fully healthy season in 2024, Murray recorded 572 rushing yards and five touchdowns over 17 games. In deeper league formats, Murray remains a viable quarterback streamer for fantasy managers heading into Week 5.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Pat Freiermuth Still Only a Deep-League Streaming Option
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth has scored twice in four games, but the weekly volume still makes him tough to push as anything more than a deeper-league option. He has 14 catches for 125 yards on 19 targets, with either four or five targets in every game. Darnell Washington has been right there with him, though, drawing 13 targets and turning them into 119 yards and a touchdown. That split has kept Freiermuth from separating himself even when he finds the end zone, as he did on a three-catch, 17-yard night against Cleveland. Pittsburgh gets Indianapolis in Week 5, and Freiermuth is at least usable for managers digging through the bottom of the tight end pool. RotoBaller ranks him TE20 for the week and lists him as an add in 14-team leagues. That is the right range. He is a deep-league streamer, not someone fantasy managers in standard 10- or 12-team formats need to prioritize.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Brooks Going for More Tests on his Ankle
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that the team is getting more tests done on running back Chris Brooks' ankle after he injured it in the Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official website. Brooks finished Sunday's game with only four carries for 30 yards while catching his only target for a five-yard gain. Kaleb Johnson had a team-high eight carries for 42 yards, while MarShawn Lloyd had seven rushing attempts for 13 yards and caught five passes for 36 yards through the air. Brooks' status is firmly up in the air for the team's Week 5 tilt this weekend against the division-rival Chicago Bears. The 26-year-old has had a bigger role in Green Bay's backfield through the first four games of 2026 with Josh Jacobs still on the commissioner's exempt list, but his role alongside Johnson and Lloyd has not been significant enough to produce standalone fantasy value. Both Johnson and Lloyd will be more attractive as flex options for fantasy managers this week if Brooks is not cleared to play against Chicago.
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Tyler Mahle Past his Abdominal Issue, Ready for Game 4
Atlanta Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle (abdomen), who is lined up to start Game 4 of the National League Division Series in Atlanta against the Los Angeles Dodgers, called his abdominal pull before his Wild-Card start against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies a non-issue, according to Grant McAuley of 929 The Game. Mahle has not felt it since, and it did not bother him in the start against the Phillies or during his bullpen session since. The 32-year-old veteran felt something in his abdomen before his start against the Phillies on Sept. 30, when he allowed just one earned run on six hits while walking one and striking out six in a no-decision in seven innings of work. It clearly did not affect Mahle much in that start, so it should not be much of an issue against the Dodgers on Wednesday at Truist Park. Mahle went 7-10 in 2026 with a 3.99 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 137 strikeouts in 149 innings across 27 regular-season starts with Atlanta and the San Francisco Giants. His lone start against the Dodgers came on April 22, when he was still with San Francisco, and he tossed seven shutout innings in a win while walking two and striking out five in the Bay Area.
Source: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
Source: 929 The Game - Grant McAuley
Dillon Gabriel Eligible to Return to Practice
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (back) is eligible to return to practice after spending the first four games on injured reserve. Daniel Oyefusi reported Tuesday that Cleveland has opened Gabriel's 21-day practice window, giving the Browns three weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster or leave him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Gabriel's back issue surfaced after the preseason finale against New England, when he completed 12 of 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He was placed on injured reserve at roster cutdown with a designation to return. Cleveland currently has Deshaun Watson atop the depth chart, followed by Shedeur Sanders and rookie Taylen Green, so Gabriel's return creates more of a roster decision than an immediate fantasy opportunity.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Jauan Jennings Not a Priority Waiver Add for Week 5
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings got exactly the kind of opportunity fantasy managers were waiting for in Week 4, and almost nothing came of it. Justin Jefferson (ankle) was out, Kyler Murray attempted 37 passes, and Jennings finished with one catch for eight yards. T.J. Hockenson caught 13 passes for 119 yards and Jordan Addison added four catches for 52, which says plenty about where Jennings currently sits in this passing game. He now has only two receptions for nine yards in three appearances since joining Minnesota. Jefferson's status for Week 5 against New Orleans is still worth tracking, but even another absence would not make Jennings easy to trust after what happened Sunday. The Vikings also head into their bye immediately after this matchup. RotoBaller has Jennings down at WR74 in its early Week 5 half-PPR rankings. He is not a priority waiver add in standard leagues and is better left for deeper formats where managers can afford to wait for his role to change.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shohei Ohtani Drops to Five-Hole Against Tough Lefty
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is serving as the designated hitter (as usual) but is being dropped to fifth in the batting order on Tuesday for Game 3 of the National League Division Series in Atlanta against the Braves and left-hander Chris Sale, according to MLB.com. Against Sale, one of the toughest southpaws in baseball, left-handed-hitting position players Max Muncy and Tommy Edman are out of the starting nine. This will be Ohtani's lowest lineup position since joining the Dodgers. The four-time MVP has gone 1-for-4 at the plate in the first two games of the NLDS against Atlanta. The 32-year-old Japanese superstar hit .275 (144-for-523) with 30 homers, 81 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in the regular season, but he missed time late in the year with biceps and knee injuries, which limited him offensively. Ohtani has played in only eight games since the start of September and has gone 6-for-30 (.200) with zero homers and one RBI in 36 plate appearances. He did hit .274 with 12 of his 30 homers against lefties, but Sale will surely be a difficult matchup for a power hitter looking to get back into a groove.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hunter Henry Back on the Streaming Radar for Week 5
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry had been pretty quiet to open the season, but Week 4 was at least a reminder that he can still matter when the Patriots need him. The veteran tight end caught all five of his targets for 62 yards against Buffalo after totaling just 71 yards over the first three weeks. New England is also a little thin right now. A.J. Brown (ankle) is still on injured reserve, and Mack Hollins left Sunday's game with a calf injury. That does not suddenly make Henry a priority waiver claim, especially with no touchdowns through four games, but the matchup with Las Vegas puts him back in play for anyone scrambling at tight end. RotoBaller has Henry at TE14 for Week 5 and recommends him as an add in 12-team leagues. He makes more sense as a short-term streamer than someone fantasy managers need to hold onto once better options become available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
