RADIO
Tennessee Not Naming Starting QB for Week 6
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel hasn't decided on a starting quarterback for the team's Week 6 clash with Arkansas. Faizon Brandon (shoulder) has led the Volunteers most of this season, but got benched last week after struggling against Auburn - Brandon got hurt a week prior against Texas. George MacIntyre is the other starting option for Tennessee. MacIntyre has completed 70% of his passes for 148 yards and a touchdown so far, while Brandon has completed 60.4% of his passes for 697 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception. Brandon has 130 rushing yards and three scores across 53 attempts, while MacIntyre has done nothing on the ground. Tennessee will likely name a starter later in the week, but it complicates the fantasy outlooks for the quarterbacks, and the team's other offensive playmakers too.
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
Tyson Bagent to Start in Week 5 Against Packers
Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent will start in Week 5 against the division-rival Green Bay Packers, head coach Ben Johnson said on his weekly radio spot at ESPN 1000, per The Chicago Tribune's Sean Hammond. With starting QB Caleb Williams (hamstring) still on the mend from a hamstring strain that will cost him a third straight game, Bagent will make a second straight start for Chicago after helping lead the team to a 23-12 win over the visiting New York Jets on Sunday in Week 4. The 26-year-old went 25-for-34 passing for 268 yards and an interception. Bagent did not do a whole lot through the air with the Bears leaning on the ground game, but Johnson will stick with him for another week over third-stringer Case Keenum. It could be Bagent's final start, though, with Williams potentially making his return in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain in Week 2 in the loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Bagent will once again be a low-upside, low-end QB2 option for desperate fantasy managers in two-QB superflex leagues this weekend against Green Bay.
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Sean Hammond
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Sean Hammond
Pat Bryant Expected to Miss "A Few Weeks" With Ankle Sprain
Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (ankle) suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and is now expected to miss "a few weeks," a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Bryant hurt his ankle near the end of the second half and had to be carted to the locker room at Levi's Stadium. Before leaving the game, Bryant caught all three of his targets for a season-high 47 yards, but he failed to find the end zone after scoring in last week's win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football. With Bryant set to miss some time now, both Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin will be in line for more passing-game work behind starters Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. Bryant's 47 receiving yards on Sunday were second only to running back RJ Harvey, who caught all 10 of his targets for 68 yards. Mims only had one reception for a 10-yard pickup, while Franklin was not targeted at all against the Niners. In four games so far in his second NFL season in Denver, Bryant has caught nine of his 12 targets for 133 yards and one touchdown.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Cameron Dickey Expected to Miss Time With High-Ankle Sprain
Texas Tech running back Cameron Dickey (high ankle sprain) is expected to miss time after being injured in Saturday's 29-7 win over Colorado, according to Pete Nakos of On3. The injury is not season-ending, but there is no firm timetable for his return. Dickey left in the first half after carrying four times for 15 yards and has 242 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 57 attempts this season. J'Koby Williams handled 17 carries for 88 yards against Colorado, while Quinten Joyner added 63 yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts. Texas Tech is off in Week 6 before hosting Arizona State on October 17, and On3 reports Dickey would be questionable at best for that matchup.
Source: Pete Nakos
Source: Pete Nakos
Zach Charbonnet Belongs Near the Top of Stash Lists
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) is one of the better stashes available for fantasy managers who can afford to wait. Charbonnet was designated to return from the PUP list last week and began practicing on Oct. 2, opening a 21-day window for Seattle to activate him. He is eligible to return in Week 5, but there is no guarantee he will be active right away or handle a full workload when he does. Emanuel Wilson complicated the picture with 120 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, so Charbonnet may have to work his way back into a crowded rotation. The upside is still worth chasing. Charbonnet rushed for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns on 184 carries last season before tearing his ACL during Seattle's playoff run. He should eventually regain a meaningful role once he is fully integrated, making him a strong stash rather than an immediate must-start option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mack Hollins Could Miss Practice Time With Calf Injury
New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf) may be sidelined when the team begins practicing for Week 5. Head coach Mike Vrabel told Doug Kyed on Monday that he doesn't know if Hollins will be able to practice for the next couple of days after the veteran left Sunday's win over Buffalo in the third quarter. Hollins caught three of four targets for 53 yards before exiting and now leads New England with 209 receiving yards through four games. Efton Chism III took on a bigger role after Hollins went down and later caught the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. There is still plenty of time before Sunday's matchup with Las Vegas, so Hollins shouldn't be considered doubtful at this point. His practice participation later in the week should give fantasy managers a much better idea of whether the calf injury will cost him any game action.
Source: Doug Kyed
Source: Doug Kyed
Jaylin Lane Likely Done for Season After Fractured, Dislocated Ankle
Washington Commanders wide receiver and return specialist Jaylin Lane (ankle) is likely done for the season after tests confirmed both a fracture and dislocation. Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Lane's ankle has been stabilized and that he is undergoing additional testing in London after suffering the injury during Sunday's loss to Indianapolis. Lane had become an important part of Washington's return game, piling up 295 yards on 12 kickoff returns and another 84 yards on seven punt returns through four games. His role on offense had remained limited, with only two receptions for 25 yards, so there isn't much direct fantasy fallout here. Washington will have to find a new primary returner if the expected season-ending timeline is confirmed.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Puka Nacua's Pre-Hernia Issue Could Require Surgery
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (hip/groin) is dealing with what ProFootballTalk described Monday as a "pre-hernia" issue. Erin Andrews first reported the condition during Sunday's broadcast, while head coach Sean McVay had previously said Nacua did not actually have a hernia. He certainly looked healthy enough in his return, catching nine passes for 125 yards in a 24-20 win over Philadelphia after missing the previous two games. The concern is what happens from here. ProFootballTalk noted that continued stress on the weakened area could potentially lead to a true hernia, which would require surgery, but there is no indication that has happened or that Nacua is currently expected to miss more time. He entered Week 4 without a game designation after practicing fully Friday. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on the Rams' practice reports this week, but Nacua remains a high-end WR1 as long as he continues to play through the issue without a setback.
Source: ProFootballTalk
Source: ProFootballTalk
Is Jelani Thurman A League Winner?
North Carolina tight end Jelani Thurman broke out against Notre Dame in Week 5. The 6'6 junior tight end caught five of his eight targets for 50 yards and two touchdowns against a tough Notre Dame defense. For the season, Thurman has a 24.7% target share and has turned those opportunities into 16 catches for 233 yards and three touchdowns. HE is the TE13 this season despite already having two bye weeks. Thurman has virtually no competition at tight end, as he has played on 204 total snaps and the next-closest UNC tight end has played only 63 snaps. UNC has a fantasy-friendly schedule down the stretch as they face Syracuse, Miami, UCONN, Louisville, and North Carolina State in five of the team's last six games. According to Yahoo, those teams all rank in the bottom half of college defenses against tight ends. Thurman could be a league winner in the playoffs with his schedule, and he should be a top pick everywhere.
Source: Yahoo Sports
Source: Yahoo Sports
Kyle Monangai Awaiting Diagnosis on Thumb Injury
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (thumb) is awaiting more information after leaving late in Sunday's 23-12 win over the New York Jets. Courtney Cronin of ESPN reported that Monangai wasn't sure when the injury happened, only realizing at some point that his thumb was hurting. His final carry came with 4:08 remaining, and he did not return. Monangai still finished a huge afternoon with a career-high 30 carries for 146 yards and a career-best two rushing touchdowns, while adding one catch for four yards. He now has 324 rushing yards through four games after topping 100 yards twice already this season. The Bears were expected to get more clarity on the thumb Monday. Until that happens, there isn't enough information to know whether Monangai's Week 5 availability against Green Bay is in jeopardy.
Source: Courtney Cronin
Source: Courtney Cronin
Courtland Sutton Becoming Harder to Keep in Fantasy Lineups
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton gave fantasy managers another reason to hesitate Sunday, catching just one of six targets for four yards in a 24-14 loss to San Francisco. The six targets were not the issue. Sutton simply did almost nothing with them, and this is becoming more than a one-week problem. He has now been held to 25 receiving yards or fewer in three of Denver's first four games and sits at nine catches for 86 yards without a touchdown on the season. Sutton did see enough volume to have a chance at a useful afternoon, but the production never came. Jaylen Waddle has already emerged as the more productive piece of Denver's passing game, while Sutton has struggled to turn his opportunities into anything fantasy managers can trust. At this point, he is becoming harder to keep in starting lineups until there is a real change in either the production or his role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Keep Tabs On True Freshman Kenny Darby
Kentucky wide receiver Kenny Darby had his best game as a Wildcat in Week 5, scoring 21.6 fantasy points against South Carolina. The true freshman hauled in 12 of his 18 targets for 96 yards and one touchdown. In Kentucky's first four games, Darby averaged only 10.5 fantasy points, but he still saw near-top snaps in the Wildcat's wide receiver room each game. Arguably the most impressive part of Darby's freshman season is leading the team in targets with 35 and outpacing his closest competitor, Nic Anderson, by 20 targets. Darby has largely operated in the slot, with 83.9% of his snaps coming as the slot wide receiver. This also explains his low ADOT of 7.7 yards. Fantasy owners should monitor Darby in deeper leagues over his next two weeks as the team faces LSU and Oklahoma, which allow only 162 and 122 passing yards per game, respectively.
Source: Yahoo Sports
Source: Yahoo Sports
Tyreek Hill Could Sign With New Team Within Days
Free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill could have a new team within the next few days. Agent Drew Rosenhaus told Adam Schefter that he plans to begin negotiations with multiple teams Monday and said the Kansas City Chiefs are among those that have stayed in contact. The timing is interesting after Kansas City lost Rashee Rice to a hamstring injury and Tyquan Thornton to a dislocated ankle Sunday, but there is no indication yet that a reunion is close. Hill is still working back from the devastating left knee injury that ended his 2025 season after four games, when he caught 21 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown. Separate reporting has pointed to November as a possible return to game action, so signing somewhere would not necessarily mean Hill is ready to play immediately. RotoBaller has the 32-year-old at No. 55 in its Week 5 waiver rankings and recommends him as a stash in 14-team leagues.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Makai Lemon's Fantasy Stock Stalls Despite Bigger Opportunity
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon had a much cleaner path to targets Sunday, but it did not lead to a breakout. With DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown and Dallas Goedert all inactive, Lemon drew a season-high six targets and finished with three catches for 27 yards in the 24-20 loss to the Rams. Philadelphia's offense was a mess overall, managing only 172 total yards, so Lemon was hardly alone. Still, Darius Cooper caught both of Jalen Hurts' touchdown passes while Lemon was held below 30 receiving yards for the fourth straight game. He now has 10 catches for 65 yards without a touchdown this season. The increased targets were at least something to build on, but this was the kind of opening Lemon needed to turn into more. Instead, his fantasy value remains stuck after another quiet afternoon.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dylan Edwards Worth Picking Up After Breakout Game?
Kansas running back Dylan Edwards is coming off his best game as a Jayhawk. In Week 5 against Middle Tennessee State University, the junior carried the ball 20 times for 137 rushing yards and three touchdowns, totaling 35.2 fantasy points. Edwards finished the week as the RB4 but had been largely fantasy-irrelevant before Week 5. In Kansas' first three games, Edwards carried the ball only 30 times for 160 rushing yards. He was productive in the passing game with two games of four catches. It appears that Edwards is taking over as the lead back for the Jayhawks, as he has led the team in touches over the past two weeks. It's hard to put too much faith in Edwards' Week 5 performance since it came against a team outside of the P4 conferences. Edwards will face much more difficult opponents in the coming weeks when he matches up with Utah, Kansas State, and Baylor. For now,, fantasy players should monitor Edwards against Utah and pick him up if he can continue his success.
Source: Yahoo Sports
Source: Yahoo Sports
