RADIO
Miguel Rojas Not Worried About Back/Hip Injury
Los Angeles Dodgers veteran infielder Miguel Rojas (back, hip) said he felt some tightness in his left lower-back/hip area during a swing in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday against the hosting Atlanta Braves before he was pulled mid at-bat, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. However, Rojas was not concerned about his availability for the rest of the series and going forward. Rojas probably will not be in the Dodgers' starting lineup for Game 4 of the series on Wednesday at Truist Park against Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle, but it sounds like he should be available off the bench. The 37-year-old Venezuelan infielder has made two starts so far in the NLDS against the Braves and has gone 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout. He was hitless in three at-bats with a strikeout in Tuesday's Game 3 win before being replaced at second base by Tommy Edman. Rojas has mostly been a bench player for the Dodgers in his 13th year in the league (fourth with L.A.) in 2026, but he proved in last year's World Series that he is still capable of coming through in the clutch when needed. He hit .267 (60-for-225) with four homers and 23 RBI during the regular season.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Lamar Jackson Has Outside Chance to Play in Week 5
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) has only an outside chance to play Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson is dealing with a sprained ankle and could miss multiple games depending on how his rehab progresses. The injury is considered unusual, with Rapoport describing it as neither a traditional high nor low ankle sprain. Jackson left Sunday's 24-18 win over Tennessee after the first half and did not return, finishing 15 of 20 for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Huntley completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards in relief and would start if Jackson cannot go. Baltimore has not ruled Jackson out, but fantasy managers should be preparing another option with his Week 5 availability looking increasingly doubtful.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Chase McLaughlin Will Kick on Thursday Against Dallas
Tampa Bay Buccaneers placekicker Chase McLaughlin (groin, hip) will kick on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Todd Bowles told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. McLaughlin popped up on the Week 5 injury report with groin and hip injuries on Tuesday and did not practice with the rest of the team, but he is apparently fine and is not dealing with a significant injury. He has been a top-10 fantasy kicker through the first four weeks of the 2026 season, making all nine of his field-goal attempts and all seven of his extra-point opportunities for the winless Bucs. The problem with McLaughlin's short-term fantasy appeal is that it will not be nearly as high with starting quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) on the sidelines and undrafted rookie signal-caller Jalon Daniels making his second career start this week in Dallas. In the first game without Mayfield this past Sunday in the loss to the Green Bay Packers, McLaughlin only managed to put up two points for his fantasy managers, and he will have another low ceiling against the Cowboys this week. Fantasy managers are better off looking for better upside options at the position.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Dameon Pierce Promoted to Eagles' 53-Man Roster
Philadelphia Eagles running back Dameon Pierce is being promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, according to Jeremy Fowler. Philadelphia needed another healthy back after Tank Bigsby was placed on injured reserve, while Saquon Barkley is considered week to week with a hamstring injury. Pierce signed with the Eagles during the offseason but did not make the initial roster, returning on the practice squad after final cuts. He has yet to appear in a regular-season game this year, though he rushed for 44 yards on four carries in his lone preseason appearance. Will Shipley was the only healthy running back left on the active roster before the move. Pierce could now be needed against Jacksonville if Barkley remains sidelined, though there is no indication yet that he would move ahead of Shipley for the larger share of the backfield work.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Riley O'Brien Looking to Add Muscle After Fading Down the Stretch
St. Louis Cardinals right-handed closer Riley O'Brien was a first-time All-Star in 2026 in his first full season as the team's closer, and he ended the year tied with San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller for the National League lead in saves (38) with a 4.08 ERA across a career-high 64 innings pitched. O'Brien also set a career high in appearances (66) in his first full year as a big-leaguer. He did not allow an earned run in his first 13 appearances of the year and ended the first half with a 3.43 ERA and a 7.9% walk rate in 39 1/3 frames. O'Brien had 24 saves in his first 28 opportunities. But in 27 appearances after the All-Star break, O'Brien had a 5.11 ERA in 24 2/3 innings, and his walk rate rose to 14.4% while he went 14-for-18 in save chances. Three of his blown saves in the second half came in September, and five of his losing decisions came in his final 13 outings. The 31-year-old said he experienced "fatigue" in the closing days of the season and that his legs have "been feeling heavy compared to how they felt early in the year," according to Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. As he tired, the velocity of O'Brien's pitches suffered. To be able to maintain velocity through the entire season, O'Brien said he plans to focus on putting on "as much muscle as I can."
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
Rashod Bateman Losing Fantasy Appeal as Targets Disappear
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has made a couple of big plays this season, but the weekly volume is becoming the problem. His best game came with Zay Flowers out in Week 2, when Bateman caught seven of nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown. Flowers returned the next week, and Bateman has seen only five targets over the two games since, finishing with two catches in each. He still has 171 yards through four games, so this is not about Bateman suddenly losing the ability to make plays. There just is not much to work with when the targets dry up. Lamar Jackson's ankle injury does not help matters heading into Atlanta, either. RotoBaller currently has Bateman around WR48 for Week 5 after listing him as a drop in most leagues entering Week 4. In standard 10- and 12-team leagues, managers can move on if a more dependable waiver option is available. He is easier to hold in deeper formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Curtis Mead the Favorite to Start at Second Base Next Year
Boston Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead is considered the favorite to open next season as the team's starting second baseman, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The Red Sox acquired Mead from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline this summer, but he ended up playing in only one game for Boston due to a fractured wrist that he suffered in his second at-bat with the team. The 25-year-old will now have all offseason to heal up, and he will enter spring training as the team's primary option at the keystone as they attempt to get back to the playoffs in 2027. The Australian native was having a breakout 2026 campaign with the Nationals before being traded to Boston, and he finished the year with a .253/.353/.498 slash line with an .851 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 285 at-bats in 88 combined games with Washington and Boston. "That would be, I would say, broadly our plan," said manager Chad Tracy when asked about second base. "He was acquired for a reason. You see the numbers that kind of project at least toward a 30-home run season. And adding that, we were really excited about that."
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Walker Buehler to Start Game 4 of NLDS Against Brewers
The San Diego Padres announced that veteran right-hander Walker Buehler will make the start in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday night at Petco Park against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Buehler will make his first postseason appearance this year after going 9-6 with a 4.63 ERA (4.51 FIP) and 1.35 WHIP with 131 strikeouts and 57 walks in 153 2/3 innings pitched across his 32 starts for the Padres in his first season with the team. The 32-year-old is no longer the high-end ace that he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he does have plenty of postseason experience, posting a 3.04 ERA (3.21 FIP) with 114 strikeouts and 36 walks in 94 2/3 innings pitched. Buehler's last start came on Sept. 26 against the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks, when he allowed four runs (three earned) with a walk and three strikeouts in just 3 2/3 innings for a no-decision. He picked up a win in his only outing against Milwaukee in 2026, giving up just one earned run with two walks and five strikeouts in six innings at Petco Park back on Aug. 11. Buehler will most definitely be on a short leash in a must-win game for San Diego if he is not on his game early on.
Source: Padres PR
Source: Padres PR
Caleb Odom Has Top-10 Upside In Week 6
Ole Miss tight end Caleb Odom has top-10 tight end upside in Week 6 against Vanderbilt. Odom missed the Rebels' Week 2 matchup against Charlotte, but in the team's other 3 games, he has caught 13 of 16 targets for 201 yards and one touchdown. From a fantasy perspective, Odom has been one of the more reliable tight ends, averaging 10.9 PPR fantasy points per game, which has him as the TE9 in fantasy points per game. Odom has been hyper-efficient despite his low 11.1% target share. Vanderbilt's pass defense has been average, allowing 214 passing yards per game. Although they allow only 23.6 receiving yards to tight ends, they allowed 80 receiving yards to Georgia's tight ends in Week 5. Odom is ranked as RotoBaller's TE10 for Week 6, and he should be started in all 10 team leagues.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Quentin Johnston Can Be Dropped in Most Fantasy Leagues
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston has not disappeared from the offense, but there is not much fantasy value left in the role right now. He has seven catches for 108 yards on 19 targets through four games, and Week 4 summed up the problem pretty well: one catch for 44 yards on only two targets. Tre' Harris has been much more productive, with 13 catches for 209 yards on 21 targets, while Johnston has yet to score this season. The Chargers still list Johnston as a starter on their unofficial depth chart, so this is not a case of him being completely phased out. The production just has not followed the playing time. RotoBaller's Week 5 Cut List labels Johnston a drop in most leagues, although its waiver coverage still leaves room for him as a boom-or-bust option in deeper formats. In standard leagues, Johnston can be dropped for a more useful option. Deeper leagues can justify one more bench spot if waivers are thin.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Adrian Morejon Dealing With "Stickiness in his Shoulder"
San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon (shoulder) was unavailable in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers due to "stickiness in his shoulder," manager Craig Stammen told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. There is still a chance that Morejon will be available for Game 4 against the Brewers in San Diego on Wednesday night as the Friars attempt to force a Game 5 back in Milwaukee on Friday night. With Morejon unavailable and closer Mason Miller on the paternity list, the Padres' bullpen was very short on Tuesday night, but Game 1 starter Michael King came to the rescue and threw the final two innings for SD to pick up a save in the 4-3 victory. Morejon has already had two two-inning appearances in this postseason, once in the Wild-Card Series against the Chicago Cubs and again on Saturday against the Brewers in Game of the NLDS, when he allowed the game-winning home run to catcher William Contreras. The hard-throwing Cuban left-hander was one of the most effective late-inning setup men during the regular season, though, going 9-3 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, three saves, and a career-high 107 strikeouts in just 86 innings out of the bullpen. With Miller unlikely to be back with the team on Wednesday, the Padres could really use Morejon's left arm on Wednesday evening.
Source: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
Source: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
Courtland Sutton Can Be Cut in Shallow Fantasy Leagues
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is still playing enough to make this uncomfortable, but four weeks of poor production have pushed him onto the chopping block. He has nine catches for 86 yards without a touchdown, and three of his four games have ended with 25 receiving yards or fewer. Sunday was the worst of the bunch. Sutton drew six targets against San Francisco and turned them into one catch for four yards. The volume is not completely gone, which is why this is not an automatic drop in every format, but the results have been brutal. RotoBaller's Week 5 Cut List has Sutton in the hold-and-bench or drop-in-shallow-leagues tier, and that fits where his value sits right now. Managers in 10-team leagues can move on if there is a useful replacement available. In deeper 12-team formats, Sutton is easier to stash on the bench for another week, but he should not be anywhere near fantasy lineups until the production changes.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
How High Is Dilin Jones' Ceiling?
LSU running back Dilin Jones has a strong fantasy outlook for Week 6 against Kentucky. The transfer sophomore has enjoyed a great start to his LSU career, turning 94 carries into 426 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Jones has had little competition for running back touches, with Harlem Berry getting the team's second-most running back carries with 27. Jones has averaged 16.6 fantasy points and has been a reliable, high-floor but low-ceiling option for fantasy owners. His low ceiling is backed up by only eight carries of over 10 yards, whereas Berry has six carries of over 10 yards on far fewer attempts. Jones ranks as the RB16 for the season. Kentucky's run defense has been a consistent problem, allowing 143 rushing yards per game, though most of those yards have come from quarterbacks rushing the ball. RotoBaller ranks Jones as the RB19 and projects him for 13.2 fantasy points.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Odell Beckham Jr. Reportedly Joining Vikings Practice Squad
Free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is reportedly set to join the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad, according to Jordan Schultz. The move would give Beckham another opportunity just over a week after the New York Giants released him following a quiet second stint with the franchise. The 33-year-old played only 19 offensive snaps across three games for New York, drawing one target without recording a catch. Minnesota already has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings at receiver, so Beckham would have work to do before earning a meaningful offensive role. Jefferson's ankle injury does create some short-term uncertainty, but Beckham should not be viewed as an immediate fantasy option simply because Minnesota is bringing him in. For now, he is more of a deep-league watch-list player while he works his way into the offense.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Jordon Davison Or Dierre Hill Jr. In Week 6?
Oregon running back Jordon Davison faces a tough Week 6 fantasy matchup against UCLA. Davison's sophomore year has had ups and downs, but he's proven to have a high fantasy floor, scoring at least one touchdown in each of the Ducks' first four games. Davison is averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game and has turned 49 carries into 260 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Per PFF, Davison is Oregon's preferred running back as he's outsnapped Dierre Hill Jr. 64 to 51 on rushing down snaps. UCLA is an elite run defense and ranks in the top 20 in rushing yards allowed per game in the NCAA, allowing only 91.3 rushing yards per game. Oregon's coaching staff may lean on the passing game, which would likely lead to a bigger game from Dierre Hill Jr. than from Jordon Davison. Davison is ranked as RotoBaller's RB16 for Week 6.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
