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Pessimism Surrounding Abu Sama III's Status
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, there is growing pessimism that Wisconsin running back Abu Sama III will be able to play against Michigan State on Saturday. Sama III is dealing with an upper-body injury and if he can't play, Darrion Dupree and Bryan Jackson II will likely see an uptick in usage as a result. Sama III has carried the ball 28 times for 190 yards and a touchdown this season, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Wisconsin takes on a Spartans run defense that has allowed 124 yards rushing per game this season. Sama III is RotoBaller's 57th-ranked running back and is projected to score 7.8 fantasy points against Michigan State.
Source: Pete Thamel
Source: Pete Thamel
More Recent News
Nate Frazier a Game-Time Decision
Georgia running back Nate Frazier missed last week's win over Oklahoma but will be a game-time decision for the Bulldogs as they go up against Vanderbilt in Week 4, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Frazier is Georgia's leading ball carrier, totaling 202 yards rushing on 24 carries this season, an impressive average of 8.4 yards per carry, while also finding the end zone five times. Vanderbilt has allowed 116.3 yards rushing per game this season. Frazier is RotoBaller's 28th-ranked running back and is projected to score 11.1 fantasy points this week as the Bulldogs take on the Commodores.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Vernell Brown III Doubtful vs. Missouri
Florida wide receiver Vernell Brown is doubtful to play for Florida on Saturday as the Gators take on Missouri, according to the SEC availability report. Brown has enjoyed a strong start to the season, totaling 17 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns while averaging a lofty 15.9 yards per reception. This past week, he recorded three receptions for 25 yards during a win over Ole Miss. Brown III is the Gators' leading receiver and his absence will likely lead to more production for Dallas Wilson, TJ Abrams and Bailey Stockton. Missouri has allowed 263 yards per game through the air this season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Melkart Abou is Back for UNC
After missing this past week's game against Clemson, North Carolina star pass rusher Melkart Abou will play for the Tar Heels as they go up against No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Abou has been dealing with a hand/wrist injury that has kept him sidelined since a season-opening win over TCU. Abou led the ACC in sacks per game in 2025 and finished the Week 0 win over the Horned Frogs with four tackles and a sack. North Carolina is RotoBaller's 54th-ranked defense and is projected to score just 2.8 fantasy points against the Fighting Irish.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luke Dehnicke Won't Play on Friday Night
Northwestern tight end Luke Dehnicke (undisclosed), who broke out last week against Indiana, won't play in the Week 5 game against Penn State on Friday night, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Dehnicke caught seven passes for 140 yards in the close loss to the Hoosiers last Friday and was a trending waiver wire option heading into Week 5 for college fantasy football. In his absence, Alex Honig, who ranks third on the team with 79 receiving yards, should see more action. This is a tough blow to quarterback Aidin Chiles and the Northwestern passing attack.
Source: Pete Thamel
Source: Pete Thamel
Indiana Running Back Lee Beebe Jr. Downgraded To Questionable
Indiana running back Lee Beebe Jr. was downgraded to questionable for the Hoosiers Week 5 game against Rutgers. Beebe has been a huge part of the Indiana offense, rushing 71 times for 398 yards and three touchdowns, including a 70-yard touchdown run in a 29-23 Week 4 win against Northwestern. Injuries currently decimate the Indiana backfield, as Khobie Martin has been ruled out and Turbo Richard is also listed as questionable. If Richard and Beebe are ruled out, sophomore running back Sean Cuono will likely step into a larger role. This season, Cuono has 11 carries for 45 yards.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Florida Wide Receiver Bailey Stockton Questionable For Week 5
Florida wide receiver Bailey Stockton is listed as questionable for the Week 5 game against Missouri with a possible concussion. Stockton suffered the injury in the team's Week 4 win over Ole Miss when Ole Miss safety Joenel Agueero hit him in the head and was ejected for targeting. The injury news is poorly timed, as the team may also be missing wide receiver Vernell Brown III. This season, Stockton has 13 receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Georgia Running Back Nate Frazier Game Time Decision
Georgia running back Nate Frazier is a game-time decision for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt after suffering a rib injury against Arkansas in Week 3. Frazier missed the team's Week 4 game against Oklahoma with the same injury. The junior running back has toted the rock 24 times this season for 202 yards and five touchdowns. In Week 1 against Tennessee State, he turned four carries into three rushing touchdowns. Georgia split the running back carries in Week 4 between Dwight Phillips Jr. (8 carries) and Chuancey Bowens (9 carries). However, Phillips was far more efficient, turning his opportunities into 84 yards, while Bowens managed only 26 yards.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Michigan's John Henry Daley Questionable For Week 5
Michigan edge rusher John Henry Daley is listed as questionable for Saturday's Big Ten clash with Minnesota with a lower-body injury that he suffered late in the team's Week 4 loss to Iowa. Daley was one of the most coveted transfers in the portal this offseason when he left Utah. This season, the senior edge rusher has three sacks and 16 tackles.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Nebraska Running Back Mekhi Nelson Questionable For Week 5
Nebraska running back Mekhi Nelson is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against Maryland with an undisclosed injury that he sustained in Week 4 against Michigan State. Cornhusker fans should be concerned about the team's backfield as starting running back Jamal Rule is also listed as doubtful for the game. So far this season, Nelson has been Nebraska's secondary option, logging 42 carries for 227 yards and two touchdowns; he's also added five receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. If both Nelson and Rule are indeed out, it's likely that sophomore running back Isaiah Mozee will step in as the starter.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Nebraska's Jacob Barney Jr. Listed As Questionable For Week 5
Nebraska wide receiver Jacob Barney Jr. is listed as questionable for the Week 5 matchup against Big Ten foe Nebraska with an undisclosed injury. The junior wide receiver has had an up-and-down season, with his best game coming against Bowling Green in Week 2 when he caught eight passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Barney has 16 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Kwazi Gilmer caught four passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 4 against Michigan State, when Barney Jr. missed most of the game with an injury.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
NC State Vander Ploog Still Out For Week 5
North Carolina State tight end Vander Ploog has been ruled out for the Week 5 matchup with Louisville with the same injury that has hampered him all season. Ploog missed time in fall camp but played in the team's season opener against Virginia, catching 2 passes for 25 yards, and has not played since. It's unclear when the sophomore will return to the field for the Wolfpack.
Source: ACC Avaialbility Report
Source: ACC Avaialbility Report
Louisville Running Back Keyjuan Brown Probable For Week 5
Louisville running back Keyjuan Brown is listed as probable for the Week 5 matchup against NC State. The senior running back has been nursing an injury he sustained in Week 2 against Villanova and has been on the injury report for the last three weeks, but he has played through it. Keyjuan Brown currently leads the Cardinals in rushing yards with 279 yards despite running back Isaac Brown out-touching him by 18 carries. If Keyjuan Brown is out, Isaac Brown becomes an interesting flex option against an NC State defense that is allowing 121.5 rushing yards per game.
Source: ACC Avaialbility Report
Source: ACC Avaialbility Report
Mario Craver Questionable For Week 5
Texas A&M wide receiver Mario Craver is listed as questionable for the team's Week 5 matchup against Arkansas with a left ankle injury that he suffered in Week 4 against LSU. Craver missed time in the Week 4 loss but returned to action. The Aggies offense has been a huge letdown this season, as quarterback Marcel Reed has taken a major step backward in his development. Reed has been inaccurate all season, completing only 55% of his passes and has thrown only six touchdowns to four interceptions. Craver has been Reed's favorite target early in the season, with 22 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Craver has a 25% target share this season, and with wide receiver Terry Bussey out for the game as well, it will be interesting to see who steps up as a top target for the Aggies.
Source: SEC Availability Report
Source: SEC Availability Report
Vandy Quarterback Jared Curtis Listed As Questionable
Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis is listed as questionable for the Week 5 matchup against #2 Georgia on Saturday with an undisclosed injury. The true freshman and former five-star recruit has started the last two games in which the team is one-and-one. Through his two starts, Curtis has struggled, completing only 54% of his passes for 238 passing yards and three interceptions to three touchdowns. He has also rushed for over 100 combined yards in those two games. Playing a true freshman quarterback against Georgia is trial by fire, and it will be interesting to see if Curtis is up for the challenge.
Source: Brian Jones Of On3
Source: Brian Jones Of On3
Mississippi State Running Back Fluff Bothwell Listed As Probable
Mississippi State running back Fluff Bothwell is listed as probable for the Week 5 matchup against #7 Alabama on Saturday. Bothwell exited the team's Week 4 win over #19 Missouri with an undisclosed injury. The junior has been a bell cow for the Bulldogs this season, logging 73 carries for 402 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and he's added nine receptions for 96 receiving yards and one touchdown. Bothwell is the RB12 in fantasy points this season, and he should be fired up anywhere and everywhere he is owned.
Source: SEC Availability Report
Source: SEC Availability Report
Tennessee Left Guard Wendell Moe Jr. Ruled Out For Season
Tennessee left guard Wendell Moe Jr. will miss the rest of the 2026 season with a lower-body injury. The fifth-year senior suffered the injury early in the team's Week 4 game against #1 Texas. The injury is a huge blow to the Tennessee offensive line, which gave up 10 sacks against Texas, including five to Colin Simmons. Moe was a First Team All-SEC selection last season and was heavily viewed as one of the leaders on the Vols' offensive line. Tennessee shifted right guard Sham Umarov to left guard and subbed in Donovan Haslam at right guard once Moe went out.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Nebraska Running Back Jamal Rule Listed As Doubtful
Nebraska running back Jamal Rule is listed as doubtful for the team's Big Ten matchup against Maryland on Saturday with an undisclosed injury that he suffered in Week 4 against Michigan State. The true freshman has burst onto the collegiate scene this year with 42 carries for 333 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He has also caught 4 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown. Rule was limited to just eight snaps in the team's 31-13 win in Week 4. Junior running back Mekhi Nelson appears set to step in during Rule's absence. Nelson is in his third year with the Cornhuskers, and this season he has 42 carries for 227 rushing yards and two touchdowns; he's also caught five passes for 106 yards and one touchdown.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Indiana Running Back Turbo Richard Listed As Probable
Indiana running back Turbo Richard is listed as probable for the Week 5 matchup against Rutgers. Turbo twisted his ankle in Indiana's 29-23 Week 4 win over Northwestern. Through the team's first three games, Turbo was the team's lead back, averaging 13 carries for 105 rushing yards and over one touchdown per game. This season, the junior running back has 383 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and an average of 7.7 yards per carry. Fantasy owners should be firing Richard up for this matchup against a poor Rutgers defense.
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Source: Pete Nakos Of On3
Northwestern TE Luke Dehnicke Doubtful For Week 5
Northwestern tight end Luke Dehnicke has been listed as doubtful for the Week 5 matchup against Penn State on Friday night with a head injury. The sophomore tight end had a breakout game against Indiana in Week 4, catching seven passes for 140 yards. This season, Dehnicke has 11 catches for 208 yards and is still waiting to score his first touchdown. Dehnicke was an unranked prospect out of Andover, MN, and dominated as a freshman at the University of Minnesota Duluth. In Division II, he caught 61 passes for 1,119 yards and 14 touchdowns. It's unclear when Dehnicke will return to action.
Source: Pete Thamel Of ESPN
Source: Pete Thamel Of ESPN
Miami Defense Should Have a Day vs. Clemson
The Miami defense is No. 4 in RotoBaller's weekly rankings as the Hurricanes look ahead to a matchup with Clemson on Saturday night. The Tigers have yet to score more than 28 points in a game this season, while they managed just 363 total yards of offense and turned the ball over twice against Cal last week. Miami is allowing just nine points per game, the fourth-fewest in the country, while allowing 224.5 total yards per contest, second-best in the nation. The Hurricanes are projected to score 8.5 fantasy points in Week 5 against the Clemson offense, which is averaging the 13th-fewest yards per game (314.0) in the country.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
