Rashod Bateman Ends The Year On Strong Note 628dLink copied!

Oct 11, 2026, 3:46 AM ET

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee should continue to be viewed as a TE1 in fantasy football ahead of Monday's Week 5 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Higbee has been highly productive ever since Terrance Ferguson (ankle) went down in Week 3, and he'll remain in the starting tight end role until Ferguson returns from injured reserve later this season. In two games as the primary tight end, Higbee has an impressive 17 targets, 13 catches, 129 yards, and one touchdown. This isn't the most appealing matchup ever, as Buffalo has surrendered a modest 20 catches, 190 yards, and one touchdown to tight ends in 2026. With that being said, this is still the same Bills defense that let Hunter Henry finally break out with a season-high five catches for 62 yards. Therefore, we're optimistic that Higbee can be a top-12 scoring tight end in fantasy football this year.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 11, 2026, 3:41 AM ET

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams cooled off (by his standards) last week, but he could have a fantastic opportunity to bounce back as a productive pass-catcher and a fantasy WR2 during Monday's Week 5 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Adams has fetched at least nine targets in each of his last three games, and he went for over 135 yards in each of the two games that teammate Puka Nacua missed. Nacua is back now, but we don't think he's the direct reason for Adams ' quieter performance last week. Either way, he'll get a great opportunity to bounce back against the Bills, who have allowed the seventh-most receptions, fifth-most yards, second-most touchdowns, and fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. Adams remains firmly entrenched as a WR2 in fantasy lineups, with the potential for WR1 upside.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 11, 2026, 3:38 AM ET

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua returned to action following a two-week absence last Sunday, and he wasted no time returning to his elite form. After catching nine passes for 125 yards last week, Nacua returns to action this week with another favorable matchup and a projected high-volume role against the Buffalo Bills. We could be in for a shootout between Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford, which would bode well for both teams' fantasy contributors, including Nacua. He's the easy favorite to lead the Rams in receptions and yardage. Speaking of those two stats, the Bills have allowed the seventh-most receptions, fifth-most yards, second-most touchdowns, and fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. There's a real path to top-tier production from Nacua this week. Not only is he a must-start WR1, but he's a solid bet to finish as the top-scoring wide receiver in fantasy football this week.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 11, 2026, 3:32 AM ET

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum looked great throughout the first two weeks of the season. Not only was he running the ball with great efficiency, but he was also handling nearly as much volume as Kyren Williams. However, the entire backfield shifted starting in Week 3, and Corum has logged just 11 carries for 2.6 yards per carry in two games since then. To make matters worse, his snap share dropped to a staggeringly low mark of 15% last week. It appears the coaching staff has gone back to feeding Williams a ton of snaps and touches, stripping Corum of his RB3/flex appeal on a weekly basis. He's still one of the top handcuffs in fantasy football, but he lacks the standalone value that we saw from him in Weeks 1 and 2. As a result, Corum can be benched in most fantasy leagues for Week 5.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 11, 2026, 3:30 AM ET

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has been fantastic this season, posting at least 15 fantasy points (PPR) per game and ranking as the overall RB6 so far. He has been particularly dominant in the passing game, where he has a whopping 20 targets and 16 catches over his last two games alone. That should set him up incredibly well for Monday's Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, who have been exposed by running backs this year. In particular, the Bills defense has allowed the sixth-most catches, the sixth-most receiving yards, and the second-most receiving touchdowns to running backs this year. Given how well Williams has performed as a receiver (and, of course, as a runner), he's a must-start RB1 for this week's game against the Bills. In fact, we would not be surprised if this highly favorable matchup results in him finishing among the top three highest-scoring running backs this week.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 10, 2026, 11:16 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard could be headed for an increased role after the team placed Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) on injured reserve Saturday. Bernard is now third on the depth chart after Pittman's injury, putting him behind DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson in the pecking order. However, he could still get onto the fantasy radar as a WR3/flex in deeper leagues. After all, in the one previous game that Pittman missed last year, Bernard broke out for eight targets, four catches, and 35 yards on a 79% snap share. Those are pretty impressive numbers for a rookie, and we could see similar results if the Steelers choose to deploy him in Pittman's spot going forward. The rookie out of Alabama hasn't done much outside of that one game, but the Pittman injury figures to boost his stock and production significantly.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 10, 2026, 10:54 PM ET

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton was held without a target during his first game of the season in Week 2, but he has posted at least 7.6 fantasy points (PPR) in each of his two games since then. He caught three passes in Week 3, and last Sunday, he hauled in his first touchdown reception of the season. Horton is still fourth on the depth chart, but his youth and upside make him an intriguing stash in dynasty fantasy football leagues. We know the Colorado State product is capable of contributing consistently, as he scored four touchdowns in eight games last year. With that being said, it's hard to envision Horton having any weekly fantasy appeal as long as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed are healthy.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 10, 2026, 10:35 PM ET

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) remains on injured reserve, and although he is making progress in his recovery from last year's foot injury, there is no timetable for his return to action. Conner has now been sidelined for more than a full year after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 3 of the 2025 campaign. In the time since he picked up the injury, the Cardinals have completely revamped their backfield by drafting Jeremiyah Love and signing Tyler Allgeier. Love has clearly been the more productive of the two backs, but both have played well enough to stay in their respective roles, and Allgeier even has some matchup-dependent RB3/flex appeal. As a result, if Conner is activated at any point this season, it's hard to envision him any higher than third on the depth chart. As long as Love and Allgeier are healthy, Conner is an unappealing option in both redraft and dynasty formats.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 10, 2026, 10:21 PM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas could take on a larger role starting in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Patriots placed wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf) on injured reserve Sunday, and they will also be without A.J. Brown (ankle) for at least one more week. As a result, New England is carrying just four wide receivers into Sunday's home game, with Douglas the presumptive No. 2 receiver behind Romeo Doubs. He and Hollins are different styles of receivers; the former offers a short-to-medium yardage outlet, while the latter makes physical catches downfield. However, it's still reasonable to expect that plenty of Hollins' vacated targets could go to Douglas, especially since the Patriots already have Doubs, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III to handle those aforementioned big plays downfield. The expanded role will vault Douglas into the WR3/flex conversation in deeper leagues, although the duration of his fantasy relevance will depend on how much more time Brown misses.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 10, 2026, 10:14 PM ET

Multiple NFL executives tapped into the trade market expect Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to be traded to the Houston Texans, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. A player source in the Cardinals organization also told Fowler that he expects the Texans to acquire Harrison. On Saturday morning, it was reported that the Cardinals were finalizing a trade with an undisclosed team for the former No. 3 overall pick, but the team's identity would not be revealed until after the trade became official. As the trade talks continue, Harrison will be inactive for Arizona's Week 5 contest against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. After two-plus years with the Cardinals, it looks like Harrison will get a much-needed fresh start elsewhere. The 24-year-old caught just 41 passes last season, and he has only five catches through four games to open the 2026 campaign. If the landing spot is indeed Houston, Harrison will get a quarterback upgrade in the form of C.J. Stroud. He could also find himself playing against a slightly easier group of cornerbacks, since most defenses will focus their efforts on covering Nico Collins. For the Texans, this move represents an urgency to get back in the win column and stay competitive in the AFC South. At 0-4, trading for Harrison allows Houston to reverse its woes this season, while also keeping him under team control through 2028 to stay competitive long-term. A trade to the Texans would presumably land Harrison in the WR3 range for fantasy football.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Jeremy Fowler

Oct 10, 2026, 9:56 PM ET

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond has found himself buried on the depth chart right now. The 22-year-old was expected to have a larger role this season, but instead, he found himself seeing fewer snaps than last season. Both rookie receivers are playing well, and Jerry Jeudy remains a starter as well, so there isn't much room for Bond to play every Sunday. Through the first four games, Bond has recorded two receptions for 12 yards. There's some dynasty stash value here because he could see an increased role if anyone goes down with an injury. He's also only 22 years old, so there's time for him to develop into a decent player. Until then, Bond isn't someone who is going to have a regular role in Cleveland.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 10, 2026, 9:44 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) hasn't been able to make an impact this season due to injury. He sustained a PCL sprain of his left knee in Week 3 and has been sidelined since then. McMillan was placed on the Injured Reserve shortly after that and is expected to miss around two months of action. The hope is that McMillan will be back in action around mid-season, but that depends on his recovery. Once healthy, McMillan should immediately move into the No. 3 role on the depth chart. The 24-year-old showed flashes during his rookie season, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy since then. He remains worth stashing in dynasty formats and is someone who could be a sneaky stash candidate in deep leagues once he creeps closer to getting back on the field.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 10, 2026, 9:35 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson was hopeful to build off his decent rookie campaign, but that hasn't really happened early in the year. Through five games, Johnson has recorded five receptions for 138 receiving yards and zero touchdowns. The second-year wideout made himself an interesting dynasty stash after showing off his big-play ability last season. The 24-year-old scored five touchdowns in limited playing time last season, but he hasn't been able to find the same success this year. Due to injuries, Johnson is currently the fourth receiver on the depth chart, so there's a chance that his role could grow. He hauled in a big 64-yard catch during Thursday's win over the Dallas Cowboys. Johnson has big-play upside, but isn't anything more than a dynasty stash at the moment.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 10, 2026, 9:24 PM ET

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was hopeful to take a step forward in 2026, but that doesn't appear to be the case right now. The 23-year-old has yet to play a game this season and has fallen to probably fourth on the depth chart. At the moment, Sanders is likely behind Darren Waller, Tommy Tremble, and Mitchell Evans for playing time in Carolina right now. The former fourth-round pick finished with 342 receiving yards during his rookie season in 2024. Sanders hasn't been able to capitalize on it and is unlikely to play unless an injury or two occur at some point.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 10, 2026, 9:14 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys tight end Michael Trigg joined the team as an undrafted free agent back in April. He was decent in the preseason, hauling in four of his eight targets for 30 yards. The 24-year-old was eventually cut, but the Cowboys brought Trigg back and signed him to their practice squad as depth. The Cowboys don't have a ton of viable options at tight end outside of starter Jake Ferguson. There is a chance that Trigg earns himself a role on this team at some point down the road. Right now, Trigg remains on the practice squad and is irrelevant in fantasy leagues. He could be someone worth holding in dynasty formats for managers willing to wait a season or two to see if he develops his game.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 10, 2026, 8:58 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains firmly entrenched in the backup role, and it appears that he's stuck in his No. 2 position on the depth chart given how well starter Michael Penix Jr. has played lately. Penix has 479 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in two games since returning from injury, and he has turned the team around from a 0-2 start to a 2-2 record and a tie for first place in the NFC South. Other than an injury to Penix, Tagovailoa's only path to meaningful playing time would have required the former Washington product to play poorly. Instead, he's looked great, widening the gap between him and Tagovailoa and solidifying himself in the starting role. As long as Penix is healthy, Tagovailoa can be left on waivers in both redraft and dynasty fantasy football leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 10, 2026, 8:44 PM ET

Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo remains buried in the No. 2 role on the depth chart through the first four weeks of the season (and counting). Arroyo was a mid-second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but his role so far has not reflected that draft capital. He has played fewer than one-third of the snaps in every game this season, and he has just one catch for 17 yards so far. He continues to operate as the clear backup behind AJ Barner. While Barner has certainly earned his position atop the depth chart, there had been some preseason speculation that the two tight ends could coexist in this offense. After all, the Seahawks' offensive coordinator is Brian Fleury, who had a clear connection to the tight end position after spending several years as the tight ends coach in San Francisco. Instead, Fleury has consistently preferred to use just one tight end, giving Barner a 90% snap share in each of the last two weeks. As long as Barner stays healthy, Arroyo won't sniff the fantasy radar.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 10, 2026, 8:35 PM ET

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Week 5 and is expected to be a true game-time decision, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. Keim added that there is a "slight lean" toward McLaurin playing, but he made sure to reiterate that it was "just slight." In other words, his status in Week 5 will depend on how he feels during pregame warmups on Sunday morning. The Commanders would surely love to get McLaurin back from his one-week absence, as the Commanders are 1-3 and need to start getting all the wins they can get. Plus, the wide receiver's upside would get a boost with quarterback Jayden Daniels back in action. With that being said, Washington will also be smart and won't rush him back before he's ready. The 31-year-old would rank as a mid-range fantasy WR2 against the Giants if active. The team will confirm his status at 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday.--Andersen Pickard
Source: John Keim

Oct 10, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. has seen minimal usage on offense through the first four games of his second NFL season. He has logged snaps in every game, but he has yet to log a carry. He has mostly played on passing downs, resulting in two catches for nine receiving yards so far. This shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise, though, as Allen has seventh-round draft capital and entered this season as the clear No. 3 option behind Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. Allen can be left on waivers in redraft leagues, but he's still an appealing stash in dynasty formats. Because of his pass-catching ability, he could sneak onto the fantasy radar in PPR leagues if Tuten or Rodriguez were to miss any time. Plus, at just 22 years old, he still has plenty of time to carve out a meaningful role.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 10, 2026, 8:20 PM ET

The New Orleans Saints had "preliminary talks" with the Arizona Cardinals for wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in the spring, according to Johnny Venerable of PHNX Sports. Venerable reports that the talks took place prior to the NFL Draft, with the Cardinals looking to stockpile some extra draft capital so they could pursue quarterback Ty Simpson. The deal obviously never came to fruition, and New Orleans pivoted to selecting wide receiver Jordyn Tyson in the first round. Those failed trade talks are worth mentioning as the Cardinals are reportedly in the process of finalizing a Harrison trade with an unknown team. At this moment, there is no indication that Harrison is being traded to the Saints. However, it wouldn't shock us to see New Orleans pursue a wide receiver upgrade. They have fallen to 1-3 in a wide-open NFC South, and adding Harrison would give Tyler Shough another weapon in the passing game. We expect more information to emerge on the Harrison sweepstakes within the next 48 hours.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Johnny Venerable