Oct 8, 2026, 4:16 PM ET

The Washington Commanders have waived rookie running back Kaytron Allen, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. A sixth-round pick out of Penn State, Allen recorded 12 carries for 41 yards across four games with Washington. The 23-year-old received some preseason buzz as a potential difference-maker in the Commanders' backfield, so it's a bit surprising to see the team move on from him this quickly. However, the Commanders have a bit of a logjam in their running back room after signing veteran back Austin Ekeler. Jacory Croskey-Merritt looks like the team's clear preferred option on early downs, while Ekeler and Rachaad White (shoulder) are capable pass-catchers and pass-blockers out of the backfield. As a result, Allen was left on the outside looking in. If Allen winds up going unclaimed on waivers, it's possible Washington could sign him back to its practice squad.--Will Brady
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

Oct 8, 2026, 4:13 PM ET

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (hip, knee) returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Swift has played through injuries before this season, but his health isn't the only thing fantasy managers have to consider heading into Sunday's matchup with Green Bay. He lost a fumble in the third quarter against the Jets last week and didn't receive another touch, finishing with 58 rushing yards on 15 carries. Kyle Monangai wound up handling 30 attempts and scored twice. Swift still leads the backfield with 69 carries for 311 yards and three touchdowns through four games, and he's added 10 catches for 84 yards. Getting back on the practice field is encouraging. How Chicago divides the work after last week's game is a separate question, particularly with Monangai having made a strong case for more carries.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Brad Biggs

Oct 8, 2026, 4:08 PM ET

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN. Addison missed practice on Wednesday with hamstring soreness, but it appears he is trending towards being active for Minnesota's Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Across four games this season, the 24-year-old has recorded 11 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown on 22 targets. Most of his production has come in the last two weeks, when star Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson (ankle) has been sidelined by an ankle injury. Jefferson could be in line to return for Minnesota in Week 5, which would definitely impact Addison's fantasy outlook. If Jefferson is unable to play, Addison profiles as a likely starter for fantasy managers in three-wide receiver league formats.--Will Brady
Source: ESPN - Kevin Seifert

Oct 8, 2026, 3:55 PM ET

Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (thumb, toe) missed his second straight practice Thursday, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The absence comes after Monangai handled a career-high 30 carries in Sunday's win over the Jets, rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Head coach Ben Johnson downplayed the thumb injury Wednesday, saying it wasn't a concern, but acknowledged Monangai was feeling the effects of the heavy workload. The toe issue is another matter, and there's been little indication of how much it's bothering him. Monangai had carried the ball exactly 10 times in each of Chicago's first three games before taking over much of the backfield work last Sunday. He has 324 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the season. Another missed practice puts some uncertainty around his availability against Green Bay, although Johnson has sounded optimistic about his recovery.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Brad Biggs

Oct 8, 2026, 3:54 PM ET

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) was the only player on the team not present on Thursday during the media-viewing portion of practice, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Nailor suffered a concussion on Sunday in the loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, and he is looking unlikely to play this weekend when the team heads to New England to face the Patriots. He still has one more day to get back on the practice field, but as of right now, he is on the wrong side of questionable. The Raiders' offense has looked way better this year under veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, but it has not been because of Nailor at all. The 27-year-old pass-catcher has only five receptions for 52 yards and has yet to find the end zone in his first year in Sin City. Nailor had one catch apiece in Weeks 2 and 3 and put up a donut for his fantasy managers in Week 4 after suffering a concussion. Tre Tucker will have a higher ceiling as the team's WR1 if Nailor is inactive this weekend, and it would also force Cody White and Malik Benson into bigger roles behind star tight end Brock Bowers.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren

Oct 8, 2026, 3:45 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys waived running back Emari Demercado on Thursday to make room for offensive lineman Tyler Smith, who was activated from injured reserve. Demercado had already fallen out of the backfield picture after receiving five carries for 15 yards in the first two games. He was inactive the past two weeks, with Tyler Goodson taking over the backup work behind Javonte Williams. Goodson has nine carries for 34 yards in those games, so the change had essentially happened before Thursday's roster move. Dallas claimed Demercado off waivers from Kansas City at the beginning of September, but his stay lasted just over a month. He had a bigger role during his three seasons with Arizona, totaling 819 rushing yards and 50 receptions for another 324 yards. Demercado is off the fantasy radar for now and will need to find another opportunity elsewhere.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Joseph Hoyt

Oct 8, 2026, 3:42 PM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf) was not spotted at Thursday's practice during the portion open to the media, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. Hollins also missed the first practice of the week on Wednesday, so as of now, he is trending in the wrong direction to be available in Week 5 at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. Top wideout A.J. Brown (ankle) remains on Injured Reserve and will miss a fourth straight game this weekend, so the Patriots receiving room could be pretty thinned out against Vegas if Hollins cannot play. The 33-year-old Hollins has merely been a flex play in deeper fantasy leagues, even with Brown out, and he is still searching for his first touchdown of the year. In the three games without Brown, Hollins has caught 11 of his 15 targets for 158 yards. Romeo Doubs will have at least one more week as the top dog at WR for the Pats, and DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III will have bigger roles against the Raiders if Hollins does not play in Week 5.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar

Oct 8, 2026, 3:35 PM ET

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle) missed another practice Thursday, according to C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald. The rookie hasn't practiced since injuring his right ankle against San Francisco in Week 2 and has already missed two games. Douglas made a strong first impression with five catches for 94 yards in his NFL debut against Las Vegas, but his season has been on hold since the injury. He has seven receptions for 113 yards through two appearances. Malik Washington has been Miami's most reliable receiver in Douglas' absence, catching five passes in each of the last two games. Fellow rookie Chris Bell had four catches for 67 yards against Kansas City in Week 3 before being held without a reception on three targets last Sunday. Douglas hasn't been ruled out against Cincinnati, but another missed practice leaves his Week 5 availability in question.--Bruno Mulé
Source: C. Isaiah Smalls II

Oct 8, 2026, 3:25 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (groin, neck) was working on the rehab field Thursday, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. Higgins wasn't dressed for regular practice, having already sat out Wednesday's session. He suffered an adductor injury late in Sunday's loss to Jacksonville, finishing that game with 11 catches for 157 yards on 16 targets before leaving. There's still a chance he plays against Miami in Week 5, but he hasn't been able to get back into team drills yet. Ja'Marr Chase (concussion) was back in uniform Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice, although he still needs to clear concussion protocol. Higgins has 25 receptions for 401 yards and one touchdown through four games. Cincinnati has its bye next week, and Friday's practice should provide a better indication of whether Higgins will be available Sunday.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Ben Baby

Oct 8, 2026, 3:15 PM ET

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (shoulder) was no longer wearing a red non-contact jersey at Thursday's practice, according to Art Stapleton. Skattebo wore the jersey Wednesday and was officially listed as limited, so the change is encouraging ahead of Sunday's matchup with Washington. It remains to be seen how much work he actually handled Thursday. The Giants have leaned heavily on Skattebo through four games, giving him at least 18 carries in three contests. He hasn't done much with that volume, averaging 3.5 yards per carry on 68 attempts, but has remained the clear lead back. Skattebo also has eight receptions for 67 yards this season. His workload has been a big part of his fantasy appeal despite the modest rushing numbers, making his shoulder worth monitoring. Thursday's official practice report should give a better indication of where things stand. UPDATE: Skattebo was limited in practice again on Thursday.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Art Stapleton

Oct 8, 2026, 3:13 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said running back Omarion Hampton's decrease in snaps over the last two weeks is not because of a lack of faith, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. "I don't see any change in terms of the depth chart at all. I felt I was underutilizing a strength. I can't make the statement more emphatic: it's not because I lost any faith in O at all," McDaniel said. After seeing 35 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season, Hampton has had 24 rushing attempts for 101 yards and one touchdown over the last two weeks. The second-year back from North Carolina had a season-low nine carries for 45 yards in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but he was able to salvage his final fantasy line by scoring his third rushing touchdown. Hampton should lead L.A.'s backfield when all is said and done in 2026 if he stays healthy, but the presence of both Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal will keep him as more of a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex for fantasy lineups going into a Week 5 divisional tilt against the visiting Denver Broncos this Sunday. McDaniel also added: "I see Omarion Hampton as the starter but I see the RB room as a strength. If you don't disperse carries, it's very rare that guys are available every week. I don't see any change in the depth chart at all."--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim

Oct 8, 2026, 2:57 PM ET

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was seen practicing during the portion open to the media on Thursday, according to Art Stapleton of The North Jersey Bergen Record. Nabers might not be a full participant on the final report, but it is good news that he is practicing at all after he was listed as a non-participant for Wednesday's practice due to soreness in his surgically-repaired knee. The Giants are most likely just being extra cautious with their star wide receiver. Barring a serious setback on Friday, Nabers should be active as the Giants take on the division-rival Washington Commanders on the road on Sunday. The former first-rounder's overall fantasy ceiling took a hit early on this year when starting quarterback Jaxson Dart (knee) was lost for the season, but he is still a must-start each week when he is healthy. In the Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals, while working with veteran QB Jameis Winston, Nabers caught six of his seven targets for a season-high 112 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Check back on Nabers' status for Friday's final injury report to get a better idea of his availability this weekend. UPDATE: Nabers was officially limited on Thursday.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The North Jersey Bergen Record - Art Stapleton

Oct 8, 2026, 2:50 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was seen getting some running in while working on a side field during the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. Smith did not suit up for the team's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and was held out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday. He could go down as a non-participant again in Thursday's practice, but it was at least a good sign to see him running around on the field. With that said, the team's WR1 might need to put in a full practice on Friday to avoid a questionable tag going into the weekend. If Smith misses a second straight game in Week 5, receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon will once again have elevated target shares. The Eagles could also be getting tight end Dallas Goedert back from a knee injury that has kept him out for the last couple of games. Smith is a must-start in fantasy leagues when he is active, and he has caught 19 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown in his first three games in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus

Oct 8, 2026, 2:44 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) was among the players that ESPN's Tim McManus did not see during a brief portion of practice open to the media on Thursday. Barkley injured his hamstring in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams and is now very questionable to play in London on Sunday in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tank Bigsby (abdomen) is having core-muscle surgery and landed on Injured Reserve this week, so he will be out for at least four games. The Eagles' backfield depth is going to be tested if Barkley does not get cleared to play this weekend. Philly added veteran back Dameon Pierce to their active 53-man roster this week for extra depth, but if Barkley is inactive, it will likely be Will Shipley seeing most of the backfield work. Barkley sitting out on Sunday would put Shipley immediately into flex territory against the Jaguars. A second straight day of missed practice on Thursday would put Barkley on the wrong side of questionable for Week 5. If he is a true game-time decision, the good news is that fantasy managers will know early on Sunday whether he is active.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus