October 2, 2025
Denver Broncos tight end
Evan Engram (back) is practicing again on Thursday, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Engram missed the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers due to a back injury, but he returned in the Monday night win over the Cincinnati Bengals, catching four of seven targets for a season-high 29 yards. He was not even listed on the initial Week 5 injury report, so it appears that Engram has put his back ailment in the rearview mirror as the Broncos head into a difficult road matchup this weekend against the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. Engram should continue to get more involved in Denver's offense after a slow start in his first three games in blue and orange. However, with quarterback
Bo Nix spreading the ball around through the air, Engram is looking like a low-upside, touchdown-dependent TE2 until further notice.
--Keith HernandezSource: DNVR - Zac Stevens
October 2, 2025
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. (ankle, hip) is practicing on Thursday for the second straight day this week, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Mims was limited on Wednesday, but it's unclear what his practice participation was on Thursday. Either way, the fact that he's practiced two days this week means that he should be active for a showdown on the road in Week 5 against the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. After three quiet weeks to begin the 2025 season, Mims caught all six of his targets for 69 yards in the Monday night win over the Cincinnati Bengals and added a rushing touchdown for his second score of the year. Quarterback
Bo Nix has been spreading the wealth on offense so far in his second season, making it hard to rely on any wideout in Denver every week in fantasy other than WR1
Courtland Sutton. Mims will be a boom/bust WR4/flex against Philly on Sunday if he's active.
--Keith HernandezSource: DNVR - Zac Stevens
October 2, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) did not practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday, but the fact that he's on the team's flight to face the Chargers in Los Angeles on Sunday is a promising sign for his availability in Week 5, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. The Commanders have already ruled out wideouts
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and
Noah Brown (groin, knee), so they definitely can't afford to lose another pass-catcher in a road tilt against a stingy Chargers defense. Samuel's Week 5 status could depend on whether he's able to practice at all on Friday. If he's active, Samuel should be heavily targeted with quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) returning from a two-game absence. If Samuel is out or limited on Sunday,
Luke McCaffrey, rookie
Jaylin Lane, and
Chris Moore would be the team's starting receivers.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Washington Post - Nicki Jhabvala
October 2, 2025
There remains no timetable for San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Brock Purdy's (toe) return, according to Albert Breer. Purdy suffered from turf toe in the Week 1 regular-season opener and sat out of Weeks 2 and 3. He returned in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but aggravated his toe, and the severity of it is similar to what it was after Week 1. On a short week for a Week 5 divisional tilt against the San Francisco 49ers, Purdy didn't have enough time to get ready. Purdy is considered week-to-week for now and could be in jeopardy of missing another game in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mac Jones, who was adequate in leading San Fran to two wins in Weeks 2 and 3, is back in the starting role on Thursday Night Football against the Rams. He won't be a recommended QB2 streamer, though, with top wideouts
Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) and
Ricky Pearsall (knee) both out this week.
--Keith HernandezSource: Albert Breer
October 2, 2025
The Washington Commanders have officially ruled out wide receivers
Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and
Noah Brown (groin, knee) for the Week 5 game on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. McLaurin was trending in this direction after another missed practice on Thursday. He has not practiced or played since injuring his quad muscle in the Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. While he has improved, McLaurin is no lock to return for a Week 6 tilt on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears. Fantasy managers need to keep McLaurin on their benches for a second straight week.
Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) should be active this weekend despite battling a heel injury this week, and he should remain heavily involved in the offensive game plan.
Luke McCaffrey and rookie
Jaylin Lane will also see expanded roles in the passing attack, and they'll get a boost with quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) returning.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
October 2, 2025
Tennessee Titans running back
Tyjae Spears (ankle) was listed as a limited practice participant for the second straight day on Thursday. Spears spent the first four weeks of the season on Injured Reserve due to a high ankle sprain, but the team opened his activation window earlier this week. Spears may not be ready for his team's Week 5 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, but he should play a role alongside Titans running back
Tony Pollard in the team's backfield once he returns. Across 12 games in 2024, Spears recorded 536 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 114 total touches.
--Will BradySource: tennesseetitans.com - Jim Wyatt
October 2, 2025
Tennessee Titans wide receiver
Calvin Ridley (knee, elbow) did not practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Ridley appears to be at risk of missing the team's Week 5 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old is off to a slow start to the 2025 season, recording 10 catches for 141 yards on 24 targets. If Ridley is unable to play on Sunday, Titans wideouts
Elic Ayomanor and
Tyler Lockett could see an increased number of targets, while wide receivers
Van Jefferson and
Chimere Dike could see an uptick in snaps. Even if Ridley suits up, he's hard to trust as a fantasy starter given his questionable health status and lack of production so far.
--Will BradySource: tennesseetitans.com - Jim Wyatt
October 2, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Alec Pierce (concussion) practiced in full for the second straight day on Thursday. Pierce missed his team's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams due to a concussion, but could be trending towards playing in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Pierce has recorded nine catches for 171 yards across three games on 13 targets. The Colts could be shorthanded at wide receiver in Week 5 with
Michael Pittman Jr. (hamstring) popping up on Thursday's injury report with a hamstring injury. If he's healthy enough to play on Sunday, Pierce is a downfield threat who could see significant playing time in Week 5.
--Will BradySource: Indianapolis Colts
October 2, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. (hamstring) was added to the team's Thursday injury report and listed as a limited practice participant, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. A mid-week addition to the injury report is never a good sign, as it could indicate that Pittman Jr. suffered the injury during practice. Pittman Jr. is off to an excellent start to the season with 21 catches for 234 yards and three touchdowns on 29 targets through four games. If he is unable to play in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Colts wide receivers
Josh Downs and
Adonai Mitchell would both be in line for more targets. Indianapolis wideout
Alec Pierce (concussion) missed Week 4 with a concussion, but he's logged two full practices so far this week and would factor in as well if he can suit up in Week 5.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
October 2, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the Thursday edition of his podcast that he thinks Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter will be "thrust to prominence" following injuries to fellow Cardinals backs
James Conner (ankle) and
Trey Benson (knee). Carter has been active for just one of Arizona's games so far in 2025 and opened the season behind Conner, Benson, and
Emari Demercado on the team's running back depth chart. However, Schefter reports that Demercado is expected to remain Arizona's third-down back, creating an opportunity for Carter to step in as the team's primary rusher. Carter has recorded 2,131 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 439 touches across 49 career NFL games (22 starts). Heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, Carter profiles as a high-end fantasy RB3/flex option.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
October 2, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado will "be what he's always been, a third-down back," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Cardinals have plenty of available playing time in their backfield after losing
James Conner (ankle) for the season and
Trey Benson (knee) for four to six weeks due to a meniscus injury. However, Schefter reports that it could be Cardinals running back
Michael Carter, not Demercado, who sees the most backfield touches. Demercado has recorded 21 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on six total touches so far in 2025. The 26-year-old has appeared in 31 career games for the Cardinals but has not logged more than four carries in a game since October 2023. Heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, Demercado looks like a low-end flex option in deep leagues at best.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
October 2, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Bucky Irving (foot) is "week-to-week" with a mid-foot sprain, and it "doesn't sound like he'll play" in his team's Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. On the bright side, Schefter also said that Irving's foot injury "looks like it's not a long-term injury." Irving has recorded 430 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 90 total touches through the first four weeks of 2025. If he misses time, Buccaneers running backs
Rachaad White and
Sean Tucker would both likely see an uptick in playing time. White has recorded 23 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown this season, while Tucker recorded 308 yards and two scores on 50 carries across 17 games in 2024.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
October 2, 2025
Carolina Panthers tight end
Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) missed another practice on Thursday and is looking likely to miss a second straight game in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Sanders suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 3 and was unavailable in the Week 4 loss to the New England Patriots. High-ankle sprains can sideline players for up to four to six weeks, so Sanders is most likely not going to play this weekend against the visiting Dolphins. With Sanders out last weekend,
Tommy Tremble, normally a pass-blocking TE, caught five of his eight targets for a season-high 42 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Tremble is going to be Carolina's best bet for fantasy production at the position until Sanders can return, but don't mistakenly think he's suddenly a must-play TE1 in fantasy lineups.
--Keith HernandezSource: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
October 2, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back
Brashard Smith is gaining more trust in the coaching staff as he produces on the field. "He's willing to listen, very humble kid, and works hard," head coach Andy Reid said. It's become clear that the Chiefs are looking for more ways to use Smith to jumpstart their struggling backfield in 2025. Although
Isiah Pacheco and
Kareem Hunt are still very much involved, Smith's rise is certainly bad news for them. The 22-year-old had four carries for nine yards and caught three of his four targets for 27 yards in the Week 4 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, seeing a season-high 19 offensive snaps in the process. While the production doesn't exactly jump off the page, Smith is a name worth watching in fantasy leagues. If you're desperate for RB depth, he might even be worth a pickup off the waiver wire heading into the team's Week 5 tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Radio 810
October 2, 2025
Following his season-ending knee injury suffered on Monday night in the win over the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee) said he wants to continue his career with the organization after he returns from a dislocated knee and torn ACL in 2026, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Rosenhaus said that Hill "would love to stay with the Dolphins. We would love to get together with them after the season and figure something out that works for both sides, and continue his career here in Miami. There's no reason why we can't." Hill is due to make $29.9 million next year, so if the two sides get something worked out for him to return, it will almost certainly come on a restructured contract. If he's on the roster still in mid-March, he'll be guaranteed $11 million in 2026. Hill's contract carries a salary cap hit of over $50 million, so either way, a restructure was coming. With Hill done for 2025,
Jaylen Waddle becomes Miami's No. 1 wideout, with
Malik Washington moving to WR2 duties.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Herald - Barry Jackson
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