Thu Oct 1 8:19am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
The injury story isn't nearly as packed as it was last week. Thank you very much, injury gods. Let's keep this trend going. We still have some injuries to deal with, though. They aren't going away and never will be. Here is to hoping this trend of fewer injuries continues.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Jets — Doubtful
Mitchell was held out last week because of some sort of finger injury he suffered late last week. He is out of practice to start the week, which is not a great sign. Mitchell is being called week-to-week because of the injury. He seems in danger of missing a second straight game.
Caleb Douglas, WR, Dolphins — Doubtful
Douglas missed last week because of an ankle injury. He is out of practice to begin the week. He seems likely to miss another week of action, barring a big late-week turnaround.
Jayden Reed, WR, Packers — Out for Season
Reed is done for the season. He is having surgery on his neck. Reed leaves a huge hole at receiver for the Packers.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Dolphins — Expected to Play
Wright was apparently close to playing last week but was held out because of neck and foot injuries. He has been limited in practice to start the week but seems right on track to play Week 4. He could end up splitting the work at running back with Ollie Gordon because of the injury to De'Von Achane.
Nico Collins, WR, Texans — Expected to Play
Collins is back practicing this week after missing the last two games because of a strained hamstring. The Texans are hopeful Collins returns for Week 4. He seems likely to play, barring a setback.
Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings — Questionable
Jefferson was knocked out of last week's game because of an ankle injury. He is out of practice right now but could get some work in before the week is out. The Vikings aren't ruling him out but consider him questionable to play. We should have a better idea late in the week.
Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers — Questionable
Coker injured his quad last week. He was working off to the side during practice Wednesday but not with the team. If he gets some practice in before the week is out, look for Coker to be able to play. He should be considered questionable for fantasy owners.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Steelers — Out
Dowdle has already been ruled out for Week 4. The Steelers play the Thursday game, which didn't help matters for his return after missing last week. Jaylen Warren should handle most of the work at running back for the Steelers.
Caleb Williams, QB, Bears — Doubtful
Williams is getting better each day but remains sidelined from practice because of his hamstring injury. It is not looking good for him to return this week. He is expected to miss another week of action. It isn't certain who the Bears will start at quarterback with Case Keenum playing so well last week. The Bears should name a starter before the week is out.
Mike Evans, WR, 49ers — Questionable
Evans suffered a new injury last week, getting knocked out of the game because of a rib injury. He is not practicing Wednesday but might be able to practice later in the week if he starts feeling better. Evans does well to play through injury, but this one might be a tough one to play with in Week 4. Consider him very questionable to be ready.
Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs — Questionable
Godwin apparently suffered an ankle injury during last week's game and sat out practice Wednesday. We aren't sure of the severity of the injury just yet. Get other options ready, but he is not being ruled out. Godwin should be considered questionable.
Puka Nacua, WR, Rams — Expected to Play
Nacua has missed the last two games because of a groin injury. He is practicing on a limited basis to start the week. The Rams expect Nacua to be healthy enough to play Week 4.
Bucky Irving, RB, Bucs — Expected to Play
Irving was banged up late in last week's game with a glute injury. He is practicing on a limited basis to start the week. Irving seems to have avoided anything too serious and has a good chance to play Week 4.
Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens — Expected to Play
Flowers was a game-time decision last week but was able to play and had his usual good showing. He is practicing on a limited basis but could get even more playing time this week as he gets healthier. Get him back in your lineup if you held him out last week.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
The Seattle Seahawks are signing veteran free-agent running back Joe Mixon on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz. Mixon will return to the NFL after missing all of the 2025 campaign with the Houston Texans due to a foot injury. He will give Seattle more backfield depth going forward behind George Holani and Emanuel Wilson with rookie first-rounder Jadarian Price (chest) going on Injured Reserve over the weekend. The 30-year-old Mixon has five 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his eight years in the NFL with the Texans and Cincinnati Bengals, including two straight in 2023 and 2024. For now, fantasy managers should expect Mixon to be more of an RB3 for the Seahawks as he learns their system while providing depth behind Holani and Wilson. Eventually, Zach Charbonnet (knee) is expected to join the backfield, and he should eventually be the go-to guy, even when/if Price returns. The signing of Mixon could indicate a much more serious chest injury for Price, so his fantasy managers should not expect him to be ready after missing four games. In deeper fantasy leagues, Mixon is not a bad RB to stash off the waiver wire this week.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said on Monday that the ankle that was giving rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) discomfort in Sunday's loss to the New York Giants is not the same ankle from the sprain he suffered in the preseason, according to Dani Sureck of the team's official website. The 21-year-old suffered a high-ankle sprain back in August in the early portion of spring training and did not play again until the start of the 2026 regular season. Love limped off the field late in Sunday's game and never returned, finishing with 14 carries for 63 yards while catching his only target for a loss of eight yards. Love has been splitting backfield work with Tyler Allgeier to begin the season, with James Conner (foot) on Injured Reserve and Trey Benson (knee) done for the season. He has not scored since his NFL debut in the Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and he has averaged 4.1 yards per carry for 223 rushing yards on his 55 attempts in his first four games. Love has added 11 receptions for 36 yards and another score through the air. We should have a better idea of his status for Week 5 once the Cardinals resume practicing on Wednesday. If Love should miss any time, Allgeier would essentially become a must-start in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
The goal is for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) to have a full week of practice and start on Sunday in the Week 5 contest versus the division-rival New York Giants at home, head coach Dan Quinn told Zach Selby of the team's official website. Daniels dislocated his left (non-throwing) elbow for the second time in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys and has missed the last two games as a result. The 25-year-old former second overall pick from LSU returned to limited practice last week, though, and as long as he can upgrade to full practice this week, he should be in line to play this weekend. It is good timing for the Commanders, too, with veteran backup Marcus Mariota (knee) spraining his MCL in Sunday's blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London in Week 4. Mariota is expected to miss some time going forward after spraining the same knee in the preseason, which means that Athan Kaliakmanis would serve as Daniels' backup under center if he returns to face the Giants.
From RotoBaller
When asked about running back Saquon Barkley's hamstring injury that he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni did not have any real answers on Monday, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. "We'll see. We'll have more answers Wednesday for you probably with that stuff," Sirianni said. The Eagles' backfield is suddenly very thin after Barkley was injured early in the Week 4 game. Backup Tank Bigsby (core) took over, but he was also injured and is heading to Injured Reserve due to a core-muscle injury that will require surgery. Will Shipley would become the RB1 for the Eagles this weekend on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars if Barkley is unable to play. Behind Shipley, other options for the Eagles' backfield would be Jaydon Blue, Dameon Pierce, and Carson Steele. Fantasy managers should consider Barkley to be questionable right now for the Week 5 game in Jacksonville. Before getting hurt, Barkley had only two carries for eight yards and caught his only target for a two-yard gain against the Rams.
From RotoBaller
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby (core) is set to undergo core muscle surgery following the injury he suffered during Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Rapoport noted that the running back will be placed on the injured reserve and is hoping to return in six weeks. Bigsby was projected to see a potentially large share of the backfield opportunities as top running back Saquon Barkley exited Sunday's contest with a hamstring injury. However, with Bigsby now set to miss at least the next four games and Barkley in danger of missing time, Will Shipley now sits alone on the team's depth chart. In relief on Sunday, Shipley took six carries for 23 yards and is viewed as a priority pickup across all formats ahead of Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers running back AJ Dillon (foot/ankle) walked into his team's locker room on Monday wearing a walking boot on his right foot, according to ESPN's Mike Kaye. Dillon has played a limited role in the Carolina backfield so far this season, recording 43 rushing yards on 17 carries across four games. However, the 28-year-old currently profiles as the Panthers RB2 behind Chuba Hubbard while fellow Carolina back Jonathon Brooks (abdomen/groin) remains on Injured Reserve. If Dillon is forced to miss time, unproven back Anthony Tyus III would be the lone healthy back remaining behind Hubbard on Carolina's active roster. Hubbard has already dominated backfield touches for the Panthers this season and been productive, recording 390 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns through four games. Without any competition for him in Carolina, Hubbard profiles as a must-start running back for fantasy managers.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (ankle) is expected to miss 12 to 16 weeks after undergoing extensive testing Monday. Ian Rapoport reported that Thornton will have surgery within the next week for the dislocated left ankle he suffered during Sunday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. There is a real chance he could return late in the season or during the playoffs, though that will depend on how his recovery progresses. Thornton was having his best game of the year before the injury, catching five of eight targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He has 11 receptions for 219 yards and two scores through four games. The timetable takes Thornton out of the fantasy picture for the foreseeable future, while Kansas City will have to replace one of its top deep threats as he begins a lengthy recovery.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley has played a minimal role in his team's offense so far in 2026, recording 75 yards from scrimmage on 19 touches across four games. However, injuries could be opening the door for Shipley to see more opportunities going forward. Eagles RB1 Saquon Barkley (hamstring) left the team's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring injury and could now be looking at additional missed time. Additionally, Eagles RB2 Tank Bigsby (groin) left the game late in the fourth quarter and may now be battling a groin injury. Neither Barkley nor Bigsby is guaranteed to miss time, which is likely what it would take for Shipley to emerge as a must-start fantasy running back. Still, Shipley offers a three-down skill set, and he could have a chance to play a lead role in the Philadelphia backfield. In most fantasy leagues, Shipley is worth targeting on the waiver wire just in case Barkley and Bigsby are unable to play in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Across the first four games of his NFL career, San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black has recorded 31 carries for 120 yards. Black's production upside in San Francisco is firmly capped by the presence of superstar 49ers back Christian McCaffrey. As long as McCaffrey remains healthy, Black is highly unlikely to provide fantasy managers with consistent production. However, Black has clearly established himself as San Francisco's RB2. McCaffrey is in his age-30 season, has a history of significant injuries, and is coming off an NFL-leading 413 touches in 2025. If McCaffrey were to get injured, Black could immediately vault into must-start running back status as the lead back in the potent 49ers offense. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Black remains a worthy waiver wire target.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson recorded just one touch in his team's Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, hauling in a 10-yard reception on his only target. Johnson is stuck on the depth chart behind superstar running back Kenneth Walker, who has gotten off to a dominant start to the 2026 season. However, Johnson has been effective in his limited opportunities, averaging 6.2 yards per touch on his 21 total touches. Walker is also currently on pace to record over 400 touches, which would blow his previous career high of 255 touches out of the water. If the Chiefs decide to scale back Walker's workload, Johnson could get a chance to prove he can be a reliable contributor. At worst, Johnson profiles as a premier handcuff running back option who fantasy managers should target on the waiver wire in leagues where he remains available.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that the team has to do a better job of getting the ball to wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr., per Pewter Report. Both Tampa Bay wideouts have gotten off to underwhelming starts to the season. Egbuka has recorded 15 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets, while Godwin Jr. has hauled in 16 catches for 142 yards and zero touchdowns on 18 targets. Even if the team makes a more concerted effort to get the ball in the hands of its playmakers, Egbuka and Godwin Jr. could be facing an uphill battle to consistent fantasy production. Tampa Bay started undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback in Week 4, who threw for 148 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions on 27 pass attempts. With QB1 Baker Mayfield (thumb) potentially out for several more weeks due to a thumb injury, the fantasy outlook currently looks bleak for Buccaneers pass-catchers.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been linked to the Kansas City Chiefs. Dynasty Analysis: The reunion tour of Hill with Kansas City almost makes too much sense not to happen as the Chiefs lost both Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton to injuries this week. While Rice looks like he'll be back at some point, Thornton looks to be gone for the season. Hill isn't the same player he once was but it's hard to look at him and not think he's an upgrade over young players like Cyrus Allen. Kansas City is poised to compete and adding Hill could help as long as he's not a distraction. Stay tuned as it sounds like Hill is negotiating with a few different teams.
Dynasty | Bills receiver Keon Coleman had six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the Bills loss to the Patriots. Dynasty Analysis: Coleman is starting to look like the player the Bills thought they drafted back in 2024. His seven targets were second most on the team and he was clearly part of the game plan. Coleman has had an odd season where he's alternated between one and six catches in each of the first four games. If he doesn't have one catch next week, perhaps he's turned the corner - his dynasty value would follow suit.
Dynasty | Jets running back Braelon Allen had 59 rushing yards, two catches and eight receiving yards in a loss to the Bears. Dynasty Analysis: The Jets ran 32 plays on the day compared to 89 for Chicago. They also lost the time of possession battle 43-17. Those are truly amazing stats for an NFL team. In short, Allen really didn't have much of a chance. On the plus side, he did have all the running back carries on the day with 14. Should Breece Hall return next week, Allen will return to fantasy benches. If not, Allen should be used as a RB2/flex player moving forward, despite a bad day here.
Dynasty | Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent completed 25-of-34 passes for 268 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in a win over the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: This wasn't exactly a fantasy performance for the ages but Bagent controlled the game and simply kept the Jets off the field all day. While Case Keenum put up better numbers last week, it's hard to see Bagent losing any ground after showing good composure and looking more like a seasoned veteran than you would expect from someone with this little starting experience. He'll be in consideration in 2QB leagues and should be rostered in all formats.
Dynasty | Bears running back D'Andre Swift had 58 rushing yards and lost a fumble in the Bears win over the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: Swift was benched in the game after losing a fumble and gave way to Kyle Monangai to take over. It's going to be very interesting to see how the Bears move on from this one as Swift has been dealing with a knee injury over the past two weeks anyway. At worst, this looks like a team that's going to be employing a committee backfield and while that's great in reality, it may not be pretty in fantasy. Swift's ADP is going to start to slide.
Dynasty | Bears running back Kyle Monangai had 146 rushing yards, one catch, four receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: We've seen Monangai perform well before, so this wasn't a huge surprise. However, the apparent benching of D'Andre Swift after a lost fumble may have opened a door up for Monangai permanently. It's hard to argue with the results he seems to provide whenever given a chance and this looks like a committee backfield moving forward. The window to buy low on Monangai has slammed shut in dynasty leagues.
Dynasty | Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had one catch for 12 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: Harrison scored his first touchdown of the season but that's where the good news ends. He now has just five catches for 85 yards and that touchdown on the season with just 13 total targets. Harrison's lack of production can be explained pretty easily - he's been targeted on just 8.5% of the passing plays by Arizona this year, making way for Trey McBride and Michael Wilson to take over. Jacoby Brissett simply isn't a player capable of making three players fantasy relevant and Harrison is clearly no better than third in the pecking order. He needs to find a new team to get off dynasty benches - his ADP and dynasty ranking are plummeting.
Dynasty | Jeremiyah Love reportedly told coaches Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight should both play ahead of him because he is "not able to go out there and do spectacular plays every single time." Dynasty Analysis: Uh, say what!?! Love had a very candid interview with Arizona reporters that included him saying this is destined to be "the longest year of my life." This is clearly not what dynasty managers expected when they took him with the 1.01 in rookie drafts this season and tells a tale of a player who is clearly frustrated with his own health and possibly more right now. Love still has a bright future but there's something at play here as he may be dealing with some other injuries and quite possibly a confidence problem. Love is going to be a shaky proposition in lineups moving forward and anyone with him should likely look towards Tyler Allgeier as an insurance policy.
Dynasty | Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard had 122 rushing yards, one catch, seven receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Lions. Dynasty Analysis: The Rodney Dangerfield, "I can't get no respect" annual award winner just continues to produce year after year. With Jonathon Brooks down yet again, Hubbard will continue to get work and we can expect he'll continue to churn out fantasy stats in the process. While not an elite-level player, Hubbard just gets the job done as a RB2 and should be a prime trade candidate for contending teams.