Studs and Duds: Week 4

Sun Oct 4 11:56pm ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

McMillan carried teams to victory


It was another good week for fantasy scoring, especially at the receiver position. We had two different receivers top 40 fantasy points, carrying many teams to victory all by themselves. The running back spot was also very potent, with six backs scoring more than 25 fantasy points, including three topping 30. The quarterback position was a tad down despite the scoring, though. The highest-scoring quarterback this week didn’t even top 30 points (28.16). Hopefully, you came out on the right side of things in Week 4 and took advantage of some of those huge performances.

Browns 27, Steelers 24

STUD: Quinshon Judkins. Judkins had failed to reach double-digit fantasy points in each of his first three games but broke out in a big way in this one. He had 96 total yards and a touchdown, including six receptions on seven targets. Judkins finished with 21.6 fantasy points. He showed his huge dual-threat potential in this emerging Browns offense.

DUD: Deshaun Watson. Watson didn’t play a bad game by any means, leading his team to a huge win, but he did not help fantasy owners. He failed to reach 20 fantasy points for the first time since Week 1. He threw for 268 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Watson finished with just 17.6 fantasy points. Watson is playing better but still far from a sure thing for fantasy owners.

News and Notes: Aaron Rodgers finished a yard shy of 300, having his best passing game of the season. He was 22-of-40 for 299 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. Rodgers has 26-plus fantasy points in two straight games.

DK Metcalf had more yards in this game than he had the entire season. Metcalf had five receptions for 115 yards on nine targets.

Colts 30, Commanders 13

STUD: Jonathan Taylor. Taylor had another solid game, carrying much of the Colts offense. He ran 20 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a pass for two yards. Taylor scored 22.7 fantasy points. Taylor has 22-plus fantasy points in three of four games. He is having another huge fantasy season, being a rock-solid RB1.

DUD: Jacory Croskey-Merritt. There were high hopes for Croskey-Merritt this week with Rachaad White out of the lineup. He never got going, though, rushing nine times for just 15 yards. He also had two receptions for 35 yards. Croskey-Merritt was no help to fantasy teams once again. He was actually outgained on the ground by three different Commanders.

News and Notes: Marcus Mariota injured his knee very early in the game and was unable to return. This left third-string rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis as the No. 1 for the Commanders. He played admirably, considering the circumstances. He finished 15-of-33 for 186 yards and a touchdown with an interception.

Austin Ekeler made his season debut and looked pretty good. He rushed four times for 29 yards and caught a pass for 11 yards. His playing time could increase in the coming weeks.

Packers 17, Bucs 14

STUD: Tucker Kraft. There was little offense in this one, but Kraft was a bright spot. He even dropped a pretty sure touchdown pass in the game. Regardless, he had six receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. Kraft had a season-high 16.5 fantasy points. It was his first game all season reaching double-digit fantasy points. Maybe this game gets him going the rest of the season.

DUD: Bucky Irving. You thought Irving might be the focal point of the offense with Baker Mayfield out. He did get 16 carries for 61 yards but didn’t catch a single pass in the game. This was the first game all season he didn’t have at least four receptions. Irving scored a season-worst 6.1 fantasy points.

News and Notes: Jalon Daniels played pretty well in his first NFL start. He was 19-of-27 for 148 yards and a touchdown with an interception. He also ran eight times for 55 yards.

Matthew Golden found the end zone for the second straight game. He had three receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown on seven targets.

Bears 23, Jets 12

STUD: Kyle Monangai. Monangai got his most work of the season and played great, rushing 30 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a catch for four yards. Monangai scored 28 fantasy points and now has two games with 20-plus fantasy points for the season. He is capable of a huge game any week in this offense.

DUD: Garrett Wilson. Wilson had his first real down showing of the season in a game that seemed to be a favorable matchup. Wilson had just three receptions for 27 yards as the entire Jets passing game struggled. Wilson had at least five receptions and 13.9 fantasy points in all three games before this dud.

News and Notes: Tyson Bagent didn’t score a touchdown pass but played a solid game in his first start of the year. He was 25-of-34 for 268 yards with an interception and led his team to a win.

Braelon Allen got every single carry for the Jets with Breece Hall out hurt. Allen rushed 14 times for 59 yards and caught two passes for eight yards.

Giants 36, Cardinals 24

STUD: Malik Nabers. Nabers got it going, finally getting on the same page as Jameis Winston. Nabers had six receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. This was his first 100-yard game of the season. He also had more than 20 fantasy points for the first time, scoring 23.2 fantasy points. Nabers seemed to be favoring his shoulder throughout the game but powered through and posted big numbers.

DUD: Cam Skattebo. Skattebo continues to lose out on some carries to Najee Harris, hurting his fantasy production. Skattebo ran 18 times for just 58 yards and caught a pass for eight yards. He scored his worst fantasy total of the season, finishing with 7.6 fantasy points. He has fewer than double-digit fantasy points in two of three games.

News and Notes: Jameis Winston had some turnover issues but had his best game as a starter for the team, leading them to a big win. Winston was 18-of-29 for 250 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

Marvin Harrison had just a catch, but it was a 12-yard touchdown reception. It was the first time all season he found the end zone.

Cowboys 34, Texans 30

STUD: CeeDee Lamb. Lamb had a monster performance, catching 17 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. He also finished with 20 receptions and 200 yards. It was quite the showing, scoring 41.9 fantasy points. He has three straight games with 20-plus points and topped 30 points in two of those games. Lamb is having another huge season as the top target in the Cowboys passing game.

DUD: David Montgomery. Montgomery continues to struggle after his huge opener. He had 10 carries for just 24 yards, and his longest gain was on a lateral on a passing play, gaining 19 yards. Either way, he had just 4.3 fantasy points. Montgomery has fewer than seven points in three straight games and is a tough play for fantasy teams right now.

News and Notes: Nico Collins returned from his hamstring injury and looked great. He had seven receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns. The injury didn’t seem to slow him at all.

Javonte Williams ran for just 62 yards on 19 carries but managed to score three rushing touchdowns. He finished with 31.3 fantasy points.

Jaguars 22, Bengals 17

STUD: Tee Higgins. Higgins took advantage of Chase’s absence, racking up a ton of work. He had 11 receptions for 157 yards. Higgins scored 26.7 fantasy points despite failing to score a touchdown. His ceiling is through the roof if Chase has to miss any time. Higgins has two straight games with 20-plus points.

DUD: Parker Washington. Washington had just a catch for seven yards and ran once for three yards. This was his first game all season failing to reach at least 13 fantasy points. You just didn’t expect this type of performance from the Jaguars’ new No. 1 receiver.

News and Notes: Ja’Marr Chase was hurt pretty early, leaving with a possible concussion. He had three receptions for 27 yards.

Chase Brown got his fantasy points despite rushing nine times for only 10 yards. He did all his damage in the passing game, catching 10 passes for 71 yards.

Ravens 24, Titans 18

STUD: Zay Flowers. Flowers continues to be nearly unstoppable. He had eight receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown. This new Ravens offense seems like a perfect fit for Flowers. He has 80-plus yards every game he has played, including two 100-yard performances. Flowers has also found the end zone in two of three games. Flowers is on his way to a career-best season for his fantasy owners.

DUD: Tyjae Spears. Spears was active but barely played. He ran two times for seven yards compared to 16 carries for starter Tony Pollard. Most thought this might be more of a split backfield this year, but that hasn’t been the case. Spears has fewer than four carries in three of four games. He is not usable for fantasy teams right now.

News and Notes: Lamar Jackson was unable to return after the half, suffering an ankle injury in the first half. Jackson was having a huge game before the injury, going 15-of-20 for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

Carnell Tate had his first 100-yard game as a pro. He had nine receptions for 145 yards on 12 targets.

Rams 24, Eagles 20

STUD: Kyren Williams. Williams had one of the best games for a fantasy running back this season. He ran 16 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Williams also had 10 receptions for 67 yards. He had 147 total yards. Williams had 36.7 fantasy points. He has two straight games with 21-plus points and at least 15 points every game. He has carried the Rams running game once again.

DUD: Davante Adams. The return of Puka Nacua was not a good thing for Adams, who saw his targets go way down. Adams had four receptions for 32 yards. He had double-digit targets and 100-yard performances in each of his previous two games. Adams just isn’t quite the same fantasy player with Nacua in the lineup.

News and Notes: Saquon Barkley left very early in the game because of a hamstring injury and was unable to return. Tank Bigsby got much of the work at running back, rushing 14 times for 55 yards.

Puka Nacua played for the first time since Week 1 and looked like his old self. His hip injury didn’t seem to slow him. He had nine receptions for 125 yards on 12 targets.

Patriots 29, Bills 26

STUD: Drake Maye. You have to give Maye some real credit after a horrible start to the season. He looked more like the MVP candidate from last season in this one on the road against a great Bills team. Maye was 22-of-37 for 269 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. He also led the team in rushing, running eight times for 54 yards. This looked a lot more like the Maye from last year. He scored 30.85 fantasy points. He had fewer than 15 points in three straight games to start the year.

DUD: Dalton Kincaid. Kincaid had a real disappointing performance, catching just a pass for seven yards. His start to the season gave fantasy owners hope for a breakout season, performing a lot more consistently. Well, that hasn’t been the case. It has been more of the same up-and-down play from Kincaid. He has less than five fantasy points in two straight games.

News and Notes: DJ Moore banged up his shoulder again and was unable to finish the game. He had a catch for 11 yards before exiting.

Romeo Doubs finally seemed to get on the same page as Maye. He had his best game of the season, catching six passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Vikings 15, Dolphins 10

STUD: T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson is clearly the favorite target of Kyler Murray. He had a big-time game, catching 13 passes for 119 yards. He had just nine receptions all season coming into this game. Hockenson finished with 24.9 fantasy points. As long as Murray is playing quarterback, Hockenson looks to be a legit TE1 for fantasy teams.

DUD: Malik Willis. Willis struggled in this tough matchup for him. He failed to even throw for 100 yards. He was 9-of-17 for just 85 yards. He also ran just two times for 11 yards and lost a fumble. Willis has yet to finish with more than 20 fantasy points in a game this year. He scored just 4.35 fantasy points in this one.

News and Notes: Ollie Gordon hit the 100-yard mark exactly in his first start of the season. He ran nine times for 100 yards and a touchdown against what some consider the best defense in football right now.

Aaron Jones had 128 total yards. He ran 20 times for 94 yards and caught four passes for 34 yards. Jones has 90-plus total yards in three straight games.

49ers 24, Broncos 14

STUD: R.J. Harvey. Harvey didn’t rush for much but made a huge impact in the passing game. He ran seven times for 25 yards but had 10 receptions for 68 yards. He scored a season-high 19.3 fantasy points. He now has double-digit fantasy points in two straight games. He is looking like the most dependable fantasy back in this offense because of all his work in the passing game.

DUD: Courtland Sutton. Sutton continues to do little for fantasy teams. He had just a catch for four yards. Sutton has yet to top 50 yards in a game this year. His start to the season is cause for real concern. The only slight positive for Sutton in this one was Pat Bryant getting banged up, so maybe Sutton gets some more targets going forward if Bryant has to miss any time.

News and Notes: Mike Evans was able to play with his rib injury and led the team in receptions and receiving yards. He had five catches for 76 yards.

George Kittle had four receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. Kittle has now scored touchdowns in three straight games.

Chiefs 30, Raiders 27

STUD: Kenneth Walker. Walker continues to post huge weekly numbers. He rushed 22 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He added a pass for two yards. Walker scored 30.9 fantasy points. He has two games this season with 30-plus points and at least 21 points every game. He is looking like the top fantasy back in the game right now. His numbers are off the charts.

DUD: Travis Kelce. Kelce did little in this one, which was a bit of a surprise considering his strong start to the season. He had just two receptions for 15 yards. Kelce scored 3.5 fantasy points, breaking a streak of three straight games with double-digit fantasy points.

News and Notes: The Chiefs lost two receivers in this game. Both Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton suffered injuries. Thornton suffered a dislocated ankle and could be done for the season. He was having a big game before getting hurt, catching five receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Rice left with a hamstring injury and could be forced to miss some time going forward.

Both Raiders tight ends posted great numbers. Brock Bowers apparently came into the game with an illness, but that didn’t slow him. He had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. Michael Mayer added eight receptions for 82 yards.

Seahawks 30, Chargers 23

STUD: Emanuel Wilson. Wilson took advantage of his chance to start for the Seahawks. He scored two touchdowns. Wilson ran 21 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. He also added three receptions for 39 yards and another score. Wilson had 120 total yards and two touchdowns. Wilson scored 27 fantasy points.

DUD: Justin Herbert. Herbert actually played a pretty heroic game because he took a ton of hits and led his team on a furious comeback. But overall, his fantasy numbers were not good once again. He threw for 189 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. He also lost a fumble, turning the ball over three times. Herbert scored 14.45 fantasy points. He has yet to top 17 points in a single game.

News and Notes: Keaton Mitchell led the Chargers backfield in carries. He ran 10 times for 39 yards while Omarion Hampton had nine carries for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Ladd McConkey was active but barely played, seeming to re-aggravate his foot injury. He was targeted two times in the game before leaving but didn’t catch a pass.

Panthers 32, Lions 26

STUD: Tet McMillan. McMillan was unbelievable, posting the best game for a fantasy receiver this year. He had 14 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns. He could not be covered, finishing with 45.2 fantasy points. He has 100-yard games in two of three and at least 11 fantasy points in three of four. McMillan had a good rookie season but seems poised to blow by that this year. He is off to a great start.

DUD: Darren Waller. There were very few poor performances in this one, but Waller was a bit of a dud. He had three receptions for 36 yards. Waller scored 6.6 fantasy points after having double-digit fantasy points in two straight games. It was encouraging to see him get six targets in this one, but the production just wasn’t there.

News and Notes: Chuba Hubbard continues to excel as the clear lead back for the Panthers, rushing 20 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first 100-yard game of the season, but he has at least 14 fantasy points in all four games.

Jahmyr Gibbs had his worst fantasy performance of the season and still scored 17.7 fantasy points. He ran 15 times for just 46 yards but found the end zone. He also caught four passes for 31 yards.

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.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 5

Player Notes
MarShawn Lloyd Oct 6 12:50am ET
MarShawn Lloyd

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd got off to a relatively slow start this season, but he seems to have turned the corner after the first four weeks. Lloyd is coming off his highest-volume game this year, as he played 55% of the snaps and logged 12 touches (including five catches) in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His rushing numbers were quite poor, averaging just 1.9 yards per carry. However, he was much more valuable as a receiver, turning his five targets into five receptions for 36 receiving yards. The Packers have been looking for someone to separate themselves from the rest of the backfield ever since Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list, and it seems like they have finally found their new lead running back, even if he looked better as a receiver than a ball-carrier. Lloyd is still a very solid waiver wire target, especially since he has RB3/flex appeal from now until Jacobs' return. He has managed to rank as the overall RB36 in PPR scoring this fall and can be a low-end fantasy starter for Week 5 against Chicago.

From RotoBaller

Michael Penix Jr. Oct 6 12:40am ET
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had a relatively smooth and uneventful performance in Week 4, completing 15 of his 20 pass attempts for 223 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and zero interceptions as the Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints. He took just one sack and didn't have a rushing attempt until his kneel-downs on the final two plays of the game. Atlanta cruised to a huge 45-24 victory, allowing them to focus their efforts on controlling the clock with the rushing attack. That explains why Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson combined for 207 rushing yards and a whopping five touchdowns. Penix played extremely clean football, but the highly positive game script lowered his ceiling in this one. Nevertheless, in his two games since returning from injury, he has shown that he can lead a successful offense, throw and run the ball, and limit turnovers. He's a high-end QB2 with additional upside heading into Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens.

From RotoBaller

Kendre Miller Oct 6 12:40am ET
Kendre Miller

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller rushed for just nine yards on six carries during Monday's Week 4 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. He also caught two of three targets for 10 receiving yards. Outside of the moderate pass-catching role, Miller had a very frustrating performance. Many managers scrambled to add him off waivers after the team placed Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) on injured reserve, thinking that the 24-year-old could lead the backfield or at least have a sizable role alongside Alvin Kamara. For what it's worth, he had just one fewer carry than Kamara, but the veteran back had two touchdowns and also accrued seven targets. Rookie CJ Donaldson also carved out a role, logging 18 rushing yards on three carries. Miller's inefficiency, lack of touchdown volume, and uninspiring receiving contributions will keep him out of the top-36 running back conversation for Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings.

From RotoBaller

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Oct 6 12:40am ET
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has now scored a touchdown in back-to-back games, making him an appealing option for fantasy managers seeking a higher-ceiling player on the waiver wire. The waiver wire can run pretty dry at times, and the opportunity to get someone with touchdowns in two consecutive games doesn't come around very often. That's why Rodriguez is worth adding, despite the fact that he has just 14 touches over his last two games and hasn't played more than 25% of the snaps since Week 1. We expect Rodriguez's touchdown streak to earn him more volume going forward, and he might even find the end zone again. Plus, even in the worst-case scenario, he's still a solid handcuff given his role in a highly productive offense.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Oct 6 12:30am ET
Micah Parsons

Green Bay Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons (knee) will not practice ahead of Week 5 against the Chicago Bears, head coach Matt LaFleur told Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's digital staff. Parsons is working his way back from a torn ACL and meniscus damage. Although he's technically eligible to be activated from the PUP list this week, it sounds like he needs a little more time. The Packers' defense has allowed an average of 26.3 fantasy points per game to the Vikings, Jets, Falcons, and Buccaneers this year, so they'd certainly like to get Parsons back to inject some life into the unit. After all, the 27-year-old defender has registered 12+ sacks in each of his five seasons since entering the NFL. With that being said, Green Bay won't want to rush him back before he's ready.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Oct 6 12:30am ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson totaled 14 carries, 62 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns during Monday's Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints. He also converted his lone target into a five-yard reception. It was quite the night for Atlanta's Robinson running backs, as Brian and Bijan combined for five total touchdowns in the win. Brian Robinson has now scored four touchdowns over his last two games, and he has at least 8.7 fantasy points (PPR) in each of his last three games. The 27-year-old seems to be an intriguing matchup-based play going forward, with higher upside and more RB3/flex appeal in games where the Falcons might enjoy a positive game script. As a result, we wouldn't be shocked to see Robinson's momentum tail off slightly in a much more difficult matchup against the Baltimore Ravens next week. With that being said, he will still have RB3/flex appeal in plenty of weeks going forward, and he remains one of the most intriguing handcuffs in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Nick Bosa Oct 5 11:00pm ET
Nick Bosa

San Francisco 49ers pass-rusher Nick Bosa (calf) is unlikely to suit up for the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, per Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News. Bosa has missed two games in a row due to a strained calf that he suffered during practice. It looks like Bosa is trending towards missing a third game in a row as he continues to nurse this lingering calf issue. His absence will certainly hurt this defensive unit as they head into a big divisional game against the Seahawks. Ogbo Okoronkwo and Keion White will likely be asked to step up if Bosa is unlikely to go this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Oct 5 10:50pm ET
Rachaad White

Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White (shoulder) is expected to get back on the practice field this week, per Tashan Reed. Head coach Dan Quinn believes White will be able to practice this week after missing practice all last week due to a lingering shoulder issue. White sat out during Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, but he has a chance to return for the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants. If he remains out, Jacory Croskey-Merritt will handle the bulk of the rushing attempts with Austin Ekeler and Kaytron Allen mixing in as well. Fantasy managers should check back on White's status once they begin practicing again on Wednesday.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Oct 5 10:40pm ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that the team is still evaluating what wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring) will be able to do during Wednesday's practice, per John Keim. McLaurin popped up on the injury report with a hamstring issue last Friday. He was ultimately unable to suit up against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. McLaurin reportedly pushed to play, but the Commanders decided to play it safe with the veteran wideout. It sounds like McLaurin is day-to-day, but the Commanders should give more information once they begin practicing on Wednesday. For now, fantasy managers should consider McLaurin as questionable ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants.

From RotoBaller

MarShawn Lloyd Oct 5 10:30pm ET
MarShawn Lloyd

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd was significantly involved during Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lloyd carried the ball seven times for 13 yards, while hauling in all five targets for an additional 36 yards through the air. That was the most Lloyd has been involved in the passing game this season. His role in the backfield could be expanded going forward, with fellow back Chris Brooks (ankle) leaving early in Week 4. If Brooks is unable to play in Week 5, Lloyd could end up being an interesting flex option in deep leagues against the Chicago Bears.

From RotoBaller

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Oct 5 10:20pm ET
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is beginning to turn a corner after a slow start to the season. Rodriguez has been quiet during the first two weeks, but he has found the end zone in each of the last two games. So far across four games, Rodriguez has carried the ball 26 times for 108 yards and two scores. He usually only gets six carries per game, but he has salvaged his fantasy value with two trips into the end zone. Fantasy managers who are looking for running back help should consider adding Rodriguez. He would see an increased role if Bhayshul Tuten ever goes down with an injury. Until then, Rodriguez is a touchdown-dependent option who might be able to help fantasy managers in deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Monangai Oct 5 10:00pm ET
Kyle Monangai

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson thinks that running back Kyle Monangai (thumb) is "going to be OK" and called his right-thumb injury a "day-to-day deal," according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Monangai stayed on the sideline for the end of the Week 4 win over the New York Jets on Sunday after suffering a thumb injury, but it does not appear to be much of a concern as the Bears head into their big Week 5 divisional clash at the Green Bay Packers this weekend. In the win over the Jets, Monangai had a huge workload, carrying the ball 30 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns while also catching a four-yard pass as a receiver. The 24-year-old former seventh-rounder last year out of Rutgers already has two 100-yard rushing performances in his second NFL season through four weeks and has found the end zone three times on the ground. Monangai should be available against the Packers, and if he is, he will be a strong fantasy play against a Packers defense that has allowed 139.3 rushing yards per game, which is the fourth-highest in the league.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Donald Oct 5 10:00pm ET
Aaron Donald

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said the "hope" is that defensive tackle Aaron Donald (back) will return for the Monday Night Football game to close out Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills, according to Stu Jackson of the team's official website. "That's the direction it looks like it's trending in," McVay said. The 35-year-old veteran All-Pro pass-rusher did not play in the team's Week 4 win over the Philadelphia Eagles due to a back injury that is not considered long-term. As long as Donald is able to get back on the practice field this week, he would have a good shot at returning to the starting lineup for L.A.'s pass rush against quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills. If the 10-time Pro Bowler returns to action under the lights in primetime on Monday, he will continue to be in a rotational pass-rushing role for the Rams after coming out of retirement. The former first-rounder has played in only two games in 2026, playing in just over half of the defensive snaps. Donald has four combined tackles (one solo) but is still searching for his first sack since his return.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Oct 5 10:00pm ET
Tyler Allgeier

Across four games in 2026, Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier has recorded 147 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 42 touches. After starting Arizona's first two games of the season, Allgeier has given way to Cardinals rookie back Jeremiyah Love (ankle). The third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Love clearly profiles as the future of the Arizona backfield. However, Love battled an ankle injury during the preseason, and it was revealed on Monday that he is battling renewed ankle discomfort. Allgeier has proven he can be productive when given the opportunity, as he rushed for over 1,000 yards as a rookie in 2022. If Love ends up missing time, Allgeier could work his way into must-start territory in a favorable Week 5 matchup against the awful Detroit Lions defense. With Love's health uncertain, fantasy managers may want to target Allgeier on the waiver wire.

From RotoBaller

Roman Wilson Oct 5 9:50pm ET
Roman Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson had his best game of the 2026 season so far in Week 4, recording three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown on six targets. Wilson has emerged as a downfield threat in the Pittsburgh passing game, as he's now logged at least 60 receiving yards and a touchdown in back-to-back weeks. The 25-year-old has also seen exactly six targets in all four of the Steelers' games this season. With Wilson's ability to make big plays over the top of defenses, he could have a chance to provide consistent production if he can continue seeing steady target volume. In deeper fantasy leagues, Wilson could be an intriguing waiver wire target for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Jordyn Tyson Oct 5 9:40pm ET
Jordyn Tyson

The eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) has yet to make his professional debut as he recovers from a hamstring injury. While the 22-year-old is technically eligible to return from Injured Reserve in Week 5, Tyson is reportedly still multiple weeks away from being healthy enough to play. Still, recent reports indicate that Tyson is making good progress and should be back on the field at some point in the middle of the season. Tyson was a highly productive pass-catcher in his final two collegiate seasons at Arizona St., recording over 1,800 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns. In deeper leagues or league formats with IR spots, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Tyson now and holding him until his eventual return.

From RotoBaller

Will Shipley Oct 5 9:30pm ET
Will Shipley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley has seen most of his usage on special teams since entering the NFL in 2024, recording just 76 total touches across 35 career games with the Eagles. However, the 24-year-old could get his chance to lead the Philadelphia backfield in the team's upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is considered unlikely to play against Jacksonville with a hamstring injury, and RB2 Tank Bigsby (core) is set to undergo core muscle surgery and will be placed on Injured Reserve. As a result, Shipley could be called upon to play a three-down role against the Jaguars. In leagues where he remains available on the waiver wire, Shipley profiles as a must-add running back for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Dohnte Meyers Oct 5 9:20pm ET
Dohnte Meyers

Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Dohnte Meyers had a breakout game in his team's Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording seven catches for 82 yards on nine targets. Meyers got his chance to play after star Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (concussion) was forced to leave the game with a concussion. Coming out of Week 4, Chase is currently in concussion protocol, and fellow Cincinnati wideout Tee Higgins (adductor) is reportedly battling an adductor strain. If both Chase and Higgins can play in the Bengals' Week 5 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, Meyers may be hard-pressed to see fantasy-relevant target volume. However, if one or both of Chase and Higgins is inactive, Meyers could be one of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's top targets against Miami. Given the injury uncertainty in Cincinnati, Meyers profiles as a top waiver wire target for fantasy managers ahead of Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Douglas Oct 5 9:20pm ET
Caleb Douglas

Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said the team is taking it "one day at a time" with rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle), according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Douglas is not dealing with a significant or long-term ankle injury, but he has now missed back-to-back games after originally getting injured in the Week 2 blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In addition to missing each of the last two games, the 23-year-old third-rounder from Texas Tech has not practiced since getting hurt in Week 2. If he is going to be available to return this Sunday in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Douglas is going to first need to return to the practice field later this week. The most likely scenario is that Douglas will miss a third straight game this weekend before getting another week to rest during Miami's Week 6 bye before returning in Week 7 to face the division-rival New York Jets on the road. Douglas caught five passes for 94 yards in the season-opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and should have more opportunity for a big pass-catching role in one of the thinnest WR depth charts in the league when he recovers from his ankle injury.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Oct 5 9:20pm ET
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is "unlikely" to play in his team's Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, per Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Barkley suffered a hamstring injury during Philly's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and is considered week-to-week. The Eagles also lost top backup running back Tank Bigsby (core) in Week 4, as he suffered a core muscle injury and has been placed on Injured Reserve. Without Barkley and Bigsby against Jacksonville, Eagles RB3 Will Shipley appears likely to be the team's lead back. McLane also notes running backs Dameon Pierce, Jaydon Blue, and Carson Steele are all on the Eagles' practice squad and could be candidates for elevation to the active roster in Week 5.

From RotoBaller