Thu Oct 8 12:00am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
So in addition to all the injured players on this list for Week 5, we also get to deal with bye weeks for the first time. Both the Chiefs and Panthers are off, adding insult to injury for a lot of fantasy teams. The injuries just keep piling up this week. Not good.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens — Doubtful
Jackson seems like a long shot to play this week after getting knocked out of last week’s game because of a sprained ankle. He seems to have avoided anything too serious but is likely to miss a week or two of action. Tyler Huntley is in line to start for the Ravens in Week 5.
Breece Hall, RB, Jets — Questionable
Hall missed last week and is still being called week-to-week because of his quad injury. He is out of practice to open the week. At this point, look for Braelon Allen to get another start for the Jets in Week 5.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Jets — Questionable
Mitchell hurt his finger in practice a few weeks back and has missed the last two games. His finger injury remains a bit of a mystery, but it must be fairly serious. It isn’t known if he will be ready to go for the coming week. Consider him questionable for the game.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders — Questionable
McLaurin hurt his hamstring late last week in practice and had to miss the Week 4 game. He is not practicing to start the week and is working off to the side. He has an outside chance to be ready for this week but will need to ramp up his work in practice in a hurry.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Commanders — Out
Mariota got his start last week but didn’t last long, suffering a sprained knee. He is out this week and might miss a few weeks of action because of the injury.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots — Questionable
Stevenson got hurt on the last series of the game in Week 4. He suffered some sort of knee injury and was limited to start his week in practice. Stevenson is looking a little iffy to play this week. He should be considered questionable and might be limited in the game if active. TreVeyon Henderson could have a slightly larger role this week.
Mack Hollins, WR, Patriots — Out
Hollins was knocked out of the game last week because of a calf injury. It was a non-contact injury that did not look good at the time. We would expect Hollins to miss a few weeks of action, leaving the Patriots thin at receiver.
Rachaad White, RB, Commanders — Questionable
White was held out of the game last week because of a shoulder injury. He was back practicing in a non-contact jersey Wednesday, which was a step in the right direction. He could be trending toward a Week 5 return. Consider him questionable for now, but we might know more later in the week.
Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals — Questionable
Chase is in the league’s concussion protocol after getting knocked out of last week’s game. Consider him questionable for the Week 5 game. He will need to progress through the protocol to be allowed to play. We should have a better idea of his status in a few days, but get other options ready in the meantime.
Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals — Questionable
Higgins is another Bengals receiver who didn’t make it through last week’s game. He was hurt really late, though, suffering groin and neck injuries. He is out of practice to open the week. Higgins has a shot to play but should be considered extremely questionable at the moment. He will need to get in some sort of practice before the week is out if he hopes to play.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders — Expected to play
Daniels is back practicing this week. His elbow injury is not expected to be 100 percent the rest of the season but should be good enough for him to return to action this week. Daniels is expected back in the starting lineup for the Commanders.
Cam Skattebo, RB, Giants — Expected to play
Skattebo is dealing with some sort of undisclosed injury, having a non-contact jersey on to start the week in practice. It doesn’t appear to be too serious, though, especially if he was already doing some work in practice. Skattebo should be ready for Week 5.
DeVonta Smith, WR, Eagles — Out
Smith was out last week with a hamstring injury and remains out of practice. Smith is expected to miss another week of action for the Eagles. Dontayvion Wicks should serve as the top target for the Eagles at receiver in Week 5.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles — Expected to play
Goedert is back practicing on his knee sprain. He has missed the last two games because of the injury but is expected to return to the starting lineup this week. His return would provide a welcome boost to the Eagles passing game.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers — Questionable
McConkey was active last week but didn’t play much. He was only out there for 24 snaps. McConkey is sidelined from practice to open the week because of the foot injury. It would not be a surprise if he sits out the Week 5 game.
D'Andre Swift, RB, Bears — Questionable
Swift is a little banged up, dealing with hip and knee ailments. He is sitting out practice Wednesday. We aren’t sure if he is resting as much as anything, though. As long as he gets in some practice over the next few days, Swift should be ready to go in Week 5.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears — Questionable
The Bears say the thumb injury Monangai suffered late last week isn’t a big deal, but he is not practicing to start the week. That isn’t an ideal sign. We would consider him questionable to play because of the thumb and toe injuries he is currently dealing with. Hopefully, we get a better idea of the severity of the injuries before the week is out.
Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints — Questionable
Kamara was the No. 1 back for the Saints last week and served the role well. He apparently hurt his back, though, and sat out practice Wednesday. This could be another instance of the veteran resting, though. Don’t rule him out just yet. He should be able to play as long as he practices some before the week is over.
Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings — Questionable
Jefferson sat out last week because of a sprained ankle. He is making progress with the injury and has a shot to play this week. Jefferson might end up being a game-time decision.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles — Out
Barkley left last week because of a hamstring injury. It looked really bad at the time, but the Eagles are calling him week-to-week. Barkley seemed to have avoided anything too catastrophic. He is expected to miss this week but might be back in a week or two. Will Shipley might be the last man standing in the Eagles backfield, likely starting the Week 5 game.
Mike Evans, WR, 49ers — Expected to play
Evans was a game-time decision last week but gutted it out and played the game. He is in a similar spot this week, so we would expect him to play again. He didn’t seem to suffer any setbacks with his rib injury.
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.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (chest) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, according to the team's official injury report. The 0-4 Chargers continue to be the bearers of bad news, listing a whopping 18 players on their injury report, including three receivers: Johnston, Ladd McConkey (foot, did not practice), and Brenen Thompson (quadricep, limited). Johnston has been incredibly disappointing in his fourth NFL season, catching just seven passes for 108 yards and zero touchdowns through four games. After posting a career-best WR34 finish in PPR leagues last year, he has plummeted to WR88 in scoring so far this season. The only good news is that he has maintained a snap share of at least 75% every week. If McConkey is inactive against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, Johnston's fantasy appeal will increase slightly, but he's pretty tough to trust in most leagues right now. Plus, he'd need to clear injury hurdles of his own as he works to overcome this chest ailment.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday as the team begins preparing for Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. Charbonnet tore his ACL in the playoffs last year, and he didn't quite recover in time for the season opener, so the Seahawks placed him on the PUP list to start the year. Now that he has missed the minimum four games, he's eligible to be activated. The Seahawks definitely don't have to activate him this week if they don't think he's ready, but it's worth noting that Seattle is actively looking to improve its backfield. After placing rookie Jadarian Price (chest) on injured reserve last week, the Seahawks tried to sign Joe Mixon to their practice squad, but the deal didn't progress beyond a physical. Getting Charbonnet back from injury would help answer the running back questions for Seattle, which gave a total of 32 touches to Emanuel Wilson and George Holani last week. Upon his return, Charbonnet would occupy the lead-back role, ranking as an RB2 in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday as the team begins to prepare for Week 5 against the New England Patriots, according to Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee. Nailor initially suffered the injury in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, and it forced him to miss part of the game. Now, he's at risk of missing all of next week's game against the Patriots if he doesn't clear concussion protocol in time. It's not often that players are able to clear the protocol in seven days, but it's not impossible. Fantasy managers should monitor the Raiders' practice reports going forward, especially when they release their game status designations on Friday. If Nailor can't suit up this week, Tre Tucker and Cody White would step into larger roles in the passing game.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, according to Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee. As the Raiders prepare for their Week 5 matchup against the New England Patriots, Bowers appears to be less than 100%. It's too early to panic, though. After all, Bowers was limited on Friday last week, and he still managed to play 48 hours later, racking up six catches for 86 yards and one touchdown against the Chiefs. As long as Bowers doesn't take a step backward and miss a practice altogether, we feel pretty good about his chances of playing on Sunday afternoon. The Raiders and fantasy managers will both benefit from his availability, as he has posted a whopping 25 targets, 16 catches, 202 yards, and two touchdowns in two games since returning from his meniscus trim. He is an undisputed high-end TE1 in fantasy football week in and week out.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) logged a limited practice session on Wednesday due to a groin issue, per the team's official injury report. Croskey-Merritt recorded 2026 season lows in Week 4 in carries (nine), rushing yards (15) and rushing yards per attempt (1.7). He also had two receptions for 35 yards. Austin Ekeler, who recently signed back with the Commanders, outperformed Croskey-Merritt on the ground on fewer carries with 29 yards on four rushes (7.3 yards per carry). Ultimately, the Commanders were defeated 30-13 against the Indianapolis Colts in London in Week 4. Of note, fellow running back Rachaad White (shoulder) returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday after missing the game against the Colts in Week 4. Croskey-Merritt leads the Commanders with 56 rushing attempts for 157 yards and a touchdown, but he has been inefficient with an average of just 2.8 yards per carry. Croskey-Merritt's participation throughout the rest of the practice week will be telling, but he does not appear to be in danger of missing a Week 5 matchup with the New York Giants as of now.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (hamstring) missed Wednesday's practice due to a hamstring injury. Diggs is coming off of a five-catch, 35-yard performance in a Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London. He saw nine targets in the game, but ended with a rather unproductive stat line. Diggs is Washington's leading wide receiver through four games in 2026 with 18 receptions for 170 yards (9.4 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Fellow wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring) also did not practice on Wednesday after he was forced to miss the Week 4 loss against the Colts because of a hamstring injury of his own. It would not be an ideal situation for the Commanders to be without both wideouts against the New York Giants in Week 5. Diggs' status is worth monitoring throughout the week.
From RotoBaller
Tyler Shough (hand), the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, was limited at Wednesday's practice due to a left hand issue, according to the team's injury report. However, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football noted that Shough's injury "doesn't sound concerning." The Saints are coming off of a 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. Shough completed 30 of his 48 passes (62.5%) for 286 yards and a touchdown. Through four games in the 2026 season, Shough currently ranks third in the NFL with 1,203 passing yards, and he is tied for third in the league in touchdown passes with nine. While fantasy managers will need to keep a close eye on Shough's status the rest of the week, his availability does not seem too worrisome right now.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (foot) did not practice Wednesday due to a foot issue, according to the team's official injury report. Of note, Pollard also did not practice last week on Wednesday ahead of Week 4 before logging full practice sessions on Thursday and Friday. Ultimately, he was active and played 34 offensive snaps in a 24-18 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Pollard rushed 16 times for 48 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and scored a touchdown against the Ravens, while also adding two receptions for two yards. He is Tennessee's leading rusher with 54 carries for 221 yards and a touchdown. Pollard has also recorded eight receptions for 24 yards. While his status for the rest of the week is worth monitoring moving forward, his absence on Wednesday was most likely precautionary.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that Addison is dealing with some hamstring soreness. He noted that it was a minor issue, so it sounds like Addison will be fine in time for the Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Addison is finally beginning to produce consistent numbers, so fantasy managers don't need him to go down with an injury right now. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) has been officially ruled out ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. As expected, Mayfield will miss his second straight game with the Bucs taking on the Cowboys in Dallas on Thursday Night. The veteran quarterback could be sidelined as long as six to eight weeks while he recovers from his thumb injury. Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will draw his second career start this week. Fantasy managers in most standard 12-team redraft formats can probably move on from Mayfield, with him expected to miss a good chunk of the season.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson (ankle) is expected to have a minimal stay on the Injured Reserve, per Cameron DaSilva of USA Today. Ferguson should be ready to play following his four-game absence due to being placed on the IR. The 23-year-old landed on the IR ahead of Week 4, so he'll be eligible to play against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8. Tyler Higbee will likely be leaned on the most at tight end while Ferguson is out. Colby Parkinson (shoulder, knee) and Davis Allen could also be mixed in, but aren't as valuable fantasy assets. Fantasy managers can be hopeful that they'll get Ferguson back for Week 8, but they should continue to check back for more updates.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was seen in the locker room without a noticeable limp, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. Brown has been out since suffering a right high-ankle sprain during the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. The star wideout is hopeful to get back on the field after missing the minimum of four weeks he is required to miss because he was placed on the Injured Reserve. He's eligible to practice next week, so Brown moving around without a limp is a good sign ahead of him possibly practicing next week. Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins will continue to operate as the primary wideouts until Brown is ready to play again.
From RotoBaller
The Dallas Cowboys have had one of the worst defenses in the NFL so far this season, on paper, on film, and on the stat sheet. In fantasy football, they're the worst defense, depending on your scoring system, and haven't scored double-digit fantasy points in any of their games. They've allowed 28 points per game to opposing offenses. They even dipped into negative scoring in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens. But the matchup is so good in Week 5 that they might finally be worth starting in deep leagues. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense fell completely flat in Week 4, as starting quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) missed the game with a thumb injury and was replaced by backup QB Jalon Daniels. He threw for just 148 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, and was sacked three times. Dallas will have home-field advantage for the contest. The Cowboys would benefit from having a real threat at pass-rusher, but in such an easy matchup, they have at least some upside in very deep leagues.
Denver Broncos wide receiver and returner Marvin Mims Jr. caught one of three targets for 10 yards in the 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Although Mims didn't have a productive Week 4, his role increased after second-year receiver Pat Bryant was injured. Mims' snap share rose from 17% in Week 1 to 27% in Week 4. With Bryant (ankle) expected to be placed on injured reserve, Mims could see his role grow further in the coming weeks. While he's still likely to play a smaller role than Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, and Troy Franklin, Mims is a receiver to watch in deeper leagues and is one injury away from a solid role in the Broncos' receiving room.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has been quiet through the first four weeks of the season. Heading into Week 5, Otton has recorded 15 receptions with 157 receiving yards and zero touchdowns. He has an increased chance of finding the end zone this Thursday against the struggling Dallas Cowboys defense. A unit that has allowed three touchdowns to tight ends through the first four games of the season. Otton hauled in four of his six targets for 37 yards during last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers. Fantasy managers should expect Otton to remain in the TE2 range for this upcoming Thursday Night matchup.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ted Hurst III is someone who could be an interesting stash option in deep leagues or dynasty formats. The rookie wideout seemed to be on the verge of breaking out before quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) was injured. Now, the value of Hurst is expected to take a hit with rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels under center. Last week, Hurst finished with two receptions on three targets for 25 yards in the loss to the Green Bay Packers. Hurst offers big-play ability, but this offense can't seem to get anything going consistently. Hurst gets a plus-matchup against the Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 5, but that's still not enough to warrant starting him in Week 5.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. is coming off arguably his best performance of the year during last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers. Godwin hauled in six of his seven targets for 31 yards in the loss. Both the targets and receptions were season highs for Godwin. It seems that Godwin and rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels are quickly building chemistry together. They'll have a great chance to do some damage together against the struggling Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 5. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect monster numbers from Godwin, but he should be worth a look as a low-end flex option.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has certainly been a disappointment to fantasy managers through the first four games of the season. Heading into Week 5, Egbuka has hauled in 15 of his 24 targets for 154 receiving yards and one touchdown. It has been a rough year for the 23-year-old, but the talent is certainly there. This is not a good situation for Egbuka right now with an unperforming offense and an undrafted rookie under center for the foreseeable future. The hope is that Egbuka and Jalon Daniels build more chemistry over the next few weeks. He'll draw a favorable matchup against the struggling Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 5. There's hope that Egbuka can bounce-back because he does have big-play ability, but fantasy managers cannot trust him as more than a flex option right now.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (ribs) was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Evans suffered a painful rib injury in the Week 3 win over the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but he managed to suit up for this past Sunday's win over the visiting Denver Broncos. The 33-year-old future Hall of Famer caught five of a season-high eight targets for a season-high 76 yards in the victory over Denver. Evans could be on the injury report for much of the 2026 season, but so far, he has managed to play in all of the team's four games and has 17 catches on 24 targets for 213 yards and two touchdowns to begin his first year in the Bay Area. He is San Francisco's clear WR1 target for quarterback Brock Purdy in an extremely banged-up receiver room. The weekly volume is propping up Evans' otherwise fading fantasy value because of the mounting injuries near the end of his career. If he does not suffer a setback this week, he should play on Sunday against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, where he will be a low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell was able to find the end zone for the first time during last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers. Gainwell hasn't seen as much attention in the offense as fantasy managers expected coming into the season. Last week, Gainwell carried the ball three times for five yards, while hauling in two receptions for 22 yards and one touchdown in the loss. It has been a down year for Gainwell, but he heads into a plus-matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. A defense that has struggled to contain both the passing and running game. Gainwell hasn't given fantasy managers many reasons to have faith in him, but he could be a flex option in deep leagues for this favorable matchup in Dallas.
From RotoBaller