The Cincinnati Bengals shifted to a higher rate of shotgun, downhill runs in the Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. The shotgun formation fits backup running back Samaje Perine's skill set better, and his powerful running style resulted in 4.9 yards per carry on 14 attempts. Perine's 57.1% success rate tied for the most of any back in the NFL last weekend. Brown, meanwhile, saw 13 carries for only 39 yards (3.0 yards per attempt) while catching three of his four targets for 21 yards as a receiver. Perine had one more carry than he had in the first four games combined, and he had one more rushing attempt than Brown. There have been 182 runs of at least 14 yards in the NFL so far this year, but the Bengals are the only team without one. "I think we'll continually assess how that touch share between (Perine) and Chase Brown should play out," offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said. "Every game's different." Brown will continue to have a major role in Cincy's backfield, but how opponents play the Bengals could determine how the Bengals dictate the usage of Perine versus Brown. He should continue to be a must-start in all fantasy lineups, especially when considering that his 24 catches are the second-most of any RB in the NFL through five weeks.

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Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson has been suspended without pay for two games on Tuesday by the NFL for punching Buffalo Bills defensive end Bradley Chubb after the Week 5 overtime loss to the Bills on Monday Night Football, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. If the 28-year-old appeals his suspension, he could be allowed to play this weekend against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. If the league upholds Jackson's two-game suspension, he will miss this weekend's game against the Cardinals and a Week 7 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. "It's just emotions, you know what I mean? Emotional game. It was a close game," Chubb told The California Post in the Bills locker room. "And you know, they always catch the second guy. So, I let him swing. And then my teammates held me back, and I just chilled." Losing Jackson for two games will be a downgrade for a Rams offense, but they should be just fine against the Cardinals and Raiders.

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The Dallas Cowboys re-signed running back Emari Demercado on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Running back depth has been a problem this year for the Cowboys behind starter Javonte Williams, but Demercado will return to Dallas alongside Tyler Goodson for now as the team heads into a Week 6 battle on Sunday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The 27-year-old Demercado was a healthy scratch for the Cowboys for two games earlier this season before he was waived last week. The former undrafted free agent from TCU is only worth adding off the waiver wire as a handcuff for Williams in the deepest of fantasy leagues. Demercado has just five carries this year with Dallas for 15 yards and has not been targeted at all in the passing game. He is averaging a healthy 6.4 yards per carry in his three-plus seasons in the NFL (three years with the Arizona Cardinals), but Demercado has just 131 rushing attempts and 50 receptions on 70 targets since he debuted in 2023.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day this week on Tuesday, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. The 24-year-old reigning Offensive Player of the Year had his ankle taped up heavily during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, but it did not really slow him down at all, as he played 84% of the offensive snaps and caught five of his eight targets for 102 yards and his seventh touchdown of the season. Smith-Njigba has just 14 targets over the last two games after seeing 36 targets in the first three games of 2026, but he continues to produce as an elite WR1 for fantasy managers. The two-time Pro Bowler currently leads the league in receiving yards (583), touchdowns (seven), and yards per game (116.6) going into a short week this Thursday night against the hosting Denver Broncos. Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II (ankle) is expected to miss a second straight game, so Smith-Njigba should eat yet again in primetime. There have been no indications that JSN's ankle injury will slow him down or keep him from playing to kick off Week 6.

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The Los Angeles Chargers worked out free-agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Quentin Johnston (chest) missed the Week 5 loss to the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sunday, and although Ladd McConkey (foot) was active, he was only available in an emergency situation and did not play a single offensive snap. Injuries to the wideout position continued in Sunday's loss, too, as Tre' Harris left with a hamstring injury and did not return. He is considered week-to-week with a Week 7 divisional tilt on the road coming this Sunday versus the Kansas City Chiefs. With all of the injuries at the position, tight end Charlie Kolar led the Bolts in receiving in the 23-17 loss to Denver. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Theo Wease Jr. were forced into significant snaps last weekend and could be forced to do so again if Harris and Johnston do not play. The 29-year-old Smith-Schuster continues to look for another chance to play in 2026, and it could come in L.A. The former Pro Bowler in 2018 played in 17 games (12 starts) with the Chiefs last year and caught 33 of 45 targets for 345 yards and one touchdown. Smith-Schuster becoming fantasy-relevant in standard 12-team fantasy leagues is likely a long shot if he lands in L.A.

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Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady said on Tuesday that star running back James Cook III could be in danger of losing carries in the backfield if his ball-security issues continue, according to Bills insider Alex Brasky. "We're putting the ball in harm's way. It's negating all the positive. I have confidence in him. At some point there has to be consequences. It's gotta improve or the carries are gonna decrease," Brady said. The 27-year-old had a big night in the overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night in Week 5, carrying the ball 10 times for 121 yards and a touchdown while adding one catch for seven yards, but he put the ball on the ground twice, losing one in overtime that luckily did not cost the Bills the game. Cook continued to pick up chunk gains on the ground for Buffalo against an underperforming Rams defense, and he is already up to five rushing TDs through five games after scoring 28 times on the ground in the last two years. He has three straight 1,000-yard seasons and already had reached the 100-yard mark in three of five games in 2026. Cook is a must-start RB1 in fantasy, but Ty Johnson and Ray Davis could steal more work away if the fumbles continue to happen.

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Reports have surfaced this week that free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) is close to signing with a team, and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told Josh Moser that "it's a fluid situation." "I think a deal could happen anytime." Hill and Rosenhaus have been taking their time in trying to find his next team, and health-wise, the Cheetah is feeling good after he played in just four games last year for the Miami Dolphins before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Rosenhaus said Hill is looking to play for a contender that needs help at the receiver position, which describes his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Some folks around the league believe that if Hill resurfaces in the NFL this year, it will be with the Chiefs, who drafted the 32-year-old speedster in the fifth round in 2016 from West Alabama. Making his potential return even more cloudy is an off-the-field situation that the NFL is still investigating. Despite all of that, Hill is a worthy waiver-wire pickup going into Week 6 action, even though he still remains unsigned. Rosenhaus does not know that Hill is 100% on Tuesday, but "he's close."

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Buffalo Bills head coach and play caller Joe Brady said, "I have not done a good enough job of getting him the ball," when asked about tight end Dalton Kincaid's limited usage on Tuesday. Kincaid got off to a red-hot start in 2026, recording 12 catches for 225 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets across his first two games. However, the 26-year-old's production has come crashing back down to earth lately, as he's logged just four catches for 52 yards on seven targets across the last three weeks. Kincaid has been a very efficient receiver on a per-target basis for most of his NFL career, but he's also had long stretches of minimal usage during his time with the Bills. Still, it appears as though Brady and the Bills' decision-makers are going to make an intentional effort to get Kincaid more involved. Despite his disappointing production in recent weeks, Kincaid remains a high-upside tight end option for fantasy managers heading into Week 6.

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The Cleveland Browns have placed running back Raheim Sanders (hip) on Injured Reserve, per a team announcement. Sanders has served as the primary backup running back in Cleveland behind RB1 Quinshon Judkins (ankle) this season, recording 117 scrimmage yards on 20 touches across five games. However, Sanders will now miss the Browns' next four games at least. Judkins' availability for Week 6 is also in question, as he's dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered in Week 5. The Browns signed running back Audric Estime to replace Sanders on the active roster. If Judkins is forced to miss time, Estime and veteran back Jaleel McLaughlin could handle Cleveland's backfield work in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens.

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Cleveland Browns running back Jaleel McLaughlin has played a minimal role in his team's offense so far in 2026, recording just two carries for 31 yards and a touchdown across four games. However, the 26-year-old could be poised for a significant workload increase in Week 6 and beyond. The Browns placed RB2 Raheim Sanders (hip) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, guaranteeing that he will miss Cleveland's next four games. Additionally, starting running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) suffered an ankle injury in the Browns' Week 5 loss to the New York Jets, which could threaten his availability in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens. Particularly in deeper league formats, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing McLaughlin off the waiver wire just in case he ends up leading the Cleveland backfield in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Across five games so far in 2026, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy has recorded 16 catches for 194 yards on 27 targets. Flournoy has flashed upside, but his usage in Dallas is limited by the presence of star Cowboys wideouts George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb (quad). Lamb exited Dallas' Week 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a quad injury, but he is expected to be able to play in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers. Still, Flournoy's production upside if either Lamb or Pickens misses any time is clear. Even with Lamb playing a chunk of the game against Tampa Bay, Flournoy recorded 90 receiving yards on three catches. Particularly with Lamb already a little bit banged up, Flournoy profiles as a priority stash candidate for fantasy managers in most league formats.

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Across five games so far in 2026, Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel has recorded 13 catches for 227 yards and one touchdown on 17 targets. The 24-year-old's production has trended positively of late, as he's hauled in eight catches for 126 yards and a score over his last two games. Houston acquired wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, which could push Noel back down the team's depth chart. However, Noel provides an explosive element from the slot that gives him a different skill set than Harrison Jr. and Texans WR1 Nico Collins. Houston's passing offense has also been effective so far this season, with quarterback C.J. Stroud averaging 37 pass attempts and 280 yards per game. In deeper league formats, Noel could be worth stashing off the waiver wire.

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Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (hip, knee) is battling hip and knee injuries that limited his usage in the second half of his team's Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers, per Bears insider Ben Devine. Green Bay was blowing out Chicago, which may have influenced the team's decision to give Swift just one carry in the second half. Still, it appears as though the veteran running back's availability for the Bears' Week 6 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons could be in question. Fellow Chicago running back Kyle Monangai (toe, thumb) missed Week 5 with turf toe and could also be at risk of being sidelined in Week 6. With Swift and Monangai's health status in doubt, Bears RB3 Roschon Johnson could be a worthwhile deep-league waiver wire target for fantasy managers.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) is back on the practice field, but there is still too much uncertainty surrounding his role to consider him a priority waiver addition for Week 6. Houston opened his 21-day practice window on October 6, and Dell was limited Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday's practice and being ruled out against Tennessee. He hasn't played since suffering a severe knee injury in December 2024, though his first two NFL seasons demonstrated his potential with 98 receptions for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns across 25 games. The receiving corps awaiting him looks considerably different, however, after Houston acquired Marvin Harrison Jr. from Arizona on Monday. Nico Collins remains a prominent part of the passing attack, while Jaylin Noel strengthened his case for additional opportunities by catching five passes for 41 yards and a touchdown against the Titans in Week 5. Dell's eventual workload remains difficult to project, especially after such a lengthy absence. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues with an available IR spot can justify stashing him while Houston determines when he's ready to return and how he fits into its crowded receiving rotation.

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Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat is being suspended for two games for violating the NFL's Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, per Bears insider Ben Devine. Sweat has recorded two sacks and four QB hits across the first five games of 2026. The 30-year-old is in the second-to-last season of a four-year, $98 million extension he signed with Chicago ahead of the 2024 season. Sweat recorded 10 sacks for the Bears in 2025 and has been a key piece of his team's defense in recent seasons. Through five weeks, Chicago's defense currently ranks 11th in the NFL with 12 sacks. With Sweat sidelined, the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots will have an easier task against Chicago over the next two weeks.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | Bills running back James Cook had 111 rushing yards, one catch, seven receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: He also fumbled twice, including one late gaffe that nearly cost Buffalo the game. Cook was distraught on the sidelines after his second mistake but was saved when the Bills blocked an overtime field goal. On the plus side, the Bills stuck with him in overtime and he posted huge numbers in dynasty leagues. The fumbling needs to stop but Cook will continue being an elite RB1 moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 12-of-19 passes for 210 yards with one touchdown and one interception and added 121 rushing yards and another rushing touchdown in a win against the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: Few quarterbacks have ever been able to do what Allen can in fantasy and reality. While the Bills passing attack was off most of the night, Allen was able to find rushing lanes repeatedly and took advantage by bullying his way for big gains. Allen will remain an elite option in dynasty leagues for the foreseeable future.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | Rams receiver Puka Nacua caught 17-of-24 targets for 138 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Bills. Dynasty Analysis: The 24 targets were tied for third most in NFL history for a single game behind only Brandon Marshall (28) and Chris Chambers (26). You can say Nacua is healthy again. Matthew Stafford just locked onto his top target and seemingly threw him the ball every time. While this kind of volume isn't sustainable, Nacua left the game healthy and should resume his role as an every week start.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 40-of-54 passes for 383 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss to the Bills. Dynasty Analysis: Stafford's 383 passing yards led the league this week as he found Puka Nacua a whopping 17 times and Davante Adams in the end zone twice. When he has his full complement of players, Stafford can put up video game numbers on any given week and did so on Monday night. He remains an elite-level QB1 option for contending dynasty teams as we know any season could be his last.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling could see another substantial snap share in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, although his fantasy appeal remains limited to deeper leagues. With Quentin Johnston (chest) and Brenen Thompson (quadriceps) sidelined, Ladd McConkey (foot) available only for emergencies, and Tre' Harris (hamstring) exiting early, Valdes-Scantling played 75% of the offensive snaps in Sunday's 23-17 loss to Denver. Despite the expanded playing time, he caught just two passes for 22 yards on three targets and has only five targets across three appearances this season. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh indicated Monday that McConkey could begin working back into the mix this week, while Johnston may remain limited in practice. Valdes-Scantling could continue seeing significant playing time if those injuries persist, but his lack of targets makes him difficult to trust in fantasy lineups. Managers in leagues with 14 or more teams can consider him for temporary receiver depth, although there's little incentive to invest heavily in a player who could see his opportunities disappear once the Chargers get healthier. Los Angeles also has a Week 7 bye approaching.

From RotoBaller