Illness strikes Falcons, but QB Kirk Cousins to play vs. Saints

Sun Jan 4 11:59am ET
Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive lineman David Onyemata woke up feeling ill Sunday morning but will play in the season finale against the New Orleans Saints, the team said.

Inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison was added to the game status report as out due to illness. Several players were sick during the week but will play.

The Falcons (7-9) and Saints (6-10) will not make the playoffs, but their game in Atlanta will determine the winner of the NFC South. Due to tiebreakers, the Carolina Panthers (8-9) will win the division and head to the playoffs with a Falcons' victory. Should the Saints win, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) will be the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs.

The Falcons will be without Harrison, punter Trenton Gill, defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus, offensive lineman Michael Jerrell, and wide receivers Casey Washington and Malik Heath.

Out for the Saints are defensive back Ugo Amadi, quarterback Spencer Rattler, wide receiver Chris Olave, running back Alvin Kamara, offensive lineman Xavier Truss and defensive linemen Bryan Bresee and Nathan Shepherd.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 5

Player Notes
Dameon Pierce Oct 7 12:10pm ET
Dameon Pierce

Philadelphia Eagles running back Dameon Pierce is being promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, according to Jeremy Fowler. Philadelphia needed another healthy back after Tank Bigsby was placed on injured reserve, while Saquon Barkley is considered week to week with a hamstring injury. Pierce signed with the Eagles during the offseason but did not make the initial roster, returning on the practice squad after final cuts. He has yet to appear in a regular-season game this year, though he rushed for 44 yards on four carries in his lone preseason appearance. Will Shipley was the only healthy running back left on the active roster before the move. Pierce could now be needed against Jacksonville if Barkley remains sidelined, though there is no indication yet that he would move ahead of Shipley for the larger share of the backfield work.

From RotoBaller

Rashod Bateman Oct 7 12:00pm ET
Rashod Bateman

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has made a couple of big plays this season, but the weekly volume is becoming the problem. His best game came with Zay Flowers out in Week 2, when Bateman caught seven of nine targets for 88 yards and a touchdown. Flowers returned the next week, and Bateman has seen only five targets over the two games since, finishing with two catches in each. He still has 171 yards through four games, so this is not about Bateman suddenly losing the ability to make plays. There just is not much to work with when the targets dry up. Lamar Jackson's ankle injury does not help matters heading into Atlanta, either. RotoBaller currently has Bateman around WR48 for Week 5 after listing him as a drop in most leagues entering Week 4. In standard 10- and 12-team leagues, managers can move on if a more dependable waiver option is available. He is easier to hold in deeper formats.

From RotoBaller

Quentin Johnston Oct 7 11:40am ET
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston has not disappeared from the offense, but there is not much fantasy value left in the role right now. He has seven catches for 108 yards on 19 targets through four games, and Week 4 summed up the problem pretty well: one catch for 44 yards on only two targets. Tre' Harris has been much more productive, with 13 catches for 209 yards on 21 targets, while Johnston has yet to score this season. The Chargers still list Johnston as a starter on their unofficial depth chart, so this is not a case of him being completely phased out. The production just has not followed the playing time. RotoBaller's Week 5 Cut List labels Johnston a drop in most leagues, although its waiver coverage still leaves room for him as a boom-or-bust option in deeper formats. In standard leagues, Johnston can be dropped for a more useful option. Deeper leagues can justify one more bench spot if waivers are thin.

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton Oct 7 11:30am ET
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is still playing enough to make this uncomfortable, but four weeks of poor production have pushed him onto the chopping block. He has nine catches for 86 yards without a touchdown, and three of his four games have ended with 25 receiving yards or fewer. Sunday was the worst of the bunch. Sutton drew six targets against San Francisco and turned them into one catch for four yards. The volume is not completely gone, which is why this is not an automatic drop in every format, but the results have been brutal. RotoBaller's Week 5 Cut List has Sutton in the hold-and-bench or drop-in-shallow-leagues tier, and that fits where his value sits right now. Managers in 10-team leagues can move on if there is a useful replacement available. In deeper 12-team formats, Sutton is easier to stash on the bench for another week, but he should not be anywhere near fantasy lineups until the production changes.

From RotoBaller

Odell Beckham Jr. Oct 7 11:10am ET
Odell Beckham Jr.

Free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is reportedly set to join the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad, according to Jordan Schultz. The move would give Beckham another opportunity just over a week after the New York Giants released him following a quiet second stint with the franchise. The 33-year-old played only 19 offensive snaps across three games for New York, drawing one target without recording a catch. Minnesota already has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings at receiver, so Beckham would have work to do before earning a meaningful offensive role. Jefferson's ankle injury does create some short-term uncertainty, but Beckham should not be viewed as an immediate fantasy option simply because Minnesota is bringing him in. For now, he is more of a deep-league watch-list player while he works his way into the offense.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Coker Oct 7 11:00am ET
Jalen Coker

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) could be back when the team returns from its Week 5 bye. ESPN reported Wednesday that Carolina is hopeful Coker will be ready for the Week 6 trip to Philadelphia after he missed Sunday night's win over Detroit. Coker suffered the quad injury during the Panthers' Week 3 loss to Cleveland, finishing that game with two catches for 18 yards before leaving in the second half. He was able to practice on a limited basis late last week but was ultimately held out against the Lions. Coker had been one of Bryce Young's most productive targets before getting hurt, catching 18 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns through three games. With Xavier Legette on injured reserve, getting Coker back after the bye would give Carolina another established option alongside Tetairoa McMillan.

From RotoBaller

Troy Franklin Oct 7 10:50am ET
Troy Franklin

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin has barely been involved this season, but Pat Bryant's ankle injury at least cracks the door open for him again. Franklin has drawn only four targets through four games, catching two for 48 yards, after finishing 2025 with 65 receptions for 709 yards and six touchdowns. Bryant is expected to miss a few weeks, so Denver will have snaps to redistribute behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. Marvin Mims Jr. is still in that mix too, which is why Franklin's opportunity is more interesting than trustworthy right now. He was not targeted at all against San Francisco in Week 4 and has yet to see more than two targets in a game this season. RotoBaller has him at WR63 for Week 5 against the Chargers, and he does not appear among its current top 85 mid-week waiver options. In deeper leagues, Franklin is a speculative stash to watch rather than someone worth chasing with meaningful waiver priority.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Oct 7 10:40am ET
Tyreek Hill

Free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill remains under NFL review as a civil case tied to his divorce moves forward in Florida. Hill's ex-wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro, testified Tuesday that he physically abused her during their marriage, and her complaint alleges eight separate incidents. Hill has denied the allegations and does not face criminal charges. Court TV reported that Vaccaro testified about one incident in which Hill grabbed at her jewelry, pushed her onto a bed, and put his hands around her neck. The NFL's Personal Conduct Policy review remains active, which could still affect Hill's availability if the league ultimately determines that a violation occurred. His agent has also been negotiating with teams as Hill works toward an NFL return, with Kansas City among those that have shown interest. RotoBaller currently recommends Hill as a stash in leagues with 14 or more teams while both his playing status and the league review remain unresolved.

From RotoBaller

Tyson Bagent Oct 7 10:20am ET
Tyson Bagent

There is another start coming for Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent, but the opportunity matters a lot more in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. Bagent handled the Jets well enough in Week 4, completing 25 of 34 passes for a career-high 268 yards in a 23-12 win. The fantasy line was much less interesting. He did not throw a touchdown, was intercepted once and added only one rushing yard on four carries. Chicago also had little reason to ask for more with Kyle Monangai running 30 times for 146 yards and two scores. Bagent is expected to start again Sunday at Green Bay while Caleb Williams remains sidelined by a hamstring injury. RotoBaller has Bagent at QB26 for Week 5 and lists him as an add only in two-quarterback leagues. That makes him useful if a Superflex manager simply needs a starting quarterback this week, but there is not enough passing or rushing upside here to make him worth chasing in ordinary one-QB formats.

From RotoBaller

Pat Bryant Oct 7 10:00am ET
Pat Bryant

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.

From RotoBaller

Jalon Daniels Oct 7 9:50am ET
Jalon Daniels

In his first NFL start, Tampa Bay Buccaneers undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels completed 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions, in the 17-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. He also added 55 rushing yards on eight carries, finishing with 11.4 fantasy points in his first career start. With starter Baker Mayfield (thumb) not practicing ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, it appears Daniels will be the starter again for the Bucs. He goes from facing a top-12 pass defense in Green Bay to the 31st-ranked defense in Dallas. The Cowboys have also allowed the most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season, including big rushing days by Jaxson Dart (54 yards), Jayden Daniels (69 yards), and Lamar Jackson (50 yards). Daniels should be considered a high-end QB3 in Week 5, with high upside given his running ability.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Huntley Oct 7 9:40am ET
Tyler Huntley

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley could be set to start in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons. In 16 games as a starter, Huntley has completed 272 of 422 passes for 2,511 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while adding 623 yards and four touchdowns on 121 carries. With star quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) having an outside chance to play in Week 5, Huntley appears likely to start against the Falcons. After Jackson left Week 4's 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans before the second half, Huntley completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards and rushed four times for 16 yards. He faces an Atlanta defense that has allowed the fourth-most passing yards and the 11th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. If Jackson misses Week 5 and possibly more time beyond that, Huntley could be a low-end QB2 in SuperFlex leagues.

From RotoBaller

Jaydon Blue Oct 7 9:30am ET
Jaydon Blue

Philadelphia Eagles running back Jaydon Blue could be promoted to the active roster this week as the Eagles travel to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. After failing to make the Cowboys' 53-man roster, Blue signed with the Eagles' practice squad before the season. Although he hasn't suited up in a regular-season game yet, with Saquon Barkley (hamstring) uncertain to play and backup Tank Bigsby (core) placed on injured reserve after sports hernia surgery, Blue could be activated and play a role in Week 5. With Will Shipley potentially handling passing-down work, Blue, Dameon Pierce, and Carson Steele could each handle the majority of the workload in Week 5. While they face a tough matchup against a Jaguars defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards to running backs in the NFL this season, Blue could be a top waiver-wire option in Week 6 if he handles the workload and Barkley misses multiple weeks.

From RotoBaller

Kendre Miller Oct 7 9:20am ET
Kendre Miller

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller had six carries for nine yards and two receptions for 10 yards in the 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. With starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) on injured reserve, both Miller and veteran Alvin Kamara saw an increased workload despite trailing for most of the game. Kamara played 38% of the snaps, while Miller played just 26%, with rookie CJ Donaldson handling two-minute situations. The backfield looked ugly for fantasy managers in Week 4, but Kamara limped off the field to the medical tent with what appeared to be a knee injury. While he later returned to the game, Kamara has had multiple knee sprains throughout his career, including one during training camp that cost him the first week of the season. Fantasy managers should track whether Kamara misses practice time throughout the week, as Miller would become a FLEX option in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Oct 7 12:10am ET
Daniel Jones

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has been relatively underwhelming so far this season, ranking as the QB27 in fantasy scoring with just four touchdowns and seven interceptions. The last two games have been particularly rough, featuring two total touchdowns and five interceptions from the former first-round pick. While the box scores have been pretty ugly, we can point to wide receiver injuries as a glaring reason why Jones has underperformed. Alec Pierce (heel) was less than 100% for the first two weeks, and he has missed the Colts' last two games entirely after being placed on injured reserve. Meanwhile, Keenan Allen (groin) missed Week 4 after being ruled out before kickoff. Allen could return this week and Pierce will be eligible to play in Week 7, which means that Jones will be getting some of his top weapons back within the next few weeks. Jones can combine his rushing upside and solidified receiver room to re-assert himself as a viable QB2 in fantasy football. After all, we saw his true potential last year, when he ranked as the QB7 in fantasy scoring before tearing his Achilles. Managers will have to be a little patient as Jones waits to get his top targets back, but he's a solid bench stash in deeper leagues, especially on quarterback-needy rosters.

From RotoBaller

Tank Bigsby Oct 7 12:00am ET
Tank Bigsby

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby (core) has officially been placed on injured reserve. This move was widely expected, according to a report from NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, but the Eagles made it official on Tuesday. Bigsby picked up a core muscle injury during the final minutes of Sunday's Week 4 loss against the Los Angeles Rams. He suffered the injury while handling a larger workload (48% snap share, 14 carries, and 55 rushing yards) in the aftermath of an injury to teammate Saquon Barkley (hamstring). Landing on IR will require Bigsby to miss a minimum of four games, but Rapoport reported that the 24-year-old will undergo surgery and has a timeline closer to six weeks. With Bigsby and Barkley both sidelined, the injury-plagued Eagles will now turn to Will Shipley to lead their backfield against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Josh Cameron Oct 7 12:00am ET
Josh Cameron

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Josh Cameron continues to see his role grow early in his rookie season. After catching two touchdowns through his first three games, Cameron hit another milestone in Week 4 with a career-high 42 receiving yards. He has now played at least 33% of the offensive snaps in three of his four games so far. That's not a very large snap share by any means, but it's still a solid mark for a rookie, and it indicates that he'd be the next man up to handle a much larger role if any of Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, or Brian Thomas Jr. were to miss time. He's particularly appealing ahead of the upcoming trade deadline, as Thomas' name continues to come up as a trade candidate. If the Jaguars do move on from Thomas, it would be a clear sign that they believe Cameron is capable of handling increased responsibilities on offense. We've already seen him strengthen his rapport with Trevor Lawrence, and he's an intriguing option on the waiver wire, especially given the positive state of Jacksonville's offense.

From RotoBaller

Treylon Burks Oct 6 11:50pm ET
Treylon Burks

Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games, putting him on the fantasy radar in leagues with 12+ teams. Burks saw a season-high 59% snap share in Week 4, and his bigger role was a direct result of Terry McLaurin (hamstring) being inactive. The 26-year-old was targeted three times, and although he only caught one pass, it went for a 47-yard touchdown reception. He has now scored a touchdown in back-to-back games, totaling 21.0 fantasy points in PPR leagues during that two-week span. The reception volume has been quite low, but we like his chances of having more catchable balls thrown his way with Jayden Daniels (elbow) trending toward playing in Week 5 against the New York Giants. The biggest factor for Burks' outlook is the status of McLaurin, who remains up in the air for this week. It'll be a little while before we get more clarity on McLaurin's status. In the meantime, managers in 12+ team leagues should consider adding Burks as a high-ceiling fantasy receiver.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Williams Oct 6 11:50pm ET
Isaiah Williams

New York Jets wide receiver Isaiah Williams has played at least 82% of the offensive snaps in each of his last three games, including a 94% snap share during Sunday's Week 4 loss against the Chicago Bears. Williams has taken on a large role as the Jets' No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson with Adonai Mitchell (finger) sidelined. Williams caught six passes back in Week 2 and found the end zone this past Sunday, giving him double-digit fantasy points in two of his last three games. His productivity has been a direct result of his larger role, so he should be viewed as a solid WR3/flex option this week if Mitchell doesn't suit up. We'll know more about Mitchell's status near the end of the week, but in the meantime, Williams should be a priority waiver wire target in 12+ team leagues because of his immediate streaming appeal.

From RotoBaller

Efton Chism III Oct 6 11:20pm ET
Efton Chism III

New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III has defied the odds, going from a 2025 undrafted free agent to a meaningful fantasy football contributor this season. Chism has taken on a larger role over the last few weeks with AJ Brown (ankle) on injured reserve. There isn't a clear pecking order in New England, but the 24-year-old finished fourth on the team in targets (4) and receiving yards (42) against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. He also made a spectacular touchdown catch that led to an embarrassing postgame viral moment for Bills cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson. While fantasy leagues don't reward extra points for one-handed catches, the play itself was an encouraging sign that Chism is capable of making plays on trickier targets. In other words, he can catch passes on plays where some other receivers might not be able. His big-play and touchdown upside gives him waiver wire appeal in leagues with 12+ teams heading into Week 5, especially with Brown still on IR and Mack Hollins (calf) at risk of missing time. If Hollins can't play this week, Chism could be the Patriots' No. 2 wide receiver behind Romeo Doubs.

From RotoBaller