49ers' Kyle Juszczyk (knee) could miss 'couple' weeks

Mon Oct 5 1:13pm ET
Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk could miss "a couple of weeks" after hyperextending his knee in Sunday's win against the Denver Broncos, ESPN reported Monday.

The 10-time Pro Bowl selection will have an MRI on Monday to confirm tests taken after the 24-14 victory in Santa Clara, Calif., per the report.

The injury occurred in the fourth quarter on a low hit by Broncos cornerback Jahdae Barron that appeared to bend Juszczyk's knee backward. He remained on the field for several minutes before being helped to the sideline by trainers.

Juszczyk, 35, is in his 10th season with the 49ers. He has four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown in four games this season.

He has 309 career receptions for 2,932 yards and 21 touchdowns in 210 games (163 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2013-16) and 49ers. He has also rushed 69 times for 234 yards and six scores.

A fourth-round draft pick by Baltimore in 2013, Juszczyk was named first-team All-Pro in 2023 and 2025.

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Player Notes
Ladd McConkey Oct 5 7:50pm ET
Ladd McConkey

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that wide receiver Ladd McConkey (foot) is "week-to-week" with a foot injury that he suffered in Sunday's Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to Alex Insdorf. McConkey was dealing with a foot injury going into the game on Sunday, but it gave him more problems against Seattle and forced him from the game. The 24-year-old former first-rounder's status for the Week 5 contest at home against the division-rival Denver Broncos is unclear for now, but fantasy managers should be planning for McConkey to miss some time. If he does, Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris would have higher target ceilings as quarterback Justin Herbert's primary targets in the passing game as the Bolts search for their first win of 2026. Before leaving on Sunday in Seattle, McConkey failed to reel in either of his two targets. He was able to score in the season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals and rack up 82 receiving yards, but he caught seven passes on eight targets for 101 scoreless yards in Weeks 2 and 3.

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Noah Fant Oct 5 7:50pm ET
Noah Fant

New Orleans Saints tight end Noah Fant (abdomen) is officially inactive for the Monday night game against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons to close out Week 4 action, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The 28-year-old was limited in practice Thursday through Saturday, but it was not enough to convince the coaching staff that he was ready to play against the Falcons. Fant scored a touchdown in the season opener and caught all four of his targets for 33 yards and two more touchdowns in last week's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. However, in three games played going into Monday's contest, he has only eight receptions on 12 targets for 66 yards through the air as the clear No. 2 tight end in New Orleans behind Juwan Johnson, who has been a target hog in the early going in the Saints' offense. With Fant sidelined on Monday, Oscar Delp and Treyton Welch will battle for scraps at the position behind Johnson. At best, Fant is a touchdown-dependent TE2 for fantasy managers in deeper leagues when he is healthy.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Oct 5 6:40pm ET
Joe Mixon

The Seattle Seahawks are signing veteran free-agent running back Joe Mixon on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz. Mixon will return to the NFL after missing all of the 2025 campaign with the Houston Texans due to a foot injury. He will give Seattle more backfield depth going forward behind George Holani and Emanuel Wilson with rookie first-rounder Jadarian Price (chest) going on Injured Reserve over the weekend. The 30-year-old Mixon has five 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his eight years in the NFL with the Texans and Cincinnati Bengals, including two straight in 2023 and 2024. For now, fantasy managers should expect Mixon to be more of an RB3 for the Seahawks as he learns their system while providing depth behind Holani and Wilson. Eventually, Zach Charbonnet (knee) is expected to join the backfield, and he should eventually be the go-to guy, even when/if Price returns. The signing of Mixon could indicate a much more serious chest injury for Price, so his fantasy managers should not expect him to be ready after missing four games. In deeper fantasy leagues, Mixon is not a bad RB to stash off the waiver wire this week.

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Jeremiyah Love Oct 5 6:30pm ET
Jeremiyah Love

Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said on Monday that the ankle that was giving rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) discomfort in Sunday's loss to the New York Giants is not the same ankle from the sprain he suffered in the preseason, according to Dani Sureck of the team's official website. The 21-year-old suffered a high-ankle sprain back in August in the early portion of spring training and did not play again until the start of the 2026 regular season. Love limped off the field late in Sunday's game and never returned, finishing with 14 carries for 63 yards while catching his only target for a loss of eight yards. Love has been splitting backfield work with Tyler Allgeier to begin the season, with James Conner (foot) on Injured Reserve and Trey Benson (knee) done for the season. He has not scored since his NFL debut in the Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and he has averaged 4.1 yards per carry for 223 rushing yards on his 55 attempts in his first four games. Love has added 11 receptions for 36 yards and another score through the air. We should have a better idea of his status for Week 5 once the Cardinals resume practicing on Wednesday. If Love should miss any time, Allgeier would essentially become a must-start in fantasy.

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Jayden Daniels Oct 5 6:30pm ET
Jayden Daniels

The goal is for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) to have a full week of practice and start on Sunday in the Week 5 contest versus the division-rival New York Giants at home, head coach Dan Quinn told Zach Selby of the team's official website. Daniels dislocated his left (non-throwing) elbow for the second time in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys and has missed the last two games as a result. The 25-year-old former second overall pick from LSU returned to limited practice last week, though, and as long as he can upgrade to full practice this week, he should be in line to play this weekend. It is good timing for the Commanders, too, with veteran backup Marcus Mariota (knee) spraining his MCL in Sunday's blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London in Week 4. Mariota is expected to miss some time going forward after spraining the same knee in the preseason, which means that Athan Kaliakmanis would serve as Daniels' backup under center if he returns to face the Giants.

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Saquon Barkley Oct 5 6:10pm ET
Saquon Barkley

When asked about running back Saquon Barkley's hamstring injury that he suffered in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni did not have any real answers on Monday, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. "We'll see. We'll have more answers Wednesday for you probably with that stuff," Sirianni said. The Eagles' backfield is suddenly very thin after Barkley was injured early in the Week 4 game. Backup Tank Bigsby (core) took over, but he was also injured and is heading to Injured Reserve due to a core-muscle injury that will require surgery. Will Shipley would become the RB1 for the Eagles this weekend on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars if Barkley is unable to play. Behind Shipley, other options for the Eagles' backfield would be Jaydon Blue, Dameon Pierce, and Carson Steele. Fantasy managers should consider Barkley to be questionable right now for the Week 5 game in Jacksonville. Before getting hurt, Barkley had only two carries for eight yards and caught his only target for a two-yard gain against the Rams.

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Tank Bigsby Oct 5 5:10pm ET
Tank Bigsby

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby (core) is set to undergo core muscle surgery following the injury he suffered during Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Rapoport noted that the running back will be placed on the injured reserve and is hoping to return in six weeks. Bigsby was projected to see a potentially large share of the backfield opportunities as top running back Saquon Barkley exited Sunday's contest with a hamstring injury. However, with Bigsby now set to miss at least the next four games and Barkley in danger of missing time, Will Shipley now sits alone on the team's depth chart. In relief on Sunday, Shipley took six carries for 23 yards and is viewed as a priority pickup across all formats ahead of Week 5.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Dillon Oct 5 5:00pm ET
A.J. Dillon

Carolina Panthers running back AJ Dillon (foot/ankle) walked into his team's locker room on Monday wearing a walking boot on his right foot, according to ESPN's Mike Kaye. Dillon has played a limited role in the Carolina backfield so far this season, recording 43 rushing yards on 17 carries across four games. However, the 28-year-old currently profiles as the Panthers RB2 behind Chuba Hubbard while fellow Carolina back Jonathon Brooks (abdomen/groin) remains on Injured Reserve. If Dillon is forced to miss time, unproven back Anthony Tyus III would be the lone healthy back remaining behind Hubbard on Carolina's active roster. Hubbard has already dominated backfield touches for the Panthers this season and been productive, recording 390 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns through four games. Without any competition for him in Carolina, Hubbard profiles as a must-start running back for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Tyquan Thornton Oct 5 4:50pm ET
Tyquan Thornton

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (ankle) is expected to miss 12 to 16 weeks after undergoing extensive testing Monday. Ian Rapoport reported that Thornton will have surgery within the next week for the dislocated left ankle he suffered during Sunday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. There is a real chance he could return late in the season or during the playoffs, though that will depend on how his recovery progresses. Thornton was having his best game of the year before the injury, catching five of eight targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He has 11 receptions for 219 yards and two scores through four games. The timetable takes Thornton out of the fantasy picture for the foreseeable future, while Kansas City will have to replace one of its top deep threats as he begins a lengthy recovery.

From RotoBaller

Will Shipley Oct 5 4:50pm ET
Will Shipley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley has played a minimal role in his team's offense so far in 2026, recording 75 yards from scrimmage on 19 touches across four games. However, injuries could be opening the door for Shipley to see more opportunities going forward. Eagles RB1 Saquon Barkley (hamstring) left the team's Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a hamstring injury and could now be looking at additional missed time. Additionally, Eagles RB2 Tank Bigsby (groin) left the game late in the fourth quarter and may now be battling a groin injury. Neither Barkley nor Bigsby is guaranteed to miss time, which is likely what it would take for Shipley to emerge as a must-start fantasy running back. Still, Shipley offers a three-down skill set, and he could have a chance to play a lead role in the Philadelphia backfield. In most fantasy leagues, Shipley is worth targeting on the waiver wire just in case Barkley and Bigsby are unable to play in Week 5.

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Kaelon Black Oct 5 4:40pm ET
Kaelon Black

Across the first four games of his NFL career, San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black has recorded 31 carries for 120 yards. Black's production upside in San Francisco is firmly capped by the presence of superstar 49ers back Christian McCaffrey. As long as McCaffrey remains healthy, Black is highly unlikely to provide fantasy managers with consistent production. However, Black has clearly established himself as San Francisco's RB2. McCaffrey is in his age-30 season, has a history of significant injuries, and is coming off an NFL-leading 413 touches in 2025. If McCaffrey were to get injured, Black could immediately vault into must-start running back status as the lead back in the potent 49ers offense. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Black remains a worthy waiver wire target.

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Emmett Johnson Oct 5 4:30pm ET
Emmett Johnson

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson recorded just one touch in his team's Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, hauling in a 10-yard reception on his only target. Johnson is stuck on the depth chart behind superstar running back Kenneth Walker, who has gotten off to a dominant start to the 2026 season. However, Johnson has been effective in his limited opportunities, averaging 6.2 yards per touch on his 21 total touches. Walker is also currently on pace to record over 400 touches, which would blow his previous career high of 255 touches out of the water. If the Chiefs decide to scale back Walker's workload, Johnson could get a chance to prove he can be a reliable contributor. At worst, Johnson profiles as a premier handcuff running back option who fantasy managers should target on the waiver wire in leagues where he remains available.

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Emeka Egbuka Oct 5 4:20pm ET
Emeka Egbuka

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that the team has to do a better job of getting the ball to wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr., per Pewter Report. Both Tampa Bay wideouts have gotten off to underwhelming starts to the season. Egbuka has recorded 15 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets, while Godwin Jr. has hauled in 16 catches for 142 yards and zero touchdowns on 18 targets. Even if the team makes a more concerted effort to get the ball in the hands of its playmakers, Egbuka and Godwin Jr. could be facing an uphill battle to consistent fantasy production. Tampa Bay started undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback in Week 4, who threw for 148 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions on 27 pass attempts. With QB1 Baker Mayfield (thumb) potentially out for several more weeks due to a thumb injury, the fantasy outlook currently looks bleak for Buccaneers pass-catchers.

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Cyrus Allen Oct 5 4:13pm ET
Cyrus Allen

Dynasty | Free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been linked to the Kansas City Chiefs. Dynasty Analysis: The reunion tour of Hill with Kansas City almost makes too much sense not to happen as the Chiefs lost both Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton to injuries this week. While Rice looks like he'll be back at some point, Thornton looks to be gone for the season. Hill isn't the same player he once was but it's hard to look at him and not think he's an upgrade over young players like Cyrus Allen. Kansas City is poised to compete and adding Hill could help as long as he's not a distraction. Stay tuned as it sounds like Hill is negotiating with a few different teams.

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Keon Coleman Oct 5 4:13pm ET
Keon Coleman

Dynasty | Bills receiver Keon Coleman had six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the Bills loss to the Patriots. Dynasty Analysis: Coleman is starting to look like the player the Bills thought they drafted back in 2024. His seven targets were second most on the team and he was clearly part of the game plan. Coleman has had an odd season where he's alternated between one and six catches in each of the first four games. If he doesn't have one catch next week, perhaps he's turned the corner - his dynasty value would follow suit.

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Braelon Allen Oct 5 4:13pm ET
Braelon Allen

Dynasty | Jets running back Braelon Allen had 59 rushing yards, two catches and eight receiving yards in a loss to the Bears. Dynasty Analysis: The Jets ran 32 plays on the day compared to 89 for Chicago. They also lost the time of possession battle 43-17. Those are truly amazing stats for an NFL team. In short, Allen really didn't have much of a chance. On the plus side, he did have all the running back carries on the day with 14. Should Breece Hall return next week, Allen will return to fantasy benches. If not, Allen should be used as a RB2/flex player moving forward, despite a bad day here.

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Case Keenum Oct 5 4:13pm ET
Case Keenum

Dynasty | Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent completed 25-of-34 passes for 268 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in a win over the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: This wasn't exactly a fantasy performance for the ages but Bagent controlled the game and simply kept the Jets off the field all day. While Case Keenum put up better numbers last week, it's hard to see Bagent losing any ground after showing good composure and looking more like a seasoned veteran than you would expect from someone with this little starting experience. He'll be in consideration in 2QB leagues and should be rostered in all formats.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Kyle Monangai Oct 5 4:13pm ET
Kyle Monangai

Dynasty | Bears running back D'Andre Swift had 58 rushing yards and lost a fumble in the Bears win over the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: Swift was benched in the game after losing a fumble and gave way to Kyle Monangai to take over. It's going to be very interesting to see how the Bears move on from this one as Swift has been dealing with a knee injury over the past two weeks anyway. At worst, this looks like a team that's going to be employing a committee backfield and while that's great in reality, it may not be pretty in fantasy. Swift's ADP is going to start to slide.

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Kyle Monangai Oct 5 4:13pm ET
Kyle Monangai

Dynasty | Bears running back Kyle Monangai had 146 rushing yards, one catch, four receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: We've seen Monangai perform well before, so this wasn't a huge surprise. However, the apparent benching of D'Andre Swift after a lost fumble may have opened a door up for Monangai permanently. It's hard to argue with the results he seems to provide whenever given a chance and this looks like a committee backfield moving forward. The window to buy low on Monangai has slammed shut in dynasty leagues.

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Jacoby Brissett Oct 5 4:13pm ET
Jacoby Brissett

Dynasty | Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had one catch for 12 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Giants. Dynasty Analysis: Harrison scored his first touchdown of the season but that's where the good news ends. He now has just five catches for 85 yards and that touchdown on the season with just 13 total targets. Harrison's lack of production can be explained pretty easily - he's been targeted on just 8.5% of the passing plays by Arizona this year, making way for Trey McBride and Michael Wilson to take over. Jacoby Brissett simply isn't a player capable of making three players fantasy relevant and Harrison is clearly no better than third in the pecking order. He needs to find a new team to get off dynasty benches - his ADP and dynasty ranking are plummeting.

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