Texans RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is inactive for today's game vs. the Bills. That again leaves the backfield to Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale, and J.J. Taylor. Akers figures to lead in touches but ceded carries to Taylor and passing-down snaps to Ogunbowale last week.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones is questionable to return to Sunday's game vs. the Jets with a hip injury. Jones has been trying to loosen up on the sidelines but hasn't looked good enough to re-enter. Ty Chandler is now operating as Minnesota's lead back.
Update: Jones was ruled out at halftime.
Jaguars Edge Josh Hines-Allen has cleared the concussion protocol and will play today against the Colts. Use him as you normally would in IDP lineups.
Niners LB Fred Warner is expected to play through his ankle sprain today against the Cardinals, according to multiple reports. There might still be some risk of limited playing time, but this early report indicates that he's better than a game-time decision. He appeared to be moving well in his Friday return to practice. I moved Warner back up the Week 5 LB rankings on this morning's news. He'll obviously carry some re-injury risk -- but also plenty of fantasy upside. Weigh both vs. your other IDP lineup options.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Raiders Edge Maxx Crosby is expected to play today against the Broncos. He's officially questionable after managing just one limited practice this week on a high ankle sprain. Crosby played through the issue two weeks ago before missing Week 4. HC Antonio Pierce said this week that they have to protect Crosby from himself with these injury decisions at times. Early word that he'll return makes this seem like a better than game-time-decision situation. I bumped Crosby back up the Week 5 DL rankings some, though he remains short of his usual position. There's risk both to playing him and sitting him in IDP lineups this week.
Packers TE Luke Musgrave will test out his injured ankle in pregame warmups before determining whether he'll play vs. the Rams today, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. "But even if he can make it back, he will be limited at best," Schefter adds. The news just keeps getting better for TE Luke Musgrave, who has already been playing well ahead of Musgrave and should also find additional target opportunity today with WRs Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs out.
ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that Browns TE David Njoku (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Commanders today. "But might be a bit more limited in his first game back since suffering a high ankle sprain," Schefter adds. We often see players limited for a week or two after returning from a high-ankle, so this isn't a major surprise. It obviously dings Njoku's Week 5 fantasy outlook, although he'll still make sense as a starter for plenty of fantasy teams. See where Njoku sits in the Week 5 TE Rankings.
Texans RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) is not expected to play vs. the Bills today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pierce just returned to a limited practice on Friday after missing the last three games, so it's no surprise that he's not ready yet. With RB Joe Mixon (ankle) also out, Houston will again roll with RBs Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale, and J.J. Taylor.
Cardinals TE Trey McBride (ribs) is expected to play vs. the 49ers today, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. McBride cleared concussion protocol by Friday but was added to the injury report on Saturday as questionable. We still don't have any details on the rib injury. But, barring any further reports of a limited snap count today, he should stay in fantasy lineups.
49ers TE George Kittle (ribs) is expected to play vs. the Cardinals today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Kittle is listed as questionable after getting in just a limited practice on Friday. But he was able to play through this injury in the second half of last week’s game and will be out there again today. There's some risk of re-injury here if Kittle takes a big hit, but he belongs in basically all fantasy lineups.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey did not experience any setbacks with his Achilles tendonitis after returning to on-field work this week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Although he was dealing with tendonitis in both Achilles at one point, it's only one that's giving him trouble right now, per Schefter. McCaffrey finally seems to be trending in the right direction. Schefter adds that McCaffrey could return as early as Week 7 or be held out through San Francisco's Week 9 bye, depending on how he responds to increased work in practice.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice will undergo arthroscopic surgery early next week to get a better look at the damage to his right knee, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "As of now, it appears there is only a small chance that the electric second-year player can possibly return this season," Rapoport writes. Next week's procedure could reveal anything from a fully torn ACL and other ligament damage to damage to the PCL and/or LCL but no ACL injury. Depending on the findings, Rice's timeline for return could be anywhere from 4-6 weeks to 9 months. "The chances of testing showing the 4-6 week version appear slim, but not zero," Rapoport adds. Rice owners should continue holding him for now. Hopefully we get a concrete update on his status before waivers run next week.
Raiders WR Davante Adams (hamstring) is "nearing full health" and is "likely" to be able to play next week, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It, of course, remains to be seen whether Adams is still a Raider at that point. And, if he is, whether he and/or the team would want him to play amid ongoing trade talks. Per Rapoport, a reunion with QB Aaron Rodgers in New York is Adams' top choice. The Saints have been most aggressive in pursuing Adams, though, while the Bills and Steelers are also monitoring the situation. New Orleans and Pittsburgh would be disastrous landing spots for Adams' fantasy value. Buffalo looks like his best landing spot, with a top tier QB and a chance to be the team's No. 1 target.
A source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Commanders RB Brian Robinson (knee) is "good to go" for Sunday's game vs. the Browns. Robinson only got in a limited practice on Friday and is listed as questionable, so it's safe to assume he won't be at 100% for this one. Robinson will also be contending with the return of RB Austin Ekeler. See where Robinson lands in our Week 5 RB Rankings.
Browns TE David Njoku (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Commanders on Sunday, according to insider Mary Kay Cabot. Njoku has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain in the opener and was limited in practice all this week. He's probably still not at 100% and carries some re-injury risk this week. Still, Njoku will make sense as a Week 5 starter for plenty of fantasy teams. He sits seventh in our Week 5 TE Rankings.
Dolphins WR Odell Beckham (knee) has been activated from the PUP list and will play vs. the Patriots on Sunday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Beckham missed most of the offseason and the first four weeks of the season after undergoing a procedure on his knee. He returns to a Miami passing game that's been anemic without QB Tua Tagovailoa. We'll monitor Beckham's playing time, but he is not a Week 5 fantasy option.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) is listed as doubtful for Monday night's game vs. the Saints. He returned to three limited practices this week but isn't yet ready to make his 2024 debut. That'll again leave Kansas City's backfield to Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine, and Carson Steele. Hunt wound up leading the way last week and is the best Week 5 fantasy bet.
Cardinals TE Trey McBride (ribs) has been downgraded to questionable for Sunday's game vs. the 49ers. This rib issue was not on Friday's final injury report, so it's unclear how or when the injury occurred. We'll look for an update on McBride's status on Sunday morning. Cardinals-49ers doesn't kick off until 4:05 pm ET.
Jaguars TE Evan Engram (hamstring) is "not tracking to play" vs. the Colts tomorrow, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Engram put in three limited practices this week but evidently isn't ready for game action yet. Barring a setback, he should play vs. the Bears next week. His absence keeps TE Brenton Strange in the lead role for another week. He's averaged 4.7 targets, 2.7 catches, and 32 yards over the past three games.
The Packers suspended WR Romeo Doubs one game for conduct detrimental to the team. He'll miss Sunday's contest vs. the Rams.
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