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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans indicated that running back Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) is not ready to return at this time, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. According to sources, it will be much longer, if at all this year, for Mixon "to get back on the field this season." Fantasy managers who have been stashing Mixon must decide if they're going to remain patient or cut bait entirely. The 29-year-old did it all out of the backfield for the Texans last year, rushing for over 1,000 yards for the fifth time in his career while also scoring 11 rushing touchdowns in 14 regular-season starts. However, it's already looking like his 2025 campaign is a wash, and he could struggle for efficiency if he does return behind a bad offensive line. Houston will move forward with veteran Nick Chubb as the RB1, but rookie Woody Marks, who had two scores in Week 4, is quickly ascending.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton scored a touchdown for the third straight game in Sunday's 37-20 Week 4 win over the visiting Baltimore Ravens as the Chiefs' offense looked the best it has all year against a beleaguered Ravens defense. However, with Xavier Worthy returning from a dislocated shoulder that he suffered in Week 1, Thornton's role declined, and he caught just one of his two targets on the day for an 11-yard touchdown in the second half. The 25-year-old will continue to be a factor in KC's offense moving forward, but there's no denying that Worthy's return puts a pretty big dent in Thornton's fantasy upside as the primary deep threat. Rashee Rice will return in Week 7, too, which will be another big blow to Thornton's fantasy appeal for the rest of the season. We might have already seen the best from him in 2025.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) is not expected to have his practice window opened this week, even though he's eligible after four weeks on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Watson tore his Achilles in Week 7 of last year and started the 2025 season on the PUP list as a result. The 30-year-old veteran is not anywhere near a return and probably should be considered a long shot to play at all this year. In fact, most people believe Watson has already played his last snap with the Browns. For now, the Browns will roll forward with veteran Joe Flacco as their starter under center, although there are already questions about how much longer the team will keep him as their starter, given how bad he's looked through four weeks. It could only be a matter of time before we see rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

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Fantasy managers who scooped Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin off the waiver wire in deeper leagues were hoping to see him more involved in the Week 4 Sunday night showdown against the Green Bay Packers with CeeDee Lamb (ankle) missing the game, but Turpin's production didn't see a boost in the 40-40 tie in overtime. Turpin caught three of his four targets for 30 yards and ran for four yards on his lone rushing attempt. It was actually a step back from the previous two games, when the 29-year-old combined for six catches, 111 yards, and a touchdown on seven targets. Jalen Tolbert was the one who benefited more from Lamb's absence, as he caught four of his six targets for 61 yards. George Pickens also went off for eight receptions, 134 yards, and two touchdowns. Turpin has made more of an impact as a receiver this year than he did in 2024, but it looks like he won't necessarily take another leap forward for however long Lamb is sidelined with his high-ankle sprain.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota got going late in the 34-27 loss to his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, in Week 4, in what could be his final start with Jayden Daniels targeting a return from his knee sprain in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mariota finished Sunday's loss by going 16-for-27 passing for 156 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He added two carries for 20 yards and was sacked twice for a loss of nine yards. The 31-year-old veteran's touchdown passes went to receivers Luke McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel Sr. In two games in place of the injured Daniels, Mariota has been decent, completing 64.6% of his 48 pass attempts for 363 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. It's not a lock that Daniels will play in Week 5, but if Mariota makes a third straight start, he'll be a low-end QB2 play against a tough Chargers defense on the road.

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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange pulled in 6-of-7 passes for 45 yards in his team's 26-21 win over the hosting San Francisco 49ers. Strange has been a reliable target as quarterback Trevor Lawrence has at the moment, recording exactly six receptions and seven targets in each of the previous two weeks. The 24-year-old's receiving output leaves us wanting more, but he's easily pacing Jacksonville's TE room in snaps -- accruing 129 more than the next closest teammate. Moreover, he's leading the Jags in receptions (19) and yards (182). Strange and the team will get a true test next Monday night when they square off against the Kansas City Chiefs at home. For now, he's a high-end TE2 with PPR upside..

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith rushed for nine yards on four carries, adding another 27 through the air on 3-of-4 receiving in Week 4's 37-20 win against the Baltimore Ravens. He also returned two kicks for 55 additional yards. The rookie was finally utilized more in the passing game on Sunday, and played considerably more snaps than he had in his first three appearances. At least for this past weekend, Isiah Pacheco took the biggest hit in workload, getting the SMU product involved. Smith doesn't profile as a short-yardage banger, so it's challenging to assume that he'll eventually take on all aspects of Kansas City's ground attack. That said, if the 22-year-old continues to perform well in his receiving role, there could be some low-end PPR value here. He's a dynasty buy if you can acquire him at a reasonable price.

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NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports on Monday that tests confirmed New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) has torn his ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. It's massively disappointing news for fantasy managers and the Giants, as Nabers will now attempt to work his way back before the start of 2026. The timing is unfortunate, considering rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart gave the team some juice in his NFL debut. With Nabers out, fellow wideouts Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton should benefit the most production-wise, and Jalin Hyatt will operate as the Giants' third WR. Slayton has been out there for the most snaps amongst his position, and figures to continue working as the deep threat, making him a moderately more interesting addition in the wake of his teammate's injury.

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New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller rushed for 65 yards on 11 carries and scored a touchdown in Sunday's 31- 19 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He failed to command a target in the passing game. Alvin Kamara predictably led this backfield in touches. Still, for the second straight game, Miller garnered a larger snap share, and he's looked much better off this season when given the opportunity. Kamara played an absurdly high rate of snaps in Weeks 1 and 2, but his rushing volume has tapered off since, while Miller is on the field for roughly a third of the team's snaps. It's a little too early to trust the TCU product to provide standalone value. However, if he continues stealing work from Kamara, this could become more of a 1A/1B situation than we anticipated. Miller will have a good chance to set career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns in Week 5 when New Orleans hosts the New York Giants at home.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Miles Sanders (ankle) suffered an ankle injury during the first half of his team's Week 4 matchup with the Green Bay Packers and was unable to return to the game. Sanders recorded 25 yards from scrimmage on four total touches before getting hurt, and has now totaled 147 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 28 total touches so far in 2025. The severity of Sanders' ankle injury is not yet clear. If he misses time, Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue would likely step in as the team's RB2 behind veteran back Javonte Williams. Blue has been inactive for all four of Dallas' games to this point in the season. Still, he could be worth adding in deep fantasy leagues heading into a Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets, pending the health status of Sanders.

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Minnesota Vikings running back Zavier Scott saw heavy usage in the pass game in Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording six catches for 43 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. With veteran running back Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) on Injured Reserve through at least Week 7 due to a hamstring injury, Scott appears to be Minnesota's passing-down back next to early-down workhorse Jordan Mason. In the two games since Jones Sr. got injured, Scott has recorded 10 carries for 31 yards and seven catches for 63 yards and a score. The 26-year-old's usage will probably be game-script dependent, as he benefited from Minnesota playing from behind for most of Week 4. Scott is worth adding in deep fantasy leagues of 14 or more teams.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Miles Sanders was barely utilized in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers, recording two carries for eight yards and two catches for 17 yards. Cowboys running back Javonte Williams remains the clear RB1 in Dallas, as he racked up 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 23 total touches. Sanders has totaled 147 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 28 total touches so far in 2025. He remains the clear handcuff option to Williams in Dallas for the time being, as Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue was inactive for the fourth straight week against Green Bay. Still, Sanders is not worth starting in fantasy as long as Williams is healthy.

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Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks had a breakout game in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans, recording 119 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 21 total touches. The 24-year-old now has 209 yards from scrimmage and two scores on 35 total touches through the first four games of his NFL career. Marks earned more carries and more catches than veteran Texans back Nick Chubb in Week 4. The 29-year-old Chubb is averaging just four yards per rush attempt so far this season for a struggling Houston offense, so Marks could emerge as the team's lead back if he continues to produce. Additionally, Texans running back Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) is on the Non-Football Injury list and remains without a clear return timeline. Marks is the number one priority waiver-wire addition for fantasy managers heading into Week 5 and should be rostered in all league formats.

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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton recorded three catches for 44 yards on four targets in his team's 21-18 Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Slayton has just nine catches for 135 yards on 12 targets so far in 2025, but he's likely to see a major uptick in target volume with star Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) likely out for the remainder of the season with what could be a torn ACL. In the two games Nabers missed in 2024, Slayton recorded 14 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown on 22 targets. Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson should also see more work in the passing game, but Slayton is the more explosive downfield threat. Slayton should be added in all fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams ahead of a favorable Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said, "That's not our focus," when asked about quarterback Joe Flacco's performance following the team's Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. Flacco struggled against Detroit, completing 16 of 34 pass attempts for 184 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 40-year-old has now thrown for 815 yards, two touchdowns, and six picks through his first four games of 2025. Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel came in for Flacco in garbage time on Sunday, but attempted just one pass (an incompletion). It appears Stefanski and the Browns are not yet interested in making the switch to Gabriel or fellow rookie signal-caller, Shedeur Sanders. Flacco should remain off of fantasy radars, even in two-quarterback formats.

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Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. recorded seven carries for 59 yards in his team's 34-27 Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Rodriguez Jr. has now recorded 18 carries for 98 yards in the two games since Washington lost veteran back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) to a torn Achilles tendon. The Commanders' backfield appears to be a three-way split between Rodriguez Jr., Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols. All three backs have limited fantasy appeal while they are splitting touches. Still, Rodriguez Jr. should be rostered in all leagues of 12 or more teams, as he has a chance to eventually emerge as the clear early-down workhorse in Washington.

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According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury Sunday in Atlanta's win. Still, with the bye coming up, he likely doesn't have to miss any games, sources say. Mooney exited Sunday's contest in the third quarter and had just one catch (on one target) for 15 yards. The Falcons have a bye week approaching in Week 5, which allows for an extra week of recovery for Mooney as the Falcons prepare to host the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. If Mooney were to miss any time, Ray-Ray McCloud, Casey Washington, David Sills, and Jamal Agnew would likely step up in Mooney's absence, although none of them should be on fantasy managers' radar at this point. Thus far this season, Mooney has disappointed a bit, with only 79 receiving yards and seven receptions in three games played.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey caught two of his three targets for 21 yards and a touchdown while adding six kick returns for 199 yards in the Washington Commanders' 34-27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Luke McCaffrey's five-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter gave him his second straight game with a score. He was also excellent on special teams, helping the Commanders get good field position with his 199 return yards. Although his involvement with the offense is somewhat limited based on opportunities, he is making enough splash plays when given the chance to continue to be on the radar for the waiver wire in deeper leagues, especially while Terry McLaurin (quad) is out. Up next for the Commanders in Week 5 is a date with the Los Angeles Chargers, who just lost to the New York Giants in Week 4.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert was third on the team in targets on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers with 6, behind Jake Ferguson (seven) and George Pickens (11). The increase in volume is due to CeeDee Lamb (ankle), who was sidelined. Most of Tolbert's yardage came on a 34-yard pass from Dak Prescott in overtime, which proved to be a massive play in helping the Cowboys take a three-point lead in overtime. The catch was phenomenal, as it had a completion probability of 7.2 percent, the second-most improbable completion in the NGS era, according to Next Gen Stats. All that aside, with Lamb likely missing another few weeks, Tolbert should continue to be in line for more opportunities for targets in Week 5 against the New York Jets, giving him WR3 value heading into Week and a decent waiver wire grab in deeper leagues.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs had himself a career night in Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys. For the first time in his career, he scored three times, all from inside the red zone, in the Packers' 40-40 tie against the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to the three scores, he saw a team-high eight targets and hauled in six of them for 58 yards. All three of his touchdowns came from inside the red zone, 15, one, and two yards out. While it was a career night for Doubs, the combination of target competition and Green Bay's preference to run a balanced offense makes him an unreliable fantasy option every week. However, if available, Doubs should certainly be picked up as bye weeks are beginning in Week 5, and fantasy managers will have to find themselves inserting bench players or players off the waiver wire to fill in the gaps. In Week 5, the Packers have a bye before hosting the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6.

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