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The Arizona Cardinals signed running back Michael Carter to their active roster on Monday, according to Dani Sureck of AZCardinals.com. Carter played in his first game with the Cardinals this year in last Thursday night's loss to the Seattle Seahawks now that James Conner (ankle) is out for the year, but he had just one carry for one yard. The 26-year-old former New York Jets RB will continue to provide depth in Arizona's backfield, and he could be in line for a bigger role in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans if Trey Benson (undisclosed) is out or limited at all. Benson came down with an apparent injury in Week 4 and is considered day-to-day right now. If Benson were to miss any time, Emari Demercado would be the next man up for the Cardinals in the lead-back role.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Miles Sanders (ankle) is trending toward being able to play against the New York Jets on Sunday, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The head coach also said that rookie running back Jaydon Blue is "very close" to making his NFL debut after being a healthy scratch for the first four weeks of the season. Schottenheimer also said that Sanders' injury will play a part in discussions for potentially activating Phil Mafah (shoulder) from Injured Reserve if the team feels they need more backfield insurance. Sanders left the Sunday night tie against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return, but it looks like he avoided a serious injury. He's been the change-of-pace RB2 behind starter Javonte Williams. Sanders' injury may open the door enough for Blue to seize an opportunity in Dallas' backfield once and for all in 2025.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski would not answer directly on Monday when asked if he is sticking with veteran Joe Flacco as the team's starting quarterback, according to Scott Petrak of Browns Zone. It's not about one person. There are so many things that we need to do better, and obviously, the quarterback included, but this is not about one person," Stefanski said. The 40-year-old Flacco has not looked good through four weeks, and the Browns rank tied for 30th in the NFL with 14 points a game after their blowout loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 4. Flacco has thrown six interceptions and lost two fumbles. He completed just 47.1% of his 34 pass attempts on Sunday for 184 yards, two picks, and a 39.3 passer rating. Dillon Gabriel, a third-round rookie, has played late in two blowout losses and would be next in line to start if Flacco is eventually benched. Deshaun Watson (Achilles) isn't anywhere close to returning to practice and isn't expected to play in 2025.

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When asked specifically about running back Trey Benson (undisclosed), Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon called him "day-to-day" on Monday and noted that there will be more when the first injury report of the week comes out on Wednesday, according to Howard Balzer of Cards Wire. Benson apparently picked up an injury in last Thursday night's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but it's unclear whether it will put his status in the air for Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans. The good news is that Arizona has extra time off since its last game. The 23-year-old disappointed in Week 4 in his first game as the lead back following James Conner's (ankle) season-ending injury, as he rushed for only 35 yards on eight carries and caught five passes for 19 yards. Benson will be a must-start against the winless Titans if he's active this week. If his injury is serious enough to keep him out, Emari Demercado would become the Cardinals' top backfield option.

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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and offensive lineman Tyler Booker, who are both recovering from high-ankle sprains, are "trending in the right direction," according to Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. Schottenheimer added that as things stand, the team doesn't plan on putting either Lamb or Booker on Injured Reserve, but they reserve the right to change their minds. If Lamb or Booker were put on IR, they'd be forced to miss at least four games. Even if Lamb is not put on IR, the 26-year-old All-Pro wideout could miss multiple weeks after missing his first game in Sunday night's overtime tie to the Green Bay Packers. Fantasy managers must remain patient with Lamb and hope he can avoid IR and return sooner rather than later. In the meantime, George Pickens, who went over 100 yards with two TDs on Sunday night, will be Dallas' clear WR1. Jalen Tolbert saw an expanded role in Week 4, too, and is worth a short-term waiver pickup for those looking for wideout reinforcements with bye weeks starting in Week 5.

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The New York Giants officially placed wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) on Injured Reserve on Monday after he suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. It's a crushing blow to both the Giants and fantasy managers alike. Those in single-year leagues can safely drop Nabers to the waiver wire this week and add reinforcements. With the 22-year-old former first-rounder out the rest of the way, the G-Men will ask all of Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, and Jalin Hyatt to step up as their top three receivers for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Tight end Theo Johnson should also see an uptick in targets in the passing game. Robinson should already be rostered in most leagues, but Slayton will be a popular pickup this week. Nabers will finish with 18 catches on 35 targets for 271 yards and two touchdowns in his second NFL season. Since the injury happened early in the year, Nabers should have a good chance at being ready to go for Week 1 of 2026 next fall.

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New York Jets wide receiver Tyler Johnson is a healthy inactive for the Week 4 divisional contest on Monday Night Football, according to Susanna Weir of NewYorkJets.com. Johnson will head to the bench with Josh Reynolds returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out in Weeks 2 and 3. It's not as if Johnson took advantage of Reynolds' absence, as he caught only two passes on four targets for 32 yards and no touchdowns in two games. He didn't even catch a pass on one target in the Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Reynolds will return as receiver depth alongside Allen Lazard, Arian Smith, and Isaiah Williams for the Jets behind clear No. 1 Garrett Wilson. For fantasy purposes, nobody besides Wilson is startable on a weekly basis among the Jets' receivers. Johnson has only four receptions for 63 yards and no scores in three games so far in 2025.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) did not practice on the estimated practice report on Monday due to more soreness in his toe, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Purdy returned after a two-week absence in the Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars due to turf toe and an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, but he reported more soreness in his toe after the game and could be in danger of missing the next game this Thursday night against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on a quick turnaround. Meanwhile, backup QB Mac Jones (knee) was listed as a full participant on Monday. If Purdy doesn't get clearance to play in Week 5, Jones would make his third start of 2025. Purdy went 22-for-38 for 309 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks in the loss on Sunday and also lost a crucial fumble late in the game. Even if Purdy suits up on Thursday and starts, he'll be more in the QB2 tier against a tough opponent while likely being less than 100%.

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Washington Commanders wide receivers Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Noah Brown (groin) are "trending up," according to head coach Dan Quinn. They still have work to do after both missing the Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, but "things are trending in the right direction," according to Zach Selby of Commanders.com. Brown has the last two games after he was injured in Week 2. The 30-year-old McLaurin is the one who matters in fantasy, though, and he did not practice at all last week before being ruled out in Week 4. It sounds like he's making progress, but we won't know until later this week if he has a realistic shot at returning in Week 5 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers. Quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) is eyeing a return this week, too, so it's possible Washington's offense could be getting two of its best players back. With McLaurin out in Week 4, Deebo Samuel Sr. expectedly led in receiving, while Luke McCaffrey caught a touchdown for the second straight week.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is still week-to-week with a serious quadriceps injury that has kept him out for the first four weeks of the season, according to David Newton of ESPN. Coker opened the year on Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old is now eligible to come off IR for the Week 5 game against the Miami Dolphins, but it doesn't sound like that is going to happen. In fact, he might not even be a lock for Week 6. Once Carolina opens Coker's practice window, they'll have 21 days to officially activate him to the active roster. The Panthers could use some help in the passing game behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, as veteran Hunter Renfrow hasn't done much outside of a pair of touchdowns, and Xavier Legette (hamstring) has missed the last two games. Coker became a big part of the team's offense in his rookie year in 2024, so he's worth stashing in an IR spot with his return potentially coming in several weeks.

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Cleveland Browns WR DeAndre Carter (knee) was placed on the Reserve/Injured list Monday, Sept. 29.

From TheHuddle

San Francisco 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) may have a minor posterior cruciate ligament injury, and his status for Week 5 is uncertain, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Fantasy Spin: The 49ers play on Thursday Night Football, so Pearsall will only have a few days to recover from the injury. Fantasy players will need to monitor the situation over the next few days to have a better understanding of his availability. He has played well in the first month of the season but will be a risky option in Week 5.

From TheHuddle

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. could have a larger role coming, with head coach Dave Canales saying, "Yeah, we'll get to see Jimmy Horn Jr." Canales added that he's excited for Horn to get this opportunity this week, according to Sheena Quick. Xavier Legette (hamstring) could miss a third straight game, while Jalen Coker (quadriceps) remains on Injured Reserve. Horn has been a healthy scratch for the first four weeks of his rookie season, but it sounds like he could make his NFL debut in Week 5 against the visiting Miami Dolphins. Outside of rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, the Panthers haven't really had anyone step up in the passing game. The 23-year-old Horn is fast and could provide quarterback Bryce Young with a nice deep threat, but fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can't realistically consider him a worthwhile waiver-wire pickup just yet.

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San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (shoulder) caught his second touchdown of the season in the team's 26-21 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday. Tonges left the game just six plays in due to a possible shoulder injury but returned near the end of the first quarter. He finished the game with three catches on five targets and had 58 receiving yards, good for second-most on the team in Week 4. Tonges has emerged as the preferred pass-catching tight end in George Kittle's (hamstring) absence. Both Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ribs/ankle/shoulder) suffered injuries on Sunday, and on a short week (the 49ers face the Rams on Thursday), their status is up in the air. If either or both are limited or absent, then Tonges could see a greater target share than usual.

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Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that the team is going to open the practice window for running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) this week, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Getting Spears would be a big help to Tony Pollard in the Titans' backfield, but opening Spears' practice window doesn't guarantee he'll return in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Titans will now have a 21-day window to officially activate the 24-year-old from the Injured Reserve after he missed the first four weeks of the season with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered during the preseason. So far, Pollard has been an every-down back for a struggling Titans offense, but his snap share will most likely go down when Spears is back in the fold. Spears should be scooped up off the waiver wire if you're searching for backfield depth, especially in PPR leagues. Just don't expect him to be active this weekend.

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When asked if running back Bucky Irving (undisclosed) was among the injured players he was concerned about following Sunday's Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said, "Yeah, he's one of them," per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Bowles added that Irving underwent an MRI exam on Monday, and the team is awaiting the results. The 23-year-old had his most productive day of the year in the 31-25 loss to Philly on Sunday, carrying the ball 15 times for 63 yards and adding five receptions for a season-high 102 receiving yards and a touchdown. However, he apparently suffered an undisclosed injury along the way that could put his status in jeopardy for a Week 5 road tilt against the Seattle Seahawks. We'll monitor Irving's status closely this week. If Rachaad White is available on your league's waiver wire, pick him up immediately.

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New Orleans Saints TE Taysom Hill (knee) will have his 21-day practice window opened this week, according to head coach Kellen Moore.

Fantasy Spin: Hill is coming back from a serious knee injury, so he is still probably a few weeks away from being ready to play. He was a solid part of the offense before the injury and is likely to see a decent amount of touches when he returns. Fantasy players should see him play in a game or two before considering him for their lineups.

From TheHuddle

Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and will be sidelined for at least one week, according to sources.

From TheHuddle

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that wide receiver Calvin Ridley (undisclosed) was dealing with an undisclosed in-game injury on Sunday in the shutout loss to the Houston Texans and played through it, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Ridley had played at least 86% of the offensive snaps through the first three weeks, but he played a season-low 54% of the snaps on Sunday because he wasn't 100% healthy. The 30-year-old veteran continued to be a disappointment for his fantasy managers, catching two of his three targets for 30 yards and no touchdowns. He has failed to exceed 30 yards in three of four games so far in 2025 and has caught just 10 passes for 141 yards and no scores on 24 targets so far this year. Ridley has not been efficient with rookie quarterback Cameron Ward and the rest of the Titans' offense struggling, and now he could be in danger of missing Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ribs/ankle/shoulder) sustained yet another injury in the team's 26-21 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday. Jennings was sandwiched between two defenders while making the catch on a successful two-point conversion in the third quarter. He held onto the ball but was writhing on the ground in pain after the play. Jennings returned to action on the next drive but saw only one target for the rest of the game. He finished the day with two catches for 24 yards on four targets. San Francisco is playing on Thursday night in Week 5, meaning less time for Jennings to recover, and leaving his status up in the air per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. With Ricky Pearsall (knee) also suffering an injury on Sunday, Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne might see an increased role against the Los Angeles Rams.

From RotoBaller