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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (foot) is back on the practice field on Thursday after he was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Shepard's status is worth watching going into Sunday's Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, but the fact that he's back on the field on Thursday is a good sign. Mike Evans (hamstring) is likely to miss a second straight game this weekend, but the 32-year-old Shepard is still going to be a hard sell as a flex play in fantasy now that Chris Godwin is back. With Godwin back in the Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Shepard played 62% of the offensive snaps and caught just two passes for 14 yards on four targets, while Godwin was targeted a team-high-tying 10 times. Godwin and rookie Emeka Egbuka will be Tampa's top two wideouts until Evans is able to return.

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Dynasty | The Jets have placed running back Braelon Allen on injured reserve. Dynasty Analysis: Well, that escalated quickly. The Jets haven't disclosed the exact nature of Allen's knee injury but it's clearly more than just a bruise. While it doesn't sound like he's going to miss the rest of the season, it's also unclear if he's going to be back after the required four weeks. Breece Hall is going to get all he can handle moving forward and Isaiah Davis has quickly become relevant.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was out there practicing with the team on Thursday, according to FOX Sports' Greg Auman. The former Cleveland Brown was limited all last week with a biceps injury, but his ailing knee held him out of Wednesday's session. It's excellent news that he's back out there the next day, hinting that it may have been more of a day of rest for the veteran. His participation in Friday's session will be telling of his status for Sunday's outing with the hosting Seattle Seahawks, though, as of now, it appears that Mayfield is on track to suit up. Seattle has been one of the better teams against the rush thus far, so the Bucs could be forced to air it out a bit more in Week 5, particularly with running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) trending in the wrong direction.

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FOX Sports' Greg Auman reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) was tagged with a DNP for Thursday's team practice. Irving was spotted in a walking boot and crutches on Wednesday, so seeing him sit again the following day wasn't all that surprising. He's considered day-to-day, and head coach Todd Bowles noted that the Oregon product could still suit up for Week 5's road contest with the Seattle Seahawks. However, he'll need to shed his boot before that comes to fruition. Fantasy managers will want to monitor the 23-year-old's status as the weekend approaches, as he's on the wrong side of questionable with just one practice day remaining. Backfield mate Rachaad White would handle primary RB duties in his absence, with Sean Tucker mixing in as the second option.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) was not spotted at Thursday's team practice, according to FOX Sports' Greg Auman. The 32-year-old missed his fifth consecutive practice while working back from a hamstring injury, an issue he's all too familiar with at this point in his career. Tampa Bay was fortunate to have teammate Chris Godwin's return coincide with Evans' absence, as it seems the latter is still at least another week away from potentially returning to his team. With Evans expected to miss Week 5, Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson will again operate behind Godwin at rookie Emeka Egbuka when Tampa Bay takes on the hosting Seattle Seahawks.

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Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) was throwing off to the side during warm-ups, but was unable to practice on Thursday. Minnesota will take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 5, and all signs are pointing to the 22-year-old missing his third consecutive contest. It's good news that McCarthy seems to be progressing, but he isn't quite ready to retake the practice field. Minnesota is likely just being cautious with its franchise QB, but he'll need to log at least a limited session before he's considered for their next outing. Veteran teammate Carson Wentz will again operate the offense in the second-year pro's stead.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill has made a significant impact in the Ravens' offense through four weeks. Hill is coming off a career-best performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, racking up 117 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on just eight touches. He's also out-snapped Derrick Henry in back-to-back weeks, largely due to Baltimore leaning on a pass-heavy approach against the Lions and the Chiefs. The Ravens face the Texans in Week 5, and if Houston's offense can take advantage of Baltimore's banged-up defense, Hill could once again see elevated usage. For now, he looks like a sneaky flex option with upside in PPR formats.

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Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Travon Walker (wrist) underwent surgery but is considered day-to-day, per head coach Liam Coen. Walker sustained the injury early in Week 4's 26-21 win over the San Francisco 49ers. While it was initially deemed week-to-week, the former first-overall pick opted for surgery and could still suit up in Week 5's primetime matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Walker notched sacks in back-to-back games before the injury and has been a key piece of Jacksonville's underrated defense. If active, he and Josh Hines-Allen will be critical in generating pressure on Patrick Mahomes to keep the Chiefs' offense in check.

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said this week that his team must cut down on penalties to help backup quarterback Carson Wentz and the offense stay in favorable down-and-distance situations against the Cleveland Browns in London. Wentz threw for 350 yards last week against Pittsburgh, but in part because Minnesota committed several costly offensive penalties, fell behind in the game, and attempted 46 passes. The Vikings will be without starting left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist), starting center Ryan Kelly (concussion), and starting right tackle Brian O'Neill (knee), and are likely to feature another game plan that includes more quick, high-percentage throws to stay away from the Cleveland pass rush. It's not an ideal situation for Wentz, though he still carries some Superflex value as long as starter J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is out.

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San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is trending toward a Week 6 return from injured reserve. Kittle strained his hamstring in Week 1 after posting four catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, all in the first quarter. His return will be a major boost for San Francisco's offense, both as a pass catcher and as a blocker. Once active, Kittle should immediately reclaim his role as a high-end TE1, though fantasy managers should be more concerned about his health risks and the 49ers' crowded target distribution.

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With the Minnesota Vikings once again facing major issues on the offensive line in Week 5, the team is likely to craft a game plan similar to last week, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. From a fantasy perspective, that would be a good thing for wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who drew a season-best 11 targets, 10 catches, and 126 receiving yards in the Vikings' loss against Pittsburgh. Minnesota will have to find a way to neutralize the Cleveland Browns' excellent defensive line without starting left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist), starting center Ryan Kelly (concussion), and starting right tackle Brian O'Neill (knee), and scripted targets to their best player would seem to be on menu once again.

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New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams is still waiting for his breakout opportunity. Through four weeks, Williams has seen just two targets while playing only 16% of the team's snaps, slotting in as the fifth receiver in the rotation. The rookie has remained patient, saying, "I feel like I can do everything. At this point, it's just waiting for my turn." Encouragingly, Williams logged a season-high 31% snap share in Week 4, which suggests he may have leapfrogged DeMario Douglas, who regressed from 37% in Week 3 to 16% in Week 4. Williams will look to carve out a larger role in Week 5's primetime matchup against the undefeated Buffalo Bills.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is eligible to return in Week 7 after serving a six-game suspension stemming from hit-and-run charges before the 2024 season. Rice has already rejoined the team for meetings, although he cannot practice until he's reinstated by the NFL. The Chiefs leaned on Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, Tyquan Thornton, and JuJu Smith-Schuster during his absence, but Rice should immediately slide back into his role as Patrick Mahomes' top target once active. The third-year wideout profiles as the WR1 in Kansas City's offense and is a strong buy-low candidate ahead of his return in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn is drawing praise from the coaching staff despite being a healthy scratch through the first four weeks. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik highlighted Horn's "work ethic and explosiveness," noting that the rookie has impressed behind the scenes. However, Horn's path to playing time remains crowded with multiple receivers nearing a return. Jalen Coker (quad) is eligible to return in Week 5, and Xavier Legette has resumed practicing. For now, Horn is not on the fantasy radar, but his name is worth keeping in mind as a potential late-season stash if opportunities open up.

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New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis is set for a possible increase in playing time with fellow Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) headed for injured reserve. Allen, as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN, will be placed on IR on Thursday and will be out for longer than the minimum four weeks, and possibly could miss the rest of the season. While running back Breece Hall is slated to get the majority of carries out of the Jets' backfield, Davis could see an increased work load as well. He played 33% of snaps after Allen departed Monday's game, which included two catches. He'll warrant some consideration, especially in deeper PPR formats.

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New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) will be placed on injured reserve later Thursday, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Allen sustained the injury during the Jets' Monday Night Football loss at Miami and did not return to the game. Cimini said the club isn't certain if the injury will be season-ending, but it certainly will be more than the minimum four weeks required for an IR stint. Without Allen, it seems highly likely fellow running back Breece Hall will receive the vast majority of work out of the Jets' backfield for the time being.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller said Wednesday that his snap count is likely to increase in the coming weeks, according to Miami reporter Barry Jackson. The veteran tight had quite a debut for the Dolphins in Week 4, catching three passes for 27 yards and two touchdowns on just four targets and 16 total snaps. Miami has eased Waller back into action this season, but he figures to keep gaining more time after Monday night. With receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) out for the foreseeable future, Waller could quickly become one of the team's top pass-catching options alongside receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back De'Von Achane.

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Coming off a monster Week 4, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens could be an even more active part of the Week 5 game plan, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. The offseason trade acquisition had his best game of the season last week against Green Bay, going for eight catches, 134 yards, and two touchdowns in Dallas' first full game without CeeDee Lamb (ankle). This week, with a matchup against the New York Jets and cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner looming, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the club plans to move Pickens all over formations to create favorable matchups. That should sound good to managers who roster Pickens, who figures to continue as the top option in Dallas as long as Lamb is out.

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The Cleveland Browns could be turning more to rookie running back Quinshon Judkins now that the team has formally made a change at quarterback, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Cleveland's offense has been one of the very worst in the league, prompting the club to bench quarterback Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel for this week's game against Minnesota, which will be played in London. Judkins looks to be a benefactor of the switch, as the Browns likely will look to their running attack to give the first-time starting quarterback some help against a good defensive line. Judkins has drawn 19 and 25 touches, respectively, during the past two weeks, opening the possibility he's going to get feature-back work as long as he's healthy.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is a suddenly relevant fantasy name who is sending managers rushing to the waiver wires this week ahead of a matchup against the lowly Tennessee Titans. The fifth-year back told reporters on Wednesday that he's poised to start the game after the Cardinals lost their top two runnings backs, James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee), in back-to-back weeks. While Benson should return this year, the Arizona Republic reports the Cards could turn to a committee approach with Carter, Emari Demercado, and Zonovan Knight, but it was Carter who took snaps first at Wednesday's practice. Carter was a top-30 fantasy running back in 2021, and the opportunity gives him the chance at becoming a valuable fantasy add, especially during bye weeks.

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