The Minnesota Vikings hope to have starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) back in time to play in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles, which would mean backup Carson Wentz is likely headed back to a reserve role once again. With McCarthy yet to practice, however, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported it's possible the second-year quarterback could be out longer, but cited a league source saying there was "nothing to see here" regarding a change in McCarthy's timeline. The Vikings are on a bye in Week 6, which will give McCarthy another full week of rest before tentatively returning to practice next week. Managers in Superflex leagues with stakes in the Vikings' QB room should be ready to keep up with the injury reports in the lead-up to Week 7.

From RotoBaller

With the New York Giants preparing to play on Thursday night against the Eagles, quarterback Jaxson Dart (hamstring) would have been projected as limited in Tuesday's walkthrough. With the short week of preparation, there are no official reports of his participation, but head coach Brian Daboll believes he will be fine for Thursday night. Dart has been a usable fantasy piece since taking over for Russell Wilson and now starting two games. While the rookie signal caller has fumbled twice and thrown two interceptions, while averaging only 5.2 yards per attempt, he's run for over 50 yards in each of his starts, adding one touchdown on the ground. With a built-in floor provided by his legs, Dart will continue to see streamable opportunities throughout the year, but this week against the Eagles is not one of them.

From RotoBaller

The Minnesota Vikings are on a bye in Week 6, but their return to the field could have fantasy implications for wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) has not played since Week 2, but the team is targeting Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles as his projected return. Jefferson drew 6.5 targets in two games with McCarthy compared to 9.7 with backup Carson Wentz, though Minnesota has been much more intentional about getting their star wideout the ball in the past two weeks, throwing his way a robust 22 times. Despite Minnesota facing tons of injury issues on the offensive line and both opponents surely game-planning for Jefferson to be heavily featured, he still put up 100-yard efforts in both games. Among fantasy receivers, Jefferson is about as QB-proof as there is, but McCarthy's return still will be a variable worth monitoring.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) has not practiced in the weeks after his injury, but the Vikings still appear to be targeting Week 7 as the quarterback's return after their Week 6 bye. Diana Russini of The Athletic reported McCarthy could be out longer, but cited a league source saying there was "nothing to see here" on the injury front. Carson Wentz went 2-1 as a starter in McCarthy's absence, including leading a game-winning touchdown drive in the final minute in Week 5 against Cleveland, though Minnesota is likely to go back to the 2024 first-rounder. The bigger issue for any Vikings quarterback is the amount of injuries up front. The team will be without starting center Ryan Kelly (concussion) for at least another month, right tackle Brian O'Neill (knee) and left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist) are both question marks for Week 7, and left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) has been on a snap count as he returns from ACL surgery last year.

From RotoBaller

In one of the more bizarre plays of the season, Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard's attempt to tie last week's game against Cleveland with a 51-yard field goal abruptly sliced and missed wide right -- but with good reason. The Athletic reported and video appears to confirm the Vikings' belief that the ball actually struck one of the overhead wires, at which point the down should have been replayed. Minnesota came back to win anyway, but fantasy managers who started Reichard had some awful luck, as a high-scoring field goal that initially looked good ended up as a miss, and the officiating crew missed the reason why. From a fantasy perspective, Reichard has been a nice surprise in spite of a Vikings offense ravaged by injuries, going for 11-for-11 on PATs and 8-for-8 on field goals that were not blocked by objects in the field of play.

From RotoBaller

In addressing the media on Wednesday, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach included running back Jaylen Warren (knee) in a group of players for which he said the "arrow [was] pointed up". Warren was off to an excellent start to the season, due in large part to his heavy usage in the passing game, but a knee injury caused him to miss the Steelers' Week 4 game against the Vikings in Ireland. Warren has now had a bye week to recover, and he has been participating in individual drills this week. The Steelers face a stout Cleveland defense in Week 6, so Warren is by no means a must-start if he's available, but his pass-catching should provide a safe floor, particularly in PPR formats.

From RotoBaller

The Cincinnati Bengals are acquiring veteran quarterback Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. In exchange for Flacco, the Bengals will send a fifth-round pick to Cleveland and will also receive a sixth-rounder. Flacco was benched for rookie QB Dillon Gabriel in Week 5, but now he'll have another shot to start in 2025 as a replacement for the struggling Jake Browning, who has thrown six touchdowns and eight interceptions in four games (three starts) with Joe Burrow (toe) on Injured Reserve. Flacco, 40, is no stranger to turnovers himself, though, and he wasn't exactly looking great in four starts for the Browns before being benched. Flacco had gone 93-for-160 for 815 yards, two touchdowns, and six picks. He'll bring a more veteran presence that will look to feed receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins down the field, but it's not much of an upgrade over Browning, if at all.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that cornerback Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) will be limited in practice at the start of the week on Wednesday, but he could do more later in the week, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Tomlin also said that Ramsey has been aggressive in his recovery during the Week 5 bye, and he's encouraged by his status leading into the Week 6 game this Sunday versus the division-rival Cleveland Browns. The 30-year-old veteran defensive back was apparently injured in the Week 4 win in Ireland over the Minnesota Vikings. The team's bye came at a good time, though, and it sounds as though Ramsey has a good chance of playing this Sunday against Cleveland. Through four games so far in 2025, Ramsey has 14 tackles (eight solo), an interception, and four pass breakups.

From RotoBaller

A second opinion on Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold's shoulder on Tuesday showed that the injury is not as bad as initially feared, and he is now expected to return this year, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. A source described it as "sooner than expected" for Arnold's return, and he could make it back in October. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said on Tuesday morning that it was looking likely that the 22-year-old cornerback would miss the rest of the year. However, now it looks like he could avoid season-ending shoulder surgery, which is great news for Detroit's secondary. The Lions are also currently without D.J. Reed (hamstring) and Khalil Dorsey (concussion) in their secondary, leaving them thin on the back end heading into their Week 6 showdown on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 1053 The Fan that the team has its "fingers crossed" that wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (foot) can return in Week 6 on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers on the road, according to Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. Turpin didn't play in the Week 5 win over the New York Jets due to a foot sprain that kept him out of practice all last week. The 29-year-old has mostly been a big asset on special teams as a kick returner for Dallas, but he's also beginning to take on a bigger role on offense as a pass-catcher. If Turpin can return this weekend, he'll have a bigger opportunity in the passing game with CeeDee Lamb (ankle) expected to miss another game. However, Turpin would be competing with Ryan Flournoy, who had a big game on Sunday, and Jalen Tolbert for WR2 duties behind George Pickens, making him more of a WR5 in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that wide receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder) will be limited at practice to start the week on Wednesday, but he could do more later in the week, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Austin has been aggressive in his recovery during the team's Week 5 bye, and he's encouraged by his status heading into a Week 6 date against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. The 26-year-old pass-catcher injured his shoulder late in the Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland, but he has a chance to play this weekend with the bye coming at the right time for him. Austin has been Pittsburgh's clear No. 2 WR behind DK Metcalf this year, catching 10 of his 17 targets for 139 yards and two touchdowns in four games. If he's active in Week 6, Austin will be a risky WR4/flex coming off injury against a strong Browns defense.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is eligible to come off Injured Reserve and play in Week 6, but he's considered a "long shot" to return this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Kittle is more likely to return in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons than this week versus Tampa Bay. The 31-year-old veteran injured his hamstring in the season opener and was placed on IR, but he's missed the required four games and can now return whenever the team deems him healthy. Once the Niners designate him to return to practice, they'll have a 21-day window to officially activate him. In the meantime, Jake Tonges, who scored his third TD in Week 5, should be in play as a TE streamer in fantasy, especially if receivers Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) and/or Ricky Pearsall (knee) miss more time.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans RB Joe Mixon (ankle) could provide clarity on his status in the next month, according to general manager Nick Caserio. Caserio was non-committal on if Mixon will play this year.

Fantasy Spin: Several league sources doubt Mixon will play this year, and another source said the team isn't planning on him contributing at all this year. He should remain stashed on IR if possible, but it seems like Nick Chubb has some runway. He's the RB28 in non-PPR formats and will continue to be a flex candidate.

From TheHuddle

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith recorded just one carry for four yards in his team's 31-28 Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, Smith recorded three catches for 32 yards on three targets, his second straight game with at least three receptions. It's a baby step in the right direction for Smith. He's still behind veterans Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt on the running back depth chart in Kansas City, but the Chiefs may slowly be prioritizing ways to get the ball in Smith's hands. He now has 87 yards from scrimmage on 14 total touches this season, 11 of which have come over the last two weeks. Smith should not be expected to provide immediate fantasy production. Still, he should be stashed in all fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams heading into a Week 6 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges came up big in Week 5, tying Kendrick Bourne for a team-high 11 targets and securing seven receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. The score was his third trip to the end zone since taking over for George Kittle (hamstring) as the team's primary receiving tight end. Kittle was seen running on a side field during Monday's practice, but is still on injured reserve. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Kittle playing in Week 6 is a "long shot" and the likelier return date will be Week 7. If Kittle continues to miss time, and pending the status of wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs), Tonges could be in store for another productive week. In Week 6, the 49ers face the Buccaneers, who have given up two touchdowns to tight ends in each of their last two games.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said the team will have clarity on running back Joe Mixon's (foot/ankle) health status for the "duration of the year" at some point "over the next few weeks." Mixon has not played yet in 2025, and the team has provided little to no information about a possible return timeline. It seems possible, if not likely, that the 29-year-old will miss the entirety of the season. If that's the case, Houston will likely continue splitting backfield work between veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks. Chubb has recorded 58 carries for 249 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. Marks has logged 233 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 42 total touches, and could eventually work his way into the lead role over the course of the season.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne saw his utilization surge in the absence of Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) during Week 5. Bourne was tied with tight end Jake Tonges for 11 targets and led the team with 10 receptions and 142 receiving yards. On Monday, Pearsall was not seen at the team's first practice of the week. Jennings was reportedly suited up and carrying his helmet. Their availability for the 49ers' Week 6 matchup against the Buccaneers will become clearer after the team's first official practice and injury report on Wednesday. Following his explosive performance last Thursday and with his teammates' status murky, Bourne will likely be a popular waiver wire add going into Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter dominated backfield touches in Week 5, the team's first full game without running backs James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee). Carter recorded 73 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 23 total touches in Week 5, while fellow Arizona backs Emari Demercado and Bam Knight combined for just eight total touches. With Conner out for the season and Benson currently on Injured Reserve, Carter could have an extended window as the Cardinals' clear RB1. Carter is a priority waiver-wire addition in any league where he's not already rostered. He profiles as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex option in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (personal) did not travel with the team to London for their Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos due to personal reasons. The team announcement states that Lazard's game status is not affected, but it's unclear at this point whether he will be available on Sunday. The 29-year-old has recorded four catches for 24 yards and a touchdown on six targets so far this season. If he is unable to play, it could mean more playing time for Jets wideouts Arian Smith, Josh Reynolds, and Tyler Johnson. Either way, Lazard should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in Week 6 against Denver.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder) is getting a second opinion but may be forced to miss the remainder of the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Arnold has struggled this season, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the 132nd-best cornerback out of 169 qualified players at the position. Still, his loss will impact the Lions, who have already placed top cornerback D.J. Reed (hamstring) on Injured Reserve and lost cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (shoulder) to a season-ending shoulder injury over the summer. Without Arnold and Reed, the Lions will likely rely on Amik Robertson, Avonte Maddox, and Rock Ya-Sin to handle cornerback duties. Detroit will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6, so it could be a favorable matchup for Chiefs wideouts Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and Tyquan Thornton.

From RotoBaller