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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jordan Watkins (calf) has been ruled out for their Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Watkins, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the preseason, has yet to make his regular-season debut. Watkins had been cleared to play in Week 2, but was ultimately a healthy scratch from that game and thereafter has stayed on the shelf with lingering discomfort in his calf. The rookie's injury is especially unfortunate this week, as both Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs) are dealing with injuries of their own that will bar them from playing when the 49ers face the Rams on Thursday Night Football. Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson are expected to move into the starting lineup as a result.

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In Week 5, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will once again ascend to the top of the depth chart thanks to injuries to both Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs). Bourne started alongside Pearsall in Jennings' absence in Week 3, and came away with four catches and 38 yards on six targets. Hardly the boom some were hoping for, but with Pearsall also sidelined this time around, Bourne could see more work. As in Week 3, Bourne's former Patriots teammate, quarterback Mac Jones, will take the place of Brock Purdy (toe). It should be noted that their shared history didn't garner the receiver any special attention then, however. Bourne projects as a WR4 in Week 5, and with the 49ers playing on Thursday night, it is a risky bet to start the week with him occupying a starting WR slot in fantasy lineups.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is expected to slide into a starting role with Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs) out for Week 5. Robinson made his season debut in Week 4 after serving a three-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy in the offseason. San Francisco eased Robinson into action with a 25% snap share, and he saw just two targets, catching one pass for 20 yards. Robinson should see more action this week, though his lack of conditioning might see him lose snaps to Skyy Moore or Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It is worth noting that quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) will also be sidelined, with Mac Jones getting the start. As a projected WR5, it would be inadvisable to plug him into starting fantasy lineups, especially with the 49ers playing on Thursday, in the first game of the week.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. still ranks second on the team's depth chart and is, in theory, their change-of-pace back to relieve Christian McCaffrey. The problem for Robinson is that the 49ers have shown little desire to get away from the superstar lately. In the first two weeks of 2025, Robinson got in on nearly one quarter of San Francisco's snaps. However, in Week 3, his share plummeted to 9% and rebounded slightly to a 15% share in Week 4. On the season, Robinson has a total of 22 rushing attempts for 96 yards and has seen just three targets, catching two for two receiving yards. Even with bye weeks underway, Robinson should not be considered a viable fantasy starter in Week 5, especially with the 49ers being featured on Thursday Night Football.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey will be relied on to carry the team's offense in Week 5. This is not unusual, but the load will be even heavier (metaphorically, but likely also literally) on Thursday, with wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs) declared out due to injuries. Quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) will also be on the sidelines, and cede starting duties to Mac Jones for the third time in four games. McCaffrey has been a force regardless of who is under center, starting the season with four straight top-10 PPR finishes at running back. He has been especially productive through the air, ranking second in the league in targets (43) and eighth in yardage (305). The rest of San Francisco's offense might be falling apart, but for as long as McCaffrey is healthy, he has RB1 potential and should be locked into starting fantasy lineups.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) will draw another start when the team kicks off Week 5 on Thursday against the Rams. Purdy is still dealing with soreness related to the turf toe that kept him out of Weeks 2 and 3. In those two games, Jones completed 66.3% of his passes for 563 yards and four touchdowns. Jones was serviceable in those spot starts, but this time around will be without the services of both Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs), who have been ruled out due to injuries of their own. Missing his top wide receivers and facing a stifling Rams defense, it would be unwise to turn to Jones in the first game of Week 5.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington continues to see his snap share increase ahead of Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. Whittington played 80 percent of the snaps in Week 4, which was not only his highest mark of the season but was also just three percentage points lower than Davante Adams and one percentage point lower than Puka Nacua. The second-year Texas product is seeing the field nearly as much as his superstar teammates, but it hasn't amounted to much production. He caught just one pass for seven yards last Sunday and ranks outside the top 100 fantasy receivers. As long as both Adams and Nacua are healthy, Whittington will remain off the fantasy radar despite being third on the depth chart and playing the vast majority of offensive snaps.

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Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty has been quite successful recently, and he'll look to remain a top fantasy option heading into Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. Karty was underwhelming in the Rams' season opener but has averaged 11 fantasy points per game since then. Over his last two games alone, he is 5-for-5 on extra points and 6-for-8 on field goals, including one from beyond 50 yards out. His two misses in Week 3 are a blemish on his season stats, but his heavy kicking volume and ability to make long kicks keep him on the fantasy radar -- even against a 49ers team allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is the top-scoring fantasy receiver this season, and the gap between him and No. 2 isn't particularly small. Nacua has produced at an elite level despite scoring just two touchdowns through four games. He makes most of his impact with high reception and yardage totals. He should continue to dominate this week against the 49ers despite the team allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025. This game will be on Thursday night, showing a national audience just how elite Nacua has been through the first four contests of the 2025 campaign. He should be started as a high-end WR1 with confidence.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games and will look to extend this streak on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Adams is the overall WR14 in PPR leagues this season, but he's averaging just 3.5 catches and 56 yards over his last two contests. If not for his touchdown tendencies, he would be more of a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3/flex this week. Against a 49ers defense that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, Adams is touchdown-dependent. He'll rank as a solid mid-range WR2, but managers should be prepared for him to post single-digit fantasy points if he can't find the end zone.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has started to see his usage decline recently, and a Week 5 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers won't do him any favors as he tries to get back on track. There's no question that Williams was still a productive fantasy option last Sunday as he totaled 94 scrimmage yards. However, he did so against a subpar Colts defense while handling a season-low 16 touches and 68 percent snap share. Last week, Williams' low usage was balanced out by his high efficiency. He might not have the same fortune on Thursday night against a 49ers defense allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. Williams' fantasy value is slipping; he's now a fringe top-24 fantasy running back for Week 5.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum has continued to see his role grow, but this increased workload might not be enough to put him on the fantasy radar against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5. Corum played 29 percent of the snaps last week and handled a season-high 11 touches, infringing on Kyren Williams' role. Corum should continue to handle double-digit touches most weeks, but he could struggle with efficiency this week. After all, he's facing a Niners defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. He would have some low-end RB3/flex appeal against a mediocre or subpar defense, but the 49ers are no joke. He'll have trouble moving the football during Thursday night's divisional battle.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has plenty of momentum heading into a Week 5 clash against the San Francisco 49ers. He ranks as the overall QB12 in fantasy football this season and is coming off a spectacular outing that saw him rack up 375 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He fared quite well in Week 4, but he did so against the Indianapolis Colts, whose defense is nothing more than average this season. He'll face a tougher test Thursday night in the form of the 49ers, who have allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards and fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. Stafford's top-12 upside is undeniable, but he'll rank as a mid-to-high QB2 this week.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Miles Sanders (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. Sanders exited Sunday night's game with a knee/ankle injury and did not return. Through four weeks, his role has already been limited by Javonte Williams' resurgence, with Sanders managing just 28 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown. If Sanders cannot go in Week 5, rookie Jaydon Blue could see his first NFL action. Blue has been a healthy scratch to start the season, but injuries to Sanders and KaVontae Turpin (foot) may force him into a meaningful role. The Cowboys' Thursday and Friday practice reports will be key in determining Sanders' availability ahead of their matchup with the New York Jets.

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Updating a previous report, Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) did not practice on Wednesday. Samuel has been excellent in his first season with Washington, catching 22 of 27 targets for 250 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns through four games. Samuel was one of several players sidelined, so it's possible that this was simply a veteran rest day, but if his heel issue lingers into Thursday's practice, concern will grow about his Week 5 availability. The Commanders face the Los Angeles Chargers, who have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. With quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) trending toward a return and receiver Terry McLaurin (quad) still sidelined, Samuel would project as a strong WR2 option if he's active.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (knee/elbow) did not practice on Wednesday. Ridley has struggled to start the 2025 season, catching just 10 of 24 targets for 141 yards with no touchdowns, ranking as the WR73 in PPR formats. Head coach Brian Callahan revealed Ridley was battling through an in-game injury during last week's 26-0 loss to the Houston Texans, raising further concern about his availability. If Ridley is sidelined in Week 5, rookie Elic Ayomanor is expected to see a significant uptick in usage against the Arizona Cardinals. Regardless of his injury status, Ridley's early-season struggles and difficult circumstances in the Titans offense make him a clear sit in fantasy lineups this week.

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New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. Johnson is coming off his least productive game of the season in Week 4, catching just three passes for 28 yards. He now appears to be dealing with an ankle injury that he picked up during the loss against the Buffalo Bills, but he managed to play nearly 90% of the snaps. If Johnson is unable to go in Week 5, Jack Stoll would step in as the Saints' starting tight end. The matchup is not ideal, as the New York Giants have surrendered the 10th-least fantasy points to tight ends this season. If Johnson suits up, he projects as a low-end TE1 option in Week 5, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on his practice participation.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is not expected to be traded during this season despite recent speculation. Brown has struggled out of the gate, catching just 14 of 28 targets for 151 yards and one touchdown through four games. While his slow start has drawn attention, it hasn't stopped the Eagles from rolling to a 4-0 record, including big wins against the Chiefs, Buccaneers, and the Rams. Trade buzz began swirling after Brown posted cryptic messages on social media, but a move remains highly unlikely. His contract carries a nearly $90 million dead-cap charge, making a midseason trade virtually impossible. Brown is expected to remain in Philadelphia as part of a run-heavy offense led by Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. Looking ahead to Week 5, Brown draws a tough matchup against 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II, and the Denver Broncos. Given his early struggles and the Eagles' offensive approach, another quiet outing could be on the horizon.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (quad) could need another week or two before returning, per ESPN's Dan Graziano. McLaurin injured his quad in Week 3 and sat out the team's Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He was also absent from Wednesday's practice ahead of the Commanders' Week 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. If McLaurin remains out, Deebo Samuel Sr. (who also missed Wednesday's practice), rookie Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane would be the primary beneficiaries in the passing game. Quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) is trending toward a Week 5 return, but he may have to play without his top receiver. Facing a tough Chargers defense in his first game back, Daniels could be in for a down week.

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Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned at the moment. The Raiders are just being cautious with their superstar tight end. Right now, there is no reason to believe that Bowers will miss the Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Last week, Bowers hauled in five of his six targets for 46 yards in the loss. The 22-year-old has been held under 50 receiving yards in each of the last three games. Hopefully, Bowers can turn it around this weekend in Indy. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday just in case this knee injury does become an issue.

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