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Jets waive Isaiah Williams after MNF fumble

Sat Oct 4 6:02pm ET
Field Level Media

The New York Jets waived Isaiah Williams on Saturday, just days after the return specialist fumbled on a second-half kickoff in Monday night's 27-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

"That was a big part of the game, and I let the team down," Williams said postgame.

That wasn't Williams' only gaffe of the 27-21 loss, as he also made a fair catch on his own 3-yard line with New York facing an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.

"Just thinking too much, man, just trying to make a play," he said about the fair catch. "At the last minute, I see (a Miami player), and I forget where I am on the field."

Williams is the second Jets special teams player to be cut in four weeks. New York waived Xavier Gipson after he fumbled the ball late in a two-point loss in Week 1 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Running backs Avery Williams and Isaiah Davis could take over return duties for the Jets in Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Williams was signed to the practice squad this week and elevated to the active roster on Saturday. He has over 100 career combined kick and punt returns, while Davis has 11 kickoff returns this season.

The Jets also downgraded their No. 1 kickoff returner, Kene Nwangwu, on Saturday. He will miss his fourth straight game due to a hamstring injury.

New York signed linebacker Mykal Walker from the practice squad and elevated safety Dean Clark to the active roster.

The Jets are looking for their first win of the season on Sunday.

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Bender's Running Back Rundown: Week 5

Player Notes
Carson Wentz Oct 5 11:00am ET
Carson Wentz

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (left shoulder) exited during the second quarter of Sunday's Week 5 contest against the Cleveland Browns. He has been taken to the locker room and is officially questionable to return. At the time of his departure, he had completed seven of 12 passes for 73 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions. With halftime coming up, the Vikings will have a little extra time to treat Wentz and decide whether he can return for the team's next offensive drive. If he isn't able to return, rookie Max Brosmer would enter the game at quarterback.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Oct 5 10:53am ET
Joe Flacco

Although Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders was listed as the third quarterback for Week 5's game versus the Minnesota Vikings behind QBs Dillon Gabriel and Joe Flacco, he is expected to see playing time before the end of his rookie season. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, much of Sanders' development is happening behind the scenes and the Browns would like him to have a full week of practice before allowing him to see game action.

From TheHuddle

Lamar Jackson Oct 5 10:33am ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring), who has already been ruled out for Week 5's game against the Houston Texans, could also wind up missing Week 6's contest versus the Los Angeles Rams, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Ravens have a bye in Week 7, meaning that Jackson could potentially have three weeks to recover while missing just two games.

Fantasy Spin: This would put Jackson on pace to resume playing in Week 8's game against the Chicago Bears Oct. 26. QB Cooper Rush will serve as Baltimore's starting quarterback in the meantime but should only be viewed as a low-end QB2 option in deeper fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Baker Mayfield Oct 5 10:23am ET
Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (knee, biceps) will start Week 5's game versus the Seattle Seahawks.

Fantasy Spin: Mayfield appeared on the injury report earlier this week after missing practice Wednesday, Oct. 1, although he was a full participant in the Buccaneers' final two sessions of the week. He can be started with confidence in all fantasy formats.

From TheHuddle

Lamar Jackson Oct 5 10:20am ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) has already been ruled out for Week 5 against the Houston Texans, and he could also end up missing Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jackson picked up the injury and last week's loss to the Bills, and even though he logged a full practice on Friday, Cooper Rush will start at quarterback for the Ravens. Rapoport's timetable for Jackson makes sense as the Ravens have a Week 7 bye, so if he misses next week's game, he'd have nearly a full month to recover before returning to action Oct. 26. In the meantime, Baltimore's offense could experience some growing pains. The quarterback change is a general downgrade to the offense, especially when rushing the football and trying to score points near the goal line. As soon as Jackson is healthy enough to play again, he'll return to the high-end QB1 tier.

From RotoBaller

Taysom Hill Oct 5 10:20am ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill (knee) will be listed second on the depth chart behind quarterback Spencer Rattler during Sunday's Week 5 game against the New York Giants, according to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. However, Hill will operate out of his usual gadget role, which could include designed runs, targets, and pass attempts. As Duncan notes, listing Hill as the QB2 gives New Orleans some flexibility. He'll handle his gadget role as usual, but if Rattler were to get injured, Hill could simply slide in as the quarterback. This means that rookie Tyler Shough will likely be inactive as the emergency third quarterback. For now, Hill, who was activated from the PUP list on Saturday, is nothing more than a speculative bench stash in deeper leagues. However, we know from previous seasons that he has top-12 tight end upside, as he's capable of contributing rushing, receiving, and passing stats at the tight end position.

From RotoBaller

Parker Washington Oct 5 9:50am ET
Parker Washington

The Jacksonville Jaguars face the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football in what should be a difficult game. That could mean the offense struggles quite a bit, but it could also mean plenty of targets for a receiver like Parker Washington. Washington had a down week in Week 4 after 76 receiving yards in Week 2 and 11 targets in Week 3, making him a risky play. However, he has at least shown himself capable of producing in the inconsistent Jaguars offense, albeit with limited upside. Washington is fine to roster, but better left on the bench in Week 5 against the tough Chiefs' secondary.

From RotoBaller

Chris Moore Oct 5 9:50am ET
Chris Moore

Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore could generate some appeal as a low-end flex in deeper leagues ahead of Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers. With neither Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) nor Noah Brown (groin) playing on Sunday, Moore should start at wide receiver alongside Deebo Samuel Sr. Purely based on expected snap share and volume, Moore could sneak onto the fantasy radar. Of course, he's not a lock to produce, as we saw last week when he played 70 percent of the snaps and saw three targets but didn't catch any of them. He'll also face plenty of competition for targets from Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane. On a positive note, Washington gets a quarterback upgrade this week, as Jayden Daniels (knee) is healthy and will reclaim his starting job from Marcus Mariota. Fantasy managers dealing with extreme wide receiver problems due to injuries or bye weeks can consider starting Moore against the Chargers, but they should temper their expectations since Los Angeles has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.

From RotoBaller

Malik Washington Oct 5 9:40am ET
Malik Washington

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington could fill an expanded role during Sunday's Week 5 contest against the Carolina Panthers. Washington has the opportunity to emerge as one of Tua Tagovailoa's favorite targets downfield after deep threat Tyreek Hill (knee) was lost for the rest of the season. The 24-year-old has just eight catches for 47 yards so far this season, but he has been the No. 3 or 4 receiver in an offense that has faced plenty of struggles. Now, with Hill sidelined, Washington could be the No. 2 target alongside Jaylen Waddle. That's enough to warrant some fantasy consideration, especially in an offense that must continue throwing the football, given how often it plays from behind. That could be the case once again this week, as the Dolphins face the Panthers, who fifth-fewest fantasy points to receivers. Washington isn't startable quite yet, but savvy managers should consider stashing him on the bench for now.

From RotoBaller

Jaydon Blue Oct 5 9:40am ET
Jaydon Blue

Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue shouldn't be started in fantasy football against the New York Jets in Week 5, but he's still an intriguing speculative stash as he gets ready to make his NFL debut. Blue had been a healthy scratch through the first four games as Dallas carried just two active running backs -- Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders -- on gamedays. Now, Sanders is questionable with ankle and knee injuries, opening the door for Blue to potentially be active as Williams' backup. Even if Sanders plays, there's still a strong chance that Blue makes his NFL debut in a depth role. While fantasy managers shouldn't start Blue this week, partially because he hasn't taken an NFL snap yet, he's worth stashing thanks to his upside. In addition to his talent, he's an intriguing fantasy option given that he could ascend into the lead-back role by the end of the year. Williams has played well, but he's not the long-term answer in Dallas, and the Cowboys could eventually hand off the reins to Blue. For now, though, he's worth stashing on the bench.

From RotoBaller

Darren Waller Oct 5 9:30am ET
Darren Waller

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller caught two touchdown passes in his season debut last week, but fantasy managers should temper expectations for the veteran pass catcher heading into Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. After all, Waller only caught three passes on a 28 percent snap share last week. Not only is scoring two touchdowns on that level of volume very rare, but so is merely having fantasy relevance. He'd likely need to start playing at least half of the snaps before warranting some fantasy consideration, especially in Miami's subpar offense. Of course, there's a chance that his workload could increase this weekend. He has cleared the hurdle of playing his first game back from injury and could be more involved by necessity after fellow pass catcher Tyreek Hill (knee) was lost for the rest of the season. Managers in deeper leagues can justify stashing Waller on their benches, but he shouldn't be started in fantasy football if he's going to continue playing less than one-third of the snaps.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Davis Oct 5 9:20am ET
Isaiah Davis

New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis should handle an increased workload against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 after teammate Braelon Allen (knee) was placed on injured reserve. Allen and Davis have each carved out their respective roles behind Breece Hall through the first four weeks of the season, and now, Davis could end up handling his existing workload and all of Allen's vacated touches. The 23-year-old registered five touches on a 33 percent snap share last week, which is likely his floor going forward. There's also a scenario in which he handles roughly half of the backfield snaps and New York rides the hot hand, employing a committee between him and Hall. For now, though, Davis is a speculative stash who should not be in starting lineups, even against a Cowboys defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. That's partly due to the presence of Hall, and also partly due to the state of the Jets' offense, which has struggled to move the ball, even against below-average defenses.

From RotoBaller

Rachaad White Oct 5 9:10am ET
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White will serve as the lead back for Sunday's Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The Bucs are without Bucky Irving (foot) for this game, so White will step up into his role. According to Ian Rapoport, White is going to receive the vast majority of carries during Sunday's game. White has been limited to six carries or less in three of the first four games of the season. However, it appears the 26-year-old is going to get a legitimate chance to show what he can do. Given his pass-catching ability as well, White should be able to offer RB2 value for this weekend. Sean Tucker and Josh Williams should be involved as well, but White is the clear favorite in terms of fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Sean Tucker Oct 5 9:00am ET
Sean Tucker

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker is set for an increased role for the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The Bucs are without lead back Bucky Irving (foot) for Sunday's game. That being said, Rachaad White will take over as the lead back for this game. That also means, Sean Tucker moves up into the No. 2 role for this contest. The 23-year-old has only rushed the ball once through the first four games. Despite that, Tucker was a capable option when he was given a chance last season. He rushed the ball 50 times for 308 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games in 2024. That's an incredible 6.16 yards per carry, so the potential is certainly there. The biggest problem is the workload is unknown here, so Tucker is going to be too risky to trust for this Week 5 contest.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Tolbert Oct 5 8:50am ET
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has been seeing an increased role in the offense over the last few weeks. In the last two games, Tolbert has hauled in seven of his 12 targets for 85 yards. The 26-year-old has played over 80 percent of the offensive snaps during those games. The absence of CeeDee Lamb (ankle) has helped Tolbert, but it hasn't given him great fantasy value. Tolbert is worth a stash in deep leagues at the minimum. He should be considered a low-end flex option for the upcoming Week 5 matchup against the New York Jets.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Oct 5 8:40am ET
Rico Dowdle

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle will take over as the lead back ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The Panthers are without Chuba Hubbard (calf) this week, so Dowdle is the next man up. Over the last two games, Dowdle has rushed 19 times for 62 yards and one touchdown. The 27-year-old has been working as the primary backup, but should offer streaming value as the starter. Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas could also be involved, but Dowdle is the best option of the bunch. Given the injuries and byes in Week 5, Dowdle is looking like a viable RB2 to plenty of fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Taysom Hill Oct 5 8:30am ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (knee) was activated off the PUP list and is ready to make his season debut against the New York Giants in Week 5. This marks the first time that Hill has played since suffering a torn ACL in Week 13 of last season. In eight games last season, Hill recorded 23 receptions for 187 yards with 278 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. There is some touchdown-dependent value here, but it's unclear how much Hill is going to play in his first game. Hill is worth a stash for tight end needy fantasy managers, but isn't an ideal streaming option for Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Oct 5 8:20am ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) has begun the prehab process ahead of his ACL surgery in a few weeks. That means, Nabers is working on regaining mobility and strength around his knee. This seems like a positive development, but Nabers still has a long road ahead of him. There's no way the Giants can fill the type of production that Nabers brought to the team. The assumption is that Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton should be the primary receiving options now. The hope is that Nabers can return early next season.

From RotoBaller

Shedeur Sanders Oct 5 8:10am ET
Shedeur Sanders

According to a report from NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has developed steadily and is likely to make an appearance "when ready." The Browns are starting a rookie quarterback Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, but gave Dillon Gabriel the first crack at playing following the benching of Joe Flacco. For now, Flacco will be the backup with Sanders set to be the third option, but Rapoport notes the team may give Sanders a chance later this season with a full week of starter's reps at practice and a gameplan crafted for him. From a fantasy perspective, it's awfully challenging to trust anything about the Browns' quarterback room, keeping Sanders as a dynasty stash for now.

From RotoBaller

Damontae Kazee Oct 5 8:03am ET
Damontae Kazee

The Cleveland Browns have declared CB Damontae Kazee, RB Raheim Sanders, QB Shedeur Sanders, OT Thayer Munford, DT Michael Hall Jr., OG Zak Zinter and OT Cornelius Lucas inactive for Week 5.

From TheHuddle