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Jerry Jones claims phone calls stopped following Micah Parsons' request

Tue Sep 30 11:08am ET
Field Level Media

About 1,100 miles now separate Micah Parsons and Jerry Jones, even if the newest pass rusher for the Green Bay Packers and the owner of the Dallas Cowboys display a magnetic attraction for talking about one another.

Jones was the latest to stoke the lingering drama from the trade of the All-Pro in his physical prime to Green Bay one week before the season began. He said Tuesday -- in response to Parsons sharing Sunday night that Jones didn't call him to inform him of the August trade --that he was just following orders from Parsons.

"I really don't want to respond to that at all," Jones said in a radio interview on 105.3 FM in Dallas. "But that phone call thing got stopped when he told me to take his number off my dial. It was don't call him any more. So I quit those calls."

Parsons played his first game as a visitor in Dallas on Sunday night, a game that ended in a 40-40 tie when he sacked Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to force a game-tying field goal.

Parsons said after the game that Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst took the responsibility on his shoulders to inform defensive lineman Kenny Clark he was going from Green Bay to Dallas in the trade that included two first-round picks.

Not hearing from Jones took a lot of the emotion out of Parsons' return, he said Sunday night.

"Honestly, I think, all the emotions for me, being in Dallas, went away the moment they traded me," Parsons said. "I didn't even get to talk to my owner, the person that drafted me. I found out through my agent. So, to me, that emotion side was pointless because the same way he called me into his office, as a man, he couldn't tell me as a man. So, to me that emotion side was gone. It was more about a respect factor at this point."

Retracing well-worn ground in the matter, the Cowboys opting not to make Parsons the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL did open the opportunity to sign guard Tyler Smith and cornerback DaRon Bland to long-term extensions. Jones said Tuesday that the Cowboys are in a healthier salary cap position and would like to consider contracts for wide receiver George Pickens and kicker Brandon Aubrey.

Pickens arrived in Dallas via offseason trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is in the final year of his contract. Jones described Pickens as an "exemplary" teammate with the same work ethic in preparation.

Aubrey has connected on all nine field goal attempts with a long of 64 yards.

"I'm proud to tell you that we've got some outstanding structure in our cap space that will allow us to do a lot of things that I didn't think (we could) at this time last year," Jones said. "We got it. We paid a price for it. ... We can do it now."

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Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 4

Player Notes
Malik Washington Sep 30 1:10pm ET
Malik Washington

Although Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington caught only two of three targets for 13 yards in the 27-21 Week 4 win on Monday night over the New York Jets, he should have a much bigger role in the offense going forward after star wideout Tyreek Hill (knee) suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL. In addition to his 13 receiving yards, Washington added eight yards on the ground on two carries, and he also had three kick returns for a total of 96 yards on special teams. The 24-year-old got the start on Monday night and played 28 of 58 offensive snaps (48%). In addition to Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine should see an increased role going forward in Miami alongside new No. 1 wideout Jaylen Waddle. Washington has caught eight of his 15 targets for 47 yards in the first four games in 2025. He's worth a waiver-wire addition in deeper leagues for receiver depth, and he's currently rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.

From RotoBaller

Chris Godwin Sep 30 1:00pm ET
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin wasn't exactly eased back into the offense in his season debut in the Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, as he was targeted a team-high-tying 10 times. Godwin came down with only three catches for 26 yards, but it was a good sign to see him play 81% of the offensive snaps in his first game since dislocating his ankle in Week 7 of last year. It helped that top wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) was inactive in this game, but the main takeaway is that Godwin is a full-go moving forward and should have WR2 upside for a Week 5 tilt against the hosting Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. Evans is expected to miss multiple games, so Godwin should be heavily targeted once again as he gets his legs under him in a pass-happy offense.

From RotoBaller

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Sep 30 12:50pm ET
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a second straight underwhelming performance in the 34-27 Week 4 loss on the road to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Croskey-Merritt had seven carries, which tied Chris Rodriguez Jr., for 47 yards (6.7 yards per carry), and caught both of his targets for 10 additional yards in the passing game. The good news is that the 24-year-old led Washington's backfield with nine touches and had a healthy 6.7 yards per rush. However, Rodriguez was even more efficient with his seven carries and led the team in rushing with 59 yards, and Jeremy McNichols and receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. also stole five carries. JCM is going to remain involved in the Commanders' offense, but in this committee approach, he shouldn't be viewed as anything more than an RB3/flex play in fantasy. Since Austin Ekeler (Achilles) went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2, Croskey-Merritt has 15 carries for 73 yards and three catches for 15 yards.

From RotoBaller

Gunnar Helm Sep 30 12:40pm ET
Gunnar Helm

Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz said that rookie tight end Gunnar Helm has been a "bright spot," and his physicality has "exceeded the team's expectations," according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Helm has been picking things up well, and Holz expects his "opportunities to increase." The 23-year-old fourth-round selection out of Texas caught all three of his targets for a season-high 27 yards in the Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and followed it up with just one reception for 12 yards in this past Sunday's shutout loss to the Houston Texans. The good news is he matched his season high snap percentage (40%) in Week 4, and he could begin to see more playing time as the Titans search for their first win. Unfortunately, for fantasy purposes, Helm probably won't be on the radar in single-year leagues unless Chig Okonkwo misses time with an injury.

From RotoBaller

Michael Penix Jr. Sep 30 12:30pm ET
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. got back on track in Sunday's 34-27 win over the Commanders, completing 20 of his 26 passes for 313 yardsand two scores. He did throw one interception as well and was sacked once. The former first-rounder's 90.5 QBR for the game was a solid increase from the 71.3 rating he had going into the contest, and there was a marked improvement in the second-year quarterback's average yards per pass attempt, going from 6.1 in Weeks 1-3 to 12.0 in Week 4 (the highest of any QB). While it was a great bounce-back performance after two down weeks, the 25-year-old draws Buffalo in Week 5 after the team comes out of their bye, and the Bills have limited opposing passers to 125.8 yards per game thus far, which is the fewest yards passing per game in theentire NFL, so fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere for streaming options the next time Penix takes the field.

From RotoBaller

Cam Ward Sep 30 12:30pm ET
Cam Ward

Tennessee Titans quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree said that rookie first-round QB Cameron Ward is "growing every week," and that he's "seeing improvement," according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. It didn't really look like Ward took a step forward in the 26-0 shutout loss in Week 4 to the Houston Texans, a game in which the first overall pick went 10-for-26 for 108 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. The 23-year-old Miami product has looked overwhelmed so far in his first four NFL starts, completing only 51.2% of his 125 pass attempts for 614 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He's also run the ball nine times for 42 yards. Ward might be adapting to the speed of the game slowly, but right now, there have been more negatives than positives, and he's failed to find much of a connection with top wideout Calvin Ridley.

From RotoBaller

Kaleb Johnson Sep 30 12:10pm ET
Kaleb Johnson

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson had his best chance yet for a breakout game in Week 4 with Steelers RB1 Jaylen Warren (knee) sidelined by a knee injury. However, Johnson remained stuck behind veteran back Kenneth Gainwell, who logged 134 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 25 total touches against the Minnesota Vikings. Johnson had just six carries for 22 yards, and has recorded just eight carries for 21 yards on the season. Pittsburgh has a bye in Week 5, and Warren may be ready to return in Week 6 for the Steelers' matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Even if Warren remains out, there's little reason to think Johnson would be set to jump Gainwell on the running back depth chart in Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old rookie maintains fantasy appeal in dynasty leagues, but he's tough to roster with any confidence in redraft formats.

From RotoBaller

Andrew Van Ginkel Sep 30 12:10pm ET
Andrew Van Ginkel

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced on Tuesday that offensive tackle Brian O'Neill (knee) suffered an MCL sprain in the Week 4 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland on Sunday and will be week-to-week, per the team. While O'Neill could miss some time, he will not be placed on Injured Reserve. Meanwhile, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) will not practice this week, meaning he probably won't play in Week 5 in London against the Cleveland Browns. O'Neill injured his knee in the first quarter in Dublin on Sunday and never returned. The 30-year-old will most likely sit out in Week 5 against a strong Browns defensive front, which could spell trouble for backup quarterback Carson Wentz if J.J. McCarthy (ankle) misses a third straight game. Justin Skule is the likely replacement at right tackle for the Vikes for however long O'Neill is out.

From RotoBaller

Darren Waller Sep 30 12:06pm ET
Darren Waller

Dynasty | Dolphins tight end Darren Waller caught three passes for 27 yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: Waller's return couldn't have gone better as he made good on two red zone targets for scores. Dynasty managers are likely salivating about what could come next but also shouldn't get too excited quite yet. While Waller could get more targets moving forward without the services of Tyreek Hill, it's tough to look at this as sustainable. Still, he deserves to be on rosters and another solid game will put him in lineup considerations and make him a solid short-term target for contending dynasty teams.

Jake Browning Sep 30 12:06pm ET
Jake Browning

Dynasty | Bengals quarterback Jake Browning completed just 14-of-25 passes for 125 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a loss to Denver. Dynasty Analysis: Browning hasn't played well since taking over for Joe Burrow but also looks like he's playing on a team that has simply quit on the season. The entire offense is a disaster and they are also giving up points in rapid succession. Browning will attempt to get back on track next week, barring a trade for someone else to take his spot. Regardless, he's way off the dynasty radar at this point.

Chase Brown Sep 30 12:06pm ET
Chase Brown

Dynasty | Bengals running back Chase Brown had 40 rushing yards, three catches and 31 receiving yards in a loss to the Broncos. Dynasty Analysis: Brown's rushing average actually increased to 2.3 on the season after this performance, which tells you about all you need to know about how things are going. On the year, he now has just 133 rushing yards, 11 catches, 74 receiving yards and one lone touchdown. It's been a total disaster for Brown and the Bengals offense without Joe Burrow and he's going to be a very tough start moving forward.

J.K. Dobbins Sep 30 12:06pm ET
J.K. Dobbins

Dynasty | Broncos running back JK Dobbins had 101 rushing yards, one catch, and four receiving yards in a win against the Bengals. Dynasty Analysis: When Dobbins is healthy, he's one of the best running backs in football. It's that simple. With 323 yards on a whopping 5.7 yards per carry, he's been a revelation this season. While RJ Harvey got more action this week, much of that came with the game decided. Dobbins is a solid buy in dynasty leagues from those who are still concerned about his durability but few remember he's still only 26 years old.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Sep 30 12:00pm ET
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was a healthy scratch for the first two weeks of the season. However, following veteran running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) suffering a torn Achilles in Week 2, Rodriguez Jr. leads Washington in carries (18) across the team's past two games. The Commanders are employing a three-way split in the backfield, with Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols seeing a fair number of touches as well. Still, Rodriguez Jr. has been efficient (5.4 yards per rush attempt) and could be the team's preferred early-down and goal-line back. Rodriguez Jr. is tough to trust as a fantasy starter unless he starts commanding a larger share of Washington's backfield workload. Still, he should be rostered in deep leagues of 14 or more teams, given the opportunity for a true lead back to emerge for the Commanders.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Sep 30 11:50am ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) is questionable to play in the team's Week 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Lynch said Purdy's status depends on whether he can "turn it around on a short week." Purdy missed Weeks 2 and 3 with toe and shoulder injuries, but was able to return in Week 4. In the two games he has played in 2025, Purdy has thrown for 586 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions. If he is unable to play on Thursday, backup quarterback Mac Jones (knee) would likely be his replacement. Jones is playing through a PCL sprain in his knee, but was listed as a full practice participant on Monday's injury report. In two starts this season, Jones has thrown for 563 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He'd profile as a low-end fantasy QB2 if called into action in a tough matchup against the Rams defense.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Sep 30 11:40am ET
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) is listed as questionable to play in his team's Week 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan previously said that Pearsall suffered a "minor PCL" injury in Week 4. The 25-year-old has recorded 20 catches for 327 yards on 29 targets so far in 2025. San Francisco could also be missing wideout Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) in Week 5. If both Pearsall and Jennings are sidelined, wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson would both likely see a significant increase in both playing time and target share.

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton Sep 30 11:30am ET
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton recorded five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown on six targets in his team's 28-3 Week 4 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The 29-year-old has now recorded a touchdown catch in three out of Denver's first four games of the season. All told, Sutton has 18 catches for 266 yards and three scores on 27 targets so far in 2025. The Broncos have several offensive weapons for quarterback Bo Nix to spread the ball around to, but Sutton is the clear number one option in the passing game. As long as he stays healthy, Sutton profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver.

From RotoBaller

J.K. Dobbins Sep 30 11:20am ET
J.K. Dobbins

Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins had an efficient night on the ground in his team's Week 4 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Dobbins recorded 16 carries for 101 yards, an average of 6.3 yards per rush attempt. The 26-year-old has now recorded 57 carries for 323 yards and three touchdowns through his first four games of 2025. Dobbins is the RB1 in Denver, but it's worth noting that Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey logged a career-high 14 carries in Week 4. The Broncos face a difficult matchup in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, Dobbins profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 as long as he continues to lead the Denver backfield in carries.

From RotoBaller

J.J. McCarthy Sep 30 11:20am ET
J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings hope quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) practices "some" this week, leading into the team's Week 5 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, per a team announcement. McCarthy suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 and has missed Minnesota's last two games. Before getting hurt, McCarthy had completed 58.5% of his passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Veteran quarterback Carson Wentz has been Minnesota's starter over the past two weeks, throwing for 523 yards, four touchdowns, and two picks. Minnesota has a bye in Week 6, so it could make sense for McCarthy to miss one more game in Week 5 and have two full weeks to heal before returning in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Sep 30 11:13am ET
Justin Fields

Dynasty | Jets quarterback Justin Fields returned to action Monday, completing 20-of-27 passes for 226 yards, adding 81 rushing yards and another touchdown. Dynasty Analysis: The numbers look fine but a lot of his damage was done with the game already in hand for the Dolphins. Let's face it - Fields is a much better fantasy quarterback than a real one. Dynasty managers won't complain since he always produces counting stats but the idea he's the long-term answer in New York seems to be getting more and more far-fetched by the week. Fields looks like a possible "sell high" candidate in dynasty leagues at the moment.

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Mason Taylor Sep 30 11:13am ET
Mason Taylor

Dynasty | Jets tight end Mason Taylor had five catches for 65 yards in a loss to the Dolphins. Dynasty Analysis: Taylor is starting to get more and more involved in the offense and today was by far his best outing. With 13 targets over his last two games, perhaps the Jets are realizing he's a viable weapon. We need to see a lot more before recommending him in weekly lineups but his rookie ranking and ADP are starting to climb.

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