Cleveland Browns running backs coach Duce Staley said that rookie RB Dylan Sampson will get more playing time as the season goes on and they'll have a 1-2-3 punch with fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins and Jerome Ford, according to Scott Petrak. Sampson began the 2025 season splitting the backfield workload with Ford while Judkins dealt with an off-the-field issue. He had 12 carries for 29 yards and also caught all eight of his targets for an extra 64 yards in the season-opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but in the two games since Judkins has returned, Sampson has just five combined carries for eight yards and has caught three passes for 13 yards. The 21-year-old is apparently going to be more involved as the season progresses, but his weekly fantasy ceiling and floor will remain low as long as Judkins dominates Cleveland's backfield work.

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Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) is on the practice field on Friday, according to John Keim of ESPN. However, Croskey-Merritt wasn't doing much with the team doing special teams work in the period of practice open to the media. The 24-year-old did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday due to a sore knee, so his status is definitely worth watching as Sunday's Week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons approaches. It's a good sign that JCM was on the field on Friday, but it doesn't guarantee that he'll be active this weekend. If Croskey-Merritt can suit up in Week 4, he'll be an RB3/flex option, at best, in a backfield that remains a committee after the season-ending injury to Austin Ekeler (Achilles) in Week 2. If JCM doesn't get the green light this weekend, both Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols would jump onto the flex radar against Atlanta.

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Cleveland Browns running backs coach Duce Staley said that rookie RB Quinshon Judkins got the foundation of the offense during spring workouts and that it's "showing up now" despite his late arrival due to off-the-field issues this summer during training camp and the preseason, according to Scott Petrak. Judkins didn't make his NFL debut until Week 2, but he saw 10 carries in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens, rushing for 61 yards (6.1 yards per carry). The 21-year-old from Ohio State looked good again in last week's upset win over the Green Bay Packers and had an expanded role, rushing for 94 yards and his first career touchdown on 18 rushing attempts. The second-rounder is already Cleveland's clear RB1 ahead of Jerome Ford and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson, and his big-play ability makes him a must-start in all fantasy leagues, even in a low-scoring Browns offense.

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The Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow reports that Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) is warming up for Friday's practice, fitted with a compression sleeve on his leg. Hubbard was a surprise addition on Thursday's practice report after picking up a calf injury, but it's a positive sign to see him back out there the next day. While the team hasn't released its official report or injury designations for this weekend's road matchup with the New England Patriots, it appears that the Oklahoma State alum is on a trajectory to play. Whether his recent ailment will limit him remains to be seen, but it wouldn't be shocking to see backfield mate Rico Dowdle -- and potentially rookie Trevor Etienne -- see a slight bump in snap share. We'll know more about his status in a few hours.

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According to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) was not seen at Friday's practice. It's unfortunate news after the second-year signal-caller was able to log limited sessions the previous two days. Daniels was trending in the right direction for a bit, but a DNP on Friday makes this situation more murky than it appeared on Thursday. As of now, team doctors will decide if the 24-year-old is suited to play. Washington also seems likely to be without wide receivers Terry McLaurin (quad) and Noah Brown (groin, knee) in Week 4, meaning veteran QB Marcus Mariota could have a tougher time out down a few skill players against the hosting Atlanta Falcons.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) is practicing Friday and "looks fine," according to FOX Sports' Greg Auman. It wasn't specifically stated in what capacity the Penn State product practiced, but it's excellent news after he was tagged with a DNP the day prior. Godwin is trending toward making his return to the field in Week 4, and it comes at a perfect time with running mate Mike Evans (hamstring) dealing with a multi-week hamstring injury. If Godwin does suit up, it's reasonable to believe that Tampa Bay will be cautious with his reps. If that's the case, fellow wideouts Sterling Shepard, Ryan Miller, and Tez Johnson will all work behind Godwin and rookie Emeka Egbuka in some capacity.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (quad) was not spotted at Friday's practice, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Three straight DNPs spell trouble for the veteran, as it seems highly unlikely that he'll be available for Sunday's outing with the hosting Atlanta Falcons. It's unfortunate news for McLaurin, who has started the season off slowly following his offseason hold-in. With teammate Noah Brown (groin, knee) also in danger of missing Week 4's contest, Deebo Samuel Sr., Jaylin Lane, Chris Moore, and Luke McCaffrey are set to man Washington's wide receiver corps on the road against Atlanta. Moore placed first last weekend regarding snaps amongst that grouping.

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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch noted on Friday that edge rusher Nick Bosa (knee) will undergo a procedure to repair his torn ACL. Reportedly, the 27-year-old will again have his surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who handled the procedure on his left knee in 2020, as well as some of his teammates'. According to the team, the injury involves only Bosa's ACL, so it will be a less complicated surgery (and rehab) than that of his teammate Brandon Aiyuk's (knee). Regardless, the seventh-year pro will now begin the long road to recovery, and, likely, we don't see him until around the same time next season. Teammate Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) figures to rotate in behind Bryce Huff and Mykel Williams for the time being, as long as he's active.

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New York Giants running back Devin Singletary has barely been utilized so far in 2025, recording 20 yards from scrimmage on nine total touches through his first three games of the season. However, he's in line for a workload increase with Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder) facing a multi-week absence due to a shoulder injury. Standout rookie running back Cam Skattebo will be the team's lead back, so Singletary's usage will still be limited. Still, Singletary could be worth adding as a handcuff option to Skattebo for as long as Tracy Jr. remains sidelined. Heading into a difficult Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, Singletary could be worth rostering but should not be started in fantasy.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington led the team in targets in Week 3 with 11, hauling in four catches for 34 yards. After going without a target in Week 1, Washington now has nine catches on 16 targets for 110 yards over the team's last two games. On paper, Washington should be behind Jaguars wideouts Brian Thomas Jr. (wrist) and Travis Hunter in the target pecking order in Jacksonville. However, Thomas Jr. has gotten off to a slow start, and Hunter's offensive role has been limited while he splits snaps between wide receiver and cornerback. Washington could be emerging as a trusted short-area target for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Heading into his Week 4 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Washington profiles as a low-end WR4/flex option in deep leagues.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin has seen consistent usage as a gadget piece in the team's offense so far in 2025. Through his first three games of the season, Turpin has logged eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown to go along with 19 rushing yards on five carries. With star Cowboys' wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) potentially facing a multi-week absence due to a high ankle sprain, Dallas could be even more motivated to manufacture touches for Turpin. The 29-year-old will face a tough matchup in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers, but Turpin could be a decent desperation flex play in deep leagues due to his big-play potential.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has had a quiet start to the 2025 season, logging six catches for 40 yards on 12 targets through his first three games of the season. However, he could be in line for a bump in both playing time and target share with star Cowboys' wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) potentially facing a multi-week absence due to a high ankle sprain. In the two games that Lamb missed last season, Tolbert recorded seven catches for 128 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. Tolbert will likely remain behind both wide receiver George Pickens and tight end Jake Ferguson on the target pecking order in Dallas, and he should not be started in a tough Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Still, Tolbert is a player worth monitoring in deep fantasy leagues for as long as Lamb remains sidelined.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard has quietly been a consistent piece of the team's passing game through the first three weeks of 2025, recording 11 catches for 153 yards on 15 targets. With star Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) facing a multi-week absence due to a hamstring injury, Shepard's role in Tampa Bay could be set to increase. It's worth noting that as Evans departs the lineup, the Buccaneers will likely be getting Chris Godwin (ankle) back from an ankle injury at some point in the next few weeks. However, Godwin has not played since Week 7 of 2024 and is recovering from a serious ankle injury that required two surgeries. Godwin did not practice on Thursday heading into Tampa Bay's Week 4 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. If he cannot play in Week 4, Shepard would be the clear WR2 in Tampa Bay alongside rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton had a breakout game in Week 3 against the New York Giants, recording five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. With Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (suspension) sidelined in the early part of the season, Thornton has established himself as a downfield option for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Worthy has been able to log full practices so far this week, and the team is optimistic that he will return to the field in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens. That dims the outlook for Thornton, but the 25-year-old could still play a role in a Chiefs' offense that has been desperate for playmakers so far in 2025. Thornton profiles as a desperation flex play in deep leagues in Week 4, but he should be stashed on fantasy benches until Worthy proves he is fully healthy.

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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently praised the work that rookie running back Jaydon Blue has been doing in practice, saying that Blue has "actually put together a couple really good weeks." A fifth-round pick out of Texas, Blue has been inactive for each of the Cowboys' first three games of the season. He appears to be firmly behind veteran running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders for the time being in Dallas. While it's encouraging to hear Schottenheimer speak positively about Blue, the rookie should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues, at least until he logs an NFL snap.

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Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the backfield with 11 carries in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and reports have surfaced on Thursday that Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) was officially a non-participant at practice due to an injury. With that in mind, Rodriguez is someone who, should JCM miss time, could handle lead-back duties and be a sneaky play in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons. It's important to note that JCM still has the opportunity to practice on Friday. Regardless, Rodriguez is someone who can be stashed on your bench for now and inserted into your lineups should JCM not play or we get a more consistent approach to how the Commanders will treat this backfield now that Austin Ekeler (Achilles) is out for the season.

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Tory Horton caught one of his two targets for 10 yards in the Seahawks' 23-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night. It was a fairly uneventful evening for Horton, coming off a game where he scored a touchdown through the air and in the return game. Horton is serving as a situational home run play for the Seahawks at this time and is at best a touchdown-dependent WR4/5 for fantasy managers right now. Fantasy managers seeking consistent production moving forward should consider alternatives, as Horton does not provide the volume that fantasy managers typically look for from a target standpoint. Up next for the Seahawks is a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which promises to be a good matchup between two teams with strong records and at the top of their respective divisions.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado had four touches for 21 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals' Thursday night loss to the Seahawks. His score came by a seven-yard reception to tie the score at 20 with 28 seconds to go before eventually falling to the Seattle Seahawks 23-20. Demarcado had two rush attempts and two receptions, and Trey Benson operated as the team's primary running back on Thursday with James Conner (foot) out for the season. Demercado mostly found himself in the game on third downs and in the two-minute offense. With the Cardinals down by a few scores in the fourth quarter, he played a decent amount late in the game, which ultimately led to a touchdown. Demercado is expected to remain involved, but not to the extent that it can provide standalone PPR value. Fantasy managers will want to look elsewhere for production, as Demarcado's looking like a handcuff to Benson, at best.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has rejoined the team after serving a three-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, and according to Cam Inman, a Bay Area News Group sports reporter, Robinson has "looked great" in practice. This is encouraging news for the 49ers' offense, which is three games into the season and is dealing with multiple injuries in their wide receiver room, including Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Jauan Jennings (ankle/shoulder), and rookie Jacob Cowing (hamstring) all having missed time, while star tight end George Kittle (hamstring) remains on injured reserve. In 2024 with the Los Angeles Rams, Robinson hauled in 31 of his 64 targets for 505 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues looking for a spot start due to injuries on their team might want to look Robinson's way, especially if Jennings isn't able to go Sunday. If Jennings misses time, Robinson could be in line to see five or six targets and operate as the team's second wide receiver behind Ricky Pearsall.

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Theo Mackie, beat writer for the Arizona Cardinals, reports that head coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned the following about the run game: "We have to run the ball better. It's just not where it needs to be at the moment. And that's a part that, going into the year, you'd think that you'd be able to run it a little bit better." Cardinals running backs are currently averaging exactly 4.0 YPC on the season. Operating as the team's clear back, Trey Benson rushed eight times for 35 yards and hauled in all five targets for 19 yards in the Cardinals' 23-20 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday night. Regardless of Benson's final line, it was encouraging to see Benson involved in the pass game and earning eight out of the 11 running back carries on the evening. The main issue for the Cardinals on Thursday was their inability to sustain drives. The Cardinals experienced multiple three-and-outs in the first half and third quarter. Once they fell behind by a few scores in the second half, the game flow dictated a more pass-happy game script, which led to Emari Demercado receiving more playing time. There should be better days ahead for Benson; he still had a good share of the opportunities out of the backfield. Fantasy managers should view him as a lower-end RB2 moving forward.

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