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FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

RB Strength of Schedule

Tue May 28 9:03am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Robinson setup for big season


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the running back position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to running backs last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the running backs with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the running backs that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  RB SOS  
1. Green Bay Packers 356.01
2. Houston Texans 361.46
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 361.46
4. Las Vegas Raiders 361.48
5. Seattle Seahawks 362.28
6. Buffalo Bills 363.19
7. Arizona Cardinals 363.76
8. Dallas Cowboys 363.9
9. Jacksonville Jaguars 364.51
10. Washington Commanders 364.86
11. Chicago Bears 364.89
12. Indianapolis Colts 365.41
13. San Francisco 49ers 365.86
14. New Orleans Saints 366.49
15. New York Jets 368.23
16. Detroit Lions 368.49
17. Philadelphia Eagles 369.05
18. Minnesota Vikings 369.06
19. Carolina Panthers 369.88
20. Cleveland Browns 370.34
21. Kansas City Chiefs 371.71
22. New York Giants 372.21
23. Los Angeles Chargers 373.19
24. Denver Broncos 373.32
25. Cincinnati Bengals 373.66
26. Los Angeles Rams 374.09
27. Baltimore Ravens 374.16
28. New England Patriots 375.60
29. Atlanta Falcons 376.19
30. Miami Dolphins 377.49
31. Tennessee Titans 378.2
32. Pittsburgh Steelers 378.72


The two teams with the easiest fantasy schedules for running backs are the Steelers and Titans, which is interesting because both teams could platoon running backs. The Steelers split the work between Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. And the Titans are likely to use both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. All four backs could be setup for solid seasons with favorable schedules. It is always scary to take a back that might split work but seeing these positive schedules could make pulling the trigger on them a little easier come draft day. All four could be top flex plays for fantasy teams.

The Dolphins had huge success running the ball last year and could have similar solid production this season with the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs. Devon Achane is really looking good in year two. He is expected to get more work and likely lead the backfield in touches. Raheem Mostert had a career season last year and a great schedule but he carries a little more risk. He is 32 years old and now has rookie Jaylen Wright pushing him for playing time. Just something to keep in mind come draft day.

The Falcons are another team with a top-five favorable running back schedule, making Bijan Robinson a very intriguing pick this year. Robinson had a bit of a disappointing rookie season, but a new coaching staff and really favorable schedule make Robinson a huge breakout candidate. He is moving up draft rankings in a hurry and is capable of finishing first overall in fantasy running back scoring because of his skill set.

Rhamondre Stevenson is a possible rebound candidate. He was slowed by injury last year but is back healthy and with the fifth easiest schedule for running backs. Stevenson has shown in the past he can be a big-time fantasy back. Things are looking up for him this year, making him a good buy-low candidate.

The Packers had the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks but get the toughest for running backs. This isn’t great news for new back Josh Jacobs. It is hard to bet against the productive back, though. You just might want to temper expectations for him this coming year. Jacobs could have a few down weeks, especially for his standards.

The Texans signed Joe Mixon to shore up their running back spot, but he carries some concerns. He wasn’t highly productive the last few seasons besides all his scores and now gets the second toughest schedule for running backs. Plus, the Texans are likely to be a pass heavy team, which could limit his workload a little. Mixon could end up being a boom or bust player.

Tampa also has a unfavorable fantasy schedule for running backs. Rachaad White had a big season last year but padded his numbers because of all his work in the passing game. That might be a similar scenario for him, having a tough time to run with this schedule. The positive for White is he is very good in the passing game. You have to worry about his rushing totals, though.

The Raiders haven’t really settled on a starting running back, but Zamir White is likely to get first shot at the job. That is great news for his fantasy value but the not so great news is his tough fantasy schedule. This could limit the ceiling of White a little. He has risk to begin with because it isn’t 100 percent certain he wins the job. This makes him a bit of a scary pick for fantasy teams.

Kenneth Walker didn’t have quite the breakout second season many hoped but was fairly productive with his work. And the good news is Zach Charbonnet didn’t really put a big dent in his workload. The Seahawks seem happy with Walker as the lead back. The unfortunate news for Walker is he has the fifth toughest fantasy running back schedule. Walker might fail to reach his lofty expectations once again in year three.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy running backs. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the running backs with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  RB PLAYOFF SOS  
1. San Francisco 49ers 291.43
2. Washington Commanders 325.2
3. Houston Texans 327.8
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 332.03
5. New York Jets 337.57
6. Cleveland Browns 340.8
7. Las Vegas Raiders 341.1
8. Miami Dolphins 348.27
9. Chicago Bears 350.37
10. Buffalo Bills 350.53
11. Arizona Cardinals 352.8
12. Dallas Cowboys 358.87
13. Detroit Lions 359.7
14. New York Giants 365.67
15. Kansas City Chiefs 366.53
16. Green Bay Packers 368.97
17. Seattle Seahawks 370.23
18. Carolina Panthers 377.15
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 378.37
20. Los Angeles Chargers 380.73
21. Jacksonville Jaguars 381
22. Baltimore Ravens 381.43
23. Cincinnati Bengals 383.50
24. Philadelphia Eagles 391.07
25. New England Patriots 397.95
26. Indianapolis Colts 398.40
27. Denver Broncos 399.53
28. Tennessee Titans 401.63
29. Los Angeles Rams 403.92
30. New Orleans Saints 406.33
31. Minnesota Vikings 407.87
32. Atlanta Falcons 422.4

 

There are two teams with a top-five favorable schedule for fantasy running backs for both the regular season and playoffs. Those teams are the Falcons and Titans. Atlanta actually has the easiest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. Robinson was looking good even before hearing this news but looks even better now. He is making a strong case to be the second running back off the board come draft day.

And Pollard and Spears are intriguing running back options with schedules that could produce big for both during the regular season and playoffs. You just have to worry about one back emerging to grab most of the work. If that happens, one of these backs could end up being a bust.

Minnesota has the second easiest playoff schedule for running backs. Aaron Jones has some injury concerns after the last few seasons, but he could be setup for a big workload with an unsettled quarterback situation in Minnesota. Jones has some good upside with his new team, especially during the playoffs.

One other team to mention for the playoff is New Orleans. Alvin Kamara isn’t getting any younger but remains the lead back and still productive. He still seems to have something left in the tank and could be a big fantasy factor for at least one more season, especially when it matters most in the playoffs. He could be a difference maker, having the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs.

Houston is the lone team in both the top five for the toughest regular season and playoff fantasy running back schedules. This is an obvious concern for Mixon. He is looking more and more like a player you might to avoid come draft day. He might have some big games along the way in this great offense, but you have to wonder about his consistency and playoff performance.

So the top rated fantasy back, Christian McCaffrey, also has the toughest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. You aren’t fading McCaffrey because of this. He is one of those rare backs that it doesn’t really matter who he plays. McCaffrey will produce. We still think he is the clear No. 1 fantasy back. He can still get it done in the playoffs.

Washington has Brian Robinson and Austin Ekekler likely splitting the work at running back, which hurts both their fantasy values. They also get the second most difficult playoff schedule for running backs. We wouldn’t reach too early for either back because of this.

The Steelers have the easiest fantasy running back schedule during the playoffs but fourth toughest for the playoffs. This is a tough one. Both backs have potential for good things, showing they can co-exist last year and produce well for fantasy teams. You just have to wonder if fading in the playoffs will make all that good work during the regular season all for nothing.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Rico Dowdle Oct 1 6:00pm CT
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has seen his touches steadily outpace Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn in 2024, especially over the last three weeks. Dowdle has also far and away seen the higher snap share of the trio this season. Most importantly, Dowdle has been the most effective running back for the Cowboys in 2024. He has 34 carries for 134 yards and nine receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown this season. The steady shift towards Dowdle as the main running back suggests that the Cowboys are starting to trust him and value his production thus far this season. Running back Dalvin Cook has been acclimating to the team on the practice squad and could feasibly eat into Dowdle's workload if he were to be activated. However, for now, Dowdle is a player worth rostering and monitoring on your bench should his role grow even more.

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Gary Brightwell Oct 1 6:00pm CT
Gary Brightwell

The Cleveland Browns released running back Gary Brightwell on Tuesday. Brightwell had played in the team's past two games primarily as a special teams player. He did not record any statistics. The 26-year-old has not played many offensive snaps in his career. He joined the Browns in 2024 after spending his first three seasons with the New York Giants. For now, Brightwell will have to hope he can join another team as a special teams player. This move does not have any implications for fantasy football.

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Drake Maye Oct 1 5:50pm CT
Drake Maye

New York Times reporter Chad Graff stated on Tuesday that conversations with New England Patriots players and head coach Jerod Mayo indicate that the team believes quarterback Drake Maye is ready to be an NFL starter. However, Jacoby Brissett remains the starter in New England due to the lack of talent in the Patriots' offense. The Patriots are taking a cautious approach to protect Maye and ensure that his confidence does not falter. Ever since training camp, reports have indicated that Maye has been outplaying Brissett. As an NFL veteran, Brissett is better equipped to handle the difficult situation that is the Patriots offense. Brissett has stood no chance behind the Patriots' O-line in 2024. He has only managed to throw for 536 yards and two touchdowns. He has also been sacked 15 times in four games. Maye himself was sacked twice on one drive in limited action in Week 3. NFL fans will likely see Maye as the starter at some point in 2024, but the Patriots appear to have no interest in rushing that process.

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Odell Beckham Jr. Oct 1 5:40pm CT
Odell Beckham Jr.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced that the team will open the 21-day practice window for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed). Beckham was placed on the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury following the preseason. He will now have 21 days to practice with the team and return to the field. If he does not return within the 21-day period, he will be ineligible to return for the rest of the season. Beckham has bounced around the league in search of Super Bowl rings in recent seasons. He most recently played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. He recorded 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns in the low-volume passing offense. The Dolphins offense is not devoid of playmakers but they currently have a quarterback problem. Starter Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) has been out for the past two weeks and the Dolphins' offense has suffered as a result. Beckham is not the player he once was so his return may not move the needle for this offense without Tagovailoa behind center.

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Ray-Ray McCloud Oct 1 5:30pm CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III (ankle) was limited in practice on Tuesday. His participation in practice signals that he should be on track to play in Thursday night's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCloud has been a steady contributor for the Falcons in 2024. He has caught 15 passes for 163 yards while working alongside Darnell Mooney and Drake London. Due to the lack of excitement around him, McCloud is currently on a lot of waiver wires. He has been a solid player in PPR formats and should be rostered in case his role with the offense grows or he manages to start scoring more touchdowns. The Buccaneers are 10th in the NFL against opposing wide receivers in fantasy in 2024. As such, this matchup is not ideal but it is not terrible. Should McCloud be active in this game, he should at least deliver flex value for your fantasy team.

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Jalen McMillan Oct 1 5:20pm CT
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Jalen McMillan (hamstring) and Trey Palmer (concussion) did not practice on Tuesday. Both players are significant depth pieces for the Buccaneers at wide receiver. Their lack of participation Tuesday does not bode well for their ability to play on Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons. McMillan already missed Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. His absence forced Palmer to step up. Palmer recorded three receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown while filling in for McMillan. If neither player can go on Thursday, the Buccaneers will likely turn to Sterling Shepard and Kameron Johnson (ankle) for depth at wide receiver. What this news most likely means is that Mike Evans (knee/calf) and Chris Godwin should see the lion's share of targets in Week 5.

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Davante Adams Oct 1 5:13pm CT
Davante Adams

Dynasty | Davante Adams could indeed be on the trade block this season. Dynasty Analysis: The Las Vegas Review has a "source" inside the organization that is saying Adams could finally be dealt away this off-season. Adams has only said the rumors are "annoying" at this point, but there is some speculation that Head Coach Antonio Pierce could have "liked" a social media post asking if Adams has played his last game in Las Vegas. This is turning into a mess again and it seems we may be nearing the end of the rocky tenure here. The Jets and Chiefs are obvious trade candidates, but it's still early in the process and this is simply another rumor. Dynasty managers are likely ready for a change as the quarterback situation for the Raiders is a mess and Adams is clearly looking more and more frustrated.

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Kareem Hunt Oct 1 5:13pm CT
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Dynasty | The Chiefs could be leaning towards Kareem Hunt being their starting running back. Dynasty Analysis: Hunt looked surprisingly spry last week and Carson Steele was benched after fumbling, so this isn't exactly breaking news. Still, if this happens in an official capacity, Hunt could have some short-term fantasy appeal on an offense missing Isiah Pacheco and likely Rashee Rice for the foreseeable future. Hunt belongs on rosters as this situation develops and could be a quick trade candidate for a dynasty team out of contention who wants to cash out.

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Mike Evans Oct 1 5:10pm CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (knee/calf) was limited in practice on Tuesday. Evans is trending in the right direction after not participating in practice on Monday. The Buccaneers will need Evans as they head into a divisional clash with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. Evans is off to a solid start in 2024 with 18 receptions for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has played very well in 2024 which has supported both Evans and fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin. The Falcons are an ok matchup for Evans in Week 5. They are 14th against opposing wide receivers this season. Evans should see his usual fair share of targets and have a chance to score another touchdown. With the way the Buccaneers have been rolling in 2024, it is hard to keep Evans out of your lineup. As long as he continues to trend up in his practice participation, he should be a solid start in Week 5.

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Justin Fields Oct 1 4:30pm CT
Justin Fields

The Dallas Cowboys placed defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday due to the foot injury he suffered in last Thursday night's win over the division-rival New York Giants. In a corresponding move, Dallas signed defensive end K.J. Henry off the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad. Lawrence specifically is dealing with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot and he's expected to need four to eight weeks to recover. The good news is that he will not need surgery. In addition to Lawrence, the Cowboys are expected to play without edge rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) in Week 5 on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a high left-ankle sprain. Dallas is likely to elevate defensive end Carl Lawson from the practice squad for the third straight game this week. Against dual-threat QB Justin Fields and Pittsburgh on Sunday without their top two pass-rushers, Dallas' defense/special teams is a fringe fantasy play in 12-team leagues.

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Von Miller Oct 1 4:20pm CT
Von Miller

The National Football League has suspended Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Von Miller for four games (without pay) on Tuesday for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. Miller will be eligible to be reinstated on Oct. 28 after the team's Week 8 contest against the Seattle Seahawks. The suspension comes from allegations that Miller assaulted his pregnant girlfriend in 2023. At the time, Miller turned himself in on an arrest warrant for a charge of third-degree felony assault on Nov. 30. The 35-year-old former Super Bowl MVP said the allegations are false and "overblown." The NFL apparently disagreed. The eight-time Pro Bowler is no longer in his prime and has dealt with some injury issues in recently seasons, not playing more than 12 games in either of his first two years in Buffalo. Through four games in 2024, Miller has played well, picking up three sacks and five solo tackles. The Bills' defense is losing a valuable piece for the next four games.

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Bijan Robinson Oct 1 4:10pm CT
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (hamstring) was listed as a limited practice participant for the second straight day this week on Tuesday. The Falcons have a short turnaround in Week 5 with a Thursday night divisional clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Robinson may be on this week's injury report, but his hamstring issue doesn't appear to be serious enough to put his status in jeopardy for Thursday's tilt. As long as the 22-year-old doesn't suffer a setback in practice on Wednesday, there's a good chance he'll be cleared altogether. If for any reason he cannot play or is limited, Tyler Allgeier would become a must-start, plug-and-play option in Atlanta's backfield. As things currently stand on Tuesday, fantasy managers have no reason to remove Robinson from their starting lineups this week as a surefire RB1.

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Tyler Huntley Oct 1 4:10pm CT
Tyler Huntley

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley will make another start in Week 5 against the division-rival New England Patriots on Sunday, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is on Injured Reserve, and the Dolphins went with the recently signed Huntley on Monday night against the Tennessee Titans with Skyler Thompson (ribs) banged up. The 26-year-old wasn't impressive at all in the Week 4 loss, going 14-for-22 for 96 yards, no touchdowns and no picks. Huntley did add eight carries for 40 yards and a touchdown. Apparently, Thompson is recovering slowly from his rib injury, which has opened the door for Huntley to make another start. This Sunday's matchup against the Pats defense won't necessarily be any easier for Huntley, and he'll remain a desperation QB2 play for fantasy managers in superflex leagues.

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Davante Adams Oct 1 4:00pm CT
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has informed the team that he prefers to be traded. No trade is imminent, but it's a situation to watch, and an earlier report suggested that the Raiders have already been reaching out to gauge interest around the league. The 31-year-old is disgruntled yet again in Vegas and also missed the Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns. There should be plenty of interest around the league from receiver-needy teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and perhaps the New York Jets for a player with six Pro Bowl appearances and five 1,000-yard campaigns. In three games so far in 2024, Adams has caught 18 of 27 targets for 209 yards and one touchdown. Vegas' offense would be much less explosive without Adams the rest of the year, but his departure would open up targets for rookie tight end Brock Bowers and receivers Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker.

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Aaron Rodgers Oct 1 2:00pm CT
Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (knee) was sacked five times in the ugly loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4, and during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, he said he is feeling "a little banged up" and his knee is "a little swollen." The four-time NFL MVP is coming off a torn Achilles from last season, so any lower-body injuries are concerning. However, the 40-year-old did not express any concern about his status moving forward, so he should be ready to suit up against the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday. The Vikings have been a mid-level defense against fantasy quarterbacks, so Rodgers is not worth rolling the dice on in single-QB formats. Rodgers has completed 64.1% of his passes for 849 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception in his first four full games with the Jets.

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Mike Tomlin Oct 1 1:40pm CT
Mike Tomlin

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) has yet to make his 2024 season debut after suffering a pectoral injury in the preseason. However, head coach Mike Tomlin said there's a chance the veteran could return for the Week 5 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran has played in 98 career games and started all 17 contests for the Steelers last season. With starting offensive linemen Nate Herbig (shoulder), Troy Fautanu (knee), and James Daniels (Achilles) all expected to miss the rest of the season, Seumalo's potential return couldn't come at a better time. Dallas has allowed 145.8 rushing yards per game, so Justin Fields and Najee Harris could rack up plenty of yards in the showdown between two iconic organizations.

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Christian Watson Oct 1 1:40pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but he is not expected to be placed on Injured Reserve, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. High-ankle sprains can be tough to come back from quickly, but Watson reportedly has a mild case. Either way, he is likely to miss Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams. Dontayvion Wicks, who caught five of his 13 targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, is one of the top waiver wire options this week, as he'll see an enhanced role as long as Watson is sidelined. Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs could see slight boosts in their roles, too.

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Kyle Dugger Oct 1 1:30pm CT
Kyle Dugger

New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) exited the Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers early due to an ankle injury. However, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reports that while Dugger is still gathering information on his ailment, the injury is not expected to be serious or hold him out of action long-term. The standout defensive back might miss some time, but the good news is that he should be able to return soon. Dugger has totaled 20 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection through his first four games of the year.

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Sterling Shepard Oct 1 1:20pm CT
Sterling Shepard

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed veteran wideout Sterling Shepard to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. Shepard was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles and caught three of his five targets for 51 yards. Rookie wideout Jalen McMillan (hamstring) missed Week 4 with a hamstring injury, and second-year speedster Trey Palmer (concussion) suffered a concussion and exited the win early. Star wideout Mike Evans (knee) missed practice on Monday, but there's no indication that he is at risk of missing the Week 5 game against the Atlanta Falcons. As for Shepard, he can be utilized as a low-end flex play in deep formats if McMillan and Palmer don't suit up on Thursday night.

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Tyquan Lewis Oct 1 1:20pm CT
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Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (elbow) is being placed on Injured Reserve, according to NFL.com. Lewis is dealing with an elbow injury, but the ailment is not considered to be season-ending. The 2018 second-round pick out of Ohio State has spent his entire seven-year career with the Colts and has racked up 112 total tackles, 15 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, 10 pass deflections, and 27 run stuffs in 69 career games. His earliest return date is Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings, as a trip on the IR requires players to sit out at least four contests.

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