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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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Will Levis Oct 1 5:10am CT
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Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan stated that if Will Levis is healthy, he will be the starting quarterback without question. Levis seemed to sustain an injury while scrambling for yardage during Tennessee's second drive. He was seen grimacing on the "Monday Night Football" broadcast as he threw on the sideline midway through the first quarter. When the Titans regained possession with 4:14 left in the quarter, backup Mason Rudolph took over. Prior to his exit, Levis had completed three of four passes but had also thrown an interception.

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Micah Parsons Oct 1 4:10am CT
Micah Parsons

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Jordan Poyer Oct 1 2:50am CT
Jordan Poyer

Miami Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer (shin) left Monday night's game against the Tennessee Titans due to a shin injury and did not return. The injury occurred in the first half, forcing the 33-year-old to sit out for the remainder of the matchup. Originally a seventh-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, Poyer was waived during his rookie season and later signed by the Cleveland Browns. He spent over three seasons in Cleveland, starting only 10 games. However, he significantly increased his impact after joining the Buffalo Bills, where he became a key player in their defensive unit and earned both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Poyer has been a standout this season, racking up 19 tackles (11 solo) in just three games. His absence will be felt, as the veteran safety's production is hard to replace, leaving a noticeable gap in Miami's defense.

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Chop Robinson Oct 1 2:20am CT
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Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (knee) exited his Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans due to an injury. It appears he may have tweaked his right knee, which forced him to leave the rest of the Monday Night Football matchup. This incident comes just two months after the Dolphins activated Phillips, who had ruptured his right Achilles in late November 2023. The extent of his injury remains unclear, but head coach Mike McDaniel noted that Phillips left the stadium wearing a knee brace. Losing Phillips is a significant blow, especially considering the effort he put in to return after the Dolphins exercised his fifth-year option just six months ago. With this latest setback, the Dolphins have now lost at least one key player in each of their last three games. If Phillips has to miss time, rookie Chop Robinson and veteran Quinton Bell are likely to see increased playing time.

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Anthony Richardson Sep 30 11:40pm CT
Anthony Richardson

The Tennessee Titans defense shut down the Dolphins in a dominant 31-12 win at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night. Playing with a 3rd string quarterback who was signed to the team just two weeks ago, the Dolphins struggled to move the ball all night, as their quick screens and end-arounds did not move the needle. Credit to this unit who needed a confidence-boosting performance to get their season back on track after letting Malik Willis carve them up a week ago. The Titans recorded two sacks, a fumble recovery, and a safety when they forced an intentional grounding call on quarterback Tyler Huntley in the end zone. Even without superstar defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons who is nursing an elbow injury, the Titans held Miami to 3.5 YPC, including a 1.5 mark for star running back De'Von Achane. A bye week is up next, but Week 6 brings a rivalry matchup to Nashville against the Indianapolis Colts and a mistake-prone quarterback in Anthony Richardson,

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DeAndre Hopkins Sep 30 11:20pm CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught two passes on four targets for 31 yards in a 31-12 min over Miami on Monday night. It was the second consecutive week Hopkins lead the team in receiving, although he was only able to muster 4.1 half-PPR fantasy points in this one. After quarterback Will Levis went down in the first quarter, the Titans virtually abandoned the passing game for the remainder of the contest and forced Miami to stop their ground attack, which they were unable to do. Because of this, Hopkins saw a limited number of looks with backup quarterback Mason Rudolph only attempting 17 passes in the game. The Titans now head into their bye week, but will likely need to throw a lot more when the Colts come to town in Week 6. Consider Hopkins a WR4 for fantasy moving forward due to the continued uncertainty surrounding this offense.

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Tyjae Spears Sep 30 11:10pm CT
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Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears rushed 15 times for 39 yards and a touchdown, adding two catches for zero yards against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. It was Spears' highest touch-total of the season by a considerable margin, with the Titans opting for a ground-and-pound game plan based on the ineptitude of Miami's offense. Spears' wasn't very efficient on the ground with a 2.6 YPC mark, but he made up for this with a seven-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, juking a defender out of his socks before plowing into the end zone untouched. After a tough start to the year, it was great to see Spears that involved in the offense, and he should continue to be a heavily featured player after the Titans return from their Week 5 bye to face the Colts.

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Calvin Ridley Sep 30 11:10pm CT
Calvin Ridley

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley caught one pass for five yards on three targets and gained 10 yards on one rushing attempt in a 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins. It was clear from the get-go that the Titans were going to rely heavily on their ground game, which was even more evident after quarterback Will Levis left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. While it was a massively disappointing fantasy day for Ridley, the Titans simply did not need to throw the ball much at all because of how poor the Dolphins' offense was in this game. Next up is a bye week for the veteran receiver, but after that comes a choice matchup with a very beatable Colts secondary in Week 6. Ridley has been very hard to trust of late, but if the Titans can figure some things out on offense during the bye week Ridley should still be on the fantasy radar as an OK flex option in Week 6.

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Tony Pollard Sep 30 10:40pm CT
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Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard rushed 22 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, adding two receptions for 20 yards in a 31-12 win over Miami. The Titans ground game was stifled early, as Pollard was only able to muster 20 yards from his first ten carries. He broke this open with a 41-yard scamper in the 3rd quarter, almost scoring a touchdown but was eventually brought down at the seven-yard line. Miami's defense was worn down from that point forward, as Pollard enjoyed multiple runs of 10+ yards, capping off his productive night with a TD on a fourth and goal with 24 seconds left. While Tyjae Spears received 17 touches in this game, Pollard remains the workhorse and should be a top-12 option vs. a soft Indianapolis run defense in Week 6 after the Titans bye.

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Will Levis Sep 30 10:20pm CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph went nine of 17 for 85 yards in a 31-12 win at Miami on Monday night. Rudolph entered the game after Will Levis injured his shoulder while diving for a first down in the opening quarter. Levis came out of the medical tent and appeared to be healthy enough to re-enter the game, but head coach Brian Callahan opted to go with the veteran Rudolph the rest of the way, which featured a very run-heavy game plan. With the Dolphins not being able to do much of anything on offense, the Titans didn't ask much of Rudolph, but the former Steeler was mistake-free and was able to lead the Titans to multiple scoring drives. It's possible that there may be a quarterback controversy in Nashville based on the decision from the Titans' head coach, but neither player will be a great fantasy option in Week 6 vs. the Colts.

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Mark Andrews Sep 30 9:00pm CT
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Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is off to a rough start to his 2024 season. The veteran tight end dropped his lone target of the game during the Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills. That is now back-to-back games that Andrews has delivered duds to fantasy managers. Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh continues showing faith in Andrews and says that he'll still have some big games catching the ball. It's completely justifiably for fantasy managers to sit Andrews until he starts getting involved on offense. Andrews is heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and has zero receptions on two targets over the last two games. Fantasy managers are better off looking elsewhere for help ahead of Week 5.

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Jalen McMillan Sep 30 8:50pm CT
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Mike Evans (knee, calf), Jalen McMillan (hamstring), and Trey Palmer (concussion) all sat out of Monday's practice session. It's worth noting that Monday's practice is an estimation since the team didn't hold an official practice. The biggest concern here is Evans who played through a knee issue last week. It didn't seem to bother him on the field as he secured eight receptions for 94 yards in the win. This is likely more about getting the veteran wideout some rest ahead of the Thursday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. McMillan sat out on Sunday, which moved Palmer into a bigger role, but he was forced to exit early due to a concussion. If both players sit out on Thursday, Sterling Shepard and tight end Cade Otton figure to have bigger roles on offense.

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Ray-Ray McCloud Sep 30 8:40pm CT
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III (ankle) was limited during Monday's practice session. It's worth noting that Monday's practice was an estimation and the team didn't have an official practice. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned over the status of McCloud right now. The Falcons have a quick turn around with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. The next two days will give a better idea surrounding the availability of McCloud. He's coming off a 6-catch game for 52 yards in Week 4, so it appears like McCloud's value is on the rise.

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Evan Engram Sep 30 8:30pm CT
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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is currently considered as day-to-day, according to head coach Doug Pederson. The team was hopeful that Engram would return to the field in Week 4, but that didn't happen. He didn't practice at all last week, so maybe this week will be better. Engram hasn't played since Week 1 as he continues to recover from a lingering hamstring injury. The fact that he's now day-to-day should mean that Engram is trending in the right direction. Brenton Strange has been filling in as the starting tight end over the last three weeks. He has eight receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown over the last three games. He figures to continue starting and will be a low-end streaming option until Engram is able to play again.

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Bijan Robinson Sep 30 8:30pm CT
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Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (ankle) was a limited participant during Monday's practice. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried about this. Robinson was on the injury report with a shoulder issue last week and still suited up in Week 4. The Falcons have a quick turn around with a Thursday night matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week. The next two days will go a long way to deciding whether or not Robinson will play. If he sits, Tyler Allgeier will gain plenty of value and be a popular waiver wire addition.

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Rashee Rice Sep 30 8:20pm CT
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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) was forced to exit early during Sunday's Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Rice was carted off the field after quarterback Patrick Mahomes accidentally dove into Rice's knee while attempting to make a tackle. It didn't look good on the field and the first thought was that Rice had torn his ACL. After further testing, there remains uncertainty over the extent of the injury. Rice has met with the team doctors and had a second opinion on his knee. It sounds like more testing is going to happen before the team knows the full extent of the injury and how long Rice is going to be sidelined. Fantasy managers who have Rice rostered should prepare for him to miss some time. Fellow wide receiver Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce figure to be the primary focus on offense now.

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Will Levis Sep 30 7:30pm CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) suffered a right-shoulder injury in the first quarter of Monday night's game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium and is questionable to return. Levis was injured after scrambling and landing on his shoulder and was seen on the sidelines being looked at before being replaced by backup Mason Rudolph. Before leaving, Levis went 3-for-4 for 25 yards and a bad interception. Rudolph proceeded to lead the Titans on two field-goal drives to take the lead in the game after replacing Levis under center. The 25-year-old Levis appeared to be trying to re-enter the game, but head coach Brian Callahan is going to stick with Rudolph for now. If Rudolph leads Tennessee to a win and plays well, the Titans could stick with him through their bye in Week 5 given how poorly Levis has played early in 2024.

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Jeff Wilson Sep 30 6:40pm CT
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Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (knee) suffered a knee injury during pre-game warmups on Monday night and is questionable to play against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium. Raheem Mostert (chest) was already ruled out for this game for the third straight week, so if Wilson doesn't play, rookie Jaylen Wright could see a healthy amount of touches as the change-of-pace back behind starter De'Von Achane. Among Miami's four running backs, the 28-year-old Wilson is the least intriguing fantasy option, especially after this injury. In the first four games of 2024, Wilson has only eight carries for 40 yards and has caught two passes for 12 yards. Wright rushed only twice for 17 yards in last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks and doesn't have as much upside now in single-year formats with the Dolphins down to quarterback Tyler Huntley. However, his explosive abilities and intriguing upside still make him worth stashing in deeper fantasy leagues.

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George Kittle Sep 30 6:20pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ribs), linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (shoulder) are all considered day-to-day as of Monday after their victory over the New England Patriots in Week 4 on Sunday. Kittle injured his hamstring and was unable to play in the Week 3 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams before suiting up against the Pats. The 30-year-old caught all four of his targets for 45 yards, including a touchdown for his second straight game. However, he also injured his ribs in the first half and was questionable to return before rejoining the team after halftime. Kittle had a full workload on Sunday and should be able to play in Week 5 versus the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. We'll keep an eye on his practice later this week, but plan on starting Kittle in fantasy lineups against a shaky Arizona defense, especially if receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) misses another contest.

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Trey McBride Sep 30 6:10pm CT
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Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Monday that tight end Trey McBride (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol but that it's looking good after McBride sat out of the Week 4 blowout loss to the Washington Commanders. McBride suffered a concussion in the Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions and was not cleared for Sunday's game. We'll have a better idea whether the 24-year-old has a shot to return in Week 5 versus the division-rival San Francisco 49ers once the Cardinals resume practicing on Wednesday. If McBride returns to practice and is cleared to face the Niners, he'll be a must-start TE1 in fantasy after catching 14 of his 21 targets for 122 yards in the first three games of the season. With McBride sidelined this past weekend, Elijah Higgins caught just two of three targets for 12 yards for the Cardinals in a game that featured plenty of good game script.

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