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FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

Panthers, player personnel VP Adrian Wilson split

Sun Jul 7 11:17am ET
Field Level Media

The Carolina Panthers and Adrian Wilson, the vice president of player personnel, have parted ways after just one season, Pro Football Talk reported Sunday.

"Adrian Wilson will not continue in his position as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Carolina Panthers," the team confirmed to the outlet. "Consistent with our organizational policy on employee matters, we will have no further comment."

The Panthers hired Wilson, a North Carolina native, in February 2023.

He went to the organization from the front office of the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent eight seasons. He rose to VP of pro personnel in 2021-22 and was named co-interim general manager late in the 2022 season.

Wilson, 44, played 12 seasons with the Cardinals (2001-12) and the safety was a first-team All-Pro in 2009. The five-time Pro Bowl selection is a member of the team's Ring of Honor.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
Davante Adams Oct 7 12:50pm CT
Davante Adams

The Las Vegas Raiders' preference as an organization is to trade wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) "sooner rather than later," according to multiple sources. However, the Raiders aren't just going to do any deal just for the sake of trading Adams, and their preference has been not to take on any of the money remaining on his contract. Trade talks involving Adams are expected to heat up this week, with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints being the most likely destinations for the 31-year-old. Adams has missed the last two games with the Raiders due to a hamstring issue, but he's expected to be ready to play in Week 6 if he's traded by then. In three games this year, he has caught 18 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown. Moving out of Vegas and their ugly quarterback situation should be a plus for Adams' rest-of-season fantasy outlook. Stay tuned on this high-profile situation.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Oct 7 12:40pm CT
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said that quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) likely won't practice on Monday, but he expects the young signal-caller to return to his practice routine later in the week. Levis is "improving" and is better than he was after last Monday's win over the Miami Dolphins. The 25-year-old suffered a right AC-joint sprain in his throwing shoulder in Week 4. He was relieved by Mason Rudolph, who stayed in for the remainder of the game and led the team to an easy win over Miami. It sounds like Levis should have a chance to play in Week 6 against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts coming out of the bye week, but nothing is official as of right now. The Titans said last week that Levis remains their starting QB as long as he's healthy, but he could be on a short leash moving forward after leading the league with six interceptions through his first four games.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Oct 7 12:30pm CT
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed 15 of 27 pass attempts for 131 yards and two touchdowns while adding 27 rushing yards on six attempts in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Steelers' offense struggled in this one, but Fields was able to execute with some success in the second half. He found tight end Connor Heyward for a 16-yard score early in the third quarter and later hit Pat Freiermuth on a six-yard shovel pass for a touchdown that gave the team a 17-13 lead with less than five minutes to go in the fourth. Like his performance in Week 4, Fields' efforts to mount a comeback salvaged his fantasy output even though the Steelers came up short. Assuming he remains the starter, the 25-year-old will be a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 for fantasy purposes in Week 6 when he takes on the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Zack Moss Oct 7 12:30pm CT
Zack Moss

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (ankle) is believed to be OK after injuring his right ankle late in the Week 5 overtime loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, according to sources. Moss got twisted in an awkward way and had to leave the game late, but it looks like he dodged a bullet. The 26-year-old could very well be on the injury report this week, but he appears to have a good shot at playing in Week 6 versus the New York Giants on the road. In the 41-38 loss, Moss had a season-low-tying nine carries for only 24 yards while catching three of his four targets for 28 yards. Moss has found the end zone three times (two rushing, one receiving) in his first five games with the Bengals in 2024, but backfield mate Chase Brown has gotten more involved in recent weeks as the Bengals offense has come alive a bit. If active, he'll be an RB3/flex in fantasy in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Oct 7 12:30pm CT
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris handled 14 carries for 42 yards and hauled in both his targets for 35 yards in a Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Although the numbers don't necessarily reflect it, Harris was the focal point of Pittsburgh's offense on Sunday night. He managed to lead the team in receiving yards despite seeing just two opportunities in the passing game. His biggest play of the contest came on a screen pass from quarterback Justin Fields that resulted in a 20-yard gain. With Jaylen Warren (knee) inactive the past two weeks, Harris has seen the vast majority of touches in the Steelers' backfield but has been underwhelming from a fantasy perspective. The fourth-year pro will hope to turn things around against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Jones Oct 7 12:20pm CT
Aaron Jones

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (hip) left the Week 5 win over the New York Jets in London in the first half with a right-hip injury and is undergoing an MRI exam on Monday to determine the extent of his injury. Jones was ruled out pretty quickly after he departed Sunday's game. For what it's worthy, head coach Kevin O'Connell said after the game he thought Jones' injury would be a short-term one. And with the Vikings having a bye in Week 6, there's a good chance Minnesota will have Jones back for a Week 7 tilt with the division-rival Detroit Lions. Before getting hurt, the 29-year-old played 16 offensive snaps and had seven carries for 29 yards while adding a 24-yard catch. We'll keep a close eye on Jones' status coming out of the bye week, but if he's forced to miss additional time coming out of next week's bye, Ty Chandler figures to be in line for lead-back duties for the Vikings in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Oct 7 12:10pm CT
Rashee Rice

There remains hopes that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) could return this season and be sidelined six to eight weeks, according to league sources, but nothing will be determined until early this week once he has a procedure on his injured knee. Once the Chiefs have more clarity on Rice, they can move into action in terms of looking for a trade to help improve their receiving depth in the meantime. A trade makes even more sense with Marquise Brown (shoulder) lost for the year. KC explored signing DeAndre Hopkins in the 2023 offseason before he signed with the Tennessee Titans. Now that he's in the last year of his contract, the Titans could entertain offers for him. The Chiefs aren't expected to trade for Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams for a number of reasons, but they could reach out to the Jets if they land him to see if they'd be interested in moving one of their other wideouts.

From RotoBaller

Josh Allen Oct 7 12:10pm CT
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (head) explained that he was a little beat up in the Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Allen was shaken up on a play in the second half, and backup Mitchell Trubisky came into the game briefly. "Big shot to the chest. Rolled my ankle. They flagged me for hitting my head, but felt good enough to go back in," Allen said. The 28-year-old was quickly cleared for a concussion on the sideline and returned to the contest to finish just 9-for-30 passing for a season-low 131 yards and one touchdown. It's notable that he was without his top receiver in Khalil Shakir (ankle) in this one. Don't be surprised if Allen is on the Week 6 injury report, but he should be good to go for what will be another tough matchup against the division-rival New York Jets and their stout defense. Allen remains a must-start QB1 in fantasy, and the good news is he's yet to throw a pick in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Oct 7 11:36am CT
Diontae Johnson

Dynasty | Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson had three catches for 23 yards, adding six rushing yards in a loss against Chicago. Dynasty Analysis: This was a major buzzkill after Johnson had posted two monster games with Andy Dalton at the helm. Chicago took control of the game rather early and made life miserable for Dalton and the offense most of the day. Johnson should be much better moving forward, but this could open up a quick window to buy in dynasty leagues if you believe he's truly turning the corner.

Caleb Williams Oct 7 11:35am CT
Caleb Williams

Dynasty | Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams completed 20-of-29 passes for 304 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, adding 34 rushing yards in a win against Carolina. Dynasty Analysis: Here we go. After Jayden Daniels had really outshined Williams over the first month of the season, we finally saw what the Bears could have in Williams today. Sure, it was against Carolina. However, Williams was poised, controlled and accurate all day today. While we need to see him string together a few solid performances before anointing him as the next big thing, this was a huge step in the right direction today. Williams remains a solid hold in dynasty leagues.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Oct 7 11:35am CT
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

ynasty | Giants running back Tyrone Tracy had 129 rushing yards, one catch and one receiving yard in a win against Seattle. Dynasty Analysis: With Devin Singletary inactive, Tracy stepped up in a huge way. After posting just 29 rushing yards over the first month, Tracy finally showed what dynasty managers hoped to see after a solid off-season - a player who simply looks like a possible starter in fantasy and reality. While Singletary's job isn't in jeopardy, this performance is likely going to create a bit of a timeshare in New York moving forward. The chance to acquire Tracy on the cheap in dynasty leagues is now long gone.

Tucker Kraft Oct 7 11:35am CT
Tucker Kraft

Dynasty | Packers tight end Tucker Kraft had four catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Rams. Dynasty Analysis: Jordan Love is beginning to develop a reputation of spreading the ball around and Kraft was the beneficiary today as he made the most of his five targets. While this was by far his best game of the season, it also can't be ignored as it seems he's becoming a bigger part of the offense each and every week. He'll be a TE1/2 moving forward, though his floor remains pretty low.

Jake Ferguson Oct 7 10:30am CT
Jake Ferguson

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson strung together another solid fantasy day on Sunday night in the win over Pittsburgh. The third-year tight end corralled six of seven targets for 70 yards serving as quarterback Dak Prescott's security blanket. Both Brevyn Spann-Ford (three targets) and Luke Schoonmaker (two targets) mixed into the offense, but Ferguson's usage remained strong. The 25-year-old has not scored a touchdown yet this season but remains a no-brainer start at a shallow tight end position. He should be played in all lineups as a TE1 heading into next week's matchup with the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

Jabrill Peppers Oct 7 10:23am CT
Jabrill Peppers

New England Patriots S Jabrill Peppers was arrested Saturday, Oct. 5, on assault and cocaine possession charges. Peppers will be charged with assault and battery; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; strangulation; and possession of a Class 'B' substance believed to be cocaine, police said.

From TheHuddle

CeeDee Lamb Oct 7 10:20am CT
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb only touched the ball six times in Sunday night's 20-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lamb was targeted nine times, accounting for 22% of the team's targets, but only hauled in five receptions for 62 yards. He also rushed once for a two-yard gain. Without a touchdown, it was a disappointing fantasy outing for Lamb. The Cowboys' star receiver will look to bounce back next week against a pass-funnel Detroit defense. He now ranks ninth in the league in receiving yards (378) through the first five weeks of the season.

From RotoBaller

KaVontae Turpin Oct 7 10:20am CT
KaVontae Turpin

Dallas Cowboys receiver/return specialist KaVontae Turpin was involved in the offensive game plan in the Sunday night win over Pittsburgh. Turpin was targeted five times, catching four passes for 50 yards. He also rushed once for a six-yard loss. The 28-year-old is not on the fantasy radar at this time even with Brandin Cooks (knee) currently on the shelf. With Jalen Tolbert's breakout Sunday night game, Turpin is no higher than the fourth option in Dallas' passing attack even without Cooks in the lineup. His offensive usage is encouraging as an added dimension to Dallas' offense, but he has not seen consistent enough week-to-week work to be considered a fantasy option.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Oct 7 10:10am CT
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle carried the load on the ground on Sunday night in the last-minute 20-17 win over Pittsburgh. Dowdle rushed 20 times for 87 yards while also securing both targets for 27 yards and a touchdown. The 26-year-old has emerged as the lead running back in Dallas over the past two weeks and is now safely in the RB2 discussion solely based on workload. Dowdle should be rostered in all leagues going forward and is an RB2/Flex play weekly depending on the matchup. Next week could be a setback against a stout Detroit run defense, but Dowdle appears to have taken the backfield over from Ezekiel Elliott.

From RotoBaller

Ezekiel Elliott Oct 7 10:10am CT
Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott continued to see his workload decline on Sunday night. The veteran rushed just six times for 17 yards as opposed to Rico Dowdle's 22 touches. Elliott has been phased out of the running game over the past two weeks and is now firmly off of the fantasy radar. The 29-year-old is valuable in pass protection, but cannot be counted on in fantasy due to his lack of volume. He does not need to be rostered in most formats, as he would only be startable should Dowdle miss time. Feel free to cut ties prior to a tough Week 6 matchup with the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Tolbert Oct 7 10:10am CT
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys third-year receiver Jalen Tolbert had the best game of his young career on Sunday night in the win over Pittsburgh. Tolbert led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. He caught seven of 10 targets for 87 yards and a touchdown. The 25-year-old's touchdown came at the most opportune time, as he hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dak Prescott with just 20 seconds remaining on the clock to take a 20-17 lead. Playing in a full-time role with Brandin Cooks (knee) sidelined, Tolbert showed that he is capable of high-end production as Dallas' number two receiver. He should be rostered as a depth option in most formats heading into Week 6's matchup with the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Oct 7 10:00am CT
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott overcame an up-and-down game by marching down the field on a 15-play, 70-yard drive in 4:36 to topple the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-17 on Sunday night. Prescott found wide receiver Jalen Tolbert in the end zone from four yards out, connecting with just twenty seconds on the clock to win the game. The veteran quarterback completed 29-of-42 passes for 352 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also scrambled once for a gain of three yards. Despite the tough matchup and the stormy weather conditions, Prescott had a solid fantasy day. He will remain in QB1 territory heading into next week's matchup with the Detroit Lions.

From RotoBaller