As expected, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ankle) was removed from the final Week 5 injury report on Friday after he put in a second straight limited practice. Johnson was given a DNP in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, but the Panthers all along expected him to play this Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The 28-year-old needs to be locked into all starting fantasy lineups despite the tough matchup against Chicago's defense on the road. In two games since quarterback Andy Dalton took over for Bryce Young under center, Johnson has caught 15 of his 27 targets for 205 yards and two touchdowns. High volume should be expected yet again with Adam Thielen (hamstring) still on Injured Reserve.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (illness) missed some practice time this week while being under the weather, but he was removed from the final Week 5 injury report on Friday and will suit up on Sunday at Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears. The 27-year-old was able to practice in full on Friday after missing the sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. Especially against a stout defense on the road, fantasy managers should have better flex options at the RB position than Sanders in Week 5. Through the first four weeks as the backup to starter Chuba Hubbard, Sanders has 25 carries for 91 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and has found the end zone once, adding eight catches for 32 yards. His fantasy stock is going to plummet even further once rookie RB Jonathon Brooks (knee) comes off the Non-Football Injury list soon to make his NFL debut.

From RotoBaller

The Dallas Cowboys' defense has had a very up-and-down season through the first month. They looked like the unit we were all used to a season ago in Week 1 against Cleveland, but quickly fell off a cliff for Weeks 2 and 3. Week 4 against the Giants was no tough test, and now Dallas will face a conservative Pittsburgh Steelers offense in Week 5. Quarterback Justin Fields has been on a hot streak, accounting for six touchdowns and one turnover in the past three games. There are better streaming options available this week. Dallas is a fringe startable unit, but check free agency first for a better option against a weaker offensive unit.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has been one of the few consistent tight end options this season. With Brandin Cooks (knee) ruled out for Sunday night's game in Pittsburgh, Ferguson should figure to see a consistent target share again. Ferguson has seen 21.6% of passes come his way when in the lineup this season, accounting for the second-highest percentage of targets on the team behind only CeeDee Lamb. The 25-year-old should be thrown into lineups this weekend in all formats despite going up against a tough Pittsburgh secondary. Dallas has leaned on the passing game and should continue to do so in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has been the top option at his position this season. The Cowboys play in Pittsburgh on Sunday night in what could be a lower-scoring game. Despite the tough matchup, Aubrey should remain in all lineups. The number one kicker in fantasy cannot be cut from rosters, forcing him into lineups in a tough matchup. Downgrade expectations for Aubrey this week, although he still remains a top-three option at the position.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (groin) was ruled out for Sunday's game, according to JP Finlay of 1067 The Fan. Brown participated in Wednesday's practice in a limited fashion but was unable to practice on Thursday, which suggests the injury was more severe than previously expected. The 28-year-old has begun to emerge as the No.2 wideout opposite of Terry McLaurin, as he has caught three passes in every game and saw a season-high four targets last week. Through this stretch, Brown has averaged 37 yards each game. Fantasy managers should expect Terry McLaurin, tight end Zach Ertz, and running back Austin Ekeler to see a slight uptick in targets with Brown sitting out. Third-round pick Luke McCaffrey could also see an increase in playing time along with Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown and are worth a look as a flex option in 14+ team leagues.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb remains one of the top fantasy options at the position going into Sunday night's matchup with Pittsburgh. Despite a road matchup in a tough nighttime environment against the eighth-best secondary against opposing receivers, Lamb remains a no-brainer start due to his high volume share and unlimited fantasy ceiling. With Brandin Cooks (knee) ruled out for the game and Rico Dowdle (wrist) banged up, even more work should go Lamb's way in prime time. The 25-year-old is one of the few matchup-proof players in fantasy and should be started in all formats this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) was seen at Friday's practice, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. Standig noted that the portion of practice that was open to the media was very brief and did not provide much clarity on his status heading into Sunday. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the injury report later on Friday afternoon as the Alabama product will likely carry a designation into the weekend as he did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. The 25-year-old has enjoyed an excellent start to the season as he has found the end zone in all but one game and eclipsed 100 yards in two of them. If Robinson suits up, he should be viewed as a high-end RB2. If he is unable to play, fantasy managers should lock Austin Ekeler into their lineup, as he should be expected to see a significant uptick in opportunities.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert should see an expanded role on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brandin Cooks (knee) has been ruled out, opening up an every-down role for the 25-year-old. Tolbert has 13 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown through four games. He recorded a season-high nine targets and 82 yards against Baltimore in Week 3. While Pittsburgh's secondary (8th against opposing receivers) is no easy matchup, Dallas has gotten little production out of their rushing attack this season and has been forced to lean on the pass. Tolbert should see targets on Sunday, making him a flex candidate with many bye weeks and injuries limiting available options.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) was officially cleared to play on Sunday, according to JP Finlay of 1067 The Fan. Ekeler logged a full practice on Thursday and will now return to game action this weekend. The former Charger suffered a concussion in Week 3 and was unable to suit up last weekend. Through his first three games as a Commander, Ekeler has taken the backseat to Brian Robinson Jr. as he has typically been deployed in passing situations. The 29-year-old has tallied at least 22 receiving yards in every game, with a high of 52 in Week 1. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Brian Robinson Jr.'s status heading into the weekend, as he has been dealing with a knee injury throughout the week. If Robinson were to miss Sunday's game, Ekeler should see an uptick in work and be viewed as a solid RB2 with upside.

From RotoBaller

The Miami Dolphins defense/special teams is one of the more intriguing plays in Week 5 when they face the New England Patriots on the road. Miami's defensive unit has allowed the seventh-most points per game in the league this year (25.8) but is averaging just the sixth-fewest yards per game to opposing offenses (282.0). Conversely, New England's offense ranks at the bottom of the league in total offense per contest (238.8) and second-to-last in scoring (13.0 PPG). The Dolphins will be missing linebacker Jaelan Phillips (knee) for the rest of the season and could be down safety Jordan Poyer (shin) after he was forced from their 31-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans. However, the Fins have recorded an interception in back-to-back outings and three sacks in 2-of-4 contests thus far. They're RotoBaller's DST8 for this week's rankings.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has strung together back-to-back QB1 fantasy performances, but the same should not be expected from the veteran heading into Sunday night's matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh has the sixth-best defense against opposing quarterbacks through the season's first month, creating a tough matchup for the Cowboys' signal caller. Brandin Cooks (knee) has also been ruled out, leaving Prescott with fewer options in the passing game than usual. Prescott is still playable, but beware that both his ceiling and floor will be more limited than usual. Consider sitting the 31-year-old in one quarterback leagues.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz enters Week 5 against Buffalo coming off his most productive game of the season, albeit for just three catches and 34 receiving yards. The veteran tight end is still playing a ton of snaps for Houston nearly 84% but he hasn't been the pass-catching option fantasy managers had hoped thus far. However, Buffalo blitzes less than any team in the league and Houston's backfield has been impacted by injuries, possibly opening the door for a higher volume of short-yardage throws that could benefit a tight end. Still, Schultz has been tough to trust in a Texans offense with many mouths to feed.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (concussion) is "good to go" for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, according to Dani Sureck of the Arizona Cardinals. McBride suffered a concussion during their Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions and was held out of last weekend's game. During the first three weeks of the campaign, McBride has seen at least six targets his way in every game, with a high of nine in the opening week. The tight end has caught at least five passes in two games and averaged 40.7 yards in each game. Fantasy managers should confidently lock the 24-year-old into their lineup this weekend as a high-end TE1 despite facing a tough San Francisco defense.

From RotoBaller

With his former Buffalo Bills teammates visiting this week, Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs continues to be a solid WR2 play. The 30-year-old has allayed concerns about his usage on a new team by playing 81% of snaps, drawing more than eight targets per game, and putting up three top-20 finishes in four weeks. The Bills' pass defense ranks first against fantasy wide receivers thus far, but Diggs and fellow wideout Nico Collins are drawing so much volume each week that they still belong in starting lineups. And if you're a believer in revenge games, the former Bill is definitely looking for a big performance on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

The Buffalo Bills have been awfully tough on pass catchers in 2024, but Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins remains in elite territory as the two sides prepare to clash in Week 5. The 25-year-old receiver looks to be entering his prime with a capable supporting cast, and the early returns have been excellent. Collins leads the NFL in receiving yardage and is drawing 10.8 targets per game. Buffalo has allowed the third-fewest air yards in the NFL and ranks No. 1 against fantasy wide receivers, though Collins has produced against everybody he has played in 2024. Until that changes, the Michigan product should be valued as a WR1 in any format.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud faces a marquee game on Sunday with the Buffalo Bills in town. The quarterback's sophomore campaign is off to a solid start: he already has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, he has a 3:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and the Texans are 3-1. Next up is a steady Bills defense that has blitzed less than any team in the NFL and allowed the third-fewest air yards. Stroud and the Texans can expect to see a lot of coverage-heavy looks against the Bills, especially with running back Joe Mixon (ankle) unlikely to see the field. Even so, the second-year quarterback is at the helm of a dangerous offense, making him a safe QB1 play in this matchup.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary (groin) will practice on Friday, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. This is a great sign as Singletary did not practice earlier this week. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status during Friday's practice as it should provide clarity on his availability for Sunday's game. Through his first four games as a New York Giant, the 27-year-old has logged at least 40 snaps in every game and has been deployed as a three-down back. He has seen double-digit rushing attempts in every game and received at least four targets in two out of the four games. If the former Buffalo Bill is able to suit up, he should be viewed as a low-end RB2. If not, rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. is worth considering as an upside flex option in deeper formats.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) could play this weekend, according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. Wolfe noted that this will be determined following Friday's practice session. Mostert has been sidelined since Week 1 with a chest injury he suffered in the season opener. In that game, the veteran running back saw six carries and two targets. During this week, Mostert was able to log two consecutive limited practice sessions, which suggests he could be nearing a return. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Friday's injury report, as it should provide clarity on his status heading into the weekend. If Mostert is able to suit up, he should be viewed as a flex option facing the New England Patriots, who have allowed the 18th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders will not be a recommended fantasy option in Week 5 when his team takes on the New England Patriots in Foxborough. Sanders has missed just two field goals on the season and has yet to miss an extra point attempt in four contests. However, scoring opportunities have been challenging to come by, with Miami punching in just three touchdowns through the first month of games. This offense continues to trend negatively until quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) returns. Despite the 28-year-old's trademark accuracy, fantasy managers may want to aim elsewhere for a more consistent kicking option that garners a higher floor and ceiling regarding weekly output. The former seventh-round pick is RotoBaller's K28 in this Week's rankings.

From RotoBaller