Player News

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (toe) was not spotted at Wednesday's practice and is reportedly dealing with a toe injury, according to Colts reporter Nate Atkins. The second-year pass-catcher out of North Carolina missed the first two games of the 2024 campaign with an ankle injury but has heated up in his last two contests with Joe Flacco at quarterback. He posted at least 15.9 PPR points against the Steelers and Jaguars. Downs' status is worth monitoring for the rest of the week, but the Colts are set to face the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts this season. No wide receiver has eclipsed 67 yards or caught a touchdown against Tennessee's revamped secondary. If Anthony Richardson (oblique) starts on Sunday, all of the Colts' pass-catchers have lower ceilings and floors in fantasy football.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell will start against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. Veteran Gardner Minshew has struggled as the team's starter, passing for 1,014 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions in five games. The Raiders are out to a 2-3 start and are rumored to be looking to trade All-Pro wideout Davante Adams (hamstring), so things are turning south in the Sin City quickly. O'Connell is now a must-add option in two-QB or Superflex leagues, but it would be surprising if he performs well enough to become a viable starter in single-QB formats. Without Adams, the Las Vegas skill group featuring Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, and Brock Bowers is decent, but it's a bottom-half supporting cast in the NFL. O'Connell played in 11 games last year and posted 2,218 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (calf) did not practice on Wednesday due to a calf injury, according to Patriots beat reporter Taylor Kyles. The 26-year-old didn't appear to be injured following the Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins, but nonetheless, his status is now worth monitoring. Last week, head coach Jerod Mayo said the team would start Antonio Gibson at running back following Stevenson's four fumbles in four games, but Stevenson still led the team in touches and rushed 12 times for 89 yards and a touchdown. He should continue to be viewed as the RB1 in New England, but if he can't play on Sunday, Gibson will become an attractive RB2 option. New England faces a Houston Texans' defense that has allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season, but the former Washington Commanders' ball carrier could see 20-plus touches and be leaned on in rookie quarterback Drake Maye's first start. If Stevenson plays, he's a solid RB2 option.

The Arizona Cardinals released wide receiver Chris Moore on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. This move comes after veteran wideout Zay Jones was reinstated from his five-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Moore entered the NFL in 2016 with the Baltimore Ravens and has played in games for the Ravens, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans. He did not earn a target or catch a pass for the Cardinals this season. Overall, the 31-year-old has caught 138 passes for 1,710 yards, and eight touchdowns in 106 career games. Another franchise might be interested in signing him, but it would be a surprise if he ends up on the fantasy football radar this season.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (shoulder) exited the Week 5 game against the Chicago Bears with a shoulder injury, but he is practicing on Wednesday to begin Week 6 preparation. The rookie first-round pick out of South Carolina had the best performance of his career in Week 4, catching six of his 10 targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. Carolina's offense looked strong under quarterback Andy Dalton against the Raiders and Bengals before being held to just 10 points in the blowout loss to Chicago. If Legette can suit up on Sunday, he'll face an Atlanta Falcons defense that has surrendered the 12th-most fantasy points per game to wideouts. With Adam Thielen (hamstring) on the Injured Reserve list, Legette is a fine flex option, but he has a WR4/WR5 outlook.UPDATE: Legette practiced in full on Wednesday.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) is expected to practice on Wednesday after suffering a knee injury in the Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders. The former first-round pick out of Miami worked his way back from a high-ankle sprain to return to the Cleveland lineup but exited Sunday's contest early. However, the Browns just released reserve tight end Blake Whiteheart, an indication that Njoku might be ready to play in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Whether Njoku plays in Week 6 or not, he's likely to be somewhat limited by his two lower-body injuries, and the Eagles have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. He still might be worth starting given the scarcity of the tight end position, but his floor and ceiling are low in Deshaun Watson's putrid passing offense.

Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman (ankle) is not practicing on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. The veteran rushed for a season-high 44 yards and caught one pass for 16 yards in the Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders. He evidently got dinged up. While Foreman is not high on the fantasy football radar, his injury status is notable because Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb (knee) has a chance to return in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time since his brutal knee injury a season ago. Whenever Chubb returns, Foreman could be phased out of the offense, but he might keep a small role while Chubb ramps up to a significant workload. Either way, the Browns' offense and offensive line have struggled mightily to begin the season, so Foreman offers very little upside.

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) returned to practice last week for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in last year's Week 2 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The four-time Pro Bowler missed all of training camp and began the regular season on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. He was eligible to return in Week 5, but he did not. On the prospect of activating Chubb to the active roster to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, head coach Kevin Stefanski was non-committal, but he did not rule it out. "Anything is possible," Stefanski said. "But I don't want to get too far beyond today." This is clearly a situation worth monitoring, as it sounds like there is at least an outside chance Chubb could suit up on Sunday. Even if Chubb makes his 2024 debut in Week 6, expectations should be tempered. The team will likely ease him into action and split backfield work between Chubb, Jerome Ford, and D'Onta Foreman (ankle), so unless you're in a tough spot at running back, he can be left on the bench until we see what he looks like.

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) is not practicing to begin the week on Wednesday. On Monday, head coach DeMeco Ryans said the team still does not know exactly when Mixon will be able to return after he sprained his ankle in the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears. And now that Mixon has picked up another DNP to begin the week, his status for the Week 6 game against the New England Patriots is firmly up in the air. The good news is the 28-year-old has made some progress, but he still needs to get back on the practice field to have any shot at playing this Sunday. Dameon Pierce (hamstring) hasn't played since the season opener, leaving Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale as Houston's primary backfield options each of the last three weeks. Fantasy managers won't have a clearer picture on the Texans' backfield until later this week.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that wide receivers Khalil Shakir (ankle) and Curtis Samuel (foot, toe) will not practice on Wednesday. Samuel's injuries were suffered in the Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, while Shakir was inactive for that game after being hurt the week prior. Shakir is the bigger name to follow for fantasy purposes. The 24-year-old didn't practice at all last week before being inactive, and another DNP to kick off the week isn't a great sign for his availability in Week 6, especially with a matchup against the division-rival New York Jets upcoming on Monday night. Buffalo's offense struggled without quarterback Josh Allen's top target available. Allen spread the ball around to rookie Keon Coleman, Mack Hollins, Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Shakir's fantasy outlook remains very cloud this week, and if he does end up playing, he's eyeing a tough matchup against Jets corner Sauce Gardner.