The Chicago Bears' running back, D'Andre Swift, is a borderline RB3 for Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, which offers a favorable opportunity. Swift has expressed his frustration with the Bears' struggling run game, stating, "It's high," after a Week 3 loss to the Colts. Last week, he saw a season-low 53% of the snaps, managing just 15 touches for a modest total of 42 yards. With backups Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert getting more playing time, it is getting harder to keep starting Swift. With the Bears ranking 31st in yards per game and yards per attempt, there's nowhere to go but up. Swift is averaging only 1.8 yards per carry and 1.7 yards after contact, highlighting the difficulties faced by both him and the offensive line this season. However, Sunday's game against a Rams defense that ranks 25th against the run could be a turning point. The Bears missed a chance for a breakout performance against the Colts, raising concerns about Shane Waldron's run scheme and its adaptability to the players available. Given that the Rams are a favorable matchup for running backs, Swift has the potential to emerge from his slump and provide flex-level production. The Rams have the fourth-lowest stuff rate, allow the 12th-highest yards after contact per attempt, and rank among the top for rushing success rate and total rushing yards allowed. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues or larger can approach this matchup with cautious optimism.

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had another tough outing in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts. He managed just 20 yards on 13 carries, resulting in a zero percent success rate and two receptions for 22 yards. In contrast, the Green Bay Packers dominated the Colts' defense in Week 2, effectively running the ball to support backup quarterback Malik Willis. The Bears had hoped to replicate that success on Sunday but struggled against the Colts' weak rushing defense. Their plan to rely on the run game to help quarterback Caleb Williams find his rhythm quickly fell apart due to their inability to gain ground. As a result, Williams threw a staggering 52 times during the game. It also seemed the Bears intended to give more work to Roschon Johnson, who outperformed Khalil Herbert, rushing for 30 yards on eight carries compared to Herbert's nine yards on four carries. Johnson also led all running backs with four receptions for 32 yards. With poor offensive line play and the increased usage of his backups, it's becoming increasingly difficult to justify starting Swift in fantasy lineups.

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift is a viable Flex/RB3 option for Sunday's matchup against the struggling Indianapolis Colts, who have had a tough time defending against running backs this season. The Colts currently allow a league-worst average of 237 rushing yards per game. While the Packers' offense had limited success in the air against the Colts, they dominated on the ground, with Josh Jacobs rushing for 151 yards on 32 carries. Additionally, the Colts recently placed star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) on injured reserve, sidelining him for the next four weeks. Swift has averaged under three yards per carry this season, accumulating just 48 rushing yards across two games. If the Bears capitalize on Indianapolis's weak run defense, it could provide the spark needed to rejuvenate their offense. The silver lining for Swift is his significant early-season usage, with 67% of the snaps, 62% of the carries, 59% route participation, and an 11% target share. However, the Bears' offense has struggled overall, as Swift averages only 2.0 yards per carry on 24 rushes. He needs to elevate his performance to help the Bears gain momentum. Chicago must emphasize the run game through Swift, Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, or Velus Jones Jr. If the offensive line fails to create holes against the league's worst run-stopping defense, it could indicate more severe issues up front than previously thought.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (concussion) will not play this Sunday due to a concussion. The 25-year-old took a hard helmet-to-helmet hit during last weekend's game and will need at least another week to recover from his injury. However, fantasy managers could expect the Alabama product to potentially return in his next game in Week 6 as the Eagles are off next weekend. This weekend, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson should continue to see an increased role in this offense, while No.1 wideout A.J. Brown (hamstring) remains questionable for Sunday's game. Smith has performed very well in the revamped Kellen Moore passing attack this season, averaging 17.0 PPR points per game.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (concussion) was not seen at the portion of Friday's practice open to the media. Smith also didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday, so he's trending towards being ruled out for the Week 4 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday after suffering a concussion on a cheap shot in the Week 3 win over the New Orleans Saints. Fantasy managers will want to check back for the 25-year-old's official status later in the day, but there's a good chance they won't have him available this weekend. A.J. Brown (hamstring) returned to practice on Friday after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but it's still unknown if he'll play against Tampa. If both Brown and Smith are unable to go, tight end Dallas Goedert could be in line for another monster game.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers DeVonta Smith (concussion) and A.J. Brown (hamstring) are both absent from practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with a concussion and hamstring injury, respectively. It's not looking for the star wide receiver duo heading into the Week 4 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, fantasy managers should monitor their practice statuses on Friday and see how the team officially lists them for Sunday. If both are out, young wideouts Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson figure to be in elevated roles, but tight end Dallas Goedert should be the No. 1 option in the passing attack.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) will miss his third straight game as he will not suit up this weekend when the Browns face the Las Vegas Raiders. The tight end suffered a high-ankle sprain in the season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys and has remained sidelined since. However, the 28-year-old returned to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday but is still not cleared to return to game action. Fantasy managers should monitor Njoku's status before their Week 5 match against the Washington Commanders. Fantasy managers should expect Jordan Akins to serve as the lead tight end again on Sunday. He could be a viable play in deeper formats, as he caught four of his seven targets last week.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) was back on the practice field on Thursday. This is a welcoming sight as this was Njoku's first practice since September 6. It still remains unclear if Njoku will suit up for the Week 4 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Friday's practice session should go a long way to determining whether or not Njoku plays. There's a chance that Njoku is on a snap count considering he hasn't played since Week 1. If healthy, Njoku should be a low-end TE1 against a Raiders defense that has struggled to slow down the tight end this season.

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) remains out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Njoku suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and has missed the last two games as a result. With a DNP to open the week, he's off on the wrong foot in terms of returning to play in Week 4 versus the Las Vegas Raiders. Njoku will need to get on the practice field later this week to at least give himself a chance to return. As things stand right now, fantasy managers should be planning to go in another direction for their starting TE spot. In the last two contests with Njoku sidelined, Jordan Akins has been Cleveland's top pass-catching TE but has produced just five receptions on eight targets for 39 receiving yards. If Njoku misses his third straight game, Akins will be a TE2 sleeper play, at best.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. This comes as little surprise given the fact that Warren hasn't practiced all week due to a knee injury. He underwent an MRI last week, but the team hasn't given much information surrounding the injury. Najee Harris remains a lead back in Pittsburgh and figures to see an increased workload with Warren unavailable. Also, veteran Cordarrelle Patterson will likely end up being the primary backup to Harris this weekend. Patterson probably won't see enough time on the field to warrant using in any fantasy formats.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) missed a second consecutive practice on Thursday. Now, less than three days until Pittsburgh's Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts, it looks like Warren is trending toward being inactive, though Friday's injury report should provide more context surrounding his status. If he is indeed sidelined, Najee Harris would see a few more opportunities in his existing role as the Steelers' No. 1 running back. Such a situation would also lead to additional volume for veteran Cordarrelle Patterson, who becomes a low-end RB3/FLEX play in leagues with 14 teams or more.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (knee) was a non-participant in the team's first practice of the week. It's not exactly a surprise after head coach Mike Tomlin reported Tuesday that he's "unsure" whether Warren would suit up for their Week 4 matchup. The news comes after the 25-year-old was scheduled for an MRI on his ailing knee on Monday. Presumably, he picked up the injury during Pittsburgh's 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. However, exactly when it occurred is unknown. Tomlin is the one who pulled the former undrafted free agent from the contest and remarked on him during his post-game presser, stating, "It didn't look like he was running smoothly." The Oklahoma State product has been vastly out-touched by his counterpart Najee Harris thus far, and the latter should expect an increased workload this Sunday when the team heads to Indianapolis with Cordarrelle Patterson to mix in as the primary change-of-pace back.

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle tallied a season-high 46 yards on 11 carries and added 15 yards and a score on one catch in Thursday's victory over the New York Giants. Dowdle found the end zone for the first time this season on a screen pass just inside the red zone. Dowdle was also given a majority of the running back snaps on Thursday as he saw 24 compared to Ezekiel Elliott's nine. Elliott saw only five attempts and tallied just 19 yards. Both running backs typically split opportunities over the opening games of the season, but it looks like Dowdle is beginning to establish himself as the leader of this backfield. Despite his modest output on the ground, fantasy managers should still view Dowdle as an RB3/flex play with upside heading into Week 5.

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle saw 50% of rush attempts and a 10% target share in Week 3's loss to Baltimore. Dowdle's increased usage is encouraging for the future of his fantasy viability, but firing him up into starting lineups for Week 4 may be too early. While Thursday's matchup with the Giants is not ugly on paper, expect Dallas to continue to lean on the passing game. Dowdle will need a touchdown in order to pay off for fantasy purposes, and he has yet to score one in 2024. The 26-year-old is a low-end RB3 option this week.

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle saw the bulk of the backfield work in Week 3's loss to Baltimore. Dowdle rushed eight times for 32 yards, accounting for 62% of the team's rushing yards. He was targeted five times in the heavy-volume passing attack, catching three passes for 24 yards. Dowdle outplayed Ezekiel Elliott in the loss, although both backs will likely see similar usage moving forward. The Cowboys have a short week, as they take on the New York Giants on Thursday.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was the Packers' most consistent yardage producer in Green Bay's comeback attempt against the Minnesota Vikings, falling short 31-29. On the afternoon, Reed led the Packers in receptions (7) and receiving yards (139) as the returning Jordan Love led the Packers with the passing game as he had a whopping 54 pass attempts in Week 4. Reed also found the end zone with the 15-yard strike from Love to kick off the scoring for the Packers. With only one rushing attempt on the afternoon, Reed earned just two yards. The Green Bay Packers head west in Week 5 as they head to Los Angeles for a late-afternoon matchup with the Rams. Reed should be considered a mid-range WR2 for fantasy purposes in that matchup.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (calf/quad) is off of the injury report following a full practice session on Friday and he should be plenty involved in Week 4 as the Packers head home to face the Minnesota Vikings. Reed has been the top fantasy option amongst the Packers' pass-catchers, even with Malik Willis at quarterback. Averaging 30 rushing yards per game this season in addition to his receiving workload, Reed has been a versatile option for fantasy managers as he's stuck in lineups with Willis starting. The Packers may get Jordan Love (knee) back under center, which would universally help the entire offensive ecosystem with ceiling and floor for fantasy purposes. Trust Reed as a low-end WR2 this week even in a tough matchup against the Vikings.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (calf, quad) logged his second consecutive limited practice on Thursday. His status for Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings is still in the air, but perhaps Friday's injury report will be able to provide additional context. Reed has produced mixed results over the last two weeks but will trend upward if quarterback Jordan Love (knee) is able to return on Sunday. When Reed and Love last played together in Week 1, the young receiver broke free for 158 rushing yards, 33 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns. Reed ranks a WR3/FLEX if he plays this weekend, and he would jump to the WR2 tier if Love is also active.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper caught four of his eight targets for 35 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. Cooper could have had a much bigger afternoon but he had an 82-yard touchdown catch wiped away thanks to a holding penalty on center Nick Harris. As has been the case multiple times this season, Cooper also committed another tough drop, this time allowing an on-target pass to slip through his hands into a defender's for an interception. Cooper now has 16 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns through four games. Despite struggling in three of his four games in 2024, Cooper will be a strong fantasy play against a weak Washington Commanders secondary in Week 5.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper shook off a slow start to the season to catch two touchdowns in a Week 3 loss to the New York Giants. Cooper will look to do more damage in a road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. The Raiders have been generous to fantasy wideouts in 2024, allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to the position thus far. Cooper has been pretty boom/bust in this current iteration of the Cleveland offense but the matchup is good and he remains the No. 1 option in the passing attack for the Browns. Treat Cooper as a low-end WR2 heading into Week 4 against Las Vegas.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper wasn't included on the team's first injury report of the week after practicing in full on Wednesday. Cooper appeared to injure his hip on the final play of the Week 3 loss to the New York Giants but appears fine heading into a Week 4 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders on the road. The 30-year-old veteran needs to be locked into all starting fantasy lineups this week against a Raiders defense that was just picked apart by Carolina Panthers veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Cooper had only five catches for 27 yards in the first two weeks of 2024 before breaking out for seven receptions (12 targets) for 86 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the G-Men. Despite the Browns offense looking lackluster so far, there's no question that Cooper remains quarterback Deshaun Watson's top target.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has been ruled out for the Week 4 contest on Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Mayer didn't practice due to a personal matter on Thursday and now will not be with the team at all this weekend. Top receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has also been ruled out, so Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker now figure to be quarterback Gardner Minshew II's top targets in the passing game, as well as rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Harrison Bryant should have a bigger role behind Bowers with Mayer out, but he remains off the fantasy radar. Tucker is worth consideration as a WR4/flex play in deeper fantasy leagues with Adams officially out. It's unclear how long Mayer will be away from the team. The 23-year-old former second-rounder has taken a clear back seat to Bowers and has four catches for 21 yards through three games in 2024.