DFS Alerts
Wendell Smallwood (knee) didn't practice Wednesday
Smallwood is dealing with a knee injury, the extent of which is unknown at this time. He’ll be a player to monitor this week as LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement would see increased workloads if Smallwood is sidelined. Clement picked up ten carries last week and turned them into 30 yards and would likely serve as the RB2. Blount turned in his best game of the season last week, racking up 136 rushing yards on 16 carries. Although he’d see an elevated workload if Smallwood misses, he’d have a tougher matchup with the Cardinals. In Week 4, they played the Chargers, whose rush defense ranks 29th in adjusted line yards per carry (5.36, per FO) whereas their Week 5 opponent, Arizona, ranks fourth in the metric (2.99) and have given up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to RBs this season.
Other tagged players: LeGarrette Blount, Corey Clement
Kenny Britt (knee, groin) didn't practice Wednesday
He missed last Wednesday with the same knee injury and still played on Sunday. If he can get back on the field tomorrow, he’ll be on track to suit up again in Week 5. Coach Hue Jackson continues to be unhappy with the receiver though; he could begin to lose some snaps and can’t really be trusted in fantasy at this point. It’s possible they use the new groin injury as an excuse to give him the week off. Jackson said “we’ll see” when discussing Britt’s Week 5 status. On the positive side, he thinks DT Danny Shelton can return this week after missing Week 4 with a calf injury and missing practice today.
Raiders "optimistic" Michael Crabtree (chest) can return Week 5
The quote comes from coach Jack Del Rio. Crabtree will return to a tough spot against one of the best secondaries in the game if he’s able to play Baltimore this weekend. On top of that, quarterback Derek Carr has been ruled out, leaving E.J. Manuel under center. Across 17 career starts, the backup QB has never thrown for 300 yards or three touchdowns. He’s been held under 200 yards in six of those starts and has thrown multiple scores in just five. The Ravens pass defense currently ranks second in pass DVOA – third against WR2s specifically – and they’ve limited opposing quarterbacks to the lowest passer rating (63.1) and second-lowest completion percentage (54.4). Even if he plays, Crabtree doesn’t look like a very appealing fantasy target this week.
Kenny Golladay (hamstring) isn't practicing Wednesday
The receiver was inactive this past Sunday due to a hamstring injury and he’s not ready to return. If he can’t get out there by Friday, he’ll likely miss another game. T.J Jones operated as the third receiver in his absence and would resume those duties against the Panthers this weekend. He could see corner Daryl Worley a bunch if Worley can make his return. The Panthers CB has given up a 116.7 passer rating and a 12/95/2 line on 18 targets (per PFF).
Ty Montgomery (ribs), Jamaal Williams (knee), Davante Adams (concussion), and several other notable Packers are practicing Wednesday
Tackles David Bakhtiari (hamstring) and Bryan Bulaga (ankle) were out on the field along with CBs Davon House (hamstring) and Damarious Randall. As noted by Tom Silverstein, the Packers don’t practice with pads on Wednesdays, so we’ll have to see how many of these guys participate tomorrow in order to get a better sense of their Week 5 playing status. Montgomery and Williams have both claimed they’ll be able to play this weekend but both seem very questionable given their injuries. If neither can go, Aaron Jones will be a popular fantasy option. Adams is in the concussion protocol but had a few extra days to recover with their last game being played on Thursday. Randall was benched in the second half of that contest and he may lose his role in the secondary going forward.
Other tagged players: Jamaal Williams This QB Set To Gallop
Let me start by stating that this is clearly a GPP only type of play but it’s one that as I think about it more I like even better. Hoyer and the 49ers will face one of the worst teams in the league this week in the Colts – a game that I think is very sneaky to target as it has high shootout upside. I am not that interested in the Colts side but I do like the potential the 49ers present. My guess is most people will flock to Carlos Hyde (with good reason) as the Colts are 22nd against the run and have faced only one team with a legitimate running back. With ownership going to Hyde and people uncomfortable with Hoyer, you’ll get a guy at minimum price and no ownership while having real upside. He has been airing it out this season as he averages 37 pass attempts per game. While the results have not been there as of yet, he did exhibit some of that upside with a 30 fpt outing in week three and he’s shown that potential over the past few years with some pedestrian offenses. If he is able to hit that 40 pass mark against a Colts defense that is 26th against the pass (and are actually worse than that), I bet he’ll put up a 20 to 30 fpt game. It is not a safe play, definitely not a sure thing, but at his price and projected ownership, Hoyer is firmly in play! A good game stack would include Hyde or one of his receivers (Garcon, Trent, or Aldrick) with Hilton from the Colts side. I’m looking to play 15 to 20% of Hoyer this week and you should as well!
Browns DE Myles Garrett expected to play Week 5
Garrett hasn’t been able to play yet this season after suffering an ankle sprain in practice. He should be out their for Cleveland’s Week 5 matchup with the Jets and presents an upgrade for their pass rush. New York’s offensive line ranks 20th in pass-blocking efficiency (per PFF) and has been charged with the fourth-most sacks this season (9).
Matt Forte (toe) isn't practicing Wednesday
The running back is still battling turf toe and could miss another week. With Forte sidelined, Bilal Powell went off for 190 yards and a touchdown on 25 touches. RB3 Elijah McGuire got in on the fun too, racking up 138 yards and a score against a Jacksonville defense that now ranks 32nd in rush DVOA. If Forte is out again this week, they’ll have a tougher matchup with the Browns, whose defense has been surprisingly efficient against the rush, ranking sixth in DVOA and third in adjusted line yards per carry (2.93). Cleveland is setting up to be a pass-funnel defense as they’re 30th in pass DVOA and 25th against receiving running backs. Fortunately, Powell is plenty capable of producing through the air and he could still do some damage this weekend in the featured role. His price has jumped $1.6k on DraftKings but he’ll still have appeal on the full PPR site at $6.2k and should see reduced ownership in tournaments due to the price bump.
Other tagged players: Bilal Powell Tyler Eifert, John Ross, and C.J. Uzomah aren't practicing Wednesday
Eifert isn’t expected to return this week and tight end Ryan Hewitt is also sidelined today, which leaves Tyler Kroft has the only healthy guy at the position at the beginning of Week 5. Ross appears to be making positive steps, he was on the rehab field today after being completely shut down all of last week.
Other tagged players: John Ross, Tyler Kroft, C.J. Uzomah, Ryan Hewitt Marlon Mack practicing Wednesday, CB Quincy Wilson and Jack Doyle limited
C Ryan Kelly is also practicing and he will play Week 5. If Mack is able to suit up, he’ll serve as Frank Gore’s backup and won’t be expected to get enough work to be an appealing fantasy play. Quincy Wilson performed poorly when he was given an opportunity to start in Week 2 and will likely be sticking to the bench now that Vontae Davis has returned. Doyle is in the concussion protocol. If he’s able to suit up, he has a tough spot. The 49ers rank 1st in TE DVOA and have given up the fewest yards per game to the position (19.9, per FO).
Ben Watson, Maxx Williams, and DL Brandon Williams aren't practicing Wednesday
Brandon Williams is a key part of their run defense. If he remains out, it’ll be a boost for Marshawn Lynch. Watson is still expected to play Sunday – he played last week despite missing practice. He’ll be taking on an Oakland defense that currently ranks dead last in TE DVOA. Guys like Vernon Davis (5/58/1) and A.J. Derby (4/75/1) have been successful against them and Delanie Walker led the Titans with seven receptions and 76 yards in Week 1. Although Baltimore’s offense has been inefficient as a whole, Watson has been performing well, hauling in 16-of-18 passes and leading the team with 146 receiving yards. In a favorable spot against the Browns, he took advantage for eight catches for 91 yards and will look to repeat that type of success in another friendly matchup this weekend.
Other tagged players: Maxx Williams, Baltimore Ravens, Marshawn Lynch The RB Who Most Likely Will Get the Workload and Will Be Low Owned
This is probably the riskiest play I have written up all year, but there is a lot of promise in this matchup. Rawls was a healthy scratch this last week, but with Carson going down, I expect Rawls and not Lacy to take over as the lead back. He is priced at $3,700 on DK which, given that he has two 26+ fantasy point games in the last year and was one of the top second half RB’s two years ago, is way too low of a price for his potential. I expect a lot of people to go for Lacy and McKissic considering what they did in last weeks game, but McKissic was only really in the game because of Prosise being a scratch and Lacy was only in because Carson was out and they were up late in the game. Rawls fills Carson’s role much better than Lacy and has obviously been in the offense for much longer. This is strictly a long shot GPP play and things could change depending on what Carroll says later on in the week, but Rawls is my top choice in this offense at this point and it is an easy pivot over to Lacy on DK if Rawls is a healthy scratch again (which I do not expect him to be).
A Low Priced RB1 That should Go Overlooked
Abdullah has quietly seen a large amount of touches so far this season. He currently has 66 carries and 11 targets on the season. Abdullah has an ability to make people miss in the open field and break off long runs at any given time. As Riddick’s role in the offense was lowered last week, I expect Abdullah to take a bigger role in both the passing and running game for DET. He draws a matchup against an above average CAR rush defense, but they are at the top of the league in targets allowed to the RB. I think that a lot of people will go more toward Riddick in this matchup, but I think that unless DET gets down early (which I don’t expect as DET is a 3.5 point favorite) Riddick won’t get in the game much. This is strictly a GPP play, but at his price if he breaks off a long run and gets a few catches out of the backfield he has a shot at drastically out performing his price.
Kelvin Benjamin (knee) isn't practicing Wednesday, Curtis Samuel (back) is participating
This could be a maintenance day for a lingering knee issue. He played the entire game this past Sunday and eclipsed 100 yards for the first time all season. Samuel was inactive Week 4 but his presence today is a good sign he can return this weekend against the Lions. Benjamin will have a much tougher matchup this week, possibly under Darius Slay’s shadow. The corner is allowing the sixth-lowest passer rating among qualifiers (46) and currently ranks as PFF’s 23rd cover corner. As a unit, Detroit has limited quarterbacks to the fifth-lowest passer rating (71.6) and check in at fifth in pass DVOA (per FO).
Odell Beckham is practicing Wednesday, Jason Pierre-Paul and Janoris Jenkins aren't participating; Paul Perkins appeared limited at best
Beckham dislocated his finger and re-aggravated his ankle injury in Week 4 but he’s practicing Wednesday and expected to play this weekend. Perkins is dealing with bruised ribs and was present for the portion of practice open to the media. However, it was reported he stretched and did very little else. It’s possible he ends up with a DNP today, we’ll have to wait for the official practice report this afternoon. Pierre-Paul (shoulder/knee) was listed with new injuries and wasn’t present while Jenkins was working alone on the side. If Perkins misses time, it should provide a boost for rookie Wayne Gallman, who rushed for 42 yards against the Buccaneers in his NFL debut this past weekend. Sadly, that marks the most yardage by any Giants running back in a game this season. With Perkins picking up 1.9 ypc so far this year, the Giants have no choice but to give Orleans Darkwa and/or Gallman bigger workloads to try to get something going on the ground. Darkwa remains on the injury report with a back issue after being inactive in Week 4. If both Perkins and Darkwa can’t suit up this weekend, Gallman will be an interesting value option against the Chargers, whose defense ranks 29th in adjusted line yards per carry (5.36, per FO). LA is currently allowing the second-most rushing yards per game (163.5), but if all four runners are active for the Giants, it may be best to avoid their backfield.
Other tagged players: Paul Perkins, Wayne Gallman