Trending

denzel boston

Dynasty Rookie Round-Up: Week 4

By Josh Reedy | October 7, 2026

In this series, I’ll spotlight the standout performances from the 2026 rookie class and highlight both promising and concerning trends. Let’s dive into how these rookies fared in Week 4.

Quarterback
Stock Up

Jalon Daniels: He started in Week 4 for Baker Mayfield, who was injured the week before. He completed 19 out of his 27 pass attempts (70%) for 148 yards. He threw for a touchdown but also threw 2 interceptions. His QBR was 49.7. He rushed eight times for 55 yards, so he does offer the rushing side if you need a quarterback to start because of bye weeks or injuries. He plays Dallas on Thursday night, so he should be able to score some points with their defense not being great.

Stock Down

Athan Kaliakmanis: Made his debut when Marcus Mariota got injured. He completed 15 out of his 33 pass attempts (45%) for 186 yards. He threw for a touchdown but also threw 1 interception. He rushed three times for 16 yards. His QBR was 20.7. He did not look great, but he was prepared to be the backup all week. It’s unclear who will start Week 5 for Washington, so he is a name to look for on the waiver wire if you are desperate for a quarterback.

Jack Strand: Made his debut when the Falcons were getting crushed in Week 1. He played 42% of the snaps. He completed eight of 15 passes for 59 yards and added two rushes for 16 yards. No new playing time since Week 1.

Running Back

Week 4 was relatively quiet for rookie running backs, which was expected. Nevertheless, a few trends are worth noting.

Stock Up (Above 40% of team carries)

Jeremiyah Love: In Weeks 1-4, he has had 55 carries for 223 yards, a touchdown, and 13 catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. Week 4, he played 45% of the snaps, which was down from Week 3 when he played 64%. His carry percentage also went down for the first time this season from 91% in Week 3 to 69% in Week 4. However, the drop in usage was just due to Love suffering a minor ankle injury in-game. His window to buy is probably closed.

Stock Down (Below 40% of team carries)

Emmett Johnson: In Weeks 1-4, he had 16 carries for 56 yards and five catches for 74 yards, playing on 36% of the snaps. In Weeks 1 and 3, they got up big. Week 2 was a tight game, and he did not play as much, and that was the case again in Week 4. Clear backup and handcuff to Kenneth Walker.

Kaelon Black: In Weeks 1-4, he has had 31 carries for 120 yards, and one catch for 5 yards. Week 4, he played 26% of the snaps, which was up from Week 3 when he played 15%. His carry percentage went up slightly from 21% in Week 3 to 29% in Week 4. He is the clear backup and handcuff to Christian McCaffrey.

Mike Washington: In Weeks 1-4, he has had 24 carries for 120 yards, a touchdown, and one catch for -1 yard. Week 4, he played 21% of the snaps, which was up slightly from Week 3 when he played 16%. His carry percentage also went up from 21% in Week 3 to 35% in Week 4. Clear backup and handcuff to Ashton Jeanty.

Kaytron Allen: In Weeks 1-4, he has had 12 carries for 41 yards. Week 4, he played 19% of the snaps, which was his season high so far this season. He had 3 carries in Week 4, which was 17% of the carries.

Nick Singleton: He did not play at all in Week 1. In Weeks 2-4, he has had seven carries for 12 yards. Week 4, he played 13% of the snaps, which was his season high. His carry percentage was 14% in Week 4.

Seth McGowan: In Weeks 1-4, he had 12 carries for 45 yards, and two catches for 7 yards. His snap percentage has gone up each week up to 29%. His carry percentage has gone up each week so far this season, up to 23% in Week 4. He is the clear backup and handcuff to Jonathan Taylor.

Demond Claiborne: In Weeks 1-4, he has had six carries for 13 yards, and one catch for 2 yards. Week 4, he played (12%) of the snaps, which was his season high. His carry percentage was 13% in Week 4.

jsn

4 Biggest Dynasty Story Lines in Week 5

By Elliott Troop | October 7, 2026

About an hour into Sunday’s Week 4 slate, I thought I would be writing a very different introduction after both Marvin Harrison Jr and Brian Thomas Jr. scored touchdowns within minutes of each other. Unfortunately, the excitement of promising starts gave way to the familiar reality of disappointment. Still, what a beautiful 10 minutes when all was right in the world. We move on. Week 5 is here. Let’s get into the biggest storylines of the week. 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Dynasty WR1? 

In the interminable doldrums of the off-season, there is nothing we love to indulge in more than wild speculation. One of the big questions this off-season was: “Who will be this year’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba?” Well, it turns out, this year’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is this year’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Through four weeks of the season, Jaxon Smith Njigba ranks as the WR1 overall. 

Which begs the question: where do we rank him in dynasty? Heading into the season, Ja’Marr Chase and Puka Nacua were locked in ahead of Smith Njigba. After 4 weeks, there’s a legitimate case for moving JSN up to No.1 in the dynasty wide receiver rankings. 

JSN ranks: 

1st in fantasy points (117)
1st in total EPA (46.71)
1st in target share (36.5%)
2nd in TPRR (0.36)
2nd in YPRR (4.15)
3rd in receptions (32)
5th in targets (42)

Whilst I’m not prepared to rank Jaxon Smith Njigba ahead of Ja’Marr Chase just yet, he is a lot closer to the WR1 in dynasty than he was in July. The Seahawks get the 49ers, who have allowed the 7th fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, in a mouth-watering NFC West clash.

Brock Purdy Faces his Demons 

Stick with Sunday’s Big Game, we move to Brock Purdy. Mr Not So Irrelevant has been one of the biggest stories of the season so far. Purdy, who has yet to be sacked, ranks as the QB2 in fantasy. He has thrown for over 1,000 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one interception. In PPG when he returned from injury last season, Purdy ranked as the QB2. 

In Week 5, Purdy visits the Seattle Seahawks – the site of some of his biggest failures in recent history. First, there was Week 18. Purdy logged just 127 passing yards and threw an INT for 6.18 fantasy points. In the Divisional Round, Purdy logged just 140 passing yards and threw one interception. Sure, the 49ers were banged up. But that hasn’t changed much this season. 

Last time out, the Seahawks defense generated pressure on 47.4% of Brock Purdy’s dropbacks – the highest pressure rate of last season. They accomplished that while only blitzing on 10.5% of plays.  Whilst Purdy leads the way in the Way-Too-Early-MVP Race, he can elevate himself into the elite tier of dynasty quarterbacks with another strong performance against one of the league’s best defenses. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

Hammer's Hammer

Hammer’s DFS Hammers: NFL Week 5

By Greg Hammer | October 7, 2026

Welcome to Week 5, which is one of my favorite weeks. Why? We now have four weeks of proof points and data to paint a picture of who a team is, and what players’ roles are becoming. It’s an opportunity to start forming conclusions based on this season rather than heavily relying on data from last year and the summer. That said, it’s shaped up as quite a strange main slate for Sunday. There aren’t many games that scream for points to be scored, and there also aren’t many QB spots that stand out. However, I do see some hidden opportunity in some of the matchups, especially those with smaller totals that some might overlook for DFS. There is also a higher point total game that I will be building my own lineups around.

shipley

Dynasty Stashes – Week 5

By Wolf Trelles-Heard | October 6, 2026

Dohnte Meyers (WR – CIN)

Rookie Dohnte Meyers ran the most routes (53) in the NFL last week, finishing with seven receptions for 82 yards. Now, injuries to Ja’Marr Chase (concussion) and Tee Higgins (adductor) could open the door for the former Saskatchewan Roughrider to make an even bigger impact in Week 5.

And guess who’s on deck this week for the Bengals? The winless Dolphins. Miami has surprisingly allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers through four weeks, but I think that has more to do with them getting gashed by running backs and tight ends instead. 

Still, if Chase or Higgins do sit this one out — which seems likely considering Cincinnati has its bye in Week 6 — then Meyers becomes an interesting dart throw for WR-needy dynasty managers. He could be Joe Burrow’s No. 1 wideout this week in a game where the Bengals have an implied team total of roughly 25 points. 

While being able to plug Meyers into your lineup may only be a one-week thing, he should definitely be added to the back end of rosters. We know Higgins has a propensity to miss a few games every year, making Meyers a handcuff in a weird sort of way. With players dropping like flies every week, you want playmakers on good offenses. Meyers fits the bill. 

Will Shipley (RB – PHI)

This one isn’t just for dynasty. Will Shipley is going to be a popular waiver-wire add in all formats this week thanks to injuries suffered by Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby. 

Barkley is considered week-to-week with a hamstring injury. I’d count on him missing a game or two. Bigsby is going to be out much longer. He’s headed to IR and will have surgery to repair a core muscle injury. 

That leaves Shipley as the last man standing. 

While he hasn’t done much as a pro yet, we know he was insanely productive in college. At Clemson, Shipley averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored 31 rushing touchdowns across three seasons. He was also a sure-handed weapon out of the backfield, catching 85 passes for 602 yards. 

The Eagles have been a mess on offense lately. Barkley doesn’t have a touchdown yet this season, and this week’s matchup against the Jaguars is a tough one. But volume will always be king at the running back position, and Shipley could see a bunch of touches for as long as Barkley is sidelined. 

Spend up to get Shipley if you can. He’s worth holding long-term as well. Barkley is nearly 30 years old, and appears to be slowing down. That cliff could come quick, making Shipley a guy who could play a major role down the stretch. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

shough

2026 Dynasty Vet Values: Volume 2

By Matt Takach | October 6, 2026

Welcome back, Dynasty Football managers! Throughout the season, it’s essential to continually evaluate rosters to determine which players to trade for or cut ties with. With that, it’s time for Volume 2 of Dynasty Vet Values for 2026. In this series, I’ll be analyzing veteran players who are excellent targets for your contending teams based on current Dynasty market value and perhaps an NFL weekly Pick’em. We all know youth and longevity are essential to remain competitive in Dynasty. But the ultimate goal is to win fantasy championships, and sometimes that means acquiring that “win-now” asset. 

kwazi

C2C Waiver Report: Post Week 5

By Frank Schook | October 5, 2026

@DffFrankPanthro covers the top waiver options in C2C following Week 3 of college football. Find out where to place your FAAB in this FREE article!

Jesse legree

Week 5 College Football Highlights and Injury Report

By Frank Schook | October 5, 2026

Week 5 gave us a little bit of everything. Some players helped their C2C value, some took a step back, and a few box scores needed a closer look before we overreacted.

For me, the goal stays the same. What can this player give us on the campus side now, and did anything happen that should change how we value him long term?

Week 5 Highlights

Jesse Legree Keeps Dominating

Legree caught 5 passes for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns in Oregon State’s 56 to 26 win over Colorado State. He scored from 50, 28, and 52 yards and now has five straight 100-yard games with 9 touchdowns this season. 

Braden Atkinson Was Nearly Perfect

Atkinson completed 30 of 34 passes for 413 yards, 5 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He has exceeded 300 yards in all five games and deserves much more C2C attention.

Harlem Berry Finally Gets His Opportunity

Berry carried 15 times for 125 yards and 1 touchdown against McNeese. His 46-yard run helped the total, but without it he still had 14 carries for 79 yards. It was his first career 100-yard game and strengthened his case to be LSU’s RB2.

Dilin Jones was not injured. He finished with 16 carries for 79 yards and 1 touchdown plus 2 receptions for 5 yards. 

Corey Barber Jr. Introduces Himself

The LSU true freshman caught 7 passes for 83 yards and his first 2 career touchdowns. 

Keelon Russell Shines

Russell completed 16 of 22 passes for 285 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding 16 rushing yards and another touchdown. 

Kamario Taylor Takes a Step Back

Taylor threw for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns, but he also committed 3 turnovers, took 5 sacks, and left injured. 

Bryce Underwood Hits Another Wall

Underwood completed 10 of 21 passes for 101 yards with 2 interceptions and lost a fumble against Minnesota. The long-term talent remains, but his campus value and confidence are falling.

DeSean Bishop Takes Over

Bishop carried 34 times for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns against Auburn. Even without his 44-yard touchdown, he produced 176 yards on 33 carries. 

Faizon Brandon Struggles

Brandon completed 3 of 8 passes for zero yards with an interception before being replaced. Ouch!

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

simmons

Devy Players of the Week: Week 5

By Jim Moorman | October 4, 2026

Welcome back for another edition of Devy Players of the Week! As we inch closer to the midway point of the regular season, we’re getting a clearer picture of who will hit our dynasty rosters and who lacks the tools to hack it on Sundays. Let’s take a look at which prospects stood out in Week 5. 

Quarterback

Austin Simmons (QB – Missouri)
23-30, 340 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
3 attempts, 3 yards

Several other quarterbacks had better box scores this weekend, but I’d be remiss to leave out Austin Simmons in this week’s edition after the upset he just pulled off. Despite being 5.5-point dogs to the 8th-ranked Florida Gators, Simmons led his Tigers to a dominant 45-17 win and played some truly polished football. 

Simmons showed off his arm talent in this matchup, zipping tight spirals with pinpoint accuracy all afternoon. He’s playing some of the best football in the country and hasn’t thrown a single interception in five games. Simmons is up to my devy QB22 overall. If he keeps this up, he may just declare in 2027 and go in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. The one downside is that Simmons lacks any rushing upside. 

CJ Carr (QB – Notre Dame)
21-29, 234 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs
5 attempts, 14 yards, 1 TD

CJ Carr continues to silence the doubters (including myself), playing mistake-free football and leading the Irish with confidence every week. I maintain the stance that Carr doesn’t have a very strong arm, but he’s highly accurate and has some of the best touch in the country. His superpower is his processing ability, both pre-snap and post-snap. Being able to diagnose a defense quickly is arguably more important than any physical tools when finding success as an NFL quarterback. 

Carr put together another excellent stat line in Notre Dame’s win over UNC, throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for one. He’s another guy who won’t get you much fantasy production on the ground, so his ceiling is relatively capped. 

Running Back

DeSean Bishop (RB – Tennessee)
34 attempts, 220 yards, 3 TDs

Bishop accounted for all of Tennessee’s touchdowns in their 24-14 win over Auburn this weekend, improving to 4-1 on the season. Bishop’s competence as a rusher has been integral in taking some pressure off the passing game, which has been up and down all year. The Vols benched their true freshman quarterback, Faizon Brandon, midgame, relying solely on the run game to get them the dub. 

Bishop saw 34 attempts this weekend, rushing for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the excellent numbers, I do have some hesitation investing in any Tennessee players from a devy perspective. It tends to be an offensive system that produces plenty of college fantasy points, but doesn’t necessarily develop its players for the next level. 

To access the rest of this post, you must login or purchase a DFF Membership.

puka

The Assembly Line, Vol. 7: Dynasty Football Factory Newsletter

By PaulRyan15 | October 2, 2026

Check out all the recent DFF content from the past week in this edition of The Assembly Line, your go-to dynasty newsletter.