NFL Player News

With Jameis Winston (back/ankle) inactive, Dalton is slated to start Sunday's game against the Vikings, The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Dalton thus represents a fantasy lineup option for those who roster Winston or are looking for added short term depth in QB-heavy formats. That said, the veteran signal caller will be helming an offense Sunday that will be without key cogs Alvin Kamara (ribs) and Michael Thomas (foot), a context that could limit his Week 4 upside.

Prescott (thumb) is targeting Week 5's contest against the Rams as a return date, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Prescott reportedly resumed throwing the football last week, along with having the stitches removed from his surgically repaired right thumb. Cooper Rush will helm Dallas' offense for Sunday's divisional matchup against the Commanders, in any case, but barring any setbacks it sounds like the Cowboys' franchise quarterback could be back in action Week 5. Dallas will continue monitoring Prescott's status, however, and depending on his practice activity the team could still opt to take a cautious approach and delay his return until Week 6, when the team will face a key matchup against the Eagles.

Tagovailoa (concussion) has received 'clean' results on all medical examinations, including an MRI on his neck, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Tagovailoa remains in the league's concussion protocol, but he's at least avoided suffering any fractures in his neck or similar injuries. Coach Mike McDaniel has declined to offer an expected recovery timetable for the third-year quarterback, per Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com, saying "it's all about Tua the person." Teddy Bridgewater would be in line to start Week 5 versus the Jets if Tagovailoa is unavailable, and it certainly seems likely that the Dolphins will proceed cautiously with his recovery. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Tagovailoa is expected to be interviewed next week as part of the NFL's and NFLPA's investigation into his having been cleared to retake the field Week 3 versus the Bills. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports that the unaffiliated neurotrama consultant involved in clearing Tagovailoa versus Buffalo has been fired as a result of the NFLPA's initial findings.

Luton was signed to the Saints' active roster Saturday, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Luton signed with the Saints' practice squad prior to the start of the regular season after spending the preseason with Jacksonville. He'll likely serve as the backup quarterback Sunday against the Vikings with Jameis Winston (back) unavailable.

Grier was elevated to the active roster Saturday, Rob Phillips of the Cowboys' official site reports.

This becomes Grier's final standard elevation before the Cowboys are forced to make a decision on his status with the 53-man roster. The third-string backup has yet to see action behind Cooper Rush through two weeks.

Goff will be playing Sunday's game against Seattle with a depleted receiving corps, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Not only will Detroit be down D'Andre Swift (shoulder), Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) and DJ Chark (ankle), but top tight end T.J. Hockenson (foot) and Josh Reynolds (ankle) are playing through injuries, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. While Goff could still be productive in an inviting matchup against a beatable Seahawks defense, his upside is not what it would have been if he had his usual arsenal of receiving weapons.

Winston (back/ankle/hip) has been downgraded to out ahead of Sunday's London matchup against the Vikings, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

It would have been truly surprising to see Winston ruled active for Sunday's contest against the Vikings, but Saturday's announcement does take any sort of guesswork out of fantasy managers' hands. Andy Dalton will get the start and will be without one of his top targets in Michael Thomas (foot).

Coach Mike McDaniel relayed Friday that he has no timetable for when Tagovailoa, who is in the NFL's concussion protocol, might be able to return to action, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

"I'm not even really thinking about timetables or anything regarding him as a player right now," McDaniel said of Tagovailoa, who was stretchered off the field during Thursday's game against the Bengals. "It's all about Tua the person." For now, the Dolphins are awaiting the results of an MRI that Tagovailoa underwent on his neck, but given what's transpired in the last two games the QB has played in, look for the team to proceed cautiously with him ahead of Miami's Week 5 contest against the Jets on Sunday, Oct. 9. If Tagovailoa is sidelined at that time, Teddy Bridgewater would be in line to start in his place.

With Mac Jones (ankle) ruled out, Hoyer will start Sunday's game against the Packers, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Though Jones made progress throughout the week, a reported high-ankle sprain will force him to miss at least one game. Hoyer thus represents a Week 4 lineup option for those who roster Jones or are in need of short-term help in two-QB formats. That said, in the absence of their starting signal-caller, Lazar anticipates that the Patriots figure to lean on the running back duo of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson this weekend, a plausible scenario that limits Hoyer's fantasy upside.

Herbert (ribs) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Houston.

Herbert gutted out the fractured rib cartilage he suffered Week 2 last Sunday against the Jaguars, completing 25 of 45 passes for 297 yards, one touchdown and one interception while playing all 58 snaps on offense. After capping Week 4 prep with back-to-back full practices, his status isn't in question for Sunday, but he will be without Keenan Allen (hamstring) for a third consecutive contest and Jalen Guyton (torn ACL). As a result, wide receivers Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer, running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Gerald Everett figure to be Herbert's top targets this weekend.