NFL Player News
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DeAndre Hopkins WR | BAL
Ravens' DeAndre Hopkins: Impresses on limited opportunites
Hopkins caught both of his targets for 46 yards in Sunday's 44-10 loss to the Texans.
Despite the Ravens' offensive struggles Sunday, Hopkins still capitalized on his opportunities. Hopkins has been one of the more efficient receivers in the NFL this season with seven catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets, but he'll struggle to deliver meaningful fantasy value if he continues to handle a part-time role. His 11 snaps on offense Sunday were more of the same, as he hasn't topped 20 snaps in a game this season.
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Rashod Bateman WR | BAL
Ravens' Rashod Bateman: No catches Sunday
Bateman failed to record a reception on three targets in Sunday's 44-10 loss to the Texans.
The Ravens were without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) on Sunday, and the offense struggled mightily under Cooper Rush's stewardship. Through five games, Bateman's production has lagged, as he's been limited to 10 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets. Bateman is maintaining an 11.8 average depth of target and has drawn a target on 20 percent of his routes, but it's not translating into useful numbers. If Jackson remains out again Week 6 versus the Rams, Bateman could have difficulty emerging from his season-long slumber.
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Tyquan Thornton WR | KC
Chiefs' Tyquan Thornton: Finishes as team's leading receiver
Thornton finished with three catches for 90 yards on five targets in Monday's 31-28 loss to the Jaguars.
After drawing a team-high nine targets in the Chiefs' Week 3 win over the Giants, Thornton saw his role in the passing game take a significant hit in the Week 4 win over the Ravens, when Kansas City returned Xavier Worthy from a two-game absence. Though he still ranked fourth among Chiefs receivers in snap share (45 percent) and ranked fourth overall in targets in Monday's win, Thornton was able to make the most of his opportunities. He accounted for three of the Chiefs' four biggest plays of the night, ripping off gains of 34, 32 and 24 yards on downfield throws by quarterback Patrick Mahomes. As one of the speedier players on the roster, Thornton could continue to have a role as a vertical threat even when Rashee Rice returns from suspension Week 7, but Thornton's game-to-game production will likely be somewhat volatile.
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Xavier Worthy WR | KC
Chiefs' Xavier Worthy: Gains 51 yards on MNF
Worthy (shoulder/ankle) corralled six of nine targets for 42 yards and took his only carry for nine yards in Monday's 31-28 loss to the Jaguars.
Worthy popped up on the Week 5 injury report after being a full participant in practice when he experienced swelling in his ankle on the flight to Jacksonville. The speedy wideout was able to finish Monday's loss in good health, but it's worth noting that he left the contest briefly to have his ankle examined after getting tackled on one of his six receptions. The injury scare comes just one week after Worthy returned from a shoulder injury that cost him two games of action. Kansas City's offense is clearly more explosive when Worthy is on the field, so managers are hoping for a clean bill of health heading into a potential shootout against the Lions on Sunday Night Football in Week 6.
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Marquise Brown WR | KC
Chiefs' Hollywood Brown: Four catches in MNF loss
Brown brought in four of eight targets for 48 yards in the Chiefs' 31-28 loss to the Jaguars on Monday night.
Brown tied for second on the Chiefs in targets while checking in third in both receptions and receiving yards. The busy night for the veteran wideout was par for the course thus far this season, as Brown has no fewer than five targets in any of his first five contests. Brown also recorded his first catch of at least 20 yards since Week 1 on Monday night, and he'll continue to profile as a key target for Patrick Mahomes in a Week 6 Sunday night showdown at home against the Lions.
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Travis Hunter WR | JAC
Jaguars' Travis Hunter: Busy two-way performance Monday
Hunter brought in all three targets for 64 yards and recorded two solo tackles and a pass defensed in the Jaguars' 31-28 win over the Chiefs on Monday night.
Hunter set a new career high in receiving yards for the second straight game, accomplishing the feat Monday night with the help of a game-long 44-yard catch. The rookie second overall pick also continued his work on defense, posting multiple tackles for the third time this season while also recording the second pass breakup of his nascent career. Hunter now has recorded one reception of 20-plus yards in each of his last three contests, and he'll look to continue his gradual ascension on offense in a Week 6 home clash with the Seahawks.
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Brian Thomas Jr. WR | JAC
Jaguars' Brian Thomas: Team-high yardage total in win
Thomas secured four of six targets for 80 yards in the Jaguars' 31-28 win over the Chiefs on Monday night.
Thomas finished as the Jaguars' leader in receptions, receiving yards and targets, holding the top spot in the middle category for the second consecutive week. His final catch of the night was the most critical, as he recorded a 33-yard grab on Jacksonville's game-winning drive and then drew a pass interference penalty that wiped out an interception four plays later. Thomas' yardage tally was also a new season high for the second-year wideout, who's yet to have his first true breakout effort in head coach Liam Coen's offense but has put together his two best all-around performances this season in the last pair of contests. Thomas will take a 16-244-0 line into a Week 6 home matchup against a Seahawks squad that just conceded a 163-yard, one-touchdown day to the Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka on Sunday.
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Brandin Cooks WR | BUF
Saints' Brandin Cooks: Sees one target Sunday
Cooks gathered in his only target for five yards during Sunday's 26-14 victory versus the Giants.
Cooks saw his lowest target share and playing time of the season, resulting in season lows in catches and yards. The 32-year-old went from playing at least 68 percent of offensive snaps in each of the first four weeks -- including 91 percent in Week 4 -- to 45 percent in Week 5. It's unclear why he saw such a sharp decline in playing time, though second-year wideout Devaughn Vele saw a jump from six percent of offensive snaps to 37 percent played Sunday. Neither Cooks nor Vele will have any fantasy value so long as they operate as the third and fourth wideouts in what has been a limited passing offense with quarterback Spencer Rattler. Cooks will perhaps play more offensive snaps during the Week 6 contest versus his former team, the Patriots.
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Devaughn Vele WR | NO
Saints' Devaughn Vele: Grabs two passes Week 5
Vele hauled in both targets for 13 yards during Sunday's 26-14 win versus the Giants.
Vele saw a slight uptick in playing time and targets compared to his last two outings, when he played 34.0 and 6.0 percent of offensive snaps in Week 2 and Week 4, respectively. The second-year wideout has had a much slower start with New Orleans than he did during his 2024 rookie campaign in Denver, where he logged 41 catches (on 55 targets) for 475 yards over 13 regular-season games. Vele's fantasy value will be suppressed so long as he operates as the WR4 behind Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, especially in the Saints' struggling passing offense.
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Allen Lazard WR | NYJ
Jets' Allen Lazard: Stays back in New York
Lazard (personal) did not travel to London with the Jets on Monday.
Lazard is dealing with a personal matter, and his status for Sunday's matchup with the Broncos is now in question. The wide receiver has not been ruled out for the game, and he could still play if he travels to London later in the week. If he is ultimately forced to miss Week 6, Tyler Johnson would stand to see an increase in workload at wide receiver versus Denver.