NFL Player News
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Adonai Mitchell WR | NYJ
Colts' Adonai Mitchell: Relegated to smaller bench role
Mitchell did not have a reception on his lone target and played just six snaps on offense in the fourth quarter in Sunday's blowout 40-6 win over Las Vegas. He moved to the second-team unit after making several mistakes in the prior week's loss to the Rams, the Indianapolis Star reports.
With Alec Pierce (concussion) missing his second straight game, it was Ashton Dulin who moved into the starting three-receiver set and played on 47 of the offense's 66 snaps, resulting in two receptions for 55 yards. Mitchell was demoted due to dropping the football prior to passing the goal line to wipe out a would-be 76-yard touchdown and then committing a holding penalty to negate a 53-yard rushing touchdown in Week 4. It's not clear if Mitchell's fall down the depth chart will last just one week or be a longer-term move.
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Tyler Johnson WR | NYJ
Jets' Tyler Johnson: Non-factor in Week 5
Johnson was not targeted in Sunday's 37-22 loss to the Cowboys.
The veteran wideout from Minnesota was a healthy scratch in the Jets' Week 4 loss to the Dolphins but returned in Week 5. However, Johnson played just three offensive snaps and wasn't involved in the team's offensive gameplan. He appears to be out of favor in the Jets' receiving corps, playing behind Garrett Wilson, Josh Reynolds, Arian Smith and Allen Lazard. If Johnson is active for the Week 6 matchup against the Broncos, he'll likely play another depth role.
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Allen Lazard WR | NYJ
Jets' Allen Lazard: Quiet in Week 5
Lazard caught one of two targets for three yards in Sunday's 37-22 loss to the Cowboys.
The veteran logged 21 offensive snaps and operated as the Jets' No. 4 wide receiver in Sunday's loss, playing behind Garrett Wilson (68), Josh Reynolds (53) and rookie Arian Smith (42). Lazard has now caught four of six targets for 24 yards and a touchdown through four games this season. He's likely to have a similar role in the Jets' Week 6 matchup against the Broncos.
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Ashton Dulin WR | IND
Colts' Ashton Dulin: Has prominent role in win
Dulin had two receptions for 55 yards on five targets in Sunday's win over Las Vegas. He got the start at receiver in a three-receiver set and played on 47 of the offense's 66 snaps.
Dulin moved into the starting lineup with Alec Pierce (concussion) missing his second straight game and with Adonai Mitchell demoted due to dropping the football prior to passing the goal line to wipe out a would-be 76-yard touchdown and then committing a holding penalty to negate a 53-yard touchdown in Week 4. Mitchell played just six snaps late in the game after it became a blowout win. Dulin could stay in a top three receiver role if both Pierce and Mitchell remain out of the mix next week against Arizona.
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Arian Smith WR | NYJ
Jets' Arian Smith: One catch in Week 5
Smith caught his only target for 14 yards in Sunday's 37-22 loss to the Cowboys.
The rookie wideout from Georgia played 42 offensive snaps and caught his lone target in the Week 5 loss, bringing his season totals to four catches for 24 yards across five games. Smith played behind Garrett Wilson (68 snaps) and Josh Reynolds (53 snaps) on Sunday, suggesting he could be operating as the team's No. 3 wideout. However, the increased playing time didn't translate to production, and he'll likely have a similar role in the Week 6 matchup against the Broncos.
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Christian Watson WR | GB
Packers' Christian Watson: Returns to practice Monday
The Packers designated Watson (knee) for return from the reserve/PUP list Monday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
This opens Watson's 21-day practice window for activation, so the Packers will have a maximum of three weeks to see how Watson looks in his return to the field after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 18 of last season. Once Watson does return, it will further convolute the Packers' wideout room. Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams and Malik Heath have all been seeing enough playing time to make this a messy situation to parse through for fantasy purposes, and that doesn't even include Jayden Reed (collarbone/foot), who is on injured reserve. Reed was given a recovery timetable of 6-to-8 weeks after he was injured Week 2.
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Demario Douglas WR | NE
Patriots' DeMario Douglas: Two catches versus Bills
Douglas caught two of his three targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Bills.
Douglas, who was on the field for 17 of a possible 60 snaps on offense, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, was out-snapped in the contest by fellow WRs Kayshon Boutte (37), Mack Hollins (35) and Stefon Diggs (30). With just seven catches for 30 yards and a TD on 16 targets in five games, Douglas is off the lineup radar in all but the deepest of fantasy formats.
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Mack Hollins WR | NE
Patriots' Mack Hollins: Not targeted in Week 5
Hollins, who was on the field for 35 of a possible 60 snaps on offense in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Bills, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, was not targeted in the contest.
Prior to Sunday's zero-target outing, Hollins had scored in two of his previous three games, but with a total of nine targets through five contests overall, the wideout profiles as a hit-or-miss option in TD-friendly formats.
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Kayshon Boutte WR | NE
Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Three catches Sunday
Boutte, who logged 37 of a possible 60 snaps on offense in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Bills, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, caught all three of his three targets in the contest for 43 yards.
Boutte began the regular season with a six-catch, 103-yard effort, but he was targeted just once Week 2 and has logged three targets in each of his last three outings since then. Meanwhile, Stefon Diggs has solidified himself as the Patriots' WR1 over the past two games, a context that limits Boutte's lineup viability to deeper fantasy formats.
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Jimmy Horn Jr. WR | CAR
Panthers' Jimmy Horn: Solid performance in NFL debut
Horn caught two of three targets for 21 yards and rushed twice for 10 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Dolphins.
After being a healthy scratch in each of the Panthers' first four games this year, Horn played an important role in Sunday's win. The rookie from Colorado showcased his explosiveness and made a key 17-yard catch on fourth down to help set up Carolina's go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Although Jalen Coker (quadriceps) will likely return from injury soon, Horn's role on the Panthers' offense could continue to grow in the Week 6 matchup against the Cowboys.