Claiborne sees 3 carries vs. Bucs

In the first week without Jadarian Price, Holani operated as a lightly used backup behind Emanuel Wilson, who rushed for 21-81-1, and added another 3-39-1 through the air on four targets. Any hope that Holani could see an increased workload sans Price needs to be put on hold for now. He can be left on fantasy benches in Week 5 when the Seahawks host the 49ers.

Denver’s defense focused on slowing down McCaffrey and the Niners’ run game. That forced Brock Purdy and the offense into a more pass-heavy approach. CMC surprisingly was not all that involved in the passing attack against a Broncos defense that has been generous to pass catchers out of the backfield this season. He saved his fantasy day with a goal line plunge in the second half. Kaelon Black, meanwhile, saw six carries on the day. McCaffrey will be a top-5 option in Week 5 against the Seahawks.

It was reported after Sunday’s win over the Titans that Jackson was “believed to be day-to-day” after he left the game with what appeared to be a relatively minor ankle injury. Jackson was spotted in a walking boot, which has raised a bit more concern for his Week 5 availability, but hopefully the MRI doesn’t reveal anything too severe. Jackson and the Ravens are set to take on the Falcons on Sunday night, which could make for a difficult situation for fantasy managers. We’ll surely receive countless updates on his status throughout the week, but fantasy managers should have a backup plan in place in the event he enters the weekend with a questionable designation. If he’s unable to play, Tyler Huntley would draw his first start of the season.

Metchie operated as the WR2 in the absence of both Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette but was unable to return any fantasy utility on a night second-year receiver Tetairoa McMillan set new career highs in both receptions and yardage. Fantasy managers that were coaxed into adding Metchie through the injuries in Carolina can safely return him to the waiver from whence he came.

Waller saw minimal involvement as quarterback Bryce Young leaned into his top option through the air, feeding Tetairoa McMillan 16 targets on 41 pass attempts in the absence of both Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette. Fantasy managers that scooped Waller off of waivers following his two-touchdown game in Week 2 are surely left disappointed in the recent returns, making Waller a potential drop candidate as the Panthers head to their bye.

McMillan set career highs in both receptions and yardage in the first half with nine catches for 147 yards before the break. He operated as the clear alpha in a pass attack without both Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette, routinely dusting everyone the Lions had at their disposal in an injury-ravaged secondary. While the receiving line surely turns heads, fantasy managers were left even more ecstatic about the way in which he was utilized, with the second-year receiver catching six passes for 94 yards and both touchdowns while aligned in the slot. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik is providing structure, sequencing, and situational tendencies unlike anything fans had grown accustomed to when head coach Dave Canales was helming the offense, resulting in quarterback Bryce Young leading the league in passing while averaging more than 30 points per game through the first month of play. McMillan’s ceiling remains sky-high as a legitimate WR1 when the Panthers square off against the Eagles fin Week 6 following their bye.

Hubbard’s successes on the ground allowed the Panthers to remain balanced on a night they were without two of their top three wide receivers due to the absences of Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette, cashing in on two scores from 15 and two yards out. Hubbard appears to be locked into an RB1 workload in the absence of Jonathan Brooks, who will be out for 6-8 weeks after undergoing core muscle surgery. His 26 opportunities dwarfed the six of current backup AJ Dillon, the latter of whom gained just seven total yards on six touches. Fantasy managers can start Hubbard with confidence when the team returns from their bye to face the Eagles in Week 6.

The NFL’s passing leader through four weeks, pending Monday Night Football, took complete advantage of a defense still working to find their identity through the first month of play, leaning on his top option in Tetairoa McMillan throughout. Young now leads the league in passing and can only be caught by Tyler Shough on Monday Night Football, while only Kirk Cousins and Brock Purdy have more touchdown passes than Young’s nine. Even more impressive was the fact that he did what he did to the Lions without two of his top three receivers with both Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette out of action in Week 4. Young and the Panthers head to their Week 5 bye at 2-2 and alone atop the NFC South, soon to be joined by the winner on Monday night. He’ll be a legitimate QB1 when he returns to action against the Eagles in Week 6.

LaPorta was the primary beneficiary against the single-high-heavy Panthers, which was interesting considering both of Carolina’s top two corners were absent from this game. The 13 targets were easily a season high for the veteran tight end, primarily the result of 52 Jared Goff pass attempts in what would become a negative game script. LaPorta routinely found space behind the linebackers as the primary outlet through pressure for Goff, and while it remains unlikely he repeats the lofty target totals, LaPorta’s red zone acumen keeps him a fantasy TE1 ahead of a very different matchup in the two-high-heavy Cardinals in Week 5.

It was quite the disappointing outing for the fantasy darling considering the Panthers were without their top two corners, with opposing defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero dialing up consistent pressure that caused quarterback Jared Goff fits throughout the evening. Two of Goff’s incompletions that were directed at St. Brown were batted down at the line of scrimmage, ultimately enough to keep St. Brown out of the end zone for the first time this season. St. Brown remains a top-tier WR1 ahead of a potential shootout against the Cardinals in Week 5.