Baker Mayfield's Dislocated Thumb Headlines a Brutal Week 4 Injury Wave
Mayfield's out several weeks, Achane's done for the year with a torn ACL, and the Bucs lose a QB who posted 274 PPR points last season.
Dislocated thumb shelves a QB1 for several weeks — move him if you can.
- Mayfield out several weeks with dislocated thumb
- Mayfield: 274 PPR pts last season (2025, actual)
- De'Von Achane out for the year — torn ACL
- Joey Porter Jr. ruled out, still hasn't played in 2026
- Nico Collins back at practice; Texans sit 0-3
Week 4 arrived with a pileup of bad news, and the headliner is Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers quarterback will miss several weeks with a dislocated thumb, pulling a passer who put up 274 PPR points across 17 games last season (2025, actual) out of your lineup indefinitely. Mayfield sat at our No. 12 QB overall before this, which tells you exactly how much production just evaporated.
He isn't alone. Miami lost running back De'Von Achane for the rest of the year to a torn ACL — a season-ending blow for one of the most explosive backs in fantasy. Add in the Steelers ruling out cornerback Joey Porter Jr. for Thursday night, and the injury report reads more like a casualty list than a status update.
The Porter Puzzle Rolls On
Porter's back/conditioning/contract saga keeps churning. He was a full participant Monday and Tuesday, got limited Wednesday, and still landed on the inactive list — meaning he hasn't suited up at all in 2026. Pittsburgh also lost running back Rico Dowdle (toe) for Thursday, while Jalen Ramsey is listed as questionable despite reportedly telling the media he broke his wrist. Deshaun Watson will be without starting linemen Elgton Jenkins (concussion) and Teven Jenkins (back).
A Few Rays of Light
Not everything is doom. Nico Collins returned to practice after a two-game hamstring absence, which 0-3 Houston and a desperate C.J. Stroud badly needed. Mike Evans' rib strain in San Francisco isn't expected to cost him much time either. Elsewhere, limited-but-trending-up names litter the reports — Puka Nacua (hip) and Zay Flowers (hamstring) among them — so monitor Thursday and Friday designations closely before locking lineups.
The Fantasy Fallout
If you roster Mayfield, this is a SELL HIGH window closing fast — his name value is still intact in trade talks, but the production isn't coming for several weeks, so flip him or stream a replacement now. Achane managers have no choice but to pivot entirely; he's gone for the season. And don't bother holding a roster spot for Porter in IDP or dynasty formats until he actually plays a snap. Watch the Rams' tight end room too, where Terrance Ferguson (ankle) and Colby Parkinson (knee) both sat Wednesday — a clear signal to look elsewhere at the position this week.
