Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings: Sanders is inactive as emergency third QB, with Flacco and Dillon Gabriel ready in relief and Gabriel making his NFL debut. Cam Robinson is likely to start at left tackle after Cornelius Lucas is scratched. Conklin and Newsome II are active; Hall Jr. and Kazee are out, Munford and Zinter inactive. Vikings sideline Brian O’Neill and a slate of backups, including JJ McCarthy, Donovan Jackson, Jurgens, Van Ginkel, Yurosek and Elijah Williams. Fantasy notes center on QB depth, line shifts, and potential debut impact.

The Browns’ offensive line has been hit hard, with Dawand Jones早 season-ending injury against Green Bay and lingering questions surrounding Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin. With the front five banged up, Cleveland is weighing veteran options, notably La'el Collins, to anchor at tackle or guard and mentor the youth. The club recently added Thayer Munford Jr., but Cornelius Lucas remains a depth piece in need of stable protection for quarterback Joe Flacco. The move could shift protection and pressure dynamics, impacting both the run game and passing efficiency for fantasy owners.

As Collins circumnavigates his latest NFL chapter, fantasy players should watch how quickly he lands a starting role, his fit on either tackle spot, and whether the Browns improve pocket time and sack avoidance. A healthy Collins could elevate Browns receivers and backs by reducing hurried throws and creating clearer running lanes, making Cleveland’s offense more fantasy-friendly in a crowded division.

New England padded Week 4 depth by adding Royce Newman and Gee Scott Jr. to the practice squad, signaling a practical plan for protection and receiving help against Carolina. Newman, a veteran interior lineman with Packers and Buccaneers stops, can back up or start at guard as needed. Scott, Ohio State alum who moved from WR to TE, brings blocking and receiving versatility that could surface in two-TE looks and red-zone packages.

With Jared Wilson banged up and Hunter Henry’s knee health monitored, the Patriots are layering contingency options for Week 4. Scott’s arrival could translate into immediate two-TE alignments, while Newman provides insurance on the interior line. The Panthers’ front will test interior depth, making this roster shuffle a fantasy-adjacent storyline—potential early impact with injuries, and longer-term depth that could shape the offense’s protection and pass-game options.

Beyond New England, the week’s activity includes Mark Robinson joining the Jets at linebacker and Thayer Munford Jr. landing with the Browns at tackle, underscoring a league-wide emphasis on practice-squad depth as teams prep for Sunday action. The matchup in Foxborough presents a genuine test for interior blocking and tight-end versatility, with fantasy angles centered on run efficiency and short-to-mid-range targets.

Cleveland’s season took a hit when Dawand Jones suffered a season-ending injury, prompting the Browns to sign Thayer Munford Jr. off the New England Patriots’ practice squad to bolster the offensive line. Munford, 26, stands 6’5” and weighs 354 pounds, and brings NFL starting experience from his time with the Raiders and Patriots, plus strong local ties. He could see action sooner rather than later if injuries mount, giving Cleveland depth and flexibility up front.

Week 1’s Patriots-Raiders tilt features a rare cross-team tie-in: nine players once wore both uniforms, shaping Week 1 depth charts and fantasy upside. Jakobi Meyers anchors the Raiders’ passing game while Mack Hollins, Austin Hooper, Thayer Munford Jr., Ben Brown, K’Lavon Chaisson and Robert Spillane bring Patriots familiarity to the field; Antonio Mafi, Adam Butler and Elandon Roberts fill Raiders’ interior or edge roles with veteran experience.

Fantasy takeaway centers on Hollins and Hooper as Week 1 safety valves for New England, Meyers as a high-floor threat for Las Vegas, and Chaisson/Spillane as opportunistic depth pieces. Monitor practice-squad movements and how both teams deploy these crossover veterans in the opener for immediate value and rostering leverage.