| | Sunday, October 4, 2020 | We knew this would be an NFL season unlike any other, and a chaotic run-up to Week 4 highlighted exactly why. Sunday's scheduled Titans-Steelers game has already been pushed back to Week 7 due to a COVID outbreak in Tennessee's locker room, while Patriots-Chiefs remains up in the air as of Sunday morning after Cam Newton's positive test Saturday. As of now, the Patriots have been able to avoid an outbreak and are scheduled to play Monday night per reports, but that is largely out of the NFL and the team's hands — any sign of further spread would likely lead to a postponement. | Which means we head into Sunday's games with bigger questions than normal even without accounting for the injury report — which remains crowded with big names. You'll find updates on the Patriots-Chiefs game and how to handle it in this morning's newsletter along with the latest injury news as of Sunday morning, but if you need more lineup help — and let's face it, who doesn't this week? — you'll want to tune in to Fantasy Football Today on CBS Sports HQ. We're live until kickoff with Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath Cummings, and they'll have the latest news as it comes in. | Plus, we're taking your questions on Twitter with the hashtag "#AskFFT", so head over there to get some feedback from our whole team. And then at 11:30 we'll be live on our Twitch channel with Adam Aizer, Frank Stampfl, and I answering your questions until 1 p.m. This is one of the toughest lineup lock Sundays I can remember, but we're here to help. | And here's what else you need to win with our Week 4 tool kit: | | | | | Here's what you need to know about Week 4's Chiefs-Patriots game as of Sunday morning: | - Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19 Friday evening, and it has been confirmed by subsequent testing. He has been placed on the COVID/Reserve list, and will need to be symptom-free for 10 days and have a negative test or return two negative tests in a row at least 24 hours apart after 10 days to be eligible to return to the team. That means a Week 5 return is possible, though this absence could also stretch quite a bit longer, as we saw with some players in MLB this season.
- Sunday's game between the Chiefs and Patriots has been postponed. According to reports, the plan is currently to play Monday night at 7:05 p.m., as all Patriots tests have come back negative since Saturday. If the Patriots avoid any further positive tests again Monday, they will travel to Kansas City for a game tomorrow night.
- Of course, it's not up to the NFL or the teams; if someone else does test positive Sunday or Monday on the Patriots or Chiefs — who had a practice squad player test positive — it could push the game back to Tuesday. Or, as we have seen with the ongoing Titans outbreak, beyond.
- Plan on having replacement options available for anyone on either team, though it should be easier for the Patriots than Chiefs — if you want to go ahead and bench all of your Patriots with Brian Hoyer starting at QB, that wouldn't be unreasonable, though Julian Edelman and James White still have start-worthy potential.
- On the Chiefs side, it's tougher. If your league isn't willing to come up with come up with a contingency plan, then you'll have to make plans on your own. Unfortunately, there aren't many widely available players in Monday's other game between the Falcons and Packers, so you might need to roll the dice with someone like Nick Mullens at QB or take the chance that Patrick Mahomes ends up playing. Otherwise, consider Jamaal Williams, Brian Hill, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Russell Gage, and Robert Tonyan as Monday night replacements in case the game is postponed further.
| | | | | Quarterback | - Out: Cam Newton (Illness), Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle)
- Potential last-minute fill-in options (in order of how I would prioritize them): Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. SEA, Teddy Bridgewater vs. ARI, Baker Mayfield @DAL
| Running back | - Out: Raheem Mostert (Knee), Leonard Fournette (Ankle), Cam Akers (Ribs), Carlos Hyde (Shoulder)
- Questionable: Kareem Hunt (Groin, expected to play), Chris Carson (Knee, expected to play), Joe Mixon (Chest, expected to play), Zack Moss (Toe), Sony Michel (Quad)
- Potential last-minute fill-in options: Jeff Wilson vs. PHI, Nyheim Hines @CHI, Kerryon Johnson vs. NO), LeSean McCoy vs. LAC, Travis Homer @MIA
| Wide receiver | - Out: Michael Thomas (ankle), Chris Godwin (hamstring), DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Allen Lazard (Abdomen, IR), Michael Pittman (Calf, IR), Bryan Edwards (Foot), Mike Williams (Hamstring)
- Questionable: Davante Adams (Hamstring), Julio Jones (Hamstring), Calvin Ridley (Ankle/calf), DeAndre Hopkins (Ankle, expected to play), Christian Kirk (groin, expected to play), Terry McLaurin (Thigh, expected to play), Julian Edelamn (Knee, expected to play)
- Potential late-minute fill-in options: Hunter Renfrow vs. BUF, Russell Gage @GB, Cole Beasley vs. @LV, Tee Higgins vs. JAC, Greg Ward @SF, Zach Pascal @CHI
| Tight end | - Out: Jared Cook (Groin), Dallas Goedert (Ankle, IR)
- Potential late-minute fill-in options: Jordan Reed vs. Giants
| That's a a lot of big names, though we do at least have some clarity on some of them. The biggest risks are the three big wide receivers Monday night, because all of Adams, Jones, and Ridley are at least somewhat up in the air as of Sunday morning. If Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Russell Gage are available, add them, because your alternatives would be Jamaal Williams or Brian Hill in your flex if any of them sit, and you don't want to deal with that. | | | | | | | | Want your sports news and highlights straight without the noise? Stream CBS Sports HQ on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and more! Watch Now | | Enter Parlay Pick'em now for your free chance to win weekly cash prizes and the $20,000 guaranteed season prize. Play Now |
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