Hey Team 👋

The college football top 25 poll has been shaken up yet again. Some teams pulled off major upsets while others are finally finding consistency. Meanwhile, in the NFL, we’ve seen highlight plays, crushing injuries and plenty of fantasy heartbreak. If the first few weeks are any clue, this season’s only promise is unpredictability — and I’m here for it.

Letter Rip!

< CFB >

Week 5 AP Poll

Five weeks in, college football season has lived up to – and even exceeded – expectations. The Week 5 rankings look very different from where the season began, though some familiar patterns remain. 

The SEC opened with 10 ranked teams and still leads all conferences with 10. Florida and South Carolina have dropped out, but Missouri and Vanderbilt climbed in to keep the league’s dominance intact. The ACC also held steady in numbers, though the faces have changed: Clemson and SMU fell out, while Florida State and Georgia Tech surged in after big wins. The Big 12 has stayed consistent, maintaining four ranked teams across the first month of the season. And the Big Ten has gained ground, moving from six to seven ranked squads, thanks to USC breaking into the poll.

AP Top 25

1. Ohio State (🟰)

2. Miami (⬆️2)

3. Penn State (⬇️1)

4. LSU (⬇️1)

5. Georgia (🟰)

6. Oregon (🟰)

7. Oklahoma (⬆️4)

8. Florida State (⬇️1)

9. Texas A&M (⬆️1)

10. Texas (⬇️2)

11. Indiana (⬆️8)

12. Texas Tech (⬆️5)

13. Ole Miss (🟰)

14. Iowa State (⬇️2)

15. Tennessee (🟰)

16. Georgia Tech (⬆️2)

17. Alabama (⬇️3)

18. Vanderbilt (⬆️2)

19. Michigan (⬆️2)

20. Missouri (⬆️3)

21. USC (⬆️4)

22. Notre Dame (⬆️2)

23. Illinois (⬇️14)

24. TCU (previously unranked)

25. BYU (previously unraked)

< NFL >

September Setbacks

Injuries are always part of football, but this year it feels like they’re everywhere. From superstars to key depth pieces, teams are scrambling to adjust while fantasy owners are left reeling. Some injuries are short-term roadblocks, while others could be season-ending blows. Here’s a breakdown of the most impactful injuries shaping the early part of the NFL season:

CeeDee Lamb – High Ankle Sprain (3-4 weeks)

CeeDee Lamb exited Sunday’s game against the Bears early in the first quarter with an apparent ankle injury. Fantasy owners everywhere grimaced, as Lamb did not return to the game and ended with zero points on the week. On Monday, an MRI confirmed he suffered a high ankle sprain, though Lamb is optimistic about his recovery timeline. He said he may even be able to play against the Packers on Sunday Night Football, though a realistic return is scheduled for three-to-four weeks. 

Mike Evans – Hamstring Injury (Awaiting MRI Results)

Mike Evans didn’t produce the big letdown Lamb did in terms of fantasy production, but owners are still on the edge of their seats awaiting an injury update. Evans suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s game versus the Jets, exiting in the fourth quarter. His MRI was originally scheduled for Monday, but it has been moved to Tuesday. Luckily, the Buccaneers remain cautiously optimistic about his injury, as it has been deemed a low-grade hamstring injury.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. – Dislocated Shoulder (Uncertain Timeline, Will Miss Multiple Weeks)

Tyrone Tracy Jr. dislocated his right shoulder during the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. The timeline of his return is uncertain, but reports say he will miss multiple weeks as he recovers. Cam Skattebo stepped up in his absence, racking up 121 total yards and a touchdown.

James Conner – Ankle Injury (Out for the season)

When James Conner went down on Sunday versus the 49ers, fantasy owners collectively sighed. At first, his injury was being evaluated – but if you were watching the game, you knew he wasn’t returning. Not only did Conner not return, but his injury has ruled him out for the season. Trey Benson now takes over as the Cardinals’ lead back, giving fantasy managers either a new RB1 or a valuable trade chip.

Joe Burrow – Toe Injury (Out for minimum 3 months)

Although Joe Burrow’s injury is nothing new, it still stings for fantasy owners and Bengals fans alike. Burrow will be sidelined for at least three months following toe surgery after his turf toe injury against the Jaguars in Week 2. Jake Browning looked like a solid backup versus the Jaguars, even finding a way to win despite throwing three interceptions. But the magic seemed to run out in Week 3 when the Bengals were dominated by the Vikings. Browning threw for one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday’s loss, raising red flags in Cincinnati.

J.J. McCarthy – High Ankle Sprain  (2-4 Weeks)

Vikings fans breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday after realizing J.J. McCarthy’s injury won’t be the end of the world. McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain Week 2, which will sideline him for 2-4 weeks. He has already been ruled out for Week 4 but is expected to return after Minnesota’s Week 6 bye. Fortunately, Carson Wentz was able to hold down the fort, throwing two touchdowns in Minnesota’s 48-10 win over the Bengals. Now, fans are wondering whether we’ll see a midseason QB battle in Minnesota when McCarthy is healthy.

Najee Harris – Torn Achilles (Out for the season)

The Chargers were finally starting to feed Najee Harris, but that’s when everything went downhill. Harris had totaled 28 yards on only six carries before suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the second quarter. While Harris will miss the remainder of the season, Chargers fans still have a reason for optimism. Omarian Hampton is now the clear RB1 in L.A., and he’s had a great start to his rookie season. While his first two weeks were relatively quiet, he broke out in Week 3 with 129 total yards and a touchdown. 

Justin Fields – Concussion (In concussion protocol)

Justin Fields suffered a concussion Week 2 against the Chargers, which sidelined him for Week 3. His status is uncertain for Week 4, as he is still in concussion protocol with no updates reported. If Fields misses another week, Tyrod Taylor will get the start versus the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.

Austin Ekeler – Torn Achilles (Out for the season)

Like Joe Burrow, this isn’t exactly breaking news – but heartbreaking nonetheless. Austin Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles tendon Week 2 against the Packers and will miss the rest of the season. In his absence it will be up to rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has scored two touchdowns in his first three games but has struggled to find consistency on the ground.