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Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (ankle) sustains 'major' injury

Sun Sep 15 10:30pm ET
Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco injured his right ankle during Sunday's 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Pacheco left the stadium on crutches and sporting a boot.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he was waiting on test results but indicated the injury was significant.

"The only major injury would be Isiah Pacheco," Reid said. "He's having tests on it now -- X-Rays all that stuff."

Pressed on the severity, Reid indicated he was in wait-and-see mode.

"I don't actually know right now. I've just got to see," Reid said. "They're doing all the stuff right now, so I haven't really had a chance to talk to him or anything about it."

Pacheco was injured with just under two minutes remaining, being bent backwards during a tackle by one defender while another had hold of his leg during a 1-yard run. The injury occurred during the Kansas City drive that ended with Harrison Butker's game-ending 51-yard field goal.

Pacheco had 90 yards on 19 carries and caught five passes for 21 yards on Sunday. He has a team-high 135 rushing yards through two games.

Pacheco rushed for 830 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie in 2022. Last season, he rushed for 935 yards and seven scores.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 2

Player Notes
Trevor Lawrence Sep 16 1:40am CT
Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a decent day yardage-wise, but couldn't find the end zone in an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with 14 completions and 220 yards on 30 attempts, and 45 rushing yards on two attempts. Lawrence has just one passing touchdown through two games, which is not ideal for both real and fantasy football. The Clemson product has not looked great through two weeks, and he is not getting much fantasy production out of his weapons either. The Browns have a great defense going back to last year, especially against the pass, so it is not that surprising Lawrence had a subpar performance, but his fantasy floor needs to be higher than this to be starting caliber. The former top pick seems like a potential cut candidate for fantasy managers in Week 3, especially with his matchups remaining difficult in the coming weeks. The Jaguars face the Buffalo Bills next Monday night, a defense that should pose another challenge for the Jacksonville offense.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Sep 16 1:40am CT
Travis Etienne

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. scored the team's lone touchdown in an 18-13 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with 13 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, and added three catches for six yards. Etienne Jr. put up a solid fantasy performance, but given the offensive struggles of the Jaguars, his upside has been limited through two weeks. Fantasy managers drafted the Clemson product near the top of drafts, so a touchdown-dependent RB2 is not what they hoped for. Etienne Jr. was expected to be one of the few high-volume backs in the NFL this season, but he only has 29 touches through two games. For comparison, San Francisco 49ers backup running back turned starter Jordan Mason had 29 touches just in Week 1. The Jaguars take on the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, who struggled to contain Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane this past Thursday.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Sep 16 1:40am CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. showed off his speed in an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. BTJ finished with 92 yards receiving on just two catches and four targets. The rookie receiver now has four targets in each of the first two games. In a game where the offense struggled, the LSU product produced one of the few highlights with a 66-yard bomb late in the third quarter. While it is great he made a big play and produced a high yardage output, this performance shows exactly the type of volatility fantasy managers can expect out of BTJ. He will not garner many targets each week but has the talent to be a boom-or-bust fantasy receiver. BTJ now has put up two solid fantasy performances in two weeks, with a touchdown in Week 1 and a big yardage total in Week 2. The Jaguars face off with the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, where BTJ will look to continue making big plays in an otherwise stagnant offense.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Sep 16 1:40am CT
Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a promising start in Houston on Sunday but struggled in the second half. The No. 1 overall pick was impressive early, completing all five passes for 55 yards on the Bears' opening drive, including two notable third-down completions to DeAndre Carter and DJ Moore. Williams finished the first half with 12 completions on 15 attempts for 91 yards, but frequent mistakes by the Bears undermined his performance. The team had four false starts and a delay of game right after a TV timeout, failed to convert a third-and-1 with a quarterback sneak, and barely managed a fourth-and-inches conversion from the shotgun. The rookie also threw interceptions on consecutive drives in the second half, compounding the challenges. Despite these issues, Williams and the Bears had a chance to win with 1:37 left on the clock. Williams connected with Rome Odunze for a 27-yard gain on the first play of the drive, but two plays later, Danielle Hunter sacked him for an eight-yard loss, and a fourth-down pass to Odunze fell incomplete after a miscommunication. Williams ended the game with 23 completions on 37 attempts for 174 yards and two interceptions. With seven sacks and frequent pressure, Williams was forced into hurried throws and poor decisions. Until the Bears' offense improves, Williams is not a viable starting fantasy quarterback.

From RotoBaller

Christian Kirk Sep 16 1:40am CT
Christian Kirk

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk put up yet another dud in an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with just one catch for negative one yard, giving him two catches and 29 yards through two games. Kirk was considered a safer option among the Jaguars receivers coming into the season given his experience and his familiarity with the offense. However, he has been nonexistent both in real football and in fantasy. At this point, it's hard to fathom keeping Kirk in fantasy beyond deeper leagues. With Evan Engram a surprise pre-game scratch, Kirk had the chance to step up, but instead, it was backup tight end Brenton Strange who filled the void with three catches for 65 yards. To make matters worse, the 27-year-old was fifth on the team in targets with three, behind Brian Thomas Jr., Strange, Gabe Davis, and Travis Etienne Jr. Kirk will look to get going against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, but it is hard to imagine that will happen at the moment.

From RotoBaller

Alex Highsmith Sep 16 12:20am CT
Alex Highsmith

The Pittsburgh Steelers held the Denver Broncos to six points and recorded two sacks, two interceptions, and six tackles for loss in a Week 2 victory. Star edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith applied pressure on rookie quarterback Bo Nix while defensive backs Damontae Kazee and Cory Trice Jr. made plays in Pittsburgh's secondary. Heading into Week 3, the Steelers have surrendered just one touchdown and 16 total points. They may face their toughest challenge yet in the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday, but fantasy managers should trust Pittsburgh's DST to perform well at home.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Sep 16 12:10am CT
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell converted on both of his field goal attempts and was successful on his lone extra-point try of a 13-6 win against the Denver Broncos. Week 1's AFC Special Teams Player of the Week drilled a 53-yarder in the third quarter for his fourth make of 50 or more yards already in 2024. When Pittsburgh's offense stalls, Boswell has proven to be a reliable source of points, but there are sure to be similarly slow-paced and low-scoring affairs in his future this season. The veteran should nonetheless be a decent fantasy play against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Diontae Johnson Sep 16 12:10am CT
Diontae Johnson

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson caught three of his six targets for 15 yards in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Johnson once again led the team in targets, but for the second week in a row, was unable to convert it into fantasy production. As it has looked over the past two weeks, it looks unlikely that the Panthers offense will be able to support multiple fantasy viable pass-catching options, let alone one. That being said, an encouraging target share can give fantasy managers some hope that Johnson will be the No. 1 option should Carolina start to produce more effectively on offense. Fantasy managers can look to take Johnson out of lineups and on to the bench for their Week 3 clash with the Las Vegas Raiders, until it is seen that this unit can produce.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Sep 16 12:10am CT
Bo Nix

The Denver Broncos defense/special teams was nothing special in the Week 2 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver on Sunday. One week after the Broncos defense surprised with two safeties and two turnovers, they failed to generate any turnovers and produced only two sacks of quarterback Justin Fields. The Denver D did hold Pittsburgh to under 300 yards of total offense and only 13 total points, but their rushing defense has been a weak spot through the first two weeks after allowing 141 yards on the ground to the Steelers on Sunday. The Broncos defense has kept them in the first two games, but a Bo Nix-led offense hasn't helped them out at all, scoring just one touchdown in eight quarters. At best, Denver's D/ST will be a streaming option in deeper leagues going into a Week 3 tilt on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Sep 16 12:00am CT
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth came down with all four of his targets for 39 receiving yards in a Week 2 victory over the Denver Broncos. It was fellow tight end Darnell Washington who scored Pittsburgh's first touchdown of the 2024 campaign, but Freiermuth continued to operate as a reliable weapon for quarterback Justin Fields. In its current state, the Steelers' offense doesn't offer much for fantasy managers to get excited about, but it's clear that Freiermuth has a significant role as one of the top pass-catchers on the roster. The 25-year-old will look to generate more production with his opportunities when facing the Los Angeles Chargers at home in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Sep 16 12:00am CT
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell caught just one of his four targets for a 30-yard gain in the team's Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. This now marks the second week in a row Mitchell saw favorable targets and air yards but has been unable to turn them into fantasy production. Mitchell's speed and separation abilities are undeniable, but he hasn't shown that he has a safe enough floor as a member of this Colts offense to warrant starting him with confidence in lineups. On top of that, the Colts are expecting WR Josh Downs (knee) to return back to the fold eventually, and it's unclear who's snap share will take the largest hit as a result. Fantasy managers will need to monitor Downs' Week 3 status before closely starting Mitchell in lineups, and even then, he can be considered a boom-or-bust WR4 option with the hopes that he can connect on a deep ball or two from Richardson.

From RotoBaller

Wil Lutz Sep 16 12:00am CT
Wil Lutz

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz was the team's offense in a 13-6 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver on Sunday. Lutz finished as a top-10 fantasy kicker in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks after going 3-for-3 on his field goals while making his only extra-point try. The 30-year-old veteran was only called on twice for field goals this Sunday, connecting on a long of 35. The Bo Nix-led Denver offense was stuck in the mud all day for the second straight week, and the only time they entered the red zone, Nix threw an ugly interception in the back of the end zone. Lutz has been one of the more reliable kickers over the years in terms of field-goal percentage, but he's going to be off the fantasy radar in most leagues on a weekly basis if the Broncos offense continues to look as bad as it has in Nix's first two career starts. Ignore him for a Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Sep 16 12:00am CT
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard carried the ball ten times for 64 yards in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Hubbard also caught four of his five targets for an additional 12 yards through the air. Hubbard was the lone bright spot in Carolina's offense today, putting together a solid fantasy outing despite the negative game script in another lopsided loss. He also out carried RB Miles Sanders ten to seven, confirming that he will continue to see most of the work between the two moving forward. While practically every member of the Panthers offense can be benched in lineups moving forward, Hubbard looks to be the exception. Fantasy managers can include him as a RB2/3 option in Week 3 when the Panthers face the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Sep 16 12:00am CT
Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 18 of his 26 throws for just 84 yards and one interception in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He also carried the ball once for another six yards on the ground. Young once again struggled to provide a spark to Carolina's passing offense, as the Panther's offensive line has struggled to protect him as well as give him adequate time to throw. This now makes the second week in a row without a touchdown pass for Young, as Carolina has scored just one in total in their first two matchups. The former Alabama man and the majority of the Panther's offense can be kept on the sidelines in their Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders until it is seen that this unit can produce enough to obtain fantasy relevance.

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton Sep 15 11:50pm CT
Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton disappointed with just one reception on four targets for 26 yards in the team's Week 2 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver on Sunday. After seeing a team-high 12 targets in the season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Sutton saw just four looks against a strong Steelers defense this weekend and continued his inefficiency working with rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Through two games, the 28-year-old has only five catches for 64 yards on 16 total targets. Sutton should finish the year as the team's most targeted wideout, but right now, fantasy managers shouldn't feel comfortable using him as a WR4/flex on a weekly basis. Look for the Broncos to get Sutton more involved in their Week 3 road matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next weekend.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Sep 15 11:50pm CT
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught just three of his seven targets for 21 yards in the team's loss to the Green Bay Packers. This now makes the second week in a row Pittman was the most targeted pass-catcher but has been unable to convert the target share into fantasy production. The Colts' passing offense remains unpredictable, with QB Anthony Richardson at the helm as volume remains relatively low. Although it is another bust of a week for Pittman, he remains the No. 1 option for Richardson which should help ease the worries of fantasy managers. Fantasy managers in more shallow leagues can consider benching him next week until it's seen that he and Richardson's chemistry can materialize. Still, managers in deeper formats can look to include him as a WR3 option in the team's Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Sep 15 11:50pm CT
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens finished with just two receptions for 29 yards on four targets in the team's 13-6 win over the Denver Broncos. Although Pickens was quiet for fantasy purposes, this is a case where the box score statistics don't quite tell the whole story. In the second quarter, Pickens came down with an impressive catch on an even better throw by quarterback Justin Fields that was ultimately called back due to holding. On Pittsburgh's next possession, Pickens took a short pass into the endzone for a six-yard score, but an offensive pass interference call on receiver Van Jefferson erased the touchdown. All in all, this was a difficult matchup for Pickens to begin with, so fantasy managers should choose to be optimistic given his usage as the clear WR1 in this offense. Pickens and the Steelers will hope to put more points on the board in their home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Greg Dulcich Sep 15 11:50pm CT
Greg Dulcich

About the only positive note for Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich on Sunday in the 13-6 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers was that he garnered a team-high eight targets from struggling rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Dulcich was only able to come down with three of those eight targets for 16 yards receiving in a day in which the Broncos didn't score a single touchdown on offense. It's clear that Dulcich, and not Adam Trautman, is the team's top pass-catching option at the position after the first two games of the season. However, with the Broncos' offense looking like one of the worst in the NFL after the first two weeks, Dulcich isn't going to be on the fantasy radar in 12-team fantasy leagues or leagues that start only one tight end. The 24-year-old caught just two of three targets for 12 yards in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Will Reichard Sep 15 11:40pm CT
Will Reichard

Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard went 3-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points during Sunday's Week 2 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His successful field goals came from 22, 27, and 39 yards out. The rookie out of Alabama hadn't previously attempted an NFL field goal, but that didn't seem to slow him down as he cruised to double-digit fantasy points on Sunday afternoon. As long as the Vikings continue to play well, Reichard will have some streaming appeal in fantasy leagues with 14 teams or more.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Sep 15 11:40pm CT
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren turned nine carries into 42 rushing yards and two catches into 19 receiving yards in a Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos. Warren, who saw just four opportunities in Pittsburgh's season opener, had a much more prominent role on Sunday and was effective with his touches. He continues to run behind teammate Najee Harris but could push for even more snaps next week as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. Although the third-year pro lacks touchdown upside, he is a skilled pass-catcher who should be rostered in PPR formats. He will project as an RB3 or low-end flex option against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

From RotoBaller