Studs and Duds: Week 3

Mon Sep 22 9:42am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Taylor comes up huge Week 3


The games were absolutely bonkers this week. Not sure if your fantasy games played out the same way, but the finishes for many of the NFL games were pretty amazing. It made for some great entertainment this week. Here is hoping your fantasy games turned out just as amazing in Week 3.

Bills 31, Dolphins 21

Fantasy Stud: James Cook. Cook continued his red-hot start, hitting the 100-yard rushing mark once again. He had 19 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. Cook also caught three passes for 10 yards, giving him 20.8 fantasy points. Cook has hit 20-plus fantasy points every single game this year. He is having a big season and looks to be a bargain right now for the fantasy owners that drafted him

Fantasy Dud: Keon Coleman. Coleman has been pretty quiet since his huge Week 1 performance. Coleman had three receptions for 20 yards. He has six receptions for 46 yards his last two games. He is a hard player to trust in an offense that likes to spread the ball around to a host of options in the passing game.

Game Notes: Ollie Gordon got his most work as a pro and looked pretty good. He ran nine times for 38 yards and a touchdown. Gordon had just three carries his previous two games.

Dalton Kincaid scored a touchdown for the second time in three games. He had five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. His reception and yardage totals were season highs.

Panthers 30, Falcons 0

Fantasy Stud: Panthers defense. This unit played a great game, shutting out the Falcons. Carolina also had two interceptions and a fumble recovery. It was an impressive performance from a defense that hasn’t been the best to start the season. Carolina showed they might have some spot start appeal for fantasy owners going forward

Fantasy Dud: Michael Penix. Penix had an awful game, eventually finding his way to the bench with his team down so big. He was just 18-of-36 for 172 yards with two interceptions. Penix scored just 7.5 fantasy points. He has fewer than 10 fantasy points two straight games.

Game Notes: Bijan Robinson topped 100 total yards despite his offense playing terrible. He ran 13 times for 72 yards and caught five passes for 39 yards, giving him 11 total yards.

Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle both had double-digit carries. Hubbard ran 17 times for 73 yards while Dowdle had 10 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Steelers 21, Patriots 14

Fantasy Stud: Hunter Henry. Henry had a huge game, catching eight passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Henry was targeted a season-high 11 times. He had double-digit fantasy points two of three games. He is quickly becoming a go-to target in the Patriots offense

Fantasy Dud: Stefon Diggs. Diggs had just three receptions for 23 yards. Diggs had just 5.3 fantasy points, giving him fewer than double-digit fantasy points two of three games. The Patriots spread it around to a host of receivers on a weekly basis, making any of them tough to start for fantasy owners.

Game Notes: Rhamondre Stevenson lost two fumbles in the game, including one at the goal line. Antonio Gibson also lost a fumble. TreVeyon Henderson ended up getting a lot of the work at running back, rushing 11 times for 28 yards. He also caught three passes for 18 yards.

DK Metcalf scored a touchdown for the second straight game. He had three receptions for 32 yards and a score.

Colts 41, Titans 20

Fantasy Stud: Jonathan Taylor. Taylor continued his really strong start, rushing 17 times for 102 yards and three touchdowns. He had three receptions for 16 yards. He scored 32.8 fantasy points. Taylor has 29-plus points two straight games. He is making a case for best fantasy back in the game right now in this surprising offense

Fantasy Dud: Calvin Ridley. Ridley had just a reception for 27 yards. It was really a disappointing game for Ridley, who had a pretty good history against the Colts. Ridley has not topped nine fantasy points in a single game. He is off to a terrible start, struggling to get on the same page with rookie quarterback Cam Ward.

Game Notes: Michael Pittman had six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. He has scores two of his first three games.

Elic Ayomanor found the end zone for a second straight game. He had four receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown on five targets.

Jaguars 17. Texans 10

Fantasy Stud: Nico Collins. There were not many big fantasy performances in this one, but Collins was a bright spot. He had eight receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. He did lose a fumble but had a season-high 23.4 fantasy points on 11 targets. He has touchdowns two straight games now. His team might be struggling but Collins is still producing pretty well

Fantasy Dud: Brian Thomas. Thomas continues to disappoint. He had two receptions for 55 yards. He still has not had double-digit fantasy points in a game. The only positive is he keeps getting the looks, having 25 in three games. Hopefully, he gets it going sooner than later.

Game Notes: Brenton Strange led the way in the passing game for the Jaguars. He had six receptions for 61 yards. Strange has 50-plus yards two of three games.

Trevor Lawrence had his struggles once again, failing to score a touchdown. He was 20-of-40 for 222 yards with an interception. Lawrence has four interceptions in four games.

Vikings 48, Bengals 10

Fantasy Stud: Jordan Mason. Mason got to handle all of the workload at running back with Aaron Jones out. He took advantage, rushing 16 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Mason scored 23.6 fantasy points. It was the first time all year he had double-digit fantasy points

Fantasy Dud: Tee Higgins. Most of the Bengals offense could make this list but we’ll give it to Higgins. He had just a catch for 10 yards. Higgins still hasn’t topped 60 yards in a game. And with Jake Browning struggling this week, you have to wonder about Higgins going forward in this offense.

Game Notes: Jack Browning really struggled, going 19-of-27 for just 140 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.

Carson Wentz did his job in his first start of the season for the Vikings. He didn’t turn the ball over, finishing 14-of-20 for 173 yards and two touchdowns.

Bucs 29, Jets 27

Fantasy Stud: Garrett Wilson. Wilson had a big game despite not piling up the yards. He had 10 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Wilson was targeted 13 times and has at least eight targets all three games this year. This is his second game with 20-plus fantasy points

Fantasy Dud: Breece Hall. Hall was pretty quiet for the second straight game. He failed to hit double-digit fantasy points. He ran nine times for just 21 yards and had four catches for 31 yards. He is becoming a hard player to trust, failing to reach 30-rushing yards two straight.

Game Notes: Mike Evans was forced from the game early because of a hamstring injury. He had four receptions for 33 yards and a score before getting hurt.

Emeka Egbuka was able to play with his various injuries and looked great once again. He had six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Browns 13, Packers 10

Fantasy Stud: Quinshon Judkins. In a game with little offense, Judkins came up big for the Browns. He ran 18 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a pass for a yard. Judkins is quickly becoming the focal point of this Browns offense. He has double-digit fantasy points each of the games he has played this year

Fantasy Dud: Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy had just a catch for 17 yards. He has just 10 receptions on the season and hit double-digit fantasy points once. Jeudy is getting looks, having 21 targets, but isn’t doing a whole lot with them. He is off to a really slow start.

Game Notes: Matthew Golden had his best game as a pro. He had four receptions for 52 yards and three rushes for nine yards.

Josh Jacobs was bottled up but his work in the passing game saved his fantasy numbers. He rushed 16 times for just 30 yards but had five receptions for 44 yards on nine targets. He scored 12.4 fantasy points.

Eagles 33, Rams 26

Fantasy Stud: Jalen Hurts. Now this was the Hurts most were expecting. It seemed all it took was for the Eagles to get down big, giving Hurts more chances to air it out down the field. He was 21-of-32 for 226 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He also ran nine times for 40 yards and a touchdown, giving him four total touchdowns. Hurts scored 32.3 fantasy points and attempted more than 30 passes for the first time all year.

Fantasy Dud: Saquon Barkley. Barkley had a rare poor showing. He ran 18 times for 46 yards, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. He had four receptions for nine yards, finishing with just 9.5 fantasy points. It was his first game all season with fewer than 17 fantasy points.

Game Notes: A.J. Brown more than doubled his yardage total for the season. He had six receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. He has been targeted 18 times his last two games.

Puka Nacua had double-digit receptions for the second time this year. He had 11 receptions for 112 yards on 15 targets.

Commanders 41, Raiders 24

Fantasy Stud: Tre Tucker. His team lost but Tucker had a monster game for any fantasy team that actually started him. He had eight receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran once for three yards. Tucker had a game-winning performance for fantasy teams, scoring 40.9 fantasy points

Fantasy Dud: Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty continued his slow start to the season. He ran 17 times for 63 yards and didn’t catch a pass. It was the first time all season he failed to record a reception. Jeanty has fewer than eight fantasy points two straight. 

Game Notes: All three running backs for the Commanders scored. Chris Rodriguez had the most attempts, rushing 11 times for 39 yards and a touchdown. Jeremy McNichols led the team in rushing yards, running four times for 78 yards and a score. And Jacory Croskey-Merritt had eight rushes for 26 yards and a touchdown.

Marcus Mariota did a good job filling in for Jayden Daniels. He was 15-of-21 for 207 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Mariota ran six times for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Seahawks 44, Saints 13

Fantasy Stud: Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba had five receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. He has at least 18 fantasy points all three games and 20-plus points two of those games. He also has at least 96 yards all three games. Smith-Njigba is having a huge season as the clear No. 1 target for the Seahawks

Fantasy Dud: Alvin Kamara. This looked like a great matchup for Kamara but game script mattered in this one. He played little in the second half with the Saints getting blown out. He did not do much with his chances early in the game as well, rushing 18 times for just 42 yards. He also caught just a pass for 14 yards. Kamara is going to get a ton of touches in this offense but might have a few more duds like this because the Saints are very good.

Game Notes: Rookie Tory Horton returned a punt for a touchdown and also had a touchdown reception. He finished with three receptions for 32 yards and a score.

Kenneth Walker barely did anything on the ground but found the end zone two times. He ran 16 times for 38 yards and two touchdowns.

Bears 31, Cowboys 14

Fantasy Stud: Caleb Williams. Williams had one of his best games of his young career. He was 19-of-28 for 298 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. Williams has 20-plus fantasy points every game and scored 32.3 points in this one, which was a season high. Williams is having a breakout fantasy season in this offense

Fantasy Dud: Dak Prescott. You thought Prescott might have a huge game in this matchup but he didn’t do a whole lot. He missed on just nine passes, but was 31-of-40 for 251 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Prescott failed to score 20 fantasy points, scoring just 16.6 points.

Game Notes: CeeDee Lamb suffered an ankle injury and tried to return but immediately left once again. He did not have a reception in the game.

Rookie Luther Burden was a lot more involved offensively. He had a 100-yard game, catching three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Burden also ran once for seven yards.

Chargers 23, Broncos 20

Fantasy Stud: Omarion Hampton. Hampton got his most run as a pro because of an injury and took advantage, posting big numbers. He ran 19 times for 69 yards and a touchdown. Hampton also was a huge factor in the passing game, catching six passes for 60 yards. Hampton had 24.9 fantasy points and should be the clear lead back in this offense going forward

Fantasy Dud: Bo Nix. Nix was not much of a help to fantasy teams. He didn’t even manage 200-passing yards, going 14-of-25 for 153 yards and a touchdown. Nix had 14.95 fantasy points. He has fewer than 15 fantasy points two of three games, failing to post those big fantasy numbers his owners hoped.

Game Notes: Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles’ early in the game. He had six carries for 28 yards before getting hurt. Harris is done for the season.

Courtland Sutton rebounded from his terrible one-catch game with his first 100-yard game of the season. He finished with six receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.

49ers 16, Cardinals 15

Fantasy Stud: Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey continues to carry the offense. He had 17 touches. He ran 17 times for 52 yards and caught 10 passes for 88 yards. McCaffrey had 24 fantasy points, giving him at least 22 fantasy points all three games. He is paying off for all those owners that took a chance on him this year. Let’s hope he stays healthy.

Fantasy Dud: Marvin Harrison. Harrison just can’t get it going and had a terrible drop in this game that would have been a big play, making matters even worse for him. He had three catches for 44 yards. Harrison has just 71 yards his last two games after having 71 in Week 1. He is showing few signs of breaking out.

Game Notes: James Conner suffered a serious ankle injury and had to be carted off the field. He had nine carries for 22 yards. Trey Benson took over the lead back role and had 10 carries for 42 yards.

Ricky Pearsall hit the 100-yard mark for the second time this season. He had eight receptions for 117 yards on 11 targets.

Chiefs 22, Giants 9

Fantasy Stud: Cam Skattebo. Skattebo got to handle much of the workload at running back with Tyrone Tracy getting hurt early in the game. Skattebo ran 10 times for 60 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team in receiving, catching six passes for 61 yards. He showed his dual-threat ability. And if Tracy has to miss some time, Skattebo could get a similar big workload going forward for the Giants.

Fantasy Dud: Malik Nabers. Nabers had a terrible showing, catching just two passes for 13 yards. The Chiefs really put the clamps on him, doubling him much of the game. He just didn’t have much room to run. You still expect Nabers to somehow produce but it didn’t happen in this one. And with Russell Wilson struggling, that doesn’t help matters for Nabers. It was just a bad night for Nabers.

Game Notes: Tyquan Thornton led the Chiefs in receiving. He had five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. He has touchdowns two straight games.

Russell Wilson had a monster game last week but really struggled in this one. He was 18-of-32 for 160 yards with two interceptions. The calls for rookie Jaxson Dart keep growing louder and louder in New York.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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The Paur Report

Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 3

Player Notes
Breece Hall Sep 23 3:40pm ET
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall failed to make an impact in Sunday's 29-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, totaling 21 yards on nine totes and an additional 31 through the air on 4-of-6 receiving. With New York pigeon-holing itself into a game plan centered around short passes, the 24-year-old couldn't get anything going on the ground, marking his second straight outing with fewer than 30 rushing yards. Perhaps even more concerning, he's losing out on playing time due to his ineffectiveness as a pass blocker. Hall is a talented runner, and his receiving work should keep him in the RB2 mix more often than not. However, sharing his workload in an unstable Jets offense means his fantasy floor -- and ceiling -- are lower than in seasons past. He'll try to rebound in a dream Week 4 meeting with the lowly Dolphins' rush defense.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Sep 23 3:30pm ET
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara rushed 18 times for just 42 yards and added one catch for 14 yards on two targets in the blowout loss to the Seahawks. His 50 rushing attempts through three weeks rank ninth in the league, though his 3.3 targets per game are well below his career average of 6.25. Kamara's usage on the ground remains high despite a limited role in the passing game, and the Saints face a Bills defense in Week 4 that recently allowed De'Von Achane seven receptions for 36 yards and 5.2 yards per carry on the ground. Negative game script may continue, but Kamara is expected to see a mix of carries and targets in both the run and passing game, keeping him relevant in fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Sep 23 3:30pm ET
Xavier Worthy

ESPN's Nate Taylor writes that the Kansas City Chiefs are optimistic that wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) will be able to "play a limited role" for the offense while "wearing a small harness" in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid are confident the team can "continue to be successful on deep passes" with Tyquan Thornton running routes alongside Worthy. Thornton has taken over as the team's primary deep threat since Worthy dislocated his shoulder in the Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and he's become an interesting short-term waiver-wire target with Rashee Rice still suspended for another three games. Worthy has missed the last two weeks. It sounds as though he has a real chance to play in Week 4, but with his snaps likely limited, he'll be an easy fade in fantasy if he's active.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Shough Sep 23 3:00pm ET
Tyler Shough

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough saw his first action of the season on Sunday, entering the game for his team's final drive in a blowout loss to the Seahawks. He threw twice on his three plays, missing an open tight end in the flat and sailing a deep pass out of bounds while taking a hit. Starting quarterback Spencer Rattler is now 0-9 dating back to last year, so any spark provided by Shough in his limited work could have fueled momentum for a quarterback change. Shough did not look impressive in the preseason, and although the sample size was tiny on Sunday, he still does not look ready to lead an NFL offense. With the Saints in line for an early pick in next year's draft, fantasy managers holding Shough might want to see what they can get for him the moment they hear rumblings of him starting a game.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Sep 23 2:50pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Carolina running back Rico Dowdle saw his heaviest usage of the season and scored his first touchdown as a Panther in Sunday's blowout win over the Falcons. Dowdle turned 10 carries into 30 yards, with his touchdown coming late in the 4th quarter. The Panthers led throughout, which significantly contributed to Dowdle's increased usage. He did run for over 1,00 yards last season with the Cowboys, so he's far from incapable should the Panthers look to create a more even backfield split, but the team's 30 rushes on Sunday were a season-high. The Panthers face the Patriots in Week 4, who have been stout against the run but susceptible to pass-catching backs. Dowdle's five targets through three games suggest that he won't be used in that role and can therefore be kept on the bench for another week.

From RotoBaller

Isaac TeSlaa Sep 23 2:40pm ET
Isaac TeSlaa

For the first time in his young career, Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa was held without a catch in Monday night's win over the Ravens. The rookie out of Arkansas was targeted twice, which represented a season-high, but he was unable to come down with a circus grab, as he had in each of his first two games. TeSlaa's talent has popped when given opportunities, but with only four targets through three weeks, those opportunities are not coming with nearly enough frequency to put him in consideration for a flex spot. Wherever possible, he should still be held at the end of benches, as Detroit's coaching staff has already talked about ramping up his usage, and his versatility gives him flexibility to fill multiple roles should an injury occur at the top of the depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Sep 23 2:40pm ET
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave absorbed 14 of the team's 41 pass attempts in Week 3 in their blowout loss to the Seahawks, which was good for a target share of over 34%. He turned those looks into 10 receptions for 54 yards, and through three weeks, he leads the league with 37 total targets. Olave has shown a strong connection with starting quarterback Spencer Rattler, and while he has yet to find the end zone, his heavy volume makes him a steady PPR option as Kellen Moore's offense continues to lean pass-heavy. He'll face a Bills secondary in Week 4 that has already surrendered four receiving touchdowns to opposing wideouts, and with New Orleans currently sitting as a 16.5-point underdog, the game script should once again funnel plenty of targets Olave's way.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Sep 23 2:30pm ET
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill saw a season high of four targets in Monday night's loss to the Lions. He caught three for 45 yards, which more than doubled his passing yards from the first two weeks. However, in a game where bell cow Derrick Henry failed to get rolling, outside of an early touchdown run, and had a costly fumble late in the game, Hill was not given a single carry. On a Ravens team not projected to see many multiple-score deficits, this was the exact game script that should have been to Hill's benefit. And while 45 yards from the running back position can be a fantasy difference maker, it's less impactful when it's the entirety of his output. With a more favorable schedule coming up for Baltimore, there will be few, if any, opportunities to sneak Hill into a flex spot.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Sep 23 2:10pm ET
DeAndre Hopkins

After catching a touchdown in each of his first two games with the Baltimore Ravens, receiver DeAndre Hopkins was not able to cash in on Monday night. For the third straight game, he saw exactly two targets, but without securing a touchdown, his one catch for 13 yards barely made a blip on fantasy radars. In a game that saw Lamar Jackson drop back a season-high 37 times, Rashod Bateman was the only Ravens wide receiver to see more than two targets, while the offense was propelled by tight end Mark Andrews and his six grabs for 91 yards and two scores. Hopkins is still too good a player not to see his share of high-impact plays moving forward, but trying to predict when they will occur is not a winning formula. He can be left on the bench or dropped.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Sep 23 1:13pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

Dynasty | Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb will miss 2-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain. Dynasty Analysis: Two weeks seems really optimistic based on what we saw Sunday, but we'll see in the end. Lamb is obviously critical to both the Cowboys and dynasty teams as a bona fide WR1 and any missed time is catastrophic on both fronts. The missed time will probably eliminate any chance he had at being this year's WR1, an honor looking more and more like it will go to Puka Nacua or Amon-Ra St. Brown.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Mike Evans Sep 23 1:13pm ET
Mike Evans

Dynasty | Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans will miss around a month with a hamstring issue. Dynasty Analysis: It's a low-grade issue but hamstrings can be tricky. Tampa Bay will undoubtedly play it safe with Evans, especially with Chris Godwin ready to come back as soon as this week. Evans' streak of 1,000-yard seasons will again be in jeopardy but at least this doesn't look like something that's going to affect his entire season. He remains a buy low candidate for a contending team.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jaxson Dart Sep 23 1:13pm ET
Jaxson Dart

Dynasty | The Giants will start rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in week four. Dynasty Analysis: And with that, the Russell Wilson era in New York is now over. Dart has shown flashes in camp and in the preseason but that means little once you hit the field on a real Sunday. The Giants are 0-3 and desperate to do something as their coaches and front office are clearly on the hot seat. Dart should have the rest of the season to prove he can be a capable starter or the Giants will again look at the NFL Draft to possibly find a long-term solution. Dart's ADP will now rise with the news.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jaxson Dart Sep 23 1:13pm ET
Jaxson Dart

Dynasty | Giants quarterback Russell Wilson has been replaced by Jaxson Dart. Dynasty Analysis: Wilson had a monster game against Dallas with 450 passing yards but completed just 35-of-69 passes for 328 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in his other two starts this season as the Giants fell to 0-3. While not completely to blame for their woes, Wilson just isn't the same player he once was and really isn't that endearing to teammates, thus the change. He's a trade candidate for a team that loses their starter in the coming weeks and it would also be no surprise if he asked for his release. His dynasty value, however, is just about exhausted.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Tyquan Thornton Sep 23 1:10pm ET
Tyquan Thornton

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has exceeded expectations through the first three weeks of the 2025 season and "has been a larger contributor for the offense than anyone on the team could have expected when the season began three weeks ago," according to ESPN's Nate Taylor. Thornton led the team with five catches for a career-high 71 yards in Sunday night's win over the New York Giants, including a touchdown. The 25-year-old has stepped up with Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy (shoulder) injured, and he's quickly developed strong chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. KC has used Thornton's speed to exploit man-to-man coverages, and Mahomes has completed a deep pass to him in all three games. Mahomes is averaging 25.2 air yards when targeting Thornton. Although Thornton's role will almost certainly shrink when the Chiefs get both Rice and Worthy back, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder deserves a look on the waiver wire right now for those hurting at the receiver position. He's rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Sep 23 1:00pm ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) is uncertain to play in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons due to a quadriceps injury he suffered in the Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. McLaurin is still seeking more information on his injury. Before getting hurt on Sunday, the 30-year-old had three catches for 74 yards on his four targets while playing 35 offensive snaps. On top of McLaurin potentially missing Week 4, quarterback Jayden Daniels may miss a second straight game due to a knee sprain he suffered in Week 2. If McLaurin is unable to play this weekend, Deebo Samuel Sr., Luke McCaffrey, and rookie Jaylin Lane would likely be the starters in three-wide sets. Tight end Zach Ertz would also see more targets in the passing game. With McLaurin injured on Sunday, McCaffrey scored his first touchdown of the year.

From RotoBaller

Jaxson Dart Sep 23 12:50pm ET
Jaxson Dart

The New York Giants are making rookie first-rounder Jaxson Dart their starting quarterback and will bench veteran Russell Wilson heading into a Week 4 contest this Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Giants had a package of plays for Dart in the first three weeks, but he did not attempt a pass. Wilson threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, but he looked washed up in the other two games and led the team to an 0-3 start. With both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll on the hot seat in 2025, they will turn to Dart early on to try to save their jobs. The 22-year-old from Ole Miss looked great in the preseason, going 32-for-47 for 372 yards, three TDs, and no interceptions, but he'll face a swarming L.A. defense in his first NFL start this weekend. Dart should be rostered in two-QB superflex leagues, but expect growing pains with more tough opponents coming on the Giants' schedule.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Sep 23 12:30pm ET
Mike Evans

Updating a previous report, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) will miss three to four weeks due to a moderate hamstring strain that he suffered in the Week 3 win over the New York Jets, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The Bucs don't think Evans' hamstring injury is as severe as the one that cost him four weeks last year, but the 32-year-old future Hall of Famer is going to miss at least a couple of weeks. The good news is that Tampa could be getting Chris Godwin (ankle) back in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time since he dislocated his ankle in Week 7 of 2024. Rookie first-round wideout Emeka Egbuka is probably going to operate as the WR1 with Evans out as the team eases Godwin back into the fold. Sterling Shepard will also see an uptick in targets out of the slot, and he's worth a look on the waiver wire for some added short-term production.

From RotoBaller

J.J. McCarthy Sep 23 12:20pm ET
J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) has already ditched his walking boot on his sprained right ankle, and the team is hoping to "get him up to speed quickly," according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. However, O'Connell declined to say if he was 100 percent committed to starting McCarthy over Carson Wentz once McCarthy is healthy. Wentz threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and didn't commit any turnovers in a 48-10 blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 with McCarthy sidelined, and McCarthy has already been ruled out for Week 4 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. O'Connell doesn't want the former first-rounder to play until mobility and ability to practice aren't affected by his ankle. The Michigan product had the NFL's second-lowest QBR (20.3) in the Week 2 loss to the Falcons, and it sounds like Minnesota isn't going to rush McCarthy back into the starting role until they're confident that he's ready. O'Connell said "there is value" in watching a veteran like Wentz play.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Sep 23 12:03pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (hamstring) is expected to miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, according to sources. The injury isn't as bad as the one from last season, and he's going to work to beat the timeline.

Fantasy Spin: The good news for the Bucs is that Chris Godwin (ankle) is nearing a return, which could come as early as Week 4. Emeka Egbuka is the WR11 in PPR leagues, and he may see tougher coverage while Evans is out and Godwin gets acclimated. Godwin is merely a flex candidate if he returns against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From TheHuddle

Mike Evans Sep 23 12:00pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Pelissero notes that this injury is not as bad as the hamstring injury Evans suffered in 2024, which caused him to miss three games. A two-week absence would put Evans on track to return in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers. The 32-year-old had recorded 14 catches on 27 targets for 140 yards and a touchdown before getting injured in Week 3. In Evans' absence, Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka could be in line for a massive target share and is a must-start fantasy wide receiver while Evans is sidelined. The team could also be getting veteran wideout Chris Godwin (ankle) back from injury in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Godwin may get eased back into the lineup, but his fantasy outlook is no doubt improved by Evans' injury.

From RotoBaller