Week 12 NFL Capsules

Fri Nov 22 1:01pm ET
Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) at Carolina Panthers (3-7), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

At Buffalo last week, Kansas City came out on the losing end of a game for the first time since last Christmas. The Chiefs don't lose, so it stands to reason they almost never drop back-to-back games. Kansas City lost back-to-back games once last season but not at all during their 14-3 season in 2022. They dropped two in a row once in 2021 and finished 12-5 but ran up a 14-2 record in 2020 without losing consecutive games. Carolina has a winning streak for the first time since getting two in a row on either side of a bye week in 2022. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said he can see a difference in confidence in QB Bryce Young, who regained the starting job three weeks ago and is 2-1 since replacing Andy Dalton. Now out of their bye week to face the Chiefs, the Panthers are determined to grind the ball with Chuba Hubbard and rookie Jonathan Brooks. Hubbard rushed for a career-best 153 yards in Carolina's Nov. 10 win in London and Brooks, a second-round pick coming back from a torn ACL, is set to debut. The Chiefs have used Kareem Hunt (3.7 yards per carry in 2024) as their primary ballcarrier since Week 2, when Isiah Pacheco fractured his leg. Until Pacheco is back to his contact-seeking self, Kansas City plans to spread the ball around. QB Patrick Mahomes has two three-TD performances in the past three games after totaling eight TD passes in the first seven games.

Detroit Lions (9-1) at Indianapolis Colts (5-6), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

A second tone-setting defender went on the shelf for the Lions, who placed LB Alex Anzalone on IR and have been working without DE Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit now plans to lean on second-year LB Jack Campbell and its record-setting offense at Indianapolis. The Lions own the NFC's best record and the NFL's No. 1 offense, averaging more than five touchdowns per game during their eight-game winning streak. The Colts can't afford to be cautious, but giving the ball away to QB Jared Goff and Detroit all but guarantees defeat. Indianapolis reinstalled QB Anthony Richardson as the starter last week and he rewarded coach Shane Steichen's trust with a 28-27 comeback win against the Jets. The Colts have 18 turnovers, and Richardson owns 11 with four fumbles. Bet your Honolulu blues that's on Dan Campbell's scouting report this week. The Lions put 52 points on the Jaguars last week and set a record for the most total points in any six-game stretch in NFL history. Finding enough talent to match with all of Goff's weapons is virtually impossible. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had 11 receptions last week and scored a TD for the eighth consecutive game and Goff went to former first-round pick Jameson Williams for a career day -- 124 yards including a 64-yard TD -- with TE Sam LaPorta inactive. The Colts are capable of generating takeaways, too, with 17 this season.

Minnesota Vikings (8-2) at Chicago Bears (4-6), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was decisive and accurate in his first game with Thomas Brown as offensive coordinator, but a fourth consecutive loss and the third in a month decided on the final possession pushes Chicago into must-win territory. But the jaws of life won't be around Sunday based on Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores' record of chewing up and spitting out rookie quarterbacks. The matchup is a miserable one for Williams, who struggles mightily against the blitz and Minnesota is the most blitz-happy defense in the league at 39.1 percent of its snaps. Williams has been sacked 41 times, six more than the No. 2 most-sacked QB, and his completion percentage against five or more pressuring defenders is 58.9 percent. According to the Vikings, rookie QBs are 1-7 against Flores as defensive coordinator or head coach and average 15.5 points scored and 3.8 sacks allowed per game. Sam Darnold (foot) is all set to start for Minnesota and needs one more TD pass to set a career high with 20. The Bears chase Sunday's game against the eight-win Vikings with a visit to Detroit on Thursday to play the 9-1 Lions. Minnesota heads home to face back-to-back division leaders in the Arizona Cardinals (Dec. 1) and then the much-anticipated return of Kirk Cousins with the Falcons (Dec. 8).

Dallas Cowboys (3-7) at Washington Commanders (7-4), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Dan Quinn claims not to be counting wins yet with Washington as the No. 7 seed in the NFC entering the week, but he'll openly admit being stoked to see the Cowboys coming to town. Quinn called out his former employer at his opening press conference and reminded his new charges what it would mean to send Dallas home with an eighth loss while Washington clicks its own win tally to eight. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels features the type of dual-threat ability the Cowboys traditionally haven't handled, even during Quinn's time with the team. But Quinn's focus this week has been on his defense playing a full 60 minutes. Washington was victim to late rallies in losses to the Steelers and Eagles. The group could be in for a boost with CB Marshon Lattimore close to making his debut with the team. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., a Cowboys assistant alongside Quinn from 2021-23, knows the Dallas personnel extremely well, and his group will be on the attack with Cooper Rush at quarterback. The Cowboys have lost five in a row and last won on Oct. 6. With Rush in for the injured Dak Prescott, Dallas produced 146 yards of total offense in a 34-6 loss to the Eagles and managed 10 points against the Houston Texans in a 24-point defeat on Monday.

New England Patriots (3-8) at Miami Dolphins (4-6), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Miami beat New England 15-10 for one of the team's four wins this season and have won four in a row at home against their AFC East nemesis. The Dolphins' three-man front is standing tall against the run, which could drive the Patriots to keep the ball in the hands of rookie QB Drake Maye. The Dolphins couldn't contain Raiders TE Brock Bowers last week -- 13 catches, 126 yards -- and Maye targeted TEs Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper 13 total times in a loss to the Rams last week. The Dolphins are generating consistent offense with Tua Tagovailoa back in the lineup for the past month. He posted his first three-TD game of the season last week and has completed almost 75 percent of his passes the past two weeks. Tagovailoa threw for 324 yards and three TDs against the Patriots in Miami last season. De'Von Achane has turned in a breakout season with 530 rushing yards, 349 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. New England's run defense has been a trouble spot in 2024, and Rams RB Kyren Williams averaged 5.7 yards per carry last week.

Tennessee Titans (2-8) at Houston Texans (7-4), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Joe Mixon helped the Texans trounce the Cowboys on Monday with three touchdowns and is standing out as the most reliable player on the roster even with Houston's offensive line earning average performance grades. He's set for his first meeting with the Titans as a member of the Texans. Tennessee held the Vikings to 82 rushing yards on 33 attempts (2.5 yards per carry) in a 23-13 loss last week and the Titans feature game-wrecking DT Jeffery Simmons at the hart of the defense. QB C.J. Stroud has been sacked 35 times in 11 games and pressure in the pocket has been problematic in re-establishing timing with his receivers. Stroud only faced the Titans once last season and completed 75 percent of his passes in a 26-3 win. Houston's defense harassed the Cowboys into consistent mistakes with five sacks and a dominant showing by CB Derek Stingley Jr., who nabbed his eighth career interception. Tennessee is playing a sixth consecutive game without CB L'Jarius Sneed (quad) and hit the end of the week with doubts about the status of WR Calvin Ridley (illness). He had four catches for 58 yards last week, giving him 36 catches for 541 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) at New York Giants (2-8), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

The Buccaneers step out of their bye week with WR Mike Evans planning to return from a hamstring injury to boost the passing game. The Giants are back from a rest week and in the midst of a storm of self-created chaos. They benched former first-round QB Daniel Jones on Monday, demoted him to No. 3 on the depth chart and then released him Friday. The stage is clear for QB Tommy DeVito, an undrafted free agent in 2023 who went 3-3 as a starter when Jones (ACL) was hurt last season. DeVito leaps into the driver's seat of a passing game ranked No. 28 in the NFL and dead last in scoring (15.6 points per game). Not all the fault is Jones' to bear. A ragtag offensive line and sporadic running game are accomplices. Rookie WR Malik Nabers offered DeVito some free advice: Get him the ball. Nabers is the go-to guy for DeVito against the Bucs' defense, which is 30th against the pass. In their most recent game, against the 49ers, the Buccaneers held Christian McCaffrey in check but run defense hasn't been a strength. The shortcomings beckon big numbers from QB Baker Mayfield, but injuries have bogged things down for Tampa Bay after a strong start. Perhaps the most significant injury to monitor entering Sunday is whether LT Tristan Wirfs, whose assignment is blocking Giants OLB Brian Burns, can return from a knee injury. The Giants have the NFL's best sacks-per-play rate at 13.09 percent.

Denver Broncos (6-5) and Las Vegas Raiders (2-8), 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

Raiders rookie TE Brock Bowers had his presence felt in the lopsided loss to the Broncos last month and continues to be a weapon with more than half of his yards collected after the catch. Bowers set an NFL rookie record with 13 grabs last week and had 8-97-1 at Denver on Oct. 6. Whether QB Gardner Minshew has enough time to find Bowers is another matter. Denver is No. 1 in the NFL with 39 sacks and first in yards per play at 4.65. The Broncos' offense has been in good hands with rookie QB Bo Nix ranked fourth in the NFL in passer rating since Week 5. He tossed four TD passes to earn AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for Week 11 and had two TDs and no interceptions in the Broncos' previous meeting with the Raiders.

Arizona Cardinals (6-4) at Seattle Seahawks (5-5), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

Claiming the "darkness brings us together," the Seahawks dismissed the idea of not having power -- or warm water for showers -- at the team facility as an excuse for not being ready for the division-leading Cardinals' visit. QB Geno Smith said a playoff atmosphere is expected after Seattle pushed back into the NFC West race by winning at San Francisco last week. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb lauded his offensive line for what might've been its top group effort of the season. A run-first tactic with Kenneth Walker III sets up Smith to find his new favorite target Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who is in the midst of a historic two-game stretch with 17 receptions for 290 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a 28-yard TD in Seattle's home game against the Cardinals in 2023. Arizona is on a heater of its own. During a standing four-game winning streak, they've won the past two games by a combined score of 60-15. Arizona also has a road win at San Francisco (24-23 on Oct. 6) in the bag as the division race heats up. QB Kyler Murray (100.8 passer rating) has delivered a few MVP-type moments with 12 touchdowns, three picks and four rushing touchdowns. Seattle swept the Cardinals with 20-10 and 21-20 victories last season and has won five in a row over Arizona.

San Francisco 49ers (5-5) at Green Bay Packers (7-3), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX

Crucial questions linger entering the seventh meeting between these teams since 2019, including the 49ers divisional playoff win over the Packers in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight home games against San Francisco, and the Packers' turnover-happy defense (19 total takeaways) would be pleased to see Brandon Allen start at quarterback with Brock Purdy (shoulder) fighting soreness from a hit in the loss to the Seahawks last week. The Packers snuck out of Chicago with a win on a blocked FG try and are part of the only division in the NFL with three seven-win teams. Purdy isn't the only concern for the 49ers. LT Trent Williams (ankle) hobbled through last week's game, but DE Nick Bosa (oblique) left early and hasn't practiced all week. Points have been easier to come by against the 49ers for the Packers than most teams. Before he was head coach of the Packers, Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan were co-workers and offensive assistant coaches with three different teams (Houston, Washington, Atlanta) and have a complete-your-sentences -- and playcalls -- type of relationship. Green Bay has 30-plus points in three of the past four regular-season games. QB Jordan Love admitted he's been waiting for Sunday after throwing a key interception in the playoff loss.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (5-5), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is fourth in the NFL with 23 total touchdowns and leads quarterbacks with 11 rushing scores. There's a lot for the Rams to worry about beyond Hurts. Saquon Barkley, the league leader in yards from scrimmage, has already gone over 1,000 yards rushing and WR A.J. Brown is tops in the league among receivers with 30-plus catches with an 18.7-yard average. The Rams feature their own trio of big-play options for QB Matthew Stafford. RB Kyren Williams has 10 of the Rams' 24 TDs this season, and WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have been uncheckable in the past two games. Nacua caught seven passes for 123 yards and Kupp had 106 yards and two TD grabs at New England last week. In the past two games, they've combined for 29 receptions for 407 yards. The Eagles are seemingly loaded at every position, and cornerback is no different. Darius Slay, a 12th-year pro, has earned a reputation as a No. 1 corner and rookie first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell is the only cornerback in the NFL with more than 375 coverage snaps not to allow a touchdown.

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The Paur Report

Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 3

Player Notes
Ben Sinnott Sep 17 12:10am CT
Ben Sinnott

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott looks primed for more playing time in Week 3 against the Raiders with John Bates (groin) unlikely to play, according to head coach Dan Quinn. Bates is Washington's primary blocking tight end and is pivotal to what they do in the run game. Sinnott played only three snaps in the Thursday night loss against Green Bay, but did catch one ball for seven yards. Sinnott has played some in three tight end sets as a move blocker and isn't quite a direct replacement for Bates. Bates is an incredibly stout point of attack blocker for a tight end and is roughly 15 pounds heavier than Sinnott. The 2024 second-round pick is an elite athlete with some intriguing upside as a receiver, but has mostly been used as a move blocker with Washington. We will learn a good bit about how the coaching staff views Sinnott after this week's game.

From RotoBaller

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Sep 16 11:50pm CT
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt could be set for plenty of work in Week 3 after Austin Ekeler's unfortunate injury. Croskey-Merritt received only four carries and one target in Week 2's loss at Green Bay after a really strong NFL debut. He was effective on his limited touches, gaining over four yards per carry. With how often the Packers' pass rush was winning up front and hitting Jayden Daniels, it would have benefited them to run the ball more. Head coach Dan Quinn touched on this in his press conference on Monday, saying that he wanted more of a balance in terms of play calling. Washington dropped back to pass 52 times compared to 12 running back carries against the Packers. The rookie seventh-rounder should see an uptick in snaps with Ekeler out for the season, and the expectation is that he will be the starter. His role on passing downs is to be determined, as Jeremy McNichols is highly trusted in pass protection, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. will be back in the mix for touches. But he should get the opportunity to handle a career high in carries against the Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Jaylin Lane Sep 16 11:20pm CT
Jaylin Lane

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane is likely set for an increased number of routes in Week 3 against the Raiders with Noah Brown (groin) injured. Brown got banged up in Thursday night's 27-18 loss at Green Bay, where Lane caught just one of four targets for two yards. The fourth-round rookie ran the fourth most routes on the team behind Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Zach Ertz in that game. The team is thin at wide receiver, and Lane will have a chance to emerge in Brown's absence. He is likely best suited in the slot, which is also Samuel's best position. How offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury sorts that out, along with potentially managing the offense without quarterback Jayden Daniels, will be huge. There's a chance we see Kingsbury get Lane involved with some designed touches or use his speed to take a deep shot in an offense that needs more explosive plays. Lane is a name to watch on the waiver wire for the upcoming weeks.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Sep 16 10:00pm CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. reeled in four of his five targets in Sunday's 22-6 victory over the Vikings. Those catches producedjust 37 yards, however, his involvement is encouraging thus far after underwhelming from 2022 through 2024. The former fourth-overall draft pick owns a 20.6 percent target share through the team's first two contests, a stark contrast to his 13.7 percent share from 2024. There was some thought that his seven-catch performance in Week 1 shouldbe at least partly attributed to the absence of Darnell Mooney, but with Mooney back on the field in Week 2, the 24-year-old garnered 23.8 percent target share, which was more than Mooney andeven more than No. 1 receiver Drake London. We've seen this movie before, though, where the 6-foot-6 tight end looks good for a couple of weeks and then fades into obscurity for a few weeks, so we'll see if it lasts. Week 3 brings a favorable matchup with Carolina, who just allowed eight catches for 123 yards to the Arizona TEs, so it should be a good test to see if Pitts' uptick in target share is for real or not.

From RotoBaller

Pat Bryant Sep 16 9:10pm CT
Pat Bryant

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant played just four offensive snaps in Week 1, but he logged two catches for 18 yards on three targets in Week 2. 10 different Broncos players recorded a reception in Week 2, so this could be a difficult group of pass-catchers for fantasy managers to evaluate outside of clear WR1 Courtland Sutton. A third-round pick out of Illinois, Bryant earned some preseason buzz for his performance in training camp. The 22-year-old looks like the WR4 in Denver behind Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims Jr. for now, and likely isn't worth rostering in redraft leagues in the immediate. However, Bryant is a name to monitor and could be worth stashing in the very deepest of league formats.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Sep 16 8:50pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) suffered a high ankle sprain in preseason action and was placed on Injured Reserve before the start of the regular season. Given the nature of Spears' injury, he may be able to return as soon as he is eligible in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Titans have been a one-man show at running back so far this season, with Tony Pollard having logged 38 of the team's 40 rush attempts by running backs through the team's first two games. However, this was not the case down the stretch of 2024, when Spears logged double-digit touches in each of the final three games he played. Spears finished the 2024 season with 536 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns across 12 games and should have a consistent role in the Titans' offense once healthy in 2025. In fantasy leagues where he is available, Spears is a worthy stash in an IR spot ahead of his impending return.

From RotoBaller

Marquise Brown Sep 16 8:50pm CT
Marquise Brown

Heading into Week 2, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown was a popular waiver-wire target following his 16-target, 10-catch performance in Week 1. Even with top Chiefs wideouts Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (suspension) sidelined in Week 2, Brown was not nearly as prolific against the Philadelphia Eagles, finishing with five receptions for 30 yards. Early indications are that Worthy could return for Kansas City's Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants, which could limit Brown's target volume even further. Still, the 28-year-old looks like the Chiefs' clear WR2 until Rice is eligible to return in Week 7. Brown profiles as a WR4/low-end flex option in Week 3, although his outlook would improve if Worthy misses another game.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Sep 16 8:30pm CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on Injured Reserve prior to Week 2. As a result, the 31-year-old will not play until at least Week 6, when San Francisco is set to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the 49ers' first game without Kittle in Week 2, tight ends Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges combined for six catches, 45 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Kittle's return timeline could coincide with returns for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee). That could mean that San Francisco's offense could be firing on all cylinders when it welcomes Kittle back to the lineup. For fantasy managers with an open IR spot, this could be an interesting time to try and buy low on Kittle.

From RotoBaller

Tank Dell Sep 16 8:20pm CT
Tank Dell

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) suffered a gruesome knee injury in December 2024, dislocating his knee and tearing his ACL, MCL, and LCL. The 25-year-old wideout was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list in August, meaning he is not eligible to return until Week 5. The most likely scenario remains that Dell will be out far longer than that. Given the timing of his 2024 injury, it would not be surprising if Dell does see any game action in 2025. Dell is worth stashing for future production in dynasty leagues, but he should not be on the radar of redraft fantasy managers unless there is a significant change in his return status.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Sep 16 8:10pm CT
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III acknowledged that Zach Charbonnet is expected to continue splitting the backfield with him. Through two games, Charbonnet has outsnapped Walker (56% to 38%) and handled more carries (27 to 23). Head coach Mike MacDonald reinforced that approach, saying, "We're playing the long game. We want both backs to play the whole year." Walker also stated that he's buying into the committee approach to preserve his health. "I believe we have two great backs." Walker's history of injuries is expanding, as he missed six games in 2024 and multiple others earlier in his career. For fantasy purposes, Walker's upside is capped, and he should be valued as a high-end RB3 rather than his typical high-end RB2 profile.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Coker Sep 16 8:00pm CT
Jalen Coker

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) is expected to play a significant role in the team's passing attack once he returns from injury. The second-year receiver suffered a notable quad strain prior to the season and was placed on injured reserve. In his absence, Hunter Renfrow has stepped into a larger role, playing 79% of the snaps through two weeks and catching seven passes on nine targets for 48 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2. While Renfrow has been serviceable, the Panthers view Coker as a core piece moving forward. Fantasy managers should consider stashing him ahead of his potential Week 6 return.

From RotoBaller

Darren Waller Sep 16 7:53pm CT
Darren Waller

Miami Dolphins CB Storm Duck (ankle) and S Ifeatu Melifonwu (calf) did not practice on Tuesday, Sept. 16. CB Ethan Bonner (hamstring), C Aaron Brewer (hip), DT Benito Jones (oblique), LB Chop Robinson (knee), WR Jaylen Waddle (shoulder), TE Darren Waller (hip), WR Malik Washington (thumb) and RB Jaylen Wright (knee) were limited.

From TheHuddle

Kyle Williams Sep 16 7:40pm CT
Kyle Williams

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams has yet to carve out a meaningful role in the offense. Through the first two games of the season, the 2025 third-round pick has been on the field for just 13% of the team's snaps and has only one target to show for it. Williams has been buried on the depth chart behind veterans Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and younger receivers Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas, all of whom have earned more consistent playing time. Until his role grows, Williams holds little fantasy appeal and is droppable in most formats.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Addison Sep 16 7:30pm CT
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison will return from suspension in Week 4 when the team faces the Pittsburgh Steelers in London. Addison is serving the final game of his three-game suspension for offseason DUI charges. As a key piece of the Vikings' offense, Addison has posted 133 receptions for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns through his first 32 NFL games. However, his fantasy outlook has dipped with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy battling inconsistency and a high-ankle sprain early in the season. Addison should be reinserted into lineups as a low-end FLEX option upon his return, with room for upside if McCarthy improves from under center.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Sep 16 7:20pm CT
Rashee Rice

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is expected to return to a full workload in Week 7 after serving his six-game suspension for reckless driving charges stemming from the 2024 offseason. In his three full games last year, Rice was highly efficient, catching 24 of 29 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs' passing attack has struggled in his absence, with Patrick Mahomes currently sitting outside the top 15 in passing yards through two weeks. Rice's return should immediately boost the offense, making him a high-end WR2 in fantasy and providing Mahomes with a much-needed reliable weapon. His presence will likely cut into the target shares of Travis Kelce and Marquise Brown, though both will remain heavily involved.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Sep 16 7:10pm CT
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice urged fans to temper expectations for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk earlier this offseason, noting, "It's going to take some time for him. I'd rely on those other guys to do most of the work and blend (Aiyuk) back in." Aiyuk is still recovering from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered in Week 7 of last season and has yet to resume practicing. In his absence, the 49ers have started 2-0 with steady contributions from Jauan Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall. With no firm return timeline, Aiyuk remains an uncertain fantasy asset and should not be counted on for meaningful production in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Sep 16 7:00pm CT
Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa bounced back statistically in Week 2, completing 26 of 32 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the loss to the New England Patriots. While he topped 300 passing yards, he was sacked five times and sealed the defeat with a late fourth-quarter interception. Tagovailoa now faces the Buffalo Bills on a short week, a matchup that has consistently given him trouble. He has lost five straight starts against Buffalo, posting seven touchdowns and five interceptions during that span. With Miami's offensive line struggling to protect him, Tagovailoa is best left on fantasy benches in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Quinshon Judkins Sep 16 6:40pm CT
Quinshon Judkins

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins has been listed as the team's starting back on this week's depth chart. The rookie played just 26% of the snaps in Week 2 but was effective with his touches, rushing 10 times for 66 yards in his NFL debut. Judkins signed his rookie deal shortly before Week 1 and eased into action against the Baltimore Ravens, but being elevated to the top of the depth chart is an encouraging sign for his role going forward. That said, Week 3 sets up as a tough spot. The Browns face the Green Bay Packers, who have been one of the league's stingiest defenses to start the season. With a negative game script possible, Judkins should be viewed as a low-end FLEX option in deeper leagues this week, though his long-term outlook is trending up.

From RotoBaller

Dylan Sampson Sep 16 6:40pm CT
Dylan Sampson

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson was listed as the No. 2 back on the Week 3 depth chart, slotting in ahead of veteran Jerome Ford but behind second-round pick Quinshon Judkins. However, the usage tells a different story. In last week's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Ford played 49% of the snaps compared to just 24% for Sampson, suggesting the coaching staff still trusts the veteran on passing downs. It's unclear whether the updated depth chart reflects a genuine shift or is more of a formality, but for fantasy purposes, Sampson managers should be cautious. With the Browns set to face the red-hot Green Bay Packers defense in Week 3, Sampson is highly unlikely to make a fantasy impact and is best left on benches in all formats.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Waddle Sep 16 6:30pm CT
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) was limited in Tuesday's practice ahead of Thursday night's divisional matchup with the Buffalo Bills. Waddle wasn't listed on Monday's injury report, but his appearance Tuesday raises some concern given the short week. The former 1,000-yard receiver briefly exited Week 1 with a shoulder issue before returning, and while he found the end zone in Week 2 against New England, he finished third on the team in targets behind Tyreek Hill and De'Von Achane. Waddle has also historically struggled against Buffalo's defense, putting up under 50 yards in their last three contests. With Miami's offense searching for rhythm and Waddle not at full strength, he profiles as more of a low-end FLEX option in Week 3.

From RotoBaller