Sun Sep 21 6:23pm ET
Field Level Media
Michael Penix Jr. has not lost the starting job to Kirk Cousins, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris clarified Sunday after a 30-0 loss at Carolina.
With the Panthers ahead 27-0, Morris replaced Penix with Atlanta's high-paid backup, Cousins.
"The game was out of hand," Morris said of benching Penix. "You know, you move on. Keep him out of harm's way. Keep our guys out of harm's way. Took a couple players out. The game was out of hand. They got us."
Penix threw his first career pick-6 and was intercepted twice. He threw for 172 yards and is 58 of 99 for 605 yards with one touchdown pass, which came in Week 1.
Cousins was unable to generate points in his brief relief appearance. Cousins connected on 5 of 7 passes for 29 yards.
"I'm never OK with not playing," Penix said. "At the end of the day, I listened to my head coach, and he did what he felt was best for the team and the decision that was made by him. So, I've got to respect it, and I've got to be there to support Kirk whenever he is out there. He does that for me."
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard caught 4-of-5 targets for 80 yards in Sunday's 29-27 win against the visiting New York Jets. Shepard sneakily climbed up to Tampa Bay's second-leading receiver with his second straight four-catch outing -- trailing only rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka in yards. He's also second on the team in receptions (11), though Egbuka, Mike Evans, and running back Bucky Irving are all tied ahead of him (14). Despite this, his 15 targets on the season thus far are quite a bit behind Evans (27) and the rookie (21). Moreover, Tampa Bay is attempting a pass at the ninth-fewest rate through three weeks, meaning the passing pie won't be big enough to support him when veteran Chris Godwin (ankle) returns. Shepard still may have some productive outings, but his floor could soon be alarmingly low.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Bengals running back Chase Brown had three rushing yards in a loss to the Vikings. Dynasty Analysis: He added 17 receiving yards on four catches to salvage his fantasy day at least a little. A year after coming close to 1,000 yards on 4.3 yards per carry, Brown now has just 93 yards in two games on a dreadful two yards per carry. It's alarming to say the least and while most of the blame can be placed on a woeful offensive line, Brown has been one of fantasy football's biggest disappointments thus far. He needs to be on benches moving forward and his ADP is going to suffer.
Dynasty | Vikings running back Jordan Mason had 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals on Sunday. Dynasty Analysis: While the Bengals clearly look like a team that may have just thrown in the towel, Mason may have also just ended the "Aaron Jones era" in Minnesota. He's always been an effective runner and this was no different. With Jones on IR, Mason will look to secure the lead back job permanently over the next few weeks. His ADP is on the rise and he needs to be in lineups every week at this point.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell scored his first touchdown of 2025 in Week 3, finishing the game with 26 yards from scrimmage and a score on five total touches. Gainwell scored on a one-yard run after lead Steelers back Jaylen Warren was stopped on consecutive goal-to-go opportunities. Gainwell has just 85 yards from scrimmage on 23 total touches through Pittsburgh's first three games, so he's still only fantasy-relevant as a handcuff option to Warren. Still, he's clearly ahead of Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson on the backfield depth chart, and Gainwell should be added where available in all PPR-scoring leagues with 12 or more teams.
From RotoBaller
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai had a quiet statistical game in his team's Week 3 win over the Dallas Cowboys, finishing with 20 yards from scrimmage on seven total touches. Bears RB1 D'Andre Swift still appears to have a strong hold on the backfield touches in Chicago, as Swift finished with 78 yards from scrimmage on 16 total touches. Neither Bears running back is averaging four yards per carry so far this season, so Monangai could work his way into a larger workload if he can improve his production over the course of the season. In deep fantasy leagues, the 23-year-old could be a worthy stash candidate depending on overall roster construction.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman was not targeted by quarterback Bo Nix during his team's 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. Trautman recorded three catches for 10 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 and profiled as a desperation streaming option at tight end heading into Week 3 with top Broncos tight end Evan Engram (back) sidelined for the game. Instead, it was Broncos tight end Lucas Krull who found the end zone on Sunday, finishing with one catch for nine yards and a score. Trautman has four catches for 15 yards and a touchdown through the first three games of the season and should not be trusted by fantasy managers even if Engram remains sidelined for Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson should be in line for a significant workload increase after the unfortunate news that veteran Cardinals back James Conner (ankle) will miss the remainder of 2025 due to an ankle injury. Benson has logged 21 carries for 125 yards and eight receptions for 45 yards through the first three games of the season. He may not play a true three-down role, as Arizona mixed in running back Emari Demercado on passing downs after Conner went down in Week 3. Still, Benson should dominate touches in the Arizona backfield and is the priority waiver-wire addition in all fantasy leagues where he remains available.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) is officially set to miss the remainder of the 2025 season after suffering a severe ankle injury in Week 3. Conner is undergoing additional tests on Monday to determine the exact extent of the injury, but will definitely undergo surgery, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The 30-year-old running back will finish 2025 with 133 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 40 total touches. Cardinals second-year back Trey Benson should be in line for a major workload increase and profiles as the number one waiver-wire addition in all fantasy leagues where he is available heading into Week 4. Arizona running back Emari Demercado could also play a role as the team's passing-downs back and could have some deep-league fantasy appeal.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens was targeted nine times in Week 3, finishing with five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in his team's 31-14 loss to the Chicago Bears. Pickens could be in for a significant target increase over the next few weeks with the news that top Dallas wideout CeeDee Lamb (ankle) suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3. Pickens has now logged nine targets in back-to-back weeks, although it's worth noting that he could still be behind Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson in the target pecking order in Dallas. If Lamb cannot play in Week 4, Pickens would likely profile as a must-start fantasy wide receiver in Week 4, even in a tough matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Bengals quarterback Jake Browning completed 19-of-27 passes for 140 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in a blowout loss to Minnesota. Dynasty Analysis: This was alarming as the Bengals were destroyed 48-10 and looked like a team that has given up after losing Joe Burrow. Browning himself was awful on the day and showed little to make anyone believe he can be an option in dynasty leagues, despite having talent all around him. This was about as bad as it gets.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (Achilles) is expected to miss the rest of the season due to an injury sustained during Sunday's 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Harris was lined up in the backfield when he suffered a non-contact Achilles injury in Week 3. He immediately went to the locker room and was ruled out. With Harris sidelined, rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton will step in as the team's clear-cut RB1 and immediately work his way into the top-20 running backs to start in Week 4. Hassan Haskins projects to step into the No. 2 role. It was a tough season for Harris, as he was slowed down by an eye injury over the summer and now this injury. At 27 years old, Harris remains a hold in dynasty formats, but can be dropped in redraft leagues.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards in Kansas City's 22-9 win over the New York Giants in Week 3. Thornton was targeted nine times and finished with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. The 25-year-old has now recorded nine catches for 171 yards and two scores through the first three games of 2025. With Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (suspension) on the sidelines, Thornton has emerged as the Chiefs' WR1 over the past two weeks. Worthy is likely to return in Week 4, which could eat into Thornton's workload. Still, Thornton may have passed veteran wideout Marquise Brown on the depth chart and is still worth adding in deep fantasy leagues heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall played a pivotal role on Sunday in helping the 49ers come away with the 16-15 victory over their division opponent, the Arizona Cardinals. In the afternoon, he saw 11 targets and hauled in eight of them for 117 yards. The 11 targets were second on the team to Christian McCaffrey (15). With Jauan Jennings (ankle/shoulder) not suiting up in Week 3, Pearsall made the most of his opportunities as the team's clear-cut WR1. In the first two games with Jennings suiting up, Pearsall had only 13 targets compared to Sunday's 11. Even with Jennings in the lineup, Pearsall still holds season-long WR3 value; however, he has clearly shown that he can be a stable WR2 in an offense if given the opportunity. At this time, it's unclear if Mac Jones (knee) or Brock Purdy (toe) will be under center in Week 4; regardless, Pearsall remains a low-end WR2 at this time until George Kittle (hamstring) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) return from IR. Up next for Pearsall and the 49ers is a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols carried the ball four times for 78 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 41-24 win over the Raiders. McNichols had a statement run in the second quarter, where he evaded multiple tackles and ran for a 60-yard touchdown. The touchdown was his first of the season. With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) out for the season, the Commanders went with a running-back-by-committee approach on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed eight times, while Chris Rodriguez led the backfield in attempts with 11 rushes, and McNichols rushed four times. While the committee approach is less than ideal for fantasy managers, it does mean that every player in the backfield is worth a look on the waiver wire in Week 4, specifically Rodriguez and McNichols, with Croskey-Merritt likely already rostered. Given the offense's success in their Week 3 win, McNichols' role and volume will likely stay the same in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith recorded a season high eight receptions on nine targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 33-26 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Based on game flow, the Eagles were forced into a pass-happy game script as they trailed the Rams the entire second half. Smith and his counterpart, A.J. Brown, were the biggest beneficiaries, as we saw Hurts throw the ball 32 times, by far the most this season. Although it was an excellent afternoon for the Eagles' pass catchers and Smith specifically, it's hard to trust him as a consistent WR2 due to the nature of this Eagles offense. They are a run-first team, which means the opportunities for Smith will not likely be there every week. Smith had as many targets on Sunday as he did in the first two weeks combined. Up next for the Eagles is a road battle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which, on paper, should set up to be an entertaining game, and one that requires the Eagles to throw like they did last Sunday, making Smith a low-end WR2 in Week 4.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) exited Sunday's contest in the first quarter after getting tackled on an end-around. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Cowboys believe Lamb suffered a high-ankle sprain that isn't as bad as it initially seemed. Rapoport also noted that most high ankle sprains generally have a 4-6 week recovery window. That being said, nothing there has yet been confirmed regarding the timeline for Lamb's return to action. In Lamb's absence, Jake Ferguson and George Pickens saw a team-high 14 and nine receptions, respectively. Should Lamb miss time, which it appears it could be the case, fantasy managers can start Pickens and Ferguson confidently if they weren't already. Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin both could get more looks in deeper leagues. Lambs' fantasy managers will want to keep tabs on his progress throughout the next few days. Next up for the Cowboys is a matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints LB Demario Davis tallied 11 tackles - two solo - in Week 3 versus the Seattle Seahawks.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara rushed for 42 yards on 18 carries and caught one of two targets in Week 3 versus the Seattle Seahawks.
Fantasy Spin: The Saints' longest rush on 27 attempts was eight yards, which is indicative of the kind of game it was for almost every New Orleans player. Kamara's fantasy managers were teased with his six targets in Week 2, but he has drawn two targets in his other two outings. It is a concern for him given how often New Orleans will be in negative game script this season. Until his usage as a receiver changes (or becomes more consistent), Kamara is a borderline RB2 at best, including in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills.
From TheHuddle
New York Giants QB Russell Wilson completed 18 of his 32 passing attempts for 150 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in a Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Wilson also ran the ball five times for 27 yards.
Fantasy Spin: Coming off his monster effort against Dallas, Wilson couldn't get anything going on Sunday night, and his deep balls were almost all ill-advised, leading to a couple of interceptions. With the team now 0-3, the clock officially starts ticking to get Jaxson Dart's trial by fire started. With upcoming games against the Chargers, Eagles twice, 49ers, and Broncos, they might choose to limp along with Wilson a bit longer, but would he be playable in any of those matchups? If he's your QB2, start looking for a replacement.
From TheHuddle
Seattle Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp hauled in two of his three targets for 31 yards in Week 3 versus the New Orleans Saints.
Fantasy Spin: The Seahawks led 21-0 after one quarter and only needed to attempt 21 passes in this one, so at least one significant pass-catcher was likely going to miss out on the fun. With that said, this marks the second time in three games as a Seahawk that Kupp has finished with two catches on three targets. Needless to say, it does not bode well for him being anything more than a low-end WR4 at best for the remainder of the season. It is debatable whether he is even in flex consideration in Week 4 versus the Arizona Cardinals.
From TheHuddle