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Sam Darnold Recovering Faster Than Anticipated
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) is recovering quicker than expected from his glute injury, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Darnold will miss the Week 2 game for Seattle, but there is a good chance that he could be back in practice this week, and the Seahawks are hoping that he can play in either Week 3 or Week 4. Rapoport said Week 3 is hopeful and Week 4 seems like the "more likely target." Darnold was just 1-for-2 passing in Week 1 against the New England Patriots before the injury for 50 passing yards. Darnold is a capable QB1 in fantasy who showed what he can do last season when healthy in leading the team to a Super Bowl victory. This report is positive news for those who have rostered Darnold, and it sounds like he can be back in starting lineups in a few weeks.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
More Recent News
Rashod Bateman Makes Solid Play In Absence of Zay Flowers
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is the "name to watch to keep an eye on to emerge" in the absence of star wideout Zay Flowers for Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The Ravens expect to be without Flowers this week, Rapoport reports, but should have him back for the game next week in Brazil against the Cowboys. Bateman had one target in Week 1 with no catches, but could emerge in the passing attack for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in Week 2. Look for Bateman to have a solid contest against the Saints as they look to slow down the passing game without the threat of the speedster in Flowers. Bateman however can pose a threat on the outside and is an experienced receiver in the Ravens offense.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Brock Bowers Should Be Back For Week 3
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) will miss Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers but is likely to return for Week 3's game for the Raiders, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Bowers missed the first two weeks after having a meniscus trim procedure in his knee. Bowers practiced on Friday, according to Rapoport, which should give an indication that he will be back next week for the Raiders' game against the New Orleans Saints. Michael Mayer has been filling in for Bowers at the tight end position, but Bowers, when healthy, is one of the best fantasy tight ends in the league. It is looking like the Raiders and fantasy managers will only miss out on a few games of action from the talented tight end. If everything goes according to plan, he should be back in lineups ready to go in Week 3.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
DJ Moore Day-To-Day With AC Joint Sprain
Buffalo Bills wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) is day-to-day with an AC joint sprain, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The injury is not considered serious, according to Rapoport, and the Bills were surprised that it was less severe than originally thought when he went down on his shoulder. Moore was signed in the off-season in Buffalo from the Chicago Bears and will avoid a serious injury and test out his shoulder during practice this week. The talented receiver has five catches for 100 yards and a touchdown on eight targets in the team's opening-week win over the Houston Texans. Moore didn't get involved in the game in Week 2 against the Lions before he left with the injury. He has the talent to be a WR1 in Buffalo once he gets back to full health.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Mack Hollins to Benefit From Steady Rapport with Quarterback
New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins has consistently maintained a role on offense as one of quarterback Drake Maye's most reliable targets, and that shouldn't change anytime soon. Recently, head coach Mike Vrabel said that one of the most important things for a quarterback and wide receiver duo is to "think alike," according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Not only do Hollins and Maye check that box, but they also sit together in meetings, which further reinforces their bond. We've seen this off-field bond translate to a trust factor on the field, as Maye often looks to Hollins when he has nobody open. The two connected for 46 completions, 550 yards, and two touchdowns last year, and Hollins opened 2026 right where he left off with four catches for 51 yards. He should continue to handle a decent volume share going forward with AJ Brown (ankle) on injured reserve. Hollins is a solid speculative waiver wire pickup, but he's only worth considering for the WR3/flex spot in deeper leagues with 14+ teams.
Source: Mike Reiss
Source: Mike Reiss
Trey Hendrickson Expected to Play with a Cast on Sunday
Baltimore Ravens star defensive end Trey Hendrickson (finger) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 2 contest against the New Orleans Saints, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Hendrickson broke his finger into multiple pieces during practice this week, but he'll be available to play this week with a cast on his hand. The 31-year-old played 41% of the snaps last Sunday, logging just one tackle in a relatively quiet Ravens debut. He'll look to make a bigger impact this week, as the Ravens face mobile quarterback Tyler Shough and his potent Saints offense. Hendricks is just two years removed from back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in Cincinnati.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Jalen McMillan Expected to Play Sunday in Limited Role
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Cleveland Browns despite being listed as questionable, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. However, he'll be functioning at less than 100 percent, as Schefter reports that McMillan isn't ready to occupy a full-time role yet. The 24-year-old is working his way back from a knee injury that has bothered him since training camp. He also missed 13 games last year due to a neck issue, so he's still trying to carve out his first substantial playing time since his rookie season in 2024. He showed high upside with eight touchdowns during his rookie campaign, but he might not replicate that scoring total in 2026 given his role behind Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. For now, he's more of a redraft stash and less of a weekly lineup option.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Michael Penix Jr. Could Make His Season Debut on Thursday Night in Week 3
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is "nearing a return" and could make his season debut against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football in Week 3, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Penix is working his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered during Week 11 of the 2025 season, putting his recovery at around 10 months. He was impressive before the injury, racking up 1,982 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown. Penix's return to action will offer a major boost to the Falcons, who are also currently without Tua Tagovailoa (oblique). As a result, Cooper Rush started the Week 1 loss against Pittsburgh, and he's in line to start again in Week 2 against Carolina. Penix will rank as a solid QB2 in fantasy football upon his return, and he should benefit from having Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. at his disposal.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Kaelon Black Expected to Play Against Miami on Sunday
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black (groin) is expected to be active for Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Miami Dolphins, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. He was listed as questionable after logging limited practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, but it appears that he'll be healthy enough to play this weekend. Black is coming off a very impressive NFL debut against the Los Angeles Rams during Week 1 in Australia. He took on a sizable role in the Niners' victory, rushing for 65 yards on 14 carries despite being listed second on the depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey. His astoundingly high volume could be the product of San Francisco jumping out to an early lead, but we'd expect a similar workload in Week 2 with the 49ers favored by 13.5 points over the Dolphins.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Keenan Allen Facing a Three-Game Suspension
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen is facing a minimum three-game suspension following his drunk driving arrest last month, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. He reports that there's also a chance the suspension could be for more than three games, which is permitted by the NFL's collective bargaining agreement for scenarios when the player is intoxicated at higher levels. A more severe ban is definitely possible, given that Allen's .224 blood-alcohol level at the scene was more than three times the legal limit. Allen signed with the Colts late in the offseason, slotting into the No. 3 role. He was heavily involved in Week 1, catching six passes for 32 yards. His volume could decrease a little in Week 2 now that Alec Pierce (heel) is fully healthy, but he's still worth considering as a WR3/flex in deeper PPR leagues until he gets suspended.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
RJ Harvey Not Expected to Play in Week 2
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey (hamstring) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Harvey missed practice on Wednesday before returning in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday. He is officially listed as questionable, but it sounds like he's trending in the wrong direction ahead of kickoff. The 25-year-old played 51% of the snaps against the Chiefs in Week 1, but he mustered just three carries for 18 rushing yards. He was more productive in the passing game, catching all four of his targets for an additional 23 receiving yards. JK Dobbins will remain the starter in his absence, and we'd also expect to see rookie Jonah Coleman get involved occasionally.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Ladd McConkey to Wear Flak Jacket, Pushing to Play
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (rib) is expected to wear a flak jacket if he plays in Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport adds that McConkey, who is listed as questionable with a cracked rib, is "pushing to play," and the team is optimistic that he'll be active, barring a setback. The 24-year-old had five catches for 82 yards and one touchdown before exiting early during last week's season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. He reminded everyone of his status as Justin Herbert's favorite target, consistently making big plays when called upon. The Georgia product is usually a low-end fantasy WR1, but managers should temper expectations this week and assume that the lingering injury will put him more in the WR2 tier.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Joe Burrow Expected to Start Against the Texans in Week 2
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (back) is expected to start Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Houston Texans, according to Tom Pelissero of the Ringer. Burrow is officially listed as questionable, and the Bengals did elevate veteran quarterback Josh Johnson from the practice squad. Nevertheless, this latest report aligns with comments made by head coach Zac Taylor on Friday, when he said that Burrow should start this weekend, barring a setback. Burrow is looking to build on a fair Week 1 showing in which he tallied 254 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one interception, and 20 rushing yards. This Texans defense is no joke, but having Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal should keep Burrow in the QB1 tier for fantasy football purposes.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Chris Olave Expected to Play in Week 2 Without Limitations
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (hamstring) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Baltimore Ravens without any limitations, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Olave is officially listed as questionable, and although he missed practice on Thursday, Underhill reports that his absence was purely precautionary. Having Olave available is great news for the Saints. For starters, they're already without Jordyn Tyson (hamstring), so they couldn't afford to lose another receiver for this game against a top AFC opponent. Additionally, Olave is an enormous playmaking threat, as he caught 10 passes for 182 yards in Week 1. He continues to rank as a flashy WR1 option for Sunday's battle with Baltimore.
Source: Nick Underhill
Source: Nick Underhill
Puka Nacua a Game-Time Decision for Week 2
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (hip) will be a game-time decision for Monday's Week 2 contest against the New York Giants, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Nacua is listed as questionable after missing practice entirely on Friday and Saturday. Typically, missing back-to-back practices indicates that a player won't suit up, but the Rams are leaving the door open for him to play on Monday Night Football. The timing of this game presents a challenge for fantasy managers, who will most likely need to decide Sunday whether they're going to roll the dice with Nacua or sub him out for a different receiver who is guaranteed to play. If he's active, the 25-year-old should rank as a high-end WR1 in fantasy football.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Mike Evans' Primary Receiver Role Continues to Grow
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is trending up in fantasy football as injuries impact other members of the position group. Evans was impressive in his Niners debut last week, catching six of seven targets for 49 yards and a touchdown. He didn't have the highest participation rates we've ever seen, but they were respectable. Additionally, rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) was placed on injured reserve this week. It will be interesting to see how much of the Stribling work gets re-allocated to Evans versus others, as we haven't heard any rumblings about the Niners bringing in a different depth receiver for Week 2. In full, Evans ranks as the WR11 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings, making him a worthwhile fantasy starter for Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rhamondre Stevenson Still a Potential Fantasy Starter in PPR Leagues
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson might see a slight drop in volume during Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but only because teammate TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) is returning to the backfield to make his season debut. With that being said, we don't know if Henderson is on a snap count, and the coaching staff has been quite secretive about its backfield decisions in previous years. Regardless of how it shakes out, we expect Stevenson to maintain decent volume after being one of the few Patriots to make a highly positive impression on offense in Week 1. He had 18 carries in the season opener, and while his 2.8 YPC was concerning, we like to see that he caught five passes for 44 yards. Stevenson has consistently been a willing receiver and blocker, even before Henderson was drafted to the team. As a result, he should continue to handle a similarly large target share while rotating with Henderson for ball-carrying responsibilities.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson Approaching Must-Start Territory in Fantasy Football
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has shown massive development and growth in the last year, and he's now firmly entrenched as a high-end WR2 in fantasy football. He could soar even higher if he strings together more performances that prove he's really a WR1 (top-12 wide receiver) in fantasy football. After last week, it would be hard to argue against that concept. He had six catches for 147 yards and two touchdown in the season opener, playing 76% of the offensive snaps. Managers shouldn't overthink the decision here; Watson is RotoBaller's WR14 for Week 2 against the New York Jets, and he belongs in 100% of fantasy lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bhayshul Tuten a Steady Fantasy Option with Large Workload
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten played less than 50% of the snaps in Week 1, but he handled 15 carries in the season-opening win and cemented himself as the team's primary ball-carrier. Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. handled similar snap shares, but the latter had just six touches. At this point, there's no question that Tuten is the one and only Jaguars running back worth starting in fantasy football. The only concern is that the Jaguars throw the ball so much, so Tuten may not have a ton of touchdown opportunities on the ground. Nevertheless, he's a high-end RB3/flex based on rushing alone, and the touchdown upside could vault him to the low-end RB2 range. As it stands, he ranks as the RB25 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for his Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jadarian Price on Track for Another Step Forward in Week 2
Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price had a decent performance in his NFL debut last week, and we expect him to have an even bigger role when he returns to action on Sunday for the team's Week 2 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. In the season opener against New England, Price had a 48% snap share with 10 carries and 52 yards, plus two small receptions. Given his highly efficient performance, he seems likely to build on his involvement with more than 50% of the snaps and at least a dozen carries on Sunday against Arizona. We could also see the Seahawks prefer a run-heavy approach with Drew Lock quarterbacking the offense in place of Sam Darnold (glute). He ranks as the RB24 in RotoBaller's latest Week 2 fantasy football, making him a worthwhile starter in most fantasy leagues with 8+ teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Golden Taking First Steps Toward Year 2 Breakout
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden will look to build on his existing momentum during Sunday's Week 2 contest against the New York Jets. After a relatively disappointing rookie season, Golden took a huge step forward in Week 1 of the 2026 season with six catches for 95 yards. He's working on solidifying himself as the No. 2 receiver behind Christian Watson and ahead of Jayden Reed, and another big game on Sunday would help that effort. The Jets posed a tough matchup for the Titans last week, but we wouldn't be surprised to see their secondary get exposed by a combination of Watson and Golden. The 23-year-old Texas product remains a high-end WR3/flex while continuing to build his track record in Year 2. Specifically, he ranks as the WR31 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 2. He can be started in most leagues with 10+ teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
More News About Sam Darnold
