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Denzel Boston Offers Upside With Some Week 3 Risk
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Denzel Boston has earned a bigger role quickly, but Week 3 against Carolina comes with a little more uncertainty. The rookie has seven catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns through two games, while his targets climbed from four in the opener to seven last week. That growth is encouraging. At the same time, 101 of Boston's 154 receiving yards have come on touchdown catches of 46 and 55 yards, so his early fantasy production has leaned heavily on explosive plays. Carolina's outside coverage with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson also gives him a tougher test than he saw in Tampa Bay. Boston remains a starter for Cleveland and is healthy heading into Sunday, so the opportunity should still be there. He sits at WR45 in RotoBaller's Week 3 rankings. Boston makes sense as a flex for managers chasing upside, while teams with a steadier alternative can reasonably take the safer route.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
More Recent News
DJ Moore Expected to Play Against Chargers
Buffalo Bills wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) is expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Moore was limited Wednesday, missed Thursday's practice, and returned in a limited capacity Friday before being listed as questionable. He suffered the shoulder injury against Detroit last week and finished that game without a reception, though he did have one carry for minus-one yard. Moore opened the season with five catches for 100 yards and a touchdown against Houston. His official active status will still come closer to kickoff, but the expectation is that Josh Allen will have Moore back in the lineup against Los Angeles.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Cowboys, Lions Inquire on Trade for Joey Porter Jr.
The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions are among several teams that "have begun making inquiries" on a potential trade for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (undisclosed), according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Porter and the Steelers had previously engaged in extension talks, but those came to an end when Week 1 arrived and a new deal still wasn't in place. Pittsburgh intends to uphold its policy against having contract negotiations during the season, leaving Porter on the trade market as the regular season continues. Dallas and Detroit have two of the worst secondaries in football, so it's no surprise that they're interested in Porter, who tallied 52 tackles, one sack, and one interception across 14 games last year. With that being said, Porter has yet to play this season and is questionable for Week 3 with an undisclosed issue.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Jayden Daniels Should Return Within Three Weeks
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) is expected to return within three weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former first-round pick underwent extensive testing after dislocating his elbow during last week's loss to the Cowboys, and medical experts determined that he'll miss no more than three games as part of his recovery. Rapoport notes that Daniels may end up wearing a brace on his shoulder during games once he does return. The 25-year-old had very modest passing numbers to start the season, but he salvaged his fantasy value with three touchdowns, zero turnovers, and 100 rushing yards through less than two full games. Marcus Mariota is expected to start at quarterback for now, but Daniels will return to the lineup as a low-end fantasy QB1 sometime in mid-October.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Keon Coleman Expected to Play in Week 3
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (ankle) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers despite being listed as questionable, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. The 23-year-old missed back-to-back practices before returning to log a limited session on Friday. After two very modest seasons to open his career, Coleman is trying to get back on track as a fantasy-relevant option under new head coach Joe Brady. He had a quiet Week 1, but he filled in admirably last week for DJ Moore (shoulder) with six catches and 63 yards. Coleman has managed to catch all seven of his targets this season, offering a reliable target for quarterback Josh Allen. If Moore, who is questionable, ends up playing on Sunday, it will be tougher to justify starting Coleman in fantasy football. However, if Moore is sidelined, Coleman should step up as a WR3/flex with additional upside.
Source: Cameron Wolfe
Source: Cameron Wolfe
Titans Hope Tyjae Spears Will Play Against Giants
The Tennessee Titans are hopeful that running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) will be able to play in Sunday's Week 3 contest against the New York Giants, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. He practiced in a limited capacity on Friday and was listed as questionable entering the weekend. While the Titans sound cautiously optimistic that Spears will suit up, there are a couple of factors to consider here. Most importantly, he'll need to work out pregame to determine if he's healthy enough to play. Additionally, there's some messy weather in the forecast, including heavy rain that could lead to sloppy field conditions. The Titans will need to determine whether Spears' injured ankle can handle running and cutting in the rain. Even if Spears does suit up, he's the backup to Tony Pollard and will likely rank in the RB4 tier for fantasy football this week.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Adonai Mitchell Likely Headed for Favorable Game Script
New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger) is questionable to play in Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Detroit Lions, but fantasy managers should be intrigued by his upside if he does suit up. The Jets are 6.5-point underdogs against the Lions, indicating that they might have to pass the football a lot just to keep pace and stay competitive on Sunday. That bodes well for Mitchell, who has handled high target volume in recent weeks and is capable of contributing when the Jets are trying to stay competitive. In last week's tight game against the Packers, Mitchell fetched a whopping 12 targets, which he turned into six catches for 63 yards. Garrett Wilson may be the flashy, big-name receiver in New York, but a healthy Mitchell is certainly capable of producing as a WR3/flex with additional upside. Now, the biggest question is whether he'll actually suit up this week. The Jets will announce their list of inactive players on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. EDT.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
NFL Requests to View Video Footage of Josh Jacobs Incident
The NFL has officially requested to view video of the domestic incident that resulted in Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs being arrested and charged with two misdemeanors last offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Earlier this month, Jacobs pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of battery and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property. The court didn't issue any jail time for the Packers' running back, but this past week, a judge denied a request to permanently seal case records. That decision opened the door for the Packers to review the surveillance footage and potentially issue a very hefty punishment. This is a major step in the NFL's investigation, as being denied access to the footage would have made it difficult for the NFL to take action. Now, they'll presumably have a clear path to thoroughly complete their own investigation and determine if Jacobs will be suspended. In the meantime, he'll remain on the commissioner's exempt list, leaving MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks atop the running back depth chart in Green Bay. The NFL's history of punishing players for domestic violence incidents has been somewhat inconsistent, but fantasy managers should brace for the possibility of a lengthy suspension that sidelines Jacobs for several months.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Giants Considering Long List of Veteran Quarterbacks
The New York Giants are exploring a long list of veteran quarterback options as potential rest-of-season replacements for Jaxson Dart (knee), who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Jameis Winston took over for Dart on Monday and will earn the start in Week 3, but last week's 11-for-27 passing line with 111 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception showed that he's not capable of keeping the team in a competitive state for the rest of the year. The Giants have started looking into Jimmy Garoppolo (free agent), Gardner Minshew II (Cardinals), J.J. McCarthy (Vikings), Mac Jones (49ers), and Justin Fields (Chiefs). None of those players have experience with the Giants or head coach John Harbaugh, but they all represent proven veteran options with varying levels of winning and playing experience. Of that group, Garoppolo could be signed right away, while the rest would need to be traded. Opposing teams won't just be willing to trade away their backups for cheap, either, so any trade would require both sides to reach an agreement on fair compensation.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Nico Collins Has a Decent Chance to Return in Week 4
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) has already been ruled out for the second game in a row, but he has a "decent chance" to return for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Collins has been sidelined since the practice week following Houston's season opener. The 27-year-old was impressive during that Week 1 contest, catching seven of 10 targets for 75 yards and one touchdown. Collins and his fantasy managers will be eager to put this injury behind him, especially if it means he's fully healthy and can return to his WR1 form in fantasy football. The Texans' offense has endured its fair share of struggles over the last year-plus, but the unit always seems to be playing at its best when Collins is on the field and showing off his extremely strong rapport with quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Puka Nacua Could Return Next Week, Surgery Still an Option
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (groin) "could return as soon as next week against the Eagles," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Functionally, Nacua is capable of playing, but he has lacked explosiveness while recovering from his injury. Schefter notes that the Rams believe this is a short-term injury and expect to see Nacua back sooner rather than later, but at the same time, they won't rule out the possibility of surgery if he doesn't recover as smoothly as expected. There still seems to be plenty of moving parts here, and Nacua's injury status is far from straightforward. The fact that the Rams have yet to rule out surgery is quite worrisome for fantasy managers, as any sort of operation would likely lead to an extended absence for the superstar receiver. Nacua caught five passes for 74 yards in Week 1, ranked as the overall WR1 in PPR leagues last year, and is a must-start in all formats when healthy. Davante Adams has stepped up as quarterback Matthew Stafford's favorite target in Nacua's absence.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Colby Parkinson Trending Toward Playing in Week 3
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (knee) is "trending in the right direction" to play against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Week 3, according to head coach Sean McVay (via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The veteran tight end was officially listed as questionable entering this weekend, and it's a little surprising to hear the Rams are optimistic about his status after he missed all three practices this past week. Assuming he does suit up, he'll likely operate as the No. 2 tight end behind Terrance Ferguson once again. Parkinson has three catches for 21 yards so far, but on a more encouraging note, he has played at least 70% of the snaps in each of the Rams' two games. With that said, his role behind Ferguson will drop him outside of the top 30 tight ends in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 3.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Myles Garrett Faces a Six-Week Timeline to Return After Surgery
Los Angeles Rams superstar defensive end Myles Garrett (knee) faces a six-week timeline for his recovery after undergoing knee surgery earlier this month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Garrett made his Rams debut back in Week 1 against the 49ers, but he was clearly playing injured, and it didn't take long for the team to place him on injured reserve. Now, it looks like he'll miss more than the minimum four games, as surgery will sideline him through at least the end of October. Losing Garrett, who had 23 sacks and three forced fumbles last season, is a crushing loss for the Rams, but their defense is equipped to handle his extended absence and continue to play well in the meantime. The Rams D/ST ranks 12th in fantasy scoring this year and will be a must-start unit once Garrett does get back in action.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Michael Pittman Jr. Expected to Play in Week 3
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals despite being listed as questionable, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Pittman missed last Sunday's game due to the foot injury, and he caught three passes for 58 yards on an 88% snap share back in Week 1. Similar volume should bode well for Pittman, who could end up as one of Aaron Rodgers' go-to targets on Sunday afternoon, especially if cornerback DJ Turner shadows DK Metcalf. The 28-year-old ranks as a worthwhile WR3/flex option for fantasy football managers in Week 3.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Caleb Williams Out 3-4 Weeks With Grade 2 Hamstring Strain
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Schefter also reports that the former No. 1 overall pick is expected to miss three to four weeks. Williams exited early last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, and it turns out the injury will sideline him through mid-October, at the earliest. That's tough news for fantasy managers to swallow, but at least it sounds like he'll be able to avoid a stint on injured reserve. Williams is a mid-range fantasy QB1 when healthy, as evidenced by an electric Week 1 performance in which he racked up 269 passing yards, 65 rushing yards, and four total touchdowns. As long as Williams remains sidelined, we'd expect to see the Bears start Tyson Bagent (concussion) at quarterback if healthy, or Case Keenum, either of which will lower the fantasy ceiling and floor for players like Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Jaylen Warren Expected to Play Against Bengals in Week 3
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (shoulder) is expected to be active for Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Warren had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice on Friday. The 27-year-old has a chance to take on a substantially larger role Sunday after teammate Rico Dowdle (toe) was ruled out. Warren has handled modest volume this year, but his pass-catching contributions have allowed him to score at least 9.7 fantasy points (PPR) per game despite failing to find the end zone so far. His ceiling is substantially higher with the backfield essentially all to himself, and he's the overall RB16 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 3.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Zay Flowers a Game-Time Decision for Week 3 at Dallas
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) is a game-time decision for Week 3 and will participate in a pregame workout to determine if he's able to play, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Schefter noted that "the team doesn't sound as if it is counting on him playing." Flowers has been sidelined ever since injuring his hamstring during the middle of an explosive Week 1 performance in which he caught five passes for 150 yards and one touchdown. Rashod Bateman stepped in as Lamar Jackson's No. 1 receiver last week, and it sounds like there's a very real chance he might have an expanded role again in Week 3. If Flowers does manage to suit up, there's a chance his role could be limited, but he'd still be worth starting as a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Brock Bowers Expected to be Active for Season Debut on Sunday
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is expected to be active for Sunday's Week 3 contest against the New Orleans Saints, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Bowers had been listed as questionable but is on track to make his season debut this weekend, barring a setback. The 23-year-old has struggled to stay healthy since his rookie campaign in 2024, when he ranked as the overall TE1 with 112 catches, 1,194 yards, and five touchdowns. There's no question that Bowers is capable of returning to his rookie form, but he just needs to stay healthy. He'll look to get his season started on a positive note Sunday, presumably without many limitations in terms of total snaps. The 23-year-old ranks as the overall TE4 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 3.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Mike Evans Plans to Play on Sunday Afternoon
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (hip) "plans to play" in Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Evans opened the practice week with a pair of absences, but he returned in a limited capacity on Friday, which was seemingly enough to get him ready for Sunday's game. He will continue to operate as the 49ers' No. 1 wide receiver and one of Brock Purdy's favorite targets in the passing game. Evans will look to replicate his performance from his last fully healthy game in Week 1, when he caught six passes for 49 yards and one touchdown. There are plenty of mouths to feed in this Niners offense, but he actually doesn't have too much competition at the wide receiver position after De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle), Demarcus Robinson (ankle), and Christian Kirk (calf) were all placed on injured reserve.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Odell Beckham Jr. Dealing with Low Volume and Quarterback Downgrade
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is trending down in fantasy football as a result of his low volume and an unfavorable outlook at the quarterback position. Over the past two weeks, Beckham has played less than 15% of the offensive snaps, and he has yet to command a target on offense. To make matters worse, he and the rest of his Giants teammates will have to deal with a quarterback downgrade as Jameis Winston takes over for Jaxson Dart (knee), who is done for the season. For what it's worth, Beckham wouldn't have been on the fantasy radar even if Dart stayed healthy, but the installation of Winston into the offense is sure to hurt the fantasy outlooks of all Giants receivers. Beckham's comeback story was nice, but just because he made the 53-man roster didn't mean that he was going to have any fantasy relevance. He can continue to be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
LeQuint Allen Jr. Remains a Non-Factor on Offense
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. has yet to log an offensive touch through two games this season, and he remains off the fantasy radar heading into Week 3 against the New England Patriots. Allen played 2% of the snaps in Week 1, and although that snap share jumped to 15% last Sunday, his only statistic in the final box score was one target that fell incomplete. The second-year Syracuse product continues to occupy the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. Allen may have some long-term appeal in dynasty leagues, but this is clearly Tuten's backfield. He belongs on waivers in all redraft leagues as long as Tuten and Rodriguez are healthy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
More News About Denzel Boston
