September 19, 2025
With
Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) out for a minimum of four weeks, Minnesota Vikings running back
Jordan Mason is a quality RB2 candidate against a bad Cincinnati defense. The Vikings have been among the most hard-luck teams in the league in terms of injuries, and will enter Week 3 without their starting quarterback, center, and possibly left tackle -- meaning Minnesota needs its running game to get going in the worst way. Cincinnati is a bottom-five defense against fantasy running backs, and better for Mason, he has very little competition for touches with unproven
Zavier Scott and recently signed
Cam Akers as the only other real options. Mason also could see some of the receiving work that normally goes to Jones, making him a clear starter with a reasonable chance at a big week.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Cleveland Browns quarterback
Joe Flacco has struggled over the first two games of the 2025 season, completing 56 of his 90 pass attempts for 489 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He might have a tough time getting untracked against a red-hot Green Bay Packers defense at home in Week 3. The Packers have been dominant on defense thus far, allowing just the 23rd-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks through two games. Flacco has not played well and can't be trusted as anything more than a mid-range QB3 heading into Week 3.
--Matt TerelleSource: NFL.com
September 19, 2025
Wide receiver
Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings faces a plus matchup with a struggling Cincinnati Bengals defense in Week 3, with the caveat that there are many variables at play for Minnesota. The superstar receiver will be catching passes from yet another new quarterback -- backup
Carson Wentz will step in for the injured
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) -- while the Minnesota offensive line will see a first-time starter at center and possibly a third-string left tackle depending on whether All-Pro Christian Darrisaw (knee) is able to return. Yet as awful as the Vikings have been for most of the season, failing to register 50 snaps in both games, Jefferson still managed seven catches, 125 yards, and a touchdown. Jefferson has made backups look great before, though, keeping him in the WR1 conversation despite the bad injury luck around him.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Coming off two poor offensive weeks, things look even worse for the Minnesota Vikings and wide receiver
Adam Thielen in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Bengals' secondary is normally a green-light matchup for receivers, the surrounding circumstances for the Vikings are not good. If starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee), who is questionable on the injury report, is not ready to return from ACL rehab, the Vikings will be down to a third-string left tackle in addition to a backup quarterback and a first-time starter at center. For a team already allowing an NFL worst 18% sack rate, there is no reason to put any faith in a second-rate passing game if a manager has any other options.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie running back
Kalel Mullings (ankle) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable to play in a Week 3 divisional tilt against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Mullings injured his ankle on special teams in the Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos and was inactive in the Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 22-year-old has a shot to return this weekend, but if he does, he'll probably have a minimal role on offense and mainly be used on special teams in a return role. In his NFL debut in Week 1, Mullings didn't see a single touch on offense as the RB3 behind starter
Tony Pollard and backup
Julius Chestnut. When
Tyjae Spears (ankle) returns from Injured Reserve (possibly in Week 5), Mullings will be pushed even further down the RB depth chart in Tennessee. He's only a dynasty/keeper stash for now.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tennessee Titans
September 19, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kaleb Johnson has just two offensive touches through the first two weeks of the campaign and remains on the outside looking in ahead of a Week 3 clash with the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, the rookie's most notable NFL moment yet came when his muffed kick return yielded a Seattle touchdown in the team's Week 2 loss. Head coach Mike Tomlin has since removed Johnson from special teams duties as a result. He may still see the field at some point on Sunday, but Johnson will likely need to regain the trust of the coaching staff before carving out a role alongside
Jaylen Warren and
Kenneth Gainwell. While there is still some appeal to stashing Johnson in redraft formats, he offers no immediate value and can be left on waiver wires in shallow leagues.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals rookie first-round defensive end Shemar Stewart (ankle) has been ruled out for the Week 3 contest on Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings. Stewart injured his ankle in last Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and will be forced to miss at least one game. The 21-year-old will have a little extra time to recover going into a Week 4 Monday night showdown against the Denver Broncos, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to return then. With Stewart out this weekend, Myles Murphy and Cameron Sample will see more pass-rushing opportunities alongside All-Pro Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai against a banged-up Vikings offensive line that will be trying to protect veteran quarterback
Carson Wentz. Even though Stewart is out, the Bengals' defense/special teams unit has some streaming appeal in this matchup.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Bengals
September 19, 2025
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Jalen Nailor shouldn't be considered, even in deep formats, when his team takes on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. The lack of confidence has less to do with Nailor than with the chaos around him, as Minnesota hasn't shown it can protect its quarterback and is now besieged by injuries. Starting quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) and starting center Ryan Kelly (concussion) are out. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) is questionable and still has not returned from last season's ACL injury, while his backup, Justin Skule (concussion), is out. That could mean a former seventh-round pick snapping the ball to a journeyman backup quarterback being protected by a third-string left tackle -- all of which is bad news for a player who is already his team's fourth option for targets.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Faced with another solid opportunity for production, Minnesota Vikings tight end
T.J. Hockenson is a low-end TE1 candidate against the Cincinnati Bengals, though fantasy managers could certainly be forgiven for being leery about his potential following two straight duds. The veteran tight end is facing a plus matchup for tight ends against the Bengals' defense, but is also coming into the game with four catches, 27 total yards, and zero red-zone targets in two games. Most concerning, the Vikings will be without starting quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) and could be starting three offensive linemen -- from left tackle to center -- with a combined two NFL starts. It's clear the Vikings are going to have to be more creative offensively in the following weeks, however, and that should mean more involvement for Hockenson.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell has seen a surprising amount of opportunities through the first two weeks of the season and should be involved against the New England Patriots in Week 3. With rookie
Kaleb Johnson off to a slow start, Gainwell has been the primary change-of-pace option behind
Jaylen Warren. That role, however, hasn't produced much fantasy value, as he's mustered only 59 total yards on his 18 touches. On the plus side, Gainwell's nine targets are fourth-most on the Steelers, and New England has struggled to limit opposing backs in the passing game. Still, the 26-year-old is best viewed as a handcuff and should only be considered as a flex play in the deepest of starting lineups.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Facing a mid-tier matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings kicker
Will Reichard can most likely be avoided in Week 3. The Vikings' offense has been awry for most of the year, and will be without starting quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (ankle), starting center Ryan Kelly (concussion), and possibly down to a third-string left tackle depending on the status of starter Christian Darrisaw (knee). Oddsmakers are predicting a low-scoring game -- the Vikings-Bengals matchup is tied for the lowest over/under of the weekend -- with both sides starting their No. 2 quarterback. It's a lot of moving parts that are directly tied to Reichard's involvement in the game, meaning managers probably can find a safer starter elsewhere.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said that rookie running back
Bhayshul Tuten "has taken a huge jump from the spring" and also compared him to Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB
Bucky Irving, whom he coached last year. Tuten is focusing on all the little details and is still a work in progress in his first NFL season, but Coen has liked what he's seen, and there's no denying that the 23-year-old is an intriguing hold in all fantasy leagues, especially after the Jags traded
Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. Bigsby was limited in practice this week, but he's off the final injury report and will play in Week 3 against the division-rival Houston Texans, where he should be viewed as an RB3/flex with upside behind
Travis Etienne Jr. Tuten had eight carries for 42 yards and also caught two passes for 32 yards and his first career touchown in last week's loss to the Cincinatti Bengals with an elevated workload.
--Keith HernandezSource: YouTube
September 19, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings defense/special teams is a starting option when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals, who are playing in their first full game without star quarterback
Joe Burrow (toe) in Week 3. The Vikings rank eighth in net yards per passing attempt, a category in which the Bengals rank 23rd, and could return closer to full capacity from a health perspective. Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) practiced in full on Friday, safety Harrison Smith (illness) is nearing a return, and nickel back Jeff Okudah (concussion) is off the injury report after all three missed last week's loss to Atlanta. Bengals starter
Jake Browning performed capably when pressed into action in 2023, but the Vikings should have more than enough defensive talent to disrupt an offense led by a backup quarterback on the road.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 19, 2025
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said he sees veteran wide receiver
DeAndre Hopkins getting more snaps on offense as the season progresses. "With every day, his packages are going to continue to grow," Monken said. Hopkins has only been targeted four times in his first two games in Baltimore, but he's caught all four of those targets for 99 yards and two touchdowns (one in each game). The 33-year-old veteran has shown he still has gas left in the tank and has earned a bigger role next to
Zay Flowers. He played 35 percent of the offensive snaps in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, and that number fell to 18% in last week's victory over the Cleveland Browns. Unless he starts seeing more snaps and targets, Nuk is going to remain a low-upside, touchdown-dependent WR4/flex in fantasy. An increase in his playing time would mostly be bad news for
Rashod Bateman.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
September 19, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren will look to build on his hot start to the campaign in a Week 3 road matchup against the New England Patriots. After struggling against the run in 2024, the Patriots have clamped down through the first two weeks of 2025, allowing just 2.5 yards per carry. They have been vulnerable against running backs in the passing attack, however, and that is an area in which Warren thrives. So far this season, he's hauled in all six of his targets for 108 receiving yards and a touchdown. Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers even hinted earlier this week that Warren could see more opportunities through the air, and added that "every time he touches it, something good happens." He hasn't been seeing a workload that puts him in must-start territory, but fantasy managers should view Warren as a quality RB2 with upside heading into Sunday.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
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