Nico Collins Set for a Big Bounceback?
Nico Collins was limited to just three catches for 25 yards in his team's Week 1 loss to the Rams, but he will look to bounce back this week at home against the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Collins only had five targets in Week 1, but he did still tie for the team lead. He played 53 of 63, by far the most among Texans' receivers, but the team's offense could never get much going against Los Angeles. They'll look to turn things around in Week 2, and Collins is the No. 7 WR in the RotoBaller rankings coming into his matchup against Tampa Bay, who allowed Drake London eight catches in Week 1. For the Texans' offense to turn things around, they'll need to get their superstar more involved on Monday, and if he gets a high target volume, he could put together a monster game.
Source: NFL.com
Houston Texans wide receiver Source: NFL.com
Woody Marks Still Waiting for a Chance to Break Out
Woody Marks was part of the rotation in the team's backfield in Week 1, but the rookie played a very minimal role. He played just seven snaps (11%) against the Rams and took his three carries for three yards. The fourth-round pick showed some upside this training camp and preseason, but is clearly behind Nick Chubb and Dare Ogunbowale on the depth chart, and got the same amount of snaps and carries as Dameon Pierce as well. Down the road, Marks still has the potential to contribute if he can earn more work in the load sharing, but for Week 2 against the Buccaneers, he's a very high-risk play and should be left on the bench in almost all formats. He's the RB63 in the RotoBaller rankings for Week 2.
Source: NFL.com
Houston Texans running back Source: NFL.com
Dameon Pierce Could Be Locked in a Limited Role
Dameon Pierce did get a little bit of playing time in Week 1, but he does not look to be a large part of the Texans' backfield rotation coming into their Week 2 matchup against the Buccaneers on Monday. Pierce played only seven snaps (11%) in Week 1 against the Rams, taking his three carries for five yards. He played well behind starter Nick Chubb and passing-down back Dare Ogunbowale. He and Woody Marks got identical workloads, but neither of them showed much reason for more work going forward. Pierce could still have upside later in the year if he claims a bigger role, but for now, he's in an extremely limited role in a struggling offense, so he can be on waiver wires in most leagues. He's only the RB72 in RotoBaller's Week 2 rankings.
Source: NFL.com
Houston Texans running back Source: NFL.com
Dare Ogunbowale Could Be Involved on Monday Night Football
Dare Ogunbowale played a larger role than expected in Week 1, and the 31-year-old veteran could be in the rotation again on Monday night, when the Texans host his former team, the Buccaneers. In Week 1, Ogunbowale played 27% of the team's offensive snaps, more than any other running back except. starter Nick Chubb. He was also the only running back who had any catches, hauling in two passes for 17 yards. He brings value for his pass blocking and receiving skills and should continue to rotate in on passing downs, which does give him very limited upside in the Texans' offense, which sputtered in Week 1 and failed to score a touchdown. The Bucs gave up six catches for 100 receiving yards and a touchdown to the Falcons' running backs in Week 1, so Ogunbowale is an extremely deep sleeper play this week and could be valuable as a DFS bargain streamer. He's only the RB64 in RotoBaller's rankings, though, so he doesn't deserve consideration in most standard leagues this week.
Source: NFL.com
Houston Texans running back Source: NFL.com
Nick Chubb Lined Up for a Second Straight Start
Nick Chubb will again lead the way for his team's backfield rotation in a tough matchup on Monday night against the Buccaneers' strong run defense. Chubb played 51% of the snaps in Week 1 and had 13 carries, while no other running back had more than three. He wasn't very effective against the Rans, running for just 60 yards (4.6 per carry) and failing to catch his only target. Chubb will. likely be in a similar scenario against the Bucs and should have plenty of work, even though he doesn't have the dynamic play-making ability he had before his brutal injuries. The Texans didn't score a touchdown in Week 1, but if Chubb finds the end zone, he could be a borderline starter in Week 2. He's ranked as the RB28 in the RotoBaller rankings, making him an RB3 or a flex play
Source: NFL.com
Houston Texans running back Source: NFL.com
C.J. Stroud Looks to Help the Texans Bounce Back vs. the Buccaneers
C.J. Stroud is hoping for a bounce-back season after a down year in 2024, but the new season didn't start well in the Texans' 14-9 loss to the Rams in Week 1. Stroud was limited to just 188 passing yards while completing 19-of-27 passes. He was under pressure from the Rams' strong pass rush most of the day and wasn't able to create enough big plays down the field. His interception came on a pass that was snatched out of the hands of his receiver, so it wasn't really on him. However, he didn't make enough big plays or lead any touchdown drives. Even with new offensive coordinator Nick Caley in command, the issues from last season were evident once again in Week 1. Stroud and the Texans will look to get on track against the Buccaneers in the first game of Monday Night Football's doubleheader, but with how rough the Texans' offense looked, it's hard to support Stroud as a QB1. In the RotoBaller rankings, he's QB17, making him a decent QB2 but a long shot to start in standard, single-QB leagues.
Source: NFL.com
Houston Texans quarterback Source: NFL.com
Jordan Mims Added to Titans' Active Roster
Jordan Mims to their active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. With teammate Kalel Mullings (ankle) doubtful for Week 2 with an ankle injury, the 26-year-old will step in and suit up for the first time this season. In Week 1, Mullings was technically Tennessee's third option out of the backfield. However, he did not garner a snap on offense, while Tony Pollard dominated with a robust 89% snap share. Pollard is likely to handle a hefty workload again in another tough matchup, with Julius Chestnut mixing in sparsely behind. Mims could fall victim to the same fate as Mullings and participate only on special teams. Either way, he'll be there in case Chestnut and Pollard need a spell.
Source: NFL.com
According to the team, the Tennessee Titans have elevated running back Source: NFL.com
Luke Goedeke Questionable for MNF
Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jackson Powers-Johnson Ruled Out With Concussion
Source: Las Vegas Raiders
Jordan Fuller Lands on Injured Reserve
Source: Terrin Waack
Quinshon Judkins to Have "Snaps Closely Monitored" Versus Baltimore
Quinshon Judkins will "have his snaps closely monitored" throughout Sunday's matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. However, Rapoport added the rookie will still "have the snaps of a backup RB." Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com indicated that Judkins will "get about a dozen carries" in Week 2. As a result, it appears Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford should handle most of the work out of the backfield on Sunday, meaning leaving Judkins on fantasy benches may be the safest way to go. With that said, the Browns hope he takes over as the No. 1 option on the depth chart, so it may be only a matter of time before he works his way into fantasy lineups on a full-time basis. That process might be accelerated depending on how he does in Week 2.
Source: Ian Rapoport
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Cleveland Browns running back Source: Ian Rapoport
Jauan Jennings a "Game-Time" Decision for Week 2, Optimism That he'll Play
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) is considered a "game-time decision" for Sunday's matchup versus the Saints, although a source says there is optimism he'll be active. The 28-year-old injured his shoulder in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. He didn't practice on Wednesday and Thursday. However, Jennings logged a limited session on Friday, although it still wasn't enough to avoid a questionable designation. With George Kittle (hamstring) out, Ricky Pearsall and Christian McCaffrey should see plenty of attention from quarterback Mac Jones if Jennings doesn't play. Jennings will work out before the opening kickoff. If he's cleared to suit up, he's a must-start in any fantasy format.
Source: Ian Rapoport
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Source: Ian Rapoport
Casey Washington Out With a Concussion in Week 2
Casey Washington (concussion) did not pass the league's concussion protocol and will be inactive on Sunday against the Vikings. The 24-year-old had his best game in the NFL last week, hauling in three of his six targets for 33 yards, but suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter of the contest. The University of Illinois product's six targets were fourth-most on the team and more than veteran Ray-Ray McCloud III's five targets, potentially signaling a changing of the guard for the third wide receiver spot in the Atlanta offense, but it was likely more a product of Darnell Mooney's absence in Week 1 than anything else. With Mooney expected to play in Week 2 but with Washington out, we'll have to see how things shake out in Week 3 in order to get a better feel for Washington's role in this offense. For now, Washington can be left to the waiver wire in fantasy leagues.
Source: ESPN
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Source: ESPN
Caleb Williams Focusing on Improving Accuracy
Caleb Williams on being more consistent with his footwork to improve his accuracy as a thrower. Per ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Johnson said that there were "probably three or four" throws from Williams' Week 1 performance against the Minnesota Vikings that "we would want back." Williams completed 60% of his 35 pass attempts against Minnesota for 210 yards and a touchdown. He gets a decent matchup in Week 2 against a Detroit Lions defense that may be without All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph (knee). Still, Williams is tough for fantasy managers to trust until he proves he can be more consistent. Williams profiles as a fantasy QB2 in Week 2 who can be started in Superflex leagues but should be avoided in single-QB formats.
Source: ESPN - Courtney Cronin
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said the team is working with quarterback Source: ESPN - Courtney Cronin
Liam Coen's Confidence in Travis Etienne Jr. Only Growing?
Travis Etienne Jr. after Etienne's big performance in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. Per ESPN's Michael DiRocco, Coen had this to say about Etienne Jr.: "It took some time early on in terms of understanding the demands and the standards. Once (Etienne Jr.) really got on the same page, it's been doing this (upward motion)." The Jaguars traded running back Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles following Week 1, clearing the way for Etienne Jr. and rookie Bhayshul Tuten to dominate touches in Jacksonville. Etienne Jr. profiles as a fantasy RB2 in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Source: ESPN - Michael DiRocco
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen praised running back
Source: ESPN - Michael DiRocco