September 19, 2025
For the first time since arriving in Green Bay, Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons (back) does not appear on the team's injury report. The Packers acquired the All-Pro pass rusher from the Cowboys in a deal that sent defensive lineman Kenny Clark and two first-round picks to Dallas, and for the first time since leaving the Big D, Parsons is expected to see a full slate of snaps in Week 3. Through two weeks, Parsons has seen the field on just over 55% of the Packers' defensive snaps, racking up two sacks in limited action. The Packers have been one of the most dominant defensive units through two weeks, making an unencumbered Parsons a scary proposition for a Cleveland offensive line that has surrendered 35 pressures through two weeks. Green Bay's DST remains a must-start in Week 3, while
Joe Flacco,
Jerry Jeudy, and Cleveland's entire passing game should be left on the bench in a game that could get ugly.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Adam Schefter
September 19, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that quarterback
Joe Burrow (toe) had successful surgery on his toe on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Burrow had surgery for Grade 3 turf toe that he suffered in the Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he will be facing a three-month recovery. Joe Cool will basically miss most, if not all, of Cincy's season, which is obviously a major blow for the Bengals and anyone who spent an early-round pick on Burrow in fantasy drafts. Depending on how his recovery goes, he could make a return in mid-to-late December. But by that time, fantasy teams could be well out of contention for a trophy at the end of the year. We should have a better idea of Burrow's timeline for a potential return once he actually starts the rehab process.
Jake Browning will now take over Cincy's offense and will be in play as a decent QB2 streamer in the right matchups.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
September 19, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) has officially been ruled out for Week 3 on Sunday against the visiting New York Jets, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Although Wirfs will have to wait at least one more week to make his 2025 debut, the 26-year-old made more progress and was able to get in some limited practices this week. If Wirfs can upgrade to a full practice session at some point next week, he may be cleared to make his season debut for a Week 4 showdown against the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Getting Wirfs back on the offensive line would be a big boost for quarterback
Baker Mayfield and the rest of the offense. Tampa's offensive line has been pretty beat up in the early going.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
September 19, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said that wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. (wrist) had a better week "in terms of the way we were trying to connect" and is excited for Thomas' opportunity against the division-rival Houston Texans on Sunday, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. Thomas said, "I'm good." There was some question about his Week 3 status when he went from a full practice on Wednesday to limited on Thursday, but apparently, the 22-year-old second-year pass-catcher is ready to rock this weekend against Houston. Thomas has been a disappointment through two games in 2025 after going for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie campaign, and the Jags have spread the ball around so far. He does have 19 targets through two weeks, but the efficiency has not been there, with only five grabs for 60 yards. Fantasy managers are hoping this will be the week Thomas breaks out.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
September 19, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Chris Godwin (ankle) has officially been ruled out for the Week 3 game on Sunday against the New York Jets, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Godwin is not ready to make his 2025 debut after suffering an ugly dislocated ankle in Week 7 of 2024, but he returned to practice for the first time last week and made more progress this week, suggesting that he could return in a Week 4 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 29-year-old will probably have to upgrade to a full practice at some point next week for that to happen, though, and for fantasy purposes, he'll be extremely risky whenever he makes his debut, especially when considering how good rookie first-rounder
Emeka Egbuka has been so far. Fantasy managers stashing Godwin are going to need to stay patient, and his overall ceiling and floor figures to be impacted by the presence of Egbuka all year.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
September 19, 2025
Miami Dolphins rookie running back
Ollie Gordon II's success puts "competitive pressure" on
Jaylen Wright, who was active for the first time in 2025 in Thursday night's loss to the Buffalo Bills, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. The head coach said he still believes in Wright and plans on incorporating him in the offense, but with Gordon, "they can punch and hit the opponent." Wright missed the first two weeks of the year with a knee injury, which didn't help his cause. The 22-year-old was active on Thursday night against Buffalo, but he didn't handle any snaps on offense or special teams. Meanwhile, Gordon had nine carries (three fewer than
De'Von Achane) for 38 yards and a touchdown. Wright should be more involved now that he's healthy, but Gordon gives Miami a dynamic they haven't had at the position in years, which doesn't bode well for Wright.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Palm Beach Post - Joe Schad
September 19, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Xavier Legette (hamstring) has been labeled as questionable to play in a Week 3 divisional tilt against the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, according to David Newton of ESPN. Legette came down with some hamstring soreness in Wednesday's practice and was shut down. The 24-year-old was limited on both Wednesday and Thursday. Even if he's cleared to play this weekend, fantasy managers should not be compelled to use him in their starting lineups after catching only four of his 15 targets for eight yards in the first two games of the season. Legette is going to continue to be involved in Carolina's passing attack, but he could quickly become the WR3 in a suspect offense after
Hunter Renfrow found the end zone twice in last week's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Rookie
Jimmy Horn Jr. or
David Moore will see more snaps as the WR3 on Sunday if Legette is ruled out.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - David Newton
September 19, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk (hamstring) is "on track to return" in a Week 3 divisional matchup on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. The Texans said earlier this week that they expected both Kirk and
Braxton Berrios (hamstring) to play for the first time this season. It's unclear right now if they'll both be removed from the final injury report or if they'll head into Sunday with a questionable designation, but either way, they should be on the field against Jacksonville. Kirk is the one that fantasy managers need to keep an eye on. While he's not start-worthy in his debut with Houston this weekend, he will give their struggling offense a boost and is expected to see most of the snaps out of the slot when he's up to speed. Kirk's impending return is definitely bad news for rookies
Jayden Higgins and
Jaylin Noel.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
September 19, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) has officially been ruled out for Week 3 on Sunday against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders, according to The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov. Things were trending this way since earlier in the week when head coach Dan Quinn said that Daniels wouldn't practice until at least Friday. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday and wasn't seen on the field on Friday, either, so veteran
Marcus Mariota will officially make his first start of the year against his old team. The Commanders are erring on the side of caution with their second-year signal-caller, but Daniels could also be in danger of missing the Week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons due to a knee sprain that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Mariota, who will be making his first start since 2022, will be a low-end QB2 option for those desperate in superflex leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
September 19, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that rookie first-round wide receiver
Emeka Egbuka (groin, hip) will be questionable for Week 3 against the visiting New York Jets on Sunday, according to Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com. The good news is that Egbuka returned to practice on Friday after sitting out on Wednesday and Thursday. With
Chris Godwin (ankle) officially ruled out again, veteran
Sterling Shepard would be worth a look as a flex streamer this weekend as the team's WR2 if Egbuka is inactive. If he's cleared to play on Sunday, Egbuka should remain in all starting fantasy lineups after going for eight catches on 13 targets for 96 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games of his NFL career. Egbuka has been great as the WR2 behind
Mike Evans so far, but this could be the last week that he's the clear No. 2 option if Godwin returns in Week 4.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buccaneers.com - Brianna Dix
September 19, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver
Emeka Egbuka (groin, hip) was back on the practice field on Friday after sitting out on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. It's good news for the Bucs, but Egbuka isn't exactly in the clear to play in Week 4 against the New York Jets. There's a good chance the 22-year-old will be listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report. The Bucs play in the early window on Sunday, though, so fantasy managers will know early whether Egbuka will be active against the Jets. The Ohio State product will be a must-start this weekend if he's active, as he's caught eight passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns on 13 targets in his first two NFL games. If Egbuka doesn't get cleared to play this weekend,
Sterling Shepard would be the WR2 across from
Mike Evans, with
Chris Godwin (ankle) not expected back until at least Week 4.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
September 19, 2025
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he doesn't think tight end
Tucker Kraft (knee) will practice on Friday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. The Packers are non-committal on Kraft's status for Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday after he tweaked his knee in practice on Thursday. The good news is that Kraft avoided a long-term injury, and LaFleur doesn't think he'll go on Injured Reserve, which would knock him out for at least four games. If Kraft doesn't practice on Friday, he probably won't be active this Sunday, so fantasy managers need to make backup plans now if he's your only tight end on roster. Backup
Luke Musgrave will be on the streaming radar if Kraft doesn't play, especially with receivers
Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) and
Christian Watson (knee) out. Check back later to see if Kraft is officially ruled out for Week 3.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
September 19, 2025
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald stated in a recent interview that the plan is for running backs
Kenneth Walker III and
Zach Charbonnet to operate in a true 1A/1B backfield committee. "You need multiple really good backs," said Macdonald. "I feel like in recent history, it's hard for it to be one bell cow all the time... We're fortunate to have the guys we have." It might not be the news fantasy managers were hoping for, but it's the correct move for the team, particularly with two talented options. According to the head coach, the plan is for both backs to have "ample opportunity" each week to impact the game on the ground. Seattle is currently a top ten team in terms of rush percentage, and if that trend is sustained, both backs will have valuable outings. However, they'll also cannibalize each other's fantasy ceilings. Both have solid standalone value at present.
--Alex CiullaSource: Michael-Shawn Dugar
September 19, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller (hip) was "super close" to playing in Thursday night's divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. With that said, McDaniel expects Waller to make his debut with the team in another divisional tilt in Week 4 against the New York Jets on Monday, Sept. 29, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Waller might have been able to play had the Dolphins faced Buffalo on Sunday this week instead of Thursday. The 33-year-old veteran had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 and 2020 before injuries set in. Waller retired after one year with the New York Giants in 2023. He spent all of training camp trying to get his conditioning up to speed before a hip injury caused him to miss the first three games. Expect Miami to ease Waller in if he's active in Week 4. At best, he's a TE2 stash right now in deeper fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
September 19, 2025
According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn declined to respond when asked if a player could lose his job while injured, regarding quarterback
Justin Fields (concussion). Yikes. The Ohio State alum's performance in Week 2 was nothing short of dreadful -- a surprising outcome after their execution in Week 1. It's unlikely that Fields would outright lose his job, particularly after one down game and an injury that shouldn't keep him out for an extended duration. Still, it's a comment worth noting, and a situation that requires monitoring. Glenn is a hard-nosed coach, but losing faith in his starting quarterback after one week of play doesn't align with his character. We'll know more following this weekend.
--Alex CiullaSource: Rich Cimini
RADIO
