September 12, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback
Baker Mayfield wasn't excellent in the season opener, but he got the job done. Mayfield completed 17-of-32 passing attempts for 176 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the win over the Atlanta Falcons. The passing yardage was low for Mayfield, but he is missing two of his wide receivers in
Chris Godwin (ankle) and
Jalen McMillan (neck) right now. The three scores gave fantasy managers a good game, so they don't have much to complain about. The Bucs should continue being a pass-heavy offense which should make Mayfield a viable weekly option. Mayfield should once again remain in the mid-range QB1 territory for the upcoming Monday night matchup against the Houston Texans in Week 2.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
September 12, 2025
Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy is a high-end Superflex option as his team plays host to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Following a brutal first half in the season-opener at Chicago, the Michigan product came alive in the second half, accounting for three fourth-quarter touchdowns and his first NFL win. Now playing behind a home crowd and facing a friendlier matchup from a fantasy perspective, McCarthy has a reasonable opportunity to improve on a lackluster Week 1 from a completions and yards perspective. Attached to a strong supporting cast, McCarthy should give managers some value at the Superflex spot.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers have officially ruled out quarterback
Brock Purdy (toe) for Week 2 action against the New Orleans Saints, according to NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco. Purdy is dealing with turf toe despite playing the entirety of the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks last weekend. Not only will the 25-year-old miss this Sunday's game, but reports this week have suggested that he could be out multiple weeks. It's more bad news for an extremely battered Niners team early in 2025. Tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) is also out this weekend and will miss at least four games after being placed on Injured Reserve. Former New England Patriots QB
Mac Jones will run San Fran's offense against the Saints. Expect plenty of short and intermediate throws while they lean heavily on running back
Christian McCaffrey. At best, Jones is a desperation QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
September 12, 2025
Minnesota Vikings running back
Aaron Jones Sr. is a high-end RB3/Flex candidate as his team takes on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. In its first game, Minnesota came up with a solid blueprint that the team is likely to try again, with the veteran earning the lion's share of the backfield receiving work and fellow running back
Jordan Mason taking many of the tough running downs. From a fantasy perspective, Jones will get enough rushing work to pair nicely with his receiving ability to consider starting him, especially in PPR formats. The Vikings have shown they trust Jones in big passing situations, and with receiver
Jordan Addison (suspension) still out, he's likely to earn at least a few key targets.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
In the first week of the season, Minnesota Vikings running back
Jordan Mason made a compelling case for more touches, which bodes well as his team takes on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. The first-year Viking helped turn the tide in last week's win at Chicago with tough running, gaining 68 rushing yards, adding a catch, and showing the setup with incumbent starter
Aaron Jones Sr. can be fantasy relevant for both players. Though the Falcons' defense is mid-tier against fantasy running backs, Mason is the leading candidate to get short-yardage carries, including the valuable ones near the goal line. Though Jones is preferred as a receiver, Mason has RB3/flex potential playing on a good offense with a solid matchup.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Justin Jefferson faces a friendly matchup on Sunday with breakout potential against the Atlanta Falcons. Even in a down week for the superstar receiver in the season-opening game, he still went for four catches, 44 yards, and a touchdown, and now he takes on a Falcons defense near the bottom of the pile against fantasy wide receivers. With quarterback
J.J. McCarthy making his first home start and up against a better matchup than last week, the Vikings should see a natural boost to their offense as a whole. That generally means good circumstances for their best player.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Starting Vikings wide receiver
Adam Thielen on Sunday would be a bet that he can recapture the magic in his first game back in Minnesota since being reacquired in a trade with Carolina, albeit one that comes with heavy risk. The Minnesota offense was brutal for three quarters in Week 1, though the Vikings did mount a dramatic comeback and go to the veteran for a key two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. However, Thielen played 57% of offensive snaps and drew only one target, which he dropped. Thielen figures to improve on the number of targets in Week 2, especially with
Jordan Addison (suspension) still out, but he'll likely be in a secondary role and still attached to a first-time starter at quarterback. He should be saved for deeper formats only.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Minnesota Vikings tight end
T.J. Hockenson should be viewed as a starting option when his team plays host to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. The Iowa product had an unremarkable statistical performance in Week 1, but so did most of the Vikings, who were brutal offensively for three quarters before surging to victory in the fourth against the Bears. This time out, Hockenson faces a Falcons defense that is mid-tier against tight ends while the Vikings are still missing No. 2 wide receiver
Jordan Addison (suspension) for another couple weeks. The passing game led by first-time starting quarterback
J.J. McCarthy figures to see a boost behind the home crowd, and Hockenson should be one of the biggest benefactors.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) is officially listed as questionable to play in Week 2 on Sunday against the hosting New Orleans Saints, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. Jennnings injured his shoulder in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks and did not return before missing the first two practices of the week on Wednesday and Thursday. However, the 28-year-old was able to get in a limited practice on Friday, which gives him a chance to suit up for the extremely banged-up Niners. If Jennings plays, both he and
Ricky Pearsall should be peppered with targets with tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) out. However, quarterback
Brock Purdy (toe) is also out, which makes Jennings a pretty volatile and unpredictable fantasy option this weekend if he ends up playing. The former seventh-rounder had only two grabs for 16 yards in the opener before getting hurt.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
September 12, 2025
For the second straight day on Friday, Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) is not practicing with the team, according to Silver and Black Sports Network's Jesse Merrick. Bowers was forced to exit the team's Week 1 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday with a knee injury. Although the 22-year-old second-year TE downplayed the severity of his injury, the fact that he has yet to practice this week puts his status very much up in the air for Monday night's divisional tilt versus the Los Angeles Chargers. If you don't already have a viable backup, picking up
Michael Mayer is a strong insurance move in case Bowers is ruled out in Week 2. Bowers had five catches for 103 yards last week before leaving, and he's a must-start everywhere when he's active. Mayer caught three passes for 38 yards in the season opener and will be an intriguing TE2 streamer if Bowers does not play.
--Keith HernandezSource: Silver and Black Sports Network - Jesse Merrick
September 12, 2025
Former San Francisco 49ers kicker
Jake Moody is signing with the Chicago Bears practice squad on Friday, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. After struggling in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, the Niners cut Moody earlier this week. Moody is going to need to kick better to have a shot at replacing the veteran
Cairo Santos after Santos missed one of his two field-goal tries in the season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. The 25-year-old Moody missed two of his three field goals in Week 1, continuing a downward trend after a solid rookie campaign in 2023. Right now, the former third-rounder will just be insurance for Santos in Chicago, and he should remain on the waiver wire in all leagues. Moody has made 74.2% of his 62 field-goal attempts in his three years in the NFL and 97.9% of his extra-point tries.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
September 12, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles running back
Will Shipley (oblique) has been ruled out for their Week 2 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs due to an oblique injury. Shipley was held out of practice during the entire week and will set his sights on returning in Week 3 when the Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams. The second-year running back suffered this injury during the first half of their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Before exiting, Shipley took three carries for 26 yards. Fantasy managers should expect the newly-acquired
Tank Bigsby to serve as the No. 2 option behind workhorse
Saquon Barkley this weekend. When Shipley returns, he may face competition for the No. 2 job. As a result, he is only worth stashing in as a low-upside handcuff in deeper 16+ team leagues for the time being.
--Andy SmithSource: Ralph Vacchiano
September 12, 2025
Kicker
Will Reichard of the Minnesota Vikings faces a middle-of-the-road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. The second-year kicker had a strong opening week in which he converted two field goal attempts at Chicago, including a key 59-yarder that helped Minnesota get something out of a poor first half offensively. Now back in the friendlier confines of indoor U.S. Bank Stadium, Reichard and the Vikings will take on a Falcons defense that held Tampa Bay to 260 yards of total offense in Week 1. Reichard has been solid when healthy, but the Vikings' offense is likely to be hot-and-cold as they break in a first-time starting quarterback this season.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Josh Reynolds (hamstring) has been ruled out for their Week 2 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Reynolds was not on the practice report on Wednesday but was listed as a non-participant on Thursday and Friday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as the 30-year-old wideout could be in danger of missing their next contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In their Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Reynolds operated as the No. 2 WR with
Allen Lazard as a healthy scratch, but was unable to find much success as he caught just two of his three targets for 18 yards. Top wide receiver
Garrett Wilson did most of the damage in the passing game. With Reynolds sidelined, Lazard will likely be active in Sunday's game, but he is best left on the waiver wire as Wilson is the only viable fantasy asset in this wide receiver room.
--Andy SmithSource: Rich Cimini
September 12, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings defense/special teams unit is a low-end starting option with the possibility for more against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The Vikings lost a key part of their run defense when linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve. They will be without edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) and nickel back Jeff Okudah (concussion), and they have yet to play safety Harrison Smith (illness). Further, Falcons receivers
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) and
Drake London (shoulder) are off the injury report and slated to play. However, Minnesota's new-look defensive line was dominant in Week 1 -- Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen alone combined for 13 pressures and two sacks -- and Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. has never faced Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. With the home crowd, there's reason to believe Minnesota can cause some disruption.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
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