September 16, 2025
With their worst fears confirmed, the Cincinnati Bengals have officially placed quarterback
Joe Burrow (toe) on IR and signed
Brett Rypien to the active roster. Burrow exited Sunday's game after suffering a Grade 3 turf toe injury while taking a second-quarter sack. Burrow has elected to undergo surgery and is expected to miss at least three months. Rypien will serve as a backup to quarterback
Jake Browning, who was able to step in on Sunday and lead the Bengals to a hard-fought 31-27 victory over the Jaguars. Browning was 4-3 in his seven starts in 2023, the last time he filled in for an injured Burrow, and can be viewed as a desperation play by fantasy managers in 2QB/SF leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Ian Rapoport
September 16, 2025
In speaking to reporters on Monday, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo touched upon the lack of designed runs by quarterback
Jalen Hurts through two weeks. A staple of the Eagles' offense over the past few seasons, Patullo pointed to the way teams have defended them as a primary reason Hurts has yet to be unleashed, but was quick to point out that designed quarterback runs and zone read keeps would be coming. Through two games, 74 of Hurts' 77 yards on the ground have come on scrambles, with the tush push accounting for the remainder. For context, nearly 300 of his 630 rushing yards last season came on designed runs. With the Eagles' defense dominating through two weeks, the fear is that Philadelphia will continue to grind out wins by doing only what's needed offensively, but Patullo's assurance that there is another gear still to be reached should comfort fantasy managers waiting for the week-winning performances they're used to from Hurts and the rest of the Eagles' offense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeff McLane
September 16, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Drake London caught three of his four targets in Sunday's 22-6 win over the Vikings, totaling 49 yards receiving in the contest. With only four targets, it would seem he was not heavily involved, but no other pass catcher was targeted more than five times in a game where the team relied heavily on the run. While London's position as the No. 1 option in the passing attack is not in question, his average depth of target thus far in 2025 is something to keep an eye on. The former first-round draft pick held a 10.8 aDOT (average depth of target) in 2024 and an even higher 12.67 aDOT in the final three games where
Michael Penix Jr. was under center. However, through two games in 2025, he owns just a 6.94 aDOT and 9.5 yards per reception. If that trend holds, it could be a challenge for the 24-year-old to get back to the 1000-yards receiving threshold this year. With a matchup against Carolina in Week 3, the Falcons may lean on the ground game again, which would again limit the upside of the receiving corps and, if shorter targets persist, put London further behind the eight ball.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
September 16, 2025
Chicago Bears quarterback
Caleb Williams went 19-for-30 passing for 207 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the 52-21 blowout loss in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Williams added five carries for 27 yards and was also sacked four times for a loss of 29 yards. The 23-year-old former first overall pick wasn't terrible in this one, but the Bears' defense really gave them no chance. Both of Williams' touchdown passes went to second-year wideout
Rome Odunze, who is quickly becoming his favorite target early in 2025. Williams hasn't done anything yet to turn the heads of fantasy managers, but he should remain a decent QB2 with upside in head coach Ben Johnson's system. He'll have a prime opportunity for a QB1 performance in Week 3 versus a Dallas Cowboys defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to the position through two weeks.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
September 16, 2025
Atlanta Falcons running back
Bijan Robinson is the clear star of Atlanta's backfield, but
Tyler Allgeier is also a big part of the team's ground game, as evidenced in the 22-6 Week 2 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. Robinson went off for 22 carries and 143 rushing yards while also catching three passes for 25 yards, but Allgeier wasn't far behind with 16 rushing attempts for 76 yards and a touchdown. He also caught his only target for a four-yard pickup through the air. Allgeier won't always be this heavily involved, but the Falcons leaned on their ground attack in a game that they never trailed. Twelve of Allgeier's 17 carries came in the second half, and his touchdown plunge sealed the game in the fourth quarter. The 25-year-old will be in play as a flex in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers and deserves to be rostered in more than 30% of Yahoo leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
September 16, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (pectoral) will miss the rest of the season after suffering a pectoral injury in Monday night's one-point win over the Houston Texans, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Losing the former first-rounder will be a big blow to a stingy Bucs run defense the rest of the way in 2025. The 24-year-old is most likely dealing with a torn pec muscle that will require surgery. Tampa's interior defensive line is still formidable with Vita Vea filling up gaps, but Kancey's loss cannot be overstated. With Kancey out the rest of the way, both Elijah Roberts and Greg Gaines will be asked to do more next to Vea and Logan Hall. Since entering the league in 2023, Kancey has 11.5 sacks and 55 tackles (42 solo) for the Bucs in 28 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
September 16, 2025
Dallas Cowboys tight end
Jake Ferguson had a big performance on Sunday in the team's thrilling back-and-forth overtime win over the New York Giants in Week 2. Ferguson ended up leading the team with 12 targets on the day and tied for the team lead in receptions with nine, while racking up 78 receiving yards. The 26-year-old finished second in yards, behind only top wideout
CeeDee Lamb. It was a nice Week 2 performance after he had a modest day in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, when he went for five catches on six targets for 23 yards. Despite not scoring a touchdown through two weeks, Ferguson ranks as the TE10 in half-PPR scoring with 14 catches on 18 targets for 101 yards. He's unlikely to be available in your league, as he's currently rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues. Ferguson will have a good shot at scoring his first 2025 TD in Week 3 against a Bears defense that just gave up over 50 points in Week 2 to Detroit.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
September 16, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Michael Mayer was a savvy waiver-wire pickup heading into Week 2 because star tight end
Brock Bowers was questionable to play on Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a knee injury he picked up in the Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. However, Bowers was inactive in Monday's 20-9 loss and caught five of his eight targets for 38 yards. Meanwhile, Mayer once again took a back seat to Bowers in a Raiders offense that failed to find the end zone all night. The 24-year-old hauled in both of his targets for just nine yards against a stingy and stick Chargers D. The Raiders will continue to use Mayer alongside Bowers, but he's a distant No. 2 in Chip Kelly's offense and should only be rostered in TE-premium leagues. Mayer will not be a realistic fantasy starter going into Week 3 against the Washington Commanders.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
September 16, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott (knee), defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee), and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) are "improving," but head coach Mike Tomlin said they are "questionable, at best" for Week 3 against the New England Patriots. All three defensive players were ruled out for the Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and could be in danger of missing more time. Porter injured his hamstring in the Week 1 win over the New York Jets. If the 25-year-old is out again, Brandin Echols will be elevated once again as depth behind Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey. Harmon is recovering from an MCL sprain that he suffered at the end of training camp and has yet to play in 2025. Elliott suffered an MCL sprain in his left knee in Week 1, so he's most likely looking at a multi-week absence. Pittsburgh's defense is banged up and hasn't played at a high level through two weeks.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
September 16, 2025
The Athletic's Alec Lewis writes that "there is still no guarantee" that elite left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) will return to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 this Sunday. If Darrisaw is inactive, the Vikings will start either Justin Skule or third-string left tackle Walter Rouse against Bengals star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson. It would not set up well for backup quarterback
Carson Wentz in his Vikings debut with
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) out two to four weeks with a high-ankle sprain. Skule has the worst pass-rush efficiency among tackles through two weeks, according to Pro Football Focus. Rookie left guard Donovan Jackson and right guard Will Fries have also struggled. It's a big part of the reason why McCarthy has looked pretty bad in seven of eight quarters in his first two NFL games. Wentz might not have much of a chance, either, if the O-line continues to struggle.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
September 16, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
DK Metcalf found the end zone in Week 2 against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, but was otherwise quiet, finishing with three receptions for 20 yards. While Metcalf leads Pittsburgh in targets, he currently ranks second in both receptions and receiving yards. It's clear he is the team's top wideout, but his 6.5 opportunities per game fall short of true WR1 usage. The silver lining is that the Steelers' defensive struggles are forcing quarterback
Aaron Rodgers to pass on over 63% of plays. With so much turnover on offense this season, it may just take time for Metcalf and the rest of the unit to fully click, but the upside is tangible. The 27-year-old is a strong buy-low candidate in fantasy football and should be in starting lineups this week against the New England Patriots, who have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to receivers through two games.
--Jorden HillSource: ESPN
September 16, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
Luke Farrell drew the start in
George Kittle's (hamstring) absence in Week 2. He caught two of his three targets for 15 yards and a touchdown in the team's 26-21 over the New Orleans Saints. Farrell may have had the start and the score on Sunday, but his 59% snap share paled compared to Tonges' 78% and was on par with his 58% share from Week 1. With Kittle on injured reserve for at least another three games, there is an opportunity for one of his stand-ins to step up. However, with an apparent timeshare in the works, it's anyone's guess as to who might stand out in Week 3, limiting the fantasy value of both Farrell and Tonges.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 16, 2025
The Cincinnati Bengals are signing quarterback
Brett Rypien from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. With starter
Joe Burrow (toe) out around three months after having surgery on his injured toe, Rypien is now in line to serve as the backup to
Jake Browning, starting in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings. For more QB depth, Cincinnati added signal-callers
Mike White and
Sean Clifford to their practice squad on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Rypien will be trying to hold off both White and Clifford in the coming weeks for the backup gig in Cincy. Rypien went undrafted out of Boise State before making his NFL debut in 2020 with the Denver Broncos. He played three years in Denver before joining the Los Angeles Rams as a backup in 2023. Rypien has appeared in only 10 games in four seasons and has made four starts in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
September 16, 2025
New York Jets quarterback
Justin Fields (head) is in the league's concussion protocol after his head slammed to the turf in Sunday's Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and he's unlikely to play in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if he is unable to practice on Wednesday and Thursday, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. The head coach said it would be "hard for me as a coach" to start Field if he didn't get any practice reps on Wednesday and Thursday. With Fields in the NFL's concussion protocol this week, the Jets are preparing for the possibility of starting backup
Tyrod Taylor on Sunday. Fields finished the Week 2 loss to Buffalo with a career-low 1.1 QBR after an impressive Week 1 showing. Taylor, 36, missed the entire preseason due to arthroscopic knee surgery, which raised questions about his readiness for the start of the season. He also hasn't started a game since 2023 with the Giants.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
September 16, 2025
San Francisco 49ers tight end
Jake Tonges had four receptions for 31 yards in Sunday's 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints. While Tonges was the hero of Week 1, catching the go-ahead touchdown near the end of the game,
Luke Farrell was San Francisco's starting tight end in Week 2. Farrell ended up with a short touchdown, but Tonges had the edge in targets (five to Farrell's three), receptions (four to two), and snap share (78% to 59%).
George Kittle's (hamstring) absence opens the door for another tight end to produce for the 49ers, but the timeshare exhibited in Week 2 limits Tonges' appeal going into Week 3.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
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