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
September 16, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Wan'Dale Robinson had a monster game in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, catching eight of 10 targets for 142 yards and a touchdown. Robinson has always been a consistent target-earner, but he's typically struggled to be efficient from a yardage perspective (career 8.7 yards per reception). It's been a different story so far in 2025, with Robinson averaging 14.1 yards per reception for a total of 197 yards and a touchdown on 14 catches. It could be a one-game blip, but Robinson is a potential breakout player to monitor who still offers a relatively stable floor in PPR-scoring even if he regresses to career norms. Where available, Robinson should be added in all PPR leagues with 10 or more teams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 16, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall caught four passes for 56 receiving yards in the team's 26-21 win over the Saints on Sunday. His Week 2 yardage was just shy of half his total from Week 1, but he was readily involved in the passing attack, with his six targets ranking third on the team. Even with
Mac Jones standing in for
Brock Purdy (toe/shoulder) for the next few weeks, Pearsall will still be a solid fantasy producer. Fellow wideout
Jauan Jennings (ankle) is nursing an ankle injury sustained against the Saints and is considered day-to-day. If he is out or limited in Week 3, Pearsall would operate as Jones' top target against the Arizona Cardinals.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
September 16, 2025
As expected, New York Jets tight end
Mason Taylor is far and away the team's TE1, although it hasn't amounted to much on the stat sheet. After leading teammates
Jeremy Ruckert and
Andrew Beck in snaps by a wide margin in their loss to the Steelers in Week 1, the same was true in their outing with the Buffalo Bills. Ruckert (17) again played half as much as Taylor (34), with Beck mixing in minimally (one). However, Taylor and Ruckert mimicked each other's production with a one-catch, five-yard line - the only difference being that the former accrued one more target (two) and the latter a touchdown. The favorable bet seems to be that the rookie continues to lead this room in playing time. He'll have a chance to carve out a role in the passing game, considering the Jets' skill players don't offer much behind wide receiver
Garrett Wilson and running back
Breece Hall. Still, fantasy managers can't take the LSU product seriously for starting purposes until he averages more than one catch per appearance. He'll face the hosting Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
September 16, 2025
New York Giants quarterback
Russell Wilson was one of the stars of Week 2, completing 30 of 41 pass attempts for 450 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Fans and analysts alike were calling for Wilson to be replaced by Giants rookie quarterback
Jaxson Dart after a lackluster Week 1 performance, but Wilson may have solidified his QB1 status for at least the next few games with his Week 2 showing. The 36-year-old will have a difficult matchup in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but there should be more hope for the Giants' offense in general after it dropped 37 points on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Where available, Wilson should be added in all two-quarterback fantasy league formats.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 16, 2025
New Orleans Saints tight end
Juwan Johnson has established himself as a favorite target of Saints quarterback
Spencer Rattler early in the 2025 season. Through two games, Johnson has been targeted 20 times, hauling in 13 receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown. The 29-year-old has been on the field for New Orleans a ton, which is a trend that should continue in the short term with Saints tight ends
Taysom Hill (knee) and
Foster Moreau (knee) both sidelined through at least Week 4. Furthermore, New Orleans has been one of the league's most pass-happy teams so far, ranking fourth in the NFL with 80 total pass attempts. Where available, Johnson should be added in all fantasy leagues of 10 or more teams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 16, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Kendrick Bourne operated as the team's No. 3 receiver in Week 2, just five days after signing with the team. In San Francisco's 26-21 win over New Orleans, Bourne caught all three of his targets for 32 receiving yards. His production expectedly lagged behind
Jauan Jennings (ankle) and
Ricky Pearsall, but he outsnapped Marques Valdez-Scantling 33 to eight. This is Bourne's second stint with the 49ers, the team that signed him as a rookie in 2017. After hitting free agency in 2021, Bourne signed with the Patriots and spent three years there with
Mac Jones as his quarterback. Jones is under center for San Francisco while
Brock Purdy (toe/shoulder) recovers from multiple injuries. With Jennings now nursing an ankle injury sustained on Sunday, Bourne may have added relevance in the 49ers' Week 3 appointment with the Arizona Cardinals.
--Dan StephensSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Noah Furtado
September 16, 2025
New York Jets second-year running back
Braelon Allen took a step back in Week 2 regarding his share of offensive snaps. The Buffalo Bills manhandled the Jets to the tune of 30-10 at home, and whether it was due to game script or by design, Allen handled a significantly smaller snap total than in Week 1. This past weekend, the 21-year-old saw the field just nine times -- one fewer than teammate
Isaiah Davis -- a stark contrast to the 20-8 lead he boasted in their matchup with Pittsburgh. The situation regarding the duo could ultimately come down to a hot-hand approach, making it murky precisely which one to own for handcuff purposes. One thing is clear, and it's that this is
Breece Hall's backfield to lose. The Jets' offense seems less stable than it did a week ago, but keeping tabs on the backup here is a worthwhile endeavor.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
September 16, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Romeo Doubs appears to be the team's WR1 early in the season, particularly with wideout
Jayden Reed (clavicle) set to miss multiple months with a fractured collarbone. Doubs leads Packers wide receivers in both receiving yards (96) and targets (nine). Green Bay operates with a run-heavy approach and still has multiple talented pass-catchers even without Reed, so Doubs' week-to-week target volume could be inconsistent. Still, he's going to be on the field a lot for an offense that should score points in bunches, giving him a fairly steady floor. Doubs should be added in all PPR-scoring fantasy leagues with 10 or more teams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
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