September 18, 2025
New York Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand notes that the team's offensive game plan won't change "much at all," with quarterback
Tyrod Taylor manning the helm. "It's very comforting as a coach," Engstrand said, regarding having a backup of the veteran's caliber. The journeyman signal-caller looked decent last weekend while working in teammate
Justin Fields' (concussion) stead, and there's an argument to be made that New York's receiving options get a bump with him in the lineup. Particularly, after Fields' dismal outing in Week 2. Fantasy managers can expect a good dose of the ground game in this weekend's road matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That is, unless opposing QB
Baker Mayfield elicits a shootout.
--Alex CiullaSource: Rich Cimini
September 18, 2025
Despite his lack of involvement early on, ESPN's Dan Graziano notes that Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver
Isaiah Bond has the potential to be a second-half breakout candidate in the 2025 season. Bond got a late start after dealing with sexual assault charges that were eventually dropped, so he's a bit further behind your typical rookie wideout at this point in their career. Any time missed in the early portion of a player's tenure could set them back, but the former Texas Longhorn has seemingly already surpassed second-year receiver
Jamari Thrash in the Browns' WR room. Cleveland's dearth of skill players could leave him with a low target floor on a weekly basis, though Bond boasts the most speed of the group. Expect things to be in flux for the Browns at some point, but Bond is worth keeping an eye on in deeper leagues and is an excellent stash in dynasty formats.
--Alex CiullaSource: Dan Graziano
September 18, 2025
ESPN's Dan Graziano notes that with the Kansas City Chiefs' lack of production regarding their rushing attack, it wouldn't be surprising to see running back
Brashard Smith see more opportunities. According to Graziano, the Chiefs view the SMU product more in a pass-catching role, and he could begin to see work there. Teammates
Isiah Pacheco and
Kareem Hunt have handled all but one of the backfield carries through two weeks, and have been nearly as inefficient in the receiving game as they've been on the ground. Graziano speculates that once Kansas City trusts Smith to handle the full extent of his responsibilities, he'll become a factor in the offense. Until then, he's difficult to trust for fantasy, but the rookie boasts the highest ceiling of the trio, and the Chiefs were "very impressed" with him in camp.
--Alex CiullaSource: Dan Graziano
September 18, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) saw his snap share increase exponentially in their 31-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. With Jacksonville flipping former backfield mate
Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier in the week, playing time opened up behind starter
Travis Etienne Jr., and Tuten made his opportunities count. The 23-year-old was fourth in the pecking order during Week 1, playing behind rookie counterpart
LeQuint Allen Jr. In Week 2, however, Tuten outsnapped Allen Jr. 18-11 and out-touched him 10-2. Furthermore, the former looked explosive, displaying power and agility. Etienne Jr. is the back to own currently, but Tuten has made a case to be his handcuff and garner an increased role in the offense. The Jags' ground attack looks excellent right now, so he could be well on his way to making that happen. He'll be one to watch this Sunday in their matchup with Houston.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
September 18, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) is trending toward the wrong side of questionable heading into Week 3. Daniels suffered a knee sprain in the Week 2 loss to Green Bay, and while the team hasn't ruled him out, the signs aren't encouraging. Backup
Marcus Mariota handled Wednesday's press conference duties, which is a signal that the coaching staff may be preparing him to start. The Commanders are mindful of history, especially after the Robert Griffin III saga, where rushing a young ascending QB back from a knee injury ended poorly. Head coach Dan Quinn said that Daniels is not expected to practice until Friday, as he continues to rehab his knee. With a long season ahead and a winnable matchup against the Raiders, the team has every reason to play it safe. At this point, Daniels looks more likely to sit than to suit up in Week 3.
--Nathan HarveySource: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
September 18, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) may not carry much fantasy relevance in 2025. The veteran is coming off a strong 2024 campaign in which he finished inside the top 10 in rushing yards per game and ranked as the RB8 in half-PPR formats. But Mixon has yet to play this season due to a foot/ankle injury, and many have speculated whether Mixon will even play this season. In his absence,
Nick Chubb has stepped in as the lead back. Chubb has looked revitalized after last year's knee injury, currently ranking 20th in rushing yards and 12th in yards before contact. With Chubb producing, a committee approach likely on the horizon, and Houston's offensive line struggling, Mixon's fantasy outlook looks bleak, even if he does return later in the year.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 18, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals tight end
Mike Gesicki has quickly lost his fantasy relevance in 2025. After a bounce-back 2024 season in which he posted his best numbers since 2021, Gesicki's role has diminished with the arrival of free-agent addition
Noah Fant. The two have been splitting snaps (Gesicki 44%, Fant 37%), while blocking specialist
Drew Sample continues to factor into the rotation. With
Joe Burrow expected to miss most of the season, the Bengals' passing attack takes a major hit, further sinking Gesicki's outlook. Between the reduced snap share and a backup quarterback in the lineup, Gesicki should be ranked outside the top 30 fantasy tight ends and is safe to drop in most formats.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 18, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver
Keandre Lambert-Smith saw his role disappear in Week 2. The fifth-round pick flashed throughout training camp and preseason, with fans pushing for him to earn snaps alongside the starters. However, Lambert-Smith made a costly mistake lining up offside, negating a
Ladd McConkey first down. After that, he was benched and didn't play another snap for the rest of the game. With the Chargers facing a tough Week 3 matchup against the Broncos' elite secondary, Lambert-Smith's path to meaningful targets remains unclear. For now, he should stay off the fantasy radar until he proves he can carve out a consistent role in the offense.
--Nathan HarveySource: Bolt Beat
September 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wideout
Tez Johnson could finally get his chance to make an impact this week. The former Oregon Duck has seen just one target so far and was a healthy scratch in Week 2, while first-round pick
Emeka Egbuka has commanded most of the spotlight in Tampa's passing attack. However, with Egbuka nursing a groin injury and not participating in practice on Wednesday, Johnson may find a path to meaningful snaps. The Buccaneers face the Jets this week, a defense that struggled in Week 1 to contain Pittsburgh's
Calvin Austin III, who is another undersized but explosive receiver with a skill set similar to Johnson's. While Johnson remains off the fantasy radar for now, a strong showing could put him back on the map as a rookie to monitor for deeper leagues.
--Nathan HarveySource: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
September 18, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver
Xavier Restrepo could be elevated from the practice squad this week. The undrafted free agent out of Miami has prior chemistry with Titans quarterback and No. 1 overall pick
Cam Ward, generating plenty of buzz during training camp. While Restrepo initially landed on the practice squad, an injury to wideout
Bryce Oliver (knee) has opened the door for him to see game action against the Indianapolis Colts. If Restrepo can translate his rapport with Ward onto the field, he could work his way into a larger role and become a name to monitor for fantasy managers later in the season.
--Nathan HarveySource: Tennessee Titans
September 18, 2025
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Tai Felton is still searching for his first offensive snap as Minnesota prepares to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. The rookie from Maryland has seen the field, but exclusively on special teams, even as Minnesota has needed extra help at receiver with
Jordan Addison (suspension) out for the first three games. It's not a great sign for either Felton or the Vikings, who passed on receiver
Elic Ayomanor and running backs
Cam Skattebo and
Bhayshul Tuten, among others, to select Felton in the third round. Felton is a safe drop in redraft leagues, but still a possible taxi-squad stash in dynasty formats.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 18, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson praised rookie wide receivers
Savion Williams and
Matthew Golden this week, saying the pair of first-year players are "already putting really good stuff on film," according to The Athletic. Watson, who is still rehabbing from another knee surgery, is eyeing a return later this season. For now, the Packers could use a helping hand while Watson and
Jayden Reed (collarbone) are out, and Williams certainly could be one of the players who sees more work. Williams drew two designed runs for 24 yards in Week 2 and has flashed as a kicker returner. For now, he's mostly a dynasty stash, but he could become a hot waiver-wire addition if he keeps earning more playing time.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: The Athletic
September 18, 2025
New Orleans Saints quarterback
Spencer Rattler's apparent improvement in Year 2 has sufficiently quieted any QB controversy rumblings, with Nola.com reporting that Saints coach Kellen Moore hasn't fielded a single question about replacing Rattler with rookie
Tyler Shough since naming the former the starter. To his credit, Rattler won the competition in the offseason and has played better than expected in the first two games, completing 65% of his passes for 421 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Saints are 0-2 and among the worst rosters in the league, but Rattler is coming off a three-touchdown performance against a solid San Francisco defense and has shown some sneaky streaming appeal for Superflex leagues and as a backup in one-QB formats.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: NOLA.com
September 18, 2025
Former NFL Most Valuable Player
Cam Newton said on his podcast, 4th&1 with Cam Newton, that Cleveland Browns quarterback
Shedeur Sanders also declined to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. It was reported last week that the rookie turned down the Baltimore Ravens, though Newton said the initial reports failed to include that Sanders informed Philly he would prefer to be drafted by another team where he had a more realistic chance to play. One of the most polarizing prospects in the 2025 draft, Sanders slipped into the fifth round to Cleveland, which already had taken Oregon's
Dillon Gabriel earlier in the draft. The Browns dealt
Kenny Pickett to Las Vegas prior to Week 1, leaving the two rookies as the only other healthy options behind stopgap starter
Joe Flacco. For fantasy purposes, Sanders' only value this year is as a stash in dynasty formats.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: 4th&1 with Cam Newton
September 18, 2025
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) will test his shoulder during pre-game warmups on Thursday at Buffalo, and there is growing optimism the receiver will be able to play. The Alabama product is officially listed as questionable for the Dolphins, who are double-digit underdogs against the Bills and facing the real prospect of an 0-3 start. Waddle has been decent despite the Dolphins' poor start, registering nine catches for 98 yards and a touchdown through two games. But given the injury, a Buffalo defense that has fared well against fantasy receivers, and a Miami offense that is going through a rough patch, Waddle is a low-end WR3/flex play while playing on a short week.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: NFL Network
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