September 12, 2025
Even Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers' biggest supporters may have been surprised that he turned back the clock to throw four touchdowns in a 34-32 Week 1 win over his former team, the New York Jets, last Sunday. Rodgers did it on 22-for-30 passing while throwing for 244 yards. Only one time last year did Rodgers throw for four TDs with the Jets, and it came in the Week 18 regular-season finale. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer's back was tight and limited his mobility against the Jets, but he was not on Pittsburgh's injury report this week and is cleared for a Week 2 meeting with the Seattle Seahawks in his Steel City debut. Seattle allowed
Brock Purdy to throw for 277 yards and two TDs against them in Week 1, but they also picked him off twice. Rodgers proved he still has a little magic in him, but the ceiling and floor remain low for fantasy purposes, and the bottom line is that most weeks, the Steelers are hoping he won't have to wear a cape.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
September 12, 2025
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver
Jordan Watkins (ankle) has been removed from the injury report and will make his NFL debut in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. Watkins, a fourth-rounder in April, was held out of the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks after suffering a high-ankle sprain all the way back on Aug. 9, but not only will he be active this weekend, but he could be thrown into the fire right away. Tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) is on Injured Reserve, while receiver
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday. Backup quarterback
Mac Jones is starting in place of the injured
Brock Purdy (toe), but if Jennings is out, Watkins will be battling with
Kendrick Bourne,
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and
Skyy Moore for WR2 duties. Watkins will be too dicey to start in fantasy, but he's certainly one to watch in deeper leagues now that he's past his ankle injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Noah Furtado
September 12, 2025
Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post writes that Denver Broncos running back
Tyler Badie could have an elevated role in the passing attack out of the backfield in a Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts because of Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's tendency to bring a lot of "pressure looks." Although Badie didn't have a carry in the Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans, he was targeted six times through the air and caught two of them for 16 yards. The 25-year-old is not a realistic starting option in Week 2 fantasy lineups, even in PPR leagues, but his presence on the field is bad news for fantasy managers expecting rookie
RJ Harvey to see a bigger share of the backfield work in Week 2. Badie's six targets ranked third on the team last weekend in Denver.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Denver Post - Parker Gabriel
September 12, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end
Brenton Strange has a real opportunity to break out in 2025 in his third year in the league under new head coach Liam Coen, even though his Week 1 production wasn't eye-opening. Strange caught all four passes thrown his way for 59 total yards in a game in which the Jags offense took their foot off the gas pedal after halftime and a lengthy weather delay. The 24-year-old led the team in yardage in the season opener and finished second in receptions, behind only rookie first-round receiver
Travis Hunter. Against a Cincinnati Bengals defense in Week 2 that was very friendly to opposing offenses a year ago, Strange could have a bigger day this Sunday. In the one-point win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, the Bengals' defense allowed 10 catches and 100 yards combined to rookie TE
Harold Fannin Jr. and
David Njoku.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
September 12, 2025
While Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn't exactly say that rookie running back
Jaydon Blue would be active in Week 2 this Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants, he did say that Blue is "going to make a difference when it's all said and done." Blue really impressed the coaching staff in training camp this summer, but an ankle injury caused him to miss time late in camp and resulted in the 21-year-old being a healthy inactive in last Thursday's season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The expectation is that Blue will be a healthy scratch again this weekend against the Giants, but he could contribute sooner than later, especially if
Miles Sanders looks bad again, like he did in Week 1. For now, expect
Javonte Williams and Sanders to handle backfield duties in Dallas for another week. Fantasy managers must remain patient with Blue.
--Keith HernandezSource: SB Nation - RJ Ochoa
September 12, 2025
While nobody is mistaking New York Jets quarterback
Justin Fields for two-time MVP
Lamar Jackson, the former first-rounder does have a similar dual-threat skill set at the position and could give the Buffalo Bills defense more issues after they couldn't stop Jackson and the Ravens offense at all in Week 1. Fields and the Jets offense looked much better in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Fields accounting for three touchdowns (one passing, two rushing). The 26-year-old went 16-for-22 passing for 218 yards while rushing 12 times for 48 yards. Buffalo's defense also gave up three total touchdowns to Jackson while allowing 40 total points, so on that logic alone, Fields and the Jets offense could keep it going in Week 2 at home. Field's rushing upside alone should give him a high floor with QB1 potential every week in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
September 12, 2025
Dallas Cowboys kicker
Brandon Aubrey rewarded fantasy managers in Week 1 with an 11-point performance against the Eagles, highlighted by a smooth 50-yard field goal. He's been automatic at home throughout his career, converting 100% of his field-goal attempts in Dallas -- a streak that speaks for itself. The Cowboys clearly trust him in any situation, and fantasy managers can share that confidence. Aubrey combines long-range leg strength with steady accuracy, making him as reliable as it gets at the kicker position. With Dallas' offense capable of moving the ball and stalling just enough for plenty of field-goal tries, he's set up for another strong outing. Start Aubrey with full confidence as a top-tier kicker. He offers one of the safest floors and plenty of upside every time he takes the field in AT&T Stadium.
--Tipp MajorSource: nfl
September 12, 2025
New Orleans Saints tight end
Juwan Johnson likely was off the fantasy radar in most leagues to begin the year, but he's become a popular waiver-wire target heading into Week 2 after his eight-catch, 76-yard performance (on 11 targets) in the Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Johnson surprisingly led the Saints in catches and yards on the day in the debut of head coach Kellen Moore, with second-year quarterback
Spencer Rattler under center. The Saints aren't suddenly an offense to watch, but it was notable that Rattler dropped back to pass 46 times -- New Orleans will probably be playing from behind a lot in 2025. Johnson has never gone over 548 receiving yards in five NFL seasons, but he did score seven times in 2022 and could be a trusted weapon for Rattler all year long. He'll face a tougher Niners defense this week, but if you lost
George Kittle (hamstring) or
Dallas Goedert (knee) already, Johnson could be a serviceable short-term solution.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
September 12, 2025
Dallas Cowboys tight end
Jake Ferguson came tantalizingly close in Week 1, with two potential touchdowns slipping through his fingers. Part of the challenge is that the Cowboys' wide receivers soak up so much attention that defenses can occasionally forget Ferguson exists, giving him sneaky opportunities. Still, history isn't exactly kind; against the Giants, he's managed just one touchdown in five career matchups and has topped 50 receiving yards only once. Ferguson sits on the borderline of TE1 territory, but he's a more reliable TE2 option. With the Cowboys likely to lean on the run to control the clock while the Giants flounder, his usage could be limited this week. He's worth consideration, but don't expect a breakout in this matchup.
--Tipp MajorSource: NFL
September 12, 2025
Life without All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons is already looking a little too bleak for the Dallas Cowboys defense. In Week 1, the Cowboys managed just one lonely sack and otherwise played a bend-but-don't-break style of defense -- solid for real football, but a snooze fest for fantasy managers hoping for splash plays. Until someone steps up to fill Parsons' havoc-wreaking shoes, this unit feels more like waiver-wire wallpaper than a weekly starter. It's looking like Dallas' defense will be lackluster for fantasy purposes this year, but against a New York Giants offense that couldn't get anything going in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, their D/ST could be worth a look as a streaming unit in Week 2.
--Tipp MajorSource: ESPN
September 12, 2025
Just before the lightning delay against Philadelphia in Week 1, Dallas Cowboys running back
Miles Sanders coughed up a costly fumble that shifted momentum in the Cowboys' opener. It was a tough break, especially after he flashed with a 49-yard run earlier in the game. With rookie
Jaydon Blue inactive and both Blue and
Phil Mafah battling injuries, Sanders briefly had a window for increased usage. Still, he's not someone you want in fantasy lineups right now. The appeal lies in his situation: Sanders is tied to a high-powered Dallas offense, and starter
Javonte Williams -- while impressive in Week 1 -- has a history of injuries. For now, Sanders is best viewed as a depth stash with contingency value. He's worth holding for the possibility of increased touches if Williams misses time, but unless your RB room is thin, he shouldn't be in your Week 2 lineup.
--Tipp MajorSource: ESPN
September 12, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
George Pickens' Cowboys debut was underwhelming on the stat sheet -- three catches for 30 yards -- but there's no reason for fantasy managers to smash the panic button. Pickens himself said he's eager to "get back in the lab" after seeing real game coverages, and drew a key pass interference that set up a Dallas score. Here's the bigger fantasy picture: the Giants' secondary just put
Terry McLaurin in a Week 1 cage, but their track record isn't airtight. In that same matchup, Washington's No. 2 wideout,
Deebo Samuel Sr., ripped them for a top-six fantasy finish. That bodes well for Pickens, who functions as Dallas's 1B to
CeeDee Lamb's 1A. Pickens and Lamb look like natural complements, and Pickens' chemistry with quarterback
Dak Prescott should only improve as the season progresses. While questions about maturity followed him from Pittsburgh, Dallas is betting on his upside, and so should you.
--Tipp MajorSource: NFL
September 12, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie running back
Kalel Mullings (ankle) is listed as doubtful to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 in the team's home opener. Mullings did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday before getting in a limited practice on Friday. The 22-year-old was the team's RB3 in the season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday but was quickly injured on a punt return in the first quarter. Although he isn't on the radar in the majority of single-year fantasy leagues early in the year, Mullings' injury is notable for a Titans RB room that is already missing
Tyjae Spears (ankle) for at least the first four games.
Tony Pollard and
Julius Chestnut will once again operate as the top two backs against the Rams. The Titans' only other option at the position is
Jordan Mims, and he's currently on the practice squad.
--Keith HernandezSource: Titans PR
September 12, 2025
Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Dak Prescott's Week 1 line against the Eagles didn't tell the full story. His night could have been much bigger if his pass-catchers had simply held onto a few well-placed throws -- his fantasy performance would've looked completely different with those extra yards (and potential scores) on the board. Now he heads into a divisional matchup with the New York Giants, a defense that just kept rookie
Jayden Daniels to a QB13 finish in their opener and loves to bring heat from every angle. Prescott, however, has historically torched the Giants at home, averaging 274.1 passing yards per game with multiple four-touchdown outings in his career against them. That kind of track record makes any heavy passing script far less intimidating. Lock Prescott in as a steady low-end QB1 with sneaky upside. If his receivers cooperate, another big night against a familiar rival is well within reach.
--Tipp MajorSource: NFL
September 12, 2025
Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan says that he heard that Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) got an MRI exam done on his knee on Friday after getting banged up in the Thursday night loss to the Green Bay Packers. Daniels never left the 27-18 loss, but he was limping "pretty good" at the end of the game, and Paulsen suggests it's something worth keeping an eye on. The good news is that the Commanders have a long layoff until their Week 3 clash against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 21. The 24-year-old second-year QB threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 24-for-42 passing on Thursday night, adding seven rushes for 17 yards. Washington's offense looked sluggish on a short week against a strong Packers D. If his knee isn't an issue, Daniels will have a prime chance to bounce back in Week 3 as a high-end QB1 in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: 106.7 The Fan - Grant Paulsen
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