September 12, 2025
Buffalo Bills running back
James Cook (hamstring) opened the season with a productive showing in a 41-40 win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Facing a defense that ranked first against the run last year, Cook only totaled 13 carries for 44 yards. However, he scored a rushing touchdown and chipped in five receptions for 58 yards. Cook figures to log more carries this week, largely because the Bills shouldn't spend the majority of the game trying to overcome a significant deficit. They were down multiple scores for most of the night against the Ravens, leading to a pass-happy approach that yielded an improbable comeback victory. While Cook did deal with a hamstring issue earlier this week, it shouldn't hamper his availability against the New York Jets on Sunday. The Jets stuffed the run in a Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, allowing a meager 53 yards on 20 carries, but Cook is vastly superior to the Steelers' backs. He'll enter Week 2 as a solid RB2 option for fantasy managers.
--Connor ByrneSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid took advantage of his opportunities in last week's season-opening win over the Baltimore Ravens. Kincaid hauled in all four of his targets for 48 yards and a touchdown - just the fifth score of the third-year man's career. In Week 2, he'll go up against a New York Jets defense that surrendered the league's fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends in a 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday. That seems auspicious for Kincaid, though it's worth noting that he continues to lag behind
Dawson Knox in usage among Bills tight ends. Knox isn't much of a pass-catching threat, but he garnered more snaps than Kincaid last year, and that remained the case on Sunday. It's also a bit of a concern that Kincaid only totaled four targets during a game in which the Bills, who staged a furious comeback, attempted 46 passes. So, while Kincaid did produce like a fantasy TE1 last week, it would be risky to count on that happening again this week if he doesn't start drawing more attention from quarterback
Josh Allen.
--Connor ByrneSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Keon Coleman was viewed as a breakout candidate entering the season, and he lived up to the billing in a Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Coleman led the Bills in catches (eight), targets (11), yards (112), and touchdowns (one) against a strong Ravens secondary. He'll face another major challenge this week with New York Jets shutdown cornerback Sauce Gardner on the opposing side. Gardner performed brilliantly in a Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving up just one catch for 11 yards to No. 1 receiver
DK Metcalf. He lined up across from Metcalf on 30 of 34 passing plays, according to Next Gen Stats, and Coleman could be in for a similar fate this week. That's not to say Coleman won't produce - Metcalf still finished with four catches for 83 yards, as he didn't exclusively match up against Gardner - but there should be wariness going into Week 2 against an elite corner.
--Connor ByrneSource: Rich Cimini - ESPN
September 12, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell will look to make more of an impact in Week 2 when his team takes on the Seattle Seahawks at home. With rookie rusher
Kaleb Johnson toting the rock just once in his NFL debut last weekend, Gainwell operated as the team's clear-cut No. 2 backfield option. The former Philadelphia Eagle didn't turn his touches into much, but he saw just four fewer carries than teammate
Jaylen Warren, and out-targeted him 4-2. Warren handily outgained him, though Gainwell should see decent volume on a team that has split backfield work over the past few campaigns. His standalone value is slightly diminished as of now, and stands to take a hit eventually when Johnson garners a larger workload. Still, he's ahead of him in the pecking order for the meantime. Gainwell is RotoBaller's PPR RB47 ahead of Week 2.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
September 12, 2025
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen put on a show in a 41-40 win over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday, earning AFC Player of the Week honors after going 33-for-46 for 394 yards and accounting for four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing). The reigning MVP is a plug-and-play option every time out, and this Sunday, he'll take on a New York Jets defense that had difficulty stopping the Pittsburgh Steelers' aerial attack in a 34-32 loss in Week 1. The Jets allowed
Aaron Rodgers to complete 22-of-30 passes for 244 yards and four TDs. They didn't have to worry about the 41-year-old Rodgers hurting them with his legs, but that's not the case with a superb dual threat in Allen. Realistically, Allen will have a hard time approaching his video game-like production from last Sunday, but he looks primed for another strong outing in Week 2. Allen combined to go 35-for-52 for 397 yards, six TDs (four passing, two rushing), and no picks in two wins over the Jets last season.
--Connor ByrneSource: ESPN
September 12, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Calvin Austin III will line up against the visiting Seattle Seahawks this Sunday in Week 2. The University of Memphis product will look to build off of his opening weekend performance against a Seahawks defense that yielded the seventh-most passing yards in Week 1. Austin III is an elite deep threat, but has never gotten enough of a target share to make a consistent fantasy impact. That could be changing in 2025, though, as he was the only other Steelers wideout aside from
DK Metcalf to record more than ten snaps (45) in their win over the Jets. There could still be some up-and-down weeks here when the team finally gets their ground game going, but the 26-year-old should see a steady stream of targets as long as he holds his current position and has a higher floor than in his previous seasons. Austin III is RotoBaller's PPR WR69 for his outing with Seattle.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
September 12, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback
Cameron Ward struggled in his first NFL game, completing 12 of 28 pass attempts for just 112 yards and zero touchdowns against the Denver Broncos. Ward will face another excellent pass defense in Week 2 in the Los Angeles Rams, who held the Houston Texans offense to nine points and Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud to 188 passing yards in Week 1. Ward, who was sacked six times in Week 1, may have a tough time avoiding negative plays once again in Week 2. The Rams have a dominant front four led by star edge rusher Jared Verse, and the Titans will be without starting right tackle JC Latham (hip) due to a hip injury. Ward has some long-term fantasy appeal, but he should not be started in Week 2, even in Superflex leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver
Elic Ayomanor finished second on his team in targets (seven) in Tennessee's 20-12 Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos. Ayomanor only recorded two catches for 13 yards on those targets. Still, it's encouraging to see him draw so many looks from Titans rookie quarterback
Cameron Ward in the pairings' first time sharing the field in a regular-season game. Ayomanor and the Titans' passing offense face another tough matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. The Rams held the Houston Texans to 188 receiving yards in Week 1 and should be able to put significant pressure on Ward, who was sacked six times in his Week 1 matchup against the Broncos. Ayomanor should not be started by fantasy managers in Week 2, but he's a name to monitor as a long-term play if he keeps earning a significant target share in Tennessee.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Tennessee Titans wide receiver
Calvin Ridley underwhelmed in Week 1 against cornerback Patrick Surtain II and the Denver Broncos defense, recording just four catches for 27 yards. On a positive note, Ridley led the Titans in targets (eight) and looks like the clear number one option in the passing game for Tennessee rookie quarterback
Cameron Ward. Still, it could be a struggle again for Ridley in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams' defense dominated the Houston Texans' passing game in Week 1, holding Houston to 188 yards passing and shutting down star Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins (three catches for 25 yards). Ridley should still see a heavy volume of targets on Sunday, but efficiency and end zone opportunities may be hard to come by. He profiles as a low-end fantasy WR3 in Week 2.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Tennessee Titans running back
Tony Pollard did not have his most efficient game in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos, rushing for 60 yards on 18 carries and recording one catch for 29 yards. Still, Pollard received 90% of the running back carries for Tennessee in Week 1, a trend that figures to continue as long as Titans RB2
Tyjae Spears (ankle) remains on Injured Reserve due to a high ankle sprain. Pollard gets a tough matchup in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, who allowed just nine points to the Houston Texans in Week 1. However, Houston gained 127 yards on the ground, and lead back
Nick Chubb averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Expect Tennessee to lean on Pollard to ease the pressure on rookie quarterback
Cameron Ward and slow down a formidable Rams' pass rush. Pollard is a volume-based low-end fantasy RB2 in Week 2.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders rookie running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt was barely utilized in Week 2, recording four carries for 17 yards in his team's 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers. However, Croskey-Merritt could be in line for significantly more touches going forward, given the unfortunate news that veteran running back
Austin Ekeler (Achilles) may have suffered a torn Achilles. Even in Week 2, Croskey-Merritt's struggles could be attributed mostly to game script and Washington's overall inability to run the ball (51 yards on 19 rush attempts). Without Ekeler, the Commanders' backfield consists of three largely unproven backs in Croskey-Merritt,
Jeremy McNichols, and
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Croskey-Merritt could reasonably lock down a true lead role at some point in the next few weeks and should be held by fantasy managers in all league formats despite the poor Week 2 performance.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. was heavily involved in the offense for the second straight week in his team's 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Samuel Sr. was targeted eight times, hauling in seven catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. It was not an efficient night for Washington overall, and Samuel Sr. was no different, averaging just 6.3 yards per reception. Still, it's an encouraging sign for fantasy managers that Samuel Sr. has been targeted 18 times and logged 15 total touches through Washington's first two games. Early on, the 29-year-old profiles as a high-end flex option going into a much easier Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
Zach Ertz was busy on the field during Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. He finished with 26 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, but was able to top that here. Ertz hauled in six of his eight targets for 64 yards and a score in the loss on Thursday. It was his second straight game with a touchdown as he hauled in a 20-yard score in the fourth quarter. The veteran tight end appears to be a safety blanket for
Jayden Daniels. That being said, Ertz should be viewed as a high-end TE2 for the Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Andy WebbSource: ESPN
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Noah Brown (groin) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Brown exited in the third quarter with a groin injury and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. He finished with one catch on four targets for nine yards in the loss. It's unclear at the moment if Brown will be ready to go for the Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The absence of Brown would likely lead to increased roles for
Deebo Samuel Sr.,
Terry McLaurin, and possibly
Luke McCaffrey.
--Andy WebbSource: Washington Commanders
September 12, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels was unable to have much success early during Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Daniels was held in check for a majority of the first half, but was able to do some damage after halftime. He completed 24-of-42 passing attempts for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss. Daniels also added a two-point conversation and rushed seven times for an additional 17 yards in the defeat. It was a nice performance from a fantasy perspective, but the Commanders are hopeful for a better game during next week's matchup versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Andy WebbSource: ESPN
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