5 days agoAtlanta Braves closer Raisel Iglesias had a night to forget Sunday, allowing five runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a 9-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Iglesias came into the game in the ninth with the score tied but promptly allowed four hits and a walk while recording just two outs before exiting. It's been an excellent season for the veteran closer, but this comes at a very tough time for both the Braves and his fantasy managers. Still, on the whole, he has been one of the best relievers in baseball with his ERA at 1.87 and his WHIP at 0.72, even after this dismal appearance. He should be drafted as one of the first relievers off the board next season.Source: MLB.com
5 days agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez had his way with the New York Mets on Sunday, allowing just one run over seven innings in a 2-1 win. Sanchez allowed six hits and a walk while punching out seven in this one. The lefty has now allowed three or fewer runs in his last six starts, five of which have been quality starts. While he has been consistent lately and is a must-start pitcher, Sanchez remains a candidate for an occasional blow-up start, making him a frustrating pitcher for fantasy purposes. On the whole, he's put together a very solid season and should be considered a solid third or fourth option for fantasy managers heading into next year.Source: MLB.com
5 days agoOn Sunday, the Chicago Bears' defense and special teams performed admirably, keeping the team in the game despite a challenging matchup. Although C.J. Stroud started strong, the Bears made crucial adjustments at halftime, limiting the Texans' high-powered offense for most of the second half. The Bears' defense recorded three sacks, four quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, and forced a fumble during a critical drive in the fourth quarter. While the offense struggled, the defense played its part, providing a chance for a comeback. This performance highlighted the Bears' defensive unit's potential to compete with and disrupt even the most formidable offenses. They are proving to be a reliable fantasy option week in and week out.Source: Martin Grisko
5 days agoChicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) had a subdued performance in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, catching only two passes for 33 yards while playing through an injury. With the Bears still struggling to find a passing touchdown after eight quarters of action, Odunze has seen limited volume and no scoring opportunities. The team's offensive line also struggled, with Caleb Williams being sacked seven times, and Williams has yet to throw a touchdown or exceed 200 passing yards in the first two games. Despite the challenges, there is potential for the Bears' offense to improve. However, with just three receptions on nine targets and no touchdowns so far, Odunze is a risky fantasy option. His next chance to make an impact will come in Week 3 against Indianapolis, where he should be on fantasy benches.Source: Martin Grisko
5 days agoNew York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson put together another excellent effort on Sunday, tossing 7 ⅔ one-run frames against a great Philadelphia Phillies lineup. Peterson scattered four hits and a walk while striking out six in this one. He wasn't able to earn the victory, as Cristopher Sanchez also threw a gem, but it was a fantastic outing nonetheless. The 29-year-old hasn't been talked about much in fantasy circles, but he has had an outstanding season. He has nine wins, a 2.85 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts over 110 ⅓ IP. If he had been in the rotation for the full season, those numbers are easily must-start status. That said, he has a tough matchup against these same Phillies next weekend, so exercise caution with him.Source: MLB.com
5 days agoJacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange stepped in and played well after a last-minute Evan Engram injury in an 18-13 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with three receptions for 65 yards on six targets. The second-year pro did not contribute much as a rookie, but made the most of this sudden opportunity. Strange was tied for the team lead in receptions, second in targets, and second in receiving yards. For fantasy managers desperate at the tight end position (which seems to be most as of right now) Strange is an intriguing option as long as Engram is out. For fantasy managers with Engram, if Engram is at risk of missing next week as well, Strange is a perfect direct replacement. Even for non-Engram managers, Strange is worth looking into on waivers for next week. In Week 3, the Jaguars take on the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.Source: Jaguars vs Browns Box Score
5 days agoChicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had a relatively quiet night by his usual standards despite making some impressive plays. He led the team with six catches for 53 yards but could not find the end zone. Through two games this season, Moore remains the favorite target of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Although the lack of touchdowns is a concern, Moore's high volume of targets has helped mitigate the absence of scoring. The Bears' offensive line is also a concern, as Williams was sacked seven times in this game. Williams has yet to throw a touchdown pass and has not surpassed 200 yards in either of his first two games. Despite these struggles, Moore's consistent target share and talent keep him a low-end WR2 for fantasy managers. As Williams continues to develop and the Bears' offense improves, Moore's production should rise. The Bears will look to make adjustments and find the end zone as they head to Indianapolis in Week 3.Source: Martin Grisko
5 days agoIn the Chicago Bears' Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans, running back Khalil Herbert scored the team's only touchdown. Despite only getting two carries, Herbert made a significant impact, including a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that brought the Bears within 13-10. With the Bears needing a score before halftime, they turned to Herbert, a former Virginia Tech standout, to deliver. The touchdown came on a critical third-and-goal situation, frustrating D'Andre Swift's managers, who were hoping for a score from Swift. Although Herbert isn't the primary back for the Bears, his role in the offense remains clear. Since being drafted by Chicago in 2021, Herbert has consistently contributed, and his performance solidifies his value as a handcuff for Swift owners. While he may not lead the backfield, Herbert's ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities makes him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues.Source: Martin Grisko
5 days agoChicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had another challenging performance in Week 2 against the Houston Texans. In the first half, the Bears managed only 18 rushing yards on 11 carries, with Swift contributing just six yards on seven attempts. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who led the team in rushing yards, gained nine yards on two carries. The offensive line struggled throughout, failing to create space for the running game and getting dominated on the interior and on the edges. The Bears ended the game with 22 carries for 71 yards, but Williams led the team with 44 yards on five carries. Swift finished with a disappointing 14 yards on 18 carries, averaging just 1.3 yards per carry. He added 24 yards on four receptions, but the team's shift away from the interior run game in the second half highlighted a significant issue. Swift's season may remain tumultuous without a solution for the struggling offensive line. For now, he should be considered a matchup-dependent RB3/flex option.Source: Martin Grisko
5
days
agoJacksonville
Jaguars
wide
receiver
Christian
Kirk
put
up
yet
another
dud
in
an
18-13
loss
to
the
Cleveland
Browns.
He
finished
with
just
one
catch
for
negative
one
yard,
giving
him
two
catches
and
29
yards
through
two
games.
Kirk
was
consideredread more...
5
days
agoChicago
Bears
rookie
quarterback
Caleb
Williams
had
a
promising
start
in
Houston
on
Sunday
but
struggled
in
the
second
half.
The
No.
1
overall
pick
was
impressive
early,
completing
all
five
passes
for
55
yards
on
the
Bears'
opening
drive,
including
tworead more...
5 days agoDetroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene continued his breakout campaign on Sunday, bashing his 22nd and 23rd homers to lead the Tigers to a 4-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Greene finished the day 2-for-4 with the two homers, two runs scored, and three RBI. While the 23-year-old has been slightly inconsistent month-to-month, his overall stat line is very good. He has a .265/.354/.494 slash line with 23 homers, 76 runs scored, and 69 RBI in 464 at-bats. He is looking like a four-category contributor heading into next season and should be taken as a solid second outfielder in fantasy.Source: MLB.com
5
days
agoJacksonville
Jaguars
wide
receiver
Brian
Thomas
Jr.
showed
off
his
speed
in
an
18-13
loss
to
the
Cleveland
Browns.
BTJ
finished
with
92
yards
receiving
on
just
two
catches
and
four
targets.
The
rookie
receiver
now
has
four
targets
in
each
ofread more...
5 days agoWashington Nationals outfielder James Wood found his bat on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs in a 4-3 win over the Miami Marlins. Wood has been slumping a bit at the plate lately, with a mediocre .250/.308/.333 slash line in September heading into this one. He was able to put that behind him and will hopefully get back on track for the final few weeks of the season. It's been a terrific rookie campaign for the 21-year-old, who has shown he belongs at the big league level without a doubt. He will likely be drafted in the top 75 next season, and his upside warrants that.Source: MLB.com
5 days agoJacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. scored the team's lone touchdown in an 18-13 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with 13 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, and added three catches for six yards. Etienne Jr. put up a solid fantasy performance, but given the offensive struggles of the Jaguars, his upside has been limited through two weeks. Fantasy managers drafted the Clemson product near the top of drafts, so a touchdown-dependent RB2 is not what they hoped for. Etienne Jr. was expected to be one of the few high-volume backs in the NFL this season, but he only has 29 touches through two games. For comparison, San Francisco 49ers backup running back turned starter Jordan Mason had 29 touches just in Week 1. The Jaguars take on the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, who struggled to contain Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane this past Thursday.Source: Jaguars vs Browns Box Score
5 days agoJacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a decent day yardage-wise, but couldn't find the end zone in an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with 14 completions and 220 yards on 30 attempts, and 45 rushing yards on two attempts. Lawrence has just one passing touchdown through two games, which is not ideal for both real and fantasy football. The Clemson product has not looked great through two weeks, and he is not getting much fantasy production out of his weapons either. The Browns have a great defense going back to last year, especially against the pass, so it is not that surprising Lawrence had a subpar performance, but his fantasy floor needs to be higher than this to be starting caliber. The former top pick seems like a potential cut candidate for fantasy managers in Week 3, especially with his matchups remaining difficult in the coming weeks. The Jaguars face the Buffalo Bills next Monday night, a defense that should pose another challenge for the Jacksonville offense.Source: Jaguars vs Browns Box Score
5 days agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio did his best to give his team a chance to win on Sunday, going 3-for-6 with a homer, a triple, and five RBI in an 11-10 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Chourio homered with two runners on in the fifth inning to put the Brewers back in the game and then tripled in the tenth inning to give the Crew a two-run lead. The 20-year-old (!) rookie has been a dynamo in the second half, and is now up to 21 homers, 20 steals, and an .808 OPS in his first year. He's gonna be a good one, and will be drafted very highly heading into next season.Source: MLB.com
5 days agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes (toe) exited Sunday's game in the fifth inning after taking a foul ball off his right big toe. Barnes fractured the same toe just last month, so this is a very unfortunate incident. Manager Dave Roberts said he expects Barnes to hit the IL, and that minor league catcher Hunter Feduccia is on his way to the big league club. While it isn't a big deal for fantasy managers, it could mean additional playing time for Will Smith as the Dodgers look to get into bye position in the NL playoff race.Source: Bill Plunkett
5 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers held the Denver Broncos to six points and recorded two sacks, two interceptions, and six tackles for loss in a Week 2 victory. Star edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith applied pressure on rookie quarterback Bo Nix while defensive backs Damontae Kazee and Cory Trice Jr. made plays in Pittsburgh's secondary. Heading into Week 3, the Steelers have surrendered just one touchdown and 16 total points. They may face their toughest challenge yet in the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday, but fantasy managers should trust Pittsburgh's DST to perform well at home.Source: ESPN
5 days agoThe Denver Broncos defense/special teams was nothing special in the Week 2 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver on Sunday. One week after the Broncos defense surprised with two safeties and two turnovers, they failed to generate any turnovers and produced only two sacks of quarterback Justin Fields. The Denver D did hold Pittsburgh to under 300 yards of total offense and only 13 total points, but their rushing defense has been a weak spot through the first two weeks after allowing 141 yards on the ground to the Steelers on Sunday. The Broncos defense has kept them in the first two games, but a Bo Nix-led offense hasn't helped them out at all, scoring just one touchdown in eight quarters. At best, Denver's D/ST will be a streaming option in deeper leagues going into a Week 3 tilt on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Source: NFL.com
5 days agoCarolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson caught three of his six targets for 15 yards in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Johnson once again led the team in targets, but for the second week in a row, was unable to convert it into fantasy production. As it has looked over the past two weeks, it looks unlikely that the Panthers offense will be able to support multiple fantasy viable pass-catching options, let alone one. That being said, an encouraging target share can give fantasy managers some hope that Johnson will be the No. 1 option should Carolina start to produce more effectively on offense. Fantasy managers can look to take Johnson out of lineups and on to the bench for their Week 3 clash with the Las Vegas Raiders, until it is seen that this unit can produce.Source: ESPN
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell converted on both of his field goal attempts and was successful on his lone extra-point try of a 13-6 win against the Denver Broncos. Week 1's AFC Special Teams Player of the Week drilled a 53-yarder in the third quarter for his fourth make of 50 or more yards already in 2024. When Pittsburgh's offense stalls, Boswell has proven to be a reliable source of points, but there are sure to be similarly slow-paced and low-scoring affairs in his future this season. The veteran should nonetheless be a decent fantasy play against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.Source: ESPN
5 days agoCarolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 18 of his 26 throws for just 84 yards and one interception in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He also carried the ball once for another six yards on the ground. Young once again struggled to provide a spark to Carolina's passing offense, as the Panther's offensive line has struggled to protect him as well as give him adequate time to throw. This now makes the second week in a row without a touchdown pass for Young, as Carolina has scored just one in total in their first two matchups. The former Alabama man and the majority of the Panther's offense can be kept on the sidelines in their Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders until it is seen that this unit can produce enough to obtain fantasy relevance.Source: ESPN
5 days agoCarolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard carried the ball 10 times for 64 yards in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Hubbard also caught four of his five targets for an additional 12 yards through the air. Hubbard was the lone bright spot in Carolina's offense on Sunday, putting together a solid fantasy outing despite the negative game script in another lopsided loss. He also out carried running back Miles Sanders 10 to seven, confirming that he will continue to see most of the work between the two moving forward. While practically every member of the Panthers offense can be benched in lineups moving forward, Hubbard looks to be the exception. Fantasy managers can include him as an RB2/3 option in Week 3 when the Panthers face the Las Vegas Raiders.Source: ESPN
5
days
agoDenver
Broncos
kicker
Wil
Lutz
was
the
team's
offense
in
a
13-6
loss
to
the
visiting
Pittsburgh
Steelers
in
Denver
on
Sunday.
Lutz
finished
as
a
top-10
fantasy
kicker
in
the
Week
1
loss
to
the
Seattle
Seahawks
after
going
3-for-3
on
hisread more...
5 days agoLas Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson bounced back from a disappointing Week 1 performance with a massive game in the Week 2 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens. He nailed field goals from 53, 51, 25, and 38 yards en route to an 18-point fantasy finish. Carlson was perfect on the day, hitting on all his field goal attempts and adding two extra points. Carlson was presented with more opportunities to shine, with the Raiders offense being surprisingly solid against a tough Ravens defense. The 29-year-old has long been a great fantasy kicker, but he will depend on the Raiders being a functional offense, driving the ball to within field goal ranges. Carlson and the Raiders face the dreadful Carolina Panthers in Week 3, making him a solid kicker streamer for fantasy managers this week.Source: FantasyPros
5 days agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell caught just one of his four targets for a 30-yard gain in the team's Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. This now marks the second week in a row Mitchell saw favorable targets and air yards but has been unable to turn them into fantasy production. Mitchell's speed and separation abilities are undeniable, but he hasn't shown that he has a safe enough floor as a member of this Colts offense to warrant starting him with confidence in lineups. On top of that, the Colts are expecting WR Josh Downs (knee) to return back to the fold eventually, and it's unclear who's snap share will take the largest hit as a result. Fantasy managers will need to monitor Downs' Week 3 status before closely starting Mitchell in lineups, and even then, he can be considered a boom-or-bust WR4 option with the hopes that he can connect on a deep ball or two from Richardson.Source: ESPN
5 days agoPittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth came down with all four of his targets for 39 receiving yards in a Week 2 victory over the Denver Broncos. It was fellow tight end Darnell Washington who scored Pittsburgh's first touchdown of the 2024 campaign, but Freiermuth continued to operate as a reliable weapon for quarterback Justin Fields. In its current state, the Steelers' offense doesn't offer much for fantasy managers to get excited about, but it's clear that Freiermuth has a significant role as one of the top pass-catchers on the roster. The 25-year-old will look to generate more production with his opportunities when facing the Los Angeles Chargers at home in Week 3.Source: ESPN
5 days agoThe Las Vegas Raiders went on the road to Baltimore and delivered a huge upset win against the Ravens. Despite this, the Raiders D/ST was again not startable, scoring just four points in normal defensive scoring formats. The Raiders have had their hands full with great offenses to start the season, having faced the Chargers in Week 1. The fact that both offenses were held under 30 points can be seen as a win, considering the Raiders' offense struggled on the ground and wasn't able to chew the clock, keeping their defense off the field. The silver lining for the silver and black is that they will next face a Panthers offense that is significantly worse than any other league, and managers can expect a bounce-back game for the Raiders D/ST in Week 3.Source: FantasyPros
5 days agoAbout the only positive note for Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich on Sunday in the 13-6 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers was that he garnered a team-high eight targets from struggling rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Dulcich was only able to come down with three of those eight targets for 16 yards receiving in a day in which the Broncos didn't score a single touchdown on offense. It's clear that Dulcich, and not Adam Trautman, is the team's top pass-catching option at the position after the first two games of the season. However, with the Broncos' offense looking like one of the worst in the NFL after the first two weeks, Dulcich isn't going to be on the fantasy radar in 12-team fantasy leagues or leagues that start only one tight end. The 24-year-old caught just two of three targets for 12 yards in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.Source: NFL.com