September 12, 2025
In the first week of the season, Minnesota Vikings running back
Jordan Mason made a compelling case for more touches, which bodes well as his team takes on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. The first-year Viking helped turn the tide in last week's win at Chicago with tough running, gaining 68 rushing yards, adding a catch, and showing the setup with incumbent starter
Aaron Jones Sr. can be fantasy relevant for both players. Though the Falcons' defense is mid-tier against fantasy running backs, Mason is the leading candidate to get short-yardage carries, including the valuable ones near the goal line. Though Jones is preferred as a receiver, Mason has RB3/flex potential playing on a good offense with a solid matchup.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Justin Jefferson faces a friendly matchup on Sunday with breakout potential against the Atlanta Falcons. Even in a down week for the superstar receiver in the season-opening game, he still went for four catches, 44 yards, and a touchdown, and now he takes on a Falcons defense near the bottom of the pile against fantasy wide receivers. With quarterback
J.J. McCarthy making his first home start and up against a better matchup than last week, the Vikings should see a natural boost to their offense as a whole. That generally means good circumstances for their best player.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Starting Vikings wide receiver
Adam Thielen on Sunday would be a bet that he can recapture the magic in his first game back in Minnesota since being reacquired in a trade with Carolina, albeit one that comes with heavy risk. The Minnesota offense was brutal for three quarters in Week 1, though the Vikings did mount a dramatic comeback and go to the veteran for a key two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. However, Thielen played 57% of offensive snaps and drew only one target, which he dropped. Thielen figures to improve on the number of targets in Week 2, especially with
Jordan Addison (suspension) still out, but he'll likely be in a secondary role and still attached to a first-time starter at quarterback. He should be saved for deeper formats only.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
Minnesota Vikings tight end
T.J. Hockenson should be viewed as a starting option when his team plays host to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. The Iowa product had an unremarkable statistical performance in Week 1, but so did most of the Vikings, who were brutal offensively for three quarters before surging to victory in the fourth against the Bears. This time out, Hockenson faces a Falcons defense that is mid-tier against tight ends while the Vikings are still missing No. 2 wide receiver
Jordan Addison (suspension) for another couple weeks. The passing game led by first-time starting quarterback
J.J. McCarthy figures to see a boost behind the home crowd, and Hockenson should be one of the biggest benefactors.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) is officially listed as questionable to play in Week 2 on Sunday against the hosting New Orleans Saints, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. Jennnings injured his shoulder in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks and did not return before missing the first two practices of the week on Wednesday and Thursday. However, the 28-year-old was able to get in a limited practice on Friday, which gives him a chance to suit up for the extremely banged-up Niners. If Jennings plays, both he and
Ricky Pearsall should be peppered with targets with tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) out. However, quarterback
Brock Purdy (toe) is also out, which makes Jennings a pretty volatile and unpredictable fantasy option this weekend if he ends up playing. The former seventh-rounder had only two grabs for 16 yards in the opener before getting hurt.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
September 12, 2025
For the second straight day on Friday, Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) is not practicing with the team, according to Silver and Black Sports Network's Jesse Merrick. Bowers was forced to exit the team's Week 1 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday with a knee injury. Although the 22-year-old second-year TE downplayed the severity of his injury, the fact that he has yet to practice this week puts his status very much up in the air for Monday night's divisional tilt versus the Los Angeles Chargers. If you don't already have a viable backup, picking up
Michael Mayer is a strong insurance move in case Bowers is ruled out in Week 2. Bowers had five catches for 103 yards last week before leaving, and he's a must-start everywhere when he's active. Mayer caught three passes for 38 yards in the season opener and will be an intriguing TE2 streamer if Bowers does not play.
--Keith HernandezSource: Silver and Black Sports Network - Jesse Merrick
September 12, 2025
Former San Francisco 49ers kicker
Jake Moody is signing with the Chicago Bears practice squad on Friday, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. After struggling in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, the Niners cut Moody earlier this week. Moody is going to need to kick better to have a shot at replacing the veteran
Cairo Santos after Santos missed one of his two field-goal tries in the season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. The 25-year-old Moody missed two of his three field goals in Week 1, continuing a downward trend after a solid rookie campaign in 2023. Right now, the former third-rounder will just be insurance for Santos in Chicago, and he should remain on the waiver wire in all leagues. Moody has made 74.2% of his 62 field-goal attempts in his three years in the NFL and 97.9% of his extra-point tries.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
September 12, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles running back
Will Shipley (oblique) has been ruled out for their Week 2 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs due to an oblique injury. Shipley was held out of practice during the entire week and will set his sights on returning in Week 3 when the Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams. The second-year running back suffered this injury during the first half of their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Before exiting, Shipley took three carries for 26 yards. Fantasy managers should expect the newly-acquired
Tank Bigsby to serve as the No. 2 option behind workhorse
Saquon Barkley this weekend. When Shipley returns, he may face competition for the No. 2 job. As a result, he is only worth stashing in as a low-upside handcuff in deeper 16+ team leagues for the time being.
--Andy SmithSource: Ralph Vacchiano
September 12, 2025
Kicker
Will Reichard of the Minnesota Vikings faces a middle-of-the-road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night. The second-year kicker had a strong opening week in which he converted two field goal attempts at Chicago, including a key 59-yarder that helped Minnesota get something out of a poor first half offensively. Now back in the friendlier confines of indoor U.S. Bank Stadium, Reichard and the Vikings will take on a Falcons defense that held Tampa Bay to 260 yards of total offense in Week 1. Reichard has been solid when healthy, but the Vikings' offense is likely to be hot-and-cold as they break in a first-time starting quarterback this season.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Josh Reynolds (hamstring) has been ruled out for their Week 2 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Reynolds was not on the practice report on Wednesday but was listed as a non-participant on Thursday and Friday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as the 30-year-old wideout could be in danger of missing their next contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In their Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Reynolds operated as the No. 2 WR with
Allen Lazard as a healthy scratch, but was unable to find much success as he caught just two of his three targets for 18 yards. Top wide receiver
Garrett Wilson did most of the damage in the passing game. With Reynolds sidelined, Lazard will likely be active in Sunday's game, but he is best left on the waiver wire as Wilson is the only viable fantasy asset in this wide receiver room.
--Andy SmithSource: Rich Cimini
September 12, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings defense/special teams unit is a low-end starting option with the possibility for more against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The Vikings lost a key part of their run defense when linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve. They will be without edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (concussion) and nickel back Jeff Okudah (concussion), and they have yet to play safety Harrison Smith (illness). Further, Falcons receivers
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) and
Drake London (shoulder) are off the injury report and slated to play. However, Minnesota's new-look defensive line was dominant in Week 1 -- Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen alone combined for 13 pressures and two sacks -- and Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. has never faced Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. With the home crowd, there's reason to believe Minnesota can cause some disruption.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: RotoBaller
September 12, 2025
New York Jets rookie tight end
Mason Taylor (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional contest against the Buffalo Bills. The rookie tight end opened the week as a non-participant but was able to upgrade to limited participation on Thursday. On Friday, Taylor was able to log a full session, but the Jets opted to place an injury designation on him heading into the weekend. However, seeing that he was able to log a full practice on Friday is a positive sign for his status this weekend. In his NFL debut, Taylor saw only one target and was able to bring it in for 20 yards. He was able to log more snaps than veteran
Jeremy Ruckert, but Ruckert saw more targets in the passing game. If Taylor were to suit up, he would have risky TE2 upside facing the Bills.
--Andy SmithSource: Rich Cimini
September 12, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown is "excited" for Week 2's contest against the Kansas City Chiefs, despite his lack of involvement in Week 1. During their season-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the star wideout was targeted just once. He caught this lone pass for eight yards. However, the 28-year-old wide receiver told NFL insider Jordan Schultz on The Schultz Report that he is "excited" for Week 2. Brown noted, "I got zoned the entire game. I didn't get one single am (coverage rap." Even though Brown let many managers down in Week 1, he should still be viewed as a must-start low-end WR1 heading into a Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs. Last season, Brown found the back of the end zone seven times and posted his third-straight 1,000-yard campaign. When healthy, he projects to be the clear top option in the Philadelphia receiving room and carries top-10 upside at the position in all matchups.
--Andy SmithSource: Jordan Schultz
September 12, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver
Chimere Dike has been performing well and could see more opportunities. On Friday, head coach Brian Callahan said that he has liked what Dike has done and that he's earned more opportunities as a receiver. In the season opener, Dike had a limited role on the offensive side of the ball and was deployed primarily as a special teams player. In the few offensive snaps he saw, Dike saw one target but was unable to connect with it. He also took one carry for nine yards. As a returner, Dike totaled 144 yards on kickoffs and 12 on punts. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the former fourth-round pick's development as he could carve out a role in the Tennessee offense that lacks proven playmakers behind veteran
Calvin Ridley. For now, he is best left as a stash option in dynasty/keeper formats. If Dike were to begin to emerge as a regular starter in Week 2, he could enter waiver wire territory in deep redraft leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: Jim Wyatt
September 12, 2025
According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, the Patriots could look to modify their backfield roles in Week 2 when they face the Miami Dolphins. Reiss noted that the team's snap distribution could change following their loss in Week 1. In this contest, veteran
Rhamondre Stevenson dominated the workload while second-round rookie
TreVeyon Henderson was deployed as the clear No. 2. However, given that their rushing attack was unsuccessful in this contest, the coaching staff appears to be already looking for ways to improve. Head coach Mike Vrabel noted that, "We have to evaluate everything to make sure we're getting it right based on volume, who's playing, who's getting the ball." While Stevenson will likely remain the leader of the backfield, fantasy managers should expect Henderson to see more than just the five attempts he saw in the opener. As a result, Henderson carries flex appeal with upside, while Stevenson is best left as a volume play in deeper formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Mike Reiss
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