September 9, 2025
The Denver Broncos are signing free-agent running back
Deuce Vaughn to their practice squad on Tuesday, sources tell Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Vaughn, a former All-American at Kansas State and a sixth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, will give Denver additional backfield depth behind
J.K. Dobbins, rookie
RJ Harvey,
Tyler Badie, and
Jaleel McLaughlin. The 5-foot-6, 176-pounder will be a long shot to make any noise in Denver this year or ever in the NFL, given his small stature. In his two seasons with the Cowboys over the last two years, he handled only 40 carries for 110 yards (2.8 yards per tote) with no touchdowns. Vaughn caught 10 of his 12 targets for 58 yards in the passing game. Dallas cut Vaughn from their roster at the end of training camp in late August.
--Keith HernandezSource: CBS Sports - Matt Zenitz
September 9, 2025
Green Bay Packers rookie first-round wide receiver
Matthew Golden (ankle) was upgraded from a limited practice participant on Monday's estimated injury report to full on Tuesday. Meanwhile, fellow wideout
Dontayvion Wicks (calf) was listed as limited for a second straight day. The 22-year-old appears to be dealing with a minor ankle issue after the team's Week 1 win over the Detroit Lions, but he should be able to play on a short week on Thursday night in his second NFL game against the Washington Commanders. Golden got nothing but rave reviews during training camp and the preseason, only to disappoint in his debut on Sunday against Detroit. The Texas product caught both of his targets for only 16 yards. Despite his quiet debut, Golden should be considered an upside WR4/flex option against the Commanders in prime time on Thursday.
--Keith HernandezSource: Packers.com
September 9, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers are signing free-agent kicker
Eddy Pineiro to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday after waiving struggling kicker
Jake Moody earlier in the day, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Pineiro, 29, is currently the third-most accurate kicker in league history with an 88.1 percent success rate, which is behind only
Justin Tucker and
Harrison Butker. Pineiro spent the last three seasons kicking for the Carolina Panthers and went 80-for-90 on his field-goal tries, including going 8-for-11 from 50-plus yards, and 80-for-87 on extra points in 49 games. The 49ers are hoping that the veteran kicker can be much more effective than Moody has been, and he could quickly be on the fantasy radar as a streaming option in a strong matchup in Week 2 in a dome on the road against the New Orleans Saints if quarterback
Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) is active.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
September 9, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (foot) was elevated to limited on the team's estimated injury report on Tuesday, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. Reed was listed as a DNP on the first practice report of the week on Monday. The 25-year-old has been working his way through a Jones fracture in his foot and was inactive for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, but he was active in the season-opening win and caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown while also returning two punts for 21 yards. Reed will probably continue to be eased into practices early in the season, but he should be active on Thursday against the Washington Commanders, barring a setback. He scored in Week 1, but Reed played only 18 snaps on offense and could once again have a limited role on a short week. He is a shaky WR4/flex option in Week 2.
--Keith HernandezSource: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
September 9, 2025
Additional scans on Tuesday on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) came back clean, and he has avoided a significant left-shoulder injury after he was injured in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Niners are now considering Jennings day-to-day, and he will have a chance to play in Week 2 on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. The 28-year-old missed all of the preseason and most of training camp with a calf injury while also holding out for a new contract. He proceeded to struggle with two catches on five targets for 16 yards in the season opener before getting hurt. Jennings should see an uptick in targets with tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) on IR, but with quarterback
Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) up in the air for Week 2, he's trending as a very volatile flex play in fantasy this week.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
September 9, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has been handed a one-game suspension that has been considered served after he was ejected from the Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys after he spit on quarterback
Dak Prescott before the first snap of the game last Thursday. Carter will forfeit his Week 1 game check but will be eligible to play in the Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The NFL Players Association informed the league that Carter will not contest the discipline and has waived his right to appeal the ruling. Carter's decision to spit on Prescott was a decision he most likely immediately regretted last Thursday and was a bad look for the 24-year-old interior defensive lineman, who is already considered one of the best D tackles in the league. Carter being available for Week 2 will make it more difficult on KC's rushing attack.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
September 9, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie second-round running back
Quinshon Judkins is expected to practice for the first time with the team on Wednesday, according to Fred Greetham of The OBR. Because of domestic-violence allegations in the offseason, Judkin missed all of training camp, the preseason and the Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. However, he was finally able to sign his rookie deal last weekend and he will return to the practice field this week. Reports have suggested that he could make his NFL debut as early as Week 2 against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, but there's also a chance the NFL could hand him a multi-game suspension. If the 21-year-old is active this weekend, he will most likely be eased into the offense, so he won't be a recommended fantasy starter. But Judkins should absolutely be a waiver-wire target, as he's rostered in only 55% of Yahoo leagues right now.
--Keith HernandezSource: The OBR - Fred Greetham
September 9, 2025
According to Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the team "needs to see more consistency" from rookie fifth-round running back
Jaydon Blue, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. Blue reportedly was impressive during training camp this summer before missing some time late in camp with a minor injury, but he was a surprise healthy scratch in the season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Thursday. The 21-year-old is going to remain a healthy inactive for Week 2 this coming Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants, with veterans
Javonte Williams and
Miles Sanders handling backfield duties for Dallas. Although Williams wasn't extremely efficient on the ground in Week 1, he did find the end zone twice. Sanders had a 49-yard run but also a crucial fumble. Blue should have a role at some point in 2025, but fantasy managers are going to have to be patient.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jon Machota
September 9, 2025
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters on Tuesday that he has "zero concern" after quarterback
Jayden Daniels (wrist) showed up on Monday's estimated injury report with a wrist issue, according to NFL.com. Daniels is fully expected to start in a Week 2 matchup on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers. The 24-year-old second-year signal-caller wasn't asked to do too much in the easy Week 1 win over the New York Giants on Sunday, and he finished by going 19-for-30 passing for 233 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Daniels ran the football 11 times for 68 yards but was unable to find the end zone with his legs. He finished as the QB13 for the week, which is a bit disappointing, but Daniels has high-end QB1 upside each and every week, and he should be asked to do more in what could be a shootout with Green Bay on Thursday.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com
September 9, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott (knee) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) will both miss the Week 2 contest this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. Harmon will miss his second straight game to begin the year after h was inactive for the season-opening win on Sunday against the New York Jets. Elliott injured his left knee in Week 1 in the second quarter and did not return. With the 28-year-old defensive back unavailable for Week 2, expect Chuck Clark to make the start across from Juan Thornhill against Seattle. Elliott and Harmon will be hoping to heal up and be ready to play in a Week 3 matchup on the road against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 21. Fantasy managers are going to be a little more wary of starting Pittsburgh's defense in Week 2 after they allowed over 30 points in the season opener to the Jets.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com
September 9, 2025
After watching how the Washington Commanders used new wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. in the Week 1 win over the New York Giants, The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala writes that it's clear the team wants him to "be everywhere" and to "do everything." Samuel played 54 offensive snaps and caught seven of a team-high 10 targets for 77 yards. Most of his snaps (74.5%) and targets (six) came from the slot, but the 29-year-old also lined up out wide and in the backfield. He had a 19-yard rushing touchdown and was used on three WR screens. With the 49ers, Samuel was a deep target around only eight times per year. But in Week 1 on Sunday he was targeted deep twice. He was also Washington's lead returner on kickoffs. It's no secret now that the Commanders plan to use Samuel a lot, and in all situations. It will leave him more vulnerable to injury, but it will also rejuvenate his fantasy appeal.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
September 9, 2025
With the Jacksonville Jaguars trading
Tank Bigsby to the Eagles on Monday, their running depth chart gained a little breathing room. The team now lists
Travis Etienne Jr.,
Bhayshul Tuten, and
LeQuint Allen Jr. on the active roster, and if Sunday's matchup against the Panthers is any indication, Allen could find himself involved in the passing game. Seven of Allen's nine snaps on Sunday came on passing plays, earning one target, which he caught for four yards. Bhayshul Tuten saw the field only four times, but not once when
Trevor Lawrence dropped back to pass. Bigsby was the back on eight passing plays, but with him now shipped to Philadelphia, an opportunity exists for Allen to carve out a greater role on passing downs. One of the most prolific collegiate pass catchers in his rookie class, it should come as no surprise if he's able to turn those looks into tangible plays, and he has contingent upside should anything happen to Etienne. As such, Allen is worth a claim in deep leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Underdog NFL
September 9, 2025
With the San Francisco 49ers placing All-Pro tight end
George Kittle (hamstring) on the IR on Tuesday, the team is left with only
Luke Farrell and
Jake Tonges at the position. While fullback
Kyle Juszczyk could be asked to handle an expanded role, it was the fourth-year tight end Tonges who stepped in on Sunday following Kittle's departure due to a hamstring injury. Tonges made the first three catches of his NFL career, including a 4-yard TD pass with under two minutes to play. With quarterback
Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) and wide receiver
Jauan Jennings (shoulder) also banged up, the 49ers' offense may look entirely different heading into Week 2. While the gameplan will continue to be funneled directly through
Christian McCaffrey, the team will be looking for contributions wherever they can get them, and Tonges could be in line for his first career start. While his effectiveness could be capped in a
Mac Jones offense, desperate managers can throw a waiver dart in hopes of volume by necessity.
--Patrick McGrathSource: NFL
September 9, 2025
Going into the season as a fantasy afterthought, Pittsburgh Steelers veteran
Kenneth Gainwell was the running back on the field for the majority of his team's Week 1 snaps. In a back-and-forth matchup with the New York Jets, Gainwell saw 29 snaps to
Jaylen Warren's 25. While Warren did lead the position in carries and total opportunities, most expected his split to be with rookie
Kaleb Johnson and not the journeyman Gainwell. In speaking with reporters on Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin suggested that Gainwell could continue to see the field moving forward, citing the big-play ability he's shown throughout his career. While Gainwell deserves a look on the waiver wire by any managers hit hard by injury in Week 1, the expectation is still that the third-rounder Johnson, who saw only one snap in his NFL debut, will be worked into the offense, shortening Gainwell's fantasy shelf life considerably.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Josh Carney - Steelers Depot
September 9, 2025
Broncos running back
RJ Harvey is one of five offensive players nominated as Rookie of the Week following the first game of his NFL career. Harvey was used sparingly in the Broncos' Week 1 victory over the Titans, carrying the ball only six times. However, he was able to turn those six carries into 70 yards, aided by a 50-yard run in the 4th quarter. Comparatively,
J.K. Dobbins took 16 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. Should Harvey continue to display the explosiveness he showed in helping to seal away the game, it won't be long until he's given a larger role. Until that happens, he can be started in the flex spot for managers with no better options, but those who can remain patient should be rewarded in the near future.
--Patrick McGrathSource: NFL
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