September 10, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie running back
Dylan Sampson was heavily involved in his first career NFL game and is one of the top priority adds in Week 2 of the NFL season. Sampson played 43% of the snaps on Sunday and caught all eight of his targets for 64 receiving yards. He also added 12 carries on the ground for 29 yards. The rookie out of Tennessee said he felt a rhythm growing there with
Joe Flacco on Sunday in his NFL regular-season debut, Camryn Justice, beat writer for the Browns, reports. Sampson clearly identified himself as the top back in Week 1, out-touching fellow back
Jerome Ford 20-7, and although Ford played more snaps (56%), he clearly was not involved in getting touches. With
Quinshon Judkins expected to return soon, it appears the Browns' backfield will consist of Sampson and Judkins, with Judkins on early downs and Sampson mixing in on third downs. Until then, Sampson is finding himself in RB3 territory for Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Camryn Justice
September 10, 2025
Indianapolis Colts rookie running back
DJ Giddens had a good performance in Week 1 with 41 rushing yards on 12 carries, suitable for a 3.4 YPC. With the Colts up big against the Miami Dolphins, Giddens entered the game to make his NFL debut in the third quarter in place of All-Pro running back
Jonathan Taylor. Taylor has been a bit injury-riddled in the past, so if Giddens can continue to impress, it's possible the Colts keep him at the No. 2 running back position over
Tyler Goodson (elbow) as the season goes on. The fifth-round rookie was excellent in his final season at Kansas State, and had 205 rushing attempts for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns, along with 21 receptions for 258 yards and one touchdown, starting all 12 games for Kansas State and earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. Giddens is a priority stash with leagues carrying a larger bench, especially for those rostering Taylor. In Week 2, the Colts face a tough home matchup against the Denver Broncos.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
September 9, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end
Brenton Strange was one of the team's offensive standouts in a 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. The former second-round pick from Penn State formed a nice connection with quarterback
Trevor Lawrence, catching all four of his targets for 59 yards. It was Strange - not WRs
Brian Thomas Jr. or
Travis Hunter - who led the Jaguars in receiving yards. Strange also played 79 percent of the Jags' offensive snaps, trailing only Thomas among the team's receivers and tight ends. It appears Strange is going to have a major role in Jacksonville's offense under new head coach Liam Coen this season, yet he is only rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues heading into a meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Considering the Bengals allowed a combined 10 catches and 100 yards to Cleveland Browns tight ends
Harold Fannin Jr. and
David Njoku in Week 1, fantasy managers looking for help at TE should consider Strange.
--Connor ByrneSource: RotoBaller
September 9, 2025
The Los Angeles Chargers announced that they have released running back
Nyheim Hines from their practice squad. Hines, now 28 years old, was at his best as a pass-catching back with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-21. He averaged 53 receptions per year during that span and exceeded the 60 mark twice. His production began tailing off when the Colts traded him to the Buffalo Bills during the 2022 season, though he did return a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns in a Week 18 win over the New England Patriots. Hines hasn't played in a regular-season game since then, though, as he missed both the 2023 and '24 campaigns after suffering a torn ACL in a jet-ski accident. He was unable to earn a roster spot with the Chargers during the preseason this summer, and now the organization will move on without him.
--Connor ByrneSource: Los Angeles Chargers
September 9, 2025
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring) was scheduled to undergo an MRI on his injured hamstring on Tuesday, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. While the results haven't been announced, expectations are that Cashman will sit out for "several weeks," per Goessling. The 29-year-old suffered the injury while chasing a scrambling
Caleb Williams in the third quarter of the Vikings' Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears on Monday. The Vikings brought in Eric Wilson to replace Cashman, who started all 14 games in his first year with Minnesota last season. Cashman stood out in 2024, tallying 112 tackles (including eight for loss), 11 quarterback hits, eight passes defensed, and 4.5 sacks. Unfortunately for the Vikings, they may not get him back until sometime after their Week 6 bye, according to Goessling. In the meantime, they're scheduled to face the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns.
--Connor ByrneSource: Ben Goessling - Minneapolis Star-Tribune
September 9, 2025
New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (foot) will undergo surgery on his right foot, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. While McFadden will miss "significant time," he's expected to return this season. The 25-year-old suffered the injury trying to tackle Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels last Sunday and had to be carted off the field in the Giants' season-opening loss. The Giants replaced McFadden with Darius Muasau, a 2024 sixth-round pick who will continue to fill in for the foreseeable future. McFadden led the Giants in tackles (107) last year while adding three sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery over 14 games. He's a notable loss for New York, which will take on the division-rival Dallas Cowboys this week.
--Connor ByrneSource: Jordan Raanan - ESPN
September 9, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson (knee) has agreed to a one-year, $13.25 million contract extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The deal will keep Watson in Green Bay through 2026. Watson joined the Packers as a second-round pick from North Dakota State in 2022 and has since averaged around 13 games, 33 catches, 551 yards, and five touchdowns per season. After the 6-foot-4, 208-pound deep threat tore his right ACL in Week 18 last year, he opened this season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. Watson will miss at least the Packers' first four games as a result. When he does return, Watson will be part of a crowded group of targets for quarterback
Jordan Love. Even without Watson, the Packers still boast
Romeo Doubs, first-round rookie
Matthew Golden,
Jayden Reed, and
Dontayvion Wicks as their top four WRs. They also have a strong pass-catching tight end in
Tucker Kraft.
--Connor ByrneSource: Adam Schefter - ESPN
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
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