Rachaad White is Avoidable for Week 2
Rachaad White was barely seen on the field during the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons last week. White rushed the ball twice for 14 yards and hauled in his lone target for two yards in the win. Bucky Irving is the clear-cut RB1 in Tampa Bay right now. White figures to remain involved in the passing game, but he didn't see a ton of action in the opener. This early in the season it's tough to gauge how much White will be used in the offense. That being said, White is looking like a bench option for the upcoming Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans. White is worth stashing in certain formats because he's the primary backup to Irving, but it doesn't look like he's going to see much of the field right now.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Source: Pro Football Reference
Chris Godwin Back to a DNP on Friday
Chris Godwin (ankle) was listed as a non-participant in Friday's practice after he was limited in Thursday's session. Godwin practiced with the team on Thursday for the first time this year after suffering an ugly ankle dislocation in Week 7 in 2024. While the 29-year-old is making progress, Friday's DNP is a reminder that he's a long shot to make his return in Week 2 on Monday Night Football against the Houston Texans. Godwin still has a lot of boxes to check with his ankle, but if he keeps making progress, he may be able to return this month. Fantasy managers should be stashing Godwin everywhere, but don't get your hopes up if he doesn't come back in Week 3 against the New York Jets, either. Rookie first-round wideout Emeka Egbuka really impressed in Week 1 and should continue to be a must-start in fantasy with Godwin sidelined.
Source: Buccaneers.com
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Source: Buccaneers.com
Bucky Irving on RB1 Radar for Week 2
Bucky Irving didn't have an ideal season opener last week. Irving had trouble finding any room to run as he rushed for 37 yards on 14 attempts in the win over the Atlanta Falcons. He was able to salvage his fantasy value by hauling in all four of his targets for eight yards and a touchdown. Despite the struggles, Irving will remain the lead back in Tampa Bay with Rachaad White only seeing two rushing attempts in the opener. The Bucs are committed to Irving and he'll continue seeing a heavy workload. Irving should remain in the RB1 conversation for the upcoming Monday night matchup against the Houston Texans.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Source: Pro Football Reference
Baker Mayfield has Mid-Range QB1 Value for Week 2
Baker Mayfield wasn't excellent in the season opener, but he got the job done. Mayfield completed 17-of-32 passing attempts for 176 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the win over the Atlanta Falcons. The passing yardage was low for Mayfield, but he is missing two of his wide receivers in Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) right now. The three scores gave fantasy managers a good game, so they don't have much to complain about. The Bucs should continue being a pass-heavy offense which should make Mayfield a viable weekly option. Mayfield should once again remain in the mid-range QB1 territory for the upcoming Monday night matchup against the Houston Texans in Week 2.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Source: Pro Football Reference
J.J. McCarthy Showing Superflex Potential
J.J. McCarthy is a high-end Superflex option as his team plays host to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Following a brutal first half in the season-opener at Chicago, the Michigan product came alive in the second half, accounting for three fourth-quarter touchdowns and his first NFL win. Now playing behind a home crowd and facing a friendlier matchup from a fantasy perspective, McCarthy has a reasonable opportunity to improve on a lackluster Week 1 from a completions and yards perspective. Attached to a strong supporting cast, McCarthy should give managers some value at the Superflex spot.
Source: RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Source: RotoBaller
Brock Purdy Officially Ruled Out Against Saints
Brock Purdy (toe) for Week 2 action against the New Orleans Saints, according to NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco. Purdy is dealing with turf toe despite playing the entirety of the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks last weekend. Not only will the 25-year-old miss this Sunday's game, but reports this week have suggested that he could be out multiple weeks. It's more bad news for an extremely battered Niners team early in 2025. Tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is also out this weekend and will miss at least four games after being placed on Injured Reserve. Former New England Patriots QB Mac Jones will run San Fran's offense against the Saints. Expect plenty of short and intermediate throws while they lean heavily on running back Christian McCaffrey. At best, Jones is a desperation QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
The San Francisco 49ers have officially ruled out quarterback Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
Aaron Jones Sr. A Viable Starter In Week 2
Aaron Jones Sr. is a high-end RB3/Flex candidate as his team takes on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. In its first game, Minnesota came up with a solid blueprint that the team is likely to try again, with the veteran earning the lion's share of the backfield receiving work and fellow running back Jordan Mason taking many of the tough running downs. From a fantasy perspective, Jones will get enough rushing work to pair nicely with his receiving ability to consider starting him, especially in PPR formats. The Vikings have shown they trust Jones in big passing situations, and with receiver Jordan Addison (suspension) still out, he's likely to earn at least a few key targets.
Source: RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Mason Carves Out Role As Week 2 Approaches
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.
Source: RotoBaller
In the first week of the season, Minnesota Vikings running back Source: RotoBaller
Breakout Potential For Justin Jefferson In Week 2
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Source: RotoBaller
Homecoming Boost For Vikings' Adam Thielen?
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Starting Vikings wide receiver Source: RotoBaller
Starting Potential For T.J. Hockenson Against Falcons
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings tight end Source: RotoBaller
Jauan Jennings Given Questionable Tag for Week 2
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.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
Brock Bowers Missing Another Practice on Friday
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.
Source: Silver and Black Sports Network - Jesse Merrick
For the second straight day on Friday, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Source: Silver and Black Sports Network - Jesse Merrick
Jake Moody Joining the Bears
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.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Former San Francisco 49ers kicker Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Will Shipley Out for Week 2 with Oblique Injury
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.
Source: Ralph Vacchiano
Philadelphia Eagles running back
Source: Ralph Vacchiano