September 16, 2025
Miami Dolphins quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa bounced back statistically in Week 2, completing 26 of 32 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the loss to the New England Patriots. While he topped 300 passing yards, he was sacked five times and sealed the defeat with a late fourth-quarter interception. Tagovailoa now faces the Buffalo Bills on a short week, a matchup that has consistently given him trouble. He has lost five straight starts against Buffalo, posting seven touchdowns and five interceptions during that span. With Miami's offensive line struggling to protect him, Tagovailoa is best left on fantasy benches in Week 3.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 16, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 3 against the New England Patriots. Highsmith suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 2 loss to Seattle, and there was initial concern he might land on injured reserve. With the Steelers in London in Week 4 and a bye the following week, Highsmith will likely return in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. Highsmith has been a key piece of Pittsburgh's pass rush opposite T.J. Watt, and his absence leaves a significant void. Third-year linebacker Nick Herbig is expected to step into a starting role, with rookie Jack Sawyer also likely to see increased snaps in the rotation. For fantasy and matchup purposes, this is a slight boost for Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye, who won't have to deal with the Steelers' full-strength edge duo on Thursday night.
--Nathan HarveySource: Gerry Dulac
September 16, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie running back
Dylan Sampson was listed as the No. 2 back on the Week 3 depth chart, slotting in ahead of veteran
Jerome Ford but behind second-round pick
Quinshon Judkins. However, the usage tells a different story. In last week's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Ford played 49% of the snaps compared to just 24% for Sampson, suggesting the coaching staff still trusts the veteran on passing downs. It's unclear whether the updated depth chart reflects a genuine shift or is more of a formality, but for fantasy purposes, Sampson managers should be cautious. With the Browns set to face the red-hot Green Bay Packers defense in Week 3, Sampson is highly unlikely to make a fantasy impact and is best left on benches in all formats.
--Nathan HarveySource: Cleveland Browns
September 16, 2025
Cleveland Browns running back
Quinshon Judkins has been listed as the team's starting back on this week's depth chart. The rookie played just 26% of the snaps in Week 2 but was effective with his touches, rushing 10 times for 66 yards in his NFL debut. Judkins signed his rookie deal shortly before Week 1 and eased into action against the Baltimore Ravens, but being elevated to the top of the depth chart is an encouraging sign for his role going forward. That said, Week 3 sets up as a tough spot. The Browns face the Green Bay Packers, who have been one of the league's stingiest defenses to start the season. With a negative game script possible, Judkins should be viewed as a low-end FLEX option in deeper leagues this week, though his long-term outlook is trending up.
--Nathan HarveySource: Cleveland Browns
September 16, 2025
Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) was limited in Tuesday's practice ahead of Thursday night's divisional matchup with the Buffalo Bills. Waddle wasn't listed on Monday's injury report, but his appearance Tuesday raises some concern given the short week. The former 1,000-yard receiver briefly exited Week 1 with a shoulder issue before returning, and while he found the end zone in Week 2 against New England, he finished third on the team in targets behind
Tyreek Hill and De'Von Achane. Waddle has also historically struggled against Buffalo's defense, putting up under 50 yards in their last three contests. With Miami's offense searching for rhythm and Waddle not at full strength, he profiles as more of a low-end FLEX option in Week 3.
--Nathan HarveySource: Marcel Louis-Jacques - ESPN
September 16, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Braxton Berrios (hamstring) is expected to return in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing the first two games of the season. Head coach DeMeco Ryans expressed optimism about his availability for the divisional matchup. The veteran slot receiver and return specialist, who previously spent time with the Jets and Dolphins, faces an uphill battle for snaps. With
Christian Kirk also on track to return and rookie
Jaylin Noel making noise in the return game, Berrios is buried on the depth chart. He should remain well off the fantasy radar in all formats.
--Nathan HarveySource: Aaron Wilson - KPRC2
September 16, 2025
Through two weeks of the 2025 campaign, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Jonnu Smith has caught nine passes for 42 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. While the production hasn't popped for fantasy yet, Smith's usage in his first year as a Steeler is encouraging. In addition to besting teammate
Pat Freiermuth in snaps and routes run, Smith is averaging three designed opportunities per game, the most of any tight end in the NFL. Pittsburgh's offense still needs to find its rhythm before Smith can be trusted every week, but he's firmly on the streaming radar. The ninth-year pro carries some PPR upside in Week 3 against the New England Patriots.
--Jorden HillSource: ESPN
September 16, 2025
Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (knee) speculates he could return before Thanksgiving. Overshown tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL in Week 14 of the 2024 season, a devastating injury that has kept him sidelined since. While the 2024 third-round pick has not yet resumed practicing, he's expressed optimism about his recovery and believes he'll be back on the field by late November. Overshown was one of the few bright spots on a struggling Cowboys defense last year, posting 90 tackles, five sacks, and two forced turnovers as a rookie. In his absence, veteran Kenneth Murray has been filling the void. Until a firmer return timeline is established, fantasy managers in IDP formats should treat Overshown as a stash with uncertain availability for the 2025 season.
--Nathan HarveySource: Joseph Hoyt - Dallas News
September 16, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders running back
Dylan Laube could be in line for a slight uptick in playing time this week against the Washington Commanders. Laube logged just 18% of the offensive snaps in the Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers but managed to catch two passes for 17 yards, flashing the receiving skills that made him a standout in college. Head coach Pete Carroll suggested the team may work him in more on offense after limiting him almost exclusively to special teams in Week 1. For now, Laube remains buried on the depth chart behind
Ashton Jeanty and
Zamir White, leaving him without any immediate fantasy value. Still, the fact that the Raiders are looking to carve out a role for him in the passing game is a positive sign for his long-term outlook.
--Nathan HarveySource: Anthony Galaviz - The Fresno Bee
September 16, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed (foot, shoulder) announced on social media on Tuesday that he had successful surgeries on his clavicle and foot. Reed had been dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot since late in training camp, but he played in the first two weeks of the season before fracturing his collarbone early in last Thursday night's win over the Washington Commanders. The 25-year-old has since been placed on Injured Reserve and was given an estimated timetable for a return of six to eight weeks. By the time Reed returns, there's a chance fellow wideout
Christian Watson (knee) will be back after he tore his ACL in Week 18 of last year. Reed is a stash candidate in pretty much all fantasy leagues, but Green Bay's receiving corps will be even more crowded when he makes his way back. In the meantime,
Romeo Doubs,
Dontayvion Wicks, and rookie first-rounder
Matthew Golden will operate in three-wide sets, while tight end
Tucker Kraft may continue to be quarterback
Jordan Love's top target.
--Keith HernandezSource: Jayden Reed on X
September 16, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back
Kaleb Johnson "probably" will lose kickoff-return duties in Week 3 against the New England Patriots after a crucial special-teams gaffe in the Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. Johnson allowed a kickoff to bounce over his head and into the end zone on Sunday in the fourth quarter because he thought the play would be called dead. But with the NFL's new kickoff rules, it was a live ball, which the Seahawks recovered for a game-changing touchdown. The Steelers will give Johnson a chance to work his way back into the special teams role, but in the short term, he'll be benched. Fantasy managers had high hopes for the 22-year-old during draft season, but
Jaylen Warren's demise has been premature, and
Kenneth Gainwell has operated as the No. 2. Johnson only played two snaps on offense in Week 2 and has just two carries for a loss of one yard in his first two NFL games. His special-teams gaffe on Sunday certainly didn't help his cause for a bigger role on offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
September 16, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson (knee) said he expects to return to practice when his window to do so opens in Week 6, although it will ultimately be up to the training staff. Watson opened the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list after tearing his ACL in Week 18 in 2024. He's eligible to return to practice in Week 5, but the Packers have their bye that week before facing the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6. The 26-year-old said he's checked all the boxes in his recovery before returning to practice. Once he returns to practice, Green Bay will have 21 days to activate him from the PUP list. "I'm already chomping at the bit," Watson said. The former second-rounder caught 98 passes for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns in 38 games in his first three seasons. Watson can stretch the field vertically and pick up chunk gains for fantasy managers. He could also have a bigger role if he returns before
Jayden Reed, who broke his collarbone in Week 2. Watson has been boom or bust in fantasy, but he's worth stashing in an IR spot with his 2025 debut on the horizon.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
September 16, 2025
The Athletic's Dan Duggan writes that New York Giants rookie running back
Cam Skattebo "might have already surpassed
Tyrone Tracy Jr." as the team's top RB. Skattebo played seven more snaps and took six more carries than Tracy in the Week 2 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie from Arizona State broke a 24-yard run in the fourth quarter and then had a one-yard touchdown plunge, his first career TD. Skattebo finished with 11 carries for 45 yards and the TD, while also catching two passes for 14 yards. Meanwhile, Tracy had only five carries for 15 yards and added four catches for 36 yards. The Giants putting Tracy back in a kickoff-return role also "suggests a reduced offensive role." Tracy returned three kickoffs as a rookie in 2024, but that role ceased when he became the starting RB in Week 5. Skattebo will be a popular waiver-wire target going into Week 3, while it's looking like Tracy might be the 1B option in a backfield committee.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
September 16, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings signed running back
Cam Akers to their practice squad on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) was also placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, so the Vikings are bringing back a familiar face to serve as RB depth behind
Jordan Mason and
Zavier Scott heading into a Week 3 tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals. This will be Akers' third different stint with the organization, and he could surpass Scott on the RB depth chart sooner than later. The 26-year-old spent training camp with the New Orleans Saints but was unable to make their 53-man roster. He had a healthy 4.3 yards per carry on 104 rushing attempts for 444 yards and two touchdowns while adding 14 catches for 68 yards and three TDs as a pass-catcher last year with the Houston Texans and Vikings. Akers is worth a look for RB depth in deep leagues if you just lost Jones.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
September 16, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings are placing running back
Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jones suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night and will now be knocked out for at least the next four games.
Jordan Mason now becomes Minnesota's unquestioned RB1 and a must-start in fantasy every week. For more RB depth, the Vikings signed
Cam Akers to their practice squad. The Vikings have a bye in Week 6, so the earliest Jones would be able to return would be in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The 30-year-old veteran needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues while he heals up, but he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry the first two weeks and looked like the second-best RB in Minnesota's backfield before his injury.
Zavier Scott will be elevated to No. 2 duties behind Mason for the foreseeable future.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
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