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Gio Lopez Probable for Friday Night
Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez is listed as probable on the injury report ahead of Friday's ACC opener against Miami. It is unclear what Lopez's injury is, but Miami head coach Mario Cristobal stated "People who are saying he was banged up, he's not" on Monday in a press conference, regarding Lopez's status. Despite the opposing coach dismissing his status, Lopez is on the report, albeit listed as probable. The junior quarterback is coming off of a physical game against Purdue in which he carried the ball 13 times for 59 yards and two scores in a double-overtime victory. Wake Forest will look to upset Miami at home on Friday night, entering the game as 20.5-point underdogs.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Aaron Donald Could Make his 2026 Debut on Monday Night
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that there is "a very realistic chance" that All-Pro interior pass-rusher Aaron Donald will make his return for the Rams in Week 2 at home against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Rapoport reports that, based on people he has spoken to, Donald is targeting Monday night for his return for the first time since 2023 after hanging up his cleats. Head coach Sean McVay was a little more non-committal on Donald potentially returning in Week 2, saying, "We haven't decided that yet." The former 13th overall pick by the Rams in 2014 from Pittsburgh was a Pro Bowler in all 10 of his previous seasons, which included eight first-team All-Pro selections, but he is 35 now and coming off a long layoff without football. It will still be a shot in the arm for a Rams defense that was spanked by the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 in Australia, especially after they placed star edge rusher Myles Garrett (knee) on Injured Reserve. Fantasy managers in IDP formats should keep expectations tempered for Donald, who is expected to return to more of a rotational pass-rushing role at defensive tackle, especially during his debut.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Chargers Place Keandre Lambert-Smith on Injured Reserve
The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Tuesday that they placed wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) on Injured Reserve and signed receiver Gary Jennings in a corresponding move. Lambert-Smith injured his hamstring in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and will now be forced to miss at least the next four games. The earliest he will be eligible to return to the Chargers' active 53-man roster will be for the Week 6 divisional clash against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 18. With top wideout Ladd McConkey (rib) also banged up coming out of the season opener, the Bolts could be down to Quentin Johnston and Tre' Smith as their top receivers this weekend for a Week 2 tilt against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Lambert-Smith did not play a single snap on offense on Sunday before getting injured.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Luke Reynolds Entering Must-Start Territory
Virginia Tech junior tight end Luke Reynolds has emerged as Ethan Grunkemeyer's top target, as he caught eight passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns in last week's win over Old Dominion. The Penn State transfer trails just Jelani Thurman and Trey'Dez Green in the FBS in terms of tight end receiving yards, and has entered must-start territory as one of few reliable options at such a thin position. The Hokies have their toughest test of the season this Saturday night as they travel to Maryland but nonetheless, Reynolds should be in starting lineups.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
John Mateer Can Be Started Against New Mexico
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer struggled mightily in the 17-10 loss to Michigan. Mateer completed 17-of-33 passes for 189 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while rushing 13 times for 45 yards. The senior is in a "great head space" after the showing according to head coach Brent Venables, and has a great opportunity to bounce back against New Mexico this week. The Lobos have only surrendered 14 points on the year, but have also only played Central Michigan and Mercyhurst. Mateer's rushing ability gives him a safe floor in this game, but the Sooners do have tough matchups against Georgia and Texas looming.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
David Njoku Deserves Waiver Consideration After Five-Catch Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku came to the Chargers in the offseason to little fanfare and was considered the TE3 going into the Bolts' Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Njoku surprisingly led the Chargers' tight ends in the 26-14 loss by catching all five of his targets for 58 yards in his first game with the team. His 58 receiving yards were second on the team, behind only receiver Ladd McConkey's (rib) 82 yards. The 30-year-old played the same number of offensive snaps (30) as Charlie Kolar, who was talked up all summer during training camp as a potential TE sleeper in his first season in L.A. Njoku fell out of favor with the Cleveland Browns last year due to the immediate emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr., catching 33 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns. The former Pro Bowler will have competition for targets all year from Kolar and Oronde Gadsden, but Njoku has by far the most pass-catching experience in his 10-year NFL career, racking up over 4,000 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. With McConkey up in the air to play in Week 2 versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, Njoku should definitely be on the waiver-wire radar for fantasy managers in need of depth at the TE position.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jeremiah Smith Remains a No-Brainer Start
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has continued his dominance through the first two games of the season. Despite Ohio State's offense going cold in the second half against Texas, Smith still mustered up eight catches for 164 yards and a score. The junior receiver is the Buckeyes' entire offense and despite an easy matchup with Kent State this week, they won't stray away from their star receiver. Smith has a very high ceiling against a Golden Flashes team that surrendered 57 points to South Carolina in Week 1.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Faizon Brandon Has Upside in Weak Matchup
Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has played well so far through the first two starts of his career. He was nearly perfect in Week 1 against Furman, but only completed 10-of-21 pass attempts in Week 2 against Georgia Tech. With Tennessee set to face Kennesaw State in Week 3, the competition becomes softer again and Brandon should have an easier time throwing the ball around. He also was much more productive on the ground against Furman, rushing 10 times for 68 yards and two scores. Given how Josh Heupel historically loves to run the score up on lesser opponents, Brandon is a great start this week in fantasy.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Bryce Underwood Set to Make Impact on the Ground?
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood was a big part of the upset win over Oklahoma last weekend. He only completed 9-of-17 passes for 111 yards, but he also scrambled 18 times for 87 yards and a score. Head coach Kyle Whittingham stated that he wishes he'd run Underwood earlier, indicating that the sophomore quarterback may be due for a consistent dosage of running. The Wolverines play their final non-conference game against UTEP this week, and it should be a good opportunity for Whittingham to test out some more ground-and-pound football with his athletic quarterback. Underwood can be started in fantasy this week due to the soft matchup and high upside he possesses on the ground.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Drew Mestemaker Set for Another Big Game
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker had an incredible bounce-back in the shocking 39-31 upset win over Oregon after falling flat on his face in Week 1 against Tulsa. Mestemaker finished the game 26-for-43 for 317 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also ran for 109 yards and a touchdown. This week, the sophomore draws a 1-2 Murray State team. While he may be pulled by halftime if all goes according to plan, he should have an opportunity to put up some monster numbers. Mestemaker can be trusted in fantasy lineups once again.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Oregon Guard Trent Ferguson Out for Season
Oregon starting guard Trent Ferguson (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Ferguson made his first career start last weekend in the 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State, but suffered a knee injury in the game. The junior got into the Boise State game in Week 1, and showed enough to earn the start in Week 2, but will spend the rest of the season recovering from the injury. The Ducks could not afford a hit to the line, as Dante Moore was sacked four times in the loss.
Source: 247Sports
Source: 247Sports
John Bates on TE Streaming Radar Due to Teammate's Injury
Washington Commanders tight end John Bates only caught two of his three targets for 13 yards in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday while playing just under half of the offensive snaps. The 28-year-old is not currently rostered in any Yahoo leagues, but the former fourth-rounder from Boise State could find himself on the streaming radar in two-TE leagues going into a Week 1 matchup on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, who allowed two touchdowns to Giants TE Isaiah Likely in Week 1, if fellow TE Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) cannot play after suffering a hamstring injury in the season opener. Bates has never had more than 249 receiving yards or one touchdown in any of his previous five seasons with the Commanders, so he is merely a speculative deep-league pickup in two-TE leagues in case Okonkwo's injury is serious enough to keep him from suiting up this weekend in Dallas. For what it is worth, Bates had more than two targets in Week 1 for the first time since Week 9 of last year, although that likely had something to do with Okonkwo getting hurt.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jared Curtis to Make First Career Start
Vanderbilt freshman quarterback Jared Curtis is set to take over at Vanderbilt this week against North Carolina State. Curtis has played in each of the Commodores' games thus far and took the reins from Blaze Berlowitz in last week's 35-26 win over Delaware. He finished the game 14-of-22 for 210 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for two scores, leading Vanderbilt to a comeback win over the Blue Hens. Curtis draws a tougher opponent this week in the Wolfpack, but the five-star recruit is ready for the opportunity.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kyle Williams has Opportunity for Bigger Role Going Forward
New England Patriots second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams only caught 10 passes after being taken in the third round last year out of Washington State, but he did average 20.9 yards per catch and found the end zone three times in 17 regular-season games. Williams had a forgettable 2026 season debut in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Wednesday, playing only 17% of the offensive snaps while not being targeted at all by quarterback Drake Maye. The 23-year-old is currently not rostered in any Yahoo leagues, but that could change quickly after Week 2 against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers with top pass-catcher A.J. Brown (ankle) potentially out for up to six weeks due to a high-ankle sprain that he suffered last Wednesday night. Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas should see more targets from Maye going forward, but Williams will also have a bigger role as a field-stretcher, giving him some deep-league waiver-wire value going into the second game of the season as a boom/bust depth option at WR.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jameson Taillon Says his "Season is Over"
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jameson Taillon (elbow), who is still seeking clarity on his elbow injury, is visiting with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas next Tuesday, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Taillon said "my season is over," but is "hopeful it's not anything super major, maybe an injection or two and a good offseason rehabbing, and I'll be in a good spot to build up." The 34-year-old veteran will wrap up his 10th year in the big leagues in 2026 with a 2-6 record, 5.65 ERA (6.60 FIP), 1.36 WHIP, and 76:32 K:BB in 86 innings over 18 starts with the Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs. Fifteen of his starts this year came for the Cubs. Taillon was in the final year of a four-year, $68 million contract that he signed with Chicago prior to the 2023 season, so the veteran right-handed hurler will enter unrestricted free agency in the offseason. Given his age and the fact that his campaign ended early with an elbow injury, we do not think that other MLB teams will be in a rush to sign him with a potential lockout on the horizon.
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
Source: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
