September 16, 2025
New England Patriots running back
Rhamondre Stevenson continues to operate as the lead back in New England. Stevenson delivered a strong Week 2 performance against the Miami Dolphins, rushing 11 times for 54 yards while adding five receptions for 88 yards. With rookie
TreVeyon Henderson struggling in pass protection, Stevenson has reclaimed a significant role, logging 66% of the snaps and running a route on 43% of dropbacks through two weeks. The Patriots now face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, a defense that has already allowed 100-yard rushing games to both
Breece Hall and
Kenneth Walker, despite neither reaching 20 carries. Stevenson projects as a mid-range RB3 and a solid FLEX play against a vulnerable Steelers run defense.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 16, 2025
Houston Texans rookie running back
Woody Marks carved out a role in Monday night's 20-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The rookie logged three carries for 14 yards and added a splash play through the air with a 37-yard reception. Notably,
Dameon Pierce was a healthy scratch despite being listed as the RB2 on the depth chart. Marks played the second-most snaps (27%) among Houston backs, trailing
Nick Chubb (53%) but ahead of
Dare Ogunbowale (20%). With
Joe Mixon (IR, no timetable) sidelined and Chubb carrying a lengthy injury history of his own, Marks has legitimate handcuff value and should be rostered in deeper formats. If his usage continues to trend upward, Marks could emerge as a meaningful fantasy contributor later in the season, if Mixon doesn't return.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 16, 2025
Washington Commanders tight end
Zach Ertz has been on a scoring tear, finding the end zone eight times in his last nine regular-season games while averaging over 11 half-PPR fantasy points per contest. The veteran has been a steady safety blanket for young quarterback
Jayden Daniels, running a route on over 80% of dropbacks in each of the first two weeks. However, Daniels is questionable for Week 3 with a knee injury, and his absence could cap Ertz's upside. Still, Ertz remains a strong waiver-wire target for tight-end-needy teams, with the caveat that his value is tied closely to Daniels being under center.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 16, 2025
Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Daniel Jones is off to a resurgent start in 2025. The former Giants quarterback has completed 45 of 63 passes for 588 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers through two games. He's also been a weapon on the ground, punching in three rushing scores, all by the patented "Dimes Dive" at the goal line. Jones currently sits as the QB2 overall in fantasy, while the Colts have jumped out to a 2-0 start after edging the Denver Broncos in a thriller. Surrounded by a strong supporting cast that includes
Michael Pittman Jr.,
Josh Downs,
Alec Pierce, and rookie tight end
Tyler Warren, Jones has legitimate QB1 upside moving forward, especially if Indianapolis continues to feature him on designed runs near the end zone.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 16, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
Jake Browning is expected to take over as the starter for the foreseeable future after
Joe Burrow (toe) was ruled out for at least the next three months with turf toe. Browning entered in the second quarter of Week 2 and led the Bengals to a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 21 of 32 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns. The 28-year-old started seven games in 2023, where he impressed by completing over 70% of his passes while averaging 266.9 yards per game with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. While turnovers remain a concern, Browning has shown enough efficiency to keep Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins near the top of the rankings at the WR position. He should be rostered in all Superflex formats and can be viewed as a mid-to-low QB2 over the next three months.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 16, 2025
The Cincinnati Bengals have signed quarterback
Sean Clifford to their practice squad. A 2023 fifth-round pick, Clifford spent his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers and has yet to attempt a pass in the NFL. With
Joe Burrow (toe) sidelined for at least the next three months, Clifford joins
Jake Browning and
Mike White in the quarterback room. Browning is expected to start in Burrow's absence, while White and Clifford serve strictly as depth options. From a fantasy perspective, Clifford carries no value and should remain on the waiver wire.
--Nathan HarveySource: Adam Schefter - ESPN
September 16, 2025
The Cincinnati Bengals have signed free-agent quarterback
Mike White to their practice squad. The former fifth-round pick has started seven games across his four-year career, completing 61% of his passes for 2,247 yards, nine touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. With
Joe Burrow (toe) sidelined for at least the next three months,
Jake Browning was the only healthy quarterback on the active roster. While some speculated Cincinnati might pursue names like
Jameis Winston or even
Kirk Cousins, the move signals confidence in Browning as the starter, with White brought in strictly as depth. From a fantasy perspective, White remains off the radar, but he profiles as the insurance option the Bengals want behind Browning.
--Nathan HarveySource: Tom Pelissero - NFL Network
September 16, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston led his team in receiving yards for the second straight week on Monday night against the Raiders and scored his third touchdown of the season. He hauled in three of his seven targets for 71 yards, highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown strike just after the two-minute warning in the first half. He tied with
Keenan Allen for the team lead in targets and trailed just Allen and
Ladd McConkey in receptions. Johnston has over 70 yards in each of the first two games of the season and has shown an ability to get into the end zone that makes him a very strong option in the Chargers' improved passing game. He's still available in almost half of fantasy leagues, and he's a nice waiver wire addition even though the Bolts have a tough matchup against the Broncos on a short week in Week 3.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
September 16, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. will be "back in the fold" for the team in Week 3, according to coach Dan Quinn. Rodriguez has been a healthy scratch for the first two games of the season since the Commanders relied on
Jacory Croskey-Merritt,
Austin Ekeler, and
Jeremy McNichols to handle the load in the backfield. With Ekeler (Achilles) lost for the season, there will be significant work available in the Washington backfield going forward. Croskey-Merritt will step in as the lead back, but Rodriguez and McNichols will mix in as well. Rodriguez had an impressive training camp and preseason and could carve out significant playing time in the new timeshare, even though Quinn made sure to emphasize that the team is comfortable with Croskey-Merritt in passing situations. At this point, Rodriguez is a waiver wire option in deep leagues and definitely someone to watch in all formats to see how the timeshare is divied up in Week 3 against the Raiders.
--Zach ThompsonSource: JP Finlay
September 16, 2025
New York Jets quarterback
Tyrod Taylor could be set up for his first start for his new team in Week 3 against the Buccaneers.
Justin Fields (concussion) remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, and coach Aaron Glenn said it would be "hard for me as a coach" to start Fields if he has no practice reps on Wednesday and Thursday. Based on Fields' progression, it sounds like we'll know before Sunday which quarterback will be under center for the Jets. After taking over for Fields and playing two drives on Sunday after the game was decided, Taylor completed seven of his 11 passes for 56 yards and a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Jeremy Ruckert. Taylor did miss the entire preseason due to arthroscopic knee surgery, but Glenn confirmed it will be Taylor's show if Fields isn't able to get back in time for Week 3.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Rich Cimini
September 16, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Rachaad White had the game-winning touchdown for the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, and he was more involved in the game plan throughout Week 2 for Tampa. White played 31% of snaps in Week 2 after playing 24% of snaps in Week 1, and he finished the game with 10 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown while adding two catches for one yard and a critical fumble recovery. White's backfield mate,
Bucky Irving was also impressive and effective, totaling 121 yards rushing and receiving and converting a big play to set up White's touchdown. The timeshare makes both running backs usable for standard-sized leagues, but limits the upside of each of them as well. White is still just a flex option since he'll remain touchdown-reliant as the Bucs take on the Jets in Week 3.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
September 16, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Emeka Egbuka built on his strong NFL debut with another good game in Week 2. He helped the Bucs overcome the Texans in Houston on Monday Night with four catches for 29 yards and his third touchdown of the season. Egbuka was second on the team in targets with seven passes thrown his way by
Baker Mayfield. He could have had an even bigger game if he had been able to bring in either of his two deep targets, so the potential for even more production is still there for the exciting rookie out of Ohio State. He and the Bucs take on the Jets in Week 3, and if he continues to be the team's second receiver, he'll once again bring a very high ceiling, especially with Sauce Gardner focused on locking down
Mike Evans. Egbuka now has eight catches on 13 targets for 96 yards and three touchdowns in his two NFL games.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
September 16, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders running back
Ashton Jeanty had his second straight underwhelming performance for the Raiders on Monday Night Football against the Chargers. He was limited to 43 yards on 11 carries and one receiving yard on three catches. He didn't get into the end zone like he did in Week 1, leaving his fantasy managers wanting more from their early-round pick. Jeanty said after the game that he's "Just getting used to the speed honestly." When asked about Jeanty's workload, Coach Pete Carroll said, "We're just getting started. He's breaking into the NFL... He'll get more." Jeanty still has huge potential going forward, but he hasn't been able to break free for many big plays despite a few nice highlight-reel moments that flash his elusiveness and long-term upside. If you invested in Jeanty, don't bail out yet, and he could even be an interesting buy-low candidate if you think he'll be able to adjust to the speed and be effective later in the season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Levi Edwards
September 16, 2025
Los Angeles Rams running back
Kyren Williams could be headed for more of a timeshare with second-year running back
Blake Corum, according to coach Sean McVay. McVay said that an ideal split would be about "a 65/35 ratio for those guys. I think you want Kyren playing about two-thirds of the time, and Blake playing the other third." Williams played 80% of the team's snaps in Week 1 and 70% in Week 2 while Corum's workload increased. Williams had 66 yards and no touchdowns on 17 carries and added two catches for 14 yards, while Corum had five carries for 44 yards and a touchdown. Williams still seems to be the clear option in passing situations, but Corum's role could cut into his role as the featured back if McVay sticks to this plan. This kind of timeshare split would be a big hit to Williams' value and make Corum a great grab off the waiver wire going into the team's big Week 3 matchup against the Eagles.
--Zach ThompsonSource: The Coachspeak Index
September 16, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kayshon Boutte converted his only target into a 16-yard touchdown reception during Sunday's Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins. There was a lot of hype surrounding Boutte after he was named a starter in the season opener and caught six passes for 103 yards while playing 82 percent of the offensive snaps. However, his usage and productivity took a step back this past weekend as he was not a starter and his snap share dropped to 72 percent. Plus, while Boutte did salvage his fantasy performance with a touchdown, it was concerning to see him drop so low in the pecking order with just one target. At this point,
Stefon Diggs has been the only Patriots receiver with similar stat lines between Week 1 and Week 2. Boutte has a low floor and moderately high ceiling, ranking as a high-end fantasy WR4 against the Steelers in Week 3.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
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