RADIO
Browns Anticipate Deshaun Watson Starting Again in Week 2
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken told reporters on Monday that he anticipates veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson will start on Sunday at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Monken said that "there were some really good things on film" despite the Browns being blown out 34-10 in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday at the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 31-year-old completed 16 of his 22 pass attempts (72.7%) for 205 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also added 38 rushing yards on six carries. Watson fumbled the ball but ended up recovering it, so he avoided any costly turnovers. His lone touchdown pass was a 46-yard deep strike to rookie receiver Denzel Boston, but it came with under two minutes left in the fourth quarter with the game already well over. Watson has plenty of arm strength and was accurate in his first NFL game since 2024, but he could have his hands full in Week 2 against a blitz-heavy Buccaneers defense, making him merely a low-end, low-upside QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Khalil Shakir a Waiver Target Still Capable of Providing a Usable Floor
In what turned into a surprising shootout, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught four of five targets for 50 yards in Sunday's 36-31 win over the Texans, and he appears to have held onto a usable complementary role in what should remain one of the league's highest-scoring offenses. Shakir has led the Bills in targets, receptions, and yards in each of the past two seasons, but he topped 100 receiving yards only three times in that span, something both DJ Moore and tight end Dalton Kincaid were able to accomplish in Week 1. While Shakir's target volume is certain to drop as the potential third receiving option, he could benefit from more room to work with the ball in his hands, and he still belongs on rosters outside of the shallowest leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brian Thomas Jr. Not Expected to Miss Time
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) briefly exited Sunday's blowout win over the Browns, but he was able to return to action, and head coach Liam Coen told reporters on Monday that he expects the third-year player to be active for a Week 2 matchup with the Broncos. Despite the shoulder injury, Thomas caught all three of his targets for 40 yards, and in a potential preview of things to come, quarterback Trevor Lawrence spread the ball around in a game he ended with four touchdowns and only five incompletions. Only Parker Washington earned more than three targets, establishing himself as the clear early-season Jaguars receiver to roster, but Thomas' big-play ability will keep him in the flex conversation as long as he remains healthy. UPDATE: Coen also said that Thomas will be limited in practice this week, per ESPN's Michael DiRocco.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Ladd McConkey to Undergo More Testing for Rib Injury
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (rib) was knocked out of the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday with a rib injury, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, and he will undergo more testing on Monday. The Chargers initially called it a chest injury on Sunday when McConkey was pulled from the game after taking a hard hit. The good news for fantasy managers is that the 24-year-old former second-rounder from Georgia caught five of seven targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's game before getting hurt. We should have a better idea of whether McConkey has a shot to play in Week 2 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders once his test results come back on Monday. Fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on McConkey's practice status from Wednesday through Friday to gain a clearer picture of his availability for Sunday's game. If McConkey cannot play this weekend, Quentin Johnson and Tre' Harris would have bigger roles in the passing attack for a Chargers offense that fell flat in their season opener after a lot of training camp hype.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Jakobi Meyers a Safe Waiver-Target After Week 1 Touchdown
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers caught both of his targets for 40 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Browns, and while the logjam of talent in the team's receiver room will continue to make opportunities more difficult to come by, the eighth-year veteran is still a must-roster player and a receiver to target on waiver wires wherever he's still available. Among Jaguars pass-catchers, only Parker Washington saw more than three targets and appears to have earned the number one role, but Meyers should still provide a usable floor in more competitive games and offers obvious injury insurance with multiple paths to an expanded role. Meyers is RotoBaller's WR47 for Week 2 in a tougher matchup against the Broncos.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Antonio Williams a Waiver-Wire Target After a Strong Debut
Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams caught all four of his targets for a team-leading 64 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's divisional loss to the Eagles, stepping in to keep things close on a day when the passing offense was not clicking. The 2026 third-round pick is the WR14 on the week with one more game to be played. While Williams is worth a look on waiver wires, managers should expect more involvement from Terry McLaurin moving forward after the veteran opened his eighth season with only two catches for 14 yards. Through one week, Williams appears to have a role in a Commanders offense that could see brighter days as the unit gels under first-year offensive coordinator David Blough. However, his ceiling will likely still be capped, with McLaurin and Stefon Diggs projected as the team's most consistent target earners.
Source: Antonio Williams
Source: Antonio Williams
Malik Hooker Consulting With Hand Specialist After Fracturing his Forearm
Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (forearm) fractured a bone in his forearm in the Week 1 Sunday night loss to the division-rival New York Giants and is consulting with a hand specialist on Monday to learn his recovery time, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Some breaks can mean a player is out six weeks, but the hope is that, based on the specific bone and break, Hooker can return sooner than that. Either way, Hooker is going to miss extended time for the Cowboys' secondary. The 30-year-old former first-rounder from Ohio State in 2017 also missed five games for Dallas last year due to a toe injury and finished his sixth year with the team with 52 tackles (28 solo) and one pass breakup in 12 starts. With Hooker recovering from his broken forearm for the foreseeable future, the Cowboys will ask P.J. Locke to step up at the safety spot.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Rams Have Not Decided if Aaron Donald Will Play in Week 2
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that the team has not decided yet whether defensive tackle Aaron Donald will make his 2026 debut on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants in Week 2, according to Stu Jackson of the team's official website. "He's going to continue to work his process, and we'll see what that looks like," McVay said. The Rams would love to have Donald back in the fold after he unretired to rejoin the organization in 2026, but they are not going to rush him back after placing star pass-rusher Myles Garrett (knee) on Injured Reserve last Friday. The 35-year-old Donald continues to work his way back into football shape after not having played in the NFL since 2023. The 10-time Pro Bowler will be a welcome addition to the Rams' defensive line when he is ready, but that might not be until Week 3 or later. For fantasy purposes, Donald, who has 111 career sacks in his 10 seasons, will be more of a boom/bust defensive lineman because of the fact that he will be more of a rotational player in his return to the league.
Source: TheRams.com - Stu Jackson
Source: TheRams.com - Stu Jackson
Zay Flowers Looking at Missing Time?
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) got his 2026 season off to a good start in Sunday's 41-23 Week 1 season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts, catching five of six targets for 150 yards and a touchdown. However, Flowers also suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the rest of the game. A report surfaced on Sunday night that the 26-year-old is not dealing with a very serious hamstring injury, but ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday that "with a hamstring injury you miss a little bit of time." Even though it does not seem like Flowers' injury is overly serious, Schefter says that to think he will be out there in Week 2 against the Saints is "probably unrealistic." In addition to Flowers' injury, rookie receiver Ja'Kobi Lane fractured his wrist and will miss time going forward. So with Flowers questionable for Week 2 and Lane out, veteran Rashod Bateman, who had zero catches in Week 1, could become Baltimore's top wideout this weekend. Fantasy managers will want to check on Flowers' practice participation from Wednesday through Friday for a better idea of whether he can play on Sunday.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Chris Brooks on the Waiver Radar After Week 1 Usage
Even though Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks did not stand out in the team's 39-22 Week 1 season-opening loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, he is in the waiver-wire conversation going into Week 2 based on his usage in a Packers backfield that has started the 2026 season without Josh Jacobs (personal). Brooks saw seven carries for 29 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and failed to bring in his only target through the air. However, it was notable that Kaleb Johnson did not see a single touch, while Brooks had six fewer carries than MarShawn Lloyd, who ran for only 37 yards (2.8 YPC). Perhaps most notable on the day, though, was that Brooks played 56% of the offensive snaps, with Lloyd checking in at 44%. If Brooks continues to be efficient with plenty of opportunities as he did in the season opener, he could quickly become the Packers' preferred option in the backfield until Jacobs returns from the commissioner's exempt list. The 26-year-old is widely available on the waiver wire, as he is currently rostered in only 2% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Rams Don't Have a Timeline for Myles Garrett's Return
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that he does not have a timeline for how many games All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett (knee) will miss after he undergoes arthroscopic knee surgery, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. Garrett will miss at least the next four games after the Rams surprisingly placed him on Injured Reserve after last Thursday's season-opening loss to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Australia. The earliest Garrett could rejoin the Rams' defensive line would be on Oct. 18 against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro missed most of training camp this summer and did not look like himself in the Week 1 opener last Thursday, failing to record a single tackle. The Rams pulled Garrett late in the blowout loss. It is not the start Garrett wanted to have in L.A. after breaking the single-season NFL sack record with 23 sacks in 2025 with the Cleveland Browns. In IDP fantasy formats, Garrett should be stashed until he is healthy enough to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
TreVeyon Henderson to Return to Practice on Monday
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) will return to practice on Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel told Mike Reiss of ESPN. Henderson was unable to practice all of last week before being ruled out for the Week 1 season-opening loss last Wednesday to the Seattle Seahawks. The fact that the 23-year-old will return early this week suggests that he will have a legitimate chance to make his 2026 debut in Week 2 this Sunday when the team squares off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his absence, Rhamondre Stevenson handled 18 rushing attempts for 51 yards (2.8 yards per carry) while catching five of six targets for 44 yards through the air. Corey Kiner backed him up and had only six carries for 11 yards as the RB2. If Henderson is cleared for Week 2 later this week, he is expected to split backfield work with Stevenson, although the Pats could ease Henderson in after he missed the last few weeks of training camp with his ankle injury. At best, Henderson will be a shaky RB3/flex option for fantasy managers if he plays against Pittsburgh.
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Kyler Murray's Week 2 Status is Uncertain
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (concussion) was knocked out of the Week 1 season-opening win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday in the first quarter with a concussion and was eventually ruled out. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said that Murray was in good spirits after the game in the locker room, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It is good news, but we just do not know how quickly Murray will progress through the league's concussion protocol or if he will be cleared for the Week 2 game versus the division-rival Chicago Bears. It means that veteran backup Carson Wentz, who came into the game to throw three touchdowns and lead the Vikings to a win, could be the starter in Week 2 versus Chicago. It also means that former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy, who lost the starting competition this summer, could be elevated to the backup role this coming weekend. Murray was entering a potential bounce-back year in 2026 in his new home in Minnesota with better offensive weapons around him, but his Week 1 concussion does not mean that he cannot bounce back as the Vikings' starter once he is cleared from his concussion. UPDATE: O'Connell said that Murray is officially in the league's concussion protocol.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Wan'Dale Robinson Is a Priority PPR Add for Week 2
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson gave fantasy managers a familiar stat line in Sunday's 23-10 loss to the New York Jets, catching five of six targets for 38 yards. It wasn't a big day, but the six targets tied rookie Carnell Tate for the team lead while Cam Ward managed only 140 passing yards. Robinson's value has never depended on piling up deep shots. He caught 92 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns with the Giants last season, then signed with Tennessee and reunited with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. The Titans also list him as a starter, so there is no role question to solve here. What needs to improve is the offense around him. Tennessee produced only 195 total yards in the opener, and Robinson averaged 7.6 yards per catch. That can make him frustrating outside of full-PPR formats. Still, five catches in a poor offensive showing are enough to keep the floor interesting. If Robinson was left on the waiver wire, he should be a priority add in PPR leagues ahead of Week 2 against Philadelphia, with more value as a steady depth option than a high-ceiling play.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dontayvion Wicks Worth Adding After Explosive Eagles Debut
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks made two catches count in Sunday's 24-22 win over Washington, finishing with 73 yards and a touchdown on four targets. His first reception as an Eagle went 64 yards, and he later got loose from Mike Sainristil for a nine-yard score. That kind of stat line can be easy to dismiss on only four looks, but Wicks wasn't coming from nowhere. He started Week 1, remains listed with the first team on Philadelphia's depth chart, and the Eagles traded a 2026 fifth-round pick and 2027 sixth-rounder for him before extending him through 2027. Philadelphia also threw just 25 times in the opener. Four targets are the part to watch. That is not enough to call Wicks a weekly starter with DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and first-round rookie Makai Lemon all competing for the ball. There is a real role here, though, plus enough downfield ability to matter without huge volume. Wicks is worth adding in 12-team leagues before Week 2 at Tennessee, especially for managers looking for receiver upside rather than an immediate plug-and-play option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
