September 18, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice ahead of Week 3's home matchup against the Raiders. This seems to be a new injury for McNichols, and the severity is unknown at the moment. McNichols is set to step into a larger role in Washington's backfield as their primary third-down and pass-down back with
Austin Ekeler out for the season. McNichols is a highly trusted veteran in pass protection, and he showed some ability to be versatile last season, gaining tough yardage as a runner and catching some passes as a receiver. His most important skill is pass protection, which will keep him on the field a lot. That makes him worth considering as an option to pick up off the waiver wire to see how the Washington backfield shakes out.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Commanders.com
September 18, 2025
Cleveland Browns quarterback
Dillon Gabriel saw his first game action in the NFL in their 41-17 Week 2 blowout at the Ravens. He completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. With the offense scuffling with
Joe Flacco as the starter, discussions about a quarterback replacement are starting to pop up in Cleveland, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Fowler says that Cleveland's situation "bears monitoring" in response to the question of which quarterback is most in danger of being benched. While Flacco is safe for now, he compared the situation to
Jacoby Brissett with the Patriots last season.
Drake Maye's first NFL start came at home against the Texans in Week 6 of last season, for reference. Gabriel has operated as the No. 2 quarterback all summer and has been praised for his mobility, quick release, and overall grasp of the offense. It will likely only be a matter of weeks before Gabriel slides in as the starter in Cleveland. He makes for an intriguing upside swing to stash in redraft superflex leagues and deeper formats.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
September 17, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Josh Reynolds (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Reynolds hasn't been on the practice field since last Thursday due to a shoulder issue. He sat out last week's game and is in danger of missing the Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His absence should result in a higher workload for
Allen Lazard. However, there's really no viable receiving options on this team outside of
Garrett Wilson. The Jets are going to be without
Justin Fields (concussion), so
Tyrod Taylor should be under center. Even if Reynolds plays, fantasy managers can find a better streaming option for Week 3.
--Andy WebbSource: Rich Cimini
September 17, 2025
Denver Broncos tight end
Evan Engram (back) was held out of Wednesday's practice session. Engram was dealing with a calf issue last week, but still managed to play in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. However, fantasy managers might not have noticed he played considering he only hauled in one catch for 12 yards during that contest. The veteran tight end has a total of four catches through the first two weeks. His decrease in usage should be more of a concern than this back injury. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday for another update on his status. If he sits,
Adam Trautman would see an increased role for the Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Engram should be rostered in most formats, but is tough to trust after two straight duds.
--Andy WebbSource: denverbroncos.com
September 17, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Mooney missed most of training camp and Week 1 due to a shoulder issue. He made his season debut last week, but was mostly quiet on the field. He hauled in two of his four targets for 20 yards in the victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The fact he was a limited participant on Wednesday could be the Falcons being cautious. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday to see if his status changes at all ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran wideout should be rostered in most 12-team formats despite a slow start.
--Andy WebbSource: atlantafalcons.com
September 17, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk (knee) was spotted doing some running on the side during Wednesday's practice. It sounds like Aiyuk is continuing to make progress, but is still going to be sidelined for a few weeks. He's currently on the physically unable to perform list through Week 4. There haven't been many updates on his status lately. The assumption is that Aiyuk should be ready to play around Week 5 or 6, but there should be a better timetable closer to that date. Aiyuk should be stashed in most 12-team formats as he'll likely be a focal point of the offense once he's ready to play.
--Andy WebbSource: Nick Wagoner
September 17, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) was limited during Wednesday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried as Tuten still has plenty of time to get ready before the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans. Without
Tank Bigsby in the picture, Tuten was able to make a big splash last week. He rushed eight times for 42 yards while adding two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sadly, Tuten is going to have his value limited as the backup to
Travis Etienne Jr. right now. Despite that, Tuten should continue to see his role rise if he plays well. He should be rostered in most 12-team formats at the moment even as the backup.
--Andy WebbSource: Jacksonville Jaguars
September 17, 2025
Minnesota Vikings running back
Jordan Mason is expected to be the main focus in the running game over the next few games. Recently, head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence that Mason has bellcow potential. They expect Mason to handle a significant rushing workload while Aaron Jones (hamstring) is sidelined. The Vikings believe Mason is a multi-faceted player that can do just about anything on the football field. So far this season, Mason has rushed 24 times for 98 yards over the first two games of the season. There's not much competition behind Mason in the backfield right now. He should see all the carries he can handle, which should at least offer RB2 value for their upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
--Andy WebbSource: Minnesota Vikings
September 17, 2025
Denver Broncos quarterback
Bo Nix said that second-year wide receiver
Troy Franklin is "starting to develop into the player everyone knows he can become." Franklin, who was teammates with Nix at Oregon, had a breakout game in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, catching eight of his nine targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old wideout currently leads the Broncos in targets (15), catches (12), and receiving yards (133) through the first two games in 2025. Franklin probably won't take over WR1 duties from
Courtland Sutton, but a second-year breakout could very well be in the cards for him, especially because of his strong chemistry with Nix. His primary competition for weekly targets will come from
Marvin Mims Jr., who is more of a big-play deep threat than one who will be consistently peppered with targets. If you need WR help early on, Franklin is definitely worth a waiver-wire pickup.
--Keith HernandezSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
September 17, 2025
Denver Broncos rookie second-round running back
RJ Harvey is "an important piece of what we're doing," according to head coach Sean Payton. That may be true, and Harvey could see his role grow as the season progresses, but right now, his fantasy value is capped with
J.K. Dobbins serving as the RB1 in Denver. Harvey was out-touched 15-6 by Harvey in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and finished with only five carries for eight yards (1.6 yards per tote) while adding one catch for a nice 16-yard gain. In the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, the UCF product had six carries for 70 yards and one reception for a loss of a yard. The 24-year-old is slippery with plenty of big-play potential, but right now, he's merely an RB3/flex for fantasy managers with a low floor and ceiling. Harvey and the Broncos also have a difficult upcoming divisional tilt against the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers on the road this Sunday.
--Keith HernandezSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
September 17, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray didn't exactly ease fantasy managers' concerns regarding second-year wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. when talking to the media on Wednesday. "There's only one ball. We've been playing this game for a long time. Some days he's gonna get 10, and some days he might get 3. You never know," Murray said when asked if he felt Harrison should have more targets through two weeks. Harrison and Murray supposedly improved their chemistry in the offseason, but through two games, we have yet to see it. The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick is tied for 49th among WRs with 11 targets through two games and has caught seven of them for 98 yards and a touchdown. It might take Harrison a bit more time to reach his true potential, but fantasy managers will be hoping he'll rebound in a divisional matchup this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
September 17, 2025
Green Bay Packers running back
Josh Jacobs (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury and was listed as a limited participant on the first injury report of Week 3 on Wednesday. It's probably just a bit of rest for the veteran RB early in the week, but it's something worth watching the next few days for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old has been Green Bay's workhorse back through two weeks, as expected, handling 42 carries for 150 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns on the ground, adding one catch for four yards. The Packers will have more than a week of rest going into a Week 3 tilt against the Cleveland Browns, so we'd expect Jacobs to return to practice later this week and play on Sunday. Jacobs should be considered a must-start RB in fantasy if he's active. If he's out or limited, both
Chris Brooks and
Emanuel Wilson would likely share backfield touches.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
September 17, 2025
The Washington Commanders are expected to "err on the side of caution" with quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) as he battles a knee sprain that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Daniels will not practice this week until at least Friday, and if there is any doubt at all by then, the team is expected to keep him out in Week 3 on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. In a best-case scenario, it seems like Daniels will be questionable this weekend. The Commanders had backup
Marcus Mariota meet with the media on Wednesday, an early sign that they are leaning toward starting him under center against the Raiders. Fantasy managers should not plan on having Daniels available in Week 3. If he's out, Washington could lean on the ground game more with rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and
Chris Rodriguez Jr., who will be making his 2025 debut after
Austin Ekeler's season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
September 17, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) injured his knee in the season-opening win over the New England Patriots and was questionable to face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 2. Bowers ended up playing, handling 77 percent of the offensive snaps while catching five of his eight targets for a disappointing 38 yards in a 20-9 loss. As long as the 22-year-old former first-rounder doesn't have a setback with his knee at practice later this week, he should be ready to roll for a nice Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Washington has allowed the fourth-most half-PPR points to opposing tight ends through two weeks, so Bowers could be primed for a big day this Sunday. He is already one of the top TEs in the NFL after posting a 112-1,194-5 line on 153 targets in 17 games in his rookie year in 2024.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
September 17, 2025
Miami Dolphins kicker
Riley Patterson will continue to fill in for
Jason Sanders (hip) for a third straight week when his team visits the Bills on Thursday Night Football. Patterson is on the Dolphins' practice squad but has been promoted for each of Miami's two games this season. He has converted both of his field-goal attempts and all three of his extra-point tries so far this season. However, he's only the K28 in RotoBaller's Week 3 rankings, since the Dolphins' offense has been so off this year and is in a tough spot to get back on track against the defending division champs in Buffalo. If Patterson continues to produce, he could earn a full-time role with Miami or another team later this season, but for now, he's not an elite option for standard leagues.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
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