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Ohio State Defense Poised for Bounceback in Favorable Week 3 Matchup
Ohio State's defense will look to get back to its dominant ways in a favorable Week 3 test against Kent State. The Buckeyes' defense dominated Ball State in Week 1, but gave up 24 points and 336 yards, with most of that coming late, in a shocking loss to Texas in Week 2. Ohio State is still allowing just 250.5 yards and 13.5 points per game on the season, and in a favorable matchup, great results should be expected. Kent State has averaged 313.5 yards and 18 points per game so far, while being blown out by South Carolina and then topping Wofford. Ohio State's defense will be Kent State's toughest challenge of the season, and coming off a tough loss, fantasy owners should be salivating at this great matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jalen Coker in a Walking Boot, Not Expected to Miss Time This Week
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (ankle) rolled his left ankle in the first quarter of the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday but continued to play through it and had one of the best games of his career, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Coker is wearing a walking boot on Monday but does not expect to miss time this week as the team prepares to play the division-rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 on Sunday. The 24-year-old third-year receiver caught eight of his nine targets for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the 59-37 loss to the Bears on Sunday. Injuries are nothing new for Coker, who played in only 22 games in his first two years in the league due to injury. If Coker can manage to stay healthy for an entire season, though, he has true breakout potential, even as the team's WR2 across from former first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. If Coker can get through practice this week and suit up on Sunday against Atlanta, he should be locked into starting fantasy lineups for a potential encore after his two-touchdown season opener. Right now, Coker is rostered in 61% of Yahoo leagues, so despite his ankle injury, he is a priority waiver-wire addition going into Week 2 action.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Texas Defense Eyes Big Defensive Showing in Great Week 3 Matchup
After a thrilling win over Ohio State in Week 2, the Texas defense has a much more favorable test ahead in Week 3 against UTSA. Despite the challenge the Longhorns faced against the Buckeyes, the defense is still allowing just 15 points per game so far. The defense has allowed 721 total yards. UTSA has racked up 925 yards and 76 points across its first two games, but also played UT Rio Grande and Texas State. The Longhorns are going to be a much stiffer challenge, and fantasy owners should be confident starting the fantasy unit as a result. The matchups will get tougher for the Longhorns moving forward, but after a decent showing against Ohio State, fantasy owners can keep them on their rosters and in lineups for most of the rest of the season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kenyon Sadiq a Waiver Priority After Scoring First Career Touchdown
New York Jets rookie first-round tight end Kenyon Sadiq missed valuable time during training camp this summer following a setback after hernia surgery, but he was active in the Week 1 season-opening win on Sunday over the Tennessee Titans and had an impact on offense. Sadiq caught all three of his targets in his NFL debut for 21 yards and also scored a three-yard rushing touchdown on his only carry of the game. The Jets acknowledged that they would ease Sadiq into the fold early in his first NFL season, which was the case, as he played 42% of the offensive snaps, which was behind both Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert. However, Taylor had just two catches for minus-two yards, and Ruckert caught his only target for a four-yard gain against Tennessee. The 21-year-old from Oregon is a physical specimen with versatility and should only continue to be more involved in the Jets' downfield passing attack as the season goes, making him a priority waiver-wire pickup, even in single-TE leagues. Sadiq has much more short- and long-term fantasy upside than Taylor.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Michigan Defense Eyeing Big Showing in Great Week 3 Matchup
Michigan's defense has been strong early on, and that should continue in Week 3 as the unit faces off against UTEP. The Wolverines' defense held Western Michigan to 12 points in Week 1; in Week 2, Michigan allowed just 10 points to 11th-ranked Oklahoma. The Wolverines are allowing just 255 yards per game. UTEP is averaging 25.5 points and 344.5 yards per game so far this season, but most of the offensive production came against Texas Southern; the Miners were blanked 51-0 by Oklahoma a couple weeks ago, and they gained just 198 yards in that one. A similar showing from the Michigan defense could be on tap, so they are a good fantasy defense to start this week.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Tennessee Defense Primed for Success in Juicy Matchup
The Tennessee defense could post a big fantasy score in Week 3 thanks to a favorable matchup against Kennesaw State. The Volunteers held Furman to nine points in the opener, before allowing 24 points to Georgia Tech in Week 2. The defense has allowed just 576 total yards between those contests though. Kennesaw State is averaging 32 points and 427.5 yards per game, but has played West Georgia and Georgia State so far. Tennessee will be a much tougher challenge, so fantasy owners should expect big things out of the Volunteers' defense before things get really tough in the weeks to come. Start Tennessee's defense now before the matchups get much less appealing.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Tre' Harris on the Waiver Radar After Teammate's Injury in Week 1
The Los Angeles Chargers' offense was not impressive in the surprising 26-14 Week 1 season-opening loss to the visiting Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Second-year wide receiver Tre' Harris finished the game with three catches on his six targets for 20 yards. Wideout Ladd McConkey (rib) was the only Chargers receiver to find the end zone, finishing his day with five catches for a team-high 82 yards and a touchdown, but he left the game early with a rib injury and did not return. Although Harris' final line was not impressive at all, he did play 75% of the offensive snaps, which was second only to Quentin Johnston, and his six targets were only one off the team lead (seven for McConkey). If McConkey's rib injury causes him to miss time, Harris will undoubtedly have a bigger role in Mike McDaniel's passing attack, which will be looking to bounce back in Week 2 versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Harris is a speculative waiver-wire pickup this week in deeper leagues for managers who have McConkey rostered or who are already searching for better WR depth. He is rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Christian Moss Out for Multiple Months; Rashid Williams also Out
Washington wide receivers Christian Moss (lower body) and Rashid Williams (undisclosed) are each dealing with injuries and will be out of action. Moss is expected to miss 2-3 months with his injury, while Williams is week-to-week at this point. Moss has not played yet this season after transferring in from Kennesaw State. Williams has four catches for 96 yards and a score across the first two games this season. Wideout Chris Lawson leads the team with 116 receiving yards across seven catches, while receiver Dezmen Roebuck has 100 yards across 14 receptions. Those two will help lead the pass catchers until Moss or Williams are back in the mix, and other wideouts and tight ends could step into larger roles too. Washington has lost running backs Jayden Limar and Quaid Carr to injuries as well, so the Washington offense is really hurting right now.
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
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
Penn State Defense Looks to Stay Dominant in Favorable Week 3 Matchup
Penn State's defense hosts Buffalo in Week 3, so that unit has a strong outlook. The Nittany Lions have been strong defensively so far, allowing just nine points over two contests so far; that's the lowest amount of points allowed in the country so far. Penn State has surrendered just 430 total yards, with 220 of those on rushes and 210 through the passing game. The Nittany Lions will take on a Buffalo offense that's averaged 20.5 points and 321 yards per game so far. This might be the toughest test the Nittany Lions have faced so far, but the matchup is still stellar, so another big fantasy showing should be in the works. Fantasy owners can start the Penn State defense confidently this week.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
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
