September 15, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson (knee) said he anticipates returning to practice when his window opens up, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Watson will be on the Physically Unable to Perform list through Week 4 after tearing his right ACL in the Week 18 regular-season finale last year. With Green Bay's bye coming in Week 5, he may be ready to make his 2025 debut in Week 6, when the team hosts the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field. The 26-year-old probably won't be ready by Week 6, but reports this summer suggested he was making excellent progress in his recovery. Fellow wideout
Jayden Reed (collarbone) is currently out six to eight weeks, so Watson could have a substantial role in the passing attack sooner than later when he returns. Mostly a deep threat, fantasy managers should consider stashing him in an IR spot if he's available on the waiver wire.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
September 15, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie running back
Kyle Monangai logged seven carries for 28 yards and added one catch for eight yards in the team's 52-21 loss to the Detroit Lions. More importantly, Monangai appeared to leapfrog
Roschon Johnson in the backfield rotation, playing 41% of the snaps while Johnson saw zero offensive snaps. Most of Monangai's work came in garbage time with quarterback
Tyson Bagent, but head coach Ben Johnson singled him out as one of three players who impressed in the loss. There's even speculation that Monangai could start carving into D'Andre Swift's workload as the season progresses. For now, Monangai looks locked in as Chicago's RB2 and should be stashed in deeper formats. If his role continues to grow, he could emerge as a fantasy sleeper with contingent upside.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 15, 2025
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said in a radio appearance that he wants to get veteran running back
Nick Chubb more touches. With
Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) on the Non-Football Injury list to begin the season, Chubb handled 13 carries for a team-high 60 yards in the Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday. The 29-year-old four-time Pro Bowler may never be as dominant as he was in his days with the Cleveland Browns before he suffered a gruesome knee injury in 2023, but his role as the unquestioned RB1 for now in Houston makes him worth rostering in all fantasy leagues. Chubb had 10 more carries than the next RB in Week 1 and could have a similar dominant touch share on Monday night versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's rostered in 72% of Yahoo leagues, so if he's still available in your league, pick him up immediately.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
September 15, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie tight end
Colston Loveland was held without a catch in the team's 52-21 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions. It was another quiet outing for the rookie, as Detroit's defense (ranked No. 1 against tight ends in 2024) completely erased the tight ends from the Bears' passing game. The usage split continues to favor veteran
Cole Kmet, who logged nearly a 90% snap share compared to Loveland's 53%. With such a limited role, Loveland remains unstartable in all fantasy formats for the time being. That said, the Bears invested premium draft capital in Loveland, and his athletic upside hasn't gone away. As Chicago's offense settles in and game scripts become more competitive later in the season, his opportunities should grow. For now, he's a bench stash with long-term upside and should not be available in deeper formats.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
September 15, 2025
It's unclear if Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) will be able to play in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders after suffering a knee sprain in last Thursday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers, and as of Monday, head coach Dan Quinn is calling him day-to-day. "Here's what I know -- he did have an MRI and he's already begun his return to play process with us. He is truly day to day. What does that mean for Sunday? I can't tell you that now. I'll share more when we get to Wednesday. But in the return to play, he and all of the guys have to hit all of the markers," Quinn told reporters. We'll have a better idea of Daniels' Week 3 status once the team resumes practicing on Wednesday, but the bottom line is that fantasy managers need to have a backup plan in place. If Daniels isn't cleared by Sunday, backup
Marcus Mariota will be making his first start since 2022.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
September 15, 2025
The Los Angeles Rams placed cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (shoulder) on Injured Reserve on Monday after he suffered a broken clavicle in the Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. In two games to begin the year, the 30-year-old defensive back had three tackles and a pass breakup for the Rams while playing 62 defensive snaps. Witherspoon will be required to miss at least four games while on IR, but head coach Sean McVay said he is facing a 12-week absence. Moving forward, Josh Wallace should be forced into a much more significant role for the back end of the Rams' defense.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
September 15, 2025
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said the team wants to get more packages on offense for rookie wide receiver
Luther Burden III, according to Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune. "Going into this week, we're going to have a lot more competition," Johnson said when asked about Burden and rookie first-round tight end
Colston Loveland. Johnson wasn't pleased with the offense's performance, particularly some of the veterans, in the 52-21 blowout loss to the Lions in Week 2, which could lead to more opportunities for both Burden and Loveland in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. Burden had just one catch for five yards on two targets on Sunday, while Loveland didn't catch his only target. The 21-year-old Burden has been the clear WR4 through two weeks and has drawn just three targets in two games. Until further notice, he belongs on the waiver wire in most redraft leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago Tribune - Sean Hammond
September 15, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Hunter Renfrow found the endzone twice in the team's 27-22 loss on Sunday. With the Panthers going down by 24 points in the second half of Week 2, they were forced to abandon the run and turn to the passing game. Renfrow was a huge part of the comeback, tying for second on the team with nine targets, just one shy of leader
Tetairoa McMillan. Operating as a security blanket for quarterback
Bryce Young, Renfrow caught seven passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns. The seven catches and nine targets were encouraging, but even more so was the trust Young showed in Renfrow in the red zone. Although it's hard to say whether he will continue to be a staple in this offense, the lack of wide receiver depth behind McMillan is an encouraging sign. In Week 3, the Panthers will host the Atlanta Falcons, who just held the Minnesota Vikings to 120 passing yards on Sunday night. In PPR leagues, if you need wide receiver help and have a spot on your bench, it would be wise to add Renfrow. Do not use a waiver on Renfrow, but he would be an excellent free-agent pickup if he goes unclaimed.
--Jp SticcoSource: ESPN
September 15, 2025
If Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels (knee) cannot play in Week 3, backup
Marcus Mariota could be forced into action against his old team, the Las Vegas Raiders. After undergoing an MRI exam following last Thursday night's loss to the Green Bay Packers, Daniels was diagnosed with a sprained knee, which puts his availability for Week 3 this Sunday in question. Daniels' injury isn't considered a long-term one, but his status is in doubt for this weekend. The Commanders surely will play it safe with the 24-year-old Daniels. Mariota, 31, hasn't started in the NFL since he made 13 starts with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. Since then, he's appeared in six games with the Philadelphia Eagles and Commanders, throwing for 528 yards, five touchdowns, and a pick on 67 pass attempts. Mariota wasn't bad in spot duty in 2024 with Washington, although he'd be a low-upside, low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in Week 3 if he makes the start against the Raiders.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
September 15, 2025
Updating a previous report, Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is expected to miss two to four weeks with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Sunday night's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Not only has McCarthy looked pretty bad in seven of the eight quarters he's played in the first two games of his NFL career, but now he's dealing with a multi-week injury. The good news is that when he's ready to return, he'll have receiver
Jordan Addison back from suspension. Still, those expecting the 22-year-old former first-rounder to come in right away and play like
Sam Darnold in head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense have had a rude awakening. McCarthy deserves to be stashed in superflex and dynasty/keeper leagues, but in the meantime, veteran
Carson Wentz could be a sneaky QB2 in two-QB leagues, beginning in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
September 15, 2025
Seattle Seahawks running back
Zach Charbonnet dominated the Seahawks' running back snaps once again against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2, but he was wildly inefficient on the ground. Charbonnet carried the ball 15 times for just 10 yards. He also failed to earn a target for the second straight week. Meanwhile, Charbonnet's running mate,
Kenneth Walker III, turned 13 carries into 108 yards and a touchdown. Walker only played 35% of the snaps, but he collected just one fewer opportunity than Charbonnet. Charbonnet has now turned in two inefficient performances after an offseason of serious hype. He was bailed out by a touchdown in Week 1, but Walker notched the score in Week 2. Charbonnet's outlook moving forward is cloudy. He still played 55% of the snaps on Sunday, but the Seahawks cannot ignore how healthy and effective Walker looked this weekend. This split feels like it will inch towards 50/50 in an effort to keep Walker healthy. However, Charbonnet needs to improve his production to avoid risking a dip even lower than that.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
September 15, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Cooper Kupp caught seven of nine targets for 90 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. After a quiet Week 1, Kupp looked like the player we know and love, and quarterback
Sam Darnold repeatedly looked his way on third down. This feels like a performance that we can get used to as fantasy managers. Kupp did not display significant signs of slowing down in 2024. There is no reason to believe that he is completely toast as a player. As the Seahawks become more comfortable with their new offense, the wealth should spread to each of the team's top two wide receivers. Kupp and
Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kupp is firmly on the flex radar moving forward. He could creep even higher as the offense continues to improve.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
September 15, 2025
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold looks like a potential streamer candidate moving forward. Darnold endured a tough first half in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he rallied to throw for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Darnold finished the week with 17.8 fantasy points, which is enough to hold down the quarterback spot on your roster for a week. Most importantly, Darnold looked comfortable in his new offense. He was spreading the wealth around as well. Five Seahawks earned multiple targets in this game. Darnold's chemistry with wide receivers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and
Cooper Kupp was also apparent. He was efficient throwing to both players, and they combined for 193 receiving yards. If Darnold keeps up this level of play and cuts down on the interceptions, he is going to be a player worth rostering in fantasy. Darnold will face New Orleans, Arizona, and Tampa Bay over the next three weeks. He should be on the streaming radar in each of those games.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
September 15, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba looks like a bona fide stud. In Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith-Njigba hauled in eight of 10 targets for 103 yards. JSN is slicing through defenses. His early chemistry with quarterback
Sam Darnold is magical. What is more, the presence of fellow wide receiver
Cooper Kupp is not detracting from Smith-Njigba's dominance. Kupp himself feasted on Sunday as well. Once Smith-Njigba starts scoring touchdowns, he could feasibly find himself among the top five fantasy wide receivers in the league. His heavy target volume is not going to go away any time soon. He also looks like a different player this year. He looks strong, fast, and savvy. All three of those traits give him a chance to be truly dominant. Smith-Njigba is a true set-and-forget player this season. Plug him into your lineup and reap the benefits.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
September 15, 2025
Carolina Panthers tight end
Ja'Tavion Sanders tied for second on the team with a career-high six catches on nine targets in Week 2. Thanks to trailing by as many as 24 points in the third quarter,
Bryce Young was forced to throw the ball 55 times. Sanders made the most of his opportunities, catching six passes for 54 yards in the contest. The involvement in the passing game is an encouraging sign, but we'll have to pump the brakes until the Panthers show they can consistently get Sanders involved in the passing game in a closer contest. In Week 1, Sanders saw just three targets. The Panthers will host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3, who are coming off a stellar defensive performance on Sunday night when they held the Minnesota Vikings to just 120 passing yards. Sanders should be kept on the waiver wire, but it would be a good idea to continue to monitor his stat line moving forward.
--Jp SticcoSource: ESPN
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