RADIO
Quinshon Judkins Inefficient as Lead Back in Week 1
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins rushed for 33 yards on 12 carries during Sunday's Week 1 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also caught two passes for an additional 17 receiving yards. This was Judkins' first regular-season action since Week 16 of his rookie season last year. The 22-year-old is quite talented, but he's likely being held back by the suboptimal state of the Browns' offense, led by quarterback Deshaun Watson. As long as this offense continues to struggle to sustain drives and stay on the field, Judkins will remain a mid-to-low RB2 option in fantasy football. His path to production gets only slightly easier next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just surrendered 78 scrimmage yards and a touchdown to Chase Brown.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dylan Sampson Using Crutches After Week 1 Loss
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) was seen using crutches and wearing a brace on his knee following Sunday's Week 1 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Sampson handled two kick returns, but he didn't log an offensive touch before exiting early in the first quarter. The team ruled him out pretty quickly, and the fact that he was using crutches and a brace after the game indicates that he might have suffered a serious injury. It's tough news for the Browns, who were counting on Sampson to be a pass-catching specialist in the No. 2 running back role behind Quinshon Judkins. Assuming Sampson misses time, Raheim Sanders will step into the backup role. Sanders had one rushing attempt and three catches against the Jaguars on Sunday.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Travis Etienne Jr. Has a Touchdown Vultured by Teammate in Overtime Loss
New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for 46 yards on nine carries during Sunday's Week 1 overtime loss against the Detroit Lions. He also caught seven of his nine targets for an additional 32 receiving yards. The receiving volume helped Etienne salvage his fantasy performance in half-PPR and full-PPR leagues, but otherwise, it was a frustrating game for fantasy managers. Notably, Etienne split touches with Kendre Miller, as both had nine carries. Very few people would have predicted that the Saints would go with an even split between Etienne, who was just paid $48 million, and Miller. Furthermore, Miller vultured a goal-line touchdown from Etienne. We'll want to get a few more games in the sample before we can confidently say that Etienne will consistently share touches going forward, but it appears to be headed in that direction. For now, he'll drop to the low-end RB2 tier in half-PPR and full-PPR leagues for Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Pitts Sr. Held Without a Catch in Disappointing Week 1
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. was unable to haul in his lone target during Sunday's Week 1 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was an incredibly frustrating outing for Pitts, who was looking to build on last year's career-best TE2 finish in PPR leagues. Some of his struggles can be attributed to poor quarterback play, as the Falcons opened the season with third-string quarterback Cooper Rush under center. Rush finished the season opener with just 12 completions, two interceptions, and four sacks, making life difficult for the Falcons' receivers. There's a good chance that Atlanta will have either Michael Penix Jr. (knee) or Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) back next week, which bodes well for Pitts' fantasy outlook going forward. For the time being, managers can chalk this one up to quarterback struggles, with the expectation that he'll return to his mid-to-low TE1 form soon.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tee Higgins Leads Receiver Room In Week 1 Win
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught three passes for 59 yards in the 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. Higgins was able to lead the wide receiver room in receptions and yards with a down game from fellow WR Ja'Marr Chase, who only caught two passes for 12 yards. Higgins and the rest of the Bengals offense were the beneficiaries of an outstanding performance by the Cincinnati defense. With the Bengals defense forcing four turnovers and coming away with a score, the offense found themselves in advantageous situations often. Higgins and the rest of the offense will likely be more relied upon in next week's matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans are known to be one of the strongest units in the league, so fantasy points may be at a premium for the Bengals playmakers. Still, Higgins should be viewed as a strong WR2 because the ceiling for the Cincinnati offense is among the highest in the league.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Drake London an Enormous Letdown in Season-Opening Loss
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London caught just two of his four targets for 29 yards during Sunday's Week 1 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. London is an incredibly talented receiver, but his fantasy stock took a hit entering this season with uncertainty at the quarterback position. The situation got even worse this week as Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was ruled out, leaving Cooper Rush as the starter. Rush completed just 12 passes, threw two interceptions, and took four sacks in the Falcons' 20-13 loss to the Steelers. There weren't many opportunities to make high-value throws, and that subsequently hurt London's fantasy value. If Tagovailoa plays next week, London might return to the WR2 tier, but we won't feel comfortable with him as a WR2 until Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is cleared to play in the next couple of weeks.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyler Murray Won't Return to Week 1 Contest
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (head) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Green Bay Packers. Murray initially exited in the first quarter, entered concussion protocol, and was listed as questionable. The fact that he was downgraded to out doesn't necessarily mean that he has been diagnosed with a concussion, but at the very least, he remains in protocol and won't be able to return. The veteran quarterback, playing in his first game as a Viking, was on the receiving end of an ugly hit from Packers safety Javon Bullard. The hit caused the quarterback's helmet to come off, drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, and required Murray to receive medical attention on the field. He finishes his Vikings debut 3-for-5 passing with 18 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. Carson Wentz will operate as the Vikings' quarterback for the remainder of Week 1. If Wentz suffers an injury, the emergency third quarterback would be J.J. McCarthy.
Source: Kevin Seifert
Source: Kevin Seifert
Parker Washington Leads Jaguars in Receiving in Week 1 Blowout
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington was the leading receiver for the Jaguars in a 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. He finished with five catches on six targets for 83 yards and a touchdown. Washington broke out down the stretch last season, so it is exciting for his believers to see him perform so well in Week 1. While Trevor Lawrence spread the ball around pretty evenly, Washington was the clear top target, with two receptions and 43 yards more than Brian Thomas Jr., the second-leading receiver. He also had three more targets than anyone else on the team. Washington's top receiver status will be put to the test in a much harder matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 2.
Source: Parker Washington RotoBaller
Source: Parker Washington RotoBaller
Bhayshul Tuten the Clear Top Back Against Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten played well in his first game as the full-time starter, finishing with 15 carries for 66 yards and a 22-yard catch. The passing game and defense were the primary reasons for the Jaguars dominating the Browns, but Tuten was involved just enough to muster a respectable fantasy outing. What is most reassuring is the fact that he finished with nine more carries than Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was considered a potential roadblock to Tuten getting high volume. The rookie combine standout will look to build on this performance in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos.
Source: Bhayshul Tuten RotoBaller
Source: Bhayshul Tuten RotoBaller
Breece Hall Carries the Load in Week 1 Win
New York Jets running back Breece Hall tallied 22 carries, 102 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown during Sunday's Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans. He also caught two passes for an additional 16 receiving yards. Fantasy managers have to be quite pleased with this season-opening performance from Hall. After finishing with modest numbers as the RB19 last year, the Jets' lead back kicked off the 2026 season by showing that he's capable of logging 20+ touches per game with great efficiency numbers. He also found the end zone, which is something he only accomplished five times in 16 games last year. The Titans were admittedly a softer matchup for Hall, and he'll get a tougher test in the form of the Green Bay Packers next week. Nevertheless, Hall is trending up as the Jets' clear workhorse back. He will climb to the low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 tier in fantasy football rankings next week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chase Brown Heavily Involved In Week 1
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown rushed 16 times for 56 yards and a touchdown in the 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown also hauled in five catches for 22 yards on six targets. Brown was tied with tight end Mike Gesicki for the most receptions on the team. Brown was able to pick up the slack for star receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who had an uncharacteristic quiet game. The star back was inefficient on the ground (3.5 YPC), but was able to get home for fantasy based on the volume of opportunities. Brown should be counted on again in next week's contest against the Houston Texans. The Houston defense was one of the most feared units in 2025, but Brown has an elite workload on an elite offense so fantasy managers should have no issues plugging him right back into lineups. Brown should be considered a strong RB1 heading into Week 2 despite the tough matchup that lies ahead.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Trevor Lawrence Stellar in Rout of Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had an easy time against the Cleveland Browns in a 34-10 win. The Jaguars destroyed the Browns on both sides of the ball, leading to four touchdown passes on just 23 attempts for the former top pick. Lawrence finished the game with 18 completions on 23 attempts, 245 yards passing, and four touchdowns to four different receivers. He spread the ball around overall, but the clear top target in this game was Parker Washington, who seemingly picked up right where he left off last season. Lawrence completed passes to nine pass catchers in total, a great sign for the offense going forward. Lawrence and the Jaguars could suffer whiplash in what will be a much harder matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 2.
Source: Trevor Lawrence RotoBaller
Source: Trevor Lawrence RotoBaller
Kyler Murray Being Evaluated for a Concussion on Sunday
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (head) was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion during the first quarter of Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Green Bay Packers. He is officially listed as questionable to return. Murray was on the receiving end of an ugly hit from Packers safety Javon Bullard that caused the quarterback's helmet to come off. The hit drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, and Murray required medical attention on the field. At the time of his departure, he had completed three of his five pass attempts for 18 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed for nine yards. Given the severity of the hit, we wouldn't be surprised if Murray doesn't return. For now, though, he's questionable as the team continues to conduct tests. In the meantime, Carson Wentz has entered the game at quarterback.
Source: Minnesota Vikings
Source: Minnesota Vikings
Mike Gesicki Leads Bengals In Week 1 Win
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in the 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gesicki stepped up to the plate in a big way in the season opener, finishing with the most receptions, targets, and receiving yards on the team. Despite being entrenched in a deep tight end room in Cincinnati, Gesicki was able to make his mark. Star receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for fewer receiving yards than Gesicki in an outstanding Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers may want to consider adding Gesicki heading into his Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans are a tough matchup, but most of the defensive focus should be on the wide receivers and star running back Chase Brown. Gesicki could establish himself as a sneaky TE option moving forward, but fantasy managers may need to see some consistency out of him before plugging him into lineups.
Source: NFL - Twitter
Source: NFL - Twitter
Colston Loveland a Bust in Week 1 vs. Panthers
The Chicago Bears rallied for a 59-37 win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, but tight end Colston Loveland had no impact on his team's efforts to start the season with a W. The 2025 first-round draft pick was expected to have a strong outing in Sunday's season debut and shoulder a heavy workload as Chicago's TE1. However, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams targeted him just twice against Carolina, and Loveland failed to make either catch. Meanwhile, veteran tight end Cole Kmet, who is listed behind Loveland on the depth chart, caught two of three targets for 35 yards and scored a touchdown. Receivers Rome Odunze, Kalif Raymond, and Luther Burden III all factored into Sunday's victory. Loveland had 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 and was a projected TE2 heading into the new season, but his slow start in 2026 proved to be a Week 1 fantasy bust.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
