Titans, Jeffery Simmons Agree on Revised Contract
The Tennessee Titans and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons agreed on a revised contract on Monday that includes a $632,529 raise for this year, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Simmons didn't receive a game check from the 17th game in 2023 under his previous contract, so the amount of the raise comes from that. The Titans' defense kept them in the game in the Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos and in the first half of Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams before falling apart in the second half. The 28-year-old Simmons has been a key piece of the defense early on, recording six tackles (four solo) with a sack and a forced fumble. Simmons and Tennessee's defense will have their work cut out for them in Week 3 against an Indianapolis Colts offense that quarterbackHarold Fannin Jr. Continues to Produce in Loss to Ravens
Harold Fannin Jr. was once again a big part of Cleveland's offense in his second career game in the 41-17 Week 2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Fannin tied for the team lead with five catches on five targets while going for 48 yards, which ranked second on the team, behind only receiver Jerry Jeudy. Through two weeks in 2025, the 21-year-old Bowling Green product ranks first on the team in receptions (12), third in targets (14), and second in receiving yards (111). While the Browns' offense is among the worst in the league, it doesn't appear that Fannin is going anywhere in terms of usage. However, his target share could change if Cleveland eventually benches quarterback Joe Flacco. Fannin should once again be a popular waiver-wire target this week if he's still available. He's currently rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Source: ESPN.com
Tucker Kraft Even More Reliable as a TE1 Going into Week 3
Tucker Kraft was a popular fantasy breakout candidate entering the 2025 season, and he's well on his way through the first two weeks of the season. Kraft has scored in back-to-back weeks to kick things off while catching eight of his 11 targets for 140 yards in wins against the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders. In Thursday night's 27-18 victory over Washington, the 24-year-old had six receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. It was his first career 100-yard game, and through two weeks, he's the TE1 in fantasy. Kraft led the Packers in catches, receiving yards, and targets in Week 2 and will only be more involved in Green Bay's passing attack after receiver Jayden Reed suffered a broken collarbone on Thursday night. Keep Kraft locked in your fantasy lineups as a strong TE1 going into Week 3 versus the Cleveland Browns.
Source: ESPN.com
Green Bay Packers tight end Source: ESPN.com
Brenton Strange Disappoints in Week 2 Loss
Brenton Strange was drawing waiver-wire consideration after catching all four of his targets for a team-high 59 yards in the Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers. However, he took a step back in Sunday's 31-27 Week 2 loss on the road to the Cincinnati Bengals, catching three of five targets for just 17 yards. On the bright side, the 24-year-old was Jacksonville's clear TE1, playing 90 percent of the offensive snaps. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence leaned more on receivers Dyami Brown and Parker Washington in this one, but don't overlook the fact that Strange has nine targets through the first two weeks of the 2025 season. Strange will probably continue to have up-and-down weeks, but he's been on the field enough to be considered a borderline TE1/2 in fantasy as the Jags head into a Week 3 divisional matchup against the Houston Texans.
Source: NFL.com
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Source: NFL.com
Tyquan Thornton Maximizes Minimal Opportunities
Tyquan Thornton scored his first touchdown since Week 17 of 2022 in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles. The Baylor alum connected with quarterback Patrick Mahomes on just 2-of-5 targets in Week 2, but he made them count -- syncing up on a 49-yard score where the wideout went streaking down the middle of the field. Despite the inefficiency when doing so, Kansas City is using the 25-year-old as their deep threat. He's the perfect specimen for that role with blazing 4.28 40-yard dash speed, and the Chiefs are utilizing three-wide receiver sets frequently. It seems that Xavier Worthy (shoulder) will return sooner than anticipated, so Thornton's elevated snap share might not be for long. Still, he matched Marquise Brown's total of 45 from over the weekend and ran in front of JuJu Smith-Schuster for the first time.
Source: ESPN
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Source: ESPN
Chase Edmonds Joining Commanders Practice Squad
Chase Edmonds, who last played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, is signing a deal to join the Washington Commanders' practice squad, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Edmonds will join a young Washington backfield in 2025 after they just lost Austin Ekeler to a torn Achilles tendon last Thursday night in the loss to the Green Bay Packers. For now, the Commanders will roll with rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as their lead back, with Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. serving in change-of-pace roles. Rodriguez had a strong training camp and preseason, but he was a healthy scratch in the first two weeks of the regular season. While we wouldn't recommend starting him in Week 3, he's definitely on the radar for a waiver-wire pickup this week, especially if you just lost Ekeler for the year.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Free-agent running back Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Cooper Beebe Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Calvin Austin III Remains Involved, Leads Receiving Corps in Snaps
Calvin Austin III was not as productive this past Sunday as he was in Week 1's win over the Jets. However, he was Pittsburgh's leading snap-getter amongst the team's wideouts. Austin III reeled in just 1-of-4 targets for 22 yards in their 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but participated on one more snap than running mate DKMetcalf. Metcalf still paced the team in targets as he did the week prior, but Pittsburgh is throwing it a ton, so there's enough to go around for at least one more pass-catcher. Austin III remains a boom-bust option out wide for now, although he's more intriguing in 2025 than in seasons past. If quarterback Aaron Rodgers can exhibit some consistency, he'll be more useful for fantasy than not.
Source: ESPN
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Source: ESPN
Kenneth Gainwell Again Out-Targets Backfield Mates
Kenneth Gainwell outsnapped teammate Jaylen Warren in Week 1 (30 to 25), the roles reversed in Week 2 with the latter leading the duo 36 to 26. Despite less time on the field, the 26-year-old picked up five targets -- again besting his backfield mate in that category. Warren still out-gained him in totality -- and handily, 134-36 -- but there's still a lot to like about his usage. For starters, the Steelers are throwing the ball at one of the league's highest rates (63.7%), and Gainwell still holds the edge over rookie Kaleb Johnson in the pecking order. Johnson should take over in due time, but while he's still adjusting to the pros, Gainwell carries value as the handcuff to own.
Source: ESPN
While Pittsburgh Steelers running back Source: ESPN
Romeo Doubs Continues Pacing Packers' WRs in Snaps
Romeo Doubs continues to lead the team's wideouts in participation and production. Quarterback Jordan Love's MO is spreading the ball around, but Doubs leads his fellow WRs in yards (96) and targets (nine). Moreover, he holds the edge in snaps, beating out his next closest teammate by over 20 (Matthew Golden). With Jayden Reed's (clavicle) collarbone fracture set to hold him out for a few months, Doubs' path to an elevated number of looks becomes clearer. Green Bay is calling a run an even 50% of the time, so the 25-year-old's target floor is lower than most teams' No. 1 wideouts. Nonetheless, Love still has a gunslinger mentality and is one of the league's more renowned signal-callers.
Source: ESPN
Despite a lack of gaudy numbers in the box score, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Source: ESPN
Justin Jefferson Says Vikings Being Patient With J.J. McCarthy
Justin Jefferson said the team is being patient with their new starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy. The superstar receiver still managed 81 yards on three catches, but the Vikings' offense has been mostly awful through two games. The second-year quarterback played in just his second NFL game on Sunday, which Jefferson noted after the loss, saying, "We're not expecting him to be perfect." McCarthy has struggled, though so have the rest of the Vikings, who allowed a whopping 16 pressures on Sunday and ran for only 78 yards. They'll look for a better showing in Week 3 against Cincinnati.
Source: KTSP
Following a humbling loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Source: KTSP
Bhayshul Tuten Boasts Increased Value
Bhayshul Tuten assumed the team's RB2 role entirely in their 31-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. After ex-teammate Tank Bigsby was traded to Philadelphia following Week 1, Tuten figured to operate as Travis Etienne Jr.'s primary backup. LeQuint Allen Jr. still worked in some (11 snaps), but did so behind the former Virginia Tech Hokie (18). While both took the field far fewer than Etienne Jr. (47), Tuten out-touched his rookie counterpart 8-2 on the ground. Furthermore, he pulled in both of his targets, matching Etienne Jr.'s receptions total, and outgaining him 32-18. There's no question that Etienne Jr. owns the backfield in Jacksonville. Tuten's role should grow as the season continues, though, and the Jags' offense won't always be in its own way.
Source: ESPN
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Source: ESPN
Zavier Scott Could Be On Week 3 Streaming Radar
Zavier Scott thrust into Minnesota's RB2 role for the team's Week 3 game against Cincinnati. Starting running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) left the Vikings' loss to Atlanta on Sunday, and reserve running back Ty Chandler (knee) is on injured reserve after being hurt on a kickoff in Week 1. That would leave Scott as the next man up to get carries behind Jordan Mason, who figures to be the clear lead back in the event Jones misses any time. Even so, Scott would be a desperation play in deeper leagues for the Vikings, who have been a mess for most of this season.
Source: Minnesota Star-Tribune
The Minnesota Vikings' injury issues at running back could see former undrafted rookie Source: Minnesota Star-Tribune
Jordan Mason to Get More Work?
Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) facing an injury, fellow running back Jordan Mason could be in line for more work with Minnesota set to face Cincinnati in Week 3. Already operating with a committee, the Vikings have seen significantly more rushing success with their new acquisition, whom the team extended after the trade that brought him from San Francisco to Minnesota. Even with a mostly awful offensive showing so far this season by the Vikings, Mason has 98 yards on 22 carries and three catches in two games. Should Jones miss any time, Mason is likely to get a feature-back workload for a team that desperately needs its running game to get going.
Source: Minnesota Star-Tribune
With Minnesota Vikings starting running back Source: Minnesota Star-Tribune
More O-Line Issues For J.J. McCarthy?
J.J. McCarthy, whose struggling offensive line is now facing additional injuries headed into Week 3. Already playing without star left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee), who is working his way back from ACL surgery last year, backup left tackle Justin Skule (concussion) departed Sunday's game against Atlanta, as did starting center Ryan Kelly (concussion). The Vikings' offense has been brutal for most of the season, and McCarthy was pressured a whopping 16 times in the humbling defeat to the Falcons. Starting running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) also left the game, so Minnesota's injury report will be worth watching prior to their Week 3 game against Cincinnati.
Source: Minnesota Star-Tribune
Things may be going from bad to worse for Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Source: Minnesota Star-Tribune