RADIO
Can Chase Elliott Get Back on Track at Kansas?
It has been a while since Chase Elliott has been a contender on race day. In fact, since his win at Texas back in May, Chase has mustered just two top-10 finishes over the last 18 races, and over the last five he has ended up 23rd or worse four times. Not great for an elite driver like Elliott at an elite organization like Hendrick Motorsports. But can the No. 9 team turn it around at Kansas Speedway this weekend? Chase is the defending winner of this race at Kansas, as he won the fall event last year after starting fourth and leading 24 laps. He has some more work to do to get to the front this weekend, though, as the No. 9 Chevrolet will roll off the starting grid from 18th-place for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400. There's hope, though, as Elliott ranks fourth-fastest in Average Speed Index at Kansas and similar tracks as of late. As far as DFS goes, Chase Elliott ($9.0K on DraftKings) is a solid Place Differential pick on Sunday who could surprise some people with a good run--something we haven't seen out of him in a while.
Source: Hendrick Motorsports
Source: Hendrick Motorsports
Is Alex Bowman a Must-Play in DFS at Kansas?
Qualifying got rained out at Kansas Speedway this weekend, which means the starting lineup was set by the metric. That also means that Alex Bowman will roll off the grid from 33rd-place for Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400. That's obviously not a great start for the No. 48 team this race weekend, but it is great news for DFS players. The intermediate tracks (like Kansas) are where Bowman has excelled this season, and his 33rd-place starting spot gives him massive Place Differential upside on Sunday. Additionally, he's pretty affordable on DraftKings at his $7.3K salary. Bowman struggled here at Kansas in the spring (18th-place finish) but he wound up fifth at Chicagoland, third at Texas, and seventh at Las Vegas this season. On 1.5-mile tracks specifically, Bowman sports an average finish of 10.8, which is fourth-best among active drivers. He's not a must-play in DFS this weekend, but he's one of the best values on slate for sure.
Source: Speedway Media
Source: Speedway Media
Odell Beckham Jr. Dealing with Low Volume and Quarterback Downgrade
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is trending down in fantasy football as a result of his low volume and an unfavorable outlook at the quarterback position. Over the past two weeks, Beckham has played less than 15% of the offensive snaps, and he has yet to command a target on offense. To make matters worse, he and the rest of his Giants teammates will have to deal with a quarterback downgrade as Jameis Winston takes over for Jaxson Dart (knee), who is done for the season. For what it's worth, Beckham wouldn't have been on the fantasy radar even if Dart stayed healthy, but the installation of Winston into the offense is sure to hurt the fantasy outlooks of all Giants receivers. Beckham's comeback story was nice, but just because he made the 53-man roster didn't mean that he was going to have any fantasy relevance. He can continue to be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
LeQuint Allen Jr. Remains a Non-Factor on Offense
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. has yet to log an offensive touch through two games this season, and he remains off the fantasy radar heading into Week 3 against the New England Patriots. Allen played 2% of the snaps in Week 1, and although that snap share jumped to 15% last Sunday, his only statistic in the final box score was one target that fell incomplete. The second-year Syracuse product continues to occupy the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. Allen may have some long-term appeal in dynasty leagues, but this is clearly Tuten's backfield. He belongs on waivers in all redraft leagues as long as Tuten and Rodriguez are healthy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Roman Wilson Falls Back Down the Depth Chart with Teammate Returning
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson handled a 79% snap share with five catches in Week 2, but his role is expected to decrease heading into this Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. Wilson's high volume last weekend was a product of Michael Pittman Jr.'s absence, and now that Pittman is back from injury, the 25-year-old will return to the No. 3 role on the depth chart. Pittsburgh's passing game isn't strong enough to support three fantasy-relevant receivers, leaving DK Metcalf and Pittman as the only Steelers wide receivers worth possibly starting on Sunday. The fact that Wilson has six targets in back-to-back games is encouraging for his long-term dynasty outlook, but for now, he can be avoided in most redraft formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dyami Brown Losing Fantasy Value After Fumble and Quarterback Downgrade
Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown briefly flashed fantasy upside with six targets in the passing game last week, but all signs point to the 26-year-old remaining off the fantasy radar going forward. Outside of the six-target performance, Brown has delivered an underwhelming season. He was held without a catch in Week 1, he lost a fumble last week, and he's heading for a quarterback downgrade as Marcus Mariota steps in for the injured Jayden Daniels (elbow). Plus, he's somewhere around third or fourth on the depth chart, competing for snaps with Antonio Williams as the two operate behind Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs. A Mariota-led offense doesn't have the ability to support more than two fantasy-relevant receivers, so McLaurin and Diggs are the only players worth starting right now. Brown can be left on waivers in most leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Troy Franklin Playing a Minimal Role on Offense
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin has taken a massive step back in 2026, dropping him off the fantasy radar in most leagues. The Broncos' offseason addition of Jaylen Waddle seems to have spelled disaster for Franklin, who has just one catch through two weeks and has yet to play more than 33% of the snaps in a single game this season. In addition to Waddle, both Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant have also consistently played more than Franklin, which means he's down to the fourth rung on the depth chart. The 23-year-old has a rapport with quarterback Bo Nix dating back to their time at Oregon, so maybe he still has some potential long-term. However, in the short term, he's going to remain buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy radar.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jake Haener Sign to Giants' Active Roster as Backup Quarterback
The New York Giants have signed quarterback Jake Haener to the 53-man roster for Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Tennessee Titans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Haener, who had previously been on the practice squad, will operate as the Giants' backup quarterback after Jameis Winston was named the starter in the aftermath of Jaxson Dart's season-ending knee injury. The 27-year-old Fresno State product hasn't played in an NFL game since 2024, when he went 18-for-39 passing with 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Haener's stint on the active roster could be short-lived, as Tom Pelissero of The Ringer recently reported that the Giants could trade for a new quarterback as early as Monday.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Efton Chism III Has Yet to Establish a Role in the Patriots Passing Game
Across two games in 2026, New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III has recorded one catch for -2 yards on one target. With star Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) currently on Injured Reserve with a high-ankle sprain, New England is in desperate need of impact pass-catching talent. However, Chism III still appears to be buried on the team's wide receiver depth chart. In the team's first full game without Brown in Week 2, Chism III played fewer offensive snaps than Pats wideouts Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams. Barring another injury or two in the New England wide receiver room, Chism III should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chimere Dike Facing Uphill Battle for Playing Time in Tennessee
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike flashed upside during his rookie season in 2025, finishing the year with 48 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns on 74 targets across 17 games. However, the 24-year-old's role in his team's passing game has taken a backseat so far in 2026, as he's recorded just one catch for seven yards on one target through two contests. The Titans added significant talent to their wide receiver room over the offseason, selecting Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and signing veteran slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency. As a result, Dike has played just six total snaps on offense so far this season. At this point, fantasy managers are safe to leave Dike on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Darnell Washington Struggling to Earn Pass-Catching Reps in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington had the most productive pass-catching season of his career in 2025, recording 31 catches for 364 yards and a touchdown on 43 targets across 16 games. However, the Steelers have a new playcaller in 2026 in head coach Mike McCarthy, and it appears that Washington's role in his team's passing game has shrunk. Across two games, the 25-year-old has recorded three catches for 25 yards on four targets. Washington has played at least 53% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps in both contests, but it's been Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth who has emerged as the clear top pass-catching option so far. Barring an injury to Freiermuth, Washington should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Arroyo Remains Buried on Seahawks Tight End Depth Chart
A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo saw minimal usage as a rookie. However, Arroyo earned some preseason buzz as a potential year-two breakout candidate this past summer. Two games into the 2026 season, that has yet to come to fruition. Arroyo has recorded just one catch for 17 yards on one target so far, and he's failed to play more than 15 snaps in either of Seattle's first two contests. Seahawks tight end AJ Barner remains the team's clear TE1, and Arroyo has also struggled to leapfrog blocking specialist Eric Saubert on Seattle's depth chart at the position. If Barner were to suffer an injury at any point this season, Arroyo could finally get his opportunity to shine in Seattle. Until that point, Arroyo should be off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
John Bates Could See a Larger Role in Commanders Offense
Across his first two games of 2026, Washington Commanders tight end John Bates has recorded just two catches for 13 yards on three targets. However, the 28-year-old could see more playing time in his team's Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Commanders TE1 Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) is set to miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. While Bates was not heavily utilized in Week 2, Washington got uninspiring production from the tight end duo of Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff. Bates has recorded just 74 receptions across 84 career games with the Commanders, so he's no guarantee to step in and provide fantasy-relevant production. Still, Bates could be a name to monitor in deep fantasy leagues coming out of Week 3.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Whit Weeks Ruled Out For Rest Of Game
LSU linebacker and team captain was seen heading to the locker room on crutches, wearing a boot on his right foot, during Saturday's game against Texas A&M. It is being reported that the star linebacker suffered a right ankle injury at some point in the game, and it's unclear what the prognosis is. Weeks has been ruled out for the rest of the game.
Source: Lonn Phillips Sullivan Of lsuodyssey.com
Source: Lonn Phillips Sullivan Of lsuodyssey.com
Tutu Atwell Remains an Afterthought in Rams Offense Despite Wide Receiver Injuries
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell had a quiet game in his team's Week 2 win over the New York Giants, recording one catch for 19 yards on two targets. With Rams wideout Puka Nacua (groin) inactive, Atwell had a chance to step up and earn a larger role in his team's passing game. However, the 26-year-old played just 11 offensive snaps, fewer than Rams wideouts Davante Adams, Konata Mumpfield, and Xavier Smith. Atwell played an extremely limited role in Los Angeles in 2025 as well, recording six catches for 192 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets across 10 games. Even with Nacua potentially set to miss Week 3, Atwell should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
