RADIO
Will Shipley Could be a Deep League Stash Option
Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley saw more involvement than expected during the Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans. Normally, Shipley only gets a carry or two, but he played over 50 percent of the offensive snaps on Sunday. His increased playing time was because Saquon Barkley (stinger) was forced to exit the game in the first half. Shipley did a nice job filling in as he carried the ball seven times for 24 yards, while hauling in both targets for five additional yards. At the moment, it's unclear if Barkley will be ready to go for the Monday Night matchup against the Chicago Bears. Given the fact Barkely is banged up, Shipley is worth a look as a deep league stash with the possibility of an increased workload in Week 3.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Dawson Knox Could See an Uptick in Value
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox was able to find the end zone for the first time this season last Thursday. He hauled in both his targets for five yards and a touchdown in the win over the Detroit Lions. Outside of that touchdown, Knox has been a non-factor for the Bills this season. There is a chance that he does see a larger role if wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) is forced to miss time. Knox has proven to be a viable red zone target for this offense throughout his career. The 29-year-old doesn't offer a ton of upside, but he could be a touchdown-dependent play if Moore is unable to play in Week 3.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jaylin Noel Offers Deep League Appeal
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel stepped into a larger role in this offense in Week 2. Noel saw an expanded role in the passing attack with Nico Collins (hamstring) on the sideline this past weekend. Noel was targeted five times, but he only managed to haul in one of those passes for 31 yards in the loss. It doesn't sound like Collins is going to be ready to play in Week 3. That should mean that Noel will get another chance to prove himself this weekend. He'll get a better chance to do that against the Indianapolis Colts struggling defense. Noel hasn't given fantasy managers a reason to trust him, but he should be worth a look in deep leagues.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
T.J. Hockenson is Gaining Value Ahead of Week 3
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is looking to break out after two average performances to begin the season. The veteran tight end has been held under 40 receiving yards during each of the first two games. Better days should be ahead for Hockenson with quarterback Kyler Murray set to return for the Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hockenson has a chance to do some damage against a defense that has allowed 172 yards and two touchdowns to tight ends this season. The 29-year-old might be able to push himself into the low-end TE1 range for this weekend. He'll be worth a look for fantasy managers who need a tight end for Week 3.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Heat Claim Bez Mbeng Off Waivers for Training Camp
The Miami Heat have claimed guard Bez Mbeng off waivers from the Charlotte Hornets and intend to sign him to an Exhibit 10 contract for training camp, according to the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang. Mbeng spent much of last season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce before earning a late-season call-up with Utah, where he averaged 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.3 steals in 15 games. He also posted a 27-point triple-double against Memphis in April. Mbeng's defensive activity is intriguing, but his 19.4 percent shooting from three remains a concern. With Miami's camp roster at 19 players, another stint in Sioux Falls looks like the most realistic path.
Source: Anthony Chiang
Source: Anthony Chiang
Kawhi Leonard Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Raptors
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard has agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Sportsnet's Blake Murphy reports that Leonard took about $11 million less than the maximum after also waiving roughly $7.44 million in trade bonus money when he returned to Toronto. The 35-year-old is coming off a career-best 27.9 points per game with the Clippers, along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals across 65 appearances. Playing alongside Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley could cut into his shot volume, but Leonard should remain a strong fantasy contributor if he can stay on the floor.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Dorian Finney-Smith Heads to Atlanta
The Charlotte Hornets are trading forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the Atlanta Hawks for guard/forward Buddy Hield, guard Ryan Nembhard, and cash considerations, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Finney-Smith gives Atlanta another veteran frontcourt option while Mouhamed Gueye (foot) continues working back from July surgery. The 33-year-old struggled after returning from left ankle surgery last season, averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.8 minutes across 37 games with Houston while shooting just 27.0 percent from three. He'll need to regain his outside shot and carve out steady minutes before becoming much of a fantasy option.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Ryan Nembhard Traded to Hornets, Expected to be Waived
The Atlanta Hawks are trading guard Ryan Nembhard to the Charlotte Hornets alongside guard/forward Buddy Hield and cash in exchange for forward Dorian Finney-Smith, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reports that Charlotte is expected to waive Nembhard following the deal. The 23-year-old never appeared for Atlanta after arriving in the three-team trade involving Luguentz Dort this summer. Nembhard averaged 6.6 points and 5.3 assists across 60 games with Dallas last season, including 27 starts, while shooting 35.6 percent from three. Where he ends up next will play a big role in whether he can get enough minutes to matter in fantasy.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Buddy Hield Traded to Hornets
The Atlanta Hawks are trading guard/forward Buddy Hield, guard Ryan Nembhard, and cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets for forward Dorian Finney-Smith, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Hield appeared in only seven games for Atlanta after arriving from Golden State at the trade deadline and averaged a career-low 7.6 points across 51 games last season. Charlotte already has plenty of perimeter options, including Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Coby White, Grayson Allen, and Dennis Schroder, so consistent minutes could be tough to find. Hield's main fantasy appeal remains his ability to provide three-point shooting when given enough run.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Brock Bowers Expected to Make Season Debut in Week 3
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is expected to make his 2026 season debut in Week 3 on the road against the New Orleans Saints, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 23-year-old star tight end missed the first two games of the year after having the meniscus in his knee trimmed right before the start of the regular season. Michael Mayer was an unspectacular TE2 streamer in his absence, catching nine passes for 55 yards in wins over the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers. Bowers, the 13th overall pick in 2024, caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie and is expected to be the No. 1 option in the passing game for veteran Kirk Cousins now that he is on the verge of a return. Bowers has become riskier for fantasy purposes after missing time the last two years with knee issues, but when healthy, we all know that he has the potential to be the most productive TE in the NFL. If Bowers does not suffer a setback in practice this week, he should be locked into all starting fantasy lineups for Week 3 in New Orleans.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Charlie Kolar Undergoing Forearm Surgery
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) is undergoing surgery to fix a broken forearm that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Kolar plans to make a full return after his four-week stay on short-term Injured Reserve. If Kolar's rehab goes according to plan after surgery, he could be ready to return when he is eligible for the Chargers' game on Nov. 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. In the meantime, with David Njoku (knee) also on IR for the Bolts, Oronde Gadsden now has a clear path to the TE1 role in a Chargers offense that is looking for answers after starting 0-2 in 2026. There was a bit of training camp hype for Kolar in Mike McDaniel's offense this year, but it did not come to fruition through two games, with Kolar sharing snaps with Gadsden and Njoku and catching three passes for 21 yards, with all of that coming on Sunday before he was hurt against the Raiders. Kolar still has a chance to make some noise when he returns from his forearm injury, but it is going to be tough in L.A.'s crowded TE room.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Shohei Ohtani Expected to Return on Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) is expected to be activated from the injured list on Wednesday, as had been the hope, manager Dave Roberts told Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Ohtani is getting ready to return from a stay on the IL that lasted for several weeks. The four-time MVP has not made a start as a pitcher since July 3 against the Padres, and he is not expected to be an option on the mound for the Dodgers at all the rest of the regular season or postseason. But Roberts expects Ohtani to be ready to return on Wednesday against San Diego as the team's primary designated hitter. They will want the 32-year-old Japanese superstar to get some live at-bats going into the final weekend of the regular season before the playoffs begin in October. Ohtani's two-way status has taken a toll on him physically in 2026, although he still has hit a strong .277/.380/.522 with 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 89 runs scored in 130 games. While he probably will not win a fourth straight MVP award, Ohtani can definitely still help the Dodgers win an unprecedented third straight World Series title if he is past his knee and biceps injuries that have bothered him for around half the season.
Source: MLB.com - Sonja Chen
Source: MLB.com - Sonja Chen
Kyle Tucker Back in Action Tuesday Against Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (knee, shin) is starting in right field and is hitting fifth for Tuesday's series opener against the division-rival San Diego Padres and right-hander Michael King, per MLB.com. Tucker was held out of the series finale on Sunday against the division-rival San Francisco Giants with a minor knee/shin injury, but he is ready for this week in a crucial series at Dodger Stadium. The 29-year-old lefty slugger has not had the first season in L.A. that he envisioned, and he enters Tuesday's action with a .234/.334/.393 slash line, a .727 OPS, 17 home runs, 70 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 148 games and 602 plate appearances. The former first-rounder's production has picked up in September, though, which has been good timing for the Dodgers with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) on the injured list. Tucker has hit .283 (17-for-60) with a 1.059 OPS, six homers, and 13 RBI in 19 games in September. Against King in 12 career at-bats, he is hitting .083 with one RBI.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Packers Unsure of Jayden Reed's Chances of Returning This Season
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that wide receiver Jayden Reed (neck) is back in Green Bay and is going through a series of tests, but he does not know about Reed's chances of playing again this season, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "It's way too early for that right now. He's got a lot going on," LaFleur told reporters on Tuesday. Not only will Reed most likely be out for Thursday night's game in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, but it sounds like the Packers think he could miss the entire rest of the 2026 season. The 26-year-old is no stranger to injuries, playing in just seven games last year. Reed caught four of his first eight targets through two weeks this year for only 24 yards. He was carted off the field in Sunday's Week 2 win over the New York Jets on a backboard and was taken to a local hospital, where he stayed overnight. This is a serious injury, so fantasy managers with Reed rostered should not expect a speedy return. His absence going forward will mean more targets for receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, as well as tight end Tucker Kraft.
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Mason Taylor Likely to Miss Week 3 With Thumb Injury
New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor (thumb), who suffered a thumb injury in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers, is considered week-to-week and is likely to miss the Week 3 contest this weekend against the Detroit Lions, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 22-year-old former second-rounder last year from LSU caught 44 of 65 targets for 369 yards and only one touchdown in 13 games as a rookie in a bad Jets offense, and he was expected to eventually take a back seat this year to first-rounder Kenyon Sadiq, who missed much of training camp following hernia surgery. When Taylor returns from his thumb injury, there is a good chance he will see his role shrink behind Sadiq. Taylor has only two receptions on three targets for minus-two yards through the first two weeks of his sophomore campaign. Sadiq, who is rostered in only 18% of Yahoo leagues, should become more attractive on the waiver wire this week with Taylor now banged up. The 21-year-old from Oregon is an elite athlete with more downfield pass-catching prowess and versatility. He already has five catches for 38 yards and has run in a touchdown in his first two NFL games.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
