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Drew Brees Considered Playing for Broncos in AFC Championship
Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees considered coming out of retirement in January to rejoin former head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Starting QB Bo Nix (ankle) was sidelined with a fractured ankle in the overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round, forcing backup Jarrett Stidham into action in the AFC Championship, a game that the Broncos lost 10-7 in a snowstorm. Previous offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael had discussions with Brees about him coming out of retirement to play in the game. Brees wanted to first work out to see how his body responded, but he quickly felt discomfort in his wrist and quickly nixed what would have been one of the most improbable returns in NFL history. Lombardi and Carmichael did not include Payton or inform him about their initial conversations with Brees. Stidham struggled in place of Nix, going 17-for-31 passing for 133 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while also losing a fumble.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Marvin Harrison Jr. Sees Limited Targets Due to Game Flow
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. saw limited targets (three) in the Week 1 season-opening win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday because of how the game unfolded, head coach Mike LaFleur told Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. "I wouldn't look too much into the targets and all that stuff," LaFleur said. Harrison had a disappointing season opener despite the Cardinals pulling off the road upset, catching just one of his three targets for 33 yards. Tight end Trey McBride was quarterback Jacoby Brissett's favorite target, as he caught nine of his 13 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown in the 26-14 victory at SoFi Stadium. The good news for Harrison's fantasy managers is that he was second among the wideouts with a 79% snap share, behind Michael Wilson's 85%. Still, Kendrick Bourne was targeted five more times than Harrison. It is only one week, but the former fourth overall pick from Ohio State is now falling into shaky WR4/flex territory in fantasy with an upcoming Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.
Source: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
Source: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
Eagles Place Guard Landon Dickerson on Injured Reserve
The Philadelphia Eagles placed three-time Pro Bowl offensive guard Landon Dickerson (knee) on Injured Reserve on Monday with a knee injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Dickerson will now be forced to miss at least the next four games. The earliest Dickerson would be able to return would be on Oct. 18 against the Carolina Panthers. It is a major blow for the 27-year-old former second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft from the University of Alabama, and it could have a pretty big effect on the new-look Eagles offense as they head into a Week 2 matchup this Sunday on the road against the Tennessee Titans. While the Eagles have the personnel to overcome Dickerson's injury, it is for sure a slight downgrade for quarterback Jalen Hurts and the rest of the offense in the short term over at least the next four weeks.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Sam Darnold Has "Very Unique" Short-Term, Soft-Tissue Injury
According to a Seattle Seahawks spokesperson, quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) has a "very unique" soft-tissue injury that is considered a short-term injury, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. Darnold's hip joint is unaffected, but there is currently no timeline for his return. The Seahawks initially termed it a hip injury after Darnold was forced from last Wednesday's season-opening win over the New England Patriots on the first offensive drive of the game. The 29-year-old is now believed to be dealing with a glute injury, and he will most likely miss the Week 2 contest on the road against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals this Sunday. Beyond that, it is unclear when the 29-year-old signal-caller might return under center for Seattle after leading the team to a Super Bowl championship in February. The fact that Seattle has not placed Darnold on Injured Reserve means they have some confidence that he will be back within the next four games. In the meantime, Drew Lock will start for the Seahawks as more of a game manager, with little upside as a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
Source: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
Kalif Raymond on Waiver Radar After Leading Bears in Receiving
On a day when the Chicago Bears' offense put up 59 points in a Week 1 season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, it was wide receiver Kalif Raymond who led the team in receiving. Raymond was second among the team's wideouts (behind Luther Burden III) with a 60% snap share, and he caught eight of his nine targets for 84 yards, all team highs. The 32-year-old veteran pass-catcher was talked up during training camp by his teammates and coaches, and he has experience playing for head coach Ben Johnson during their time together with the Detroit Lions. In fact, Raymond, a former undrafted free agent from Holy Cross, had his best season (career-high 616 receiving yards) with Johnson back in 2022. It was a bit of a surprise to see Raymond become the focal point of Chicago's passing attack in Week 1, and it came at the expense of tight end Colston Loveland, who did not have a single catch on only two targets. Raymond had just 24 catches for 289 yards and one touchdown in his final season in Detroit last year, but he has his sights set on a much bigger role in the Windy City and is now firmly on the waiver-wire radar heading into Week 2. He is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Rafael Devers to Have Season-Ending Core-Muscle Surgery on Tuesday
San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (core) will have season-ending surgery on Tuesday in Philadelphia to fix a left-sided core-muscle injury, according to Zach Sweet of MLB.com. The Giants said they will provide an update on his recovery timeline after the surgery. The Giants placed Devers on the 60-day injured list on Sunday, putting an end to his 2026 campaign. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger will finish his first full season in the Bay Area with a .258/.340/.525 slash line, an .865 OPS, 37 home runs, 98 RBI, and 88 runs scored in 148 games and 633 plate appearances. Devers is currently leading the league with 36 doubles after a recent offensive barrage in the second half of the season. The three-time All-Star went off in August with a .272 average (28-for-103) with eight home runs, five doubles, 18 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 28 games played. Devers got off to an icy start in 2026 by hitting .207 (25-for-121), but he turned things around quickly in May and finished with his second straight 35-plus-homer season. The Dominican first baseman has reached the 30-homer mark in four of the last six seasons with the Giants and Boston Red Sox.
Source: MLB.com - Zach Sweet
Source: MLB.com - Zach Sweet
DaSaahn Brame Likely to Fill Role Left Behind by Injured Ethan Davis
With Tennessee's top tight end Ethan Davis (knee) lost for the season with an ACL injury sustained in Week 2, DaSaahn Brame is likely to fill his spot for the Volunteers as they enter a Week 3 contest against Kennesaw State. Brame has recorded just one reception for seven yards this season, while he finished the 2025 campaign with just six receptions for 63 yards. He is as inexperienced as they come, but has a favorable matchup as he steps into a more prominent role this week. Kennesaw State allowed Georgia State quarterback Cameran Brown to throw for 253 yards a week ago and is ripe for the picking going into a daunting matchup with the Volunteers. Brame is a waiver-wire option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaleel Skinner a Waiver Option for Tight End-Needy Teams
It took just two receptions for tight end Jaleel Skinner to finish with 82 yards receiving and a touchdown during Louisville's 59-13 Week 2 win over Villanova. Skinner's long reception went for 69 yards and a score to help the Cardinals take down their FCS opponent in blowout fashion. Skinner has totaled five receptions for 137 yards through two games this season. While he isn't the most favorable option, falling outside of RotoBaller's top-26 rankings at the position, he is a potential waiver-wire addition for fantasy managers in need. Louisville takes on a tough No. 16 SMU defense, which limited Florida State to just 125 yards passing in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bhayshul Tuten Looks Like Jaguars' Lead Back
After the Jacksonville Jaguars' 34-10 blowout win over the visiting Cleveland Browns on Sunday in the Week 1 season opener, John Shipley of Sports Illustrated wrote that "for now, it looks like" running back Bhayshul Tuten is the team's lead back. Tuten outsnapped Chris Rodriguez Jr. 28 (49%) to 23 (40%) and out-touched him 16 to six. However, as third-down back LeQuint Allen Jr., who had only one snap, gets healthier, the distribution of snaps could shift more. For now, Tuten's fantasy football stock is rising, especially since head coach Liam Coen has been praising him. "I think Tuten ran his tail off. He ran hard. The first run of the day, the first play of the day, I think we maybe had a chance to keep that thing inside, but there was a little color that he did see that allowed him to bounce it. I don't think he missed many reads, personally," Coen said. The 23-year-old handled 15 carries for 16 yards and caught his lone target for 22 yards. It was not a huge game by any means, but it was efficient as the lead back. Tuten is definitely the most fantasy-relevant back in Jacksonville right now, but he faces a difficult Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos and their stout defense.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Isiah Pacheco Could Return by Early December After Back Surgery
Updating a previous report, Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (back) underwent surgery to remove a body that was pressing on a nerve in his back, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Pacheco is facing a 12-week recovery, with a chance that he is back from Injured Reserve by early December. The former Kansas City Chiefs RB was dealing with an MCL injury late in training camp before injuring his back while training. There is not much incentive for fantasy managers to hold Pacheco now in an IR spot in redraft leagues. The 27-year-old had 1,765 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 375 carries in his first two seasons with the Chiefs, adding 57 catches for 374 yards and another two TDs as a receiver. But since the start of the 2024 season, Pacheco has dealt with injuries, limiting him to 20 games in his final two years in KC. With Pacheco now out until the final month of the regular season, the Lions could look to add RB depth behind bell-cow back Jahmyr Gibbs. Sione Vaki operated as Detroit's RB2 in Sunday's Week 1 season-opening win over the New Orleans Saints in overtime, but he handled only two rushing attempts for seven yards and caught one pass for 11 yards.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
JV Gibson Has Mouth-Watering Week 3 Matchup
Coming off two straight weeks with a touchdown, Cincinnati wide receiver JV Gibson is getting ready for a mouth-watering matchup against Miami (OH). Gibson has totaled nine receptions for 133 yards receiving and a couple of scores through his first two games in 2026. He is now preparing for a RedHawks defense that allowed 646 total yards during a Week 1 loss to Pitt. In that game, Pitt wide receiver Catarus Hicks recorded five receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Gibson is projected to score 8.4 fantasy points against Miami (OH) as RotoBaller's 77th-ranked wide receiver in Week 3.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jeremiyah Love Wasn't On Snap Count in NFL Debut on Sunday
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said on Monday that rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) was not really on a snap count coming off an ankle injury in the team's Week 1 season-opening win on the road over the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Darren Urban of the team's official website. The usage between Love and Tyler Allgeier on Sunday in L.A. had more to do with game flow. In the 26-14 win at SoFi Stadium, Love saw 11 rushing attempts for 41 yards and the touchdown, adding two catches on four targets for just nine yards as a receiver. Allgeier had a team-high 17 carries for a team-high 61 yards, adding two catches on two targets for nine yards through the air. Allgeier saw the field more than Love, outsnapping him 59% to 43%. Eventually, Love is expected to take over Arizona's backfield, especially with Trey Benson (knee) out for the year and veteran James Conner (foot) on Injured Reserve, but in the early portion of the 2026 season, Allgeier could continue to have a larger role, limiting Love's fantasy ceiling to that of a fringe RB2/3. Love will have a difficult Week 2 matchup this Sunday at home against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks.
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Michael Hawkins Jr. Projected to Have Big Day
After completing over 76% of his passes through the first two games of the year, West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. could have another big performance for the Mountaineers in Week 3. Hawkins Jr. is RotoBaller's QB8 entering this week's action, when he is projected to score 25.7 fantasy points. The Oklahoma transfer is not only a threat in the passing game, but also when he uses his legs, as he has totaled 199 yards rushing and three touchdowns rushing on 7.7 yards per carry this year. He has also found the end zone three times through the air and has yet to throw an interception. Last week against UT Martin, it took Hawkins Jr. just six carries and seven passing attempts to record 151 yards of total offense and four total touchdowns. Virginia has limited its opponents to just 195 yards per game this year, which is the ninth-best mark in the country, so something will have to give on Saturday night.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jeremiyah Love Finds End Zone In NFL Debut
Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) made his regular-season debut on Sunday after weeks of speculation over his availability for Week 1. Love handled 11 carries for 41 rushing yards and one touchdown and caught two passes for nine yards on four targets in the Cardinals' 26-14 win over the Chargers. A high ankle sprain suffered in a preseason game on August 13 put the rookie's Week 1 status in question, with head coach Mike LaFleur describing the situation as a game-time decision. Tyler Allgeier got the start and was the preferred back on third downs and in two-minute drills, with Love regularly rotating in on early downs. It would not be surprising to see similar usage in the coming weeks to avoid the risk of reinjury and to get Love acclimated to the pros. Love has a challenging matchup against the Seattle Seahawks waiting for him in Week 2.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Trey McBride Delivers As Cardinals' Leading Receiver
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride started 2026 on the right foot, catching nine passes for 95 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets against the Chargers on Sunday. Wide receivers Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. kept the Chargers' secondary occupied downfield, which gave McBride room to do damage underneath and in the flats. McBride's touchdown came early in the fourth quarter and made it a two-possession ballgame. It was the tight end's 17th end-zone target in the 11 games he has played since Jacoby Brissett took over as Arizona's starting quarterback, matching the 17 he had in his previous 54 games. His emergence as a regular scoring threat could take his production to new highs. In Week 2, he will face the Seahawks, who held New England's Hunter Henry to 26 yards but allowed a touchdown to backup tight end Eli Raridon in the NFL's season opener.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
