Thu Sep 18 9:10am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
The first week of the season wasn’t too bad on the injury front, but this past week wasn’t great. The quarterback position took a big hit with several players getting banged up. This is going to leave some fantasy teams scrambling at the position. Hopefully, this isn’t a trend going forward. We liked it better in Week 1.
Here is the latest. . . . .
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Vikings. The Vikings ruled out McCarthy very early in the week because of an ankle injury. You have to wonder a little if the Vikings are holding him out because of his performance to start the year, giving him a bit of a reset. Either way, McCarthy will not play this week. Carson Wentz gets the start for Minnesota this week.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders. Daniels has a sprained knee and is out of practice to start the week. He is in danger of missing the game. Head coach Dan Quinn said the team will have an update on Daniels after Friday’s practice. So we should know his status before the week is out, but get other options ready.
Justin Fields, QB, Jets. Fields has already been ruled out for the Week 3 game because of a concussion. He will be out at least this week. Tyrod Taylor gets the start for the Jets.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs. Worthy practiced some last week but didn’t play in the game. His shoulder injury kept him out of the game. Worthy is practicing on a limited basis once again this week but seems to have a little better chance to play. Nothing is certain with Worthy, though. He’ll be a risk to use if he plays. You just don’t know how long he’ll last.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Bucs. Mayfield really took some big hits in last week’s game and came out pretty sore. He might miss some practice this week but is expected to be ready to play the Week 3 game.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins. Waddle is battling some sort of shoulder injury and was downgraded to questionable Wednesday. He is looking iffy to play right now. The only positive is Waddle plays the Thursday game, so we will know her status sooner then later.
Christian Kirk, WR, Texans. Kirk is practicing on a limited basis this week. He is finally nearing a return to the field. There is a chance he is healthy enough to play Week 3. We should know later in the week. Stay tuned. He’ll be the No. 3 receiver for the Texans once he is on the field.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles. Goedert missed last week’s game because of a knee injury. He is practicing on a limited basis to start the week. Goedert is doing better this week and seems to have a decent chance to play Week 3. Things are trending the right way for him.
Tyrone Tracy, RB, Giants. Tracy seems to have been demoted to second string on the depth chart and to add insult to injury, he is apparently dealing with a calf injury. He was limited in practice to start the week because of the injury. Tracy seems to still have a pretty good chance to play this week. This injury doesn’t seem too serious.
D'Andre Swift, RB, Bears. Swift has a new injury, dealing with some sort of quad injury. He was limited in practice Wednesday. Quad injuries can be a concern, so this is one to keep an eye on. He is not a player to rule out but his status seems a little up in the air right now.
Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers. Purdy remains pretty beat up with toe and shoulder injuries but is practicing on a limited basis to begin the week. The 49ers are saying he has a chance to play Week 3. San Francisco is not going to rush Purdy back with Mac Jones playing so well last week. We woulnd’t be surprised if Jones gets one more start.
Josh Downs, WR, Colts. Downs apparently hurt his ankle last week. He was unable to practice Wednesday because of the injury. This is a big concern, missing the entire practice. He could still get in some practice before the week is out, so don’t rule him out. But you will want to keep an eye on the practice notes for the latest on Downs. Things don’t look great at the moment.
Tyler Warren, TE, Colts. Warren had to miss practice Wednesday. He is dealing with a toe injury. We don’t know the severity of the injury just yet, but you will want to keep a close eye on this one. Warren has been tremendous on the field. We hope he is getting held out as a precaution more than anything. We should know more in a day or two. Keep an eye on the player notes for the latest on Warren.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers. McConkey did not participate in practice Wednesday because of a biceps injury. This makes sense because McConkey was a little limited in the game this past week. It explains things a little. Make sure McConkey gets in some practice before the week is out before plugging him in your lineup.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Bucs. Egbuka is dealing with groin and hip injuries. He missed practice to start the week. This isn’t a great start to the week for Egbuka. He might be a little up in the air to play right now. You will want to make sure he gets in a little practice before the week is out.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seahawks. Charbonnet has a foot injury and did not practice to start the week. This is a concern. You never like to see a player miss the first practice of the week. We should know his status a little better before the week is out. Either way, Kenneth Walker might get a bigger workload this week, especially if Charbonnet is less than 100 percent.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith saw his role disappear in Week 2. The fifth-round pick flashed throughout training camp and preseason, with fans pushing for him to earn snaps alongside the starters. However, Lambert-Smith made a costly mistake lining up offside, negating a Ladd McConkey first down. After that, he was benched and didn't play another snap for the rest of the game. With the Chargers facing a tough Week 3 matchup against the Broncos' elite secondary, Lambert-Smith's path to meaningful targets remains unclear. For now, he should stay off the fantasy radar until he proves he can carve out a consistent role in the offense.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Xavier Restrepo could be elevated from the practice squad this week. The undrafted free agent out of Miami has prior chemistry with Titans quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, generating plenty of buzz during training camp. While Restrepo initially landed on the practice squad, an injury to wideout Bryce Oliver (knee) has opened the door for him to see game action against the Indianapolis Colts. If Restrepo can translate his rapport with Ward onto the field, he could work his way into a larger role and become a name to monitor for fantasy managers later in the season.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wideout Tez Johnson could finally get his chance to make an impact this week. The former Oregon Duck has seen just one target so far and was a healthy scratch in Week 2, while first-round pick Emeka Egbuka has commanded most of the spotlight in Tampa's passing attack. However, with Egbuka nursing a groin injury and not participating in practice on Wednesday, Johnson may find a path to meaningful snaps. The Buccaneers face the Jets this week, a defense that struggled in Week 1 to contain Pittsburgh's Calvin Austin III, who is another undersized but explosive receiver with a skill set similar to Johnson's. While Johnson remains off the fantasy radar for now, a strong showing could put him back on the map as a rookie to monitor for deeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson praised rookie wide receivers Savion Williams and Matthew Golden this week, saying the pair of first-year players are "already putting really good stuff on film," according to The Athletic. Watson, who is still rehabbing from another knee surgery, is eyeing a return later this season. For now, the Packers could use a helping hand while Watson and Jayden Reed (collarbone) are out, and Williams certainly could be one of the players who sees more work. Williams drew two designed runs for 24 yards in Week 2 and has flashed as a kicker returner. For now, he's mostly a dynasty stash, but he could become a hot waiver-wire addition if he keeps earning more playing time.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton is still searching for his first offensive snap as Minnesota prepares to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. The rookie from Maryland has seen the field, but exclusively on special teams, even as Minnesota has needed extra help at receiver with Jordan Addison (suspension) out for the first three games. It's not a great sign for either Felton or the Vikings, who passed on receiver Elic Ayomanor and running backs Cam Skattebo and Bhayshul Tuten, among others, to select Felton in the third round. Felton is a safe drop in redraft leagues, but still a possible taxi-squad stash in dynasty formats.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler's apparent improvement in Year 2 has sufficiently quieted any QB controversy rumblings, with Nola.com reporting that Saints coach Kellen Moore hasn't fielded a single question about replacing Rattler with rookie Tyler Shough since naming the former the starter. To his credit, Rattler won the competition in the offseason and has played better than expected in the first two games, completing 65% of his passes for 421 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Saints are 0-2 and among the worst rosters in the league, but Rattler is coming off a three-touchdown performance against a solid San Francisco defense and has shown some sneaky streaming appeal for Superflex leagues and as a backup in one-QB formats.
From RotoBaller
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) will test the injury pregame Thursday at Buffalo as there is growing optimism the receiver will be able to play. The Alabama product is officially listed as questionable for the Dolphins, who are double-digit underdogs against the Bills and facing the real prospect of an 0-3 start. Waddle has been decent in spite of the Dolphins' poor start, registering nine catches for 98 yards and a touchdown through two games. But given the injury, a Buffalo defense that has fared well against fantasy receivers, and a Miami offense that is going through a rough patch, Waddle is a low-end WR3/flex play while playing on a short week.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice ahead of Week 3's home matchup against the Raiders. This seems to be a new injury for McNichols, and the severity is unknown at the moment. McNichols is set to step into a larger role in Washington's backfield as their primary third-down and pass-down back with Austin Ekeler out for the season. McNichols is a highly trusted veteran in pass protection, and he showed some ability to be versatile last season, gaining tough yardage as a runner and catching some passes as a receiver. His most important skill is pass protection, which will keep him on the field a lot. That makes him worth considering as an option to pick up off the waiver wire to see how the Washington backfield shakes out.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel saw his first game action in the NFL in their 41-17 Week 2 blowout at the Ravens. He completed all three of his passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. With the offense scuffling with Joe Flacco as the starter, discussions about a quarterback replacement are starting to pop up in Cleveland, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Fowler says that Cleveland's situation "bears monitoring" in response to the question of which quarterback is most in danger of being benched. While Flacco is safe for now, he compared the situation to Jacoby Brissett with the Patriots last season. Drake Maye's first NFL start came at home against the Texans in Week 6 of last season, for reference. Gabriel has operated as the No. 2 quarterback all summer and has been praised for his mobility, quick release, and overall grasp of the offense. It will likely only be a matter of weeks before Gabriel slides in as the starter in Cleveland. He makes for an intriguing upside swing to stash in redraft superflex leagues and deeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (knee) returning in Week 4 'feels like a real possibility,' sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Fantasy Spin: Godwin hasn't officially been ruled out for Week 3, but it sounds like Week 4 is a more realistic possbility for his return. Even when he does return, it could take Godwin a few games to find his rhythm, and he will also have to compete with Emeka Egbuka for targets. Godwin is worth stashing, but he doesn't need to be starting until he proves it on the field.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Reynolds hasn't been on the practice field since last Thursday due to a shoulder issue. He sat out last week's game and is in danger of missing the Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His absence should result in a higher workload for Allen Lazard. However, there's really no viable receiving options on this team outside of Garrett Wilson. The Jets are going to be without Justin Fields (concussion), so Tyrod Taylor should be under center. Even if Reynolds plays, fantasy managers can find a better streaming option for Week 3.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram (back) was held out of Wednesday's practice session. Engram was dealing with a calf issue last week, but still managed to play in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. However, fantasy managers might not have noticed he played considering he only hauled in one catch for 12 yards during that contest. The veteran tight end has a total of four catches through the first two weeks. His decrease in usage should be more of a concern than this back injury. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday for another update on his status. If he sits, Adam Trautman would see an increased role for the Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Engram should be rostered in most formats, but is tough to trust after two straight duds.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) was spotted doing some running on the side during Wednesday's practice. It sounds like Aiyuk is continuing to make progress, but is still going to be sidelined for a few weeks. He's currently on the physically unable to perform list through Week 4. There haven't been many updates on his status lately. The assumption is that Aiyuk should be ready to play around Week 5 or 6, but there should be a better timetable closer to that date. Aiyuk should be stashed in most 12-team formats as he'll likely be a focal point of the offense once he's ready to play.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Mooney missed most of training camp and Week 1 due to a shoulder issue. He made his season debut last week, but was mostly quiet on the field. He hauled in two of his four targets for 20 yards in the victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The fact he was a limited participant on Wednesday could be the Falcons being cautious. Fantasy managers should check back on Thursday and Friday to see if his status changes at all ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The veteran wideout should be rostered in most 12-team formats despite a slow start.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) was limited during Wednesday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried as Tuten still has plenty of time to get ready before the Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans. Without Tank Bigsby in the picture, Tuten was able to make a big splash last week. He rushed eight times for 42 yards while adding two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Sadly, Tuten is going to have his value limited as the backup to Travis Etienne Jr. right now. Despite that, Tuten should continue to see his role rise if he plays well. He should be rostered in most 12-team formats at the moment even as the backup.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is expected to be the main focus in the running game over the next few games. Recently, head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence that Mason has bellcow potential. They expect Mason to handle a significant rushing workload while Aaron Jones (hamstring) is sidelined. The Vikings believe Mason is a multi-faceted player that can do just about anything on the football field. So far this season, Mason has rushed 24 times for 98 yards over the first two games of the season. There's not much competition behind Mason in the backfield right now. He should see all the carries he can handle, which should at least offer RB2 value for their upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said that second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin is "starting to develop into the player everyone knows he can become." Franklin, who was teammates with Nix at Oregon, had a breakout game in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, catching eight of his nine targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old wideout currently leads the Broncos in targets (15), catches (12), and receiving yards (133) through the first two games in 2025. Franklin probably won't take over WR1 duties from Courtland Sutton, but a second-year breakout could very well be in the cards for him, especially because of his strong chemistry with Nix. His primary competition for weekly targets will come from Marvin Mims Jr., who is more of a big-play deep threat than one who will be consistently peppered with targets. If you need WR help early on, Franklin is definitely worth a waiver-wire pickup.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams (non-injury) was given the day off for rest and did not participate in practice Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Fantasy Spin: Adams has made an immediate impact for the Rams, logging a team-high 21 targets through two games. Perhaps more importantly, both he and Puka Nacua are putting up strong numbers simultaneously, so there is reason to believe that Adams can continue to have success. At the very least, Adams is a WR3 with upside.
From TheHuddle
Denver Broncos rookie second-round running back RJ Harvey is "an important piece of what we're doing," according to head coach Sean Payton. That may be true, and Harvey could see his role grow as the season progresses, but right now, his fantasy value is capped with J.K. Dobbins serving as the RB1 in Denver. Harvey was out-touched 15-6 by Harvey in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and finished with only five carries for eight yards (1.6 yards per tote) while adding one catch for a nice 16-yard gain. In the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, the UCF product had six carries for 70 yards and one reception for a loss of a yard. The 24-year-old is slippery with plenty of big-play potential, but right now, he's merely an RB3/flex for fantasy managers with a low floor and ceiling. Harvey and the Broncos also have a difficult upcoming divisional tilt against the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers on the road this Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams OG Steve Avila (undisclosed), DL Braden Fiske (undisclosed), WR Davante Adams (non-injury) and OT Rob Havenstein (non-injury) did not practice Wednesday, Sept. 17. TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder) was a limited participant.
From TheHuddle