Sat Aug 23 12:24am ET
Field Level Media
Two days after signing a two-year, $10 million extension, Chicago quarterback Tyson Bagent capped a monster night by throwing the game-winning touchdown pass with three seconds left as the visiting Bears beat the Kansas City Chiefs 29-27 on Friday night.
Bagent, whom the Bears signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, spent his first year in the league backing up Justin Fields and then sat behind 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams last season.
After Williams opened the Friday game with his own strong performance (11-for-15, 113 yards and one touchdown), Bagent went on a tear after entering the game midway through the third quarter and the Bears (2-0-1) trailing 27-10.
Bagent went 20 of 28 for 212 yards overall and three TDs, all in the fourth quarter. The final touchdown capped a 10-play, 87-yard drive and ended when Bagent found undrafted free agent rookie Jahdae Walker in the end zone from 6 yards out for the winner.
Bagent opened the Bears' onslaught with a 2-yard scoring pass to Royce Freeman two minutes into the fourth to make it 27-16 (the extra-point attempt was blocked), then made it 27-22 with a 3-yard strike to tight end Joel Wilson. A failed two-point conversion attempt left the Bears needing the touchdown at the end to win it.
Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes saw action in the final week of the preseason and looked ready for the regular season. He led Kansas City to 17 points in his three drives, connecting with Rashee Rice on a 4-yard scoring strike on the first play of the second quarter to make it 17-0. That ended the night for Mahomes, who was 8 of 13 for 143 yards and the one score and gained 18 yards on his lone carry.
Tight end Travis Kelce caught two passes for 32 yards for the Chiefs, while Isiah Pacheco ran for 21 yards on three carries and opened the scoring with a 2-yard run on the game's first drive.
Titans 23, Vikings 13
No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward got the start in his final preseason game and led Tennessee to a touchdown on his second and final drive of the game as the Titans beat Minnesota in Nashville.
Ward finished 3-for-4 with 36 yards passing. After both teams exchanged punts to start the game, the Vikings (1-2) got on the board with a 42-yard Will Reichard field goal. But the Titans (2-1) answered with a 13-play, 90-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard scoring run by Julius Chestnut with 12:15 left in the first half.
With Will Levis out for the season due to a shoulder injury, expectations are that Ward, who finished fourth in the Heisman voting in his lone season at Miami in 2024, will start Week 1 at Denver on Sept. 7.
Minnesota's Week 1 starter behind center, J.J. McCarthy, did not play in the game. A rookie in 2024, McCarthy missed all of last season after sustaining a knee injury in the preseason. Max Brosmer, who is a rookie this season, continued his strong preseason with 161 yards and a touchdown pass for the Vikings.
Eagles 19, Jets 17
Montrell Johnson Jr. ran for 57 yards and Philadelphia's lone touchdown as the Eagles ended the preseason with a victory over New York in East Rutherford, N.J.
An undrafted free agent rookie out of Florida, Johnson scored from 15 yards out with 8:04 left in the third quarter to make it 13-3 after the teams combined for three field goals in the first half.
Fellow rookie Kyle McCord, taken in the sixth round out of Syracuse, played the entire game for the Eagles (2-1). He went 15-for-35 for 136 yards and an interception.
Brady Cook got the start behind center for the Jets (1-2). The rookie quarterback out of Missouri threw for 99 yards and an interception while Adrian Martinez, who spent last season on the New York practice squad, threw 86 yards and an interception in relief.
Cowboys 31, Falcons 13
In his last chance to state his case for being Dallas' backup quarterback, Joe Milton III accounted for 165 yards and two touchdowns and led the Cowboys to 14 points in their first two drives as they easily defeated Atlanta in Arlington, Texas.
Milton, who has flashed one of the strongest arms in the league in the preseason, opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run after the Falcons missed a field-goal attempt in the game's opening drive. Rookie fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue made it 14-0 on the next drive with a 1-yard scoring run.
Milton then opened the third quarter with 29-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Brooks. Milton, whom the Cowboys (1-2) acquired from the New England Patriots in April, completed 10 of 18 passes for 132 yards and added 33 yards on four carries.
Veteran quarterback Easton Stick led the Falcons (0-3) with 198 yards passing, one touchdown and one interception. Running back Elijah Dotson had a game-high 74 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said the team is working with quarterback Caleb Williams on being more consistent with his footwork to improve his accuracy as a thrower. Per ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Johnson said that there were "probably three or four" throws from Williams' Week 1 performance against the Minnesota Vikings that "we would want back." Williams completed 60% of his 35 pass attempts against Minnesota for 210 yards and a touchdown. He gets a decent matchup in Week 2 against a Detroit Lions defense that may be without All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph (knee). Still, Williams is tough for fantasy managers to trust until he proves he can be more consistent. Williams profiles as a fantasy QB2 in Week 2 who can be started in Superflex leagues but should be avoided in single-QB formats.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen praised running back Travis Etienne Jr. after Etienne Jr.'s big performance in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. Per ESPN's Michael DiRocco, Coen had this to say about Etienne Jr.: "It took some time early on in terms of understanding the demands and the standards. Once (Etienne Jr.) really got on the same page, it's been doing this (upward motion)." The Jaguars traded running back Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles following Week 1, clearing the way for Etienne Jr. and rookie Bhayshul Tuten to dominate touches in Jacksonville. Etienne Jr. profiles as a fantasy RB2 in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson has been a favorite target of current Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler. Johnson was Rattler's most targeted receiver (33) in 2024, and he led New Orleans in targets (eight) in Week 1 of 2025. Per ESPN's Katherine Terrell, Rattler said that he and Johnson have a "great connection going back to last year." Johnson could be a sneaky low-end fantasy starter at tight end early in the season, particularly while Saints tight ends Taysom Hill (knee) and Foster Moreau (knee) remain sidelined.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson has been elevated to the active roster ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots. Patterson will once again serve as the kicker in Miami with Jason Sanders (hip) still sidelined. He didn't attempt any kicks during the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins were blown out during that game, so Patterson wasn't needed. Hopefully, Patterson will actually get to attempt some kicks this week. The Dolphins offense looked awful in Week 1, so Patterson isn't someone who should be trusted as a viable source for fantasy points right now.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. was elevated to the active roster ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots. Wilson is back on the active roster for the second straight week. The Dolphins are likely without Jaylen Wright (knee), so Wilson will serve as depth once again. Wilson only took one snap last week and is unlikely to have a significant role on Sunday. The 29-year-old is being brought up as depth, so he'll probably stand on the sideline unless an injury happens. Wilson has put together a few solid seasons during his career. However, he's not someone that needs to be rostered in fantasy formats at the moment.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson doesn't appear to be on the hot seat at the moment. After a lackluster season opener, Wilson's starting job was being called into question by the media. Despite that, the Giants are going to stay committed to Wilson as their starting quarterback. According to Adam Schefter, there is no urgency for the Giants to make a change at quarterback. As expected, the Giants want Jaxson Dart to sit behind Wilson and develop. The Giants don't want to rush an inexperienced quarterback onto the field. It sounds like for the moment, Wilson will remain the starter, but he could also play himself out of the starting job.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Adrian Martinez has been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Martinez was signed to the 49ers practice squad after failing to make the New York Jets initial 53-man roster. He wasn't expected to be anything more than a third or fourth string depth option. However, the 49ers are going to be without Brock Purdy (shoulder) and Kurtis Rourke (knee) for Sunday's game. That being said, Martinez will head to the active roster and be the backup to Mac Jones. There isn't fantasy value here with Martinez right now, but he's a name to watch if something happens to Jones.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is officially listed as questionable for the Monday night meeting with the Chargers. The 22-year-old had five grabs for a team-high 103 yards in the Week 1 win over the New England Patriots before being ruled out because of a knee injury. He didn't practice on Thursday or Friday. However, Bowers was on the field on Saturday for a limited session. Head coach Pete Carroll expects him to be out there for the pivotal AFC West showdown. Still, fantasy managers may want to consider taking a cautious approach in case Bowers suffers an unexpected setback before then. This won't apply to those who have Michael Mayer stashed for insurance purposes, who can serve as a fantasy replacement if Bowers doesn't suit up. Mayer had 38 yards off four receptions against the Pats.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (hamstring) will not play on Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a hamstring injury, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Kirk has yet to suit up for the Texans as a result of the injury. Without Kirk, rookie wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel could be in line for more snaps in Week 2. Texans tight end Dalton Schultz could also see an uptick in targets, as he's typically effective in the same areas of the field as Kirk. Still, outside of star wideout Nico Collins, none of Houston's skill position players profiles as a must-start fantasy option for Week 2.
From RotoBaller
The Atlanta Falcons are elevating kicker Parker Romo from their practice squad, and Romo will serve as the team's kicker in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. Atlanta signed Romo to a practice squad deal after veteran kicker Younghoe Koo missed a potential game-tying field goal attempt in the team's Week 1 loss. Romo kicked in four games for the Vikings last season, making 11 of 12 field goal attempts and seven of eight extra-point tries. He profiles outside of the top-12 fantasy kickers for Week 2.
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Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll says that he expects tight end Brock Bowers (knee) to play in the team's Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, per Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee. Bowers suffered a knee injury in Week 1 that forced him to miss practice on both Thursday and Friday of this week, but he was reportedly back at practice on Saturday. Even while leaving the game early, Bowers logged five catches for 103 yards in Week 1. As long as he's active, Bowers is a must-start tight end in Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo (undisclosed) will not be active for his team's Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Falcons are elevating kicker Parker Romo from the practice squad to take Koo's place. The 31-year-old Koo missed a crucial field goal attempt in the closing seconds of Atlanta's Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, prompting the team to sign Romo. The Falcons have not parted ways with Koo yet, but the writing could be on the wall for the veteran kicker.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Tahj Brooks didn't log an offensive snap in the Week 1 win over the Browns. Most assumed the rookie would have at least a small role in the offense. However, that didn't happen in the AFC North clash with Cleveland, with Samaje Perine getting 13 snaps and Chase Brown leading the way with 39. Without question, Brown was expected to get most of the work out of the backfield for the Bengals this season. That likely won't change unless he goes down with an injury. Brooks should get some snaps moving forward, but he has a long way to go before earning a spot in redraft lineups, including for the Week 2 meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars. On the other hand, he's at least worth stashing on dynasty rosters.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Noah Fant had a team-high four catches in Sunday's win over the Browns. While he only accumulated 26 yards, he was the only Bengal besides Chase Brown to score a touchdown. Most assumed Mike Gesicki would see more work than Fant throughout the 2025 campaign. While that could still happen moving forward, that wasn't the case in Week 1, with Fant logging 26 snaps and Gesicki finishing with 16. The veteran still has a way to go before earning the trust of fantasy managers, especially since Gesicki likely isn't going away, considering his on-field relationship with quarterback Joe Burrow. Still, Fant can be utilized for streaming purposes in multi-tight end setups for the Week 2 meeting with the Jags. Fantasy managers should just be aware of the risk.
From RotoBaller
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine had two catches for six yards in the Week 1 win over the Browns. The veteran re-signed with the Bengals during the offseason, marking his third stint with the team. Most assumed he'd be routinely involved. However, that wasn't the case versus Cleveland, with Perine logging only 13 offensive snaps compared to Chase Brown's 39. Tahj Brooks didn't do anything. While that suggests the 29-year-old has a firm grasp over the rookie for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, neither man isn't expected to have a consistent role in the offense moving ahead. That also applies to the Week 2 meeting with the Jags. As a result, fantasy managers should keep Perine on the bench. Better yet, he shouldn't even be on most fantasy rosters, although that could change if Brown gets hurt at some point throughout the 2025 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Browns running back Quinshon Judkins has been activated and will make his debut this week. Dynasty Analysis: Judkins is still in hot water with the league over domestic violence allegations but the Browns will take what they can get at the moment. He'll slot in as a change of pace back behind Jerome Ford but Dylan Sampson was impressive last week and this backfield has the looks of a three-headed monster moving forward. Judkins is far off the lineup consideration list at the moment but we'll finally see just how his talent translates to the NFL this Sunday.
Dynasty | The Patriots have traded wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk to the New Orleans Saints. Dynasty Analysis: The teams will swap sixth and seventh round picks as part of the trade. Polk is out for the year with a shoulder injury but was in danger of not making the roster this year, despite being a second round pick last year. He appeared in 15 games and made seven starts for the Patriots, but only caught 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. Things clearly went south at some point and the Pats simply gave up on him. Polk could be a sneaky dynasty pickup towards the end of the year but the bloom is clearly off the rose here.
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson made his only kick attempt, a 35-yarder, in the Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns. He also made both extra-point attempts. The Bengals offense had issues getting anything going in the opener, with quarterback Joe Burrow tossing for 113 yards off a miserable 14-for-23 passing (60.9%). Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins also struggled, combining for five receptions. With that in mind, a poor offensive showing in divisional matchups hasn't been that uncommon for Cincy over the years, so there's reason to believe a turnaround for Burrow and company could be on the horizon. If the signal-caller can lead the offense into the Red Zone more often than he did against the Browns (there's a good chance he will), McPherson should be more productive in Week 2, making him a practical choice for any fantasy lineup.
From RotoBaller
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com speculates that Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins will "get about a dozen carries" in his NFL debut against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. 12 carries might be a bigger workload for Judkins than some were expecting, considering that the rookie missed all of training camp and has only had two practices with the team to this point. The Browns split carries in Week 1 between Dylan Sampson, Jerome Ford, and Raheim Sanders and were ineffective running the ball, averaging just two yards per rush attempt as a team. If Judkins logs double-digit touches on Sunday, he could become a viable fantasy starter sooner rather than later in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is practicing on Saturday after being held out on both Thursday and Friday, per ESPN's Ryan McFadden. Bowers was forced to leave Las Vegas' Week 1 win over the New England Patriots due to a knee injury. His status for Week 2 remains up in the air, but it's a positive sign that he was able to take the field on Saturday. The Raiders play on Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, so fantasy managers may be faced with a difficult choice if Bowers' status for Monday is not confirmed before the majority of teams take the field on Sunday. If Bowers can play, he's a must-start fantasy tight end in all formats.
From RotoBaller