Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols chipped in four carries for 25 yards in addition to his usual contributions in pass protection in Week 1 against the Giants. It was a bit of a question going into the game whether McNichols or Chris Rodriguez Jr. would be the third running back active or if the team would activate all four backs. They opted for the veteran McNichols, who is an excellent pass protector and core special teams player. That aligns with their approach last season, as McNichols was active for 17 games and made a real impact. Rodriguez had a great training camp in preseason and could be active for games in the future, but McNichols's role as the third back seems safe headed into Thursday night's matchup against the Packers.

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Washington Commanders kicker Matt Gay did not attempt a field goal in their 21-6 Week 1 against the Giants, but converted all three extra points. Gay likely would have had a field goal opportunity at the end of the first half, but Washington was called for an intentional grounding penalty with a handful of seconds left and no timeouts left, leaving the clock to run out. The offense had other sloppy moments that ended potential scoring drives early, but still moved the ball at will. In a projected shootout on Thursday night in Green Bay, Gay should be fired up as one of the top kicker options in Week 2.

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Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (knee) remained sidelined during the team's practice on Wednesday afternoon. Wright was listed as a non-participant on each day leading up to their season opener against the Colts, and remains in the same capacity to open Week 2. Managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears Wright is trending towards missing his second-straight contest. In Week 1, star running back De'Von Achane took most of the workload while rookie Ollie Gordon II operated as the No. 2. Last season, Wright posted a 3.7 YPC over the 68 attempts he took as a rookie. When he does return, he will likely compete for the backup job with Gordon, as Achane is well established as the team's workhorse. Wright is only worth stashing in deep 14+ team leagues in an IR spot, as his recovery timeline is still not defined.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown ran a limited number of routes in Week 1 against the Giants after suffering a knee injury in training camp. He ran 19 out of 33 possible routes, and that number should increase as he ramps back up. Washington will likely still rotate Brown with other receivers to an extent, but he is expected to serve as the primary boundary wide receiver this season opposite Terry McLaurin. While he didn't rack up big stats, he had plenty of positive moments last season, including the infamous Hail Mary catch against the Bears. But he proved to be a reliable weapon that quarterback Jayden Daniels often trusted to win. Oftentimes, he did, and he also excelled in generating pass interference penalties down the field. Brown plays his role well on a winning team, but he won't be on many fantasy radars for Week 2.

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New York Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor (ankle) was unable to participate during Wednesday's initial practice session due to an ankle injury. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status as he could be closely monitored heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Bills. In his NFL debut last Sunday, the LSU product caught his lone target for 20 yards. He took the backseat to Jeremy Ruckert, who was able to bring in two receptions for 16 yards. If Taylor were to sit out in this game, Ruckert would see the majority of targets at the tight end position. However, fantasy managers should expect top wide receiver Garrett Wilson to remain Justin Fields's clear top option as he drew a hefty nine targets in their loss to Pittsburgh.

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Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane had a role in the offense in his NFL debut, catching one of two targets for 11 yards. Lane is entrenched as the team's starting punt returner, but he also impressed in his reps as a receiver during training camp and preseason, which ultimately earned him the No. 4 wide receiver spot. It was a small thing, but Lane dropped the first target he received from quarterback Jayden Daniels. But Daniels had faith in the fourth-round rookie and went right back to him on the next play, and Lane made the catch about six yards, then turned upfield for an 11-yard gain for his first career touch. Lane will likely continue to see a handful of snaps on offense a week now that the top of the Washington receiver room is intact. He is worth keeping an eye on in redraft leagues with his explosive playmaking ability.

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New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice due to a shoulder injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor him during the week. However, seeing him open the week in a limited capacity does not suggest that this injury is not severe. In the season opener, Boutte emerged as Drake Maye's top target as he brought in six of his targets for an impressive 103 yards. Boutte enjoyed an impressive conclusion to the 2024 season, and it appears he is building off his strong finish. Over his final three games in 2024, Boutte scored two touchdowns and averaged 80.0 yards per game. Given his role as the team's top wideout, he carries high-end WR3 value heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Dolphins.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (shoulder) is dealing with a shoulder injury and was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel reports. Waddle suffered the injury in the Dolphins' 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, but he did return after a brief exit. While Waddle caught four of five targets in Miami's season opener, he only accounted for 30 yards in a rough afternoon for him and his team. If Waddle takes the field in Week 2, he'll go up against a New England Patriots defense that could be without No. 1 cornerback Christian Gonzalez (hamstring), who sat out Week 1 and did not practice on Wednesday.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) is not participating in practice on Wednesday, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Jennings is dealing with a left-shoulder injury that isn't regarded as significant, but he's not a lock to play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. While Jennings caught just two of five targets for 16 yards in a win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1, going without him on Sunday would be another unwelcome development for the 49ers' wounded offense. The team placed standout tight end George Kittle (hamstring) on Injured Reserve earlier this week, and quarterback Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder) seems likely to sit out because of toe and shoulder issues. Even if Jennings is ready to go on Sunday, the fact that Mac Jones could start at QB won't do his fantasy stock any favors.

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Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz had a productive Week 1 against the Giants, securing three of his five targets for 26 yards and a touchdown. He and quarterback Jayden Daniels have developed excellent chemistry on third down and in red zone situations. Ertz had an uncharacteristic sequence on the first drive of the game, where he was flagged for a false start penalty, and then on the next play, he dropped a pass that would have converted a third-and-10. He redeemed himself later with the score. Now he and Washington face a Green Bay defense that shut down a potent Detroit attack. There weren't many signs of positivity for the Lions offense in their 27-13 Week 1 loss, but tight end Sam LaPorta led the team with 79 receiving yards. Ertz will look to have a similarly productive day against Green Bay on Thursday Night Football, and should be viewed as a low-end TE1.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (glute) is dealing with a glute injury, but it didn't stop him from fully participating in practice on Wednesday. As of now, it appears he'll be good to go against a stingy Denver Broncos defense led by all-world cornerback Patrick Surtain II on Sunday. Pittman got off to a great start in catching six of eight targets for 80 yards in a blowout win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. However, it could be tough sledding for Pittman this week if he's matched up against Surtain, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Surtain broke up the only pass thrown his way in a Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans.

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Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler operated mostly as the team's lead back in Week 1 against the Giants, leading the backfield with 32 snaps out of 65 plays. He only touched the ball nine times for the game, but was again efficient with 57 yards. The roles are still fairly fluid in the Washington backfield, but Week 1 could be instructive for how it might look going forward. Washington essentially gave Ekeler and Croskey-Merritt their own drives against the Giants, which is interesting. Ekeler was out-carried by Croskey-Merritt 10 to six, and the rookie could continue to earn more touches as the season goes on. Ekeler faces another stiff test against the Packers' defense that held Lions superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs to just 50 yards on 19 touches. He should be looked at as a quality FLEX with projectable volume for Week 2.

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After impressing in his New York Jets debut last Sunday, quarterback Justin Fields appears to have a favorable matchup in Week 2. The mobile Fields will face the Buffalo Bills, who were unable to contain the Baltimore Ravens' rushing attack on Sunday. While the Bills pulled off a stunning 41-40 win, quarterback Lamar Jackson rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on six carries. He also completed 14 of 19 passes for 209 yards and two scores. To be sure, Fields isn't on the level of Jackson, a two-time MVP and a potential Hall of Famer. However, although Fields hasn't excelled as a passer in four full seasons in the NFL, he has been a major threat on the ground (5.9 yards per carry, 21 TDs on 430 attempts). He flashed his dual-threat abilities in a Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying 12 times for 48 yards and a pair of TDs and completing 16 of 22 passes for 218 and another score. The Steelers have a better defense than the Bills on paper, which could bode well for Fields in Week 2. The 26-year-old is still available in 13% of Yahoo leagues and may be worth a look as a key component of a run-heavy offense.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. thrived in his first game with the team, catching seven of his 10 targets for 77 yards and also scoring a 19-yard touchdown on his only carry. With No. 1 wide receiver Terry McLaurin missing training camp, Samuel established a great connection and trust with quarterback Jayden Daniels and was the focal point of the passing attack in the season opener. He received his usual diet of screens and underneath routes while mixing in a few deep crossers and dig routes that he excelled at in San Francisco. Samuel looks like an ideal fit in this Washington offense led by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. The yards after the catch element was lacking a bit in this offense last season, and there are few better with the ball in their hands than Samuel. He faces a Green Bay defense that ran zone coverage at the third-highest rate in the league in Week 1. That sets up favorably for Samuel, as he's performed much better against zone compared to man for his career. Samuel should be viewed as a high-end WR3 for fantasy purposes in Week 2.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) is "a long shot" to play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters. Purdy is dealing with injuries to his toe and left (non-throwing) shoulder, which could set the stage for Mac Jones to get his first start as a member of the 49ers. Jones, a former first-round pick from Alabama, picked up 49 starts in his first four seasons while playing with the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars. Aside from a promising first season, though, Jones has underwhelmed in the NFL. On paper, Jones and the 49ers will face a weak opponent in the Saints' defense, but the Niners' injury issues on offense go beyond Purdy. Tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) won't play, while WRs Jauan Jennings (shoulder) and Jordan Watkins (ankle) are also among the team's banged-up players. Jones clearly won't be operating with a full complement of weapons if he does start.

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Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (hamstring) was limited at practice on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. There's no indication that Cook is dealing with a serious issue, but it's something to keep an eye on leading up to Sunday's game against the New York Jets. Cook played 56.5% of offensive snaps in the Bills' Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens and accounted for 102 total yards on 18 touches. The 25-year-old rushed for just 44 yards on 13 attempts, but he found the end zone on the ground (something he did a league-high 16 times in 2024) and got involved in the passing game. Cook caught all five of his targets for 58 yards, including a 51-yarder. If he's not at 100% against the Jets, it could lead to more opportunities for backups Ray Davis and Ty Johnson. Neither Davis nor Johnson made much of an impact in the opener.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was slow out of the gate in Week 1 against the Giants, catching two of his four targets for 27 yards. A slow start to the season could have been somewhat expected for McLaurin after limited practice time amidst his contract negotiations. The talk of a slow start could have been mitigated if he and Jayden Daniels were able to connect on a deep shot where McLaurin had his man beat badly on a double move. With the new acquisition, Deebo Samuel Sr. making his team debut, play caller Kliff Kingsbury made an emphasis to get Samuel involved, and he has established a good connection with Daniels after McLaurin missed a lot of time in training camp. A positive, at least for McLaurin, is that he did not face any restrictions regarding his snap count and routes. The star receiver started slow last season as he built rapport with Daniels, and should be expected to bounce back against an exploitable Green Bay secondary. McLaurin has faced the Packers three times in his career and has put up strong numbers, catching 16 of 27 targets for 252 yards and three touchdowns. He should be viewed as a mid-range WR2 with upside in a projected high-scoring Week 2 matchup against the Packers.

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said on Wednesday that running back Ty Chandler (undisclosed) will miss some time going forward with an undisclosed injury that he picked up in Monday night's win over the Chicago Bears in Week 1. It's unclear what Chandler is dealing with, but he will not be available in Week 2 for a Sunday night tilt with the Atlanta Falcons. The 27-year-old began the 2025 season as the team's No. 3 RB behind Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason, but he only appeared on special teams as a kick returner on Monday and averaged 28 yards on his three kickoff returns. Zavier Scott was inactive in Week 1 with an ankle injury, so Minnesota's RB depth could be thin behind Jones and Mason early in the year.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (back) said that he wasn't moving as well as he would have liked in the Week 1 win over his former team, the New York Jets, while dealing with "some back tightness," according to Alan Saunders of PGH Steelers Now. Rodgers also said that some of the sacks he took were a result of his back tightness. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer looked much better than most people expected in his Steelers debut against a reputable Jets defense, throwing for 244 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions on 22-for-30 passing. It doesn't necessarily mean his status is in question for Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, but we'll certainly keep a close eye on his practice status this week. Despite his four-touchdown season-opening performance, Rodgers should be treated as a low-end QB2 option in fantasy against Seattle, especially if he's already not 100 percent.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (hip) was not seen at Wednesday's practice session, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Head coach Mike McDaniel said he thinks he'll have a better read on Waller's status for Week 2 later in the week, but after Waller did not practice at all last week before being inactive for the Week 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, it sure doesn't look like he's trending in the right direction to make his Dolphins debut this Sunday against the division-rival New England Patriots. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues should be leaving the 32-year-old veteran on the waiver wire for now. If Waller misses a second straight game this weekend, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner will both pick up more playing time, but they won't be recommended fantasy streamers in a Dolphins offense that was putrid in the season opener.

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