NFL roundup: Aaron Rodgers' 4 TDs lead Steelers past Jets

Sun Sep 7 8:50pm ET
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Chris Boswell kicked a career-long 60-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining for the seventh and final lead change as the Pittsburgh Steelers edged the New York Jets 34-32 in Sunday's opener in East Rutherford, N.J.

The franchise-record boot made for a winning Steelers debut for Aaron Rodgers, who passed for 244 yards and four touchdowns while playing against his former teammates. Calvin Austin, Ben Skowronek, Jonnu Smith and Jaylen Warren caught the touchdown passes that pushed Rodgers' career total to 507 -- one behind Brett Favre for fourth on the NFL's all-time list.

Justin Fields rushed for two touchdowns and passed for one in his Jets debut. Fields, who played for the Steelers last year, completed 16 of 22 passes for 218 yards and added 48 on the ground. His 1-yard bootleg gave the Jets a 32-31 edge with 7:01 to play.

Garrett Wilson caught seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, Braelon Allen rushed for a score and Breece Hall had 145 scrimmage yards (107 rushing, 38 receiving).

Buccaneers 23, Falcons 20

Baker Mayfield found rookie Emeka Egbuka for a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown pass with 59 seconds left to propel visiting Tampa Bay over Atlanta.

Mayfield completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns while Egbuka had four catches for 67 yards and two scores to lead the Buccaneers to a season-opening win.

Michael Penix Jr. threw for 298 yards and a touchdown and Bijan Robinson had 100 receiving yards and a score in the loss. The Falcons had a chance to force overtime, but Younghoe Koo's 44-yard field-goal attempt drifted right with two seconds to go.

Bengals 17, Browns 16

Joe Burrow was held to 113 yards passing, but two key Joe Flacco interceptions helped Cincinnati hold on for its first season-opening win in four years, over host Cleveland.

Burrow was just 14 of 23 for 113 yards and a touchdown while Flacco finished 31-of-45 for 290 yards with one touchdown and the pair of interceptions in an AFC North clash that the Browns had chances to win.

Evan McPherson had what would be the game-winning points with a 35-yard field goal with 2:48 to play in the third quarter. The kick was set up by a Jordan Battle interception that the safety returned to the Cleveland 29. Neither team scored the rest of the way.

Raiders 20, Patriots 13

New quarterback Geno Smith threw for 362 yards, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty scored the go-ahead touchdown, and visiting Las Vegas gave new coach Pete Carroll a win in his first game, stopping New England.

Smith completed 24 of 34 passes with a touchdown and an interception. Jeanty had just 38 yards on 19 carries, but one of them was a 3-yard run with 9:39 left in the third quarter that put the Raiders ahead for good.

Drake Maye hit 30 of 46 attempts for 287 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but it wasn't enough to give Mike Vrabel a win in his first game as New England's coach. Wasted in the loss were 2 1/2 sacks from Harold Landry and 103 receiving yards from Kayshon Boutte.

Colts 33, Dolphins 8

Daniel Jones threw one touchdown pass and ran for two more in his team debut to lead host Indianapolis to a comfortable victory over Miami.

Jones completed 22 of 29 passes for 272 yards. Receiver Michael Pittman led all Colts receivers with six catches for 80 yards and rookie tight end Tyler Warren had a stellar debut with seven catches for 76 yards. Jonathan Taylor ran for 71 yards on 18 carries for a Colts team which ran 70 plays on offense as opposed to Miami's 46.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was responsible for three giveaways, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble on a strip sack. Tagovailoa completed 14 of 23 passes for 114 yards and finished with a 51.7 passer rating.

Cardinals 20, Saints 13

Kyler Murray threw two touchdown passes and visiting Arizona beat New Orleans, spoiling Kellen Moore's debut as an NFL head coach.

Murray threw for just 163 yards while completing 21 of 29, but his scoring passes to Marvin Harrison Jr. (1 yard) and James Conner (4 yards) made the difference for the Cardinals.

Spencer Rattler finished 27 of 46 for 214 yards with no touchdowns for the Saints. Alvin Kamara rushed for 45 yards and a score.

Commanders 21, Giants 6

Jayden Daniels passed for 233 yards, rushed for 68 more and threw for one touchdown as Washington opened its season with a win over visiting New York.

Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel caught seven passes for 77 yards and ran for a 19-yard touchdown in his Washington debut. Daniels completed 19 of 30 passes, and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt had 82 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries as Washington ran for 220 yards.

In his first game for the Giants, Russell Wilson was 17 of 37 passing for 168 yards and led the Giants with 44 rushing yards. Malik Nabers had five catches for 71 yards.

Jaguars 26, Panthers 10

Jacksonville scored on four of its five first-half possessions to win head coach Liam Coen's debut versus visiting Carolina.

Linebacker Foye Oluokun racked up 10 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble as the Jaguars kept the Panthers out of the end zone until 4:47 remained. Trevor Lawrence hit 19 of 31 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception while Travis Etienne Jr. rushed for 143 yards.

The Panthers' Bryce Young completed 18 of 35 for 154 yards and one score, but he tossed two interceptions and lost a fumble. Chuba Hubbard rushed for 57 yards and caught three passes for 32 yards and one score. First-round pick Tetairoa McMillan had five receptions for 68 yards.

49ers 17, Seahawks 13

Backup tight end Jake Tonges caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy with 1:34 remaining to help San Francisco rally to defeat host Seattle.

The Seahawks drove to San Francisco's 9-yard line in the final minute before defensive end Nick Bosa pushed tackle Abraham Lucas into quarterback Sam Darnold, forcing a fumble. Bosa recovered the ball to clinch the victory. Darnold, making his first start for the Seahawks after being signed as a free agent in the offseason, was 16 of 23 for 150 yards.

Tonges, filling in for the injured George Kittle, made his first three career receptions on the deciding drive. On the last, Purdy scrambled and threw a jump ball into the back-right corner of the end zone, where Tonges took the ball away from cornerback Riq Woolen. Purdy, who signed a $265 million extension in the offseason, completed 26 of 35 passes for 277 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.

Packers 27, Lions 13

Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes and host Green Bay kept Detroit's potent offense out of the end zone until the final minute Sunday in a season opener between teams expected to challenge for the NFC North title.

Love completed 16 of 22 passes for 188 yards, spreading the ball to 10 different receivers. His two first-half touchdowns paced the Packers to a 17-3 halftime lead. Green Bay star edge rusher Micah Parsons recorded his first sack late in the fourth quarter after being acquired in a blockbuster trade with Dallas in late August.

Lions QB Jared Goff completed 31 of 39 passes for 225 yards with one interception and a 13-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa with 55 seconds left.

Rams 14, Texans 9

Matthew Stafford passed for 245 yards and a touchdown, and a stifling defensive performance propelled Los Angeles to a victory over visiting Houston.

Puka Nacua led the Rams offensively with 10 catches for 130 yards. Kyren Williams had 18 carries for 66 yards and a score on the ground. The Rams sacked Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud three times and forced two turnovers, one to seal the win with less than two minutes to play.

Stroud passed for 188 yards and was intercepted once as the Rams collectively kept top receiver Nico Collins (three receptions, 25 yards) in check. Running back Nick Chubb led the Texans with 13 carries for 60 yards.

Broncos 20, Titans 12

Bo Nix threw for a touchdown, J.K. Dobbins ran for a score and the Denver defense made life miserable for rookie quarterback Cam Ward in a season-opening win over visiting Tennessee.

The Broncos overcame four turnovers, including two picks and a fumble by Nix, thanks to 133 rushing yards from rookie RJ Harvey (70) and Dobbins (63), whose fourth-quarter score provided some insurance.

Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft, completed only 12 of 28 passes for 112 yards while absorbing six sacks. All of the Titans' scoring came on a quartet of field goals from Joey Slye.

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The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 2

Player Notes
Tahj Brooks Sep 13 2:30pm CT
Tahj Brooks

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

Noah Fant Sep 13 2:30pm CT
Noah Fant

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

Samaje Perine Sep 13 2:20pm CT
Samaje Perine

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

Jerome Ford Sep 13 2:13pm CT
Jerome Ford

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.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Ja'Lynn Polk Sep 13 2:13pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

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.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Evan McPherson Sep 13 2:00pm CT
Evan McPherson

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

Quinshon Judkins Sep 13 1:50pm CT
Quinshon Judkins

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

Brock Bowers Sep 13 1:40pm CT
Brock Bowers

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

Kyle Monangai Sep 13 1:30pm CT
Kyle Monangai

Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai has "earned the faith" of the Bears coaches, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. Monangai did not record a carry in Chicago's Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that he needs to call more run plays in future games. Bears RB1 D'Andre Swift struggled to be efficient against Minnesota, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. Monangai does not appear to be a serious threat to Swift in the short term. Still, he could be a late-season breakout candidate for fantasy managers to monitor if Chicago continues to struggle to move the ball on the ground.

From RotoBaller

Austin Ekeler Sep 13 1:13pm CT
Austin Ekeler

Dynasty | Commanders running back Austin Ekeler has a torn Achilles and will miss the rest of the season. Dynasty Analysis: It only took a little over a week for the first major injury to occur and it's happened to the veteran running back. This is hardly a surprise after he went down Thursday night in a non-contact fashion. Ekeler is going to have a lengthy road back and as a running back past the age of 30, this is going to be an injury that could be career-ending. He's in the final year of his contract, so his future is even that much more uncertain. Once a dominant fantasy force, Ekeler is likely headed for waiver wires in most leagues.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Tyreek Hill Sep 13 1:13pm CT
Tyreek Hill

Dynasty | The Dolphins are reportedly not intending to trade wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Dynasty Analysis: It's pretty easy to say that when Hill is currently under investigation for domestic violence. Let's be honest - Hill's days in Miami are likely numbered. Should the season truly go off the rails, Miami may change their mind and listen to offers. However, teams who could be interested (Kansas City and Pittsburgh have been rumored to be) aren't going to do anything until these new allegations are cleared up. Hill is a sketchy WR1 bet at the moment as his situation is starting to put the "South" in South Beach.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Eddy Pineiro Sep 13 1:10pm CT
Eddy Pineiro

San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro revealed that he had offers from at least two teams before signing with the Niners this past week. Pineiro acknowledged that he chose the 49ers over an offer from the Atlanta Falcons. While the veteran kicker did not explain his reasoning for the decision, it's likely because he was offered a 53-man roster spot with San Francisco, whereas Atlanta merely wanted to add him to the practice squad as competition for Younghoee Koo. The Falcons pivoted to John Parker Romo, who will now add some pressure on Koo going forward. As for Pineiro, the veteran kicker will be active for his 49ers debut on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. He owns an impressive 88.1 percent success rate on field goals through his five years in the NFL, which includes stints with the Bears, Jets, and Panthers. Pineiro has top-12 kicker upside in fantasy football, but scoring opportunities could be a little harder to come by with Brock Purdy (shoulder), George Kittle (hamstring), and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) sidelined. On the other hand, Mac Jones' drives may stall just over midfield, creating more long field goal opportunities for Pineiro. He's a solid streaming option in leagues with 12+ teams.

From RotoBaller

Ryan Flournoy Sep 13 1:00pm CT
Ryan Flournoy

The Dallas Cowboys have elevated wide receiver Ryan Flournoy from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Sunday's Week 2 contest against the New York Giants. The 2024 sixth-round pick was active for the season opener, too, but he didn't register a target. As a rookie last year, the Southeast Missouri State product caught 10 of 14 targets for 102 yards. He's still searching for his first career NFL touchdown. It's unlikely to happen this week as Flournoy remains buried in a depth role behind players like CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin.

From RotoBaller

Colby Parkinson Sep 13 12:50pm CT
Colby Parkinson

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (shoulder) is listed as doubtful to play in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. He missed all three practices this week while recovering from an AC joint sprain that he suffered last Sunday against the Houston Texans. Parkinson was actually able to finish last week's game after receiving medical attention, but evidently, the Rams aren't going to send him onto the field for Week 2. Instead, look for Terrance Ferguson to make his NFL debut in a tight end committee that also features Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen. None of these Rams tight ends can be trusted in fantasy football, but Ferguson is an intriguing stash in dynasty leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Sep 13 12:40pm CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee is headed for another sizable snap share in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, but his target share and overall productivity are far less certain. Higbee played 58 percent of the offensive snaps last week, and Los Angeles routinely rolled out two-tight end sets. However, he was not targeted in the victory. Furthermore, Los Angeles shared the wealth as Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen were both on the field for more than one-third of the offensive snaps, too. It's possible that we see a tight end committee for the rest of the season in Los Angeles, and rookie Terrance Ferguson should join the mix with Parkinson (shoulder) doubtful to play. With too much uncertainty here, all Los Angeles tight ends, including Higbee, can be left on waivers in redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tutu Atwell Sep 13 12:20pm CT
Tutu Atwell

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell could see his snap count continue to decline in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. During last week's season opener, Atwell, who was originally believed to be the team's No. 3 receiver, finished fourth among the position group in snap share (42 percent). He caught just one pass for four yards when all was said and done. To make matters worse, a portion of Atwell's snaps came when Puka Nacua was being evaluated for a concussion. With Nacua healthy, it's possible that Atwell plays even fewer snaps in Week 2. Plus, his productivity could suffer against a surprisingly solid Titans secondary that intercepted Bo Nix twice last week. Atwell is an intriguing waiver wire option if Nacua or Davante Adams suffer an injury, but for now, he should be left off your roster.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Sep 13 12:20pm CT
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua should rank as a mid-to-high WR2 in fantasy football this week against the Tennessee Titans. While Nacua has WR1 upside every week, he might not reach his full potential this week given his matchup with Tennessee. First of all, Los Angeles is heavily favored to win, which means that the Rams could choose to run the ball and drain the clock, resulting in fewer pass attempts. Furthermore, while Tennessee has plenty of weaknesses, its pass defense is not one of them. The Titans' secondary intercepted Bo Nix twice last week and held Courtland Sutton to a modest six catches. There's no doubt that Nacua will deliver enough volume and production to be a fantasy starter in all leagues, but his ceiling is a little lower this week given the matchup.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Sep 13 12:20pm CT
Davante Adams

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams should rank as a mid-to-low WR2 in fantasy football this week against the Tennessee Titans. While Adams has WR1 upside every week, he might not reach his full potential this week given his matchup with Tennessee. With Los Angeles heavily favored to win, the Rams could choose to run the ball and drain the clock, resulting in fewer pass attempts. That's at least a little concerning for Adams, who is already competing for targets with Puka Nacua. Furthermore, Tennessee's pass defense is very respectable. The Titans' secondary intercepted Bo Nix twice last week and held Courtland Sutton to a modest six catches. Adams has the talent and role needed to be a fantasy starter in all leagues, but it's fair to have some questions about his ceiling given this week's matchup. Adams is best viewed as a WR2 this week.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Sep 13 12:13pm CT
Jayden Reed

Dynasty | Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed will be out indefinitely with a broken collarbone. Dynasty Analysis: In what was supposed to be his breakout season, Reed will now miss most of it. He posted a 55/857/6 line last year and really looked like a player who looked like he was ready to take the famous third year leap. Unfortunately, this will be a choppy season in the end. Reed will see his ADP dip but could be a good buy candidate for a rebuilding team.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Chris Godwin Sep 13 12:00pm CT
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will not play in Week 2 against the Houston Texans. Godwin is working his way back from a dislocated ankle that he suffered in Week 7 of 2024 and has since required multiple surgeries. The 29-year-old was able to return to the practice field this week, but was always considered a long shot to play in Week 2. In any fantasy leagues where Godwin is available, he should be stashed in an IR spot ahead of his pending return.

From RotoBaller