Week 3 NFL Capsules

Fri Sep 19 11:45am ET
Field Level Media

Carolina Panthers (0-2) vs. Atlanta Falcons (1-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Falcons -5.5, Total 43.5

Series Rewind: The NFC South foes have split their two-game series every season since 2020. But the home team has taken four of the past six games.

The Falcons got their first win of the season on "Sunday Night Football" last week but coach Raheem Morris wants them to treat every week like a prime-time show. The Panthers may not be the most inspiring opponent, but Carolina is preparing for its home opener after losses at Jacksonville and Arizona and scored an overtime win over Atlanta to end the 2024 season. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 312 yards against Carolina in last year's regular-season finale. Running back Bijan Robinson is second in the league with 292 yards from scrimmage (167 rushing, 125 receiving), and Morris dubbed Robinson "definitely the best player in football." Carolina QB Bryce Young had the best game of his NFL career the last time he played the Falcons, completing 73.5 percent of his passes for 251 yards with three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. Carolina is re-tooling its offensive front with two starting linemen going on IR: Cade Mays is shifting to center, while Chandler Zavala will start at right guard. The Falcons need a replacement for cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. (hamstring), who's considered week-to-week.

Green Bay Packers (2-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Packers -7.5, Total 41.5

Series Rewind: This is the first meeting since the Packers beat Cleveland 24-22 in 2021. Green Bay has won six of the past seven meetings.

Cleveland has yet to force a turnover and Green Bay hasn't coughed one up, but Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz geared the team up for plentiful chances to get their hands on the ball on Sunday. The Packers were aggressive pushing the ball down the field last week to beat Washington, and head coach Matt LaFleur surely took note of Lamar Jackson's nine completions (and 14 attempts) on passes of at least 15 yards in the air. Green Bay is down one favored target in Jayden Reed (foot, clavicle surgeries) but fellow wide receiver Romeo Doubs and emerging standout Dontayvion Wicks (all six of his catches resulted in first downs) are more than adequate if TE Tucker Kraft is held out. Kraft underwent tests Thursday after a knee injury in practice but said he's OK. The Browns share the NFL lead in pass attempts at 90 and found themselves in hurry-up, comeback mode at Baltimore last week when QB Joe Flacco flipped a pair of costly interceptions. Flacco has two touchdowns and three interceptions this season with two rookies leading the way. TE Harold Fannin has 12 receptions for 111 yards and RB Dylan Sampson has 11. Finding a way to slow down pass rushers Micah Parsons (Packers) and Myles Garrett (Browns) is imperative and no easy task for offensive lines dealing with injuries. Garrett leads the NFL with six tackles for loss and is tied for the league lead with 3.5 sacks.

New England Patriots (1-1) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Steelers -1.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: The regular-season series is knotted up 15-15 entering this weekend, but the Patriots have gotten the better of Pittsburgh in seven of their past eight meetings. The Steelers haven't left Foxborough with a victory since 2008.

New England is coming off a 33-27 victory over Miami last week and will be attempting to win back-to-back games for the first time since the 2022 season. That was long before coach Mike Vrabel's tenure, and he said he's neither familiar nor concerned with that recent history. Drake Maye threw for 230 yards and two scores against Miami, and Rhamondre Stevenson led the Patriots in both rushing (54 yards) and receiving (88). The Steelers, for their part, are coming off a 31-17 defeat to Seattle; they gave up more than 30 points in each of the first two games and rank 28th in the league in run defense (299 yards allowed). Their defense could be missing linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle), cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) and safety DeShon Elliott (knee), who have not practiced this week. Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez practiced this week for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury July 28.

Los Angeles Rams (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Eagles -3.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: Saquon Barkley wrecked the Rams last season, rushing for a franchise-record 255 yards and two TDs in a Week 12 win in Los Angeles and 205 yards and two TDs in a divisional playoff win.

Barkley is off to a modest start this year and the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year will try to jump-start the defending champion Eagles' humdrum offense in a matchup of NFC unbeatens. QB Jalen Hurts scored a tush-push TD in the Week 2 win at Kansas City but is still looking for his first scoring pass of 2025, while wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have been underused. DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) is good to go. Rams QB Matthew Stafford needs one passing TD to tie Matt Ryan (381) for ninth place in NFL history. RB Kyren Williams has gained 50-plus scrimmage yards in 30 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL. Six-time Pro Bowl WR Davante Adams recorded his first 100-yard game and first TD with the Rams in last week's win against the Titans. LB Jared Verse sacked Hurts twice in January's playoff loss.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) vs. Houston Texans (0-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Jaguars -1.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: The Texans have won their last seven games at Jacksonville and won 12 of the last 14 in the AFC South matchup. The Jaguars last beat them at home in 2017 and have won just three of their last 15 home games against Houston.

With two losses by a combined six points, the Texans have dug themselves an early hole in the division as they look to win the AFC South Division for the third straight year. With a depleted receiver room, third-year QB CJ Stroud has gotten off to a slow start with one touchdown and one interception in two games. Maybe a game against Jacksonville, who he has thrown for more yards against (1,171) than any other team, is what he needs to wake up. The Jags have never intercepted Stroud in four games, but lead the league in picks (five) this year. They're also leading the league in rushing yards (169.5 per game) and fourth in total offense (389.0), anchored by RB Travis Etienne, who ranks second in the league with 214 rushing yards. Dyami Brown is the only Jaguars WR with 100 receiving yards this season, as Brian Thomas Jr. (five catches on 19 targets) is off to a slow start to Year 2. He was limited in Thursday's practice due to a wrist injury.

Tennessee Titans (0-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (2-0)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Colts -4.5, Total 43.5

Series Rewind: Third-year Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen is 4-0 vs. Tennessee entering this week's matchup. The Colts lead the all-time series 39-22. The Titans are 7-16 at home vs. the Colts since the franchise moved to Tennessee in 2002.

The Colts are probably the biggest positive surprise of the season at 2-0 for the first time since 2009 while becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to not punt during their first two games. QB Daniel Jones, tossed aside by the Giants, has looked like a new man, with 588 yards, two touchdowns and no picks in his first two games. Teams have been slow to figure out blitzing Jones is not the answer. He has been blitzed on 50 of his 63 pass attempts, posting a QB rating over 110 when the Broncos and Dolphins sent an extra rusher. Vacating spots in the back seven is also clearing lanes for RB Jonathan Taylor. He had 165 rushing yards last week and leads the league with 236 in two games. Titans QB Cam Ward is the first No. 1 overall pick in NFL history to throw no interceptions in his first two starts. However, he has just 287 yards, one touchdown and has been sacked a league-worst 11 times. He may again be under siege this week as RT J.C. Latham (hip) and RG Kevin Zeitler (bicep) aren't fully healthy. Jones' favorite weapon so far has been rookie TE Tyler Warren, who leads the team with 11 catches and is tops for all NFL tight ends with 90 yards after the catch.

New York Jets (0-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Buccaneers -6.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: Tampa Bay is 2-0 for the fifth straight season but is looking for its first 3-0 start since 2005.

Healthy doesn't describe either squad three weeks into the regular season. The Buccaneers have notched two comeback wins, including a 20-19 road victory over the host Houston Texans on Monday night. Quarterback Baker Mayfield guided that comeback and he has thrown five touchdown passes without an interception in 70 attempts this season. Mayfield is bothered with foot and toe injuries and has practiced, but his bodyguards are not in great shape. The right side of the offensive line is beat up. Guard Cody Mauch (season-ending knee) and tackle Luke Goedeke (foot) were placed on injured reserve. The Jets have to lean on veteran journeyman Tyrod Taylor to start this week. Quarterback Justin Fields (concussion) has been ruled out. New York is averaging just 274 yards per game, 26th in the NFL. New coach Aaron Glenn was the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions for the past four seasons but the Jets have allowed 30 or more points in each of his first two games.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Vikings -3, Total 42.5

Series Rewind: The home team has won 14 of the past 15 games between these teams.

Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson can't fight over Joe Burrow this week. The former LSU receivers take center stage with an air of uncertainty with backup quarterbacks stepping in this week. Jake Browning took the reins when Burrow went down with a turf toe injury in Week 2 and beat the Jaguars (31-27) by guiding a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. He also was intercepted three times and lacks Burrow's pocket agility behind a ragtag offensive line sure to be under siege by the blitz-heavy scheme of coordinator Brian Flores. The Vikings are rolling with Carson Wentz, a North Dakota State product and former No. 2 overall pick making NFL history with a start for his sixth team in six seasons. Wentz was a late add to the Vikings' roster to be the backup to J.J. McCarthy, who likely will miss more than one week with a high ankle sprain. Coach Kevin O'Connell has been down this road more often than he'd like since Kirk Cousins ruptured his Achilles in 2023. A gift of upgraded protection could be waiting for Wentz after LT Christian Darrisaw (knee) practiced this week. He was held out of the first two games to focus on his recovery from a season-ending knee injury last October.

Los Vegas Raiders (1-1) at Washington Commanders (1-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Commanders -3.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: Washington has won four of the past five games in the series with the Raiders, most recently a 17-15 victory in 2021. The starting quarterbacks were Taylor Heinecke (Washington) and Derek Carr.

There's a strong possibility Marcus Mariota is the Commanders' signal caller. Jayden Daniels injured his knee in a 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 11 and head coach Dan Quinn wants to play it safe in another matchup with his former boss in Seattle, Pete Carroll. Mariota has plenty of experience and has started 74 regular-season games in his career. Mariota played two seasons (2020-21) with the Raiders so there surely is some familiarity remaining despite Las Vegas now having Carroll on the sideline. The Raiders are coming off a 20-9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers when Daniel Carlson's three field goals accounted for all the points. New quarterback Geno Smith was intercepted three times while throwing for 180 yards. Smith has thrown a league-worst four picks. Star tight end Brock Bowers played through a tender knee and had just 38 receiving yards on a night in which Las Vegas had just 218 as a team. Prized rookie running back Ashton Jeanty (81 yards on 30 carries) is finding the NFL is a bit tougher than the Mountain West.

Denver Broncos (1-1) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-0)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Chargers -2.5, Total 45.5

Series Rewind: The Chargers swept the Broncos last season, winning both meetings by a touchdown, but Denver has had more success in the series, with a 72-57-1 edge all-time.

The Chargers are out for a clean sweep of the AFC West through three games. Los Angeles beat the Chiefs in Brazil to open the season, and a shorthanded defense stepped up to dominate the Raiders 20-9 in Las Vegas on Monday. Justin Herbert (560 yards, five TDs, zero interceptions) has been stellar through two games and Daiyan Henley -- limited by an illness -- led the D against Las Vegas with an interception, a sack and 10 tackles. The Chargers are alone atop the division for the first time since 2021, while the Broncos missed a chance to go 2-0 against the Colts. Bo Nix was solid before throwing a fourth-quarter interception, and the Broncos were called for a leverage penalty when the Colts missed a field goal to end the game, giving Indianapolis a second chance to convert the game-winner. Broncos tight end Evan Engram (back) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad) haven't practiced this week, nor have Chargers tight end Will Dissly (knee) or defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring).

New Orleans Saints (0-2) at Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Seahawks -7.5, Total 41.5

Series Rewind: The Saints have won six of the past seven meetings with the Seahawks.

Spencer Rattler is the 0-8 as a starter with the Saints, but he's had New Orleans in position to win each of the first two weeks in defeats decided on the final possession. The last quarterback to start their career with nine consecutive losses was DeShone Kizer (2007, Browns). To avoid the history books, Rattler has the challenge of solving the Mike Macdonald defense that beat up and baffled Aaron Rodgers last week. It's a homecoming for Saints coach Kellen Moore and rookie first-round pick Taliese Fuaga, who grew up 30 miles from Lumen Field as a Seahawks fan. Moore hails from Prosser, Wash., and has a large following from neighboring Idaho because of his success as a quarterback at Boise State. Seattle is making every effort to rekindle home dominance from yesteryear but the Seahawks lost at home Week 1 and won only three times there last season. Getting more out of the offense is the thrust this week for Seattle. The Seahawks got their new-look offense on track last week, gaining 395 yards against the Steelers. Sam Darnold threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns, while Kenneth Walker III rushed for 105 yards and a TD -- his first 100-plus yard game on the ground since the 2024 season opener.

Dallas Cowboys (1-1) at Chicago Bears (0-2)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Cowboys -1.5, Total 50.5

Series Rewind: A win might be vital for Dallas this week. Over the past 10 seasons, only four teams with first-year head coaches have made the playoffs after a 1-2 start.

Brock Hoffman isn't a household name, but he might be a make-or-break linchpin for the Cowboys. He steps in for injured center Cooper Beebe starting Sunday charged with keeping the Cowboys' offense chugging after a 40-point outburst last week to beat the Giants in overtime. Dallas has been more balanced out of the gate, which head coach Brian Schottenheimer credits to the performance of his overhauled offensive line. Beebe made two second-effort blocks last week that saved heavy pressure or big hits on QB Dak Prescott, who is on a heater of sorts. A knife through butter on third down this season, Prescott is 15-of-20 passing with 11 moving the chains. He leads the league in both categories. That's not great news for Chicago and a secondary fighting injuries. The Bears rolled back home licking their wounds after giving up 52 points to the Lions in a shellacking at Detroit. But the Cowboys' defense is coming off a rough outing as well. The Giants had 350 passing yards and three touchdowns, and Dallas is surrendering first downs on 52 percent of opponent third-down tries. QB Caleb Williams has directed the offense on opening-drive touchdowns in both games this season. He'll be staring across the line at a group coordinated by former Bears coach Matt Eberflus this week.

Arizona Cardinals (2-0) at San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: 49ers -1.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: Not many teams are less excited for the Christian McCaffrey experience than the Cardinals. The 49ers' do-it-all back had over 100 rushing yards and 175 yards from scrimmage yards with seven TDs in two meetings in 2023, but missed both games with Arizona last season. He had at least 100 yards from scrimmage in six of seven career games against the Cardinals.

Quarterback Brock Purdy missed Week 2 with a toe injury, but the 49ers had enough to sink the Saints behind McCaffrey and Mac Jones. Jones threw three TD passes and had a passer rating over 113. McCaffrey is the 49ers' leading receiver (15) and rusher (124 yards) but San Francisco has had success with Jauan Jennings in the slot in this matchup. He had 12 receptions in two games vs. Arizona last season. QB Kyler Murray has the Cardinals undefeated and threw four TDs in a 47-24 dismantling of injury-ravaged San Francisco in the season-ending matchup last season. Murray is aided by a running game that finished in the top 10 the past two seasons. RB James Conner has been largely held in check with 73 yards on 23 carries. Greybeard defensive end Calais Campbell had 2.0 sacks last week to become the fourth player since 1982 with multiple sacks in a game at age 39-plus (James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Bruce Smith).

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at New York Giants (0-2)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Chiefs -5.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: The home team has won four of the past five meetings between these teams.

Patrick Mahomes is part of a 0-2 team for the first time in eight seasons as an NFL starting quarterback. The Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory -- last place in the AFC West. The last time Kansas City started a season with consecutive losses was 2014 when Mahomes was a freshman quarterback at Texas Tech. The three-time Super Bowl winner has just 445 yards and one touchdown through two games as the Chiefs deal with challenges in the passing game involving wideouts Rashee Rice (suspension) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and tight end Travis Kelce, who is showing his age. The most recent loss at home last week to the Philadelphia Eagles (20-17) in a Super Bowl rematch revealed flaws in the running game, where Mahomes has been the only consistent threat. The Giants were part of an entertaining effort while falling 40-37 in overtime to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. Russell Wilson passed for 450 yards, three touchdowns and one interception one week after being criticized for a poor debut with the club in a 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders. The Giants are tied for 27th in scoring defense (30.5 points per game) and are dead last in total defense (455.0 yards per game). New York standout left tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) could make his season debut.

Detroit Lions (1-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-1)

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Ravens -5.5, Total 52.5

Series Rewind: It's "Monday Night Football" so you know Lamar Jackson is excited about stepping on the field. The Baltimore quarterback has dazzled on Monday nights throughout his career and has 22 passing touchdowns without being intercepted in nine Monday night appearances.

Jackson has twice thrown five touchdown passes and also had four touchdowns through the air when he set the franchise record of 442 passing yards against the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. There should be a lot of points scored in this matchup. The Ravens lead the NFL in scoring average (40.5) and have reached the 40-point mark in both of their games. Detroit ranks third in scoring (32.5) and is coming off a 52-21 whipping of the Chicago Bears in Week 2. Lions quarterback Jared Goff matched his career best of five passing touchdowns while hitting 23 of 28 throws for 334 yards. It was the fifth career start with his team scoring at least 50 points, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (five) for the fourth-most five-TD passing games since 1950, behind Tom Brady (eight starts), Drew Brees (six) and Len Dawson (six). Detroit wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown has caught 13 passes for 160 yards and is tied for the NFL lead with three touchdown receptions. The Lions are seeking to end a five-game skid against Baltimore.

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The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 3

Player Notes
Rachaad White Sep 19 9:10pm CT
Rachaad White

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was surprisingly solid during last week's win over the Houston Texans. White only saw two rushing attempts and one reception in the season opener, but came to play in Week 2. He rushed 10 times for 65 yards with a touchdown on the ground. White also hauled in both his targets for one additional yard through the air in the win. The 26-year-old remains the backup to Bucky Irving, which is going to limit his upside. However, the Bucs are banged up with Chris Godwin (ankle), Jalen McMillan (neck) both out. Also, Emeka Egbuka (groin) listed as questionable for Week 3 matchup against the New York Jets. That being said, the Bucs might need White to play a bigger role on offense this week. There's certainly some risk to starting White, but when active he has decent PPR upside.

From RotoBaller

Trey Benson Sep 19 9:10pm CT
Trey Benson

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson continues to see more opportunities so far this season, but his fantasy relevance hasn't hit a startable point just yet. In Week 1, he saw 33% of the offensive snaps and then received 44% in Week 2. He finished right around the middle of RB3 territory in PPR formats for both weeks, so his production hasn't warranted being in fantasy lineups yet. Despite getting only three carries against the Carolina Panthers, he also saw six targets for a 24% target share. His playing trend is one to watch as the season goes on, but he's better left on the bench going up against the San Francisco 49ers' defense while on the road.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Sep 19 9:10pm CT
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin will be without his star quarterback Jayden Daniels as they take on the Raiders at home in Week 3. McLaurin has had a slow start to the season after his holdout during training camp, with even reception on 13 targets for 75 yards in the two games. However, that is still more than what McLaurin had after the first two games of his career-best 2024 season, when he had only eight catches for 39 yards. The situation is obviously different this season now with Marcus Mariota set to start in Week 3, but McLaurin was very productive in a limited sample with Mariota last season. In nearly a full game together against Carolina, McLaurin led the team in receiving, catching all six of his targets for 98 yards. Then, when Mariota entered for the second half of Week 18 against the Cowboys, Mariota peppered McLaurin with easily a team-high eight targets in that small time for seven catches, 57 yards, and a game-winning touchdown. With the need to get McLaurin going and in rhythm early, combined with Mariota's trust in him, it could be a good bounce-back spot for the Washington receiver. He should be confidently started as a WR2 this week against Las Vegas.

From RotoBaller

Patrick Mahomes Sep 19 9:10pm CT
Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes found himself on the injury report with a right wrist injury, but practiced in full all week and has been removed from the report. Mahomes failed to eclipse 200 passing yards in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but he was still able to salvage his fantasy day on the ground. The Chiefs star has rushed for at least 57 yards and a touchdown in each game to open the season, making him a top-five quarterback and the leading rusher on his team. The Chiefs have opened the season 0-2 for the first time in the Mahomes era and suddenly find themselves at the bottom of the AFC West. The 30-year-old celebrated his birthday on Wednesday and will try to pick up a birthday win on Sunday against the New York Giants. The Giants have been a juicy matchup for quarterbacks to begin the season, as shown by their shootout with the Dallas Cowboys last week. With Xavier Worthy potentially available for the contest, this could be a get-right game for the Kansas City offense as a whole and Mahomes could find more success through the air. Mahomes is ranked QB5 in our RotoBaller rankings this week, making him a strong start at the position.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Sep 19 9:10pm CT
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans hasn't experienced the kind of start that many fantasy managers had hoped. Through two games, Evans has hauled in 10 of his 19 targets for 107 yards with zero touchdowns. Mr. Consistent hasn't quite been himself early in the season, but fantasy managers shouldn't lose hope. Evans is heading into a fantastic matchup against the New York Jets in Week 3. A defensive unit that had absolutely no answers for the Buffalo Bills last week. It's also worth noting that the Bucs are still without Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) right now. Also, rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka (groin) is listed as questionable for Week 3. That being said, Evans is looking like the only healthy option in the passing game right now. Fantasy managers should continue to ride with Evans as a WR1 this week.

From RotoBaller

James Conner Sep 19 9:00pm CT
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner saw his snap share shrink a bit more in Week 2 from 65% to 55%. A two-yard rushing touchdown salvaged his week as he finished as the RB24 in half-PPR formats, but he could only muster 34 yards on 11 carries. The Panthers are ranked 26th against the run through two weeks, which doesn't provide anyone any confidence when their Week 3 opponent is ranked 13th. On top of that, this is the San Francisco 49ers' home opener, so they should come out with some added motivation. With the combination of a tough defense and Trey Benson getting most of the passing work, Conner projects to be around a mid-level RB2 this week.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Sep 19 8:50pm CT
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is one of the few players on the team who is reliable enough for fantasy usage each week, and he'll be a strong RB1 against the Jaguars in Week 3. He scored his first touchdown of the year on Monday Night Football against the Bucs, but he only finished with three catches for 52 yards in his team's one-point defeat. Collins was targeted a team-high nine times against Tampa, while no other wide receiver got more than three looks. With Christian Kirk (hamstring) off the injury report, Collins will have different supporting options that could redistribute the workload, but that could allow more space for Collins long-term. He is the WR5 in the RotoBaller rankings for Week 3, and he's in a good matchup against the Jaguars, who allowed 246 receiving yards to wide receivers last week against the Bengals. It hasn't been a great start to the season for Collins and the Texans, but they'll look to get their first win of the season on the road against the Jaguars in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Kyler Murray Sep 19 8:50pm CT
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been his usual inconsistent self to start the season. In Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints, he finished just outside of QB1 territory, and then he dropped even further against a weaker defense in the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. The good news, for Cardinals fans, is that he's played well enough to grab two wins at least. For fantasy purposes, he can be quite the frustrating option. Once again, he remains around the low-end QB1 and high-end QB2 area, mainly due to his scrambling ability. The San Francisco 49ers are dealing with a slew of injuries on offense, but their defense currently ranks sixth against the pass. It's hard to tell how the game script will play out, but Murray should be able to deliver as long as it isn't a ground game palooza.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Sep 19 8:50pm CT
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown improved from his first game to his second, but that's not saying much. His most recent outing saw Brown grab five catches for 27 yards, but on the bright side, he did lead the team with eight targets after having just one in the season opener. The star wideout is trending in the right direction, but with Dallas Goedert making a return, it's tough to say if the bulk of looks will keep coming Brown's way. In Week 3 he faces a Rams defense that allowed him to rack up 109 yards and a touchdown when they matched up last year, and he's bound to have a breakout game eventually. Fantasy managers should continue to start Brown as a low-end WR1.

From RotoBaller

Christian Kirk Sep 19 8:50pm CT
Christian Kirk

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (hamstring) will make his first appearance with his new team in Week 3 after being removed from the injury report ahead of this week's matchup in Jacksonville. The 28-year-old from Texas A&M is starting his eighth season in the NFL after playing four years with the Cardinals and three with the Jaguars. He'll get a chance to face his former team in his Texans' debut, but the team's offense has sputtered so far this season. Since his role may be limited and the offense hasn't been effective, he is only WR64 in the RotoBaller rankings for his season debut. He isn't a great option this week, but it will be important to monitor his usage and role in Houston's offense.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Sep 19 8:40pm CT
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts didn't dazzle fantasy managers last week with his 116 total yards and one touchdown, but he looks to bounce back against the undefeated Rams this Sunday. Los Angeles does pose a challenge to the Philly QB, however, standing as the fourth-best passing defense so far this season by allowing just 147 yards per game through the air. When these teams met last November, Hurts only managed 179 yards and a touchdown along with 39 yards running. While the evidence may point to an uphill battle this week, Hurts' track record as an elite fantasy QB and the Eagles' home-field advantage still land him a QB1 spot.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Sep 19 8:40pm CT
Saquon Barkley

The last time the Eagles met the Rams was in November of 2024, when Saquon Barkley ran for 255 yards and two touchdowns and caught the ball four times for 47 yards. So, fantasy managers should be salivating at Philadelphia's upcoming matchup against Los Angeles in Week 3. The Rams have a below-average run defense this season as well, allowing 111.5 yards per game on the ground through their first pair of contests. There's never a doubt about Barkley being an RB1, but for this week especially, he should be counted on as a top fantasy asset.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Sep 19 8:40pm CT
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell will look to carry his positive momentum from the first two games of the season into a Week 3 meeting with the New England Patriots. Boswell is proving to be a fantasy force regardless of his opponent, but it helps that New England has surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers in 2025. The 34-year-old has already been leaned on heavily this year, connecting on all five of his field goal attempts - each from at least 45 yards out. With a healthy projected point total on tap, fantasy managers have no reason to shy away from Boswell as an elite fantasy option on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

AJ Dillon Sep 19 8:40pm CT
AJ Dillon

Philadelphia Eagles running back A.J. Dillon is in line to back up Saquon Barkley against the Rams this week, with new backfield acquisition Tank Bigsby set to be third on the depth chart. This comes after RB Will Shipley has been ruled out with an oblique injury. Bigsby is yet to get any touches with his new team, and it's unlikely Dillon will get many looks either with Barkley seeing 81.3% of snaps on offense so far this season. While Dillon is the better option of the two benchwarmers, he's still not a reliable starting RB in fantasy for Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Sep 19 8:40pm CT
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt appears set to lead the team's backfield in Week 3 against the Raiders. With Austin Ekeler out for the season, Croskey-Merritt is expected to start and handle the most carries after touching the ball just four times in Week 2's loss to the Packers. The rookie has been super productive and dynamic on his touches this season, earning the highest rushing grade among all running backs, per PFF. He burst onto the scene with 10 rushes for 82 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut against the Giants and closed the game out with an explosive 42-yard rush on the team's final drive of the game. Third year back, Chris Rodriguez Jr. will be back in the fold now and could take away some early down work as well as short yardage and goal line carries with his hammer running style. And then veteran Jeremy McNichols will fill in for Ekeler and handle most of the pass-down responsibilities. Croskey-Merritt will continue to have to earn trust in pass protection and other areas without the ball before being thrust into an every-down role. With Marcus Mariota filling in for an injured Jayden Daniels, Croskey-Merritt can still be fired up as an RB2 against the Raiders in Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Jonnu Smith Sep 19 8:30pm CT
Jonnu Smith

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith has been inconsistent for fantasy purposes to start the season, but could be primed to deliver against the New England Patriots in Week 3. On paper, New England looks like a middle-of-the-pack matchup for fantasy tight ends, surrendering a big performance to Brock Bowers in Week 1 before facing the Miami Dolphins, who didn't target the position in Week 2. The Patriots have, however, allowed the most passing yards in the NFL. Despite modest yardage totals so far, Smith has operated as one of Pittsburgh's top pass-catchers behind DK Metcalf. Assuming this contest stays competitive throughout, the 30-year-old should see enough volume to provide a floor in PPR formats, but his ceiling remains capped. Fantasy managers can treat Smith as a TE2 that can be started in a pinch on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Dare Ogunbowale Sep 19 8:20pm CT
Dare Ogunbowale

Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale has played significant snaps in the first two weeks of the season, but the veteran could be in for a reduced workload as the team tries to find more dynamic playmakers to jumpstart the offense. He's expected to play a reduced role against the Jaguars in Week 3 as the Texans lean more on rookie Woody Marks instead of the veteran Obubowale. In Week 1, he played 27% of snaps, and in Week 2, he played 20% of snaps. After two carries and two catches in Week 1, he didn't have an offensive opportunity in Week 2. Marks made some big plays as well, showing the spark he brings to the offense. Ogunbowale is only the RB76 in the RotoBaller Week 3 rankings, so he's off the radar in all but the deepest of leagues this week.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Sep 19 8:20pm CT
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London caught three of four targets for 49 yards in Week 2, a disappointing performance after drawing a whopping 15 targets and catching eight balls in Week 1 (albeit for only 55 yards). Michael Penix Jr. completed only 13 passes in Week 2 as the team relied on the ground attack, and with a player like Bijan Robinson, the team could go back to the run again in Week 3 against a poor Carolina run defense. However, working in the 24-year-old's favor is that the Panthers will be without Patrick Jones II (hamstring), who tallied seven sacks a year ago, which could give Penix more time to complete passes. Also, despite Carolina yielding the most rush yards per game in all of football last year, London still amassed 10 catches on 18 targets for 187 yards and two scores with Penix under center in the final week of the season against Carolina, so there is hope for the fourth-year wideout to put up some big numbers if the Panthers can somehow keep it close. The 6-foot-4 receiver is the unquestioned No. 1 in this receiving corps, and he checks in as a low-end WR1 this week.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Sep 19 8:10pm CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was all over the field during last week's game against the Houston Texans. Irving rushed 17 times for 71 yards while hauling in all six targets for an additional 50 yards through the air in the win. Through two games, Irving has looked solid in both the running and receiving game for Tampa Bay. However, the split in the backfield was a bit closer last week. Rachaad White saw 10 carries compared to the two touches he had in the season opener. However, Irving's usage in the passing game should keep his fantasy value in the RB1 range for the upcoming matchup against the New York Jets. The Bucs are limited on offensive weapons right now, so Irving should continue seeing a high usage.

From RotoBaller

Woody Marks Sep 19 8:10pm CT
Woody Marks

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks was more involved in Week 2, and he could play even more moving forward, according to reports from Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. In Week 1, he played 11% of snaps, and in Week 2, he played 27% of snaps. He had three carries each week, but he was more effective with 14 rushing yards in Week 2 while also adding a 37-yard reception. Dare Ogunbowale has been mixing in as a receiving back along with Marks and Nick Chubb, but the fourth-round pick from USC is expected to play a larger role as he continues to flash more potential upside than Ogunbowale moving forward. Marks is the RB46 in RotoBaller's rankings for Week 3, so he's still not quite a flex play in standard leagues at this point.

From RotoBaller