News

1. Oct 4
   Fantasy football: Leading scorers through Sunday's early games

   Everything that happens in the NFL has additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football. Our fantasy football buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the league. Oct. 4: Leading scorers through Sunday's early games CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys – 41.3 Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams – 36.7 Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys – 31.3 Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans – 30.8 Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears – 28.0 Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams – 27.7 Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals – 26.7 Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots – 26.16 Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens – 25.8 Romeo Doubs, WR, New England Patriots – 23.8 Click here for a full list of all the week's scoring leaders. Oct. 2: What to expect from Eagles without DeVonta Smith By Matt Bowen With reports that a hamstring injury will keep Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith out of the lineup this Sunday in the home matchup against the Rams, let's discuss the fantasy implications for Philadelphia. If you're a Smith manager, you can pivot to Dontayvion Wicks or Makai Lemon as streaming options, as both are available in slightly more than 50% of ESPN leagues. You can also check out the last-minute pickups column for a handful of other viable options at wide receiver. Wicks scored 12 or more points in each of his first two games, catching a touchdown in Week 1. He has a big-play element to his game (19.9 YPC), so he will see more vertical opportunities Sunday against a Rams defense that will mix man and zone coverages. He can be played as a WR3/flex with more upside due to the third-level targets (seven targets of 15 or more air yards this season). Lemon has seen only nine targets on the season, catching seven of them for 38 yards. However, the rookie has run 28 routes per game and his role should expand versus L.A. Going back to Lemon's college tape at USC, he can manipulate coverage at the top of the route, plus he accelerates thorough the ball. Those are good traits to have in this league. He should be viewed as a lower-tier WR3 for this matchup. Expect the Eagles to be more run-heavy in this game without Smith, which should put Saquon Barkley at 15-20 carries. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts — who was already outside of the top 10 QBs in our consensus ranks — will have an even lower ceiling heading into Sunday. Yes, Hurts can provide a boost to the lineup due to his running ability, as he averages 29 yards per game, but he has scored only one rushing touchdown on the season. Oct. 2: You should be paying attention to Aaron Rodgers By Adam Rank At least for one night in Cleveland, Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock. Was it the 299 passing yards? The three touchdowns? Or the fact that I really believed that his desperation heave in the waning seconds of the game was going to find its way into the mitts of a Steelers receiver who would carry it into the end zone for a walk-off touchdown? Sure, all of it. Look, I make no apologies for being the supporter of a team that was on the losing side of "Rodgers magic" way too many times. However, I'm not going to lie when I tell you I was seriously nervous on that final throw. I've seen it too many times. The point is, Rodgers was very impressive for the second consecutive week. Although, the interception at the end, we could have done without. Still, another huge performance which raises the question: What do we do with Rodgers moving forward? Patrick Mahomes and Bryce Young are on a bye next week. (Oh yeah, the bye weeks are getting ready to start!) A number of quarterbacks are missing this week and possibly next. But it goes a little bit beyond that. Like, what if some of the guys we believed in back in August continue to struggle? I'm looking at you, Justin H

   ESPN
2. Oct 3
   Wicks will operate as the top wide receiver against the Rams on Sunday due to the absence of DeVonta Smith (hamstring), Chris McPherson of the Eagles' official site reports.

   Wicks has the second-most targets, catches and receiving yards on the Eagles behind Smith through the first three games of the regular season. Smith gutted through a hamstring injury against the Bears in Week 3, but the star wide receiver will observe Sunday's game from the sidelines, meaning Wicks, rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper are all in line for more offensive snaps and targets from Jalen Hurts.

   RotoWire via ESPN
3. Sep 29
   Wicks recorded two receptions for 32 yards on five targets in Monday's 27-7 loss to the Bears.

   Though he didn't find paydirt, Wicks played a critical role on the Eagles' lone scoring drive late in the second quarter, leading off the possession with a 13-yard catch and run. He was otherwise held in check while the game was still competitive, with his other reception coming in the fourth quarter when the Bears had built a 20-point lead. Through his first three games with Philadelphia, Wicks has produced a 9-179-1 receiving line on 15 targets.

   RotoWire via ESPN
4. Sep 25
   Fantasy football last-minute pickups for Week 3: Stroud, Wicks, Spears among top options

   At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2026 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer some late-week pickup options at each of the primary fantasy positions to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues. Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions. With a brutal run on quarterback injuries in Week 2 — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart — there's a need for the position in deeper leagues and 2QB/superflex formats. So, that's where we'll start, with four available quarterbacks to check out. Plus, I have a group of wide receivers, with two ascending players and a high-upside target. As always, we'll hit on the running backs and tight ends, while ending with a defense in a prime matchup. Quarterbacks C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (36.4% rostered; at Colts) Stroud would be a fringe QB1 for me in shallower leagues this week if Nico Collins (hamstring) is cleared to go. Even if not, I still see value here as a streaming option versus an Indianapolis Colts defense that ranks in the bottom five against QBs, giving up a league-worst 337.5 passing yards per game. Stroud has scored at least 16 fantasy points in both games this season, and the Texans will look to create more offensive balance against the Colts after attempting 55 passes in their Week 2 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Stroud can be started in deeper formats. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (26.9% rostered; at Commanders) I'd get Darnold (glute) in the lineup this week if he's ready to roll, given the matchup versus the Washington Commanders. This defense gave up four touchdown passes to Dak Prescott in Week 2 and has allowed a league-high seven through two games. Darnold will take his shots to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. And if Darnold isn't cleared, then I would pick up Drew Lock (3.7% rostered). The Seahawks' No. 2 quarterback threw three touchdowns and accumulated 21.4 fantasy points against the Arizona Cardinals last week. Geno Smith, New York Jets (6.0% rostered; at Lions) Smith hasn't produced big numbers over his first two games (12.4 fantasy PPG), and he has thrown only one touchdown pass. But the matchup works here versus a struggling Detroit Lions defense, one that is missing its difference-makers in the secondary. Detroit has given up a league-high 32.0 fantasy PPG to opposing quarterbacks. Sure, Smith isn't on the same level as Josh Allen, who scored 40.82 points versus the Lions last week. However, Smith will have opportunities to attack coverage voids Sunday at Ford Field. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (8.8% rostered; at Saints) Cousins is your deeper-league flier this week, and he's playing pretty good football. He has scored 17.0 fantasy PPG thanks to three touchdown passes in each game this season, and he's attacking multiple levels of the field. Cousins, who should be viewed as a ball distributor in Klint Kubiak's offense, faces a Saints defense that ranks in the middle of the pack versus opposing quarterbacks (15.6 fantasy PPG). Cousins can start in deeper, 2QB/superflex formats. Wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (41.3% rostered; at Bears) We wrote about Wicks in this space last week, and we'll keep going back to the Eagles' ascending receiver until he hits that 50% rostered threshold. Wicks caught five of six targets for 74 yards in the Week 2 win over the Titans, and he has scored at least 12 points in both games played. I like the matchup Monday night versus a Bears defense that has surprisingly been more man-heavy in coverage this season. Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets (33.0% rostered; at Lions) Mitchell has locked down the No. 2 role opposite Garrett Wilson. In the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Mitchell caught six of a team-high 12 targets for 63 yards (12.3 points), and he's averaging 29.

   ESPN
5. Sep 22
   Fantasy football free agent pickups: Dalton Schultz, Jonah Coleman highlight top options for Week 3

   Each Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues. Things change quickly for player valuation and roles each week in the NFL, and free agency is a critical way to acquire players. We are here to help! Top pickup options at every position Looking for the top recommendation at each skill position? Look no further! Here are the players to target heading into Week 3, along with their current roster percentages and a recommendation of how much of your free agent budget (FAB) you should consider using for your bid.  Tyler Shough, QB, Saints (rostered in 49.7% of leagues, 10-15% of your FAB) Last week's most recommended QB remains available in barely more than half of ESPN's standard leagues, though likely not for long after yet another solid performance (22.38 points) in a road win against the mighty Baltimore Ravens. This week, the New Orleans Saints host the unbeaten Las Vegas Raiders. Ignore the records. It's a positive matchup. Shough looks like more than a streamer, too, especially since the NFC South doesn't exactly feature top defensive teams and the Saints haven't played any division games yet. Jonah Coleman, RB, Broncos (15.2% rostered, 10-12% FAB) Starter J.K. Dobbins (hamstring) wasn't doing so much when he left the game in the second half, having scored just 3.6 points, and rookie Coleman helped spark the offense with his 14.8 points, including a touchdown run. Coleman, a fourth-round pick from Washington, barely played in Week 1, but now he might be his team's starter for this week against the Los Angeles Rams — pending the status of Dobbins and RJ Harvey (also a hamstring issue) — and perhaps beyond.  Denzel Boston, WR, Browns (26.4%, 8-10% FAB): The rookie Boston scored a touchdown in a blowout Week 1 loss. It was nice, but not really a reason to trust him in Week 2. Then he scored another TD on Sunday. Now, he is quite intriguing, even considering Cleveland's QB situation. Boston is averaging 22 yards per reception through two games. If you wish to invest in a Browns receiver, Boston is the top option over fellow rookie KC Concepcion (57.6%) and the quite invisible Jerry Jeudy (22.1%). Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans (21.3%, 2% FAB): Schultz was the main (and perhaps only) beneficiary of the Nico Collins (hamstring) injury, catching 12 passes for 140 yards and achieving 26 fantasy points. No other member of the Houston Texans reached six catches or 40 receiving yards. We really shouldn't be so surprised, though. Schultz ended last season with 82 receptions — tied for third among tight ends — and 10th at the position in fantasy points. He might lack the upside of other top tight ends, but his is a relatively high floor, whether Collins plays or not. Other quarterbacks Jordan Love, Packers (44.7%, 10% FAB): Love is a bit more rostered now than he was last week, and those who relied on him enjoyed a modest 13.8 fantasy points Sunday. Love completed only 16 passes for 145 yards, though two of those throws went for touchdowns. Why recommend Love? The Packers host the seemingly dreadful Atlanta Falcons this week. If you need a QB in Week 3, Love remains a solid streamer. Bryce Young, Panthers (34.3%, 5% FAB): Young has started the season with consecutive three-TD performances, though it remains a bit difficult to tell if this is a true breakout or just the fruit of a friendly early-season schedule. After all, he has faced the Chicago Bears and the Falcons. Perhaps Young really is a QB1 option this season. It seems unlikely, but one can do worse than look his way for Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns. Kyler Murray, Vikings (49.9%, 3% FAB): Veteran Carson Wentz had his chance against what everyone said was a terrible Bears defense — and he could not produce even a single touchdown. His Minnesota Vikings won the game, but Wentz did little to prove he should start in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Murray, who shoul

   ESPN

Injury reports

No injury reports this season.

League history

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