News

1. 5h ago
   Fantasy football free agent pickups: Kirk Cousins, Keon Coleman lead top options

   Each Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention who are 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 5, 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.  Kirk Cousins, QB, Raiders (16.9% rostered, 3% of your FAB) Cousins, 38, continues to thrive, scoring 22.6 points against a solid Kansas City Chiefs defense. He has now scored over 20 fantasy points in three consecutive games. He has outscored Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Trevor Lawrence this season. Has your QB achieved this? The Raiders sure seem to be legitimate and there is no imminent switch on the horizon to first overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza. Cousins may keep the top job for months. The Raiders face the New England Patriots next and remember that the bye weeks are here, removing the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, the Panthers' Bryce Young and all of their teammates in Week 5. Emanuel Wilson, RB, Seahawks (49.9%, 8% FAB) Wilson, 27, took advantage of a wonderful opportunity to score 27 fantasy points against the Los Angeles Chargers. His main competition for volume and goal-line looks are both injured. Rookie Jadarian Price (chest) and Zach Charbonnet (knee) will return at some point, but like with Cousins, let's just worry about this week. The Seahawks face the San Francisco 49ers where Wilson should be viewed as a top-20 RB. Keon Coleman, WR, Bills (4.2%, 1% FAB) Coleman, a talented but frustrating underachiever during his first two NFL seasons, had seen just nine targets entering Week 4. However, the absence of DJ Moore (shoulder) and the avoidance of TE Dalton Kincaid (only two targets) created opportunity for him Sunday. Coleman caught 116 yards worth of passes on seven targets, including a 34-yard touchdown. We have seen solid outings from him in the past, but little consistency. Perhaps this is Coleman finally emerging as a reliable option. Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams (2.4%, 1% FAB) Higbee, 33, saw only two targets over the first two games of the season, but things have changed. Since the start of Week 3, he has had 13 receptions on 17 targets, resulting in 129 receiving yards and 31.9 fantasy points. The loss of Terrance Ferguson (ankle) has helped — and he may miss several weeks. The Rams will face the friendly defense of the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. Other quarterbacks C.J. Stroud, Texans (37.3%, 2% FAB): Stroud scored a season-high 23.08 points against the Dallas Cowboys, clearly quite enjoying the return of WR Nico Collins, who had missed two games due to a hamstring injury. When Collins plays, perhaps Stroud is more than a fantasy streamer. After all, Stroud enters Week 5 as the No. 11 QB scorer. Next up, the Texans face the overwhelmed Tennessee Titans. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (6.5%, 1% FAB): Rodgers, 42, played cautiously over the first two weeks, averaging 204 passing yards with only four completions for 20-plus yards (and none for more than 40 yards). Things have changed with a pair of division games, as Rodgers threw the football downfield, averaging 295 passing yards and totaling six touchdown passes along with 10 20-plus yard completions — three for 40-plus yards. Perhaps this aggressiveness, only mildly offset by turnovers, will continue this week against the Indianapolis Colts. Deshaun Watson, Browns (8.6%, 1% FAB): Watson still isn't playing nearly as well as he did in his Houston Texans days, but he has become a reasonable streamer for fantasy, with six TD passes versus two interceptions. He is adding value as a runner, too. The Browns face the New York Jets this coming Sunday. Deep-league op

   ESPN
2. Oct 2
   Wilson brought in three of six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers' 27-24 loss to the Browns on Thursday.

   Wilson capped off a marathon 17-play opening drive for the Steelers by showcasing his speed, as the second-year wideout scored from 12 yards out on a shovel pass from Aaron Rodgers. Wilson has at least three catches in each of his first four games, and Thursday's yardage total established a new season high after he'd also done so with his 60-yard tally in Week 3. Wilson also has exactly six targets in each contest thus far, cementing him as a key complementary component of the air attack heading into a Week 5 home matchup against the Colts on Sunday, Oct. 11.

   RotoWire via ESPN
3. Sep 28
   Wilson caught three of six targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-27 win over the Bengals.

   Wilson came out of the gates hot Sunday, securing a 38-yard touchdown from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the team's opening drive of the game. The wide receiver led the team in targets in Week 3, and he has now registered exactly six targets in each of the team's first three contests this season. Wilson has reeled in 11 of 18 targets for 114 yards and a touchdown so far this year.

   RotoWire via ESPN
4. Sep 21
   Wilson caught five of six targets for 28 yards during the Steelers' 20-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

   Wilson stepped into the WR2 role alongside DK Metcalf for Sunday's game due to the absence of Michael Pittman (foot). Wilson responded by leading all Pittsburgh pass catchers in receptions, though he averaged only 5.6 yards per catch in a game where Aaron Rodgers averaged only 4.8 yards per pass attempt. Wilson played 55 of 70 offensive snaps in Week 2, which was tied with rookie second-rounder Germie Bernard for second-most among Steelers wide receivers behind DK Metcalf (68). The Steelers will return home for a Week 3 clash against the Bengals, and Wilson and Bernard would both retain their elevated roles if Pittman is not cleared to return.

   RotoWire via ESPN
5. Sep 19
   Wilson is set to see more snaps as an outside receiver during Sunday's game against the Patriots, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.

   Wilson is set to be the No. 2 wide receiver Sunday behind DK Metcalf due to the injury to Michael Pittman (ankle). Wilson saw 54 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps in the Week 1 win over the Falcons, a number that should increase as the 25-year-old takes on a more critical role. The wide receiver saw six targets in Week 1 and will likely see even more against the Patriots unless the opponent chooses to have standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez follow the third-year player.

   RotoWire via ESPN

Injury reports

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League history

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