News

1. 4h 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 5
   Winston completed 18 of 29 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in Sunday's 36-24 win over Arizona.

   It was a classically erratic performance from the veteran QB, who now has a 3:3 TD:INT through three appearances and two starts in place of Jaxson Dart (knee). Winston began to build some encouraging chemistry with the Giants' No. 1 wideout Malik Nabers, who produced a season-best 6-112-1 line on seven targets fueled by a couple big gains, and his tendency to put the ball up for grabs downfield could continue to benefit both Nabers and rookie Malachi Fields, whose two catches went for a 12-yard TD and a 40-yard gain. Winston will try to produce more good moments than bad in a Week 5 road tilt against the Commanders.

   RotoWire via ESPN
3. Oct 4
   Jameis Winston connects with Malik Nabers for a 25-yard touchdown

   Jameis Winston connects with Malik Nabers for a 25-yard touchdown

   ESPN
4. Oct 4
   Live on CBS: Jameis Winston throws a dime to Malachi Fields for a Giants TD

   Live on CBS: Jameis Winston throws a dime to Malachi Fields for a Giants TD

   ESPN
5. Sep 28
   Head coach John Harbaugh reaffirmed that Winston is the Giants' starting quarterback after the team acquired J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings on Monday, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.

   While stepping in for the injured Jaxson Dart (knee) in Week 3, Winston threw for just 118 yards on 22 pass attempts in adverse weather conditions during the Giants' 12-7 win over the Titans. Despite his pedestrian numbers, Winston played turnover-free football, and that performance looks as though it will give him some job security even after the Giants added McCarthy, a 2024 first-round draft pick, to their quarterback room. Even though Dart is likely out for the season, Winston will still likely need to limit mistakes and keep the Giants competitive in his future starts in order to ward off McCarthy from supplanting him on the depth chart. Next up for Winston and the Giants is a home date versus the 1-2 Cardinals this Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

   RotoWire via ESPN

Injury reports

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League history

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