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
   Gesicki caught three of five targets for 40 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 22-17 loss to the Jaguars.

   With Ja'Marr Chase leaving early in the first half with a concussion, Gesicki played an elevated role behind Tee Higgins and Chase Brown in the Cincinnati offense. Gesicki continues to run the vast majority of his routes out of the slot and should remain in that role while Andrei Iosivas (thumb) is on injured reserve. Gesicki has scored a touchdown in three of the first four games to begin the season and is up to 11 catches for 155 yards and the three scores on 15 targets.

   RotoWire via ESPN
3. Oct 4
   Joe Burrow finds Mike Gesicki for 15-yard TD

   Joe Burrow finds Mike Gesicki for 15-yard TD

   ESPN
4. Sep 28
   Fantasy football free agent pickups: Gordon leads options to replace Achane for Week 4 and beyond

   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 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.  Sam Darnold, QB, Seahawks (rostered in 33.9%, 5% of your FAB) Darnold (glute) missed most of Week 1 and all of Week 2, but he sure looked healthy in Sunday's shootout against the Washington Commanders. Game score and a challenged run game dictated myriad passes, and Darnold completed 31 out of 45 attempts for a career-high 379 yards and four touchdowns. He also tossed a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a score. Immeasurably aided by dominating WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is off to one of the greatest starts ever, Darnold might match his success from last season, when he surpassed 4,000 passing yards, threw 25 TD passes and mattered in fantasy. The Seattle Seahawks host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Dolphins (1.1%, 12% FAB) Gordon, a second-year Oklahoma State product who averaged only 2.8 yards per his 70 carries last season, replaced an injured De'Von Achane (knee) during Week 3's action and scored 14.5 points. Gordon wasn't efficient, but getting 20 touches and scoring a touchdown often masks inefficiency. With Achane reportedly done for the season, Gordon is next up, although Jaylen Wright might have a role, too. Keenan Allen, WR, Colts (23.8%, 7% FAB) Allen, second among active players in receptions behind Travis Kelce, was one of three Indianapolis Colts to earn at least nine targets Sunday, but he was the one who scored the team's touchdown. In addition, teammates WR Josh Downs and TE Tyler Warren are already rostered in most leagues. Allen is not, but with Alec Pierce (heel) on IR, he now has opportunity. Allen isn't close to the threat he was as recently as 2023, but he did catch 81 passes for last season's Chargers (for only 777 yards), so perhaps he can do that again. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Jets (33.5%, 10% FAB) Sadiq, selected 16th in the draft out of Oregon, scored a short rushing TD in Week 1, but he totaled only six targets and 38 receiving yards through two weeks, failing to excite potential investors. They might be excited now, after Sadiq caught seven passes for 105 yards and a 24-yard TD on Sunday. Sadiq is strong and fast and is a potential top-10 fantasy tight end if he gets the targets. He should from now on. Other quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals (4.6%, 3% FAB): Brissett bounced back from a rough Week 2 by throwing for 280 yards and two touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers, and he rushed for another score. His three games haven't been consistent for fantasy purposes, but Brissett is worth a look for Week 4 against the New York Giants — and clearly in Week 5 against the Detroit Lions when the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers are on their bye. Plan ahead if you can. Geno Smith, Jets (7.1%, 1% FAB): Smith delivered his best game of the season, scoring 26.04 points in the team's Week 3 loss to the Lions — a team fantasy managers should target for offensive options. New York's Week 4 opponent, the Chicago Bears, has also struggled to defend the pass this season, making Smith an intriguing streamer. Marcus Mariota, Commanders (3.3%, 1% FAB): Mariota led the stunning win over the Seahawks with 20.42 points, aided by three TD passes. He might not be the starter in a month's time if Jayden Daniels (elbow) returns, but we can deal with that later. The Commanders and Colts meet Sunday morning in London. Deep-league options/streamers Michael Pe

   ESPN
5. Sep 28
   Gesicki caught all three of his targets for 37 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 30-27 loss to Pittsburgh.

   Gesicki took a step in the right direction after he was blanked in the team's Week 2 victory over Houston. The tight end was able to finished tied with wide receiver Dohnte Meyers for third on the team in catches, and he left his mark on the game in the fourth quarter, connecting with quarterback Joe Burrow for a 25-yard touchdown. Gesicki has now caught eight of 10 targets for 112 yards and two touchdowns over three regular-season contests so far in 2026.

   RotoWire via ESPN

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