News

1. 3h 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. 9h ago
   Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that Bagent will start Sunday's game against the Packers in Green Bay, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.

   Bagent will direct the Chicago offense for a second straight week after he guided the Bears to a comfortable 23-12 win over the Jets on Sunday. The Bears dominated time of possession (42:45 to 17:15) in the victory, with Bagent completing 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards and an interception while leaning heavily on the ground attack to churn out a franchise-record 34 first downs. Bagent's upcoming start against the Packers could be his last before shifting to a backup role, as Caleb Williams may be ready to return from his Grade 2 hamstring strain for the Bears' Week 6 matchup with the Falcons.

   RotoWire via ESPN
3. Oct 4
   Fantasy football Week 4 inactives: Coker ruled out for Sunday Night Football

   Whom should you start? Whom should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won't be in the lineup, we'll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactives lists.  Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: around 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for the late-afternoon games. Refresh often for the latest information. Don't forget to check these out: Mike Clay's Playbook | Week 4 Buzz  Week 4 Rankings | Matchup rankings for Week 4 Biggest concerns heading into Week 4 Players in London  Chig Okonkwo, TE, Commanders (hamstring): He has been limited in practice this week but is active. Okonkwo has missed the past two games and, though it is encouraging to have him back, I would not risk getting him into your lineups right away. After all, he will likely be third in the target pecking order in a game started by a backup QB. There is some upside long term, though, with Daniels potentially nearing a return. Okonkwo is a stash for TE-needy teams. Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders (hamstring): Washington's top receiver was added to the injury report Friday and is indeed inactive for Sunday's game. Stefon Diggs was already a strong start as both the top slot option for the Commanders and man-coverage target. The Colts have allowed the most yards to slot receivers and play man at the third-highest rate in the NFL. With McLaurin sitting, Diggs gets an added boost in volume. Players with early starts ACTIVE Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens (back): Jackson scared away fantasy managers when he was limited in Wednesday's practice because of a back injury. He later returned to full practice and is active in Week 4. Never bench him in fantasy. Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens (hamstring): Flowers was questionable headed into the weekend but is indeed active for today's game. He has earned must-start status as the clear focal point of the Ravens' passing attack. DJ Moore, WR, Bills (shoulder): Buffalo's top receiver had been limited in practice and even wore a red noncontact jersey. That's the same thing that happened last week, and Moore ended up playing and getting 10 targets. He is active for Week 4. Also working in Moore's favor is that Patriots star CB Christian Gonzalez is out this week. Moore is Buffalo's top target when going against man defense, and New England uses that coverage at the second-highest NFL rate. He should be started in all leagues this week. D'Andre Swift, RB, Bears (knee): Swift was added to the team's official injury report Thursday, but did not carry an injury designation heading into Sunday. He is active and fantasy managers can start him without worry. Tyson Bagent, QB, Bears (concussion): Bagent is back at practice and reportedly took first-team reps this week. He is active and currently expected to start. Those who were planning on streaming Case Keenum in superflex leagues should pivot to Bagent. Luther Burden III is the only Bears pass catcher to start with confidence this week. Nico Collins, WR, Texans (hamstring): Collins logged limited practices to start the week before getting in a full session Friday. He is active for Week 4 against the Cowboys — a strong matchup for the receiver. Fantasy managers should get him in their starting lineup with confidence. Puka Nacua, WR, Rams (hip): The star receiver has been limited at practice this week, but coach Sean McVay said he is "good to go" for Week 4. He is indeed active. Even if he ends up being on a snap count, this one is as simple as it can get in fantasy football: Nacua is playing for the Rams, so he needs to start in fantasy. Drake Maye, QB, Patriots (shoulder): Yes, Maye was a full participant all week and is active for Week 4. However, he appeared on the team's official injury report for the first time all season. It's a situation worth monitoring, but until we see otherwise, it's fine to ben

   ESPN
4. Oct 4
   Bagent completed 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 23-12 win over the Jets. He also rushed four times for one yard.

   After watching Case Keenum beat the Eagles in Week 3 following Caleb Williams' Week 2 hamstring injury, Bagent made his first start since his rookie campaign in 2023. Bagent had three would-be interceptions erased by penalties but threw one that counted in the second quarter, marking the first regular-season interception for the Jets defense since Week 18 of the 2024 season. The Bears rode their running game and defense to a second consecutive win in Williams' absence while Bagent managed to keep the offense on schedule. If Williams isn't ready to return in Week 5, Bagent would presumably get the starting nod against the NFC North rival Packers at Lambeau Field.

   RotoWire via ESPN
5. Oct 2
   Bagent is expected to start Sunday versus the Jets after getting most of the first-team reps in practice, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. However, coach Ben Johnson has not yet confirmed the plan.

   Bagent was the backup to Case Keenum in Week 3 against Philadelphia with Caleb Williams (hamstring) sidelined due to a hamstring injury. That arrangement likely had something to do with Bagent coming off a concussion, which resulted in Keenum handling much of the first-team reps in practice during the week. It appeared Keenum may have seized the starting job for Week 4 (with Williams still out of action) after leading Chicago to a Week 3 win against the Eagles while throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but Bagent's work with the first-team offense this week suggests the script is flipping again. With that said, Johnson has refused so far to announce a Week 4 starter at QB, so it can't yet be said for certain what roles Keenum and Bagent will have this weekend.

   RotoWire via ESPN

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