News

1. 3h ago
   Fantasy football buzz: Is Joe Mixon worth picking up after Seattle signing?

   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. 5: Is Joe Mixon worth picking up after Seattle signing? By Michael F. Florio Joe Mixon is signing with the Seahawks, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. We have not seen Mixon since the 2024 season when he was with Houston. That season, he posted 1,325 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns. That was his fourth straight season topping 1,250 yards and scoring at least nine touchdowns. Mixon, now 30, is returning from a foot injury that cost him the 2025 season. There is reason to be skeptical that Mixon could reach his old level, but he is still a big name with a productive history in the NFL who is signing with a team that needs healthy running backs. That creates value in fantasy football. While he is not a top target, Mixon is worth adding off the waiver wire this week just to see what he has left. It's not a bad idea to try to trade him if you are able to add him. People tend to love a big name. At least for the time being, the Seahawks should still be led by Emanuel Wilson, who just went for 120 yards and two scores Sunday. He will be one of the top waiver wire adds this week in leagues in which he is still available. The Seahawks activated Zach Charbonnet's practice window last week, giving them 21 days to activate him to their roster. They have already ruled him out for Week 5. Jadarian Price, who is on IR because of a chest injury, is out at least three more games. Oct. 5: Who did — or didn't — get the ball Sunday? The box score doesn't tell you everything. Here are the roles and usage trends from Sunday that stood out to me. By Eric Moody Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders Rachaad White's shoulder injury gave Jacory Croskey-Merritt a chance to take control of the backfield, but that didn't happen. He finished with 11 touches for 50 total yards and 7.0 fantasy points. Austin Ekeler got more involved as the game went on, finishing with five touches for 40 yards and 5.0 points while splitting early-down snaps with Croskey-Merritt in the second half. Ekeler is worth adding in deeper leagues, while Croskey-Merritt is tougher to trust. Kaytron Allen had just three touches for one yard, with Ekeler and Craig Reynolds both playing ahead of him. New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills James Cook III finished with 14 touches and 16.3 fantasy points against the Patriots, but it's worth noting that he set a season-low snap total. Ty Johnson continues to handle much of the passing-game and third-down work. This game was never separated by more than one score, so Cook finishing with only 14 touches is worth monitoring. He remains an RB1, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on his usage. Rhamondre Stevenson left late with a right knee injury, but he was able to walk off under his own power. Before that, he remained the more valuable fantasy back in New England's rotation. Stevenson finished with 16 touches and 18.4 fantasy points, while TreVeyon Henderson had 14 touches for 42 yards and 4.2 points. Stevenson also continued to get the more valuable third-down, two-minute, short-yardage and goal-line work, while leading the Patriots' backfield in snaps, routes, touches and fantasy points. New York Jets at Chicago Bears Braelon Allen handled nearly all of the work with Breece Hall out. He played 93% of the Jets' offensive snaps, took all 14 carries and caught both of his targets. Isaiah Davis played just two snaps and didn't get a touch. The fantasy production wasn't huge, but the usage was exactly what managers wanted to see. If Hall remains out, Allen should continue to handle the bulk of the back

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2. Oct 5
   Jones carried the ball 20 times for 94 yards and caught four of eight targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 15-10 win over the Dolphins.

   The Vikings' offense failed to produce a touchdown, but Jones got them into regular field-goal position as he set a new season high in scrimmage yards. The veteran RB has held up under a bell-cow workload while Jordan Mason (thumb) has been sidelined, averaging 23.0 touches over the last three weeks while still producing 4.3 yards per carry. Jones hasn't gotten into the end zone during that stretch, however, something he'll try to rectify in a Week 5 road trip to New Orleans.

   RotoWire via ESPN
3. Oct 1
   Follow your feelings, but here are the facts on these Week 4 fantasy football start-sit decisions

   It's often said that misery loves company. The idiom primarily implies that forlorn folks are on a mission to infect their happy-go-lucky counterparts with negativity and dread. That can be true. Whether at a social gathering or in everyday conversation, we've each encountered a Debbie Downer who can kill the vibe with a "yes, but" statement and an ill-timed shrug. But dig a little deeper and the message might change. Because often company eases misery. Sometimes we want to gather to vent and find comfort in each other's adversities. Whether it's a bad vacation bond, a text from your ex roast session, or a mutual fantasy football fail, there's something cathartic about knowing we're not solo in our struggles. That's not being an Eeyore. That's being a human. We crave community. Not to rain on parades, but to share umbrellas. So, when a Detroit sports fan called into the Facts vs Feelings: Fantasy Therapy voicemail line seeking lineup advice and a potential love connection … I listened. What group, after all, understands the catharsis of commiseration better than Lions fans? (I see you, Cleveland.) Who is more deserving of affection than those faithfully sporting Honolulu Blue? (Not right now, Silver and Black.) How do you ice out a die-hard whose team has never been to a Super Bowl? (You weren't even around in the 1900s, Houston.) Rather than embracing resignation, Luke from Los Angeles reached out. And as chance would have it, I'm good friends with an unattached Lions Baddie. The two, empathizing with each other's plight and delighting in the randomness of the universe, agreed to a meet cute. I joined them and their friends at a neighborhood bar on the East Side last Sunday. Introductions were made, nachos were smashed, and fight songs were sung. The two bonded over David Montgomery's slumping fantasy stats and their complicated fondness for Matthew Stafford. I don't know if this is a romcom in the making. But I can tell you that the second-largest city in the U.S. felt a little less lonely last weekend. Because two strangers — bonded by shared misery — became fast friends. They stayed open to possibility, even if the only payout was a good story. It's a lesson for all of us. Maybe flexing Denzel Boston didn't work out. Perhaps rolling with Terry McLaurin did. Either way, we have to stay bold in our choices. They may not all end in immediate triumph. The plot twists, however, could make for a winning journey… or at least a satisfying vent sesh. Week 4 Start-Sit decisions Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars Lawrence investors certainly have reason to sound off after the Jags quarterback took a knee at the 1-yard line with eight minutes left in last Sunday's game versus New England. Had he charged beyond the goal line, T-Law would be averaging 19.3 fantasy points through three games, rivaling his career-high 19.9 from last year. Regardless, Lawrence has thrown seven TD passes over three weeks, posting a career-high completion percentage of 67, a career-low off-target rate of 9% and registering a healthy 17.3 fantasy points per effort. Clearly comfortable in Liam Coen's scheme and in lockstep with Parker Washington's extended breakout, Lawrence is showing his 2026 stock is on the rise. He should slay in Week 4 against the Bengals. Offenses have continuously attacked Cincinnati through the air, resulting in the third-most pass attempts faced (118). That strategy has been effective, as quarterbacks are carving up the Bengals for the fifth-most passing yards per game (287). With this game carrying the week's highest projected point total (51.5) and a tight 2.5-point spread, Lawrence figures to deliver top-10 positional fantasy production. Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings The number of Jones-related DMs that I received last week! Each one highly suspicious of the 31-year-old's ability to keep the wheels on the wagon. I was a staunch advocate, but the public had its doubts. Despite Jordan Mason's firm placement on I

   ESPN
4. Sep 30
   Aaron Jones' Week 4 fantasy outlook

   Aaron Jones' Week 4 fantasy outlook

   ESPN
5. Sep 30
   Fantasy football matchup rankings: Upgrade Tyler Warren, Tetairoa McMillan in Week 4

   Making tough lineup decisions each week can be the most challenging part of fantasy football. When you're torn between two similar players, start the player with the superior matchup. But exactly how does one determine the best (and worst) weekly matchups? The matchup rankings provide a schedule-independent method to evaluate positional matchups, ranking all 32 opposing defenses in order of most to least favorable for opposing players at all four skill positions. Instead of relying upon seasonal totals, we calibrate points-allowed data to show how each defense fared relative to the difficulty of the schedule it has faced.  For Week 4, 2026 full-season data is used, but once five weeks are in the books, only the most recent five weeks' numbers will be used. "Adj. FPA," or Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed, reflects how far above or below players' weekly PPR fantasy point averages that defense held opponents at that position. A positive number means that the matchup is favorable; a negative number means it is unfavorable. Finally, a caveat: Matchups are only one ingredient in my rankings formula. Not every favorable matchup should be exploited, nor unfavorable matchup avoided. If you want the most complete source for whom to start, consult our weekly rankings. Quarterbacks Matchups highlight: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (at Carolina Panthers, "Sunday Night Football"). One the more quietly reliable quarterbacks, Goff joins Josh Allen, Brock Purdy and Tyler Shough among four with at least 16 fantasy points in each of the season's first three weeks. Of those four, he's the only one who hasn't been intercepted. Goff next faces the Panthers defense, which, aside from their 24-point Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons third- and fourth-string quarterbacks, has been beaten up by the position. Caleb Williams (Week 1) and Deshaun Watson (Week 3) combined averaged 0.59 fantasy points per passing attempt — the league average is 0.45 — against the Panthers. Others to like: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cincinnati Bengals) Bryce Young, Panthers (at Lions, SNF) Matchup to avoid: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Los Angeles Rams). He's off to a so-so start despite facing a favorable September schedule (WSH, @TEN, @CHI), due to inconsistent protection — the Eagles rank 22nd in pass block win rate — and a running game that hasn't fully launched (13th-ranked 110.7 yards per game, 19th-ranked 9.2% explosive run rate). That's of concern when Hurts faces the Rams, who rank second in yards allowed per passing attempt (5.2) and ninth in Total QBR allowed (53.2). Hurts' mobility presents his best case for a top-10 positional ranking this week, but aim to do better from that lineup slot. Running backs Matchups highlight: Aaron Jones Sr., Minnesota Vikings (vs. Miami Dolphins). Game script could be a big factor here, which is why Jones gets the nod despite pedestrian 3.9 yards per carry and 11.6 fantasy points per game averages. The Vikings are favored by 11.5, but the game has an over/under of 38.5. Over the past three years, there have been only nine teams favored by more than 10 with a sub-40 over/under. In those games, all nine won and their primary running backs averaged 14.8 fantasy points, 16.2 carries and 18.9 touches. Jones' 67% snap and 61% carry shares suggest he'll capitalize with fantasy RB2 caliber numbers. Others to like: David Montgomery, Houston Texans (vs. Dallas Cowboys) D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (vs. New York Jets) Matchup to avoid: Javonte Williams, Cowboys (at Texans). If there's a bright spot to the Texans' awful showing through three weeks, it's their run defense. The Texans have faced three of the first 16 picks in average ESPN drafts — James Cook III (Week 1), Chase Brown (Week 2) and Jonathan Taylor (Week 3) — and limited them to 3.7 yards per carry, an 8.9% explosive run rate and a 10.1 fantasy point average. Even in his breakthrough 2025, Williams delivered ordinary numbers when facing tough matchups, ave

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