News

1. Sep 30
   Vele caught three of six targets for 39 yards Sunday in a loss to Las Vegas.

   Tyler Shough had another big day at quarterback for the Saints, with 160 of his 255 passing yards going to the combination of No. 1 wideout Chris Olave and top tight end Juwan Johnson. Vele finished third behind that duo in both targets (six) and receiving yards (39). The third-year wideout has been locked into a key role in the Saints' passing game, and through three contests he's registered 15 catches on 22 targets for 172 yards and one touchdown.

   RotoWire via ESPN
2. Sep 21
   Vele caught five of seven targets for 64 yards during Sunday's 24-17 win over the Ravens.

   Vele was able to remain a major part of the Saints' offensive attack, finishing second on the team in targets behind fellow wide receiver Chris Olave (10) in Week 2. The 28-year-old appears to have solidified himself as the team's No. 2 wide receiver with Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) on injured reserve, catching 12 of 16 targets for 133 yards and a touchdown over the first two games of the 2026 campaign. Vele will have a strong chance to keep up his hot start to the season when New Orleans faces the Raiders in Week 3.

   RotoWire via ESPN
3. Sep 18
   Fantasy football last-minute pickups for Week 2: Douglas, Vele, Freiermuth among top options

   At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2026 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer some late-week pickup options at each of the primary fantasy positions to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues. Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions. There might not be a major need for late-week pickups this early in the fantasy football season. However, in deeper leagues or superflex formats, fantasy managers can find quality depth and ascending players. Now that all teams have a game under their belts, there are potential targets we need to discuss. We'll start with the wide receiver position, where four players should be on the radar, including a deep-ball threat who can bring big-play ability to your lineup. There are also two quarterbacks that topped the 300-yard passing mark last week available in over 55% of ESPN leagues. Wide receivers Devaughn Vele, New Orleans Saints (48.7% rostered; vs. Ravens) With rookie Jordyn Tyson on IR, Vele was elevated to the No. 2 in the Saints' offense opposite Chris Olave in the Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions. Sure, the Saints had to throw the ball because of a 21-0 deficit, but Vele caught seven of nine targets for 69 yards and a score on a 1-yard fade ball to the end zone (19.9 points). Vele can play as a power slot or win on the perimeter. Take the volume and route deployment for Vele in Kellen Moore's offense this Sunday against the Ravens. Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins (35.0% rostered; at 49ers) Douglas caught a team-high five passes (on seven targets) for 94 yards (14.4 points) in Miami's Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Douglas worked multiple levels, catching a boundary fade, running the deep in-cut and creating quick separation underneath. Now, I don't love the matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers, but Miami could be pass heavy late in this game. And Douglas has real upside because of his movement traits. Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (22.4% rostered; at Titans) Wicks is a fit in deeper formats for managers who want big-play juice in the lineup. Wicks caught only two of four targets in the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders but finished with 73 yards and a touchdown. He hauled in a 64-yard reception on a designed shot play from Jalen Hurts, plus he scored on an end zone target. Wicks has a lower floor but can turn limited volume into production. It's a positive matchup against Tennessee, too. Kalif Raymond, Chicago Bears (9.2% rostered; vs. Vikings) Raymond surprised in Week 1, catching a team-high eight passes (on nine targets) for 84 yards in the Bears' win over the Carolina Panthers (16.4 points). Raymond was the outlet for Caleb Williams, running the sit routes and crossers underneath, but he did get loose on a deep over route. We know Raymond has the vertical speed to threaten over the top. Now, I wouldn't count on Raymond being the main target in this offense on a weekly basis. There are a lot of options in this Bears pass game. But in deeper formats, you can take a shot on Raymond this week versus the blitz-heavy Minnesota Vikings. Quarterbacks Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (30.4% rostered; at Falcons) In a positive Week 1 matchup against the Bears, Young's 31.44 points were the third most among quarterbacks. The pocket movement was there, plus Young completed nine passes of 15 or more yards. With Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, Young has two matchup players, and he can extend plays as a runner (one rushing score in Week 1). He should be viewed as a starter in 2QB/superflex formats. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (43.9% rostered; vs. Jets) Love completed only 50% of his throws in the Week 1 loss to the Vikings, and he did turn the ball over twice (one interception, one fumble) in a matchup featuring heavy pressure fr

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4. Sep 18
   Unwavering confidence in Loveland, concern for Pitts and more to ponder going into Week 2

   Well, that was a pretty great Week 1, yeah? Teams averaged 24.7 points per game, tying for the highest-scoring opening week since the 1970 merger (2012). There were 11 teams that scored at least 30 points, tied for the second most in the Super Bowl era. And despite all of that, Colston Loveland didn't score a single point. I know it's not necessarily just a Loveland problem. Kyle Pitts Sr. also didn't score a single fantasy point, but Pitts had Cooper Rush as a quarterback. Loveland had Caleb Williams, the highest-scoring fantasy quarterback in Week 1. It was something I heard about a lot on Sunday (I'm a Chicago Bears supporter, if you're unfamiliar). And I will tell you the same thing I told all my friends who texted me during that game and in the hours after: I don't care. I know, I used a fifth- and sometimes a fourth-round pick on Loveland in most of my drafts (and those drafts of mine that didn't secure Loveland landed Pitts). Still, I don't care. My favorite team scored 59 points in a game. It has been a while since Bears fans have had an offense this good. And if you're not a Bears fan, well, sorry about that. But what does that mean for this week? I would start Loveland with the utmost confidence. Loveland was involved in the rushing attack, and Ben Johnson has lived on a credo of "no block, no rock," so there is a sense that Loveland is going to be rewarded in the passing game. Plus, Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores blitzed heavily against the Green Bay Packers last week. A heavy blitz will open things up for both Bears tight ends (including Cole Kmet), who combined for nine targets — and eight receptions — in the teams' second meeting last year. Johnson's teams have averaged 27.5 points in the six games against Flores. He also holds a 5-1 advantage. Here are some other notes you should know heading into Week 2. Bryce Young is my favorite quarterback to stream this week. I loved his command against the Bears last week. Remember, his team did put up 37 points. Young has won four straight starts against the Atlanta Falcons and has 10 total touchdowns in his five games against them. Tyler Shough is a popular streamer this week. In Week 1, he was 8-for-10 passing for 219 yards on passes of 15+ air yards, the most such attempts by a New Orleans Saints QB since Drew Brees in Week 11 of 2018. But the Baltimore Ravens held Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones to 1-of-4 passing for 23 yards on such attempts in Week 1. I know, it's Daniel Jones, but I have to give you the information. You make up your mind. Jayden Daniels has five total touchdowns in three games against the Dallas Cowboys. But New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart showed him the blueprint of how to attack this Cowboys defense. But instead of dumping the ball off in the flat, I'm looking for more rushing from Daniels. It's a bummer that New England Patriots WR A.J. Brown will miss several weeks. That shouldn't impact Drake Maye this week. Maye holds the third-highest completion percentage on throws 20+ yards downfield. The Pittsburgh Steelers allow the second-highest completion percentage on such throws. Maye wasn't pushing the ball downfield to Brown anyway, so expect some chunk plays from the Patriots this week. WR Mack Hollins should be on your radar. Somebody dropped Chris Rodriguez Jr. in one of my leagues. I couldn't believe it. Bhayshul Tuten had less than 10 fantasy points and nearly split time with Rodriguez. I like San Francisco 49ers RB Kaelon Black as an insurance player for Christian McCaffrey, but I don't expect him to take too many of the touches away from CMC moving forward. McCaffrey looked explosive again and led the team in targets (WR Mike Evans had a 20% target share). Cincinnati Bengals WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for 71 yards in Week 1. Chase's 12 yards were tied for the second fewest in a game in his career. He has never had consecutive games with less than 30 receiving yards. WR Devaughn Vele led the New Orleans Saints in route

   ESPN
5. Sep 14
   Fantasy football free agent pickups: Shough, Black, Coker highlight top options for Week 2

   Each Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention 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 2 Tyler Shough, QB, Saints (rostered in 46.7% of leagues): Shough, ranked 19th among quarterbacks in roster percentage, started slowly versus the Detroit Lions, then ended up skewering them for 23.2 PPR points. Yes, he had the aid of overtime and he didn't face a strong secondary. Still, that's 410 passing yards and three touchdowns. Week 2 at the Baltimore Ravens should be tougher. Shough merely continued his fine play from late in his rookie season, when he was a borderline QB1 option for fantasy during his nine starts. He might be underrated even in standard 10-team formats. Kaelon Black, RB, 49ers (15.4%): Black, the third-round pick from Indiana, looked excellent in the Week 1 rout of the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. Black turned 15 touches into 70 yards and 8.0 fantasy points, while Christian McCaffrey scored 13.8 points on his 15 touches. Perhaps the 49ers only split the touches this way due to the unique circumstances, such as the lopsided score and/or the long travel. Perhaps Week 2 will see McCaffrey dominate the volume against the Miami Dolphins. Adding Black with the intention of expecting relevant fantasy numbers in Week 2 is folly. However, adding Black just in case it happens again, or McCaffrey — with a track record of injuries — gets hurt again? That makes sense. Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers (50.7%): Coker is just a tad on the other side of 50%, but he's worth bending our rules just a little bit. Coker, who finished last season strong and earned himself a three-year contract, was more productive with his nine targets — catching eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns — than his universally rostered teammate Tetairoa McMillan, who caught just five passes for 75 yards. This does not mean Coker will clearly outscore McMillan in Week 2, or for the month of September or the entire season. But it sure doesn't mean he won't, either. Coker and pals hit the road for Week 2 in Atlanta, where he should be on the field (even though he was seen wearing a boot on Monday) and the Panthers should be able to throw the football. Mike Gesicki, TE, Bengals (1.5%): The oft-overlooked Gesicki caught 78 yards worth of passes, including a 2-yard touchdown grab. No Bengal surpassed him in receptions, receiving yards or targets. Plus, he caught the team's lone touchdown pass. That should not continue, obviously, with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins healthy. Still, Gesicki, 30, was a relevant fantasy option as recently as two seasons ago, when he caught 65 passes. He might be relevant again. Other quarterbacks Jordan Love, Packers (42.2%): Love probably deserves a bit more, um, love in fantasy leagues, but there is also a reason 19 other passers are more popular. Love fell short of 3,400 passing yards in both of the past two seasons and he is barely a factor in the running game, with only one rushing touchdown over that span. Do not overrate his performance (387 passing yards) versus the Minnesota Vikings or assume the Packers consistently will throw more with RB Josh Jacobs absent. Malik Willis, Dolphins (21%): A dynamic runner, Willis scored more than half his fantasy points in Week 1 via his legs, with 39 rushing yards and a touchdown. Miami's passing game did not impress, but if Willis continues to run — and he should — a potential QB1 option lurks. Bryce Young, Panthers (11.1%): Young eclipsed 300 passing yards three times in his first 44 NFL starts, so the fact he did so in Sunday's loss to the lopsided Chicago Bears (all offense, no defense) is relevant but not necessa

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Injury reports

No injury reports this season.

League history

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