Fantasy Football News

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce caught one pass for five yards in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Kelce also added one rushing yard on one carry in this contest. The Chiefs tight end was targeted three times, but he and Mahomes could only connect once. This is a worrying follow-up to his disappointing Week 1 performance against the Baltimore Ravens. Kelce has four receptions for 39 yards and zero touchdowns through two games. It seems like Rashee Rice has supplanted Kelce as the top option for the Kansas City passing attack. Kelce will attempt to get back on track in next week's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends in 2023, so Kelce should have a favorable matchup. The 34-year-old may have to be downgraded in the tight end ranks until he shows signs of life. Kelce is still a must-start option but may not have TE1 overall upside in his current role.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner took 21 carries for 122 rushing yards and a touchdown in the team's 41-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He also caught his lone target of the game for a gain of two yards. Conner did lose the ball on the Rams' five-yard line in the fourth quarter, but tight end Trey McBride fell on top of it as it bounced ahead into the end zone to give the Cardinals their fifth touchdown of the game. The eighth-year veteran was as elusive as ever, forcing six missed tackles in the game. Thanks to the lopsided score, Conner ceded backfield duties to Trey Benson and Emari Demercado after his fumble but there is no question he is the top dog in Arizona's running backs room. In Week 3, Conner will be in the RB1 conversation again when the Cardinals take on the Detroit Lions.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray went off against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, completing 17 of his 21 passes for 266 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. No stranger to the ground game, he also added 59 yards on five carries in the 41-10 victory. Pending the results of Monday Night Football, Murray will finish as the week's QB1. Murray wasted no time in getting Arizona's offense going on Sunday, capping their first drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. and connecting with the rookie again on the very first play of their second drive for a 60-yard score. A third touchdown pass went to Elijah Higgins in the second quarter, giving Murray more scores than incompletions in the first half. His efforts put the Cardinals so far ahead of the Rams that he was removed with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, logging the first perfect passer rating by a Cardinals quarterback since Kurt Warner in 2008. In Week 3, Murray will again be in the mix for a top-10 finish when the Cardinals host the Detroit Lions.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice caught five passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Rice once again led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards but was able to find the endzone in this contest. Rice's touchdown came on a 44-yard reception down the sideline in the second quarter. The second-year receiver has continued establishing himself as the top option in the Kansas City passing attack. Rice will look to continue his strong start against the Atlanta Falcons next week. The Falcons were one of the tougher matchups for wide receivers in 2023, allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts. Despite the matchup, Rice should still be an elite option at the wide receiver position due to his MVP-caliber quarterback and imaginative play-caller. Rice figures to rank as a fringe WR1 in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco had 90 rushing yards on 19 carries in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Pacheco was also involved in the passing game, catching five passes for 21 yards. The Chiefs starting running back showed that he was an integral piece of the offense, earning 24 total touches against a formidable AFC rival. Pacheco did not find the endzone in this contest but still managed to make an impact for fantasy as a rusher and a receiver. The 25-year-old will look to score in next week's contest against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were one of the tougher matchups for running backs last season since they gave up the fifth-fewest rushing touchdowns and were middle-of-the-pack in rushing yards allowed. Pacheco was seen leaving the stadium in a walking boot and on crutches, so this is a situation to monitor. If Pacheco is healthy enough to suit up, he should be a strong start despite the difficult matchup.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 18 of 25 passes (72%) for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the 26-25 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Mahomes passed for less than 300 yards for the second straight game and had at least one interception. The Chiefs quarterback was picked off twice in this contest, and the team narrowly escaped with the victory through a game-winning field goal from Harrison Butker. It was a disappointing performance from Mahomes, who passed for under 200 yards for just the ninth time in his career. Despite having field-stretching playmakers, Kansas City could not find a rhythm on offense in this contest. Mahomes will look to improve his output next week on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2023, so Mahomes should have no issues dicing up the Atlanta secondary. Despite being a disappointing starter in fantasy, it will be difficult to bench an MVP-caliber quarterback like Mahomes. Mahomes will still land within the QB1 conversation until proven otherwise.

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) had a subdued performance in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, catching only two passes for 33 yards while playing through an injury. With the Bears still struggling to find a passing touchdown after eight quarters of action, Odunze has seen limited volume and no scoring opportunities. The team's offensive line also struggled, with Caleb Williams being sacked seven times, and Williams has yet to throw a touchdown or exceed 200 passing yards in the first two games. Despite the challenges, there is potential for the Bears' offense to improve. However, with just three receptions on nine targets and no touchdowns so far, Odunze is a risky fantasy option. His next chance to make an impact will come in Week 3 against Indianapolis, where he should be on fantasy benches.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange stepped in and played well after a last-minute Evan Engram injury in an 18-13 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with three receptions for 65 yards on six targets. The second-year pro did not contribute much as a rookie, but made the most of this sudden opportunity. Strange was tied for the team lead in receptions, second in targets, and second in receiving yards. For fantasy managers desperate at the tight end position (which seems to be most as of right now) Strange is an intriguing option as long as Engram is out. For fantasy managers with Engram, if Engram is at risk of missing next week as well, Strange is a perfect direct replacement. Even for non-Engram managers, Strange is worth looking into on waivers for next week. In Week 3, the Jaguars take on the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had a relatively quiet night by his usual standards despite making some impressive plays. He led the team with six catches for 53 yards but could not find the end zone. Through two games this season, Moore remains the favorite target of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Although the lack of touchdowns is a concern, Moore's high volume of targets has helped mitigate the absence of scoring. The Bears' offensive line is also a concern, as Williams was sacked seven times in this game. Williams has yet to throw a touchdown pass and has not surpassed 200 yards in either of his first two games. Despite these struggles, Moore's consistent target share and talent keep him a low-end WR2 for fantasy managers. As Williams continues to develop and the Bears' offense improves, Moore's production should rise. The Bears will look to make adjustments and find the end zone as they head to Indianapolis in Week 3.

In the Chicago Bears' Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans, running back Khalil Herbert scored the team's only touchdown. Despite only getting two carries, Herbert made a significant impact, including a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that brought the Bears within 13-10. With the Bears needing a score before halftime, they turned to Herbert, a former Virginia Tech standout, to deliver. The touchdown came on a critical third-and-goal situation, frustrating D'Andre Swift's managers, who were hoping for a score from Swift. Although Herbert isn't the primary back for the Bears, his role in the offense remains clear. Since being drafted by Chicago in 2021, Herbert has consistently contributed, and his performance solidifies his value as a handcuff for Swift owners. While he may not lead the backfield, Herbert's ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities makes him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues.

The Chicago Bears' running back, D'Andre Swift, had another challenging performance in Week 2 against the Houston Texans. In the first half, the Bears managed only 18 rushing yards on 11 carries, with Swift contributing just 6 yards on seven attempts. Caleb Williams, who led the team in rushing yards, gained 9 yards on two carries. The offensive line struggled throughout, failing to create space for the running game and getting dominated at the interior and edges. The Bears ended the game with 22 carries for 71 yards, but Williams led the team with 44 yards on five carries. Swift finished with a disappointing 14 yards on 18 carries, averaging just 1.3 yards per carry. He added 24 yards on four receptions, but the team's shift away from the interior run game in the second half highlighted a significant issue. Swift's season may remain tumultuous without a solution for the struggling offensive line. For now, he should be considered a matchup-dependent RB3 or Flex option.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk put up yet another dud in an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with just one catch for negative one yard, giving him two catches and 29 yards through two games. Kirk was considered a safer option among the Jaguars receivers coming into the season given his experience and his familiarity with the offense. However, he has been nonexistent both in real football and in fantasy. At this point, it's hard to fathom keeping Kirk in fantasy beyond deeper leagues. With Evan Engram a surprise pre-game scratch, Kirk had the chance to step up, but instead, it was backup tight end Brenton Strange who filled the void with three catches for 65 yards. To make matters worse, the 27-year-old was fifth on the team in targets with three, behind Brian Thomas Jr., Strange, Gabe Davis, and Travis Etienne Jr. Kirk will look to get going against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, but it is hard to imagine that will happen at the moment.

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a promising start in Houston on Sunday but struggled in the second half. The No. 1 overall pick was impressive early, completing all five passes for 55 yards on the Bears' opening drive, including two notable third-down completions to DeAndre Carter and DJ Moore. Williams finished the first half with 12 completions on 15 attempts for 91 yards, but frequent mistakes by the Bears undermined his performance. The team had four false starts and a delay of game right after a TV timeout, failed to convert a third-and-1 with a quarterback sneak, and barely managed a fourth-and-inches conversion from the shotgun. The rookie also threw interceptions on consecutive drives in the second half, compounding the challenges. Despite these issues, Williams and the Bears had a chance to win with 1:37 left on the clock. Williams connected with Rome Odunze for a 27-yard gain on the first play of the drive, but two plays later, Danielle Hunter sacked him for an eight-yard loss, and a fourth-down pass to Odunze fell incomplete after a miscommunication. Williams ended the game with 23 completions on 37 attempts for 174 yards and two interceptions. With seven sacks and frequent pressure, Williams was forced into hurried throws and poor decisions. Until the Bears' offense improves, Williams is not a viable starting fantasy quarterback.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. showed off his speed in an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. BTJ finished with 92 yards receiving on just two catches and four targets. The rookie receiver now has four targets in each of the first two games. In a game where the offense struggled, the LSU product produced one of the few highlights with a 66-yard bomb late in the third quarter. While it is great he made a big play and produced a high yardage output, this performance shows exactly the type of volatility fantasy managers can expect out of BTJ. He will not garner many targets each week but has the talent to be a boom-or-bust fantasy receiver. BTJ now has put up two solid fantasy performances in two weeks, with a touchdown in Week 1 and a big yardage total in Week 2. The Jaguars face off with the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, where BTJ will look to continue making big plays in an otherwise stagnant offense.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. scored the team's lone touchdown in an 18-13 defeat to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with 13 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown, and added three catches for six yards. Etienne Jr. put up a solid fantasy performance, but given the offensive struggles of the Jaguars, his upside has been limited through two weeks. Fantasy managers drafted the Clemson product near the top of drafts, so a touchdown-dependent RB2 is not what they hoped for. Etienne Jr. was expected to be one of the few high-volume backs in the NFL this season, but he only has 29 touches through two games. For comparison, San Francisco 49ers backup running back turned starter Jordan Mason had 29 touches just in Week 1. The Jaguars take on the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, who struggled to contain Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane this past Thursday.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a decent day yardage-wise, but couldn't find the end zone in an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with 14 completions and 220 yards on 30 attempts, and 45 rushing yards on two attempts. Lawrence has just one passing touchdown through two games, which is not ideal for both real and fantasy football. The Clemson product has not looked great through two weeks, and he is not getting much fantasy production out of his weapons either. The Browns have a great defense going back to last year, especially against the pass, so it is not that surprising Lawrence had a subpar performance, but his fantasy floor needs to be higher than this to be starting caliber. The former top pick seems like a potential cut candidate for fantasy managers in Week 3, especially with his matchups remaining difficult in the coming weeks. The Jaguars face the Buffalo Bills next Monday night, a defense that should pose another challenge for the Jacksonville offense.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson caught three of his six targets for 15 yards in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Johnson once again led the team in targets, but for the second week in a row, was unable to convert it into fantasy production. As it has looked over the past two weeks, it looks unlikely that the Panthers offense will be able to support multiple fantasy viable pass-catching options, let alone one. That being said, an encouraging target share can give fantasy managers some hope that Johnson will be the No. 1 option should Carolina start to produce more effectively on offense. Fantasy managers can look to take Johnson out of lineups and on to the bench for their Week 3 clash with the Las Vegas Raiders, until it is seen that this unit can produce.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell converted on both of his field goal attempts and was successful on his lone extra-point try of a 13-6 win against the Denver Broncos. Week 1's AFC Special Teams Player of the Week drilled a 53-yarder in the third quarter for his fourth make of 50 or more yards already in 2024. When Pittsburgh's offense stalls, Boswell has proven to be a reliable source of points, but there are sure to be similarly slow-paced and low-scoring affairs in his future this season. The veteran should nonetheless be a decent fantasy play against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 18 of his 26 throws for just 84 yards and one interception in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He also carried the ball once for another six yards on the ground. Young once again struggled to provide a spark to Carolina's passing offense, as the Panther's offensive line has struggled to protect him as well as give him adequate time to throw. This now makes the second week in a row without a touchdown pass for Young, as Carolina has scored just one in total in their first two matchups. The former Alabama man and the majority of the Panther's offense can be kept on the sidelines in their Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders until it is seen that this unit can produce enough to obtain fantasy relevance.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard carried the ball 10 times for 64 yards in the team's 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Hubbard also caught four of his five targets for an additional 12 yards through the air. Hubbard was the lone bright spot in Carolina's offense on Sunday, putting together a solid fantasy outing despite the negative game script in another lopsided loss. He also out carried running back Miles Sanders 10 to seven, confirming that he will continue to see most of the work between the two moving forward. While practically every member of the Panthers offense can be benched in lineups moving forward, Hubbard looks to be the exception. Fantasy managers can include him as an RB2/3 option in Week 3 when the Panthers face the Las Vegas Raiders.