Fantasy Football News

In Week 3, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy takes the team's 1-1 record into their first divisional game of 2024 in Los Angeles against the Rams in their home opener. Purdy didn't light up the fantasy scoreboard last Sunday in Minnesota by any stretch, throwing for only one touchdown, tossing an interception, and losing a fumble. However, he did throw for 319 yards. It was probably even more frustrating and painful for Purdy himself though, being sacked a career-high six times. Purdy is stuck on one touchdown through two weeks, but on the bright side, he is surprisingly leading the NFL in passing yards per game. The Rams are coming off a 41-10 road drubbing at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals, a game in which Kyler Murray threw for 226 yards and three passing touchdowns. Before that though, they kept Lions QB Jared Goff to 217 yards, one touchdown, and a pick in Detroit. Purdy will be without Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) and probably George Kittle (hamstring) in this one, not to mention Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) who isn't expected to return for several more weeks. Even if Los Angeles' pass defense is as vulnerable as they looked last week, these injuries throw cold water on the matchup advantage. Put Purdy on the QB1/2 border with a slight boost if Kittle plays.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (elbow, calf) didn't practice on Friday. That's three straight absences for the wideout, who is now considered questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 24-year-old was in line to be the top wideout in Los Angeles entering the 2024-25 campaign. However, he's caught just four of his six targets for 34 yards in the Bolts' first two contests. With that in mind, Palmer isn't an ideal fantasy option in any fantasy format for Week 3 if he's active. That's not expected to change anytime soon, especially with Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey playing as well as anyone could hope.

New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph enters Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns with an opportunity to deliver fantasy value after being picked up off the Detroit Lions practice squad. At this time, Joseph might not even be the kicker that dresses against the Browns as he is competing with Jude McAtamney, who is also on the practice roster. The veteran has played 67 regular-season games for three teams with an 82.6 field goal percentage and a long of 61 yards. Keep an eye on who will be dressed for Sunday's matchup.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hayden Hurst (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday and Thursday. However, he logged a full session on Friday and was removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite playing more snaps than Will Dissly through the first two games of the 2024-25 campaign, the latter has been more productive. Still, neither play will find a home in fantasy lineups for Week 3 due to their lack of statistical output. That will be even more true if Justin Herbert (ankle), who is questionable, isn't active.

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton enters Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns fresh off a quiet Week 2 performance where he posted just three receptions for 33 yards. Slayton's deep-threat ability can be explosive, and he'll face a Browns defense that has allowed 12.1 yards per reception to receivers through two weeks. Slayton's target share has been modest (10.5% of the team's passing attempts), but there's some sneaky upside here. Expect Slayton to be a high-risk option that is best left on waivers unless managers are desperate for a flex play.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (calf) was limited during Friday's practice session and is questionable for Monday's game versus Washington. The 28-year-old had a touchdown called back in the Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots. However, he made amends by catching seven of his nine targets for 91 yards in the narrow loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. With many tight ends around the National Football League struggling, Gesicki has gained streaming appeal in 12-team formats. Yet, his status for Week 3 may not be revealed until Monday night, well after nearly every contest on the slate has been played. As a result, fantasy managers may want to consider an alternative for Week 3. If anything, Drew Sample and Erick All Jr. are likely available on the waiver wire. Still, both men aren't expected to do much versus the Washington Commanders, especially if Tee Higgins (hamstring) is back in the lineup after missing the Bengals' previous two contests.

New York Giants rookie tight end Theo Johnson enters Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns after a performance he would like to forget in Week 2, where he posted zero receptions on zero targets against the Washington Commanders. Cleveland has allowed an average of only 8.65 fantasy points per game to tight ends through the first two weeks. At this point, Johnson should not be considered for anyone's roster, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on him, as he is still the team's starting TE, and the Giants have committed to him there.

Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich (knee, ankle) no longer carries an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was limited during Wednesday's practice. However, the 24-year-old logged full sessions on Thursday and Friday. Dulcich began the 2024-25 campaign by amassing two catches for 12 yards in the Week 1 matchup with the Seahawks. While he was targeted eight times in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he ended the day with only three receptions for 16 yards. With that in mind, Dulcich doesn't warrant consideration in any fantasy format, especially with Bo Nix under center, with the rookie signal-caller throwing four picks and completing only 59.7% of his tosses in the Broncos' first two contests.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell has been incredibly reliable thus far this season but will face his toughest test yet in the team's home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers defense has been stout through two weeks, surrendering the fewest points and second-fewest offensive yards in the NFL. Because this is expected to be a sluggish, low-scoring affair, it is difficult to project Boswell for a ton of involvement. Fantasy managers would be wise to look elsewhere for a starting option this week.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) plans to play against the Washington Commanders on Monday night. The wideout has battled a hamstring injury, keeping him off the field for the Bengals' previous two contests. Fortunately, he's feeling better. "I feel great," said Higgins after practicing in a limited capacity on Friday. "Obviously, unfortunate with the injury, sat out the first two weeks but finally ready to get my feet wet this season and ready to go." Under normal circumstances, Higgins is a starting fantasy receiver in any format. However, there's a chance he could see fewer snaps than usual. As a result, Andrei Iosivas, coming off a two-touchdown outing versus the Kansas City Chiefs, could remain involved. Still, Iosivas' fantasy outlook would have been more promising had Higgins been in line to miss Monday's contest. On the other hand, Higgins' anticipated return is good news for Joe Burrow all around.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is already a must-start in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns. Coming off a strong Week 2, where he posted 23.7 half-PPR points on 10 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown (his first career TD) versus Washington, Nabers is emerging as a go-to target for Daniel Jones (he had a whopping 18 targets sent his way). The Browns' secondary, while solid, has allowed 12.1 yards per reception to receivers through two weeks. Nabers is a big-play threat with a 32.9% target share, making him a high-upside start this Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth has been quiet to start his fourth professional campaign and will hope to turn things around against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. Although the Chargers have surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends through two weeks of the season, this contest isn't expected to offer much in the way of offensive firepower. That said, Freiermuth is tied for the team lead in receptions and has the second-most targets in Pittsburgh thus far this season, so his role in the offense should remain consistent. Given the landscape of the tight end position in fantasy right now, there are very few options that offer both a high ceiling and a safe floor. Freiermuth seems to have the latter, making him a fine yet uninspiring low-end TE1 or high-end TE2 on Sunday.

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary enters a Week 3 matchup against the Cleveland Browns with momentum after a solid Week 2 performance against the Washington Commanders, where he posted 16.2 half-PPR points on 95 rushing yards and a touchdown. Singletary's efficiency on the ground (5.9 YPC) will be tested against a Browns defense, allowing just 5 YPC through two games, ranking them in the top eight against the run. However, Cleveland has surrendered 229 rushing yards to the opposition in two weeks, showing they can be vulnerable. Expect Singletary to remain a viable flex option in deeper leagues, with his potential for red zone work giving him an edge if the Giants' offense can sustain drives.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones enters Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns looking to build on his Week 2 performance, where he bounced back with 22.1 fantasy points against the Washington Commanders. Jones' dual-threat ability is always enticing, and last week, he rushed for 32 yards and threw two touchdowns, showcasing his fantasy upside. However, the Browns' defense has been stout, allowing just 6.4 yards per pass attempt per game in 2024. That said, Jones' rushing ability will be critical as Cleveland has struggled against the rush, giving up 5.1 yards per carry for a total of 229 rushing yards through two weeks. Expect Jones to finish as a low-end QB2 in Week 3, with his rushing upside elevating his fantasy floor.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was given 11 total opportunities in Week 2 and should continue to see his role expand in the team's home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. This contest is expected to be slow-paced and low-scoring with both teams leaning heavily on the run. Warren isn't likely to receive more carries than backfield mate Najee Harris, but the former has been the more efficient and explosive runner with more consistent usage as a pass-catcher. On paper, this is a difficult matchup for Warren as the Chargers rank bottom-five in the league this season in rushing yards allowed. However, Los Angeles gave up plenty of production to fantasy running backs in 2023, especially those involved in the passing game. The 25-year-old Warren isn't the most exciting fantasy option this week but he should see enough work to warrant flex consideration.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has looked every bit the part of a WR1 in 2024 but is yet to score as a top-24 fantasy option in half-PPR formats. He'll hope to change that at home against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. This is projected to be a low-scoring, run-heavy affair, but if both defenses continue to defend the run as well as they have through two weeks, shots will need to be taken downfield. Pickens is not only the clear favorite target of quarterback Justin Fields but also the premier vertical threat in Pittsburgh. Although the third-year pro could disappoint if the Steelers struggle to move the ball, he offers plenty of upside as a WR2 or flex option in most fantasy leagues.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, yet he's been the only kicker to miss more than one field goal after the first two games of the season. Both misses were from 50-plus yards, but that's where he's normally the most automatic. While he missed another one in Week 2, his volume saved his fantasy week, as he went 3-for-4 in field goals and 2-for-2 in extra points. His Week 3 matchup, the Dallas Cowboys, are ranked 21st in fantasy points allowed to opposing kickers through two weeks and have given up an average of 7.5 points so far. The Ravens' confidence in Tucker still hasn't wavered, so he should see plenty of opportunities to kick field goals from deep, but his "Automatuck" nickname may be on the way out the door.

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill remains the go-to option in the backfield when it comes to passing downs. In two games, he's seen five carries for 25 yards compared to eight receptions on 10 targets for 62 yards. The only fantasy value that Hill currently has is in PPR formats and games turn into good, old-fashioned shootouts. Hill could potentially start in a flex spot for fantasy managers in very deep leagues after the Dallas Cowboys were gashed both on the ground and through the air by Alvin Kamara in Week 2. There are likely to be running lanes and flats open for Hill to find, but Derrick Henry will be the first one to get a crack at those opportunities. Hill is better left on the bench as he barely comes into the RB3 conversation.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has seen plenty of work through two weeks and will hope to score his first touchdown of the campaign against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. Both teams rank top-three in the NFL in rush play percentage and bottom-three in points allowed, which explains why this contest is projected to be the lowest-scoring of the week. That said, Pittsburgh should lean on Harris and the running game, even against a Chargers defense that has surrendered the fifth-fewest yards on the ground thus far this season. Backfield mate Jaylen Warren will likely see an expanded role, but fantasy managers should not shy away from starting Harris as a low-end RB2 or flex option on Sunday.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely came crashing down in Week 2 after a huge effort in Week 1 made him one of the hottest waiver wire additions in all of fantasy football. The Coastal Carolina product went from 12 targets and nine receptions against the Kansas City Chiefs to three targets and two receptions against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2. After posting a TE1 finish in half-PPR formats, he fell right down to TE21. Likely's success comes down to matchups, game script, and whether or not Mark Andrews is getting heavily game-planned against. The Dallas Cowboys present a tougher matchup for the passing game, but they showed some holes and weaknesses against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. Likely only saw an 8.9% target share in Week 2 which is something fantasy managers can't rely on, and that moves him down the list and onto the bench.