Fantasy Football News

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that veteran wide receiver Mike Evans (hip) will "have to be managed this week," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Evans had a solid debut for the Niners in the Week 1 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Australia, catching six of his seven targets for 49 yards and his first touchdown of the year, but he caught all three of his targets for 54 yards before departing on Sunday in the Week 2 blowout win over the Miami Dolphins with a hip injury. The 33-year-old future Hall of Famer was said to be fine by Shanahan after Sunday's game, but he is most likely going to have a cap on his practice reps for much, if not all, of the week as the team prepares to face the division-rival Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. Ricky Pearsall (knee) is out for the year, rookie De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) is out for around 10 weeks, and Demarcus Robinson is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, so the Niners really need Evans out there. He should be OK to play this weekend, but fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his practice status from Wednesday through Friday.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) will be placed on Injured Reserve after he suffered a forearm injury on Sunday in the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, according to NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti. The 27-year-old was spotted in the clubhouse wearing a sling on his left arm after Sunday's game, and he will now have to miss at least the next four games. Kolar drew some training camp buzz for his role in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme before not being targeted in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The former fourth-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 from Iowa State caught all three of his targets for 21 yards on Sunday against the Raiders before getting injured. With fellow TE David Njoku (leg) also going on IR this week, Oronde Gadsden will now have an excellent opportunity as L.A.'s primary pass-catching tight end, and he should be a popular waiver-wire addition going into the Chargers' Week 3 game against the Buffalo Bills.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that tight end David Njoku (leg) will go on Injured Reserve with a fibula injury that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, according to Taylor Bisciotti of the NFL Network. The 30-year-old veteran was carted off the field on Sunday with what was initially being described as a knee injury. Later on, tight end Charlie Kolar left with a forearm injury, and he, too, will head to IR, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the Chargers' clear No. 1 tight end going forward. Njoku was a waiver-wire option following his performance in the season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals, in which he caught all five of his targets for 58 yards. He caught one of his three targets for nine yards on Sunday before suffering his injury. At the very least, Njoku will have to miss the next four games, but it is unclear yet if his fibula injury is more serious than that. Fantasy managers looking for depth at TE should definitely set their sights on Gadsden going into Week 3.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) is now considered week-to-week while he gets second opinions on his groin injury, a source told Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Brooks first injured his groin in training camp and then tweaked it again in the Week 2 win over the division-rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The 23-year-old had four carries for 14 yards and caught one of his two targets for a 48-yard pickup in the Week 1 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and carried the ball five times for 16 yards with one catch for a loss of five yards in Week 2 before being pulled. The former second-rounder from Texas has already suffered two torn ACLs in his short time in the NFL, and he just has not been able to stay healthy. If he is forced to miss any time, starting in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, Chuba Hubbard will become a must-start in fantasy football. AJ Dillon would likely become the RB2 for Carolina behind Hubbard. Fantasy managers who took Brooks as a sleeper to eventually take over the Panthers' backfield in 2026 have to be disappointed with the start he has had through two games.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) aggravated something in his heel that he had surgery on, and the Colts are still evaluating him after he left Sunday night's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, head coach Shane Steichen told Jake Arthur of Locked On Colts. The Colts are expected to have more information on Pierce's status later in the week. The 26-year-old hobbled off on Sunday night after catching his only target for an 11-yard gain, and he was unable to put any weight on his leg before being carted to the trainer's room in KC. We will have a better idea of Pierce's Week 3 status later in the week, but as of right now, fantasy managers should not be expecting him to be ready to suit up this Sunday at home against the division-rival Houston Texans. Josh Downs will be Indy's top option at wideout if Pierce misses any time, with veteran Keenan Allen becoming an interesting speculative pickup off the waiver wire this week, even though he could be facing a suspension from the NFL. Through the first two games of 2026, Pierce has caught five of his seven targets for 72 yards and zero touchdowns.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) suffered a sprained MCL in his knee in the Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and is expected to miss a few weeks, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. It is a big blow for the Eagles' offense going forward, as the next two men up on their TE depth chart are Johnny Mundt and E.J. Jenkins. Goedert's injury will most likely mean more targets all around for receivers DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon. The 31-year-old Goedert had a big game in the Week 1 season-opening victory over the division-rival Washington Commanders, catching four of his five targets for 77 yards and two touchdowns, but he was able to reel in just one pass for four yards on two targets on Sunday against the Titans before his knee injury knocked him out. Because of Goedert's big role in the Eagles' passing game when healthy, fantasy managers should find a way to keep him stashed while he rehabs his MCL sprain.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has been named the team's starting quarterback for their Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, per Tori McElhaney of atlantafalcons.com. Penix Jr. has missed the first two games of the 2026 season while working his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 campaign in Week 11. Across nine games before getting injured last year, the 26-year-old completed 60.1% of his pass attempts for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. Penix Jr.'s return should provide a massive upgrade in quarterback play for Falcons wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., both of whom have gotten off to slow starts to the year while catching passes from Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. Penix Jr.'s own production outlook is uncertain, as he's now suffered three major knee injuries and two major shoulder injuries since the start of his college career in 2018. Still, Penix Jr. profiles as a worthy waiver-wire target in two-quarterback formats now that he will be back on the field in Week 3.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that running back Aaron Jones Sr. was "pretty sore" after the team's Week 2 win over the division-rival Chicago Bears on Sunday. Backup Jordan Mason (thumb) is on Injured Reserve for another three weeks, and rookie sixth-rounder Demond Claiborne "is not ready to carry the load," according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. In addition to Jones and Claiborne, the Vikings have veteran DeeJay Dallas on their 53-man roster, and Jerome Ford is on their practice squad. "[Jones] is a guy that clearly we have a lot of confidence in," O'Connell said, "but we want to be smart about it as well." The 31-year-old Jones handled 23 carries for 105 yards in Sunday's 9-3 victory over Chicago, but it sounds as though the Vikings would like to get some other backs involved to take some of the load off of Jones' shoulders going forward. Sunday's production from Jones with Mason on IR might be the ceiling of what fantasy managers can expect from him.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Monday that he does not think that quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) will practice this week, but he has not ruled him out yet for the Week 3 contest on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson called the news that the team received on Williams' hamstring injury on Monday "somewhat encouraging." When the 24-year-old went down with a hamstring injury in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter on Sunday, he looked to be in a significant amount of pain and was extremely dejected while being carted to the trainer's room. However, it looks like the former first overall pick from USC might have escaped with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, which is the least severe. If Williams does not practice this week, he will not play in Week 3 against the Eagles, but he could make it back to start in Week 4 at home against the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 4. If Williams is ruled out this week, backup Tyson Bagent would make the start for the Bears offense.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that rookie running back Emmett Johnson will continue to be more involved in the team's offense as the season progresses, per Soren Petro of Sports Radio 810 WHB. Johnson has been extremely efficient on a limited workload through the first two games of his NFL career, recording 103 scrimmage yards on 14 touches. The Chiefs have leaned heavily on RB1 Kenneth Walker so far, and Walker has recorded 369 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 56 touches. As long as Walker remains healthy, it may be difficult for Johnson to provide consistent production for fantasy managers. Still, it appears as though the Chiefs are happy with Johnson's progress and could find ways to get him more involved going forward. Heading into Week 3, Johnson profiles as a high-upside handcuff running back option with some season-long standalone upside.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said on Monday that tight end Brock Bowers (knee) will practice this week as the team prepares for their Week 3 battle on the road against the New Orleans Saints, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Bowers had a meniscus trim on Sept. 8 and did not play in the first two games of the regular season. However, he returned to practice and was limited last Friday, signaling that he has a good chance to make his 2026 debut this coming weekend as long as he does not suffer any setbacks during practice this week. Michael Mayer did not really move the fantasy needle as a streaming TE in the two games that Bowers missed, catching nine of his 11 targets for 55 receiving yards. Bowers, the former 13th overall pick in 2024 from Georgia, played in only 12 games in 2025 due to injury, but he had a 1,000-yard season as a rookie and is an elite, high-end TE1 in fantasy whenever he is active. Fantasy managers are chomping at the bit to get Bowers into their lineups for Week 3.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen had a disappointing game in his team's Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, recording one catch for five yards on five targets. However, the 34-year-old has played a consistent role in his team's offense early in 2026, logging 11 targets through two games. Allen's role may be poised to grow coming out of Week 2, as Colts wideout Alec Pierce (heel) had to leave the team's loss to the Chiefs on a cart after re-aggravating an existing heel injury. While X-rays came back negative on Pierce's left heel, he underwent surgery on his left ankle over the offseason and has been dealing with complications in the area ever since. At this point in his career, Allen does not carry a ton of explosive production upside. However, the veteran wide receiver has always been a consistent target earner, and he could establish himself as a high-floor PPR option for deep-league managers to target on the waiver wire.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has gotten off to a fantastic start to the 2026 season, completing 63% of his pass attempts for 648 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception across two games. The 25-year-old has also logged a rushing touchdown, and he appears to be in full command of a Panthers offense that has scored 71 points so far this year. While Carolina operated a run-heavy system in 2025, Young is averaging 36.5 pass attempts per game early on in 2026. The Panthers also have a favorable run of matchups coming up on paper, as they will play the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 and host the Detroit Lions in Week 4. In leagues where Young remains available, he profiles as a priority waiver-wire target for fantasy managers coming out of Week 2.

Two games into the 2026 NFL season, Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson has recorded 20 carries for 82 yards and two receptions for 16 yards on two targets. Robinson Jr. logged 13 touches in Atlanta's blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Still, the 27-year-old is unlikely to see fantasy-relevant usage on a consistent basis as long as Falcons superstar back Bijan Robinson stays healthy. On the other hand, Bijan Robinson has recorded 48 touches across the first two games of the season, putting him on a 17-game pace to top 400 touches. While Bijan has been extremely durable to this point in his NFL career, there's always a chance that the heavy workload could start to catch up to him. If Bijan Robinson were to suffer an injury, Brian Robinson Jr. would profile as the clear RB1 in Atlanta. Fantasy managers looking for a priority handcuff option may want to target Robinson Jr. on the waiver wire.

Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said on Monday that a bunch of players dealing with injuries will have a "good shot" to play in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, which includes wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring), according to Ryan Mink of the team's official website. Flowers caught five of his six targets for a career-high 150 receiving yards and his first touchdown of the season in the Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but he suffered a hamstring injury in that game and was inactive for the Week 2 upset loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. As long as the 26-year-old former first-round wideout makes progress in practice this week, he will have a chance to return for fantasy managers in a good matchup against Dallas. When active, Flowers is a must-start in all traditional fantasy football leagues. With Flowers out this past Sunday, veteran Rashod Bateman led Baltimore with seven catches, 88 yards, and his first touchdown of the season. If Flowers returns in Week 3, Bateman will go back to being strictly a flex option in deeper fantasy formats.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell got a little more work Sunday, but not enough to change the bigger picture in the backfield. Mitchell carried five times for 24 yards and caught his only target for 15 yards in the loss to Las Vegas after seeing four carries in Week 1. Omarion Hampton, meanwhile, handled 23 carries and caught both of his targets, so there is still a wide gap between the starter and everyone else. Kimani Vidal has yet to record an offensive touch through two games, but the Chargers continue to list Mitchell and Vidal together behind Hampton on the depth chart. That makes Mitchell interesting without making him trustworthy yet. The speed is there, and six touches were at least a small step forward, but fantasy managers need more before putting him anywhere near a lineup. RotoBaller ranks Mitchell 25th among Week 3 waiver options and recommends him in 12-team PPR leagues. For now, he is a stash for managers who can afford to wait on the role.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday that the foot injury that wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) is dealing with is not the injury that he suffered during training camp, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. McCarthy also said that Pittman has taken some positive steps forward after being inactive in the Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, but he is unsure if he will be able to play in the Week 3 divisional tilt this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals. It is not a ringing endorsement for the 28-year-old's status for Week 3, but we should have a better idea of Pittman's availability against Cincy once the Steelers return to practice on Wednesday. DK Metcalf was shut down by Patriots star cornerback on Sunday and caught only four of his nine targets for 27 yards, while rookie Germie Bernard led the inept offense with four catches for 35 yards. The Steelers' offense has looked like one of the worst units in football so far in 2026 through two weeks, so if Pittman works his way back and is cleared to play in Week 3, he will be an unappealing WR4/flex option for fantasy managers.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) is undergoing further testing Monday, according to Nick Carboni. Brooks aggravated the same groin injury that sidelined him late in training camp during Sunday's 34-3 win over Atlanta. Head coach Dave Canales called him day-to-day after the game and said the team would have more information as the week went on. Brooks finished with five carries for 16 yards and one catch for minus-five yards before leaving in the fourth quarter. Carolina has not given a timetable for his return, so his status for Sunday's Week 3 game at Cleveland remains up in the air.

All signs point to Washington Commanders veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota starting this Sunday in a Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Starting QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) underwent imaging today for his left-elbow injury, but he will consult with specialists after dislocating his elbow again in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. It is unclear how much time Daniels might have to miss this year, but at least for this week, fantasy managers should expect the 32-year-old Mariota to take over the offense in a bad matchup against a nasty Seahawks defense. All of Washington's offensive weapons should be downgraded in fantasy for as long as Mariota is leading Washington's offense. The former second overall pick in 2015 by the Tennessee Titans went 11-for-16 passing in relief of Daniels on Sunday in Dallas, throwing for 111 yards with one touchdown. He went 2-6 as a starter for the Commanders in place of Daniels in 2025 and threw for a total of 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven picks in 11 total appearances (eight starts). Mariota now becomes a waiver consideration for fantasy managers in two-QB superflex leagues who are hurting at the quarterback position.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) underwent imaging Monday after dislocating his left elbow in Sunday's loss to Dallas, according to Ian Rapoport. Daniels will now consult with multiple experts over the next few days as part of the team's normal evaluation process. Initial X-rays showed no fracture, but Washington has not given a recovery timetable. Daniels suffered the injury on the final play of the first half when he fell and tried to brace himself with his left arm. He finished 11-of-17 passing for 96 yards and a touchdown while adding 69 rushing yards. Head coach Dan Quinn said the team probably won't have a meaningful update on Daniels until Thursday or Friday.