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The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala predicts that Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. should get an opportunity to impact the field when his team lines up with the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Rodriguez Jr. was a healthy scratch for the team's first two contests, but Jhabvala credits that more to game-day roster construction than an indication of talent. While an accurate touch share can't be predicted, the 25-year-old figures to work in tandem with both rookie rusher Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veteran Jeremy McNichols. As of now, Croskey-Merritt should be favored for early-down work, with McNichols handling most of the passing situations and Rodriguez Jr. mixing in for both.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders beat writer Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic predicts a 40-45% chance that Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) suits up for Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Daniels suffered a knee sprain during the team's Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. It's worth noting that Jhabvala also writes that he "doesn't have a good sense" of Daniels' status for Week 3. Still, Daniels has not practiced yet this week heading into Friday, and it could make sense for the team to be cautious with their young superstar this early in the season. If Daniels cannot play, veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota would take over under center for Washington. Even if Daniels does suit up, he may not be able to do much damage with his legs, which could limit his effectiveness against Las Vegas. Daniels would remain a must-start fantasy quarterback if he's active, but fantasy managers should be preparing for him to miss Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft's (knee) status for Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns is "at least somewhat clouded," according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Kraft suffered a knee injury during practice on Thursday. However, Pelissero confirms initial reporting from the team that the knee injury is not expected to result in a long-term absence. Kraft is coming off a breakout Week 2 performance against the Washington Commanders, where he recorded six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. If he is unable to play in Week 3, Packers tight end Luke Musgrave would be in line for an increase in snaps. The outlook for Packers wide receivers Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Matthew Golden could improve as well, as all would likely be in line for an increase in targets.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco called rookie running back Quinshon Judkins "explosive," and Browns coaches are ramping Judkins up to take on a heavier workload, per Scott Petrak of BrownsZone. Judkins made his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, recording 10 carries for 61 yards and three catches for 10 yards. The 21-year-old is likely to still split touches with fellow Browns backs Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford in the short term, but Judkins could take hold of a clear RB1 workload sooner rather than later. Judkins faces a tough matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. He profiles as a low-end RB3/flex option in Week 3, but his season-long upside is significantly higher.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington saw several designed touches on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills. Washington recorded three catches for 12 yards on five targets as a receiver and added two carries for 20 yards out of the backfield. The second-year wideout has been a consistent piece in Miami's offense through the team's first three games. For the season, he's logged six catches for 34 yards and rushed for 52 yards on six attempts. Washington's gadget role has not yet led to fantasy-relevant production. Still, he could be a name to monitor in deep leagues, particularly if Miami eventually trades away wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II recorded nine carries for 38 yards and his first NFL touchdown on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills. Gordon II had logged just three carries across the team's first two games, so Week 3 represented a significant increase in touches for the rookie. At 225 lbs., Gordon II could carve out a role as the power back in Miami alongside speedy RB1 De'Von Achane. At least in Week 3, it was Gordon II who worked as the team's goal-line back and scored Miami's lone rushing touchdown of the night. The 21-year-old should be rostered as a handcuff to Achane, and Gordon II could even work his way into a fantasy-relevant role sharing touches with Achane if Miami's offense starts to pick up steam as the season progresses.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane volumed his way to a solid fantasy performance on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills. Achane recorded 62 yards on 12 carries and added another 29 yards on seven catches (nine targets). The 23-year-old ceded a goal-line touch to rookie running back Ollie Gordon II, who scored the lone rushing touchdown of the night for the Dolphins. While it wasn't the most efficient night for Achane, he's proven to be a high-volume touch-earner through his first three games of 2025. Achane has recorded 147 yards on 30 rush attempts, adding 141 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 18 catches. His 23 targets are tied for the team lead with wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Achane remains a must-start fantasy running back.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid was productive on Thursday against the Miami Dolphins. He saw a team leading six targets, and caught five of them for 66 yards and a touchdown. His only target that he didn't haul in was also a near touchdown, which could have made his night much better. Regardless, this is the Kincaid that fantasy managers have been hoping for over the past few seasons, and so far in the 2025 season, he has not disappointed; he has totaled two touchdowns and 151 yards on 13 receptions. To put that into perspective, Kincaid has already matched his season high in touchdowns with two, as he's hauled in exactly two in each of his first two seasons (2023 and 2024). Next up for the Bills and Kincaid is a home matchup against the New Orleans Saints, where fantasy managers can continue to start Kincaid as a low-end TE1.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle recorded five catches for 39 yards and a touchdown on six targets against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. Waddle has now scored touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, although he's failed to crack 70 receiving yards in any of Miami's games so far. On the season, Waddle has been targeted 17 times, hauling in 14 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks third on the Dolphins in targets behind wide receiver Tyreek Hill and running back De'Von Achane (23 each). Waddle profiles as a low-end flex option going into next week's matchup against the New York Jets.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook was excellent on Thursday against the Miami Dolphins, carving up the Dolphins' defense with 108 rushing yards on 19 carries, which was suitable for 5.68 yards per carry. He also scored a touchdown on the ground, which was from two yards out to put the Bills ahead 21-14 in the third quarter. Cook also contributed 10 yards through the air on three receptions, to tally 118 all-purpose yards on the evening. Cook has now totaled over 100 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in each of his three contests so far in 2025, putting to bed any doubt about his touchdown regression from 2024. Up next for Cook is a home game against the New Orleans Saints, where the Bills will presumably be heavy favorites again, which sets the stage for additional rush attempts for Cook.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was highly efficient in Thursday's 31-21 win over division opponent, the Miami Dolphins. He completed 22 of 28 passes for 213 yards and three passing touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground with 25 rushing yards on four attempts, suitable for a 134.1 QB rating. In a game that had the makings of a blowout, the Dolphins kept it close until Tua Tagovailoa threw a late interception. Allen remains a top-three fantasy quarterback every time he steps on the field and is hoping to continue stacking up wins for the Bills on their quest to bring home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Up next for Allen is a home matchup against the New Orleans Saints, which figures to be another game that the Bills are heavily favored in.

From RotoBaller

ESPN NFL Nation Green Bay Packers reporter Rob Demovsky reports that more opportunities could come soon for Packers rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden. Either way, the first-round pick isn't down despite a slow start, saying, "It's two games," Golden said. "I'm not pressing for anything." All in all, this is encouraging news for a rookie wide receiver trying to find his way into an offense that likes to spread the ball around to multiple players and lean on its run game with Josh Jacobs. Golden went from 48 percent of snaps played in Week 1 to 59 percent in Week 2, while seeing two targets in each contest. Of those four total targets, he has only been able to haul in two of them for eight yards. That being said, both of his targets in Week 2 were on the verge of being explosive plays. Nonetheless, his production thus far makes him a risky fantasy option until we see it in action. Currently, fantasy managers should consider him a WR3 with upside in most formats, given his first-round pedigree and the fact that he's on a good offense.

From RotoBaller

Senior writer from The Athletic, Zach Berman, reports that A.J. Brown said that the Philadelphia Eagles will likely continue to see zone coverage until they perform better against it. Historically, Brown has thrived against man-to-man, and the Eagles have only faced man-to-man on 10 percent of their dropbacks this season, which is 27 percent down from last year. So far this season, Brown has run eight routes vs. man coverage and has been targeted on four of those routes. He's run 47 routes against zone coverage and has been targeted only five times. This helps explain the slow start to Brown's season; however, it doesn't change the fact that Brown has disappointed fantasy managers thus far this season based on his average draft position, with only nine targets, six receptions, and 35 yards through two games. Brown remains with a WR1 pedigree, but given the style of offense he is in and the Eagles' likely lack of high-scoring, close games this season, he should begin to be viewed as more of a high-risk, high-reward WR2. Fantasy managers may want to adjust and plan accordingly.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen was 22-for-28 passing with 213 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 3 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Allen also ran four times for 25 yards.

Fantasy Spin: Asked to do very little in Buffalo's Week 2 throttling of the Jets, Allen was once again more Clark Kent than Superman in dispatching the Dolphins in a surprisingly competitive affair. He ran just three times (the fourth was a kneel down), and he primarily worked short and intermediate routes. Thankfully, the three touchdowns helped offset a quiet evening in terms of yards for fantasy owners. Allen will get a little extra rest before facing the Saints in Week 4. As ever, the reigning MVP belongs in your starting lineup.

From TheHuddle

Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill had five receptions, 49 yards, and a touchdown during the club's Week 3 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Hill was targeted a game-high 10 times.

Fantasy Spin: After topping 100 yards in Week 2, Hill scored his first touchdown of the season on Thursday night. Although he doesn't look like quite the same player he was earlier in his career, the veteran can still separate and is elusive with the ball in his hands. As your No. 2 fantasy receiver, Hill continues to offer value.

From TheHuddle

NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe said, based on people he's talked to, that a trade of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is not a "consideration at this stage." There have been rumors floating around early this year that the Cheetah is a prime trade candidate, especially if the Dolphins continue to flounder. The 31-year-old eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro bounced back in a Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots with a 100-yard effort on six catches, but this is the first time in his career in which he has not found the end zone in the first two weeks. Hill expressed a desire to be elsewhere after the Week 18 regular-season finale in 2024, which alienated him a bit with his teammates. His chemistry with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a work in progress, and the two have struggled to hook up for big gains down the field in the last year-plus. Hill's performance in Week 2 was a good sign, but it remains to be seen if that will continue if he stays in Miami.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder), who was limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week, said his turf-toe injury is a day-to-day thing, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "I'm happy with the progress I've been making with my foot, my toe. Gotta see at game time how I feel," Purdy added. The 25-year-old missed the Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints, but he appears to be in play to return as the starter under center this Sunday in a divisional clash against the 2-0 Arizona Cardinals. It's also possible that Purdy is active as Mac Jones' backup in Week 3 if the 49ers want to play it safe. It could all depend on how much Purdy can do in the final practice of the week on Friday. With so much uncertainty surrounding Purdy's availability this week, fantasy managers are better off going in another direction.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder) was officially a non-participant on Thursday for the second straight day this week, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Jennings also missed the first two practices last week due to a shoulder injury before returning to practice on Friday and playing in the Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints. The 28-year-old looked much better than in the season opener, catching five of 10 targets for 89 yards and his first touchdown of 2025. Jennings could still play in Week 3 against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but he'll need to practice on Friday. He's trending as a shaky WR4/flex in fantasy once again while dealing with two injuries this week. Making him more dicey is the fact that the Niners don't play until the late window on Sunday. If Jennings is ruled out, Ricky Pearsall will be the top option in the passing game for quarterback Mac Jones, who is expected to make a second straight start in place of the injured Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder).

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) fully participated in practice Thursday, Sept. 18.

Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey has been fairly healthy to start the season and continues to show he is one of the top fantasy options when he is active for games. He will see plenty of touches again this week against the Arizona Cardinals and is a must-start option in all leagues.

From TheHuddle

San Francisco 49ers OT Spencer Burford (knee) and WR Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder) did not participate in practice Thursday, Sept. 18. DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), FB Kyle Juszczyk (concussion) S Siran Neal (concussion), QB Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe), WR Jordan Watkins (calf) and OT Trent Williams (knee) were limited during practice. DE Nick Bosa (non-injury) RB Jordan James (finger) and RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) fully participated in practice.

From TheHuddle