Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback J.J. McCarthy will not play in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the New England Patriots. Instead, Sam Howell will get the start. In the preseason opener last week against the Houston Texans, McCarthy went 4-for-7 for 30 yards and rushed one time for eight yards in his only drive of the game. The 22-year-old missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to a torn meniscus in his knee, but he enters 2025 as Minnesota's unquestioned starter under center. The former Michigan signal-caller has plenty of upside with Justin Jefferson (hamtring) and Jordan Addison (suspension) as his top two receivers, but Jefferson has been nursing a hamstring injury all summer, and Addison will miss the first three games. At best, McCarthy will be a midrange QB2 in fantasy.

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he expects to play quarterback Brock Purdy and some of the other starters in the team's second preseason contest this Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Purdy did not play in the preseason opener last Saturday against the Denver Broncos, so this will be his preseason debut this year, although he probably won't play more than a couple offensive series. The 25-year-old still has low-end QB1 potential with Shanahan running the offense and running back Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, but it's also concerning that San Fran's receiving corps is so beat up right now -- Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is on the PUP list and Jauan Jenninngs (calf), Jacob Cowing (hamstring) and rookie Jordan Watkins (ankle) are all hurt. Purdy's rushing ability gives him a higher floor for fantasy, even if the Niners' offense doesn't fully bounce back.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Mike Evans will not play in the team's second preseason game this Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Besides Evans and defender Lavonte David, all of the team's starters will suit up for at least a little bit of action this weekend. The 31-year-old Evans is not injured, but the Bucs have decided to let the veteran rest. Chris Godwin (ankle) remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list and might not be ready for the start of the regular season, so rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan will get plenty of run on Saturday with the starters. Evans, a six-time Pro Bowler, has had 1,000 yards receiving in all 11 of his NFL seasons, but the elevated injury risk and the addition of Egbuka makes him a little bit more volatile in fantasy in 2025 as a WR2.

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Prosecutors have declined to file charges against Browns rookie RB Quinshon Judkins, who was accused of misdemeanor domestic violence and battery. He still could face discipline from the NFL, but this is a big positive for him for the coming season. Judkins is expected to join the Browns in the coming days.

The NFL will continue their own investigation into Cleveland Brown rookie running back Quinshon Judkins despite the fact that the second-rounder isn't expected to face any formal charges for a domestic-violence incident that took place on July 12 in Florida, according to NFL Network's Mike Garofolo. "We have been following developments in the matter which remains under review," a league spokesman said. Because of the 21-year-old's off-the-field issues, the Browns have yet to sign him to his rookie deal, which means he hasn't practiced at all with the team in training camp. The fact that no formal charges have been filed is good news for Judkins, but it doesn't mean he won't face a suspension from the NFL, and he still may not be ready to play by Week 1 of the regular season. Judkins has fallen to an RB56 ranking at RotoBaller because of the uncertainty, while rookie Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford are primed to share the backfield for however long Judkins is away.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that with the exception of receiver Mike Evans and defender Lavonte David, every starter will play in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mayfield will probably only play for a series or two this weekend before giving way to veteran Teddy Bridgewater. The 30-year-old has blossomed the last two years in Tampa and made back-to-back Pro Bowls. He threw for a career-high 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and a league-high 16 interceptions in 17 regular-season starts in his second year with the team last year. While it will certainly be tough for Mayfield to match those numbers in another year of a new offensive coordinator, his weapons remain largely unchained in what should once again be a pass-happy offense. On volume alone, Mayfield figures to be in the low-end QB1 picture.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (hamstring) left Thursday's training camp practice early due to a left-hamstring injury, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. Downs injured his hamstring on a play and immediately went to the trainers while walking off the field under his own power. As Holder says, it's definitely a situation worth monitoring after he became a bigger part of Indy's offense in 2024 with a 72-803-5 line on 107 targets in 14 games (eight starts) in his second year in the NFL. For now, we'll consider Downs day-to-day until we know more about the severity of his injury. The Colts' quarterback situation makes all of their receiving targets less than ideal for fantasy purposes, but Downs is worth a look as a WR4/5 for WR depth in fantasy if he's healthy. If Downs' hamstring injury lingers, it will benefit Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce (groin) the most.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) will have another workout this Saturday before the team's second preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Sofi Stadium, according to head coach Sean McVay. The workout will be similar to the one he had last Saturday, Aug. 9. "Hopefully [his back] responds a little bit better," McVay said. "We're trying to get our hands around this as well, so I don't really have much more information other than think we're trying some different things that are hopefully going to be in alignment with getting him back out on the field." The 37-year-old looked good in last Saturday's workout and was supposed to practice for the first time on Monday, but that never happened. It sounds like his aggravated disc issue is more serious than previously though, although it's still unclear if it might affect his Week 1 availability. The longer he remains out of practice, though, the greater chances Stafford won't be ready for the regular-season opener.

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The Athletic's Matt Schneidman reports that Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (thumb) is wearing a soft cast after having surgery to address a ligament injury in his left (non-throwing) thumb. Love is still expected to return to practice next week. Even if he were fully healthy, Love was not expected to play in the second preseason game this Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts. The 26-year-old will get back to practice next week and is fully expected to be ready for Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. Love missed two games due to injury in his second full season as the starter in 2024 and finished with 3,389 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, a slight step back from the previous campaign. The Packers' offense needs to stay healthy, but if Love ends up running more, a bounce-back season could be in store. Draft him as a low-end QB2 with upside this fall.

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Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins is not expected to face any formal charges, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The rookie second-round pick out of Ohio State has not signed with the team, but he could join the organization shortly after prosecutors declined to move forward with the case against him. Judkins was arrested on a domestic violence charge in July, but this situation seems to be coming to a close. It's unclear whether or not the NFL will still consider a suspension for Judkins. While his return to action in the near future helps his fantasy prospects, he's behind on preparation and could be eased into a role for the 2025 season. Running backs Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson should be expected to see early-season action.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (illness) did not practice on Thursday due to an illness, according to head coach Dave Canales. The second-year wideout out of Holy Cross had a solid showing in the team's first preseason game of the year last week, snagging two receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown. In his rookie season, the 23-year-old tallied 32 receptions on 46 targets for 478 yards and two touchdowns. While rookie Tetairoa McMillan is expected to be the immediate WR1 for quarterback Bryce Young, Coker could be a sneaky fantasy football value pick if Carolina's offense takes a step forward. Luckily, Coker is not dealing with anything serious and should return to action soon.

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According to NFL.com and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, veteran safety Kyle Dugger has been demoted to the second-team defense. Dugger signed a four-year, $58 million contract last offseason, but Vrabel is not tied to decisions from previous coaching staffs. When asked how Dugger can win his starting job back, Vrabel said, "Just making sure that he's where he needs to be and understanding the coverage concepts and everything we do. A lot of this is that guys have earned the right to take a look with that first unit and, again, there will be different lineups and different things. Just focus on the reps that you get right now." It sounds like the 29-year-old has been outplayed by other safeties this offseason, and Vrabel is attempting to motivate him to work his way back. In 74 career games since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Dugger has tallied 424 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, nine interceptions, and 24 pass deflections.

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Veteran free-agent running back Matt Breida is retiring from the NFL, according to ESPN. The former undrafted free agent signing out of Georgia Southern by the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 compiled 575 rushing attempts for 2,652 rushing yards and caught 120 passes for 935 receiving yards in 98 career games with the 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and New York Giants. He tallied 15 total touchdowns. Breida had his moments on the fantasy football radar, particularly in 2018 when he rushed for 814 yards and tallied 261 receiving yards as a sophomore in Kyle Shanahan's offense. The 30-year-old declined a workout request from the Miami Dolphins this offseason.

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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced that the team's key starters, including quarterback Bo Nix, will not play in the preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. The starters will play around 10 snaps next week against the New Orleans Saints. In Week 1 of the preseason, Nix completed six of 11 passing attempts for 31 yards and no touchdowns. The sophomore former first-round pick out of Oregon exceeded expectations in Year 1, helping lead Denver to its first playoff game since Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers. With an elite offensive line in front of him and a much-improved running back stable this season, Nix should be set up for success in Payton's offense.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will play in his first career preseason game on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach John Harbaugh said the plan is for offensive and defensive starters, and Herbert will play "a series or two." While Herbert is viewed by many as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, his fantasy floor and ceiling took hits last season in Greg Roman's run-first offense. After throwing for at least 4,336 yards in the first three seasons of his career, the Oregon product tallied just 3,870 passing yards in 17 games a season ago. While he has a ton of upside in shootout game conditions, Harbaugh and Roman are unlikely to transition into a high-flying passing attack.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot) was seen out of his walking boot on Thursday, but the third-year wideout is still not participating in practice. Reed is dealing with a sprained foot, and it's unclear if it will affect his Week 1 availability. The Packers' wide receiver room is dealing with several injuries during training camp, as Romeo Doubs, Savion Williams, Dontayvion Wicks, and Christian Watson are all out of action. First-round rookie Matthew Golden stands to benefit from extra opportunities in their absences. Reed remains a viable flex option for fantasy football, but it appears he is trending toward being relegated to three-WR sets once again in 2025.

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Green Bay Packers wide receivers Romeo Doubs (back) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) did not practice on Thursday due to back and calf injuries, respectively. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Doubs suffered a back injury in Tuesday's practice, but the ailment is not viewed as serious. Wicks has been out of action for a few weeks. Fellow Green Bay wideouts Savion Williams (concussion), Jayden Reed (foot), and Christian Watson (knee) are also banged up, leaving rookie Matthew Golden to soak up a ton of opportunities in training camp. Golden likely has the highest upside among all Packers' pass-catchers, but 2025 could be another year of the Packers lacking a true No. 1 target hog.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not play in the team's second preseason game this Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Rodgers will sit again and probably won't play in the preseason finale next week, either. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer has seen it all at this point and needs to save the bullets he has left for the regular season. Backup Mason Rudolph will make another start this weekend at QB for Pittsburgh. Rodgers looked slow last year in his final season with the New York Jets while coming off an Achilles tear, and there's no guarantee he'll be any more athletic another year older. Rodgers still has the ability to sling it, but injuries will be a big concern, and it's hard to envision him lighting up box scores on a weekly basis in what is expected to be a run-first Steelers offense.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. got a lot of run "from the jump" in the team's scrimmage on Thursday. Tank Bigsby and rookie Bhayshul Tuten had the second-most reps of RBs during the scrimmage, and Bigsby found the end zone. Etienne was also the team's lead back in the preseason opener on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, although he only carried the ball twice for six yards and caught one pas for a pickup of 10 yards. Bigsby and Tuten didn't see the field. Etienne's usage so far suggests that he should be a big part of Jacksonville's offense in 2025, unless he's traded before the start of the season. The 26-year-old is still RotoBaller's highest-ranked (No. 33) Jaguars RB in fantasy, but Bigsby is at No. 38, and Tuten sits at No. 51. It could be a three-headed monster for Jacksonville, making Etienne an RB3/flex, at best, in PPR leagues if he's not traded.

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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that quarterback Joe Milton III (elbow) will start the team's second preseason game on Saturday versus the Baltimore Ravens. Starter Dak Prescott will watch on the sidelines. Milton suffered a minor elbow injury during the preseason opener last Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams and was pulled early, but the 25-year-old will be able to play this weekend as he tries to win the backup job in Dallas over Will Grier. Before leaving the game against the Rams, Milton went 17-for-29 passing for 143 yards with a touchdown and interception, and he also carried the ball five times for 22 yards. Milton has some intriguing dual-threat abilities as a backup QB, but the Cowboys would be in rough shape if Prescott suffers another injury in 2025 that forces Milton into starting duties.

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