play1:03Montgomery and Gibbs put up big fantasy points on MondayDaniel Dopp and Stephania Bell break down big fantasy performances by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 3.
play1:18Will Jake Ferguson’s stock keep rising with CeeDee Lamb injured?Field Yates says Jake Ferguson and George Pickens could be lineup locks with CeeDee Lamb nursing an injury.
play0:50Eric Moody: Hunter Henry has cemented himself as a low-end TE1Eric Moody reacts to Hunter Henry’s nice fantasy game vs. the Steelers.
play1:11What to make of Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter in fantasyTristan H. Cockcroft explains why Brian Thomas Jr. is more of a WR2 and why fantasy managers should keep Travis Hunter on the bench for now.
Montgomery and Gibbs put up big fantasy points on MondayDaniel Dopp and Stephania Bell break down big fantasy performances by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 3.
Daniel Dopp and Stephania Bell break down big fantasy performances by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 3.
Will Jake Ferguson’s stock keep rising with CeeDee Lamb injured?Field Yates says Jake Ferguson and George Pickens could be lineup locks with CeeDee Lamb nursing an injury.
Field Yates says Jake Ferguson and George Pickens could be lineup locks with CeeDee Lamb nursing an injury.
Eric Moody: Hunter Henry has cemented himself as a low-end TE1Eric Moody reacts to Hunter Henry’s nice fantasy game vs. the Steelers.
What to make of Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter in fantasyTristan H. Cockcroft explains why Brian Thomas Jr. is more of a WR2 and why fantasy managers should keep Travis Hunter on the bench for now.
Tristan H. Cockcroft explains why Brian Thomas Jr. is more of a WR2 and why fantasy managers should keep Travis Hunter on the bench for now.
Sept. 26: Commanders rule Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin out
Sept. 25: Pearsall added to injury report, mounting McLaurin injury concern
Sept. 23: Gibbs and Montgomery run free against the Ravens
Sept. 22: Impact of CeeDee Lamb’s high ankle sprain
Sept. 22: Injury situations to monitor ahead of Week 4
Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our Fantasy Football Buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the NFL.
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Projections suggest all three will remain involved, capping individual upside. For fantasy managers, Samuel is the most likely to benefit from increased targets, while the running backs remain risky flex options depending on league size. If forced to choose one, Croskey-Merritt offers the most intrigue.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders (quad): McLaurin was injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s game with what the team classified as a quad (quadriceps, large muscle on the front of the thigh) injury. On Wednesday, coach Dan Quinn said he would have an update on his status by Friday but did acknowledge that McLaurin was seeking a second opinion on his injury. He also noted that second opinions are a common occurrence.
This is true, however the report from NFL Network that McLaurin was consulting with Dr. Bill Meyers is interesting given that his area of expertise is in core muscle injuries. In fact, Dr. Meyers is often considered the “godfather of the core muscle repair” (originally referred to as “sports hernia” surgery, although that term has largely fallen out of favor in the medical community because it is not a true hernia).
A soft tissue injury to these muscles can not only make that motion difficult, but it can also limit power and explosiveness. When severe enough, it can make all running difficult. Differentiating where the actual source of the injury is can be tricky and that perhaps explains the extra time and consultation McLaurin is seeking.
A mild soft-tissue strain can be a matter of rehab and recovery, but a severe core injury can result in surgery (core muscle repair). There is no indication as to the severity of the injury yet but, as of now, it seems unlikely that McLaurin will be available this week, at the very least.
Dart, the Giants’ 25th overall pick out of Ole Miss, impressed in the preseason, completing 32 of 47 passes for 372 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 52 rushing yards and another score on six carries. Dart’s dual-threat ability gives the Giants a dynamic new look that contrasts sharply with Wilson’s style. With a strong supporting cast that includes Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson and deep threat Darius Slayton, Dart could immediately revitalize New York’s offense.
Montgomery and Gibbs put up big fantasy points on Monday
Eric Moody: Jahmyr Gibbs (26.9 PPR fantasy points) and David Montgomery (29.4) delivered matchup-winning fantasy performances Monday night against the Ravens. Gibbs set a season high in snaps and handled 27 touches, cementing his role as the lead back. Montgomery, meanwhile, played just 36% of the offensive snaps but produced the second-highest single-game output of his career on 13 touches.
The key takeaway is that this is Gibbs’ backfield now. He’s had at least 19 touches in two of three games, and in the other game he had a season-high 104 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. That makes this a great time for fantasy managers to consider trading Montgomery.
Mark Andrews caught all six of his targets for 27.1 fantasy points, fueled by two touchdowns. That’s good, but he was still sharing snaps and routes with Charlie Kolar and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. Andrews saw most of his playing time in 11 personnel and was used less often in 12 personnel. His usage is expected to shift again once Isaiah Likely returns.
Will Jake Ferguson’s stock keep rising with CeeDee Lamb injured?
Tristan H. Cockcroft: ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that Lamb’s injury, which the receiver initially attempted to play through, could cost him three to four weeks. High ankle sprains typically result in multiweek absences, so it’s no surprise that Lamb might miss that much time (or longer).
With the Dallas Cowboys’ defense performing as poorly as it has, Prescott should continue to handle hefty workloads, meaning Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin, who move up to the Nos. 2 and 3 roles at wide receiver, could have their moments against weaker opposing secondaries. In larger leagues — think 12-teamers and deeper — either or both could warrant a look, though neither should be remotely on a standard league radar against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.
Stephania Bell: Lamb was the ball carrier on a 1-yard run when he got his left ankle caught up under a defender, forcing his ankle to rotate outwards relative to his lower leg while it was trapped against the ground. That Lamb was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain was not surprising given the mechanism of injury described above is typically associated with that injury.
The following players suffered an injury in Week 3. Be on the lookout for updates as the week progresses.
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Evans suffered a hamstring injury and could be seen limping off the field and on the sidelines. As he exited the field and walked into the tunnel, Evans threw his helmet, seemingly frustrated by the injury. Coach Todd Bowles said Evans is set to undergo an MRI on Monday. Evans missed three games last season due to a hamstring strain.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders: McLaurin left Sunday’s game early with a quad injury. Originally deemed questionable to return, McLaurin remained out for the rest of the game.
Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts: Pierce exited the game early to be evaluated for a concussion. He was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants: Tracy left the Sunday night game with a right shoulder injury that he sustained following a collision with a defender, and he was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Eric Moody: Hunter Henry has cemented himself as a low-end TE1
Eric Moody reacts to Hunter Henry’s nice fantasy game vs. the Steelers.
What to make of Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter in fantasy
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (shoulder): It took only three snaps on the field in the team’s Week 1 game in Brazil for Worthy to collide with teammate Travis Kelce, suffering a dislocated right shoulder in the process. Despite coach Andy Reid’s “day by day” optimism shortly afterward, it did in fact turn out to be a week-to-week process, unsurprising considering the nature of the injury. Things are looking up for the Chiefs however as Worthy participated in full practices throughout the week and is off the game status injury report for Sunday’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
After a dislocation episode, players will often return wearing a stabilizing harness that wraps around the upper ribs with an extension that wraps around the upper portion of the injured arm. The goal of the harness is to restrict motion of the shoulder from vulnerable positions, therefore hopefully preventing re-dislocation. Players don’t typically love wearing harnesses because any limitation in mobility can hinder their ability to play the position as effectively as they otherwise would. And yet, they can adapt and perform surprisingly well. According to The Predictors, wide receivers with this injury typically show a decline in performance (as measured by receiving yards) in the first three weeks back, most notably down 12-15% in the first week. Improvement happens each week with players returning to pre-injury metrics after four weeks. The chance of re-injury that would lead to season-ending surgery ranges from 10-12%, lower than one might expect given the collisions — with both players and the ground — that are a part of wide receiver play.
The Washington Commanders will be without Daniels (knee) and McLaurin (quad) against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4, a major blow to both Washington’s offense and fantasy managers. Daniels, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, has been dynamic when healthy, but the team will once again turn to Marcus Mariota, who impressed last week with 20.2 fantasy points. Mariota’s dual-threat ability makes him a viable streaming option in fantasy, though Atlanta’s defense has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.