Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
David Dorey

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
Kyler Murray 266-59 3
Derek Carr 243-1 3
Sam Darnold 268-32 2
Baker Mayfield 185-34 2
Joe Burrow 258-9 2
Running Backs Yards TD
Alvin Kamara 20-115
2-65
4
De’Von Achane 22-96
7-69
1
James Cook 11-78
1-17
3
Breece Hall 14-62
7-52
1
J.K. Dobbins 17-131 1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Marvin Harrison Jr. 4-130 2
DK Metcalf 10-129 1
Malik Nabers 10-127 1
Davante Adams 9-110 1
Calvin Ridley 4-77 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
George Kittle 7-76 1
Hunter Henry 8-109 0
Brock Bowers 9-98 0
Trey McBride 6-67 1
Mike Gesicki 7-91 0
Placekickers XP FG
Austin Seibert 0 7
Daniel Carson 2 4
Evan McPherson 1 4
Brandon Aubrey 1 4
Justin Tucker 2 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Bills 2-3 1
Packers 1-3 0
Steelers 2-2 0
Chiefs 3-1 1
Cardinals 5-1 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

PK Graham Gano – Hamstring
WR Cooper Kupp – Ankle
WR Justin Jefferson – Quad bruise
QB Justin Herbert – Leg
TE Taysom Hill – Chest
TE Evan Engram – Hamstring
RB Tyjae Spears – Ankle
RB Isiah Pacheco – Leg IR

Chasing Ambulances

WR Cooper Kupp – Left the loss to the Cardinals with an ankle injury on a team that already lost Puka Nacua for an extended period. If Kupp cannot return for Week 3, it will be catastrophic for the Rams. Demarcus Robinson becomes the primary wideout and the rest of the receivers have to step up, but it is far less certain who, if any, can outplay the rest. The early speculation is that it may be a high-ankle sprain but that will be determined on Monday.

WR Justin Jefferson – Early diagnosis was a quad bruise and that he would be day to day. Already missing Jordan Addison, the Vikings still beat the 49ers in what apparently is an annual tradition in Minnesota. But Jefferson turned in four catches for 133 yards and a score before he left, which included a 97-yard touchdown catch. Jalen Nailor (3-54, TD) was effective subbing for Addison, but there are no other wideouts that merit grabbing if Jefferson was to miss any time.

TE Taysom Hill – Left the win over the Cowboys with a chest injury and went to a local hospital as a precaution. If he misses time, there is no real replacement for the versatile Hill who has been more of a rusher than a receiver.

TE Evan Engram – It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. Engram strained his hamstring during pregame warmups and fantasy owners barely had 30 minutes to replace him in their lineups.  Brenton Strange (3-65) replaced him with some success, but the second-year tight end now totals just eight career receptions.

RB Tyjae Spears – Left the loss to the Jets with an ankle injury and will be diagnosed on Monday. Tony Pollard already has been the primary back and more effective rusher, so any Spears absence boosts Pollard’s workload.

RB Isiah Pacheco – Suffered an ankle injury at the end of the win over the Bengals. HC Andy Reid said Pacheco would be assessed on Monday. If he misses time, the rookie Carson Steele would take over the rushing chores along with increased usage of third-down back Samaje Perine. Pacheco left the stadium on crutches wearing a walking boot.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

 RB Devin Singletary – He is no Saquon Barkley but against the Commanders, he looked like him. Singletary gained 95 yards on 16 rushes with a touchdown. Hope you didn’t blink.

RB Carson Steele (KC) – The undrafted rookie gained 24 yards on seven carries in the win over the Bengals, and while he lost a fumble, the Chiefs still did not use Samaje Perine for any rushes. Steele is a handcuff need for the Pacheco owner.

WR Malik Nabers – The rookie logged his first 100-yard effort, gaining 127 yards and a touchdown on ten catches. Again, against the Commanders, which maybe should carry an asterisk on it. But at least Daniel Jones threw 18 passes at him and no more than four to any other receiver.

RB Brian Robinson – Ended with 133 yards on 17 carries and caught a three-yard pass. Apparently, you should just circle your fantasy player calendar when they face the Commanders or the Giants.

WR Calvin Ridley – He ran in a score, unlike any actual Titan running back, and he caught a 40-yard bomb for a second touchdown. He supplied both offensive touchdowns and a big chunk of the meager yardage for the Titans.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Last year’s bust draft pick is starting to exert himself for the Seahawks, leading the team with 12 catches for 117 yards from 16 targets. DK Metcalf (10-129, TD) was also busy, but we expected that.

RB Antonio Gibson – After a quiet debut in New England last week, the ex-Commander running back was a difference-maker with 96 yards on 11 carries and one catch for seven yards. Rhammondre Stevenson ran for 81 yards on 21 carries with a score, but Gibson was also used as an effective rusher. Neither back did much as a receiver.

RB Jordan Mason – With the news that Christian McCaffrey was placed on IR for the next four to whatever weeks, Mason again shined with 100 yards and a score on 20 rushes in the loss to the Vikings. Notable too – He handled all but one carry for the running backs.

RB Josh Jacobs – To no surprise, the Packers went run heavy with Jordan Love out. To some surprise, the Colts still let Josh Jacobs (32-151) cruise to a monster yardage game.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown – After gaining just 13 yards on three catches in Week 1, St. Brown was back in business, turning 19 targets into 11 catches for 119 yards in the surprise loss to the Buccaneers.

WR Quentin Johnston – Another of the high-draft pick flops from 2023, Johnston showed up with a team high five catches for 51 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the win over the Panthers. He was the only notable receiver for the Chargers but being the primary target is encouraging.

TE Brock Bowers – The rookie was a major part of the Raiders’ shocking win over the Ravens, and ended with nine catches for 98 yards and that was every target he was thrown. He led the Raiders with six catches for 58 yards in Week 1. Notable is that he is killing the fantasy value of Jakobi Meyers and gets the benefit of being “the guy who is not Davante Adams.”

TE Isaiah Likely vs Mark Andrews – Likely became the biggest waiver wire darling last week when he dominated the Baltimore receivers (9-111, TD) and Andrews was left with just two catches for 14 yards because the Chiefs planned on just covering him. After fantasy owners spent stupid money in free agency after Likely, he rewarded them with two catches for 26 yards. Andrews  reeled in four receptions for 51 yards. Sometimes Week 1 is just Week 1, not Week 1 of Many.

TE Mike Gesicki – The Bengals new tight end stepped up when Tee Higgins was out and Ja’Marr Chase was well covered. He led the Bengals with seven receptions for 91 yards, more than double that of any other team receiver.

QB Derek Carr – He’s worth sticking on your roster after OC Klint Kubiak’s offense just paved the Cowboys. That makes two straight weeks that Carr was a Top-7 fantasy quarterback scorer.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – After his debut resulted in only one catch for four yards, he’s figured out this NFL thing in hurry since his four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns (23 and 60 yards) led all wide receivers for Week 2. So, maybe, yeah – he’s gonna need to be covered better.

Huddle player of the week

Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

RB Alvin Kamara  –  The Cowboys are unbeatable at home, at least during the regular season, until now when the Saints went all “Packers” on them for Week 2 with a 44-19 beatdown that was greatly credited to Alvin Kamara who ran for 115 yards and three scores on 20 carries, and caught two passes for 65 yards and a fourth touchdown. Kamara wasn’t just the best fantasy play of Week 2, he was the top dog by a 15-point margin.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Sam Darnold 268-32 3 QB Josh Allen 139-2 1
RB Braelon Allen 7-33
2-23
2 RB Rachaad White 10-18
1-5
0
RB Devin Singletary 16-95
1-0
1 RB Najee Harris 17-69
1-5
0
WR Quentin Johnston 5-51 2 WR Mike Evans 3-24 0
WR Jalen Nailor 3-54 1 WR Cooper Kupp 4-37 0
WR Jalen Tolbert 6-82 0 WR Tyreek Hill 3-24 0
TE Hunter Henry 8-109 0 TE Travis Kelce 1-5 0
PK Austin Seibert 7 FG PK Jake Moody 2  XP 1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 158 Huddle Fantasy Points = 48

Now get back to work…

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.