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Dynasty $250 - FFL: Week 3 | NFL: Week 3

Injury Status: Super Bowl

Thu Feb 8 10:35am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

There are just a handful of injuries we are dealing with for the Super Bowl, which is great news. Both teams head into the game pretty close to having a full compliment of players. Sure, guys are banged up at this time of the season, but there aren’t many key guys that are going to miss this big game. It is good to see these teams near full strength. Now let’s hope it makes for a great game.

Joe Thuney, OG, Chiefs. Thunk is trying to return from a pectoral injury. He has been out the last few weeks and head coach Andy Reid said Thuney is a long shot to play. But there is speculation that Thuney still has an outside chance to play in the Super Bowl. He has not been ruled out yet and would be a great addition to the Chiefs offensive line if he happens to play.

Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs. Moore was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday. He has a chance to return from his knee injury this week. But even if he is active, it isn’t certain how much Moore plays after missing so much time. He will be a risk for fantasy teams to use.

George Kittle, TE, 49ers. Kittle has been limited in practice the last few weeks because of a toe injury. It is bothering him, but he will be ready for the Super Bowl. He probably won’t be too limited in the game despite the nagging toe injury. Expect him to get his usual amount of playing time.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs.  McKinnon is trying to return from his groin injury. He remains on Injured Reserve and will need to be activated in the next day or two if he hopes to play this week. He is practicing on a limited basis, so things are trending the right way for him at the moment. He is another player that could be limited in the game if active after being out the last several weeks.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 3

Player Notes
Jalin Hyatt Sep 20 1:20pm ET
Jalin Hyatt

Because he was frustrated with his standing on the depth chart, New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt requested a trade over the summer, according to multiple team sources. Hyatt played 15 offensive snaps in the Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and 11 snaps in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders. He has had one target, which he dropped in the fourth quarter in Week 1. The former third-rounder in 2023 spent most of the summer as the No. 2 wideout behind rookie Malik Nabers, but Hyatt fell behind Darius Slayton on the depth chart in late August. At this point, the Giants think Slayton, a proven veteran, is the better option. Although he's not a big part of the offense currently, the Giants don't have any plans to trade Hyatt. The 22-year-old had 23 catches for 373 yards (16.2 yards per catch) in 2023. For now, Hyatt is off the fantasy radar in most fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

Jason Sanders Sep 20 1:20pm ET
Jason Sanders

Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders can be avoided by fantasy managers ahead of the team's Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Sanders has missed just one kick on the season -- a 42-yarder he pushed wide-left in Week 1 -- and has drilled all three of his extra-point attempts. Still, he isn't a recommended option this Sunday. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) placed on injured reserve, it's difficult to project Miami as many scoring opportunities for the offense led by Skylar Thompson. The Dolphins' skill players should keep the 28-year-old place-kicker in contention for a few weekly points, but he can only be relied on once the Fins prove they can still be an effective offensive unit with Thompson under center. Sanders is RotoBaller's K25 ahead of Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Sep 20 1:20pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back, calf) is dealing with back and calf injuries, but the Colts don't think he's in danger of missing the Week 3 contest against the Chicago Bears. Pittman wasn't listed on the Week 3 injury report on Wednesday or Thursday, but it sounds like he could pop up on Friday's final report. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Pittman's status. There's a chance he could be considered questionable, but as of right now, it sounds like the Colts plan on having him available. Josh Downs, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in August, has practiced in full all week and is on track to make his 2024 debut this Sunday, which will give Indy some more receiving insurance if Pittman isn't 100%. Pittman's fantasy stock has fallen after catching seven passes for 52 scoreless yards through two weeks in 2024.

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Dameon Pierce Sep 20 1:10pm ET
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running backs Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) were not at practice on Friday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. With both running backs in danger of potentially missing Sunday's game, Cam Akers could get the starting nod. Akers replaced Mixon last weekend when he exited the game due to an ankle injury. On seven carries, Akers tallied 32 yards and caught his lone target for three yards. However, he did lose a fumble. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Houston injury report later on Friday, as it should provide more clarity on the situation. If Akers does suit up as the No.1 RB for Houston on Sunday, he should be viewed as a high-end RB2 simply due to the volume he is expected to see.

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Terry McLaurin Sep 20 1:10pm ET
Terry McLaurin

The Washington Commanders are looking for more ways to get top wide receiver Terry McLaurin involved heading into their Week 3 matchup on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. "We got to find a way to get Terry more involved. That's on me. He's a fantastic player," offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said of McLaurin's 39 receiving yards through the first two weeks of the season. The 29-year-old did have six receptions in the Week 2 win over the division-rival New York Giants, but it led to just 22 receiving yards. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels hasn't been looking very far down the field in the early going and has preferred to tuck the ball and run when he's unsure of things. Unless the Commanders start looking down the field more or McLaurin can start improving his yards-after-the catch production, he could remain a frustrating WR3/flex play for fantasy managers.

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Justice Hill Sep 20 1:00pm ET
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill signed a two-year, $6 million contract extension with the team on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 26-year-old has gradually grown into a more significant role in the Baltimore offense every season and is currently on pace to set a new career-high in targets and receptions out of the backfield. So far this season, Hill has logged eight more snaps than Derrick Henry and caught eight of his 10 targets for 62 receiving yards. He has added 25 yards on the ground on five attempts. Fantasy managers in PPR formats should view Hill as a low-end flex play given his role as a pass-catcher in the Baltimore offense going forward. However, in standard formats, Hill is best left on the waiver wire given the few rushing attempts he sees.

From RotoBaller

Jonnu Smith Sep 20 1:00pm ET
Jonnu Smith

Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith holds some sleeper appeal ahead of the team's Week 3 road tilt against the Seattle Seahawks. Smith caught 6-of-7 targets for 53 yards in Miami's 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 and could again be in store for an elevated role in the offense. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) hitting injured reserve, Skylar Thompson will stand in as the Dolphins' signal caller. Thompson saw a ton of time in the preseason and regularly worked the short area of the field -- funneling most of his targets to the running backs and tight ends. However, this information comes with a grain of salt as Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft (upper-body) are the main wideouts who saw snaps with Thompson in August's action. The 29-year-old veteran is in streaming consideration for now, and RotoBaller's TE19 for the Week 3 matchup.

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Antoine Winfield Jr. Sep 20 12:50pm ET
Antoine Winfield Jr.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) will not play on Sunday, according to Brianna Dix of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winfield Jr. suffered a foot injury in the season opener and did not play in their Week 2 matchup against the Detroit Lions. The 26-year-old did not participate in any practices this week and will hope to be ready for Week 4 when the Buccaneers play host to the Philadelphia Eagles. In the opening week, Winfield tallied seven tackles. Christian Izien should be expected to start his second-straight game and looks to build off a strong outing last week, where he recorded five solo tackles and an interception.

From RotoBaller

Devon Achane Sep 20 12:50pm ET
Devon Achane

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane will be an RB1 in his Week 3 road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Expect him to rack up another significant touch total this Sunday, with the team turning to quarterback Skylar Thompson. Achane handled the rock 29 times last week, amassing 168 total yards and a receiving score as the offense's centerpiece in a 31-10 loss against the Bills. It's unlikely he challenges 30 touches weekly, but Miami could lean on its RBs moving forward with Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) set to miss at least the next four games. For this week, at least, it appears they'll again be without veteran Raheem Mostert, so expect backups Jaylen Wright and Jeff Wilson Jr. to mix in for work behind the 22-year-old. The two handled seven total touches in Week 2. Achane is RotoBaller's PPR RB6 this week.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Sep 20 12:40pm ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) was not ruled out by his head coach, Nick Sirianni, on Friday morning, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The standout wide receiver suffered a hamstring injury last week and was held out of their Week 2 match against the Atlanta Falcons. Brown was expected to miss several weeks at the time, but seeing that he has not been ruled out for this weekend is a promising sign. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Friday's injury report, as the wideout will likely carry an injury designation over the weekend. In the season opener, Brown caught five of his ten targets for 119 yards and a score. If the 27-year-old misses his second-straight game, DeVonta Smith will be the No.1 target for Jalen Hurts once again on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Sep 20 12:30pm ET
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) is expected to play on Sunday, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Machota reports that Dallas owner Jerry Jones spoke on 1053 The Fan and expressed high confidence that his star wideout will be available on Sunday when the Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens. Lamb did not practice in practice on Wednesday and was a limited participant on Thursday. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to Friday's injury report just in case, but Lamb is trending in the right direction. Last week, the Oklahoma product caught four of his seven targets for 90 yards and a score and should be locked into all lineups as a high-end WR1 this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Waddle Sep 20 12:30pm ET
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will be tough to trust as a high-end fantasy option in Week 3 when the team takes on the Seattle Seahawks in a road matchup. He will look to build an affinity between himself and quarterback Skylar Thompson over the next few weeks with the news that Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) has been placed on injured reserve. Waddle -- like his teammate Tyreek Hill -- has the rare ability to turn any touch into points, so look for head coach Mike McDaniel to get his wideouts going early and often this Sunday. Still, expectations must be kept in check for him and the Miami offense. Seattle has allowed the second-fewest passing yards (257) through two weeks this season. However, they have yet to play a duo like Waddle and Hill. The Alabama product is RotoBaller's WR34 this week.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Sep 20 12:20pm ET
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) remains in questionable status for Week 3. On Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that head coach Mike McDaniel stated he was "pessimistic" about Mostert's status on Sunday. While this did not rule the 32-year-old out for Sunday, it does not bode well for his potential status. Mostert missed their Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills due to a chest injury he sustained in their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Mostert's status during Friday's practice as it should provide more clarity on his viability for Sunday. If Mostert misses his second-straight game, fantasy managers should expect sophomore De'Von Achane to be the lead-back.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Sep 20 12:20pm ET
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill garners discussion as a WR2 ahead of the team's Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. He and the other Dolphin wideouts will all get a demotion in the rankings, with quarterback Skylar Thompson set to lead the offense in Tua Tagovailoa's (concussion) stead. It's impossible to know what kind of rapport he and Hill have, as the two did not see action together this preseason despite Thompson seeing extended playing time. However, the 30-year-old speedster is still a threat to turn any pass into a house call. Expect head coach Mike McDaniel to put the veteran wideout in a spot to make his QB look good this weekend -- though, fantasy managers must temper expectations regarding him for the time being. Hill is RotoBaller's WR15 in Week 3 ahead of his road matchup.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Sep 20 12:10pm ET
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett was given a vote of confidence from his head coach, Jerod Mayo, on Friday morning, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. Mayo expressed, "Jacoby is our quarterback until I say he's not our quarterback." This is a good sign for the 31-year-old veteran, as he was lifted from Thursday's game late in the game in favor of rookie Drake Maye. Brissett struggled against a tough New York defense on Thursday, throwing for just 98 yards and completing 12 of his 18 passes. Maye went 4-for-8 with 22 yards in his short-lived professional debut late in the fourth quarter. Fantasy managers in 1QB leagues should continue to leave Brissett on the waiver wire for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Sep 20 12:00pm ET
Bo Nix

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense has been a popular waiver wire transaction this week. That is due to the fact the Bucs are heading into a matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 3. An offense that is led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix. The young signal-caller has thrown zero touchdowns with four interceptions through two games. The defensive unit has done a solid job for Denver, but Nix and the offense look lost. That being said, the Bucs defense shouldn't have many problems trying to contain this offense. The Bucs are missing multiple a few players on defense, but they should still remain one of the better streaming options for Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Skylar Thompson Sep 20 12:00pm ET
Skylar Thompson

Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson will not be a viable fantasy option when the team faces the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 3. He will man the helm in Miami for at least the foreseeable future, with starter Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) on injured reserve. Thompson saw extended play this preseason and regularly hooked up with the tight ends and running backs in the passing game. However, not much can be gleaned from his rapport with the wideouts, as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle did not appear in preseason action. The Dolphins' offensive skill players will get a downgrade across the board, with the 27-year-old under-center. That's reflected in the 41-point combined-point total in their tilt against Seattle. The former Kansas State quarterback is not a suggestion outside of a desperation play in 2QB formats with passing numbers down league-wide thus far in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Chase McLaughlin Sep 20 11:50am ET
Chase McLaughlin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin is quietly putting together a strong start to the 2024 season. McLaughlin has yet to miss any kicks as he's a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra point attempts heading into Week 3. The preseason struggles have gone away as McLaughlin looks like a viable option now. The Bucs have enough offensive firepower to continue giving McLaughlin work on a weekly basis. The Denver Broncos defense has done a nice job this season, but McLaughlin still remains a decent streaming option for fantasy managers looking for help.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aubrey Sep 20 11:50am ET
Brandon Aubrey

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has been a weapon in fantasy football so far this season, as he has drilled 8-of-8 field goals and 4-of-4 extra points. Three of his made field goals have come from beyond 50 yards, and he currently ranks as the number one kicker in fantasy. Aubrey will look to remain perfect this week against Baltimore in a game that is projected to be high-scoring. Do not hesitate to insert him into your lineup this week.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Sep 20 11:30am ET
Lamar Jackson

The Dallas Cowboys defense/special teams unit has been one of the most boom-bust units in fantasy over the past few seasons, and that is no different heading into Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens. One week removed from getting shredded for 44 points against New Orleans, Dallas will look to rebound against Lamar Jackson's 0-2 Ravens team. Despite the winless start, Baltimore leads the league in total offensive yards through the first two games. In this potential shootout, avoid the Cowboys' defense in fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller