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Fantasy Buzz: Bengals withstand Burrow injury, Lions offense roars

ESPN Fantasy

Sep 14, 2025, 06:16 PM ET

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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Sept. 14: Bengals withstand injury to Burrow, Lions offense roars

Notebook by Tristan H. Cockcroft

Fantasy managers of Cincinnati Bengals players will be monitoring their injury updates over the next 24 hours and throughout the practice week, after Joe Burrow was forced to leave the team's Week 2 contest with a toe injury. The star quarterback, the fifth most-started player at his position in fantasy (90.5% of ESPN leagues), scored 7.04 fantasy points before exiting at around the midpoint of the second quarter.

Aggressive-but-erratic backup Jake Browning kept the offense afloat in relief of Burrow, scoring 17.74 points of his own and fueling big scores by Ja'Marr Chase (36.5 PPR fantasy points) and Tee Higgins (14.6). Nevertheless, Burrow's accuracy is practically impossible for Browning to match, and there's little doubt that further absences will heighten the challenge for Bengals offensive players -- yes, including running back Chase Brown, since the team's defense grades well below-average.

Browning would be a matchups-oriented streaming option in the event he's needed to make future starts.

More Sunday takeaways

What a difference a week made for the Detroit Lions, who went from totaling 13 points and 246 yards against the Green Bay Packers in their season opener, to scoring 52 with 511 total yards against the Chicago Bears ... who, by the way, are coached by their former offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson (in case you hadn't yet heard). Jared Goff's turnaround was particularly notable, as he scored a position-best (through the 1 p.m. ET games) 33.96 fantasy points, while showing greater willingness as well as accuracy on deeper throws this week than last. It's suddenly seeming that Week 1 was much more about the Packers' defensive strengths than it was Lions deficiencies, with Thursday's Packers win over the Washington Commmanders providing further evidence of that. The Lions are in for a challenge against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3, but their output should be much closer in resemblance to this week's (or the Buffalo Bills' Week 1 against the Ravens).
After Zach Charbonnet out-snapped (58%-40%), out-carried (12-10) and outscored for fantasy purposes (10.7-5.4 PPR points) Kenneth Walker III in Week 1, it appeared a backfield battle was on. Week 2 wasn't much different in terms of usage -- Charbonnet still led in snap rate (55%-36%) and carries (15-13) -- but Walker was the superior performer of the two, with 18.8 points to Charbonnet's 1.0. It was the rebound performance Walker sorely needed to keep afloat in what's shaping up as a backfield timeshare, and it aligns nicely with a supremely favorable Week 3 matchup ahead against the New Orleans Saints.
No Brock Purdy, no problem for the San Francisco 49ers offense. Mac Jones filled in and put up 21.76 fantasy points, his fifth-best single game score, completing passes to eight different receivers and totaling three passing scores. The matchup certainly contributed -- the New Orleans Saints have one of the league's worst defenses -- but Purdy's absence, a result of a toe injury, comes at an opportune time on that front, with the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, all of them plus matchups for passing, the next three games on the Niners' schedule. Jones' success alleviates most concerns about the offense while Purdy heals, so start Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings with confidence next week.
Kaleb Johnson's fantasy stock continues to plummet, particularly after he committed gaffes on special teams in each of the season's first two weeks. A top-25 running back selected as early as the ninth round during the early stages of the preseason, Johnson has seen his roster rate dip to 67.4% in ESPN leagues. Primarily returning kickoffs, Johnson lost a fumble in Week 1, then on Sunday failed to return a kickoff that immediately led to a New York Jets touchdown. It appeared he was unfamiliar with the new rule. At running back, the Pittsburgh Steelers have given Jaylen Warren 52% of the offensive snaps, Kenneth Gainwell 47% and Johnson 4%, and Warren 25 of the carries, Gainwell 12 and Johnson 2. While, yes, injuries often create opportunities at the NFL level and Johnson's career is hardly derailed as a result of his poor start to the year, he's a cut in fantasy at this stage.

Week 2 scoring leaders through 1 p.m. ET games
1. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions -- 39.20 points
2. Malik Nabers, WR, Giants -- 37.70
3. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals -- 36.50
4. Jared Goff, QB, Lions -- 33.96
5. Rome Odunze, WR, Bears -- 31.80
6. Russell Wilson, QB, Giants -- 30.30
7. Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Giants -- 28.20
8. Puka Nacua, WR, Rams -- 27.60
9. James Cook, RB, Bills -- 26.50
10. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens -- 26.30

Stephania Bell's injury update

Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals: Burrow was taken down with a sack roughly halfway through the second quarter and sustained a toe injury in the process. Burrow's toe portion of his shoe remained engaged with the turf as his body weight shifted forward and he went to the ground, forcing hyperextension through the toe region. After being examined on the field, Burrow was helped inside the tunnel with the assistance of the medical staff, protecting his left foot by not bearing weight through it. Not every facility has MRI imaging on site, but according to Joe Danneman of Fox19 Now in Cincinnati, Burrow had an MRI at the stadium, shortly after leaving the field. The Bengals initially ruled Burrow questionable to return with a left toe injury and he was ruled out of the game within an hour.

According to ESPN's Ben Baby, Burrow was using crutches to leave the locker room while wearing a walking boot on his left foot. Coach Zac Taylor had no update on Burrow's status after the game. There will hopefully be more information in coming days, but as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's absence in Week 2 due to a (variant of) turf toe injury indicates, it is difficult to successfully play the position with any acute toe injury. Whether it is driving through the front leg to throw, dropping back to pass, pivoting to hand the ball off or, perhaps most importantly, having enough mobility to protect oneself, the toe plays a critical role.

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Stephania Bell details injured reserve process for fantasy managers

Stephania Bell issues a reminder to fantasy managers about what happens when players are placed on injured reserve.

Sept. 13: Injury updates for Week 2, and what to expect in Quinshon Judkins' NFL debut

Stephania Bell: Here are four injuries updates heading into Sunday.

Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders (questionable): Despite posting 103 yards on five receptions in Week 1, Bowers also sustained a knee injury that forced him out of the game early. He told reporters after the game that he took a hit on the knee but was not concerned about it affecting him going forward. Coach Pete Carroll indicated that Bowers wanted to return to the game, but the medical staff held him out. When the Raiders' first official injury report came out Thursday, Bowers' absence from practice caused some nervousness, which only increased after he remained out Friday. But with the Raiders not playing until Monday night, it comes as little surprise that the Raiders wanted to give him an extra day of recovery. Bowers turned in a limited practice session Saturday and was officially listed as questionable, but Carroll's assessment was decidedly enthusiastic. "He practiced great," Carroll said. "He did really well today." Bowers, who practiced with a brace over a sleeve on his left knee, according to ESPN's Ryan McFadden, wouldn't officially commit to suiting up but did indicate that he felt good during practice and was hopeful about playing Monday night. Carroll told reporters he expects Bowers to be available, so barring a late development, plan on Bowers being in the lineup Monday night.
Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons (active): London left the Week 1 game with a shoulder injury, later termed a sprain, that didn't seem serious at the time, but his status entering the week was uncertain. After participating in limited practice Wednesday and Thursday and upgrading to full participation on Friday, London was removed from the injury report and heads into Sunday with no injury designation. Although there were no specifics offered as to the nature of London's injury, the concern for any receiver would be how well he is able to move his arm overhead. It is clearly not enough of an issue to keep him off the field but whether he is limited in any way won't make itself known until we see him in action.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (out): Despite coach Andy Reid's description of Worthy's status earlier this week as "day-by-day," it never seemed likely that he would see the field just one week after dislocating his right shoulder. After two limited practices and a "doubtful" designation on the Friday injury report, it came as no surprise when the Chiefs officially downgraded him to out on Saturday. The more important takeaway at this point is that Worthy is obviously not seeking surgery immediately, as Reid announced earlier this week, and he will not be placed on Injured Reserve. Instead, he is attempting to rehab and return to play. During his two limited practice sessions Thursday and Friday, Worthy was wearing a stabilizing harness which does offer some protection by restricting shoulder motion and thereby keeping the shoulder away from its most vulnerable positions (where it would have the easiest chance of re-dislocating). Nonetheless, his shoulder is still undoubtedly sore and he is still working through the adjustment to football activity with restricted motion. Next week's practice sessions will be worth monitoring closely as he may move closer to a return.
Darnell Mooney, WR, Falcons: Mooney suffered a shoulder injury during the first training camp practice when he dove while trying to catch a deep pass from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. While the team offered no detail about his injury at the time, in the latter stages of camp he was spotted catching passes but using only his left hand to throw them back. The expected multiple-week absence after his injury carried over to the regular season as Mooney sat out Week 1 despite practicing on a limited basis throughout the week. Mooney's first day of full practice was Friday after two limited sessions early this week, but his removal from the injury report indicates he is expected to play Sunday against the Vikings. The deliberate decision to hold him out of all practice for multiple weeks, something that was announced within two days of the injury, suggests the team was waiting for a specific structure to heal as opposed to a day-by-day assessment of functional progress. Once he was cleared to return to practice, a ramp-up was expected as a matter of acclimating to football. The team's confidence in his readiness to play after Friday's session implies Mooney has reached that benchmark.

Eric Moody: Judkins, a second-round pick by Cleveland in 2025 and the 36th overall pick, is set to debut against Baltimore in Week 2 after missing camp because of offseason legal issues (charges were dropped). A three-time 1,000-yard rusher who rushed for 45 touchdowns in college, with two seasons at Ole Miss and his final season at Ohio State, Judkins brings a rare three-down skill set and elite athleticism.

He's unlikely to see more than a handful of touches against the Ravens on Sunday, but his long-term upside is massive. Rookie fourth-rounder Dylan Sampson handled 20 touches and scored 17.3 fantasy points in Week 1, looking explosive as a receiver but underwhelmed as a rusher. Judkins and Sampson can coexist early, with Judkins potentially emerging as Cleveland's lead back and a fantasy difference-maker as the season progresses.

Sept. 12: Commanders RB Austin Ekeler believed to have torn Achilles

Eric Moody: Austin Ekeler's injury is a massive shakeup for both the Commanders and fantasy managers alike. Washington fears he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, which would remove one of the league's most versatile backs from the offense and fantasy lineups.

Through the first two weeks, Ekeler handled every snap on the first two drives, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt took over early-down work for the remainder of each game. Jeremy McNichols mixed in on passing downs and fully assumed third-down duties after Ekeler's injury. Even with the Commanders frequently trailing and leaning on QB Jayden Daniels and the passing game, Croskey-Merritt averaged a respectable 4.3 yards per carry.

Croskey-Merritt, rostered in 83.2% of leagues, should become the Commanders' lead back. He accumulated 10 touches for 14.2 fantasy points in Week 1 and could see 15-plus touches in neutral or positive game scripts. He profiles as an RB2 with upside, especially in PPR formats.

McNichols should maintain a steady role as the passing-down back, offering sneaky value in deeper leagues, particularly in games where Washington is trailing. Chris Rodriguez Jr., a healthy scratch in Week 1 and 2, could now be incorporated in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He will likely see limited action initially, but is worth monitoring in deep leagues.

Deebo Samuel may also pick up additional rushing attempts, providing a creative way for Washington to balance its offense. He's averaged 2.9 carries and 16.0 yards per game since 2021. The Commanders could also explore the free-agent market, with options like Ezekiel Elliott, Cam Akers, or D'Onta Foreman available. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely, as any addition would alter the current depth chart and usage patterns.

Stephania Bell: When Ekeler went to the ground untouched in the fourth quarter, the sequence was all too familiar. While running a route on a pass play, he turned to cut inside and his right leg extended behind him in a lunge position. That lunge position -- with the back leg extended, heel to the ground and the body weight leaning forward about to push off -- places maximum stretch on the Achilles, the largest tendon in the body.

Pushing off with that leg to propel the body forward results from the calf muscle forcefully contracting, then transmitting that force through the tendon to lift the heel. That extreme of going from maximal lengthening (or stretch) of the tendon to maximal contraction subjects the Achilles to significant strain and is a classic mechanism of injury.

Ekeler went to the ground immediately and reached instinctively for his right lower leg, as is often the case with Achilles injuries. Commanders medical staff evaluated him briefly on the field and then helped escort him off the field with Ekeler bearing no weight on his right leg. Moments later he was seen on a cart heading into the tunnel for further evaluation.

The next steps for Ekeler likely include further physical evaluation, including imaging, to better appreciate the full extent of the injury but reports already indicate the team suspects a torn Achilles. Expect Ekeler to undergo surgery in the near future but sadly his 2025 season has come to a premature conclusion.

Other Thursday night notes

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1:52

Defining the PUP and NFI designations in the NFL

Stephania Bell breaks down what the physically unable to perform and non-football injury/illness designations mean in the NFL.

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers: With a defender falling on top of him, Reed landed hard on his right shoulder while making a beautiful end zone catch and came up in pain. Unfortunately the touchdown was negated by a penalty. Worse yet, Reed was obviously in significant discomfort, right arm dangling at his side, as he was escorted into the locker room area for X-rays. He would not return to the game and afterward coach Matt LaFleur announced that Reed suffered a broken clavicle (collarbone).

There will be more information to come as to whether it will be allowed to heal on its own or whether Reed will require surgery to repair the fracture. The size and location of the break will factor into course of treatment. Either way, he will no doubt be placed on Injured reserve as this will be a multiple-week recovery. -- Bell

Tucker Kraft of the Packers was an afterthought in many fantasy drafts this summer as the TE11. He exploded against the Commanders, catching six of seven targets for 124 yards and a touchdown. His 57-yard reception from Jordan Love marked his third catch of 50-plus yards since the start of last season, the most by any tight end over that span. Kraft is seeing a rising target rate, making him a TE1 option with top-five upside moving forward. -- Moody

Jayden Daniels of the Commanders finished with 19.7 fantasy points, but the box score only tells part of the story. He struggled in the vertical passing game against the Packers' ferocious defense, facing pressure on 24 of 52 dropbacks (46%), the highest of his career, up from 22% last week. That constant pressure largely explains his lack of downfield success, a trend fantasy managers should watch in future matchups. -- Moody

Packers CB Keisean Nixon has been phenomenal so far this season. According to Next Gen Stats, he was targeted six times as the nearest defender in coverage against the Commanders and allowed just one reception for nine yards. He also recorded five pass breakups, the most by any player in a single game since 2021. Fantasy managers should take note if one of their receivers faces the Packers in upcoming weeks. -- Moody

Sept. 11: Purdy unlikely to play

Eric Moody: 49ers QB Brock Purdy is no expected to play in Week 2 due to toe and shoulder injuries suffered in Week 1, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said his absence could stretch beyond this week. Mac Jones is expected to make his first start as a 49er against the Saints. While Jones isn't a direct replacement for Purdy, he should keep Shanahan's offense functional. Expect a slight downgrade for 49ers pass-catchers, though Ricky Pearsall could see a massive target share with George Kittle on injured reserve (hamstring) and Jauan Jennings potentially out with a shoulder injury. Christian McCaffrey's workload should also increase. Jones profiles as a low-end QB2 in fantasy, mainly relevant in Superflex leagues, and is worth a speculative add if Purdy's injury lingers multiple weeks.

Stephania Bell: When coach Kyle Shanahan met with the media to announce that Purdy came out of Sunday's game with both a left shoulder injury and a toe injury, he indicated the toe was the greater concern. Shanahan also hinted Purdy could miss time but as of Thursday the question appears to be not if he will miss games but how many. Per NFL Network, Purdy is expected to miss anywhere from two to five weeks because of a ligament injury that is a "variant of turf toe."

By definition, a ligament injury is a sprain. Turf toe implicates the big toe as the culprit, more specifically where the base of the big toe meets the long bone of the forefoot (first metatarsal); a "variant of" turf toe suggests a ligament injury other than those primarily associated with the condition. It should be noted there are multiple ligaments in the area where turf toe injuries occur and a sprain of any of these ligaments would yield similar results.

Pain, swelling, difficulty planting, pushing off and pivoting are all possibilities and would limit not only driving through the leg to throw the ball but overall mobility of the quarterback. Purdy's toe must be stable enough that no one is discussing surgery but it is essential that enough healing time is allowed so as to not worsen the injury. Symptoms and functionality will dictate Purdy's return but for now it will be Mac Jones leading the 49ers.

Earlier this week, Jennings' MRI was reported to be clean but the 49ers awaited results of a CT scan. Fortunately, those results also came back negative and Jennings is now listed as day-to-day. He did not practice Wednesday and his availability for Week 2 is still uncertain.

Update (Sept. 12): After Friday practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Saints, and Mac Jones will start.

Sept. 9: Bigsby trade a boon to Etienne's fantasy value

Eric Moody: Tank Bigsby's departure creates clarity in the Jaguars' backfield. Back in late August, coach Liam Coen mentioned that it would be "difficult" for Jacksonville to carry four running backs on the active game-day roster, so this trade shouldn't come as a surprise. Travis Etienne Jr. is the biggest winner here after leading the Jaguars' backfield in snaps, routes run, touches and, most importantly, fantasy points in Week 1. As a reminder, Etienne enters his first contract year as he looks to bounce back from a difficult 2024. He's still in his physical prime at age 26 and surpassed 1,400 scrimmage yards in both 2022 and 2023. Undrafted rookie Bhayshul Tuten steps in as the primary backup and should be a priority add for Etienne managers.

In Philadelphia, Bigsby will back up Saquon Barkley while Will Shipley (rib) is sidelined. Bigsby could also contribute on special teams. His fantasy value remains limited in the Eagles' crowded RB room with Barkley and AJ Dillon, but Bigsby is worth rostering for Barkley managers. Barkley led the league in touches, total yards and RB fantasy points per game last season, but he's now 28 years old coming off that absurd workload. If given the opportunity behind the Eagles' stout line and as part of the explosive offense, Bigsby could turn into a difference-maker should Barkley miss time.

George Kittle's injury latest blow to 49ers' offense

49ers TE George Kittle (hamstring) will miss multiple games, adding to San Francisco's injury woes. QB Brock Purdy is questionable with toe and shoulder issues, putting Mac Jones in line to possibly start. Backup TE Jake Tonges caught three passes for 15 yards and a TD in Week 1. Kittle's fantasy managers should check out Eric Karabell's free agent pickups for TE replacements. The 49ers also signed WR Kendrick Bourne, who is familiar with Kyle Shanahan's system. If Jones starts, expect a heavier workload for Christian McCaffrey and Brian Robinson Jr.

Moody's "Monday Night Football" notebook

The Vikings used a near-even backfield split in Week 1, alternating Aaron Jones Sr. and offseason acquisition Jordan Mason series by series. Mason finished with 16 touches for 8.5 fantasy points, while Jones had 11 touches and scored 15.7 fantasy points thanks to his 27-yard receiving touchdown. Both backs handled early and late downs, showing the Vikings trusts them in any situation. Fantasy managers should view this as a true 50-50 split for now, with Mason potentially emerging as the lead rusher over time, especially since he had 15 attempts on Monday. Jones remains valuable as a receiving threat, while Mason offers consistent work on the ground, making both worth monitoring closely.

Bears QB Caleb Williams finished with 24.2 fantasy points against the Vikings, but that number is misleading. We all watched in awe as Williams started the game strong, but he was unable to sustain that momentum. After completing 13 of 16 passes in the first half, Williams finished the game with an NFL-worst off-target rate of 29.4% in Week 1. Last season, he ranked 35th of 36 qualified QBs in off-target rate at 21.0%, only better than Anthony Richardson Sr. (25.2%). After blitzing just 25% of the time in the first half, the Vikings blitzed 44% of the time in the second half. This is something to monitor.

*Stats courtesy of ESPN Research

Sept. 8: Week 1 injury update: Kittle, Worthy at risk of missing time

Notebook by Stephania Bell

George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers: Kittle injured a hamstring with just over 10 minutes left in the first half of Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks while running a sideline route. He limped off the field and over to the medical staff for evaluation, and that turned out to be the end of his day. Kittle is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, but it will not come as a surprise if he is to miss a week, or perhaps longer depending on the severity of the strain.

Kittle was out for Weeks 3 and 11 last season because of hamstring issues and has missed short windows of time over his career with soft tissue injuries. Overall, he has been relatively durable for his position, playing in all but one or two games in the past three seasons (not to mention that in two of those years the 49ers played in three additional postseason games). In fact, outside of 2020 when he sat out eight games as a result of a knee (MCL) sprain and a foot fracture, Kittle hasn't missed more than three games in a season during his eight-year career. And it was just two years ago that he led all tight ends in regular-season receiving yards with 1,020.

Addendum (Sept. 9): Shanahan told reporters Monday that Kittle is expected to miss "a few weeks" due to his right hamstring injury. The key for Kittle is allowing for adequate recovery time so as to minimize the risk of a recurrence once he returns. If there is a silver lining to be found it is that Shanahan indicated no decision has yet been made about whether to place Kittle on IR, which would result in a mandatory absence of four games. While this could still happen, at least the injury was not so severe that an IR designation was automatic.

Jauan Jennings, WR, 49ers: Jennings left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter holding his left shoulder. An MRI is scheduled for Monday, and it is unclear whether he will miss time. Although Jennings injured a calf during OTAs and then aggravated the injury just four days into training camp, he returned to practice (and shortly thereafter arrived at a contract deal that would add money for play-time incentives) and was deemed ready for Week 1. It is important to note that these injuries, while unfortunately closely timed, are not related.

Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers: During his Monday session with the media, coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Purdy came out of Sunday's game with both a left shoulder injury and a toe injury. Although no specifics were provided, Shanahan noted the toe ailment is of greater concern than the (non-throwing) shoulder and may impact Purdy's availability for the Week 2 contest against the Saints. His status will be determined by his progress during the week. If Purdy is not able to play, Mac Jones will get the start.

Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders: Bowers delivered as expected in terms of production, posting 103 yards on five receptions in Week 1. Unfortunately, he also sustained a knee injury that forced him out of the game early. Bowers told reporters after the game that he took a hit on the knee but was not concerned about it affecting him going forward. Coach Pete Carroll indicated in his postgame comments that Bowers wanted to return to the game but that the medical staff held him out. The postgame reaction is encouraging, but practice reports will be important. The Raiders play the Chargers next Monday night, meaning the team's first official injury report will not be issued until Thursday.

Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos: The Broncos' newly acquired tight end had three receptions in his debut but also injured a calf in the second half. Although he was listed as questionable to return in the fourth quarter, he remained out for the rest of the game. Regardless of the severity (which is not yet known), this was probably a wise move for the 31-year-old veteran, especially this early in the season. Engram's 2024 season as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars was marred by a hamstring injury that cost him four weeks early on, and his campaign ended prematurely when he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder and underwent surgery. He played in only nine games last year but was healthy upon arriving in Denver. Engram is just two seasons removed from his career-best 114 receptions for 963 yards and four touchdowns.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs: Worthy was on the field in Brazil for just three snaps before his night was ended by a massive collision with teammate Travis Kelce. According to a report from NFL Network, Worthy suffered a dislocated right shoulder. Coach Andy Reid addressed the issue in his first news conference after returning to the U.S., saying, "I know Xavier's the big question, and he's rehabbing and working his shoulder. We'll just see where it goes day by day here, see where we end up."

The biggest concern initially, beyond the obvious pain, swelling and stiffness the athlete experiences, is what the extent of tissue damage to the shoulder joint is as a result of the dislocation. Common associated trauma includes labral or capsular tears, cartilage injuries and/or fractures. The extent of trauma can dictate the treatment options along with the recovery time. If surgery is chosen, it will be season-ending. If conservative treatment is the option, return to play time is driven primarily by restoration of adequate position-specific function (range of motion, strength in the shoulder and its surrounding muscles to allow getting back to action as a wide receiver) and protection, which can come in the form of a brace or harness. Players don't typically love wearing a harness because the goal of the device is to restrict motion (and therefore prevent redislocation), which hampers their ability to play the position as effectively as they otherwise would. But it's a compromise that can allow a player to return to action and postpone stabilization surgery until the offseason.

Reid's comments would suggest that Worthy is undergoing physical therapy with the goal of returning to play, a timetable that is usually measured in weeks, not days, following an initial traumatic dislocation, although it can vary widely from one individual to the next. Worthy's ability to progress through the various benchmarks will ultimately dictate his timeline.

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1:52

Defining the PUP and NFI designations in the NFL

Stephania Bell breaks down what the physically unable to perform and non-football injury/illness designations mean in the NFL.

Sept. 8: Hall, Etienne roles come into focus and other Week 1 notes

Notebook by Eric Moody

Jets RB Breece Hall leads the backfield with 145 total yards: The Jets ran for 182 yards at 4.7 per carry, and Hall was clearly the lead back, finishing with 107 rushing yards on 19 carries plus two catches for 38 yards. It was his highest number of rushing attempts since December 2023, and his first 100-yard rushing game of the season which already matches his total from last year. Drafted as the RB20 in ESPN leagues amid concern of how the Jets would distribute the ball with Justin Fields under center, Hall looks like a value pick and sits on the RB1/RB2 borderline heading into Week 2 against the Bills who gave up 245 yards on the ground in Week 1 to Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson.

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. is back in the RB2 discussion: Etienne carried 16 times for 143 yards and caught all three targets for 13 more in the Jaguars' win over the Panthers, his second-highest rushing total ever and his best since Week 8 of 2022. Tank Bigsby and Bhayshul Tuten combined for just 23 yards on eight carries and failed to catch a pass, leaving Etienne as the clear lead back. With new head coach Liam Coen, the architect behind Bucky Irving's epic 2024 rookie season in Tampa Bay, Etienne looks poised for a big year if he holds on to the lead role. He's on the RB2 radar in Week 2 against the Bengals.

Other Week 1 usage notes

Michael Pittman Jr. deserves more attention after finishing Week 1 with eight targets and 20 fantasy points. Despite being drafted as the WR42 in our trends, he was always projected to lead the Colts in targets. He's best viewed as a weekly flex option, though managers should keep in mind he won't get to face a banged-up Dolphins secondary every week.
Jakobi Meyers was an afterthought in many fantasy drafts as the WR37, but in his first game with Geno Smith he saw 10 targets and finished with 17.7 fantasy points. Smith isn't shy about attacking defenses with the vertical passing game, which benefits Meyers. He should be viewed as a weekly flex matchup option.
Harold Fannin Jr., a standout at Bowling Green with 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 10 TDs last year, caught seven passes for 63 yards on 9 targets, primarily working from the slot and outperforming starter David Njoku in Week 1. Fantasy managers should monitor Fannin closely as a potential waiver-wire target heading into the byes.
Dylan Sampson led the Browns backfield in Week 1, finishing with 12 carries for 29 yards and catching all eight of his targets for 64 yards, outperforming Jerome Ford. With rookie Quinshon Judkins now signed but not yet active, Sampson is a waiver-wire candidate and holds short-term fantasy upside in Cleveland's thin backfield.
Brenton Strange led the Jaguars in receiving for Week 1 against the Panthers, catching all four of his targets for 59 yards while playing over 70% of the snaps and nearly every two-TE set. Now the clear starter in Jacksonville after Evan Engram's departure, Strange saw heavy early- and third-down usage, making him a top deeper-league waiver-wire target at the TE position.
Hunter Henry played a higher percentage of the Patriots' offensive snaps in Week 1 than in previous seasons. He also ran a high percentage of New England's routes on both early downs and third downs, tying for the team lead in looks from quarterback Drake Maye. With this expanded role, he offers a safe TE2 floor, though his touchdown upside remains limited.
Juwan Johnson caught eight of 11 targets for 76 yards in Week 1, tying his career high in receptions while leading the Saints in catches and yards. With Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill on the PUP list, Johnson played nearly all of the snaps, making him a borderline TE1 for Week 2 against the 49ers.
Kenneth Gainwell surprisingly led Steelers RBs in Week 1 with snaps, handling 11 touches for just 37 yards. Rookie Kaleb Johnson was barely on the field. The efficiency wasn't there, but the usage was. Gainwell profiles as a volume-based Flex in deeper leagues as the Steelers face the Seahawks in Week 2.
Kayshon Boutte caught six of eight targets for 103 yards in Week 1, leading the Patriots in receiving. The third-year WR looks poised for a breakout and is worth adding in deeper leagues.
DJ Giddens proved he's the Colts' clear backup RB with 12 rushing attempts and 41 yards against the. With Jonathan Taylor's injury history (has managed just one full season so far in his career), Giddens is a valuable bench stash for fantasy managers if Taylor misses time.
Mark Andrews had a disappointing Week 1 against the Bills despite the absence of Isaiah Likely, splitting early-down snaps with Charlie Kolar and seeing most of his work in 11 personnel on third downs. The TE7 in our draft trends caught just one pass for four yards, highlighting the run-heavy offense. Fantasy value remains volatile, reliant on touchdowns, and dips once Likely returns.
Dalton Kincaid caught all four of his targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Ravens, flashing efficiency and red-zone upside, but his snap rate hovered near 50%, with Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes cutting into it. Limited usage and modest targets make Kincaid a volatile fantasy play. Managers who were looking to depend on Kincaid would be wise to look elsewhere.