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Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (hamstring) practiced in full on Thursday after being limited in practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury. He appears to be on track to play in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. McNichols has recorded four carries for 25 yards through the first two weeks of the season. However, he could be in for significantly more playing time in Washington now that Austin Ekeler (Achilles) will miss the remainder of the season. McNichols finished 2024 with 288 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns, and the majority of his production came in the five games that Ekeler was unable to play. McNichols could be worth stashing in deeper leagues while the Commanders' new backfield mix takes shape.

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Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (quadriceps) is dealing with a quad injury going into a Week 3 date with the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday and has put in two limited practices so far this week, according to Phillip Thompson of the Chicago Tribune. If Swift isn't a full-go in Friday's practice, he could head into Sunday with a questionable tag. The 26-year-old has been Chicago's clear RB1 through two weeks of the 2025 season, turning 29 carries into 116 yards (4.0 yards per tote) and a touchdown while adding six catches for 18 yards through the air. If he's able to play in Week 3 against what has been a porous Cowboys defense, Swift should be considered on the RB2/3 borderline in fantasy. If he is out or limited at all against Dallas, the Bears will use more of Roschon Johnson and rookie Kyle Monangai.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday, according to Sheena Quick of FOX Sports. Legette came down with some hamstring soreness on Wednesday and was shut down, but the fact that he was able to participate at all on Thursday gives him a chance to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. However, Legette may need a full practice on Friday to avoid going into Sunday with a questionable tag. Despite playing in 81 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Legette caught just one of his eight targets for a loss of two yards. Now dealing with an injury, the 24-year-old cannot be considered a very attractive flex play in fantasy lineups going into this weekend against Atlanta if he ends up playing.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley (rib/oblique) returned to practice Thursday for the first time since suffering his Week 1 injury. The second-year back flashed in the opener with three carries for 26 yards, showcasing his big-play potential before exiting. While Shipley logged just 30 carries as a rookie, his role behind Saquon Barkley is expected to expand this season. If he can stay healthy, Shipley profiles as the primary change-of-pace option in Philadelphia's backfield and a valuable handcuff for fantasy managers rostering Barkley.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert practiced again Thursday, boosting his chances of suiting up against the Rams in Week 3. Goedert was sharp in the opener, hauling in all seven of his targets for 44 yards while serving as a reliable option in Jalen Hurts' short-to-intermediate passing attack. While his involvement in practice is encouraging, fantasy managers should still monitor his status heading into the weekend, as he remains officially questionable. If active, Goedert profiles as a steady TE1 option in PPR formats given his target volume.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III could be set for a big Week 3 performance against the Saints. He broke out for 105 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries last week, though Zach Charbonnet actually led the team with 15 rushing attempts. With Charbonnet (foot) sidelined in practice and questionable for Sunday, Walker may be in line for a heavy workload. Facing a Saints defense ranked 18th against the run and giving up 111.5 yards per game, Walker profiles as a RB1 if Charbonnet is limited or out.

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Free-agent QB Hunter Dekkers (Saints) was signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad Thursday, Sept. 18. The team also released WR Cedrick Wilson from the practice squad.

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Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins wasted no time making his presence felt, racking up 61 yards on 10 carries with three receptions for another 10 yards in his debut. The strong showing has vaulted him to the top of the Browns' depth chart, and fantasy managers should take note. With a potential 15-20 carry workload lined up against the Packers, Judkins has immediate RB2 upside and belongs in starting lineups. His explosive playmaking could not only elevate Cleveland's backfield but also open up more opportunities for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.

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With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) sidelined, Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is set for an expanded role in Week 3. He now slots in as the change-of-pace option behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and could see steady early work, especially if QB Jayden Daniels (knee) is limited against a fierce Raiders pass rush led by Maxx Crosby. Still, fantasy expectations should be tempered -- Las Vegas has allowed just 3.2 yards per carry and 70.5 rushing yards per game, making Rodriguez more of a deep-league stash than a plug-and-play option this week.

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Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) is on the practice field for the team's first practice of the week on Thursday, according to Bo Smolka of Press Box. Likely will probably be listed as limited, but it's a good sign that he's making progress after being limited last Friday. The 25-year-old is probably facing an uphill battle to be active on Monday night in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions, but he's getting closer to making his 2025 debut. If you're not stoked on your TE options in fantasy, Likely is worth a pickup now if he's available in your league's waiver wire. Fellow tight end Mark Andrews has been uncharacteristically quiet in two games with Likely sidelined, catching only two of his four targets for seven yards, with the Ravens scoring over 40 points in both of their games. With Andrews struggling, Likely could certainly take over TE1 duties in Baltimore once he's back to full strength.

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Los Angeles Chargers S Tony Jefferson was signed off the practice squad on Thursday, Sept. 18.

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said on Wednesday that he needs to get wide receiver Stefon Diggs the ball more, while also acknowledging that he needs to "focus on finding open receivers," according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. "I haven't heard Stefon (Diggs) say one thing about 'I need the ball more.' That is not something that I've ever heard," offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. Through the first two weeks of the 2025 season, Diggs' 89 receiving yards rank him third on the team, although he's first in targets (12) and first in catches (10). The 31-year-old veteran is being involved, but it sounds like Maye is looking for more. It's what Diggs' fantasy managers want to hear, and he could be due for a big game in Week 3 against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has looked long in the tooth.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) is practicing on Thursday after he picked up a DNP in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. It's unclear if Downs was limited or a full-go, but the fact that he's back on the practice field gives fantasy managers hope that he'll be able to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The 24-year-old caught just two of three targets for 12 yards in the season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins, but he bounced back with six catches for 51 yards on eight targets in the Week 2 victory over the Denver Broncos. If he's active, Downs will be an intriguing WR4/flex play in fantasy again this weekend against a Titans defense that has allowed the fourth-most half-PPR points to the position through the first two weeks.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (knee) is missing a second straight practice on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Daniels suffered a knee sprain in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night and is trending toward missing the Week 3 contest this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old has a shot to return to practice on Friday, but the Commanders are expected to err on the side of caution with the second-year signal-caller. Veteran backup Marcus Mariota is preparing to start this weekend, and it was telling that Washington had him available to speak to the media on Wednesday, and not Daniels. Fantasy managers should be preparing as if Daniels will not be available for Week 3. Don't be so sure that he'll make it back for Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons, either.

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Indianapolis Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren (toe) is returning to practice on Thursday after he was a non-participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Warren could wind up as a limited participant on Thursday, but the important thing is that he's back on the practice field, giving him a chance to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. In the one-point win over the Denver Broncos in Week 2, the 23-year-old played a healthy 93 percent of the offensive snaps and caught four of his seven targets for 79 yards. Through his first two NFL games, Warren has 11 receptions for 155 yards on 16 targets. The Colts have made it no secret that he's a big part of their game plan, making him a top-five fantasy TE if he's active this weekend against the 0-2 Titans.

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Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said the challenge for rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt will be "playing without the ball." "Every time he's touched it, good things happen," but Kingsbury stressed that pass protection or just running his routes properly is a "big deal." However, the OC said he's "impressed by his work ethic." Washington's top pass-catching back, veteran Austin Ekeler, is out for the year after tearing his Achilles in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Croskey-Merritt has averaged an impressive 7.1 yards per carry on his 14 rushing attempts in his first two NFL games, but he's failed to reel in his two pass-game targets, and it sounds like he has work to do before being trusted in obvious passing situations going forward. Chris Rodriguez Jr. will have a role with Ekeler out, but it might be Jeremy McNichols who gets the first shot in passing situations, starting in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (toe) is scheduled to have surgery on Friday if the swelling in his injured toe goes down, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Burrow will have a procedure to fix his Grade 3 turf-toe injury, according to sources. The surgery may be pushed back a few days. Once he goes under the knife, he'll be facing a three-month recovery. The Bengals are keeping the door open for the 28-year-old signal-caller to return this season, but if Burrow does make it back, it won't be until at least mid-December, leaving a small window for him to contribute for fantasy managers who make a run into the playoffs. In the meantime, backup Jake Browning will lead Cincy's talented offense. Browning has the skills to be a serviceable QB streamer in fantasy with one of the best 1-2 punches at the receiver position in the league, but he's also no Joe Burrow.

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that quarterback Mac Jones' performance in the Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints "doesn't really affect" whether Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder) will play in Week 3 against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. Basically, when the Niners feel comfortable enough putting Purdy back out there, he'll be out there. Jones went 26-for-39 for 279 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the 26-21 win over New Orleans, but make no mistake, there is no QB controversy in the Bay Area. Purdy is the starter once he recovers from turf-toe and shoulder injuries. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and has a chance to serve as Jones' backup this Sunday against Arizona. Jones will start at least one more game this weekend, where he'll be in play as a low-end QB in superflex leagues.

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Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (knee) is preparing mentally while QB Marcus Mariota is taking the repetitions in practice Thursday, Sept. 18.

Fantasy Spin: That sounds a lot like Mariota is the guy in Week 3. He'll be a streaming option in two-QB leagues against the Las Vegas Raiders, but that's about it.

From TheHuddle

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip, groin) is expected to practice on Thursday, despite not being available for the portion of practice open to the media. The Ohio State alum was tagged with a DNP to start the week of preparation, but it's good news that he'll be out there in some fashion the next day. Egbuka has paced all Buccaneers wideouts in snaps thus far, including running mate Mike Evans, who he outsnapped 74-63 in their Week 2 win. It's unclear when exactly the rookie sustained his injuries, but as of now, they don't seem to threaten his status for the team's home meeting with the New York Jets on Sunday. That said, fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on the capacity in which he practices on Friday. He'll be a low-end WR2 with upside if he's active.

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