Mon Sep 8 2:45pm ET
Field Level Media
Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty ran in overdrive during his NFL debut, which included the go-ahead touchdown in a 20-13 win at New England on Sunday.
Jeanty averaged two yards per carry (19 rushes, 38 yards) and caught two passes for two yards. Head coach Pete Carroll chalked up the modest production mostly to Jeanty, the Heisman Trophy runner-up at Boise State last season, overserving himself adrenaline.
"He was pretty juiced up. He's going to be way better," Carroll said Monday, shifting gears from winning his debut to preparation for the Chargers (1-0).
Jeanty took his first carry of the game behind lead blockers off right guard for a gain of nine yards. For most of the rest of the game, the Patriots stacked the box to prioritize stuffing Jeanty, and the Raiders countered.
Carroll said the offensive line being on the same page and Jeanty showing more patience are advancements the offense will stress after quarterback Geno Smith passed for 362 yards and did most of the work in Week 1.
Tight end Brock Bowers (knee) left the game with five receptions for 103 yards, but Carroll didn't have an update on his status. He doesn't anticipate Bowers sitting out because of his toughness. Tight end Michael Mayer caught four passes for 38 yards.
Carroll used his first draft pick with the Raiders on Jeanty and paired him with Smith, a steady hand who played for the 73-year-old coach in Seattle.
On Monday, Carroll stressed the Raiders know what they're going to get from the 34-year-old Smith: "Cube (QB) is going to do his thing."
Bowers established a NFL rookie receiving record of 112 catches with the Raiders last season, and quickly felt comfortable leaning on Smith in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's scheme.
"We've seen it all camp," said Bowers, praising Smith's ability to thread the needle against tight coverage. "No one on the team is shocked, really. It's good that we can come out here and showcase what he can do. We stalled, obviously, I don't know what caused that, but we know what we're capable of. We just all had to lock back in and really get back rolling."
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor saw seven targets come his way on Sunday, trailing only first-round picks Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan amongst rookies at the position in Week 1. Unfortunately, he was only able to convert those looks into two receptions for 13 yards against a stout Denver defense. Ayomanor's heavy workload was likely the result of top option Calvin Ridley being shadowed by All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain II. Still, the thought has been that one of the Titans' rookie receivers would have a chance to emerge on a relatively weak depth chart. After one week, it appears that Ayomanor will have a substantial role. While the Titans' passing game was completely ineffective on Sunday, brighter days should be ahead withquarterback Cam Ward under center, and Ayomanor is worth a stash in deep leagues.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans second-year tight end Cade Stover (foot) broke his foot in Sunday's game against the Rams and will be out indefinitely. On a day where the Texans' passing attack found limited success, Stover led the team with four catches, which he turned into 22 yards. After a quiet rookie season, it's unlikely Stover was rostered in many leagues, and that will unfortunately remain the case after one of the best games of his young career. With Christian Kirk (hamstring) still sidelined, the Texans are in desperate need of secondary options in the passing game to take some of the defensive attention away from Nico Collins. The best bet will be second-round rookie receiver Jayden Higgins, who will look to top his two-catch debut; however, behind a struggling offensive line, the Texans' offense as a whole could continue to look sluggish, making Collins the only reliable weekly starter.
From RotoBaller
In speaking with reporters on Monday, New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte sent a reminder that at one point in his college career, he was considered a first-round talent. Following two surgeries to repair a broken ankle and a disappointing final season at LSU, he was drafted by the Patriots in the 6th round of the 2023 Draft. Boutte believes that the first-round pedigree is still there after pacing all New England pass catchers on Sunday with eight targets, six receptions, and 103 yards. Boutte's place on the depth chart was cloudy heading into his third straight year with a new coaching regime, but he was one of the bright spots of New England's training camp, and he looks to have cemented a role in what could be an upstart passing game. Boutte should be a priority waiver add wherever he remains unrostered.
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Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa was on the field for only three snaps on Sunday, but he was able to convert his lone target into an acrobatic 13-yard touchdown grab. According to head coach Dan Campbell, the team would like to use him more going forward. TeSlaa was limited in practice throughout the week due to illness, which capped his role in the game plan. However, he is now healthy and should see an expanded role. TeSlaa was one of the stars of the preseason after the Lions spent a third-round pick on him, and he's an obvious matchup problem with his unique combination of size and speed. He should be considered a waiver-wire target for any fantasy managers looking for an upside wideout as a bench stash.
From RotoBaller
Russell Wilson will get the start at quarterback for the New York Giants when they face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. Head coach Brian Daboll revealed on Monday that no change is imminent at the position, following a Week 1 performance that saw Wilson complete fewer than 50% of his passes at a paltry 4.5 yards per attempt. For the third season in a row, the Giants failed to score a touchdown in their season opener. New York traded up in the first round of the draft to select Ole Miss gunslinger Jaxson Dart, who will inevitably take over at some point this season. While Wilson went largely undrafted in most fantasy formats, drafters who spent an early pick on Malik Nabers will have to wait at least one more week for a change. Nabers is still an every-week start on volume alone, but the Giants' offense as a whole will need to see an increase in efficiency to return his heavy draft cost.
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According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) is viewed as week-to-week. Schefter noted on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday afternoon that the injury does not appear to be overly serious, but he is expected to miss some time. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but should not plan on him suiting up in Week 2. Worthy suffered an injury on the team's opening drive during their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday evening. Once he left the contest, Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster emerged as the team's top wide receivers. With Rahsee Rice away on a suspension, fantasy managers should expect Brown and Smith-Schuster to continue to operate as the team's primary pass catchers for the foreseeable future.
From RotoBaller
According to Greg Bell of the News Tribune, there could be more opportunities for both running backs, Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. Head coach Mike Macdonald noted that "both played well" and "protected our quarterback." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their usage as they split work in their season opener on Sunday afternoon. Walker carried the ball 10 times while Charbonnet took 12 carries. Charbonnet was slightly more efficient, posting a 3.9 YPC while Walker held an average of 2.0 YPC. Charbonnet also found the back of the end zone. However, Walker got the better end of the receiving game as he caught all three of his targets, while Charbonnet was not targeted once. Since both appear to be in a timeshare, they will continue to limit each other's ceiling and will carry touchdown-dependent flex appeal heading into Week 2.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is returning to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday on a one-year deal with a maximum value of $5 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 49ers were already one of the most banged-up teams heading into Week 1 before both tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and Jauan Jennings (shoulder) went down with injuries in Sunday's win over the Seattle Seahawks. Depending on the severity of Kittle's and Jennings' injuries, Bourne could have a shot to immediately step in as San Fran's No. 2 wideout behind Ricky Pearsall, starting in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints in a favorable matchup. The 30-year-old hasn't really been the same since tearing his right ACL in 2023 with the New England Patriots, but the opportunity alone in his return to the Bay Area might make him worth a deep-league stash for receiver depth.
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Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce totaled five yards on his three carries in Sunday's 14-9 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He failed to bring in his lone target. Veteran Nick Chubb was the only Houston rusher to see more than three carries (13), and Pierce technically saw the second-most of his fellow RBs. However, rookie Woody Marks also saw three attempts, and Dare Ogunbowale handled two of his own. It was a rough day for Houston's offense overall, as they were blanked in the second half by a hungry Rams' defense. Still, Chubb was the clear-cut Texans RB1 in this outing, and Pierce's current touch load wouldn't be enough to sustain fantasy value. Houston will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of a Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 2. We'll see if Pierce can carve out a larger role then.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill handled two carries for a loss of 14 yards and corralled 1-of-2 targets for an additional three yards in his team's 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. The 27-year-old combined with backfield mate Rasheen Ali for a total of five opportunities as incumbent starter Derrick Henry took a majority of the backfield work -- and ran wild -- against the Bills. Hill did gain a yard on the ground, but lost 15 on an awkward exchange with Lamar Jackson in which he fumbled and the ball bounced backward. While the seventh-year pro carried some low-end PPR value in 2024, it was spotty at best and wildly unpredictable. He may see such efforts again in a more pass-friendly game plan, but his floor is volatile for the time being. Baltimore will host the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson was expected to have an elevated role as the RB2 behind starter Josh Jacobs in the Week 1 divisional clash against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field, but he ended up with just one carry for a four-yard gain in the 27-13 victory. He was not targeted in the passing game. Meanwhile, fellow backup Chris Brooks also had one carry for one yard and caught his only target for a two-yard pickup. Jacobs dominated backfield touches for the Pack, handing 19 rushing attempts for 66 yards and a touchdown and also catching his only target for four yards. Wilson and Brooks could be more involved going forward with MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) out to begin the year, but this certainly wasn't a good sign for their involvement behind a healthy Jacobs in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns veteran quarterback Joe Flacco nearly pulled off the upset of the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday. In the 17-16 loss, Flacco went 31-for-45 for 290 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked twice for a loss of 12 yards and carried the ball twice for just six yards. The 40-year-old is really only useable in two-QB superflex leagues in fantasy, but the Browns offense could continue to air it out with rookie second-round running back Quinshon Judkins away from the team after an offseason legal matter that delayed his signing until just this past weekend. Flacco's lone touchdown toss of the game went to receiver Cedric Tillman in the third quarter. His options are limited, and the interceptions won't be going away.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman caught 5-of-8 targets for 52 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 17-16 loss to their division rival, the Cincinnati Bengals. The University of Tennessee product tied rookie running back Dylan Sampson and fellow wideout Jerry Jeudy for the second-most targets on the team, but arguably was the most productive pass-catcher, scoring their lone touchdown through the air. Tillman displayed his explosiveness for a brief stretch mid-way through last season before a concussion forced him to miss Weeks 13-18. While Joe Flacco's days as Cleveland's starter are all but numbered, the 25-year-old should be a viable fantasy asset with him at the helm. The Browns will get a stiff test next Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens come to town.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid got the scoring kicked off on Sunday Night Football in a wild 41-40 come-from-behind victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Kincaid found the end zone for the first time in 2025, giving hope to his fantasy managers that this could be a true breakout campaign after he found paydirt a combined four times in his first two seasons. The 25-year-old caught all four of his targets for 48 yards and the touchdown on the night, averaging 12 yards per reception. Meanwhile, fellow TE Dawson Knox caught both of his targets for only 20 yards in a game where both offenses marched up and down the field at will. Kincaid's 15-yard touchdown grab came on the opening drive, but he didn't do much else the rest of the night. It was a good first game for Kincaid, but Knox's presence will continue to limit his overall fantasy upside.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson brought in 8-of-11 targets for 76 yards in his team's 20-13 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Johnson's 11 targets were good enough for the team's second-leading number on a day when quarterback Spencer Rattler attempted 46 passes. The sixth-year pro closed out 2024 with back-to-back six-catch efforts and tied a career-high with his total on Sunday. The situation in New Orleans could change rapidly regarding their quarterback position. Still, the team is in dire need of playmakers outside running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Chris Olave. We can't expect 11 targets every week, but Johnson is one of the more athletic tight ends in the league, and opportunities here are ripe for the taking. He'll try to build off his strong start next time out when the Saints take on the visiting San Francisco 49ers.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold completed 16-of-23 passes for 150 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in Seattle's opening day loss to the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: Yuck. Darnold completed nine passes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 124 yards but spread just 26 yards to everyone else. Looking much more like the Jets version than the Vikings one, Darnold simply couldn't get things going and lost a critical fumble to end the game as well. Seattle obviously hopes this was just a case of growing pains but Darnold has now put two bad games on tape in a row following last year's playoff disaster. He's not a consideration in 1QB leagues.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker hauled in 2-of-3 targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-13 road win against the New England Patriots. The 24-year-old kicked off the scoring for the Raiders with a 26-yard touchdown reception on the team's opening drive, but didn't record his second catch until mid-way through the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is the team's No. 1 option at the position, though there isn't much solidified behind him in the pecking order. Tucker has always flashed an ability to make explosive plays, so if he can stave off rookie teammate Dont'e Thornton Jr., the University of Cincinnati product could have some nice fantasy production with an accurate Geno Smith at the helm. Hopefully Tucker will pick up some more targets next Monday night when Las Vegas hosts the visiting Los Angeles Chargers.
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The Philadelphia Eagles are working out former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton on Monday, sources tell FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Hilton has 13 career interceptions and could help bolster Philly's secondary if he were to sign with the defending Super Bowl champions. The 31-year-old veteran defensive back signed with the Miami Dolphins in July before training camp but was released at the end of August. Hilton initially went undrafted out of Mississippi before latching on with the Pittsburgh Steelers and making his NFL debut in 2017. He spent the first four years of his NFL career in the Steel City before playing for the Bengals from 2021-24. Last year in 16 games (10 starts) with Cincy, Hilton had 73 tackles (50 solo), 12 tackles for loss, an interception and five pass breakups.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Broncos running back RJ Harvey led the team with 70 rushing yards on Sunday. Dynasty Analysis: He added one catch for -1 yards on the day. That's the good news. The bad news is most of his damage came on one 50-yard run and he was out-touched by JK Dobbins 18-7. Harvey will need to make some more splash plays to overtake the veteran and while Dobbins was far from dominant, he did enough to likely keep the job for now. Harvey simply remains a high-end bench stash at the moment.
Dynasty | Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward completed 12-of-28 passes for 112 yards in his NFL debut. Dynasty Analysis: Ward didn't make anyone think he was the second coming of Steve McNair on Sunday. Still, this was pretty much to be expected as rookie quarterbacks rarely just jump in and dominate. On the plus side, he didn't throw an interception and while he did lose a fumble, he wasn't reckless with the ball - something we rarely said about Will Levis. There should be better days ahead for the rookie.