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Jaguars' Travis Hunter to play more defensive snaps vs. Bengals

Wed Sep 10 2:54pm ET
Field Level Media

Two-way rookie Travis Hunter will see more defensive action on Sunday when his Jacksonville Jaguars visit the Cincinnati Bengals.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft only played six snaps at cornerback in the season-opening victory over the Carolina Panthers, adding a team-high six catches for 33 yards on 42 snaps as a wide receiver.

Head coach Liam Coen said the plan all along was to gradually increase Hunter's defensive involvement, a process that will accelerate this weekend against Bengals wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

"Going into Week 1, it was, 'OK, we know that it's not going to be a ton on defense,'" Coen said Wednesday. "The goal is to increase and continue to increase (his defensive snaps). It just so happens that we're playing Cincinnati with two good wideouts this week."

Chase and Higgins were held to a combined five catches for 59 yards in Cincinnati's season-opening 17-16 victory against the Cleveland Browns.

Hunter, 22, won the 2024 Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout at Colorado, where his defensive numbers included seven interceptions and 16 passes defensed in two seasons.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 2

Player Notes
Brock Purdy Sep 10 4:20pm ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) is "a long shot" to play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters. Purdy is dealing with injuries to his toe and left (non-throwing) shoulder, which could set the stage for Mac Jones to get his first start as a member of the 49ers. Jones, a former first-round pick from Alabama, picked up 49 starts in his first four seasons while playing with the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars. Aside from a promising first season, though, Jones has underwhelmed in the NFL. On paper, Jones and the 49ers will face a weak opponent in the Saints' defense, but the Niners' injury issues on offense go beyond Purdy. Tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) won't play, while WRs Jauan Jennings (shoulder) and Jordan Watkins (ankle) are also among the team's banged-up players. Jones clearly won't be operating with a full complement of weapons if he does start.

From RotoBaller

James Cook Sep 10 4:20pm ET
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (hamstring) was limited at practice on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. There's no indication that Cook is dealing with a serious issue, but it's something to keep an eye on leading up to Sunday's game against the New York Jets. Cook played 56.5% of offensive snaps in the Bills' Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens and accounted for 102 total yards on 18 touches. The 25-year-old rushed for just 44 yards on 13 attempts, but he found the end zone on the ground (something he did a league-high 16 times in 2024) and got involved in the passing game. Cook caught all five of his targets for 58 yards, including a 51-yarder. If he's not at 100% against the Jets, it could lead to more opportunities for backups Ray Davis and Ty Johnson. Neither Davis nor Johnson made much of an impact in the opener.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Sep 10 4:10pm ET
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was slow out of the gate in Week 1 against the Giants, catching two of his four targets for 27 yards. A slow start to the season could have been somewhat expected for McLaurin after limited practice time amidst his contract negotiations. The talk of a slow start could have been mitigated if he and Jayden Daniels were able to connect on a deep shot where McLaurin had his man beat badly on a double move. With the new acquisition, Deebo Samuel Sr. making his team debut, play caller Kliff Kingsbury made an emphasis to get Samuel involved, and he has established a good connection with Daniels after McLaurin missed a lot of time in training camp. A positive, at least for McLaurin, is that he did not face any restrictions regarding his snap count and routes. The star receiver started slow last season as he built rapport with Daniels, and should be expected to bounce back against an exploitable Green Bay secondary. McLaurin has faced the Packers three times in his career and has put up strong numbers, catching 16 of 27 targets for 252 yards and three touchdowns. He should be viewed as a mid-range WR2 with upside in a projected high-scoring Week 2 matchup against the Packers.

From RotoBaller

Ty Chandler Sep 10 4:00pm ET
Ty Chandler

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said on Wednesday that running back Ty Chandler (undisclosed) will miss some time going forward with an undisclosed injury that he picked up in Monday night's win over the Chicago Bears in Week 1. It's unclear what Chandler is dealing with, but he will not be available in Week 2 for a Sunday night tilt with the Atlanta Falcons. The 27-year-old began the 2025 season as the team's No. 3 RB behind Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason, but he only appeared on special teams as a kick returner on Monday and averaged 28 yards on his three kickoff returns. Zavier Scott was inactive in Week 1 with an ankle injury, so Minnesota's RB depth could be thin behind Jones and Mason early in the year.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Sep 10 3:40pm ET
Aaron Rodgers

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (back) said that he wasn't moving as well as he would have liked in the Week 1 win over his former team, the New York Jets, while dealing with "some back tightness," according to Alan Saunders of PGH Steelers Now. Rodgers also said that some of the sacks he took were a result of his back tightness. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer looked much better than most people expected in his Steelers debut against a reputable Jets defense, throwing for 244 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions on 22-for-30 passing. It doesn't necessarily mean his status is in question for Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, but we'll certainly keep a close eye on his practice status this week. Despite his four-touchdown season-opening performance, Rodgers should be treated as a low-end QB2 option in fantasy against Seattle, especially if he's already not 100 percent.

From RotoBaller

Darren Waller Sep 10 3:20pm ET
Darren Waller

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (hip) was not seen at Wednesday's practice session, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN. Head coach Mike McDaniel said he thinks he'll have a better read on Waller's status for Week 2 later in the week, but after Waller did not practice at all last week before being inactive for the Week 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, it sure doesn't look like he's trending in the right direction to make his Dolphins debut this Sunday against the division-rival New England Patriots. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues should be leaving the 32-year-old veteran on the waiver wire for now. If Waller misses a second straight game this weekend, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner will both pick up more playing time, but they won't be recommended fantasy streamers in a Dolphins offense that was putrid in the season opener.

From RotoBaller

Micah Parsons Sep 10 3:20pm ET
Micah Parsons

The Green Bay Packers are listing All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (back) as questionable to play on Thursday Night Football in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, according to Jason B. Hirschhorn of NFL.com. Parsons had been dealing with a back injury leading up to the first week of the regular season, but the 26-year-old managed to take the field for his Packers debut in the Week 1 win over the Detroit Lions, so we fully expect him to be active on Thursday evening. Parsons played 30 of the team's 67 defensive snaps on Sunday, was lined up all over the defensive line, and recorded his first sack in the fourth quarter. He might continue to have his snaps monitored as he manages a joint sprain, which will lower his fantasy ceiling in IDP leagues, but if Parsons is active, he should be started in fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Likely Sep 10 3:10pm ET
Isaiah Likely

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) was seen working with a trainer on a side field on Wednesday, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun. It means that Likely still isn't practicing after missing the Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. The 25-year-old didn't practice at all last week and was fully expected to miss time early in the 2025 campaign. While the Ravens expect him back sooner rather than later, fantasy managers should not expect him to be active this Sunday against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. It means that veteran Mark Andrews will have a higher ceiling once again in Week 2 as a must-start TE1, even though he only had one reception on one target for a five-yard gain in the 41-40 loss in the season opener.

From RotoBaller

Harold Fannin Jr. Sep 10 3:00pm ET
Harold Fannin Jr.

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is quickly emerging as a trusted target in the passing game. Rostered in just 34% of leagues, the rookie turned nine Week 1 targets into seven receptions for 63 yards, moving the chains three times and even getting a designed rush for three yards. That blend of volume and versatility suggests the Browns want him involved, especially with Joe Flacco favoring quick reads over the middle. A tough road matchup with the Ravens could funnel even more short-area looks his way as Cleveland tries to keep the pass rush at bay. In PPR formats, Fannin profiles as a TE1 with streaming appeal and upward momentum. If he's on your wire, he's worth a proactive add before the role expands further.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Royals Sep 10 2:50pm ET
Jalen Royals

Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) missed Wednesday's practice, putting his status for the Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles in doubt. Andy Reid said Royals is "doing better" and "making progress," but the fourth-round pick could miss another week while he ramps up. In his absence, expect the Chiefs to keep funneling targets to Marquise Brown, who turned a team-high 16 targets into 10 catches for 99 yards in Week 1, with Travis Kelce working the middle. Against an Eagles secondary built to limit explosives, Kansas City may lean more on the run game to stay on schedule and protect possessions.

From RotoBaller

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Sep 10 2:50pm ET
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt could be in line for more touches in Week 2 against the Packers after an exciting debut. His 82 rushing yards were the most among the rookie running backs in Week 1, and he had the highest PFF rushing grade in the league. The seventh rounder was hyper-efficient on his touches, with a 50% success rate as a runner and ran for over 10 yards on a league high 30% of his touches. His role in the offense should expand a bit as the season goes along, but it will likely look pretty similar to Week 1. Austin Ekeler will continue to handle the majority of the pass-down reps, and a third back in either Jeremy McNichols or Chris Rodriguez Jr., will have complementary roles as well. Croskey-Merritt likely won't catch many passes and will need to find the end zone to have an impactful game for fantasy, putting him in FLEX territory for now.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Goedert Sep 10 2:40pm ET
Dallas Goedert

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) is dealing with a knee sprain that could leave the Eagles without their receptions leader for Sunday's trip to Kansas City. While the injury isn't expected to sideline him long--if at all--his missed practice time is notable for a passing game that must improve after totaling just 152 yards in Week 1. If Goedert sits, Grant Calcaterra would likely see elevated snaps at tight end, and the target load would tilt further toward A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, and Saquon Barkley. Against a disciplined Chiefs defense, losing Goedert would stress Philadelphia's short and intermediate game and put added pressure on Jalen Hurts to find rhythm early.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Sep 10 2:40pm ET
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels led his team to a 21-6 win in the home opener against the Giants. It was a solid yet sloppy day overall for Daniels and the Washington offense, with plenty still to clean up. He still racked up over 300 total yards and a touchdown against a good Giants defense. Daniels' floor is incredibly high for fantasy, with Lamar Jackson as the only player with more 20-point fantasy games since the start of last season. Now they face a quick turnaround with a Thursday night matchup against the Packers at Lambeau Field. In Week 1, the Packers' defense bottled up the Lions, last season's top-ranked offense. Detroit averaged just 3.8 yards per play and made life difficult for quarterback Jared Goff. He was sacked four times and threw one interception on the way to a 27-13 loss. The Packers completely shut off the Lions' run game, holding them to 2.1 yards per rush. Washington relied heavily on the ground attack against the Giants with 220 total rushing yards and 6.9 yards per carry. It projects to be one of the best games of the week with two top contenders in the NFC, and Daniels is a locked-and-loaded top 3 fantasy QB for Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Calvin Austin III Sep 10 2:30pm ET
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III is ready for a breakout season. Austin showed instant chemistry with Aaron Rodgers in Week 1, catching 4-of-6 targets for 70 yards and a touchdown. With defenses shading coverage to DK Metcalf, Austin's speed and crisp routes give Rodgers a reliable separator who can win underneath and create explosive plays after the catch. The fit makes sense--Rodgers has long thrived with precise route-runners--and early usage suggests Austin will remain a featured option. In Week 2 against Seattle, expect the defense to focus on Metcalf in his first game versus his former team, opening space for Austin on crossers, option routes, and deep shots. He's a sneaky breakout with real big-play potential.

From RotoBaller

Travis Hunter Sep 10 2:20pm ET
Travis Hunter

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter's two-way role is set to grow in Week 2 as the Jaguars prepare for the Bengals. After logging 44 of 63 offensive snaps and just six on defense in his NFL debut, the staff plans to ease him into packages on the back end while still managing his workload. Hunter already looked comfortable on offense, leading Jacksonville in targets (8) and receptions (6) for 33 yards, and his ability to threaten defenses after the catch should continue to earn designed touches. The added defensive snaps give Jacksonville a flexible chess piece for passing downs and late-game situations. With Cincinnati's defense still unproven, expect Hunter's snap share and impact to climb as the Jaguars find more ways to keep their difference-maker on the field.

From RotoBaller

Mike McDaniel Sep 10 2:00pm ET
Mike McDaniel

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that he's preparing for offensive tackle Austin Jackson (toe) to miss the Week 2 divisional contest on Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. Jackson injured his toe in the Week 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and it looks like he's going to miss at least one game. The 26-year-old is unlikely to practice this week, and his next chance to play will be in Week 3 against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. In addition to Jackson's injury, the Dolphins placed offensive lineman James Daniels (pectoral) on Injured Reserve this week. Not only did Miami's offense look disappointing again in the season opener, but they'll be missing key pieces going into Week 2. Larry Borom and Kion Smith should move into the starting lineup.

From RotoBaller

Jaxson Dart Sep 10 1:40pm ET
Jaxson Dart

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Wednesday that rookie first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart will remain as the QB2 heading into the Week 2 divisional clash against the Dallas Cowboys. "He had a good camp, he had a good preseason...we'll continue to work with him," Daboll said. Dart opened the regular season as the direct backup to Russell Wilson for the Week 1 loss to the Washington Commanders, ahead of veteran Jameis Winston. The Giants even said Dart could have a role in the Week 1 game plan, although he didn't end up getting on the field. There was speculation that New York might bench Wilson after a lackluster showing in the season-opening loss. The G-Men are sticking with him for now, but if he underwhelms again against Dallas, don't be surprised if Daboll pulls the trigger and moves to Dart as early as Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Sep 10 1:30pm ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Jalen Royals (knee) will not practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Andy Reid. Reid added that both receivers are doing better and making progress. For Worthy, surgery to fix his dislocated right shoulder is not under consideration at this time. Worthy suffered a dislocated shoulder on the first series of the Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last Friday in Brazil when he collided with teammate Travis Kelce. There is no current timetable for the 22-year-old's return, but it seems unlikely he'll be available for a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 this Sunday. With Royals also looking unlikely after missing the season opener, Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton figure to start in three-wide sets next to Kelce this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Andre Szmyt Sep 10 1:20pm ET
Andre Szmyt

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that rookie Andre Szmyt will kick for the team on Sunday in Week 2 against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens and said he expects the young kicker to get better. In his NFL debut in the one-point loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, Szmyt missed one of his two extra-point tries and also missed a 36-yard field-goal attempt that would have given Cleveland a lead in the fourth quarter on Sunday. The Browns are sticking with the Syracuse product for now, but if he continues to struggle, it will be interesting to see how long a leash Stefanski gives him. Szmyt connected on a field goal over 40 yards in his other try in his first regular-season NFL game. For fantasy purposes, stay away from the young kicker.

From RotoBaller

Wan'Dale Robinson Sep 10 1:10pm ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (ankle) will miss practice on Wednesday with an ankle issue, according to Patricia Traina of SI.com. While it's not a good sign that Robinson is a DNP to begin Week 2 practice, the Giants have downplayed the severity of his injury, which means he should be able to return to practice later this week and play on Sunday against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. The 24-year-old played a healthy 76 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 1 loss to the Washington Commanders and caught six of eight targets for 55 yards. While not the sexiest of fantasy wideouts, Robinson continues to be peppered with targets and has staked his claim to the WR2 role in NY behind Malik Nabers. Robinson's fantasy value could improve if rookie QB Jaxson Dart takes over for veteran Russell Wilson, but that will not happen in Week 2.

From RotoBaller