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49ers expect to start Mac Jones again with Brock Purdy questionable

Fri Sep 19 6:29pm ET
Field Level Media

Mac Jones is in line to make a second straight start under center for the San Francisco 49ers after the team listed quarterback Brock Purdy as questionable for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Purdy came away from the season-opening win against Seattle with toe and left shoulder injuries, his toe being the bigger concern. He sat out Week 2 while Jones guided the Niners to a 26-21 victory at New Orleans.

Coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Friday afternoon that Purdy has made progress, though not enough to return to the starting role just yet.

"I think it's highly unlikely that (Purdy) will start," Shanahan said. "We're just trying to see where he's at to see if he can be a 2 or an emergency 3."

Purdy was a limited participant in practice from Wednesday through Friday. He told reporters Thursday that he wants to play every game but is "trying to be smart with (his) body."

The 49ers will need to know by Saturday whether Purdy will be active as the No. 2 quarterback or be kept inactive as the emergency third quarterback. That's because they would need to promote practice squad quarterback Adrian Martinez to the active roster the day before the game in order to dub Purdy the emergency QB.

Jones, in his first season as San Francisco's backup after three bumpy years in New England and one season in Jacksonville, completed 26 of 39 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Saints.

The 49ers also listed receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder) and guard Connor Colby (groin) as questionable. Receiver Jordan Watkins (calf) and guard Spencer Burford (knee) were ruled out.

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 3

Player Notes
Noah Brown Sep 19 6:50pm ET
Noah Brown

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (groin) has been ruled out for the Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Unsurprisingly, Brown will be sidelined after not practicing since exiting early during last Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers. For now, Brown should be treated as day-to-day, but he could be headed towards a stint on the injured reserve. Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey figure to split up playing time as the third wideout in Washington. Neither player has done much on the field this season and aren't ideal streaming options right now.

From RotoBaller

Marcus Mariota Sep 19 6:40pm ET
Marcus Mariota

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota has been named the starter for the Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jayden Daniels (knee) was able to practice on Friday, but the Commanders will take the cautious approach and hold him out of this game. Last season, Mariota tossed four touchdowns without any interceptions while throwing for 364 yards in four appearances with Washington. He's not a great long-term option, but is serviceable for a game or two. Mariota could offer QB2 value given his success with the team last season.

From RotoBaller

Michael Penix Jr. Sep 19 6:40pm ET
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. underwhelmed in Week 2 as the team relied heavily on the run game, completing just 13 of 21 passes for 135 yards and no scores (and zero interceptions) in a 22-6 victory over the Vikings. The game script could look similar on Sunday in a road matchup against a porous Panthers run defense, and a game in which the Falcons are heavy favorites. Even if the passing game gets going in this one, the second-year pro's output could be limited by an average yards per pass attempt of 6.9, which ranks 20th among quarterbacks this season. View the former first-rounder as a mid-range QB2 who has some slight upside with plenty of healthy, able-bodied receivers at his disposal after all practiced in full on Friday, including Darnell Mooney (shoulder) and Kyle Pitts Sr. (toe).

From RotoBaller

Will Shipley Sep 19 6:40pm ET
Will Shipley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley (oblique) has been ruled out for the Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Shipley was able to get in a few limited practices this week, but it wasn't enough to clear him for game action. He'll miss his second straight game, but will hopefully return in Week 4. In the meantime, A.J. Dillon figures to serve as the primary backup to Saquon Barkley in the backfield. Tank Bigsby is also an option, but he didn't play at all last week. Honestly, neither back is going to offer streaming value with Barkley being the workhorse back in Philly right now.

From RotoBaller

J.J. McCarthy Sep 19 6:30pm ET
J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) has been officially ruled out for the Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. As expected, McCarthy will head to the sideline and is likely to miss 2-for-4 weeks of action. In his absence, Carson Wentz will take over under center for Sunday's contest. Wentz has reportedly been impressing the coaching staff during his short time in Minnesota. Wentz hasn't been a full-time starter in a few years, but is certainly capable of holding down the fort in Minnesota. He'll be limited in terms of weapons with Aaron Jones (hamstring) and Jordan Addison (suspension) both out for Week 3. Despite that, Wentz could still offer QB2 value against the shaky Bengals defense.

From RotoBaller

Carson Wentz Sep 19 6:20pm ET
Carson Wentz

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz has reportedly been impressing the coaching staff. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wentz has clearly played a lot of football and he believes Wentz has a great presence. The veteran signal-caller will be under center in Week 3 with J.J. McCarthy (ankle) being ruled out. That means, Wentz is in line to make his first start since the 2024 season. The 32-year-old hasn't been a full-time starter since the 2022 campaign. However, Wentz has a chance to earn the starting role in Minnesota with good play over the next few weeks. He'll be a bit shorthanded with Aaron Jones (hamstring) and Jordan Addison (suspension) both sidelined. Despite that, Wentz does offer some QB2 value against the spotty Cincinnati Bengals defense.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Sep 19 6:00pm ET
Evan Engram

The Denver Broncos have ruled out tight end Evan Engram (back) from their Week 3 contest this Sunday on the road against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. While Engram was quiet in his first two games with the team and is now set to miss Week 3, head coach Sean Payton said on Friday that the 31-year-old veteran is expected to be a big part of the offense this year. We'll believe it when we see it. The former first-rounder only played in nine games due to injury last year with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he caught just four of six targets for 33 yards in the first two games this year. Engram's next chance to play will be in Week 4 on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he'll be a TE2 in fantasy if he recovers from his back injury. With Engram out this weekend, Adam Trautman will be Denver's TE1. Fantasy managers should be able to find better streaming options.

From RotoBaller

Brandon McManus Sep 19 6:00pm ET
Brandon McManus

Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus looks to keep his consistent kicking run going as the Packers head to Cleveland to play the Browns in Week 3. Through two games, McManus has averaged 10 fantasy points per game, with multiple field goals and three extra points made in each contest. With the Packers favored against Cleveland in Week 3, there should be plenty of opportunity for McManus to at least match his production over the season's first two weeks. The weather in Cleveland for Sunday afternoon calls for some thunderstorms, so that could potentially be an issue for McManus. However, I'd still be willing to roll him out as a low-end fantasy starter thanks to the Packers' offense being so potent through two games.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Golden Sep 19 5:50pm ET
Matthew Golden

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden looks to take advantage of some injury-related shakeup in the receiving room as the Packers head to Cleveland to face the Browns in Week 3. Through two games, Golden hasn't done much to satisfy the hype of fantasy managers, with just two receptions for 16 yards in his first two NFL games. That said, Golden has been the recipient of several deep throws from quarterback Jordan Love that have just missed being huge plays. We'd be talking about Golden much favorably if those plays had gone the other way. For Week 3, Golden could get on track to deliver some fantasy value as the target tree shortens up a bit with Jayden Reed (clavicle, foot) out and Tucker Kraft (knee) banged up. Golden is still a risky boom-or-bust flex play this week for fantasy purposes.

From RotoBaller

Tre Harris Sep 19 5:50pm ET
Tre Harris

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre' Harris was more involved in Week 2, catching two passes for 34 yards on three targets in Monday night's win against the Las Vegas Raiders. He increased his snap share from 7.9% to 30.4% and ran eight routes (27.6% of snaps). The rookie will face a tough Denver Broncos secondary, so Harris will need to make the most of his limited opportunities. Ladd McConkey (bicep) is off the injury report, but if there are setbacks between now and game time, Harris could get the start in three-receiver sets. RotoBaller projects him as WR106, and he should continue to be a valuable stash in most formats.

From RotoBaller

Luke Musgrave Sep 19 5:50pm ET
Luke Musgrave

Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave potentially has a solid opportunity ahead of him with the Packers heading to Cleveland to match up with the Browns in Week 3. Starting tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) is questionable and could see his workload limited to a degree, so as a result, Musgrave could operate in more of a receiving role than he has over the Packers' first two games. Through the first two contests, Musgrave has a combined three catches for 36 yards while running under 20 percent of routes per dropback in each of those games. It's been a lean role for the former 2023 second-round pick, but he could carve out a little more of a role depending on the severity of Kraft's injury and how the team chooses to manage his workload. That said, Musgrave is far too risky a play for fantasy managers to rely on in Week 3, so leave him on waivers and out of your fantasy lineups this week.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Sep 19 5:40pm ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder) is officially listed as questionable to play in a Week 3 divisional clash against the 2-0 Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports that Jennings was not spotted at the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, which is pretty concerning, considering he was unable to practice on Wednesday or Thursday. The 28-year-old picked up a shoulder injury in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks, but he played in the Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints and caught his first touchdown of the year. Jennings also picked up a new ankle injury last Sunday. Now dealing with two injuries, it's not looking great for his chances of facing Arizona. He's shaping up as a very shaky and risky WR4/flex in Week 3, especially with quarterback Mac Jones set for a second straight start.

From RotoBaller

Keenan Allen Sep 19 5:40pm ET
Keenan Allen

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen again made an impact in Monday night's 20-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, catching five of seven targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. He remains reliable and continues to earn quarterback Justin Herbert's trust in crucial moments, especially in the red zone, where he has a 33% target rate through two games. Allen will face a tough Denver Broncos secondary that is among the best in the league. He will need to use his five-inch height advantage over DB Ja'Quan McMillian, who is allowing only 3.4 yards per target. Teammate Ladd McConkey (bicep) is off the injury report and could see shadow coverage from Pat Surtain, so Allen could receive the majority of the targets. RotoBaller projects him as the WR39 this week, making him a strong flex option, especially in PPR leagues.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Sep 19 5:40pm ET
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks looks to take advantage of ample opportunity with some missing pass-catchers as the Packers travel to Cleveland to face the Browns in Week 3. Wicks took a backseat to fellow wide receivers Romeo Doubs and rookie Matthew Golden in the receiving pecking order through two games, but with the injury to Jayden Reed (clavicle) and now tight end Tucker Kraft (knee), Wicks could get a lot more opportunity in Week 3 to be the top target-earner in Green Bay. People forget that Wicks led the Packers in targets (76) last season, and with Reed out for several weeks, Wicks will be the primary slot receiver and may still rotate in on the outside for Green Bay. Wicks now has fantasy value entering Week 3, and when setting your flex, Wicks has a ton of upside this week.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Sep 19 5:40pm ET
Brock Purdy

Although San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder) is officially listed as questionable to play in Week 3 against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said it's "highly unlikely" that he will start this weekend, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It's shaping up as a second straight start for backup Mac Jones. Purdy may not start, but he may be active on game day as an emergency backup in case Jones is injured. Either way, though, fantasy managers should keep Purdy on their benches for a second straight week. Purdy's next chance to return to starting duties will come in Week 4 versus the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones looked good in last week's win over the New Orleans Saints, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns, but he could be without receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder) this weekend. Treat him as a low-end QB2 in superflex formats.

From RotoBaller

Christian Kirk Sep 19 5:30pm ET
Christian Kirk

Houston Texans wide receivers Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) have both been removed from the final Week 3 injury report and will make their debuts on Sunday against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Houston will get two key offensive weapons back on Sunday as they look for their first win of the year. Kirk, 28, should be much more involved on offense than Berrios as the team's primary slot receiver, although don't be surprised if his snaps are managed after he missed the first two games of the season. We wouldn't recommend Kirk as a starting flex option in deeper fantasy leagues in his Texans' debut, but his presence should take some attention off WR1 Nico Collins. Rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who did very little with Kirk out for the first two weeks, now have an even tougher path to fantasy relevance.

From RotoBaller

Quentin Johnston Sep 19 5:30pm ET
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston led his team in receiving yards for the second consecutive week and scored his third touchdown of the season in Monday night's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He caught three of his seven targets for 71 yards, highlighted by a 60-yard touchdown just before halftime. His 66.7% red-zone target share makes him a very strong option in the Chargers' improved passing attack. RotoBaller projects a favorable matchup if he faces Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss, despite the Broncos having one of the best secondaries in the league. RotoBaller ranks him as a low-end WR4 this week, but he should be startable in multi-flex or deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Chris Brooks Sep 19 5:30pm ET
Chris Brooks

Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks looks to build on his minor role within the Packers' offense as they travel to Cleveland to play the Browns in Week 3. Brooks has played well above fellow running back Emanuel Wilson this season and has gained more snaps from Week 1 (9) to Week 2's 13. Brooks could see a little more time on the field with Josh Jacobs (ankle) a bit banged up, though Jacobs came off the injury report after three limited practice sessions. While Brooks remains a clear role player for the Packers, Brooks' role would increase if something were to happen to Jacobs. Brooks' situational role with the Packers keeps him well away from starting consideration for fantasy in Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Romeo Doubs Sep 19 5:30pm ET
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs caught a touchdown pass in Week 2 against the Commanders and looks to build off that momentum when the Packers head to Cleveland to face off with the Browns in Week 3. Doubs has been Green Bay's most consistent route runner at the receiver position, as he's not rotated as much as some of the other secondary receivers like Matthew Golden and Dontayvion Wicks. With the injury to Jayden Reed (clavicle, foot) and Tucker Kraft (knee) being questionable after a Thursday injury in practice, Doubs may be needed much more by the Packers for receiving production in Week 3. He's hard to trust as an inconsistent receiving option, but with the pass-catchers in Green Bay a bit more thinned out this week, Doubs could be in line for a higher fantasy floor this week as a WR4 with low-end flex upside.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Sep 19 5:20pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been in a groove and looks to keep his strong, efficient play going as the Packers head to Cleveland to face the Browns in Week 3. For the first time since Week 9 of last season, Love had over 30 pass attempts in Week 2. He threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns while adding 12 yards on the ground. He also missed a few deep shots to Dontayvion Wicks in the first quarter and Matthew Golden later in the game, where we would be universally starting him if he had converted even one of those passes. The Packers' passing game has never been more aggressive at getting the ball downfield with Love sporting a league-high 13.1-yard average depth of target in two games. With the quarterback injuries around the league to several starting options, Love jumps into fantasy QB1 territory against the Browns in Week 3.

From RotoBaller