Player News

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) will practice on Thursday. Higgins tweaked his hamstring in practice before the Week 1 season opener and has missed the first two games of the season as a result. Taylor said earlier this week that Higgins is trending in the right direction, and he has an extra day to prepare for the team's Monday night contest against the Washington Commanders in Week 3. The 25-year-old will likely be a limited participant on Thursday, but it's good news nonetheless as he builds up to making his 2024 debut. When healthy, Higgins will operate as Cincy's No. 2 wideout behind All-Pro Ja'Marr Chase. Higgins' impending return will inevitably take targets away from tight end Mike Gesicki and receiver Andrei Iosivas, who scored two touchdowns in the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs.

Houston Texans running backs Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) are not practicing on Thursday. With both Mixon and Pierce sidelined so far this week, Cam Akers has operated as the team's starting tailback as preparations continue for a Week 3 showdown against the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings. The Texans consider Mixon day-to-day as of now, and Pierce is dealing with a mild hamstring injury, although it was enough to keep him sidelined for the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. As things stand now, Houston's backfield situation is in flux heading into this Sunday's contest. If both Mixon and Pierce are unavailable, Akers would become at least a flex play in fantasy lineups, with Dare Ogunbowale and British Brooks backing him up. With Pierce inactive last Sunday, Akers made his Texans debut and had seven carries for 32 yards while catching one pass for three yards.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hip, foot) is expected to play in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. Collins was held out of practice on Wednesday but returned to the practice field on Thursday, signaling that he's on track to play this weekend. There's a good chance that Collins is listed as limited on Thursday, but just the fact that he's back on the field is good news, and fantasy managers should leave him in their starting lineups for the week, barring a setback. Through the first two weeks of the 2024 season, the 25-year-old pass-catcher leads the league with 252 receiving yards on 14 receptions (18 targets) and one touchdown. Collins also leads the league with his 126 yards per game. The Vikings defense has been middle of the pack so far through two games in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wideouts. Collins is a must-start.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (foot) will be limited in Thursday's practice, but head coach Mike McCarthy said, "I'm not of high concern there" in terms of their availability for the Week 3 contest on Sunday versus the Baltimore Ravens. Lamb did not take part in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, raising some questions about his availability this weekend. But as long as the 25-year-old doesn't suffer a setback with his ankle the next couple of days, it sounds as though fantasy managers should expect him to play on Sunday in Dallas. We'll continue to keep a close eye on his practice status through Friday. There's no reason yet for fantasy managers to pull him out of their starting lineups for Week 3. Through two games, Lamb has nine receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown for the Cowboys.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen will look for more production in Week 3 with Andy Dalton under center as the veteran takes over for Bryce Young. Thielen has been limited in the first two weeks totaling five catches for 69 yards. The veteran receiver can still make plays on the outside and Dalton could be a better option in getting the ball out to him. In Week 3 against the Raiders, Thielen should be looked at as a WR4 option until he proves more productive. Young was not impressive in the first two weeks, but it might not be all on him. Diontae Johnson should lead the team in targets against the Raiders in Week 3 but Thielen is a bit more of a threat for big plays even as the veteran in the wide receiver room. This week will be a big indicator for Thielen's future prospects with Dalton as the starter.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson has done next to nothing in his first two games with his new team. Johnson has six targets in each of the first two games but has hauled in just five catches for 34 yards in an uninspiring opening to the season. Johnson was thought of as a potential sleeper late in drafts this season but with Bryce Young and the Panthers' offense looking woeful through two weeks that has not come to fruition. A change to Andy Dalton could provide a lift to Johnson's fantasy outlook. The Toledo product was a target monster with the Steelers at times and if Dalton could get the ball out to Johnson in a timely manner, he could be in store for some more production. Fantasy managers should not give up on the talented receiver yet and Week 3 will offer a good glimpse into his fantasy potential with the quarterback change.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has looked fairly decent to start the season but the Panthers' offense has been in negative game scripts for the first two weeks. Could a switch from Bryce Young to Andy Dalton be the solution in Week 3 against the Raiders? It could but Las Vegas should be playing from ahead in this one, limiting the rushing potential of Hubbard. The running back has 16 carries in two games so far but he was more involved in the passing game in Week 2 against the Chargers with four catches for 12 yards on five targets, which is a good sign. Hubbard is a risky play until the Panthers' offense shows signs of improvement from its disastrous start to the season.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton will take over for Bryce Young in the team's Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders but should not be a fantasy option in fantasy leagues. With some decent offensive weapons in Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, and Xavier Legette, Dalton could provide a useful upgrade from Young in NFL terms but it's best for fantasy managers to take a wait-and-see approach with how Dalton looks in this offense. The Panthers have looked like a disaster to start the season and despite benching Young, it's not clear if he was the problem or it was the offense in general. There are better options out there in the quarterback landscape and you would have to be in a desperate situation to consider starting the "Red Rifle".

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) has a shot to suit up for Week 3's game against the Titans despite what was projected as a 3-4 week timetable when he went down with a knee injury in Week 1 against the Eagles. One source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that "I wouldn't be surprised if he plays this week. It's definitely day-by-day like". Love is expected to be a breakout star this year so this is great news for his fantasy managers as well as fantasy managers of the Packers' talented pass-catchers. A healthy Love elevates the Green Bay offense to one of the best in the league. Keep an eye on this one as the weekend nears.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) suffered a high ankle sprain against the Cardinals in Week 2, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. According to the report, Kupp will spend the next week or so in a cast to help ease the swelling. The Rams did not place Kupp on IR and there is still optimism he can return within the four-week timetable. It's not the worst news for Kupp managers but high ankle sprains can be tricky to come back from. The fact that he is not on IR is a somewhat promising sign. Kupp was off to a flying start to the season with 21 targets in his first game in a dominant 14 catch, 110-yard, 1-TD performance against the Lions. When healthy, Kupp is still a dominant fantasy player but the injuries have become a concern.