San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason once again rewarded fantasy managers in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Vikings in Minnesota. The second-year undrafted pro from Georgia Tech racked up exactly 100 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and caught his only target for four yards receiving. He fumbled once, in the second quarter, but quickly recovered it. Mason once again looked the part of a Shanahan zone running back, showing vision and burst with a one-cut downhill style throughout the game. With Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) out for the season and All-Pro starter Christian McCaffrey out until at least Week 6 and possibly even longer, those who have rostered Mason have to be excited about what he's doing with the keys to the backfield. Mason will run up against the Rams in Los Angeles in Week 3 next Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason will draw another start when the team clashes with the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. Mason catapulted himself into the forefront of fantasy football conversations by shredding the New York Jets' run defense last week as the replacement for All-Pro starter Christian McCaffrey (Achilles). Mason finished that game with 147 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown while chipping in one reception for five yards. Those looking for an encore to Mason's career day are faced with a Minnesota defense that held New York Giants running backs to 42 yards rushing, 29 yards receiving, and no touchdowns in Week 1. The Vikings were also quite good against the run in 2023 as well, allowing the eighth-fewest points to running backs in half-PPR. Mason is not CMC, but a Top-10 finish is in play this week even against a quality defense, given the 49ers' perennial commitment to the run game and how sharp it looked last week. Treat Mason as a back-end RB1 in Week 2.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason had a standout performance in place of the injured Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) during Monday night's game against the New York Jets. With McCaffrey ruled out before the game, Mason seized the opportunity, rushing 28 times for 147 yards and one touchdown. Although Mason entered the game with only 83 career carries over two seasons, he has consistently shown potential, averaging 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie and 5.2 yards per carry in 2023. Mason exploited openings effectively throughout the game, supported by the robust 49ers offensive line and a strategic game plan from head coach Kyle Shanahan. Mason should be a top priority on the waiver wire this week. If McCaffrey is sidelined again next week, Mason would be a must-start. Even if McCaffrey returns, Mason remains a valuable handcuff for the rest of the season.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught just three of his seven targets for 21 yards in the team's loss to the Green Bay Packers. This now makes the second week in a row Pittman was the most targeted pass-catcher but has been unable to convert the target share into fantasy production. The Colts' passing offense remains unpredictable, with QB Anthony Richardson at the helm as volume remains relatively low. Although it is another bust of a week for Pittman, he remains the No. 1 option for Richardson which should help ease the worries of fantasy managers. Fantasy managers in more shallow leagues can consider benching him next week until it's seen that he and Richardson's chemistry can materialize. Still, managers in deeper formats can look to include him as a WR3 option in the team's Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. didn't pop on the stat sheet in Week 1, grabbing four catches for 31 yards in the team's loss to the Houston Texans. The good news was that Pittman was the most targeted pass-catcher, totaling eight targets in the contest. The Colts now gear up for a matchup with the Green Bay Packers, who allowed both WRs AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith to have productive showings in Week 1. Pittman's ceiling does remain limited as Indy doesn't implement a high-volume passing game, with the majority of QB Anthony Richardson's production coming on 60+ touchdown passes. While Pittman can be on the receiving end of one of those, he doesn't provide an incredibly safe floor. That being said, fantasy managers can look to target Pittman was a WR2/3 option and hope to see an increase in Indy's passing attack from last week.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught just four of his eight targets for 31 yards in the team's loss to the Houston Texans. Pittman saw the most targets and snaps out of all Colts pass-catchers, but was unable to turn it into a productive fantasy day. Pittman remains the No. 1 option for Richardson and the Colts passing attack, and fantasy managers can include him as a WR2 in lineups in the team's Week 2 contest against the Green Bay Packers.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta hasn't seen the volume or success expected so far, especially in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished Sunday's contest with two receptions for 13 yards on three targets. While they aired it out more in this game, 30 targets went to the top two receivers while Jahmyr Gibbs received the next most at seven. Through the first two games, LaPorta has six catches for 58 yards and hasn't found the end zone yet. He does have a catch percentage of 75% which is even better than his sensational rookie season with 71.7%. In Week 3, LaPorta will go up against the Arizona Cardinals defense that has a lot of holes. The Lions should be able to score and this game could turn into a shootout.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had a mediocre night against the Los Angeles Rams. LaPorta caught four passes for 45 yards, with the longest reception being 18 yards, averaging 11.2 yards per reception. The Lions went with a very run-heavy offense on Sunday night, running the ball 31 times in their win. Jared Goff's favorite target through the air was his third-year receiver, Jameson Williams. LaPorta is still one of the most elite tight ends in the league, and fantasy managers should continue to start him without question going into Week 2.

Although the Detroit Lions didn't actually hold a practice on Wednesday, tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) was not listed on the first official injury report. As expected, it means that the second-year tight end will suit up for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams as he looks for an encore performance this year following an amazing rookie campaign. The 23-year-old missed most of training camp and the preseason due to a hamstring ailment he suffered on Aug. 5, but he returned to practice over a week ago and won't have any limitations this weekend. LaPorta set a rookie record for TEs with 86 receptions in 17 regular-season games in 2023 while going for 889 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He should once again be heavily targeted by quarterback Jared Goff in Year 2 and is a must-start in fantasy lineups.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk put up yet another dud in an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns. He finished with just one catch for negative one yard, giving him two catches and 29 yards through two games. Kirk was considered a safer option among the Jaguars receivers coming into the season given his experience and his familiarity with the offense. However, he has been nonexistent both in real football and in fantasy. At this point, it's hard to fathom keeping Kirk in fantasy beyond deeper leagues. With Evan Engram a surprise pre-game scratch, Kirk had the chance to step up, but instead, it was backup tight end Brenton Strange who filled the void with three catches for 65 yards. To make matters worse, the 27-year-old was fifth on the team in targets with three, behind Brian Thomas Jr., Strange, Gabe Davis, and Travis Etienne Jr. Kirk will look to get going against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, but it is hard to imagine that will happen at the moment.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk is better left on benches for Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns. Kirk struggled in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, as did the entire offense, producing just one catch for 30 yards. A dud like that will make it hard for fantasy managers to feel good inserting the Jaguars receiver into lineups, even as a flex. Kirk did tie for the team lead in targets with four, but needs to show more efficiency with his opportunities to be considered a reliable fantasy asset. It's too early to consider dropping the 27-year-old, as the Jaguars wide receiver room has no clear top option, but more underwhelming performances could leave fantasy managers with no choice. A good game against the Browns could boost Kirk back to being the top fantasy receiver on the Jaguars, but for now, he is best left out of starting lineups.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk finished with just one catch for 30 yards in a 17-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Kirk was expected, along with Evan Engram (one catch for five yards), to be the offensive skilled players with the best chemistry with Trevor Lawrence to start the season, but that was not the case. Kirk tied for the team lead in targets with Engram and Brian Thomas Jr. with four each. However, the rookie wideout caught all his targets and showed great chemistry with Lawrence. Free agent acquisition Gabe Davis also showed good chemistry with Lawrence, catching all three of his targets for 62 yards to lead the team in receiving. Kirk was merely a flex option/WR3 entering the season, so this Week 1 performance is concerning. Kirk still has the potential to be the top receiving option for the Jaguars, but the only way to know for sure is for the offense to have more success overall. In Week 2, Jacksonville faces the Cleveland Browns and their top secondary, making Kirk a risky flex play.

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a promising start in Houston on Sunday but struggled in the second half. The No. 1 overall pick was impressive early, completing all five passes for 55 yards on the Bears' opening drive, including two notable third-down completions to DeAndre Carter and DJ Moore. Williams finished the first half with 12 completions on 15 attempts for 91 yards, but frequent mistakes by the Bears undermined his performance. The team had four false starts and a delay of game right after a TV timeout, failed to convert a third-and-1 with a quarterback sneak, and barely managed a fourth-and-inches conversion from the shotgun. The rookie also threw interceptions on consecutive drives in the second half, compounding the challenges. Despite these issues, Williams and the Bears had a chance to win with 1:37 left on the clock. Williams connected with Rome Odunze for a 27-yard gain on the first play of the drive, but two plays later, Danielle Hunter sacked him for an eight-yard loss, and a fourth-down pass to Odunze fell incomplete after a miscommunication. Williams ended the game with 23 completions on 37 attempts for 174 yards and two interceptions. With seven sacks and frequent pressure, Williams was forced into hurried throws and poor decisions. Until the Bears' offense improves, Williams is not a viable starting fantasy quarterback.

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams presents a high-risk, high-reward option as he faces off against the high-scoring Houston Texans. Williams aims to bounce back from a rough Week 1, where he completed just 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards and failed to throw a touchdown. His average depth of target was 8.0 yards, placing him in the middle tier among quarterbacks for the week. While his debut performance was underwhelming, it's not unexpected for a rookie quarterback, and the presence of a strong defense can be a significant asset for the top pick. However, Williams faces additional challenges this week with key playmakers Keenan Allen (heel) and Rome Odunze (knee) listed as questionable. Williams will have only one reliable target in DJ Moore if both other wide receivers are unavailable. With the spotlight on him in Houston, Williams might struggle to keep pace with C.J. Stroud and could make mistakes under pressure. For now, Williams isn't a strong start outside of superflex leagues. Instead, let him develop on your bench and focus on his long-term potential. As he gains experience, his value could rise, making him a worthwhile investment for the future.

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams didn't quite meet expectations in his debut despite earning a win on Sunday. Williams completed 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards, failed to throw a touchdown, was sacked twice, but did not record any interceptions. He fumbled once, though the Bears recovered it. His accuracy was lacking, with 31% of his passes off-target and an average of just 3.2 yards per attempt. His deep throws were particularly problematic, missing several open opportunities downfield. While Williams made a notable throw to Keenan Allen that should have resulted in a touchdown, the veteran wide receiver dropped the pass. The Bears' offense only managed nine points, relying on defensive and special teams touchdowns for most of their scoring. Williams delivered a well-executed 2-point conversion pass to D'Andre Swift, his standout moment in what otherwise seemed like a promising matchup. He will need to perform better in next week's Sunday Night Football game against C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans to showcase the potential that made him the number 1 pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren turned nine carries into 42 rushing yards and two catches into 19 receiving yards in a Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos. Warren, who saw just four opportunities in Pittsburgh's season opener, had a much more prominent role on Sunday and was effective with his touches. He continues to run behind teammate Najee Harris but could push for even more snaps next week as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. Although the third-year pro lacks touchdown upside, he is a skilled pass-catcher who should be rostered in PPR formats. He will project as an RB3 or low-end flex option against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren saw only four opportunities last week but will hope to be more involved against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. Although Warren practiced in full leading up to Pittsburgh's season opener, it's fair to wonder if the team planned to limit his usage in his first game action since returning from a hamstring injury. If the 25-year-old gets additional work on Sunday, he could post solid numbers against a Denver defense that has struggled to stop the run since the beginning of the 2023 campaign. His pass-catching skillset gives him some appeal in PPR formats, but fantasy managers should not consider Warren as anything more than a low-end flex option until they see him split touches more evenly with running mate Najee Harris.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that running back Jaylen Warren (hamstring) is "healthy enough," but that it would be a "slippery slope" to say that Warren is fully healthy heading into a Week 2 road tilt against the Denver Broncos. In the Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Najee Harris handled 56% of the offensive snaps, while Warren was in on just 31% and finished with only two carries for seven yards while catching both of his targets for 13 yards in a game in which the Steelers offense didn't produce a single touchdown. The 25-year-old battled a hamstring injury throughout the preseason and doesn't appear to be fully healthy. He proved last year that he can be a productive weekly RB3/flex for fantasy managers, but in an offense now being led by quarterback Justin Fields with Russell Wilson (calf) hurt, Warren's fantasy stock is down, especially while trying to overcome a lower-body injury.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan was able to find the end zone during his NFL debut last week. The rookie wideout won the No. 3 role with an impressive performance during camp. He was able to make some noise by hauling in one of his three targets for a 32-yard touchdown in the win over the Washington Commanders. As expected, McMillan isn't going to have a huge role with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin seeing a bulk of the targets. That is likely going to continue which means McMillan might only see a few chances each week. It probably won't be enough to warrant rostering McMillan is most fantasy formats. He's worth stashing in dynasty formats but probably won't see much action in Week 2.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan made his NFL debut against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The rookie wideout won the No. 3 spot behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to start the season. He was the clear third receiver on this offense during Sunday's game. McMillan hauled in one of his three targets for 32 yards and a touchdown in the win. It appears Evans, Godwin, and even running back Rachaad White are above McMillan on the pecking order for passing. McMillan is worth stashing in deep leagues, but he isn't a viable option on a weekly basis right now.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has worked his way up the depth chart quickly in camp. The third-round pick is slated to start alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin during the Week 1 season opener against the Washington Commanders. There is a ton of potential here as McMillan should be stashed in all dynasty leagues. However, the 22-year-old isn't a great streaming option heading into Week 1. It's uncertain how many targets will be left over with Evans, Godwin, and probably Rachaad White ahead of McMillan in terms of passing options. There is potential for McMillan to grow and become a reliable contributor in this offense. However, fantasy managers should be able to find a better streaming option ahead of Week 1. McMillan should be considered a WR4 for the season opener.

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin said he will be active for his NFL debut in the Week 2 home opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers with fellow rookie Devaughn Vele (ribs) ruled out this weekend. Franklin was inactive in the season-opening loss on the road to the Seattle Seahawks but will now get his chance to provide receiver depth for the Broncos behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds and Marvin Mims Jr. The 21-year-old out of Oregon was paired with rookie quarterback Bo Nix in April's draft in the fourth round, but it's unlikely that he'll have much of a role in his first regular-season NFL contest against a tough Steelers defense. Franklin is a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues but is unlikely to make an impact in single-year fantasy formats in a Broncos offense that will be inconsistent under a rookie signal-caller.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin (coach's decision) has been officially designated as inactive for the team's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. The rookie wide receiver is healthy but hasn't climbed up the depth chart enough to be a part of the main receiving corps. Word from the coaching staff was that they were happy with Franklin's growth so far, but it'll take a bit longer to see him on the field getting snaps. He's more valuable right now as a rookie stash in dynasty formats rather than redraft. His progress will be something to monitor as the season goes on and any injuries occur.