San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy fell short in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Purdy finished the game having completed 28 of 36 passes for 319 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He added two scrambles for 12 yards on the ground. Minnesota's defense kept the pressure on Purdy all afternoon, as he found himself absorbing a career-high six sacks. Purdy did make many quality throws and his lone interception came from a nice defensive deflection that may have been a simple incompletion if the ball hadn't popped upward in traffic over the middle. Purdy's other turnover happened when the ball slipped out of his hands as he threw and went directly to a waiting Jihad Ward, being ruled a fumble. Today's game represents the second disappointment in a row for fantasy owners. Next up for the 24-year-old signal-caller is a road matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will try to pick up a second-straight win in a Week 2 matchup versus the Vikings in Minnesota on Sunday. He'll be going up against a defense that was almost exactly league-average in 2023 for fantasy points per game allowed to opposing quarterbacks, but who held Purdy to 272 yards, two interceptions, and one touchdown last year (albeit without stud tackle Trent Williams and receiver Deebo Samuel). The Vikings made mostly minor changes to their defensive personnel in the offseason, most notably losing standout edge rusher Danielle Hunter and replacing him with first-round pick Dallas Turner. In their opener last week, the Vikings made New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones look horrible but how much credit goes to the defense versus Jones' ineptitude is debatable. Last week, Purdy was solid but rather unhelpful for fantasy managers in a home victory over the New York Jets, with 231 yards passing, 11 yards rushing, and no touchdowns or picks. At any rate, he'll have his whole complement of receivers in this one -- save for running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) -- so Purdy should be in for a decent day, especially with wideout Brandon Aiyuk getting another week of practice under his belt. Look for Purdy to find the end zone in Week 2, as he sits on the fantasy QB1/2 border.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a solid outing in leading his team to a decisive victory over the New York Jets on Sunday night. Purdy completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards and did not record any touchdowns or turnovers. The Jets' defense, missing edge rusher Haason Reddick due to a holdout, failed to apply significant pressure. The 49ers took control of the game by halftime, allowing Purdy to focus on game management rather than pushing for big plays. San Francisco dominated possession, holding the ball for 38 minutes and 40 seconds and scoring on eight offensive drives before taking a knee on their final possession. The 49ers ran 70 plays compared to the Jets' 49. As the season progresses, expect Purdy to deliver higher-scoring performances, with his next opportunity coming against the Vikings on Sunday.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner took 21 carries for 122 rushing yards and a touchdown in the team's 41-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He also caught his lone target of the game for a gain of two yards. Conner did lose the ball on the Rams' five-yard line in the fourth quarter, but tight end Trey McBride fell on top of it as it bounced ahead into the end zone to give the Cardinals their fifth touchdown of the game. The eighth-year veteran was as elusive as ever, forcing six missed tackles in the game. Thanks to the lopsided score, Conner ceded backfield duties to Trey Benson and Emari Demercado after his fumble but there is no question he is the top dog in Arizona's running backs room. In Week 3, Conner will be in the RB1 conversation again when the Cardinals take on the Detroit Lions.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner put up 83 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. He will look to do more of the same on Sunday in the Cardinals' home opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Fears that he might lose work to rookie Trey Benson were assuaged last week as Conner handled 16 of Arizona's 20 handoffs and was on the field for 67% of offensive snaps compared to Benson's 13% share. The Rams had one of the toughest run defenses in the league in 2023 but no longer have Aaron Donald anchoring their line. In Week 1, they gave up 131 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to the Lions. Conner should be locked into fantasy lineups this week and can be expected to put up another RB1 performance.

Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing described running back James Conner as the team's "bell cow" in recent comments to the media. Anyone left wondering how much Petzing's coachspeak could be trusted got their answer on Sunday. Conner handled the ball in each of the Cardinals' first six plays from scrimmage to open the game and paced the team's running backs with 16 rushing attempts. The eighth-year veteran gained 50 rushing yards and caught three passes for another 33 yards through the air. Conner scored his first touchdown of the season in the second quarter, taking the handoff from three yards out and punching it through the line for the score. Conner and the Cardinals next face the Rams, who allowed a combined 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns to David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions in Week 1.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that he believes wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is moving in a positive direction and that the extra day this week will help as the team prepares to face the Washington Commanders in Week 3 next Monday night. Higgins injured his hamstring in practice just days before the season opener and has missed the first two games of the season as a result. The 25-year-old's status for next Monday's game will depend on how much he can do in practice this week. If Higgins draws a questionable tag on the final injury report on Saturday, fantasy managers probably won't want to take any chances with him in their starting lineups. Andrei Iosivas scored two touchdowns in the Week 2 loss to the Chiefs on his two receptions, while tight end Mike Gesicki saw more involvement with Higgins out. The 0-2 Bengals could certainly use their WR2 in Higgins back sooner than later.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is officially inactive for Sunday's AFC showdown with the Chiefs. There is no surprise here, considering the wideout missed Week 1 and was doubtful heading into Week 2. Fortunately, Joe Burrow has Ja'Marr Chase as his primary pass-catcher. There's also room for Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, and Mike Gesicki to enter the flex conversation in 12-team fantasy leagues and up.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is expected to be inactive for Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Higgins had been listed as doubtful and was trending toward missing his second consecutive game. His absence isn't official yet and won't be confirmed until 90 minutes before kickoff, but fantasy managers should still start making lineup adjustments and finding players to replace Higgins. Internally, Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin are candidates for more volume, but neither of them should be deployed in typical 12-team leagues.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) was officially placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday. The third-year back out of Rutgers suffered a fractured fibula that requires surgery, and he will miss at least the next four games. However, his timeline was originally set at a six- to eight-week absence, but now it sounds like Kansas City doesn't know if he will play again this season. "I can't give you a timetable for his return," head coach Andy Reid said. "We'll just see whether it's this season or next season." Needless to say, this is a rough development for Pacheco and his fantasy managers, and this is a "wait and see" situation. In his absence, rookie Carson Steele and veteran Samaje Perine are expected to split touches. Kareem Hunt, who just signed to the practice squad, is likely to take a few weeks to get in shape and start contributing.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) will undergo surgery in the middle of this week on the fractured fibula that he suffered in the Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and he's expected to miss at least six weeks, according to sources. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that a six- to eight-week timetable is probably a best-case scenario, so the Chiefs will eventually place him on Injured Reserve, which will put him out for at least four games. If doctors find more ligament/tendon damage in Pacheco's leg when they open him up, it could be a longer road back for one of the best young RBs in the NFL. Fantasy managers obviously will want to stash Pacheco everywhere, while rookie Carson Steele immediately becomes one of the top waiver-wire targets this week. Samaje Perine should have an elevated role in KC's backfield as well and is worth a look in deep PPR formats with Pacheco injured.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) is expected to miss six to eight weeks after suffering a fractured fibula late in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Unfortunately, the injury is a massive blow to the Chiefs' backfield and for fantasy managers. Pacheco played 72.3% of the snaps over the first two weeks, accounting for 79.1% of the rushing attempts and 72.7% of the targets out of the backfield. Rookie Carson Steele and Samaje Perine are the other two running backs on the active roster, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (mental health) on the Non-Football Injury list. Kansas City is bringing in Kareem Hunt for a visit on Tuesday. Steele is the most appealing waiver-wire target currently on the roster after an impressive preseason performance, while Perine should gain more attention in PPR formats.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker hasn't put up the big fantasy numbers that managers have grown accustomed to in recent seasons. Especially when it comes to 50-yard field goals, Tucker has missed five of his last six dating back to the 2023 season. The Ravens offense should be able to move the ball against the Raiders and Tucker returns to home field where he's made 88.8% of his field goals throughout his career. He should see plenty of opportunities for both field goals and extra points in this contest. The worry about Tucker falling from fantasy grace shouldn't kick in unless he strings together multiple bust weeks in a row. So, for now, managers can consider him a mid-to-high-level kicking option in Week 2.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker continues to stick at the top of the kicking ranks heading into his 13th season in the NFL. The Texas product finished as the second-best fantasy kicker last year in what turned out to be more of a down year for the league's most accurate kicker. He made the third-most extra points and third-most 40-to-49-yard field goals while seeing a downward trend in 50+ yarders. With the Ravens offense still expected to put points on the board and the seemingly limitless range of Tucker, he's primed for yet another season as one of the top kickers in the league. Fantasy managers can play him in confidence heading into the Week 1 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales addressed rumors of a potential trade involving quarterback Bryce Young, stating, "That's not something we're really considering. We have a great situation with our quarterbacks right now." Earlier this week, Canales announced that the Panthers would be benching Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton, sparking speculation that teams might reach out to inquire about a trade. Canales put those rumors to rest today. The Panthers have a road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who recently upset the Ravens in Baltimore. For now, neither Panthers quarterback should be considered in Week 3 for fantasy purposes.

The Carolina Panthers are benching quarterback Bryce Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton ahead of the team's Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Tom Pelissero reports. Yikes. The news comes after Carolina's disappointing 0-2 start, with Young leading the team to just 13 total points across the two contests. Over the two games, the former first-overall pick completed just 31-of-56 passes (55.4%) for 245 yards (4.4 avg), tossing three interceptions to no touchdowns. Despite coach Dave Canales stating he was sticking with the young QB moving forward just a day ago, after reviewing the game tape, they're opting to go in a different direction. Dalton hopes to inject some life into the league's worst offense through the season's first two matchups. For now, the 36-year-old can be avoided by fantasy managers -- including the remainder of the Panthers' offense -- until he has proven a better option than the Alabama product.

Carolina Panthers second-year quarterback Bryce Young had a historically bad day in the 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2, passing for only 84 yards to tie for the fourth-fewest in team history for a QB with at least 25 pass attempts. Young became the third player in the last 20 seasons to average four or fewer yards per dropback in four straight starts. He has three interceptions and no touchdowns in two starts in 2024. However, head coach Dave Canales said Young would be the team's starter in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raider at Allegiant Stadium. Carolina has been outscored 72-13 by the Chargers and Saints, and Young, the top pick in 2023, is now 2-16 as a starter. The 23-year-old Young has yet to really show any improvement in Year 2, completing only 55.4% of his 56 pass attempts with no TDs and three interceptions. He'll remain off the fantasy radar in Week 3 against Vegas.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler was quiet as a rusher Sunday afternoon but made his impact through the air. Ekeler caught all three of his targets for 47 yards. On the ground, he saw just eight attempts for 38 yards. The veteran running back was primarily deployed as a pass catcher in the season opener, and Week 2 was quite similar. Last week, he registered 52 receiving yards (which led the team) on four receptions. While Brian Robinson Jr. will continue to see the lion's share of rushing attempts, Ekeler will still hold fantasy value, especially in PPR formats as he is becoming a safety valve for rookie QB Jayden Daniels. Fantasy managers should continue to view Ekeler as an upside flex in PPR leagues, but in standard leagues where receptions are not scored, it is better to find production elsewhere.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler led the team in receiving yards (52) in the season opener but had a limited role in the offense. In his Washington debut, Ekeler was exclusively deployed as a pass-catching running back as he saw just two rushing attempts, compared to Brian Robinson Jr.'s 12 attempts. However, through the air, Ekeler made the most of his limited touches as he caught all four of his targets. In addition, he ran 19 total routes and posted an average of 2.74 yards per route run, which was one of the best marks of the weekend. While the 29-year-old will typically serve as the No.2 option in a committee, his production on such limited touches is still worth noting as he still possesses some quality upside. For now, Ekeler remains a solid flex play in deeper PPR leagues but holds much less value in standard formats.

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler did not see a heavy workload on the ground but caught a team-high four receptions in the season opener. Ekeler shared the spotlight with Brian Robinson Jr. throughout the preseason but saw only two carries Sunday afternoon in Tampa Bay. However, he made up for that disappointing workload through the air as he caught all four of his targets for 52 yards. Ekeler made a nice 22-yard catch-and-run play in the second quarter, which helped set the Commanders up for their first touchdown. Fantasy managers should lower expectations for Ekeler heading into Week 2 in standard scoring but give him a slight uptick in PPR as he is clearly building a connection with his rookie QB making him a low-end flex play for the time being.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell entered the season as depth, but now could be a starter heading into Week 3. The Rams are without Puka Nacua (knee) and fellow wideout Cooper Kupp (ankle) is expected to miss an extended period of time. That being said, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, and Atwell figure to be the starting wideouts against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. On Sunday, Atwell hauled in three of his four targets for 48 yards in the loss. He doesn't have great fantasy value but could be a deep league option for fantasy managers in desperate need of help at wide receiver.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said this week that Tutu Atwell is ready to get more opportunities with Puka Nacua (knee) sidelined. McVay noted that with Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson as the outside receivers, Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and rookie Jordan Whittington all have similar skill sets that can complement Kupp and Robinson. While Johnson was the standout in Week 1 against the Lions once Nacua exited, McVay's thoughts hint that it could be Atwell who comes through in Week 2 against the Cardinals. It would be speculative to add Atwell because of these comments but it is a situation that is worth monitoring and could fluctuate each week while Nacua misses time. Right now Johnson is the popular waiver-wire add but maybe Atwell will be next week.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell converted on both of his field goal attempts and was successful on his lone extra-point try of a 13-6 win against the Denver Broncos. Week 1's AFC Special Teams Player of the Week drilled a 53-yarder in the third quarter for his fourth make of 50 or more yards already in 2024. When Pittsburgh's offense stalls, Boswell has proven to be a reliable source of points, but there are sure to be similarly slow-paced and low-scoring affairs in his future this season. The veteran should nonetheless be a decent fantasy play against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was incredible in Week 1 and will hope to have another busy outing against the Denver Broncos. Pittsburgh's offense did not show enough last week to be trusted to move the ball consistently, but it may not matter if the defense continues to generate turnovers that give the Steelers great field position. It's important to note that Sunday's contest has been given the lowest projected point total of the week, so the chances of an offensive outpouring are extremely slim. Fantasy managers rolling with Boswell will be chasing a similar game script to what they saw last week, and they could very well get it in this matchup. The 33-year-old can be viewed as a low-end starting option in Week 2.

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell drilled six field goals in Week 1, leading the team to an 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Boswell nailed a 57-yarder in the first quarter and remained hot throughout the contest, converting on field goal attempts of 56, 51, 44, 40, and 25 yards. The 10th-year pro was responsible for all of Pittsburgh's points on Sunday as the team struggled mightily near the red zone. Given how strong the Steelers looked defensively, Pittsburgh may have great field position often enough to make Boswell a fantasy option in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos.