Starts of the Week + Week 3 Games, Tucker 2x4! - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/24

A.J. Brown is looking at a six to eight week recovery timeline, which is a long absence for fantasy leagues.

Aaron Jones did not practice on Wednesday, which the source finds troubling; uncertainty remains about whether he will play, but the source believes DJ Dallas will get more work and is the more trusted player if Jones is unavailable.

A.J. Dillon is not good, and the Packers did not sign Austin Eckler, leaving Chuba Hubbard as the clear lead back option.

If Travis Etienne Jr. is downgraded or unavailable, Alvin Kamara could see significant work on Sunday, including one-yard passing opportunities; the source suggests Kamara as a potential beneficiary of Etienne's hamstring injury.

The source mentions Blake Corum as a comparable play to Emmett Johnson in a favorable game script, though notes Blake Corum will get more work than Emmett.

Brock Bowers was limited in practice on Wednesday and could return this week; the source states he will definitely start him once Bowers is active, though remains skeptical about whether he will actually be active despite limited practice participation.

The source selects Brock Purdy as a start of the week for the second consecutive week against Arizona; he leads quarterbacks in EPA per play, is an eight-and-a-half point home favorite, and executes with perfect efficiency through surgical processing and ball placement rather than arm strength. Currently at 8.9% touchdown pass rate (above his historical 7% baseline) with room to regress and still perform at an elite level. No Demarcus Robinson, Christian Kirk, or Mike Evans availability is immaterial to his outlook.

Bryce Young has six touchdowns through two games. The source considers him a good start this week against Cleveland, citing the Browns' weak defense (Miles Garrett gone) and Young's prolific recent production. The source would start Young over Justin Herbert, noting Young has had two prolific weeks and there's no guarantee Herbert is better. Young is consensus quarterback 15.

Caleb Douglas, the only player in Miami's passing offense who showed rapport with Malik Willis, is on the practice report with an ankle injury. Source doubts he plays this week.

The source doubts Caleb Douglas plays this week, suggesting he is not a viable fantasy option in Week 3 outside of very deep leagues.

The source expresses excitement for Chris Bell's future as a good wide receiver and rookie prospect, though notes this is not the game to play him in Week 3.

Chris Bell is a rookie wide receiver with good future prospect, but this game against Kansas City is not the matchup to play him in.

Christian Watson is expected to have a strong performance tonight (Thursday night game), with the source suggesting he will 'eat' (perform well).

With Jonathan Brooks going to IR and A.J. Dillon not being good, Chuba Hubbard is a must-start this week. The source notes that if the Panthers team is for real, Chuba will be awesome. The source would much rather have drafted Chuba than Judkins.

Without the yardage production, Tyler Warren would be discussed in the same breath as Colston Loveland and other elite tight end prospects; the source implies Loveland is in an elite tier of tight end upside.

Patterson is a bench recommendation for this week in a game with bad weather and low over-under; while he has the talent to take anything to the house, the source prefers other middling guys with more confidence in the passing game and targets heading their direction.

DJ Moore could potentially return in Week 3 against Buffalo. The Chargers-Bills matchup is the second-highest over-under of the week at 50.5, making it very exciting for fantasy purposes.

DJ Moore was limited on Wednesday, which is a good sign for his availability. The source would probably play him but acknowledges the risk that a hard fall on his shoulder could cause him to be lost again.

Dalton Kincaid has been awesome and looks like the Bills' number one receiver even with DJ Moore on the field. He's always been excellent per route and is now running more routes while healthy. The source notes he was a first-round pick (Pick 25) who struggled with a knee injury last year, playing only 38% of snaps, but is now a full-time player. The source describes him as their all-season fire pick that looks good.

Source likes Schultz in this matchup against the Colts defense, citing it as a really good matchup to target. Schultz is highlighted alongside Montgomery as the primary offensive weapons for Houston.

The source recommends playing Dalvin Cook against Buffalo's defense, which has been very bad through two weeks and is allowing explosive plays.

Waller is positioned as a strong touchdown opportunity bet among tight ends; snap counts are very low right now but expected to rise as the season progresses. He is always involved around the red zone, which is the key need from the middling tight end pool. The source expects him to get more and more involved as the season goes on.

The source prefers Waller in a start/sit decision, citing a much better chance at a touchdown.

Source prefers Waller as a start over Sadiq and would still go Waller for DFS play, indicating Waller is the preferred tight end option in this matchup.

Source likes Montgomery in this matchup against the Colts defense, citing it as a really good matchup to target. Montgomery is highlighted as the primary offensive weapon for Houston alongside Dalton Schultz.

The source prefers DeMond Claiborne over DJ Dallas as a lineup option, citing his explosive upside, great speed, and fit within the system as reasons to start him despite lower snap share expectations.

Derrick Henry is one of only five running backs that are top 12 in each of the first two weeks, indicating consistent elite production.

Deshaun Watson went 24 for 30 last week with 238 yards and 2 touchdowns, demonstrating strong recent production.

The source cites Drake London as a player whose fantasy value was effectively eliminated by poor quarterback play, specifically referencing Cooper Rush's impact on the Falcons offense; this illustrates how quarterback quality can delete a team's offensive production.

Emmanuel Wilson is expected to continue the opportunity he started last week against Washington. Through the first three quarters of Week 2, the workload was split relatively evenly with Jadarian Price (Price had three more carries in first half, four to three in third quarter), but Wilson took over in the fourth quarter after Price was injured.

The source suggests Emmett Johnson, a rookie running back behind Kenneth Walker, could be a sneaky play in Week 3 against Miami due to game script; the source believes Johnson might get 10+ carries in the fourth quarter alone if the game gets out of hand, similar to how Manuel Wilson performed last week.

Fannin has a 17% target share through two weeks, which the source deems not good enough to warrant starting him over alternatives like Waller in the same game.

Harold Fannin Jr. is at 17% target share through two weeks, which the source characterizes as not good enough for fantasy purposes.

Limited participant in Wednesday practice; practiced more than Jonah Coleman, who did not participate.

Jadarian Price is banged up heading into Week 3. In Week 2, he had a relatively even workload with Emmanuel Wilson through three quarters (three more carries in first half, four to three in third quarter), but was hurt and knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter, after which Seattle went full salto with Wilson.

Ferguson had two touchdowns last week and is used more between the 20s than Waller, with more snaps on the field. While Waller may have slightly higher odds of a touchdown, Ferguson's greater snap count and field usage make him the preferred start over Waller.

The source selects Jared Goff as a start of the week against the New York Jets at home in a dome; he posted 327 yards and four touchdowns last week and has averaged 21 fantasy points per game at home since 2022, with the Lions holding the fifth-highest implied point total.

Source questions whether Wayne will be the guy and expresses uncertainty about where the ball will go in Houston's offense, indicating lack of confidence in starting him.

JSN is described as an obvious start against Washington, which is implied for only 16.8 points (lowest of any team this week) and was very bad against the running back position last year.

Jaden Daniels suffered an injury in Week 3 with no update provided as of Thursday, creating uncertainty about his availability. The source expresses surprise at the lack of clarity, contrasting it with how quickly the Jackson Dart situation was resolved.

Did not participate in Wednesday practice; J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey were limited participants, meaning Coleman practiced less than both. The source notes this is concerning for fantasy managers who made Coleman a top waiver pickup.

Jonathan Taylor is one of only five running backs that are top 12 in each of the first two weeks, indicating consistent elite production.

Jonathan Brooks has gone to IR, eliminating him from fantasy consideration and making Chuba Hubbard the lead back for the Panthers.

Injuries to other tight ends will force Smith onto the field almost every play; however, the source questions whether McDaniel and Kovie actually want him as part of the plan, noting he's not a complete tight end in any way and is an athletic freak who can catch but lacks the full skill set that has sometimes resulted in other players getting snaps ahead of him.

Jordan Love is expected to have a strong performance tonight (Thursday night game), with the source predicting he will throw for 400 yards and rush eight times. Love has been responsible for two consecutive weeks on the Wheel of Shame, and the source guarantees he will beat both of those projections tonight.

The source recommends playing Josh Allen against Buffalo's defense, which has been very bad through two weeks. CJ Stroud destroyed them, and the Bills offense has been so good it's been irrelevant—they're blowing out opponents. The source notes that while Allen's first two games have been otherworldly, the Bills are playing good football under Joe Brady.

Source likes Josh Downs a lot in this game and started him for the week.

The source does not recommend starting Justin Herbert this week, preferring Bryce Young instead. The source notes Herbert scored 7.9 fantasy points against the Raiders and questions why to go through the pain of trying Herbert again when Young has had two prolific weeks. The source emphasizes there's no guarantee Herbert is better than Young.

Keenan Allen likely to remain on team rest of season because of injuries, not performance. He had two drops hitting him in the chest in recent games, which is uncharacteristic. Facing potential three-game suspension that will likely be pushed to after court proceedings, which are expected after the season ends.

The source recommends playing Kenneth Walker in Week 3 against Miami, citing the Chiefs as a heavy favorite with a 28.5-point implied total, the second-highest of the week.

Keon Coleman didn't practice on Wednesday, which is unfortunate. The source notes that after looking confident as a receiver in one game, he didn't practice, so the source is keeping an eye on him as maybe just a speculative add rather than a nasty play this week. There's also concern that his injury might swell up after the game.

Khalil Shakir is described as risky at best for Week 3 play against Buffalo.

The source argues that Kirk Cousins would be the best quarterback for the Falcons and would not delete the team's offensive production like poor QB play has; the hosts discuss how Cousins, while not elite, provides stability that prevents offensive collapse, contrasting him with the Falcons' current QB situation.

The source cites Kyle Pitts as a player whose fantasy value was effectively eliminated by poor quarterback play, specifically referencing Cooper Rush's impact on the Falcons offense; this illustrates how quarterback quality can delete a team's offensive production.

Ladd McConkey is a start in Week 3 against Buffalo Bills, whose defense has been very bad. CJ Stroud destroyed the Bills defense, and while Buffalo's offense has been so good it's been irrelevant to their record, the defense remains vulnerable for fantasy purposes.

Nabors is not a guaranteed start due to a shoulder injury that popped out of the socket last week, after which he was barely targeted; combined with poor weather (68% chance of rain, high winds) and wind concerns with his shoulder, the source expresses low confidence in starting him despite the difficulty of benching him.

Malik Washington should get the most targets in the Dolphins offense this week, positioning him as the primary receiving option.

Malik Washington should get the most targets in Miami's passing offense this week.

The source criticizes Malik Willis's usage, noting Kirk Cousins has more rushing attempts than Willis on the year; the source argues Willis was brought in to unlock the offense through his running ability, but he is being used as a pocket passer instead, which defeats the purpose of his signing.

Marcus Mariota should be rostered in 12-man leagues and will have good fantasy output as the season goes on. When he gets opportunities to start, he often produces well; he started eight games last year and averaged 11 fantasy points, with big games in certain matchups (23.3 against Denver). However, the source is not playing him against Seattle this week; he'll likely be a stream candidate in Week 4 against Indianapolis.

The source expresses skepticism about Pennix's ability to fix the Falcons' offensive struggles in Week 3, noting that while he was medically cleared over a week ago, both he and Tua Tagovailoa should be significantly better than what the Falcons have shown in the first two weeks; however, the hosts remain uncertain about his actual performance impact.

Mike Evans did not practice on Wednesday; the source does not worry about Wednesday absences for Evans and will monitor Thursday and Friday practice reports instead, suggesting a cautious but not alarming injury status.

The source recommends playing Patrick Mahomes in Week 3 against Miami, citing the Chiefs as a heavy favorite with a 28.5-point implied total, the second-highest of the week.

Did not practice on Wednesday. Sean McVay stated on radio that Nakua is 'not making great progress' with his injury. McVay ruled out torn ACL and hernia, but the source speculates it could be a groin injury that could sideline him for multiple weeks.

Puka Nakua has a groin injury (not a hernia, per his statement), which could require multiple weeks to heal; he will not play this week and timeline for return is uncertain. The source expresses concern given his injury history throughout his career.

If Puka Nacua is unavailable, Terrence Ferguson would serve as a secondary start of the week option at tight end.

Limited participant in Wednesday practice; practiced more than Jonah Coleman, who did not participate.

Stefan Diggs has found the end zone frequently so far this year, but the source prefers not to play him against Seattle with a backup quarterback starting for Washington. The source wants to avoid all Washington players in this matchup, citing the Seahawks' strong defense and Washington's implied total of only 16.8 points (lowest of any team this week).

Source groups Ferguson with Waller as preferred tight end starts over Sadiq, indicating Ferguson is a viable starting option.

Pollard should be playable despite ankle injury concerns (did not practice) because the Giants are unable to stop running backs and Pollard should see a bunch of carries in this matchup; the source believes he should be okay despite the injury uncertainty.

Travis Etienne Jr. got no work and is limited on Wednesday with a hamstring injury; if he is downgraded or does not play, the source views Kendra Miller as the better option over Alvin Kamara for receiving work.

The source recommends playing Travis Kelce in Week 3 against Miami, citing the Chiefs as a heavy favorite with a 28.5-point implied total, the second-highest of the week.

Tucker Kraft played 98% of snaps in Week 2, a huge jump from prior usage. With Jaden Reed out, Kraft should dominate the middle of the field as a full-time player. Atlanta is 29th in schedule-adjusted points allowed to tight ends and has already faced Muth and Darren Waller.

Tucker Kraft is a start of the week against Atlanta Falcons in Week 3. The Falcons are 29th in schedule-adjusted points allowed to tight ends and have already faced Muth and Darren Waller.

Tucker Kraft is expected to perform well in tonight's Thursday night game, with the source referencing 'Tucker 2x4' and suggesting he will score points.

Buy low opportunity now with Alec Pierce out for extended period; Warren should benefit from consolidation of targets. Despite modest 30-something yards through early weeks, he's paired those with touchdowns. College and last-year tape showed him as a yards-after-catch machine (led all pass catchers in YAC through first three weeks of 2024 season), but this year he's averaging 3.8 yards per catch versus 10.8 last year—a significant decline that makes current valuation attractive for rest-of-season upside.

Zay Flowers did not practice on Wednesday and remains uncertain for the Baltimore-Dallas game in Brazil; the source notes concern about re-injury risk given the international playing surface conditions, particularly if the field conditions are poor for grip (similar to past international games).

Zay Flowers was not seen participating on Thursday, raising concerns about his availability for the international game.