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Dynasty $125 - FFL: Week 3 | NFL: Week 3

Vikings QB Sam Darnold (knee) to undergo MRI exam

Sun Sep 22 8:54pm ET
Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is slated to undergo an MRI exam on his left knee on Monday, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.

Darnold took a low hit from Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter, a former Vikings star, in the third quarter and missed just one play before returning.

After the 34-7 victory, Darnold attempted to downplay the situation but did reveal there would be more information about the injury on Monday.

"Getting hit low there, we will evaluate it," Darnold said during his postgame news conference. "We'll look at it but it felt good enough to go back in the game."

Asked how the knee was feeling after the contest, Darnold was brief: "It feels good. Like I said, we're going to look at it tomorrow."

Darnold was then asked if he might be in jeopardy of missing practice or be hindered in a game.

"I'm not sure," Darnold said. "I'm not going to speak on specifics like that. Evaluating it tomorrow, I feel like we will have more information on it tomorrow."

Darnold emphasized that there was nothing dirty about Hunter's hit.

Darnold passed for 181 yards and four touchdowns against the Texans as Minnesota (3-0) continued its hot start. In three games, he has completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 657 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the New York Jets. He started 38 games for the Jets over three seasons before bouncing around to the Carolina Panthers (2021-22) and San Francisco 49ers (2023) before joining the Vikings in March.

During the preseason, Minnesota lost rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy for the season. The injury to the first-round draft choice assured that Darnold would open the season as the Vikings' starting quarterback.

Nick Mullens is Minnesota's backup quarterback and Brett Rypien is No. 3 on the depth chart.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 3

Player Notes
Jordan Akins Sep 22 8:50pm CT
Jordan Akins

Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins had a productive game in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. Akins caught four of his seven targets for 29 yards in the loss, tying for second on the team in targets and catches and third in receiving yardage. The veteran tight end has now drawn two starts in place of the injured David Njoku (ankle) and could remain in a starting role for another week or so if Njoku is not ready to play in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Andy Dalton Sep 22 8:50pm CT
Andy Dalton

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton completed 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards and tossed three touchdowns in the team's 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Dalton had the Panthers' offense humming on Sunday, putting together TD drives of 70, 75, 68, and 69 yards. It was an impressive performance from the 36-year-old veteran in his first start since Week 3 of 2023. The Red Rifle was sharp in this one, completing a pass to seven Panthers and ripping impressive throws all over the yard. Carolina had scored just one touchdown in its last four regular season outings dating back to last season, and the team's 36 points were their most since Christmas Eve of 2022 when they scored 37. Carolina's decision to bench second-year starter Bryce Young was a good one, as they recorded their first win in the last six contests. They'll look to get in the left column again when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals at home in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Derrick Henry Sep 22 8:50pm CT
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry posted his best performance of the season in the team's 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. This was truly an "age is nothing but a number" type of performance as King Henry posted 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries with one reception for 23 yards. His totals and efficiency have grown in every game as his yards per carry have gone from 3.5 to 4.7, and most recently 6.0. Vintage stiff arms and huge accelerations through the holes of the line were on full display. When the Ravens' game plan looks like this, the sky is the limit for Henry. Especially in a game where Lamar Jackson finds his own running room so defenses have to worry about both of them at the same time. Henry continues to live in RB1 territory and should be considered so until proven otherwise.

From RotoBaller

Dustin Hopkins Sep 22 8:50pm CT
Dustin Hopkins

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins missed his lone field-goal try while adding an extra point in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. Hopkins misfired on a 53-yard attempt in the third quarter, his first miss from 50+ yards since joining the Browns before the 2023 season. Overall, Hopkins has made four of his five field goals and all four of his extra points through three games this season. He will kick against the Las Vegas Raiders on the road in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Amari Cooper Sep 22 8:40pm CT
Amari Cooper

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper caught seven of his 12 targets for 86 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. Cooper bounced back after a slow start to the season, hauling in a 24-yard touchdown pass on Cleveland's first play of the game. He later came back and caught a six-yard score in the fourth quarter to pull the Browns within eight points of tying the game. Cooper now has 12 catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns through three weeks. He will look to keep it going in Week 4's road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Jerry Jeudy Sep 22 8:40pm CT
Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught four of his seven targets for 27 yards and added a two-point conversion reception in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. Jeudy was quiet from a yardage standpoint, although his seven targets tied for second on the team. The veteran wideout gave the Browns hope when he caught a two-point conversion from Deshaun Watson in the fourth quarter to pull Cleveland to within six points of the Giants, but those would be the last points they would muster. Jeudy will take 12 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown into Cleveland's Week 4 road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Elijah Moore Sep 22 8:40pm CT
Elijah Moore

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore caught two of his three targets for 17 yards in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. After drawing 14 targets through the first two games of the season, Moore was an afterthought in the passing attack in Week 3. Moore now has caught 11 passes for 70 scoreless yards through three games. He will look to bounce back in a Week 4 road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Sep 22 8:30pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson struggled in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. Watson completed 21 of his 37 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns while adding four carries for 26 yards in the loss. The Browns got off to a fast start, recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff with Watson throwing a 24-yard touchdown to Amari Cooper on the ensuing play. Things went downhill from there with Watson taking eight sacks in the loss. Watson has now thrown three touchdowns to two interceptions through three games. He will look to regroup ahead of a road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Dre Greenlaw Sep 22 8:30pm CT
Dre Greenlaw

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (ankle) was forced from the team's Week 3 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Winters was making his first start of the season after being nagged by an ankle injury that forced him to miss the 49ers' first two matchups of the season. However, he seems to have reaggravated the injury against LA. It's yet another blow for San Francisco -- already without Dre Greenlaw (Achilles). Additionally, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel Sr. missed Week 3. The team has now dropped two straight after a devastating loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. Fantasy managers can expect an update on Winters over the coming days, but a reaggravation of the ankle injury that plagued him throughout the preseason would not bode well for his Week 4 status. San Francisco will host the visiting New England Patriots next Sunday

From RotoBaller

Jerome Ford Sep 22 8:30pm CT
Jerome Ford

Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball 10 times for 37 yards and caught three of his four targets for 33 yards in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. Ford wound up leading the Browns in carries and rushing yards while finishing second on the team in receiving in the close loss. Meanwhile, teammate D'Onta Foreman only saw two carries for five yards in the contest. The Cleveland backfield has been tough to predict through three weeks with Ford leading the way in Weeks 1 and 3 while D'Onta Foreman took the majority of the workload in Week 2. Ford will remain involved, especially in the passing game, heading into a road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

D'Onta Foreman Sep 22 8:30pm CT
D'Onta Foreman

Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman carried the ball twice for five yards in a 21-15 loss to the New York Giants in Week 3. Foreman was surprisingly quiet just one week after leading the team with 14 carries in a Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It appears that the weekly workload split between Foreman and Jerome Ford is going to be difficult to predict, leaving both as middling flex options heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Nailor Sep 22 8:10pm CT
Jalen Nailor

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor caught three of his four targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in Week 3's blowout of the Houston Texans. The third-year receiver spent the last two-and-a-half games as the Vikings de facto WR2 with Jordan Addison (ankle) recovering from an ankle injury, and he's been paying dividends for the team. Nailor is one of only three receivers in the league to score a touchdown in each game so far this year, and he's a reliable hand when Justin Jefferson's gravity schemes him open. The former sixth-round pick hopes to continue the momentum in Week 4, as he may be needed depending on Addison's status for Week 4's matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Sep 22 8:10pm CT
Jordan Love

Minnesota Vikings' D/ST logged another unexpected and incredible game against the Houston Texans in Week 3. The swarming defense, called by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, hassled quarterback C.J. Stroud early and often, as Minnesota had two interceptions and five sacks while allowing only seven points. The Vikings became the first team in 23 years to accumulate at least five sacks on defense in each of the first three games of the season, and are shaping up to continue in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers. Given the fact that the Packers will either be starting limited quarterback Malik Willis or hobbled quarterback Jordan Love (knee), the chaotic Minnesota defense is a solid start next week and may honestly be a plug-and-play until proven otherwise.

From RotoBaller

Will Reichard Sep 22 8:10pm CT
Will Reichard

Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard made all six of his kicking opportunities in Sunday's 34-7 win over the Houston Texans. The rookie nailed all four extra point attempts and made both field goals, the first from 35 yards out and the second a booming 58-yarder. Reichard has not missed a field goal or extra point attempt this season, making all fifteen of his opportunities thus far. The NCAA's all-time leading scorer has been hampered by the efficient Vikings offense, scoring touchdowns twice as often as Reichard had field goal opportunities, and it's possible the efficiency dips sooner rather than later. If given more opportunities to kick field goals rather than PATs, Reichard may be a valuable fantasy streaming kicker against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Skylar Thompson Sep 22 8:10pm CT
Skylar Thompson

Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (rib) has been diagnosed with a rib injury he picked up in the team's 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It's unclear when exactly he sustained the injury, but a hit by Dre'Mont Jones early in the third quarter is what eventually took him out of the game. Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that the injury is "pretty painful" and that Thompson lobbied to stay in the game. However, the pain was ultimately too much. Tests will undoubtedly be done on the 27-year-old over the coming few days. Fortunately for Miami, their Week 4 matchup against the Tennessee Titans is on Monday night, so the veteran QB will be afforded a few extra days of rest. If Thompson is too hurt to play, Tim Boyle will again slot in as the Fins' starter. Additionally, seeing the team inquire about veteran help at the position wouldn't be surprising.

From RotoBaller

Justin Jefferson Sep 22 8:00pm CT
Justin Jefferson

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (finger) put up predictably great numbers in Week 3's game against the Houston Texans. The 25-year-old receiver saw eight targets and caught six passes for 81 yards and a relatively easy first-quarter touchdown. He became one of only three receivers to score a touchdown in each of the first three games to start the year, joining teammate Jalen Nailor and Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin. The 25-year-old jammed his finger on a catch during the first half of Sunday's win. X-rays returned negative on Jefferson's finger, and he appears to have avoided a severe injury. As expected, the game went through the talented Jefferson early, though he was used primarily as a decoy in the second half. The fifth-year wide receiver is a favorite of quarterback Sam Darnold's and will be a clear and confident fantasy start next week against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Jones Sep 22 7:50pm CT
Aaron Jones

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones filled the rushing and receiving box score against the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon. The former Green Bay Packer rusher compiled 19 rushing attempts for 102 yards on the ground, with five receptions for 46 yards and a receiving touchdown. One week after splitting touches nearly evenly with fellow rusher Ty Chandler, Jones was trusted with almost four times as many opportunities as the Vikings relied on their new running back. The soon-to-be 30-year-old rusher gets his first crack against his old team as the Vikings will travel to play a suspect Packers rush defense in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Sam Darnold Sep 22 7:40pm CT
Sam Darnold

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold lit up the Houston Texans defense in Week 3, putting together another impressive game. The 27-year-old veteran completed 17 of his 28 pass attempts for 181 yards and four touchdowns, finding wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor, running back Aaron Jones, and tight end Johnny Mundt for scores. Darnold has been a pleasant find for fantasy managers who prefer streaming quarterbacks, as the former first-round pick has been a QB1 through three weeks. In an intriguing matchup, the Vikings will travel to play the Green Bay Packers in Week 4. Darnold may be a viable streaming candidate moving forward until proven otherwise.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Waddle Sep 22 7:40pm CT
Jaylen Waddle

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle caught 4-of-5 targets for 26 yards in Sunday's 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Waddle tied for the team lead in targets with fellow wideout Tyreek Hill and running back De'Von Achane, but the three combined for just 94 yards on ten receptions. Nine Dolphins caught at least one pass in Week 3, while Skylar Thompson (ribs) and Tim Boyle in relief continually settled for check-downs. The Fins put together just one scoring drive on 12 opportunities and have not yet scored a touchdown since the second quarter of their Week 2 loss to the Bills. Aside from eclipsing the 100-yard mark in Week 1, Waddle -- and the rest of Miami's offensive unit -- have largely been a disappointment. Thompson's injury status for the coming week is unknown, but if he is hurt long term, look for the team to acquire some veteran QB assistance. The Dolphins will host the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Sep 22 7:30pm CT
Tua Tagovailoa

The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams unit scored in double digits once again in Week 3. The Seahawks faced a Miami Dolphins offense missing starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Seahawks D/ST finished with six sacks and only allowed three points. The Dolphins' offense managed to make several trips into Seahawks territory, but the Seahawks' defense buckled down and kept them off the scoreboard numerous times. In 2024, the Seahawks' defense has clearly been positively affected by the addition of head coach Mike Macdonald. The defense is allowing the offense to continue to work out its kinks under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. This defense has a huge test in Week 4 against a talented Detroit Lions offense. If they can have a solid outing next week, then this may be a unit worth rostering every week moving forward.

From RotoBaller