We’re surprised nobody thought to sign Akers so that they could squeeze a draft pick out of the Vikings this time. Akers has now been acquired midseason by the Vikings three years in a row. He’ll help fill in for Aaron Jones’ absence and could see a small share of carries if he’s in playing shape.

Apparently they aren’t ready to thrust Max Brosmer into the fire as the main backup despite carrying him as an UDFA. The team will carry four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster while dealing with J.J. McCarthy’s high-ankle sprain. Ridder was terrible with the Raiders last year, turning six appearances and one start into a 458/2/2 line while getting sacked on 10.5 percent of his dropbacks. He’s still only 26, and now he’s in a Kevin O’Connell offense so we may have to care about him, but you’d think we would have seen a real sign of life from Ridder at some point over the last three years if he was going to be a solid NFL backup.

“Tracy returned three kickoffs as a rookie, but that role ceased once he became the No. 1 running back in Week 5,” Duggan writes. Cam Skattebo appears to have taken over the top spot on the depth chart in Week 2. It’s hard to call Skattebo a sure fantasy weapon given how poorly the Giants are run blocking, but he sure seems like he’s at the head of a committee already. Skattebo should be a popular waiver wire target in Week 2.

“I feel like if it was the NFC Championship Game tomorrow, I would be able to go out there and feel confident, for sure,” Watson told The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. Watson’s window to return, whenever it opens, would be 21 days long. So reading between the lines, it sounds like Watson could be ready for a return sometime before Week 10. That’d be great news for the Packers, who are now sans Jayden Reed for the short-term future and haven’t gotten much from first-round pick Matthew Golden in the early going.

Patullo said that they haven’t gotten to use Hurts like this because of how they’re being defended. He added: “Don’t worry.” It would go a long way towards avoiding disastrous lines such as Sunday’s if Hurts could actually get more involved in the running game, and with Saquon Barkley also struggling to generate space, perhaps that would help matters. The Eagles have already run 32 plays against eight or men in the box this year per TruMedia — they may need to prove that they can pass their way out of it before things get better.

Porter missed last week’s loss to the Seahawks while recovering from a hamstring injury and could sit out this week against the Patriots. The Steelers’ secondary has struggled to start the season, allowing the NFL’s sixth highest adjusted yards per attempt and the seventh highest accuracy rate. Porter’s absence could be a boon for Drake Maye in Week 3.

The Vikings offensive line has struggled mightily through two games with Darrisaw out and C Ryan Kelly dealing with a head injury. J.J. McCarthy, who’s out for multiple weeks with an ankle sprain, has been pressured on 40 percent of his drop backs through Week 2, the eighth highest rate in the NFL. No Darrisaw for Minnesota would be a potential problem for QB Carson Wentz as he takes over the Vikings offense in McCarthy’s absence. Pro Football Focus grades the Bengals’ pass rush as the 13th best in the league through two weeks.

It sounds like Fields, who suffered a head injury in the second half of the Jets’ Week 2 loss to the Bills, won’t suit up if he can’t get on the practice field by Thursday. Fields, who had never had a documented brain injury before Week 2, is in the league’s concussion protocol. Tyrod Taylor would be under center for the Jets in Week 3 against the Bucs if Fields can’t go. “We have to get more information so we can be more pinpointed on that, but we do have to look at it that way,” Glenn said. “If Justin can’t play, then Tyrod would be the guy, and we’d build a plan that’s suitable for him.” Glenn said he has “no concerns” about Taylor, 36, who completed seven of 11 attempts for 56 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo. Taylor would be a decent option in superflex formats if he starts.

He added nine carries for 31 yards. Herbert wasn’t as good as Friday’s performance against the Chiefs, but it was another impressive effort for the 6-foot-6 signal-caller. He showed off his underrated athleticism on a scrambling touchdown throw to Keenan Allen, and then he showed perfect touch on a 60-yard touchdown connection just before the end of the first half to Quentin Johnston. There were some missed throws — and one dropped interception — but Herbert has looked the part and then some over these first two games. He’ll get a chance to add to his five touchdown passes to begin 2025 in Week 3 against the Broncos.

Collins found paint for the first time this season on the team’s first possession, scoring from 29 yards out on a highlight reel catch where he managed to get both feet inbounds along the sideline of the end zone on an over-the-shoulder grab. The 52 yards brings his season total to just 77 through two weeks, highlighting growing concerns for fantasy managers that invested a late first-round pick in the rising star receiver. Collins is likely to be busy once again when the Texans face the Jaguars on the road in Week 3.