NFL Player News

If you haven’t heard of Bell yet, you will. He had a breakout 2021 season for a 30/497/5 slash line, and while the surface stats don’t make you take a step back, it’s how he did it that will amaze you. He averaged 16.6 yards per catch and led all FBS tight ends with 11.3 yards after contact last year. He’s going to show to be the most athletic TE this year as he possesses quickness for someone of his size and has that strength to stiff-arm the defender, he even took seven handoffs last year. Michael Mayer is probably the No. 1 at the position this year, but now Bell has Spencer Rattler behind center, and an upgrade in QB could prove to be a huge difference to get him as a top 2023 prospect.

It was a day of new season highs across the board as Kraft benefitted from comeback game script after the Packers fell behind 28-0. Of course, he helped end the comeback by losing a fourth quarter fumble on a Peanut punch. The increased workload might not be as illusory as it seems with Jordan Love back under center and Christian Watson (ankle) on the shelf, but Kraft still profiles as a lower-upside TE2 heading into Week 5 against the Rams.

Sunday marked Zaccheaus’ most productive day as a Commander. The veteran slot receiver caught a season-high six passes for 85 yards — also a season-high, and had two receptions of 15-plus yards. A 27-yard catch by Zaccheaus in the fourth quarter helped set the Commanders up for a short rushing touchdown to put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter. Until we see some kind of consistency out of Zaccheaus, he can be left on waivers.

Chandler got out-touched 26-4 by Aaron Jones even with the Vikings racing out to a 28-0 lead. The Vikes were obviously trying to get Jones a little something extra in a “revenge game,” but Chandler now has just 11 total touches over the past two weeks after he reached that mark in each of his first two games. He’s a contingency-only option headed into Week 5 against the Jets.

It wasn’t the 100-yard outing McLaurin enjoyed in Week 3, but it was another strong fantasy day for the Commanders WR1. McLaurin led the team with 10 targets on the day and hauled in a 10-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to help the Commanders put the game out of reach. McLaurin’s 10 targets were the most he’s seen in any game this season. We’ll see if he can make it three straight weeks with a touchdown next week when the Commanders host the Browns. He’ll be a high-upside WR2 play.

Kittle beat triple coverage, winning a jump ball in the end zone late in the first half. The 49ers announced Kittle as questionable to return at half-time but he was able to return for the 49ers’ first offensive possession in the third quarter. The broadcast speculated he may have simply landed on the ball after his high-flying score. Kittle is a TE1 against the Cardinals in Week 5.

With Jordan Addison (ankle) back on the field, Nailor’s scoring streak was halted at three games. He got out-targeted just 4-2 by Addison, but Addison scored twice on five touches. He is comfortably ahead of Nailor for No. 2 duties. Nailor isn’t going to see enough work to crack the top 60 as long as both Addison and Justin Jefferson are healthy.

McNichols was surprisingly filling in for Austin Ekeler. The seventh-year journeyman made the Commanders’ roster out of camp and wound up rushing for a career-high 68 yards in Sunday’s win. McNichols turned some heads in the second quarter when he broke off a 27-yard touchdown down the left sideline to put the Commanders up 14-7, and found the end zone again on a seven-yard score late in the fourth quarter. McNichols makes for an interesting fantasy stash behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, but we wouldn’t advise using a top waiver priority on him with Ekeler (concussion) likely back for Week 5 against the Browns.

Aiyuk flashed some of his 2023 mojo with a beautiful diving snag in the second half. Patriots S Jabrill Peppers stole a poorly-aimed, 23-yard end zone pass intended for Aiyuk late in the game. Aiyuk’s buy-low window remains intact for now. He should be started as a WR2 against the Cardinals in Week 5.

The eight targets were a new season high, and three more than Doubs drew combined during Jordan Love’s two-game absence. It is worth noting Christian Watson departed with an ugly second quarter ankle injury. Doubs was also tackled at the Vikings’ one-yard line late in the second quarter. Even were Watson to miss extended time, Doubs isn’t looking like a legitimate WR3 at the moment.

Kyle Shanahan showed confidence in Samuel’s calf-strain rehabilitation, calling a run play for the veteran wide receiver on the 49ers’ first play from scrimmage. Samuel’s seven intended touches paced the wide receiver corps but the comparatively moderate volume for an NFL No. 1 wide receiver prevented him from finding his ceiling. Samuel is a WR1 against the Cardinals in Week 5.