NFL Week 3 latest intel, buzz questions, news, fantasy tips

We're onto Week 3 of the2026 NFL season, and insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources around the league for the latest news and notable buzz.

There was optimism around the Giants coming into Week 2, but things went south quickly Monday night. They lost their quarterback on the first drive and lost the game in a 28-6 blowout. How are the vibes in their building and where do they go with Jaxson Dartout? On the other end of the spectrum, the Chiefs moved to 2-0 withPatrick Mahomesback from last season's torn ACL. What are people saying about his play?

Around the league, we have a sample size to draw some conclusions. What looks different through two weeks from our preseason expectations? And which previously uncertain running back hierarchies are getting clarity? It's all here, as Jeremy and Dan answer big questions, hand out useful fantasy football nuggets and empty their reporting notebooks heading into Week 3.

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Next steps for the Giants

Early thoughts on Mahomes

Preseason take do-overs

Updates on RB depth charts

Fantasy football advice

More notes and intel

What are you hearing out of the Giants' building?

Graziano: They're disappointed, obviously. They had designed a game plan for their Monday night game against the Rams around Jaxson Dart, believing his mobility would help mitigate the interior pressure they knew they were going to face from Aaron Donald and the L.A. defensive front, and they suddenly had to play a far less mobile Jameis Winston. The run game was limited once the Rams didn't have to worry about the quarterback run threat. They thought they could get more pressure on Matthew Stafford than they did. Very disappointing night all around.

They do believe Winston will be better with a full week of practice as the starter and with a game plan built around his strengths. We are waiting to find out whether they will have Malik Nabers, Andrew Thomas or Brian Burns, all of whom also left Monday night's game due to injuries. That becomes much more important because the Dart injury has turned out to be more serious than they believed Monday night.

Fowler: Your point about the game plan is an important one -- the Giants entered Monday's game with a plan tailored around Dart's skill set. But now the Giants' offense is in the hands of Winston, who signed a two-year, $13 million extension on Sept. 6. Winston is comfortable operating out of the shotgun, which offensive coordinator Matt Nagy -- with his ties to Kansas City and Andy Reid -- can accommodate.

But man, the Giants offense looked so good in Week 1 with Dart under center, operating at a high level and making quick decisions (Dallas' defense contributed to that, to be sure). And then it looked so sloppy without him, especially in that end-of-half sequence in the red zone Monday night. This is where Nabers enters the fray. He has been slow to launch through two games, which is understandable given his recovery from atorn ACL. But elite receivers can make backup QBs look like starters. The Giants will need Nabers to have that effect. And Winston did provide a spark last season, so perhaps he finds that groove again.

Graziano: The problem with Winston -- or any backup, really -- is that while he can probably get you through two or three games, his deficiencies are likely to show up the longer he plays. The Giants will need to bring in someone else, even if it's just for depth. Jake Haener is on their practice squad, so he's obviously a candidate to be elevated. But there's no magic solution here.

Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent. Maybe they could talk the Steelers out of Mason Rudolph for a draft pick. At some point this season, maybe guys such as Jacoby Brissett (Arizona) or Kirk Cousins (Las Vegas) get replaced by younger QBs and become available in trade. But it's way too early for that now, and it looks like the Giants will have to go with Winston and work to help him play better than he did in relief Monday night.

Fowler: Yeah, the quarterback options are scarce. Garoppolo appears to be in that half retirement phase. It might be worth a call to Minnesota, where J.J. McCarthy toils on the bench. General manager Joe Schoen did a lot of homework on the 2024 draft class of quarterbacks, so he knows the pros and cons of McCarthy's game. Rival teams believe McCarthy can be acquired at a value since Minnesota doesn't appear to have him in the long-term plans.

Luckily for the Giants, the Thomas and Burns injuries are not believed to be serious. The Giants' strength is in the offensive and defensive lines, and the defense has enough players to maintain respectability. The Giants must find a way to run the ball effectively and keep Winston on time from the pocket. He can still throw to all levels of the field when he's decisive. Scramble plays are probably something New York wants to avoid due to the turnover threat that plagues Winston in those situations.

What's the leaguewide buzz about Patrick Mahomes' first two games back from his knee injury?

Fowler: That Mahomes might not be all the way back ... but he's not far off. He looked more fluid and confident in Week 2 vs. Indianapolis. "His ability to drive throws -- I thought he was ripping the ball," one NFL personnel evaluator said of Mahomes' performance against the Colts. The confidence he showed throwing the ball was something which he can build upon. It was an improvement from Week 1 vs. Denver, where Mahomes was a modest 15-of-27 for 184 yards and looked choppy as a runner. That's to be expected early as he strengthens his knee flexion.

But overall, throwing five touchdown passes, taking four sacks and winning back-to-back games is a roaring start for Mahomes coming off reconstructive knee surgery. The Chiefs were pleased with how Mahomes looked all camp and that has spilled over. And his supporting cast looks more equipped to perform for him over 17 games.

Graziano: And he will look even better equipped to perform once the Chiefs get left tackle Josh Simmons back from his injury. They've been leaning on the run at least in part because they've been starting undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson at left tackle. But they're earning praise around the league for the extent to which they've been willing to run it withKenneth Walker III. He was their big free agent signing, and they talked throughout camp about using him as their primary rusher and in the passing game. But to see Reid actually commit to it has been surprising to many.

I believe the Chiefs will involve the downfield passing game more as the season goes along and they get more whole, but people around the league are noticing that they have embraced the run game as a means of creating explosive plays. Their offense has lacked big plays in recent years and needed to find a way to get them back. Mahomes is a marvel, and while it's objectively amazing that he looks this good so soon after that injury, I don't know if anyone is surprised by anything he does anymore.

Fowler: You're right, Mahomes' success this season feels directly tied to Walker, who has been a revelation. Eventually, the Chiefs will want to spell him. He has 56 touches through two games (47 rushing attempts), equating to 476 over a full season. Reid game plans based on what it takes to win, and leaning on the running game early has helped Mahomes reacclimate. But that could vary depending on the week.

The good news is rookie Emmett Johnson looks capable of being the RB2 and can aid the offense in stretches. He's not only gifted in the open field but also eager to take on tough yards. When Simmons returns, perhaps Reid can do more offensively. But Benson, to his credit, has acquitted himself well at left tackle.

Graziano: He has! Benson is quite a story. He was so good in the spring that they opened camp in late July with him competing a bit with veteran Jaylon Moore for the starting right tackle spot. While he didn't win that job, he showed enough that they felt comfortable throwing him at left tackle in a pinch to start the season. Mahomes being able to trust his protection is absolutely huge, and the newly configured run game is a big part of that protection.

I would be remiss if I didn't note -- as some around the league have noticed -- that the return of Eric Bienemy as offensive coordinator appears to be having a positive impact. The Chiefs brought in several new offensive coaches this offseason, including former NFL running back DeMarco Murray as running backs coach and Chad O'Shea as wide receivers coach, and the players seem to be responding to the changes.

What is one thing you have changed your mind about since the start of the season?

Graziano: The Chargers have fooled me for the last time. What a horrendously disappointing first two weeks for one of the teams we were most excited about entering the season. The Mike McDaniel/Justin Herbert pairing has not clicked at all -- quite the opposite, in fact. Everything looks difficult and exhausting for the Chargers' offense. And now the schedule is about to become brutal and injuries are setting in.

Do I believe Jim Harbaugh can turn this around and steer this team into the playoffs? Yes. He's that level of coach. But I'm not predicting it, and it's going to be a long time before I feel good predicting high-level success for the Chargers again. If this season doesn't turn around, I think we're at the point where it's worth having a real conversation about whether Herbert will ever really be the high-level quarterback his talent says he should.

Fowler: The Herbert discussion is hard to ignore. His trajectory is not good, dating to last season's playoffs. But I'm still a believer. McDaniel is a proven playcaller and should be able to make adjustments. And the play around Herbert has been horrendous.

Houston was my Super Bowl pick ... not feeling great about that right now, Dan. The Texans sit at 0-2, and three teams in NFL history have lost their first two games and won it all -- the 1993 Cowboys, 2001 Patriots and 2007 Giants. It can be done but rarely is. Coach DeMeco Ryans is already challenging his star players publicly to make more plays. The offensive line has struggled.

My caveat for the Texans winning a championship was them needing to run the ball effectively all season to allow C.J. Stroud to properly manage games. The vaunted defense could do the rest. But Stroud threw the ball 55 times Sunday, hardly a recipe for success. So, while I'm still bullish on Houston -- its schedule is manageable and the division winnable -- the Super Bowl sheen is wearing off slightly.

Graziano: I was right there with you on the Texans, and I'm not going to give up on them just yet either, but I'm skeptical that they've actually fixed their offensive line and their run game. I'm going to need to see major improvement there. If there's any consolation, it's that they tend to do this. Heck, they were 0-3 last season and still ended up in the divisional round of the playoffs.

I thought the Buccaneers would bounce back from last season and reclaim the NFC South title without much difficulty, but it doesn't look as if that's going to be the case. (They might well reclaim the NFC South title, but it will be difficult.) Baker Mayfield's turnover problems are costing them, the wide receiver room isn't coming together the way we expected and the defense (which was in a tough spot in Week 1 due to the short fields created by the turnovers) hasn't looked great, either. The bigger problem might be how good the Panthers and Saints looked in Week 2, signaling that there might be a real race in the NFC South. The Bucs will need to get things together soon if they want to win it.

Fowler:Tyler Shough and Bryce Young are first and second in passing yardage, respectively, through two weeks, which wasn't on many bingo cards to start the season. The division feels as open as it has been in years because of the offensive uptick in New Orleans and Carolina. Mayfield's accuracy is a concern, and it looks like he's pressing from the pocket. But the good news is the Bucs have proof of concept with him over a three-year period. He should be able to correct those issues, especially with a steady run game. The defense's sluggish start is perhaps the bigger concern.

And Dan, I was wrong about the Bengals defense. I expected it to improve from bad to middle-of-the-road. It's better than that, at least through two games. A deep defensive front led by Dexter Lawrence II has changed the math for Cincinnati.

Which cloudy running back situation has gotten the most clarity through two weeks?

Fowler: Despite an 0-2 start, Bucky Irving looks rejuvenated in Tampa Bay. Irving is coming off a down season marred by injuries, and free agent acquisitionKenny Gainwell figured to be a viable backfield option who could cut into Irving's bottom line. But Irving has served as the clear RB1, with 25 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown. His explosion is back. Gainwell was always more of a versatile chess piece than a back carrying a heavy load, but he was the Steelers' team MVP last season, with 1,000-plus total yards and eight touchdowns on 187 touches. But he has only 33 yards on 11 touches so far in Tampa. In an ideal setup, Gainwell enhances his do-it-all profile as a rusher and receiver while Irving remains the lead back.

Graziano: They do love Bucky in Tampa, and they're glad he's healthy. They also believe they need to keep an eye on his workload since he has had some durability issues, but he's clearly the No. 1 back and will remain so as long as he stays healthy.

Third-year Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks was a player the fantasy community was excited about. Carolina is excited about him, too, and happy he was healthy to start the season. But as we tried to tell you in the preseason, the Panthers love Chuba Hubbard and were never ready to hand the starting RB job over to Brooks (who's already dealing with another injury) without representative evidence that he could handle the job at the NFL level. That might still come at some point, but it's clear that Hubbard is the main guy, and I don't believe they're upset about that.

Fowler: One situation that isn't clearly defined but should be soon is in New England. TreVeyon Henderson provides much-needed juice for the Patriots offense. Coach Mike Vrabel has been hesitant to wholly commit to Henderson, who averaged 10.5 carries per game as a rookie. And Rhamondre Stevenson is a steady veteran. But with wide receiver A.J. Brown out for a while and quarterback Drake Maye yet to find his 2025 form, New England badly needs Henderson's breakaway speed. His 16 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown in his season debut Sunday was a good start.

Graziano: Yeah, and Stevenson fumbled again Sunday, which he did twice in the loss to Pittsburgh early last season, so I guess only one fumble constitutes improvement. I just don't know about this one, though. You're right that the Patriots need Henderson's explosive play ability since they don't show much ability to do that otherwise. But talking to some of their people Sunday morning, it sounded like they thought this was a particularly good matchup for Henderson because of the amount of zone defense Pittsburgh plays. I wonder if the Patriots will be as comfortable leaning on him that much every week or whether it remains a timeshare.

They value Stevenson's abilities as a pass protector, and he certainly was vital for them as a runner last season on their way to the Super Bowl. Vrabel stood by Stevenson during last year's early-season fumble issues, and there's no indication he won't do so again.

The Vikings' RB situation got some clarity in Week 2, but for unfortunate reasons. Jordan Mason landed on IR and veteran Aaron Jones Sr. got the bulk of the work in Sunday's victory over the Bears. I am curious whether that keeps up, or if they find more work for DeeJay Dallas or rookie Demond Claiborne in the coming weeks to avoid overusing the 31-year-old Jones until Mason returns.

What is your best piece of fantasy football advice for this week?

Graziano: I would pick up the Chiefs' defense this week and leave it in your lineup for a couple games. The Chiefs get the Dolphins this week and the Raiders in Week 4. Their next game after that is against the Chargers in Week 6, but you'll need someone else during Kansas City's Week 5 bye. But if you can somehow hold K.C.'s defense through the bye, it looks as if it will be a good play then, too. The Chiefs haven't generated eye-popping sack or turnover totals, but they've done well at limiting yardage and believe more big plays are coming from young guys such as rookie edge rusher R Mason Thomas.

Fowler: Don't be surprised if Quinshon Judkins bounces back as early as this week. Judkins has been disappointing thus far, held to 54 yards on 24 carries and zero scores. But this week the Browns get Carolina, which has allowed a league-worst 448 rushing yards through two weeks. Judkins has too much ability to be bottled up for long.

Also, Seattle running back Emanuel Wilson is a good pickup in case Jadarian Price's minor chest issue affects his snaps. And Saints receiver Devaughn Vele seems to have chemistry with Shough that could last, though he might be more of a week-by-week evaluation.

What else are you hearing this week?

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Graziano:The Steelers went into Sunday's game in Foxborough confident that they had made corrections in their running game from the opener, but 91 yards on 23 attempts is only one-tenth of a yard better per play than they were in the Week 1 victory over Atlanta. Offensive lineman Mason McCormick told me before that game that Pittsburgh's offense believed it was going to "ascend, and ascend at a good rate." But the protection problems are significant and the running game isn't helping take the pressure off. They face a tough test Sunday with Cincinnati's revamped front, which is receiving rave reviews around the league for its performance so far.

McCormick said the corrections they felt they had to make last week were all "little things," but after the loss to the Patriots, it seemed clear the Steelers would be open to more significant change this week. Two players I'd be watching for potentially increased roles in the offense are running back Jalen Warren and wide receiver Roman Wilsonas Pittsburgh looks for ways to get into an offensive rhythm.

Fowler:The Chicago Bears' quarterback situation is suddenly the league's most intriguing over the next few weeks. Caleb Williams, despite coach Ben Johnson calling the tests on his hamstring injury "somewhat encouraging," appears set to miss at least a little time. Most Grade 1 hamstring strains often cost a player a few weeks, and with the way Williams runs, he'll need to be fully healed before stepping back on the field. QB2 Tyson Bagent entered the concussion protocol after Sunday's loss to Minnesota. While the early word is that Bagent, who does not have a concussion history, is doing well, returning within the week might prove too much to ask. Many quarterbacks sit a week when in the protocol.

It's possible that the Bears have a different starting quarterback in each of the next three weeks, starting with Case Keenum on Monday night vs. Philadelphia. The Bears follow that up with a home game vs. the New York Jets and a trip to Lambeau Field for a divisional clash with the Green Bay Packers. Johnson has coached durable starting quarterbacks while a playcaller since 2022. Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff never missed a game during Johnson's three-year tenure there, and this would be Williams' first missed game. What he cooks up with a backup will only deepen the intrigue.

Fowler:The Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver Alec Pierce had a lot to work through after Sunday's aggravation of a heel injury that required surgery in the offseason. The team and player -- after getting a second opinion -- are hopeful for about a four-to-six-week absence, sources said. That jibes with NFL Network's report that Pierce is eyeing a midseason return. That's been the timeframe discussed among the parties. But it's possible he will need a little more time. It's a complicated injury situation, not as clear-cut as some others. How he feels in his rehab week-to-week will be crucial.

It was noteworthy that Pierce did not practice Thursday of Week 2, three days before he got hurt again and a few weeks after he had worked back into the fold. Pierce was on a pitch count in Week 1, playing 32 snaps. It was stressed to me that Pierce absolutely wants to get back this season. He's dedicated to returning. And his Achilles tendon is intact. But he will need to be full-go, with no chance of aggravating it.

Graziano:The surprise of the early season may be the Las Vegas Raiders, who are 2-0 without the benefit of their best offensive player so far. People in that building thought tight end Brock Bowers was moving around well in practice last Friday and had a strong chance to make his 2026 debut this week against a tough Saints defense in New Orleans.

I wouldn't expect too many limitations on Bowers' snap count or target count right away. This honestly seems like a situation where the team wanted to be 100% certain about Bowers' health before they put him on the field, and it sounded like they were getting pretty close to that level of certainty even heading into last week's game. Being 2-0, of course, gives the Raiders a cushion and justifies waiting to be sure on Bowers if there's anything at all that bothers him in practice this week. But my sense is that it's more likely he plays this week than not.

The biggest surprise internally in Vegas might be the performance of the offensive line, which struggled significantly last year, and the staff had some questions about going into camp. The return of left tackle Kolton Miller from last season's injury is a big part of the improvement, of course, but this situation was a mess last year under Pete Carroll's coaching staff and has been stabilized under new head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive line coach Rick Dennison. Especially in pass protection, the Raiders have been excellent in keeping the mobility-challenged Kirk Cousins upright.

Whenever Fernando Mendoza takes over the starting QB job in Vegas, the offense could take another leap forward due to Mendoza's mobility and stronger arm. But there's no rush on that. The 2-0 start has bought the Raiders even more time to work their plan of keeping Mendoza on the bench as long as possible before throwing him into the NFL fire.

Fowler:Sam Darnold is working to split the difference in his rehab timeline. The Seahawks originally braced for roughly a four-week absence from his Sept. 9 glute injury but hoped he could beat that. Well, Darnold started to move around "a lot better" last week, I'm told, setting the stage for him to practice in some capacity Wednesday. While Week 3 isn't a slam dunk, he appears to be on the positive end of things. But anyone I asked about Darnold brought up, unprompted, the development of Drew Lock, and that was before his clean performance in Arizona (16-of-26, 235 yards, three touchdowns).

"He's smart, experienced, has been in the system multiple years and has the savvy and talent of a first-round pick," someone with the team told me. Another: "He can handle all the moving parts pre-snap, good confidence, prepares like a starter, throws a pretty deep ball."

Fowler:The Panthers urged Bryce Young to play faster this year, getting Carolina into plays with time to spare, using his mental capacity to run a smooth operation and get the Panthers moving. In Sunday's 34-3 win over Atlanta, the Panthers ran a modest 60 plays, about average for NFL standards. More importantly, though, Young is often getting the play off with at least 10 seconds on the 40-second play clock, which is what Carolina wants. Young isn't imposing physically, but his intelligence and savvy are shining through right now, and the play speed is an example of that.

Fowler:The Falcons are a mess, but they are not a lost cause entering Thursday night's matchup with Green Bay in Lambeau. Rival teams that have studied them believe that the return of Michael Penix should settle down the offense a bit. One Packers player I spoke to anticipates Atlanta gets Penix acclimated with some easy completions and by leaning on the running game with Bijan Robinson. But Penix's specialty is the deep ball, and the Packers know that, too. It's a matter of when Atlanta takes those shots. At worst, the return of the eighth pick in the 2024 draft should provide an energy shift. The messaging among Falcons players this week was clear, I'm told: "Gotta move on, s--- sucks, everyone will be going at you and assuming you're not good enough," while knowing Thursday night is a quick turnaround in the best way and a chance to redirect the season.

Graziano:Things sound dire in Green Bay following the loss of right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele to a season-ending knee injury. The Packers' offensive line was already in shambles due to injury. Bako-Bewele was one of four Green Bay offensive linemen to leave Sunday's game, and at one point the coaches were talking about using tight end Tucker Kraft at one of the offensive line positions. On a short week with a Thursday night game, Matt LaFleur and the Packers are going to have a hard time coming up with a line combination that helps get the moribund running game going against the Falcons.

If they can, the running back who benefits the most could be newly acquired Kaleb Johnson, who they felt showed more in Week 2 than their other backs have shown so far.Johnson was a Steelers third-round pick in 2025 and was traded a little over a year later because he turned out not to fit either of the offensive schemes they've run there the past two years.

Fowler:Packers players have been communicating with receiver Jayden Reed, who is back in Green Bay after sustaining a scary neck injury Sunday in MetLife Stadium. They were encouraged that he had all of his feeling back in his body early in the week. Everyone around the team knows Green Bay will not rush Reed, who doesn't have a definitive timeline to return.

Graziano:Execs around the league are wondering whether the Arizona Cardinals could explore trading 2024 No. 4 pick Marvin Harrison Jr. ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Harrison was held without a catch in Week 2. The team signed fellow wide receiver Michael Wilson Jr. to a contract extension this offseason. They have a new coaching staff and a new offense. Harrison is extension-eligible after this season, and as of now, the Cardinals would have a hard time paying him based on what he's shown in the league so far. It's worth watching out for a potential change-of-scenery deal in this case.

Fowler:Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said this week that corner Will Johnson (neck) "potentially could" miss the entire season. I'm told that is now the full expectation for the second-year player. This is a very tough break for a good young player who battled injuries at Michigan.

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