Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield can empathize with Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young. Mayfield was once a castaway quarterback before finding a home in Tampa Bay.

Fittingly, Mayfield publicly supported the recently demoted Panthers quarterback when asked his thoughts about Young’s benching.

“Quarterback is hard, especially for young guys when you’re not surrounded with the pieces (and) not given the opportunity to have success,’ Mayfield told reporters. ‘A lot of times guys have the talent they might have the brains, but they don’t have the right opportunity, the right fit.

‘I’m sitting here right now in a way better fit than other places I’ve been. That’s not to put other teams down, but it’s a matter of the pieces around you (and) the coaches.”

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Mayfield, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns, was shown the door in Cleveland after the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson in 2022. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers and had an unceremonious exit after just seven games. During the 2022 season, Mayfield was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams. Following a one-year rental season in Los Angeles, the Buccaneers became Mayfield’s fourth NFL team in 2023.

Mayfield enjoyed career-highs in passing yards and touchdown passes last season and was selected to the Pro Bowl. His performance earned him a three-year contract extension in Tampa Bay.

The journeyman quarterback’s revitalized his career in Tampa Bay and he envisions a similar fate for Young.

“For Bryce, I can relate to this, finding that belief within yourself again,” Mayfield added. “He’ll get it. His story is far, far from finished.’

Young is just 23 years old. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick could potentially have many more years left in the NFL. His rookie contract runs through the 2026 season. His future in Carolina is uncertain as a result of his benching but Panthers coach Dave Canales told reporters Wednesday the team is not “really considering” trading Young.

Young’s development and surroundings will ultimately determine if he can rebound in a similar fashion as Mayfield.

Amazon Prime’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ returns to kick off Week 3. The streaming giant draws a second consecutive AFC East matchup.

The New York Jets are set for their 2024 home opener at MetLife Stadium, where they will face the New England Patriots. The Buffalo Bills hold the very early edge in the AFC East race after defeating the Miami Dolphins on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 2, but the Jets and Patriots will look to make a statement to begin Week 3.

The Jets and Patriots are 1-1 entering Thursday Night Football.

New England upset the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 to give Jerod Mayo his first win as a head coach. The Patriots are coming off an overtime loss in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. New England’s running game has been extremely effective through the first two weeks. Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson combined for 177 rushing yards in the loss.

The Patriots have trotted out nine-year veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett in the first two games. The journeyman is starting ahead of No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. He has been serviceable through the first two weeks finishing with zero turnovers in each start.

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Meanwhile, New York endured a difficult assignment in Week 1 on the road against the reigning NFC champion 49ers. They followed the loss with a 24-17 win on the road against the Tennessee Titans.

The Jets scored 17 points off mistakes made by the Titans. Tennessee got out to an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Jets’ discipline throughout the game was on display. New York won the turnover battle, forcing an interception and recovering a fumble in the red zone. The Jets’ special teams unit also blocked a punt halfway through the third quarter, and the ensuing drive resulted in a field goal by Greg Zuerlein. Aaron Rodgers and the Jets outscored the Titans 17-7 after halftime.

New York will look to carry the momentum on the short week against the Patriots.

Here’s everything to know about the ‘Thursday Night Football’ matchup for Week 3.

Who plays on Thursday Night Football tonight?

Matchup: New England Patriots at New York Jets
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

The Jets (1-1) and Patriots (1-1) are playing in Amazon Prime’s second ‘Thursday Night Football’ game of the season in Week 3.

Emotions will be running high for the Jets and their fans. Last season, New York suffered a devastating blow in Week 1 when Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first offensive series after just four snaps. The four-time MVP is 40 years old and is eager to prove he is worth the Super Bowl hype in the Big Apple.

However, Rodgers hasn’t been overly impressive through his first two games. He is leaning heavily on running backs Breece Hall and rookie Braelon Allen. The latter is the NFL’s youngest player at 20 years old and is coming off a two-touchdown performance. Rodgers and Allen connected on a 12-yard touchdown in the first half in Nashville, marking a touchdown combination of the NFL’s oldest and youngest players.

The Jets finally ended the Patriots dominance over them in Week 18 to close out the 2023 season. Even though Tom Brady left New England after 2019, the Patriots had the Jets number. Before the Jets’ victory over New England in the last game of the 2023 season, the Patriots had won 15 consecutive games against New York dating back to November 2016.

NFL fans should expect a low-scoring game on ‘TNF.’ Defensive-minded head coaches will patrol the sideline, with Robert Saleh and Jerod Mayo leading their teams. The Jets have aspirations to win the AFC East, and this matchup will be a good litmus test to see if they are true contenders.

What time is the NFL game tonight?

Date: Thursday, Sept. 19
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

The Jets vs. Patriots game will start at 8:15 p.m. ET, the same start time as all of Amazon’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ games for the 2024 NFL season.

What channel is Thursday Night Football on tonight?

Live stream: Amazon Prime

NFL fans hoping to catch the ‘Thursday Night Football’ game live must be subscribed to Amazon Prime to stream the contest.

Al Michaels (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color commentary), and Kaylee Hartung (sideline reporter) will be on the call for Amazon’s broadcast.

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Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and few other familiar Super Bowl performers are among the 167 modern-day nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Running back Marshawn Lynch, kicker Adam Vinatieri, defensive end Terrell Suggs and late wide receiver Demaryius Thomas are among first-year nominees with Lombardi Trophy resumes. That list also includes offensive tackle Joe Staley, safety Earl Thomas, center Ryan Kalil and tight end Vernon Davis.

In an evolved process, the 2025 selection protocol changed to include a committee assigned to ‘screen’ the larger list of modern-day candidates to 50 finalists over the next month. From there, the 50-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee trims the list to 25 semifinalists and a second vote narrows the pool to 15 finalists. The committee debates the merits of the finalists and selects the new class to be introduced one day prior to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans in February.

Players are required to be five full seasons from their last game to be eligible for nomination, meaning anyone who last played during the 2019 season is eligible for the first time in the 2025 class.

Multiple finalists from the 2024 Hall of Fame class are nominated again, including wide receivers Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt, pass rusher Jared Allen, offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans, running back Fred Taylor and defensive backs Eric Allen and Darren Woodson.

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Manning is one of 10 quarterbacks nominated for the 2025 class. Late Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair, former Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham and Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) are repeat nominees.

A two-time Super Bowl winner and the No. 1 pick in 2004, Manning played 16 seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants. He was MVP of both Super Bowl wins and he played 236 regular-season games (234 starts) with the Giants, who acquired the Ole Miss product in a draft-day trade — from the Chargers for No. 4 pick Philip Rivers. Manning beat the Patriots in Super Bowls XLII — New England was 18-0 — and XLVI with fourth-quarter drives to take the lead. Manning is one of 21 quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl without losing one.

Older brother Peyton Manning was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021. Former Eli Manning teammate Tiki Barber is a 2025 nominee also bidding to join his brother in Canton. Barber was a running back with the Giants and is the twin of longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber, who was a member of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class.

The running back nominees include Shaun Alexander (Seattle Seahawks), Jamal Lewis (Baltimore Ravens), Clinton Portis (Washington, Denver Broncos), Corey Dillon (Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots) and Thomas Jones (New York Jets, Chicago Bears). Adrian Peterson, who retired in 2021, and Frank Gore, are not yet eligible. Gore is fifth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 16,000 yards in a career that spanned five teams from 2005-2020 and Peterson is No. 5 on the list (14,918).

Lynch was known as ‘Beast Mode’ for his powerful running style. He retired for the first time in 2015 due to injuries, then returned to play for his then-hometown Oakland Raiders in 2017. After another retirement, Lynch returned to join the Seattle Seahawks for the last game of the regular season and playoffs. A first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2007, he joined the Seahawks in 2010. He had 10,413 rushing yards and 94 touchdowns and played a starring role with the Seahawks in two Super Bowls. Lynch was a member of Seattle’s Super Bowl-winning team (XLVIII) in his fourth season with the team.

Barber is narrowly ahead of Lynch on the NFL’s all-time rushing list — with 10,449 yards — and one of 31 backs with more than 10,000 career rushing yards. Sixteen are in the Hall of Fame. Former McNair teammate and longtime Titans running back Eddie George is between Barber and Lynch on the NFL’s all-time rushing list and one of 31 running backs nominated.

Vinatieri played 24 seasons in the NFL with the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Undrafted in 1996, Vinatieri would become synonymous with playoff success on Bill Belichick-coached teams, winning four Super Bowl (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLI). He signed with Indianapolis following the 2005 season to help Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning win the Super Bowl with the Colts in February 2007.

A number of other players tied to the Patriots’ dynasty are nominees, including Vince Wilfork, Mike Vrabel, Logan Mankins, Willie McGinest and 2024 finalist Rodney Harrison.

Vinatieri retired in 2019 after 24 seasons as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer (2,673 points) and holding league records for field goals made (599), postseason points (238) and field goals made in overtime (12).

Previous Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt and Vinatieri special teams teammate in Indianapolis, punter Pat McAfee, are 2025 nominees.

A two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection, Thomas was Peyton Manning’s lead receiver when the Broncos claimed Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers in 2016. Thomas caught 63 touchdowns in his career and totaled 9,763 receiving yards in his career which included part of the 2018 season with the Houston Texans and short stints with the Patriots and Jets in 2019. He died at age 33 in 2021.

2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame modern-day nominees

* – 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist

QUARTERBACKS (10): Marc Bulger, Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Doug Flutie, Rich Gannon, Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning, Steve McNair, Tony Romo

RUNNING BACKS (31): Shaun Alexander, Terry Allen, Jamal Anderson, Tiki Barber, Larry Centers (FB), Jamaal Charles, Stephen Davis, Corey Dillon, Warrick Dunn, Charlie Garner, Eddie George, Priest Holmes, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Thomas Jones, John Kuhn (FB), Vonta Leach, Dorsey Levens, Jamal Lewis, Marshawn Lynch, Eric Metcalf (also WR/PR/KR), Glyn Milburn (also WR), Lorenzo Neal (FB), Clinton Portis, Tony Richardson (FB), Robert Smith, Darren Sproles (also PR/KR), Fred Taylor*, Chris Warren, Ricky Watters, Ricky Williams

WIDE RECEIVERS (21): Anquan Boldin, Donald Driver, Antonio Freeman, Irving Fryar, Torry Holt*, Joe Horn, Chad Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Derrick Mason, Herman Moore, Muhsin Muhammad, Jordy Nelson, Andre Rison, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Demaryius Thomas, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne*, Wes Welker, Roddy White

TIGHT ENDS (6): Ben Coates, Vernon Davis, Antonio Gates, Jeremy Shockey, *Delanie Walker, Wesley Walls

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (26): Willie Anderson* (T), Bruce Armstrong (T/G), Matt Birk (C), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), Jahri Evans* (G), Travis Frederick (C), Jordan Gross (T), Ryan Kalil (C), Lincoln Kennedy (T), Olin Kreutz (C), T.J. Lang (G/T), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Tom Nalen (C), Jeff Saturday (C), Mark Schlereth (G/C), Josh Sitton (G), Chris Snee (G), Joe Staley (T), Dave Szott (G), Brian Waters (G), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), Marshal Yanda (G)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (18): John Abraham (DE also LB), Jared Allen* (DE), La’Roi Glover (DT/NT), Casey Hampton (DT/NT), Robert Mathis (DE), Chester McGlockton (DT), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Clyde Simmons (DE/DT), Justin Smith (DE), Neil Smith (DE), Henry Thomas (DT/NT), Justin Tuck (DE), Ted Washington (NT/DT), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Jamal Williams (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT), Pat Williams (DT)

LINEBACKERS (20): Jessie Armstead, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Cornelius Bennett, Lance Briggs, Keith Brooking, NaVorro Bowman, Tedy Bruschi, Donnie Edwards, James Farrior, London Fletcher, James Harrison, Luke Kuechly, Willie McGinest (also DE), Ken Norton Jr., Julian Peterson, Bill Romanowski, Takeo Spikes, Terrell Suggs, Mike Vrabel, Lee Woodall

DEFENSIVE BACKS (18): Eric Allen* (CB), Eric Berry (DB), Antoine Bethea (S), Dré Bly (DB), Kam Chancellor (S), Nick Collins (DB), Antonio Cromartie (CB), DeAngelo Hall (DB), Rodney Harrison* (S), Eugene Robinson (DB), Samari Rolle (DB), Allen Rossum (DB), Bob Sanders (S), Aqib Talib (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), Darren Woodson* (S)

PUNTERS/KICKERS (15): David Akers (K), Gary Anderson (K), Darren Bennett (P), Jason Elam (K), Jeff Feagles (P), Jason Hanson (K), John Kasay (K), Sean Landeta (P), Shane Lechler (P), Pat McAfee (P), Brian Moorman (P), Matt Stover (K), Matt Turk (P), Mike Vanderjagt (K), Adam Vinatieri (K)

SPECIAL TEAMS (2): Josh Cribbs (KR/PR also WR), Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB)

PORTLAND, Ore. — The commitment to build a practice facility and the promise to prioritize player welfare, plus a bunch of data points that show the city would support a new sports franchise, were all key factors in Portland being awarded the 15th WNBA team, an announcment made official Wednesday at a celebration event hosted by the Moda Center, home of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, the brother-sister duo who recently purchased the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, are the WNBA’s newest owners. 

Part of the reason why is because of what they vowed to the league and commissioner Cathy Engelbert: That they have plans to design and build a “world class, state of the art practice faility,” Bhathal said, necessary not only because of an obligation to the WNBA but because it’s “the right thing to do for player welfare.” 

The Bhathals have also made a commitment to build a training facility for the Thorns, though Bhathal said Wednesday they don’t have “announcments or details to share” on either facility. The expectation is that front offices for both the Thorns and yet-to-be-named WNBA team will be housed together. 

Portland is the third city to be awarded a WNBA franchise in the last year, joining Golden State and Toronto. Golden State is slated to begin play in 2025; Toronto and Portland will tip off in 2026. One more expansion city is still to come. 

Engelbert said the league as a whole is focused on “the player experience” and knows that because “free agency is so vibrant now” how players are treated — including in terms of facilities — matters as they decide which team they sign with. That’s why access to a practice facility, or willingness to build one, is necessary for any ownership group who wants to be part of America’s longest-running women’s professional sports league. 

The WNBA has started to experience its own facilities arms race in the past few years, as owners recognize a women’s sports franchise isn’t just a tax write-off but potentially a big, money-making business operation. Owners have flooded money into their teams, with Seattle and Las Vegas recently opening sparkling practice facilities. Valuations for teams have skyrocketed, too; the Bhathals paid $125 million for the Portland franchise just a year after Toronto ownership paid $115 million for its team. 

This is the second go-round for the WNBA in Portland. The city previously had an expansion franchise, the Portland Fire, which lasted just three seasons (2000-2002) before folding. 

Bhathal Merage said Wednesday that Portland has already made a name for itself as the “capital for sports lifestyle” — a nod to Nike’s global headquarters and adidas’ American headquarters being here — and that “today is the day we claim it as the epicenter for women’s sports.” 

Also present Wednesday was U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a passionate basketball fan who frequently sports sneakers with his suits on Capitol Hill. Wyden has been vocal for years about the WNBA needing to make a home (again) in Portland, and his joy at it finally becoming official was evident. He joked that he was so excited by the news and had so much adrenaline from that excitement, he probably could have run all the way from D.C. to the Moda Center.

Wyden predicted the WNBA would be a “slam dunk success” in Portland, and lauded the city’s “dream team” ownership. He added that the franchise would provide the city a “huge economic shot in the arm,” mentioning fans booking hotels and patroning local bars and restaurants during the season. 

Wyden closed with the ultimate name drop in this basketball-obsessed town when he said he’d been “texting all day with Sabrina” — as in, Sabrina Ionescu, the former Oregon Ducks All-American who’s having a career season with the New York Liberty. 

There’s no question what the follow-up question on everyone’s mind was: Could Ionescu want to play in the Rose City full-time? 

They’ll have to wait until 2026 to find out. 

(Updated through games played Sept 18)

Things are heating up in the wild-card races in both leagues, with a handful of teams separated by just a few games. In the National League, the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves are fighting for the second and third wild-card berths, entering Wednesday with Atlanta on the outside looking in.

‘We’re definitely competing to clinch, and it’s going to come down to one play, one pitch. And that’s what the playoffs is about,’ Mets infielder Jose Iglesias said Monday.

The playoffs begin on Tuesday, Oct. 1 with the best-of-three wild card series – two in earch league.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

Here’s a full look at the MLB postseason picture:

AL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

Baltimore Orioles (84-68): +4 games
Kansas City Royals (82-71): +1.5 games
Minnesota Twins (80-72)
Detroit Tigers (80-73): 0.5 GB
Seattle Mariners (77-75): 3 GB
Boston Red Sox (76-76): 4 GB

NL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

San Diego Padres (87-66): +2.5 games
New York Mets (84-68): NYM hold tiebreaker vs. AZ
Arizona Diamondbacks (84-68)
Atlanta Braves (82-70): 2 GB

AL East

New York Yankees (89-63) – clinched postseason spot Sept. 18
Baltimore Orioles (84-68) – 5 GB

AL Central

Cleveland Guardians (88-65)
Kansas City Royals (82-71) – 6 GB
Minnesota Twins (80-72) – 7.5 GB
Detroit Tigers (80-73) – 8 GB

AL West

Houston Astros (82-70)
Seattle Mariners (77-75) – 5 GB

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies (91-61)
New York Mets (84-68) – 7 GB
Atlanta Braves (82-70) – 9 GB

NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers (88-64) – clinched division Sept. 18

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (90-62)
San Diego Padres (87-66) – 3.5 GB
Arizona Diamondbacks (84-68) – 6 GB

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Who will be voted the best player of the 2024 WNBA season?

Thursday is the final day of the WNBA regular season, meaning ballots to name the top performers of the league are due soon. While the voting process is nearly done and the playoffs will begin on Sunday, there’s still plenty of time to predict who will take home the coveted award, which will be announced during the postseason.

The league has reached new levels with interest skyrocketing throughout the country and several stars could take home the MVP. Some of those names include Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart. Caitlin Clark has also taken the WNBA by storm in her rookie season, and after shattering records, could she take home the top honor in her first year? There are plenty of arguments for so many players.

2024 WNBA MVP betting favorite

A’ja Wilson is the favorite to win the league’s most valuable player award, aiming to become the fourth player in WNBA history to win it three times. Her odds of winning the award are +250, according to BetMGM.

2024 WNBA MVP odds

Here are the top 10 players with the best betting odds to win the WNBA MVP award, according to BetMGM:

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces: +250
Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx: +300
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty: +350
Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty: +650
Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty: +1200
DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun: +2000
Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx: +2000
Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun: +2500
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever: +3000
Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm: +4000

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Week 2 is squarely in the mirror as two more AFC East teams prepare to kick off a packed slate in Week 3.

One week after the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins met on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ the other two teams within the division – the New England Patriots and New York Jets – will square off on the same, Amazon Prime Video stage. Both teams are chasing the Bills for the AFC East lead as Week 3 begins.

New England is 1-1 after their surprising Week 1 victory over the Bengals in Cincinnati before a disappointing home-opener loss to the Seahawks in overtime on Sunday.

The Jets have had the opposite path to 1-1 as they come off of their first victory of the season: a 24-17 Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans. The win was quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ first with the Jets after missing virtually the entire 2023 season and dropping the team’s first game of this year to the 49ers.

Here’s how to watch the first NFL game of Week 3:

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How to watch Thursday’s game

The sole game on Thursday will be exclusively available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

New England Patriots vs. New York Jets | 8:15 p.m. ET | Amazon Prime Video

Watch’Thursday Night Football’with a Prime Video subscription

Jets vs. Patriots preview

The Jets and Patriots will meet on ‘Thursday Night Football’ for the first of two divisional clashes this year between the two teams that were at the bottom of the AFC East in 2023.

Since their first matchup in 1960, the two teams have played 130 times across the regular season and postseason. Though the Jets boasted early dominance in the rivalry – they beat the then-Boston Patriots nine times in a row between 1966 and 1970 – it’s been all Patriots since the Tom Brady era began in 2001.

Last year, New York snapped the Patriots’ 15-game win streak in the rivalry that dated back to 2016. Before the Jets’ 17-3 win in Week 18, the team hadn’t defeated New England in regulation since their meeting in the 2010 playoffs. The Jets’ last regular season win in regulation while playing at New England had been in 2006.

Both teams are 1-1 and tied for second place in the AFC East entering Thursday’s game.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh seeks his second career win over the Patriots, while first-year Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo looks to pick up where predecessor Bill Belichick left off.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be starting under center in his fourth game for the Jets and his first against the Patriots since leaving Green Bay. On the other side of the field, Jacoby Brissett is making his third start in a second stint with New England, where he began his pro career in 2016, as the Patriots continue to allow rookie quarterback Drake Maye additional time to develop.

Through two games so far this season, New England has been among the best scoring defenses in the NFL. It currently ranks fifth with 33 total points allowed – to the Bengals and Seahawks – through Week 2.

The Jets are closer to the opposite end of the spectrum in a very small sample size. They’ve allowed 49 total points in their two games against the 49ers and Titans, which ranks seventh-worst.

NFL schedule Week 3

Thursday, Sept. 19

Sunday, Sept. 22

Monday, Sept. 23

NFL Week 2 results

Thursday, Sept. 12

Bills 31, Dolphins 10

Sunday, Sept. 15

Saints 44, Cowboys 19
Buccaneers 20, Lions 16
Packers 16, Colts 10
Jets 24, Titans 17
Vikings 23, 49ers 17
Seahawks 23, Patriots 20 (OT)
Commanders 21, Giants 18
Chargers 26, Panthers 3
Browns 18, Jaguars 13
Raiders 26, Ravens 23
Cardinals 41, Rams 10
Steelers 13, Broncos 6
Chiefs 26, Bengals 25
Texans 19, Bears 13

Monday, Sept. 16

Falcons 22, Eagles 21

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Plenty of notable injuries have decimated fantasy football rankings over the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season. The one silver lining for NFL fans is that not many of them have been to quarterbacks.

Green Bay Packers starter Jordan Love suffered an MCL sprain in the team’s Week 1 game while Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion that landed him on IR in Week 2. Aside from that, the only Week 1 starter who didn’t make it to Week 3 is Bryce Young, who was benched by the Carolina Panthers in favor of 36-year-old Andy Dalton.

The bounty of quarterbacks available has made life easy on fantasy football managers in some regards. It has also created some difficult start-sit decisions for owners with two quarterbacks or those scouring the waiver wire for weekly streamers at the position.

Week 3 brings about a handful of great-looking matchups for some fringe QB1 options while injuries to other top skill position players will limit the potential of some of the more touted quarterbacks.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Here’s a breakdown of who you should start and who you should sit at quarterback in Week 3 of the fantasy football season.

Fantasy football start ’em: Week 3 QBs

Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

The Saints’ offense has been explosive thus far in Klint Kubiak’s first year as offensive coordinator. They are averaging a league-leading 45.5 points per game and thanks to that, Carr is one of just two NFL quarterbacks to throw for five touchdowns across his first two games.

Carr now gets a favorable matchup against a Philadelphia Eagles secondary that has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (242) through two contests. That should allow him to maintain his early-season status as a top-12 fantasy QB for at least another week.

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Speaking of favorable matchups, that’s exactly what Burrow will have against the Washington Commanders in Week 3. Washington has allowed a league-high six passing touchdowns across its first two games while playing against Baker Mayfield and Daniel Jones.

With Ja’Marr Chase rounding into form and Mike Gesicki establishing himself as a reliable tight end target, Burrow and the Bengals might finally hit their offensive stride in Week 3.

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

The Arizona Cardinals just put together a terrific performance against Matthew Stafford and the Rams, but that shouldn’t stop fantasy owners from trusting Goff. The Lions quarterback leads the league in passes attempted with 83 and should continue to get plenty of chance to throw against the high-flying Cardinals, who are averaging the second-most points per game this season (34.5).

Detroit’s defense should fare better than Los Angeles’ did last week, but Goff is still a good bet to approach 250 yards and two touchdowns against a defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 3 QBs

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mayfield is tied with Carr for the league-lead in touchdown passes, but this isn’t a great spot for him. The Denver Broncos have allowed just 134 passing yards per game over their first two games of the season, as Patrick Surtain II has been excellent in erasing half the field with his top-end coverage.

Mayfield could still have a good game because the Buccaneers have two great receivers, but Tampa Bay is more likely to trust the running game against a Denver defense that has struggled to contain running backs. That could quickly become an issue for Mayfield owners, especially if the Buccaneers are able to build a strong second-half lead on the Broncos.

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Richardson has struggled out of the gate in his second season. He has completed just 49.1 percent of his passes for 416 yards, three touchdowns and a league-worst four interceptions; even worse, he hasn’t run as much as fantasy owners have hoped, as he has just 93 yards and a touchdown on 10 scrambles through two games.

It’s best to stay away from Richardson until he gets an easier matchup. The Chicago Bears don’t qualify as one after they limited C.J. Stroud to just one touchdown in their Week 2 ‘Sunday Night Football’ clash. Chicago is allowing just 10.5 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks overall, the sixth-best mark in the NFL.

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Jim Harbaugh made a commitment to the running game when he took the Los Angeles Chargers’ coaching job. He has stuck to that through two weeks, as Los Angeles has the third-highest run-play rate in the NFL (59.66 percent).

Without volume, Herbert is relying on explosive plays and touchdowns to establish his value as a fantasy asset. Those won’t be there against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has allowed just one touchdown to opposing quarterbacks through two weeks.

Complicating matters is Herbert’s ankle issue. It seems to be a non-issue, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh, but it’s still something worth monitoring heading into the weekend.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Stafford is set to be without his top two receivers (Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua) and two interior offensive line starters (Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson) against a San Francisco 49ers defense with a respectable 20.6 percent pressure rate. That could make it another painful week for the Los Angeles Rams offense.