Steve Sarkisian says it ‘could be worse.’ Yikes. What an endorsement.
Texas backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell is a transfer who fared well at Troy.
If Arch Manning can’t handle UTEP, how’s he going to fare against Oklahoma?

I can scarcely believe my fingers are about to type these next words, but Texas has a quarterback problem. That’s not exaggeration.

Texas ranks 15th out of 16 SEC teams in completion rate. That’s despite playing two games against cupcake opponents.

That’s a quarterback problem.

Its preseason No. 1 ranking is long gone. All those betting slips with Arch Manning as the Heisman Trophy winner will become firepit kindling once the weather turns.

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Who’s the backup quarterback at Texas? Yes, that’s a serious question.

If it was wrong to think Manning would become the next Tim Tebow just because he owns a famous surname and a lofty recruiting ranking, then it’s also wrong to think Manning cannot be benched, just because of those seven letters stitched across the back of his jersey or the five stars he attracted from recruiting evaluators.

“Could be worse,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said afterward. “We could lose.”

I can’t believe it’s come to this, but we’ve officially reached the “could be worse” stage for Texas and Manning.

If Texas had been playing an opponent other than an alphabet soup acronym school, it would have been worse.

Sarkisian compared Manning’s out-of-whack throwing mechanics to a bad golfer who’s just trying to square one up.

“Some of us here that are bad golfers, think about your golf swing,” Sarkisian said. “You try to swing hard and then you try to slow it down at the very end to make good contact. That’s never a recipe for success, and that’s not a good recipe for throwing a football, either. And I felt like that happened, at times,” against UTEP.

Just like that, I’m envisioning Manning as a double-bogey hacker at my local muni, sprinkling in a few good drives between a lot of slices, worm-burners, and shanks that whistle into the trees.

Who is Texas’ backup quarterback behind Arch Manning?

To answer the question I posed, Matthew Caldwell is Texas’ backup quarterback. A transfer, he’s played for three other schools, most recently for Troy. He played well for Troy, too.

Get a load of this, Caldwell earned “Manning Star of the Week” honors for his performance against Georgia Southern last season.

Seriously.

The Sugar Bowl, to honor the Mannings’ legacy, recognizes several quarterbacks each week for their performance. Caldwell nabbed the honors after dicing up a Sun Belt opponent for 288 passing yards and four total touchdowns.

Caldwell was a zero-star recruit coming out of Auburn High School in Alabama. He began his college career as a walk-on at Jacksonville State. In that way, he’s everything Manning isn’t.

I reviewed some film of Caldwell at Troy and saw a mobile quarterback with a quick release. You wouldn’t confuse his arm for John Elway’s, but he’s accurate.

Don’t just take it from me.

“He’s got athleticism, and he throws an accurate ball. … He’s really coachable,” Sarkisian told reporters before the season. “… He’s got really good rapport with his teammates.”

OK, so what’s the holdup? Look, I know it’s easy to build up the backup quarterback being the solution, without evidence to support it. Often, there’s a reason that guy was the backup and not the starter.

But, when Quinn Ewers struggled against Georgia last season, Sarkisian tried his backup. It just so happened the backup’s name was Manning. Now, the backup’s name is Caldwell, but the spelling of the surname shouldn’t matter.

Behind Caldwell are a pair of heralded but young and untested quarterbacks.

“The last thing I want to do is put a young player on the field if he’s not ready to play,” Sarkisian said before the season.

So, that’s that. It’s either a five-star from college football’s most famous family, or a former zero-star walk-on. Should be an easy choice, but Manning’s performance sparks the need for further evaluation.

Texas never conducted a preseason quarterback competition. Sarkisian named Manning the starter in February. With every Manning incompletion, it’s looking more and more like Sarkisian made up his mind too soon.

Maybe, Texas needs a belated quarterback competition

Manning, 21, is in his third season at Texas. He’s started five games. He’s a struggling quarterback, but not an especially young one.

Preaching patience seemed sensible after Manning struggled in the season opener against Ohio State. By Week 2, Manning was grimacing, and Sarkisian was cracking toilet jokes. Now, after this stinker against UTEP, it’s either time to see rapid improvement, or Sarkisian must evaluate his options.

I realize no coach loves an in-season quarterback controversy, and Caldwell playing well would increase scrutiny of Manning. But, what’s worse than a quarterback controversy? A roster as expensive as this one turtling up.

Texas has winless Sam Houston State up next. I can’t think of a better opponent against which to test a backup quarterback. Have Manning and Caldwell alternate quarters. Let’s see who best suits Texas’ needs, before the Longhorns resume games against big-league competition next month.

With Texas’ defense playing as well as it is, the Longhorns don’t necessarily need the next Tebow or Peyton 2.0 at quarterback. They do need a quarterback better than what Arch has been.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

(This story was updated to add a gallery.)

The fantasy football season is heading into Week 3, and having two weeks of data will help fantasy managers feel more confident in their projections moving forward.

Part of the reason for that confidence? Fantasy managers now know which defenses are shaping up to be strong units and which ones are poised to be the NFL’s weakest. The latter is particularly important knowledge for determining the best matchup-based streamers.

If you’re ever in doubt about who to start, never be afraid to consider players going up against the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins defenses. But if you’re worried about a potential flex play going against a team like the Green Bay Packers or Minnesota Vikings, those concerns are probably warranted.

What should fantasy footballers do at each lineup position heading into Week 3? USA TODAY Sports outlines 16 players to start or sit in your fantasy matchups this week.

Fantasy football players to start in Week 3

Quarterbacks

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (at Chicago Bears)

The Bears have been humbled in consecutive weeks by J.J. McCarthy, who racked up three touchdowns against them in the fourth quarter of their Week 1 ‘Monday Night Football’ game, and Jared Goff, who threw for five touchdowns in a Week 2 rout.

As long as Jaylon Johnson remains out, Chicago’s secondary will remain leaky. That should give Prescott, who is averaging 43 passing attempts per game through two weeks, plenty of opportunities to make plays down the field.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (at Tennessee Titans)

Many feared Jones’ Week 1 performance was a fluke against a weak Miami Dolphins defense. But after Jones threw for 316 yards and a touchdown against a strong Denver Broncos defense, it’s time to start treating him like a high-end streamer.

The Titans rank just 21st in defensive EPA league-wide and just allowed Matthew Stafford to throw for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Jones could be in for similar production if he remains as efficient as he was against Denver.

Running backs

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

Mason has been the more effective of the two backs as a runner through two weeks anyway, totaling 98 yards with a 4.1 yards per carry average. That could position him to fare well against a Cincinnati defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to running backs through two weeks.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

Like Mason, ‘Bill’ figures to see an increase in opportunities with his main competition, Austin Ekeler, out for the season with a torn Achilles. Jeremy McNichols or Chris Rodriguez Jr. could end up stealing some goal-line carries from Croskey-Merritt, but consider him a volume-based flex play against the Raiders.

Wide receivers

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons on eve of the season and, through two weeks, have allowed an average of 30.5 points per game, tied for fifth-most in the NFL. Add in that Dallas just allowed Russell Wilson to throw for 450 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2 and Caleb Williams looks like an appetizing quarterback streamer.

So does Williams’ top receiver, Odunze, who currently leads the Bears in catches (13), receiving yards (165) and has all three of their touchdown receptions.

Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

The Steelers defense has surprisingly struggled to start the season and has surrendered the fourth-most receiving yards to wide-outs through two games. Boutte has emerged as one of Drake Maye’s favorite weapons and is averaging 17 yards per reception.

Tight end

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (at Seattle Seahawks)

Johnson’s target volume appears to be legit, as he has averaged 10 per game to open the 2025 season. The veteran has also scored in each of his outings and may have a chance to find pay dirt again facing a Seahawks defense that is thus far the lone NFL team to allowed multiple scores to tight ends thus far.

Defense/special teams:

Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)

The Falcons have long been searching for a consistent pass rush. It looks like they finally have found one after generating seven sacks across the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season. Expect Atlanta to continue generate pressure and forcing mistakes against Bryce Young, who is tied for the second-most in the NFL with three interceptions and has been sacked four times.

Fantasy football players to sit in Week 3

Quarterbacks

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Houston Texans)

Many will be looking for streaming options to trust in wake of injuries to Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels. Lawrence can fill that role in good matchups, as evidenced by his three touchdowns last week against the Bengals, but trusting him against a stout Texans pass rush doesn’t seem like the best play.

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (at Baltimore Ravens)

Goff threw for a whopping five touchdowns against the Bears last week but gets a much harder matchup against the Ravens in Week 3. The Ravens just gave Joe Flacco, a less-mobile veteran, fits in Week 2 and could do the same to Goff.

Also interesting, Goff has never thrown a touchdown pass against the Ravens in three career starts (120 attempts). That includes his 53-attempt performance in a 38-6 shellacking in Baltimore during the 2023 NFL season.

Add in Goff’s checkered history with playing outside and this seems like a spot in which to fade him.

Running backs

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)

Is Henderson talented? Without a doubt. Should you trust him to get enough work in the Patriots’ backfield rotation to justify playing him as a flex? Probably not.

Rhamondre Stevenson just performed well for the Patriots in their win over the Dolphins while Antonio Gibson out-touched Henderson 6-5. The talented rookie, who was selected early in a lot of fantasy drafts, should still be stashed for when he inevitably breaks out, but until he gets more volume, his upside is limited.

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (vs. Green Bay Packers)

That’s right. We’re recommending you sit both talented Ohio State rookies. In Judkins’ case, it’s less about opportunity and more about matchup. The Packers have allowed the second-fewest FPPG to running backs this season and have yet to allow a touchdown to one. Judkins may not break that trend against Jeff Hafley’s elite defense.

Wide receivers

Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints (at Seattle Seahawks)

Olave is clearly New Orleans’ top receiver, but this is a tough matchup for him against a Seahawks defense that has allowed the fewest FPPG to wide receivers this season. Add in that Spencer Rattler is set to start in a tough road environment against a strong pressure defense (the Seahawks generate pressure at a league-best 49.4% clip) and this seems like a tough matchup for the Saints receiver.

Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)

Tight end

Evan Engram, Denver Broncos (at Los Angeles Chargers)

Engram has been a disappointment for fantasy managers who spent a mid-round selection on him, hoping his insertion into the ‘Joker’ role in Sean Payton’s offense would spark him. Adam Trautman has out-snapped Engram thus far and as long as that continues, it’s hard to trust the veteran to be a fantasy starter.

Defense/special teams:

Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Los Angeles Rams)

The Eagles looked much better defensively with Jalen Carter available, but they still have a hole in the secondary across from Quinyon Mitchell. The Rams have Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, so they could be uniquely positioned to expose that weakness, which could lead to a down week for the Eagles defense.

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Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers tops the power rankings with a 2-0 record and zero interceptions.
Despite an 0-2 start for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes remains in the top five of the quarterback rankings.

It’s never too early to rank quarterbacks.

The 2025 NFL regular season is two weeks in, and we have already seen some astonishing results and wild performances from gunslingers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller Baker Mayfield helped close out Week 2 with his second fourth quarter comeback in two weeks on Monday night, and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is 2-0.

In addition, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson put on a show for the ages in the first ‘Sunday Night Football’ of the season, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are 0-2, and the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense might be more reliant on Justin Herbert than expected.

That’s all without mentioning the rash of injuries that struck the position in the first two weeks. At least two and as many as five teams – the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders – could be missing their starting quarterbacks in Week 3.

Here’s how all 32 of the projected Week 3 starting quarterbacks rank after two weeks:

NFL quarterback power rankings: Week 3 edition

1. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

No other quarterback in the league has accomplished all of the following through two weeks: a 2-0 record, 500-plus passing yards, five-plus passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. We may look back on this season and laugh at the many predictions that Los Angeles would be a run-heavy offense.

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen’s stats tick almost every box that Herbert’s have, and he makes up for his lack of touchdown passes (two so far) with two rushing scores as well. The Bills quarterback’s clutch, game-winning drive on ‘Sunday Night Football’ deserves a shout out here as well. The reigning MVP is off to a very strong start to his follow-up campaign.

3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson fell just short of Allen in last year’s MVP race, and he fell just short of Allen and his team when the two clashed in Week 1’s ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Outside of that tough loss, Jackson has looked every bit the part of an MVP candidate through two weeks. His 83.6 QBR, per ESPN, leads all quarterbacks.

4. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Goff’s 334-yard, five-touchdown day in the Lions’ Week 2 home opener win was just what Detroit needed to quell concerns of a post-Ben Johnson regression in the wake of a rough Week 1 loss. He leads the league in completion rate (80.6) through two weeks despite already facing a Packers defense that looks like the leagues’ best and shares the NFL passing touchdown lead (6) with Jackson.

5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

It’s hard to knock Mahomes for his team’s 0-2 start, given he’s been missing his top two receivers, his new-look offensive line is still figuring things out and tight end Travis Kelce has made back-breaking mistakes in two straight games. Mahomes ranks above even Allen with his 81.4 QBR, per ESPN.

6. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Two weeks into his third year as the Packers’ starting quarterback, Love continues to look the part. He’s spreading his targets around semi-evenly to his many young receiving options, protecting the ball (zero interceptions) and generally playing well within the Matt LaFleur offense to keep his team ahead as his defense does its job. It’s only been two weeks, but Love is on pace for a career high in touchdown passes (34) and completion rate (66%).

7. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Through two weeks, it has appeared as though any concerns about how Stafford’s age and back problems would affect his play were overblown. The Rams are 2-0 behind Stafford’s 71% completion rate, 543 passing yards and three touchdowns. He did throw an interception late in the first half of Week 2’s game to give the Titans the chance to take the lead before halftime, but he and the Rams bounced back with a dominant second half. PFF grades Stafford as the best overall quarterback in the NFL through two weeks.

8. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

No other quarterback has led his team in fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives in both games so far this season. Mayfield has been the epitome of clutch so far this season, coming through when the Buccaneers have needed it the most. His yardage tally (382) and completion percentage (60%) thus far are unimpressive, but he’s on the 10th offensive coordinator of his eight-year career. He also has five touchdowns and two impressive comeback wins already. The rest of the stats will come around soon.

9. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Did anyone expect this level of play from Jones in Year 7? He’s led the Colts to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2009, and he’s made the 2025 Colts the first team in the Super Bowl era to not have to punt in either of the first two games in a season. He’s also second in the NFL in passing yards (588), sixth in completion rate (71.4%) and has yet to throw an interception or lose a fumble. Oh, and he has three rushing touchdowns this year, tied for the league lead.

10. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Through two weeks, Hurts has not made the explosive impact as a passer that he did in his Pro Bowl years in 2022 and 2023. He has the second-fewest pass attempts of any quarterback that has played 100% of his team’s offensive snaps – only Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has fewer. But Hurts has protected the ball whenever he’s been asked to throw, executed multiple tush-push plays to perfection and led his team to two wins.

11. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Maye is arguably off to the best start of any second-year quarterback in 2025. His 517 passing yards rank ninth in the NFL, his 71% completion rate ranks eighth and he has three touchdown passes with another on the ground. His one interception is a small blemish on an otherwise impressive stat line, and some of the excellent throws Maye has made on tape should make up for it.

12. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Murray has helped lead the Cardinals to a 2-0 start with his 70.4% completion rate, 383 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Trey McBride and second-year wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. are clearly his favorite targets, but he’s also done a nice job of spreading the love and finding his open man. He hasn’t done anything crazy so far this year, but what he has done has been good enough for two wins.

13. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

Penix is arguably having the second-best year of all second-year quarterbacks, and like Maye, has a 1-1 record to show for it. The Falcons quarterback threw for nearly 300 yards in his 2025 season-opener against the Buccaneers, and he led what should have been a game-winning drive if not for a 44-yard field goal attempt sailing wide right. In Week 2, he played relatively mistake-free football – read: no turnovers – against a Brian Flores defense, which is an impressive feat in itself, and helped secure his team’s first win of the year.

14. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have started the 2025 season once again leaning heavily on the arm of their quarterback. Prescott has rewarded them with the league lead in completions (59) and two good performances against two divisional opponents. He faced down the Giants’ pass-rush attack in Week 2 for 361 yards and an overtime win to get the Cowboys in the win column for the first time this year.

15. Russell Wilson, New York Giants

If Wilson’s Week 1 Giants debut was lackluster, his Week 2 outing was anything but. He threw for 450 yards – two yards short of a career high – and three touchdowns against the Cowboys and showed off his patented ‘moonball’ multiple times. Unfortunately, the most memorable part of that outing might be his overtime interception on a ‘miscommunication’ that doomed the Giants to a second straight loss.

16. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rodgers looked like he had turned back the clock in a Week 1 win over his former team, the Jets. Things did not go quite as swimmingly in Week 2 against the Seahawks. His 54.5% completion rate, 203 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions lent themselves to a passer rating of 58.0, the 13th-lowest in his career.

17. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Williams has looked better than his team’s 0-2 record might make one believe. He’s generally seemed more decisive and confident in making his reads in Year 1 with Ben Johnson, but his team’s Week 1 collapse against Minnesota and Week 2 blowout at the hands of Detroit have overshadowed some of that. ESPN ranks Williams 16th in QBR (57.5) and PFF ranks him 14th with a 74.7 grade.

18. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Darnold’s first two games with Seattle have been fine. His lack of production in a Week 1 loss to the 49ers wasn’t great, and neither were his two interceptions in Pittsburgh. The Seahawks are 1-1 in the Darnold era but the jury should still be out on the quarterback, especially with his late 2024 collapse in the back of mind.

19. Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

It took exactly one start in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense to make fans and analysts wonder what could have been if the 49ers had just drafted Jones – not Trey Lance – with the No. 3 pick in 2021.

20. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints

Rattler has played well through two weeks after winning the starting job in head coach Kellen Moore’s offense. But the young Saints quarterback hasn’t yet played on the road this year, and his first test is a big one: at Seattle in front of the some of the loudest fans in football.

21. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence’s first two games of 2025 have been shaky, another reminder of the Jaguars quarterback falling short of his sky-high expectations when he entered the league in 2021. But it’s worth asking how much Lawrence is affected by his top receiver, Brian Thomas Jr., seemingly shying away from contact and giving questionable effort, and his No. 2 receiver, Travis Hunter, starting to play more on defense.

22. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Smith finished his first game with the Raiders with a 70.6% completion rate, 362 yards and looking like everything Las Vegas hoped he’d be when it traded for him. His second game was not so good. Smith’s accuracy was all over the place against the Chargers, and his three interceptions were concerning in the 20-9 loss Monday night.

23. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Ward got on the board with his first career touchdown in Week 2. The cross-body, cross-field throw he made was a perfect cross of ‘oh my gosh, look at the arm on this kid’ and ‘oh my gosh, why did he make that decision.’ In other words: he looked like a rookie quarterback with raw talent that needs refining.

24. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

It might be fair to start wondering if Stroud’s ‘sophomore slump’ was more anomaly or red flag. He’s graded out as one of the worst passers by both ESPN’s QBR metric (34.8 is 30th in the NFL) and PFF (55.4 passing grade is 32nd of 34). Stroud deserves patience while he works through the season with a new offensive coordinator and reworked offensive line.

25. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

PFF grades Nix as the worst quarterback in the NFL through two weeks with a 40.9 overall grade that includes an abysmal 39.0 passing grade. At least he has one win this year, though it wasn’t exactly thanks to his 176 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against the Titans Week 1.

26. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Tagovailoa’s Week 1 performance against the Colts was about as ugly as it gets: 14-of-23, 114 yards, one touchdown to two interceptions and a lost fumble. Week 2 was something of a bounce-back statistically, with a completion rate above 80% and more than 300 yards, but a brutal interception in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter doomed his team to a second straight loss.

27. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Young looked a lot more like the pre-benching, inconsistent version of himself in Week 1, but flashes of intriguing play popped back up in Week 2, when he nearly led the Panthers to an unlikely comeback win against the Cardinals.

28. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns

Through two games in his second stint with the Browns, Flacco has been unable to recapture the magic of his first stint, when he ripped off four straight 300-yard games that resulted in wins to push Cleveland into the playoffs in 2023. He was benched for rookie Dillon Gabriel in Week 2. That looks like it could be a permanent change sooner rather than later.

29. Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals

It took Browning less than one full game to throw three interceptions and tie for what was, at the time, the league lead in the statistic. Yet he still managed to complete more than 65% of his 32 pass attempts for 241 yards and two touchdowns and secure the win for Cincinnati.

30. Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets

Taylor isn’t likely to fill in for more than one game while starter Justin Fields is in concussion protocol. Like Browning, he made his 2025 debut in Week 2 after Fields exited the game. In that one appearance against the Bills, Taylor completed more than twice as many passes as Fields in the same number of attempts for more than twice as many yards. He was also responsible for the Jets’ only touchdown of the day.

31. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

Mariota’s last start came three years and two teams ago, when he was still starting for the Falcons. In three games filling in for starter Jayden Daniels last year, he looked up to the task, but it’s hard to look past the 54.2% completion rate, 167 yards, one touchdown and an interception in his last start, a 19-16 loss to the Steelers.

32. Carson Wentz, Minnesota Vikings

The last time Wentz started a game that wasn’t inconsequential and in Week 18 was 2022 with the Commanders. His stat line against the Browns that day in a 24-10 loss: 16-of-28 (57.1% completion rate) passing for 143 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. It opened the door for Washington to be eliminated from playoff contention, a fact then-head coach Ron Rivera did not seem to know, as he infamously asked in a press conference after the game, ‘We can be eliminated?’ The Commanders were eliminated later that day.

The San Francisco 49ers’ franchise quarterback is one step closer to returning to the starting lineup.

Brock Purdy was back at practice in a limited role today, per multiple reports. San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy ‘has a chance’ to play Sunday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Purdy is recovering from toe and left shoulder injuries suffered in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco won that one 17-13 over the host Seahawks on a late go-ahead touchdown from Purdy to tight end Jake Tonges.

With Purdy out of the lineup in Week 2, Mac Jones made his first start as a 49er. Jones performed well and completed 26 of 39 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns to lead San Francisco to a 26-21 win over New Orleans on the road.

Jones showed in Week 2 he is a capable starter for San Francisco if Purdy isn’t fully healthy for Week 3’s home opener against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals and 49ers are both 2-0; a win for San Francisco would bank two divisional wins early in 2025 ahead of a road matchup on a short week in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams.

San Francisco stays home for Week 4 for a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones’ most recent team.

49ers QB depth chart

With Purdy’s status up in the air, Jones is the likely starter for now. Here’s how the rest of the position looks in San Francisco:

Brock Purdy (injured)
Mac Jones
Adrian Martinez (practice squad)
Kurtis Rourke (non-football injury list)

Now that the season is underway, there are only two ways to improve your rosters — waiver wire and trades.

Evaluating a fantasy trade can be a daunting task. Most managers value their players more than they’re actually worth. That’s where the Week 3 fantasy football trade value charts come in. You can also check out our Week 3 fantasy rankings to help with lineup and waiver decisions this week.

The charts can be used as your very own fantasy football trade analyzer in standard, half-PPR (point per reception) and full PPR leagues. Someone sends you an offer? Simply pull out a calculator (on your phone, you don’t need an actual calculator) and plug in the values for each player. Don’t worry, six-points-per-passing-touchdown and superflex leagues are covered as well.

Important note: If you’re offered an uneven trade (i.e., a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1), include the values for the players you’d be moving to the bench or dropping within your calculation. Example: If someone in your PPR league offers you Marvin Harrison Jr., RJ Harvey, and Nick Chubb (combined value of 77) for Malik Nabers (63), it might look like you’re getting the better end of it. However, if you’re bumping down, say, Bhayshul Tuten and Troy Franklin (combined value of 43) in the process, it’s a net negative deal for you.

Another note: The ‘1 QB’ values are for standard scoring leagues. Quarterback value diminishes in PPR formats, so deduct roughly 3% of their values in half-PPR and another 3% for full PPR (this number drops as the season goes on and people look to consolidate). Example: Lamar Jackson’s value in standard formats is 42. In half-PPR, his value would be 41 (deducted 3%), and in full PPR, his value would be 39 (deducted 6%).

The rankings are based on how players should be valued in 12-team leagues. Players are sorted in order of their half-PPR values.

(NOTE: App users might need to switch to a browser if the charts aren’t showing up.)

Quarterback trade value chart

(Note: ‘6/TD’ is for leagues that award six points for passing touchdowns and ‘SFLEX’ stands for superflex.)

Running back trade value chart (updated)

Wide receiver trade value chart

Tight end trade value chart

Overall Week 3 fantasy football rest-of-season rankings

Note: These values are for 12-team, one-QB leagues with half-PPR scoring.

(Note: This post has been updated following the news that Aaron Jones will be placed on IR. Jones was bumped down in value while Jordan Mason saw his value increase.)

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The Florida Panthers will be without Matthew Tkachuk for at least several months of the regular season as he recovers from offseason surgery.

General manager Bill Zito said on Wednesday, Sept. 17 as training camps opened that Tkachuk would be out until ‘December-ish.’

Tkachuk was originally hurt at the 4 Nations Face-Off and missed the rest of the regular season, then he helped the Panthers win a second consecutive Stanley Cup title. Afterward, it was announced that he had been playing through a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. He scored 23 points in 23 playoff games.

The December timeline will allow Tkachuk to be ready for the Olympics. He was among the first six players named for Team USA.

Zito also said forward Tomas Nosek would miss ‘months’ after offseason surgery.

Here’s a roundup of injury and other news as NHL training camps open:

David Pastrnak injury update

The Boston Bruins’ top scorer won’t skate for the first couple days of training camp, but the team expects him back on the ice early next week.

‘His last training block, he got a little tendinitis, and we as a group said load management at this point and time is the best course of action,’ GM Don Sweeney told reporters.

Mackenzie Blackwood injury update

The Colorado Avalanche No. 1 goalie is week to week as he deals with an offseason injury.

‘We’re hoping he’s ready to go for the start of the season,’ coach Jared Bednar told reporters. “If not right at the start, maybe the first week or two.”

Defenseman Sam Girard is on the ice as he rehabs from a lower body injury. The team hopes he’ll be ready for the start of the season.

Forward Logan O’Connor is on the ice after June hip surgery and could be back “November-ish,” Bednar said.

Nick Paul injury update

The Tampa Bay Lightning forward had surgery last week for an upper-body injury, GM Julien BriseBois told reporters. He’ll be out until the ‘first part of November.’

Connor Ingram update

The Utah Mammoth goalie has been cleared to return from the player assistance program, but he won’t take place in the team’s training camp.

GM Bill Armstrong said he’s happy for Ingram that he has been cleared, but the team will go with Karel Vejmelka and Vitek Vanecek this season.

He told reporters he would place the goalie on waivers at some point to give him a chance to play for another NHL team or in the American Hockey League.

‘At the end of the day, he will be playing and that’s what we’re so excited for,’ Armstrong said.

Zach Hyman injury update

The Edmonton Oilers star, who missed the Stanley Cup Final after wrist surgery, will miss the first day of camp but said he’s ‘progressing really, really well.’

He didn’t want to set a target date for his return.

‘We have little two-week milestones that we check off and that we hit and right now, we are progressing very well,’ he said.

Braves will miss playoffs for first time since 2017 and have big decisions to make this winter.
Longtime manager Brian Snitker could choose to step aside.
Retaining its core, Atlanta expects to get right back to competing next year.

WASHINGTON — These Atlanta Braves find themselves wedged in an unusual spot, accustomed to living by one of baseball’s truisms yet also refusing to accept that this season was nothing more than a worst-case simulation.

So yes, it’s undeniable that you are what your record says you are and right now, the Braves are 68-83.

At the same time, there’s justification for the Braves to regard their injury-ravaged roster, the long-term mojo disruption of a March PED suspension and a rash of one-run games that went the wrong way and think, well, this is not who we are.

Unfortunately for them, they’ll have to wait until 2026 to prove that.

“We’re expected to win every year,” outfielder Michael Harris II tells USA TODAY Sports. “I think we know as a team that this year isn’t a teller of who we are or who we’ll be in the future. It’s really just coming back next year, having a plan in spring training and sticking with it. Being one throughout the whole season.

“It wasn’t a normal season. Kind of started bad for us from the jump and we never quite got back right. Just kept going downhill from there. Hopefully we can change that over the offseason.”

That will come far quicker than Braves Country ever imagined.

Atlanta will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2017, Brian Snitker’s first full season as manager. Since 2018, it’s been full-throated October madness in Philadelphia and Los Angeles and a surprise World Series title in 2021, when franchise player Ronald Acuña Jr. tore up his knee (the first time) and a cadre of replacements backfilled around Freddie Freeman and Max Fried and won it all.

The Braves in winters past adequately replaced Freeman and shortstop Dansby Swanson and then hardly resisted when staff ace Fried left in December for a $218 million contract with the New York Yankees. Hey, they survived greater defections.

Yet as Harris noted, the 2025 vibes were cursed almost from the jump.

Jurickson Profar, signed to a three-year, $42 million contract to play left field, was suspended 80 games for a PED violation four games into the season. Right-hander Reynaldo López was lost to season-ending shoulder surgery after one start, kicking off a season of pitching calamities that saw Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, A.J. Smith-Shawver and Grant Holmes miss significant swaths of time.

“Obviously, injuries weren’t good to us this year,” says All-Star first baseman Matt Olson, who lost a significant amount of lineup protection when third baseman Austin Riley was limited to 102 games before his season ended Aug. 2. “At one point we had our whole starting rotation from Opening Day out.

“Not something you can immediately control, but it’s on everyone’s mind that we want to come out and have a good, healthy year.”

Was this season just a blip? And will club president Alex Anthopoulos and the corporate entity controlling the purse strings treat it as such?

Either way, there’s plenty of outstanding questions regarding the Braves’ composition in 2026.

Hazy shade of winter

Even with Riley out, and a desiccated starting rotation, the Braves still roll out a reputable alignment most nights. Their Sept. 1 waiver claim of shortstop Ha-Seong Kim from the Tampa Bay Rays shored up a position of glaring need since the offensive demise of Orlando Arcia resulted in his May release.

Kim and three-time All-Star Ozzie Albies create a solid look up the middle – for now.

Kim has a $16 million player option for 2026, and with every smooth movement afield and hard-hit ball – he has a .304/.365/.391 slash line in 13 games with Atlanta – the chances increase he turns it down and hits the free agent market again.

Albies has a $7 million club option for 2026, and his $4 million buyout enhances the chances it’s picked up – as does his .400 average against left-handers since July 29. There’s also a reasonable $18 million option on 2024 Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale.

Yet beyond closer Raisel Iglesias and DH Marcell Ozuna, the biggest pending free agent is in the manager’s office.

Snitker, 69, is in the final year of his contract in this, his 49th year in the Braves organization. Both he and Anthopoulos have kept the door ajar on a 2026 return, even as shifting into an advisory role for his golden anniversary as a Brave seems logical.

“Snit’s been in the game for a long time. He’s been here a long time,” says Olson. “Won a World Series, knows how to do it. Learned from one of the best in Bobby Cox. He’s just always even-keeled, no matter how we’re playing.

“I think that’s a good trait to have.”

The Braves are 22-21 since Aug. 1, 9-18 against currently-aligned playoff clubs in that span. For his part, Snitker appreciates his team’s effort and intensity even in the absence of playoff stakes, an odd position for this franchise.

“We’ve been out of it for a while. We dug a huge hole for ourselves,” says Snitker, whose club was 42-53 and 12th among NL teams by the All-Star break. “We had some help, with all the injuries and everything. But you’d never know it with these guys. They’re going out there like we’re fighting to win the division again.

“They’re a bunch of pros and they love to play baseball and it’s good to see there’s nobody feeling sorry. Just trying to go out and win the game.”

And the misfortune has created an onramp for others to shine.

‘I want to earn it’

Hurston Waldrep winces thinking about the convergence of injuries that felled the pitchers above him in the Braves organization.

He considers it a relief that ultimately, the impetus for his recall to the big leagues was a literal act of nature – the rainstorm that postponed the MLB Speedway Classic, prompting Atlanta to call him up for the game restart Aug. 3.

And Waldrep may never go back to the minors.

Waldrep posted a 1.01 ERA over 35 ⅔ innings in August, a stretch beginning with his Speedway Classic relief heroics and continuing through a stretch of one earned run yielded over 18 1/3 innings of three starts.

Sale, Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider would be rotation locks in 2026, with Lopez another possibility should he finish his recovery. Waldrep would like to join them – the right way.

“I want to earn my spot,” says Waldrep, chosen 24th overall out of Florida in 2023. “The way everything’s gone this year and the way these (injured) guys have handled it, it’s been awesome to see them back home in Atlanta, working to be back.

“The way my opportunity came about, having the rainout – that’s how I got here. Thank the good Lord above for sending us some rain and giving me an opportunity. It is what it is – you take ‘em where you get ‘em and keep going.”

Waldrep was roughed up in two big league starts in 2024, which he used as fuel down in Class AAA Gwinnett. As the bold-faced names kept landing on the injured list, his return became more imminent.

“It was a great year and I learned a lot and wouldn’t change a thing about it,” says Waldrep, who has a 2.78 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 4-1 record in 45 ⅓ innings this season. “I really enjoyed spending the first part of the year in Triple-A and beating the odds of people telling me I wouldn’t be back, stuff like that. Having a chip on my shoulder.

“I didn’t accept failure and learned from it and continued to grow.”

Waldrep is one of 16 starting pitchers that rookie catcher Drake Baldwin has had to handle. Baldwin has guided all of them with aplomb, and added 16 homers and a .766 OPS – the opportunity arising with catcher Sean Murphy’s rib cage fracture and season-ending hip surgery limiting him to 94 games.

“His game-calling and handling the pitching staff has been awesome,” says Snitker of Baldwin. “Very worthy of a Rookie of the Year nod, in my opinion.”

The breakouts and the projected returnees create a sense that the Braves could once again look pretty daunting when they reassemble in North Point for Grapefruit League play in February. The onus will first be on the franchise to commit; the players, it seems are ready to run through a wall to run it back.

Waldrep has been around the organization enough to know what the good times look like, how the mood is in those times, and how the vibes might differ in this aggravating season. The Braves’ 34 one-run losses lead the major leagues, the cherry on top of their season-long sundae of misfortune.

It still hasn’t crushed the vibes, or the notion that this season of misfortune is the aberration. Not the rule.

“The clubhouse overall, doesn’t ever feel like what’s happened this year,” says Waldrep. “It’s still an awesome environment to be around, a winning environment to be around. You’re around a bunch of people who want to win, who are striving to win, who are working very hard to be the best versions of themselves.

“That makes everyone here really excited for next year but also, we have a job to finish this year. We have to end the year on a good note, make a statement and reassure ourselves we’re still a really good organization, a winning program, and this doesn’t change at all who we are.”

The 2025 Ryder Cup, a week away from its commencement at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, is a must-see golf event that happens every two years. It’s a gathering of the world’s best golfers, all proudly donning the exclusive official Ryder Cup gear.

The official Ryder Cup merchandise allows fans to show their support with a variety of gear, including hats, visors, polos, shirts, sweaters, and zip-up jackets for both men and women. In addition to clothing, fans can also purchase official Ryder Cup items such as a duo ball maker, divot tool, putter or driver covers, and caddy towels, among others. The U.S. Ryder Cup shop has designed this collection to represent the U.S. team, ensuring that it is built for comfort, focus, and championship-level performance.

Here’s how to conveniently obtain your own Team U.S. Ryder Cup merchandise and how to watch the 2025 Ryder Cup from Farmingdale, New York:

How to buy Team USA Ryder Cup gear

Fans looking to support Team USA and sport their own gear can now purchase official 2025 Ryder Cup apparel from the collection at glenmuir.com.

When is the 2025 Ryder Cup?

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 26-28 on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York.

How to watch the 2025 Ryder Cup?

The 2025 Ryder Cup TV schedule has not yet been announced, but NBC has the rights to the event. Various networks under the NBCUniversal umbrella will have coverage throughout the competition.

Date: Sept. 26-28
TV: NBC, Golf Channel and USA Network
Stream:Peacock, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
Location: Bethpage State Park Black course (Farmingdale, New York)

Stream the 2025 Ryder Cup on Fubo