Week 2 Ends with Dart Injury; Time to Look Ahead to Week 3 [Footballugys Daily Update 9/22]
Bob Harris and Mike Dempsey recap Week 2's Monday night carnage, including Jaxson Dart's knee injury (MRI pending, possible six-week absence) and Malik Nabors' scary shoulder hit, then run through a wave of injury news across the league (Jayden Daniels' elbow, Caleb Williams, Brock Bowers, Jonathan Brooks, Mike Evans, Alec Pierce, Dallas Goedert, Jaden Reed) and what it means for backups and pass-catchers heading into Week 3. The episode is mostly injury-driven player analysis rather than broad strategic takes.
This episode of The Audible is a rapid-fire Week 2 injury and news roundup, with hosts Mike Dempsey and Bob Harris triaging a wave of banged-up skill players — Jaxson Dart, Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, Caleb Williams, Brock Bowers, and more — to figure out who's droppable, who's a buy-low, and who's about to see a workload spike.
The arguments
Jaxson Dart's knee injury opens a real but time-limited window for Jameis Winston, not a QB1 job. Dart suffered a hard hit to the left knee in the Rams-Giants Monday game; X-rays were negative but an MRI was pending, with Bob Harris projecting a possible six-week absence. Winston takes over as starter until Dart returns, but the hosts didn't frame him as more than a bridge option.
Jayden Daniels' dislocated elbow makes Marcus Mariota a streaming-only Superflex option, and it drags down the whole Commanders offense. Harris noted Daniels missed four games last year after a similar injury, then more later, and pointed out Mariota ranked just 34th in points per game (11.8 average) filling in for 11 games. Both hosts agreed Mariota is only useful to avoid a zero, not a real flex play, and that Washington's skill-position players all take a hit because the offense won't run as efficiently under him.
Caleb Williams' status is genuinely uncertain, but any absence is a soft positive for Colston Loveland. Williams avoided serious injury and is week-to-week; Dempsey said he can't trust a Week 3 return even with the extra day from Monday Night Football, while Harris called a one-week absence realistic. Harris flagged that Loveland ran a route on 87% of Chicago's pass plays in Week 2 but still only has a 9% target share, well behind Khalif Raymond (25%), Luther Burden (21%), and Dunsley (12.5%), so the "missed QB" boost isn't guaranteed.
Brock Bowers' return in Week 3 should be treated as close to confirmed. Clint Kubiak said Bowers is close to playing, and Harris pointed to reports from Ian Rapoport and Dan Graziano suggesting a return this week or sooner than a previously floated Week 4 timeline. Both hosts agreed the momentum is undeniable barring a setback.
Drake London is the better bet than Kyle Pitts if Michael Penix Jr. plays through discomfort. Harris cited that in the nine games London and Penix played together before last year's Week 11 injuries, London posted 60 catches, 810 yards, and five touchdowns on 94 targets, including 100+ receiving yards in five of his last six games — 10.4 targets and 90 yards per game. Pitts, by contrast, finished as tight end 16 with Penix at the helm, making London the clear priority target.
Chuba Hubbard should be ranked as a high-end RB2 regardless of Jonathan Brooks' timeline. With Brooks week-to-week again on a groin injury and seeking second opinions, Harris noted Hubbard has been RB8 through two weeks averaging 19 fantasy points per game, and even discounting for regression, a high-end RB2 valuation is fair.
A.J. Brown's absence and Dallas Goedert's knee injury reroute Philadelphia's passing volume toward Devonta Smith and Zach Ertz rather than Johnny Wolk. Harris was skeptical of Smith sustaining every-week WR1 numbers, citing Football Guys' Matt Waldman's similar skepticism and Dave Kluge's rest-of-season ranking of Smith at WR13 — high-end WR2 territory. With Goedert out a few weeks, the Eagles signed veteran Ertz rather than turning to Wolk, though Harris cautioned Ertz's scheme familiarity is unproven.
What it means for your roster
- Do not add Jameis Winston as more than an emergency streamer; Dart's return timeline (up to six weeks) makes this a short leash situation, not a season-long value play.
- Downgrade all Washington skill players (including Superflex Mariota) while Daniels is out; Mariota is bench/waiver-only depth, not a flex starter.
- Hold Colston Loveland but temper expectations — his route participation (87%) hasn't translated to target share (9%), so a Caleb Williams absence won't necessarily unlock him.
- Bowers managers should plan to start him in Week 3 as close to a lock barring a setback.
- Prioritize Drake London over Kyle Pitts in any trade involving Falcons pass-catchers; the pre-injury target/production gap with Penix at QB strongly favors London.
- Rank Chuba Hubbard as a high-end RB2 rest-of-season, not just a hold-your-breath Brooks handcuff.
- Treat Devonta Smith as a high-end WR2 (around WR13 per Kluge), not a locked-in WR1, despite his big Week 2 game; target Ertz cautiously in deeper TE streaming spots once he's integrated.
“I'm pretty sure he won't.” — Bob Harris
Players in this episode
↑ Had 60 catches for 810 yards and 5 TDs on 94 targets in nine games with Penix last season, including 100+ yards in five of his last six games before injury — favored over Kyle Pitts with Penix starting.
↓ Suffered a dislocated left elbow, expected to undergo imaging and consult specialists; an IR stint is likely.
→ Avoided serious injury and is week-to-week; a Week 3 return seems like a stretch but a one-week absence is realistic.
↑ Very close to playing, with momentum building toward a Week 3 return against the Saints per multiple reports.
→ Hurt his right shoulder trying to make a catch, was attended to for several minutes and looked shaken, but returned to play the second half without further issue.
→ Embracing the number one receiver role and says he can be that guy, but hosts and Matt Waldman are skeptical of consistent WR1 weeks, projecting him more as a high-end WR2 (Dave Kluge ranks him WR13).
→ Ran a route on 87% of pass plays in Week 2 but only has a 9% target share through two games, trailing Khalif Raymond, Luther Burden, and Dunsley in targets.
↓ Suffered a hard hit on his left knee, X-rays negative but MRI scheduled; could miss up to six weeks with Jameis Winston starting in his place.
↑ Caught 8 of 10 targets for 195 yards and two touchdowns from Matthew Stafford in the Rams' win over the Giants.
→ Coach Mike McDonald downplayed his shoulder injury, but Emmanuel Wilson is viewed as the top handcuff if Price misses time.
↓ Picked up a hip injury following Demarcus Robinson's high ankle sprain; Kyle Shanahan (transcript likely misattributed) said they'll monitor him through the week, raising concern about Week 3 availability.
↑ Could see increased opportunity with Jaden Reed's lingering back injury and Saban Williams sidelined through Week 4.
↑ Has been running back eight over the first two games averaging 19 fantasy points per game and should be ranked as a high-end RB2 rest of season.
↓ Was only tight end 16 in fantasy scoring with Penix at quarterback last season, making him less favored than London.
↓ Week-to-week with a groin injury and seeking a second opinion, continuing a pattern of inability to stay healthy.
↑ Cleared from concussion protocol and will start Week 3 against Tampa Bay; hosts project him inside the top 10 QBs this week, though a loss could spark a QB controversy with Carson Wentz (2-0) in Arizona... actually noted for Vikings context.
↓ Had negative X-rays on a sore foot/heel injury but is seeking a second opinion, raising concern given his history of heel issues and possible Week 3 absence.
↓ Will be out a few weeks with a sprained knee; the Eagles signed veteran Zach Ertz to help fill the void, while Johnny Muntz likely won't see the target boost.
↓ Suffered a back injury that landed him in the hospital, a situation that could linger; with Saban Williams also out through Week 4, hosts favor Christian Watson and Matthew Golden for increased opportunity.
↑ Could see increased opportunity with Jaden Reed's lingering back injury and Saban Williams sidelined through Week 4.
↑ Led the Seahawks with 21 carries for 92 yards in Arizona and is in line for a heavier workload if Price is out.
↑ Officially named starter for Thursday Night Football, expected to boost Drake London's target share based on prior production together.
→ Coach Todd Monken praised his growth without fully confirming him as Week 3 starter; he threw for solid yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Bucs and appears to be the starter for now against Cleveland's rival.
→ Will start at quarterback for the Giants while Dart recovers from his knee injury.
→ Would fill in for Daniels; last year he ranked 34th in points per game (11.8 ppg) as a starter, making him only a reasonable depth/streaming option in superflex.
→ Went 2-0 as a fill-in starter; if Murray struggles or loses, a QB controversy could develop in Minnesota per a beat reporter's comments.
→ Signed by the Eagles after going unsigned since tearing his ACL last year, expected to provide some receiving targets while learning the offense.