Jalen Mills lands on the Texans' practice squad, adding veteran depth as Houston searches for stability after an 0-2 start. Mills owns a nine-year résumé with 115 games and 91 starts, eight interceptions, and 59 passes defended, offering versatile coverage and run support for a developing secondary. Houston shuffled its practice squad again, cutting Silas Bolden and Jaylon Thomas to align with Week 3 needs. The move signals a measured, cost-controlled path to revamping a struggling defense.

Bills sit No. 1 with a clean Week 2 showing, followed by Eagles, Ravens, Packers, and Chargers as Week 3 favorites. The rest of the league shifts with the Dolphins and Panthers sliding after rough outings, while Colts climb into the middle of the pack on explosive offense and emerging pieces. Bryce Young flashed in Carolina, Spencer Rattler impressed in New Orleans, and J.J. McCarthy looks like a work-in-progress in Minnesota as teams settle into schemes and fantasy roles.

Aaron Jones lands on IR with a four-week hamstring timeline, forcing Minnesota to lean on a reshuffled backfield. Mason steps in as lead back, and Cam Akers could join as depth. Jones’ 2024 breakout, 1,138 rushing yards, and a 27-yard Week 1 TD loom as benchmarks in a Week 3 mismatch against Cincinnati.

The offense shifts with J.J. McCarthy sidelined; Carson Wentz is slated to start, while Jake Browning handles Cincinnati’s quarterback duties. Minnesota sits as a small home favorite, elevating Mason’s fantasy ceiling and Akers’ late-season upside in a backfield-by-committee landscape.

Expect Mason to command a sizeable early-down role, with Akers offering insurance and dormancy risk but upside in favorable scripts. This creates real DFS and weekly RB2 intrigue as the Vikings navigate the next four weeks.

Week 3 brings sharp NFL line moves around key numbers 3, 7, 6, 14 and 10, with Bills-Dolphins surging to Bills -12.5 and Vikings-Bengals shifting on Burrow’s status and a McCarthy setback. Packers-Browns climbed as Green Bay’s defense dominates early, while a cluster of 42-45 point totals and six road favorites shape the slate. Injury news drives much of the movement, with Purdy, Burrow, Fields, Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy in the spotlight and Ekeler/Jones shaping backfield expectations for fantasy and props.

The piece emphasizes how one quarterback can swing a spread, while OL/DL/WR injuries carry outsized impact when multiple starters are out. It also flags top receiving and backfield targets (Kittle, Goedert, Reed, Godwin, Darrisaw) as potential swing factors for props and DFS, and notes the evolving landscape of team totals and betting angles as Week 3 approaches.