Jalen Pitre's rib injury tests Houston's nickel defense in the MNF clash with Tampa Bay. If he rests or is limited, Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter must lock outside while Tremon Smith and Jaylin Smith fill depth roles, heightening Tampa Bay's passing opportunities. Houston also battles missing receivers Christian Kirk, Braxton Berrios, and center Jake Andrews, plus the absence of Joe Mixon, widening the Texans' offensive uncertainty. Tampa Bay, dealing with Luke Goedeke and Tristan Wirfs out, presses Charlie Heck into action on the right side, elevating the Buccaneers' pass protection risks.

Fantasy angles tilt toward volume and volatility. Stroud could see more targets if Houston's defense softens, while Mayfield may exploit any matchup edges with Houston’s thin back end. Will Anderson's rush becomes even more pivotal for Houston, and Danielle Hunter's presence adds to the edge pressure. Monitor Pitre's status as game time nears, since the depth players stepping up will shape weekly lineups and bets.

Rams flip kickoff play in 2025, turning Joshua Karty into a real weapon with low, landing-zone kicks that limit returns and push Texans into tougher starting field positions. Week 1 produced two landing-zone touchbacks, a third bounce that stayed in play, and a swarm of Rams upfield coverage that kept returns to 11 yards on average. League rule tweaks spurred higher kickoff returns overall, but LAR topped the Week 1 ledger in drive-start edge.

Cam Little and Tremon Smith surfaced as notable pieces in the Rams’ revamped plan, while the Texans fought a different battle from their own 20s and 23s. The narrative centers on field position as a strategic weapon, redefining the kickoff phase as a true battleground for fantasy managers circling special-teams and leverage plays.

The Denver Broncos have re-signed 11 of their in-house free agents while seven have departed for other teams. The only remaining unsigned free agent is offensive lineman Quinn Bailey, who has spent six years in Denver since joining as an undrafted free agent from Arizona State. Bailey's ability to recover from a season-ending ankle injury might determine his future with the team.

Notable departures include CB Tremon Smith to the Houston Texans and LB Cody Barton to the Tennessee Titans. The Broncos' roster currently stands at 91 following a roster exemption for punter Jeremy Crawshaw.

The Denver Broncos navigated a challenging offseason, managing to re-sign five unrestricted free agents while losing three key players to other teams. Punter Riley Dixon decided to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading the Broncos to acquire Matt Haack on a one-year deal for punting duties. Wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey sought greater playing time and signed with the New York Giants, leaving the Broncos in search of additional wide receiver talent. Additionally, cornerback Tremon Smith also departed to join the Houston Texans, prompting Denver to bring in special teams contributor Trent Sherfield.

Overall, the Broncos have signed a total of 15 players during free agency, including six departing from the team. Now, with the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon, the Broncos hold seven picks to further bolster their roster for the upcoming season.