0-2 starts are historically brutal, but the NFL’s 17-game era offers room to rebound. A new PANIC score aggregates five panic biomarkers—closeness of losses, head coach security, rookie/young-talent performance, fan sentiment, and the volume of controversial decisions—to rank the league’s 10 winless teams. Kansas City sits at 3.5 while Miami trails at 9.5, with a clear path to calm through improved play, coaching steadiness, and roster decisions that shape playoff odds and fantasy value.

The list spans KC, NO, CLE, NYJ, CHI, CAR, HOU, NYG, TEN, and MIA, each evaluated for the risk of panic in a 17-game season. The piece translates a season’s early chaos into actionable fantasy and betting takeaways: which young players might break out, which coaches face pressure, and how schedules and QB development influence upside in the months ahead.

Week 3 rookie waiver targets rise as usage reveals true upside. Dont'e Thornton Jr. brings rare size-speed bursts that could spark a breakout with Geno Smith connecting on downfield plays. Cam Skattebo has surged to the Giants' RB1 discussion, while Bhayshul Tuten's per-touch efficiency signals elite upside in Jacksonville. Jarquez Hunter edges closer to real volume with the Rams, and Brashard Smith offers a dart throw with return-yard utility. Elic Ayomanor shows flashes, but volume hinders weekly starts. Puka Nacua’s late-blooming path remains the blueprint for upside.

NFL teams increasingly rely on capable backups as the league's quarterback depth becomes a defining edge. The league-wide ranking spotlights 12 signal-callers who would step into a starting role with meaningful fantasy value, led by Kirk Cousins’s high-floor approach and Jake Browning’s improved sizing of Burrow’s Bengals. The piece weighs recent performance, supporting cast, and o-line strength to separate reliable veterans from high-variance upshots, framing Week 3 as a potential turning point for fantasy rosters.

From Jaxson Dart’s rookie upside to Marcus Mariota’s steady fill-in floor and Tanner McKee’s elevated camp vibes translating to the field, the list blends proven production with upside. The discussion also considers Anthony Richardson’s high ceiling despite a limited track record and Jacoby Brissett’s bridge-class efficiency, creating a practical guide for managers tracking backups across all leagues.

As Burrow’s injury reframes Cincinnati’s short-term outlook, the landscape for Week 3 and beyond hinges on how these backups leverage opportunity, line support, and big-play receivers. The analysis helps fantasy managers gauge which backups could emerge as weekly starters or high-floor DFS plays when the top signal-caller is unavailable.

The tush push is the NFL’s most infamous short-yardage weapon, and the Eagles have turned it into a near-automatic conversion since 2022. They’ve run it 116 times, turning most into first downs and touchdowns, a number others mimic but seldom rival. Yet a growing chorus wants it banned. Falcons coach Raheem Morris questions its legality, while league leaders debate safety versus tradition. The play’s success—about 85% for tush pushes vs roughly 67% for non-tush attempts—has teams rethinking whether a single, explosive formation can redefine a season.

Key to Philadelphia’s edge: Hurts’ exceptional lower-body strength, the offensive line’s explosive surge, and an evolving scheme that added a second passer and layered options. Other teams can replicate only if they have the personnel and risk tolerance. The debate isn’t just tactical; it’s about player safety, coaching philosophy, and whether a single play should shape a franchise’s approach to fourth-and-1.

The conversation extends beyond Philly: some teams study and imitate, others push back on principles or safety. As the league weighs the future of a play that can crown drives quickly, fantasy managers should monitor which teams stay committed, which adapt, and how changes in rules could alter the short-yardage game entirely.