Chase Brown’s 2025 Bengals backfield has been muted by inefficiency and stalled game scripts. He’s seen about 73% of snaps but just 90 rushing yards on 37 carries and a single rushing TD through two games, plus only four receptions for 26 yards this season. Burrow’s turf-toe injury puts more pressure on Brown, yet upcoming matchups vs a soft run defense (MIN) and a concessive Detroit D offer a path to regression toward the mean. Buy-low stories flourish when volume remains intact and efficiency returns.

With Burrow out for months, Cincinnati plans to lean on Brown’s workload while Jake Browning runs the offense. The path to fantasy relevance hinges on Brown reeling in more receiving work and breaking longer runs. If you own him, patience is warranted; if you don’t, there’s demand potential in a trade window as defenses still fear the run and the schedule softens.

The New York Jets added depth at defensive back by signing Nik Needham to the practice squad after a Tuesday workout that included eight DBs: Nik Needham, Jaden Davis, Thomas Graham, Richie Grant, Arthur Maulet, Tanner McAlister, Jalen Mills, and Duke Shelley. With two injuries in the secondary, the club is layering options as they monitor additional silhouettes for potential roster moves.

Needham stands out given his Dolphins tenure and recent PS experience, plus his size and versatility. Mills is a veteran name headed toward the Texans’ practice squad, while Graham’s 12-game resume since 2021 makes him a candidate to watch. Maulet is a familiar face, and Shelley, Davis, and McAlister add depth pieces with potential special-teams value. The Jets are casting a wide net as they navigate a banged-up secondary and look for reliable depth behind the starters.

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.