New England’s 42-13 win over Carolina featured a balanced, opportunistic performance from all three phases. Stevenson started at running back amid debates about the RB rotation, with Henderson and Gibson adding ground game punch and a rushing TD apiece. Diggs anchored the passing game with 101 yards on six catches, hinting at a larger, more consistent target share. Gonzalez returned to lock down the secondary, and Jones electrified special teams with an 87-yard punt return TD and a franchise-best 167 punt-return yards. Maye dazzled with 203 passing yards and two TDs, while Dobbs entered late for a crisp relief appearance. Douglas saw fewer snaps as the offense leaned on the expanded playmakers.

The performance offered a blueprint for the Patriots: stabilizing the backfield, leveraging Diggs as a true anchor in the aerial attack, and relying on a healthier secondary and explosive special teams to swing field position. If Maye continues to distribute effectively and the defense stays assignment-sound, New England could sustain momentum in a crowded AFC landscape.

San Francisco’s week-two reality check: Purdy is sidelined by turf-toe/toe and shoulder issues, a long-shot to play against New Orleans. The 49ers turn to Mac Jones, with Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs noted historically as emergency options. Kittle’s hamstring injury puts more pressure on San Francisco’s passing game while Bridge to Lance looms in the backstory. The upcoming slate (Saints, Cardinals, Jaguars, Rams, Buccaneers) tests Jones and the system’s resilience, especially without Purdy’s floor-raising play.

Fantasy angles tilt toward Jones as a potential streamer early, with Kittle out of the equation for several weeks and SF leaning on the run game and short-mesh concepts. San Francisco’s prior Week-2 outcomes without Purdy hint at volatility, but the surrounding cast—McCaffrey, Samuel, and the defense—keeps the floor high if Jones adapts quickly. Track Purdy’s timeline for re-entry and Jones’ early chemistry in high-leverage spots.

No. 5 is the new focal point for the Steelers with Jalen Ramsey wearing the number after a blockbuster swap sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami. The countdown to Week 1 vs Jets at MetLife centers on the No. 5 legacy: Ramsey’s elite pedigree, the five Steelers who’ve worn the digit, and Craig Colquitt’s legendary punting stretch as the franchise’s top No. 5. The piece knots the trade, the roster history, and the fantasy angles tied to a stronger secondary and improved special-teams ceiling.

The history shows Ramsey joined a secondary poised to lock down receivers, while the old No. 5 lineage includes Cameron Johnston, D’Shawn Jamison, Joshua Dobbs, and Bruce Gradkowski. Colquitt’s punt volume anchors the tradition as the greatest No. 5 wearer, a reminder that production from special teams can tilt fantasy DSTs and punt-related plays. Jets loom as Week 1 opponent, amplifying the intrigue for Week 1 lineups.