Dallas Goedert has battled injury misfortune against teams tied to his nameplate. In 2023 he fractured a forearm in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys and missed three games, including a Chiefs affair at Arrowhead. Less than two years later, a knee sprain in the season opener vs Dallas kept him out the following week in Kansas City, though he traveled with the team and remained hopeful. Now Week 3 vs the Rams looms as he nears a return, practicing in limited fashion with a brace in tow.

The Eagles leaned on Goedert last season as a reliable target, despite a heavy workload and injuries, and they’ll welcome him back if he can contribute in the passing and running games. His presence could unlock Philadelphia’s rhythm as they navigate a cautious early stretch and a defense-heavy opponent slate, with his snap counts and target share under close watch.

Dallas Goedert is limited in practice with a knee sprain and will test it on Thursday ahead of the Sunday date with the Rams. If cleared, he’s expected to play, echoing his push to suit up against Kansas City last week. The Eagles look notably better with Goedert on the field, especially for Hurts and the mid-range passing game.

With 16 missed games since 2022, Goedert has brace history but remains a central piece when healthy. His availability will shape target distribution, red-zone opportunities, and Calcaterra’s workload if Goedert is limited, as Philadelphia leaned on him in last year’s Rams meetings even with a brace.

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.

Kansas City activates two rookies for the Sunday rematch with Philadelphia, adding interior pass rush help in Omarr Norman-Lott and adding a special teams and subpackage defender in Kevin Knowles. Norman-Lott, a Tennessee product, is viewed as an interior disruptor who can relieve Chris Jones on passing downs, while Knowles brings depth and cover capabilities as a foreseen contributor on special teams. Derrick Nnadi returns to start, reinforcing the Chiefs’ interior after a re-acquisition that bolsters the rotation.

Philly arrives without Dallas Goedert and Will Shipley, forcing adjustments as Tank Bigsby handles kickoff returns. Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals could resurface next week as KC reloads for the Giants, and the Eagles will lean on new options as the game at Arrowhead tests depth and coaching schemes in a high-stakes rematch atmosphere.

Week 2 inactive lists for the Chiefs and Eagles were released ahead of the Arrowhead showdown. Chiefs inactive: Jalen Royals, Xavier Worthy, Jared Wiley, Elijah Mitchell, Hunter Nourzad, Malik Herring. Eagles inactive: Dallas Goedert, Azeez Ojulari, Tanner McKee, Will Shipley, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Drew Kendall.

Inactives are determined for injury status, coaching decisions, or other reasons and must be disclosed about 90 minutes before kickoff. With these absences, fantasy managers should anticipate deeper roles for reserve players and possible line and rotation changes on both sides.