Bowman Jr. has opened his NFL career with immediate impact for Atlanta, recording a sack in Week 1 against Baker Mayfield and an interception in Sunday Night Football versus J.J. McCarthy. The Falcons’ defensive rebuild is showing dividends early as Bowman’s ball-hawking traits and versatility surface in Jeff Ulbrich’s scheme, with Xavier Watts also flashing turnover potential in the secondary.

Team brass like GM Terry Fontenot publicly praised the pick, underscoring Bowman’s fit as a multi-role defender. With six quarters in the books, Bowman has demonstrated a fast-learning arc and an upside that could lift the entire unit, giving fantasy managers a developing playmaker to monitor as the Falcons lean into a reimagined defense.

Cade Stover underwent successful foot surgery after Week 1, placing him on injured reserve and sidelining him indefinitely. Houston pivots to Dalton Schultz as the top TE with Harrison Bryant stepping in as depth, hoping for a midseason return from Stover. Week 2 against the Buccaneers will test the Texans’ TE rotation as Bryant comes off the practice squad to bolster the room, while John Metchie’s offseason trade reshapes the depth chart.

Stover’s 4-catch, 22-yard showing in the opener underscored his fantasy upside, making his absence a real hurdle for Houston’s targets. Schultz should assume lead duties, with Bryant offering a potentialTE2 floor in two-TE sets, and the Texans’ offense recalibrating around these changes as they eye durability and depth in a tough early schedule.

Sunday Night Football pits the Minnesota Vikings against the Atlanta Falcons with Minnesota aiming to stay hot at home behind J.J. McCarthy and Justin Jefferson, while Atlanta leans on Michael Penix Jr. and Bijan Robinson to spark the offense. Minnesota is a 3.5-point favorite with a 44.5 total, built on a late-week surge and a recent head-to-head edge. The game shapes as a chess match of big-play potential from Jefferson and Robinson against a defense that must slow the passing attack and control the clock.

Betting angles center on Minnesota’s home efficiency and the spread dynamics, with SportsLine’s expert picks noted for a lean to the under and a pivotal X-factor that could swing the spread. The narrative blends McCarthy’s improved poise, Jefferson’s elite ceiling, Penix Jr.’s arm and mobility, and Robinson’s multi-format threat into a fantasy-friendly SNF matchup that could hinge on red-zone execution and explosive plays.