NFL Player News
-
Brandin Cooks WR | BUF
Saints' Brandin Cooks: Catches three passes Week 1
Cooks had three receptions (on four targets) for 26 yards during Sunday's 20-13 loss versus the Cardinals.
Cooks slotted in as New Orleans' No. 3 wideout in his first game back with the team since 2016. The 31-year-old finished fourth on the squad in targets, catches and yards as quarterback Spencer Rattler chucked a career-high 46 passing attempts. But, the lion's share of targets still went toward Chris Olave (13), Rashid Shaheed (nine) and tight end Juwan Johnson (11). The surprisingly high volume of passing attempts could lead to more production than expected from the Saints' receivers, though it appears the aerial attack will be concentrated around Olave, Shaheed and Johnson. Cooks will look to gain some extra targets when the Saints host the 49ers in Week 2.
-
Jayden Higgins WR | HOU
Texans' Jayden Higgins: Leads receivers with 32 yards
Higgins finished with two receptions on three targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams.
Higgins wound up leading the Texans in receiving yards despite posting such meager totals. It was a missed opportunity for the second-round rookie, who was elevated into the starting lineup in place of the injured Christian Kirk (hamstring). It is unclear how long Kirk will remain out, but Higgins didn't do enough to inspire confidence in fantasy managers heading into next Monday's tilt against Tampa Bay.
-
Cooper Kupp WR | SEA
Seahawks' Cooper Kupp: Non-factor in SEA debut
Kupp brought in two of three targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 17-13 loss to the 49ers.
Kupp struggled to establish himself in Seattle's new-look offense, finishing a distant second behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba (9-124-0) in overall production. The 32-year-old Kupp may not be his former MVP self, but the fact he still finished second in targets bodes well for his prospects in games with higher passing volume than the 23 attempts Seattle amassed Sunday. For now, Kupp's fantasy value may be limited to deeper formats for next week's contest against the Steelers.
-
Calvin Ridley WR | TEN
Titans' Calvin Ridley: Out of sync with Ward
Ridley recorded four receptions on eight targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Broncos.
Ridley led the Titans in targets and receptions, but he was not efficient with his chances and was slightly out of sync with Cameron Ward. The duo connected for a 13-yard gain early in the fourth quarter, Ridley's longest catch of the day. However, he had a few passes glance off his hands later in the contest as the Titans tried to mount a comeback, and Ridley had a particularly costly drop on the team's final offensive possession. While it was a disappointing opening line, Ridley should be in for better performances moving forward thanks to his secure role in the Titans' offense.
-
Jameson Williams WR | DET
Lions' Jameson Williams: Underwhelms in Week 1
Williams recorded four receptions on five targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers.
Williams' primary appeal as a fantasy contributor is his ability to hit for explosive plays, but the Packers held him under wraps in Week 1. His longest reception went for just 11 yards, and he was held to his lowest yardage total in a regular-season game since Week 7 of the 2024 campaign. The entire Lions' offense was ineffective, so it's not time to panic on Williams heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Bears.
-
Ricky Pearsall WR | SF
49ers' Ricky Pearsall: Leads team with 108 receiving yards
Pearsall brought in four of seven targets for 108 yards in Sunday's 17-13 win over Seattle.
Pearsall took on an expanded role after George Kittle (hamstring) and Jauan Jennings (shoulder) did not return from their respective injuries suffered in Sunday's victory. The 24-year-old Pearsall was up to the task, ripping off multiple big-chunk plays en route to his first 100-yard game of 2025. The University of Florida product was already expected to have a breakout season entering his second year, but he could be asked to do even more if either Kittle or Jennings is forced to miss time. Pearsall will attempt to build off of this promising start when the 49ers take on the Saints next Sunday.
-
Courtland Sutton WR | DEN
Broncos' Courtland Sutton: Touchdown grab in Week 1
Sutton recorded six receptions on nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-12 win over the Titans.
Sutton was unsurprisingly Bo Nix's favorite target and led the Broncos in targets, receptions and yards. Sutton accounted for the majority of his production on a leaping, contested 22-yard touchdown catch just before halftime. He chipped in two additional receptions that went for double-digit gains to get his 2025 campaign off to a solid start.
-
Arian Smith WR | NYJ
Jets' Arian Smith: Not targeted in NFL debut
Smith wasn't targeted and had a 31-yard kickoff return in Sunday's 34-32 loss to the Steelers.
Smith got the final kickoff return opportunity of the game for the Jets after Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) got hurt and Xavier Gipson lost a costly fumble on a kickoff return. Smith's speed could help the rookie fourth-round pick out of Georgia factor in as a deep threat on offense down the line, but his contributions will likely be limited primarily to special teams early on.
-
Cedric Tillman WR | CLE
Browns' Cedric Tillman: Scores in Week 1 loss
Tillman caught five of eight targets for 52 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 17-16 loss to the Bengals in Week 1.
Tillman snagged a five-yard pass on a crossing route in the back of the end zone for Cleveland's lone touchdown. He also had one of three fourth-quarter drops by Browns receivers. His drop with 1:24 remaining was the dagger, as it bounded off his hands and into the arms of the Bengals' DJ Turner. Despite the drop, a lot went right in Week 1 for Tillman, who saw good target volume and had a 25-yard reception. After flashing in the middle of the 2024 season, a concussion ended his year after Week 12 and left his status for 2025 up in the air. Tillman enters the season as the No. 2 wideout opposite Jerry Jeudy, and nothing that transpired Sunday will change that.
-
Xavier Gipson WR | NYG
Jets' Xavier Gipson: Costly fumble in Week 1 loss
Gipson wasn't targeted in Sunday's 34-32 loss to the Steelers, but he had five kickoff returns for 142 yards, two punt returns for 19 yards and lost a fumble.
Gipson took over kick return duties in addition to his customary role returning punts on special teams after usual kickoff return man Kene Nwangwu exited due to a hamstring injury. Nwangwu's injury proved extremely costly, as Gipson's fumble was sandwiched between two Steelers touchdowns in a three-play span, which turned a 26-17 Jets lead into a 31-26 deficit. Gipson has put the ball on the ground 10 times in 35 NFL games, and any further ball security issues could cost him his job.