Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our fantasy football buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the NFL.
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Sept. 16: Panthers bench Bryce Young for Andy Dalton
Eric Karabell: Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young scored a combined 11.6 PPR points over the first two games this season, each an ugly blowout loss, and change is coming. The Panthers will start veteran Andy Dalton, and while he isn't exactly on his way to the Hall of Fame, Dalton gives the offense -- and the individual fantasy football options in it -- a better shot at competency. The Panthers are desperate for competence. Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, was not delivering much of it for Carolina.
Dalton, 36, is not someone fantasy managers in standard formats should target or even consider at this time, despite the fact he threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in his lone start for Carolina last season. However, in superflex/2 QB formats, every starting QB warrants a look. Dalton completed 66.7% of his passes for the New Orleans Saints in 2022, winning six of 14 starts for a 7-10 squad, and certainly he did not get in the way of fantasy relevance for RB Alvin Kamara and then-rookie WR Chris Olave. Consider Dalton roughly on par, for fantasy value, with Raiders starting QB Gardner Minshew.
The quarterback switch helps everyone, notably WRs Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, but it hardly makes them so attractive that a fantasy manager must start these fellows against the Raiders this week. Johnson caught five of 12 targets through two games, scoring 8.4 PPR points. Dalton is more accurate and pocket-savvy than Young, capable of moving the offense. Consider Johnson the WR4 option he was expected to be when you drafted him, and if you were going to drop him, reconsider.
Sept. 16: Pacheco headed to IR with fibula injury
Stephania Bell details Isiah Pacheco's ankle injury for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to land on injured reserve after suffering a fibula injury against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pacheco is undergoing testing Monday to assess the damage of the injury and will miss at least four weeks.
Samaje Perine (rostered in 3.6% of ESPN leagues) and Carson Steele (rostered in 1.6% of ESPN leagues) are expected to pick up the workload in the Chiefs' backfield.
Steele was used primarily as a runner in the Week 2 victory getting 7 carries for 24 yards (0.4 fantasy points). Perine has yet to have a carry this season and had 1 reception for 3 yards (1.3 fantasy points) on Sunday.