Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season has arrived, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are here to break down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz heading into the slate of games. Plus, they pick out which players should — or shouldn’t — be in your fantasy football lineups.
What are the most surprising quarterback situations through two weeks? What are we hearing on the Steelers’ QB plan going forward and about Aaron Rodgers‘ first couple of games for the Jets? Who are the most impressive rookies? It’s all here, as Dan and Jeremy answer big questions and empty their reporting notebooks with everything they’ve heard heading into Week 3.
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Steelers QBs | Surprising QB situations
Rodgers’ start | Impressive rookies
Fantasy tips | Latest buzz
Graziano: I checked in with some people there Monday, and they are pleased with the way Justin Fields is progressing. They feel like he has played a couple of smart games and is executing the game plan well. They also believe they had chances to put up bigger numbers Sunday against Denver but were done in by some penalties. The Steelers have a young group around Fields, and they’re very thin at wide receiver — basically, it’s George Pickens, who’s still maturing and developing as a player, and not much else. But they’re very happy with what they’re getting from their young offensive linemen and their tight ends (and of course, their defense).
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Russell Wilson still hasn’t been cleared to practice fully, so it looks as if they’ll run Fields out there again this week for their home opener against the Chargers. I think as long as they keep winning and keep feeling as if Fields is making progress and good decisions, they’ll be tempted to stick with what’s working. But again, my understanding is that there isn’t much of a discussion to be had until Wilson (calf) is healthy enough to play.
Fowler: Yeah, Dan, it seems as if Wilson has not healed quickly enough to press for playing time at this point. In each of the past few weeks, Wilson has referenced the need to be smart and play the long game as it relates to the calf injury, which is easy to reaggravate if not fully healthy. But the problem with that is the Steelers keep winning without him, albeit mostly through defense and ball control. If Pittsburgh can start the season 3-0 with Fields under center, it would be hard to bench him at that point. But Pittsburgh has only one touchdown in 21 drives. That’s not exactly a sustainable offensive attack.
I could be in the minority here, but based on the talks I’ve had with people inside and outside the organization, my sense is that Wilson’s stronger command of the offense will give him another shot once ready. His presence might reopen the middle of the field, which the Steelers have largely ignored over the first two weeks. But Fields can move much better at this stage and is a more dynamic playmaker. Which quarterback gives Pittsburgh the highest ceiling at this point, Dan?
Graziano: Yeah, that’s a good point about the middle of the field. I know they game-planned to avoid it in Week 1 because of Falcons safety Jessie Bates III. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was Bates’ head coach in Atlanta last season, said as much publicly last week. But Denver doesn’t create the same kind of fear, so you wonder if it’s simply about what they’re comfortable running with Fields. Pittsburgh’s passing game options are limited right now to the running backs and tight ends if defenses are able to lock in on Pickens. But what would give the Steelers the idea that Wilson is going to open up the middle of the field? That has been a weakness of his as well, even when he was at the top of his game.
I think the best-case scenario is that Fields makes the kind of progress as a quarterback he wasn’t able to make in Chicago and they stick with him as the higher-ceiling player. If that happens, I’d say Fields gives them the better chance to win games. But there’s obviously a world in which Fields struggles or regresses, at which point a very conservative team with the ability to win low-scoring games with defense would be tempted to go back to the more reliable veteran option. One thing seems certain: We aren’t going to be done talking about this situation any time soon.
Fowler: No doubt. And the bottom line is this: If Fields goes 3-0, I don’t see a scenario in which Tomlin makes an immediate move to Wilson, who’s lack of reps dating to late-July is working against him. But I also don’t see a scenario in which Wilson doesn’t play at all this season, either. You’re right, this will be among the NFL’s most compelling storylines throughout the season.
Fowler: The Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence needs to play up to his billing, and he hasn’t for a while now. Sunday’s loss to Cleveland was reminiscent of last season, with four trips to the red zone and one touchdown to show for it. He missed open touchdown targets, either with slightly inaccurate passes or by bailing from the pocket early. Lawrence put it bluntly postgame. “We suck right now,” he said. “Pretty shocked, to be honest.”
His seven-game losing streak dating to last season is worst among active quarterbacks. The Jaguars have built the team around Lawrence, who signed a five-year, $275 million contract this offseason. His pedigree suggests he’s much better than this, and his strong 2022 season showed the ability to fix this. It needs to happen soon.
Graziano: And their next two games are on the road in Buffalo and Houston. This could get out of hand fast for a team that has lost seven of its past eight games since starting last season 8-3. (I forgot the one win in that stretch was a game C.J. Beathard started against Carolina. Poor Carolina.) It certainly hasn’t been the most awesome start to the season if you’re a quarterback who was picked No. 1 overall in the draft since 2020 (ask Joe Burrow, Bryce Young and Caleb Williams). Something must get turned around in Jacksonville or we’re going to be watching that as a spot for potential changes at the end of the season.
But let’s go in a more positive direction. I’m going to say Derek Carr, who leads the league with a QBR of 96.2 through two weeks. The 2024 Saints are a strong early candidate to be elected to the Hall of Fame of Stuff I’ve Been Wrong About In My Life. I thought this offense would struggle behind a suspect offensive line, but it’s absolutely humming. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has installed a system that was way too much for both the Panthers (not surprising; poor Panthers) and the Cowboys (quite surprising) and is the talk of the league right now. The Saints have scored 91 points in two games and Carr is dancing in the end zone.
As recently as last month, during the preseason, there were questions about whether Carr was in danger of being replaced by Spencer Rattler at some point this season. While this is evidence of my overarching theory that preseason reactions need to be doused with cold water, I think it’s fair to say those conversations have died down.
Is Derek Carr this generation’s ‘Dan Orlovsky?’
Pat McAfee’s crew has some fun at Dan Orlovsky’s expense with their question about Saints QB Derek Carr.
Fowler: Carr is working his way back into the top-10 quarterback conversation. He was close a few years ago, then fell out of it, but he’s brimming with confidence and has the supporting cast to thrive, at least for now. Seattle’s Geno Smith should be mentioned, too. He made a series of impressive throws against New England and looks very comfortable in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s new offense. He has playmakers galore. I see his two-game start as a precursor to a well-rounded season. And Baker Mayfield has graduated from prove-it quarterback to proof of concept in Tampa Bay. The Bucs look for real.
Graziano: Yeah, I didn’t mention Geno because I’m not surprised. He has played well in his first two seasons as Seattle’s starter and I figured he’d play well in this third. He’s worth mentioning, though, if only because I don’t think enough people give him credit for what he has become. Great story.
I’m a little surprised things aren’t starting off better for Detroit’s Jared Goff. He’s currently 25th in the league in QBR (37.4) with one touchdown pass and three interceptions. He has thrown more passes (83) than anyone else, but he’s completing only 62.7% of them. Maybe your “the Bucs are for real” point is the key one here, at least as it pertains to Week 2. I still think the Lions are for real as well, and that they and Goff will be clicking again pretty soon. I’m just surprised about the way he has struggled out of the gate.
Graziano: They’re saying that the ball still goes exactly where he wants it to go when he throws it, and that he has brought a swagger to the offense that has injected it with a confidence it didn’t have last season. People readily admit he’s not very mobile nor will he put up huge numbers. But when a throw needs to be made this season, the Jets can reasonably expect that it will be made. And while that might sound simplistic, it was missing from last season’s team and could be enough of a difference to land the Jets in the playoffs.
Fowler: The sentiment is that he has played pretty well and can still spin the football with the very best of them … but it’s not the same peak Rodgers. “More of a point guard distributing at this stage,” a veteran AFC personnel man said. “Not the magician he used to be.” That’s to be expected from a 40-year-old coming off an Achilles tear. But Rodgers’ game traditionally thrives off pocket movement, throws on the run and excellent footwork.
Questions persisted in the preseason about whether Rodgers could be a star-level quarterback without the ability to move the way he once could. But as one NFL scout pointed out, he moved just well enough to get clean throws off Sunday against Tennessee. He wasn’t springy, but he wasn’t a statue, either. “He made some big-time throws late in that game,” the scout said. “Without them, the Jets don’t win that game. I think for not being in real game action for a long time, he’s been pretty good.”
Graziano: As for the part about the Jets’ future at quarterback, I don’t get the sense that’s a major topic right now — for them or anyone else. Rodgers could decide to retire after this season or could decide to come back and play in 2025. A lot of that decision could come down to how the rest of this season goes, and the same can be said about the future plan. The Jets took a worthwhile fifth-round flier on injured Florida State QB Jordan Travis, but it’s obviously way too soon to know if he can be a factor. If things fall apart this season and they’re picking high enough in the draft to address the quarterback position, I’m guessing they will. If Rodgers leads them to the Super Bowl, then I’m not sure they’re going to care too much about who succeeds him or when.
Fowler: The Jets just spent the better part of the last 40 years worrying about the future at quarterback. This is the rare chance to enjoy the present. They have a quality roster and a QB who is still upper-tier despite age and injury concerns. He has two years left on his contract with very reasonable cap hits to build around — $17.1 million and $23.5 million over the next two years, respectively. And the Jets do have a quality backup in Tyrod Taylor in case Rodgers gets hurt again. Time to ride the wave and worry about the future later.
Fowler: This is close among a few star rookies, but I’ll lead with Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. His production potential was evident when I visited Raiders training camp in early August. He floats around the field, can line up anywhere and has great body control. And if you redid the 2024 draft without position as a priority, Bowers would have gone much higher than No. 13 overall. Sunday’s win over Baltimore showed what Bowers and wide receiver Davante Adams can be as a tandem, as the two combined for 208 yards on 21 targets (12 for Adams, nine for Bowers).
But Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II has been very disruptive and deserves his own callout. He should be a force all season and in the running for a potential defensive player of the year nomination.
Why Brock Bowers could be a ‘league-winner’ in fantasy
Field Yates is impressed with how Brock Bowers has come out of the gate in fantasy this season.
Graziano: Strong choices. I have to put in a word for my preseason sleeper defensive rookie of the year, Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who has been a big part of Houston’s defense so far and had his first career interception Sunday night against the Bears. The Texans are extremely high on Lassiter, their second-round draft pick, as well as third-round safety Calen Bullock.
Fowler: Yep, the rich get richer in Houston, which had an already loaded roster before adding two good first-year defensive backs to complement cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and safety Jalen Pitre. Let’s not forget about the Chargers, who took heat for not grabbing a skill player with the No. 5 pick. But offensive tackle Joe Alt looks stout, an embodiment of Jim Harbaugh’s toughness and run-oriented mentality up front. And a couple of third-rounders are already standing out — Giants corner Dru Phillips and 49ers guard Dominick Puni.
Graziano: On offense, it sure was awesome to watch what Arizona wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. could do Sunday after his lackluster Week 1. I still think the Cardinals’ offense is going to be a tough one to stop all season, and Harrison will turn out to be a big reason why. Come to think of it, Week 2 was a strong one for rookie wide receivers between Harrison and the Giants’ Malik Nabers. And Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. has looked good in somewhat limited work and should start to become a bigger part of the Jaguars’ offense in the coming weeks.
Fowler: Play Cardinals running back James Conner and don’t look back. Conner was RB19 in ESPN’s preseason fantasy rankings, but his production warrants a consistent spot in lineups. His 122-yard rushing performance Sunday vs. the Rams was his fourth 100-yard game in his past seven dating to late last season. He has also scored seven rushing touchdowns in that span. Arizona is committed to the run. This is an easy call but is worth reminding.
Graziano: Hold onto Raiders running back Zamir White for one more week, then trade him after he lays waste to the Carolina defense. The Panthers have given up 381 rushing yards and three touchdowns to running backs in two games this season. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce is determined for his team to establish some kind of reliable run game, and the team still views White as the most likely player to emerge as their No. 1 back. It hasn’t been pretty for the Raiders’ run game so far this season, but if there ever was a get-right spot, this is it.
Graziano:
• With discussion still swirling about the future of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in the wake of his latest concussion and Tuesday’s assignment to injured reserve, there were reports this past weekend that the Dolphins have $49.3 million worth of insurance on Tagovailoa’s $212.4 million contract. This is true, according to the copy of the contract that I obtained. The policy would apply if Tagovailoa is not cleared by doctors to return to play and would help offset the remaining $124 million in injury-guaranteed money the Dolphins would be obligated to pay if he’s not cleared by doctors to return to the field.
Specifically, if Tagovailoa suffers a career-ending injury before the 2025 offseason program, the Dolphins have insurance against $30 million of his $42 million signing bonus, $10 million of his 2025 salary and $9.3 million of his 2026 salary. The amount of insurance they have drops if the injury occurs in future years to account for more time having passed since the signing bonus, but we’re only talking about a hypothetical situation in which he is not cleared from his most recent concussion, suffered last Thursday. (It’s possible there are concussion exclusions with the insurance policy, though, which would change this situation. But none are mentioned in the contract.)
What’s interesting to look at, though, is the context of this amount as compared to other recently signed quarterback deals. For example, the Jaguars were able to secure $74,999,993 million worth of insurance on Trevor Lawrence’s $275 million contract, a figure that covers his entire signing bonus, all of his 2025 compensation and a portion of his 2026 compensation. The Cowboys have $87.1 million worth of insurance on Dak Prescott‘s $240 million contract. The Bengals got $59.5 million worth of insurance against Joe Burrow’s $275 million contract. The difference in the numbers probably reflects the insurance company’s risk tolerance and considers Tagovailoa’s injury history (as well as Burrow’s, to be fair).
Ideally, none of this comes into play, but I’ve been asked several times about the potential financial impact for the Dolphins if Tagovailoa were to be unable to continue playing, so I’m sharing some of the digging I’ve done.
Kimes: Dolphins in tricky situation with Tua’s future
Mina Kimes discusses some of the potential ramifications of Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion on the Dolphins’ future plans.
• Keep an eye out this weekend and early next week for potential movement on the Haason Reddick front with the Jets. Reddick still hasn’t reported as he waits for them to extend his contract, and both sides have been firmly dug in — Reddick insisting he won’t show up without a new deal and the Jets insisting they won’t negotiate until he shows up. But the season-ending injury to edge rusher Jermaine Johnson has left New York even thinner at that key position, and the team knows it.
Nothing was ever likely to happen this week, as the Jets have a quick turnaround for a Thursday night game against the Patriots. But they know they need to do something about the pass rush, and solving the Reddick dilemma would seem to be the straightest line to a solution. If nothing happens on this situation next week, people around the league believe that it’s possible nothing will, and the Jets might end up having to trade Reddick between now and the trade deadline.
• The Cowboys’ run game is a problem and they know they need to get more out of it. They like the way Dalvin Cook has looked since they signed him to the practice squad, and they haven’t ruled out the possibility of activating him to the roster if they don’t get more production out of the Ezekiel Elliott/Rico Dowdle tandem at some point. That move doesn’t sound likely to happen this week, but if they struggle to run the ball against the Ravens on Sunday, don’t be surprised if Cook ends up getting a look.
• Staying on running backs (and in Texas), as of Tuesday evening it didn’t sound as if the Texans are expecting Joe Mixon‘s ankle injury to be a season-ender. He might end up having to sit out a game or more, but after getting encouraging results on initial testing, the Texans don’t think it’s a long-term injury. How much, if anything, Mixon can do at practice this week will help determine a timetable. Look for Cam Akers to assume a larger role if Mixon misses time.
The Texans, who pursued free agent running back Saquon Barkley last offseason because they wanted more explosiveness in their run game, have been happy with the way Mixon has fit into their offense. He doesn’t have the same explosion they were hoping to get if they signed Barkley, but he has shown the ability to handle a No. 1 back role and help them extend drives. They would miss him if he has to sit out significant time.
• The Saints’ offense is the talk of the league, but a guy to keep an eye on from the other side of the ball is former No. 2 overall draft pick Chase Young, who has impressed the coaches with his performance throughout camp and early in the season. Through two games, Carl Granderson is the only Saints defensive end who has played more snaps than Young. Young struggled with health issues during his time in Washington, wasn’t very productive last season after being traded to San Francisco and had neck surgery right after signing with the Saints in March. But he’s still only 25 years old, so he’s hoping to have a big season and cash in as a free agent next spring.
Fowler:
• The Panthers sent shockwaves through the league with the benching of Bryce Young. Here’s what I know about the situation after asking around. First, Young was not only shocked by the decision but also upset. “He’s pissed,” a source said, citing the vision of the new Panthers offense being ripped apart after two games. And that’s understandable, given the quick hook. But the decision goes beyond the poor play through two games. The Panthers saw a tentative quarterback whose confidence was clearly affected. The receivers were growing frustrated. So the Panthers weighed this question: Can they wait for Young’s confidence to return or will the continued poor play of the offense risk losing the team?
The locker room is still invested in coach Dave Canales and his new staff, so making the best decision for the players inside of it was crucial. Carolina’s defense is not the same as in past years (it’s considered far less talented), so the offense can’t lean on it as it once did. And Andy Dalton was simply the better option at this stage. Players see it all through the course of spring practices to now. They know who should be playing. Dalton has veteran leadership that Carolina feels it needs right now. Even though the offense is not loaded with talent, the Panthers feel as if the receivers are at least getting open enough for NFL standards, and that Dalton can hit them.
Fiery is not Young’s style. And while his poise was considered a strength coming out of Alabama and still can be one, his calm demeanor can be portrayed by some as a lack of urgency — which can be tough for a young team finding its way. All of this brought Carolina to an axiom that’s largely true in sports: Decisions that will be made eventually should be made now. The Panthers couldn’t afford the growing pains at this stage.
Mel Kiper blames Carolina organization for ‘mishandling’ Bryce Young
Mel Kiper Jr. rips into the Panthers’ organization and owner for mishandling Bryce Young since his career began last season.
I don’t get the sense Carolina plans to trade him right now. Benchings rarely result in healthy second chances at that spot, but he now commands the role of developmental quarterback. Dalton is 36. He has been fairly durable but has fought through his share of injuries. In the short term, I expect the Panthers will try to help Young rebuild his confidence in the event Dalton struggles or is injured. Young is No. 2 on the depth chart with no one behind him at this point. Carolina believes he still has enough talent to be productive in the NFL. And some of the early signs of 2024 were promising, with his ability to make plays off play-action in the spring, picking up the concepts of the offense and showing the maturity to take easy completions when there.
Still, the issues that resulted in the benching, that bubbled under the surface for a while, might make it tough for both parties to coexist eventually, depending on how Young improves his game behind the scenes.
• The Saints’ torrid offensive start can be traced to a few key themes that new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and coach Dennis Allen fostered in the offseason. New Orleans wanted to reset — even liberate — Derek Carr. Carr had become burdened by the complexities of the previous scheme, which had grown only more complicated over the years with Drew Brees at the helm. Allen wanted Carr making fewer changes at the line of scrimmage, allowing him to read out the defense and throw downfield with conviction. More frequent play-action helps with that. The Saints have gone from 32nd to first in play-action rate under Kubiak.
Which is where running back Alvin Kamara comes in. Kubiak came from San Francisco, where Christian McCaffrey had a profound impact on Kyle Shanahan’s attack. The Saints believed Kamara, with his contact balance and versatility, could be a similar catalyst. New Orleans did not extend Kamara’s contract this offseason as the player wanted, but with five touchdowns through two games, Kamara is setting himself up nicely for when those talks resurface.
• The good news for Chiefs star running back Isiah Pacheco is his fibula fracture is not severe enough to shut him down for the season. He absolutely plans to resume play in 2024, and with a projected recovery time of six-to-eight weeks, he’s eyeing a return around or after midseason. Pacheco felt as if he was finally finding his stride as a No. 1 back, logging 133 carries in his past seven games dating to late last season. He hopes to become that again for Kansas City later this year.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs will replace Pacheco by committee. Tuesday’s addition of Kareem Hunt, the 2017 rushing champion as a rookie in Kansas City, gives the Chiefs another backfield option along with Carson Steele and Samaje Perine. Hunt worked out diligently in recent months and could get thrown into action quickly. He knows the drill, as this is the second consecutive season he waited until regular-season play began to sign with a familiar team that experienced injury at running back. He did it first with the Browns last year and now the Chiefs. And Hunt knows Andy Reid’s offense very well.