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    Claiborne a healthy scratch for Week 1

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    MIN Running Back #21
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    Vikings declared RB Demond Claiborne, CB Zemaiah Vaughn, DB Jakobe Thomas, QB J.J. McCarthy, OL Nick Samac, OL Caleb Tiernan, and DL Elijah Williams inactive for Week 1 against the Packers.

    Claiborne was slated for RB3 duties after making the Vikings’ final roster over Zavier Scott, but he’ll have to wait at least one more week. He is not worth holding, even in deep fantasy formats.
Prop bets for Rams vs. Broncos
Paul Pabst and Andrew Perloff recommend their favorite prop bets for Week 3's Sunday Night Football matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Broncos.

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  • MIN Running Back #33
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    Jones, 31, injured his knee in Week 2 against the Bears and sat out yesterday’s practice. The fact that he is back today puts him on track to play. He will likely be listed as a limited participant, but a full session would be unsurprising. Jones is backed up by rookie RB Demond Claiborne, who would likely handle lead back duties if Jones were to miss time, and receiving specialist RB DeeJay Dallas.
  • MIN Running Back #33
    Jones tweaked his knee in the Vikings’ Week 2 win over the Bears. He ultimately played through the issue during the second half and racked up 23 carries for 105 yards. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said he was “pretty sore” after the game. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert added today that Jones playing in Week 3 is “not a sure thing.” Jones simply can’t handle that large of a workload at this point in his career, and the team will likely get DeeJay Dallas and Demond Claiborne more involved this week, even if Jones is able to suit up. If he can’t, those two backs will likely split the backfield.
  • MIN Running Back #21
    According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Claiborne and RB DeeJay Dallas will also be “part of the group” that backs up starting RB Aaron Jones with RB Jordan Mason (thumb) on injured reserve. Dallas was active last week, while the team kept Claiborne, the rookie, inactive, so it stands to reason that Dallas could play more snaps than Claiborne. That said, some beat reporters viewed Claiborne favorably this summer. He can be stashed on benches in 12-team leagues to see how things shake out.
  • MIN Running Back #27
    That escalated quickly. On Monday, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Mason’s “sore thumb” was being evaluated. Apparently, it had sustained a small fracture, which has now been “fixed,” ostensibly surgically, given O’Connell’s phrasing. Short-term injured reserve placement requires players to miss four games, but the Vikings are on bye in Week 6, so Mason will be eligible to return in Week 7. Mason led the backfield with 15 carries in Week 1, so his absence provides RB Aaron Jones with a touch-count boost. Veteran RB DeeJay Dallas operated as the RB3. Rookie RB Demond Claiborne was inactive last week, but should be active in Week 2 against the Lions. Speculatively stashing him could be worthwhile.
  • FA Running Back #36
    Scott signed his ERFA tender with Minnesota this offseason but was ultimately beaten out for the RB3 job by rookie Demond Claiborne. He is a candidate to sign with the Vikings practice squad after rosters settle. Claiborne is officially a name to know in deeper leagues, though he remains parked behind Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones for now.
  • MIN Running Back #21
    The 2026 fifth-round pick currently figures to slot behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, but given how often Jones has spent time on the shelf, he should have some deeper-league value in 2026. Having the offensive coordinator praising you this early into camp certainly isn’t a bad thing.
  • MIN Running Back
    Lewis believes that “in the long haul, the Vikings project a potentially game-breaking role.” Thus far, Claiborne’s new teammates have taken to addressing him by his childhood nickname, “Lightning.” And, Lewis, in an admittedly over-the-top manner, describes Claiborne’s lateral movements as “the closest thing you’ll find to real-life teleportation.” Hyperbole aside, beat reporters do not always take the time to write features on sixth-round rookies. Given Lewis’ short-term stipulations, it sounds as though Claiborne might be given the chance to compete for a role in the passing game this summer. Starting RB Aaron Jones is entering his age-31 season, and RB Jordan Mason, 27, is a one-dimensional rusher. The two veterans are ahead of Claiborne on the depth chart, no doubt, but this is not an elite one-two punch. Keep an eye on Claiborne this summer.
  • FA Running Back
    A four-year college player, Claiborne is an explosive, shifty running back. He stands 5’10/188 and ran a 4.37-second 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Claiborne increased his yards per carry and reception totals each season and consecutively received third- and second-team All-ACC honors over the last two years. He posted a 229/1,053/11 rushing line and a 22/250/2 receiving line in 2024 before going for 179/909/10 and 28/137/0 in 2025. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler says, “he has the mismatch-creating athleticism and receiving upside to be a diet version” of Dolphins RB De’Von Achane. Operating in a change-of-pace role in Minnesota this year is the most likely outcome, though his high-end potential should not be written off.

Rotoworld

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    Tucker Kraft caught 4-of-8 targets for 26 yards in the Packers’ Week 3 loss to the Falcons.

    Kraft has not yet looked himself after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2025, this time committing two drops for the first time in his career. To add additional context, Kraft has never had more than three drops in an entire season entering his fourth year in the league. The game plan clearly consisted of getting Kraft involved early to circumvent the offensive line struggles, but the connection with Jordan Love was off throughout. Kraft appears likely to need time to get back to full speed for the Packers, although his snaps and route participation rate were back to normal for the second consecutive week. Fantasy managers are likely forced to ride through the turbulence considering the state of the tight end position throughout the league, but he is a shaky start ahead of a Week 4 matchup with the Buccaneers.
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    Christian Watson caught 7-of-10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ Week 3 loss to the Falcons.

    Watson now has four touchdowns through three games while ranking one target behind Matthew Golden for the team lead at 29. Even better news for fantasy managers is the fact that we’re likely to see this sudden spike in pass volume continue forward given the current state of the Green Bay backfield and offensive line, meaning fantasy managers can continue to start Watson as a legitimate WR1 ahead of a road meeting with the pass-funnel Buccaneers in Week 4.
  • GB Wide Receiver #0
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    Matthew Golden caught 5-of-12 targets for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ Week 3 loss to the Falcons.

    It took Golden deep into the fourth quarter of Week 3 of his sophomore campaign to notch his first regular season touchdown, doing so by making a nice adjustment on a ball thrown behind him on a slant in the red zone. Golden leads the Packers with 30 targets through three games and should continue to bring weekly WR3 production, with upside for WR2 output, while operating as the X-type receiver in a Matt LaFleur offense. Increasing those chances is an offensive line that ranks as one of the worst units in the league that is paired with the absence of Josh Jacobs to bring zero run game support to Jordan Love and the Packers, making increased weekly pass volume something we’re likely to see carry forward in the immediate future. Golden is an upside WR2 ahead of a Week 4 matchup against the pass-funnel Buccaneers.
  • GB Running Back #26
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    Kaleb Johnson rushed four times for six yards in the Packers’ Week 3 loss to the Falcons, adding 10 yards on one reception.

    The two backs combined for the only eight running back rush attempts on a night the Packers’ offensive line was completely manhandled by an aggressive and athletic Atlanta front. Lloyd took his four carries for 11 yards while Johnson managed only six on his four totes. Both backs were targeted three times through the air, with Johnson going for 10 yards on one reception and Lloyd managing just seven yards on two grabs. This backfield is a complete mess amidst Josh Jacobs’ absence and mounting injuries along the offensive line, with neither back anywhere near a usable fantasy asset ahead of a Week 4 road matchup with the pass-funnel Buccaneers.
  • GB Quarterback #10
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    Jordan Love completed 28-of-53 passes for 312 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the Packers’ 35-14, Week 3 loss to the Falcons.

    Love was completely overrun by consistent pressure throughout on a night the Packers attempted 53 passes to just eight running back carries. The Atlanta defensive line took advantage of mounting injuries and ineffective play along the Green Bay offensive line to disrupt any offensive rhythm for the Packers. Love’s two touchdowns went to his top two options through the air in Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, the latter of whom notched the first regular season touchdown of his young career late in the fourth quarter. Matt LaFleur, Love, and the rest of the Packers have some significant work to do if they are to save their quickly sinking season. Love falls to a middling QB2 ahead of a road matchup with an aggressive Buccaneers defense in Week 4.
  • ATL Tight End #8
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    Kyle Pitts caught 1-of-2 targets for five yards in the Falcons’ Week 3 win over the Packers.

    Pitts was the recipient of Michael Penix’s first completion of the 2026 season, with the latter making his season debut following ACL surgery. The return of his starting quarterback was not enough to give Pitts his first fantasy-relevant performance of the season as he watched blocking tight end Austin Hooper score the lone receiving touchdown of the evening from five yards out in the second quarter. Fantasy managers are stuck in the constant hype cycle with Pitts with very little to show for it through three games, making Pitts a difficult start on the road against the Saints in Week 4.
  • ATL Wide Receiver #5
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    Drake London caught 9-of-10 targets for 194 yards in the Falcons’ Week 3 win over the Packers.

    To make the stat line more impressive, London didn’t catch his first pass until three minutes into the second quarter following a 1-of-5 start from Michael Penix. He would catch his final nine targets on his way to a massive fantasy day, combining with Bijan Robinson to set the NFL record for a wide receiver and running back duo to both go over 150 yards in the same game with three such occurrences. London continues to excel with Penix under center and returns to the WR1 ranks in fantasy circles ahead of a Week 4 meeting with the Saints.
  • ATL Running Back #15
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    Brian Robinson rushed 10 times for 50 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ Week 3 win over the Packers.

    Brian Robinson’s 10 carries paled in comparison to the 29 of Bijan Robinson but were enough to give him his first fantasy-relevant week of the young season. His third quarter score came from seven yards out after Bijan has pulled himself from the game following extensive work on the drive. Brian Robinson remains one of the top pure handcuffs in fantasy circles but will be a difficult start until bye weeks start piling up in Week 5.
  • ATL Running Back #7
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    Bijan Robinson rushed 29 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons’ Week 3 win over the Packers, adding 19 yards on two receptions.

    Robinson single-handedly out-gained the Packers in the first half after clearing the century mark on the ground early in the second quarter. His patience and burst through the gap were on full display, routinely gaining chunk yardage on first down while making the Green Bay defensive front look like Swiss cheese. A 55-yard scamper on a wide zone carry in the first quarter got the All Pro back off to a blazing start, adding his first of two touchdowns to cap the drive. He would take on a second score late in the fourth quarter to send the Packers to their first home opener loss in 14 years. Robinson remains an elite RB1 ahead of a Week 4 matchup with the division rival Saints.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
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    Michael Penix completed 18-of-25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Falcons’ 35-14, Week 3 win over the Packers.

    The final stat line looks more impressive when you consider Penix started the game 1-of-5 passing with an interception, settling into the game from there to go on to complete 17 of his final 20 pass attempts. As was the case during his rookie season, Penix leaned on his top option through the air, feeding Drake London 10 targets that the talented receiver parlayed into a gaudy 194 yards, with no other pass-catcher surpassing the 19 yards receiving of running back Bijan Robinson. The Falcons improve to 1-2 on the young season while handing the Packers their first home opener loss in 14 years. Penix has all the look of an upside QB2 and deserves streaming consideration ahead of a road matchup with the Saints in Week 4.