NFL Player News

An accomplished two-sport athlete who received several scholarship offers for basketball, Bonitto (6’3/248) chose to eschew hardwood glory to pursue a career on the gridiron. It proved to be a prescient decision as he was the only player in the nation who recorded back-to-back seasons with a PFF pass-rush grade of 90.0 or more while generating a superb 22.4 percent win rate in that span. His 11.1 percent pressure rate was tops in the nation last year. Bonitto has elite speed and agility that was backed up by an impressive Combine, where he tested at an 85th-percentile level or better in every single test except for the bench, adding up to an elite 9.37 relative athletic score. He gets off the line quickly with a smooth shoulder dip and will bait opposing tackles with a slide step right off the snap that leaves blockers whiffing on contact. Bonitto has enough pop in his hands to keep opponents honest but is undersized against the run and prefers to go around blocks than take them on. Best suited as a 3-4 OLB, he has all the tools to be a pocket-wrecking edge in the mold of Giants LB Aziz Ojulari but could stand to add some size.

Kamara largely assumed lead rushing duties once RB Travis Etienne left after aggravating his hamstring injury, but it didn’t count for much. The 31-year-old Kamara will likely be the Saints’ starter next week, assuming Etienne cannot play, but he is only an FLEX play against the Falcons.

Fant chipped in two touchdowns in a game that tied an NFL record for tight end touchdowns (six). His first was on a three-yard slant. His second was an impressive catch-and-run play via play-action from 16 yards out. Fant is not on the starting radar next week against the Falcons.

Johnson was getting open at will on out routes and shallow crossers. He and TE Noah Fant, along with the two Raiders tight ends, combined for six touchdowns, tying an NFL positional record. Johnson fumbled while trying to make a big play for his team late in the game. He attempted to stiff-arm LB Nakobe Dean, who cleanly punched the ball out for CB Eric Stokes to recover. Johnson made a real heads-up play earlier on, though. Saints QB Tyler Shough threw a bad pass to Johnson earlier on, which CB Hezekiah Masses easily picked off and returned downfield. Johnson raced after him and successfully punched the ball out with a diving hammer-fist, but the Raiders ultimately recovered that fumble, leading to a turnover for the Saints. Johnson remains a reliable TE1 against the Falcons next week.

Vele nearly added a decent first-down pickup to his box score, but he was unable to secure the pass as he was diving to the ground. Aside from that, he had a nice 17-yard gain in which he ripped his leg away from a would-be tackler and scampered away for a few extra yards. Vele is a boom-bust FLEX against the Falcons next week.

Olave won at every level, be it on outs, corners or crossers. He nearly scored three times. Once on the Saints’ first possession, another on the third and again on the fourth. Saints QB Tyler Shough overthrew him on the first sequence. Olave had his defender beat as he broke inward at the Raiders’ 10-yard line. On the second one, Shough tried to force a tight-window throw from the Raiders’ three-yard line but two Raiders defenders swatted the pass down at the line of scrimmage. The last one was perhaps the biggest heartbreak. Shough connected with Olave on a slant route from the Raiders’ seven-yard line and Olave was tackled immediately after catching it at the one-yard line. Saints TE Juwan Johnson scored two plays later. Olave remains a WR1 against the Falcons next week.

Jennings hasn’t been part of the Minnesota passing attack through three weeks. Against the Bucs Jennings ran the second most pass routes on the Vikings, behind only Jordan Addison. The low-volume Vikings passing offense likely can’t support more than one fantasy viable pass catcher per week. Jennings should remain on waivers for now.

No, Washington can’t be trusted in fantasy, but he sure is fun when he gets a full head of steam. Washington caught a season-high three passes in Sunday’s win over the Bengals and led the Steelers in receiving yards, thanks largely to the 47-yard play he made in the fourth quarter. A true man among boys with the ball in his hands, Washington rumbled through and past multiple defenders on his way to the big gain. While he’s always good for an exciting play or two, Washington can be left on waivers for now.

Shough funneled four touchdown passes to Saints TEs Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, bringing the game’s total to six and tying a league record. The Saints’ quarterback played well overall, though his interception was due to a poor throw. Both fumbles were caused by Raiders pass rushers, and Shough had a third fumble reversed by an illegal contact penalty on the Raiders. Regardless, he can be trusted to throw the ball voluminously while adding a little extra with his legs. He warrants low-end QB1 treatment against the Falcons next week.

Aaron Rodgers narrowly missed Freiermuth on a 20-plus-yard throw in the third quarter that could have been a touchdown if they had connected. Freiermuth has been targeted 14 times through the first three weeks but has just one meaningful fantasy line (5-45-1) thus far. Fantasy managers can find better options that Muth in Week 4’s game against the Browns.

McMillan sustained a knee injury in the first quarter and did not return to the game. The Bucs said they would evaluate the injury on Sunday night. Ted Hurst ran almost every route in the Tampa offense with McMillan sidelined, catching a 40-yard touchdown in the first half. Hurst would continue to play significant snaps if McMillan is out for a while.