NFL Player News

Sharpe, 27, spent last season in Atlanta where he posted a 25-230-0 line on 37 targets, spanning 15 appearances and seven starts for the talent-deficient Falcons. He hasn’t caught a touchdown since 2019. At his best, Sharpe is a fourth wideout who doesn’t play special teams. He’ll compete for a job in Chicago.

Hollins got on the field plenty early in the game, but his snaps were heavily tilted toward blocking duties. Once A.J. Brown went down with an ankle injury, the Pats were forced to play him in a more traditional role. He wound up leading the team in receiving yards, though that largely speaks to the Pats’ struggles through the air. Hollins would be in line for more work if Brown is unable to suit up next week. He would be a low-end WR5 sans Brown, making him a low-wattage add off the waiver wire.

Kiner served as Rhamondre Stevenson’s backup with TreVeyon Henderson out this week. He was the only other Pats running back to see a carry in this game, though practice squad call-up Lan Larison was targeted twice, both of which he caught. Kiner did not see a look through the air. As a backup running back without any pass-catching value, Kiner is not on the fantasy radar heading into Week 2.

With TreVeyon Henderson sidelined, Stevenson ceded just six attempts to backup Corey Kiner and two catches to practice squad call-up Lan Larison. That’s the good news. The bad news is that he was atrocious on the ground, averaging 2.8 yards per carry. New England rolled out a fairly predictable ground game versus the Seahawks, running on early downs with obvious run-focused personnel groups. That made Seattle’s job of bottling up Stevenson extremely easy. Drake Maye finished just four yards behind Stevenson despite running just seven times. As long as Henderson is out, Stevenson should hang out in the RB2 ranks based on his impressive workload. The efficiency should also improve next week when he takes on the Steelers.

Lock took over for Sam Darnold after he suffered a hip injury at the end of Seattle’s opening drive. Darnold was initially listed as questionable to return but was ruled out for good just before halftime. Lock acquitted himself well, averaging 8.5 yards per attempt with just one sack. He also added two carries for 13 yards on the ground. Jaxon Smith-Njigba did most of the work for him with a 45-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter. All but four of the yards came after the catch. Still, Lock took care of the ball, peppered his best receiver with targets, and came away with the win. If Darnold is out for an extended period, Lock would be near the back of the QB2 mix for fantasy purposes. Superflex managers will want to take a flyer on him unless we get good news about Darnold over the next few days.

Maye once again struggled with Seattle’s ironclad defense, routinely making poor decisions when attempting to push the ball downfield. His third, and worst, interception of the night came when he lobbed a pass off his back foot at Mack Hollins with under 30 seconds left. The throw fell well short of his target and Josh Jobe made a toe-tapping pick in the end zone. Maye only threw multiple interceptions once last year, including the postseason. That came in his Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. His multi-pick total is already at one this year, again at the hands of Seattle. It’s a long season, but Maye did nothing to silence the “schedule merchant” claims tonight. He will look to rebound as a mid-range QB1 versus the Steelers next week. That could be without A.J. Brown, who left this game with an ankle injury and did not return.

Sam Darnold went down with a hip injury on the first drive of the night. It took Drew Lock a couple of drives to dial in on JSN, but it was business as usual once he did. No Seahawk saw more than three targets aside from Smith-Njigba. He finished the night with a monstrous 41.7 percent target share. His highlight of the night wa sa 45-yard catch-and-run for Seattle’s only touchdown of the game. Even if Darnold misses time, JSN’s role is so fantasy-friendly that he will remain well inside the WR1 ranks for his Week 2 date with the Cardinals.

A Seattle defender landed on Brown’s leg in the third quarter and the former Eagle clutched at his ankle as soon as he hit the ground. Brown eventually made his way off the field and limped to the locker room. He was listed as questionable for roughly a quarter, but the team has now ruled him out. The immediate worry will be that Brown suffered a dreaded high ankle sprain. That would sideline him for multiple weeks, though it’s too early to say much about the injury. Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs, and Demario Douglas will all see some extra routes sans Brown.

Brown had his ankle rolled on while attempting to corral a low pass in the third quarter. He limped off the field and went directly into the blue medical tent. He eventually walked into the locker room under his own power. Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will serve as New England’s primary outside wideouts while Brown is sidelined. Demario Douglas could also see some extra run out of the slot.

Darnold was slammed into the ground while being sacked on Seattle’s opening drive. He immediately went into the blue medical tent and was eventually listed as questionable to return. Seattle ruled him out just before the end of the first half. Drew Lock will stay under center for the remainder of the game. After putting up zero points during the first half, the fantasy outlook of every relevant Seattle pass-catcher will take a massive hit if this hip injury keeps Darnold on the sidelines beyond Week 1.

Darnold suffered the injury while taking a sack on the opening drive of the game. He initially waved the training staff off but eventually went into the blue tent for further evaluation. The trainers escorted him to the locker room after his time in the tent. Drew Lock is under center for the Seahawks.