NFL Daily Dive — Sept. 25, 2025
Thursday football is here, and so are the headlines. Between quarterbacks getting the nod, running backs stepping into bigger roles, and injuries piling up, the NFL news cycle hasn’t slowed down for a second. Let’s break down everything that went down over the last 24 hours and what it means for fantasy managers heading into Week 4.
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With James Conner done for the year, Jonathan Gannon didn’t hesitate to back Trey Benson as his lead back. Both Gannon and Kyler Murray praised Benson’s skill set and comfort in the offense. Emari Demercado slides in as the RB2, but this is Benson’s backfield. Given his passing game chops, he has the upside to crack RB1 territory starting tonight against Seattle.
Washington star wideout Terry McLaurin met with core muscle specialist Dr. William Meyers, which hints his issue might be more than just a quad. He’s not expected to play this week, and there’s real concern he could miss multiple games. Luke McCaffrey could sneak into super deep league relevance with McLaurin sidelined.
Giants Hand the Offense to Jaxson Dart
Brian Daboll made it official: Jaxson Dart is the starter for the rest of the season. Russell Wilson’s brutal Week 3 sealed the decision, and now it’s Dart’s chance to inject some life into New York’s offense. His rushing and aggressive downfield throws give him immediate superflex appeal, and Malik Nabers should be the biggest beneficiary.
Despite a rocky outing against Carolina, Raheem Morris confirmed Michael Penix Jr. will remain under center. Penix was one of the league’s least accurate passers last week, but Kirk Cousins isn’t pushing for the job. For fantasy, it keeps Falcons pass catchers in inconsistent territory until Penix proves he can steady the ship.
Patriots Backfield Watch
The ball security issues for Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson opened the door for rookie TreVeyon Henderson He led the backfield in snaps last week and was the first man up in Wednesday’s ball-carrier drills. Henderson is the wild card here and could pop against Carolina, but it’s shaping up like a frustrating three-man committee.
Travis Hunter’s Role Isn’t Expanding
Jacksonville coach Liam Coen made it clear: Travis Hunter is locked into the slot on offense regardless of injuries around him. He’s playing 63% of his routes inside and hasn’t been able to generate much production with 10 catches for 76 yards. Factor in the two-way workload and he’s nothing more than a WR4/WR5 for now.
Injury Ward
- Chris Godwin Jr. (ankle): Practiced in full and could return Sunday, just in time to help offset Mike Evans’ absence. He belongs in lineups if active.
- CeeDee Lamb (ankle): Still sidelined and trending out for Week 4. Expect Jake Ferguson and George Pickens to absorb extra targets.
- Zach Charbonnet (foot): Surprisingly listed as questionable despite full practices. If active, treat him as a usable RB3 alongside Kenneth Walker III.
- Davante Adams (hamstring): Missed Wednesday’s practice, but Sean McVay expects him to play. Pencil him in as a WR2.
- Malik Nabers (shoulder): Didn’t practice but is expected to gut it out. Monitor his status.
- Brock Bowers (knee): Full practice, on track to play. Michael Mayer (concussion) did not practice.
- Xavier Worthy (shoulder): Practicing in full. He’ll likely play with a harness, making him a WR3 against Baltimore.
- 49ers WRs: Jauan Jennings (ankle) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) both missed practice. Pearsall’s 281 yards lead the team, so his status is critical.
- Jayden Daniels (knee): Limited, but trending up for Week 4. If cleared, he’s back to QB1 status.
- Cam Ward (ankle/calf): Missed practice. Already off fantasy radars, his health only makes things worse.
- Alec Pierce (concussion): Still in protocol. Adonia Mitchell would see more work if he sits.
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee): Absence deemed precautionary. He should play this week.
- Tetairoa McMillan (calf): DNP, but coach Dave Canales says he’s day-to-day. A WR2 if active.
- Chargers TE room: Will Dissly (knee) still out. Rookie Oronde Gadsden “earned” more snaps and is worth a stash.
- Will Shipley (oblique): Full participant, back as Saquon Barkley’s primary backup.
- Colston Loveland (hip): DNP and trending toward missing Week 4. He’s droppable in most leagues.
That wraps today’s Daily Dive. Benson gets the spotlight, Dart is officially The Guy, and injuries continue to shape the early-season landscape. Stay locked in on practice reports, because the next wave of lineup-altering news is always just around the corner.
