FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Week 3 Fantasy Football News: Major Injuries, Waiver Stashes & Start/Sit Decisions (Ep. 2216)

September 25, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

This episode of the FantasyPros Tailgate, recorded live on Wednesday of Week 3, is dominated by a cascade of injuries that are reshaping fantasy football rosters and team outlooks. Hosts Chris Welsh and Andrew Erickson break down the five biggest stories of the week, from season-ending surgery for a rookie quarterback to a brutal running back injury in Minnesota, all while fielding start/sit questions from the live chat. The dominant theme is the sheer volume of attrition just three weeks into the season, forcing fantasy managers to make critical waiver and lineup decisions.

The Aaron Jones Knee Injury and the Vikings Backfield

The most pressing news is that Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones is now questionable for Week 3 with a knee injury. The hosts note that the coaching staff’s language—specifically mentioning backups DJ Dallas and DeWayne Clayborn by name—is a strong indicator that Jones is at real risk of sitting out. This development is especially notable because Jones was given a massive workload last week, logging the most carries of his career. Welsh and Erickson speculate that the Vikings may now regret that usage, as it directly led to this injury.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:02) **Show Open & Week 3 Injury Overview** - Chris Welsh and Andrew Erickson open the tailgate, listing a wave of injuries including Jackson Dart, Caleb Williams, Jaden Daniels, Aaron Jones, Puka Nacua, Zay Flowers, and others. They frame the episode around five big stories before Week 3 predictions.
  • 2 (02:51) **Aaron Jones Knee Injury & Vikings RB Situation** - Breaking news that Aaron Jones is dealing with a knee injury that may keep him out of Week 3, with the coaching staff already mentioning DJ Dallas and Devon Clayborn as replacements.
  • 3 (07:27) **Long-Term Outlook: Jordan Mason & Clayborn's Opportunity** - The hosts debate whether this is a multi-week chance for Clayborn or just a temporary fill-in, and whether the Vikings will reduce Aaron Jones's workload going forward.
  • 4 (11:37) **Jackson Dart Out for Season: Jameis Winston Era Begins** - The Giants' rookie quarterback will undergo season-ending surgery, making Jameis Winston the starter for the rest of the year.
  • 5 (20:36) **Jonathan Brooks to IR: A Lost Season** - The Panthers rookie running back is headed to injured reserve for at least six weeks, with Chuba Hubbard now the clear lead back.
  • 6 (25:38) **Fantasy Q&A: Tyreek Hill, Jaleel McLaughlin, and More** - The hosts answer a series of super chat questions from the audience.
  • 7 (30:48) **Judkins Week: Why Zack Moss (?) Will Smash Against Carolina** - The hosts make a strong case for starting the Bengals running back (presumably Zack Moss or Chase Brown) against the Panthers' terrible run defense.

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Guests on this episode

Show Notes

Chris Welsh and Andrew Erickson sort through an ugly wave of NFL injuries heading into Week 3, beginning with Aaron Jones’ knee issue and what Minnesota’s backfield could look like if he can’t go.

The Giants are dealing with an even bigger blow after Jackson Dart’s season-ending injury, leaving Jameis Winston in charge of an offense that suddenly has a lot more uncertainty. Welsh and Erickson also tackle Jonathan Brooks heading back to IR and what that means for Carolina’s backfield.  

The show wraps with more injury fallout around Alec Pierce and the Colts, Chicago’s unsettled quarterback situation against Philadelphia, and live fantasy questions covering Week 3 starts, stashes, trades and Quinshon Judkins’ breakout opportunity.

Timestamps: (May be off due to ads)

Intro - 0:00:00

Aaron Jones - 0:02:10

Jaxson Dart - 0:10:02

Jonathon Brooks - 0:17:02

Polymarket - 0:21:35

Alec Pierce - 0:31:28

Bears QB Situation - 0:35:50

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