If they still adorned milk cartons with faces of the missing, this fall’s packaging would be covered with mugshots of Kansas City Chiefs.
The dwindling dynasty stands at 1-2 and facing a showdown with 1-2 Baltimore. It’s hard to determine just who is most to blame for the Chiefs’ offensive struggles. QB Patrick Mahomes is 13th in the league in passing yards, 20th in touchdown passes. TE Travis Kelce has just 10 receptions, and RB Isiah Pacheco has but 92 yards.
They’re not the only ones sparking fantasy maven panic. Here are some prominent players who have come up empty through three weeks:
Ashton Jeanty (Raiders RB): Probably still the best of what is turning into a mediocre rookie running back class. Just 144 rushing yards with one TD. More concerning, he has only five receptions so far.
Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Las Vegas Raiders tackled during the second quarter against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Chase Brown (Bengals RB): Wasn’t producing much even before Joe Burrow’s departure. Has only 93 rushing yards and a single touchdown for an offense that waved the white flag last week in Minneapolis.
Chase Brown #30 of the Cincinnati Bengals is tackled by Josh Metellus #44 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Brock Bowers (Raiders TE): Top-ranked tight end has 14 catches for 179 yards, but most of that came in the early part of Week 1 before injuring his knee. He just hasn’t been 100 percent since.
Brock Bowers #89 of the Las Vegas Raiders is tackled by Tuli Tuipulotu #45 and Troy Dye #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter (Jaguars WRs): Neither of the Jags’ feature wideouts has impressed yet, combining for only 17 catches and 191 yards, which would be merely OK stats for a single receiver.
Travis Hunter #12 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is tackled during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium on Sept. 07, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals WR): Former top draft pick has never been lower than after his critical drop cost Arizona a Week 3 victory in Santa Clara. Just one touchdown among his 10 catches for 142 yards.
Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals attempts to catch a pass in front of Upton Stout #20 of the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Calvin Ridley (Titans WR): Only eight catches for 11 yards and zero TDs, as former Falcon has been surpassed in the Tennessee pecking order by Chig Okonkwo and one of this week’s deepest sleepers you’ll read about in a few paragraphs.
Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans makes a catch during the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
Sitting stars
First, we’d start zero Jaguars against the 49ers defense this week, and RB De’Von Achane is the only Dolphin we’d feel totally safe with against the Jets. … Seattle RB Kenneth Walker III will lose a chunk of carries with the expected return of Zach Charbonnet. … Cleveland’s great defense will put a crimp on Detroit’s offense, especially on WR Jameson Williams and TR Sam LaPorta. … Baltimore WR Zay Flowers has cooled off and will remain so against Kansas City. … Three quarterbacks we also expect to chill a bit are Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers against the Vikings in Dublin, Tampa’s Baker Mayfield versus Philly and, yes, Indiana Jones will come down to earth against the Rams.
de’von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins is tackled by the Buffalo Bills in the first half of the game at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 18, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Matchup game
Two Vikings we especially like Sunday in Ireland: RB Jordan Mason and returning WR Jordan Addison. … Denver RB J.K. Dobbins will be running through Cincinnati’s defense. … New England’s meager defense will be great news for Carolina RB Chuba Hubbard and rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan. … Houston WR Nico Collins will finally break out against the Titans. … Chiefs backup receiver Tyquan Thornton will keep getting open against Baltimore’s disappointing defense. … Quarterbacks we especially like this week include Carolina’s Bryce Young against the Patriots, Denver’s Bo Nix versus the Bengals and Green Bay’s Jordan Love, in a bounceback game against the Cowboys.
Jordan Mason #27 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Injury watch
Week 3 saw season-ending injuries to Cards RB James Conner (making Trey Benson the starter) and Chargers RB Najee Harris (boosting Omarion Hampton’s prospects). … Dallas WR CeeDee Lamb could miss the next three to four weeks. … Same for Giants RB Tyrone Tracy. … Tampa Bay is losing WR Mike Evans for a few weeks but is getting Chris Godwin back. … And three injured quarterbacks may return this week: Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, 49ers’ Brock Purdy and Jets’ Justin Fields.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers safety Marques Sigle (36) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (92) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Deepest sleepers
We’ve got two receivers worth grabbing this week. Las Vegas’ Tre Tucker is tied for the NFL lead with four touchdown catches, three of them last week against Washington. … And Tennessee’s Alic Ayomanor has emerged as Cam Ward’s favorite target over the past two weeks with 11 receptions and two TDs.
Tre Tucker #1 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts after a first down against the Washington Commanders during the second quarter at Northwest Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
The Thursday pick
Seahawks at Cardinals (-1½)
Pick: Cardinals by 3
Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals is sacked by D.J. Wonnum #98 of the Carolina Panthers at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.
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