Texans travel to Jacksonville in Week 3, with C.J. Stroud needing a bounce-back performance against a Jaguars defense that has shown both shine and cracks. Jacksonville faces a potential QB get-right moment from Stroud while leaning on a revived run game under Liam Cohen. Betting angles lean Jaguars -1.5 and the under 44.5, with Nico Collins and Stroud props to watch as Houston seeks a critical road win in a tight AFC South race.

Two starting QBs are out in Week 3, flipping this Vikings-Bengals affair to a battle of trenches and matchups. If Minnesota wins up front, they can slow the Bengals’ edge pressure, ease Browning, and open room for a surprising run game. Cincinnati will lean on Hendrickson to threaten backups Skule/Walter Rouse and keep Browning upright, while Ja'Marr Chase could become a focal point if the running game stalls. Depth, protection, and big plays shape fantasy value in this crucial early-season tilt.

Burrow’s 2025 season is derailed by turf toe surgery, likely sidelining him for months with an uncertain return. Cincinnati pivots to Jake Browning, reshaping the Bengals’ fantasy landscape as Week 3 approaches. Chase and Higgins remain prolific targets, but the line and Burrow’s lost mobility temper ceiling. Manage rosters by stashing Burrow IR, chasing short-term replacements like Jones or Stafford, and planning for Browning’s starts in the regular season and possibly playoffs.

Jake Browning sits No. 2 among NFL backups as Burrow’s toe injury lingers. He’s 5-3 in eight appearances and has flashed efficiency in Cincinnati’s offense, aided by better pass protection for Browning than Burrow. Red flags persist—air yards and a high sack rate in 2023—but Chase and Higgins give him big-play upside. The Bengals won’t chase a pricey backup; Browning should start when healthy, offering a solid fantasy floor with upside.

Burrow's toe injury ends his 2025 season early; Browning will start, with a December return unlikely. Hold Burrow if you can, especially in six-point passing TD leagues where his ceiling is elite with Chase and Higgins healthy. Browning flashed upside (20.7 in relief), making him a plausible Week 3 streamer. Stafford and Mac Jones emerge as safer short-term pickups, while the waiver tool weighs other names to chase around the league.