Dylan Sampson a Waiver Target Who Could Soon Find a Role in Browns' Banged-Up Backfield 0mLink copied!

Oct 20, 2026, 1:36 PM ET

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) is expected to make his 2026 season debut in the team's Week 7 matchup with the Giants, and while he'll join a suddenly crowded wide receiver room, the 2023 third-round pick is worthy of waiver consideration in a relatively scarce week. Dell last saw an NFL field in Week 16 of 2024 and has spent the past 22 months recovering from the devastating knee injury that ended his second professional season, but in 25 career games, he has averaged over 55 receiving yards while scoring 10 touchdowns. The Texans are deep at the position following the recent trade for former first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Week 6 emergence of second-year player Jaylin Noel, but they have also thrown the ball at the league's seventh-highest rate through six weeks, and Dell's versatility and connection with quarterback C.J. Stroud could help him find a role in an ascending offense.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 1:27 PM ET

The NFL has concluded that the process surrounding Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' start in the team's Week 5 loss to the Jaguars "was handled appropriately," according to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic. A superficial blood clot was discovered in Hurts' calf leading up to the international game, but the team's medical staff and doctors in London cleared him to play, and he went on to throw for 220 yards and a touchdown. A follow-up ultrasound performed stateside revealed movement of the blood clot, which caused Hurts to miss the team's Week 6 matchup with the Panthers; further testing has since revealed vein thrombosis and blood clots in his lungs. Hurts is slated to miss the remainder of the 2026 season while undergoing treatment.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Jonathan Jones

Oct 20, 2026, 1:14 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Seth McGowan has seen modest involvement in each of the past four games, showing enough to make him an attractive handcuff behind three-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor. With the Colts in free fall at 2-4 and having recently fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard, there is also an outside chance the team could look to move Taylor ahead of the NFL's November 10th trade deadline. A seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, McGowan is the only other running back on Indianapolis' roster to receive a carry through six games, averaging more than four yards per attempt, and with multiple paths to an increased workload, he makes for an intriguing long-term stash in a week with few high-priority waiver targets.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 12:54 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson is clearly establishing himself as the team's No. 2 pass-catcher behind Drake London. The 26-year-old caught three of a season-high five targets for a team-high 87 yards and his second touchdown of the season in Sunday's 31-23 loss at home to the Chicago Bears in Week 6. It was Dotson's second time finding the end zone in the last three weeks, and he has now gone over 50 receiving yards in each of the last three weeks after catching only four passes on 11 targets for 41 yards without a touchdown in the first three contests of the 2026 campaign. The Falcons do not have a very appealing Week 7 matchup against the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers, but Dotson is on the rise as he becomes a more reliable pass-catching option for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta. Dotson has 11 catches on 23 targets for 236 yards and two touchdowns through the first six weeks and is not a bad waiver-wire pickup in deeper fantasy leagues for those looking for better WR depth. He is currently rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 20, 2026, 12:47 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon was drawing some waiver-wire interest in recent weeks with fellow receiver DeVonta Smith sidelined by a hamstring injury. In the two games that Smith missed against the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars, Lemon saw more involvement in the passing game and caught eight of his 13 targets for 70 yards. The former USC star got off to a slow start to his NFL career and now has 18 receptions on 28 targets for 127 yards while still searching for his first touchdown. Lemon had at least six targets for the third straight week in Sunday's 25-14 loss to the visiting Carolina Panthers, but he caught only three passes for 19 yards with Smith making his return. Lemon still has intriguing long-term fantasy football upside, but with starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (blood clots) now done for the rest of the season, Lemon's short-term waiver-wire case has withered. He is currently rostered in 34% of Yahoo leagues as the Eagles head into a Monday night battle in Week 7 against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

Oct 20, 2026, 12:20 PM ET

The Baltimore Ravens signed free-agent kicker Jake Moody to their practice squad on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz. Moody was with the team earlier this season when starting placekicker Tyler Loop struggled in training camp. The Ravens have decided to bring Moody back for more competition after Loop missed his third field goal of the season in the three-point loss to the division-rival Cleveland Browns on Sunday in Week 6. The 26-year-old Moody, a former third-rounder by the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 from Michigan, has made 78% of his 82 career field-goal attempts in three seasons in the NFL, including going 8-for-14 from 50-plus yards out. He spent last season kicking for the 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Washington Commanders, going 19-for-23 on field-goal attempts and 15-for-16 on extra-point attempts in nine total games. The Ravens will keep him around for insurance in case Loop continues to struggle, and he could become a fantasy streaming option at the kicking position if he eventually takes over Loop's job.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Jordan Schultz

Oct 20, 2026, 12:16 PM ET

New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy could make his first start for the team Sunday against the Houston Texans, though no decision has been announced. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News believes the Giants will turn to McCarthy even though he personally favors Jameis Winston for another week. McCarthy replaced Winston after the veteran's second interception in Sunday's 34-27 loss to New Orleans and completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding 26 rushing yards. He helped New York cut a 24-point deficit to seven, but that production came during a frantic fourth-quarter comeback and shouldn't be treated as a projection of his normal workload. Head coach John Harbaugh said Monday the team was "honing in on a decision" and acknowledged that McCarthy is still getting comfortable in the offense. Houston is a tough matchup, which limits McCarthy's immediate fantasy appeal outside Superflex leagues even if he gets the job.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Pat Leonard

Oct 20, 2026, 12:13 PM ET

The Miami Dolphins are releasing kicker Riley Patterson as they come out of their bye week, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Dolphins worked out free-agent kicker Zane Gonzalez on Tuesday, and he is expected to sign to the active 53-man roster to replace Patterson as the starting placekicker as the Dolphins get set to face the division-rival New York Jets on the road this weekend. Patterson made seven of his nine field-goal attempts and five of his six extra-point tries for Miami through the first five weeks of the 2026 season before the team decided to go in another direction coming out of the Week 6 bye. In his five-plus years in the NFL, Patterson has made 86.6% of his 97 field-goal attempts, including going 50% from 50-plus yards out on 14 tries from that distance. He has also made 96.1% of his 154 extra-point attempts with the Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, and Jets.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

Oct 20, 2026, 12:07 PM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has become the odd man out on offense for the Jaguars in 2026, and the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Rams have emerged as logical landing spots for the former first-rounder as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches, according to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated. The Rams are 2-4 and just lost veteran receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) for the next six to 10 weeks due to injury. Outside of star Puka Nacua and Adams, the Rams have one of the worst WR depth charts in the NFL. The Commanders, meanwhile, sit at 1-4-1 after losing to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, and they likely have lost star receiver Terry McLaurin to a season-ending knee injury that he suffered on Monday. Head coach Dan Quinn will likely be gone after the 2026 season, but general manager Adam Peters could be looking to make a move to reunite quarterback Jayden Daniels with Thomas. The two played together for one season at LSU. The 24-year-old had a 1,000-yard season and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, but he has regressed since and only has nine catches on 20 targets for 105 yards and one touchdown through six weeks this year. Thomas did not play a single snap in the second half of Sunday's loss to the division-rival Houston Texans on London, and at this point, a change in scenery might be the only thing that could revive his fantasy value.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley

Oct 20, 2026, 12:04 PM ET

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals has played 83 offensive snaps over his past two games, yet only six passes have come his way. He went without a catch on two targets while playing 38 snaps against Las Vegas in Week 4, then caught two of four targets for 24 yards across 45 snaps in Sunday's 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. That's a big jump in playing time for the second-year receiver, who logged just 22 offensive snaps combined in Weeks 2 and 3. With only 1% of leagues rostering him, Royals is worth a speculative stash in 12-team formats, though his production doesn't justify starting him against Seattle in Week 7. Rashee Rice (hamstring) missed Sunday's game and Tyquan Thornton (ankle) remains sidelined, which opens up opportunities in Kansas City's receiving corps. Still, Xavier Worthy drew seven targets against Los Angeles, and Andrew Armstrong played 42 snaps after being elevated from the practice squad, so Royals faces plenty of competition for meaningful receiving work.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 11:57 AM ET

Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond has caught fewer passes over his last three games than he did in the season opener alone, a sharp reversal from his promising start to 2026. Raymond opened with eight receptions for 84 yards against Carolina and piled up 19 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets through Week 3. Since then, he's managed just seven receptions for 30 yards on eight targets across three games. Caleb Williams' return in Sunday's 31-23 victory over Atlanta didn't change that, as Raymond caught both of his targets for 18 yards. Luther Burden III led Chicago with eight receptions for 95 yards, while Colston Loveland added six catches for 65 yards. Rostered in 17% of leagues, Raymond is a speculative bench addition in 12-team PPR formats, but his disappearing target volume makes him hard to justify starting against New England on Thursday.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 11:43 AM ET

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks saw his opportunities shrink in Sunday's 25-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers, catching just two of four targets for 24 yards after drawing eight targets in Week 5. The return of DeVonta Smith, who missed the previous two games, reshaped Philadelphia's receiving hierarchy. Smith caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown, while Dallas Goedert added six receptions for 61 yards. Wicks briefly visited the medical tent during the fourth quarter before returning, though the nature of the injury remains unclear. He now has 19 catches for 284 yards and one touchdown through six games, and his weekly outlook is further clouded by Jalen Hurts' expected season-long absence. Tanner McKee threw for 215 yards in his first start of 2026, and the uncertainty around Philadelphia's passing offense makes Wicks hard to trust as an immediate fantasy starter. Rostered in 33% of leagues, he's a speculative addition in 12-team formats ahead of Monday's Week 7 matchup against Dallas.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 11:26 AM ET

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen recorded the first two receptions of his NFL career in Sunday's 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, finishing with 27 yards on two targets. His 23-yard catch in the fourth quarter offered a glimpse of his potential, but the rookie played just nine of Kansas City's 61 offensive snaps. That limited role is especially concerning with Rashee Rice (hamstring) unavailable and Tyquan Thornton (ankle) facing an extended absence. Jalen Royals logged 45 snaps, while Andrew Armstrong played 42 and started alongside Xavier Worthy, who led the team's receivers with seven catches for 73 yards. Rostered in just 3% of leagues, Allen is a speculative bench stash in 12-team formats and not a viable fantasy starter heading into Week 7 against Seattle. Rice's eventual return could complicate Allen's path to consistent playing time even more.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 11:15 AM ET

New York Giants running back Najee Harris is being released, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, ending his brief stint with the team after he signed in August. Harris had just been moved into the starting lineup for Sunday's 34-27 loss to New Orleans but managed only two yards on four carries. The Giants' running backs combined for 34 yards on 14 attempts, and head coach John Harbaugh has challenged someone to establish himself as the clear lead option. Harris' departure further reshapes a backfield that already has questions around Cam Skattebo, who lost his starting job after repeated fumbling issues and didn't record a touch against the Saints. Tyrone Tracy Jr. made the strongest case for more work Sunday, scoring twice on eight touches, while Devin Singletary added 33 scrimmage yards. Tracy's performance gives him some momentum, but Harris' release doesn't necessarily set a new backfield hierarchy.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Ian Rapoport

Oct 20, 2026, 11:00 AM ET

Cleveland Browns running back Jaleel McLaughlin is worth considering on the waiver wire following an expanded role in Sunday's win over Baltimore. With Quinshon Judkins (ankle) inactive and Dylan Sampson (knee) still sidelined, McLaughlin rushed nine times for 41 yards and caught four passes for 14 yards. He led Cleveland's backfield with a 61.9% snap share and ran 24 routes, creating some short-term fantasy appeal. McLaughlin is rostered in just 10% of leagues, but his Week 7 value against Tennessee will depend on the availability of Judkins and Sampson, who could both return.--Ryan Pederson
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 10:50 AM ET

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington remains an intriguing waiver wire option coming out of the team's Week 6 bye. Washington has caught at least five passes in three consecutive games, including six receptions for 43 yards against Cincinnati in Week 5. The 25-year-old has totaled 23 catches for 262 yards through five games, establishing himself as a reliable target for quarterback Malik Willis. Washington is listed at just 41% rostered in RotoBaller's Week 7 waiver rankings. The potential return of Caleb Douglas (ankle) creates some uncertainty, but Washington offers useful fantasy depth ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Jets.--Ryan Pederson
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 10:44 AM ET

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee is worth considering on the waiver wire, with Jalen Hurts expected to miss the remainder of the season due to blood clots. McKee completed 26 of 45 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's loss to Carolina, although Philadelphia struggled offensively. The Eagles host Dallas in Week 7, presenting a favorable matchup against a Cowboys defense that ranks 30th in total defense and allows 26.5 points per game. McKee offers potential streaming value and longer-term quarterback depth, although Philadelphia's offensive struggles and his limited rushing upside temper expectations.--Ryan Pederson
Source: NFL.com

Oct 20, 2026, 10:31 AM ET

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black remains a high-upside handcuff after rushing eight times for 34 yards in Monday's win over Washington. Black handled 26.8% of the team's rushing attempts, up from his 21.1% average share during Weeks 2-5. Christian McCaffrey remains the clear lead back, limiting Black's immediate fantasy value. However, the rookie has established himself as San Francisco's primary backup and could inherit a substantial workload if McCaffrey misses time. Black is rostered in just 28% of Yahoo leagues, making him an appealing stash for fantasy managers seeking high-upside running back insurance.--Ryan Pederson
Source: RotoBaller

Oct 20, 2026, 10:23 AM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues to make a case for a waiver-wire pickup after Sunday's 26-19 overtime win over Tampa Bay. Rodgers completed 33 of 49 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, marking his fourth straight game with multiple touchdown passes. The veteran has thrown 12 touchdowns through six starts, providing consistent fantasy production over the past month despite offering little as a runner. Rodgers faces New Orleans in Week 7 and remains a viable streaming option for fantasy managers seeking quarterback help, although his limited rushing upside caps his ceiling.--Ryan Pederson
Source: NFL.com

Oct 20, 2026, 10:11 AM ET

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Savion Williams is worth a look on the waiver wire after making an immediate impact in Sunday's win over Dallas. Returning from injured reserve, Williams played 40 of Green Bay's 75 offensive snaps and totaled 41 yards on six touches, including a 15-yard reception on the opening drive. Head coach Matt LaFleur praised Williams for providing a spark and said the team needs to find ways to get him the ball. While Christian Watson and Matthew Golden remain the primary receiving options, Williams' early involvement makes him an intriguing stash heading into Week 7 against Detroit.--Ryan Pederson
Source: Sports Illustrated — Bill Huber