August 18, 2025
The Cleveland Browns are naming veteran
Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starting quarterback against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. This doesn't come as much of a surprise, as this was always expected to be the case, especially after
Kenny Pickett suffered a hamstring injury early in training camp. The 40-year-old veteran has been taking most of the first-team reps in practices this summer, although he has not played in either of the team's two preseason games with the rest of the Browns' QB room banged up. Flacco led the Browns to the playoffs two seasons ago, but he's going to be on a short leash in 2025 and will most likely continue to put the football in harm's way often down the field. The Bengals defense was a great matchup last year, so Flacco could have some sleeper appeal in DFS in Week 1 of the season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
August
18,
2025
Los
Angeles
Rams
quarterback
Matthew
Stafford
(back)
has
returned
to
practice
on
Monday
at
training
camp,
according
to
Ari
Meirov
of
The
33rd
Team.
The
Rams
never
provided
an
update
on
Stafford's
scheduled
workout
on
Saturday
before
read more...
August 18, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kendrick Bourne (leg) will not practice this week or play in the preseason finale on Thursday against the New York Giants, according to head coach Mike Vrabel. Bourne had his leg rolled up on during practice back on Aug. 1 and has not practiced or played since. The 30-year-old's spot on the 53-man roster is now no longer guaranteed because of the fact that he might not be ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener. Bourne had a career-high 800 receiving yards in 2021 in his first year with New England, but he has disappointed ever since and played in 20 combined games due to injuries the last two seasons. In 2024, he had only 28 catches on 38 targets for 305 yards and one touchdown in 12 games (nine starts). Bourne hasn't been the same since tearing his ACL back in 2023.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
August 18, 2025
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Romeo Doubs (back) returned to training camp practice on Monday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Doubs injured his back in practice last Tuesday but will finally return to the field for the final week of the preseason. The Packers also got quarterback
Jordan Love (thumb) back, although it's unclear if either Doubs or Love will play in the preseason finale this Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. Barring setbacks, both players should be available for the Week 1 regular-season opener. The 25-year-old Doubs caught 46 of his 72 targets for 601 yards and four touchdowns in 13 regular-season games (12 starts) in 2024 in his third year in the league. Doubs did have career-highs in yards per catch (13.1), yards per target (8.3) and yards per game (46.2), but he remains a mediocre WR target in a crowded receivers room.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
August
18,
2025
New
Orleans
Saints
head
coach
Kellen
Moore
said
that
tight
ends
Taysom
Hill
(knee)
and
Foster
Moreau
(knee)
are
not
close
to
a
return
to
the
field.
Until
one
or
both
read more...
August 18, 2025
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love (thumb) returned to training camp practice on Monday, according to The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. Love was doing hand-offs and throws, while backup
Malik Willis took the first snaps of th day. The 26-year-old will ultimately go down as a limited participant, but it's still good news that he's back on the field after having minor surgery on his left (non-throwing) thumb. He had his thumb heavily taped in a soft cast and will not return to 11-on-11 drills this week. It's unclear when he'll be able to return to a full workload, and Green Bay will probably hold him out of their preseason finale on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. It shouldn't have a negative impact on Love's fantasy value for upcoming drafts. For fantasy purposes, managers should consider him more of a low-end QB2 with upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
August 18, 2025
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver
Kyle Williams (head) will not practice on Monday, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Williams left early from the team's preseason game on Saturday after taking a hard hit to the head. A third-round pick out of Washington State, Williams is competing with
Mack Hollins,
Kayshon Boutte, and others for the WR3 role in New England alongside
Stefon Diggs and
DeMario Douglas. He has reportedly shown flashes of brilliance but has largely been inconsistent in training camp. As such, missed time for Williams could set him back in the race for playing time in New England. The 22-year-old has clear upside as a downfield threat, but he's unlikely to factor in fantasy in 2025.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Mike Reiss
August 18, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs (knee) is "ahead of schedule injury-wise," according to Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. Diggs tore the ACL in his right knee last October and has yet to play in the preseason. However, the 32-year-old has been a consistent participant in training camp practices and looks like he'll be ready to go for Week 1. Diggs had 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games before getting injured in 2024, and should be the top target for Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye heading into 2025. He profiles as a low-end WR3/flex option in fantasy with a fairly high floor but limited upside.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Chad Graff
August 18, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown (hamstring) is not practicing on Monday, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Brown has already missed multiple weeks of practice due to this ongoing hamstring injury. However, recent reports indicate that the team does not believe it to be a major concern. Hamstring issues tend to linger, so this is definitely a situation to monitor until Brown is back on the field and fully cleared. The 28-year-old profiles as a low-end WR1 in fantasy, and now might be a good time to draft him at a discount if other managers are nervous about his injury status. If Brown were to miss any time, Eagles wideout
DeVonta Smith's fantasy value would skyrocket.
--Will BradySource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Dave Zangaro
August 18, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks
Michael Penix Jr. and
Kirk Cousins will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Neither of the team's top two signal-callers has played at all in preseason action.
Easton Stick has been Atlanta's most-used quarterback through the team's first two preseason games and figures to get most of the reps against Dallas. With fourth-stringer
Emory Jones (head) in concussion protocol, Schefter reports that the team has signed quarterback
Ben DiNucci.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
August 18, 2025
New England Patriots rookie running back
TreVeyon Henderson "might already be the Patriots' most reliable offensive player" and is earning more touches with each week of camp that goes by, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Henderson has been one of the stars of the preseason, recording 50 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on eight total touches. He also returned a kick for a touchdown in New England's first preseason game. Henderson figures to split time with veterans
Rhamondre Stevenson (undisclosed) and
Antonio Gibson when the season begins, assuming Stevenson makes it back from an undisclosed injury that has held him out of recent training camp practices. Even still, Henderson profiles as an RB2 in fantasy due to his explosiveness and receiving ability. If he can ever seize a true lead role in the New England backfield, his potential is sky-high.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Chad Graff
August 18, 2025
The Atlanta Falcons have released veteran wide receiver
DJ Chark, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The team signed Chark in late July after wide receiver
Darnell Mooney (shoulder) went down with a shoulder injury early in training camp. While Mooney has yet to return to the field, Chark's release could be an indication that Atlanta is confident that Mooney will not miss significant time. It could also simply mean that Chark was not part of the team's 53-man roster plans, regardless of Mooney's status. With Chark no longer in Atlanta, veteran
KhaDarel Hodge looks like the top candidate to receive more playing time while Mooney is sidelined.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
August 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year receiver
Jalen McMillan (neck) was in good spirits over the weekend, following a scary-looking fall that took him out of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers in the first quarter. After landing awkwardly on his head/neck area while making a catch, he was carted to the locker room and ruled out for the remainder of the game. McMillan seems to have avoided any major injury and is now dealing only with soreness. He finished on a league-winning heater last season, registering seven touchdown grabs in his final five regular-season games.
Chris Godwin (ankle) is projected to start the year on the PUP list. McMillan should still have a role in the Buccaneers' high-powered offense while Godwin is sidelined.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
August 18, 2025
After leaving Saturday's preseason game in the second quarter, Green Bay Packers running back
MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) is expected to miss some time, and his status for the regular season is now in question. Injuries have hampered Lloyd's young career. After taking only six attempts as a rookie, he had missed parts of his second training camp with a groin injury. In his preseason debut, Lloyd tweaked his hamstring and had to exit the game prematurely following a 33-yard catch. For the second year, Lloyd entered camp as the presumed backup to
Josh Jacobs, but if he's unable to work his way back to health, that valuable role will go to someone else, as it did last season. For now, Lloyd should be considered week-to-week until further information emerges.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Rob Demovsky - ESPN
August 18, 2025
The Cleveland Browns have signed rookie wide receiver
Isaiah Bond to a three-year, $3.018 million fully guaranteed contract. After garnering a good deal of buzz in the early stages of draft season, Bond went undrafted after being accused of sexual assault in April. The case was no-billed last week by a grand jury, and Bond faces no further criminal charges. Bond announced shortly after this ruling that he would be signing with the Browns, and his deal becomes official. Having missed almost all of training camp, it will be difficult for him to carve out any sort of immediate role as a rookie, but the guaranteed signing would suggest that the Browns have a plan for him. Bond has always displayed impressive game speed, and he is worth stashing in dynasty leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tom Pelissero
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