September 5, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver
Jack Bech opens his career in a reserve role, buried on the depth chart behind
Jakobi Meyers,
Dont'e Thornton Jr., and
Tre Tucker. While the No. 58 overall pick carries long-term appeal, particularly as a potential down-the-road replacement for Meyers, his Week 1 outlook is limited. The Raiders' run-heavy approach and crowded receiver room leave little room for Bech to carve out immediate value. Dynasty managers should continue to stash him, as his skill set suggests eventual fantasy relevance. In redraft leagues, however, Bech is safe to drop in favor of players with clearer early-season opportunities.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Raiders.com
September 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Jonnu Smith is set to debut for the team on the road against the New York Jets. Smith broke out in 2024, earning over 100 targets for the first time in his career while scoring eight touchdowns. Now reunited with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, he should see plenty of opportunities despite sharing the position with
Pat Freiermuth. This matchup, however, doesn't necessarily inspire confidence that Smith's campaign will get off to a hot start. New York limited tight ends to the eighth-fewest fantasy points last season, and Sunday's contest is expected to be low-scoring. Smith can be started in a pinch, but he shouldn't be viewed as a top-12 option this week.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Chicago Bears running back
Roschon Johnson (foot) missed his second straight day of practice on Friday, putting him on track to at least be questionable for the Week 1 divisional clash against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night if he's able to return to the practice field on Saturday. Meanwhile, rookie
Kyle Monangai (hamstring) is also on the first injury report of the year, but he's in better shape to play on Monday night with two limited practices this week. The 24-year-old Johnson should only be rostered in deeper fantasy formats as a handcuff if you own starter
D'Andre Swift. If Johnson is ruled out on Monday night, Swift could be looking at a heavy workload in the first game of the season. Monangai would be in for an elevated role in his NFL regular-season debut if he's active and Johnson doesn't end up playing, but he won't be a realistic option in starting fantasy lineups.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bears Communications
September 5, 2025
New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Trevor Penning (toe) was unable to practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. In addition to Penning, the Saints will also be missing defensive end Chase Young (calf) and defensive tackle Alontae Taylor (groin). With Penning out to open the year, the Saints will likely roll with Dillon Radunz and Cesar Ruiz at the two guard spots in the Big Easy against the visiting Cardinals on Sunday. With Young out, the Saints will look to mix and match off the edge with players like Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan and Chris Rumph as they look to get pressure on quarterback
Kyler Murray.
--Keith HernandezSource: NewOrleansSaints.com
September 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Pat Freiermuth will kick off the fifth season of his career on the road against the New York Jets. Freiermuth quietly finished as a top-10 fantasy option in 2024 and should benefit from improved QB play this season, but he will now share opportunities with Pro-Bowler
Jonnu Smith in what is expected to be a run-heavy offense. The Jets were stingy against opposing tight ends last year, and Sunday's contest has the lowest-projected point total of the week. As a result, Freiermuth should be avoided in all but the deepest of fantasy formats in Week 1.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie running back
Kalel Mullings (ankle) popped up on the Week 1 injury report on Friday and is now questionable to make his NFL debut this Sunday on the road in Denver against the Broncos. Mullings was listed as a limited participant in Friday's practice. Mullings had been dealing with an ankle injury before and appears to have aggravated it at Friday's practice. Mid-week additions to the injury report are usually never a good sign, especially on a Friday, so the 22-year-old might have to wait until Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams to make his NFL debut.
Tyjae Spears (ankle) is starting the year on Injured Reserve, so Tennessee's backfield behind starter
Tony Pollard will be very thin on Sunday if Mullings is ruled out.
Julius Chestnut is lined up for a backup role behind Pollard, even if Mullings is active.
--Keith HernandezSource: Titans PR
September 5, 2025
Washington Commanders veteran tight end
Zach Ertz returns for a second season with the team, looking to remain a reliable target for young quarterback
Jayden Daniels in Week 1 against the Giants. Ertz turned back the clock a bit in his age-34 season, racking up 66 catches for 654 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. His efficiency in particular rebounded significantly, with his 7.2 yards per target being the highest in a season since 2018. He served as a safety blanket for his young quarterback, consistently getting open in the red zone and on third downs. Ertz has spoken incredibly highly of Daniels since they've been together, comparing him to his former Stanford teammate, Andrew Luck. The ceiling isn't very high for Ertz in fantasy this season, but he is a safe and projectable option to pair with an upside bet at tight end late in drafts. He should be viewed as a low-end TE1 for the season opener on Sunday.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers returns in 2025 after a career-best season in which he topped 1,000 yards for the first time. Despite offseason contract uncertainty, he remains a vital piece of the Raiders' passing attack, working as a trusted complement to tight end
Brock Bowers. With rookies
Dont'e Thornton Jr. and
Jack Bech still acclimating to the NFL, Meyers' veteran presence will be leaned on heavily to stabilize the offense early in the year. The Raiders are expected to emphasize the run in Week 1, but Meyers' ability to create separation and operate effectively out of the slot makes him a strong flex option with steady volume potential.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Raiders.com
September 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Roman Wilson was sidelined for most of his rookie season but will look to make a name for himself in year two, starting with a road matchup against the New York Jets. Wilson should see some playing time, though his role is rather uncertain despite Pittsburgh's lack of proven pass-catchers. Between Wilson,
Calvin Austin III, and
Scotty Miller, someone should emerge as the team's WR2 behind
DK Metcalf, but it may take time for quarterback
Aaron Rodgers to build chemistry with his new weapons. Austin is currently listed as a starter on the depth chart, likely delegating Wilson to a depth role to begin the campaign. He's not yet on the fantasy radar, but as a 2024 day-two pick who flashed this preseason, Wilson's usage in Week 1 is worth monitoring in deeper formats.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers offensive guard Mekhi Becton (illness) is officially active for Friday night's Week 1 season opener in Brazil against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. Becton will suit up for his Chargers debut after he was deemed questionable for Week 1 due to an illness. It's good news for the Chargers offense and running backs
Omarion Hampton and
Najee Harris against a tough Chiefs defensive front. The 26-year-old former first-round pick of the New York Jets will open the 2025 season as the Bolts' starting right guard. Becton didn't live up to expectations in New York as a tackle while constantly being set back by injuries, but he finally had a good year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 after being moved inside. The Chargers are hoping he can keep it going in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chargers.com - Eric Smith
September 5, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. will make his team debut on Sunday against the Giants after spending six seasons in San Francisco. Samuel pairs up with
Terry McLaurin as the team's wide receiver tandem, both players drafted on day two of the 2019 NFL Draft. Samuel is coming off a much-discussed down last season with the 49ers, catching 51 balls for 670 yards while adding 136 yards on 42 carries and scoring four total touchdowns. He wasn't quite as dominant after the catch as he had used to be and had easily his worst production as a runner. But it's also important to remember that he was diagnosed with pneumonia during Week 6 of the season. Before that, Samuel was still very productive lined up outside and from the slot. Now paired with a rising star at quarterback in
Jayden Daniels and perhaps the next best offensive mind to utilize his strengths in Kliff Kingsbury, Samuel could be primed for a dynamic bounce-back season. His connection with Daniels has been on display all camp, and he could be relied on more if McLaurin takes a bit to get ramped up. Samuel should be viewed as a WR3 with upside for Week 1 against the Giants.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
September 5, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Tre Tucker enters 2025 looking to build on a solid sophomore season in which he started 14 games and produced 47 receptions for 539 yards. With
Jakobi Meyers and rookie
Dont'e Thornton Jr. also in the mix, Tucker opens the season as a starter but faces an uncertain target share in a run-first offense. While his speed makes him a threat on any given play, he is shaping up as a touchdown-dependent contributor rather than a reliable fantasy option. Tucker should add value on special teams as a return man, but for Week 1, he remains well off the fantasy radar.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Raiders.com
September 5, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver
Dont'e Thornton Jr. enters Week 1 as one of the more intriguing sleepers of the 2025 draft class. The 6'5" playmaker earned a starting role ahead of
Amari Cooper's retirement and will face a Patriots secondary that could be without cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Thornton's size and downfield ability have made him a favorite target for quarterback
Geno Smith throughout camp, flashing legitimate big-play upside. While his early-season role carries promise, the Raiders are still expected to lean on their running game, limiting his immediate fantasy ceiling. Thornton should be stashed on benches with the potential to develop into a key contributor.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Raiders.com
September 5, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Elijah Mitchell is a healthy inactive for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Friday night in Brazil against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. It's bad news for Mitchell heading into his first year with the Chiefs, as it looks like he's the RB4 to open the year, behind starter
Isiah Pacheco,
Kareem Hunt and rookie
Brashard Smith. The 27-year-old was getting some first-team reps early in training camp, but that was a long time ago in late July. Mitchell signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with KC in the offseason after spending his first three NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. In his three years in the Bay Area, the former sixth-rounder in 2021 out of Louisiana averaged 4.7 yards per tote on 327 rush attempts for 1,523 yards and nine touchdowns (five in his rookie season).
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
September 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
Calvin Austin III is off the injury report and ready to go for a Week 1 bout with the New York Jets. Austin, who missed the entire preseason with an abdominal injury, is listed as Pittsburgh's WR2 on the depth chart and should earn some opportunities in an offense that lacks proven commodities at the position outside of
DK Metcalf. Austin was efficient with his targets in 2024 and should get improved QB play with
Aaron Rodgers under center, but it's a stretch to consider him a fantasy option, especially in this matchup. The Jets were stout against opposing receivers last season, and this contest is expected to be a low-scoring affair. Austin's utilization will be worth keeping an eye on, but the 26-year-old is just a dynasty or deep-league bench stash for the time being.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
Page 26 of 30...242526272829...
RADIO
