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Aaron Rodgers Sees Roman Wilson Coming Into His Own
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson is getting another vote of confidence from Aaron Rodgers. According to Mike DeFabo, Rodgers said Wilson is "coming into his own," pointing to how much more dynamic and confident he looks this summer. That's a big change from where Wilson was a year ago. He caught only 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games last season and was a healthy inactive late in the year. This summer, he is listed as a starter on Pittsburgh's first unofficial depth chart and has been making plays in camp, including a diving touchdown catch during a two-minute drill. There is still competition for work with second-round rookie Germie Bernard in the receiver room, but Wilson has given the Steelers more reason to keep him involved. Rodgers continuing to single him out is notable, especially after such a quiet 2025. Wilson still has to carry it into the regular season, but his third-year outlook looks considerably better than it did a few months ago.
Source: Mike DeFabo
Source: Mike DeFabo
Deebo Samuel Sr. Listed as Starter on First Preseason Depth Chart
San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. is listed as a starting WR on the team's first unofficial depth chart of the preseason, according to the Bay Area News Group's Cam Inman. Veteran Mike Evans and Demarcus Robinson are listed as the other starters in three-wide sets alongside Samuel, who is returning to the Bay Area after spending the 2025 campaign with the Washington Commanders, where he caught 72 of his 99 targets for 727 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games played. The Niners brought Samuel back after learning that Ricky Pearsall (knee) would miss the entire season. The 30-year-old veteran is versatile and will have more fantasy upside back in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, but rookie second-round receiver De'Zhaun Stribling also figures to be heavily involved in San Fran's offense opposite Evans. There's also veteran Christian Kirk, who is in his first year with the team. Samuel's versatility will give Shanahan another weapon to challenge defenses, but fantasy managers should not expect the former second-rounder to suddenly have another 1,000-yard season just because Pearsall is out for the year. RotoBaller has Samuel ranked at No. 56 at the WR position in fantasy.
Source: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
Source: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
Christian McCaffrey Not Practicing for Second Straight Day
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) is not practicing at training camp for the second straight day on Tuesday, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. McCaffrey is being held out so far this week with undisclosed "tightness," but offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak has downplayed CMC's situation and said the team is "just managing" the All-Pro RB. The 49ers are already pretty banged up early in training camp, and as a result, they are resting some of their key veterans like McCaffrey. In addition to McCaffrey, RBs Kaelon Black (groin), Jordan James (ribs), and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) are injured, so the Niners can't afford to lose their most valuable offensive weapon in McCaffrey before the season even starts. CMC managed to stay completely healthy in 2025 and finished as the RB1 in half-PPR scoring with 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 924 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a receiver in 17 games. McCaffrey has elite upside at his position but also high-end bust potential due to his lengthy injury history. RotoBaller has him ranked as the RB3 for 2026, behind only Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson.
Source: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
Source: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
Josh Jacobs Could Still Face NFL Discipline
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs remains one of the players who could face discipline from the NFL, according to Adam Schefter. Jacobs was arrested in May following an alleged domestic incident in Wisconsin and was released the next day while prosecutors requested additional investigation before making a formal charging decision. Jacobs has denied wrongdoing through his attorneys. No punishment has been announced by the league, so there is no reason yet to guess at how much time he might miss. It is worth following for fantasy purposes, though. Jacobs ran for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games last season while catching 36 passes for 282 yards and another score. He is also currently sidelined with a groin injury that will keep him out at least this week. MarShawn Lloyd has gotten first-team work with Jacobs sidelined, though Green Bay's unofficial depth chart currently has Chris Brooks ahead of Lloyd. If Jacobs eventually misses regular-season games, that backup battle would suddenly become much more important.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Mike Evans in Uniform for Tuesday's Practice
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (quadriceps) is in uniform and warming up for Tuesday's joint practice with the Tennessee Titans after missing time recently with a quad injury, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Evans is returning to practice for the first time since suffering a strained quad muscle last Monday. While the veteran wideout might be limited on Tuesday, it's a great sign for the future Hall of Famer going forward. We would not expect Evans to play in the team's preseason opener on Thursday against the Titans. The 32-year-old six-time Pro Bowler has a fantastic track record in the NFL, recording 1,000-yard seasons in each of his first 11 seasons in the league before playing in just eight games due to a broken collarbone in 2025 in his final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fantasy managers aren't worried about what Evans has done in the past, though, and durability concerns as he nears the tail end of his career will make him a much riskier fantasy WR than he's ever been before. At the very least, Evans should be an excellent red-zone weapon for QB Brock Purdy, but injury concerns have dropped him to No. 26 in RotoBaller's WR rankings entering the 2026 season. UPDATE: Evans mostly worked in individual drills on Tuesday.
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
Potential NFL Discipline Looms for Puka Nacua
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua could be facing discipline from the NFL. Adam Schefter reports that Nacua is among a group of players with potential punishment looming, though there is no word yet on the extent of the punishment. Nacua is facing a civil lawsuit stemming from a New Year's Eve incident in which a woman accused him of making an antisemitic remark and biting her. His attorney has denied the allegations. Schefter noted that there is a possibility the superstar will be held out of action in Week 1. From a fantasy standpoint, the uncertainty matters because Nacua is coming off a huge season. He led the NFL with 129 catches while finishing with 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games. RotoBaller currently has him No. 3 overall among all players and the WR1. For now, this is simply something to closely watch until the league makes a decision.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Lamar Jackson Will Not Play in Saturday's Preseason Opener
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and other established starters will not play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Jesse Minter told Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Coming off a disappointing and injury-plagued 2025 campaign in his eighth year in the NFL, the Ravens aren't going to take any chances with the two-time MVP and will likely keep him out of all preseason contests. The 29-year-old played in only 13 games last year and had 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while carrying the ball a career-low 67 times for 349 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Jackson should be a prime bounce-back candidate in new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's scheme as long as he stays healthy as one of the top dual-threat QBs in the league. Jackson's injury-plagued 2025 campaign hasn't made him a discount at the QB position in fantasy this year, and he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 2 signal-caller, behind only Josh Allen.
Source: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
Source: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
Quinshon Judkins Primed for Workhorse Role
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins is healthy and getting plenty of work as he heads into his second season. Scott Petrak of BrownsZone.com reports that the plan is for Judkins to be the workhorse in Todd Monken's offense, and that has shown up in camp with carries and catches. Judkins ran 230 times for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games as a rookie, adding 26 receptions for 171 yards. Running backs coach Duce Staley believes he can handle all three downs, so the receiving work is worth watching after a fairly modest rookie total. The other encouraging part is his health. Judkins fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle in Week 16, had surgery in December, and worked his way back during the offseason program. He has not missed a day of camp, and Petrak reports he looked 100 percent when practices began. Dylan Sampson will still get work, but Cleveland clearly wants Judkins at the center of the backfield. He is currently No. 57 overall in RotoBaller's PPR rankings.
Source: BrownsZone
Source: BrownsZone
Rashee Rice Calls Jail Time a "Reality Check"
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice spoke Tuesday about the 30-day jail sentence he served earlier this offseason, calling it a "reality check." According to Nate Taylor, Rice said it is in the past and that he is focused on the future. Rice was ordered to report to jail in May after testing positive for THC, a violation of the probation he received after pleading guilty to two felony charges stemming from the 2024 Dallas crash. The jail term had already been part of his original sentence, but the positive test led to it being served immediately. Rice also had a cleanup procedure on his right knee shortly before entering jail and missed OTAs and mandatory minicamp, though he has since worked his way back into 11-on-11 drills at training camp. He caught 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns in eight games last season. RotoBaller currently has Rice 36th overall and WR16, and his progress in camp is the more important fantasy development going forward.
Source: Nate Taylor
Source: Nate Taylor
Daniel Jones Won't Play During the Preseason
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) will not play during the preseason, according to Jonathan Jones. Head coach Shane Steichen announced the decision Tuesday as Jones continues his return from the torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season in Week 14. The good news is that Jones has been a full participant in training camp, so there is nothing here suggesting he has suffered a setback. He started 13 games last season and completed 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, adding 164 yards and five more scores on the ground. The Colts also have no quarterback decision to make with Jones, who enters the season as their unquestioned starter. Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson Sr. are instead competing for the backup job and should get plenty of preseason work. Jones remains RotoBaller's QB24, and sitting out exhibition games should not change much for fantasy managers as long as he continues practicing without limitations.
Source: Jonathan Jones
Source: Jonathan Jones
Ja'Marr Chase to Suit Up for Preseason Opener
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that both wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will play against the Detroit Lions on Thursday in the team's preseason opener, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Kelsey Conway. Chase and Higgins will most likely work a few offensive series with quarterback Joe Burrow. Even though Burrow missed half of last season due to a turf-toe injury, Chase managed his fifth straight 1,000-yard season, found the end zone eight times, and led the NFL with 185 targets in 16 starts. The 26-year-old five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro is still the best receiver in the NFL and could approach his career high of 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns from the 2024 season if Burrow stays healthy again in 2026. There's a reason why Chase is the consensus top overall fantasy wideout. He's had at least 1,046 receiving yards, 81 catches, and seven touchdowns in his five years in the NFL with the Bengals.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Joe Burrow to Play in Preseason Opener on Thursday Against Detroit
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that quarterback Joe Burrow will play against the Detroit Lions in the team's preseason opener on Thursday, per Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Burrow will also be out there with his top two receivers in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, although they will probably only stay in the game for a couple of offensive series, at the most. The 29-year-old Burrow and the Bengals offense got off to a bit of a slow start in training camp, but they have been coming alive of late and figure to be in good shape for the 2026 season as long as Burrow stays healthy. The three-time Pro Bowler played in a career-low eight games last year due to turf toe, throwing for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions a year after leading the NFL in passing yards (4,918), touchdown passes (43), completions (460), and pass attempts (652). He's an obvious bounce-back candidate in 2026 with top-five QB upside in fantasy football, even though most of his production comes solely from his arm.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Jaylen Waddle Still Absent on Tuesday
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (leg) remains absent from training camp practice on Tuesday, although he is present, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Waddle remains day-to-day after dealing with muscle tightness in his leg since last week. His injury is not considered serious, and the Broncos are likely just taking extra precaution for their new addition that they spent first- and third-round picks on to acquire in the offseason. The Broncos have their preseason opener this Friday against the Atlanta Falcons, and Waddle almost certainly will not play in that contest as he continues to recover. The 27-year-old former sixth overall pick from the University of Alabama could be the Broncos' leading target and receiver in 2026 in his first year in the Mile High City, making him a popular WR2 target with upside, especially in leagues that reward points for each catch. Waddle had three 1,000-yard seasons in Miami to begin his career, and he came just short of a fourth with 910 yards and six touchdowns in 16 starts in 2025.
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Vikings Name Kyler Murray as Their Starting QB
The Minnesota Vikings have named Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Things had been trending this way early in training camp, even though J.J. McCarthy had his fair share of positive throws in practice since the start of the summer. The 29-year-old Murray was brought in on a one-year deal in March to push McCarthy for the starting job after McCarthy struggled mightily with accuracy, decision-making, and injuries in 2025 in his first full year as the starter in Minnesota. Murray, the former first overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, has the experience edge, more dual-threat abilities, and has apparently shown enough in head coach Kevin O'Connell's offensive system to win the job early in camp. Murray has high-end rushing upside and will also be working with the best WR duo in his career in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Now that he's officially been named the starter, Murray's fantasy football stock will rise heading into upcoming drafts as a high-end QB2 with upside for QB1 production in his new home with the Vikings.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
J.K. Dobbins Back in Pads at Tuesday's Practice
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins (undisclosed) is back at training camp practice on Tuesday with his pads on, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Dobbins, who has a lengthy injury history in the NFL, was pulled from practice early on Monday with an undisclosed soft-tissue injury. It appears that the 27-year-old's injury wasn't very serious. The former second-rounder in 2020 from Ohio State was on his way to a career year last season in his first year with the Broncos before he suffered a season-ending foot injury. In 10 games played, Dobbins had 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 153 rushing attempts while adding 11 receptions for 37 yards as a pass-catcher. The previous year with the Los Angeles Chargers, Dobbins had a career-high 905 rushing yards and a career-high-tying nine rushing TDs in 13 games played. He has averaged 5.2 yards per carry in his five NFL seasons, but he has never played a full season due to injuries. Dobbins should be Denver's primary option on early downs in 2026 in his second year in the Mile High City, but with his injury history and a potential committee backfield with RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman, Dobbins has a low ceiling and a low floor. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 31 fantasy RB. UPDATE: Dobbins went through individual drills on Tuesday, per The Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson.
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
