RADIO
Rome Odunze Officially Active for Week 1
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (calf) is officially active for the team's Week 1 season opener on Sunday versus the Carolina Panthers, according to the team. Odunze was limited in practice all week due to a knee injury that surfaced in early September, but he did enough on the field to gain clearance to play in the season opener this weekend. There have not been any reports floating around that the 24-year-old former first-rounder will not have his typical number of offensive snaps for the Bears on Sunday, so fantasy managers should keep him in their starting lineups to kick off the year. Odunze only played in 12 regular-season games a year ago due to a foot injury that is believed to be behind him, but durability issues have been a bit of a concern. He caught 44 of 90 targets last year for 661 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in his second season in the NFL. With DJ Moore now in Buffalo, Odunze and Luther Burden III will operate as Chicago's top two wideouts in 2026. At the very least, Odunze should be a solid WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 1.
Source: Chicago Bears
Source: Chicago Bears
Joey Porter Jr. Officially Inactive for Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Porter had been listed as questionable, but he was trending in the wrong direction ahead of kickoff. The 26-year-old has been the topic of many headlines in recent months due to injury and contract negotiations. Porter should get back onto the field when he's healthy again, but the impasse in extension talks is certainly something to consider. The Steelers won't extend him in-season, so he'll either play out his contract year or be traded somewhere else early in the season. As long as he's sidelined, veteran cornerbacks Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., and Jalen Ramsey will handle more snaps on defense.
Source: Pittsburgh Steelers
Source: Pittsburgh Steelers
Myles Garrett to Have Knee Surgery, Land on Injured Reserve
Los Angeles Rams star pass-rusher Myles Garrett (knee) will have arthroscopic surgery on his ailing knee and is headed to Injured Reserve, sources told Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Garrett has been dealing with lower-leg pain and was not himself in Thursday's season-opening loss in Australia to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, where he was unable to return a single tackle. The hope is that he is back in four weeks after a minimally invasive knee surgery. The 30-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro is off to a bad start in his tenure with the Rams after setting the NFL's single-season sack record in 2025 with 23 sacks in his final season with the Cleveland Browns. Garrett's absence over the next four games will put more pressure on the rest of L.A.'s defensive line, but the good news is that the Rams could get All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald back for their Week 2 game against the New York Giants on Monday, Sept. 21. The earliest that Garrett can return will be on Oct. 18 against the Arizona Cardinals. He should be stashed in all IDP fantasy formats in the meantime.
Source: The Ringer - Tom Pelissero
Source: The Ringer - Tom Pelissero
Josh Jacobs Not Facing More Than Six-Game Suspension?
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (personal) remains on the commissioner's exempt list, but the NFL could count time spent there as time served for any potential suspension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Some league sources expect this to be the case in the end. In the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, there is a six-game minimum for any type of domestic violence, such as Jacobs' situation. Schefter writes that it could be more or less, depending on mitigating factors. The 28-year-old veteran needs to remain stashed in all fantasy leagues, but fantasy managers may need to be patient before being able to use him in starting fantasy lineups in 2026. Jacobs is the Packers' unquestioned lead back when healthy and with the team, but to begin the new season, MarShawn Lloyd is expected to get the first crack at RB1 duties for the Packers on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks also figure to be involved with change-of-pace roles as Green Bay navigates life without Jacobs for potentially the first four to six weeks of the season.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
NFL Attempting To Obtain Video of Josh Jacobs' Incident
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the NFL is trying to legally obtain video of the Josh Jacobs incident. The Green Bay Packers running back is currently on the Commissioner's Exempt List and was in court this weekend. The NFL is looking to get video to help in their ongoing investigation of the Jacobs' incident and would like to see the video before they make a decision on suspending Jacobs. The Green Bay star running back will sit out during the investigation and MarShawn Lloyd takes over as the main running back for the Packers along with Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks. The Packers likely want to get this situation figured out and know if they will have Jacobs at all at their disposal this season. It's an unfortunate legal situation that has affected Jacobs status on the field.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Brock Bowers Has a Realistic Chance to Play in Week 2
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is working his way back from a meniscus trim, and the team believes "there's a realistic chance" that he will be able to return in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Bowers underwent the trim just a few days ago, so it would be impressive to see him return to action within two weeks. Nevertheless, the Raiders believe it's possible, and the team will continue to evaluate how he feels. There's no need to rush Bowers back this early in the season, but if he's indeed capable of playing next week, the Raiders would be thrilled to get him back into the mix. He had 64 catches, 680 yards, and seven touchdowns last season, and he was the TE1 back in 2024 with 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. While Bowers works to get back on the field, Michael Mayer will temporarily step in as the team's top tight end.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Malik Nabers Still Iffy For Week 1 Contest Against Cowboys
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is still questionable for the team's opening matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. ESPN Insider Adam Schefter says Nabers' status for Week 1 is "murky at best," and he is leaving his status for the game up to God. The Giants have added two new wide receivers to their 53-man roster on Saturday ahead of Sunday's game. Nabers' injury situation is seemingly up in the air, with his status sounding truly questionable. Nabers' impact is key for the Giants as he is the clear top target for quarterback Jaxson Dart. Nabers missed most of last season with a torn ACL, but he will try to make his way onto the field for the season opener.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Alec Pierce on a Pitch Count for Week 1
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to be on a snap count for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team hasn't announced how much Pierce will play, but Garafolo hears that it will be around 20 to 30 snaps. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a heel injury, and although he doesn't have an official injury designation for Week 1, he's evidently at less than 100 percent. The pitch count drops him to the low-end WR3 territory this week, and managers should strongly consider starting other receivers with more full workloads. This update from Indianapolis also suggests that we could see more volume for Josh Downs and Keenan Allen. The former has more appeal than the latter, but both could garner their own WR3/flex upside in deeper leagues.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Parker Washington Could Have Big Week 1 Vs. Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington looks to build off his excellent finish to last season and continue with a solid Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns. Washington makes for a solid start against Cleveland and is expected to finish as a WR2 or better in the opening week of the season. Washington will be comfortable catching passes from Trevor Lawrence and lining up alongside fellow receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers. Washington could see some time lining up in the slot and could be a big mismatch against the Browns defense. Last season, Washington caught 58 passes on 95 targets for 847 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. The Jaguars offense should have a big day against Cleveland, and Washington figures to be a big part of that.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
A.J. Brown Has High-Ankle Sprain, To Miss Six Weeks
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) has been placed on Injured Reserve and will miss six weeks with a high-ankle sprain, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The big off-season signing for the Patriots will miss the high end of the four- to six-week timeline normally associated with a high ankle sprain. It's a big injury for New England to deal with early on in the season. Brown had 78 catches on 121 targets last season with the Eagles for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. He was looking for a breakout year with New England, but it will have to get started a little bit later than anticipated. Fantasy managers will want to hold on to Brown as he sits out his six games. He could still have a big year for the Patriots but will have to recover from the high ankle sprain before he gets underway.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Sam Darnold Has a Glute Injury and Could Miss A Few Games
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a glute injury in the Week 1 victory over the Patriots and could miss several games. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the news was better than anticipated for the Seahawks and a couple of games might be better than expected. Darnold had a great season in 2025 with 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns against 14 interceptions leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl win. He hardly had a chance to make any plays in the opener before he suffered the injury early in the game. Darnold limped off after just two passes in the opening game. But it looks like Darnold avoided serious injury and Seattle will play with Drew Lock at quarterback for a few games before welcoming their Super Bowl winning quarterback back to the team.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
De'Zhaun Stribling to Miss at Least One Month with Ankle Sprain
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) has been diagnosed with a deltoid sprain in his ankle and will miss at least one month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. There are currently no plans for him to undergo surgery, but the team is reportedly exploring all options. The Ole Miss product made his NFL debut on Thursday night, but the outing was cut short due to two trips to the sideline for an ankle issue. After he exited the second time, he did not return, finishing the game with zero targets on offense. This is crushing news for the rookie and his fantasy managers, especially after there was plenty of speculation that Stribling could be a steady WR3/flex option in his role alongside Mike Evans. Instead, he'll be sidelined through mid-October at the earliest, making him a candidate for injured reserve. With Christian Kirk (calf) already on IR, Deebo Samuel Sr. is solidified as the 49ers' No. 2 receiver while Demarcus Robinson will be elevated to the No. 3 spot.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Marvin Mims Jr. Buried Too Deep to Have a Role on Offense
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy football radar in most leagues ahead of Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos traded for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle over the offseason, leaving Mims behind Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin. In addition to those receivers, Mims is also behind tight end Evan Engram in the pecking order, although those two players occupy very different roles. Mims, 24, is a speed threat who has sporadically hauled in big touchdown catches throughout his career when he takes off from his defender. Even if he has a few deep-play touchdowns this season, they're so unpredictable that he's impossible to start. We expect him to spend a lot of his time on special teams, serving as the Broncos' primary kick and punt returner. He has fallen to WR114 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, making him droppable in all leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Evan Engram Too Risky for Week 1 Against Chiefs
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is a riskier play for Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. After two seasons outside the top 28 fantasy tight ends, Engram remains a strong candidate to be benched in deeper redraft leagues. Alternatively, he can be left on the waiver wire in shallower leagues. Last year, during his first campaign in Denver, Engram caught 50 passes for 461 yards, but he scored just one touchdown. An increase in touchdowns would prop up his 2026 fantasy projections by a decent amount, but we're still not sold on him as a fantasy starter. His target share is only expected to decline after the Broncos' trade for Jaylen Waddle, putting him somewhere between third and fifth in the pecking order. He's certainly behind Waddle and Courtland Sutton, but he could lose key volume to wide receivers Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin. It also doesn't help that Engram is going up against the Chiefs, who allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2025. As it stands, Engram ranks as the TE24 in RotoBaller's latest Week 1 fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Pat Freiermuth on the Fringe of Fantasy Radar for Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is a fringe top-24 option in fantasy football ahead of Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Freiermuth is coming off a modest 2025 campaign in which he ranked as the TE25 with 41 catches, 486 yards, and four touchdowns. Last year, he faced plenty of competition for targets from Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington. This year, Smith is gone, but Washington remains in the position group, and the Steelers are also expected to divert more targets to new wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Additionally, the Steelers' matchup against the Falcons isn't incredibly advantageous for fantasy football. The Steelers are 6.5-point favorites and could go up early against the Falcons, who are starting third-string quarterback Cooper Rush. In such a lopsided matchup, we could see the Steelers adopt a run-heavy approach early in the game to keep the clock moving. Therefore, there may be fewer targets to go around for Freiermuth, who ranks third (at best) in the Steelers' passing game pecking order behind Pittman and DK Metcalf.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
