RADIO
George Pickens Continues to Stand Out in Cowboys Camp
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens has been one of the biggest standouts of training camp, and Dak Prescott says it is exactly what he expected. Jon Machota reports that no Cowboys player has stood out more this summer. Prescott praised Pickens for his energy, catches and playmaking, then pointed to the different ways Dallas can use him alongside CeeDee Lamb. Pickens is coming off a career year in his first season with the Cowboys, finishing with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He is playing 2026 on the franchise tag, but there has been no sign of that affecting his work. Dallas has seen Pickens make plays throughout camp, and Prescott believes the next step is figuring out how he and Lamb can stress defenses together, including using one to create openings for the other. Pickens already proved he can produce at a high level in this offense. Nothing from camp suggests that is about to change.
Source: Jon Machota
Source: Jon Machota
Keaton Mitchell Is Becoming a Sneaky Late-Round Target
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell has a little more separation in the race behind Omarion Hampton. The Chargers' current depth chart lists Mitchell second at running back, with Kimani Vidal on the next line, and Mitchell was involved early Thursday night before a 21-yard catch was wiped out by penalty. The 5-foot-8, 191-pound back doesn't need many touches to change a game. He ran for 341 yards on 59 carries last season, averaged 5.8 yards per attempt and added nine catches for 63 yards. Los Angeles also noted that Mitchell led the NFL in average run speed in 2025 at 14.49 mph and had 11 runs of at least 10 yards. Mike McDaniel has already said he expects to use Hampton, Mitchell and Vidal every week and could ride the hot hand, so this isn't a clean backup situation. Hampton still leads the room. Mitchell just looks like the best bet for the change-of-pace work right now, and his speed gives him enough standalone upside to stay interesting late in deeper redraft drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyreek Hill Not Expected to Sign Before Season
Free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill is not expected to sign with a team before the regular season begins. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on "The Pat McAfee Show" that Hill looked good in a recent video of him running hills, but added that Hill still feels he has a long way to go, according to David Furones. Hill is trying to make his way back from the serious left knee injury he suffered last September, when he dislocated the knee and tore multiple ligaments, including his ACL. He underwent two surgeries and was released by Miami in February after failing a physical. Hill had 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown in four games before the injury last season. There is still a path to a 2026 return, but this latest update makes September look increasingly unrealistic. For fantasy managers, Hill is a speculative stash in deeper leagues rather than someone to draft with an early-season role in mind.
Source: David Furones
Source: David Furones
Barion Brown Is Emerging as a Late-Round Sleeper
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Barion Brown has gone from interesting camp name to somebody worth considering late in deeper drafts. The sixth-round rookie kept making plays through the first two weeks of camp, then caught four passes for 53 yards in the preseason opener. Jordyn Tyson's hamstring injury opens the door a little wider, too, with the first-round pick expected to miss up to two months. Brown still has to earn those snaps. Devaughn Vele is ahead of him, and Bryce Lance, Kevin Austin Jr. and the rest of the room aren't just going away. But Brown has one thing nobody has to project: speed. He ran a 4.30 at the combine and has already shown New Orleans can use it beyond the return game. There isn't enough here to call him a standard-league target yet. In deeper formats, though, Brown has played his way into the late-round sleeper mix, and Tyson's absence gives him a real shot to matter early.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Brooks Still in the Mix for Packers' RB2 Role
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks is back where he needs to be after losing the first week and a half of camp to a hamstring strain. Green Bay's Aug. 10 unofficial depth chart had Brooks directly behind Josh Jacobs, with MarShawn Lloyd next, but there is still a competition here. Brooks didn't play in the preseason opener, while Lloyd got his chance after Jacobs went down with a groin injury. Brooks has since returned to team work, and the Packers trust the 6-foot-1, 219-pound back in pass protection and the passing game. His 2025 numbers weren't much, just 27 carries for 106 yards and 13 catches for 91 yards. He did get 13 carries in Week 18 and turned them into 61 yards. Jacobs is back at practice and remains the clear lead back, so this is strictly about the spot behind him. Brooks has a real chance to win it. Until somebody separates, though, he's more insurance-back watch than a late-round redraft target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks Makes His Case for a Larger Role
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks stood out on Thursday night against the Raiders, playing very effectively on his team's opening drive, which he capped with a 20-yard touchdown run. He finished with 37 rushing yards to go with his touchdown on four carries and added a six-yard reception. The second-year running back had a strong track record as a pass-catcher in college and could step into a larger role as a receiver after the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins (knee). Marks appears lined up to share work in the backfield with David Montgomery, but with a strong showing like Thursday's and some extra targets available, he could be a great grab with upside when you're searching for running back depth. His pass-catching potential makes him an even stronger play in PPR formats. Marks is the RB46 in RotoBaller's rankings, but he could get enough work to return great value at that spot even though he'll be working in a timeshare.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jared Wayne Earning Time with the Texans' Starters
Houston Texans side receiver Jared Wayne could be part of the team's plan to fill in for some of the production lost when Jayden Higgins (knee) went down for the season earlier this week. Wayne has had a very strong training camp and caught the team's only touchdown in the first preseason game. On Thursday, in the second preseason game, Wayne played in the first series of the game with starting QB C.J. Stroud, and he picked up a key 12-yard reception that converted a third down and kept the drive alive. Wayne finished with just two catches for 13 yards, but his involvement with the starters could indicate the team has bigger plans for him once the season starts. At the very least, he looks in line to make his first NFL roster after spending last year on the practice squad. He could open the season as the team's WR2 across from Nico Collins, at least until Tank Dell (knee) is ready for action.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jake Bobo Carted Off After Right Leg Injury
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo was carted off Friday after suffering a right leg injury during a joint practice with the Tennessee Titans, according to Teresa Walker. Bobo went down after linebacker James Williams broke up a pass intended for him, and players from both teams took a knee while he was being checked out. He was eventually able to get up with help before getting onto the cart. Bobo has mostly worked as a depth receiver, blocker and special teams player in Seattle. He caught just two passes for 20 yards during the 2025 regular season, though the Seahawks valued him enough to match Jacksonville's offer sheet in March and keep him in town. There isn't much standalone fantasy value tied to Bobo, but losing him for any stretch would take away one of Seattle's more trusted depth pieces and special teams contributors.
Source: Teresa Walker
Source: Teresa Walker
C.J. Stroud Poised for a Bounce-Back Season
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is eligible for a contract extension and has had a strong training camp, according to multiple accounts from Texans' camp. He led his team to a touchdown on his only drive of the team's second preseason game on Thursday night, completing four of his six pass attempts for 27 yards. While he didn't have the touchdown, he did a good job making smart decisions and guiding the offense into position to reach the end zone. Stroud has regressed in each of the last two seasons after his big rookie year, but he has the potential to bounce back in his second season under offensive coordinator Nick Caley. He'll need to find a strong second option behind Nico Collins after the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins (knee), but if he does that, he'll have the potential to be a solid QB2 with upside. Coming into the year, he's No. 24 in RotoBaller's rankings.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Darren Waller in Phenomenal Shape Entering 2026 Season
Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is in phenomenal shape heading into the 2026 season. Waller said his conditioning is "Night and day" compared to last season. Waller reportedly tore his quad two weeks after unretiring and signing with the Miami Dolphins last season, which kept him out for eight games in 2025. Despite the injuries and the Dolphins' lackluster passing attack, Waller still managed 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. Now in Carolina, head coach Dave Canales is excited about what Waller brings to the table, saying, "It's a unique element that he brings to whatever offense he's been a part of." Currently ranked TE35 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Waller looks primed for a solid season that should surpass his ADP in 2026.
Source: Joe Person - The Athletic
Source: Joe Person - The Athletic
Cooper Kupp Is Slipping Into Deep-Bench Territory
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp is still running with the starters, but the fantasy case keeps getting thinner. He played 16 games last season and caught 47 passes for 593 yards and two touchdowns on 70 targets. Meanwhile, Jaxon Smith-Njigba exploded for 119 catches and 1,793 yards, and Seattle has spent this summer talking about a bigger offensive role for Rashid Shaheed. Kupp has made plays in camp, including a one-handed grab from Sam Darnold, so this isn't about him suddenly looking finished. It's about volume. Seattle attempted only 481 passes last season, fourth-fewest in the NFL, and Kupp was already living on a modest target share before Shaheed's role started growing. RotoBaller has dropped Kupp to 222nd overall in its Aug. 19 PPR rankings. At 33, he can still give Seattle useful snaps and have the occasional fantasy week. There just isn't much pointing toward a return to steady starting value. Kupp looks more like deep bench depth than a receiver fantasy managers should be trying to force into drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
DeVaughn Vele to See More Work Early in 2026 Season
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is set for an expanded role early in the season. With rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) expected to miss significant time, Vele is positioned to be the team's second-leading receiver behind Chris Olave. The former Broncos receiver hauled in 25 of 39 targets for 293 yards and two touchdowns last season, but found a groove late with quarterback Tyler Shough. To add to Vele's value this season, Olave has struggled with concussions throughout his career and was part of the reason he slipped down fantasy boards last season. If Olave and Tyson miss time at any point this season, Vele becomes a starting-caliber receiver in most fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Hutchinson Moves Back Onto the Redraft Radar
Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson didn't give fantasy managers much in Thursday's box score, catching one of two targets for minus-1 yard in a 22-20 loss to Las Vegas. Both looks came from C.J. Stroud on Houston's opening drive. The bigger story is what happened before the game. Jayden Higgins tore his ACL in Tuesday's joint practice and is out for the season, leaving a lot more work up for grabs behind Nico Collins. Hutchinson has been here before. He started six games last year and finished with 35 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns, including a five-catch, 69-yard, one-score game against San Francisco when Houston was short-handed at receiver. Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell are still part of this, so Hutchinson hasn't suddenly become the No. 2. But the path is cleaner now, and getting two early looks from Stroud is at least worth noting. He's back on the deep-league radar after being an easy name to ignore a week ago.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lewis Bond Positioned for Larger Role After Higgins' Injury
Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Lewis Bond is poised for a larger role than expected in 2026. The sixth-round pick from Boston College was unlikely to contribute as a receiver this season, but after second-year wideout Jayden Higgins' unfortunate knee injury, Bond may have a chance to play. At Boston College, he hauled in 88 receptions for 993 yards and one touchdown in 2025 under former Texans head coach Bill O'Brien. Bond caught two passes for 12 yards in Thursday's preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, playing most of his snaps with the second-team offense. While the Texans still have Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson on the outside, Bond could carve out a solid role in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Caleb Douglas Making Strong Case for WR1 Role in Miami
Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas has stolen the show this offseason and in preseason play. The third-round pick entered a crowded receiving room with many veteran and rookie options, yet he has emerged as the top threat for the WR1 role in this offense. The former Texas Tech receiver was listed as a starter on the team's unofficial depth chart, a rare honor for a third-round pick, and made his mark in the team's preseason debut against the Washington Commanders. Douglas played a team-high 14 snaps with the first-team offense in that game and made an acrobatic one-handed catch from quarterback Malik Willis. With fellow third-round pick Chris Bell (knee) missing most of training camp, Douglas has the inside track to lead the Dolphins in receiving this season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
