RADIO
Blake Grupe Has Statistical Edge in Colts Kicker Battle
Indianapolis Colts kicker Blake Grupe has the statistical edge over Spencer Shrader through the opening stretch of training camp, according to Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason cautioned that the team is evaluating more than the results reporters see, including ball flight, pre-practice work, and how each kicker progresses throughout camp. Grupe made all 11 of his field-goal attempts and all 10 extra points in five games with Indianapolis last season, while Shrader went 13-for-14 on field goals and 14-for-14 on extra points before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Grupe may be ahead for now, but this remains an open competition, with scrimmage and preseason kicks expected to carry extra weight. Neither kicker belongs on fantasy draft boards until the Colts settle on a winner.
Source: Nathan Brown
Source: Nathan Brown
Jalon Walker to Miss 2026 Season With Torn ACL
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker (knee) will miss the 2026 season after tests confirmed a torn ACL, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Walker was carted off during Tuesday's practice after going down in a two-minute drill. The 22-year-old appeared in 15 games with nine starts as a rookie, finishing with 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Atlanta had planned to expand his role this season, including using him off the ball in addition to his work on the edge. The injury removes Walker from seasonal IDP consideration and leaves the Falcons without one of their most promising pass rushers. He is still worth holding on injured reserve in dynasty leagues.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Terrell Jennings Making Push for Patriots' RB3 Job
New England Patriots running back Terrell Jennings is making a push for the No. 3 job behind TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, according to the Boston Herald. Jennings opened training camp on the non-football injury list but has quickly worked his way back into the rotation since being activated Monday. He saw time with the second-team offense and the top punt unit Tuesday, then joined Drake Maye's group during Wednesday's walkthrough. Jennings is competing with Lan Larison, seventh-round rookie Jam Miller, and undrafted rookie Myles Montgomery for what could be one roster spot. He has the most NFL experience of the group and rushed 23 times for 73 yards and a touchdown across seven games last season. His work on special teams could ultimately separate him in a close battle. Even if Jennings wins the job, he would remain off the standard redraft radar behind Henderson and Stevenson, though he could carry some value in deeper dynasty leagues.
Source: Boston Herald
Source: Boston Herald
Geno Smith Attacking All Three Levels at Jets Camp
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has consistently looked to attack all three levels of the field during training camp, according to Connor Rogers. Rogers noted that Smith has pushed the ball downfield to the wide receivers while giving Omar Cooper Jr. and Isaiah Williams chances underneath. The tight ends have also been involved in the intermediate area. That approach is encouraging for Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, but it is still only an early look at Frank Reich's offense. Smith is coming off a difficult season with Las Vegas in which he threw for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions across 15 starts. RotoBaller currently ranks him as the QB30, which leaves him outside the standard redraft picture. A more aggressive passing game could help Smith outperform that ranking, but for now he remains a deep Superflex option rather than a dependable weekly starter.
Source: Connor Rogers
Source: Connor Rogers
Chris Olave Exits Practice With Apparent Heat Issue
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave left Wednesday's practice with a trainer in what appeared to be a heat-related issue, according to Erin Summers. The team did not immediately provide an update, so it is unclear whether Olave will miss any additional practice time. He is coming off career highs of 100 receptions, 1,163 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns across 16 games last season. His status at the Saints' next practice should provide a better indication of whether there is anything to worry about.
Source: Erin Summers
Source: Erin Summers
Jeremiyah Love Won't Play in Hall of Fame Game on Thursday
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said that rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love will not play in Thursday's Hall of Fame preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Unsurprisingly, not many starters, if any at all, will play for either team in their preseason opener. The 21-year-old do-it-all back from Notre Dame was the third overall pick back in April, but reports have suggested that LaFleur plans to ease Love into a crowded backfield to begin his NFL career. Early in training camp, Love and Tyler Allgeier have been sharing most of the first-team reps, with veteran James Conner being eased in as the RB3 after a season-ending foot injury early in 2025. Even though Love isn't going to see a bell-cow role early on in Arizona, he's still the most attractive upside option in the Cardinals' backfield in fantasy, and RotoBaller has him ranked as its No. 13 RB for the upcoming season. Long-term, Love offers the entire package and has the skills to be one of the best fantasy backs for years to come.
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Zay Flowers has Bulked Up
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers said he added eight pounds of muscle this offseason because he heard the grief about running sideways and wants to break more tackles this year, according to Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun. The Ravens just gave Flowers a four-year, $140 million contract extension on Tuesday after his second straight 1,000-yard season in 2025 in his third year in the league. The 25-year-old is still on the smaller side after bulking up, and he's listed at 5-foot-9, 183 pounds. The two-time Pro Bowler is the Ravens' unquestioned WR1, and he could have a higher ceiling in 2026 in new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's scheme as Baltimore looks to get back to the postseason. Flowers had career highs in catches (86) and receiving yards (1,211) while catching five touchdown passes in 17 starts. He's had at least 74 catches, 858 yards, and four touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons, giving him a solid floor as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in fantasy football leagues. An even higher target share could be coming Flowers' way this year.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Brian Wacker
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Brian Wacker
DeVonta Smith Still Resting his Hamstring
Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Makai Lemon (hamstring) are both sitting out of training camp practice on Wednesday with hamstring issues, according to EJ Smith of PHLY Sports. It's the second straight day that both receivers have been held out, but they are both expected to be dealing with minor injuries and should return to the field sooner rather than later. With both Smith and Lemon out, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, and Britain Covey have been working with the first-team offense, with Wicks particularly standing out, making him the current favorite to win WR2 duties behind Smith to open the 2026 regular season. Pro Bowler A.J. Brown is now in New England, which means Smith will have an even bigger role as quarterback Jalen Hurts' top aerial target. The former 10th overall pick in 2021 from the University of Alabama had his third 1,000-yard season in 2025 and will now have an even higher ceiling. Fantasy managers should treat Smith as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 going into his sixth NFL campaign.
Source: PHLY Sports - EJ Smith
Source: PHLY Sports - EJ Smith
Xavier Worthy Remains Sidelined at Practice
Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Cyrus Allen (shin) remain sidelined at Wednesday's training camp practice, according to Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. Worthy is dealing with a sprained shoulder, but head coach Andy Reid expects the speedy wideout to return to the field later this week. The same can be said for Allen, who was standing out in his first training camp before getting injured. Fantasy managers were a bit worried when Worthy was initially listed with a shoulder injury since he separated the same shoulder in Week 1 of last year and was never the same the rest of the way. The Chiefs don't appear to be very worried about Worthy's latest injury, and he should be ready to play in the preseason opener on Aug. 15. The 23-year-old former first-rounder from the University of Texas could be a nice value pick later in fantasy drafts with bounce-back potential if he's fully healthy in 2026. Worthy scored six touchdowns and had 638 receiving yards as a rookie, but he fell to a 42-532-1 line in 14 games a year ago while playing most of the season at less than full health.
Source: Chiefs Digest - Matt Derrick
Source: Chiefs Digest - Matt Derrick
Rashee Rice Taking Part in 11-on-11 Drills
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) is taking part in 11-on-11 team drills at training camp practice on Wednesday for the first time in camp, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. The Chiefs have eased Rice back into practice this summer following an offseason knee procedure. That will likely continue for the 26-year-old, but barring a setback, it seems likely that he'll be ready for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The Chiefs have even more reason to play it safe with Rice because of injuries sustained to fellow wideouts Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and rookie Cyrus Allen (shin) last week. When healthy, Rice will be quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top target, giving him clear WR1 upside. Rice's history of injuries and off-the-field issues make him more of a risky high-end WR2 wideout, though. He caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, but the former second-rounder from SMU has played in just 12 games in the last two seasons due to injuries and suspension.
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Ja'Kobi Lane Rising in Baltimore
Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane had another highlight play in training camp practice on Wednesday, leaping to catch a pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the back of the end zone during red-zone drills, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. The third-rounder from USC made a fantastic one-handed catch in practice on Tuesday with the starters, and the 6-foot-4 wideout continues to impress the coaching staff this summer. It's definitely notable for fantasy purposes, as the Ravens have a pretty wide-open WR depth chart behind WR1 Zay Flowers. Lane is competing primarily with Devontez Walker and fellow rookie Elijah Sarratt for the WR3 role behind Flowers and veteran Rashod Bateman, but it would not be surprising to see Lane surpass Bateman sooner rather than later as one of the Ravens' top aerial weapons if he continues to look like he has early in camp. Durability could be Lane's biggest hurdle because of his thin build, and he also isn't a big yards-after-the-catch guy. Lane will most likely go undrafted in most standard-sized fantasy leagues, but he could be an intriguing red-zone weapon for the Ravens to begin his NFL career.
Source: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
Source: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
The Jaylen Waddle Hype Continues in Broncos Camp
New Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has been a hit early on in training camp, and it "has become clear to see how the Broncos believe Waddle's electric skills can fit into their offense," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Waddle has shown his ability to win inside on quick-hit plays and then gobble up yards after the catch. Quarterback Bo Nix said the team's new offensive weapon gives them an explosive element that "we've lacked for a couple of years." The 27-year-old Waddle has helped unlock new areas of the field for Nix after Nix averaged only 6.8 yards per pass attempt in 2025. "Middle of the field, outside, vertically, behind the line of scrimmage -- anywhere," Nix said of Waddle's impact. "We're going to utilize him, and whatever the defense is giving us, we're going to attack." The Broncos gave up first- and third-round picks to acquire Waddle from the Miami Dolphins in the offseason, and head coach Sean Payton clearly has many ways in mind to use the speedy wideout to give the Broncos offense more explosive plays. Waddle could easily lead Denver in targets and yardage in 2026 in his first year with the team, making him a popular WR2 target in upcoming fantasy drafts.
Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
Dontayvion Wicks Emerging as the WR2 in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks has been one of the team's most consistent offensive performers through the opening weeks of training camp, and with Makai Lemon now sidelined with a hamstring injury, the Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski has Wicks penciled in for the WR2 spot across from DeVonta Smith, noting that the offseason trade acquisition has clearly looked like the second-best receiver in camp. The departure of three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown left an obvious need on the outside, and at 6'1" and 206 pounds, Wicks looked like the best fit on paper, but his performance through the first five practices of camp suggests the role should be his to start the season. With his production declining year over year in Green Bay, a change of scenery could remind fantasy managers of the traits that made him a popular sleeper candidate early in his career, and as RotoBaller's WR80, Wicks has the potential to greatly exceed ADP expectation in 2026.
Source: Jimmy Kempski
Source: Jimmy Kempski
Tank Dell Practicing in Pads
The Houston Texans will practice in pads for the third straight day on Wednesday, and wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) is expected to take part without obvious limitation. Dell suffered a career-threatening knee injury in December 2024 that would cost him the entirety of the 2025 season. After undergoing multiple surgeries, Wednesday's practice marks his first time donning pads in an NFL setting since the injury. The 2023 third-round pick developed a clear connection with quarterback C.J. Stroud, catching 98 passes for 1,376 yards and 10 scores across his first two seasons, and he will look to pick up where he left off in a receiver room still populated by two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins along with second-year players Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Dell's place in the pecking order remains unclear, but as one of the easiest players to root for in 2026, he could play his way back into fantasy viability as RotoBaller's WR75.
Source: Jane Slater
Source: Jane Slater
Tez Johnson Sustains a Groin Strain
Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year wide receiver Tez Johnson sustained a groin strain, as reported by senior team writer Scott Smith. Head coach Todd Bowles shared the injury news on Wednesday, also noting that receiver Jalen McMillan banged his knee a couple of days ago and that the team would be careful with him. While neither injury sounds like a long-term concern, the absences could create more opportunity for rookie Ted Hurst to work with the first-team offense after drawing positive reviews in recent practices. Johnson made 28 catches as a rookie for 322 yards, but in a deep receiver room, he's unlikely to hold more than a rotational role in 2026 and is RotoBaller's WR108.
Source: Scott Smith
Source: Scott Smith
