Jul 22, 2026, 11:53 AM ET

Las Vegas Raiders rookie fourth-round running back Mike Washington Jr. has the "potential to grow into a second option in the backfield" in 2026 in his first year in the league behind RB1 Ashton Jeanty, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Washington has a nice blend of size (6-foot-2, 228 pounds) and speed (4.33-second 40-yard dash) and rushed for 1,070 yards (606 yards after first contact) and eight touchdowns at the University of Arkansas last year. He added 28 receptions for 226 yards and another touchdown as a pass-catcher. The Raiders expect Jeanty to have a heavy workload under new head coach Klint Kubiak, but "that shouldn't take away from Washington playing meaningful snaps" in his first year in the league as the top backup in Vegas. Washington took reps with the second team and occasionally with the first-team offense during the offseason program. The 23-year-old has a clear path to RB2 duties, but he still has plenty to clean up, including ball-security issues he showed in college. He'll be trying to hold off undrafted rookie RB Roman Hemby in training camp.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden

Jul 22, 2026, 11:46 AM ET

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett will report for the start of the team's training camp on Wednesday, a source told Ben Volin of The Boston Globe. However, Volin said he wouldn't expect to see Brissett on the field much until his contract situation is resolved. The 33-year-old veteran and former third-rounder by the New England Patriots in 2016 out of North Carolina State is looking for a raise going into his 11th year in the league after becoming Arizona's starting QB in 2025, when he threw for a career-high 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 games (12 starts) in his first year with the organization. The Cardinals agree that Brissett has earned a new contract, but despite negotiating for the last several months, the two sides have yet to come to an agreement. Expect something to happen sooner rather than later so that the Cardinals can get Brissett back on the field as he tries to learn new head coach Mike LaFleur's offense. Fantasy managers should treat the veteran gunslinger as a low-end QB2 with regression most likely coming his way in what should be a much more balanced offense in 2026 under LaFleur.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Boston Globe - Ben Volin

Jul 22, 2026, 10:59 AM ET

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins is no stranger to competing with a first-round pick in his first season with a new team, though the comparisons to his 2024 campaign with the Falcons end just below surface level. The Falcons shocked the football world by selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft weeks after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal. In contrast, Fernando Mendoza was always going to wind up with the Raiders, even if his selection with the first overall pick was not made official until after Cousins had signed his two-year, $12.6 million bridge quarterback contract. With new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak preaching patience for Mendoza, Cousins is expected to start the season with the starting job and could be given plenty of leash in an offense that should show signs of improvement from a year ago. That said, the soon-to-be-38-year-old's per-game fantasy production has been on the decline for years, and little is expected of RotoBaller's QB33 in 2026.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 22, 2026, 10:57 AM ET

With 14 wide receivers listed on their 90-man roster, the position battle between veterans and emerging youth will be one of the most intriguing to watch when the New York Giants hold their first training camp practice on July 30, but one player almost assured of a roster spot is 2026 third-round pick Malachi Fields. At 6'4" and 222 pounds, Fields offers a different body type from the rest of the group and could position himself for an early role on the outside and in the red zone. While his collegiate production never truly matched his rare physical abilities, he could provide a big-bodied target in critical situations as 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart prepares for his first full season as a starter. The Giants' passing offense is fully expected to run through Malik Nabers once he is back close to full strength following a devastating 2025 knee injury, but any missed time in training camp could provide Fields an extended opportunity to develop chemistry with Dart.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 22, 2026, 10:53 AM ET

Among 33 qualifying quarterbacks in 2025, Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Aaron Rodgers had the lowest intended air yards per attempt, operating an offense whose passing attack ran primarily through its running backs and tight ends. Of the seven different Steelers players targeted at least 40 times last season, only two were wide receivers, with D.K. Metcalf and Calvin Austin III combining for only 90 total receptions. In reuniting with Rodgers, new head coach Mike McCarthy is expected to implement the heavy 11-personnel usage that has become a staple of his play calling, and the trade for Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting of Germie Bernard in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft hint at more of a hybrid offense that can put receivers on the field who are capable of finding space in the short to intermediate areas. Now 42 years old, the aggressiveness of the Steelers' offense likely relies on how well Rodgers can hold up physically, but if Pittsburgh can add even a modest vertical element in 2026, the four-time MVP could return usable fantasy value as RotoBaller's QB28.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 22, 2026, 10:52 AM ET

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges was targeted one time as an undrafted free agent in 2022 but had never caught a pass through his first three seasons in the league. However, he was called upon early in 2025 when five-time All-Pro George Kittle went down in Week 1 with a hamstring injury that cost him significant time, and Tonges became a steadying fantasy presence through his knack for finding the end zone. More than 11.6% of his targets went for touchdowns in 2025. While that is likely an unsustainable rate for a player who went nearly 36 months between his first and second career targets, Tonges could again find himself in a critical role to start the year, depending on Kittle's early-season availability as he attempts to return from the January Achilles tear sustained in a Wild Card win over the Eagles. While all reports have suggested that Kittle's recovery has gone exceedingly well, Tonges will have the opportunity to continue developing chemistry with Brock Purdy and the first-team offense when the 49ers hold their first practice of training camp on Sunday. His role in the red zone will also be worth paying attention to after San Francisco acquired six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans through free agency. Tonges is not ranked among RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026, but he could find himself in the early-season streaming conversation if Kittle is less than a full-go to begin the year.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 22, 2026, 10:47 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens rarely saw the field as a fifth-round rookie in 2025, and when he did, his 26 total carries amounted to only 96 rushing yards. The lack of moves made at the position this offseason indicates that the Colts still believe in his abilities, and he should be given every opportunity to serve as Jonathan Taylor's primary backup in his second season. When the team opens training camp with its first practice on July 29, Giddens will be competing with 2025 seventh-round pick Seth McGowan for a role that carries significant insurance upside for fantasy. Taylor touched the ball 369 times a season ago, and head coach Shane Steichen has spoken this offseason about the importance of taking some of that work off his plate, though the clear talent discrepancy between him and the other backs on the roster makes that an easier conversation to have in theory than in practice. Still, the battle between Giddens and McGowan will be one to watch, as it could dictate how FAAB or waiver priorities are spent down the road should Taylor miss any time in season.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 22, 2026, 10:42 AM ET

Seahawks running back George Holani carried the ball a combined five times for 10 yards in Seattle's Conference Championship and Super Bowl wins. With Zach Charbonnet tearing his ACL in a Divisional Round victory over the 49ers, Holani served as the primary backup to eventual Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who would go on to sign a deal with the Chiefs in free agency. For a brief moment in the offseason, there was speculation that Holani could come into 2026 as the team's lead back, though that buzz has quieted since Seattle spent its first-round pick on Notre Dame's Jadarian Price. With the Seahawks' first practice of training camp scheduled for Saturday, Price will have every opportunity to carve out a primary role while Charbonnet continues the rehabilitation that saw him working on a side field during the final session of mandatory minicamp. Holani is a player who can't be fully ignored at the start of camp, but with an expectation that he will soon be passed over on the depth chart, he is unlikely to hold much of a fantasy-relevant role in 2026.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 22, 2026, 9:52 AM ET

With the Seattle Seahawks scheduled to hold their first training camp practice this Saturday, the team is reportedly in discussions with three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon about an extension that would make him the highest-paid defensive back in the league, per NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. The four-year extension signed by All-Pro Trent McDuffie following his trade to the Rams pays him an average annual salary of $31 million, and Rapoport believes that number could come in around $32 million per year for Witherspoon. It's important to note that Witherspoon shares an agent with New England Patriots star corner Christian Gonzalez, who is also seeking an extension ahead of his fourth season, so Witherspoon's eventual reign as the league's highest-paid cornerback may not last long.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Ian Rapoport

Jul 22, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

With training camps opening around the league, teams are likely working through their lists of available free agents in the event an injury opens an unexpected roster spot, and one unsigned player who believes he still has plenty of good football ahead of him is veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. In a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, Samuel touched upon the emotional rollercoaster of the free agent process and stated outright, "[I] still feel like I got a lot, at least like three, four good years left." The 30-year-old former All-Pro spent his 2025 season with the Washington Commanders after six, at times, electric years with the 49ers. While the physical toll on his body has prevented him from matching his star-making performance of 2021, in which he racked up 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns, he did lead the Commanders across all major receiving categories last season and still has the versatility to make him a fantasy-viable player in the right home in 2026.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Kevin Patra - Around the NFL

Jul 22, 2026, 9:26 AM ET

In a recent interview with Peter Schrager, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen was effusive in his praise of wide receiver Parker Washington. Coen touched on Washington's work ethic, his connection with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and his special ability with the ball in his hands, noting that he's almost built like a running back in his lower half. It is important to note that Coen also pointed to the arrival of Jakobi Meyers, as well as Brian Thomas Jr.'s ability to draw the coverage of the opponent's top defender, as reasons Washington had so much success down the stretch, providing talking points for all permutations of how Jacksonville's receiver room will stack up in 2026. The Jaguars' first practice of training camp is scheduled for July 29, and with one of the most fantasy-relevant positional battles taking place in said receiver room, updates will be pouring regularly out of Duval County.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Peter Schrager

Jul 22, 2026, 9:13 AM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten averaged only 3.7 yards per carry while seeing sporadic usage as a fourth-round rookie in 2025, but head coach Liam Coen believes big things are coming for him in year two. In a recent interview with Peter Schrager, Coen spoke of the improvements he's seen heading into year two, pointing to Tuten's 4.28-second 40 time and his ability to rack up yards when he gets a head of steam, putting a dot on the topic by saying, "We're definitely expecting Tuten to have a big year for us." The Jaguars signed veteran running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in free agency, a player with whom Coen has familiarity from his time as offensive coordinator at Kentucky, and when Jacksonville holds its first training camp practice on July 29, both backs are expected to be in attendance and battling for their share of the 307 opportunities left vacated by the departure of Travis Etienne Jr.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Peter Schrager

Jul 22, 2026, 12:08 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts kickers Spencer Shrader (knee) and Blake Grupe will compete for the place-kicking job in Indy in training camp this summer, per Paul Bretl of Colts Wire. Shrader was 13-for-14 on field goals and a perfect 14-for-14 on extra points in five games last year before suffering an ACL injury in his knee. He was replaced by Grupe in Week 14, and he went a perfect 10-for-10 on field goals and 11-for-11 on his extra-point tries to close out the year before being re-signed in the offseason. Bretl thinks that Grupe should have the advantage going into the 2026 season because he has 105 career attempts under his belt compared to Shrader's 19, and he's also not coming off a significant knee injury. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame has made 81.9% of his 105 field-goal attempts (19-for-27 from 50-plus yards) and 98% of his extra points in his three years in the NFL. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can avoid the Colts' kicking situation to begin the year.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Colts Wire - Paul Bretl

Jul 22, 2026, 12:02 AM ET

Tim Weaver of Falcons Wire writes that Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Olamide Zaccheaus, Jahan Dotson, and rookie Zachariah Branch will battle for the WR2 job in training camp this summer behind Drake London. Dotson, a former first-rounder by the Philadelphia Eagles, is the most logical option, but he hasn't been anything special in the NFL since he caught 35 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games as a rookie in 2022. Weaver points out that Zaccheaus has the upper hand in terms of experience, having played in 105 games (35 starts), catching 188 passes for 2,311 yards and 15 touchdowns in seven years with four different teams. Branch, meanwhile, has the most pure upside thanks to his speed and playmaking ability in space. Weaver writes that it's "truly a wide-open competition." Zaccheaus is returning to Atlanta after starting his career with the Falcons in 2019 and playing with them through the 2022 campaign. He has only topped 500 receiving yards once in his seven seasons, but given the lack of depth and experience behind London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., Zaccheaus could be worth a late-round dart throw in deep leagues for the opportunity.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Falcons Wire - Tim Weaver

Jul 21, 2026, 9:59 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eli Stowers could be a sneaky target for dynasty managers. The Eagles selected Stowers in the second-round out of Vanderbilt. He put together an impressive performance during the NFL Scouting Combine. There's some good long-term potential here, even if Stowers isn't going to be heavily involved right away. Dallas Goedert is the TE1 in Philly, with Johnny Mundt and Grant Calcaterra fighting for the TE2 job. Fantasy managers in redraft formats are probably safe to avoid Stowers. It could take some time before he's a consistent contributor. Dynasty managers looking for help at tight end should certainly consider Stowers as a stash option. It might take some time, but Stowers has the skillset to be a top-tier option at his position in the future.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference