RADIO
Jaydon Blue Strengthens His Case for the Cowboys' Primary Backup Job
As a rookie in 2025, Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue saw the field in only five games, but a strong showing in Saturday night's preseason win over the Cardinals has him well positioned to earn the primary backup responsibilities behind veteran Javonte Williams. In a game that the Cowboys led 24-6 by halftime, Blue ran for 75 yards on a team-leading 15 carries, showcasing the quick feet that allowed him to top 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his final season at Texas. Listed as the team's second running back when the Cowboys released their first unofficial depth chart of the summer, nothing that's happened since then would suggest Blue is in danger of losing what could be a valuable insurance role behind a player who has managed a full 17-game slate only twice in his five-year career. With enough potential standalone value to eventually work his way into streaming flex consideration, Blue could surprise in 2026, but his true upside comes as a handcuff to Williams in an offense that averaged more than 125 rushing yards per game a season ago.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Parker Washington is Back at Practice
After missing time over the past week, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (undisclosed) was spotted back at practice on Sunday. While the nature of Washington's injury was never disclosed, it was never treated as a long-term concern, and the fourth-year pro will look to pick up where he left off. With one of the deeper receiver rooms in the league, the hierarchy of Jacksonville's pass-catchers was one of the hotter debates heading into training camp, but by most accounts, Washington has established himself as a favorite target of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The two developed a chemistry late in 2025 that allowed Washington to finish as the fantasy WR12 over the final nine weeks of the regular season, while Lawrence garnered MVP consideration. Currently being selected as the consensus WR31, the former sixth-round pick could prove to be one of the best values in 2026 drafts.
Source: Mia O'Brien
Source: Mia O'Brien
Deshaun Watson Criticizes Browns Fans in Postgame Press Conference
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson went 5-of-12 for 36 yards and an interception in the team's preseason loss to the Bills on Saturday, and the Cleveland faithful was not shy about assessing his performance with a chorus of boos. "I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," Watson said of the reaction. "It's a little bit more personal than that. So, I think it's a disrespectful thing." Head coach Todd Monken had said during a pre-game radio appearance that a decision on the starting quarterback situation could come early in the week, and Watson did not help his case through either his performance or his post-game media availability. "Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. That same fan base, they cheered when I got hurt," he said. "What does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially in your home stadium, and they cheer." While Shedeur Sanders got the start and came out strong, he threw another interception of his own, as neither player has been able to truly separate in their ongoing competition. Cleveland will have one final preseason matchup with the Patriots before kicking off the regular season against the Jaguars on September 13.
Source: Bryan DeArdo
Source: Bryan DeArdo
Joe Milton III has Another Strong Preseason Outing
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III turned in his second impressive preseason performance in the team's 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, going 9-of-13 for 179 yards and two passing touchdowns while also punching in a one-yard score on the ground. Through two preseason games, Milton has completed 75% of his passes while accounting for four total touchdowns, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer is not yet ready to declare him the primary backup behind veteran Dak Prescott. "This is long from over," Schottenheimer told reporters after the game. "We're going back to Frisco, thankfully, get a chance to be home and put some more training camp days in. You've got to give Joe his credit, he's played really well the past two games, but we have a lot of confidence in [Sam Howell] as well." Milton was a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2024, and he possesses one of the liveliest arms in the NFL and a fantasy-friendly skill set that would allow him to rack up points if ever called into action. With one more preseason game remaining before the Cowboys open the regular season against the Giants, the backup quarterback battle in Dallas is still one to monitor.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
J.J. McCarthy Erratic In Preseason Loss
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy turned in an uneven preseason game Saturday against Baltimore, finishing 5-for-10 for 81 yards. Playing with the second-string offense, the 23-year-old QB continued his unusual pattern of connecting on difficult throws and missing easier ones. On the Vikings' second drive, he alertly climbed the pocket and fired a 50-yard strike to Tai Felton, then wisely checked down to Demond Claiborne on the next play to put the Vikings at the Baltimore 3-yard line. However, the drive ended with no points when he missed back-to-back receivers in the end zone, including an open Myles Price on fourth down. More concerning to Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was that McCarthy took a few shots, including a sack where a defender hit McCarthy below the knees, prompting Minnesota to insert Carson Wentz before the end of the first half. The Vikings already named Kyler Murray their starter, so McCarthy's fantasy value will be limited as long as the former is healthy.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Riley Leonard Pulls Ahead in Backup Competition
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard started the Colts' second preseason match against the Atlanta Falcons, completing seven of his 14 pass attempts for 62 yards in the team's 34-6 loss on Saturday. After the first quarter, Leonard and the Colts' offense couldn't find momentum and struggled to gain first downs, often playing behind the sticks due to penalties. However, fellow quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., Leonard's competition for the number two spot, did not perform any better. Richardson started the second half and completed three of his nine pass attempts for 24 yards, rushed for 15 yards off three carries, and took two sacks. While neither quarterback outshone the other, Leonard's marginally better efficiency and the fact that he started this game suggest he may have overtaken Richardson on the depth chart to backup quarterback Daniel Jones. Dynasty managers in deep leagues who are interested in either Leonard or Richardson should pay close attention to quarterback usage, decision-making, and efficiency in next Saturday's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Spencer Shrader Primed to Retake Starting Position
Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader started the second preseason game and was the Colts' lone scorer in their 34-6 loss against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. In the first quarter, Shrader completed a 48-yard field goal and a 53-yard field goal. The sputtering Colts offense could not gain any traction, and their seven subsequent drives resulted in punts. Kicker Blake Grupe, Shrader's primary competition, came on in the fourth quarter and missed a 36-yard field goal wide right. Last week against the New England Patriots, Grupe also missed a 61-yard attempt before halftime. Shrader's 2025 season ended early with an ACL and MCL tear, and Grupe replaced him for the rest of the season. Shrader appears fully recovered and is a viable starting option for the Colts and for managers of 12-person leagues with kickers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Trey McBride Remains Clear TE1, Worthy of High Draft Investment
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride remains a redraft riser after setting the NFL record for receptions by a tight end in a season. McBride ended 2025 with an incredible 126 catches. He added 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on 169 targets, finishing as the top-scoring tight end in fantasy. His production jumped after Jacoby Brissett became Arizona's starter in Week 6, as 10 of McBride's 11 touchdowns came from passes by Brissett. Arizona will keep Brissett under center in 2026, which removes one major concern from his outlook. McBride also signed a four-year, $76 million extension with $43 million guaranteed, further suggesting his major role on this team. However, there is some touchdown regression to consider after he scored 11 times following only six touchdowns across his first 49 games. Additionally, Mike LaFleur's new offense should also be more balanced given the addition of Tyler Allgeier and top running back prospect Jeremiyah Love. Even with fewer pass attempts, though, McBride is still likely to see a large share of Arizona's targets and remains the No. 1 tight end in RotoBaller's current redraft rankings.
Malik Willis' Elite Rushing Potential Makes Him a Top Upside Play at QB
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis is a redraft riser after signing a three-year, $67.5 million contract and taking over as the team's starting quarterback. In his two seasons with Green Bay, he completed 78.7% of his passes for 976 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 261 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. The problem is the passing environment. Miami traded Jaylen Waddle and released Tyreek Hill, leaving Willis with an inexperienced group led by Malik Washington and several young receivers. The Dolphins did add Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. in the draft, so there are more options than Willis had earlier in the offseason. However, his legs remain the biggest reason to draft him. In his two outings for the Packers last season (where he logged more than 40 offensive snaps), he averaged 52.0 rushing yards per game and punched in two rushing scores. Rushing yards and touchdowns can keep his weekly totals competitive even when the passing game struggles. Willis makes more sense as a late QB2 with upside in one-quarterback leagues and has considerably more value in superflex formats.
Zay Flowers has WR1 Ceiling in New-Look Baltimore Offense
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is a top riser at his position after catching 86 passes for 1,211 yards, coupled with five touchdowns on 118 targets in 2025. He finished as the WR7 in Half-PPR scoring and accounted for 55.9% of Baltimore's targets to wide receivers. Baltimore then gave him a four-year, $140 million extension with $108 million guaranteed, confirming his place at the top of the depth chart. Flowers did suffer a quadriceps injury in training camp. Even so, the issue was not expected to keep him out for long. The bigger concern, however, remains his touchdown total. Flowers has never scored more than five receiving touchdowns in a season. Moreover, he had eight games with fewer than 5.5 fantasy points over the last two seasons. Still, new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle wants more explosive plays, while Flowers remains the Ravens' most dynamic wide receiver, as they do not possess much depth behind him, with Rashod Bateman slated to be the No. 2 and rookie Ja'Kobi Lane as the WR3. Additionally, Bateman was arrested in June and could face a potential suspension. As such, he should be drafted as a high-end WR2 with a realistic chance to finish inside the top 10 again.
Ja'Tavion Sanders Sees Fantasy Value Fall After Recent Acquisition
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has seen his fantasy value further drop this offseason. Throughout his career, he has 62 catches for 532 yards and two touchdowns over his first two seasons. He was even less productive in 2025, finishing with 29 receptions for 190 yards and one touchdown in 13 games. Things went from bad to worse as Sanders missed five games with an ankle sprain and later suffered a season-ending broken fibula in Week 17. Now he has to compete with Tommy Tremble for snaps, while Carolina recently added Darren Waller. Waller scored six touchdowns in nine games for Miami last season despite missing time with injuries. Sanders is the better receiving option than Tremble, but Carolina has rarely given its tight ends enough targets to support a fantasy starter, and the addition of Waller makes those targets harder to find. He should therefore remain undrafted in most 2026 leagues. Dynasty managers can still hold him, but another disappointing campaign could send him to the waiver wire.
Tyler Shough Emerging as Top Late-Round QB with League-Winning Upside
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is a definite redraft riser heading into the 2026 season. He threw for 2,384 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games, adding 195 yards and three scores on the ground. He really picked it up late, ranking as the QB12 from Week 9 through the end of the season and QB5 from Weeks 12-18. The Saints have since added Travis Etienne Jr. and first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson, giving Shough more help around him. However, Tyson is dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the next two months, so Chris Olave could see more targets early in the season. Shough is currently going around QB21 in current drafts, which is well outside the range of quarterbacks expected to be weekly starters, and his rushing ability gives him another way to put up points. If the new additions help the passing game as expected and he can maintain his current end-of-season pace, Shough could provide immense value at his ADP.
Corey Kiner Sees Another Healthy Workload In Loss
Arizona Cardinals running back Corey Kiner handled 10 carries for 29 rushing yards and caught one of his two targets for six receiving yards in Saturday's preseason loss to the Cowboys. The 24-year-old has logged at least 10 rushing attempts in each of the Cardinals' three preseason games thus far. With James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee) still working their way back from last year's season-ending injuries, the back end of Arizona's depth chart is far from settled. Kiner's consistent workload might indicate he has a leg up on Evan Hull and Bam Knight in that regard. Even so, Kiner's fantasy production would depend first on Jeremiyah Love's (ankle) health, and then on how he would work in behind Tyler Allgeier. For now, Kiner can be ignored in fantasy drafts, but he will be someone to watch for when the Cardinals wrap up their preseason against the Packers on August 28.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Evan Hull Leads Cardinals In Rushing In Preseason Loss
Arizona Cardinals running back Evan Hull led the team in carries and rushing yards in Saturday's 34-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Hull gained 51 yards on 11 rushing attempts and had two catches for 14 receiving yards. Hull came into the game on the Cardinals' third drive and alternated series with starter Corey Kiner. The 25-year-old entered the NFL in 2023 but has seen action in just eight games and is doing what he can to earn a roster spot. The odds of Hull making the team might rely on the health of Jeremiyah Love (ankle) and potential backups James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee). Even if he does make the team, Hull will be too far down the depth chart to have any fantasy value at the start of the season. His final audition will come against the Packers in the Cardinals' preseason finale on August 28.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Gardner Minshew II Captains Cardinals Offense In Loss To Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II went 19-for-23 for 177 yards with one interception in Saturday's preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys. With Jacoby Brissett resting and Carson Beck (ribs) still recovering from a hard shot taken in the Hall of Fame Game on August 6, Minshew operated as the team's signal-caller until K Slovis took over late in the third quarter. Minshew threw an interception on Arizona's first possession but settled in after that, keeping his stat sheet clean by focusing on short-yardage targets. Minshew had a passing touchdown negated by an offensive pass interference flag on the receiver, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. He was later robbed of a rushing touchdown due to a false start call. The journeyman backup sits second on Arizona's depth chart and will not be relevant for fantasy unless Brissett suffers an injury. Minshew's final chance for a tuneup will come on August 28, when the Cardinals face the Packers in their preseason finale.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
