RADIO
Brenton Strange May Have a Hard Time Taking the Next Step
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange still has plenty of sleeper appeal after catching 46 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns in only 12 games last season. Finding another big jump in volume might be the difficult part. Jacksonville enters 2026 with Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington leading a deep receiver group, and Travis Hunter is still expected to have a role on offense. The Jaguars also added rookie tight ends Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol, both of whom flashed as receivers during camp. That doesn't put Strange's job in danger. Jacksonville gave him an extension in June, and he remains the clear starter after becoming one of Trevor Lawrence's more reliable options last year. The team also plans to use more multiple-tight-end sets, which could open up different ways to deploy him. There are just a lot of players asking for the football. Strange still makes sense as a TE2 with upside, but the crowded passing game makes a full breakout tougher to count on.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Colby Parkinson Facing More Pressure for Passing-Game Work
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson is coming off the best season of his career, but his grip on the receiving work looks shakier heading into 2026. Parkinson caught 43 passes for 408 yards and a franchise-record eight touchdowns last year, production that leaned heavily on his work near the goal line. The Rams still use enough multi-tight-end sets to keep him involved, but Terrance Ferguson made a strong push for more this summer. The second-year tight end flashed throughout camp, drew praise from Sean McVay for his versatility and playmaking, and now shares first-team billing with Parkinson on the Rams' unofficial depth chart. Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen and second-round rookie Max Klare only make the room deeper. Parkinson isn't being pushed out of the offense, and he had his own good moments in camp. The concern is how many routes and red-zone looks are left once the snaps get spread around. After scoring eight times on only 56 targets last season, Parkinson looks much more touchdown-dependent than his 2025 finish suggests.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Andrei Iosivas Has Less Room for Error This Year
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas is still holding onto the No. 3 job, but the players behind him made that spot feel a little less comfortable this summer. Iosivas caught 33 passes for 435 yards and two touchdowns last season, numbers that already left him well outside the weekly fantasy picture behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. He had a good camp himself, and Cincinnati's current depth chart still lists him with the first-team offense. The concern is what happened behind him. Fourth-round rookie Colbie Young kept making plays downfield and scored in the preseason, while Dohnte Meyers finished August with a team-high 11 catches for 121 yards and repeatedly stood out in practice. Bengals coaches have continued to point to Iosivas' experience as an advantage, so this is not a case of him losing the job. It is a case of the margin getting thinner. With Chase and Higgins already soaking up most of the useful volume, even a small reduction in snaps would make Iosivas tougher to justify outside of deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deshaun Watson's Starting Job Doesn't Erase Preseason Concerns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson won the starting job, but his preseason left plenty of reasons to stay cautious in fantasy. Watson looked comfortable in the opener against Chicago, completing 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards, although he lost a fumble on a fourth-down sack. A week later, the offense went nowhere against Buffalo. Watson finished 5-for-12 for 36 yards with an interception before Cleveland shut down its starters for the preseason finale. Todd Monken still gave him the Week 1 job after evaluating the full offseason, camp, joint practices and games, so the Browns clearly saw more than the uneven game tape. Fantasy managers don't have to be as patient. Watson hasn't played a regular-season snap since tearing his Achilles in October 2024, then re-rupturing it and missing all of 2025. The job is his, but the August inconsistency did little to suggest an immediate fantasy rebound. Watson is best left to deeper Superflex formats until he shows he can string together productive games again.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Treylon Burks Faces a Tougher Road to Consistent Targets
Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks had a good enough summer to put himself back on the fantasy radar, but the receiver room changed around him. Burks was getting legitimate first-team work early in camp after catching only 10 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown in eight games last season. Washington then added Stefon Diggs, who is expected to handle the No. 2 role opposite Terry McLaurin. Burks now sits behind Diggs on the current depth chart, and the Commanders have talked about using him more as a specialized deep threat. That's a much different fantasy outlook than the possible starting job he was chasing earlier in the summer. Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, Dyami Brown and rookie Antonio Williams only add more competition for whatever targets are left. None of this is really about Burks playing poorly. Dan Quinn praised his speed and work throughout camp, and he clearly earned a spot in the rotation. There just isn't an obvious path to enough weekly volume for Burks to matter outside of deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Arroyo Pushing for a Bigger Role After Strong Summer
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo gave the team plenty to think about with one of the better summers on the roster. His rookie season was quiet, with 15 catches for 179 yards and one touchdown in 13 games before a knee injury sent him to injured reserve in December. He returned for Seattle's Super Bowl run, then spent this camp looking much more like the receiving threat the Seahawks drafted 50th overall in 2025. Arroyo stacked strong practices early in August and carried that into the preseason, catching four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown on just four receptions. The biggest play was a 36-yard score against Tennessee, and Seattle's own roster review called him a potential breakout candidate after final cuts. AJ Barner still leads the tight end room, so Arroyo isn't walking into a featured role. But with former tight ends coach Brian Fleury now coordinating the offense, there should be room for multiple tight ends to matter. Arroyo has done enough to push for more work and is worth tracking in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacob Saylors has Earned the Trust of the Coaching Staff
Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors runs hard and "has earned the trust of the coaching staff" for his play on offense and special teams during training camp, according to Tim Twentyman of the team's official website. Saylors led the team in total scrimmage yards during the preseason (31 carries for 187 yards and five catches for 40 yards) and could be in the mix to return kicks on special teams if he is active on game days. The chances of Saylors being active for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season went way up when the Lions placed Isiah Pacheco (back) on Injured Reserve to start the year. All-Pro RB Jahmyr Gibbs will handle the lion's share of backfield work, but Saylors could open his second year in the NFL as the No. 2 over Sione Vaki. The former undrafted free agent out of East Carolina appeared in 16 games for the Lions as a rookie in 2025, but he only had two carries for 11 yards on offense. Even with an elevated role to open his sophomore campaign, Saylors is only in consideration as a handcuff option for Gibbs in deeper leagues.
Source: DetroitLions.com - Tim Twentyman
Source: DetroitLions.com - Tim Twentyman
Puka Nacua "Making Good Progress"
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Friday that wide receiver Puka Nacua (groin) is "making good progress," according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "Been hitting some high-speed yards at a really good clip with Reggie [Scott] and his group," McVay said. "And when we get back out there, it'll be fun to have him." The 25-year-old has been dealing with a psoas injury in his groin, and although his status for the Week 1 game in Australia against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers is up in the air, it looks like Nacua is heading in the right direction and should be active to kick off the regular season. Fantasy managers will have a better idea of Nacua's Week 1 status when the Rams begin to release their official practice reports on Monday. Nacua's groin injury should not cause fantasy managers to avoid him as a top-tier wideout in the first rounds of drafts this weekend. The two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro last year had a career-high 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 regular-season games last year, leading the NFL with 129 receptions. In a Rams offense that is as explosive as any, Nacua is RotoBaller's No. 2 fantasy wideout, behind only Ja'Marr Chase.
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Trending Towards Being Inactive in Week 1?
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (neck) is among the players projected to be inactive in Week 1 by Giants beat writer Patricia Traina of Sports Illustrated. Injury could be the reason why Tracy Jr. does not play, as he suffered a stinger in the Giants' final preseason game. However, Tracy Jr.'s place in the crowded Giants backfield is also in question entering the year. Despite topping 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of his first two seasons in New York, Tracy Jr. may currently be behind all three of Cam Skattebo, Najee Harris, and Devin Singletary on the Giants' running back depth chart. Barring an injury or a trade elsewhere before the start of the regular season, fantasy managers may want to avoid Tracy Jr. in drafts ahead of 2026.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Patricia Traina
Source: Sports Illustrated - Patricia Traina
Chris Bell a Dark-Horse Candidate to Lead Dolphins in Receiving Yards
Miami Dolphins beat writer Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post lists rookie wide receiver Chris Bell leading the team in receiving yards as one of his "bold predictions" for the 2026 season. A third-round pick out of Louisville, Bell had his final collegiate season cut short after he suffered a torn ACL in late November. While the injury was originally expected to sideline Bell early in his rookie season, the 22-year-old was able to suit up for Miami's final preseason game and now appears to be on track to be ready for Week 1. Bell was a highly productive player at Louisville, recording 72 catches for 917 yards and six touchdowns across 11 games before getting injured. The Dolphins wide receiver room should also offer plenty of opportunities for Bell, as the team enters 2026 without an established number one pass-catcher. As a late-round target in drafts, Bell profiles as a worthy dart throw for fantasy managers.
Source: Palm Beach Post - Joe Schad
Source: Palm Beach Post - Joe Schad
Tetairoa McMillan Set for More Versatile Usage in 2026?
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan could see more usage out of the slot in 2026, speculates ESPN's Mike Kaye. McMillan was used almost exclusively as an outside receiver as a rookie in 2025 and had plenty of success, recording 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 targets across 17 games. However, Kaye writes that the Panthers have spoken about wanting to use McMillan's size and strength to get him more targets in the middle of the field in his second season. McMillan already projects to be the dominant target-earner in Carolina's offense, as he finished with nearly 60 more targets than any other Panthers pass-catcher in 2025. If he does indeed see more slot usage and an even larger target share in 2026, McMillan could emerge as a fantasy WR1.
Source: ESPN - Mike Kaye
Source: ESPN - Mike Kaye
Jonathon Brooks' Stock Back on the Rise Amidst Improved Health Outlook
A second-round pick in 2024, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (undisclosed) has been limited by knee injuries to just three career games and nine career carries through his first two NFL seasons. The 23-year-old has also been working through an undisclosed injury that has prevented him from practicing in recent days, which is obviously a concern given his track record. However, Panthers coach Dave Canales recently said that the team is very optimistic that Brooks will be able to play in Week 1. Reporting throughout the summer also indicated that Brooks was impressive in training camp and that the team could be planning on him playing a significant role in their offense. While veteran running back Chuba Hubbard will likely open the year as Carolina's RB1, Brooks could be the higher-upside option of the two. As a mid-to-late round pick in most drafts, Brooks profiles as a high-risk, high-reward selection for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenneth Walker Could Be Poised for Monster Year in Kansas City
After spending the first four years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, running back Kenneth Walker is entering his first season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2026. Across 17 games with Seattle in 2025, Walker III recorded 1,309 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 252 touches. While the 25-year-old was a productive player, his overall and goal-line usage was limited by the presence of Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet (knee). In Kansas City, Walker III currently projects to be backed up by 2026 fifth-rounder Emmett Johnson and 2025 seventh-rounder Brashard Smith, neither of whom projects to take him off the field in high-value situations. Walker III has also drawn rave reviews for his work in Kansas City this summer, with reporting indicating that he may play a significant role as both a rusher and receiver in 2026. If he stays healthy, Walker III has a chance to reach 300 touches for the first time in his career and could finish as a high-end fantasy RB1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Emeka Egbuka's Stock Falling Amidst Injury Uncertainty?
Across 17 games as a rookie in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) recorded 63 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns on 127 targets. When longtime Bucs wideout Mike Evans departed the team in free agency this past spring, it looked like Egbuka would be his successor as the team's WR1. While that may still be the case, Egbuka suffered a sprained toe in training camp that has limited his participation throughout the summer and now has his status for Week 1 in question as well. Egbuka's production also tailed off throughout the course of his rookie season, as he failed to record a touchdown after Week 10 and only topped 50 receiving yards just once in his final eight games. The 23-year-old should still play a significant role in the Tampa Bay passing game once he's fully healthy, but his current injury uncertainty brings some risk to his profile entering 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ashton Jeanty A Riskier Pick Due to Ankle Injury
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) suffered a sprained ankle in the preseason rather than a more serious injury that was feared, and ESPN Insider Adam Schefter said he has a "legitimate chance to play in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins." However, with the injury and the emergence of rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. in camp, there is real worry in selecting Jeanty in the late first round, which was where he was projected prior to his injury. The good news is it was only a sprained ankle; the bad news is there could be more of a split in carries than originally thought with Washington. Washington has looked good in camp and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry in preseason games. General manager John Spytek has praised Washington this fall: "We have an expectation that he's going to help us win football games this year," Spytek told Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com.
Source: ESPN.com, Ryan McFadden
Source: ESPN.com, Ryan McFadden
