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MarShawn Lloyd Poised to Begin Season as Green Bay's Lead Running Back
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd went from an interesting late-round stash to a potential Week 1 starter in a matter of hours. The NFL placed Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List on Sunday, which means he cannot practice or attend games while he remains there. Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports that Green Bay will now rely on Lloyd as its No. 1 running back with Jacobs sidelined. Lloyd had already spent August making a case for more work. He started the preseason opener with Jacobs out, then caught an 11-yard touchdown from Jordan Love while working with the first-team offense against Denver. There is still competition. Green Bay acquired Kaleb Johnson from Pittsburgh on Sunday, and Chris Brooks remains in the mix, but neither changes the fact that Lloyd is first in line right now. The 25-year-old has played only one regular-season game through two NFL seasons because of injuries, so durability is impossible to ignore. Still, the opportunity has changed fast. Lloyd is now poised to open the season as Green Bay's lead back.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cowboys Waive Jaydon Blue in Surprise Roster Move
The Dallas Cowboys are waiving running back Jaydon Blue, according to Adam Schefter. It's a surprising decision after Dallas appeared to signal that Blue was safe by holding him out of Friday's preseason finale along with Javonte Williams and Malik Davis. The 2025 fifth-round pick had also put together a solid August, rushing for 94 yards on 23 carries through the Cowboys' first two preseason games. That included 75 yards on 15 attempts against Arizona. Blue saw only limited action as a rookie, finishing with 129 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries across five games, but ended the year with 64 yards and his first NFL score in Week 18. Dallas also waived Phil Mafah on Sunday, further reshaping the bottom of its running back room. Williams remains the clear starter, while Blue's departure gives Davis a cleaner path to backup work unless the Cowboys add another back after roster cuts.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Zamir White Released by Saints Just Days After Trade
The New Orleans Saints are releasing running back Zamir White, according to Mike Triplett. New Orleans acquired White from San Francisco only six days ago, sending linebacker Deion Jones to the 49ers while the Saints were dealing with injuries throughout the backfield. White did get one preseason game with his new team and made something of it, rushing four times for 23 yards and an 11-yard touchdown against Dallas on Friday. He also returned two kickoffs for 54 yards. The 26-year-old spent last season with Las Vegas, where he managed 32 yards on 12 carries in six games. New Orleans originally brought him in with Alvin Kamara expected to miss four to six weeks because of a sprained MCL, but the Saints ultimately decided they didn't need White on the opening roster. He'll hit the market again after an unusually short stay in New Orleans.
Source: Mike Triplett
Source: Mike Triplett
Phil Mafah Waived by Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are waiving running back Phil Mafah, according to Jeremy Fowler. Dallas selected Mafah 239th overall in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but injuries limited his rookie season to one game. He carried five times for 18 yards and a touchdown in that appearance while adding two catches for 11 yards. Mafah returned healthy this summer and got one final extended audition Friday against New Orleans, starting and rushing 12 times for 46 yards. The bigger clue came from who didn't play. Dallas held Javonte Williams, Malik Davis and Jaydon Blue out of the preseason finale while Mafah handled the bulk of the work. The 6-foot-1, 232-pound back was fighting for one of the final spots in a crowded room, and Sunday's move confirms he remained on the outside. Mafah will now hit waivers after spending one season with Dallas.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Puka Nacua Expected to Avoid Commissioner's Exempt List
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected to avoid the Commissioner's Exempt List, according to Tom Pelissero. The NFL is not expected to place any additional players on paid leave Sunday, though Nacua's situation remains under league review. He is facing a civil lawsuit stemming from an alleged New Year's Eve incident, with his attorney disputing parts of the allegations. For now, Nacua remains available to the Rams. That's significant after he caught an NFL-high 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games last season. He also added 105 rushing yards and another score. Nacua avoiding the exempt list removes an immediate concern for fantasy managers heading toward Week 1, especially after Josh Jacobs was placed on it Sunday. The NFL review is still open, though, so Sunday's news should not be treated as a final ruling on whether Nacua could face discipline later.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Will Levis Waived by Titans
The Tennessee Titans are waiving quarterback Will Levis, according to Paul Kuharsky. Tennessee traded up to select Levis 33rd overall in 2023, but he never established himself as the long-term answer. He made 21 starts over his first two seasons, throwing for 3,899 yards, 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions while the Titans went 5-16. Levis then missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder. By the time he returned, Cam Ward was firmly entrenched as the starter and Mitchell Trubisky had been brought in as the primary backup. Levis got one final extended look Saturday against Chicago, completing 14 of 22 passes for 143 yards but failing to lead a touchdown drive. Kuharsky reports that Tennessee had hoped Levis might generate trade interest, but nothing developed. The former second-round pick will now look for another opportunity after falling out of the Titans' quarterback plans.
Source: Paul Kuharsky
Source: Paul Kuharsky
J. Michael Sturdivant Earns Spot on Packers' 53-Man Roster
Green Bay Packers wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant has earned a spot on the team's initial 53-man roster, according to Rob Demovsky. The undrafted rookie made his biggest push at exactly the right time. Sturdivant caught six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason finale against Arizona, giving him nine receptions for a team-high 142 yards over three preseason games. Green Bay had several receivers fighting for the final spots, with Isaiah Neyor, Will Sheppard, Kisean Johnson and Kaden Prather among those released Sunday. Sturdivant came to the Packers in May after stops at Cal, UCLA and Florida, finishing his college career with 150 catches for 2,073 yards and 16 touchdowns. There isn't an obvious path to regular fantasy production in Green Bay's crowded receiver room, but Sturdivant did enough throughout August to turn an undrafted free-agent deal into a place on the opening roster.
Source: Rob Demovsky
Source: Rob Demovsky
Keenan Allen Faces Potential Three-Game Suspension
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen could face a three-game suspension following his arrest early Sunday morning, according to Mark Maske of Front Office Sports. Allen was arrested on preliminary misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with an alcohol concentration equivalent of .08 or higher and operating while intoxicated while endangering a person. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will make the final charging decision. Maske notes that the NFL's substances-of-abuse policy calls for a three-game suspension without pay for a first alcohol-related violation of law, absent aggravating circumstances. No discipline has been announced, and the NFL generally waits for the legal process to conclude before acting. Allen signed with Indianapolis on Aug. 19 and caught one pass for 24 yards in Saturday's preseason finale. He had 81 catches for 777 yards and four touchdowns with the Chargers last season. A suspension would open more work for Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren.
Source: Mark Maske
Source: Mark Maske
Josh Jacobs Placed on Commissioner's Exempt List
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Jacobs was formally charged last week with misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property stemming from his May arrest. He had originally been arrested and booked on five counts, including felony strangulation and suffocation, before prosecutors ultimately filed the two misdemeanors. Jacobs' legal team has said the allegations will be addressed in court. While on the exempt list, the 28-year-old cannot practice or attend games, and there is no set date for his return. The timing makes Green Bay's Sunday trade for former Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson even more notable. Jacobs rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games last season, so there is a significant workload suddenly up for grabs. MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and Johnson all become names to watch while Jacobs is unavailable.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Daniel Carlson Set to Handle Saints' Kicking Duties
New Orleans Saints kicker Daniel Carlson appears set to handle the job entering the regular season, with Charlie Smyth being released Sunday, according to Mike Triplett. Carlson only joined New Orleans on Aug. 24 but made a strong final impression. He hit field goals from 38 and 53 yards in Friday's preseason finale against Dallas, with the 53-yarder providing the winning points in a 27-24 victory. The veteran made 22 of 27 field goals for Las Vegas last season and owns an 86.9% conversion rate over his NFL career. Smyth had handled the job over the final six games of 2025, making 12 of 16 field goals and all 13 of his extra points, but never completely separated from the competition this summer. Tanner Brown was also part of the battle, though Smyth's release leaves Carlson in position to enter Week 1 as New Orleans' kicker.
Source: Mike Triplett
Source: Mike Triplett
Brock Bowers Looks Like Himself Again
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers spent most of last season fighting through a knee injury. This summer has looked a lot more like the player who caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards as a rookie. Bowers said in May that he felt 100 percent, and the Raiders have spent camp feeding him the ball. He caught two red-zone touchdowns from Kirk Cousins on July 31, added another deep score on Aug. 6, and was one of Las Vegas' best offensive players during the Aug. 18 joint practice with Houston. Cousins found him for another touchdown there, too. That connection matters even more now with Cousins expected to start Week 1. Bowers still managed 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in only 12 games last season, so the floor was never the concern when healthy. The draft price is already steep. RotoBaller has him as the TE1 and No. 21 overall in its latest half-PPR rankings. Still, there has been nothing this summer to make fantasy managers back off. If anything, Bowers looks like himself again.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
MarShawn Lloyd Facing Potential Competition for No. 2 Role
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd suddenly has another back to deal with. Green Bay acquired Kaleb Johnson from Pittsburgh on Sunday, a move that comes just days after general manager Brian Gutekunst said the team had been preparing for the possibility of a Josh Jacobs suspension. Lloyd had been moving in the other direction before the trade. He started the preseason opener with Jacobs sidelined, worked extensively with the first-team offense and caught an 11-yard touchdown from Jordan Love against Denver. RotoBaller also noted on Aug. 27 that Lloyd appeared to have the inside track on the No. 2 job, with a path to lead-back work if Jacobs misses time. Johnson is no lock to change that. The 2025 third-round pick rushed for only 69 yards as a rookie and was on Pittsburgh's roster bubble before being dealt. Still, the Packers didn't add him for nothing. Lloyd's opportunity remains interesting, especially with Jacobs facing possible NFL discipline, but there is now another player who could push for those backup touches.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaleb Johnson Traded to Packers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading running back Kaleb Johnson to the Green Bay Packers, according to Jeremy Fowler. The move comes with some uncertainty surrounding Josh Jacobs, who was formally charged with two misdemeanors Thursday and could still face discipline from the NFL. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said earlier this week that the team had been preparing for the possibility of a Jacobs suspension, although there has been no indication that the Johnson trade was made specifically because of that situation. Johnson moves on after a quiet rookie season in Pittsburgh, where the 2025 third-round pick managed just 69 yards on 28 carries in 10 games. He was much more productive during his final season at Iowa, rushing for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns. Green Bay already has Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong Jr. behind Jacobs, so Johnson isn't guaranteed a meaningful role. Adding another back now, though, gives the Packers more insurance while Jacobs' Week 1 availability remains unsettled.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Dolphins Acquire Quarterback Kyle McCord From the Packers
The Miami Dolphins acquired quarterback Kyle McCord from the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move comes after the Dolphins sent QB Quinn Ewers to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday and waived Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski. The 23-year-old McCord, a sixth-round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025 from Syracuse, will become the primary backup to another former Packers QB, Malik Willis. McCord has yet to take a snap in the NFL in a regular-season game, but he did look good in the preseason with Green Bay, throwing for 446 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions in three games played. With the move to South Beach, McCord is now one step away from becoming a starter in the NFL if Willis misses time with an injury.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Javonte Williams Leaves August Firmly in Control of Backfield
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams hasn't given fantasy managers much to worry about this summer. That's the point. Williams rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns on 252 carries last season, then Dallas brought him back on a three-year, $24 million deal. Nothing in August has chipped away at that lead role. The Cowboys have spent most of camp sorting through Jaydon Blue, Malik Davis and Phil Mafah behind him, and team writers were still calling everything below Williams a question mark on Aug. 25. Dallas then sat Williams, Blue and Davis in the preseason finale while Mafah handled 12 carries. Williams also caught 35 passes last year and finished with 13 total touchdowns, so there is some regression risk if the scoring drops. The workload is the bigger takeaway, though. RotoBaller's Aug. 28 outlook has Williams ranked 36th overall and projects another top-10 fantasy finish if he stays healthy. He isn't the cheap draft-day bet he was a year ago, but his hold on the Dallas backfield looks every bit as strong heading into Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
