RADIO
Eli Raridon "Flashing" as a Pass-Catcher
New England Patriots beat writer Taylor Kyles reports that rookie tight end Eli Raridon is "flashing" as a receiver early in training camp. He had impressive catches on a contested target and settled between zones over the middle during practice on Tuesday. The 22-year-old third-rounder from Notre Dame comes to the Patriots after catching 32 passes for 482 yards and zero touchdowns in 12 games for the Fighting Irish in 2025 in his final collegiate season. The 6-foot-6, 245-pounder will back up Hunter Henry in his first NFL season, but Raridon has the potential to contribute right away in Josh McDaniel's offense now that Julian Hill (knee) will miss the entire season. Raridon will go undrafted in standard-sized redraft leagues in 2026, but his combination of athleticism, pass-catching skills, and size make him an interesting dynasty/keeper stash at the position. If Raridon can improve his blocking in his first year in the NFL, more playing time should come sooner rather than later. He's a rookie name to monitor at the TE position.
Source: Taylor Kyles
Source: Taylor Kyles
Baker Mayfield to Play 2026 Season on an Expiring Contract
FOX Sports' Greg Auman reports that any talks of a new contract for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield are finished, and he will play the 2026 season on his current expiring deal. The two sides will revisit things before free agency next March. The Buccaneers will have the option to exercise the franchise tag on Mayfield for the 2027 season, but at a likely cost of around $50 million for one year. They will have an exclusive window to negotiate with him on a long-term extension before free agency starts in March. ESPN reported earlier on Tuesday that Mayfield and his agent have not made significant progress with the Bucs on a new deal. His current pay ranks 16th among QBs in terms of average pay at $33.33 million per year. The 31-year-old veteran said in May that if he didn't have a new contract by the start of camp, he didn't want to discuss one after that. Mayfield was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and 2024 and led the team to two straight playoff appearances, but he fell under the 4,000-yard passing mark in 2025 with 26 touchdowns and 11 picks in 17 starts, and his fantasy stock is trending down as a low-end QB2 option in suprerflex leagues without future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans in 2026 while learning a new offense.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
A.J. Brown Off to Slow Start With New Quarterback
It has been a slow start in terms of the connection between New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and new wide receiver A.J. Brown in three-plus days of training camp, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. Maye is 1-for-7 with an interception when targeting Brown in team drills, and his only completion was a wide-open quick out. So far, the two are far off on deeper routes. It's not what Patriots fans want to hear, but it's still very early in camp, and the two should smooth things out, especially deep down the field, which was a specialty for Maye in 2025. The Patriots gave the Philadelphia Eagles a first-round pick for the 29-year-old Brown this offseason to become their new No. 1 pass-catcher. The three-time Pro Bowler had his sixth 1,000-yard campaign in 2025 in his final year in Philly, but he also averaged a career-low 12.9 yards per catch in 15 regular-season starts. Fantasy managers are expecting Brown's ceiling to be higher in a more explosive offense this year. In early drafts, Brown is being taken as a low-end WR1 in his new home, where he should be heavily targeted by Maye.
Source: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
Source: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
TreVeyon Henderson Showing Growth in Pass Protection
New England Patriots second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson is showing growth in pass protection early in training camp, according to Alex Bart of 985 The Sports Hub. Henderson carried the ball 180 times for 911 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (four starts), adding 35 receptions for 221 yards and another score after the Pats took him in the second round out of Ohio State. It was a very successful rookie campaign while sharing the backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson. The 23-year-old is set to share touches again with Stevenson in 2026, but Henderson should once again have a key role in an emerging offense led by young QB Drake Maye. Henderson's weekly floor will be lower as long as Stevenson remains involved, but the young RB has the most playmaking ability and upside in New England's backfield, and he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 23 RB going into Year 2. Gaining offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel's trust on passing downs would be a big development in terms of finding a bigger role in 2026. If Stevenson were to go down with an injury this year, Henderson would have clear RB1 weekly upside.
Source: 985 The Sports Hub - Alex Barth
Source: 985 The Sports Hub - Alex Barth
Hunter Henry Making Highlight-Reel Catches in Camp
Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reports that New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry made a highlight-reel grab during training camp practice on Tuesday, jumping over defender Kevin Byard and then crashing to the ground for a big gain on a deep connection with quarterback Drake Maye. The 31-year-old veteran and former second-rounder (35th overall) by the Chargers in 2016 from the University of Arkansas is still New England's top pass-catching TE going into 2026, despite the addition of rookie Eli Raridon in this year's draft. Henry had a strong 2025 season (his fifth year with the Pats), catching 60 of his 87 targets for 768 yards and seven touchdowns (his most since 2021) in 17 regular-season starts. At the very worst, Henry should be considered a midrange TE2 while developing excellent chemistry with Maye, although his floor and ceiling could be lowered in 2026 after the offseason additions of receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. With limited volume most likely, Henry will be dependent on finding the end zone, perhaps more than ever before.
Source: MassLive.com - Mark Daniels
Source: MassLive.com - Mark Daniels
Anthony Richardson Sr.'s Trade Request is Still in Place
FOX 59's Mike Chappell reports that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.'s trade request is "still in place." However, the Colts expect Richardson to remain with the team in 2026, with general manager Chris Ballard saying that the team isn't "going to give him away." The 24-year-old signal-caller has been a massive bust since the Colts took him fourth overall in 2023 out of the University of Florida. Injuries and lack of accuracy as a passer have done him in, and it's now clear that Daniel Jones (Achilles) is the Colts' clear starter under center going forward. In 17 games (15 starts) in his three years in the NFL, Richardson has completed just 50.6% of his pass attempts for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. A-Rich's elite rushing abilities always gave him potential for QB1 fantasy upside, but his inability to stay healthy has derailed his career early on. For fantasy football purposes, a trade and a change of scenery might give Richardson the best chance of reviving his career. He played in just two games in 2025 and missed most of the year with a fractured orbital bone due to a freak accident while stretching.
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
DK Metcalf Will be Moved Around the Formation More This Year
Pittsburgh Steelers new head coach Mike McCarthy said the team is going to move wide receiver DK Metcalf around the formation more this year, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. McCarthy also added that he has been pretty impressed with the chemistry between Metcalf and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "We need him going....DK can change games," McCarthy said. In his first year in the Steel City in 2025, Metcalf didn't have much help around him and finished with just 59 receptions for a career-low 850 yards and six touchdowns on 99 targets across 15 regular-season starts. The addition of veteran wideout Michael Pittman Jr. will allow Pittsburgh to move Metcalf around more on offense to try to create mismatches for the two-time Pro Bowler. McCarthy's offense should be more friendly volume-wise for Metcalf, but the problem is that the Steelers added more target competition, and Rodgers is no longer the player he once was in his last NFL season. The reality is that Metcalf's fantasy ceiling and floor are much lower, so fantasy managers should be targeting him as a WR3/flex and not a WR2 set for a big bounce-back season.
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Quentin Johnston Looking to Prove he Can be Consistent Outside Threat
ESPN's Kris Rhim writes that Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston enters training camp this summer "looking to prove that he can be a consistent outside threat." The Chargers showed that they believe in the former first-rounder's long-term potential by picking up his fifth-year, $18 million option. The 24-year-old former TCU wideout struggled with drops and creating separation as a rookie, but he has led the team in touchdowns (16 combined) in each of the past two seasons. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel likes Johnston's potential, too, comparing him to former Houston Texan Andre Johnson and former Atlanta Falcon Julio Jones because of his size (6-foot-3, 208 pounds) and yards-after-the-catch ability. McDaniel could unlock even more from Johnston and make him a weekly threat in L.A.'s offense, making him a very intriguing WR4/flex target with upside in upcoming 2026 fantasy drafts. RotoBaller currently has Johnston ranked as the No. 47 fantasy WR as he heads into his fourth season.
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Mitchell Evans Carted Off on Tuesday With Leg Injury
Carolina Panthers tight end Mitchell Evans (leg) injured his left leg in 11-on-11 team drills in training camp practice on Tuesday and was carted off the field, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The specific nature of Evans' injury is unclear, but it doesn't look good. The 23-year-old was taken in the fifth round in last year's NFL draft out of Notre Dame, and he caught 19 of his 25 targets for just 171 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (10 starts) in his first year in the NFL with Carolina. Evans was expected to once again take on a rotational role at tight end with the Panthers in his second year in the league behind top pass-catching TE option Ja'Tavion Sanders, which makes Evans avoidable in pretty much all fantasy leagues. Hopefully, Evans avoids a potentially season-ending leg injury. UPDATE: Evans likely just suffered a rolled ankle on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press' Steve Reed.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Alec Pierce a Week or So Away From Returning
The Indianapolis Colts placed wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday for the start of training camp, and general manager Chris Ballard said on Tuesday that Pierce is a week or so away with his ankle rehab, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Pierce was given a timetable of four to six weeks when he had ankle surgery in March, so his placement on the PUP list to begin the week wasn't a huge surprise. Barring a setback, the Colts are still optimistic that Pierce can be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 13 against the Baltimore Ravens. The 26-year-old signed a four-year, $114 million contract back in March, and veteran Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, so when healthy, Pierce is expected to be Indy's new WR1 in 2026 and beyond. He's off to a bad start in camp, though, especially with quarterback Daniel Jones rehabbing from a torn Achilles tendon. Pierce has become more of a risky WR3/flex big-play receiver after leading the NFL in each of the last two seasons in yards per catch. He broke out with a 47-1,003-6 line in 15 games in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL.
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
De'Von Achane a Full-Go for Start of Training Camp
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (shoulder) is a full-go for the start of training camp, head coach Jeff Hafley told Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. A shoulder injury popped up for Achane early on during offseason workouts, which led to him being limited during mandatory minicamp last month. The new front office and coaching staff in Miami rewarded the 24-year-old star RB with a four-year, $68 million deal in the offseason, and he's locked in as one of the team's true elite offensive weapons for the 2026 campaign. Achane, a former third-rounder in 2023 from Texas A&M, had his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 with eight rushing scores on 238 carries in 16 starts, adding 67 receptions for 488 yards and another four TDs to finish as the RB6 in half-PPR scoring. The guaranteed volume he's expected to receive in his fourth NFL season will give Achane a high floor for fantasy purposes, but with the Dolphins' offense expected to have plenty of growing pains this year, it will be difficult for him to top his numbers from a year ago. Fantasy managers should consider Achane more of a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 this year instead of the high-end RB1 he was in 2025.
Source: The Palm Beach Post - Joe Schad
Source: The Palm Beach Post - Joe Schad
Cameron Dicker Could See Fewer Field-Goal Opportunities in 2026
A Pro Bowler in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker's 38 made field goals were the third most in the league, allowing him to finish as the No. 4 fantasy kicker in a middle-of-the-road offense. With better health and the arrival of coordinator Mike McDaniel leading to projected offensive improvements in Los Angeles, Dicker is one player for whom this news could be seen as a double-edged sword. Better offensive efficiency will obviously increase overall scoring opportunities, but only the Saints and Jets converted fewer of their red zone trips into touchdowns than the Chargers in 2025, making Dicker one of only four kickers to attempt 40+ field goals, a number that could drop on the heels of more successful touchdown drives. Dicker's 93.5% career conversion rate on field goals is the highest of all time by a substantial margin, so it's best not to overthink his selection, and he remains a safe bet to accumulate points, heading into 2026 as RotoBaller's fifth-ranked kicker.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian McCaffrey's Work Not Being Limited Early in Camp
After touching the ball an astounding 450 times in 2025, much of the offseason narrative surrounding San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has been about how the team will handle his workload in his age-30 season, and through two days of training camp, there have been no indications of any holding him back. After standing out in his usual ways in the passing game during the team's first practice, 49ers digital editor Brooke Evans reports that he again saw steady volume in Day 2, totaling seven carries in team sessions and routinely working up to the second level. With CBA rules not allowing for full padded practices until the fifth or sixth session of camp, McCaffrey could continue to see heavy run with the first team offense, but it will be interesting to see how carries are divvied up when the pads do come on, particularly with a battle brewing between Jordan James and Kaelon Black for the ever-important insurance role behind the four-time All-Pro.
Source: Brooke Evans
Source: Brooke Evans
Jalen Ramsey to Begin Training Camp on PUP
Pittsburgh Steelers starting nickelback Jalen Ramsey suffered a knee injury during mandatory minicamp, and he will now start training camp on the PUP list, according to ESPN's Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor. General manager Omar Khan told reporters on Tuesday that Ramsey is expected to be out for a couple of weeks to begin camp. At 31 years old, Ramsey tallied the highest tackle total of his 10-year career while adding three sacks in his first season with the Steelers, giving him surprising IDP value after a handful of down years with the Dolphins. Expected to hold a similar role once he returns to full health, the eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro should spend plenty of time near the edge of the box, and he represents good value in the later rounds of IDP drafts.
Source: Brooke Pryor
Source: Brooke Pryor
Jaycee Horn Cleared to Practice
Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (toe) has been activated from the Non-Football Injury list and cleared to practice in the team's first padded session of the summer. Horn injured his toe while running before camp, requiring stitches, but with the Panthers playing in the year's Hall of Fame Game, they were one of the earliest teams to report for training camp, and so the two-time Pro Bowler returns to work before some teams have even held their first practice. Horn had a career-high five touchdowns in 2025 and could see more big-play opportunities after the team invested heavily on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, bringing in defensive lineman Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
