RADIO
Dillon Gabriel Solidifies Himself as QB3 with Big Night
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 12 of 15 pass attempts for 186 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Thursday's preseason win over the New England Patriots. He also rushed for three yards and didn't take a sack. It's worth noting that Gabriel was playing against a bunch of defensive reserves, but it was still a very encouraging showing nonetheless. This performance comes on the heels of the Browns naming Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback over Shedeur Sanders. Gabriel never had a legitimate chance to earn the starting job, but today's game essentially confirms that he's locked into the No. 3 quarterback role and won't lose his roster spot to Taylen Green, a sixth-round pick out of Alabama. Gabriel's path to playing time in Cleveland faces plenty of obstacles, but the Browns should feel confident in his ability to step into the offense at any time if needed. He's off the fantasy radar entirely, though.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Will Howard Evaluated for a Head Injury on Thursday
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (head) was being evaluated for a potential head injury on Thursday night in the preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills, according to Alan Saunders of PGH Steelers Now. Howard played the entire first half against Buffalo before being pulled due to injury after going 9-for-15 for 69 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He was sacked three times for a loss of 22 yards. Rookie Drew Allar, who is competing for the QB3 job with Howard behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, went 9-for-18 in the contest for 88 yards passing, no touchdowns, and no interceptions. Howard, 24, was a sixth-round pick by Pittsburgh last year from Ohio State, but he didn't see any action in the regular season and could be headed to the Steelers' practice squad or to another team if he loses the QB3 battle to Allar following training camp and the preseason. He led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2024, and new head coach Mike McCarthy has had positive things to say, but Howard has zero redraft appeal and very little stash upside in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Source: PGH Steelers Now - Alan Saunders
Source: PGH Steelers Now - Alan Saunders
Jeremiyah Love Trending in the Right Direction for Week 1
Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is trending toward being available for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. He noted that Love needs to keep progressing, but things are looking positive. Fantasy managers should be cautiously optimistic that this year's No. 3 pick might play in the season opener on Sept. 13. He still has two weeks to recover and get back into game shape ahead of making his NFL debut. If he does suit up, he might be on a snap count, especially since the Cardinals have a deep backfield that also features Tyler Allgeier and James Conner (foot). With that being said, even if Love isn't quite at 100%, he could have fantasy relevance because of his skill set. During his final two seasons at Notre Dame, he amassed 2,497 rushing yards, 617 receiving yards, and a whopping 40 touchdowns. He ranks as the overall RB19 in RotoBaller's latest 2026 redraft rankings.
Source: John Gambadoro
Source: John Gambadoro
Jalen Milroe to Play a Full Game in Preseason Finale
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that quarterback Jalen Milroe will play a full game in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Corbin K. Smith of Emerald Spectrum. The Seahawks will get a good look at the second-year signal-caller to close out preseason action after the 23-year-old former third-rounder from Alabama has gone 11-for-19 for 88 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in the first two preseason contests. In his first NFL campaign last year, Milroe only appeared in three games and did not attempt a pass, carrying the ball three times for four yards with a lost fumble. He is firmly entrenched as Seattle's QB3 to begin the 2026 season behind Sam Darnold and Drew Lock, so Milroe has zero redraft fantasy appeal. Milroe does not lack athleticism, but he must develop as a passer if he is to become anything more than a backup in the NFL long term.
Source: Emerald Spectrum - Corbin K. Smith
Source: Emerald Spectrum - Corbin K. Smith
Geno Smith Will Not Play in Friday's Preseason Finale
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will not play in Friday night's preseason finale against the New York Giants, a source told Brian Costello of the New York Post. Most of the Jets starters who have played in the preseason are expected to sit out on Friday. The 35-year-old veteran only played in the preseason game on Aug. 21 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and went 7-for-7 passing for 65 yards and a touchdown. The two-time Pro Bowler and former second-rounder by the Jets in 2013 from West Virginia is hoping to bounce back in 2026 in his return to New York after throwing a league-high 17 interceptions and getting benched late last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Smith has looked good in training camp this summer while running offensive coordinator Frank Reich's scheme, and he will have more talent to work with through the air in 2026 than he did in his lone season in Sin City. Still, fantasy managers in single-QB leagues should be ignoring Smith, and he will merely be a low-end QB2 for those in two-QB superflex formats.
Source: New York Post - Brian Costello
Source: New York Post - Brian Costello
Andy Borregales Finishes Preseason on a High Note
New England Patriots kicker Andy Borregales has bounced back ever since his ugly showing in Week 1 of the preseason. During Thursday's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, he went 2-for-2 on field goals and also made his lone extra point attempt. The field goals weren't particularly impressive, as they came from 26 and 33 yards out, but it was nice to see him demonstrate some accuracy. He missed three kicks in the first week of the preseason, but he has gone 3-for-3 on field goals since then. There was never much doubt that Borregales would make the team, as he was the only kicker on the Patriots' roster this summer. Nevertheless, fantasy managers should be encouraged that he overcame his initial struggles and the team never felt compelled to bring in any external competition. He was the K10 in fantasy football as a rookie last year, but he has fallen to K22 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Williams Trending Up After Another Big Touchdown Catch
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams was involved in another explosive play on Thursday as he caught a 45-yard touchdown pass in Week 3 of the preseason against the Cleveland Browns. Williams finished the game with two catches, 55 yards, and one touchdown. This marks the end of a fantastic preseason for the former Washington State receiver. He found the end zone in each of the Patriots' three games, and he finishes the preseason with a total of six catches, 166 yards, and three touchdowns. There was never a doubt that Williams was going to make the 53-man roster, but this impressive stretch of games could help him carve out an even larger role. He already started climbing up the depth chart this week after the team traded away Kayshon Boutte to Houston. Fantasy managers should look to stash Williams in all dynasty leagues, and there's even some low-end appeal in deeper redraft formats. He's the WR121 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Dixon All Over the Stat Sheet in Preseason Finale
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Dixon caught all eight of his targets for 71 yards during Thursday's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns. Dixon had just two catches through the first two weeks, so it was encouraging to see him catch eight passes in three quarters. However, it may be too little, too late. Oftentimes, Week 3 of the preseason is an opportunity for projected roster casualties to showcase themselves in hopes of miraculously sticking on the roster or marketing themselves for other teams in free agency. The latter could be the case for Dixon, who doesn't seem to have a clear role in the Patriots' receiver room and will likely be released if the team chooses to carry six receivers. He's a candidate to wind up on New England's practice squad, but the solid showcase on Thursday could be enough to secure a depth spot on another roster. Dixon is an undrafted free agent from Culver-Stockton College, an NAIA program. During his final year at school, he caught 83 passes for 1,282 yards and a dozen touchdowns.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chimere Dike Facing Serious Target Competition in 2026
Tennessee Titans second-year receiver out of Florida, Chimere Dike, is looking to build off a rookie campaign that saw him get 74 targets, 48 receptions, 423 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. Dike finished the season as the WR50, and while he has great speed (4.34 40-yard time), the Titans drafted rookie Carnell Tate in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, have Calvin Ridley, and signed Wan'Dale Robinson from the New York Giants. Target competition for Dike will be an uphill battle this season, as even without Tate and Robinson in the picture, he only saw a 14 percent target share. Robinson is known as a target hog, as he's seen 280 targets over the past two seasons, and Tate profiles as a legitimate future WR1. The one silver lining for Dike is he was ninth in the NFL in red zone target share last season, but with the increased target competition, Dike is going undrafted in most formats. RotoBaller ranks Dike as the WR96 and 249th player off the board. Fantasy Managers should look elsewhere in redraft formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tee Higgins Remains a High-Upside Receiver in a Potent Offense
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has put together two top-20 finishes at the wide receiver position over the past two seasons and three of the last four. Last season, Higgins finished as the WR15, hauling in 59 of his 98 receptions for 846 yards (14.3 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns. He was 13th in the NFL with 14.1 fantasy points per game and played in 15 games. In 2024, he finished as the WR5 in fantasy points per game with 18.5 and played in 12 games. The key for Higgins is health, as he has played only one full 17-game season and has had multiple seasons with only 12 games played. In 2025, Higgins finished 3rd in the NFL in deep targets, second in total TDs, and is a high-upside player being drafted in the late third round. On a points-per-game basis, Higgins is one of the top receivers in the game. RotoBaller ranks Higgins as the WR16, so fantasy managers looking to capitalize on a high-upside player at the receiver position should look in Higgins' direction.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
CeeDee Lamb Looking For a Bounce-Back Season After in 2026
Dallas Cowboys star receiver CeeDee Lamb is looking to bounce back in 2026 after a down season in 2025 that was plagued by an ankle injury and saw him finish as the WR22 for the season. In 14 games played, he finished the season with 75 catches on 117 targets, 1,077 yards, and three touchdowns. The three touchdowns were a career low for him, and with George Pickens joining this wide receiver room in 2025, it was clear that it gave quarterback Dak Prescott another reliable target in the passing game. Over the previous three seasons, Lamb finished as a top-10 WR and is looking to regain his WR1 status. Most draft boards have Lamb going in the first round, ahead of Pickens, who finished as the WR5 last season, showing the market is expecting a bounceback season for Lamb. RotoBaller ranks Lamb as the WR5 and 10th player overall. Fantasy managers looking to draft a motivated 27-year-old receiver primed to regain his WR1 status in a high-powered offense should look Lamb's way.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Brown Not Suiting Up Thursday Against the Browns
According to Evan Lazar, senior reporter for the Patriots, star wide receiver A.J. Brown will not be playing Thursday night in the Patriots' final preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Brown is one of 37 Patriots not in uniform tonight, which indicates the team will be resting a majority of its key starters. Brown did not record any preseason stats in any of the three Patriots preseason games, but reports from camp have suggested good chemistry with third-year quarterback Drake Maye. Brown enters his eighth NFL season at 29 years old and his first season with the Patriots, where he should be the clear alpha in the wide receiver room. Brown has recorded north of 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first seven seasons and has scored seven-plus touchdowns in seven of his eight seasons. He projects to be a WR1 for fantasy managers and is one of the trendiest names in fantasy football entering the 2026 season.
Source: Evan Lazar
Source: Evan Lazar
De'Zhaun Stribling Not Playing Thursday Night
According to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard, San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (shoulder) won't be playing in Thursday night's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders in the final preseason game for the 49ers before they open up their season at MCG Stadium in East Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, September 10th, against the Los Angeles Rams. Stribling is projected to be the No. 3 receiver in this 49ers passing attack after Ricky Pearsall (knee) has been ruled out for the season. Additionally, he made his presence felt in training camp and backed it up in his first two preseason games, hauling in 11 of his 13 targets for 109 yards. It appears the team will rest him along with a majority of their key starters, and fantasy managers targeting a wide receiver late in drafts should be looking Stribling's way.
Source: David Lombardi
Source: David Lombardi
Tory Horton Not Dealing With Long-Term Injury
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Thursday that the team has ruled out a long-term injury for second-year wide receiver Tory Horton (undisclosed), according to Corbin K. Smith of Emerald Spectrum. Horton has not practiced within the last week with an undisclosed ailment, but it sounds as though he will have a chance to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch. The 23-year-old former fifth-rounder from Colorado State only played in eight games in his rookie campaign in 2025 due to injuries, and although he had just 13 receptions for 161 yards, he made noise with five touchdowns as a big-play threat for quarterback Sam Darnold. With Jake Bobo (knee) already ruled out for the entire season, Horton will have an opportunity to seize an important depth role on offense behind wideouts Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp. However, for fantasy purposes, Horton is going to need to show more to attract interest off the waiver wire in redraft leagues in 2026.
Source: Emerald Spectrum - Corbin K. Smith
Source: Emerald Spectrum - Corbin K. Smith
Giants Officially Place Calvin Austin III on Injured Reserve
The New York Giants officially placed wide receiver Calvin Austin III (knee) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Thursday, according to Patricia Traina of Sports Illustrated. Austin will miss the entire 2026 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee during training camp practice on Tuesday. With the 27-year-old now out of the picture in the Big Apple this year, it will help Odell Beckham Jr.'s odds of making the 53-man roster as he competes with Braxton Berrios, Jalin Hyatt, and Isaiah Hodgins in a depth role behind Malik Nabers (knee), Darius Slayton, and Darnell Mooney. Austin was heading into his first year with the G-Men after signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the team in March. The former fourth-rounder in 2022 by the Pittsburgh Steelers from Memphis failed to capitalize on his opportunity in Pittsburgh last year, catching just 31 of 55 targets for 372 yards and three touchdowns in 14 regular-season games after going for a career-high 548 yards and four TDs in his second year in 2024. Austin can obviously be ignored in all fantasy formats in 2026.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Patricia Traina
Source: Sports Illustrated - Patricia Traina
