RADIO
Kaelon Black a Priority Waiver-Wire Add With CMC Banged Up
San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black is a priority addition off the waiver wire, as Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) did not participate in the team's first practice in Australia ahead of the Week 1 contest on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Black emerged as the clear backup to McCaffrey late in training camp, despite an adductor injury early in the summer. In his only preseason action, Black had four carries for 28 yards and played every snap with the offense, with Jordan James coming in afterward. With McCaffrey not participating in team drills on Monday, Black could be in line for a heavy workload if McCaffrey is unable to play on Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams. While he will still face one of the NFL's best run defenses, Black is a priority waiver-wire addition because any injury to McCaffrey would make him the starter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Wan'Dale Robinson Worth Adding Ahead of Week 1
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson enters Week 1 with a chance to be the team's leading receiver in 2026. Last season with the New York Giants, Robinson had a career year, hauling in 92 of 140 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. Robinson cashed out, signing a four-year, $70 million contract with the Titans in free agency. He performed well in training camp, leading the team in targets, and has been a security blanket for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. In Week 1, he faces an ideal matchup against the New York Jets, who allowed the fifth most fantasy points to slot receivers in 2025. While he's a risky start given the team's uncertainty around its passing game, Robinson should be rostered in all formats as we approach the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Allgeier Could Be Workhorse in Week 1
Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier could see a substantial workload in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. In 2025, Allgeier had 157 attempts for 610 yards and eight touchdowns with the Atlanta Falcons. Now in Arizona, Allgeier is expected to split carries with sensational rookie Jeremiyah Love, the third-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, with Love dealing with a high-ankle sprain from the opening preseason game and reportedly 50/50 to play in Week 1, Allgeier could see a workhorse role with James Conner (ankle) on injured reserve. He faces a tough Chargers defense, which ranked sixth-best against running backs last season. Workhorse running backs on the waiver wire should be added immediately, and Allgeier should be rostered in all formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mike Washington Jr. Has Impressed Ahead of Week 1
Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. put on a show during the preseason and is expected to have a role in the backfield this season. In three preseason games, Washington totaled 23 carries for 168 yards and a touchdown, averaging a whopping 7.3 yards per carry. There were reports that head coach Klint Kubiak was "jumping on the table" to draft the former Razorback running back. With Kubiak's history in Seattle running a two-back committee, Washington will have a role this season. While things are trending up for second-year back Ashton Jeanty (ankle), who suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in practice on August 23rd, Washington should still produce against the Miami Dolphins, who allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs last season. While he's not a startable option for fantasy managers if Jeanty is active, the rookie running back offers upside as a handcuff option behind the already banged-up Jeanty.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Could See Increased Role in Week 1
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. could see a larger workload in Week 1, with LeQuint Allen Jr. questionable due to a soft tissue injury. Allen suffered an undisclosed injury during training camp more than two weeks ago and has not practiced since. He was expected to handle obvious passing downs, but with him questionable, Rodriguez could take on more of that role given his knack for pass protection. With the Commanders last season, Rodriguez had 112 carries for 500 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. Now with Jacksonville, he is expected to be the short-yardage back while second-year back Bhayshul Tuten handles early-down work. A short-yardage back could have a strong day against the Cleveland Browns, who are the biggest underdogs in Week 1. With plenty of scoring opportunities in Jacksonville, Rodriguez could be a low-end FLEX in Week 1, and fantasy managers should consider adding him, especially as a handcuff to Tuten.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa the Week 1 Starter
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Atlanta Falcons have named quarterback Tua Tagovailoa their starter for their Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Miami Dolphins quarterback joined the Falcons in the offseason and was competing alongside Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job. However, with Penix still recovering from a torn ACL, Tagovailoa had the edge for much of the competition. Despite this, fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his production, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported last week that the Falcons may not give Tagovailoa a long leash if he were to struggle early in the season. In 2025, Tagovailoa appeared in 14 games for the Dolphins and posted a modest 20:15 TD:INT while averaging 190 passing yards per game. Given his inconsistencies last season, Tagovailoa should be viewed as a low-end QB3 in Superflex formats in Week 1.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
George Kittle Practices Ahead of Week 1
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) participated in practice on Monday, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. For clarification purposes, the 49ers are overseas preparing for Week 1, so this practice occurred on Monday in Australia but lined up with the waning hours of Sunday in the United States. Time zone logistics aside, fantasy managers should be encouraged that Kittle was able to practice on Monday. There's still a chance that he has some sort of snap count for Week 1, but at this point, it looks like he'll at least be active for the season opener. This falls in line with a previous report from ESPN.com's Adam Schefter that said Kittle should be able to play. The 32-year-old is a top-three fantasy tight end when healthy, and he'll be tasked with occupying a major receiving role once again this year. Managers looking for additional updates on Kittle's status should check back in approximately 24 hours when the 49ers release their first official injury report of the regular season.
Source: Matt Maiocco
Source: Matt Maiocco
Christian McCaffrey Doesn't Practice on Monday
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) did not participate in the portion of Monday's practice that was open to the media, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. For clarification purposes, it's worth noting that this practice occurred on Monday in Australia, where the 49ers currently are, but it technically lined up with the waning hours of Sunday evening on the United States west coast. McCaffrey had been dealing with an undisclosed injury throughout camp, but it wasn't always serious enough to keep him out of practice. Therefore, there's at least a little bit of concern that he didn't participate in practice on Monday. The good news is that the 49ers still have three more days of practice ahead of them, so he could upgrade to a limited or even full participant by the time the first official injury reports come out on Tuesday in Australia (or Monday night in the United States).
Source: Matt Maiocco
Source: Matt Maiocco
Emanuel Wilson Gets a Clean Bill of Health
Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson (hamstring) was a full participant during practice on Sunday, according to Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub. Wilson dealt with a hamstring issue during the preseason, but the Seahawks' latest injury report confirms that he's fully healthy and will play in Week 1 against the New England Patriots, barring a setback. Seattle and New England face off on Wednesday to open the season, which is why their first injury report is coming out on a Sunday. As it stands, Wilson projects as the No. 3 running back behind Jadarian Price and George Holani. He might get a handful of touches in the season opener as the Seahawks figure out their backfield sans Zach Charbonnet (knee), but it probably won't be enough volume to get him on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues.
Source: Alex Barth
Source: Alex Barth
Tory Horton Limited in Practice Ahead of Week 1
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice on Sunday, according to Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub. Seattle kicks off the regular season this Wednesday against the Patriots, which is why they already hit the practice field and submitted an official injury report on Sunday. The hamstring injury is something that Horton has been dealing with for a while, but he was able to avoid landing on injured reserve at the conclusion of training camp. It remains unclear whether he'll be able to suit up in Week 1, but the fact that he was even able to practice in a limited capacity should be viewed as an encouraging sign. The 23-year-old was limited to 13 catches across eight games as a rookie last year. He projects as the No. 4 receiver in Seattle this year, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues.
Source: Alex Barth
Source: Alex Barth
Trey McBride Remains the Focal Point of Cardinals Offense
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride continues to be a central part of the team's offense in 2026. Last season, McBride ranked as the overall TE1 in PPR leagues with 126 catches, 1,239 yards, and 11 touchdowns. His productivity peaked when the Cardinals switched over from Kyler Murray to Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. In his five weeks catching passes from Kyler Murray, McBride averaged 12.5 fantasy points and ranked as the TE4. He took his game to the next level through 12 weeks playing alongside Brissett, with whom he averaged 21.1 points per game. During that span, he was the undisputed TE1, scoring a whopping 90 points more than the TE2 (Kyle Pitts). It's unclear whether Brissett can replicate last season's impressive numbers, but that shouldn't stop McBride. He is the best pass catcher in this offense, and there's a very real chance that he finishes as the top-scoring tight end in fantasy football once again this year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Darius Slayton Likely Headed for Reduced Volume in 2026
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton could see a decline in volume and production this season. There was a point in the offseason when Slayton was trending up after Wan'Dale Robinson walked in free agency, but he fell back down the depth chart after the team signed Darnell Mooney and drafted Malachi Fields. They also brought back veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. It's safe to say that Malik Nabers, Mooney, and Fields are all ahead of Slayton on the depth chart, and Beckham could be, too. Plus, the 29-year-old will fall behind tight ends Isaiah Likely and Theo Johnson in the pecking order. Slayton certainly faces an uphill battle to carve out a meaningful role with legitimate fantasy appeal this season. He should be avoided in redraft leagues for the time being, and he can be dropped in most dynasty formats, too.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
James Conner is Avoidable in Redraft Formats
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) was placed on the Injured Reserve to begin the season. He continues to have issues with a foot injury that ended his 2025 season. Conner will miss at least the first four games of the season while he recovers from that. Once he's back, there might not be a significant role in the backfield for Conner. Rookie Jeremiah Love (ankle) figures to play a big part in the running back once he's back to full speed. The Cardinals also signed Tyler Allgeier to a two-year deal during the offseason. Conner figures to have some kind of role once he's healthy, but he isn't someone who needs to be selected in redraft formats to begin the season. He could be worth stashing on the IR, but who knows what kind of role he'll have in the mess of this backfield.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kimani Vidal Gets Praised for his Pass Protection
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal has reportedly been the best pass-protector in the backfield during camp, according to Alexander Insdorf. Vidal won't be the starter, but that doesn't mean that he won't have a significant role in the offense this season. His above-average pass-blocking abilities could get him on the field more frequently than fantasy managers might think. Omarion Hampton is the starter, but Vidal could have an advantage over Keaton Mitchell (knee) for the No. 2 role in the backfield. Vidal might be fantasy relevant outside of being the handcuff to Hampton. He's worth stashing for fantasy managers seeking additional depth in the backfield.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Demond Claiborne Unlikely to See Significant Action
Minnesota Vikings running back Demond Claiborne was unlikely to make a legitimate push for playing time this summer. The 22-year-old was likely always going to be a depth option after being taken in the sixth-round by the Vikings during this year's draft. Claiborne did little to impress during the preseason, and he appears to have himself locked into the RB3 role in Minnesota. There probably won't be room for much action with Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason leading the way in the running game. His only chance at seeing serious playing time would be if one of the backs goes down with an injury. He is best left on the waiver wire in redraft formats to begin the year.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
