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Tank Bigsby Belongs Among Fantasy's Elite Handcuffs
Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby belongs on the short list of backups who could become weekly fantasy starters with one depth-chart change. He is officially listed second behind Saquon Barkley, and we already got a look at what a bigger role can produce. When Barkley sat the 2025 regular-season finale, Bigsby ran 16 times for 75 yards and a touchdown and added a 31-yard catch. He was efficient throughout his first season in Philadelphia too, averaging 5.9 yards per carry on 58 attempts. There is more workload evidence from Jacksonville, where Bigsby handled 168 carries for 766 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. None of this gives him much standalone value while Barkley is healthy. That's fine. The appeal is what happens if the opportunity changes. Bigsby has the size, efficiency and prior volume to step into a much larger role, and the current depth chart confirms he is the next man up.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Parker Washington's Breakout May Be Just Getting Started
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington was already starting to look like a breakout late last season, and nothing that happened this summer cooled it off. Washington led Jacksonville with 95 targets, 58 catches and 847 receiving yards in 2025, then went for 454 yards and three touchdowns over his final four games including the playoffs. He kept showing up in training camp too. Jacksonville's own observers repeatedly singled Washington out, while his chemistry with Trevor Lawrence looked noticeably stronger throughout the summer. There are still a lot of mouths to feed here. Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers are starting alongside him, with Travis Hunter still part of the offensive mix. Washington has already shown he can earn targets in that kind of environment, though. He enters Week 1 at WR27 in the current rankings and can be started against Cleveland, but the more interesting part is where his value goes from here. Washington has a legitimate chance to emerge as Jacksonville's top fantasy receiver if last year's finish carries over.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rams Kept Tabs on Maxx Crosby This Offseason
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby drew interest from the Los Angeles Rams during the offseason, according to Tom Pelissero of The Sweep. The Rams called about Crosby and kept tabs on the situation after his proposed trade to Baltimore fell apart in March because of concerns over his surgically repaired knee. Crosby ultimately remained in Las Vegas and has repeatedly said he wants to stay with the Raiders. He finished 2025 with 10 sacks and 28 tackles for loss despite missing the final two games, and Pelissero reports that Crosby has looked great heading into the season. That could bring the trade conversation back eventually. If Crosby looks like himself once the games begin, Pelissero expects teams to call Las Vegas again before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Matthew Golden Steps Into Bigger Role in Year 2
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has a much clearer path to playing time entering his second season. Golden was the top breakout choice in a poll of NFL executives and scouts conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler after a quiet rookie year in which he caught 29 passes for 361 yards on 44 targets. One AFC executive questioned why Green Bay didn't use the former first-round pick more and pointed to his speed as a reason for optimism. The opportunity looks different now. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to Philadelphia, while Golden is listed with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed among Green Bay's starting receivers. He also flashed in the playoffs, catching four passes for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown against Chicago. Golden still has to turn the opportunity into production, but the path to a much larger Year 2 role is there.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
LeQuint Allen Jr. Will Be Game-Time Decision in Week 1
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's opener against Cleveland, head coach Liam Coen said, according to Ryan O'Halloran. Allen has been dealing with a soft-tissue injury since August and missed the remainder of training camp after going down. The second-year back had 23 carries for 94 yards and caught 10 passes for 54 yards across 17 games as a rookie, but his value to Jacksonville goes beyond the touches. Allen has earned trust on third downs and in pass protection. Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are listed as co-starters on Jacksonville's first regular-season depth chart, with Allen behind them. If Allen cannot go Sunday, the Jaguars will have to redistribute some of that passing-down work elsewhere in the backfield.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Jonah Coleman Could be a Late-Season League-Winner
Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman has consistently earned the praise of coaches, teammates, and media throughout his first preseason in the NFL. The fourth-round pick out of Washington was already trending up as soon as the Broncos drafted him, and nothing has changed in the last few months. He continues to have massive upside in dynasty leagues after posting 3,496 scrimmage yards and 33 touchdowns over his last three years of school, and he's even rising up the rankings in redraft leagues. As it stands, Coleman is worthy of a roster spot in 12+ team leagues, despite the fact that he's third on the depth chart behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. After the first few weeks of the season go by and Coleman gets more acclimated to the NFL, we fully expect him to carve out a meaningful role alongside Dobbins and Harvey. Just like we saw Harvey emerge as a fantasy league winner in the second half of the 2025 season, Coleman could do the same in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Barion Brown Could Operate as a Starter After Strong Camp
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Barion Brown could get into the starting lineup for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. Brown had a strong camp, and he's in the mix for the No. 3 receiver role (and a starting job) after the Saints placed rookie Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) on injured reserve. As it stands, Brown projects as the third receiver behind Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele, although he's also likely behind Juwan Johnson in the pecking order. Nevertheless, the rookie out of LSU caught four passes for 53 yards during the preseason, and he proved that he deserves more opportunities than fellow rookie Bryce Lance. Whether or not Brown's No. 3 receiver role is enough to get him on the fantasy radar remains to be seen, but he is definitely trending up as the Saints look to distribute Tyson's temporarily vacated targets. He's an intriguing player to stash for the first few weeks in 14+ team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Could Have a Larger Role After Strong Camp
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner put together a strong camp, and he could be headed for a larger role during the 2026 season. Barner has impressed with 10 touchdowns over his two NFL seasons, and he finished last year as the overall TE14 in PPR leagues. He was able to maintain his fantasy relevance despite facing competition from Elijah Arroyo, who had second-round draft capital last year. This season, we expect Barner to get a similar amount of playing time, and that could actually lead to more volume. Now that he has established himself on offense for two years in a row, he should see his target share increase. Additionally, he should benefit from playing for new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. Fleury was the tight ends coach in San Francisco, so he brings a strong background in the position to his new job with the Seahawks. In fact, it has already been reported by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Fleury plans to use a lot of two-tight-end sets in Seattle. That bodes well for Barner, who has a very strong chance to emerge as a top-12 fantasy tight end in Year 3.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Emerging as Key Part of Backfield
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has emerged as a last-minute riser in fantasy football ahead of the start of the 2026 NFL season. The narrative for several months has been that Bhayshul Tuten would lead the Jags' backfield, and while that still might be the case, it's worth noting that the team's official depth chart lists Tuten and Rodriguez as sharing the No. 1 role. Perhaps we shouldn't be that surprised. After all, Tuten was the backup to Travis Etienne Jr. last year, so he hasn't handled a workhorse role yet. Additionally, there was plenty of buzz during the offseason that head coach Liam Coen expected big things from Rodriguez, whom he coached in college. The exact fantasy outlook for both of these backs remains a bit murky until we've seen how the backfield shakes out through the first game or two. For now, we'd view Tuten as a fringe RB2/RB3 and Rodriguez as a fringe RB3/RB4. That's still enough to get Rodriguez on the fantasy radar in 10+ team leagues, and he's a potential Week 1 flex for managers in 14+ team leagues, especially against a Browns defense that is trending down.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashid Shaheed Could Emerge as Key Part of Offense
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed could play a pivotal role on offense this season. Shaheed had a very positive camp, earning praise from coaches, teammates, and media. It was a great step in the right direction for the 28-year-old, who was due to make a leap after posting relatively modest numbers following his trade from New Orleans to Seattle last season. Shaheed finished last year as the WR39 in PPR leagues, catching 59 passes for 687 yards and two touchdowns. Those are fine numbers, but the latest buzz from Seattle indicates that Shaheed should take another step forward after his first full offseason with the Seahawks. In fact, it's not crazy to say that he could open the year as the team's No. 2 receiver, ahead of Cooper Kupp. While Kupp is getting older and declining in productivity, Shaheed is trending up, and he represents a flashy playmaking option for quarterback Sam Darnold. A top-36 finish is well within reason for the Seahawks, who will likely lean on the passing game with Kenneth Walker gone and Zach Charbonnet (knee) on the PUP list. Shaheed ranks as a WR4/WR5 for now, but in a perfect world, he has high-end WR3 upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Marshawn Lloyd Ready to Lead the Packers Backfield
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd is ready to step into the lead-back role for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, despite playing just one game over the last two seasons. Injuries have kept Lloyd sidelined for all but one game throughout his NFL career. However, the Packers are optimistic he'll be able to fill the void left by Josh Jacobs, who was recently placed on the commissioner's exempt list. "[Lloyd is as] ready as he's ever been since he's been here," general manager Brian Gutekunst told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. "He looks good. He's handling all the physicality, the things that he needs to as a running back." Head coach Matt Lafleur has echoed Gutekunst's optimistic tone, but he also declined to pencil Lloyd into a specific workload. Given that Lloyd has just seven touches as a pro, it's unlikely that he'll occupy an every-down role. In all likelihood, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks will earn some touches. With that being said, if there's a Green Bay running back to roster, it's Lloyd. He projects as a fringe RB2/RB3 this week and for the duration of Jacobs' absence.
Source: Rob Demovsky
Source: Rob Demovsky
Tre Tucker Has Clear Path to Fantasy Relevance in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker had a strong training camp and is expected to be the team's top wide receiver in 2026. In 2025, Tucker hauled in 57 of 92 targets for 696 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 51 rushing yards on 11 carries. With Jakobi Meyers gone and the team not making any significant additions, Tucker is in a good spot in head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. Tucker was a favorite of Kirk Cousins' during the preseason, catching five passes for over 50 yards in just three drives together. While he is not a clear startable option in Week 1, his current role in Las Vegas is enticing, and fantasy managers should take note of his workload against Miami.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jadarian Price Carries Immense Upside in 2026
Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price is likely to carry a significant workload in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. According to multiple reports, the first-round pick has had a fantastic training camp and is expected to be a main beneficiary of Zach Charbonnet's absence. Price was listed as the RB2 on Seattle's depth chart, behind George Holani, but reports have indicated that Price will be the lead back in Week 1. He also faces the Patriots' stout run defense, which allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs last season. Price's workload will be a main talking point during Wednesday night's game, as he is a high-risk, high-reward option in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Bell Has a Clear Path to Major Role in Miami
Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell is a high-upside option to target late in drafts and on the waiver wire this season. In his senior season at Louisville, Bell had 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games. Bell was drafted in the third round and would've gone much higher if not for a torn ACL in the 2025 season. The rookie receiver has recovered at a tremendous pace and played in the team's final preseason game, a positive sign for his Week 1 outlook. He was listed as a starter on the team's Week 1 depth chart alongside Malik Washington and fellow third-round rookie Caleb Douglas. While he shouldn't be a starting player in fantasy this week, he offers immense upside, as the climb to the top of the depth chart is not too crowded.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rhamondre Stevenson Expected to be Workhorse in Week 1
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to handle the bulk of the workload in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. In 2025, Stevenson totaled 948 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 162 touches across 14 games. He split the workload with rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who totaled over 1,100 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. Now, Henderson (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 1's matchup against the Seahawks, opening the door for Stevenson to get more work. The matchup is still tough, as Seattle allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs and the fewest yards per carry last season. Still, with a great offense and as the clear workhorse, Stevenson is a mid-RB2 in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
