RADIO
Rachaad White in Flex Territory for Week 1
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White has been a reliable fantasy producer over the last few seasons, with some upside mixed in at times. The 27-year-old finished as high as the RB10 in PPR/G in 2023, recording the fourth most receptions among running backs in the league that season with 64. White's inefficiencies as a runner have limited his overall upside to this point in his career, though he's still one of the most effective pass-catching backs in the league. Washington's offense missed the receiving ability of RB Austin Ekeler after he got injured early last season, which is the role that White is now aiming to fill. Jayden Daniels doesn't throw to his running backs at an extreme rate. Still, Ekeler played 17 total games with the Commanders (including playoffs) and averaged 3.7 targets and 3.1 catches per game, which are similar to White's career numbers. It remains to be seen how White works into the offense alongside Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but White is expected to play an important role early. White has a challenging matchup in Week 1 against the Eagles, ranking as RotoBaller's RB35 in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jayden Daniels Faces Stiff Test in Philly to Open Season
Washington Commanders third-year quarterback Jayden Daniels is coming off a disappointing sophomore campaign that was derailed by injuries. The 25-year-old started only seven games and only played four full games, and his completion percentage fell from the historic 69% mark in his rookie season to 60.6% in 2025. Daniels enters the 2026 regular season fully healthy and motivated to produce with a revamped pass-catching group, headlined by the addition of veteran WR Stefon Diggs, along with third-round rookie WR Antonio Williams, TE Chig Okonkwo, and RB Rachaad White. The loss of star LT Laremy Tunsil (triceps) is a major blow, but Daniels also led Washington to a top-5 offense without him two seasons ago. The LSU product faces a strong challenge on the road in Philadelphia in Week 1, where he last took the field more than one season ago in the 2024-25 NFC Championship Game. Facing the vaunted Super Bowl-winning Eagles defense three times as a rookie, Daniels averaged 24.29 fantasy points per game in those matchups. The Eagles' defense again looks primed to be one of the best in football after allowing the fewest passing touchdowns last season, but Daniels still projects favorably due to his dual-threat ability. Daniels ranks as RotoBaller's QB12 for Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
KaVontae Turpin Falling Out of Favor in Dallas
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin's fantasy relevance is quickly slipping away. Turpin has put together back-to-back WR77 finishes in PPR leagues, and he had occasional streaming appeal in 2024 when opportunities opened up for him to take on a bigger role. However, he was never able to establish himself as a dependable target week in and week out. Last season, he fell down the depth chart following the acquisition of George Pickens and the breakout of Ryan Flournoy. At best, he projects as the No. 4 receiver this season behind CeeDee Lamb, Pickens, and Flournoy, but he could also fall as low as sixth on the depth chart. We would not be surprised if Turpin sits out any games as a healthy scratch this season while the Cowboys work to solidify the back half of their depth chart. He should be dropped in all fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyquan Thornton's Fantasy Appeal Slipping Away
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton is trending down in fantasy football ahead of the 2026 NFL season. While Thornton remains in the No. 3 spot on the depth chart for now, he'll likely lose his grasp on that role by midseason. He's already behind Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and Xavier Worthy in the passing game order, and soon, he could also be surpassed by up-and-coming rookie Cyrus Allen. The fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati reportedly had a great training camp, earning the trust of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the coaching staff. Thornton, on the other hand, has struggled to emerge as a consistent threat in the passing game throughout his four seasons in the league. Now heading into Year 5, Thornton has yet to finish higher than WR81 in a single season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chicago's D/ST Worthy of Consideration Versus Panthers
The Chicago Bears' D/ST is a recommended fantasy option for Week 1 when they take on the Carolina Panthers on the road. For what it's worth, the Bears' defense was one of the worst in terms of yards (fourth-most) and points (tenth-most) allowed per game in 2025. However, the unit also forced the league's most turnovers (33), while the team as a whole had the best differential (+22). This Sunday, they'll face an advantageous matchup against a Panthers offense that scored the sixth-fewest points per game last season (19). This matchup isn't without risk, as Chicago's weakness against the ground game aligns with Carolina's strength. Still, Bryce Young's inconsistencies should leave the door open for an opportunistic Bears defense to make field-flipping plays. As it stands, the unit is a fringey top option, landing as RotoBaller's D/ST12 ahead of the favorable outing.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cairo Santos in Favorable Week 1 Spot
Chicago Bears veteran placekicker Cairo Santos presents as a strong fantasy asset when his team squares off with the Carolina Panthers on the road in Week 1. The 34-year-old was solid for Chicago in 2025, connecting on 25-of-30 field goal attempts and all 39 of his extra-point attempts. While Santos was nothing more than a middle-of-the-road option last year, he should be afforded plenty of opportunities to be impactful in this campaign. In addition to being tethered to an explosive, exciting offense, the playmakers throughout the defense led the league in takeaways with 33 a season ago. All in all, the veteran is primed to be a useful alternative in fantasy lineups for the duration of the season and can be trusted as a sound start to kick off the 2026 campaign. He's RotoBaller's K9 leading up to the team's first outing.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kyle Monangai a Full-Go for Opener Vs. Carolina
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai will head into this weekend's outing against the hosting Carolina Panthers, seemingly healthy after a full week of practice. The second-year back hyperextended his knee roughly a month ago. Considering there's been no update since his return on Monday, it feels safe to assume that Monangai will resume his role as a 1B/change-of-pace option behind incumbent starter D'Andre Swift. While the former's upside is capped for as long as he shares Chicago's backfield, he's one of the league's premier handcuffs. Monangai also has the talent to carve out standalone value on an aggressive offense. In Week 1, he'll get an excellent matchup in a Panthers' defensive front that was a bottom-half unit in rushing yards per game last year. Game script could be favorable if the Bears jump out to an early lead, but Monangai is otherwise a touchdown-dependent option in the early going. For now, he'll rank as the PPR RB42 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Colston Loveland Set for Monster First Outing
Chicago Bears second-year tight end Colston Loveland is primed for a strong outing this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers on the road. Loveland's rookie campaign may have started slowly, but he made an impact on an offense loaded with talent and erupted down the stretch. From Week 17 through the divisional round, the former Michigan Wolverine racked up 28 receptions, 378 yards, and two touchdowns on a ludicrous 48 targets (29.1%), notching no fewer than 10 looks in any appearance. Now, heading into his second year, Loveland is the clear leader of Chicago's tight end room and poised to handle a heavy workload in an ascending offense. Even in a unit brimming with capable playmakers, the 22-year-old is a locked-in, high-end asset at his position. Additionally, he could see a bump in volume with several of his teammates dealing with preseason injuries. He's RotoBaller's PPR TE2 for Sunday's opening bout.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Oscar Delp May Open the Year at Bottom of Depth Chart
New Orleans Saints tight end Oscar Delp (hamstring) has modest draft capital as a Day 2 pick, but he may still open the season as the No. 3 option on the depth chart. Juwan Johnson is the undisputed starter at tight end, offering legitimate top-10 upside. Noah Fant is also a candidate to emerge ahead of Delp in the pecking order. While that's far less of a sure thing, it seems somewhat reasonable given Fant's experience as a productive tight end in the NFL. On the other hand, Delp is still just a rookie, and at the moment, he's having trouble even staying on the field. The Georgia product still has some low-end upside in dynasty leagues long-term, but he can be dropped to waivers in all redraft leagues at this point. His path to relevance in 2026 features plenty of obstacles.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ted Hurst III Could See Expanded Role in Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ted Hurst III is set to make his professional debut against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. The third-round pick might actually see a bigger role than expected in the season opener. Fellow wideout Jalen McMillan (groin) is currently considered questionable for Sunday's game. His absence could mean that Tez Johnson or Hurst moves into the starting unit. Between the two, Hurst might be the bigger threat after his impressive showing in camp. Recently, Bucs' offensive coordinator Zac Robinson praised Hurst for his work. The 22-year-old could make for a deep league dart throw if McMillan is unable to play.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jaylin Lane Struggling to Find Role in New-Look Receiver Room
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane may struggle to carve out a substantial role in the team's new-look receiver room. The Commanders signed Stefon Diggs and drafted Antonio Williams this past offseason, slotting them into the second and third receiver roles behind Terry McLaurin. That leaves a combo of Lane, Dyami Brown, and Treylon Burks competing for the No. 4 spot on the depth chart. Lane might benefit from being the youngest of that group, but that also means he has the least experience and the least impactful track record. As a rookie last year, the Virginia Tech product caught just 16 of his 32 targets for 225 yards. We'd expect Lane to remain on special teams, with his occasional offensive snaps not providing enough stability for any sort of fantasy relevance. He can be left on waivers in all redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luther Burden III Could See Bigger Role in Week 1
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III is without an injury designation for his team's opening game against the hosting Carolina Panthers. Burden sustained a groin injury in early August that derailed his preseason, but he returned to practice ahead of Week 1 and did so at full capacity. The 22-year-old's late-2025 surge jettisoned him up draft boards this Summer, and rightfully so considering his talent and participation in an ascending, young offense. He'll get a Panthers squad to open the year that has made some improvements on the defensive side, but is by no means a scary matchup. More so, Burden could be in line for a heavier target share if fellow wideout Rome Odunze (calf) is hampered by a soft-tissue issue picked up last week. For now, fantasy managers can roll out the Missouri native as a high-upside WR3/flex, with the innate ability to break off a big play at a moment's notice. Burden is RotoBaller's PPR WR27 for the first week of play.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dawson Knox Falls Down the Pecking Order in Buffalo
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox continues to be a secondary option in the team's passing offense. The Buffalo pass-catching group is led by DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, and Dalton Kincaid, resulting in Knox falling down the pecking order. He was the overall TE28 in PPR leagues last year, and his ranking will likely fall even lower in 2026 now that Moore has been added to the team. His fantasy production also benefitted from Kincaid missing some games and playing a lower snap share even when healthy, which probably won't happen again in 2026. Knox would have some streaming appeal if Kincaid were to get hurt, but until then, he can be avoided in all redraft and most dynasty leagues. He ranks as the TE37 in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, who allowed the 13th-fewest fantasy points to tight ends last season.
Source: Buffalo Bills
Source: Buffalo Bills
Rome Odunze A Shaky Fantasy Play in Week 1 Amid Questionable Tag
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's road opener against the Carolina Panthers. Odunze operated as a limited participant leading up to this weekend's contest after picking up a calf injury the week prior. It'd have been nice to see him upgrade to full at some point, but per the 24-year-old, he'll be able to suit up. Health aside, Odunze and the rest of Chicago's skill players are well-equipped to make massive fantasy impacts in 2026. As it stands, the only question left to shake out is which of Odunze, teammate Luther Burden III, and tight end Colston Loveland will separate themselves as the primary pass-catcher for third-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Either way, there should be fantasy value to mine from all three. If healthy, Odunze ranks as RotoBaller's PPR WR30 for the weekend's matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Texans D/ST In a Tough Matchup in Week 1
The Houston Texans' defense and special teams unit faces a tall task in Week 1, taking on Josh Allen and the Bills. Houston's defense was among the best in the league last year and has plenty of playmakers at every level. They added Reed Blankenship and Jadeveon Clowney to the rotation this year and should be able to stack up sacks and turnovers again this year. However, the matchup against Allen and the high-powered Bills' offense knocks them down from the must-start tier of defenses this week. In RotoBaller's rankings, the Texans D/ST is ranked No. 13, making them a fringe starting group in most leagues. If you drafted them highly, you can still use them in Week 1, but temper expectations based on the difficult matchup and look forward to dominant performances later in the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
