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Kenneth Walker To Face Tough Broncos Defense In Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker will make his Chiefs debut against the Denver Broncos on Monday night in Week 1. Walker recently had an injury scare when he missed practice due to a foot issue, but it was stated to be an issue with his cleat that has since been resolved. Walker was not listed on the injury report this week, meaning that he should be a full go to begin the season. Walker was highly effective for the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs as the feature back after playing in a committee for the regular season, and now he will get the opportunity to be a bell-cow for Kansas City. The 25-year-old is in the prime of his career and should handle the vast majority of carries as well as a handful of catches out of the backfield each week. The Chiefs were among the best teams in rushing success rate last season but lacked the explosiveness to make big plays, so Walker should fill that role quite nicely. The season outlook for Walker is better than his Week 1 outlook, mostly due to the tough matchup. The Broncos defense allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in 2025, meaning that Walker could have a hard time getting things going on the ground, but he could get involved in the passing game. The Kansas City offensive line is also dealing with injuries, which could make things even more difficult for the Chiefs running back. Walker is also a home run hitter, meaning that it just takes one play for him to break off a big run and make an impact. There are obstacles in his way, but Walker should get ample opportunity to make something happen. Walker is ranked RB12 in our RotoBaller Week 1 PPR rankings, making him a back-end RB1 option this week. Fantasy managers should be excited by his new situation this season, but temper expectations in Week 1.
Source: SleeperNFL - Twitter
Source: SleeperNFL - Twitter
Patrick Mahomes Off Injury Report, Poised To Shake Off Rust In Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was listed on the injury report this week with the same ACL injury that he has been rehabbing this offseason, but he was a full participant in practice all week. Mahomes is now off the injury report and ready to begin his 2026 season against the Denver Broncos on Monday. The Chiefs also listed wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy on the injury report with knee and shoulder injuries, respectively. Still, both will be active and ready to catch passes from Mahomes. Mahomes will also have the benefit of leaning on newly acquired running back Kenneth Walker. Reports out of camp have said that the Chiefs are looking to get Walker involved in the passing game, which should give Mahomes a safe check-down option out of the backfield. The Chiefs quarterback will have to deal with a tough matchup in Week 1 since the Broncos defense is arguably the best unit in the league and the Chiefs offensive line is dealing with injuries, most notably a back injury that will force Josh Simmons to miss the game. Since Mahomes is returning from an ACL injury, it is reasonable to assume that his rushing output will be diminished at least to start the season. Given the difficulty of the matchup, the health of the O-line, and the health of his knee, it is hard to trust Mahomes in Week 1. Mahomes is ranked QB17 in our RotoBaller Week 1 rankings, meaning fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere for a quarterback this week.
Source: Ari Meirov - Twitter
Source: Ari Meirov - Twitter
Tim Patrick Placed on Injured Reserve
New York Jets wide receiver Tim Patrick (groin) is being placed on injured reserve, according to Zack Rosenblatt. Patrick was already ruled out for Sunday's opener against Tennessee after missing practice Thursday and Friday, and now he will be sidelined for at least four games. The veteran signed with New York in May after spending last season with Jacksonville, where he caught 15 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns across 16 games. Patrick was buried on a Jets depth chart that already includes Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith, so there was not much fantasy value here even before the injury. His absence could create a few extra snaps elsewhere in the receiver rotation, but there is no obvious waiver-wire winner from this move. Patrick can be left on waivers in standard leagues while he works his way back.
Source: Zack Rosenblatt
Source: Zack Rosenblatt
Travis Etienne Jr. Still a Strong Start in Tough Matchup
New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. should still be in fantasy lineups Sunday against Detroit, even with Alvin Kamara expected to return. Kamara practiced fully Friday after missing most of camp with an MCL sprain, but he is still listed as questionable and is not expected to handle a big role right away. Audric Estime is also out, which leaves Etienne in a good spot for volume. He is coming off 1,107 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries with Jacksonville, plus 36 catches for 292 yards and six more scores. The matchup is tougher than it first looks. Detroit allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points and 12th-fewest rushing yards to running backs last season. RotoBaller has Etienne at RB17 for Week 1 and still recommends keeping him in most lineups. He is better viewed as a high-end RB2 than a locked-in RB1, but the workload should keep him firmly in starting range.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Shough Has Streaming Upside Against Detroit
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is one of the more interesting streaming options for Week 1 against Detroit. He settled in after taking over last season, throwing for 2,256 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions across nine starts. The finish was especially encouraging. Over his final five games, Shough threw for 1,316 yards and five touchdowns while adding 135 yards and three scores on the ground. Detroit gave up 4,027 passing yards and 31 passing touchdowns in 2025, and starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph will both miss the opener. That gives Shough a favorable spot with Chris Olave leading the passing game, even with rookie Jordyn Tyson on injured reserve. RotoBaller has Shough at QB16 for Week 1. He is not a locked-in QB1, but managers looking for a streamer can use him with real top-12 upside if this game turns into a shootout.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Jones Expected to Play Monday
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf) is expected to play Monday night against the Denver Broncos, according to Jesse Newell. Head coach Andy Reid gave the encouraging update Saturday after Jones was added to the injury report a day earlier. He was limited Friday with the calf issue after not appearing on Thursday's report, so his status suddenly became something to watch. Reid does not seem overly concerned. Jones started all 17 games last season and finished with 29 tackles, seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hits. Kansas City's final injury report will still provide the official word on whether he carries a designation into Monday, but this is a good sign for a Chiefs defense that badly needs its best interior pass rusher on the field. IDP managers can continue planning on Jones being available unless something changes before kickoff.
Source: Jesse Newell
Source: Jesse Newell
Audric Estime Placed on Injured Reserve
New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime (thigh) has been placed on injured reserve, according to Ross Jackson. The Saints later announced the move Saturday. Estime did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and had already been ruled out for Sunday's opener against Detroit. Now he will miss at least four games. His path to touches was already pretty narrow. New Orleans lists Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara together atop the backfield, with Kendre Miller ahead of Estime as well. Estime did get a chance late last season, finishing 2025 with 301 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 58 touches across seven games. The Saints elevated rookie CJ Donaldson from the practice squad for Sunday, giving them another option while Estime is out. There wasn't much redraft value here before the move, and the IR stint makes Estime a player who can be left on waivers outside deeper dynasty leagues.
Source: Ross Jackson
Source: Ross Jackson
Harold Fannin Jr. a Strong TE1 Against Jacksonville
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. should be in fantasy lineups Sunday against Jacksonville. He was one of the few reliable pieces in Cleveland's passing game as a rookie, leading the team with 107 targets and 731 receiving yards while catching 72 passes and scoring six times in 16 games. The matchup gives him another reason to trust the volume. Jacksonville allowed the seventh-most fantasy points, fifth-most receptions and 10th-most receiving yards to tight ends last season. Cleveland also lists Fannin first on the depth chart, with Blake Whiteheart and Carsen Ryan behind him. Deshaun Watson returning adds some uncertainty to the offense, but Fannin does not need a huge day through the air to pay off if he gets anything close to last year's target share. RotoBaller has him at TE6 for Week 1 and calls him a solid TE1 play in this matchup. Fantasy managers can start him with confidence.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalen Cambre Added to Giants' 53-Man Roster
New York Giants wide receiver Dalen Cambre is being signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, according to Art Stapleton. Cambre was waived at final cuts before returning to the practice squad and now fills the spot opened by Darius Slayton's release. Whether he actually dresses Sunday against Dallas is still up in the air. Stapleton noted that the Giants are still working through their game-day combinations, with Malik Nabers' status part of that process. Nabers is officially questionable with a knee designation despite practicing in full all three days this week. Cambre appeared in seven games as an undrafted rookie last season, working almost entirely on special teams. He did not record an offensive touch and finished with three tackles. Even if Cambre is active Sunday, there isn't much fantasy value here. His promotion gives New York another receiver and special-teams option while the final Week 1 roster takes shape.
Source: Art Stapleton
Source: Art Stapleton
Justin Steele to Throw Bullpen on Sunday
Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) is set to throw a bullpen in Chicago in front of the team's pitching coaches on Sunday. This will give the team a chance to get a good, hard look at the 31-year-old as he continues to work hard toward returning to the mound for the Cubs in 2026. From there, it has been decided that he will throw at least one more outing for Triple-A Iowa, at which time a decision will likely be made regarding what lies ahead. Over three rehab appearances thus far, Steele has thrown 5.2 innings while allowing four earned runs on 10 hits. The good news is that he has recorded six strikeouts and has not walked any batters, backing the fact that he is still working through some rust. If and when he does return this year, it will be as a reliever, as there is not enough time for him to build himself back up to a starter's workload. As such, his fantasy value is minimal.
Source: Jared Wyllys
Source: Jared Wyllys
Jerry Jeudy Should Stay on Benches in Week 1
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy enters Week 1 with a starting job, but not much fantasy security. He drew 106 targets last season and turned them into 50 catches for 602 yards and two touchdowns. Harold Fannin Jr. actually led Cleveland with 107 targets, and now first-round rookie KC Concepcion Jr. and second-rounder Denzel Boston are both starting too. That leaves Jeudy fighting for work in an offense led by Deshaun Watson, which is enough to make Sunday's matchup with Jacksonville hard to trust. The Jaguars allowed 3,707 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns last season, but they also picked off 22 passes. RotoBaller has Jeudy at WR77 for Week 1, and its current start-sit guidance recommends Cleveland's receivers only in deeper leagues with multiple flex spots. Jeudy may still see enough snaps to matter, but there are too many questions about the target split and quarterback play. He should stay on the bench in most leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chargers D/ST Highly Ranked in Week 1 Matchup vs. the Cardinals
The Los Angeles Chargers' D/ST is a highly recommended fantasy option for managers in Week 1 due to a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Chargers unit finished just outside the top 12 D/ST and averaged 6.5 points per game last year. The Cardinals offense had the fifth-most sacks and 13th-fewest offensive touchdowns last season. They switched to a pass-first offense when they let Jacoby Brissett take over and often found themselves in pass-heavy situations because of trailing late in games. The Chargers D/ST is RotoBaller's D/ST2 ahead of a favorable outing and can be comfortably inserted into lineups in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
KC Concepcion Has Upside Flex Appeal in Week 1
Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion has a little more Week 1 appeal than the usual rookie making his NFL debut. Concepcion is already listed as a starter, and the Browns have spent much of the summer finding ways to get the ball in his hands. He only played once in the preseason, catching three passes for 27 yards while adding a 14-yard rushing touchdown and a 31-yard punt return. Head coach Todd Monken said Friday that Concepcion will handle all of Cleveland's punt returns against Jacksonville and made it clear the rookie has earned the coaching staff's trust. Cleveland took Concepcion 24th overall after he caught 61 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns at Texas A&M last season. There is still risk with Deshaun Watson under center and Jerry Jeudy, Denzel Boston and Harold Fannin Jr. also competing for touches. RotoBaller has Concepcion at WR61 for Week 1. He is not a must-start yet, but managers in deeper leagues can use him as an upside WR4 or flex.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rays Calling Up Top Pitching Prospect Brody Hopkins
The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Brody Hopkins to the big leagues from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Per MLB Pipeline, Hopkins, 24, is ranked as Tampa's No. 7 overall prospect and their top pitching prospect. The former sixth-round selection by the Seattle Mariners in 2023 from Winthrop University has gone 4-8 this year for the Bulls with a 5.17 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, and 122:92 K:BB in 94 innings across 31 appearances (19 starts). The numbers obviously do not look great on the surface, but Hopkins had been pitching great recently for Durham in a relief role, where he will likely continue in his first taste of the major leagues. Hopkins gets the call to Tampa after throwing six straight shutout innings out of the bullpen at Triple-A, and he will look to stay hot with the Rays. For fantasy purposes, Hopkins should be ignored in single-year formats with the regular season wrapping up at the end of September.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Esmerlyn Valdez Placed on Injured List With Hamstring Strain
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring) on the injured list on Saturday with a strained left hamstring. The 22-year-old outfielder injured himself on Friday while trying to beat out a ground ball in the sixth inning. He came up limping and was helped off the field. A day later, he was placed on the injured list, keeping him out of action for at least 10 days. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but given the timing, there is a chance that this ends his season. If he doesn't return in 2026, he will finish with 17 home runs over 72 games played, which should keep him in consideration as a late-round draft pick heading into the 2027 draft. In his absence, Jake Mangum should once again be considered as an injury replacement for the Pirates and receive additional opportunities. He has some fantasy appeal, as he has posted a .283/.340/.369 slash line this season with 23 stolen bases over 122 games played.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
