RADIO
Chris Godwin Jr. Looking Good Ahead of 2026 Season
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht had plenty of praise for wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. while discussing the team's options at receiver. According to Pewter Report, Licht called Godwin a "consistent, steady" and "Mr. Clutch" player, adding that he "looks really good out there." That's encouraging after injuries interrupted each of Godwin's last two seasons. He played nine games in 2025 and finished with 33 catches for 360 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay now heads into its first season without Mike Evans since 2013, leaving a lot to sort out in a receiver room that also includes Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan. Licht praised rookie Ted Hurst III as well. Godwin is currently listed as a starter on the Buccaneers' depth chart and is expected to handle much of his work from the slot. If he stays healthy, he should remain one of Baker Mayfield's most trusted targets in 2026.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Baker Mayfield Extension Talks Still on Hold
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said there are no immediate plans to restart contract talks with quarterback Baker Mayfield, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Mayfield set the start of training camp as his deadline for negotiations, and nothing came together before then. He is now heading into the last year of the three-year, $100 million deal he signed with Tampa Bay in 2024. Mayfield started all 17 games last season, throwing for 3,693 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also ran for 382 yards and another score. There isn't much here that changes his 2026 fantasy outlook. Mayfield is Tampa Bay's unquestioned starter, and the contract situation is more of a concern for what happens after the season. For now, the Bucs appear content to play things out before deciding what comes next.
Source: Rick Stroud
Source: Rick Stroud
Ashton Jeanty Remains Sidelined at Practice
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) remained out of practice Tuesday, according to Ryan McFadden. Jeanty hasn't practiced since suffering a sprained ankle on Aug. 23 when he landed awkwardly while diving for a pass. The injury isn't expected to be a long-term issue, but there still isn't a firm timetable for his return. Head coach Klint Kubiak said Friday that Jeanty was "on the mend" and that the Raiders were counting on him while continuing to assess his availability for the season opener. Tuesday's absence doesn't necessarily signal a setback, but Jeanty is running out of practice time before Week 1. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. has been working with the first-team offense while he's out. Jeanty rushed for 975 yards as a rookie and finished with 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns. His practice participation later this week should provide a better indication of his Week 1 status.
Source: Ryan McFadden
Source: Ryan McFadden
Packers Expect Josh Jacobs to Play This Season
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is still expected to play this season despite his uncertain status. General manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters Tuesday that he is hopeful Jacobs will return and expects him to play for Green Bay at some point, according to Matt Schneidman. Gutekunst was also asked whether there is a scenario in which the Packers release Jacobs, but said the team wants to let the process play out before making that kind of decision. Jacobs remains on the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List after being charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property stemming from a May incident. He cannot practice or play while on the list, and there is still no timetable for his return. Green Bay has since added Kaleb Johnson to a backfield that also includes MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. Gutekunst's comments are encouraging for Jacobs' season-long outlook, but his availability remains completely up in the air.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
Packers High On New Acquisition Kaleb Johnson
Green Bay Packers running back Kaleb Johnson has been traded over from the Pittsburgh Steelers and amid the troubles with running back Josh Jacobs, the Packers organization is high on the addition of Johnson. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst had this to say about Johnson as a newcomer to the team: "Excited to get Kaleb in here. Young player with huge upside ... He comes from a very strong program. He had a lot of success there. There's some similar scheme stuff, a lot of outside-zone." Johnson comes from the Iowa Hawkeyes college program and has a real shot to make a name for himself with Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List. Johnson could be a nice late-round addition to fantasy teams with some "huge upside" as stated by his new GM.
Source: Weston Hodkiewicz (@WesHod)
Source: Weston Hodkiewicz (@WesHod)
David Montgomery Could Be a Steal in Texans Offense
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery looks like a mid-tier running back draft candidate but has the potential to really reward his drafters this season. Coming over in the offseason from Detroit where he split time with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery has the ability to take over the Texans lead rushing role. The Texans do have Woody Marks as a backup running back who will likely take away some of Montgomery's carries and passing down work but Montgomery looks locked and loaded as the lead back. NFL.com's Kevin Patra, did an article where he picked one new Pro-Bowler from each AFC team and listed Montgomery as his candidate for the Texans, saying, "The 29-year-old is in line for a significant workload increase in Houston, and his ability to punch in scores from short range will be a boon to the offense."
Source: Kevin Patra
Source: Kevin Patra
Parker Washington Has Big-Time Potential As Slot Receiver
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington looks like he has real potential this season as a mid-to-late-round draft target. Washington closed the season last year with two 100+ yard receiving games in Weeks 16 and 17. He also had four receiving touchdowns from Week 10 though the end of the season. He finished the season with 58 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns. The Jaguars offense under Liam Coen has the potential to be very good with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback and Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers also at receiver. Washington, out of Penn State in college, should line up regularly in the slot and be a dynamic receiver in that role. He broke through in a big way late last season and should see that continue this season.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
De'Zhaun Stribling Remains a Top Late-Round Target
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling has been one of the most exciting players to emerge this preseason, stepping up as a key contributor in the team's receiving corps while other receivers battled injury. Ricky Pearsall (knee) was placed on season-ending IR, while Christian Kirk (calf) will also start the year on injured reserve but could return after Week 4. The second-round pick from Ole Miss will begin the year in a starting role alongside Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, and the rookie could make an immediate impact based on his preseason usage and success. He caught 11 of his 13 targets for 109 yards in his first two preseason games before sitting out the team's third and final preseason contest with the rest of the starters. Stribling's draft stock is sky-rocketing, and he is the WR50 in RotoBaller's rankings. If you can grab him as a bench option in the middle rounds, he could still bring great value if he emerges as one of the go-to options in coach Kyle Shanahan's typically productive passing game.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenneth Walker Could Be Over-Hyped
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker is coming off a big postseason run with the Seahawks that culminated in his Super Bowl MVP Award. After joining the Chiefs this offseason, Walker is being drafted very early in most fantasy drafts, coming off the board in the early rounds. He's ranked RotoBaller's RB No. 7, and he definitely brings top-10 RB potential in his new role with his new team. However, Walker had trouble staying healthy until last season, and he shared a lot of the work with Zach Charbonnet. He finished the regular season with 1,027 rushing yards and 282 receiving yards, with just five total touchdowns. Coach Andy Reid has typically mixed in multiple backs in the past, and the team used a fifth-round pick on Emmett Johnson, while Brashard Smith is also still in the mix. Walker has RB1 potential, but he is less of a sure thing than some of the other RBs being drafted in the same tier. If you do draft Walker, be sure to have plenty of depth at the position with possible pivots if he ends up in a timeshare.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ted Hurst III Earning a Larger Role for the Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ted Hurst III had a great training camp and preseason, and he has impressed the team to the point that they expect him to be involved early in the season, according to NFL Network's Sara Walsh. The Bucs have dealt with multiple injuries in their receiving corps this preseason, with Emeka Egbuka (toe), Jalen McMillan (knee), and Tez Johnson (groin) all missing practice at different points. Hurst has been very consistent throughout all the different opportunities, and the third-round pick from Georgia State has made the most of his chances. Both head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield have praised Hurst's ability and reliability throughout the preseason, and Hurst is definitely worth considering as a late-round WR flier or a waiver-wire add, especially if he gets more playing time as other receivers recover.
Source: Sara Walsh
Source: Sara Walsh
Emeka Egbuka Could Play in Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) are both still dealing with injuries that they picked up this preseason, but there is optimism from the team that both will be ready to play in Week 1, according to NFL Network's Sara Walsh. McMillan is back to running routes after missing a couple of weeks with a knee injury, while Egbuka is recovering from a sprained toe that he suffered in a joint practice with the Jets a few weeks ago. Egbuka had a breakout rookie season, and both he and McMillan bring lots of fantasy upside this year, following the departure of target-magnet Mike Evans. With plenty of work up for grabs in Baker Mayfield's offense, Egbuka has WR1 upside if he's healthy, while McMillan could be a strong late-round sleeper if he secures regular playing time. UPDATE: Egbuka did not practice on Tuesday, per Pewter Report.
Source: Sara Walsh
Source: Sara Walsh
Zay Flowers Good to Go for Week 1
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (lower body) has been limited in practice due to an unspecified lower-body injury, but it looks like it won't impact his availability against the Colts in Week 1, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Flowers is expected to practice in full next week and be ready to go on Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis. Flowers finished with 86 catches for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns on 118 targets last season, and the Ravens' offense under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will be focused on getting the ball into Flowers' hands in spots where he can make big plays. He's a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside, and it looks like the injury will not slow him at all as the regular season gets underway. He can be started as you normally would, as the Ravens start a new era under new head coach Jesse Minter.
Source: Matt Zenitz
Source: Matt Zenitz
Jeremiyah Love Considered "50/50" to Play in Week 1
According to the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is deemed "50/50" to suit up in Week 1. The third overall pick from this year's NFL Draft has been dealing with a high ankle sprain through much of the preseason and could be in danger of sitting out the opening weekend. While head coach Mike LaFleur did express that he was "trending" towards an early return, this recent report suggests the team may look to exercise caution with their franchise cornerstone. During his final season at Notre Dame, Love was a Heisman Trophy finalist, rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. Through the air, he caught another three scores and added 280 yards. In the event Love is unable to play, fantasy managers should expect Tyler Allgeier to be given a heavy workload with veteran James Conner (foot) on injured reserve.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
D'Andre Swift Should Remain an RB2 for Fantasy Managers in 2026
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had a solid 2025 season, tallying 1,087 rushing yards, 34 catches, 299 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. He saw his workload slip a little bit as Kyle Monangai took on a bigger role during the second half, but Swift still had control of the backfield by season's end. While Monangai is trending up ahead of 2026, it's hard to imagine the Bears shifting away from a backfield dynamic that clearly worked last year. Swift was highly efficient, and although he did share plenty of snaps and volume with Monangai, there's no doubt that he could have handled an every-down role if necessary. Having Monangai by his side to lighten his load and keep his legs fresh could actually be key for Swift heading into his age-27 season. The seventh-year NFL veteran may no longer be pushing for 20 touches per game, but with high efficiency on the ground and a persistent nose for the end zone, he's still a legitimate RB2 option in all fantasy leagues. The experts agree, as Swift ranks as the overall RB17 in RotoBaller's latest 2026 fantasy football rankings for redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaxson Dart Flashes QB1 Appeal for 2026
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has the potential to rank as a top-12 fantasy quarterback for the 2026 season. Dart impressed as a rookie last season, tallying 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also tallied 487 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. The rushing productivity did most of the heavy lifting in Dart's fantasy ranking, but the return of wide receiver Malik Nabers also helped. Nabers is working his way back from an ACL tear, and his availability has propped up his quarterback's fantasy outlook for the upcoming season. Dart is now healthy, and there's no sign that he'll need to miss any time in 2026. With the clean bill of health headed his way, we expect Dart to run the football just as much as he did last year, even if doing so comes with inherent risk. Managers will cross their fingers and hope that that risk pays off with Dart finishing the year as a QB1 in fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
