RADIO
Riley Leonard Pulls Ahead in Backup Competition
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard started the Colts' second preseason match against the Atlanta Falcons, completing seven of his 14 pass attempts for 62 yards in the team's 34-6 loss on Saturday. After the first quarter, Leonard and the Colts' offense couldn't find momentum and struggled to gain first downs, often playing behind the sticks due to penalties. However, fellow quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., Leonard's competition for the number two spot, did not perform any better. Richardson started the second half and completed three of his nine pass attempts for 24 yards, rushed for 15 yards off three carries, and took two sacks. While neither quarterback outshone the other, Leonard's marginally better efficiency and the fact that he started this game suggest he may have overtaken Richardson on the depth chart to backup quarterback Daniel Jones. Dynasty managers in deep leagues who are interested in either Leonard or Richardson should pay close attention to quarterback usage, decision-making, and efficiency in next Saturday's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Spencer Shrader Primed to Retake Starting Position
Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader started the second preseason game and was the Colts' lone scorer in their 34-6 loss against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. In the first quarter, Shrader completed a 48-yard field goal and a 53-yard field goal. The sputtering Colts offense could not gain any traction, and their seven subsequent drives resulted in punts. Kicker Blake Grupe, Shrader's primary competition, came on in the fourth quarter and missed a 36-yard field goal wide right. Last week against the New England Patriots, Grupe also missed a 61-yard attempt before halftime. Shrader's 2025 season ended early with an ACL and MCL tear, and Grupe replaced him for the rest of the season. Shrader appears fully recovered and is a viable starting option for the Colts and for managers of 12-person leagues with kickers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Trey McBride Remains Clear TE1, Worthy of High Draft Investment
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride remains a redraft riser after setting the NFL record for receptions by a tight end in a season. McBride ended 2025 with an incredible 126 catches. He added 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on 169 targets, finishing as the top-scoring tight end in fantasy. His production jumped after Jacoby Brissett became Arizona's starter in Week 6, as 10 of McBride's 11 touchdowns came from passes by Brissett. Arizona will keep Brissett under center in 2026, which removes one major concern from his outlook. McBride also signed a four-year, $76 million extension with $43 million guaranteed, further suggesting his major role on this team. However, there is some touchdown regression to consider after he scored 11 times following only six touchdowns across his first 49 games. Additionally, Mike LaFleur's new offense should also be more balanced given the addition of Tyler Allgeier and top running back prospect Jeremiyah Love. Even with fewer pass attempts, though, McBride is still likely to see a large share of Arizona's targets and remains the No. 1 tight end in RotoBaller's current redraft rankings.
Malik Willis' Elite Rushing Potential Makes Him a Top Upside Play at QB
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis is a redraft riser after signing a three-year, $67.5 million contract and taking over as the team's starting quarterback. In his two seasons with Green Bay, he completed 78.7% of his passes for 976 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 261 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. The problem is the passing environment. Miami traded Jaylen Waddle and released Tyreek Hill, leaving Willis with an inexperienced group led by Malik Washington and several young receivers. The Dolphins did add Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. in the draft, so there are more options than Willis had earlier in the offseason. However, his legs remain the biggest reason to draft him. In his two outings for the Packers last season (where he logged more than 40 offensive snaps), he averaged 52.0 rushing yards per game and punched in two rushing scores. Rushing yards and touchdowns can keep his weekly totals competitive even when the passing game struggles. Willis makes more sense as a late QB2 with upside in one-quarterback leagues and has considerably more value in superflex formats.
Zay Flowers has WR1 Ceiling in New-Look Baltimore Offense
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is a top riser at his position after catching 86 passes for 1,211 yards, coupled with five touchdowns on 118 targets in 2025. He finished as the WR7 in Half-PPR scoring and accounted for 55.9% of Baltimore's targets to wide receivers. Baltimore then gave him a four-year, $140 million extension with $108 million guaranteed, confirming his place at the top of the depth chart. Flowers did suffer a quadriceps injury in training camp. Even so, the issue was not expected to keep him out for long. The bigger concern, however, remains his touchdown total. Flowers has never scored more than five receiving touchdowns in a season. Moreover, he had eight games with fewer than 5.5 fantasy points over the last two seasons. Still, new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle wants more explosive plays, while Flowers remains the Ravens' most dynamic wide receiver, as they do not possess much depth behind him, with Rashod Bateman slated to be the No. 2 and rookie Ja'Kobi Lane as the WR3. Additionally, Bateman was arrested in June and could face a potential suspension. As such, he should be drafted as a high-end WR2 with a realistic chance to finish inside the top 10 again.
Ja'Tavion Sanders Sees Fantasy Value Fall After Recent Acquisition
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has seen his fantasy value further drop this offseason. Throughout his career, he has 62 catches for 532 yards and two touchdowns over his first two seasons. He was even less productive in 2025, finishing with 29 receptions for 190 yards and one touchdown in 13 games. Things went from bad to worse as Sanders missed five games with an ankle sprain and later suffered a season-ending broken fibula in Week 17. Now he has to compete with Tommy Tremble for snaps, while Carolina recently added Darren Waller. Waller scored six touchdowns in nine games for Miami last season despite missing time with injuries. Sanders is the better receiving option than Tremble, but Carolina has rarely given its tight ends enough targets to support a fantasy starter, and the addition of Waller makes those targets harder to find. He should therefore remain undrafted in most 2026 leagues. Dynasty managers can still hold him, but another disappointing campaign could send him to the waiver wire.
Tyler Shough Emerging as Top Late-Round QB with League-Winning Upside
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is a definite redraft riser heading into the 2026 season. He threw for 2,384 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games, adding 195 yards and three scores on the ground. He really picked it up late, ranking as the QB12 from Week 9 through the end of the season and QB5 from Weeks 12-18. The Saints have since added Travis Etienne Jr. and first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson, giving Shough more help around him. However, Tyson is dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the next two months, so Chris Olave could see more targets early in the season. Shough is currently going around QB21 in current drafts, which is well outside the range of quarterbacks expected to be weekly starters, and his rushing ability gives him another way to put up points. If the new additions help the passing game as expected and he can maintain his current end-of-season pace, Shough could provide immense value at his ADP.
Corey Kiner Sees Another Healthy Workload In Loss
Arizona Cardinals running back Corey Kiner handled 10 carries for 29 rushing yards and caught one of his two targets for six receiving yards in Saturday's preseason loss to the Cowboys. The 24-year-old has logged at least 10 rushing attempts in each of the Cardinals' three preseason games thus far. With James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee) still working their way back from last year's season-ending injuries, the back end of Arizona's depth chart is far from settled. Kiner's consistent workload might indicate he has a leg up on Evan Hull and Bam Knight in that regard. Even so, Kiner's fantasy production would depend first on Jeremiyah Love's (ankle) health, and then on how he would work in behind Tyler Allgeier. For now, Kiner can be ignored in fantasy drafts, but he will be someone to watch for when the Cardinals wrap up their preseason against the Packers on August 28.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Evan Hull Leads Cardinals In Rushing In Preseason Loss
Arizona Cardinals running back Evan Hull led the team in carries and rushing yards in Saturday's 34-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Hull gained 51 yards on 11 rushing attempts and had two catches for 14 receiving yards. Hull came into the game on the Cardinals' third drive and alternated series with starter Corey Kiner. The 25-year-old entered the NFL in 2023 but has seen action in just eight games and is doing what he can to earn a roster spot. The odds of Hull making the team might rely on the health of Jeremiyah Love (ankle) and potential backups James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee). Even if he does make the team, Hull will be too far down the depth chart to have any fantasy value at the start of the season. His final audition will come against the Packers in the Cardinals' preseason finale on August 28.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Gardner Minshew II Captains Cardinals Offense In Loss To Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II went 19-for-23 for 177 yards with one interception in Saturday's preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys. With Jacoby Brissett resting and Carson Beck (ribs) still recovering from a hard shot taken in the Hall of Fame Game on August 6, Minshew operated as the team's signal-caller until K Slovis took over late in the third quarter. Minshew threw an interception on Arizona's first possession but settled in after that, keeping his stat sheet clean by focusing on short-yardage targets. Minshew had a passing touchdown negated by an offensive pass interference flag on the receiver, tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. He was later robbed of a rushing touchdown due to a false start call. The journeyman backup sits second on Arizona's depth chart and will not be relevant for fantasy unless Brissett suffers an injury. Minshew's final chance for a tuneup will come on August 28, when the Cardinals face the Packers in their preseason finale.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Roschon Johnson Again Leads Bears' Backfield
Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson picked up 42 yards on 12 carries in his team's 27-9 loss to the hosting Cincinnati Bengals. He also gained a yard on his sole target. Johnson carried the load again, leading Chicago's backfield in rush attempts for the second consecutive outing. With backfield mate Kyle Monangai (knee) shelved for a few weeks and D'Andre Swift failing to suit up with the rest of the starters, it was Johnson in with the first-string and for most of the first half. While the University of Texas alum doesn't figure to be an impactful fantasy asset in 2026, it appears the Bears' RB3 job is his to lose for the time being. As it stands, that could spell a decent amount of work for Johnson to begin the campaign. That is, if Monangai hasn't fully recovered from a hyperextended knee by the time Week 1 rolls around. Chicago will hit the road again for their preseason finale, squaring off with the Tennessee Titans next Saturday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Colston Loveland Targeted Three Times on Opening Drive
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland reeled in one of three targets for a gain of 10 yards in Saturday's 27-9 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The former Michigan Wolverine connected with quarterback Caleb Williams in the flat on Chicago's fifth play from scrimmage and turned upfield for a nice gain. That was the last time the duo would sync up, however, as Williams narrowly missed Loveland for a touchdown up the seam and had a pass batted down a play later. Misfires aside, it was a promising debut for the 22-year-old. More so, it's hopefully foreshadowing for the season ahead. Loveland is slated to be peppered with looks in 2026 - something he'll require to support his lofty price tag of the TE3 in ADP. Chicago will get the Tennessee Titans on the road for their preseason finale next Saturday, although it seems unlikely we'll see the second-year pro on the field for that contest.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cyrus Allen the Most-Targeted Chiefs Receiver In Preseason
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has been creating a lot of buzz in training camp, and that hype has translated into usage. Allen has earned 10 targets through the team's first two preseason games, making him the most targeted Kansas City skill position player in the preseason. The rookie turned his five targets this week into three catches for seven yards in the 15-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Allen has been one of the buzziest names of the offseason and could get his opportunity to play into a bigger role this season. Given the injury history and legal issues, Rashee Rice could miss time this season, which could pave the way for Allen to be more involved. If Rice is forced to miss time this season, the rookie could push past Xavier Worthy as the WR1 of the offense. Allen will get another opportunity to prove himself next week against the Seattle Seahawks in the third and final preseason game.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Rome Odunze Collects Red-Zone Target in First Action
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze caught one of two targets for 18 yards in his team's 27-9 loss to the hosting Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. Odunze was a surprise start in this one - along with the rest of the first-string offense that suited up - although he only got a single series of plays. Despite Chicago making it all the way inside the red zone on its first possession, the drive stalled after a holding penalty and three straight incompletions by quarterback Caleb Williams - one of which was intended for the third-year wideout near the end zone. Odunze will face legitimate target competition from fellow wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) and tight end Colston Loveland in the upcoming season. However, the former looked the part of a WR1 at the beginning of 2025, and averaged 7.5 targets per game before a foot injury derailed the back half of his campaign. We'll see if Odunze suits up again for in-game action when Chicago squares off against the Tennessee Titans next Saturday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Caleb Williams Handles Lone Drive in Preseason Debut
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams completed two of five passes for 28 yards in Saturday's 27-9 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Head coach Ben Johnson indicated earlier in the week that the team's joint practice with Cincinnati would determine whether or not Chicago's starters would get reps in Week 2 of the preseason. Ultimately, most of the first-string attack played a lone drive, and it was a mixed bag for the third-year signal-caller. Williams completed his first two pass attempts of the series, but misfired on the final three after a holding call pushed the offense outside of the Bengals' 20-yard line. Aside from missing tight end Colston Loveland on a would-be touchdown, it was encouraging to see the 24-year-old take the checkdown read on more than one occasion. Whether we'll see the young gunslinger take the field again before the start of the regular season is anyone's guess. Either way, he has an exciting arsenal of weapons and would be poised for a massive year with a step forward in accuracy. Next up for Chicago is a bout with the hosting Tennessee Titans.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
