RADIO
Woody Marks Can Be a Deep-League Flex Sleeper
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks will be in a timeshare to start his second season in the NFL, but he could work his way into a large enough role that he has fantasy value. Last year, as a rookie, Marks finished the year with three receiving touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, 208 receiving yards, and 708 rushing yards. The Texans went out and added veteran David Montgomery to the mix this offseason, but Marks is still likely to be involved on receiving downs. He seemed to wear down at times last season and could benefit from the shared workload, but he could also lose valuable red zone work, raising his risk factors. For Week 1's matchup against the Bills, Marks is only the No. 45 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, but he could get close to a 50-50 split in the timeshare, which could make him a deep-league sleeper in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
DK Metcalf Healthy, Ready for Big Role vs. Atlanta
Wide receiver DK Metcalf will be a big piece of the Pittsburgh Steelers' aerial attack in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. The 28-year-old wideout was sidelined for the final few weeks of training camp with an undisclosed ailment, but came off the injury report less than a week before the Steelers' season opener. Metcalf's numbers dipped in his first season in Pittsburgh, and he finished the 2025 campaign with 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns in the air. Though Michael Pittman Jr. will be competition for targets this season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters on Sept. 2 that he "needs to get the ball" to Metcalf, so that effort should start on Sept. 13. Metcalf is a solid WR3 in fantasy headed into Week 1 and should flex his muscle as a red-zone threat against Atlanta.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Bryce Young Mainly an Option in Superflex Leagues for Week 1
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will look to kick off the season on a high note in Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears. The Panthers offense struggled this preseason as Young completed eight of 11 passes for 67 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in four drives. The former No. 1 overall pick threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 16 games in 2025. He failed to crack 200 passing yards in 12 of 16 games. Despite the inconsistencies, Young is on the Superflex or 2QB league radar against a Bears defense that was 19th against the pass, allowing 234.5 passing yards per game. He comes in as RotoBaller's QB26, and with an over/under of 47.5 points, the 25-year-old might have to air it out to help keep up with the Bears' high-octane offense. Despite the decent matchup, Young is mainly an option in Superflex and 2QB formats and is considered a risky streamer in single-QB leagues heading into Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
David Montgomery a Strong Flex Play vs. Buffalo
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery is ready for his debut with his new team against the Bills in Week 1, and it will be exciting to see how the team rotates him and Woody Marks in the backfield. Montgomery is expected to handle most of the early-down work, and the always valuable touches near the end zone. The Texans struggled in the red zone last year, so they added Montgomery from the Lions this offseason. The veteran is expected to serve as the closer, while Marks is a home-run threat and third-down specialist. The uncertainty of the timeshare keeps Montgomery from ranking even higher, but for Week 1, he's the No. 21 RB in RotoBaller's PPR rankings. While he can be a low-end RB2 in many leagues, he's a very strong FLEX play, since the Texans will look to rely on the running game and their defense in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tucker Kraft A Mid-Range TE1 Against Vikings
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft looks to continue his early-season momentum from last season into Week 1 as the Packers head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. From Week 1 through Week 8 of last season, Kraft was TE1 in fantasy points per game and had five weeks of TE10 or better in those weeks, including two overall TE1 weeks. Kraft suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9 against Carolina that shut his breakout season down, but he's off the Packers' injury report and is good to go for Week 1. It's possible Kraft's workload may be a bit more managed in the season's first few weeks, but when he's on the field, he's arguably the team's most dynamic receiver and YAC threat. Kraft is a no-brainer TE1 for fantasy against the Vikings in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
C.J. Stroud Is a Low-End QB2 in Week 1
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will host the Bills in Week 1, as Stroud tries to prove he's worth a contract as a true franchise QB. He struggled down the stretch last season and in the playoffs, and he has lots of unanswered questions coming into his fourth NFL season. Last year, he threw 19 touchdowns and reached 3,041 passing yards in 14 regular-season games. His passer rating and adjusted QBR both improved last year compared to 2024, but his rough ending to the season leaves questions about his effectiveness. The Texans will look to rely on their defense and running game again this year, leaving Stroud as a low-volume, touchdown-reliant option in most matchups. The Bills were a top-10 defense against QBs last year, so Stroud is RotoBaller's No. 22 QB in Week 1, leaving him on the bench in all but the deepest two-QB leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alvin Kamara Not Expected to Have a Big Role in Week 1
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) practiced fully on Friday and is cleared for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday in Detroit against the Lions, but NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill is not expecting a huge role for Kamara, even if he does play. Even with Audric Estime (thigh) ruled out for Week 1, Underhill believes that the Saints have enough depth behind starter Travis Etienne Jr. with Kendre Miller for the Saints to take it easy on Kamara, who missed most of training camp with an MCL sprain in his knee. The Saints officially listed Kamara as questionable for the season opener this weekend, but he will likely be active in a limited role, which makes him an easy fade in starting fantasy lineups. The 31-year-old five-time Pro Bowler is no longer the Saints' lead back in 2026 after the addition of Etienne, but once he is fully back, Kamara should handle the primary pass-catching role, which will give him some flex appeal on a weekly basis in PPR leagues. But in Week 1, fantasy managers should leave Kamara on their bench.
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
Jonathon Brooks Emerging as a Flex Option For Week 1
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Brooks was cleared to play after practicing throughout the week. According to Panthers head coach Dave Canales, he will face "no limitations" in reps. The 23-year-old missed all of last season with a torn ACL and has only logged three games over his two-year career. He will likely split carries with backfield teammate Chuba Hubbard (hamstring), who was also cleared after dealing with a hamstring injury since mid-August. Brooks will face a Bears defense that allowed 134.5 rushing yards per game, ranking 27th in the NFL last year. With a positive matchup, Brooks emerges as a FLEX option and is ranked 75th overall (RB32) for Week 1. Even with the split with Hubbard, Brooks should produce enough to be a solid option for fantasy managers in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre Tucker to Lead Raiders' Aerial Assault in Week 1
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker is expected to see the most targets for the Silver and Black against the visiting Miami Dolphins in Week 1. The fourth-year wideout was a top target in the receiving corps last season, but stands to inherit an even heavier workload with star tight end Brock Bowers (knee) sidelined for Sunday's home opener. Tucker had 57 catches for a team-leading 696 yards and five touchdowns last season. He also showed chemistry with new starting QB Kirk Cousins during the preseason, catching five passes for over 50 yards on three drives together. Even with star running back Ashton Jeanty's ability to catch short passes, Klint Kubiak will lean on Tucker to man the air game in Bowers' absence. Tucker is a high-upside flex option against a weak Dolphins defense to kick off the 2026 campaign.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Matthew Golden Has Loads of Fantasy Upside In Week 1
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden looks to hit the ground running in Week 1 when the Packers face the Minnesota Vikings in both teams' season opener. Last season's first-round pick, Golden was just a few complete deep passes from a whole different discussion about him for fantasy football this season. With just 40 targets and 29 receptions in 2025, along with sporadic time on the field, Golden was a bust on the stat sheet and for fantasy managers. This season, things could be different in the Packers' receiver room with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks in new locations, so Golden will get every opportunity to stay on the field this season and produce. For fantasy, Golden is an immediate flex-worthy upside play against the Vikings in Week 1, who struggled to contain outside receivers as they allowed the third-most fantasy points to that cohort last season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Flex Treatment For MarShawn Lloyd in Week 1
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd looks to hit the ground running in his first career NFL regular-season start in Week 1 as the Packers square off with the Minnesota Vikings. With Josh Jacobs (commissioner's exempt list) not playing in this contest, Lloyd is the starting running back and is expected to carry the bulk of the load for Green Bay. Lloyd's lone game action in the NFL consists of exactly one game: Week 2 in 2024, where Lloyd touched the ball seven times (six carries, one reception) and turned that opportunity into 18 yards. Expecting Lloyd to produce with so little real game-time experience takes a leap of faith, but the Packers' brass are behind him. For fantasy purposes, consider Lloyd more of a flex play in Week 1 against a middle-of-the-road Vikings front that allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs last season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Love More of a QB2 in Week 1 Against Vikings
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is looking to kick off his 2026 season in style as the Packers travel to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings in their season opener. Love's 2025 season was a lot like his 2024, with very efficient play, but ultimately saddled by low pass volume that doesn't make his play pop in fantasy football. Yet again, the Packers leaned on Josh Jacobs and the running game, turning Love into a game manager. The receiving room has condensed in 2026, as Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are in new locales, so the hope is that Christian Watson, Tucker Kraft, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden can condense targets in this offense with some added pass volume. For Week 1, Love is a QB2 option, best suited to start in 2QB leagues rather than single-quarterback leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Taylen Green's Week 1 Role is Undecided
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said on Friday that he has not decided whether or not rookie quarterback Taylen Green will have a package of plays for Sunday's Week 1 season opener on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. Green, a sixth-round pick in April out of Arkansas, will open his first NFL season in Cleveland as the QB3 behind starter Deshaun Watson and backup Shedeur Sanders, with Dillon Gabriel (back) starting on Injured Reserve. If the 23-year-old does get into Sunday's game against the Jaguars, the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder might only see a couple of snaps on offense. Green has an intriguing size/speed combination at the QB position, but in 2026, he is merely a bench stash in deep dynasty/keeper formats.
Source: 92.3 The Fan - Daryl Ruiter
Source: 92.3 The Fan - Daryl Ruiter
Nnamdi Madubuike Will Not Play in Season Opener
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) will not play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Jesse Minter told Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "He's really, really close," Minter said. The 28-year-old two-time Pro Bowler was limited in the team's three practices this week, but that was not quite enough to clear him for the regular-season opener. The former third-rounder from Texas A&M only played in two games a year ago before suffering a serious neck injury that threatened to wipe out the rest of his career. Madubuike has made it back, though, and he is on the verge of returning to a new-look Ravens defense under Minter, a first-year head coach. If Madubuike does not suffer a setback during practice next week, he could make his 2026 debut in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints in the team's home opener. The Texas native could be a difference-maker for Baltimore's interior on the D-line if he can stay healthy after he had 19.5 total sacks in 2023 and 2024.
Source: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
Source: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
Joey Porter Jr. Questionable to Suit Up in Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) is listed as questionable to play in Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL insider Adam Caplan. Porter might be up in the air to suit up this weekend, but he should have a pretty good shot at being active after taking part in three limited practices during the week. The 26-year-old was out for much of training camp this summer after starting on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Porter is also in the final hours of the team's negotiating window as the two sides try to work out an extension stalemate that has lasted throughout the offseason. If Porter is unable to go this weekend as he and the team continue to work on an extension, Asante Samuel Jr. would be the next man up on the Steelers' depth chart. Realistically, the Steelers probably do not need Porter in their Week 1 matchup against backup quarterback Cooper Rush.
Source: Adam Caplan
Source: Adam Caplan
