RADIO
Jake Tonges Falling Off the Fantasy Radar with Teammate Almost Healthy
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges' fantasy appeal is quickly slipping away. It initially seemed like Tonges was set for the No. 1 tight end role to open the season and therefore a late-round fantasy sleeper, but the increased likelihood of George Kittle (Achilles) playing in Week 1 has thrown a wrench in that outlook. Tonges was only going to be a potential fantasy starter if Kittle missed time; last year, he averaged 0.5 touchdowns and 12.3 fantasy points per game with Kittle on the sideline. There's still a chance that's the case for Week 1 of the 2026 season, but that's a worst-case scenario. Kittle is almost guaranteed to be back by Week 2 at the latest, leaving Tonges back in a depth role and off the fantasy radar. Rostering handcuffs in fantasy football is a good strategy, but it's not worth it at the tight end position. Tonges can be left on waivers in all redraft leagues, assuming Kittle is a go for the season opener.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Brooks Has a Path to More Playing Time with Teammate Out
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks is headed for an increased role, at least on a temporary basis. Teammate Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list last Sunday, sidelining him for an indefinite period of time and leaving a gaping hole atop the running back depth chart in Green Bay. While MarShawn Lloyd is the early favorite to operate as the Packers' No. 1 ball-carrier, we expect to see a heavy dose of Brooks out of the backfield, too. Jacobs' void is too big to be filled by just one player, so Brooks will offer impact carries and receptions, and more than just a change of pace. We expect to see him mix in around the goal line, too. Brooks' NFL opportunities so far have been hard to come by, but he has looked good whenever he's been given the chance. For example, in Week 18 last season, he rushed for 61 yards on 13 carries, good for an average of 4.7 YPC. Additionally, just about one-third of his total touches (13 of 40) were receptions, so there's some legitimate full-PPR and half-PPR upside here if he does indeed handle a significant snap share. Brooks is more of a speculative late-round draft right now, but Week 1 will paint a clear picture of whether he can be a low-end RB3/flex going forward.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cooper Kupp Falling Off Draft Boards in Fantasy Football
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp's fantasy appeal has been declining as the regular season gets closer. We already knew that Kupp was going to take a backseat to Jaxon Smith-Njigba again this year, but now he might also be losing ground to Rashid Shaheed. Seattle made an aggressive pursuit to re-sign Shaheed just months after trading for him, and they were successful. Now, Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated is saying that "the sky is the limit" for Shaheed in this Seahawks offense, potentially setting the stage for him to handle a weekly starter role while pushing Kupp further down the depth chart. We already saw Kupp start to lose his fantasy appeal in recent years; he has been WR38 or worse in each of his past three seasons, including WR53 last year. That trend should continue in 2026, and while he may be a fine dart throw in the last couple of rounds of a deeper-league fantasy draft, managers shouldn't get too attached, nor should they feel compelled to start him in any formats. As it stands, he has fallen all the way to WR85 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Antonio Williams' Outlook Negatively Impacted by Offseason Moves
Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams has seen his fantasy stock fall as a result of the team's offseason moves. The biggest move the Commanders made was the signing of veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who is coming off an impressive season with the Patriots in which he caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards. He has a firm grasp on the No. 2 receiver role alongside Terry McLaurin, dropping Williams to third on the depth chart. The rookie out of Clemson has upside, but it's safe to say that he won't jump to the top two spots on the depth chart as long as McLaurin and Diggs are healthy. Williams currently ranks as the WR98 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026. He's going undrafted in most leagues, with a current ADP of 229.9.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Travis Hunter Continues to be Utilized on Both Sides of the Ball
Jacksonville Jaguars 2025 second overall pick, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, enters the 2026 season with reports from camp suggesting that head coach Liam Coen plans to utilize Hunter on both sides of the ball, and Hunter has reportedly taken reps almost exclusively at cornerback for the last few weeks. While Hunter holds value as a professional football player, his ability to play both sides of the ball impacts his ability to be impactful in fantasy football when he is splitting his time. The Jaguars also have a crowded receiver room that includes Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and Brenton Strange. While it's possible that Hunter may have spike weeks where he goes off for a big play, it's too unpredictable and unreliable when it comes to the fantasy football lens. RotoBaller currently ranks Hunter as the WR81 and the 210th overall player off the board, making him undraftable in most 12-team formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Saquon Barkley Has Looked Sharp in New Eagles Offensive Scheme
Philadelphia Eagles 29-year-old running back Saquon Barkley had a disappointing season in 2025 after finishing as the RB1 in 2024. During the 2025 season, he finished as the RB14, rushing for 1,140 yards (4.07 YPC) and hauling in 37 of his 50 targets for 273 yards and two touchdowns through the air. The Eagles' offense struggled under former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo last season and has brought in new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion for the 2026 season, who is rooted in the Sean McVay coaching tree, which focuses on a rhythm-based system in which the run and play-action pass concepts look identical. Reports from camp have indicated that Barkley has been one of the biggest standout performers on the field and is in line for a major workload under Mannion's new offensive scheme, setting him up for a bounce-back season. RotoBaller currently ranks Barkley as the RB7 coming into the season, and fantasy managers looking to lock in a workhorse running back in the first round will want to target him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chase Brown Expanding His Role, a Bonafide RB1 For Fantasy Football
Cincinnati Bengals 26-year-old running back Chase Brown finished the 2025 season as the RB8 and rushed for 1,019 yards (4.39 YPC) and six touchdowns, along with 88 targets, 69 receptions, 437 receiving yards, and five touchdowns through the air. Reports from camp have been glowing, as head coach Zac Taylor has put Brown at the center of unique offensive schemes, moving him out wide, in the slot, and utilizing him in pre-snap motion. Additionally, camp reports highlight that Brown is looking explosive and has been making big plays throughout training camp. There's no question that Brown is going early in drafts this season; however, the added context of his versatility in the passing game only raises his ceiling, and with quarterback Joe Burrow healthy, Brown has the upside to finish as a top-10 running back for a second straight season. RotoBaller ranks Brown as the RB9 heading into drafts, and he is in line for another massive season in a potent offense.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Oronde Gadsden Falling Down Draft Boards Due to Added Competition
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden impressed in 2025, finishing as the TE17 and hauling in 49 of his 69 targets for 664 yards (13.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. He was the most explosive tight end in football with a 131.3 explosive rating, and while he was very efficient and productive, his blocking limitations and the addition of David Njoku and Charlie Kolar are making it more difficult for him to find playing time or to increase his snap share. Additionally, in most of the Chargers' preseason games, Gadsden often played with the backups. Gadsden may be an explosive option in specific passing situations, but it's possible we'll see his 61.4 percent snap share, which was 28th in the NFL last season, continue to decline with the additional tight ends in the room. RotoBaller ranks Gadsden as the TE31 on the season, making him a clear fade in all one-tight-end formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Mason Showcasing Improved Explosiveness in Training Camp
Minnesota Vikings 27-year-old running back Jordan Mason continues to generate positive reviews from training camp thus far, with reports that he has shown better conditioning and improved explosiveness, and that head coach Kevin O'Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Philips have both been speaking highly of his physical transformation and mindset as he enters his second season with the Vikings. During the 2025 season, Mason rushed for 758 yards and six touchdowns on 159 carries. He contributed a small amount through the air, hauling in 14 of his 16 passes for 51 yards as well. Mason had a solid 4.77 YPC last season, and with Aaron Jones Sr. now 31 years old and the Vikings wanting to run more of a vertical wide-zone run scheme, Mason appears to be the preferred running back option to take in fantasy in what is projected to be a top-half offense. Mason finished last season as the RB35, aligning with RotoBallers' current ranks of RB35.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jadeveon Clowney Expected to Be Ready for Week 1
Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (hip, ankle) is expected to be ready for Week 1, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Clowney suffered a "minor soft-tissue hip injury" during the preseason and has also battled a mild ankle issue, but it does not appear that either ailment is particularly serious. Across 13 games with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, Clowney recorded 8.5 sacks and 12 TFLs. The 33-year-old is more of a pass-rush specialist than an every-down player at this point in his career, but he still has the ability to be a highly impactful defender when healthy. With star edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter ahead of Clowney on the depth chart, Houston should be able to limit Clowney's workload throughout the year.
Source: KPRC 2 Houston - Aaron Wilson
Source: KPRC 2 Houston - Aaron Wilson
Steelers Won't Negotiate with Joey Porter Jr. During Regular Season
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said that the team will not hold contract extension negotiations with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) during the regular season, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. When asked whether he would play without a deal getting done, Porter Jr. said, "I don't know," per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. A second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Porter Jr. is entering the final year of his rookie contract with Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old has established himself as the Steelers' top cornerback, recording 120 solo tackles, 31 passes defensed, and three interceptions across 47 career games (41 starts). While the Steelers and Porter Jr. still have time to work out a deal before Week 1, his contract status and availability to Pittsburgh are worth monitoring extra closely now that the calendar has flipped to September.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Nick Bosa Expected to Return to Practice on Wednesday
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said the team's plan is for defensive end Nick Bosa (knee) to return to practice on Wednesday, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Bosa has been battling knee tendinitis as he works his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 season in Week 3. However, the 28-year-old has been working on a side field through the early portion of this week and appears to be on track for a return to team activities in short order. Across 14 games in 2024, Bosa recorded nine sacks, 15 TFLs, and a forced fumble. When fully healthy, Bosa profiles as one of the better pass rushers in the NFL. However, he's now entering his age-29 season and is working with surgically repaired ACLs in both knees. Fantasy managers in IDP leagues may want to temper expectations for Bosa's production in 2026.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Matt Maiocco
Aaron Donald More Likely to Debut in Week 2 or Week 3 than Week 1
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is more likely to debut in Week 2 or Week 3 than Week 1, per Dan Graziano of ESPN. Donald retired from the NFL following the 2023 season, but he officially announced his decision to come out of retirement and return to the Rams on Sunday. Given that Donald is 35 years old, missed most of training camp, and has not played in over two years, it appears the Rams will opt to bring him along slowly. Los Angeles will also travel to Australia for its season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, which could be factoring into the decision of whether or not to play Donald as well. The last time Donald was on the field, he was one of the best defensive players in the history of the NFL. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time first-team All-Pro, Donald recorded eight sacks and 16 TFLs across 16 games for Los Angeles in 2023. While Donald could easily be a dominant force on a per-play basis once he's back on the field this season, the Rams may choose to limit his workload throughout the year to keep him fresh for the stretch run.
Source: ESPN - Dan Graziano
Source: ESPN - Dan Graziano
Micah Parsons Could Be on Track for Week 5 Return
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said, "We have a pretty good idea once we get out of that four-game window we're going to be pretty close" when asked about the return timeline for star edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee), per Ryan Wood of USA Today. Parsons will open the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list as he works his way back from a torn ACL, guaranteeing that he will miss Green Bay's first four games of the season. However, it appears as though Parsons has a chance to return to the field as soon as he is eligible. Across 14 games before the knee injury ended his 2025 season, Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. When healthy, the 27-year-old is one of the most disruptive defenders in the NFL and is a worthy target for fantasy managers in IDP leagues.
Source: USA Today - Ryan Wood
Source: USA Today - Ryan Wood
Jaleel McLaughlin Signs Practice-Squad Deal with Browns
Veteran running back Jaleel McLaughlin has signed a practice-squad deal with the Cleveland Browns, per an announcement from the team. McLaughlin spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos, but he fell out of the team's regular running back rotation in 2025 and was waived by Denver on Sunday. The Browns have a pair of second-year running backs atop their depth chart in Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. However, McLaughlin could potentially work his way into the backfield mix in Cleveland in the case of an injury. The 25-year-old has been efficient when given the opportunity to this point in his pro career, recording 1,356 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 285 touches across 41 career NFL games (nine starts). McLaughlin is not roster-worthy yet, but he could be a name to monitor on the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues.
Source: Cleveland Browns
Source: Cleveland Browns
