RADIO
Cody White Leads Seahawks in Receiving on Friday
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cody White hauled in three passes for 69 yards on Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs. White has been with Seattle since 2023, primarily in a special teams capacity. His services will likely be necessary with Jake Bobo (knee) done for the season. His performance on Friday was encouraging for his chances to make the team. Given his role on special teams, he should be a part of the Seahawks' equation for the coming season. He should be nowhere near fantasy rosters, but White's potential presence on the roster will be interesting to see how it affects the ability of talented young players such as Emmanuel Henderson Jr. and Montorie Foster Jr. to make the active roster.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Makai Lemon Struggles to Shake Off the Rust in Preseason Debut
Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon missed the team's first two preseason games while dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for much of training camp, and in Friday night's loss to the Bengals, he struggled to shake off the rust despite a concerted effort to get him involved early. Lemon was targeted five times in his first professional game, ending his night with three yards on three receptions, but he also muffed a punt and had a drop that led to an interception. "I'm glad it happened in the preseason, so come around September, those things won't happen," he said after the game. Expectations were high after the team traded up to select Lemon with the 20th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but his prolonged absence allowed Dontayvion Wicks to emerge as the team's second receiver alongside DeVonta Smith, and the rookie will need to spend the early weeks of the season playing catch-up as he looks to carve out a primary slot role. At RotoBaller's WR46, he is still a player to take a swing on in 2026 drafts with the understanding that his best production is likely to come later in the year.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dohnte Meyers has Another Team-Leading Performance
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Dohnte Meyers has been one of the best stories out of training camp, and in Friday's preseason win over the Eagles, he turned in another strong performance in his push to earn a role behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Playing on only the first drive of the night, Meyers caught three passes for 51 yards, with head coach Zac Taylor saying after the game, "He's trying to take advantage of the opportunity. He's done a great job of that." An undrafted free agent out of Division II Delta State, Meyers played the last two seasons in the Canadian Football League, but he finishes the 2026 preseason with a team-leading 121 receiving yards on 11 receptions, and he has a realistic chance not only to make the team but to find early-season involvement in what has long been a top-heavy receiver room.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Packers "Fully Anticipate" Josh Jacobs Will Remain on Roster
One day after Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was formally charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an alleged incident that led to his arrest in May, head coach Matt LaFleur addressed his standing with the team. "Well, I fully anticipate him being a member of our team," LaFleur told the media on Friday. "You've got to let everything play out," he continued. "But I anticipate him being a member of our football team." Jacobs was charged with battery and criminal damage to property, and the NFL does not need to wait for the legal process to play out before deciding whether to suspend him, with a league spokesperson saying on Wednesday that his case "remains under review." When healthy and available, Jacobs is one of the biggest fantasy difference-makers at the position, but uncertainty around his situation has pushed him to RB16 by current ADP.
Source: Rob Demovsky
Source: Rob Demovsky
Emari Demercado Entrenched In Crowded Chiefs Backfield
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emari Demercado rushed nine times for 37 yards and caught his only target for 15 yards in the 9-9 tie with the Seattle Seahawks. Demercado finished second on the team in carries, behind Brashard Smith, and third on the team in rushing yards. Demercado's 4.1 yards per carry in the contest was the lowest among the RB trio of Demercado, Brashard Smith, and Emmett Johnson. Demercado is currently listed as the Chiefs RB2 behind Kenneth Walker, but that may be a formality as rookie Johnson operated as the starter in this contest. Johnson started the first two drives of the game before Demercado saw his first opportunity. Despite being listed as the Kansas City RB2, Demercado is likely to operate as a passing-downs specialist to spell Kenneth Walker but is not likely to carry the load if Walker gets hurt. Demercado may hold some PPR value in the deepest of leagues, but the expectations are not high for the Kansas City running back heading into 2026.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Emmett Johnson Appears To Be The Chiefs Backup To Roster
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson handled seven carries for 39 yards (5.6 ypc) and caught two passes for 15 yards in the 9-9 tie with the Seattle Seahawks. Johnson earned nine total opportunities in the content, including all five of the first running back opportunities. Johnson's 5.6 yards per carry were highest the highest mark for any rusher in this game. The 22-year-old out of Nebraska appears to be establishing himself as the running back to roster behind Chiefs workhorse Kenneth Walker. Johnson is officially listed third in the Chiefs running back depth chart, but that could just be a formality. Emari Demercado is currently listed as the Chiefs RB2, but is likely to operate as more of a third-down or passing-down specialist kind of back in the Kansas City offense. Johnson has the build, tackle-breaking ability, and pass-catching chops to step into a large role should anything happen to the Chiefs starter. Johnson should be viewed as a potential handcuff to roster for the 2026 season.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Brashard Smith Leads Chiefs Backfield In Final Preseason Game
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith led all players with 16 carries for 72 yards in the 9-9 tie with the Seattle Seahawks. No other back on the Chiefs received double-digit carries or eclipsed 50 yards on the ground in the contest. Smith also caught his only target of the night for a loss of five yards. Although Smith ended the game with the most touches, all five of the first running back opportunities went to rookie Emmett Johnson. Smith is currently ranked fourth on the Kansas City running back depth chart, so this game may be the only time we see him get double-digit opportunities this season. Fantasy managers may be better off looking elsewhere for running back depth in 2026.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Rivaldo Fairweather Sees 12 Targets In Final Preseason Game
Arizona Cardinals tight end Rivaldo Fairweather led the team in targets and receptions in Friday's meeting with the Packers. Fairweather saw 12 targets, catching eight for 89 yards in Arizona's preseason finale. His 17 total receptions in the preseason rank first in the entire league. The 24-year-old's success in his final audition before roster cuts did more to help him secure a spot on the team than offer real hope of fantasy relevance. There simply won't be room in the pass game to feed a backup tight end after Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Michael Wilson. Fairweather's ability to find open space and to secure the ball in his extended look makes him an interesting option to keep in mind if McBride were to get hurt, but he can be ignored even in deep leagues for now.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Evan Hull Has Statement Game In Preseason Finale
Arizona Cardinals running back Evan Hull had an impressive showing in the team's final preseason game of 2026. Hull scored two touchdowns and led the team in carries and rushing yards, gaining 107 yards on 16 rush attempts in Friday's loss to the Packers. He also caught his lone target for 11 receiving yards. Hull needed a game like this to set himself apart from the rest of the running back room. However, even with Jeremiyah Love (ankle) managing a high ankle sprain, James Conner (ankle) still working his way back, and Trey Benson (knee) on injured reserve, Hull's outstanding audition did more to earn him a roster spot than put him in a fantasy-relevant role on the team. Hull's fate will be revealed when the Cardinals reveal their final 53-man roster on August 30.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Simi Fehoko Snags Two Touchdowns In Loss
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Simi Fehoko caught five of his eight targets for 94 yards and two touchdowns in Friday's loss to the Packers. He finishes the preseason with 11 catches for 164 yards and four touchdowns. With two games left to play in the preseason, Fehoko ranks fourth in receiving yards and is at the top of the leaderboard in receiving touchdowns. Assuming he is included on Arizona's final 53-man roster, it will be hard for Fehoko to command much attention in their offense behind Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Michael Wilson. Veterans Kendrick Bourne, Devin Duvernay, and Jalen Brooks also represent challenges to Fehoko's standing on the Cardinals' depth chart. Fehoko is most likely to assume a role on special teams, though he will be a name to watch out for if injuries take a bite out of Arizona's receiving corps.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Devaughn Vele Climbing Up the Depth Chart with Teammate Sidelined
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is quickly climbing up the depth chart ahead of the 2026 season. With Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) expected to miss significant time, Vele projects to be the Saints' No. 2 receiver for the regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 13. Not only does the depth chart itself look favorably upon the 28-year-old receiver, but so does the coaching staff. Before Tyson got hurt, head coach Kellen Moore said that he regretted not making Vele a bigger part of the offense throughout the first half of last season. He made the most of his opportunities following the Saints' bye week, though, catching 19 of 26 targets for 239 yards and one touchdown across four games before getting hurt. During that four-game span from Week 12-15, Vele ranked as the overall WR23 in PPR leagues. Assuming he takes on a similar role and can maintain a similar rapport with quarterback Tyler Shough, Vele has high-end WR3/flex appeal early in the 2026 season, especially while Tyson is inactive. With an ADP of 231.2, the 6-foot-5 receiver is going undrafted in most fantasy leagues. Managers should consider spending their final draft pick on him, because he could be a legitimate fantasy starter for the first month or so this season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashee Rice Being Drafted as a WR1 in Fantasy Football Drafts
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice currently has an ADP of 27.4 in the latest fantasy football drafts. That price tag corresponds to an early third-round pick and makes him the 11th receiver off the board. Rice is a talented player catching passes from Patrick Mahomes, so we understand the appeal in snagging him as a WR1. However, he also doesn't have much of a track record yet, as injuries and off-field issues limited him to just 12 games over the last two seasons. On a more positive note, he is averaging 18.0 fantasy points per game during those two years. The big question for fantasy managers is whether Rice, who certainly carries some risk and uncertainty, should continue to be drafted as a WR1 ahead of receivers like Chris Olave and Malik Nabers. The latest expert rankings are a little less bullish than the ADP, as he currently ranks as RotoBaller's WR17 in half-PPR leagues for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brock Purdy Should Continue to Benefit from Strong Supporting Cast
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy continues to rank as a fringe top-12 option in fantasy football, largely due to the support of the playmakers surrounding him. In addition to wide receivers Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, Purdy will have the luxury of throwing the football to George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, who are both among some of the league's best players at their respective positions. With a relatively similar-looking offense last year (other than Evans in place of Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall), Purdy tallied 2,167 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across nine games. The touchdown total was impressive, but managers will need him to clean up the turnovers going forward. The good news is that Purdy ranked as the overall QB5 in fantasy points per game in 2025, so a top-five finish is not completely out of the question if he's healthy for all 17 games in 2026. At the very least, he's in good shape to rank as a top-12 fantasy quarterback. As it stands, he has an ADP of 106.3, which corresponds to the ninth round and makes him the 13th quarterback off the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Odell Beckham Jr. Has "Done Enough" to Make an NFL Roster
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. "has done enough to make an NFL roster," head coach John Harbaugh told the media following Friday's preseason contest against the New York Jets. Harbaugh wouldn't confirm whether Beckham will make the Giants' 53-man roster, but it certainly sounds like the head coach looks favorably upon the veteran receiver. The 33-year-old had seven catches for 76 yards this preseason, including three catches for 53 yards in Week 3 of the preseason on Friday. Not only is this Beckham's second stint with the Giants, but it's also his second stint with Harbaugh, who was his head coach with the Ravens in 2023. Looking at New York's depth chart, Beckham and Braxton Berrios seem like the top candidates for the fifth and sixth receiver spots now that Calvin Austin (knee) has been placed on injured reserve. At the moment, Beckham doesn't have any fantasy football appeal.
Source: SNY Giants
Source: SNY Giants
Travis Hunter Going Undrafted in Some Fantasy Leagues
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter has been used "almost exclusively" on defense over the last two weeks, according to John Shipley of The Prowler Podcast. This is consistent with reporting we've seen throughout the entire offseason that indicated Hunter would primarily be used at cornerback in 2026. There was a brief window during training camp where Hunter had been splitting wide receiver reps with Brian Thomas Jr., but it sounds like he's shifting his focus to defense as the regular season gets closer. At this point, managers should not expect Hunter to have any consistent playing time on offense as long as Thomas, Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers are healthy. Hunter has fallen to WR81 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings, making him borderline undraftable in most leagues. Speaking of his draft stock, the Colorado product currently has an ADP of 178, which makes him a late 15th-round pick in fantasy football. He's going undrafted in many 10-team leagues, and plenty of 12-team formats, too.
Source: John Shipley
Source: John Shipley
