RADIO
Josh Dobbs Joining Lions as Jared Goff's Backup
The Detroit Lions are signing quarterback Josh Dobbs to a one-year, $1.425 million contract with $475,000 fully guaranteed, according to Mike Garafolo. The move comes after Teddy Bridgewater stepped away from the team, creating an opening behind starter Jared Goff. Garafolo reports that the financial commitment reflects Detroit's plan for Dobbs to serve as its No. 2 quarterback. The 31-year-old spent last season with New England, appearing in four games and completing 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards. He has made 15 starts during his NFL career, giving Detroit an experienced option behind Goff while undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer continues to develop. Goff has already been ruled out for the entire preseason, so Dobbs should have an opportunity to get acclimated quickly once the signing becomes official.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Ka'imi Fairbairn Remains a Top-Two Fantasy Kicker
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was nearly automatic last season. He made 44 of 48 field goals in 15 games, tying the NFL single-season record, and didn't miss once from inside 50 yards. Fairbairn was plenty dangerous from farther out, too, hitting nine of 13 attempts from 50-plus and finishing with 25 made field goals from at least 40 yards. That workload helped him average a position-best 12.9 standard fantasy points per game. Asking for another 44 field goals would be aggressive, especially if Houston does a better job turning red-zone trips into touchdowns this year. Fairbairn doesn't need that kind of volume to stay near the top of the position, though. He has converted better than 91% of his field goals in three of the last four seasons, and RotoBaller has him 165th overall and K2 in its August 8 half-PPR rankings. Aubrey is the first kicker off the board, but Fairbairn belongs right behind him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dawson Knox Needs Touchdowns to Matter in Redraft
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox stayed involved last season, catching 36 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games. He was especially useful near the goal line, drawing 12 red-zone targets and scoring on four of them. The issue is what happens if Dalton Kincaid gets a healthier season and a larger role. Kincaid managed 39 catches for 571 yards and five scores in only 12 games in 2025, and he said this spring that he feels better physically than he has in years. Buffalo also picked up Kincaid's fifth-year option. Knox isn't going anywhere after agreeing to a new deal through 2028, and his blocking keeps him on the field plenty. That does not guarantee enough targets for fantasy. RotoBaller has Knox 255th overall in half-PPR, which is deep-draft territory. Unless Kincaid misses time, Knox looks more like a touchdown-dependent TE3 than someone to target in standard redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Stafford's QB3 Finish Will Be Hard to Repeat
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford put together an MVP season at 37, throwing for an NFL-high 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns while finishing QB3 on a per-game basis. The offense around him is still loaded. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are back, and Los Angeles led the league in both scoring and total offense last season. The bigger question is how many of those touchdowns Stafford can bring with him into 2026. His touchdown rate jumped to 7.7% last year after sitting at 4.8% for his career, and his fantasy scoring still comes almost entirely through the air. Stafford is now 38, which is another reason not to treat last season as the new baseline. He has looked sharp when practicing in camp, with the Rams managing his workload to keep him fresh for Week 1. RotoBaller ranks Stafford 96th overall and QB14. There is still plenty here for another productive season, but drafting him as a QB2 makes more sense than chasing last year's QB3 finish.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kendrick Bourne Is Mostly a Deep-League Option in 2026
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has a defined role heading into 2026, but it may not be enough to matter in most redraft leagues. Bourne caught 37 of 53 targets for 551 yards in 16 games with San Francisco last season and did not score a touchdown. Arizona signed him to a two-year deal in March, and the team's own website has him sliding in as the WR3 behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Trey McBride also sits near the top of the passing game, so Bourne could have trouble seeing enough volume to become a weekly fantasy option. He did average 14.9 yards per catch last year and gives the Cardinals an experienced receiver who can step into a larger role if Harrison or Wilson misses time. For now, though, RotoBaller has Bourne 230th overall and WR88 in half-PPR. That puts him outside the range of players fantasy managers need to prioritize in standard leagues, though he can still make sense as depth in deeper formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre Richardson Compared to Rondale Moore
Louisville wide receiver Tre Richardson joins the program after spending the first three years of his career at three different schools. In his first year in the FBS at Vanderbilt, he tallied 46 receptions for 806 yards and seven touchdowns. Richardson has game-breaking speed, which has led the coaching staff to compare him to Rondale Moore, whom Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm coached at Purdue. Wide receivers coach Deion Branch called Richardson "super explosive." Richardson is expected to be a go-to target in the passing offense led by Ohio State transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, and he could be used in the run game after posting 11 rushes for 62 yards in the SEC a season ago.
Source: Eric Crawford - WDRB
Source: Eric Crawford - WDRB
J.K. Dobbins Better Drafted as an RB3 in 2026
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins (foot) was one of the league's most productive runners before his 2025 season ended after 10 games. He rushed 153 times for 772 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry, and Denver brought him back on a two-year deal in March. Dobbins still sits at the front of the backfield, but the touches are getting harder to project. RJ Harvey is expected to see third-down work after catching 47 passes as a rookie, while fourth-round pick Jonah Coleman has been one of Denver's standouts in camp. Coleman has impressed enough that a three-back rotation now looks possible. That does not erase what Dobbins did last year, and Sean Payton has continued to speak highly of him. It does make another 15-carry-per-game pace tougher to count on. RotoBaller ranks Dobbins 84th overall in half-PPR. He can still return useful RB2 weeks if he keeps the early-down work, but the growing competition makes him better suited for an RB3 spot on fantasy rosters.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brandon Aubrey's Deep Range Separates Him From the Kicker Field
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey gives fantasy managers something most players at his position can't match. He made 36 of 42 field goals last season, including 11 from at least 50 yards, with a long of 64. His range was on full display against Detroit when he connected from 55, 57 and 63 yards, becoming the first kicker in NFL history to make three field goals of 55 yards or longer in the same game. Aubrey also finished 2025 with three makes from 60-plus yards, another NFL single-season record. That distance matters even more in fantasy formats that award additional points for longer kicks. RotoBaller has Aubrey 149th overall and K1 entering 2026. There is still no reason to pass on useful running back or wide receiver depth several rounds early just to grab a kicker. Once that part of the roster is built, though, Aubrey is one of the few at his position worth paying a little extra to get.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Reddick Might be A Solid Contrarian Option for DFS Tournaments at Iowa
Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing will start fifth for the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. This marks the first time that Reddick will start inside the top five in a Cup race at Iowa. In his past two races at the site, Reddick has a best finish of 19th. After 22 races completed this season, Reddick has five wins, 14 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 11.8. In practice for this week's race, Reddick displayed top-10 speeds in the 15-30 consecutive lap average categories, ranking as high as fifth in 20 consecutive lap averages. Reddick does not have much upside due to his starting position, and his Iowa history is not the strongest. However, Reddick's practice speeds and performance in pre-race events are encouraging to make him a favorable contrarian DFS option for tournaments.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Ty Gibbs Could be an Underrated DFS Winner for Iowa Lineups
Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing will start in the sixth position for this week's Iowa Corn 350. It will be the first time that Gibbs will start inside the top 10 at the event's track, Iowa Speedway. In two previous races at Iowa, Gibbs had a best finish of 21st. Through the first 22 races of the season, Gibbs has one win, 14 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.0. In practice, Gibbs had a particularly fast car, ranking sixth in 10- and 30 consecutive lap averages. Although he does not have much upside based on his starting position, Gibbs has been strong on short tracks all year long and displayed plenty of speed through pre-race events. The No. 54 Toyota driver is a sneaky option to compete for the win this week.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Samaje Perine Offers Little Standalone Redraft Value
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine still has a clear job in this backfield, but most of his fantasy appeal starts with Chase Brown. Perine played 15 games last season and ran 84 times for 382 yards and three touchdowns, adding 17 catches for 87 yards. He flashed when Cincinnati gave him a little more room, ripping off 94 yards and a score on only nine carries against the Jets. The Bengals haven't forgotten that. Their own offseason preview has Perine set to lead the group behind Brown again in 2026. Brown, however, played all 17 games last year and topped 1,000 rushing yards, and Cincinnati expects him to remain the lead back. Perine was on the field for just over 31% of the offensive snaps in 2025. RotoBaller ranks him 196th overall and RB58. There is still a place for the 240-pound veteran on a fantasy bench, especially for Brown managers, but weekly value will be hard to find unless his workload grows.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ja'Marr Chase Still Deserves a Top-Three Redraft Pick
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase already produced 125 catches for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and there is still room for more in 2026. Chase led the NFL with 185 targets despite Joe Burrow playing only eight games, and he has now drawn at least 175 targets in consecutive seasons. The Bengals have talked this offseason about getting more explosive on offense, something Chase himself discussed during OTAs. Friday night's stadium practice offered a reminder of what that can look like when Burrow hit him on a 50-yard bomb. Tee Higgins remains a major part of the passing game, but that hasn't stopped Cincinnati from feeding Chase at an elite rate. RotoBaller has him third overall and WR1 in its latest half-PPR rankings. There isn't much mystery with Chase at this point. A healthy Burrow gives one of the NFL's highest-volume receivers another shot at pairing that workload with more big plays and touchdowns. Chase still belongs among the first three players selected in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Teddy Bridgewater Stepping Away From Lions
Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has informed the team that he plans to step away, with retirement considered likely, according to Ian Rapoport. The 33-year-old entered training camp as Jared Goff's expected backup after returning to Detroit for a third stint in March. Bridgewater appeared in four games for Tampa Bay last season, completing eight of 15 passes for 62 yards, and has made 65 starts over his NFL career. His decision leaves undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer as the only other quarterback currently on the roster behind Goff. Altmyer had been trying to push Bridgewater for the No. 2 job and should now get an extended look during the preseason. Detroit is not handing him the position uncontested, however, as the Lions plan to work out several quarterbacks while looking to add another veteran to the room.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Should Fantasy Players Roster Bubba Wallace at Iowa?
Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing will start in the 26th position for this week's Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. This marks the first time that Wallace will start outside of the top 20 in a race at the site. In his previous two races at Iowa, Wallace has two top-20 finishes, including a finish of sixth in last year's race at the site. With 22 races completed so far this year, Wallace has 10 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 17.0. In practice for this week's race, Wallace ranked 12th or better in 10-30 consecutive lap averages on speed. Due to his equipment, practice speeds, track history at Iowa, and upside, Wallace makes for a great DFS option with the potential to compete for a top-10 finish.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Carson Hocevar Qualifies Inside the Top 20 at Iowa
Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports is starting from the 18th position in this week's Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. Hocevar continues a streak of three straight Iowa Cup races with a top-20 starting position. In his previous two races at the site, Hocevar has two top-15 finishes with a best finish of eighth, coming from last year's race. After 22 races so far this season, Hocevar has one win, nine top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 14.1. In practice for this week's Cup race, Hocevar ranked as high as 15th in 15 consecutive lap averages. Hocevar is a driver whose equipment could carry him to a top-15 finish, making him a solid DFS option for all formats this week.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
