RADIO
Ashton Jeanty Avoids Stint on Injured Reserve
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) was not placed on injured reserve prior to the 53-man roster deadline on Sunday, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Given that an IR stint carries a minimum four-game absence, the Raiders' decision to keep Jeanty on their 53-man roster suggests that he'll be able to play in some or all of the team's first four games this season. Whether he'll be able to play in Week 1 remains unclear, although the team has been quite optimistic about his availability. Nevertheless, fantasy managers will want to monitor his participation levels in practice leading up to Week 1. Managers should also monitor the Raiders' roster moves. They only have three running backs on their roster right now, so if they sign or claim another one, it could be a sign that Jeanty might not be ready to go. If he does suit up for the season opener, he'll rank as a strong RB1 option against a Miami Dolphins team that has plenty of question marks on both sides of the ball.
Source: Sam Warren
Source: Sam Warren
James Conner to Begin the Season on Injured Reserve
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) has been placed on injured reserve, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. Conner has been designated to return later in the season, which means he can rejoin the 53-man roster as early as Week 5. Conner was the overall RB11 with nine touchdowns in 2024, and he had 133 scrimmage yards through three games last year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Presumably, when Conner returns from IR, he'll find himself in a significantly smaller role than last year now that the team has added Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier to the backfield. Conner's NFL experience is useful, but it's probably not enough to get him onto the fantasy radar once he returns. He can be avoided in all redraft leagues, and he should be dropped to waivers in shallower dynasty formats.
Source: John Gambadoro
Source: John Gambadoro
Commanders Release Wide Receiver Van Jefferson
The Washington Commanders have released veteran wide receiver Van Jefferson, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. He had been in camp as a depth option for the Commanders, who watched Deebo Samuel Sr. depart in free agency. His departure confirms that Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, Treylon Burks, and Dyami Brown have made the team as depth behind Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, and Antonio Williams. This preseason, Jefferson caught four passes for 48 yards. The 30-year-old will now look to join his sixth team in five years. He has finished as WR88 or worse in five of his six pro seasons, so even if he does end up on a different 53-man roster, it's unlikely that he would have any sort of fantasy relevance. He can be left on waivers in all leagues.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Isaac Guerendo Placed on PUP List, Out for Four Games
San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. He will now miss at least four games, keeping him sidelined through the entire month of September. At the earliest, he can return in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks on October 11. Guerendo did not play an offensive snap last year, but he was heavily involved as the primary backup to Christian McCaffrey in 2024. That year, he tallied 420 rushing yards, 152 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. There's a chance that Guerendo could return to that level of production (and his role as the No. 2 ball-carrier) once he's healthy again, but in the meantime, Kaelon Black and Jordan James will round out the depth chart behind McCaffrey.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Puka Nacua Back at Practice on Sunday
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (groin) returned to practice on Sunday, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com. Nacua avoided being placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List when Roger Goodell handed down a flurry of punishments to other players on Sunday, and now, the superstar receiver is also healthy enough to practice. The 25-year-old finished last season as the overall WR1 in PPR leagues, and he currently checks in as the WR2 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for the 2026 season. As it stands, Nacua is on track to play in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, but a lot could change between now and the Rams' regular season opener on September 10. In the event that he does miss any time, Davante Adams would step up as Matthew Stafford's favorite target while jumping to the WR1 tier.
Source: Sarah Barshop
Source: Sarah Barshop
Will Smith Expected to Return on Tuesday
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Smith has been out since early June due to a neck injury. He began a rehab assignment on August 25 and appears to be on the verge of returning to the big league roster. His return is a welcoming sight for the Dodgers, who have struggled to find consistent production from the catcher spot lately. This season, Smith is slashing .249/.338/.382 with six home runs and 23 RBI across 52 games. It hasn't been a great year for Smith offensively, but he could be worth scooping up off the waiver wire for fantasy managers seeking help at the catcher spot.
Source: Sonja Chen
Source: Sonja Chen
Odell Beckham Jr. Makes the Giants' 53-Man Roster
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has made the 53-man roster, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. After the Giants' preseason finale, head coach John Harbaugh said that Beckham proved he earned a spot on an NFL roster. At the time, he didn't say if the veteran receiver would make the Giants' roster, but that's now official. As Ranaan notes, Beckham faced an uphill battle to make the team this summer, but he earned the spot by proving he can get open and by staying healthy. The 33-year-old was out of the league last year and hasn't been targeted in a game since 2024 with the Miami Dolphins. Not only is this Beckham's second stint with the Giants, but it's also his second time playing for John Harbaugh, who was his head coach in Baltimore in 2023.
Source: Jordan Raanan
Source: Jordan Raanan
George Klassen Goes to the 15-Day Injured List With Back Injury
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher George Klassen (back) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Sunday, according to Jeff Fletcher. This is a tough break for the Halos, with Klassen actually pitching pretty well over his first few outings. He owns a 3.67 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and a 24/21 K/BB ratio across 27 innings of work. The walks have been a problem for Klassen, but he's still worth a stash in deep league formats. The Angels haven't given a timetable for his return to the mound, but this isn't expected to be a long stint on the Injured List. The team hasn't announced who is going to take his spot in the rotation yet.
Source: Jeff Fletcher
Source: Jeff Fletcher
Spencer Shrader Wins Colts Kicking Battle
Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader has made the 53-man roster, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. He won the kicking competition after Indianapolis released Blake Grupe. Although Grupe reportedly had a good camp, he went just 2-for-4 on field goals during the preseason, while Shrader went 5-for-5. Furthermore, Shrader excelled from long range. All five of his field goals came from 40+ yards out, including two from at least 60 yards. The 27-year-old was impressive last season, going 14-for-14 on extra points and 13-for-14 on field goals. If he continues to demonstrate a blend of accuracy and power, he could sneak onto the fantasy radar as a kicker who gets plenty of opportunities in the Colts' upward-trending offense.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Colts Release Kicker Blake Grupe
The Indianapolis Colts have released kicker Blake Grupe, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. By process of elimination, Spencer Shrader has made the 53-man roster after making two field goals from 60+ yards during the preseason. Grupe reportedly made more than 90% of his kicks in camp, but he was just 2-for-4 on field goals during preseason games. He also had an iffy 78.4% field goal rate in 2025. He seems like someone who will earn a new job when rostered kickers struggle or get injured during the regular season, but at this point, it's unlikely he'll latch onto a 53-man roster for Week 1.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Taylen Green Sticks in Browns' Four-QB Room
Cleveland Browns quarterback Taylen Green has made the team's initial 53-man roster, according to Daniel Oyefusi, citing Mary Kay Cabot. Cleveland is now expected to carry four quarterbacks, with Green joining Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. The sixth-round rookie didn't play in either of the Browns' first two preseason games, but he finally got his chance Thursday against New England. Green completed five of seven passes for 27 yards and did most of his damage with his legs, leading Cleveland with 66 rushing yards on eight carries. The Browns drafted the 6-foot-5 Arkansas product 182nd overall after being drawn to his size, speed and arm talent. Watson is the starter and Sanders is expected to serve as the Week 1 backup, leaving Green buried for immediate fantasy purposes. Cleveland clearly saw enough developmental upside, though, to keep him rather than risk exposing him to waivers.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Samuel Basallo is Held Out on Sunday
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (hand) is being held out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. The O's have decided to keep Basallo on the bench for this one due to a hand issue, according to Matt Weyrich. Basallo was removed early from Saturday's game due to a right-hand injury that he suffered while attempting to block a wild pitch. He's considered day-to-day, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried at the moment. Pete Alonso will serve as the designated hitter while Carlos Narvaez does the catching during Sunday's contest. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for another update on his status.
Source: Matt Weyrich
Source: Matt Weyrich
Browns Place Dillon Gabriel on Injured Reserve
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (back) has been placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Cleveland planned to keep four quarterbacks from the preseason into the regular season, and placing Gabriel on IR will allow them to use just three roster spots on quarterbacks. Rookie Taylen Green has made the team as the third-string quarterback, but Gabriel will presumably return to the No. 3 quarterback role once he's activated from IR. With that being said, Watson is the only fantasy-relevant quarterback in Cleveland right now, as he'll get the nod to start Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns also have Shedeur Sanders waiting in the wings in case Watson struggles out of the gate.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Xavier Edwards Exits Early on Sunday
Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards (thumb, elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals. Edwards was pulled from this game with a hand or elbow injury, according to Mark Zuckerman. He got tangled up while attempting to make a tag on Jorbit Vivas at second base. The expectation is that Edwards will undergo further testing to determine the severity of this injury. He finished Sunday's game 0-for-1 with a walk in the win over Washington. Fantasy managers should consider Edwards as day-to-day for now. There should be more information on his status in the next day or two.
Source: Mark Zuckerman
Source: Mark Zuckerman
Javonte Williams Set for Workhorse Role After Cowboys' Latest Cuts
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams appears poised to remain in the workhorse role following the team's latest batch of cuts. Dallas cut running backs Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Israel Abanikanda on Sunday, leaving the Cowboys with a backfield of just Williams and Malik Davis. We saw Dallas carry just two running backs into game day quite often last year, and it looks like they're sticking with that same strategy this year. We could see Blue or Mafah return to the practice squad, but at the very least, the Cowboys are making it clear that they only felt compelled to keep Williams and Davis. That's great news for Williams' fantasy managers, as it points to him being used as the workhorse back once again this year. If the Cowboys wanted to spread the workload around, they would've likely kept three running backs. Williams' exact workload will depend on game script, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him consistently get at least 18 to 20 touches per game. Last year, he averaged 18.9 touches per game with 1,138 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns by season's end. He remains a mid-to-low RB1 for fantasy purposes in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
