RADIO
Elic Ayomanor Opens Year Behind Rookie Receiver
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor enters Week 1 in a much different spot than he occupied for most of his rookie season. Ayomanor started 14 games last year and played 80% of the offensive snaps, turning 89 targets into 41 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns. He was still involved throughout camp this summer, so this is not a case of him disappearing completely. The problem is what Tennessee put in front of him. The Titans signed Wan'Dale Robinson, then spent the fourth overall pick on Carnell Tate, and their latest depth chart has Calvin Ridley, Robinson and Tate as the starting three. Ayomanor is listed behind Tate. That makes last year's volume tough to project again, especially with several other receivers still competing for snaps. RotoBaller has Ayomanor at WR108 entering the season. There could still be weeks when he works his way onto the field, but fantasy managers should treat him as a deep-league watch-list player until Tennessee shows it plans to use him regularly.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonathon Brooks on Field for Third Straight Practice
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) was back in uniform and practicing with teammates Friday, according to Mike Kaye. That makes three straight practices for Brooks after he was still working off to the side earlier this week. He was officially limited Wednesday and Thursday, but the direction here has been positive. Brooks said Wednesday he expects to play against Chicago, and head coach Dave Canales said he's "very confident" the third-year back will be available. Friday's final injury report will tell us whether Brooks carries a designation into Sunday. Brooks hasn't played a regular-season snap since tearing his right ACL for the second time in December 2024, though he did get into two preseason games this summer. Chuba Hubbard sits atop Carolina's depth chart, and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said this week that Hubbard, Brooks and AJ Dillon have all earned roles and can be mixed and matched. Brooks looks increasingly likely to play, but his workload is still the part fantasy managers have to be careful with in Week 1.
Source: Mike Kaye
Source: Mike Kaye
Travis Hunter Could Eventually See Punt-Return Work
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter could eventually get a look on punt returns, though Parker Washington remains the team's clear option there for now. Head coach Liam Coen told Ryan O'Halloran that Washington is "the guy right now, absolutely," but added that Hunter will get "some of that stuff" at some point. Coen also said Jacksonville wants to keep finding ways to put the ball in Hunter's hands. There is no immediate change coming. Washington returned 25 punts for 341 yards and two touchdowns last season, averaging 13.6 yards per return, and he already confirmed earlier this week that he is the punt returner entering Week 1. Hunter's rookie year was cut short by an LCL injury after seven games, when he had 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown. He has spent much of this summer working on defense, so any return chances would give Jacksonville another way to create touches for him. It is a small fantasy boost in leagues that count return yardage, but not enough to change his outlook in standard formats.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Jeremiyah Love Expected to Play in Week 1
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Josh Weinfuss. Love has been trying to get back from the high-ankle sprain he suffered against Las Vegas on Aug. 13, and things have moved in the right direction this week. He was limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday after missing the remainder of the preseason. Love only got one game in before the injury, but he looked the part, rushing 11 times for 58 yards and catching all three of his targets for another 14. Arizona used the third overall pick on him in April, so there is obviously plenty of fantasy interest here. The bigger question is how much the Cardinals want to put on his plate right away. Tyler Allgeier is also available in the backfield, and Love has essentially missed a month of work. Still, this is another encouraging report for fantasy managers who drafted the rookie. Barring a setback, he now appears to be on track to make his NFL debut Sunday.
Source: Josh Weinfuss
Source: Josh Weinfuss
Devin Singletary Still Without a Clear Role in Giants Backfield
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary made the 53-man roster, but his fantasy value still took a hit heading into Week 1. The Giants kept four running backs, and their current depth chart has Cam Skattebo first with Tyrone Tracy Jr., Najee Harris and Singletary all behind him. Harris was only added in August, which made an already crowded room even harder to sort out. Singletary did have some decent preseason moments, including 40 yards and a touchdown on eight carries against Miami, but there is still no clear path to steady touches. He handled 119 carries for 437 yards and five touchdowns last season, adding 18 catches for 151 yards. That was useful depth work, not enough to force the Giants into carving out a role now that Skattebo is back atop the depth chart and Harris is in the mix. RotoBaller has Singletary at RB81 entering the season. Making the roster keeps him relevant, but fantasy managers can leave him on waivers until this backfield gives us something more concrete.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zachariah Branch Not Projected to Start Early in Rookie Season
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch is not listed as a projected starter on the team's initial depth chart, dropping him off the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues. As a third-round rookie, we shouldn't be completely shocked that Branch won't get the start in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, if there were any receiver room where he could make that leap, this would be the one. There are plenty of targets up for grabs behind No. 1 receiver Drake London. While Branch, a Georgia product, spent this summer competing for that No. 2 role, it ended up going to veteran Olamide Zaccheaus. Meanwhile, Jahan Doston projects as the third receiver on the depth chart, leaving Branch buried all the way down in the No. 4 role. This offense has so much uncertainty at the quarterback position that it's hard to envision Branch getting onto the redraft radar at any point during his rookie season. In the meantime, he's expected to operate as the Falcons' punt returner.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jauan Jennings Faces a Tougher Path to Targets in 2026
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings could have trouble carving out a substantial role with his new team. Jennings went from being the de facto No. 1 receiver in San Francisco to the No. 3 receiver in Minnesota, and in doing so, he'll also deal with a quarterback downgrade from Brock Purdy to Kyler Murray. Jennings is a great depth signing for the Vikings, who now have extra insurance in case Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison goes down. However, he faces an uphill climb to achieving fantasy relevance. His path to getting on the fantasy radar would likely require an injury to Jefferson or Addison, and even then, he'd still be the No. 2 receiver in an offense with inconsistent quarterback play. In all likelihood, Jennings is headed for a similar role as Jalen Nailor, who was the Vikings' No. 3 receiver last year and caught 29 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns while ranking as the WR61 in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jerry Jeudy Losing Ground to the Browns' Youth Movement
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is quickly falling out of favor as some of his younger teammates ascend into substantial roles. Jeudy had a miserable fantasy campaign in 2025, catching 50 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns. While part of his subpar season can be blamed on quarterback play, Jeudy deserves to take on a substantial amount of accountability. He has ranked as the WR47 or lower in four of his six NFL seasons, serving as a major letdown to fantasy managers who trusted him with the Broncos or Browns. Now, Cleveland's front office is losing faith in him, as they drafted KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston to be the future of their receiver room. Jeudy may still earn the start in Week 1, but his vastly reduced role and poor quarterback play mean that he belongs on the bench (or even the waiver wire) in most fantasy football leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Travis Hunter's Projected Role Severely Limits His Fantasy Value
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter is expected to play more defense than offense this season, which will restrict his upside and lower his floor in fantasy football. This shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise. Hunter excelled on defense at Colorado, and the Jaguars have more need for him in their cornerback unit than their extremely crowded receiver room. Jacksonville will use the first-round pick to lock down opposing receivers, while Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Brian Thomas handle the bulk of the load at the wide receiver position. That's not to say Hunter won't see any offensive snaps, but there isn't a consistent role here. He'll be tough to start in fantasy football on any given Sunday, so he may not be worth rostering in redraft leagues with 12 or fewer teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Makai Lemon an Early Fade After Quiet Camp
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon has a bright future in the NFL, but for now, he should be avoided in most redraft leagues. The Eagles spent a first-round pick on Lemon to replace A.J. Brown, and he responded by turning in a very disappointing camp/preseason and also battling a hamstring injury. As a result, he will open the season in the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, rather than the No. 2 role for which he was originally projected when the Eagles drafted him. As Lemon opens the year behind DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Dallas Goedert, he faces an uphill battle to play meaningful snaps right away. This isn't uncommon for rookie receivers, especially those who deal with injuries or a slow acclimation period in their first training camp. We're still optimistic that Lemon will be an every-week fantasy contributor in the future, but for now, he can be left on waivers in all redraft leagues with 12 or fewer teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
DJ Giddens Off the Fantasy Radar Almost Entirely
Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens' fantasy value has taken an enormous hit this offseason. He was once projected to be the clear-cut No. 2 running back and an intriguing handcuff behind Jonathan Taylor, but he instead fell to third on the depth chart and is now at risk of playing solely on special teams. In past years, the Colts have shown a willingness to feed Taylor on almost every rushing play, leaving very few carries for the No. 2 or 3 players on the depth chart. This year, Giddens lost his backup role to Seth McGowan after the former had a quiet training camp and the latter made a very positive impression. In the event of an injury to Taylor, Giddens' ceiling is a low-end RB3/flex in deeper leagues, and that's only if McGowan struggles. There's a nearly impossible path to production for Giddens, who can be avoided in all redraft leagues and dropped to waivers in most dynasty formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyrone Tracy Jr. has Uncertain Role Heading into Week 1
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is expected to split the backup role with Devin Singletary and Najee Harris. After the third-year back fumbled and missed a pass-protection rep that left his starting quarterback, Jaxson Dart, leveled, Tracy appears to have lost ground in the backfield. The Giants' depth chart listed second-year Cam Skattebo as the RB1, with Tracy, Singletary, and Harris all listed as RB2s. In 15 games last season, Tracy had 176 carries for 740 yards and two touchdowns, and added 36 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. With a new coaching staff in place, Tracy's role appears uncertain for Week 1, and fantasy managers should have low expectations for his outlook against the Dallas Cowboys.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Aaron Jones Sr. Could Lose Snaps to Backfield Mate in 2026
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. is expected to split the backfield with Jordan Mason this season. Last season, Jones had 160 touches for 747 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games, while Mason had 173 touches for 809 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. Mason has reportedly had a strong training camp, looks fast and explosive, and has a shot at the starting role in Minnesota. With Kyler Murray under center and a favorable schedule for running backs, both players can produce, but Mason has more workhorse upside. Jones has also missed 11 games over the last three seasons, making him a riskier option. Both will limit each other's fantasy value in a committee, but Mason's strong training camp and career efficiency give him the best chance to eventually take over this backfield.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan James Off Fantasy Radar After Losing RB2 Role
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James was a healthy scratch in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. After battling rookie Kaelon Black in training camp, James appeared to lose the backup role and was inactive for the season opener in Melbourne, Australia. James has played only three games in his NFL career and has yet to record a stat. With him as the clear RB3 and the team's ability to use fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Deebo Samuel Sr. as emergency running backs, James does not appear likely to have a role this season unless both Black and star Christian McCaffrey are injured. Fantasy managers can safely drop the second-year back, with Black the clear backup in San Francisco.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
De'Zhaun Stribling Likely to Miss Time
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) will likely miss time, according to Ian Rapoport. Stribling limped off the field, went to the medical tent, returned, and then went down with a non-contact injury that appeared to be significant. The good news is that head coach Kyle Shanahan deemed it an ankle injury and that his Achilles tendon was intact. The rookie receiver was held without a target against the Los Angeles Rams but led the 49ers wideouts in snaps after three drives, playing more than Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Demarcus Robinson, all of whom scored touchdowns in Week 1. While we won't know the full diagnosis until the team returns to the States, fantasy managers shouldn't drop the young, talented receiver.
Source: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
Source: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
