Sep 2, 2026, 10:10 PM ET

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham will open the 2026 season as the team's backup to starter Bo Nix, head coach Sean Payton told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. There was some speculation that Sam Ehlinger could push Stidham for the backup gig this summer in training camp, but the 30-year-old Stidham eventually won the job and will hold the clipboard for Nix and the Broncos' offense on the sideline. The former fourth-rounder by the New England Patriots in the 2019 NFL draft out of Auburn has only appeared in three regular-season games (two starts) in his three years in Denver, throwing for 496 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His biggest opportunity came in last year's postseason, when he had a chance to send the Broncos to the Super Bowl with a win over the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Stidham failed that test, throwing for 133 yards, one TD, and one pick, although conditions were nearly impossible for throwing the football in a second-half blizzard. If Nix goes down with another injury in 2026, Stidham will be the next man up at the all-important QB position in Colorado.--Keith Hernandez
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens

Sep 2, 2026, 10:06 PM ET

Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion said he's looking forward to carrying his strong play in training camp over into the regular season, Chris Easterling reports. Concepcion only made one preseason appearance, but he looked good during that contest versus the Chicago Bears. He hauled in three receptions for 27 yards and scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown. It sounds like Concepcion has earned enough trust from his coaches to be an immediate impact player in Cleveland. He currently has an ADP of 120.2, but has the potential to be a top-35 player at his position.--Andy Webb
Source: Akron Beacon Journal

Sep 2, 2026, 10:02 PM ET

Carolina Panthers veteran tight end Darren Waller continues to ramp up for the start of the 2026 season and was in full pads while taking part in team drills with the first-team offense in Wednesday's practice, according to Kassidy Hill of the team's official website. "It was good," head coach Dave Canales said of Waller's practice. "Just backed him off a little bit (Tuesday), let him go today. Got RVAs (routes versus air) in, had a couple of nice targets out there on the field, made one catch; another one, Bryce progressed to somebody else. But he looked fast. He looked huge. So it was good to see his big frame out there moving around." After signing late in training camp on Aug. 12, the 33-year-old Waller figures to be the team's top pass-catching tight end for quarterback Bryce Young if he can stay healthy. After coming out of retirement to play for the Miami Dolphins in 2025, Waller only played in nine games and caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns. The former Pro Bowler had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 and 2020, but Waller is not the same player as he was back then, and he will likely be eased into the offense in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Waller will for sure be a red-zone weapon for Young because of his size (6-foot-6, 245 pounds), but outside of two-TE leagues, he will probably go undrafted.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Panthers.com - Kassidy Hill

Sep 2, 2026, 9:54 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is expected to eventually take over as the starter under center, according to Cameron Wolfe. Penix is still working his way back from a partially torn left ACL from last year. He was cleared to begin doing team drills as of last weekend. Wolfe mentions that he believes it's too soon for Penix to start in Week 1, but it doesn't sound like it'll take him too long before he's ready to go. The expectation is that Tua Tagovailoa will begin the season as the starter while Penix gets fully healthy. The 26-year-old is likely still viewed as the future in Atlanta, but they need to make sure he's healthy first.--Andy Webb
Source: Cameron Wolfe

Sep 2, 2026, 9:42 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht praised wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. for his consistency and leadership, Brianna Dix reports. On Monday, Licht talked about how consistent Godwin has been for Tampa Bay and even called him Mr. Clutch. Before his fibula injury, Godwin was a top-20 player at his position. He recorded three straight 1,000-yard campaigns before suffering his injury during the 2024 season. Now, Godwin is fully healthy heading into the 2026 season and should serve as a top target in the Bucs' passing attack. Both Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillian (knee) are banged up right now, so Godwin could be leaned on heavily early in the season.--Andy Webb
Source: buccaneers.com

Sep 2, 2026, 9:29 PM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten is being viewed as a complete running back, according to Mike Garafolo. It sounds like the Jaguars have a lot of faith in Tuten to step up and be the lead back this upcoming season. Tuten showed some flashes this past season, but will now get a real chance to show what he can do with Travis Etienne Jr. departing this offseason. Tuten has been working hard to improve as a pass-catching back during training camp. It sounds like Tuten could become a legit dual-threat back for the Jags this upcoming season. The expectation is that Chris Rodriguez Jr. will remain in the mix, but Tuten will be leaned on more than this past season.--Andy Webb
Source: NFL Network

Sep 2, 2026, 9:06 PM ET

According to Adam Schefter, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is unharmed after an attempted burglary of his home on Saturday. Barkley's home was broken into after 5:00 AM EST on Saturday, according to the Tredyffrin Township Police Department. Barkley and his family were home at the time of the break-in, but thankfully, no one was hurt. A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including attempted break-in of two other homes. This investigation isn't expected to impact Barkley's status for this upcoming season.--Andy Webb
Source: Adam Schefter

Sep 2, 2026, 7:19 PM ET

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ja'Seem Reed did not make the team's initial 53-man roster heading into their Week 1 clash against the Chicago Bears, but the Panthers re-signed him to their practice squad after he had a strong training camp this summer. The Panthers' WR1, Tetairoa McMillan, singled Reed out as the offensive player that he has seen make the most strides over the last year, according to Gabe McDonald. "That kid's got a lot of talent," McMillan said. The 23-year-old former undrafted free agent spent all of the 2025 campaign on the Panthers' practice squad and never appeared in a game. To begin 2026, he has McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, John Metchie III, Brycen Tremayne, and Jimmy Horn Jr. ahead of him in the WR room, but Reed could be a name to keep an eye on in dynasty/keeper leagues as a bench stash for his potential long-term upside in Carolina.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Gabe McDonald

Sep 2, 2026, 7:10 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) did not practice with the team on Wednesday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Higgins also missed practice on Tuesday with a bruised heel, but head coach Zac Taylor said it was a minor issue. Barring a setback, Higgins should be ready to rock for the Week 1 regular-season opener next Sunday, Sept. 13, versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Top wideout Ja'Marr Chase (knee) is also out this week with a knee injury that he suffered last week, but he, too, is expected to be fine for Week 1. Higgins' minor heel injury should not make fantasy managers hesitant to use an early-round pick on him as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2. The 27-year-old former second-rounder from Clemson would be the WR1 on many teams around the league. Even in Chase's shadow, Higgins has managed to put up high-end production while battling through injuries. As a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025, Higgins had 59 receptions for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 15 games. Higgins has 21 touchdown catches in the last two seasons and has averaged a healthy 14 yards per catch in his six NFL seasons.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby

Sep 2, 2026, 6:44 PM ET

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) was not in uniform and did not practice on Wednesday, according to Gabi Sorrentino of FOX 19 Cincinnati. Chase hyperextended his left knee while trying to catch a pass last week in training camp practice and has not seen the field since. Head coach Zac Taylor said on Tuesday that Chase would be limited this week and that he "feels good about" where the 26-year-old is with the regular-season opener coming on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The five-time Pro Bowler might also be limited in some practices next week, but it does not sound like he is in danger of missing the start of the 2026 season. The former fifth overall pick from LSU in 2021 has five straight 1,000-yard campaigns to begin his career, including a whopping 520 receptions and 54 touchdown catches in 78 games played. With quarterback Joe Burrow healthy and throwing him passes, Chase is still the consensus top overall receiver for fantasy football managers in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: FOX 19 Cincinnati - Gabi Sorrentino

Sep 2, 2026, 6:27 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that wide receiver Roman Wilson "is a great kid" and that he "has had a fantastic camp," according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Rodgers went on to say that he has the "utmost confidence" in Wilson, who is "going to have to play a big role" in the offense in 2026. The future Hall of Fame QB has been clicking with Wilson in training camp and the preseason and appears to have developed a strong chemistry. The two did not click in 2025, as Wilson caught only 12 of 21 targets for 166 yards and two touchdowns in 13 regular-season games in Wilson's second year in the league. The 25-year-old former third-rounder from Michigan should be much more involved in new head coach Mike McCarthy's offense, but with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. both ahead of him on the WR depth chart, Wilson is unlikely to see enough weekly volume to be a realistic starting option in most fantasy leagues. He is currently outside of RotoBaller's top-137 receiver rankings for 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor

Sep 2, 2026, 6:20 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said on Wednesday that he is "optimistic" about reaching a contract extension with quarterback Lamar Jackson, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. "We would love to get a deal done as soon as possible," DeCosta said. The 29-year-old signed a five-year, $260 million extension with Baltimore in April of 2023, but with an $84.3 million salary-cap number for 2027, the Ravens want to get an extension done with the star QB so that they can spread that cap hit out over multiple seasons. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP battled nagging injuries for much of last year, which led to a disappointing 2025 campaign in which he threw for only 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in a career-low 13 starts. Jackson also ran the ball a career-low 67 times for 349 yards and two touchdowns. With better health, Jackson should rebound as an elite, high-end QB1 for fantasy purposes because of his dual-threat abilities at the position.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec

Sep 2, 2026, 5:57 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro pass-rusher Nick Bosa (knee), who practiced with the team on Wednesday, said he is confident he will play in the Week 1 season opener next Thursday in Australia against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to Josh Dubow of The Associated Press. The 28-year-old oft-injured defensive end suffered a torn ACL early last year and was still feeling some soreness in his knee last month. It is good news that Bosa is practicing this week as he prepares for the season opener, but we have a sneaking suspicion that he will have his snaps limited next Thursday if he is active in Australia. That will obviously make him a big risk as a starter in IDP fantasy formats, and he will be a high-risk/high-reward defensive lineman in those same formats in 2026 as he comes off a season-ending knee injury. The five-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Rookie of the Year had a league-high 18.5 sacks in 2022, but his sack numbers have declined in each year since then, culminating with just two sacks in three games played in 2025. When healthy, the former second overall pick from Ohio State has the skills to be one of the most disruptive pass-rushers in the league.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Associated Press - Josh Dubow

Sep 2, 2026, 5:44 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys are re-signing quarterback Joe Milton III to their practice squad on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Cowboys waived Milton after he lost out on the backup competition to Sam Howell, but he cleared waivers on Tuesday and is now back with the Cowboys organization as QB insurance. The 26-year-old went 29-for-43 passing for 378 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in three preseason games, but it was not enough to unseat Howell as the backup behind starter Dak Prescott. The former sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL draft from Tennessee has appeared in just five NFL games (zero starts) in his two seasons, throwing for 424 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Four of his games came last year with Dallas. Milton has less stash appeal in deep dynasty/keeper leagues as the QB3 for the Cowboys.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter