RADIO
Jalen Hurts Has Top-Five Upside Heading Into 2026 Season
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has finished as the QB8 in fantasy football each of the last two seasons, but he has top-five upside heading into the 2026 campaign. The Eagles' offense is projected to improve this year under new coordinator Sean Mannion, and Hurts is one of several players who stand to benefit. For starters, the tush push is expected to remain a staple of Mannion's offense, leaving plenty of touchdown opportunities for Hurts. Meanwhile, he reportedly looks faster and is expected to run more in the new system, giving him additional volume and yardage in the rushing attack. Furthermore, Hurts only has 11 interceptions over his last two seasons, so his lack of turnovers should also help his fantasy stock. Even after five consecutive top-10 fantasy finishes, Hurts finds himself trending upward once again. He ranks as the overall QB3 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trayveon Williams Making a Late Push for a Roster Spot in Detroit
Detroit Lions running back Trayveon Williams strengthened his case to make Detroit's initial 53-man roster on Saturday, recording 57 rushing yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in his team's 25-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Williams finished the preseason strong, recording over 100 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns across Detroit's final two exhibition contests. The Lions have star running back Jahmyr Gibbs as their RB1, but the team's RB2 role is currently a bit unsettled with veteran back Isiah Pacheco (back, knee) battling back and knee injuries. If Pacheco misses time to start the year, Williams could be in the mix with running backs Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki for playing time behind Gibbs in Detroit. The veteran Williams may be the most experienced back of the bunch, as he's appeared in 75 games across seven NFL seasons. In deeper fantasy leagues, Williams is a name to monitor as Detroit sets its 53-man roster in the coming weeks.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Seth McGowan Likely Does Enough to Win the Backup Job
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan rushed for 20 yards on five carries during Saturday's preseason contest against the Detroit Lions. He also had a five-yard reception in the loss. McGowan finished the preseason with 74 scrimmage yards across three games, and he might have done enough to win the backup job behind Jonathan Taylor. Entering the summer, the backup competition was between McGowan and DJ Giddens, a 2025 fifth-round pick who had 96 rushing yards last year. In addition to out-producing Giddens this preseason, McGowan is younger, although he has slightly lower draft capital as a seventh-round pick. It's important to note that both running backs are merely competing for a handcuff role here, as Jonathan Taylor is the undisputed every-down back in Indianapolis. Taylor was responsible for a whopping 86.6% of the Colts' running back carries last year, and he figures to achieve a similar mark in 2026. If McGowan is confirmed as Taylor's backup, he'll still be avoidable in shallower redraft leagues, and he'll be a mere stash in dynasty and deeper redraft formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
DJ Giddens' Preseason Touchdown Possibly Not Enough to Win Backup Job
Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens had two carries, eight rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown during Saturday's preseason contest against the Detroit Lions. He also tallied an eight-yard reception. It was a rewarding game for the second-year back, as the entire bench cleared out and celebrated with Giddens after he scored the first touchdown of his career. However, it may not have been enough to solidify him as the No. 2 running back behind Jonathan Taylor. His primary competition for the backup role is rookie Seth McGowan, who ended up tallying 25 scrimmage yards in the loss, bringing his preseason total to 74 yards. If Giddens somehow opens the regular season as the No. 2 back, he can be stashed in deeper fantasy leagues as a handcuff for Taylor. However, if he drops to third on the depth chart, he will become droppable in almost all leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacob Saylors Shines in Preseason Finale, Competing for RB2 Role in Detroit?
Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors impressed in his team's preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, recording 17 carries for 100 yards and two catches for 12 yards on four targets. Saylors appeared in 16 games for Detroit in 2025, but he recorded just two carries on the season. Entering 2026, star Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is firmly atop the team's depth chart at the position. However, RB2 favorite Isiah Pacheco's (back, knee) availability for the start of the season is currently in question as he battles back and knee injuries. As a result, Saylors looks to be competing with Sione Vaki and Trayveon Williams for an early-season role in the Detroit backfield. Saylors helped his case with a strong performance in the preseason, rushing for 187 yards on 31 carries across three games played. In deeper leagues, Saylors could be worth rostering until more is known about Pacheco's health.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Joshua Dobbs Throws Two Touchdowns on Saturday
Detroit Lions quarterback Joshua Dobbs put together a strong performance in his team's final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, completing 15 of 19 pass attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Dobbs was signed by Detroit midway through the summer after the surprise retirement of former Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. The veteran Dobbs is competing with undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer for Detroit's QB2 job behind starter Jared Goff. However, Dobbs outplayed Altmyer on Saturday and may have solidified himself as the Lions' backup quarterback to open the year. Assuming he makes Detroit's 53-man roster, the Lions will be Dobbs' seventh team as he heads into his seventh NFL season. His last extended run of playing time came in 2023, when he threw for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 13 games (12 starts) split between the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings. As long as Goff remains healthy, Dobbs should not be on the radar of fantasy managers.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Anthony Richardson Sr. Highly Accurate as Roster Crunch Lingers
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. completed seven of his 10 pass attempts for 80 yards during Saturday's preseason contest against the Detroit Lions. He finished the game without a touchdown or interception, and he took just one sack along the way. There has been plenty of chatter about Richardson's future with the Colts after he requested a trade, but for now, he remains on the roster as the projected backup behind Daniel Jones. With that being said, there are fewer than 24 hours until NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players, so we can't rule out the possibility of a surprise trade or release involving Richardson. Assuming he remains on the Colts' roster, he can be avoided in all fantasy football leagues. He'd only get onto the fantasy radar as a QB3 if Jones were to suffer an injury.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cowboys Acquire Broderick Jones From Steelers
The Dallas Cowboys have acquired offensive tackle Broderick Jones and a fourth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Essentially, in return for Jones, the Steelers are moving up a round in the middle of the draft and also picking up a late Day 3 selection in the process. The 25-year-old tackle was a first-round pick out of Georgia in 2023. He played all 17 games in each of his first two seasons, but his participation total dropped to 11 games last year due to a season-ending neck injury. He had a career-worst 50.6 PFF run-blocking grade last year, but he also posted a career-best 59.0 PFF pass-blocking grade. Jones should offer impressive depth as the backup right tackle behind Terence Steele. He's heading into a contract year after Pittsburgh declined his fifth-year option.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Jaguars Acquire Quinn Ewers From Dolphins
The Jacksonville Jaguars have acquired quarterback Quinn Ewers from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2028 NFL Draft, according to an announcement from both teams. Ewers, a University of Texas product, showed glimpses of promise during his rookie season last year. He made three starts at the end of the season, completing 67% of his pass attempts for 569 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also took six sacks across his final two games of the season. For Miami, this trade reaffirms the team's confidence in Malik Willis to start all 17 games this upcoming year. The move leaves Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski, who have a combined zero snaps in the NFL, to back up the 27-year-old. For the Jaguars, the trade strengthens their depth behind Trevor Lawrence. Having quarterback depth is important for a prospective playoff team like the Jags, and they evidently believe Ewers can at least keep them afloat if Lawrence misses any time. Ewers had limited action this preseason, going 1-for-8 on pass attempts with 27 yards, zero touchdowns, one interception, and one sack.
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Raiders Set to Name Kirk Cousins as Week 1 Starter
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to name veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins their Week 1 starter. Even though Cousins was slated to take the starting job back at the beginning of training camp, newly appointed head coach Klint Kubiak has kept the door open for a competition. However, the veteran earned the starting gig over first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell. Cousins has been sharp in the preseason, going 5-for-6 in the opener and 8-for-11 in their preseason finale this past Thursday evening. Last season, Cousins appeared in 10 games for the Falcons and averaged 205.5 passing yards per game with a 10:5 TD:INT in the eight games in which he logged more than 50 offensive snaps. Given that the Raiders lack many proven options in the passing game outside of star tight end Brock Bowers, the 38-year-old carries low-end QB3 appeal in their Week 1 opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Source: Matt Zenitz
Source: Matt Zenitz
Fernando Mendoza Could Begin the Season as the QB3
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is open to naming Aidan O'Connell as the QB2 over rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza, according to Michael Smith of NBC Sports. This would make the No. 1 overall pick the QB3 to start the season for the Raiders. During the preseason, Mendoza had 25 completions on 45 passing attempts for 240 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. It has widely been expected that Kirk Cousins would be the starting quarterback for Week 1, with Mendoza being the backup. However, not many would have thought the rookie would start the season as the third-string quarterback. "We've got three guys that are ready to play," Kubiak told team reporters. "It's going to be some hard decisions on who's 1, who's 2. That's not a decision we have to make today, but those are discussions that are ongoing." If this happens, nothing much will change for Mendoza's fantasy outlook for redraft leagues and dynasty leagues. We knew he was a long-term fantasy investment that would not have much fantasy relevance until, at best, the end of the 2026 season.
Source: NBCS - Michael Smith
Source: NBCS - Michael Smith
Phil Mafah Falling Out of Roster Spot?
Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah could be on the outside looking in to make the Cowboys' final 53-man roster. The Cowboys drafted him in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Clemson. Teams around the league will have to shrink their roster from 90 players to 53 players on Sunday in order to be ready for Week 1. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram noted Mafah got the majority of the running back work during the preseason finale Friday night. This signaled Mafah had one last shot to prove to the coaching staff that he should win a spot on the Cowboys' final roster. Mafah has been battling Jaydon Blue and Malik Davis all summer for the backup running back role behind starter Javonte Williams. After stiff competition, Mafah could be the odd man out of the running back room.
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Nick Harris
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Nick Harris
Seahawks Officially Sign Terrion Arnold
The Seattle Seahawks have officially signed cornerback Terrion Arnold, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former first-round pick was released by the Detroit Lions late in June after he was arrested and faced eight felony charges, including robbery and kidnapping. Arnold will now be placed on the commissioner's exempt list, which means he will be unable to practice or play with the team. As a result, Arnold is not expected to be part of the Seahawks' 53-man roster when the team has to drop to that number on Sunday. If Arnold gets to play, it would be a major addition to the reigning Super Bowl Champions' defensive secondary and create one of the best cornerback duos in the league alongside Devon Witherspoon. It would allow Mike Macdonald to get more creative on defense and make it a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators to scheme receivers open.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Kimani Vidal the Chargers' Best Pass-Protector?
Bolt Beat's Alexander Insdorf noted that running back Kimani Vidal is probably the best pass protector in the Los Angeles Chargers backfield. Omarion Hampton still has to prove he is the better pass blocker until he takes that title away from Vidal. The Chargers running back room remains one of the most monitored situations by fantasy managers heading into draft weekend. The team is expected to roster Hampton, Vidal, and Keaton Mitchell (knee) this season. All three backs offer fantasy appeal and will have a role in the Chargers' offense under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. McDaniel has said all three backs will be used and he will use a "hot hand" approach. With three backs fighting for snaps, Vidal could find his way onto the field on obvious passing downs if he is viewed as the best pass protector out of the three. If this happens, Vidal could be fantasy relevant this season outside of being a handcuff to Hampton.
Source: Bolt Beat - Alexander Insdorf
Source: Bolt Beat - Alexander Insdorf
Jordan Addison a Sleeper to Target in Redraft Leagues
Minnesota Vikings wideout Jordan Addison is currently being slept on in fantasy drafts with a valuable ADP outside of the top 40 receivers on most sites. The former Biletnikoff Award winner posted career lows across the board due to a three-game suspension and poor quarterback play last season. This year, Addison could get back on track and be fantasy-relevant again with Kyler Murray named the starter. Murray is a functional NFL quarterback who can keep an offense on schedule and, at times, raise the floor of the playmakers around him. Additionally, Addison and Murray have been working together all offseason to build chemistry and a connection on the field. If they can connect on the field, Addison can return to being a WR2 for managers like he was during his first two seasons in the league.
Source: Underdog
Source: Underdog
