Sep 10, 2026, 3:30 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still available in most leagues, and there is not much reason for one-QB managers to change that before Week 1. Rodgers was efficient enough last season, completing 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 16 starts. Pittsburgh also gives him a better-looking receiver group with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson all listed as starters. The fantasy problem is the same one it has been for a while. Rodgers added only 61 rushing yards and one touchdown in 2025, leaving him dependent on passing volume and touchdowns to keep pace with more mobile quarterbacks. He is rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues and sits at QB28 in the current Week 1 rankings. That is enough to make him useful depth in Superflex or two-QB formats. In standard one-QB leagues, he can stay on the wire.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 10, 2026, 3:27 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Tarik Skubal, who will turn 30 years old in November, could get double the $245 million deal that former right-hander Stephen Strasburg received on a seven-year deal in free agency from the Washington Nationals if there is no salary cap after the 2026 season, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Skubal shook off an early-season elbow injury and has a 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with a 2.93 ERA since returning. He has not missed a beat and has been elite, which means that some team will pay an exorbitant amount for potentially a 10-year contract to secure the services of Skubal. However, barely a handful of teams are interested in paying $50 million a year for 33 starts, so Skubal will continue to be at the heart of the salary-cap debate with a potential lockout coming in 2027. The two-time Cy Young winner has a high-90s fastball and pairs it with a changeup that is among the best pitches in the league. In seven starts since being acquired by the Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline in early August, Skubal has gone 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA (2.54 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 10 walks in 43 innings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

Sep 10, 2026, 3:22 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill has a cleaner hold on the No. 2 job than he did earlier this summer, but that still doesn't make him a priority Week 1 add. Rookie Adam Randall is on injured reserve with a designation to return, leaving Hill second behind Derrick Henry and Rasheen Ali third on Baltimore's current depth chart. Hill's value comes from passing downs. He caught 21 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in 10 games last season, and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has called him one of the league's best third-down backs. Hill is healthy after last year's neck injury, too. The catch is that he is not an obvious candidate to absorb Henry's entire workload if something happens. Ali could take some early-down work, and Hill sits at RB56 in the current Week 1 rankings. In deeper PPR leagues, he is a reasonable bench stash. In standard 10- or 12-team formats, there are better ways to use the spot.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 10, 2026, 3:15 PM ET

Vanderbilt quarterback Blaze Berlowitz will start in Week 2 against Delaware. Head coach Clark Lea made the announcement on Thursday, shutting down rumors that the team was going to make a change. Despite the news of Berlowitz starting, the team still plans to play Jared Curtis in Week 2 against the Blue Hens. In Vanderbilt's 28-9 win over Austin Peay in Week 1, Berlowitz was 11-of-16 passing for 149 yards; he didn't throw a touchdown or an interception and rushed for 44 yards and a score on 11 attempts. Curtis attempted nine passes, completing seven for 60 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions; he rushed three times for 22 yards. While the matchup against Delaware is pretty favorable, the notion that the Commodores will play both quarterbacks takes value away from both, and makes them very risky fantasy starting options.--Morgan Rode
Source: The Dore Report - On3

Sep 10, 2026, 3:14 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (thumb), who was scratched from Wednesday's starting lineup with more soreness in his left thumb after returning from the injured list on Tuesday, expects to be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox at home, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Fantasy managers should not be expecting much from the 24-year-old shortstop the rest of the way after he returned from a left-thumb fracture this week. The former second-rounder in 2020 has had a disappointing season overall on offense, slashing just .236/.312/.323 with a .635 OPS, only five home runs, 51 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 49 runs scored across his 436 at-bats. Manager Oliver Marmol said that Winn's availability for the final few weeks of the regular season in 2026 will be a "daily basis" decision, so he might not even be playing regularly. Winn has been even worse in the second half, hitting .218 (26-for-119) with a homer, seven doubles, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored, three steals, 15 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 36 games played.--Keith Hernandez
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold

Sep 10, 2026, 3:12 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is already cautioning fantasy managers against reading too much into how his tight ends are used in Week 1. McDaniel said Thursday that it "might not be the smartest move" to make fantasy decisions after one game, adding that the group is going to grow and the Chargers will be able to do plenty with them. Oronde Gadsden is the name fantasy managers will be watching most closely. He caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie, but Los Angeles added both Charlie Kolar and David Njoku during the offseason. The Chargers' first unofficial depth chart has Kolar or Njoku starting, with Gadsden behind them. Kolar was brought in largely for what he can add as a blocker, while Njoku gives Justin Herbert another proven receiving option. That makes this a crowded room, but McDaniel's comments are another reason not to make a quick call on Gadsden based solely on Sunday's opener against Arizona. His rookie production is still worth betting on while the Chargers figure out how all three tight ends fit.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Kris Rhim

Sep 10, 2026, 3:09 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (knee) was held out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest due to a bothersome right knee, but a stint on the injured list is "absolutely not" on the table for him, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. However, it is not a guarantee that Freeman will be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener in Miami against the Marlins after a scheduled day off on Thursday. Freeman's offense has taken a hit recently while he plays through his knee issue, as he has one hit in his last 18 at-bats while going hitless with three strikeouts as the designated hitter on Tuesday. The veteran left-handed slugger has just one home run in his last 53 games and has a .718 OPS over the last two months despite hitting .298. "Freddie does a really good job of hitting against his front side, and then when you can't do that with your front side, your right knee, then you're compromised," Roberts said. "I see there's a lot more swing and miss the last few days. That's just not who he is." The rough recent stretch has dropped the 36-year-old former MVP's line on the season to .297/.375/.453 with an .828 OPS, 16 homers, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored, and seven steals. The Dodgers' primary goal will be to have Freeman healthy and clicking for the start of the postseason in October.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya

Sep 10, 2026, 2:54 PM ET

USC wide receiver Terrell Anderson (undisclosed) is "pretty close" to returning, according to head coach Lincoln Riley. He has a shot to play in Week 2 as well, but the more notable news is that he's trending in the right direction and will be back sooner rather than later. Anderson did not play in either of the team's first two games. He transferred to USC after two seasons at NC State. In 2025, Anderson caught 39 passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns. With Anderson out, it's been wideouts Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt leading the Trojans' pass catchers. Mosley has 11 receptions for 222 yards and three touchdowns already, while Dixon-Wyatt has 138 yards and a score on 10 receptions. Only one other Trojan has a touchdown grab, and no others have reached 100 total receiving yards yet.--Morgan Rode
Source: Chris Treviño - On3

Sep 10, 2026, 2:47 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs called new running back Kenny Gainwell "a freak of nature," according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Wirfs also called RB Bucky Irving "a joystick" because of how elusive he can be. Wirfs is very excited about the 1-2 punch that the Bucs have in the running game this year in new coordinator Zac Robinson's scheme. Even in a new offense in 2026, the 27-year-old Gainwell was a popular mid-round target in point-per-reception leagues this year after he caught an eye-opening 73 passes on 85 targets for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games last year in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Gainwell also had a career-high 114 rushing attempts for 537 yards and a career-high-tying five rushing touchdowns. While fantasy managers should not necessarily expect Gainwell to match his passing-game production from 2025, he should at least be a strong weekly RB3/flex option for his pass-catching prowess, and he could be busy right away in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals in a game that could force the Bucs to pass more than they would like.--Keith Hernandez
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman

Sep 10, 2026, 2:32 PM ET

Updating an ongoing story, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) received "really, really good" news on the right-hip injury that forced him from Wednesday's season-opening win over the New England Patriots, head coach Mike Macdonald said on Thursday after Darnold had an MRI exam. ESPN's Adam Schefter and the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport both reported that Darnold is expected to miss the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but there is a chance he will be ready to return for Week 3 against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 27. "The hip is intact, and it's good," Macdonald said. "It's more of a muscle thing. So that's good news." After the 29-year-old left following the first drive of the game, backup Drew Lock entered and led the Seahawks to a come-from-behind win. Lock should be expected to make his first start of 2026 in Week 2 against the Cardinals, where he will be a low-end QB2 streamer in superflex leagues. Because Darnold dodged a bullet and could only miss one game, fantasy managers should hold him if they have him rostered.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com

Sep 10, 2026, 2:24 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said that rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst III has proved that "nothing is too big for him right now," and that he has "continued to ascend" week after week, according to Buccaneers.com's Scott Smith. The 22-year-old third-rounder from Georgia State will open his first year in the NFL as the No. 4 wideout on the Bucs' depth chart behind Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan, but that does not mean that fantasy managers should be ignoring him. Egbuka and McMillan were both held out of practice late in training camp with injuries, so if they are at all limited this Sunday in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hurst could make some noise right out of the gate that could lead to interest on the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues. Right now, Hurst is only rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues, but an injury to Tampa's WR corps could change that in a hurry. He is one of the better young upside stashes at the position if you have room on your bench in deeper formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Buccaneers.com - Scott Smith

Sep 10, 2026, 2:19 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said on Thursday that wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. "looks like the best version" of himself that he has seen yet, according to Scott Smith of the team's official website. Even with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans moving to San Francisco this offseason in free agency, Godwin, 30, was not a sexy pick in fantasy football drafts. The former third-rounder in 2017 from Penn State has only played in 16 combined games in the last two years due to injuries. However, when healthy, he will continue to be a key target for Mayfield in a new-look offense led by coordinator Zac Robinson. Godwin averaged just 10.9 yards per catch and had two touchdowns in nine games in 2025, but he has four 1,000-yard seasons in his career and could be in for a rebound in 2026 if he can stay on the field. His Week 1 outlook against the Cincinnati Bengals is strong, even with Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) looking likely to suit up after dealing with injuries at the end of training camp. In PPR leagues especially, Godwin could be a sneaky WR3/flex this year with excellent chemistry with Mayfield.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Buccaneers.com - Scott Smith

Sep 10, 2026, 2:14 PM ET

The NFL issued a statement on Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs on Thursday after he pleaded no contest in court to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property, according to Mark Maske of Front Office Sports. "We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy. There is no change to his status as he remains on the Commissioner's Exempt list." The NFL will continue to investigate Jacobs, but until his legal process plays out, we might not have a clear picture of how much time he will miss. For now, the 28-year-old will stay on the exempt list and will not be eligible to play in Week 1 this Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. He should remain stashed in all fantasy football leagues in the meantime, with MarShawn Lloyd the favorite for RB1 duties in Green Bay for as long as he remains out. Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks should also work in change-of-pace roles, but Lloyd should have the most fantasy upside as an explosive runner out of the backfield. He is currently rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues and should be started in all leagues in the season opener against Minnesota.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Front Office Sports - Mark Maske

Sep 10, 2026, 2:07 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to suffer discomfort during individual throwing drills during Thursday's practice and briefly went to the ground, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. It is unclear exactly what Tagovailoa is dealing with or if it will prevent him from making the start in Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he did miss the first week of training camp due to lower-back spasms. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still recovering from a partially torn ACL late last season and will not be ready for the 2026 season opener, which is why Tagovailoa was named as the starter to open the year. If Tagovailoa's injury keeps him from playing this weekend, either Cooper Rush or Jack Strand could be forced into action against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Tagovailoa only has short-term, deep-league appeal in two-QB formats as the starter to begin the season, but the full expectation is that Penix will take over once he is cleared to come back from his knee injury. If active in Week 1, Tagovailoa will merely be a low-end QB2 for fantasy managers in deep superflex leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall