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Notre Dame Defense Looking to Start Strong in Week 1 Against Wisconsin
The Notre Dame defense will look to open the season with a bang while facing Wisconsin on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Fighting Irish allowed 313.5 yards and 17.6 points per game a season ago, and could be in store for even better marks as the defense returns several starters and playmakers. Chris Ash is the defensive coordinator for a second straight season, so that's another reason to expect more out of the unit this season. Wisconsin had one of the worst offenses in the country a season ago, averaging just 253.1 yards and 12.8 points per game, but there are a lot of new faces and personnel in place now, so things could look different. The fourth-ranked Fighting Irish are favored by multiple scores, but in a game that could be a bit lower-scoring, the defense might not deliver the best fantasy score. Fantasy owners should proceed a bit cautiously with the Notre Dame defense in this Week 1 matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ty Johnson Absent for Another Practice
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (leg) remained sidelined for Wednesday's practice, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. Johnson suffered a lower-leg injury in early August and has been out of action since, although he resumed running and sprinting last week. The 28-year-old's status is still up in the air for the Week 1 season opener against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 13, which could leave the Bills' backfield depth a little thin behind starter James Cook III. If Johnson is unable to play in Week 1, Ray Davis would see a bigger change-of-pace role behind Cook. Johnson, a sixth-rounder by the Detroit Lions in 2019 from Maryland, had 50 carries for 200 yards and a career-high three rushing scores in 2025 in his seventh year in the NFL, adding 24 receptions on 33 targets for 263 yards and two receiving touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can avoid Johnson until further notice. We should have a better idea of Johnson's Week 1 status when the Bills release their official practice reports next week.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Buscaglia
Source: The Athletic - Joe Buscaglia
Indiana Defense Looking Elite Again Heading Into Week 1 Matchup
The Indiana defense will look to pick up where it left off a season ago when opening its season facing North Texas on Saturday. Last season, the Hoosiers' defense allowed just 266 yards and 11.7 points per game, which made the unit one of the best in the country. The offense stole a lot of the headlines, but Indiana's defense was equally as dominant during the team's title run. Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines followed Curt Cignetti from James Madison, and has turned the Indiana DEF into one of the most formidable units in all of college football. The defense returns several high-level players from last year's team, so another big season is expected. In a game that Indiana should handle, expect the defense to shine and post a strong fantasy score. North Texas boasted the top offense in 2025, averaging 512.4 yards and 45.1 points per game, but the test against the Hoosiers is much stiffer than any the team faced a year ago, so the high-flying offense should be held in check.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Texas Tech Defense Should Shine in Favorable Week 1 Matchup
The Texas Tech defense gets a very favorable matchup against Abilene Christian to open the season, so a big fantasy showing should be in store. Abilene Christian played in Week 0, losing to Lamar. The Wildcats' offense produced 358 yards, but just 14 points, and it turned the ball over twice. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders' defense is coming off an incredible showing a season ago, when it allowed just 258.3 yards and 11.8 points per game. Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood guided the unit a season ago, so big things are expected in his second year with the team. Texas Tech lost some talent from last year's defense, but replaced it with experienced players from the transfer portal, and still has some high-end players from last year. That all should lead to another really strong defensive unit for the coming season, and a big fantasy score should be coming due to the Week 1 matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Steelers Looking to Get the Football to DK Metcalf
Pittsburgh Steelers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers is ready to get the football to wide receiver DK Metcalf as much as possible in 2026, according to Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "We gotta get the ball to DK. He's our No. 1 for a reason," Rodgers said on Wednesday. The 28-year-old veteran receiver has missed the last several weeks of training camp with an undisclosed injury, but Metcalf is expected to be fine for Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, and he could be targeted heavily right out of the gates. In his first year in the Steel City in 2025, Metcalf caught 59 of his 99 targets for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 regular-season starts. He is looking to bounce back in 2026, but the addition of veteran wideout Michael Pittman Jr. could pose a roadblock. The two-time All-Star should remain the focal point of the Steelers' passing game, but with the aging Rodgers running the show for one more year in an offense that could lean on the ground game, fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for Metcalf as more of a WR3/flex.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Chris Adamski
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Chris Adamski
Miami's Defense Looking to Start Strong in Week 1 Against Stanford
The Miami defense will look to slow Stanford to kick off the season. The game takes place on Friday at Stanford Stadium. The Hurricanes' defense was a great unit last season, allowing just 294.1 yards and 14.8 points per game. The unit is led by defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, who ended up being a finalist for the Broyles Award last year, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach. Like most teams, Miami will have some new players on defense, but after the team's run to the title game, high-end talents joined the roster, with several high-end transfers included. Stanford will be a decent test for the seventh-ranked Hurricanes, but after averaging just 306.5 yards and 19 points per game offensively, Miami's defense looks primed for a big showing in Week 1. The Miami DEF is a good fantasy piece to start the season, and in this matchup, it's fair to expect a good fantasy score by the end of the contest.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
J.K. Dobbins Ready to Go for Start of the Season
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that running back J.K. Dobbins is "moving well" and "ready to go for the season," according to Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. Dobbins dealt with a minor soft-tissue injury during training camp, but he is fine now and will be a full-go for the Week 1 contest against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. The 27-year-old has had a lengthy injury history since being drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Ravens out of Ohio State, but he was in the midst of a career year in 2025 in his first year in Denver before suffering a season-ending foot injury. Dobbins finished with 153 carries for 772 yards and four rushing touchdowns in 10 games while adding 11 catches for 37 yards through the air. He should be in line for plenty of early-down work and goal-line touches, but in the Broncos' expected three-man committee (also involving RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman), he is best drafted as an RB3/flex in an offense on the rise.
Source: The Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson
Source: The Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson
Oregon Defense Could Thrive Despite Week 1 Test Against Boise State
The Oregon defense gets a decent challenge in Week 1 against Boise State on Saturday afternoon. It's a game the Ducks are favored by multiple scores in, but it's not the pushover opponent a lot of top teams are facing to kick off the season. The Ducks' defense was one of the best in the country a season ago, and surrendered just 273.7 yards and 17.9 points per contest. Chris Hampton is the defensive coordinator now, after serving as the co-defensive coordinator, so he's familiar with the defense, and a lot of the players on the Ducks' roster. It should result in a pretty smooth transition from last year's elite group to this year's opening matchup. Boise State's offense averaged 424 yards and 29.9 points a season ago, but also wasn't facing top-end defensive units like the Ducks boast. Expect the Oregon DEF to hold Boise State in check and, with some big plays, to post a respectable fantasy score, at least.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Vikings Expect J.J. McCarthy to be on the Week 1 Roster
Minnesota Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley said on Wednesday that he expects quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle), who has practiced in full the last two days, to be on the Week 1 roster, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. However, Teasley would not discuss whether McCarthy would be the backup to starter Kyler Murray over veteran Carson Wentz. The 23-year-old former 10th overall pick from Michigan in 2024 injured his ankle in the second preseason game and then was held out of the preseason finale, leading to speculation that the Vikings might cut McCarthy altogether if they could not find a trade partner for him. Not only will he be on the Week 1 roster, but McCarthy could still win the backup job now that he appears to be recovered from his ankle injury. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after having knee surgery, and he flopped as the full-time starter in 2025, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in only 10 games while dealing with multiple injuries. His dynasty/keeper stock is at an all-time low going into the start of the 2026 season.
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Zay Flowers Does More Work on the Side on Wednesday
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (lower body) was on the field doing sprints and a workout on Wednesday, but he did not practice with the rest of the team, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Flowers has not practiced since last week due to a lower-body injury, but CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reports that Flowers is expected to be a full-go next week, which would put him in line to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13. The 25-year-old enters his fourth year in the NFL with potentially the highest fantasy football ceiling he has ever had, which is saying a lot after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2024 and 2025 with nine combined touchdowns. The former first-rounder from Boston College had a career-best 1,211 yards and five touchdowns on 86 receptions last year, even with quarterback Lamar Jackson missing some time with various injuries. As long as Flowers is active next weekend, he will be a must-start in all fantasy leagues as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Blake Corum "Could Emerge as the 1A" in Rams' Backfield
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum saw his workload increase over the back half of the 2025 season, and there was a case to be made that he was a more explosive runner than veteran Kyren Williams. With both backs again healthy heading into the 2026 season, there is an expectation that they could share something closer to a 50/50 workload split, and while ESPN's Dan Graziano acknowledges that Williams is likely to begin the year in a nominal lead back role, he believes that if Corum can improve as a pass protector, he could emerge as the Rams' 1A to William's 1B by year end. Both players performed as top 17 fantasy running backs over the final six weeks of the regular season, so there is obvious room for both to succeed, but with Corum going nearly six rounds later in 2026 drafts, he would prove to be a league-winner should Graziano's prediction bear out.
Source: Dan Graziano
Source: Dan Graziano
No Timeline for Isiah Pacheco's Return
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said that he does not want to put a timeline on running back Isiah Pacheco's (back) return after the team placed him on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. "He's doing everything that he can to get back. He's steadily feeling better," Holmes said. Pacheco's fantasy stock continues to fall because of injuries after he was brought to Detroit in free agency to handle change-of-pace duties behind stud All-Pro back Jahmyr Gibbs. The 27-year-old will miss at least the first four games in 2026, and possibly more if he is not ready by then. With Pacheco now injured, Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors will battle for RB2 scraps behind Gibbs, who is one of the few elite workhorse backs left in the NFL. Pacheco, a former seventh-rounder in 2022 from Rutgers, had 1,765 combined rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two years with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023, adding 57 receptions for 374 yards and two more TDs as a receiver. But he played in only 20 games the last two years and finished with 772 rushing yards and two touchdowns and 31 catches for 180 yards and a score.
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Fernando Mendoza to Serve as Raiders QB2
The Las Vegas Raiders named veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins as their Week 1 starter on Wednesday, and while some late training camp rumblings hinted at Fernando Mendoza potentially starting his career as the third quarterback behind Aidan O'Connell, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will serve as the team's primary backup, according to The Athletic's Sam Warren. Mendoza appeared in all three of the Raiders' preseason games, turning in a mixed bag on his way to a 56.5% completion percentage and two interceptions to his one touchdown. The Raiders face a daunting schedule to begin the year, a fact that could lead to early calls from fans to put the rookie on the field, but also a landmine that the coaching staff must navigate with the ultimate goal of setting Mendoza up for long-term success. Equipped with the tools and mindset to eventually become the face of the franchise, Mendoza is RotoBaller's QB29 and not a player who needs to be drafted as anything more than a third quarterback in 2026 superflex leagues.
Source: Sam Warren
Source: Sam Warren
LeQuint Allen Jr. Likely a Game-Time Decision for Week 1
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said on Wednesday that he will be "pleasantly surprised" if running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) plays in the Week 1 regular-season opener, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. Allen will likely be a game-day decision for Sunday, Sept. 13, versus the Cleveland Browns. The 22-year-old has been dealing with an undisclosed soft-tissue injury and might need more time to recover. If Allen is unavailable to kick off the season, both Bhayshul Tuten (illness) and Chris Rodriguez Jr. will have higher fantasy ceilings against Cleveland. Rodriguez, in particular, will be a sneaky starting fantasy option in point-per-reception leagues as an RB3/flex, as he has looked like the better pass-catching option this summer over Tuten. When healthy, Allen figures to be Coen's preferred third-down back after he caught 10 of 11 targets for 54 yards in 17 regular-season games in 2025 as a rookie. He also had just 23 carries for 94 yards on the ground behind Tuten and Travis Etienne Jr.
Source: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
Source: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
Panthers "Very Optimistic" Jonathon Brooks Will Be Available in Week 1
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (undisclosed) spent Wednesday's practice working with trainers on a side field for the second day in a row, but head coach Dave Canales told reporters he was "very optimistic" about Brooks' availability for Week 1 against the Bears. A second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Brooks has appeared in only three career games, re-tearing the right ACL that ended his collegiate career after handling only 12 touches as a rookie. While Canales' update offers reassurance about his availability, questions about his role still make Brooks a difficult fantasy start to begin the year, as conflicting reports out of training camp have painted a muddied picture of how he might split work with veteran Chuba Hubbard in 2026. The talent that made Brooks the first running back off the board in 2024 is still apparent, and with the higher-upside case among Carolina's backs, he is well worth taking a shot on later in drafts as RotoBaller's RB33.
Source: Joe Person
Source: Joe Person
