RADIO
Kenneth Walker III Getting Workhorse Treatment in Kansas City
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III has been everywhere in training camp. The Athletic reports that Walker is getting the ball "all the time," with the Chiefs leaning on him in the screen game and using him as the primary back in the red zone. That's a pretty sharp change from Seattle, where Zach Charbonnet took a big chunk of the work. Walker ran for 1,027 yards on 221 carries last season but scored only five times. Charbonnet, meanwhile, had 12 rushing touchdowns on 184 carries. Walker also caught 31 passes for 282 yards, and Kansas City has been testing that part of his game much more this summer. Andy Reid has rotated backs by series plenty over the years, but The Athletic says that doesn't appear to be the plan here. If the camp usage holds, Walker is headed for more catches, more goal-line chances and a heavier overall workload. That's a big fantasy boost for a back who already showed during Seattle's Super Bowl run that he can carry the load.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
Antonio Williams No Longer Being Pushed Up Draft Boards Out of Necessity
The Washington Commanders spent a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams after leaving the position largely unaddressed through free agency. Although he projects as something close to a slot-only player, Washington's lack of receiver depth behind Terry McLaurin pushed Williams up draft boards out of perceived necessity. Once training camp opened, free agent tight end Chig Okonkwo was reportedly used as the de facto second receiver until the late free agent signing of veteran Stefon Diggs allowed the rest of the room to fill in more naturally as depth pieces. Now part of a rotation featuring Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane, Williams appears unlikely to carve out a significant role as a rookie and has fallen to RotoBaller's WR98 for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Fernando Mendoza Throws Pick-Six in First Preseason Start
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza got his first professional start in Thursday night's preseason matchup with the Texans, and on the team's opening drive, he threw an interception to rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz that was returned 80 yards for a touchdown. Playing the entire first half, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft led four more drives, resulting in a field goal and three punts before Aidan O'Connell took over in the second half and managed a come-from-behind victory. Along with a handful of starters, veteran Kirk Cousins was given the night off following a productive joint practice with the Texans, but after the game, head coach Klint Kubiak declined to name a starter for the regular season. "We got another week. I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job... It should always be that way for all positions. So, let's keep going." Barring an unforeseen surprise, Mendoza will begin his rookie campaign backing up Cousins. Still, he has reportedly impressed behind the scenes and could find the field earlier than initially projected, making him an intriguing late-round pick in superflex leagues as RotoBaller's QB29.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mike Washington Jr. Leads Raiders in Carries and Rushing Yards
With the Las Vegas Raiders giving a handful of their starters the night off, rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. drew the start and looked sharp in Thursday night's 22-20 preseason win over the Texans. Washington took his first carry of the game 33 yards through the middle of the Texans' defense before first overall pick Fernando Mendoza threw an interception on the next play that was returned 80 yards for a touchdown. Washington ended the night with a team-leading 56 yards on nine carries and looks to have positioned himself well as the primary backup to 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty. As RotoBaller's RB67, Washington does not project to see enough of a standalone role to garner fantasy consideration in 2026, but as a handcuff to Jeanty, he offers valuable insurance after a promising showing on Thursday night.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
No Determination Made on Whether Jayden Daniels Will Play Saturday
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and the rest of his staff have yet to decide whether or not quarterback Jayden Daniels will play in the team's second preseason game. Ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Lions, Quinn met with the media and shared that "a good amount of starters" will get some playing time, but that he would look at each player on a case-by-case basis, according to senior team writer Zach Selby. Daniels is a player on whom a determination has yet to be made, as Quinn wants to know the health of the players around him first. Daniels is looking to bounce back from a disappointing, injury-marred second season, and by all accounts, he has looked sharp and decisive in new offensive coordinator David Blough's under-center system. The former second overall pick and 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year is RotoBaller's QB3.
Source: Zach Selby
Source: Zach Selby
Jaguars Preparing Travis Hunter to Be the No. 1 CB
Billed as football's answer to Shohei Ohtani when he was selected second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars two-way player Travis Hunter spent the majority of his rookie campaign on the offensive side of the ball before an LCL injury ended his season right when he looked to be on the verge of a breakout. Heading into his second season, the Jaguars' depth chart has dictated that he will spend most of his time on defense, and the team is preparing him to be the number one cornerback. In defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's zone-based system, Hunter is unlikely to follow the opponents' top receiver across the formation, but after gaining 10-12 pounds of muscle over the offseason, he will be trusted to shut down one side of the field. Hunter projects to see time on offense still, but with a receiver room of Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., and Jakobi Meyers manning the top reps, he will be hard-pressed to find any consistent fantasy value outside of IDP leagues with positional delineations and a cornerback requirement.
Source: Jeff Howe - The Athletic
Source: Jeff Howe - The Athletic
KC Concepcion Moved Everywhere Within WR Room
The Cleveland Browns spent a 2026 first-round pick on wide receiver KC Concepcion, and since Day 1, head coach Todd Monken and the offensive staff have not held back in loading up his plate. "He's handled us moving him around at an elite level," Monken told team reporter Kelsey Russo. "It's not easy to - all right, you're at Z, OK, you're at F, you're at X. We're going to ask you to do all of these things within our offense, and he's been impressive." Concepcion won the Paul Hornung Award in 2025 as the most versatile player in college football, and that versatility was on full display in his first preseason game, in which he caught three passes and scored on a 14-yard touchdown run while also returning punts. Concepcion projects to feature heavily in three-receiver sets along with veteran Jerry Jeudy and fellow rookie Denzel Boston, and the ability to play all three spots should help to keep him on the field regardless of alignment. At RotoBaller's WR46, the 21-year-old is a high-floor target in the middle rounds of drafts who could also offer week-winning spike performances.
Source: Kelsey Russo
Source: Kelsey Russo
Parker Washington Expected Back Next Week
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (undisclosed) is expected to return to practice next week after missing time with an undisclosed injury, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Coming into training camp as part of a crowded receiver room, Washington quickly reestablished the connection he formed with quarterback Trevor Lawrence down the stretch of the 2025 season. Washington was the WR12 over the final nine weeks of the regular season, while Lawrence was the QB1 over that same span. By most accounts, Washington has again proven to be Lawrence's favorite target for much of camp, and with his availability for Week 1 not looking to be in question, the fourth-year receiver still represents a value in the middle rounds of drafts, priced as the WR31 by current ADP.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Matas Buzelis Adds Strength Ahead of Year 3
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis told Cousins with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady that he added roughly 12 pounds this offseason and hired a personal chef to help keep the weight on. Bulls On SI's Elias Schuster noted that Buzelis wants to play through more contact and cut down on his three-point volume after taking 6.4 attempts per game last season. The 21-year-old nearly doubled his scoring in Year 2, averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 29.2 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. The added strength could help his finishing and rebounding, though Chicago's frontcourt now includes rookie Caleb Wilson and Nicolas Claxton. Buzelis still has breakout appeal, but the Bulls' crowded rotation keeps his fantasy ceiling tied to minutes.
Source: Elias Schuster
Source: Elias Schuster
Tetairoa McMillan to Be a "Huge Part" of Panthers Offense
The Carolina Panthers recently participated in a joint practice with the Jaguars ahead of Friday night's preseason matchup. While the session got off to a slow start for the Panthers' offense, things quickly settled into place once quarterback Bryce Young started looking in the direction of wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. "Bryce just started finding TMac in different ways," head coach Dave Canales told reporters after practice. "Explosive passes, touchdowns, things that went into the end zone. It was fantastic to see." Young connected with the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year on a number of plays throughout practice, including a leaping catch in the corner of the end zone that beat double coverage. Afterward, Young spoke about McMillan's importance to the team. "It makes my job so much easier, having a guy like him out there that you can trust one-on-one," he shared. "Obviously he's a huge part of what we do." Following a WR15 finish as a rookie, McMillan is being drafted as the WR17 but has a chance to crack the top 12 as a focal point of the Panthers' offense.
Source: Alex Zietlow - The Charlotte Observer
Source: Alex Zietlow - The Charlotte Observer
Cavaliers Acquire Ismael Kamagate's Draft Rights
The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the draft rights to center Ismael Kamagate from the LA Clippers, closing a minor piece of the expanded multi-team deal that also sends Peyton Watson and Cam Whitmore to Cleveland, Max Strus to the Clippers, Tre Mann to Washington, and Julian Reese to Denver. Kamagate, the No. 46 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has never played an NBA game and recently signed with OpenJobMetis Varese after spending last season with Besiktas. This is strictly a trade-facilitation move, leaving no fantasy angle to chase. Watson is the Cleveland piece with the clearest fantasy relevance.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Raiders Not Ready to Name a Starting Quarterback for Week 1
The Las Vegas Raiders open the regular season by hosting the Miami Dolphins on September 13, but head coach Klint Kubiak is not ready to name a starting quarterback, according to ESPN's Ryan McFadden. With veteran Kirk Cousins held out of Thursday's preseason matchup against the Texans, first overall pick Fernando Mendoza received his first professional start, throwing an interception on the opening drive that was returned 80 yards for a touchdown. When asked after the game about who would start the regular season, Kubiak told reporters, "We got another week. I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job... It should always be that way for all positions. So, let's keep going." By all accounts, Mendoza has impressed behind the scenes with his work ethic and mentality, but McFadden reported on Tuesday that the coaching staff is still looking for the improved timing and anticipation that will come with additional reps. Regardless of who begins the season under center for the Raiders, Mendoza is projected to take the job from Cousins before the end of his rookie season, making him a dart-throw third quarterback in superflex drafts as RotoBaller's QB29.
Source: Ryan McFadden
Source: Ryan McFadden
Darius Garland Says He Is Back to 100 Percent
Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland says he is back to 100 percent after the injury that disrupted his last year in Cleveland and delayed his Clippers start. Speaking with HoopsHype at New Balance's Beantown Elite camp, Garland said the issue began as a bone bruise before worsening into torn ligaments that required reconstruction. He is now excited for a full training camp under Tyronn Lue and said he has discussed borrowing from Kyrie Irving's 2016 Finals role. Garland averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 threes in 2024-25, so a clean offseason makes him a strong bounce-back fantasy target.
Source: Cyro Asseo
Source: Cyro Asseo
Derek Meadows Stepping up in Alabama Receiver Room
Alabama wide receiver Derek Meadows has had a strong camp in the absence of Lotzeir Brooks (undisclosed) and Noah Rogers (undisclosed), according to Charlie Potter of BamaOnLine. The four-star recruit in the Class of 2025 out of Las Vegas played in 12 games last season, but he was primarily on special teams and did not record an offensive stat. "He got more opportunities today than most of the receiving corps, and I thought today was a really good growth day for him," head coach Kalen DeBoer said of Meadows. "Competitive catches, in particular. Using that big body to go up and make some plays. I like the way he's battling, and he's really growing." Quarterback Keelon Russell is expected to be named the starter, and he'll have no shortage of offensive weapons to work with. Meadows could be an impact player in 2026.
Source: BamaOnLine
Source: BamaOnLine
Max Strus Earns Praise From Lawrence Frank
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Max Strus received a strong endorsement from president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, who called him "a big part" of the team's plans after the trade from Cleveland. Frank praised Strus as a shooter with feel who can handle, pass, and fit into different lineup groups. The veteran wing gives Los Angeles another floor spacer after shooting 37.0 percent from three across his NBA career. His 2025-26 regular season was derailed by a left foot Jones fracture, but he returned in the playoffs and averaged 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 threes across 18 games. Strus should get clean catch-and-shoot chances next to Darius Garland, though his fantasy value still depends on minutes and shot volume in a crowded Clippers rotation.
Source: Joey Linn
Source: Joey Linn
