RADIO
Rashid Shaheed Could Emerge as Key Part of Offense
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed could play a pivotal role on offense this season. Shaheed had a very positive camp, earning praise from coaches, teammates, and media. It was a great step in the right direction for the 28-year-old, who was due to make a leap after posting relatively modest numbers following his trade from New Orleans to Seattle last season. Shaheed finished last year as the WR39 in PPR leagues, catching 59 passes for 687 yards and two touchdowns. Those are fine numbers, but the latest buzz from Seattle indicates that Shaheed should take another step forward after his first full offseason with the Seahawks. In fact, it's not crazy to say that he could open the year as the team's No. 2 receiver, ahead of Cooper Kupp. While Kupp is getting older and declining in productivity, Shaheed is trending up, and he represents a flashy playmaking option for quarterback Sam Darnold. A top-36 finish is well within reason for the Seahawks, who will likely lean on the passing game with Kenneth Walker gone and Zach Charbonnet (knee) on the PUP list. Shaheed ranks as a WR4/WR5 for now, but in a perfect world, he has high-end WR3 upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Marshawn Lloyd Ready to Lead the Packers Backfield
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd is ready to step into the lead-back role for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, despite playing just one game over the last two seasons. Injuries have kept Lloyd sidelined for all but one game throughout his NFL career. However, the Packers are optimistic he'll be able to fill the void left by Josh Jacobs, who was recently placed on the commissioner's exempt list. "[Lloyd is as] ready as he's ever been since he's been here," general manager Brian Gutekunst told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. "He looks good. He's handling all the physicality, the things that he needs to as a running back." Head coach Matt Lafleur has echoed Gutekunst's optimistic tone, but he also declined to pencil Lloyd into a specific workload. Given that Lloyd has just seven touches as a pro, it's unlikely that he'll occupy an every-down role. In all likelihood, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks will earn some touches. With that being said, if there's a Green Bay running back to roster, it's Lloyd. He projects as a fringe RB2/RB3 this week and for the duration of Jacobs' absence.
Source: Rob Demovsky
Source: Rob Demovsky
Trey'Dez Green Looks to Justify Lofty Ranking
Following a massive effort in the 2025 Texas Bowl, which put a cap on a solid second collegiate campaign, LSU tight end Trey'Dez Green recorded a solid performance in the Tigers' season-opening win over Clemson. Green, the No. 1 tight end in RotoBaller's positional rankings, finished the 51-10 win with four receptions for 58 yards and will now face another lesser opponent in Louisiana Tech, which recorded a throttling 80-6 win over Northwestern State in Week 1. In that win, LA Tech limited Northwestern State to just 43 yards passing. Last week against Clemson, LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt totaled 230 yards passing and a touchdown. Green is projected to score 10.7 fantasy points, and it's fair to expect more than that in what should be a lopsided matchup in the Tigers' favor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ethan Davis Hoping for More in Week 2
With a more challenging matchup coming up in Week 2, Tennessee tight end Ethan Davis is looking to jumpstart his season. Following a blowout win over Furman last week, the Volunteers are preparing to take on Georgia Tech on the road on Saturday, when Davis hopes to add to his ho-hum performance against the Paladins. The Tennessee tight end finished the game with just one catch for 17 yards, but found the end zone to record his first touchdown of the season. Last week against Colorado, Georgia Tech allowed the Buffaloes to total just 124 yards passing on an average of 4.6 yards per completion. Still, tight end Charlie Williams scored a touchdown while totaling two receptions for 28 yards. Davis has scored in two of his past four games, dating back to last season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre Tucker Has Clear Path to Fantasy Relevance in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker had a strong training camp and is expected to be the team's top wide receiver in 2026. In 2025, Tucker hauled in 57 of 92 targets for 696 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 51 rushing yards on 11 carries. With Jakobi Meyers gone and the team not making any significant additions, Tucker is in a good spot in head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. Tucker was a favorite of Kirk Cousins' during the preseason, catching five passes for over 50 yards in just three drives together. While he is not a clear startable option in Week 1, his current role in Las Vegas is enticing, and fantasy managers should take note of his workload against Miami.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyson Jost Agrees to Tryout Deal With Predators
Center Tyson Jost will join the Nashville Predators for training camp on a professional tryout agreement, Alex Daugherty of the Tennessean reports. Jost hopes to earn a second chance with the franchise after spending the 2025-26 season in Nashville. He registered 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 69 appearances. The 10-year veteran has tallied 165 points (69 goals, 96 assists) in 564 career games. Even if he makes the roster, Jost will have a limited role with the Predators, keeping him off fantasy radars.
Source: Alex Daugherty
Source: Alex Daugherty
Jadarian Price Carries Immense Upside in 2026
Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price is likely to carry a significant workload in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. According to multiple reports, the first-round pick has had a fantastic training camp and is expected to be a main beneficiary of Zach Charbonnet's absence. Price was listed as the RB2 on Seattle's depth chart, behind George Holani, but reports have indicated that Price will be the lead back in Week 1. He also faces the Patriots' stout run defense, which allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs last season. Price's workload will be a main talking point during Wednesday night's game, as he is a high-risk, high-reward option in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jelani Thurman Has Favorable Matchup Upcoming
After helping North Carolina upset TCU in an overseas matchup to begin the season, Tar Heels tight end Jelani Thurman looks to keep it rolling in Week 2. Thurman recorded four receptions for 94 yards during UNC's unexpected victory over the Horned Frogs, placing him as TE13 in RotoBaller's rankings with what should be a favorable matchup against East Tennessee State on Saturday. The Buccaneers have already played two games to kick off their FCS season, allowing an average of 226 yards passing per game, including a Week 1 matchup with Campbell in which ETSU allowed the Fighting Camels to throw for 343 yards. North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. totaled 232 yards passing but was held out of the end zone this past week. Thurman is projected to score 8.2 fantasy points entering this game, and I could see him exceeding that total.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ilya Samsonov Joins Sharks on One-Year, Two-Way Deal
Goaltender Ilya Samsonov will attempt an NHL comeback in 2026-27, having signed a one-year, two-way contract with the San Jose Sharks. After six years in the NHL, Samsonov spent the 2025-26 campaign with HC Sochi in the KHL. This could be a smart pickup for the Sharks, given Samsonov's solid play throughout his NHL career. He has posted a 118-48-25 record, a 2.77 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage. Last season, the Sharks ranked 25th in save percentage, with Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic sharing starts in the crease.
Source: San Jose Sharks
Source: San Jose Sharks
Senators Expect Artem Zub to Be Ready for Training Camp
Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub (lower body) is expected to be available for training camp, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports. Senators general manager Steve Staios told Garrioch that Zub is still rehabbing from a lower-body injury he suffered during the playoffs, but he expects the Russian rearguard to be fine for training camp. Zub is a versatile defenseman who contributes in all areas. He finished last season with 30 points (five goals, 25 assists), 92 SOG, 120 blocks, and 66 hits in 81 games. The 30-year-old led his team with a plus-22 rating.
Source: Bruce Garrioch
Source: Bruce Garrioch
Chris Bell Has a Clear Path to Major Role in Miami
Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell is a high-upside option to target late in drafts and on the waiver wire this season. In his senior season at Louisville, Bell had 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games. Bell was drafted in the third round and would've gone much higher if not for a torn ACL in the 2025 season. The rookie receiver has recovered at a tremendous pace and played in the team's final preseason game, a positive sign for his Week 1 outlook. He was listed as a starter on the team's Week 1 depth chart alongside Malik Washington and fellow third-round rookie Caleb Douglas. While he shouldn't be a starting player in fantasy this week, he offers immense upside, as the climb to the top of the depth chart is not too crowded.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Caleb Odom Hoping to Build on Big Week 1
Ole Miss tight end Caleb Odom is coming off a productive effort during the Rebels' Week 1 win over Louisville and is poised to build on his hot start to the season in Week 2. Odom finished this past week's victory with three receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown, which earned him the position as TE12 in RotoBaller's positional rankings. Ole Miss takes on an inferior opponent in Charlotte this week, a team that was just upset by FCS foe The Citadel, which used its running game to power past the 49ers. Still, Bulldogs tight end Whit Hobgood recorded a couple of catches. If Ole Miss continues to ride quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who exploded for 336 yards passing and three TDs last week, Odom will be one of the primary beneficiaries against a bottom-of-the-barrel adversary.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Wizards Promote Amber Nichols to Vice President of Basketball Operations
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports that the Washington Wizards are promoting Amber Nichols to vice president of basketball operations and personnel. The former Capital City Go-Go general manager most recently served as Washington's director of amateur evaluation, running point on the process that produced AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 and Felix Okpara at No. 46 in June. Her wider personnel remit matters for a roster with a real minutes crunch. Alexandre Sarr, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, and Will Riley are all fighting for touches behind Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and an evaluator being handed more say usually points to patience with drafted players rather than veteran fill-ins. Dybantsa's rookie usage is the piece to track.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Thatcher Demko Remains Without Timeline for Return
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (hip) doesn't have a timeline for his return, Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK reports. Recent reports indicated that Demko's availability for training camp is in doubt. Since he doesn't have a timeline for a return, the Canucks may also be without Demko at the start of the regular season. Demko had hip surgery in January. His absence leaves Kevin Lankinen as Vancouver's de facto starter. Last season, Lankinen struggled to fill Demko's shoes, posting a 11-27-5 record.
Source: Rick Dhaliwal
Source: Rick Dhaliwal
Rhamondre Stevenson Expected to be Workhorse in Week 1
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to handle the bulk of the workload in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. In 2025, Stevenson totaled 948 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 162 touches across 14 games. He split the workload with rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who totaled over 1,100 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. Now, Henderson (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 1's matchup against the Seahawks, opening the door for Stevenson to get more work. The matchup is still tough, as Seattle allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs and the fewest yards per carry last season. Still, with a great offense and as the clear workhorse, Stevenson is a mid-RB2 in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
