RADIO
J.K. Dobbins Offers RB2 Upside vs. Chiefs Week 1
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins will open the regular season in Kansas City on Monday Night Football. The 27-year-old was the RB18 overall in PPR formats before suffering a Lisfranc foot injury to end his 2025 season. This year, Dobbins will attempt to hold off fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman as the lead back on early downs. Coleman is expected to be Dobbins' backup but has already become a fantasy favorite within the community. Dobbins is RotoBaller's PPR RB25 against a Chiefs defense that saw multiple key players leave the team in free agency. However, they allowed the 10th fewest rushing yards and the 12th fewest rushing touchdowns last season. Dobbins should be viewed as a low-end RB2 and could sneak into the top 20 scoring running backs if he can find the end zone in Week 1.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
C.J. Stroud and Texans Agree to Put Contract Talks on Hold
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans have mutually agreed to wait until after this season to work out a long-term deal. Both sides made a run at completing an extension before the regular season began, but both sides agreed they prefer to focus on the season at hand. Stroud is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but the team exercised his fifth-year option this April to keep him through the 2027 season. The 24-year-old has been unable to build off his historic rookie season and has struggled at times in big games. The last time we saw Stroud, he completed 20 of his 47 passes for 212 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions in a losing effort in the playoffs. Stroud will enter a critical year that will determine if he is worthy of a monster extension worth over $50 million per year.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
RJ Harvey a Low-End Flex Option vs. Chiefs
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey will open the regular season in Kansas City on Monday Night Football. The 25-year-old is expected to specialize as the pass-catching running back in a crowded room after the team brought back J.K. Dobbins and drafted Jonah Coleman in the fourth round. Harvey finished his rookie season as the RB20 in PPR scoring and touchdown-reliant down the stretch. He is RotoBaller's PPR RB44 entering Week 1 with a semi-difficult matchup. The Chiefs' defense allowed the 10th fewest rushing yards and the 12th fewest rushing touchdowns last season. However, the Chiefs did struggle against pass-catching running backs last year, and the secondary took a major talent hit this offseason with the departure of their top three cornerbacks. Harvey should be viewed as a low-end flex option heading into Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Michael Mayer a Worthy Start in Favorable Week 1 Matchup
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer played a limited role as a receiver in 2025, recording 35 catches for 328 yards and one touchdown on 50 targets across 13 games. However, with Raiders TE1 Brock Bowers (knee) sidelined, Mayer could step into an elevated target share in the Raiders' 2026 season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Across four games with Bowers inactive in 2025, Mayer recorded 18 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets. While his numbers may not leap off the page, Las Vegas should field an improved passing game with new head coach Klint Kubiak calling plays in 2026. The Dolphins also profile as a favorable matchup on paper for Mayer, as Miami allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends last season. All in all, Mayer projects as a low-end top-12 tight end option for fantasy managers in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Juwan Johnson a High-Floor Tight End Streamer in Week 1
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson had the best season of his career in 2025, recording 77 catches for 889 yards and three touchdowns on 102 targets across 17 games. With Saints rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) on Injured Reserve to begin the year, Johnson appears set to open 2026 as the number two option in the New Orleans passing game behind only star wide receiver Chris Olave. In Week 1, Johnson and the Saints will travel to Detroit to take on the Lions. The Lions fielded a slightly below-average pass defense against tight ends in 2025, allowing the 13th-most fantasy points to the position. However, Detroit will be without starting safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) to begin the year, and the team lost top coverage linebacker Alex Anzalone to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. With a favorable matchup against the Lions, Johnson profiles as a low-end TE1 option for fantasy managers in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Devaughn Vele an Intriguing Deep-League Flex Option in Week 1
Across 13 games in 2025, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded 25 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns on 39 targets. The 28-year-old saw minimal usage early in the year, but his production picked up following the Saints' midseason trade of former wideout Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks. With Saints rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) on Injured Reserve to begin the year, Vele could once again be the WR2 alongside Chris Olave in New Orleans. In Week 1, the Saints have a favorable matchup on paper against a Detroit Lions defense that will be without both starting safeties in Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee). Across his final four games of 2025, Vele averaged over 12 PPR fantasy points per game. He profiles as an under-the-radar deep-league flex option in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Eli Stowers Placed on Injured Reserve
The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Saturday that rookie tight end Eli Stowers (quad, hamstring) has been placed on Injured Reserve. A second-round pick out of Vanderbilt, Stowers is expected to play a complementary role in his team's tight end room behind Eagles TE1 Dallas Goedert. While Stowers may still eventually carve out a role in the Philadelphia passing game, his NFL debut will now be delayed by at least four weeks. With Stowers on IR, Goedert's fantasy outlook for the Eagles' season opener against the Washington Commanders on Sunday looks a little bit safer. Stowers remains a worthy stash in dynasty formats, but he should be off the radar of redraft managers for the time being.
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper Rush Battling Back Spasms, Still Expected to Play in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (back) experienced back spasms on Saturday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. With Falcons quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) both ruled out for Week 1, Rush is in line to start the team's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Schefter reports that Atlanta still expects Rush to be active, but it appears he may not be fully healthy. A career backup, Rush threw for 303 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions across four games (two starts) with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025. With a hobbled Rush under center, fantasy managers should downgrade expectations for Falcons wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. If Rush is unable to play, undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Strand would be the next man up for Atlanta.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Chris Olave a Must-Start WR1 Option in Favorable Week 1 Matchup
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave put together the most productive season of his career in 2026, recording 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns on 156 targets across 16 games. The 26-year-old's numbers really took off in the second half of the season after Tyler Shough took over as the Saints' starting quarterback. Entering 2026, Olave will have a full season playing alongside Shough and should dominate target share in New Orleans, with Saints rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) opening the year on Injured Reserve. In Week 1, Olave and the Saints will travel to Detroit to take on the Lions. Detroit's pass defense fell apart down the stretch of the 2025 season, allowing more than 250 passing yards in four out of its final seven games. The Lions' secondary still has major questions in 2026, as the team will be without both starting safeties in Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) to begin the year. All in all, Olave profiles as a high-end WR1 option for fantasy managers in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alvin Kamara Best Left on the Bench in Week 1
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) looks likely to play Sunday against Detroit, but that does not make him a good fantasy start. Kamara practiced fully on Friday after being limited the previous two days, though he remains questionable with the knee injury that kept him out for most of training camp. The bigger issue is the workload. Travis Etienne Jr. is expected to lead the backfield, and the Saints can also mix in Kendre Miller even with Audric Estime ruled out. Kamara is coming off a 2025 season in which he ran for 471 yards and one touchdown in 11 games while catching 33 passes for 186 yards. Detroit was also one of the tougher matchups for running backs last season. RotoBaller has Kamara at RB63 for Week 1 and recommends leaving him out of starting lineups. His receiving role should eventually bring back some PPR value, but this is not the week to chase it.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chiefs Defense Will Have Their Work Cut Out For Them In Week 1
The Kansas City Chiefs defense will take on the Denver Broncos at home in Week 1. The Broncos offense was essentially middle-of-the-pack in 2025, scoring the 14th-most points in the league, but there are reasons to believe that their offense will be improved heading into 2026. The addition of Jaylen Waddle to the offense upgrades the Denver passing game by giving them a star receiver who has the ability to break off a big play at any time. The return of a healthy J.K. Dobbins also helps the Broncos' run game, giving them an explosive veteran out of the backfield. The Chiefs defense is also dealing with injuries, most notably Chamarri Conner being ruled out for Monday night. One positive note is that Andy Reid told the press star DT Chris Jones will suit up for the game. The combination of an improved Denver offense and a banged-up Kansas City defense makes them a shaky start this week. The Chiefs defense is ranked 19th in our RotoBaller Week 1 rankings, making them a low-end option. Fantasy managers may want to look for another defense to start this week.
Source: Harold R. Kuntz - Twitter
Source: Harold R. Kuntz - Twitter
Harrison Butker May Be Underutilized In Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the Denver Broncos on Monday night. Butker finished the 2025 season as the 10th-ranked kicker in fantasy, and he may be able to eclipse that mark this season. The Kansas City offense is expected to be improved going into 2026 with the addition of star running back Kenneth Walker and the return of Patrick Mahomes from his ACL injury. Butker hit 86.8% of his field goals in 2025, lower than his career mark of 88.4%. Despite a slight regression in accuracy, Butker could improve based on volume. If the Chiefs offense does improve year over year, there will be more scoring opportunities and therefore more kicks for Butker. His road to being a valuable fantasy kicker will be tough in Week 1 against the Broncos. If the Chiefs offense is unable to move the ball much, Butker won't find himself within field goal range often. Butker is ranked K21 in our RotoBaller Week 1 rankings, likely due to the strength of the Denver defense and the projected rust of Mahomes returning. Fantasy managers may be better off looking elsewhere for a kicker, at least for Week 1.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Emmett Johnson To Play RB2 Role Against Denver
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson will man the RB2 role against the Denver Broncos in Week 1. Johnson has impressed throughout training camp and the preseason and has established himself as the RB2 on the Kansas City depth chart. It remains to be seen how much run he will get behind the presumptive bell-cow Kenneth Walker, but Johnson should be efficient with his opportunities. The rookie back displayed that his tackle-breaking ability has transferred over to the NFL from college as he shed defenders numerous times throughout the preseason. Johnson also showed some of his pass-catching ability, giving even more reason to view him as a desirable handcuff behind Walker. Johnson's opportunities may be few and yards may be hard to come by against the Denver defense on Monday night. The Broncos allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the NFL last season, and that run-stopping ability is likely to carry over to this year. Johnson is ranked RB56 in our RotoBaller Week 1 PPR rankings, making him a very low-end flex option in deep leagues. Fantasy managers should view Johnson as more of a handcuff/bench stash rather than an actual viable starter in his current situation.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Travis Kelce Could Make History In Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will have to face the Denver Broncos on Monday night in Week 1. It will not be a soft landing for the soon-to-be 37-year-old tight end. Kelce will have to face off against arguably the best defensive unit in football to start the 2026 season. It also remains to be seen how involved Kelce will be in the offense given his age and the addition of Kenneth Walker to the backfield. The entire Kansas City offensive game plan could shift toward a more run-heavy approach given the talent they recently acquired. The passing game will also run through Rashee Rice as the primary receiver with Kelce taking a backseat. That said, Kelce is just 45 receiving yards away from passing Jason Witten for the 2nd most receiving yards for a tight end in NFL history. Kelce is ranked TE9 in our RotoBaller Week 1 PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE1 option. Fantasy managers who decided to wait on TE can plug Kelce into their lineups despite the tough matchup.
Source: Rob Collins - Twitter
Source: Rob Collins - Twitter
Xavier Worthy Should Operate As WR2 In Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy was listed on the injury report with a shoulder injury but has since been removed after practicing fully all week. Worthy should operate as the WR2 for the Chiefs, behind Rashee Rice in the pecking order. Worthy could be in line for a sneaky good season if the Kansas City offense is able to bounce back. The addition of Kenneth Walker to the backfield could open up things downfield for Worthy to succeed. Defenses will not be able to focus solely on stopping the pass now that the Chiefs have a real threat at running back. Despite being set up to succeed, Worthy could have a hard time producing against the Broncos defense on Monday night. Injuries on the Kansas City offensive line could also make things difficult for Worthy. If Patrick Mahomes does not have time to let plays develop downfield, the passing game may have to focus on the short and intermediate parts of the field where Walker, Rice, and Travis Kelce operate. Worthy is ranked WR53 in our RotoBaller Week 1 PPR rankings, making him a dart throw option in deep leagues given the tough matchup and his shaky role in the offense. Fantasy managers may be better off taking a wait-and-see approach with Worthy in Week 1.
Source: Chiefs.com
Source: Chiefs.com
