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Zach Charbonnet Looks "Awesome" in Rehab Efforts, Worth Stashing Off the Waiver Wire Ahead of Week 1?
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald said that running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) looks "awesome" and "dang good" in his rehab efforts, per Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune. Charbonnet is working his way back from a torn ACL, which he suffered during Seattle's NFC Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers in mid-January. The 25-year-old is set to open 2026 on the Physically Unable to Perform List, which guarantees he will miss at least the Seahawks' first four games. However, it appears Charbonnet could have a chance to make his return as soon as Week 5. Once healthy, Charbonnet has a legitimate chance to assume the Seahawks RB1 role. While the Seahawks drafted rookie running back Jadarian Price to replace the departed Kenneth Walker III, Charbonnet recorded 730 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns across 16 games in 2025 and should have the full faith of the coaching staff. In leagues where Charbonnet is available on the waiver wire, he could be worth stashing in an IR or bench spot ahead of a potential mid-October return.
Source: Tacoma News Tribune - Gregg Bell
Source: Tacoma News Tribune - Gregg Bell
Joey Porter Jr. Expected to be Active in Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday that the team is healthy and there is not anyone that he expects to have trouble playing on Sunday in the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, which includes defensive back Joey Porter Jr., according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. It is good news for Pittsburgh's defense as they head into a favorable Week 1 matchup against Atlanta and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The 26-year-old Porter started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a back injury and missed all of the preseason while also seeking a new contract. He has been involved in trade rumors since he and the Steelers have not agreed on an extension, but at least for now, it looks like Porter will stick with the team for the season opener this weekend. The former second-rounder from Penn State had 52 tackles (35 solo), his first career sack, an interception, and 14 pass breakups in 14 starts for the Steelers in his third year in the NFL in 2025.
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Brenton Strange a Worthy Deep-League Add Despite Target Competition
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange's overall production in 2025 was held down by a hip/quad injury that forced him to miss five games. However, the 25-year-old was a productive player when he was on the field, recording 46 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns on 60 targets across 12 games. Across seven games after returning from the injury in Week 12, Strange recorded double-digit PPR fantasy points four times. The Jaguars have one of the deeper wide receiver corps in the NFL, which could make it difficult for Strange to see high-volume targets on a consistent basis. Still, Strange is a talented pass-catcher with some breakout potential, especially if Jacksonville suffers a wide receiver injury or two over the course of the season. In deeper league formats, Strange could be worth stashing in a bench spot ahead of Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cardinals Optimistic on Jeremiyah Love's Status for Week 1
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said he is "optimistic" about rookie running back Jeremiyah Love's (ankle) status for Week 1, per Darren Urban of azcardinals.com. Love is working his way back from a high-ankle sprain, which he suffered in the team's second preseason game on August 13. Given that Love's participation in team activities has been very limited since suffering the injury, it seems unlikely that he would see a true workhorse snap share in Week 1. The Cardinals also have a steady veteran option at running back in Tyler Allgeier, who is expected to play a role in the team's backfield even when Love is fully healthy. Still, it's obviously a positive sign for fantasy managers that Love is making progress and has a chance to suit up in Week 1. If he does miss Arizona's season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, it seems likely that Love would make his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Source: azcardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: azcardinals.com - Darren Urban
Keaton Mitchell Back at Practice on Monday
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed) was back at practice on Monday after missing each of the last six practices, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. It is a good sign that Mitchell is back at practice to begin the new week, but it does not guarantee that he will be active for Week 1 this Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Arizona Cardinals. If the 24-year-old is limited or out to begin the regular season, it would mean more backfield work for both Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal. In new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme, Mitchell, Hampton, and Vidal are all expected to be used in some sort of committee approach. However, Hampton is expected to see the majority of opportunities, with Mitchell and Vidal picking up scraps as change-of-pace options to keep defenses on their toes. Mitchell has intriguing explosiveness and big-play ability out of the backfield, but his inability to stay healthy so far at the NFL level and committee involvement make him merely a bench stash in fantasy leagues rather than a weekly start to open the 2026 campaign.
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Braelon Allen a Priority Add Amidst Backfield Injury Questions in New York
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen had his 2025 season ruined by injury, going down with a season-ending knee ailment in Week 4. While Allen is healthy ahead of 2026, he will open the year as the clear RB2 in New York behind Breece Hall (groin). Allen played a limited role behind Hall in the four games he was healthy for in 2025, recording 93 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 20 touches. However, Allen profiles as a bigger and potentially more physical back than Hall, which could lead to him seeing some goal-line and short-yardage work. Additionally, Hall is currently battling a groin injury that he suffered during training camp. While Hall is expected to be ready to go for Week 1, the Jets could choose to ease him into the season and give Allen some more touches in the early going. As a handcuff option with some standalone upside as well, Allen profiles as a worthy waiver wire pickup ahead of Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Cooper Kupp Still Worth Rostering in Deeper Leagues?
Across 16 games in 2025, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp recorded 47 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns on 70 targets. In Seattle's run-heavy offense, Kupp was still the team's second-highest target-earner behind superstar wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, Kupp's average of 4.4 targets per game was still the lowest of his decorated career by a sizable margin. Entering 2026, Kupp is expected to slide down to the WR3 role in Seattle behind both Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed. However, Seattle has significant questions in their backfield to open the year, which could force them to throw the ball a bit more this season. Additionally, Shaheed averaged fewer than three targets per game across nine games with Seattle last season, so there's no guarantee that he will take significant work off Kupp's plate. In deeper league formats, Kupp could be worth rostering early in the year while it's still not entirely clear what his role in Seattle will be.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brian Robinson a Top Stash Candidate Ahead of Week 1
Entering 2026, Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson appears unlikely to be a consistent fantasy producer as long as star Falcons running back Bijan Robinson stays healthy. Playing a similar role behind Christian McCaffrey for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, Robinson Jr. recorded 92 carries for 400 yards and two touchdowns across 17 games. However, Robinson Jr. has clear handcuff appeal as the obvious go-to option in Atlanta should Bijan Robinson suffer an injury. He may also see a bit more goal-line work this year, as former Falcons back Tyler Allgeier recorded eight rushing touchdowns in 2025 while playing a supporting role in the Atlanta backfield. In leagues where Robinson Jr. is available on the waiver wire ahead of Week 1, he may be worth stashing in a bench spot as a high-end handcuff running back.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks Expected to Share Plenty of Backfield Work
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks appears headed for plenty of work in Year 2. Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reported that Houston used Marks and David Montgomery nearly evenly throughout training camp, with the carry split expected to be close even if it doesn't land exactly at 50-50. Marks led the Texans with 703 rushing yards on 196 carries as a rookie, scoring twice on the ground while adding 24 catches for 208 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He also looked sharp in his main preseason appearance, turning five touches into 43 yards with a 20-yard touchdown against Las Vegas. The Texans have talked about expanding Marks' work on third downs and in the passing game as well. Montgomery will have a significant role, but Marks looks like more than a change-of-pace option heading into the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alec Pierce Should Be Good to Go for Week 1
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) "should be good" to play in Sunday's season opener against Baltimore, head coach Shane Steichen said, according to Joel A. Erickson. Pierce underwent ankle surgery in March and spent nearly all of training camp on the Active/PUP list before finally returning to practice Aug. 27. The Colts have been ramping him up since then, with Week 1 always the target. Pierce is coming off the best season of his career, catching 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. He also led the NFL with 21.3 yards per reception for the second straight year. After spending most of the summer rehabbing, Steichen's latest update is a strong sign Pierce will be back in the lineup when Indianapolis opens against the Ravens.
Source: Joel A. Erickson
Source: Joel A. Erickson
Rhamondre Stevenson Expected to See Plenty of Work Wednesday
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to see plenty of snaps in Wednesday night's opener against Seattle, according to Chad Graff. Head coach Mike Vrabel pointed to Stevenson's pass protection Monday, saying "the protection for me is what stands out" when discussing what he values in the veteran's game. That part of Stevenson's skill set could keep him on the field regardless of how the carries are divided. He played 14 games last season, rushing for 603 yards and seven touchdowns on 130 carries while adding 32 catches for 345 yards and two more scores. TreVeyon Henderson's ankle injury could open the door to even more work, but Stevenson already has a strong case for a heavy snap count because New England trusts him to protect the quarterback.
Source: Chad Graff
Source: Chad Graff
Kayshon Boutte Will be Active in Week 1, Worth a Look on Waiver Wire
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that wide receiver "Kayshon Boutte is picking up the playbook really well" and that he will be active on Sunday, Sept. 13, for the Week 1 season opener against the Buffalo Bills, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. The 24-year-old has the clearest path to fantasy relevance in his new home in Houston since entering the NFL as a sixth-round pick in 2023 by the New England Patriots out of LSU. The Texans acquired him in a trade with the Patriots this summer after they learned that second-year wideout Jayden Higgins (knee) would miss the entire 2026 season. Boutte, who has developed chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud quickly, is expected to serve as the team's WR2 behind Nico Collins despite limited time to learn the offense in training camp. In three seasons with the Pats, Boutte recorded 78 catches on 121 targets for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns, with six of his scores coming in 14 regular-season games in 2025. Boutte is rostered in only 20% of Yahoo leagues currently, but he could quickly become a popular waiver-wire target if he lights up the box score early on for Houston.
Source: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime
Source: ESPN.com - DJ Bien-Aime
Dalton Schultz a Strong PPR Streamer for Week 1
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz is one of the easier waiver-wire answers if you need help at tight end for Week 1. He caught a career-high 82 passes on 106 targets last season, and the Texans are already down two receivers before facing Buffalo. Jayden Higgins is out for the year after tearing his ACL, while Tank Dell will begin the season on injured reserve and cannot return until at least Week 5. Houston did trade for Kayshon Boutte, and Nico Collins remains the clear top target. Still, Schultz does not need a huge role change to matter in PPR. He already saw 106 targets last year, and RotoBaller's current Week 1 waiver column has him rostered in only 43% of Yahoo leagues. The three touchdowns from 2025 are a reminder that the ceiling can be frustrating, especially in non-PPR formats. If you drafted the position late and are already looking around, Schultz is an easy enough player to use Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Khalil Shakir Still Has PPR Appeal on the Waiver Wire
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir is sitting on waivers in more leagues than he probably should be, though there is one obvious concern heading into Week 1. Shakir has been out of team drills since Aug. 20 with an undisclosed injury, so this is not a player to pick up and immediately throw into a flex spot. There is still something here for PPR managers. He caught 72 passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns last season after posting 76 catches for 821 yards the year before, and Josh Allen has consistently looked his way underneath. DJ Moore joining the offense probably keeps Shakir from becoming much more than that, especially with Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid also needing targets. That's fine. Shakir does not need a breakout to have some use in fantasy. If he is available in a 12-team PPR league, he is worth grabbing for the bench while we wait to see where his health stands going into Houston.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deebo Samuel Sr. Offers Immediate Waiver-Wire Appeal
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. is more than a bench stash for fantasy managers who can still find him on waivers. He's back in a familiar offense and opens the season with a real role after Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk landed on injured reserve. San Francisco's current depth chart has Samuel with the first team, and he showed during camp that the reunion wasn't just for show, catching five passes and scoring twice during team work in the Aug. 11 joint practice with Tennessee. Samuel also wasn't finished last season, catching 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns with Washington while adding another score on the ground. Mike Evans, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey will keep this offense crowded, but Samuel doesn't need huge target volume to be useful. RotoBaller has him seventh among its pre-Week 1 wide receiver pickups and WR40 for the opener. He's a strong add in 10-team PPR leagues and can already be considered for a FLEX spot.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
