RADIO
Deshaun Watson Functions at a "High Level" in Preseason Opener
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken was pleased with quarterback Deshaun Watson's performance in the team's preseason opener on Saturday in the 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, saying that he functioned at a "high level," per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Monken said the QB competition between Watson and second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders will continue for at least another week, and Jackson writes that "it's hard to imagine much changed Saturday in what was a predictably uneven first performance in a game setting for both QBs." The 30-year-old Watson went 11-for-15 passing for 126 yards, adding four rushing yards on three carries while losing a fumble. It was Watson's first game action since October of 2024 due to a torn right Achilles tendon. Almost all of Watson's yardage on Saturday came on short throws, and his most impressive work came while converting a first-and-25 with three straight completions. Sanders finished his outing going 6-for-11 passing for 79 yards and an interception. If Watson is solid in joint practices with the Buffalo Bills this week and in the second preseason game, he could be named the starter by Monken.
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Marcus Mariota Suffers Sprained MCL, Likely Out for Rest of Preseason
Washington Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota (knee) suffered a sprained MCL in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Miami Dolphins that will likely keep him out for the rest of the preseason, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's unclear at this time if Mariota's knee injury will keep him sidelined going into Week 1 of the 2026 regular season versus the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 13. Either way, the Commanders might be in the market for a veteran signal-caller to provide more depth behind starter Jayden Daniels. The other QBs on the roster are Sam Hartman and undrafted rookie Athan Kaliakmanis. The 32-year-old Mariota played a big part in the Commanders' offense a year ago with Daniels only playing in seven games due to injury, although he went 2-6 in his eight starts while throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his 11 total games played.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Packers Want to Get MarShawn Lloyd More Touches
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd saw only five total opportunities in the team's preseason opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but head coach Matt LaFleur wants to get him more involved in the team's next outing against the Broncos. After struggling to stay healthy through his first two years in the league, the 2024 third-round pick has had a strong training camp, spending extended time working with the first-team offense as Josh Jacobs (groin) deals with a groin injury of his own. Speaking on Lloyd's effort against the Steelers, LaFleur told reporters, "MarShawn is a guy, he's going to go 1,000 mph. Sometimes as a back, you do have to have a little patience to let things develop, but I was pleased with his effort." With more playing time will come more opportunities to develop that patience, and the indication is that the team wants to put more on Lloyd's plate in the lead-up to the regular season.
Source: Ryan Wood
Source: Ryan Wood
Tucker Kraft Cleared to Participate in Team Work on Sunday
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) will do 11-on-11 team work for the first time in training camp on Sunday, head coach Matt LaFleur told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. After tearing his ACL in Week 9 of last year, Kraft opened camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but he has been progressing nicely and will take a huge step on Sunday in working with the rest of the team at practice. Barring a setback with his surgically-repaired knee, the 25-year-old should be ready to roll for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. The former third-rounder from South Dakota State in 2023 was one of the best tight ends in the league in eight games in 2025 before his season-ending injury, catching 32 of his 44 targets for 489 yards and six touchdowns, and he's not going to come at a discount in fantasy drafts in 2026. RotoBaller currently has Kraft ranked as the No. 5 TE, and his draft stock is only going to rise now that he's been cleared to practice with the rest of the squad.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Keon Coleman Banged Up in Preseason Opener
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught three passes in the team's preseason opener against the Panthers, including a nine-yard touchdown from Josh Allen on the second drive of the game, but he appeared to favor his lower body after being tackled on a fourth-down converting catch on the next drive. The Bills' first-team offense looked sharp in limited work, but both Coleman and DJ Moore got banged up and exited the game early. Head coach Joe Brady indicated after the game that neither situation is overly serious, and the Bills have a scheduled off day. Still, both statuses will need to be monitored in the lead-up to the regular season.
Source: Cameron Wolfe
Source: Cameron Wolfe
Phil Mafah Will be OK After Suffering Chest Injury
Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah (chest) exited Saturday night's preseason opener against the Seahawks with a chest injury and did not return. A seventh-round pick in 2025, Mafah earned only seven total opportunities as a rookie, but with the team's primary backup job up for grabs behind locked-in starter Javonte Williams, he has been part of a training camp battle that includes fellow second-year player Jaydon Blue and veteran Malik Davis. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated after the game that the injury did not appear to be overly serious. Still, Mafah's status bears watching in the lead-up to the regular season. While the second running back spot in Dallas holds almost no standalone value, whoever earns the role will become an important handcuff to Williams.
Source: Todd Archer
Source: Todd Archer
Jaylen Warren a Safe Bet to Produce from His Latest Ambiguous Situation
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has developed into one of the league's most well-rounded backs, topping 300 receiving yards in three straight seasons and 1,100 yards from scrimmage in two of three. Whether paired with a bruiser like Najee Harris or a pass-catching specialist like Kenny Gainwell, Warren has shown a knack for filling in wherever needed and often excelling while doing so. Now slated to share a backfield with a similar jack-of-all-trades in Rico Dowdle, there is an opportunity for both backs to produce in Mike McCarthy's up-tempo offense. Dowdle has rushed for 1,000 yards at each of his last two stops with the Panthers and Cowboys and has familiarity with McCarthy's system. Still, with Warren having already earned the trust of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the incumbent could have an early advantage in any workload split, and his reliability to always do the right thing will make snaps difficult to take away. Both players represent excellent value in the middle rounds of 2026 drafts, and as the current RB27 by ADP, Warren has the opportunity to greatly outperform expectations after his RB16 finish a year ago in a not dissimilar situation.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Williams' Stock Rising with His Upside on Display
With the benefit of time and film study to reflect on the New England Patriots' preseason opening tie with the Colts, ESPN's Mike Reiss has labeled second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams as one of his three offensive risers, along with third-string quarterback Behren Morton and potential third running back Jam Miller. Williams got into his deep bag of releases, showcasing a slick crossover move on his 12-yard touchdown grab and offering a glimpse of the upside he can provide when pairing the full package with his impressive straight-line speed. While Reiss points out that it wasn't all perfect for the 2025 third-round pick, Williams will have the opportunity to further hone his skills against one of the league's best secondaries when the Patriots meet up with the Eagles for joint practices later in the week. Quietly putting together an impressive camp of late, Williams is making a case for an expanded role in a receiver room not lacking talent.
Source: Mike Reiss
Source: Mike Reiss
Chris Godwin Jr. Offers Roster Flexibility as Potential Fourth Fantasy WR
After what was an electric start to his eighth season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. suffered a severe ankle dislocation in October of 2024 and has played in only nine games since, battling through injury complications for most of his 2025 campaign. At 30 years old, further injury risk and a potential age-related decline are inescapable pieces of Godwin's overall profile, but with those elements thoroughly baked into his 2026 draft cost, he has the potential to be one of the most valuable picks in the later rounds of drafts. While the departure of six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans has created an opportunity for 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to find more work on the outside, Godwin could still see heavy volume from the slot, and it should come as no surprise if their target totals wind up in a similar spot at the end of the year. At RotoBaller's WR44, if Godwin can manage anything close to a full-season slate, he should provide one of the safest floors from his range of the draft, and he provides tremendous roster construction value as a reliable fourth receiver.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Holani Leads Seattle's Backfield in Carries on Saturday
Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani played with the No. 2 offense in Saturday's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He recorded 12 carries for 42 yards. While Holani's performance was not indicative of much, his presence on the field suggested that rookie running back Jadarian Price may have already usurped him on the depth chart. Price did not play on Saturday, along with all of the first-team skill players. The Seahawks have made it clear all offseason that Holani is part of their plan for 2026. However, this game suggests that he may be little more than an insurance back for fantasy this season. If Price opens the year as the lead back, and Zach Charbonnet eventually returns from injury, Holani could become a bit of an afterthought.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Brashard Smith Outshined in Preseason Opener
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith drew the start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams, but in his battle to earn the primary backup role behind Kenneth Walker, the points in his favor end right about there. Smith carried the ball eight times for 21 yards and brought in both of his targets for an additional 12 yards, but he was outshined by rookie Emmett Johnson, who looked explosive in gaining 59 yards on his 12 carries. Johnson also added three catches for 10 yards and ran in a four-yard touchdown that was nullified by a holding penalty. As a rookie in 2025, Smith was unable to carve out a meaningful role in a backfield led by Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, finishing the year with 323 yards and one touchdown on 79 total opportunities. With a significantly higher talent level in the room for 2026, he could struggle to find regular work and is not likely to make any fantasy impact without a notable injury ahead of him.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Drew Lock Efficient in Preseason Week 1
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock drew the start in Saturday's preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. He went 9/13 for 40 yards and an opening drive touchdown pass. Lock looked comfortable in an offense run by new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. While Lock is clearly the backup to Sam Darnold, the opening drive provided a nice look at what Fleury may bring to the table. He is a first-time play caller, and the biggest variable for the Seahawks' offensive success considering the departure of Klint Kubiak. If Lock can be this efficient and effective in an opening game script under Fleury, hopefully that will also translate to Darnold and the rest of the offense.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Montorie Foster Jr. Catches Seahawks' Lone Touchdown in Preseason Week 1
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. caught five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown in Seattle's preseason loss to the Cowboys. Foster earned seven targets in this game as the 2025 undrafted free agent looks to earn a spot on the active roster this season. Foster's path to the roster will be difficult. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton, and Rashid Shaheed are all locks to make the team. Jake Bobo is a favorite in the locker room and seems likely to make the team as well. That leaves Foster to compete with rookie Emmanuel Henderson Jr. and Ricky White III for a potential sixth wide receiver spot. Although his odds are long for Foster, it was nice to see that Seattle possesses solid depth at the position behind the household names.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Elijah Arroyo Plays With No. 2 Offense in Preseason Opener
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo played in Seattle's preseason opener against the Cowboys on Saturday. He recorded one reception for 12 yards. Given that Seattle did not play its first-team offense, Arroyo's playing time suggests that the 2025 second-round pick is squarely behind AJ Barner at the top of the depth chart. Barner broke out in 2025 while Arroyo struggled through injuries. The team will likely employ two-tight end sets relatively often, which means Arroyo should see the field quite a bit. However, it is clear that the tight end of value for fantasy will be Barner. Arroyo is a talented player who could eventually emerge in this offense, but for now he is best left on waivers until he proves himself on the field.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dallas Goedert a Late-Round Value in 2026 Drafts
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert was the fantasy TE3 in 2025, but even after an offseason of change left him in a potentially better spot heading into his ninth season, the veteran is regularly falling outside the top 12 of the position and sometimes going undrafted altogether in shallower leagues. The Eagles said goodbye to three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, and while they spent a first-round pick on slot receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) as part of the plan to replace his production, the rookie has been sidelined by a hamstring injury for much of his first training camp. Goedert could be hard-pressed to repeat his career-high 11 touchdowns from a season ago, but he remains one of the team's most valuable red zone weapons, keeping his ceiling high, while a potentially increased target share would serve to raise his floor. At RotoBaller's TE13, he's one of the more underrated players going at the tail end of 2026 drafts and is particularly attractive in two-tight-end builds.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
