RADIO
Christian McCaffrey Sits Out Practice With Soreness
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey sat out Monday's practice with some soreness, but offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak does not sound concerned. According to Matt Barrows, Kubiak said the team is "just managing" McCaffrey and added that he is "fine." Kubiak later explained that McCaffrey always has a rep count during camp and that his workload is right where the 49ers want it. There is good reason for San Francisco to be careful after McCaffrey led the NFL with 413 touches last season. He played all 17 games, running for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 102 passes for another 924 yards and seven scores. No specific injury has been announced. McCaffrey is still RotoBaller's No. 4 overall player in current PPR rankings. Unless the soreness lingers or keeps him out for an extended stretch, this looks like routine summer maintenance for one of the league's busiest backs.
Source: Matt Barrows
Source: Matt Barrows
DeAndre Hopkins Accuses Steve Keim Over 2022 PED Test
Free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins made an accusation involving former Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim over the PED test that led to Hopkins' six-game suspension in 2022. According to ProFootballTalk, Hopkins said in a since-deleted social-media post that he was "set up" while playing for Arizona and pointed toward Keim when discussing what he called a contaminated test. Hopkins did not explain why he believes Keim was involved. The NFL suspended Hopkins without pay for six games in 2022 for violating its performance-enhancing drug policy. Hopkins said at the time that his November test showed trace elements of a banned substance and that he was surprised by the result. Now 34, Hopkins remains a free agent after catching 22 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns with Baltimore last season. He recently joined Georgia Tech as an assistant wide receivers coach but says he has not retired from the NFL.
Source: ProFootballTalk
Source: ProFootballTalk
Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal All in Chargers' Weekly Plans
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel does not sound interested in choosing just one backup behind Omarion Hampton. According to Alex Insdorf, McDaniel said he plans to use Hampton, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal in every game. The team's first unofficial depth chart, released Sunday, still lists Hampton as the starter, with Mitchell or Vidal in the top backup spot. Hampton rushed for 545 yards and four touchdowns in nine games as a rookie, while Vidal stepped in for 643 rushing yards and three scores. Mitchell brings a different element after averaging 5.8 yards per carry on 59 attempts for Baltimore last season. McDaniel's comment should not be read as a three-way split, but it does make the backfield a little less clean for fantasy. Hampton remains the clear lead option, while Mitchell and Vidal both have paths to weekly touches. That makes the backup picture worth watching rather than assuming one of them will simply disappear.
Source: Alex Insdorf
Source: Alex Insdorf
Evan Engram Showing More Confidence in Year 2
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is playing faster and with more confidence now that he has a full season in Sean Payton's offense, according to Chris Tomasson. Payton pointed to Engram's familiarity with the system as a reason for the difference entering his second year in Denver. Engram caught 50 passes for 461 yards and one touchdown across 16 games last season after signing with the Broncos to fill a versatile mismatch role in the passing game. He has also flashed during camp, including a touchdown from Bo Nix during two-minute work Saturday. The production in his first Denver season was relatively modest, but Payton's comments suggest Engram is operating with a better feel for what the offense is asking from him this summer.
Source: Chris Tomasson
Source: Chris Tomasson
Dyami Brown's Strong Camp Hasn't Cleared a Path to Targets
Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown has made enough plays in camp to stay in the conversation, including a touchdown from Jayden Daniels during Monday's competitive period. The problem is that Washington's receiver room changed around him. The Commanders signed Stefon Diggs last week, and their first unofficial depth chart lists Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey and Diggs atop the three receiver spots, with Brown behind McLaurin. Dan Quinn quickly dismissed that chart as little more than a preseason snapshot, so it should not be treated as final. Brown still has work to do to turn practice flashes into fantasy volume. He caught just 20 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown on 37 targets in 14 games for Jacksonville last season, playing 31% of the offensive snaps. Brown can still earn a rotational role, but Diggs is already getting more work with Daniels and the target competition is only getting tougher. His camp is worth tracking, but the path to consistent redraft value remains narrow.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
J.K. Dobbins Dealing With Soft-Tissue Issue
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins left Monday's practice because of a soft-tissue issue, head coach Sean Payton said, according to Parker Gabriel. Payton did not identify the affected area or provide a timetable for Dobbins' return. He also acknowledged concern over the number of muscle injuries Denver has dealt with during training camp and said the team added a warm-down period at the end of practice as part of its response. The update gives some clarity on why Dobbins left the field with trainers earlier Monday, but there still is not enough information to determine whether he will miss additional practice time.
Source: Parker Gabriel
Source: Parker Gabriel
Chris Brooks Returns to an Unsettled Packers Backup Battle
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks (hamstring) returned to practice Sunday after missing the first week and a half of training camp. He opened camp on the non-football injury list after straining his hamstring during the summer break, an awkward absence with the backup job behind Josh Jacobs still unsettled. Brooks handled only 27 carries for 106 yards last season, adding 13 catches for 91 yards, but Green Bay values him for more than touches. At 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, he has earned praise for his pass protection and special-teams work. The timing of his return matters because Jacobs has been out with a groin injury, while MarShawn Lloyd took most of the first-team reps in Jacobs' absence on August 6. Pierre Strong Jr. also mixed in. Brooks is healthy enough to rejoin the competition now, but he has catching up to do after missing the opening stretch of camp. RotoBaller ranks him 248th overall in half-PPR. For now, Brooks is more of an insurance-back watch than a late-round priority.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cooper Kupp No Longer Offers Reliable Weekly Volume
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp was still on the field plenty last season, but the opportunities weren't there often enough for fantasy managers. He played more than 72% of Seattle's offensive snaps across 16 games and finished with 47 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns on 70 targets. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had taken over the passing game by then, piling up 119 catches and an NFL-high 1,793 yards. Kupp remains a starter on Seattle's current depth chart and has shown he can still make plays in camp, including a pair of touchdowns during recent red-zone work. The 33-year-old isn't disappearing from the offense. The issue is whether that role produces enough targets to trust him every week. Last season suggests it probably won't. RotoBaller has Kupp at WR76 in its August 10 half-PPR rankings. He can still give fantasy managers a useful week here and there, but at this point he makes more sense as bench depth than someone to draft expecting a regular starting role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Love Better Drafted as an Upside QB2
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been a better real-life quarterback than fantasy starter over the past two seasons. He completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 games last year, adding 199 rushing yards without a score. That left him QB21 on a per-game basis after a QB16 finish in 2024, well below the QB7 pace he posted in 2023. The supporting cast is in better shape now. Tucker Kraft is back on the field after last year's torn ACL, and Matthew Golden has been one of Green Bay's biggest playmakers in camp, including a 57-yard touchdown from Love on Family Night. Love still doesn't add enough rushing production to cover for quieter passing weeks, so another QB1 season will require more through the air. His current ADP is 128.0, while RotoBaller ranks him QB18. That's a reasonable spot to take him as a QB2 with upside rather than counting on a full return to his 2023 fantasy level.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
J.K. Dobbins Leaves Practice With Trainers
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins left Monday's practice with trainers, according to Zac Stevens. There was no immediate word on what prompted his departure, and the Broncos have not identified an injury or provided any additional details. Dobbins rushed for 772 yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries across 10 games last season before a foot injury required surgery and kept him out for the remainder of the year. There is currently no indication that Monday's departure is connected to that issue. Dobbins entered training camp at the front of a Denver backfield that also features RJ Harvey and rookie Jonah Coleman. Both would become more important if Dobbins is forced to miss time, but for now there is not enough information to know whether his early exit will amount to anything significant.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Christian McCaffrey Sits Out Monday With Tightness
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is sitting out Monday's practice with what the team is describing as "tightness," according to Matt Maiocco. No specific body part has been identified, and the 49ers have not provided any additional details on the issue. McCaffrey is coming off a massive 2025 season in which he played all 17 games, rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 102 passes for 924 yards and seven more scores. San Francisco is scheduled to hold a joint practice with the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday before the teams meet in Thursday's preseason opener. McCaffrey's availability for Tuesday's session will be the next thing to watch.
Source: Matt Maiocco
Source: Matt Maiocco
Tank Dell Drawing Positive Reviews During Comeback
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is drawing encouraging reviews as he continues his return from the serious knee injury that cost him the entire 2025 season. Rookie Watch reports that Dell has looked especially explosive in camp and more fluid running routes than he did before the injury. Dell returned to padded practice last week and has been able to run routes at full speed during individual drills, although Houston has not yet moved him into regular team work. The 26-year-old last played in 2024, when he caught 51 passes for 667 yards and three touchdowns across 14 games. Getting back on the field at all is a significant step after Dell underwent multiple surgeries following his December 2024 knee injury. The early reports on his movement are promising, but progressing into one-on-one and 11-on-11 work will provide a much better test of where Dell stands in his comeback. UPDATE: Dell was involved in team drills at training camp practice on Monday.
Source: Rookie Watch
Source: Rookie Watch
Haynes King Could Have Taysom Hill-Type Role
Carolina Panthers quarterback Haynes King could have a unique role in the offense once he returns from his hamstring injury. Adam Schefter said Monday that King is going to have a role this season and that it would not surprise him if Carolina used the undrafted rookie in a Taysom Hill-type capacity. The idea has been discussed before, with King saying during rookie minicamp that he would be willing to handle that kind of assignment if the Panthers asked him to. His athleticism certainly fits the concept after he rushed for 953 yards and 15 touchdowns at Georgia Tech last season. King also showed it during the Hall of Fame Game, throwing for 180 yards and two touchdowns while adding 39 rushing yards and the game-winning score against Arizona. He suffered a hamstring injury in that game and is considered week-to-week, so any experimentation with a specialty package will have to wait until he is healthy.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Luther Burden III Present at Monday Walkthrough
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) was present and walking around during Monday's walkthrough, according to Sean Hammond. Burden suffered the injury during Saturday's practice after landing awkwardly while attempting a contested catch and remains sidelined from football activity. The second-year receiver is expected to miss the preseason, though current reporting indicates that Chicago expects him to be ready for its Week 1 matchup against Carolina on September 13. Burden caught 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns across 15 games as a rookie and entered training camp preparing for an expanded role following the offseason trade of DJ Moore. His presence at Monday's walkthrough does not represent a return to practice, so the next meaningful development will be when Burden is able to resume on-field work.
Source: Sean Hammond
Source: Sean Hammond
Roman Wilson Emerging as Steelers' WR3
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson appears to have the inside track on the team's WR3 job out of the slot, according to Nick Farabaugh. The third-year receiver is positioned to work alongside DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. in three-receiver sets, but the pecking order changes if Pittsburgh loses one of its outside starters. Farabaugh reports that rookie Germie Bernard would be the first receiver to step in on the perimeter in that situation. Wilson caught just 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns across 13 games last season, so earning a regular slot role would represent a sizable jump in opportunity. Bernard, the 47th overall pick in April, has the versatility to play inside or outside and remains an important part of the rotation. Wilson's camp has put him in position for more snaps, though an injury to Metcalf or Pittman may benefit Bernard more than it expands Wilson's role.
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Source: Nick Farabaugh
