RADIO
Oronde Gadsden to be Phased Out of Chargers Offense
After a standout rookie season in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden has been pushed to the side by the team's recent additions to the tight end room. Gadsden hauled in 49 of 69 targets for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season as a rookie. However, the team added former Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar to a three-year, $24.3 million contract and former Pro-Bowler David Njoku as well. In training camp, footage has shown Gadsden catching passes from fourth-string quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, while Kolar and Njoku work with the first team. If this trend continues, fantasy managers will need to pump the brakes on a second-year breakout for the former Syracuse tight end.
Source: Kris Rhim - ESPN
Source: Kris Rhim - ESPN
Charlie Kolar Could be a Big Factor in 2026
Los Angeles Chargers' new tight end, Charlie Kolar, is expected to be a major factor in the team's tight end room in 2026. Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million contract with the Chargers, marking one of the team's first free-agent moves, well before the addition of former Browns tight end David Njoku. Quarterback Justin Herbert praised both Kolar and Njoku, saying, "I think it's really cool to have Charlie [Kolar] and David [Njoku]." He added that he expects Kolar to have a very good year and is excited to get him the ball. Kolar and Njoku joined Oronde Gadsden II, who had a tremendous rookie season as a receiver but struggled as a blocker. From a fantasy perspective, targeting any tight end in this offense seems risky.
Source: Alex Insdorf - Bolt Beat
Source: Alex Insdorf - Bolt Beat
Sean Tucker to be Short Yardage Back in 2026?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker is likely to be a factor on the goal line again. While Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell take over as the RB by committee, Tucker remains a factor in short-yardage and goal-line situations because of his size advantage over Irving and Gainwell. Tucker scored eight touchdowns last season, including six in his final eight games, while Irving had zero attempts inside the five-yard line. With the Buccaneers' offense hoping to bounce back after a tough finish to their season, Tucker could see more work on the goal line. Along with his value as a handcuff to Irving, Tucker is worth monitoring in most fantasy formats this season.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Jaylen Waddle Having Sensational Camp So Far
Denver Broncos' newly acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has gotten off to a fantastic start to his first training camp in Denver. Waddle has made several explosive plays, including an insane one-handed catch in the end zone, and has earned praise from head coach Sean Payton. Payton said that he is a player who "walks on water" and that "there's a clear vision for him." The former Dolphins receiver has tallied over 50 yards per game in each of his five NFL seasons and may have found his best situation yet with Bo Nix and the Broncos. The former Top-10 pick is currently ranked WR22 and could easily outshine that mark in 2026.
Source: Zac Stevens - DNVR
Source: Zac Stevens - DNVR
Adonai Mitchell's Connection With New QB is Standing Out
New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has shown strong chemistry with quarterback Geno Smith early in training camp. Smith and Mitchell had a fantastic spring and have picked up right where they left off early in camp. After being traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Jets during the 2025 season, Mitchell emerged, recording 24 receptions for 301 yards and two touchdowns in eight games with the team. The former second-round pick struggled early in his career with drops and costly mistakes, but has seen a jump in production in New York, with the team's No. 1 receiver, Garrett Wilson, out for most of the 2025 season. Despite Wilson being back and new rookies entering the fold, Mitchell has all the talent and may have found his match with Smith as his quarterback.
Source: Eric Allen - NYJets.com
Source: Eric Allen - NYJets.com
Greg Dulcich Expected to Split Snaps?
Despite a ton of hype surrounding Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich, he may not be the starting tight end in 2026. According to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques, third-round rookie tight end Will Kacmarek is expected to start right away in his rookie season, making Dulcich a TE1B or TE2 for this season. The former Broncos and Giants tight end played 10 games last season with Miami, hauling in 26 of 33 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown. With the team expected to use heavy personnel frequently in 2026, both Dulcich and Kacmarek will contribute to the offense. However, with limited passing volume or production expected from Malik Willis, Dulcich may not be worth a dart throw in fantasy this season.
Source: Marcel Louis-Jacques - ESPN
Source: Marcel Louis-Jacques - ESPN
Deebo Samuel Sr. had Offer From Colts Before Signing With 49ers
Newly signed San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. had a deal on the table from the Indianapolis Colts before deciding to return to the 49ers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Colts have been looking to add another receiver to their room, with Alec Pierce (ankle) dealing with an injury and Josh Downs as the only receiver in their current room to tally over 500 yards in any season of their career. While Samuel chose the 49ers over the Colts, that doesn't shut the door on Indianapolis adding another receiver in free agency. Players like Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, and Keenan Allen remain on the market looking for deals. While the trade of Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers has vacated targets for Pierce and Downs, adding any of those three free agents would increase risk to their current fantasy value.
Source: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
Source: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
Jalen Coker Aiming to Become 1,000-Yard Receiver
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker has set his sights on becoming a 1,000-yard receiver in 2026. Coker told the media Friday, "That was my goal as a rookie. That was my goal last year. It will be my goal this year." Despite a quad injury that cost him the first six games of the 2025 season, Coker finished strong, totaling 28 receptions for 377 yards and four touchdowns in his final six games, including his monster playoff game. If he holds that pace for a full 17-game season, Coker will reach 1,000 yards. While second-year receiver Tetairoa McMillan will operate as the WR1 in Carolina, Coker showed at the end of 2025 that he can produce even without being the alpha WR1. The third-year receiver is a dark horse to contribute in fantasy formats this season and should be rostered in all formats.
Source: Joe Person - The Athletic
Source: Joe Person - The Athletic
Terrance Ferguson Looking to Separate Himself in Rams Deep Tight End Room
Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson is eyeing a breakout season in 2026, but it won't come easy. The 2025 second-round pick had 11 receptions on 25 targets for 231 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games last season. He saw an increase in snaps toward the end of the 2025 season, jumping from 26% in the first seven weeks to 63% from Week 12 on. However, the Rams currently have one of the deepest tight end rooms in the NFL, with Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and now second-round rookie Max Klare. While efficiency was there in Year 1, Ferguson will have to separate himself as the clear-cut TE1 in this room to have a chance to contribute in most fantasy formats this season. Unless a trade or injury happens to a tight end on this team, Ferguson is a late-round flyer at best.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sean McVay Says Arrow Pointing Upwards for Aaron Donald's Return
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Friday that future Hall of Fame pass-rusher Aaron Donald's return is trending upward as the Rams approach the season. McVay said, "He doesn't expect an update when the team gets to Woodland Hills, but if there's an arrow, it's trending upward." Donald retired after the 2023 season, but the Rams' acquiring reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett this offseason reportedly piqued his interest. Donald has been training hard to see how his body responds, and if all goes well, he could suit up for the team this season. The Rams head back to their facility on August 10th, so expect a Donald update or announcement then.
Source: Sarah Barshop - ESPN
Source: Sarah Barshop - ESPN
Davante Adams Uncertain About Future After 2026 Season
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams is unsure whether 2026 will be his final NFL season or if he'll continue to play. The 13th-year receiver said this week that, "I've given (retirement) some thought. Right now, I'm just enjoying it. I can't tell you if it's going to be after this year or after next year. I truly don't know." In his first season with the Rams in 2025, he had 60 receptions for 789 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns in 14 games. With Matthew Stafford still playing at a high level and Adams remaining one of the NFL's most dangerous red-zone wide receivers, expect the veteran receiver to post low-end WR2 numbers in 2026.
Source: Nate Atkins - The Athletic
Source: Nate Atkins - The Athletic
DJ Giddens Sees First-Team Reps in Practice on Friday
Indianapolis Colts second-year running back DJ Giddens took more first-team reps in training camp practice on Friday with starter Jonathan Taylor being rested, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Giddens has struggled to catch the ball out of the backfield in team drills, with Boyd saying that he's going to need to clean that up if he wants to secure the backup role behind Taylor in 2026. The 22-year-old former fifth-rounder (151st overall) last year from Kansas State only appeared in nine games with the Colts as a rookie and had 26 rushing attempts for 96 yards and zero touchdowns while adding zero catches on just two targets. Giddens' primary competition for the RB2 role in camp this summer is Seth McGowan. Neither Giddens nor McGowan will be much of a threat to Taylor's overall workload as the Colts' bell-cow back, giving them very little fantasy appeal as handcuff options in very deep fantasy leagues this year.
Source: The Athletic - James Boyd
Source: The Athletic - James Boyd
Ben Sinnott Far More Active in Training Camp
Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott has been "far more active," as well as Chig Okonkwo, in terms of running routes and versatility under new offensive coordinator David Blough than they had been the previous two seasons, according to John Keim of ESPN. Sinnott and the other tight ends "have run a wider variety of routes" so far in training camp. "It's not even close," Sinnott said. "So many different variations. Today we're lining up at number one [receiver on the outside], we're running five-step ins, we're running corners, we're running options, we're running flat [routes]. We're just doing everything. It's so much fun. It's a breath of fresh air for this offense and how it uses tight ends." The 24-year-old Sinnott, who was a second-rounder in 2024 from Kansas State, has only caught 16 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons in D.C., so this is pretty new to him. While he could be used as more of a pass-catcher in Blough's offense, Sinnott would likely need an injury to Okonkwo to become relevant as a streaming TE in fantasy football leagues in 2026.
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Deshaun Watson Takes All First-Team Reps on Friday
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson took all of the first-team reps in practice on Friday on Day 3 of training camp, according to ESPN Cleveland. Watson went 18-for-27 passing on the day with no touchdowns and an interception. He also took all the first-team reps on the first day of training camp practice on Wednesday, with second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders getting the first-team looks on Thursday. For now, head coach Todd Monken plans to alternate first-team reps every day for Watson and Sanders as they compete for the QB1 job entering the start of the 2026 regular season in September. Watson struggled on Wednesday, at one point throwing back-to-back interceptions in 11-on-11 team drills. There's no clear leader in the competition just yet, but we should get a clearer picture once the pads go on to start next week. Whoever wins the Browns' starting QB gig will probably be on a very short leash and won't be a very exciting QB2 option in superflex fantasy leagues. Monken isn't expected to name a starter until much later in camp.
Source: ESPN Cleveland
Source: ESPN Cleveland
Unclear if Michael Penix Jr. Will Play in Preseason Games
It's unclear as of right now if either Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) or Tua Tagovailoa (back) will play in any preseason games, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said a decision will be made at a later date, and with Penix, it will depend on where he's at in his recovery from a torn ACL in 2025. Penix was at training camp on Friday, but he continued to be held out of full team drills. However, he did get all of the high red-zone snaps in 7-on-7 work. The 26-year-old former eighth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Washington had surgery last November on his knee, and it might be several more weeks before he's fully cleared for team work in training camp. While nothing will be settled in terms of the QB competition for a while, Penix's extended rehab has opened the door for Tagovailoa to become the favorite in the competition under center this summer. Penix's fantasy stock in both redraft and dynasty leagues is way down entering 2026, and he could be an injury liability for the rest of his career.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
