RADIO
Courtland Sutton a Risky Flex for Week 1
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is still usable Monday night against Kansas City, but he is no longer an automatic fantasy start. Sutton caught 74 passes for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns last season, though Denver has since added Jaylen Waddle to a receiving room that also includes a rising Pat Bryant. That makes the target split harder to trust right away. Kansas City does not make things any easier. Sutton was held to four catches in both meetings with the Chiefs last season, finishing with 59 yards in one and 40 in the other without scoring. RotoBaller has Sutton at WR38 for Week 1 and lists him as a risky start for Monday night. There is still touchdown upside, and Sutton should remain involved near the goal line, but fantasy managers with another solid WR3 or flex option can leave him on the bench. He is more of a matchup-dependent flex than a receiver who needs to be forced into lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zay Flowers Questionable to Return With Hamstring Injury
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) is questionable to return against the Indianapolis Colts. Flowers had five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown before leaving, including a 54-yard score in the second quarter. Rashod Bateman becomes Baltimore's top healthy wideout if Flowers can't make it back, while rookie Ja'Kobi Lane could pick up additional snaps with the Ravens already thin at receiver.
Source: Ryan Mink
Source: Ryan Mink
Brian Thomas Jr. Returns After Shoulder Injury
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) has returned to Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Thomas had been listed as questionable to return after leaving with a shoulder injury and heading to the locker room. He caught three passes for 40 yards before exiting and is now back on the field for Jacksonville.
Source: Lauren Brooks
Source: Lauren Brooks
Terry McLaurin Remains a WR2 Despite Tough Matchup
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin should stay in fantasy lineups Sunday against Philadelphia, even if the matchup lowers the ceiling a bit. McLaurin played only 10 games last season but still caught 38 passes for 582 yards and three touchdowns on 60 targets. He enters Week 1 healthy and remains the favorite to lead Washington's receivers in targets, though Stefon Diggs gives Jayden Daniels another proven option underneath. Philadelphia was brutal on wide receivers in 2025, allowing just 2,302 receiving yards and six touchdowns to the position. McLaurin has at least handled this matchup well over the years, averaging 4.9 catches and 71.9 yards across 15 career games against the Eagles with six touchdowns. RotoBaller has him at WR26 for Week 1. That keeps him in the WR2 range, but this is more of a floor play than a spot to chase a huge ceiling game.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brian Thomas Jr. Questionable to Return With Shoulder Injury
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) is questionable to return against the Cleveland Browns with a shoulder injury. Thomas had three catches for 40 yards before leaving with the injury. If he can't get back on the field, Travis Hunter is the most obvious candidate for more offensive snaps. Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers could also see a few more targets with Thomas unavailable.
Source: Mia O'Brien
Source: Mia O'Brien
Dylan Sampson Ruled Out With Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sampson was injured early in the first quarter and didn't record an offensive touch before leaving. He did return two kickoffs for 64 yards, including a 37-yard return on the opening kick. With Sampson done for the afternoon, Raheim Sanders is the next back up behind Quinshon Judkins.
Source: Camryn Justice
Source: Camryn Justice
Quentin Johnston Brings WR2 Upside in Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston is worth starting in Week 1 against Arizona. He is listed as a starter opposite Ladd McConkey after catching 51 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games last season. Keenan Allen is gone, which leaves more work available, and Johnston already flashed in Mike McDaniel's offense with a 65-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert in the preseason finale. Arizona allowed 3,923 passing yards and 31 touchdowns through the air in 2025, so there should be chances for Johnston to hit on another big play. RotoBaller has him at WR39 in its latest Week 1 rankings, but the site's current start/sit coverage has specifically highlighted him as a start with WR2 upside. McConkey is still the safer bet for targets, so Johnston is not without risk. Still, the matchup and scoring upside make him a strong flex option for Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Omar Cooper Jr. Questionable to Return With Ankle Injury
New York Jets wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle) is questionable to return against the Tennessee Titans. Cooper left the game with the ankle issue, putting his status for the rest of the afternoon in doubt. If he can't get back out there, Isaiah Williams would be the next receiver in line for more work. Arian Smith could also pick up some additional snaps with Cooper unavailable.
Source: Terry McCormick
Source: Terry McCormick
Dylan Sampson Questionable to Return With Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) is questionable to return against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sampson entered the game as the primary backup to Quinshon Judkins, so Cleveland could be thinner than expected in the backfield if he can't make it back. Raheim Sanders would be the next man up behind Judkins. For now, Sampson's status is worth monitoring as the game continues.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Marvin Harrison Jr. Carries Too Much Risk in Week 1
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is healthy again, but Week 1 is not an easy spot to trust him against the Chargers. Harrison finished last season with 41 catches for 608 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games, and Arizona has spent the offseason finding more ways to move him around in Mike LaFleur's offense. The target competition has not gone away. Trey McBride dominated targets last year, Michael Wilson broke 1,000 yards, and rookie Jeremiyah Love gives the Cardinals another player they will want involved. Los Angeles was also one of the NFL's tougher pass defenses in 2025, allowing only 16 passing touchdowns. RotoBaller still has Harrison at WR31 for Week 1, but its latest start/sit guidance recommends sitting him. There is upside if Arizona falls behind and Jacoby Brissett has to throw, but fantasy managers with a safer WR3 or flex option should use it.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson Belongs in Week 1 Lineups
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson should be in fantasy lineups Sunday against Minnesota. Watson enters Week 1 healthy and was not listed on Green Bay's injury report this week. He returned from a torn ACL in Week 8 last season and still finished with 35 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games, averaging 17.5 yards per reception. The target picture is cleaner now, too. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded, leaving Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden as Green Bay's top three receivers. Minnesota was excellent against the pass last season, allowing only 2,694 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, so this is not a matchup-driven start. Watson's role and big-play ability are the reason to trust him. RotoBaller has him at WR22 for Week 1 and recommends him as a flex in all leagues and a WR2 in 12-team formats. He belongs in lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
MarShawn Lloyd a Risky Flex Play in Week 1
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd gets his first real chance to lead the backfield Sunday against Minnesota. Josh Jacobs is unavailable, and Lloyd sits first on the depth chart ahead of Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson. The opportunity is there. The track record is not. Lloyd has seven regular-season touches since entering the NFL in 2024 after injuries wiped out almost all of his first two seasons. Green Bay could also work Brooks and Johnson into the rotation rather than immediately handing Lloyd a full workload. Minnesota makes the debut tougher, too, after allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs last season. Lloyd should still see enough work to matter, especially if he gets the early-down and goal-line carries. Fantasy managers can use him as a low-end RB2 or flex, but there is enough uncertainty here to avoid treating him like a locked-in starter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justin Herbert to Unlock New Calls in Playbook?
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has the talent to execute plays that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has never called before, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport noted that McDaniel is an offensive mastermind with several unique plays in his playbook, but he wasn't able to use many of them when he was the head coach in Miami. The report danced around the exact reason why McDaniel hasn't called those plays, but presumably, he didn't have enough confidence in his Dolphins quarterbacks, including Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers. Herbert peaked as a QB2 in his second pro season, but he returned to the top-10 fantasy quarterback range last year. Playing in a McDaniel-led offense could help the Chargers quarterback return to elite form in fantasy football.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
A.J. Brown Won't Require Ankle Surgery
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) is expected to miss the next four to six weeks, but he won't require surgery on his ankle, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Brown suffered the injury during Wednesday's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. He was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, and the current timeline for recovery suggests that he may end up on injured reserve. However, it's encouraging that he won't need surgery. New England only got three catches for 26 yards from its flashy offseason addition before he exited Week 1. Once he returns to action, he'll rank as a low-end WR1 in fantasy football while serving as quarterback Drake Maye's favorite target. In the meantime, Romeo Doubs, Kyle Williams, and DeMario Douglas will take on bigger roles in the passing game.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Darren Waller Active for Week 1 Season Opener
Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is officially active for his debut with the Panthers in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to Darin Gantt of the team's official website. With Waller active, Ja'Tavion Sanders is the odd man out as a healthy inactive to begin the 2026 season. Waller said earlier this week that he was practicing as if he was going to play against the Bears, and that turns out to be the case. However, the 34-year-old veteran will most likely be on a snap count as the Panthers continue to ease him into their offense after signing him in training camp. The Panthers also have Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Feleipe Franks active to help carry the workload at tight end on Sunday against Chicago. Waller certainly has the most fantasy football appeal of any tight end on Carolina's roster for his red-zone prowess, but durability is a major concern, and he should be left out of starting lineups in Week 1, even in two-TE leagues.
Source: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
Source: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
