RADIO
New Role Makes Jauan Jennings Difficult To Start In Week 1
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings' unknown volume should keep him in the background in most formats when he makes his Minnesota Vikings debut against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. The veteran's fit with the Vikings is an interesting one. Jennings is coming off back-to-back solid fantasy years in which he was PPR WR24 and WR33, respectively, despite playing in the run-heavy system of the San Francisco 49ers. He's now in a Minnesota offense that has been very friendly to receivers, although he'll be sharing targets with All-Pro Justin Jefferson and another capable receiver in Jordan Addison. At the same time, the 6-foot-3 Jennings is an excellent complement to both Jefferson and Addison, and he gives Minnesota a dangerous third option, another red-zone weapon, and a dynamic run blocker. From a fantasy perspective, however, Jennings' secondary pass-catching role will be hard to rely upon from week to week. He starts the season as RotoBaller's WR68.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chase McLaughlin Offers Strong Streaming Value in Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin is attempting to kick his way into an extension this season. The 30-year-old is entering a contract year after spending each of the last three seasons in Tampa Bay. The past two seasons, McLaughlin has finished as a top-10 player at his position. Last year, McLaughlin struggled a bit more than in past seasons, connecting on 32-of-38 field goal attempts. He only missed one extra point attempt in 2025. McLaughlin has been a mostly reliable kicker, and the Bucs have a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals defense in Week 1. The expectation is that this will be a high-scoring game, which should result in plenty of work for McLaughlin. Fantasy managers who are seeking a streaming option for Week 1 should consider adding McLaughlin.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Cade Otton Has High-End TE2 Potential for Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton might be a sneaky option for fantasy managers this weekend. Otton heads into a favorable road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were one of the worst defenses this past season. Otton might be asked to do more offensively than fantasy managers might think. The Bucs lost top wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency, and fellow wideout Jalen McMillan (knee) is doubtful for the season opener. Otton is entering his fifth season in Tampa Bay and has built good chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield. The 27-year-old has seen 80 or more targets over each of the last two seasons. Given the injuries and the matchup, Otton should offer high-end TE2 value for Week 1.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tez Johnson Could See Expanded Role
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson could be asked to step into a starting role in the season opener. Fellow wideout Jalen McMillan (knee) is considered doubtful for Sunday's opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. If he's out, Johnson figures to be next in line with rookie Ted Hurst III possibly seeing an expanded role as well. Johnson is coming off a decent rookie campaign where he secured five touchdowns across 16 games. Due to his lack of size, Johnson is normally used in a situational role, but he might be asked to start on Sunday. If he starts, Johnson could be viewed as a dart throw in deep leagues. The 24-year-old has excellent speed and is known for making some big plays for the Bucs last season. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should keep Johnson in mind if McMillan is unable to go this weekend.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
LeQuint Allen Jr. Questionable to Play in Season Opener
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip) is listed as questionable to play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday at home against the visiting Cleveland Browns, according to team reporter Mia O'Brien. Allen did not practice on Wednesday before being limited on the field on both Thursday and Friday. While the third-string, pass-catching RB has a shot to suit up this weekend, the belief is that he will be sidelined for the start of the 2026 season. Even if the 22-year-old can suit up, he will not be a realistic starting option for fantasy managers after missing practice for three weeks before finally returning on Thursday. If Allen is inactive on Sunday, Ameer Abdullah would step into the RB3 role while looking for scraps behind co-starters Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. Allen should only be stashed in much deeper point-per-reception leagues for RB depth.
Source: Mia O'Brien
Source: Mia O'Brien
Chris Godwin Jr. Draws WR3 Value for Season Opener
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. is hopeful to play his first full season since 2023. The injuries have held Godwin back the past few years, but the 30-year-old is hopeful to bounce back this season. The departure of Mike Evans this offseason could mean that Godwin takes on a bigger role offensively. He'll get a plus matchup to begin the season against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that finished in the bottom 10 last year. Godwin has built excellent chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield throughout the years. The injuries have kept Godwin out of mind recently, but he should be a viable WR3 against the Bengals on Sunday.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jakobi Meyers In the Clear to Play in Week 1
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (thumb) did not have an injury designation on Friday and has been cleared to play in the Week 1 season opener this Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Meyers was limited in practice all week, but he will play this weekend and should be considered a WR4/flex option in fantasy football lineups. The 29-year-old saw his fantasy stock fall this summer with both Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr. getting all the buzz in training camp practices. The 29-year-old was a midseason acquisition in 2025 and came over from the Las Vegas Raiders to help take head coach Liam Coen's offense to the next level. The former undrafted free agent from North Carolina State caught 42 of 61 targets for 483 yards and three touchdowns in his nine regular-season games with the Jags and had a 75-835-3 line overall. Meyers is still an important part of Jacksonville's offense, but he is flying under the radar right now as he enters his first full year in Duvall.
Source: Mia O'Brien
Source: Mia O'Brien
Kenny Gainwell Sneaks into Flex Conversation
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell is set to make his team debut against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Gainwell will get a plus matchup to start against a Bengals defense that ranked in the bottom 10 this past season. The expectation is that Gainwell will play a similar role to what Rachaad White has done in Tampa Bay in the past. He'll likely be the favorite back in passing situations, but unlike White, Gainwell can be a trusted runner as well. Gainwell saw a career-high 114 rushing attempts this past season and averaged 4.71 YPC. He'll operate as the primary backup to Bucky Irving, but Gainwell should be one of the more trusted backups around the league. For fantasy managers in PPR leagues, Gainwell can be a legit flex option for the season opener against the Bengals.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Bucky Irving Holds Viable RB2 Value for Season Opener
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is expected to bounce back after battling some injuries last season. Irving only played 10 games last season, but he rushed for nearly 600 yards in that span. During his rookie campaign, Irving finished as the RB13, so the Bucs are hopeful to get similar results to that in 2026. It remains to be seen how much the addition of Kenny Gainwell will impact Irving's value in the backfield. The expectation is that Gainwell will play a similar role to what Rachaad White did in years past. Irving might see a reduction in carries, but he remains a solid RB2 against a shaky Cincinnati Bengals defense in Week 1. Fantasy managers should get a better idea of how the Bucs plan to use this backfield as the season goes on.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Zay Flowers Officially Cleared to Play in Week 1
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) has no injury designation on Friday and is good to go for the Week 1 season opener this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun. Flowers was initially limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, but he was upgraded to full on Thursday, clearing the way for the 26-year-old to be ready this weekend to kick off the new season. The former first-rounder from Boston College is the team's unquestioned top target for quarterback Lamar Jackson, and in Declan Doyle's new offense, the 5-foot-9 shifty wideout could thrive. Flowers had 1,211 receiving yards in a season in which Jackson struggled to stay healthy, so he has clear WR1 potential if Jackson and the Ravens' offense can turn it around. Flowers should be locked and loaded as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in Week 1 against the Colts on Sunday.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Brian Wacker
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Brian Wacker
Baker Mayfield Offers QB1 Value in Favorable Matchup
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield opens up the season on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fresh off an extension, Mayfield is ready to make some noise to start the season. The 31-year-old finished as the QB12 last season, but finished as a top-10 QB each of the last two seasons before that. The Bucs are without long-time wide receiver Mike Evans, who departed in free agency. The Bucs believe that Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. can carry the load in the passing game. Mayfield will get a favorable matchup to start against the Bengals' defense, which ranked in the bottom-10 this past season. The 31-year-old might not be as great a fantasy option as years past, but he carries QB1 value into Week 1.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
T.J. Hockenson A Middling Option Against Green Bay
Tight end T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings should be considered a mid-range TE2 when his team opens the season by playing host to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The veteran has had quite the roller coaster since being traded to the Vikings, posting top-five fantasy seasons in 2022 and 2023 before a major knee injury changed his outlook. Hockenson played only 10 games in 2024, and the Vikings' quarterback limitations held Hockenson to just 438 receiving yards and a career-worst 8.6 yards per catch in 15 contests last year. Now healthy and still just 29 years old, Hockenson could be one of the beneficiaries of Minnesota signing quarterback Kyler Murray. The Packers ranked 21st against PPR tight ends last year, but Hockenson's volume is unpredictable with receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and now Jauan Jennings all candidates to draw key targets. Rated RotoBaller's No. 20 tight end for Week 1, Hockenson is a depth piece in standard formats for now, but he could become a significant riser if the Vikings' offense takes off behind Murray.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jeremiyah Love Officially Listed as Questionable to Play in Week 1
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is officially listed as questionable to play in his team's season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, per Darren Urban of azcardinals.com. The third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Love is battling an ankle injury that he suffered during Arizona's second preseason game and is expected to be a game-time decision in Week 1. The 21-year-old is widely regarded as an elite running back prospect after recording over 3,000 scrimmage yards and 40 touchdowns across his final two collegiate seasons at Notre Dame. Given his high-end talent, Love's season-long upside for fantasy managers is considerable. However, even if he's active in Week 1, it seems likely that Arizona will manage Love's workload by giving plenty of touches to veteran running back Tyler Allgeier. Assuming he's able to play on Sunday, fantasy managers should view Love as a high-end flex option against the Chargers.
Source: azcardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: azcardinals.com - Darren Urban
Difficult Matchup Facing Vikings D/ST In First Game
One of the top options in fantasy football during the tenure of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Minnesota Vikings D/ST is merely a mid-tier choice in Week 1 when the Green Bay Packers visit U.S. Bank Stadium. Minnesota finished tied for fourth in sacks in the NFL last season and will return 10 of its top 11 tacklers now that legendary safety Harrison Smith is back for another year. The rival Packers, however, have been an efficient opponent that concluded last season with the third-fewest turnovers and converted third downs at the NFL's second-best percentage. The Vikings should have plenty of fantasy appeal this season, but as RotoBaller's 14th-ranked option in Week 1, managers in most leagues should be able to find a stronger play to start the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Starting Potential For Will Reichard In Week 1
Coming off a season in which he was named a first-team All-Pro selection, kicker Will Reichard is a starting candidate when the Minnesota Vikings open the season against Green Bay in Week 1. The Alabama product was outstanding in 2025, when he made all 31 of his extra points and 33 of 35 field goal attempts, including all 22 attempts from inside 50 yards. Even better for managers, the Vikings' offense should be more competent in 2026 with the addition of quarterback Kyler Murray. The third-year kicker will also play 11 of his 17 games this season indoors, starting with Sunday's contest at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Reichard is RotoBaller's 12th-ranked kicker in Week 1, but if he continues his form from last year, he'll certainly be in the mix to be a plug-and-play starter this season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
