RADIO
Jalen McMillan Officially Out to Begin 2026 Season
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee), who was listed as doubtful on Friday, is officially out for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals, per Scott Smith of the team's official website. McMillan was limited in all three of the team's practices this week, but he could not gain clearance from a knee injury that has been bothering him since early August. With McMillan sitting out this weekend, rookie Ted Hurst III and Tez Johnson will be battling for WR3 duties behind Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. in Tampa's new-look offense without future Hall of Famer Mike Evans. The 24-year-old McMillan had 37 catches for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie in 2024, but he played in only four games last year due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in the preseason. His absence to begin 2026 is bad news, as Hurst drew rave reviews as an up-and-coming pass-catcher for the Bucs. If Hurst continues to shine in the season opener, McMillan might not have a very big role on offense whenever he can return from his knee injury.
Source: Buccaneers.com - Scott Smith
Source: Buccaneers.com - Scott Smith
LeQuint Allen Jr. Will Play in Sunday's Season Opener
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip) is officially active for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Cleveland Browns. Allen missed practice Wednesday, logged a limited session on Thursday and Friday, and was ultimately listed as questionable coming into the weekend. Despite failing to log a full practice, he is suiting up as the Jags' No. 3 running back for the season opener. As a rookie last year, he tallied 94 rushing yards, 10 catches, and 54 receiving yards. He's stuck behind Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. on the depth chart, but having a year of experience under his belt could help Allen carve out a slightly larger role on offense in 2026. With that being said, he remains avoidable in most fantasy leagues.
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
Cooper Rush Good to Go Against Steelers in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Cooper Rush (back) is officially active for Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers after dealing with minor back spasms on Saturday, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. The Falcons had already ruled out both Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) for Week 1, leaving Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand as the only QBs on the roster for the Falcons to begin the 2026 regular season. It is good news that Rush is ready to go, but Rush leading Atlanta's offense in Week 1 is not what fantasy managers of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts Sr. had in mind when they drafted those players. Against a very capable Steelers defense, the expectation is that Atlanta's offense will struggle to move the football effectively on Sunday, so fantasy managers who have Robinson, London, and Pitts in their lineups in Week 1 should be tempering expectations for their overall production. As far as Rush, he is simply a low-upside streaming option in superflex leagues that fantasy managers should be avoiding, especially since he could suffer a setback with his back mid-game.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
DJ Giddens a Healthy Scratch for Season Opener
Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Baltimore Ravens. We already knew that Giddens had fallen to the No. 3 spot on the depth chart after rookie Seth McGowan had an impressive camp, but we weren't necessarily expecting him to be inactive altogether. With that being said, in addition to a mediocre camp performance, Giddens produced just 96 rushing yards on 26 carries as a rookie last year, so he's clearly not a vital part of the offense. Between Jonathan Taylor and McGowan, the Colts will carry just two running backs into Sunday's season opener.
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Devontez Walker Inactive for Week 1 Against Colts
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker (groin) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Indianapolis Colts. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity throughout the past week. He was an outlier contributor on offense last season, catching just six passes but still managing to produce 136 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Not only is he absent on Sunday, but the Ravens have also made rookie receiver Elijah Sarratt a healthy scratch. Therefore, recently elevated wideout Chris Moore will suit up as the fifth and final receiver on the depth chart.
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Alvin Kamara Not Suiting Up in Week 1
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) is officially inactive for the Week 1 season opener in Detroit against the Lions on Sunday, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. On Friday, Saints beat reporters did not expect Kamara to have a very big role on offense if he suited up for the season opener, but now he will not even be active at all as he continues to nurse an MCL sprain in his knee that caused him to miss most of training camp this summer. Kamara's absence should raise the fantasy ceiling for Travis Etienne Jr. in his debut with the Saints on Sunday, and Kendre Miller will be in line for RB2/change-of-pace duties behind Etienne. The 31-year-old Kamara should be rostered in most fantasy leagues despite his knee injury and the fact that his overall value has taken a huge hit in 2026 after the addition of Etienne to this backfield. When healthy, Kamara should be in play as an RB3/flex option in PPR leagues for his role as the Saints' primary pass-catching back in head coach Kellen Moore's offense. Kamara should have a better shot at making his season debut in the team's Week 2 matchup on the road against the Baltimore Ravens.
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
Rome Odunze Officially Active for Week 1
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (calf) is officially active for the team's Week 1 season opener on Sunday versus the Carolina Panthers, according to the team. Odunze was limited in practice all week due to a knee injury that surfaced in early September, but he did enough on the field to gain clearance to play in the season opener this weekend. There have not been any reports floating around that the 24-year-old former first-rounder will not have his typical number of offensive snaps for the Bears on Sunday, so fantasy managers should keep him in their starting lineups to kick off the year. Odunze only played in 12 regular-season games a year ago due to a foot injury that is believed to be behind him, but durability issues have been a bit of a concern. He caught 44 of 90 targets last year for 661 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in his second season in the NFL. With DJ Moore now in Buffalo, Odunze and Luther Burden III will operate as Chicago's top two wideouts in 2026. At the very least, Odunze should be a solid WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 1.
Source: Chicago Bears
Source: Chicago Bears
Joey Porter Jr. Officially Inactive for Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Porter had been listed as questionable, but he was trending in the wrong direction ahead of kickoff. The 26-year-old has been the topic of many headlines in recent months due to injury and contract negotiations. Porter should get back onto the field when he's healthy again, but the impasse in extension talks is certainly something to consider. The Steelers won't extend him in-season, so he'll either play out his contract year or be traded somewhere else early in the season. As long as he's sidelined, veteran cornerbacks Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., and Jalen Ramsey will handle more snaps on defense.
Source: Pittsburgh Steelers
Source: Pittsburgh Steelers
Myles Garrett to Have Knee Surgery, Land on Injured Reserve
Los Angeles Rams star pass-rusher Myles Garrett (knee) will have arthroscopic surgery on his ailing knee and is headed to Injured Reserve, sources told Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Garrett has been dealing with lower-leg pain and was not himself in Thursday's season-opening loss in Australia to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, where he was unable to return a single tackle. The hope is that he is back in four weeks after a minimally invasive knee surgery. The 30-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro is off to a bad start in his tenure with the Rams after setting the NFL's single-season sack record in 2025 with 23 sacks in his final season with the Cleveland Browns. Garrett's absence over the next four games will put more pressure on the rest of L.A.'s defensive line, but the good news is that the Rams could get All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald back for their Week 2 game against the New York Giants on Monday, Sept. 21. The earliest that Garrett can return will be on Oct. 18 against the Arizona Cardinals. He should be stashed in all IDP fantasy formats in the meantime.
Source: The Ringer - Tom Pelissero
Source: The Ringer - Tom Pelissero
Josh Jacobs Not Facing More Than Six-Game Suspension?
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (personal) remains on the commissioner's exempt list, but the NFL could count time spent there as time served for any potential suspension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Some league sources expect this to be the case in the end. In the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, there is a six-game minimum for any type of domestic violence, such as Jacobs' situation. Schefter writes that it could be more or less, depending on mitigating factors. The 28-year-old veteran needs to remain stashed in all fantasy leagues, but fantasy managers may need to be patient before being able to use him in starting fantasy lineups in 2026. Jacobs is the Packers' unquestioned lead back when healthy and with the team, but to begin the new season, MarShawn Lloyd is expected to get the first crack at RB1 duties for the Packers on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks also figure to be involved with change-of-pace roles as Green Bay navigates life without Jacobs for potentially the first four to six weeks of the season.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
NFL Attempting To Obtain Video of Josh Jacobs' Incident
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the NFL is trying to legally obtain video of the Josh Jacobs incident. The Green Bay Packers running back is currently on the Commissioner's Exempt List and was in court this weekend. The NFL is looking to get video to help in their ongoing investigation of the Jacobs' incident and would like to see the video before they make a decision on suspending Jacobs. The Green Bay star running back will sit out during the investigation and MarShawn Lloyd takes over as the main running back for the Packers along with Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks. The Packers likely want to get this situation figured out and know if they will have Jacobs at all at their disposal this season. It's an unfortunate legal situation that has affected Jacobs status on the field.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Brock Bowers Has a Realistic Chance to Play in Week 2
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is working his way back from a meniscus trim, and the team believes "there's a realistic chance" that he will be able to return in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Bowers underwent the trim just a few days ago, so it would be impressive to see him return to action within two weeks. Nevertheless, the Raiders believe it's possible, and the team will continue to evaluate how he feels. There's no need to rush Bowers back this early in the season, but if he's indeed capable of playing next week, the Raiders would be thrilled to get him back into the mix. He had 64 catches, 680 yards, and seven touchdowns last season, and he was the TE1 back in 2024 with 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. While Bowers works to get back on the field, Michael Mayer will temporarily step in as the team's top tight end.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Malik Nabers Still Iffy For Week 1 Contest Against Cowboys
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is still questionable for the team's opening matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. ESPN Insider Adam Schefter says Nabers' status for Week 1 is "murky at best," and he is leaving his status for the game up to God. The Giants have added two new wide receivers to their 53-man roster on Saturday ahead of Sunday's game. Nabers' injury situation is seemingly up in the air, with his status sounding truly questionable. Nabers' impact is key for the Giants as he is the clear top target for quarterback Jaxson Dart. Nabers missed most of last season with a torn ACL, but he will try to make his way onto the field for the season opener.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Alec Pierce on a Pitch Count for Week 1
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to be on a snap count for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team hasn't announced how much Pierce will play, but Garafolo hears that it will be around 20 to 30 snaps. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a heel injury, and although he doesn't have an official injury designation for Week 1, he's evidently at less than 100 percent. The pitch count drops him to the low-end WR3 territory this week, and managers should strongly consider starting other receivers with more full workloads. This update from Indianapolis also suggests that we could see more volume for Josh Downs and Keenan Allen. The former has more appeal than the latter, but both could garner their own WR3/flex upside in deeper leagues.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Parker Washington Could Have Big Week 1 Vs. Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington looks to build off his excellent finish to last season and continue with a solid Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns. Washington makes for a solid start against Cleveland and is expected to finish as a WR2 or better in the opening week of the season. Washington will be comfortable catching passes from Trevor Lawrence and lining up alongside fellow receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers. Washington could see some time lining up in the slot and could be a big mismatch against the Browns defense. Last season, Washington caught 58 passes on 95 targets for 847 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. The Jaguars offense should have a big day against Cleveland, and Washington figures to be a big part of that.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
