RADIO
No Timeline on Trey Benson's Return
There is no timeline on the return of Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee), but head coach Mike LaFleur said he's "better than he was" when his knee flared up recently, according to Howard Balzer of Cards Wire. Benson only played in four games in his sophomore campaign in 2025 due to a left knee injury, and the 24-year-old recently had a setback when that same knee flared up. As a result, the former third-rounder from Florida State didn't play in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders, and it seems likely he won't play in Week 2 of the preseason against the Dallas Cowboys next Saturday. Arizona's backfield is suddenly very thin, with Benson, rookie first-rounder Jeremiyah Love (ankle), and James Conner (foot) all unavailable. If the team's entire RB room is healthy going into Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Benson will be fourth on the depth chart and completely off the fantasy radar.
Source: Cards Wire - Howard Balzer
Source: Cards Wire - Howard Balzer
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Warming Up With Starters on Saturday
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is warming up with the starters at MetLife Stadium behind quarterback Jaxson Dart as the team prepares to play its preseason opener on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Cam Skattebo was seen working behind backup QB Jameis Winston. Fantasy managers shouldn't read too much into a pre-game workout before the first preseason game, but it's a reminder that Tracy will still be involved alongside Skattebo in 2026 in new head coach John Harbaugh's offense. At RotoBaller, Skattebo is ranked as a No. 2 fantasy RB at No. 20 overall, with Tracy coming in way down at No. 44 in the rankings. The 26-year-old Tracy should not merely be an afterthought, especially with Skattebo coming off a gruesome ankle/leg injury in his rookie season. Depending on the workload split between Skattebo and Tracy, Tracy could have sneaky RB3/flex weekly value for fantasy football managers.
Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard
Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard
Top Steelers Receivers Will be "Hard-Pressed to Work This Week"
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Saturday that injured wide receivers DK Metcalf (undisclosed) and Michael Pittman Jr. (leg) will be "hard-pressed to work this week," according to Alan Saunders of PGH Steelers Now. McCarthy didn't offer a firm timeline beyond that. Both wideouts were held out of the team's preseason opener on Thursday against the Green Bay Packers as a precaution. Although both pass-catchers don't appear ready to return to training camp practice, they should both be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, barring setbacks. They'll be unlikely to play in the team's second preseason contest next Friday versus the New York Jets. McCarthy's offense should create more pass-game volume for Metcalf and Pittman in 2026, but there have also been reports that the Steelers could remain more of a run-first unit in QB Aaron Rodgers' final season in the NFL. RotoBaller has Metcalf ranked as the No. 36 fantasy WR this year, with Pittman not far behind at No. 40.
Source: PGH Steelers Now - Alan Saunders
Source: PGH Steelers Now - Alan Saunders
James Conner Progressing, But No Timeline for Team Work
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said on Saturday that running back James Conner (foot) is progressing, but there's no timeline for him to participate in 11-on-11 work in training camp, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. LaFleur added that it's not about a return to play, but a return to performance. Conner's injury recovery from a season-ending foot/ankle injury that he suffered in Week 3 of last year has taken on a little more importance after it was just announced that rookie first-round RB Jeremiyah Love will miss at least one week with a sore ankle that he suffered in the preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. With both Conner and Love sidelined in camp, it will give more opportunities to Tyler Allgeier and Trey Benson in Arizona's backfield. Conner is unlikely to play in any preseason games this year, but he could be ready for the team's Week 1 regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. If both Love and Allgeier are healthy for that contest, Conner figures to be the Cardinals' RB3, leaving him a very small path to fantasy relevance.
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Omarion Hampton's Redraft Value in Question Amid Workload Uncertainty
Los Ángeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton had his rookie season in 2025 disrupted by an ankle injury that caused him to miss eight games. Still, the former first-round pick was productive in his time on the field, recording 737 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 156 touches across nine contests. Entering 2026, expectations are high for both Hampton and the Chargers offense as a whole following the team's offseason acquisition of new play-caller Mike McDaniel. With his versatile skill set as both a rusher and a pass-catcher, Hampton has three-down workhorse upside. However, the Chargers signed running back Keaton Mitchell in free agency and also roster running back Kimani Vidal, who filled in admirably for Hampton at times in 2025. McDaniel has already said that the team plans on using all three backs once the regular season begins. Hampton has the highest ceiling of the Chargers' running back options, so he could quickly establish himself as too good to take off the field. At the same time, his redraft value for the 2026 season is trending slightly downwards until the playing time split in Los Angeles becomes more clear.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bijan Robinson Remains an Elite Running Back Option Entering 2026
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson put together an excellent season in 2025, recording a league-high 2,298 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns on 366 touches across 17 games. Three years into his NFL career, Robinson has yet to miss a single game. He also boosted his receiving production in 2025, recording 79 catches for 820 yards and four touchdowns on 103 targets. Entering 2026, Robinson should once again be the focal point of the Atlanta offense. The Falcons have some question marks at the quarterback position, which could limit the production ceiling of their offense. Still, Robinson has shown he can overcome a subpar offensive environment in the past. Redraft managers should view him as an elite running back option in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brian Robinson Plays Starter for Falcons in Preseason Opener
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson was the team's starting running back in Friday's 27-7 preseason loss to the Broncos, playing on the team's first two drives in the first quarter, recording two carries for six yards. While it wasn't a stat-stuffing performance, the former third-rounder came out of the game unscathed and solidified his status as the team's RB2 behind Bijan Robinson, who did not play in the contest. That RB2 role was filled by the now-departed Tyler Allgeier last season, but Allgeier was able to rack up 143 carries for 514 yards and eight scores last year behind Bijan. If Robinson Jr. can garner anywhere near those numbers, especially at the goal line, then he'll certainly have fantasy relevance. The 27-year-old is currently ranked as the RB48 in RotoBaller's rankings, coincidentally, right behind the aforementioned Allgeier.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jeremiyah Love Out at Least a Week With Sore Ankle
Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) will be out this week due to an ankle injury, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. Per Weinfuss, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur "would not commit to a long-term prognosis" for Love. The third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Love suffered the injury during Arizona's first preseason game on Thursday. The 21-year-old had a strong showing before getting hurt, recording 72 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 14 touches. Love is widely considered to be an elite running back prospect and had a monster year in his final collegiate season at Notre Dame, recording 1,652 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns across just 12 games. The Cardinals have been rotating Love and veteran back Tyler Allgeier with the first-team offense in camp. While Love clearly profiles as the running back of the future in Arizona, this ankle injury threatens to set back his early-season progress. Even if Love is able to return in time for Week 1, the Cardinals may choose to ease him in at the start of the year by splitting his touches more evenly with Allgeier. Fantasy managers should monitor Love's injury status closely in the coming days.
Source: ESPN - Josh Weinfuss
Source: ESPN - Josh Weinfuss
Christian Gonzalez Working Through Ankle Injury
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (ankle) remains sidelined on Saturday as he works through an ankle injury, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Gonzalez has established himself as one of the top corners in the NFL, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2024 and being named to the Pro Bowl in 2025. The 24-year-old is currently agitating for a contract extension in New England, which could be factoring in to his current injury situation. Despite the injury uncertainty, all indications out of New England have been that the team expects Gonzalez to be ready for Week 1. Volin reports that Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that the team and Gonzalez are "absolutely" on the same page. Still, Gonzalez's injury and contract situation will be something for fantasy managers to monitor as the season approaches.
Source: The Boston Globe - Ben Volin
Source: The Boston Globe - Ben Volin
Devon Witherspoon Agrees to Record-Setting Extension with Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks and cornerback Devon Witherspoon have agreed to a record-setting four-year, $132 million contract extension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Per Schefter, the contract includes over $101 million guaranteed and will make Witherspoon the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. The fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Witherspoon has established himself as one of the best defensive players in the league and was a critical part of the Seahawks' run to the Super Bowl in 2025. The 25-year-old has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three NFL seasons and was named second-team All-Pro in 2025. Across 12 games last season, he recorded 48 solo tackles, seven passes defensed, and one interception. With this new extension agreement, Witherspoon will continue to lead Seattle's secondary for the foreseeable future.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Kyle Pitts Sr. Targeted Early and Often in First Preseason Game
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. caught three of his four targets for 22 yards in Friday's 27-7 preseason loss to the Broncos. All four of Pitts' targets came on the first two drives from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is expected to open the season as the starter, at least until Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is able to return. It was a reassuring performance from the 6-foot-6 tight end who is coming off a season in which he set career highs in targets (118), receptions (88), and touchdowns (five) while racking up 928 yards receiving, which has pushed his fantasy value upward. The former fourth-overall draft pick has an ADP of 78 and currently sits at TE7 in RotoBaller's latest tight end ranks. Though Drake London did not play in this contest, to see the 25-year-old tight end that involved from the outset is encouraging for his potential to put up big numbers again this year as Atlanta's likely No. 2 option in the passing attack.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Tua Tagovailoa Plays Two Series, Eyes TE Often in Preseason Opener
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa earned the start in Friday's 27-7 preseason home loss to the Broncos, playing two series in the first quarter before giving way to backup QB Cooper Rush. Tagovailoa was 3-of-5 passing for 22 yards, with four of his five passes being directed to tight end Kyle Pitts, and he was credited with one rush for no gain after the left-handed signal caller fumbled a snap but was able to recover the ball. It was reported on Saturday by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that the former first-round draft pick has the "inside track " for the starting job in Atlanta while Michael Penix Jr. (knee) finishes up rehabbing his knee, and this performance likely does nothing to change that, with his next chance to secure the gig coming next Saturday against the Colts in a preseason contest on the road. Assuming he does secure it, it does little for his fantasy prospects, with the Alabama product currently sitting at No. 30 in RotoBaller's latest QB rankings.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dalton Kincaid "Going to Be a Problem"
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid's efficiency numbers were practically off the chart in 2025, with his 2.8 yards per route run topped only by Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Unfortunately, with a lingering knee issue limiting him to a part-time role in 2025, he was a fantasy non-factor as the TE18. Now, by all accounts, as healthy as he's been since entering the league, the fourth-year tight end could be in line for a career year, and following a recent training camp visit to Orchard Park, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer predicts that "he's going to be a problem." Breer points to the arrival of veteran receiver DJ Moore as someone who can unlock the Bills offense and allow complementary pieces such as Kincaid to thrive. Kincaid spent the offseason getting stronger and sturdier, and if he's able to stay healthy and handle anything close to an every-down workload, he could shatter ADP expectations as the current 10th tight end off the board.
Source: Albert Breer
Source: Albert Breer
Luther Burden III Putting in Pre-Game Work
The Chicago Bears face the Cleveland Browns in a Saturday afternoon tilt to open their preseason slate, and while second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) will not take part as he recovers from the groin injury that has held him out of the last week of practices, he was spotted putting in some light work before the game. Without overexerting himself, Burden was seen jogging about 30 yards before slowing to a walk into the end zone. The 22-year-old is not expected to make any preseason appearances, but the team remains hopeful he will be available for the regular-season opener against the Panthers on September 13. Prior to the injury, Burden had generated significant training camp buzz and projects to be a focal point of the Bears' offense in 2026.
Source: Chris Kwiecinski
Source: Chris Kwiecinski
Jaxson Dart and Giants Starters Expected to Play in Preseason Opener
The New York Giants open their preseason schedule with a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, and ESPN's Jordan Raanan reports that quarterback Jaxson Dart and most of the team's starters are expected to see action. New head coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that he values game experience in the preseason, and with Dart having only 12 career starts under his belt and the Giants offense reportedly sputtering through much of training camp, he could use the opportunity against an unfamiliar opponent to help build momentum. Priority number one for Dart will be to keep himself protected, as he has developed a reputation for playing somewhat recklessly, but that fight-for-every-yard approach has also made him a valuable fantasy asset. If the Giants offense can get on track, and Dart can stay healthy for the duration of the 2026 season, he could prove to be this season's late-round quarterback steal, currently coming off the board as the QB9.
Source: Jordan Raanan
Source: Jordan Raanan
