RADIO
Kyle Monangai Week-to-Week With his Knee Injury
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that running back Kyle Monangai (knee) is more week-to-week with his knee injury, according to Mason Williams of NWI.com. Monangai suffered a right-knee injury in training camp practice on Aug. 16 and is still no closer to returning to the field, which is bad news for his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Carolina Panthers. If the 24-year-old is not available to start the year, Roschon Johnson will be the favorite for change-of-pace backup duties behind starter D'Andre Swift. Monangai's injury makes Swift a more appealing RB2, at least in the short term. After being taken in the seventh round last year from Rutgers, Monangai impressed with 783 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 169 carries in 17 regular-season contests, adding only 18 receptions on 30 targets for 164 yards as a receiver. His knee injury and lack of receiving skills out of the backfield are causing him to slip on fantasy draft boards, and RotoBaller has Monangai ranked as the RB40 for the 2026 season. Despite his injury, Monangai is still the handcuff for Swift managers.
Source: NWI.com - Mason Williams
Source: NWI.com - Mason Williams
Texans Have Had "Productive Talks" With C.J. Stroud on Extension
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Tuesday that he has had "productive talks" with quarterback C.J. Stroud on a potential long-term contract extension, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Caserio said that if nothing gets done before the start of the 2026 regular season, then something will likely be worked out next offseason. According to a source, no deal is imminent. The 24-year-old former second overall pick in 2023 from Ohio State came out swinging as a rookie and threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 15 regular-season starts. He regressed in each of the last two seasons, though, and threw for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 regular-season games in 2025 before falling apart in the playoffs. Stroud still has the ability to bounce back to his rookie production, but he will need Houston's supporting cast to step up around him, mainly the offensive line. Receiver Jayden Higgins' season-ending knee injury did not help matters. Fantasy managers should treat Stroud as a low-end QB2 option with upside as he looks to prove to the Texans that he is worth a big contract extension next offseason.
Source: KRPC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Source: KRPC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Tee Higgins Dealing With Minor Heel Contusion
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) is dealing with a heel contusion that is not considered a major concern for the Week 1 regular-season opener, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Top Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase is also being eased back into practices after suffering a left-knee injury in training camp practice last week, but as long as there are no setbacks, both Higgins and Chase are expected to be ready to roll on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite Chase drawing a massive target share as one of the top overall receivers in football, the 27-year-old Higgins gets his, too, in a pass-happy Bengals offense. The former second-rounder in 2020 from Clemson has not had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2022, but he has racked up 21 touchdown catches in the last two years and went for 846 yards in just 15 games in 2025 in his sixth year in the league. As long as both Higgins and quarterback Joe Burrow stay healthy, Higgins will be a high-end WR2, at the very least, in an explosive pass-first offense in Cincy.
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
TreVeyon Henderson Not Cleared for Full Practice Participation
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) continues to rehab a right-ankle injury that he suffered last Monday in training camp practice, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. Henderson was present in the locker room on Tuesday and was walking normally, but he has not yet been cleared for a return to full participation. The 23-year-old second-year back's injury does not appear to be serious, but the Patriots are playing it safe in hopes that Henderson will be ready for the Week 1 season opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9, against the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of the Super Bowl. It may not be a serious injury, but Henderson is running out of time, and the Patriots could limit his workload next Wednesday if he is active. The former second-rounder last year from Ohio State was productive with 911 rushing yards and nine rushing scores on 180 carries in 17 regular-season games, adding 35 catches for 221 yards and another touchdown through the air. However, he was a liability in pass protection and did not make strides in that area this summer in training camp. Therefore, Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson will continue to split backfield work nearly down the middle. Fantasy managers should treat Henderson as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex as he enters Year 2.
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
MarShawn Lloyd "as Ready as He's Ever Been" for Lead-Back Role
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Tuesday that running back MarShawn Lloyd is "as ready as he's ever been... he looks good," according to Dennis Krause of Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin. With starting running back Josh Jacobs (groin) on the commissioner's exempt list due to an ongoing domestic-violence allegation, the 25-year-old Lloyd is looking primed to lead Green Bay's backfield to begin the 2026 regular season in Week 1. The Packers acquired RB Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday for more RB depth, but he should not be a direct threat to Lloyd as the RB1 if Jacobs indeed is suspended for the start of the season. Lloyd, a third-rounder in 2024 from USC, has played in just one game with the Packers due to multiple injuries, but he has held up well physically to the rigors of training camp and the preseason and looks ready to go. Jacobs will be the Packers' lead back whenever he returns, but Lloyd's speed and athleticism make him an intriguing RB3/flex target in upcoming fantasy football drafts.
Source: Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin - Dennis Krause
Source: Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin - Dennis Krause
Ja'Marr Chase to Be Limited This Week, No Real Concerns
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) will be limited throughout this week in practice, but he "feels good about where he is," according to Jeremy Rauch of FOX 19 Cincinnati. The fantasy football community had a scare last week when Chase injured his left knee in training camp last Tuesday after landing awkwardly. The 26-year-old suffered a minor hyperextension of his knee, and the Bengals are being cautious with him as the 2026 regular season quickly approaching. As long as Chase does not suffer a setback with his knee in practice this week and next week, he should be good to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13. There is no reason for fantasy managers not to take him as the first receiver off the board in fantasy football drafts. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro had a down year in 2025 and still had 125 catches, 1,412 receiving yards, and eight receiving touchdowns on a league-high 185 targets across 16 starts.
Source: FOX 19 - Jeremy Rauch
Source: FOX 19 - Jeremy Rauch
Kyle McCord Confirmed as Dolphins QB2
The Miami Dolphins traded for quarterback Kyle McCord on Sunday, sending a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Green Bay Packers, and on Tuesday head coach Jeff Hafley confirmed that McCord would serve as the team's second quarterback. McCord was a sixth-round pick of the Eagles in 2025 who signed a reserve/futures contract with the Packers in January and performed well in three 2026 preseason games. Hafley and Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan both arrived in Miami from Green Bay, so McCord faces less of a learning curve in his transition, and he will begin the year backing up former Packer Malik Willis. The Dolphins traded away Quinn Ewers on Sunday and are one of the league's few teams to begin the year with only two quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster.
Source: Joe Schad
Source: Joe Schad
Texans GM Says Tank Dell is Close to Return
After a 20-month recovery from the gruesome knee injury that ended his 2024 season, Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was placed on Injured Reserve with a designation to return to begin the 2026 season. On Tuesday, Texans general manager Nick Caserio provided an update, telling reporters, "He's close; he's not quite there. He's closer than he was during training camp." Dell will miss at least the first four games of the season, but can be activated as early as Week 5, ahead of a divisional clash with the Titans. A third-round pick in 2023, Dell demonstrated an immediate connection with quarterback C.J. Stroud to begin his career, but after a prolonged absence, it is fair to question what his role might look like upon his long-awaited return. The 26-year-old is RotoBaller's WR125 and worthy of final-round consideration in leagues with an IR slot.
Source: Aaron Wilson
Source: Aaron Wilson
Packers "Really Hopeful" Luke Musgrave Will Play This Season
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Tuesday that he is "really hopeful" and expects tight end Luke Musgrave (neck) to play at some point this season, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports. Musgrave will open up the 2026 regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which means that he will not be eligible to return until at least Week 5. The 25-year-old former second-rounder from Oregon State in 2023 could miss much more time in 2026 after not practicing at all in training camp this summer. And when Musgrave is finally cleared to rejoin the Packers, he could find himself third in the tight end room behind Tucker Kraft and recent addition Jonnu Smith. Musgrave could not capitalize with Kraft missing most of last year due to an ACL tear, as he finished with only 24 receptions on 31 targets for 252 yards and zero touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He is firmly off the fantasy radar in all league formats with the start of the regular season just around the corner.
Source: USA Today Sports - Ryan Wood
Source: USA Today Sports - Ryan Wood
Jalen Hurts Adjusting Well to the New Scheme
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is adjusting to the new offense really well, according to John Clark of NBC Sports. "I think Jalen's adjusted really well to the new offense," general manager Howie Roseman said. "Now again, we're at a moment in time, we haven't played a game. This isn't in reference to Jalen; this is in reference to anything else. I think that a lot of the things that we'll do during the regular season when we have game plans, I think from an offensive perspective, they're going to be different than what we've done in the past. Jalen's embraced it. He's excited about it, and obviously we've got to be better than we were last year. That was really how the offseason started, led by coach Sirianni and saying where we were in point score, where we were in offense wasn't good enough. Here we are starting the season looking to improve." Hurts and the Eagles' offense did not look right in 2025, but the 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler still finished as a top-10 fantasy QB, throwing for 3,224 yards, 25 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 16 regular-season starts while adding 421 rushing yards and eight TDs as a rusher. If Philly's offense can bounce back under new coordinator Sean Mannion, Hurts will have easy top-five upside at the QB position in his seventh NFL season.
Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia - John Clark
Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia - John Clark
Josh Downs Returns from Calf Injury and Practices on Tuesday
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (calf) did not participate in the team's final preseason game after missing a pair of training camp practices with a minor calf injury, but he was back on the field on Tuesday as the team begins preparations for a Week 1 contest with the Ravens. Downs suffered a minor back injury earlier in camp and saw his draft stock take a hit following the late free agent signing of veteran Keenan Allen. After playing primarily out of the slot through the first three years of his career, Downs found extensive work on the outside throughout the summer, but questions about his role and workload have re-emerged in recent weeks, and he is now RotoBaller's WR38 for 2026.
Source: James Boyd
Source: James Boyd
Kyren Williams in a Timeshare in Rams' Backfield?
The Athletic's Nate Atkins writes that Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams and Blake Corum will be "in a timeshare of carries," with Ronnie Rivers serving as a versatile special-teams player who is adequate as a rusher, receiver, and pass protector. Williams is still the clear lead back in L.A. and is coming off his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 in which he ran for 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns on 259 carries, adding a career-high 36 receptions for 281 yards and another three TDs as a receiver in 17 regular-season starts. Corum could have an even bigger role alongside Williams, though, after the Rams used the two more interchangeably down the stretch in 2025. The 26-year-old Williams will continue to be utilized near the goal line and as a pass-catcher, but it could be a much tougher ask for him to finish as a top-12 fantasy back in 2026. If you can get Williams as a high-end RB2 in upcoming drafts, you will be looking good at the RB position. But if you are forced to use Williams as your RB1, you could be worse off than with a highly productive running back in one of the best offenses in football.
Source: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
Source: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
Alec Pierce Practicing with the Colts on Tuesday
After being activated from the Physically Unable to Perform List on Thursday and sitting out the team's final preseason game, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle, heel) was present at Tuesday's practice. Pierce underwent ankle surgery in late March after a platelet-rich plasma injection failed to alleviate the pain he'd reportedly been playing through since the end of the 2024 season. Following a career year in 2025, Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million deal in the opening moments of free agency, and after leading the league in yards per reception in each of the past two seasons, he is expected to see an expanded route tree in 2026. His presence at Tuesday's practice bodes well for his Week 1 availability and should leave drafters more comfortable with his current draft cost of WR38. UPDATE: General manager Chris Ballard said that the "hope" is that Pierce will play in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Source: James Boyd
Source: James Boyd
Tyler Warren Returns to Practice on Tuesday
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (groin) returned to practice on Tuesday after suffering what had been described as a minor groin injury during a joint practice with the Falcons on August 19. While his availability for Week 1 had never appeared to be in question, his return puts him on track for a full workload when the Colts open the season against the Ravens in less than two weeks. Wide receivers Alec Pierce (ankle, heel) and Josh Downs (calf) also practiced on Monday, marking the first time this summer that Indianapolis has had all three of its top projected pass-catchers on the field together. Warren caught 76 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2025, and with a potentially expanded role in year two, he is RotoBaller's TE4.
Source: James Boyd
Source: James Boyd
Chuba Hubbard Dressed for Practice
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) had his helmet on and was dressed for Tuesday's practice, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Hubbard could be limited in practice, but the fact that he is on the field at all is a good sign for his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13. Hubbard has missed practice time late in training camp with a hamstring injury that he suffered in the middle of August. Combined with Jonathon Brooks' strong camp, Hubbard has fallen in the RB rankings for 2026 after a poor season in 2025 in which Rico Dowdle took over lead-back duties. The 27-year-old had his first 1,000-yard season with a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns on 250 carries in 2024, but he fell to just 511 rushing yards and one touchdown last year on 134 carries in 15 regular-season games. Head coach Dave Canales is ready to use a committee approach in the backfield between Hubbard and Brooks, and it could be a hot-hand approach from week to week. The former fourth-rounder is no better than an RB3/flex in fantasy football drafts, with Brooks (although injury-prone) possessing more explosive upside.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
