RADIO
Dontayvion Wicks Is a Potential Waiver Wire Pickup
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is a nice addition to the Eagles receiving core coming from the Green Bay Packers and he could challenge for the No. 2 receiver role in Philadelphia. He could also emerge as a popular early-season waiver wire pickup. The Eagles drafted Makai Lemon out of USC but he might fit in more as a slot receiver with Wicks playing on the outside. Last year in Green Bay, Wicks was in a room full of talented receivers, but he did finish the season with 46 targets and 30 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns. Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia wrote that Wicks could expand his role in Philadelphia to more than a role player. He quoted Eagles wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead: "There's nothing that should be holding him back from anything in this league. He can go out here and have as good a year as anybody. Exciting time for him to prove that, 'Hey, I can be more than what I was in Green Bay.'"
Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Roschon Johnson Could Step Into Week 1 Role
Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson could have a larger role as a backup to D'Andre Swift because of an injury to Kyle Monangai (knee). Johnson has been impressive in camp amidst Monangai's injury struggles and even earned the eye of new offensive coordinator Press Taylor. Ariana Pensy of the Bears Wire wrote about Taylor's praise of Johnson this off-season, writing, "As Kyle goes down and Roschon's numbers increase and he got more opportunities, he proved to us that he's trustworthy. He can be in those situations if it comes down to it where we need him to carry a heavier load than we expected while being involved in special teams. That's something he's done well." Monangai reportedly returned to practice on Monday but is dealing with a hyperextension of his right knee. Should Monangai miss time, the Bears have faith in Johnson as a backup.
Source: Bears Wire, USA Today
Source: Bears Wire, USA Today
Caleb Douglas Brings a High Ceiling from the Waiver Wire
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas had a strong showing in training camp and the preseason, and the rookie has the potential to be the team's top receiver this season. After trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos, the Dolphins will count on Douglas, Malik Washington, and Jalen Tolbert as their expected starters. Douglas was a third-round pick out of Texas Tech and brings big-play potential, as he showed with highlight-reel catches throughout the preseason. He may be held back by the run-heavy Dolphins' offense with QB Malik Willis under center, but since he could develop into the team's No. 1 receiver by midseason, he definitely has the upside to be a fantasy factor. If you can stash him off the waiver wire in deep leagues, he's one of the few options with such a large potential role so easily available. He's only the WR84 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, so he isn't a flex option yet, but his later-season potential gives him intriguing upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Najee Harris Could Earn a Role in New York
New York Giants running back Najee Harris will be an important name to monitor early in the season after the veteran signed a one-year deal to join new coach John Harbaugh in New York. He is expected to play a significant role behind starter Cam Skattebo, and he will compete for snaps with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary for backup work. Tracy struggled in pass protection this preseason, which may be part of the reason that Harris was added. The 28-year-old veteran was limited to just three games with Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers last season, suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in late September after missing training camp due to a fireworks accident. He was a workhorse in his first four seasons in the league for the Steelers, racking up over 1,000 rushing yards and playing all 17 games each year. His role with the Giants is uncertain, which is why he's only RotoBaller's No. 53 RB for Week 1, indicating he isn't in the mix to start in most formats. However, he is a solid handcuff for Skattebo and could work his way into a large enough role to be a deep-league flex option by the time we reach bye weeks.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Nabers Should Be "Good to Go"
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) sounds like he will be "good to go for Sunday night," according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. Nabers is coming back from a torn ACL that ended his 2025 season after four games, but it looks like he'll be ready to play in Week 1. Last year, he had 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns before his injury after an impressive rookie year with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games, despite iffy QB play. This year, he'll work with Jaxson Dart as the team's top receiver under new head coach John Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The team added wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Isaiah Likely, but Nabers should remain the focal point of the offense and be set for as large a target share as he can handle. Since it will be his first game back, Nabers is the No. 16 WR in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, but he definitely has top-10 upside even though he'll take on an improved Dallas defense on Sunday Night Football. If you drafted Nabers as a starter, be sure to get him in your lineups this week since he seems to be all systems go for Week 1.
Source: Dan Graziano
Source: Dan Graziano
George Holani Brings Early-Season Upside
Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani could be very involved in the Seahawks' backfield rotation, as they begin the defense of their Super Bowl title. After the injury to Zach Charbonnet (knee) and the departure of Kenneth Walker III, the Seahawks are expected to share time between rookie Jadarian Price, Holani, and free-agent addition Emanuel Wilson. Price is expected to lead the way, but he has missed time over the past few weeks with muscle soreness and did not play a single snap in the preseason. Wilson is expected to be the power option, but Holani has an interesting mix of third-down and short-yardage skills that should make him an interesting contributor, especially while Price adjusts to NFL speed. Especially early in the year, Holani's experience in the team's system could help him be trusted to handle high-value touches on both passing downs and in scoring position. He's the No. 56 RB in Week 1 in RotoBaller's rankings, so he is not a FLEX consideration for the team's opener against the Patriots. However, it does make sense to snag him in deep leagues in case he gets those key plays and production early in the season with Price ramping up.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Adonai Mitchell Makes a Solid Stash for Depth
New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has the potential to post a breakout season in his first full year with the Jets if he can build on a strong training camp. The speedy receiver has the raw tools to make him relevant in all formats, but he has struggled to be consistent throughout his NFL career. The Colts drafted Mitchell in the second round out of Texas, but he never earned consistent playing time before being traded to the Jets as part of the Sauce Gardner deal. With New York, he averaged over seven targets per game and finished the year with 24 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. None of those games were with top receiver Garrett Wilson in the mix, so his target share could drop with Wilson's return and the additions of rookie pass-catchers Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. Even with a slightly smaller workload, though, Mitchell still has upside after receiving praise for his work in training camp to develop his connection with new QB Geno Smith. He appears set to open the year as the WR2 in New York, and he is the WR62 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings against the Titans. While he doesn't look like a Week 1 starter in most formats, he does make sense as a stash in deep leagues due to his long-term potential and solid role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre' Harris Should Produce in Chargers Offense
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris is a potential Year 2 breakout candidate, especially as the Chargers' offense continues to trend upward. Not every team can support a fantasy-relevant outlook for their No. 3 receiver, but Los Angeles' offense is powerful enough to make Harris an intriguing stash in 12+ team leagues. Quarterback Justin Herbert averaged 32 pass attempts per game last year, despite drastically lowering his total number of pass attempts in the second half of the season while managing an injury. A fully healthy Herbert might throw the ball 35 times a game, and many of those targets will go to Harris, his No. 3 option in the passing attack. The 24-year-old receiver already started to flash upside as a rookie last year, catching 30 passes for 324 yards and one touchdown. Although he is playing behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, he has an opportunity to step into a bigger role if either of those receivers suffer from drop issues or miss time due to injury. It's way too early to confidently insert Harris into your lineups, but he's at least worth adding off the waiver wire in 12+ team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Patriots Sign Christian Gonzalez to a Four-Year Extension
The New England Patriots have signed star cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a four-year, $135 million contract extension, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The deal includes $102 million guaranteed. By signing this new contract, Gonzalez earns $33.75 million per season, and he officially becomes the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. The Pro Bowler's contract had been a topic of discussion all offseason, and the two sides were able to reach an agreement less than 48 hours before the Patriots' regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. It's a well-deserved payday for the 24-year-old, who made 69 tackles, defended 10 passes, and earned a 65.8 PFF defense grade last season. Now that he has his new nine-figure deal, Gonzalez will turn around and be tasked with covering Seahawks star wide receiver (and reigning Offensive Player of the Year) Jaxon Smith-Njigba on primetime television.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Emmett Johnson Worth Rostering as Handcuff in Powerful Offense
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson may be a fifth-round rookie, but he's already on the fantasy radar as a potential waiver wire target. Johnson will open the year as the Chiefs' No. 2 running back, largely because he impressed the coaching staff so much with his pass-blocking ability. We may not see Johnson carve out standalone fantasy value on a weekly basis in his current role, but he would jump to the lead-back role and possess RB2 value if workhorse Kenneth Walker III were to miss time. It's worth noting that the ex-Seahawk missed at least two games every year from 2022 through 2024, so Walker's managers would be justified in adding his handcuff off the waiver wire. Because of his potential to feast if Walker misses any time, Johnson should be picked up off the waiver wire in all leagues with 12+ teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen McMillan's Experience an Advantage in Depth-Chart Competition
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is competing for the No. 3 role on the depth chart, and his experience in the Bucs' offense gives him an early advantage over his teammates. Chris Godwin Sr. and Emeka Egbuka (toe) project as Tampa Bay's top two wideouts, leaving McMillan and Ted Hurst III vying for the next spot in the pecking order. The good news for McMillan is that Hurst is a rookie, which means his ascension into a meaningful role might be delayed as he adapts to NFL speed. On the other hand, McMillan has been in the NFL since 2024 and has 17 games' worth of experience (plus three offseasons) under his belt. His familiarity with the system and his connection with quarterback Baker Mayfield go a long way, especially considering that McMillan averaged 10.4 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues as a rookie. Managers should expect McMillan to open the year as the Bucs' No. 3 wide receiver, which also puts him on the fantasy radar in deeper leagues. The 24-year-old is a matchup-dependent WR3/flex as it is, and he would jump into the WR3 tier on a consistent basis if Godwin or Egbuk were to miss time. As a result, McMillan should be added off the waiver wire in all 12+ team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian McCaffrey in Full Uniform for Tuesday's practice in Australia
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) is in full uniform for the team's practice in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The team's final injury report for the day will tell us more about CMC's status for the Week 1 showdown on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, but it looks like he is heading in the right direction to be active. The Niners kept McCaffrey in bubble wrap during the preseason, and he has been sitting out of practices for several weeks due to undisclosed tightness. The star RB said the plan was always for the team to play it safe with him to have him fully ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, and it makes sense given his lengthy injury history. Until further notice, there is no reason for fantasy managers to pull CMC out of their starting lineups for Week 1. The 30-year-old four-time Pro Bowler and 2023 Offensive Player of the Year is a league-winner if he stays healthy, which is what he did in 2025, when he ran for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 102 receptions for 924 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 regular-season games.
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
De'Zhaun Stribling in Full Uniform for Practice
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (shoulder) was seen wearing his full uniform for Tuesday's practice in Australia, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. It should be noted that this practice is occurring on Tuesday in Australian local time, but the timing lines up with Monday night for folks in the Pacific Time Zone of the United States. Time zone specifics aside, fantasy managers should feel encouraged that the rookie was able to don full pads with the 49ers' season opener less than three days away. Assuming he suits up for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, Stribling projects to handle a decent workload alongside Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. We wouldn't recommend starting the 23-year-old in fantasy lineups until we see what his role looks like, but he's absolutely worth stashing on the bench in 12+ team leagues and even some deeper 10-team formats, too.
Source: Nick Wagoner
Source: Nick Wagoner
Malik Davis a Priority Handcuff on the Waiver Wire
Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis is the undisputed No. 2 option on the depth chart, making him a priority target on the waiver wire in fantasy football. Specifically, he has appeal as a handcuff for managers in 14+ team leagues, as well as managers who have Javonte Williams in leagues with 10 or 12 teams. Williams is expected to occupy an every-down role this season, which means he's a candidate for some wear and tear. If he were to miss any time due to injury, his managers would want to be ready to plug and play his replacement, which would be Davis. Adding Davis off the waiver wire doesn't give managers a running back with standalone weekly fantasy value, but rather protects those managers in case Williams misses any time this season. We saw what Davis could do in the lead-back role last year, as he totaled 28 carries, 124 rushing yards, and one touchdown across the two games in which Williams played less than 50% of the snaps.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ray Davis Offers Late-Round Value
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis doesn't offer much standalone value, but is an intriguing handcuff option. Davis hasn't seen a ton of work on the ground due to the fact that James Cook has been mostly healthy. However, Davis remains one of the more popular handcuff options because of the way the Bills love to pound the ball on the ground. The 26-year-old only rushed the ball 58 times last season, but averaged 4.74 yards per carry. Davis is successful when he gets an opportunity, but his chances have been limited so far during his two years in the league. Davis isn't a must-roster player, but is someone worth considering during the final round on Draft Day due to his potential upside if Cook ever goes down.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
