RADIO
Malachi Fields Projected to Open Season as Giants' WR2
New York Giants wide receiver Malachi Fields is projected to open the season as the team's No. 2 receiver opposite Malik Nabers, according to ESPN. New York traded back into the third round to take Fields 74th overall, and the rookie has spent the summer showing why the Giants were willing to move up for him. His size, physicality and ability to win contested catches have all translated, while his blocking has helped his case for regular snaps. Fields caught 36 passes for 630 yards and five touchdowns at Notre Dame last season. He also made an immediate impression in the preseason opener, catching all three of his targets for 34 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. The Giants' current unofficial depth chart still lists Darius Slayton with the first group, so Fields has not officially been named a starter. ESPN's projection is another sign, though, that the rookie has pushed himself into a significant role heading into Week 1.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
J.K. Dobbins Back on Track for Lead Role
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has steadied his redraft outlook after an early-August injury scare. Dobbins left practice on August 10 with a soft-tissue issue, but Sean Payton said at the time he expected the veteran to be fine. Dobbins returned to individual work the next day and said after Denver's second preseason game that he was fully healthy and "feels great." More importantly, the Broncos' August 25 unofficial depth chart still lists him first at running back, ahead of RJ Harvey. Dobbins earned that standing last season, rushing 153 times for 772 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games while averaging 5.0 yards per carry before a foot injury ended his regular season. Denver then brought him back on a two-year deal in March. Harvey should remain involved, particularly in the passing game, while fourth-round rookie Jonah Coleman has impressed Sean Payton and gives the Broncos another physical option. That keeps Dobbins from projecting as a true workhorse. Still, the latest health concern has passed without costing him the top spot. RotoBaller's August 25 half-PPR rankings have Dobbins 80th overall, and his early-down role remains intact entering Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drew Allar a Roster Lock Despite Quiet Preseason Finale
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar completed nine of 18 pass attempts for 88 yards in a 28-27 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. Allar took over for second-year pro Will Howard in the second half and got off to a strong start, leading Pittsburgh on a 68-yard drive capped by an Eli Heidenreich rushing touchdown. Unfortunately, the Steelers' offense failed to score again, but that didn't stop head coach Mike McCarthy from suggesting that Allar had done enough to earn a roster spot alongside Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, and Will Howard. Following the loss, McCarthy said he felt "good about the quarterback room" and noted that "we got two veterans that we can win with, and we got two young guys that we're excited about the future." With Allar arguably showcasing the most upside of Pittsburgh's backup quarterbacks throughout the preseason, there appears to be little doubt that the rookie will make the 53-man roster heading into Week 1.
Source: Brooke Pryor
Source: Brooke Pryor
Parker Washington Projected to Lead Jaguars in Receiving
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington is being projected to lead the team in receiving this season. Sports Illustrated's John Shipley made the call after watching Washington look like Trevor Lawrence's favorite target throughout training camp. Washington already led Jacksonville last year with 58 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games, doing that on 95 targets. The competition for looks is real with Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, Travis Hunter and tight end Brenton Strange all in the offense, but Washington kept getting work even as Jacksonville leaned more heavily into tight-end usage this summer. Shipley also picked Washington to lead the Jaguars in receiving yards at the midway point of camp, so this is not a one-practice reaction. Washington broke out when his role expanded in 2025 and has spent August looking like one of Lawrence's most trusted options again. Another team-leading season is firmly in play.
Source: Sports Illustrated
Source: Sports Illustrated
Caleb Williams Praised for the Strides He's Taken in the Red Zone
Ahead of Thursday's joint practice with the Titans, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was praised by his head coach for the advancement he's made in the red zone, and he backed those words up with another solid showing and a touchdown connection with Kaden Davis while working against Tennessee's top defense. "I think that's been probably the best thing so far this camp, just the anticipation, the timing, the understanding of where we want to put the football," Ben Johnson told reporters to begin the day. "He is not afraid to fit it into tight windows. He trusts his pass catchers. A year ago, a lot of the things were foreign to him, and now you can tell he has some banked reps and he's able to anticipate where he wants to go with the football." After finishing as the QB5 in a year where he left plenty of fantasy production on the bone, Williams is a candidate to take a significant step forward in his second season in Johnson's offense, and he could prove to be a league-winning value as the seventh quarterback off the board by current ADP.
Source: Larry Mayer
Source: Larry Mayer
Gage Larvadain Stays Busy in Browns' Dominant Preseason Win
On a night where seemingly everything went right for the Cleveland Browns offensive reserves, second-year wide receiver Gage Larvadain led the team with six targets and five catches, connecting with Dillon Gabriel on the first play of the night and ending Thursday's 37-13 win with 48 receiving yards and an additional four yards on the ground. An undrafted free agent in 2025, Larvadain caught seven passes as a rookie, but even following the release of fourth-year veteran Cedric Tillman on Thursday, he could still face a numbers crunch ahead of Sunday's roster cutdown deadline. The Browns spent two top 40 picks in the 2026 NFL draft on receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, and with Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond expected to round out the room, even should Larvadain stick on the roster for his special teams contributions, there is very little fantasy production to be found on the fringes of an offense that still faces serious questions at quarterback.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Gregory Desrosiers Puts Solid Production on Tape in Preseason Finale
Playing primarily with the third-team offense, Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Gregory Desrosiers led all players with 118 rushing yards on only nine carries in Thursday night's preseason loss to the Rams. The undrafted free agent out of Memphis bounced off a pair of would-be tacklers early in the fourth quarter for a 34-yard touchdown run and caught one of his two targets for an additional eight yards, but unless Keaton Mitchell's undisclosed injury, which has been described as a "mild setback" stretches into the regular season, Desrosiers may still find himself on the wrong side of a numbers crunch. The Chargers have a deep and versatile room with the free agent acquisition Mitchell joining 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton and the team's leading rusher from a season ago, Kimani Vidal. Still, ahead of Sunday's roster cutdown, Desrosiers was at least able to put solid production on film for any teams in search of running back depth.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Eli Heidenreich Finds The End Zone in His Push for Steelers' RB3 Role
While the top of the Steelers running back depth chart has provided spirited debate among the fantasy community for much of the offseason, the team's third spot is also very much up for grabs, and during Thursday night's preseason loss to the Bills, rookie Eli Heidenreich put in a strong claim, leading the team with nine carries. Heidenreich opened up the second half scoring, capping off an 11-play, 68-yard drive by following his blockers and fighting through contact for a nine-yard touchdown run off the right side. While the exact order might still be contested, Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are locked in as the Steelers' top two running backs, leaving Heidenreich battling with fourth-year player Lew Nichols and 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson for the third spot in the room. Nichols has been the most consistent runner throughout the preseason, but after catching 90 passes across his final two seasons with Navy and adding further versatility in the return game, Heidenreich could force his way onto the team's initial 53-man roster. Even still, without a number of catastrophic injuries ahead of him, the seventh-round pick is unlikely to see fantasy relevance in 2026.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Germie Bernard Scores a Statement Touchdown in Preseason Finale
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard caught only one of his two passes in Thursday night's preseason loss to the Bills, but he made it count. Following an opening drive three-and-out by the Steelers and a muffed punt by the Bills, Pittsburgh began its second drive deep in Buffalo territory and took only one play to find paydirt. Lined up in one-on-one coverage against 2025 first-round pick Max Hairston, Bernard took a quick pass from Will Howard and muscled his way through to the end zone. "I played running back for a very long time in my childhood," Bernard said after the game. "I always had the ball in my hands. It just always translated and stayed with me." Bernard enters his rookie season seemingly locked out of the Steelers' third wide receiver spot by 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson, but the versatility and playmaking that he has flashed throughout camp and on Thursday night could help him find the field and earn targets from Aaron Rodgers earlier than is customary for most rookies in the veteran's orbit. At RotoBaller's WR83, Bernard is not a player who needs to be targeted in 2026 drafts. Still, fantasy managers will need to monitor his early-season involvement and be ready to make a waiver claim if and when his role expands.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Justin Herbert Shakes Off Early Mistake, Showcases Elite Arm Talent
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and some of the team's starting offense played two series against the Rams' defensive reserves in Thursday night's preseason finale, with both drives lasting exactly two plays. After his fumbled handoff attempt on the Chargers' second play of the game led to a Rams' field goal, Herbert quickly made up for the mistake on his next opportunity, uncorking a 65-yard touchdown strike to fourth-year receiver Quentin Johnston. Herbert's physical abilities have never been in question, but since a QB2 finish in 2021, he's been unable to overcome a series of environmental setbacks, with a number of catastrophic injuries to his offensive line most recently holding him back in 2025. While the Chargers have already lost center Tyler Biadasz (knee) to a season-ending knee injury, the returns to health of bookend Pro Bowl tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater have Herbert well-positioned for a fantasy bounceback in Mike McDaniel's new-look offense. As RotoBaller's QB7, Herbert is already priced higher than any of his fantasy finishes since his second season in the league, but with the skill set, the surrounding cast, and the playcaller all seemingly in place, he could ultimately prove to be a league-winning value in 2026.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Quentin Johnston Shows Off Boom Potential with Long Touchdown
With the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive starters playing two series against the Rams' defensive reserves in Thursday night's cross-town preseason finale, fourth-year wide receiver Quentin Johnston helped quarterback Justin Herbert atone for an opening drive fumble by splitting two defenders for a 65-yard touchdown to give the Bolts an early 7-3 lead. A first-round pick in 2023, Johnston struggled with drops early in his career, but has flashed moments of underrated excellence over the past two seasons, particularly during a four-week stretch that saw him open 2025 as the fantasy WR4. While volume and consistency concerns still exist in what is expected to be a run-first Mike McDaniel offense, Johnston should be schemed into space and put in a position to make use of his run-after-catch abilities, and Thursday night's deep touchdown served as a reminder of his big-play potential. As RotoBaller's WR38, Johnston can still be viewed through a boom-or-bust lens in 2026, but all signs point to the booms being more explosive with the busts less detrimental.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mike Washington Jr. Emerging as Priority Late-Round Sleeper
Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr., who could see starting action to begin the year if Ashton Jeanty (ankle) is unavailable for the season opener, ran for 49 yards on eight carries in Thursday night's preseason loss to the 49ers. The fourth-round pick, who was one of the stars of the 2026 NFL Combine, concludes his first preseason with 168 yards on 23 attempts for a 7.3 -yard per carry average. After an offseason spent espousing the value of a two-back system, head coach Klint Kubiak appears to have found a player capable of platooning with Jeanty, giving Washington potential standalone value outside of what he can provide as an injury fill-in. With Jeanty's status for Week 1 still up in the air, and the Raiders backfield deployment somewhat of a mystery in Kubiak's first year at the helm, Washington is a must-draft player as RotoBaller's RB48.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Fernando Mendoza Struggles in Final Extended Opportunity
Taking over early in the game and playing mostly with the starting offense, Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza struggled against a unit of 49ers reserves in Thursday night's preseason finale. The first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft completed seven of his 14 pass attempts for 57 yards while throwing an interception and taking two sacks, and with veteran Kirk Cousins now expected to take the starting job into the regular season, Mendoza's tune-up opportunities are about to see a dramatic decline. "He needs another three preseason games, and all those rookies do," head coach Klint Kubiak said after the game. "Now that the season is starting, the practice reps get smaller, and that's just life. But us as coaches, we've got to get them ready to play and keep developing." The Raiders face a difficult schedule to begin the year, so the team may need to be strategic about when they give Mendoza his first career start, and with a steep learning curve still ahead of him, he is not a player who needs to be drafted in single quarterback leagues.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jordan Watkins Makes His Final Case In Busy Preseason
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jordan Watkins saw a team-high eight targets in Thursday's 18-12 win over the Raiders. Watkins had four receptions for 64 receiving yards, gained 27 rushing yards on three carries, and handled two kickoffs and two punts for a total of 62 return yards in the preseason finale. A fourth-round selection in the 2025 draft, Watkins appeared in just four games last season but saw a healthy amount of work in this year's preseason, racking up 13 receptions for 164 yards on 22 targets. Despite the long look, he is unlikely to have an impact in fantasy with Mike Evans (groin), Deebo Samuel Sr., and De'Zhaun Stribling (shoulder) at the top of the depth chart, and Christian Kirk, Demarcus Robinson, and Jacob Cowing also jockeying for playing time. Watkins can safely be ignored in fantasy drafts.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Kaelon Black Gets Start In 49ers' Preseason Finale
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black got the start in the 49ers' preseason finale on Thursday night. The rookie out of Indiana had San Francisco's first three series to himself before ceding the backfield to Jordan James. Black finished the game with four carries for 28 rushing yards. Black's only target missed him by a wide margin when he turned in the opposite direction of the pass from Mac Jones. Any fantasy value Black might have would come from being Christian McCaffrey's (undisclosed) handcuff. That would be a valuable role given McCaffrey's injury history, but the depth chart past him is not yet defined. Black would have to beat out not only James but also Isaac Guerendo (pectoral), Khalil Herbert, and Sincere McCormick. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for developments ahead of the 49ers' season opener on September 10.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
