RADIO
Chase Brown Could See More Under-Center Rushing Opportunities
The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that it is "easy to anticipate a far more under-center ground game coming" for Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown in 2026. Brown at one point called the Bengals a "top-five, top-10" defense during training camp. "They've been causing us problems all camp," Brown said. "Offensively, we started to find a groove there even though they presented us some pretty big challenges at the start." The 26-year-old former fifth-rounder from Illinois had his first 1,000-yard rushing season on 232 carries in 2025 and added six rushing scores and a career-best 69 receptions for 437 yards and five more TDs to finish as a top-10 fantasy RB. Based on everything we have heard this summer, the Bengals have designed their offense even more around Brown out of the backfield in 2026, making him a strong midrange RB1 target as he heads into his fourth year in the NFL. Not only has Brown become one of the best all-around players at his position in the league, but he really should not be threatened at all by Samaje Perine. In a prolific offense like Cincy's, if quarterback Joe Burrow stays healthy, Brown could even improve on his strong 2025 showing.
Source: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
Source: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
J.J. McCarthy Not Playing in Preseason Finale Against Denver
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday night against the hosting Denver Broncos, multiple sources told Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The Vikings had hoped that McCarthy's ankle would be healed ahead of the game, but he ultimately was not comfortable enough to suit up. The good news is that his injury is considered minor, and he is day-to-day. McCarthy picked up the ankle injury in last weekend's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, in which he struggled in the face of pressure. The Vikings already named Kyler Murray as their Week 1 starter, with McCarthy now battling veteran Carson Wentz for QB2 duties to open his third year in the NFL. If the 23-year-old cannot beat out Wentz, he could be a trade candidate before the regular-season opener. The former 10th overall pick in 2024 from Michigan missed all of his rookie year after having knee surgery, and he completed just 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in just 10 games last year due to injuries. Early in his career, McCarthy has not looked like a viable NFL starter, cratering his fantasy value in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Kirk Cousins Expected to "Eventually" be Named the Starting QB
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Las Vegas Raiders veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected "to be named the starter eventually," according to people inside the Raiders' building and league-wide with other teams. Head coach Klint Kubiak was non-committal on naming a starter for Week 1 of the regular season against the Miami Dolphins after the team's preseason finale on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers, in which both Cousins and rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza played. Cousins went 8-for-11 for 51 yards, while Mendoza went 7-for-14 for 57 yards with an interception. Although Mendoza saw some first-team reps in training camp practices, Cousins has been treated like the starter since the spring, according to Fowler. At best, the 14-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowler is a low-end, short-term option in superflex leagues in 2026, but the overwhelming consensus is that Mendoza will be making starts under center this year for the Raiders sooner rather than later. Cousins only played in 10 games (eight starts) for the Atlanta Falcons last year after Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) season-ending ACL tear, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Commanders Holding Rachaad White Out of Preseason Finale
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White (hamstring) is not active for the team's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday, according to Commanders.com. It is not a surprise that White will not play in the final preseason game after injuring his hamstring in training camp practice last Wednesday. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) are also banged up and will not play on Friday night, leaving rookie Kaytron Allen, Robert Henry, and Craig Reynolds to work out of the backfield against the Ravens. The 27-year-old White is entering his first year in D.C. in 2026 after rushing for 2,656 yards and 14 touchdowns and catching 205 passes for 1,450 yards and another 11 scores as a receiver in his four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he figures to be the Commanders' top pass-catching back, giving him late-round sleeper appeal in PPR fantasy formats. White had at least 40 catches in all four of his seasons in Tampa and exceeded 50 catches three times.
Source: Commanders.com
Source: Commanders.com
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Not Playing in Preseason Finale
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) is not active for Friday's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens, per the team's official website. Croskey-Merritt tweaked his lower body in training camp practice last Thursday, and although the injury is not believed to be serious, the Commanders have held the second-year back out as a precaution and will not have him suit up on Friday. In addition to JCM, Rachaad White (hamstring) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) are banged up and will not play against Baltimore, leaving rookie Kaytron Allen, Robert Henry, and Craig Reynolds to man the team's backfield in the preseason finale. The 25-year-old Croskey-Merritt had a successful rookie season in 2025 after being taken in the seventh round out of Arizona, running for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries to lead the team. Washington hopes to develop him into a three-down back, but the addition of White, a pass-catching specialist, could make that difficult to achieve in 2026. RotoBaller has Croskey-Merritt ranked as the No. 37 overall RB for his second NFL season.
Source: Commanders.com
Source: Commanders.com
Emeka Egbuka's Focus is on Being Ready for Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) traveled to Jacksonville with the team for their preseason finale this week, but he will not play as he continues to rest his toe injury, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Auman says that he would be surprised if we see Egbuka at practice next week, with the focus on having him back for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 23-year-old suffered a sprained toe over two weeks ago and has not practiced since. Even if the former first-rounder from Ohio State is active for Week 1, fantasy managers have a reason to be skeptical that he will produce for them right out of the gate, even against a Bengals secondary that has been extremely generous in recent seasons. We might not have a definitive answer on Egbuka's Week 1 status until several days before the season opener. Egbuka had a nice 63-938-6 line in 17 games as a rookie in 2025, and his role should expand as a sophomore with Mike Evans no longer in town. In upcoming redraft leagues, fantasy managers should target him as a solid WR2.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Evan Engram Starting to Look More Interesting in Redraft Leagues
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is starting to give fantasy managers a little more to work with after a rough first season in Denver. He caught 50 of 76 targets for 461 yards and one touchdown in 16 games last year, but the bigger issue was how little the Broncos used him. This summer has been different. Engram was one of the early camp standouts, Sean Payton said he could be a "big asset," and he later caught a touchdown from Bo Nix during two-minute work. Denver has also moved him around the formation more instead of treating him mostly as a slot target. Engram then drew three targets in the preseason opener, catching one for 24 yards. This isn't suddenly a clear path back to TE1 numbers. Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton and the rest of Denver's receiver room make targets tough to project, and Engram still has plenty to prove after last year. He does remain first on the depth chart, though, and RotoBaller has him at TE34 in half-PPR. That's still deep-league territory, but Engram's stock has moved in the right direction this summer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Mason Keeps Climbing in Redraft Leagues
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason continues to look like more than just Aaron Jones Sr.'s backup. Mason rushed for 758 yards and six touchdowns on 159 carries last season, and Minnesota doesn't appear interested in pushing him back into a minor role. The team's current unofficial depth chart lists Jones OR Mason at running back, and the preseason opener looked a lot like a real split. Jones got three carries on the opening drive against the Giants. Mason got three as well, picking up 17 yards with a long run of 15. There are still reasons Jones will matter plenty, especially on passing downs. He caught 28 passes last year while Mason finished with only 14 receptions for 51 yards. Mason doesn't need to take over the backfield to pay off in drafts, though. RotoBaller had him at RB38 in its Aug. 24 rankings, and his early-down role already gives him usable standalone value. If Jones misses time, the ceiling jumps quickly. Mason's arrow is pointing up heading into the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jake Ferguson Slipping Toward TE2 Territory
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is looking a little less appealing for redraft as the target competition around him gets tougher. Ferguson caught 82 of 102 targets for 600 yards and eight touchdowns last season, but the production was heavily front-loaded. He was the overall TE1 in PPR through Week 7, then fell to TE22 over the rest of the year and managed only seven catches over his final four games. Ferguson still owns the starting job and remains a trusted red-zone option after drawing 23 targets inside the 20 last season, converting seven into touchdowns. The concern is how often Dallas will need to lean on him with CeeDee Lamb healthy, George Pickens coming off a huge year, and Ryan Flournoy emerging as a legitimate third receiver. Ferguson averaged only 7.3 yards per catch in 2025, so he needs steady volume and scoring chances more than most tight ends in his range. His role is safe, but the ceiling looks shakier than it did earlier in the offseason. RotoBaller currently has him in the TE14-TE15 range depending on scoring format.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalton Schultz Back in the Late-Round Conversation
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has a clearer path to useful volume after injuries reshaped the team's receiving corps late in camp. Schultz already handled a major role last season, setting career highs with 82 catches on 106 targets for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. His 106 targets ranked second on Houston behind Nico Collins. Jayden Higgins is now out for the season with a torn ACL, while Tank Dell's return from a major knee injury remains uncertain entering Week 1. Houston has added Kayshon Boutte and signed veteran receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones, so those vacated targets will not simply funnel to Schultz. The tight end room is deeper, too, after the Texans signed Foster Moreau and used the 59th overall pick on Marlin Klein. Schultz remains the established TE1, though, and Houston gave him a contract extension in March. RotoBaller currently ranks him TE24 in half-PPR. Another 106-target season is far from guaranteed, but the late changes around him have improved his chances of remaining a useful late-round option in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tutu Atwell Addition Not a Precursor to WR Suspension in L.A.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that Thursday's trade for wide receiver Tutu Atwell had "nothing to do" with a possible suspension for two-time Pro Bowl wideout Puka Nacua, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "It gives us an opportunity to be able to have that speed element, and he can do some different things," McVay said. "It had nothing to do with anything other than just adding depth to the receiver room." Nacua's legal situation is "ongoing" after a woman in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against him that alleged he made an "unprovoked antisemitic statement" toward her and later hit her on the shoulder. The Rams drafted Atwell in the second round in 2021, having spent his first five seasons with the team before signing a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in March. The 26-year-old will be providing depth again in L.A. in 2026 behind Nacua and Davante Adames, who will continue to see the vast majority of aerial targets from quarterback Matthew Stafford. Atwell had a career-high 562 receiving yards in 2024 but fell to 192 yards and just one touchdown on six catches in 10 regular-season games last year.
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Kenny Gainwell Could Lead Buccaneers in All-Purpose Yards
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell could lead the team in all-purpose yards this season, according to Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report. That sounds like a bold call with Bucky Irving still expected to lead the backfield, but Gainwell did exactly that for Pittsburgh last year. He finished 2025 with 1,656 all-purpose yards, piling up 537 on the ground, 486 as a receiver and another 633 on kickoff returns. Gainwell has carried that versatility into Tampa Bay. He has been used heavily as a receiver during camp, including in two-back packages with Irving, and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has praised his ability to handle just about anything the offense asks of him. Irving should still get most of the carries, and Tampa Bay has not named Gainwell its primary kick returner. Reynolds' projection is aggressive, but Gainwell's receiving role and history of producing yards in several different ways give him a real path to making it happen.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Todd Monken Non-Committal on Keeping Four QBs on Roster
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken was non-committal after Thursday night's preseason finale against the New England Patriots about keeping four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster entering Week 1 of the regular season after Dillon Gabriel threw three first-half touchdowns in a 37-13 win, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. The Browns sat both starter Deshaun Watson and backup Shedeur Sanders on Thursday against the Patriots. Gabriel, a third-rounder last year who was taken two rounds before Sanders, went 12-for-15 passing for 186 yards and his three TDs in the first half. Despite Gabriel's strong game and training camp, Monken would not commit to keeping Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green on the initial 53-man roster. "I'm not going to get into that now," Monken said. "[General manager] Andrew [Berry] and I haven't had a chance to really talk about that." Gabriel started six games in 2025 as a rookie before suffering a concussion in Week 11 that led to Sanders starting the final seven contests. Monken said Gabriel's performance on Thursday does not change his plan for his starting QB or the backup.
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Jalon Daniels to Start in Preseason Finale, Making Push for No. 2 Job
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels will start Friday night's preseason finale against Jacksonville and is expected to play the entire first half, possibly longer, according to Rick Stroud. Jake Browning and Connor Bazelak will follow him. The bigger development is Daniels' push for the No. 2 job behind Baker Mayfield. The undrafted rookie has completed 19 of 29 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown through two preseason games while adding a rushing score. He also led Tampa Bay on five scoring drives, including three straight against Kansas City last week. Browning entered camp as the expected veteran backup, but Daniels has turned that into a real competition. The Buccaneers' unofficial depth chart still lists Daniels fourth, though Todd Bowles has said the backup battle remains open. Friday gives Daniels his longest look yet, and another strong showing could make Tampa Bay's QB2 decision much tougher.
Source: Rick Stroud
Source: Rick Stroud
Jauan Jennings Faces a Tighter Path to Targets
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings still looks set to open the season as part of the team's top receiving trio, but his redraft outlook has taken a small hit as Tai Felton has pushed for more work. Jennings signed a one-year deal with Minnesota in May after catching 55 passes for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns in 15 games for San Francisco last season. The Vikings continue to list Jennings as a starter alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and their own coverage referred to those three as the team's top trio after Felton's 50-yard catch against Baltimore. Felton's strong summer is still worth noting. The second-year receiver played extensively with the first-team offense in the preseason opener and followed it with three catches for 66 yards against Baltimore. Jennings was already facing a crowded target tree with Jefferson, Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, so another receiver earning snaps lowers his weekly ceiling. RotoBaller currently has Jennings around WR59. He remains a reasonable late-round depth option, but the path to dependable volume looks narrower than it did when camp opened.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
