RADIO
Jalen McMillan Considered Doubtful for Season Opener
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is listed as doubtful for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. In addition to McMillan, third-string running back Sean Tucker (hamstring) is doubtful to play. The 24-year-old McMillan had been a limited practice participant this week, but the Bucs apparently did not see enough progress to clear him for the regular-season opener this weekend. He missed extensive time in training camp and all of the preseason, potentially opening the door for impressive rookie wideout Ted Hurst III to take over the WR3 role from McMillan early on this year. With McMillan unlikely to play against Cincy, Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. will have higher fantasy ceilings, and Hurst will get his chance to make his mark early. McMillan, a third-rounder in 2024, found the end zone eight times as a rookie, but he played in only four games a year ago due to a serious neck injury he suffered in the preseason. Staying healthy has been an issue. He is rostered in only 14% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Jonathon Brooks Set to Play in Week 1
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) does not have an injury designation on Friday and will play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. Things were trending this way with Brooks practicing all week, but now it is official. The 23-year-old former second-round pick in 2024 from Texas will be playing in just his fourth NFL game after tearing his ACL twice since entering the NFL. Carolina's backfield hierarchy is a bit unclear going into the season opener, but both Brooks and Chuba Hubbard should have sizeable roles in 2026. The Panthers talked Brooks up during training camp and the preseason, causing him to rise on fantasy draft boards, and as long as he stays healthy, he should be a weekly RB3/flex option with upside if he can finally stay healthy in the NFL. Both Brooks and Hubbard should be viewed as RB3/flexes for a difficult Week 1 matchup against the Bears' defense.
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Patriots Placing A.J. Brown on Injured Reserve
The New England Patriots are placing wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) on Injured Reserve on Friday due to the high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Wednesday's season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, which will sideline him for a minimum of four games, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that Brown is expected to miss at least four weeks because of his ankle injury, so it makes sense that the Pats would put him on IR to open up a roster spot while he recovers. It is an ominous sign for the start of the 29-year-old's tenure in New England after the Pats sent a first-rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles for him in the offseason. The former second-rounder caught three of his four targets for 26 yards on Wednesday in Seattle before spraining his ankle. Fantasy managers must stash Brown in an IR spot for now and hope that he can hit the ground running and renew his connection with quarterback Drake Maye when he returns. In the meantime, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams will all be asked to step up in the passing game, as well as tight ends Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Emeka Egbuka Cleared to Play in Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) is a full-go for Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Egbuka was considered up in the air for the season opener after spraining his toe in training camp in August, but he has been practicing in full with the team all week and is ready to go. It is worth noting that Jalen McMillan (knee) is considered doubtful, which should open up more targets for Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and rookie Ted Hurst III. Egbuka had been trending down in fantasy with Week 1 approaching because of his toe injury, but now that he is fully cleared and McMillan is expected to sit out, he is trending back up as a strong WR2 in a game that is expected to feature plenty of points. Make sure that Egbuka is in your starting lineup for Week 1 this weekend against Cincy.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Tee Higgins Cleared for Week 1 Against Tampa
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) is good to go for Sunday's Week 1 season opener versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. The Bengals announced last week that Higgins was dealing with a minor heel injury that was never expected to put him in danger of missing the start of the 2026 season. Fantasy managers need to have the 27-year-old locked into their starting lineups for this weekend's matchup against the Bucs. Higgins was a first-time Pro Bowler for the Bengals last season, catching 59 of his 98 targets for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns in 15 games played. He has not had a 1,000-yard season since 2022, but Higgins has remained productive when he has been on the field, and he has scored 21 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons in Cincy. Higgins has had issues staying on the field for a full season, but when he is out there, he has a strong floor as a high-end WR2 for fantasy managers, even in the shadow of star wideout Ja'Marr Chase.
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
Ja'Marr Chase Good to Go for Week 1
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) is good to go for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Chase suffered a hyperextended knee during the late stages of training camp and was limited from practice work until practicing in full on Wednesday, which signaled that the 26-year-old was looking good to play this weekend. That is now confirmed, so fantasy managers need to have Chase locked into all starting lineups to kick off the regular season on Sunday. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro has hit the 1,000-yard mark in all five of his NFL seasons with the Bengals and is poised for a sixth this year if he stays healthy. Chase led the league in 2024 with 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, and he has scored an incredible 54 times in 78 games so far in his NFL career. If quarterback Joe Burrow stays healthy for another full season, Chase is the odds-on favorite to finish as the overall WR1 in fantasy football.
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
Jason Sanders to Kick for the Jets on Sunday
Kicker Jason Sanders, who is on the practice squad, will make the start for the New York Jets in Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Tennessee Titans over Blake Grupe in a mild surprise, head coach Aaron Glenn told Rich Cimini of ESPN. Sanders initially won a training camp kicking battle over Cade York for the Jets' placekicker job, but New York decided to bring in Grupe for added competition, and it looked like Grupe had taken the job after Sanders was moved to the practice squad. The 30-year-old Sanders was injured and did not play at all in 2025. The former seventh-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2018 from New Mexico is an 84.6% kicker on his 221 total field-goal attempts in his seven seasons with the Dolphins, making 33 of his 48 attempts from 50-plus yards. In his most recent season in 2024 in Miami, Sanders went 37-for-41 on field-goal attempts (90.2%) and 26-for-28 on his extra points in 17 games. For now, he has the job in New York over Grupe, but any little slip-up and the Jets could give Grupe a shot. Fantasy managers should avoid the kicking situation in the Big Apple.
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Pat Freiermuth Facing More Competition for Targets
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth no longer has the top spot to himself on the team's depth chart. Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are now listed together with the first team after Washington spent August behind him. That isn't great news for a player who already saw his volume fall last season. Freiermuth went from 78 targets, 65 catches and seven touchdowns in 2024 to 54 targets, 41 catches and four scores a year ago. Washington was more involved at the same time, posting career highs with 31 receptions and 364 yards, and Pittsburgh gave him a new five-year contract in June. The competition doesn't stop there. Michael Pittman Jr. was added alongside DK Metcalf, while second-round rookie Germie Bernard gives Aaron Rodgers another receiver to work with. Freiermuth will still have a role, and Pittsburgh can get both tight ends on the field together. Finding steady targets every week looks tougher, though. He is better treated as a touchdown-dependent TE2 until we see how this passing game shakes out.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian McCaffrey Played Through Cramping in Season-Opening Win
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that running back Christian McCaffrey dealt with some cramps during the season-opening win on Thursday over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, but made it through fine, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. McCaffrey did not have a huge Week 1 performance, but he did enough to help the Niners pull off a blowout win over a Rams defense that came into the 2026 season expected to be one of the best units in the league. The 30-year-old had 10 carries for 68 yards and caught five of his eight targets for 20 yards. It was a notable reduction in his workload after finishing as the RB1 in fantasy in 2025 with a career- and league-high 413 touches in 17 regular-season starts. Rookie Kaelon Black actually had four more carries than CMC, who did not do much in training camp due to undisclosed tightness. McCaffrey might not see as hefty a workload in 2026, but if he stays healthy again all year, he still has the potential to be a league-winner in San Fran's offense. He is a must-start for a Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
Elic Ayomanor Opens Year Behind Rookie Receiver
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor enters Week 1 in a much different spot than he occupied for most of his rookie season. Ayomanor started 14 games last year and played 80% of the offensive snaps, turning 89 targets into 41 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns. He was still involved throughout camp this summer, so this is not a case of him disappearing completely. The problem is what Tennessee put in front of him. The Titans signed Wan'Dale Robinson, then spent the fourth overall pick on Carnell Tate, and their latest depth chart has Calvin Ridley, Robinson and Tate as the starting three. Ayomanor is listed behind Tate. That makes last year's volume tough to project again, especially with several other receivers still competing for snaps. RotoBaller has Ayomanor at WR108 entering the season. There could still be weeks when he works his way onto the field, but fantasy managers should treat him as a deep-league watch-list player until Tennessee shows it plans to use him regularly.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonathon Brooks on Field for Third Straight Practice
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) was back in uniform and practicing with teammates Friday, according to Mike Kaye. That makes three straight practices for Brooks after he was still working off to the side earlier this week. He was officially limited Wednesday and Thursday, but the direction here has been positive. Brooks said Wednesday he expects to play against Chicago, and head coach Dave Canales said he's "very confident" the third-year back will be available. Friday's final injury report will tell us whether Brooks carries a designation into Sunday. Brooks hasn't played a regular-season snap since tearing his right ACL for the second time in December 2024, though he did get into two preseason games this summer. Chuba Hubbard sits atop Carolina's depth chart, and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said this week that Hubbard, Brooks and AJ Dillon have all earned roles and can be mixed and matched. Brooks looks increasingly likely to play, but his workload is still the part fantasy managers have to be careful with in Week 1.
Source: Mike Kaye
Source: Mike Kaye
Travis Hunter Could Eventually See Punt-Return Work
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter could eventually get a look on punt returns, though Parker Washington remains the team's clear option there for now. Head coach Liam Coen told Ryan O'Halloran that Washington is "the guy right now, absolutely," but added that Hunter will get "some of that stuff" at some point. Coen also said Jacksonville wants to keep finding ways to put the ball in Hunter's hands. There is no immediate change coming. Washington returned 25 punts for 341 yards and two touchdowns last season, averaging 13.6 yards per return, and he already confirmed earlier this week that he is the punt returner entering Week 1. Hunter's rookie year was cut short by an LCL injury after seven games, when he had 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown. He has spent much of this summer working on defense, so any return chances would give Jacksonville another way to create touches for him. It is a small fantasy boost in leagues that count return yardage, but not enough to change his outlook in standard formats.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Jeremiyah Love Expected to Play in Week 1
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Josh Weinfuss. Love has been trying to get back from the high-ankle sprain he suffered against Las Vegas on Aug. 13, and things have moved in the right direction this week. He was limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday after missing the remainder of the preseason. Love only got one game in before the injury, but he looked the part, rushing 11 times for 58 yards and catching all three of his targets for another 14. Arizona used the third overall pick on him in April, so there is obviously plenty of fantasy interest here. The bigger question is how much the Cardinals want to put on his plate right away. Tyler Allgeier is also available in the backfield, and Love has essentially missed a month of work. Still, this is another encouraging report for fantasy managers who drafted the rookie. Barring a setback, he now appears to be on track to make his NFL debut Sunday.
Source: Josh Weinfuss
Source: Josh Weinfuss
Devin Singletary Still Without a Clear Role in Giants Backfield
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary made the 53-man roster, but his fantasy value still took a hit heading into Week 1. The Giants kept four running backs, and their current depth chart has Cam Skattebo first with Tyrone Tracy Jr., Najee Harris and Singletary all behind him. Harris was only added in August, which made an already crowded room even harder to sort out. Singletary did have some decent preseason moments, including 40 yards and a touchdown on eight carries against Miami, but there is still no clear path to steady touches. He handled 119 carries for 437 yards and five touchdowns last season, adding 18 catches for 151 yards. That was useful depth work, not enough to force the Giants into carving out a role now that Skattebo is back atop the depth chart and Harris is in the mix. RotoBaller has Singletary at RB81 entering the season. Making the roster keeps him relevant, but fantasy managers can leave him on waivers until this backfield gives us something more concrete.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zachariah Branch Not Projected to Start Early in Rookie Season
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch is not listed as a projected starter on the team's initial depth chart, dropping him off the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues. As a third-round rookie, we shouldn't be completely shocked that Branch won't get the start in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, if there were any receiver room where he could make that leap, this would be the one. There are plenty of targets up for grabs behind No. 1 receiver Drake London. While Branch, a Georgia product, spent this summer competing for that No. 2 role, it ended up going to veteran Olamide Zaccheaus. Meanwhile, Jahan Doston projects as the third receiver on the depth chart, leaving Branch buried all the way down in the No. 4 role. This offense has so much uncertainty at the quarterback position that it's hard to envision Branch getting onto the redraft radar at any point during his rookie season. In the meantime, he's expected to operate as the Falcons' punt returner.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
