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Ja'Kobi Lane Catches Touchdown Pass in Debut as Stock Continues to Rise
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane caught all three of his targets for 38 yards and a touchdown during Saturday's preseason contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. Lane made quite an impression in his pro debut, catching every pass thrown his way and adding six points with a trip to the end zone. The third-round pick out of USC continues to boost his stock with an impressive training camp and start to the preseason. He still has two more preseason games ahead of him, but as it stands, Lane could be a sneaky candidate for the No. 2 receiver role behind Zay Flowers in Baltimore. After all, Rashod Bateman has left a lot to be desired through his first five seasons, and Devontez Walker remains lower in the pecking order despite a solid training camp. Lane is an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues, and we wouldn't be surprised to see him get drafted in deeper redraft leagues, too. We expect the Ravens to pass more in 2026, and Lane could be a key part of the offensive attack.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Max Klare Plays Large Role in Rams Passing Attack in Preseason Opener
Los Angeles Rams tight end Max Klare caught seven of his eight targets for 37 yards during Saturday's preseason contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. Klare, a second-round pick, made a huge impression during his NFL preseason debut. He fetched targets from both Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson, and while he showed a decent rapport with both, he definitely clicked more with Simpson, the Rams' first-round pick out of Alabama. Klare and Simpson will be a duo to watch for several years to come, but it could take a little while for them to emerge as weekly fantasy threats. Simpson is waiting in the wings behind Matthew Stafford at quarterback, and Klare is a bit buried on the tight end depth chart behind Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, and Terrance Ferguson. Nevertheless, there's long-term appeal here, as the Ohio State product ranks as the TE23 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Emmett Johnson Productive in Pro Debut, Emerging as Potential Stash Candidate
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson was productive during his preseason debut versus the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He rushed the ball 12 times for 59 yards and hauled in all three of his targets for 10 additional yards through the air in the loss. Johnson led all running backs in both carries and rushing yards during Saturday's game. Head coach Andy Reid noted after the game that Johnson ran the ball hard and aggressively during this game. The rookie back is currently listed as the RB3, but could make a push for the second-string role. His next chance to impress will come against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 22.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Keon Coleman Catches TD Pass, In Play for WR3 Role
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman is attempting to earn himself a starting role during the preseason. The third-year wideout got off to a nice start during the first preseason contest against the Carolina Panthers. Coleman snagged three of his four targets for 17 yards and a touchdown in the victory. His score came on a nine-yard pass from Josh Allen in the first quarter. The 23-year-old is trying to beat out Joshua Palmer and rookie Skyler Bell for the WR3 role in Buffalo this upcoming season. It's a small sample size, but Coleman appears to be building chemistry with Allen. He probably won't be a focal point in the offense, but Coleman could be worth a stash for dynasty managers willing to take a chance on him.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
KC Concepcion Impresses as Receiver and Rusher in Preseason Opener
Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion put together a nice performance during his preseason debut on Saturday. Concepcion got his first taste of NFL action versus the Chicago Bears this weekend. The rookie wideout hauled in three of his four targets for 27 yards. He also carried the ball once for a 14-yard touchdown in the loss to the Bears. The Browns expect big things from Concepcion, whom they used the 24th overall pick on during this year's draft. He's supposed to play a big part in the passing game alongside Jerry Jeudy and fellow rookie wideout Denzel Boston. His performance on Saturday shows that Concepcion could be used in both the receiving and rushing game this upcoming season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Deshaun Watson Sharp in Season Debut
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson looked sharp under center during Saturday's preseason matchup against the Chicago Bears. The veteran quarterback got the first chance to start and made the most of his opportunity. Watson completed 11-of-15 passing attempts for 126 yards during the 34-10 defeat. He played the entire first half and led his team to its only two scoring drives of the game. Watson did lose a fumble on a sack in Chicago territory, but it was mostly a solid day for Watson. Both Watson and Shedeur Sanders should continue to compete for the starting gig throughout the preseason. Watson outplayed Sanders in the first preseason game, but there are still two more to go
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Cyrus Allen Draws Team-High Targets on Saturday, Continues to See Fantasy Stock Soar
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen caught two of his five targets for 20 yards during Saturday's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. It wasn't the greatest statistical performance, but Allen's five targets led the entire Chiefs team, suggesting that he'll be able to carve out a significant role this season. Allen drew the start alongside Jalen Royals and Tyquan Thornton on Saturday, so it seems like those three receivers are competing for the No. 3 role behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The rookie appears to have an early leg up on the competition, and while there are still two more preseason games to be played, Allen is a quick riser in dynasty fantasy football leagues. The fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati currently ranks as the WR86 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Ceyair Wright Stepping Away to Star as Lead Role in Major Film
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ceyair Wright has accepted a lead role in a major film, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Wright decided the opportunity was too important to pass up, and he has stepped away from the team for the time being. Wilson notes that Wright plans to resume his football career after filming concludes in October. In the meantime, he has been placed on the exempt/left-squad list, which means he won't count towards the Bengals' 90-man roster. This is one of the most bizarre NFL headlines we've seen in a while, but it isn't exactly foreign territory for Wright. The 23-year-old has appeared in several shows and films, with his most notable role so far being Darius James in Space Jam: A New Legacy. Wright also played college football at USC and Nebraska. He tallied 68 tackles, two interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble over his final two seasons with the Cornhuskers, leading to an undrafted free agent deal with the Bengals in May 2026.
Source: Aaron Wilson
Source: Aaron Wilson
Audric Estime Injures Ankle on Saturday
New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime (ankle) suffered an ankle injury during Saturday's preseason contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach Kellen Moore told Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Estime's final touch of the game was a loss of six yards on a reception with 8:40 left in the second quarter. Prior to exiting, the 22-year-old had five carries, 28 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown. It was an impressive performance, and it might have been enough to vault Estime to No. 3 on the depth chart behind Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara. Assuming he's not sidelined for too long, he's likely on track to earn a roster spot, albeit as a depth piece with minimal fantasy value. Ty Chandler took over as the Saints' primary ball-carrier after Estime left the game.
Source: Mike Triplett
Source: Mike Triplett
Christian McCaffrey Sits Out Another Practice
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) missed Saturday's practice due to "tightness," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. So far, we don't have much info on McCaffrey's injury. We know that it sidelined him for several practices and the 49ers' preseason opener, but we can't read too much into those absences since the 49ers have been lightening many of their starters' workloads anyway. With that being said, fantasy managers would be justified if they take the injury into consideration when drafting this year. In the event that he does have a clean bill of health, though, McCaffrey is worth drafting as an early-to-mid first-round pick. He was the overall RB1 in PPR leagues with 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns last year, and he ranks as the overall RB3 in RotoBaller's latest 2026 fantasy football draft rankings.
Source: Nick Wagoner
Source: Nick Wagoner
Saquon Barkley Sits Out Preseason Opener
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley did not suit up for Saturday's preseason contest against the Baltimore Ravens. There's no indication of an injury for Barkley, so his absence is purely a result of the Eagles trying to keep him healthy for the regular season. The 29-year-old is coming off another solid season in which he tallied 1,140 rushing yards, 37 catches, 273 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. The yardage and touchdown totals were down compared to his RB2 finish in 2024, but he still contributed for fantasy managers as the overall RB14 in PPR leagues. We expect a similar finish -- low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 -- for Barkley in 2026, assuming he stays relatively healthy. He might lose some rushing volume to Jalen Hurts, but the good news is that Barkley faces minimal competition in the running back room, and there's one less mouth to feed in this offense after A.J. Brown was traded to New England.
Source: Brooks Kubena
Source: Brooks Kubena
Skyler Bell Working Through Lower-Body Injury
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Skyler Bell (lower body) is working through a lower-body injury, head coach Joe Brady told Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. It sounds like Bell's absence from Saturday's preseason opener was merely precautionary, as Brady noted that Bell likely would have played if it were a regular-season game. The fourth-round pick has intriguing upside after tallying 101 catches, 1,278 yards, and 13 touchdowns in his final season at UConn. Once he clears the injury hurdle, he has a chance to compete for meaningful playing time ahead of Keon Coleman and behind DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir. Neither Moore nor Shakir seems to be the long-term solution in Buffalo, and while Bell may not possess the skills to be an alpha receiver in the NFL, there's still No. 2 receiver potential with legitimate top-36 fantasy receiver upside. Bell is an intriguing dynasty target in a system that will allow him to catch passes from star quarterback Josh Allen.
Source: Joe Buscaglia
Source: Joe Buscaglia
Ty Simpson Lives Up to the Hype in Preseason Debut
Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson completed 21 of his 25 pass attempts for 190 yards, two passing touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Saturday's preseason contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Rams shocked the world when they selected Simpson in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and while the keys to the offense still belong to Matthew Stafford for now, the rookie showed that he can play pro football at a high level. Throwing for two touchdowns is impressive, but we're even more encouraged by his stellar 84% completion rate in a game where neither Puka Nacua nor Davante Adams played. Dynasty managers should feel reassured that Simpson has high-end QB2 or low-end QB1 potential once Stafford's playing days are over. That may require some patience, but the upside is indisputable.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Isaiah Likely Sees Prominent Role on Third Down in Preseason Opener
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely caught both of his targets for 11 yards in the team's 13-10 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Likely caught both of his passes on third down, converting both to move the chains. While his receiving role appears to be a major factor (especially on third down) in offensive coordinator Matt Nagy's offense, his snap share was notable. In 16 snaps that the first-team played during their first preseason matchup, Likely played just six snaps, while Theo Johnson played seven and blocking tight end Chris Manhertz played five. Likely played all six of his snaps in 11 personnel, while Johnson and Manhertz operated primarily in heavy personnel. We've seen highly valued tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Evan Engram struggle to produce last season due to their low snap counts, so this could be something to watch for Likely during the course of the 2026 season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Malachi Fields a Lone Bright Spot in Preseason Loss to Vikings
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields hauled in all three targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in the team's 13-10 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Fields was a factor on the first-team offense and earned more trust from quarterback Jaxson Dart, who threw him a 50/50 ball in the back of the end zone, which Fields came down with. The third-round pick played nine of 16 snaps with the first-team offense, while veterans Darnell Mooney (12) and Darius Slayton (12) each played more snaps. With star receiver Malik Nabers (knee) inactive for their preseason opener, all three receivers likely played more than they would have if Nabers had been on the field. However, Fields' production and highlight-reel touchdown from Dart were a bright spot amid the Giants' ugly offensive output.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
