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Kenny Gainwell Could Feature Prominently in Red-Zone, Goal-Line Situations
FOX Sports' Greg Auman believes that Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell could feature prominently in red-zone and goal-to-go situations under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson in 2026. Gainwell is essentially replacing pass-catching RB Rachaad White in a new offense this year, but unlike White, the 27-year-old could be featured more in the red zone, which is bad news for fantasy managers who are hoping for a bounce-back year from Bucky Irving. Gainwell, a former fifth-rounder by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 from Memphis, broke out last year in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a receiver, catching 73 of 85 targets for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He added a career-high 114 carries for 537 yards and another four scores on the ground. Gainwell is expected to be used often alongside Irving in his first year in Tampa, giving him weekly RB3/flex upside, especially in point-per-reception leagues. He could come out of the gate strong in a Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, in which the Bucs may be forced to throw early and often.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Myles Garrett "Ready to Go" for Week 1
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett (knee) will be "ready to go" against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday for the Week 1 season opener, according to Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register. The Rams will have Garrett ready to make his debut with the team, but defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement this year to rejoin the Rams, will have to wait at least another week for his much-anticipated return. The Rams held Garrett out for the majority of training camp this summer due to swelling in his knee, but it was never considered serious, and he will be active this week. It means that fantasy managers should have him locked into their starting lineups in IDP formats, even if his workload is a little limited in Week 1. The 30-year-old former first overall pick in 2017 is coming off a historic season in 2025 in which he set the record for most sacks (23) in a single season in 17 starts for the Cleveland Browns.
Source: The Orange County Register - Benjamin Royer
Source: The Orange County Register - Benjamin Royer
Chris Bell Listed as Starting Receiver for Dolphins
On the Miami Dolphins' updated unofficial depth chart after final 53-man roster cuts, rookie wide receiver Chris Bell is listed as a starter alongside Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fantasy managers should always take depth-chart information with a grain of salt, but Bell will enter the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday with a key role in Miami's new-look offense led by quarterback Malik Willis. Bell had an eventful training camp this summer after initially opening on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to the ACL tear that he suffered in his final college season at Louisville in 2025. He looked good in his lone preseason performance and will have an opportunity to produce right away in his first year in the NFL in the shallowest WR corps in the NFL. Bell is still a better bench stash in dynasty/keeper leagues for his long-term upside, but if he has a bigger role than expected on offense early in the season, he could quickly become a priority waiver-wire target in deeper single-year leagues. He is currently rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
Aaron Donald Not Quite Ready, Will Not Travel to Australia for Week 1
Los Angeles Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement this year to join forces with star defensive end Myles Garrett, is not quite ready and will not travel to Melbourne, Australia, for the team's Week 1 contest on Thursday against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Donald is back on the field and continues to work himself back into football shape, but he is doing it with the long term in mind and not just Week 1. When the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer and 10-time Pro Bowler does make his season debut, potentially in Week 2 versus the New York Giants, he is expected to be in a rotational role on the interior of L.A.'s defensive line, which will make him much more boom/bust as a fantasy asset in IDP formats. Donald is in phenomenal shape, though, and will certainly be a force to be reckoned with on the interior after amassing 111 career sacks in 10 seasons with the Rams, and his presence in 2026 will only make an already strong Rams defense even more attractive in fantasy.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Keon Coleman Listed as a Starter on Bills' Depth Chart
The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia reports that wide receiver Keon Coleman is ahead of Joshua Palmer on the Buffalo Bills' unofficial depth chart ahead of their Week 1 game this Sunday against the Houston Texans. Coleman, the team's former second-round pick in 2024 from Florida State, has been a disappointment in his first two years in the league, catching 67 of 116 targets for 960 yards and eight touchdowns in 26 games played (18 starts). The 23-year-old battled drops and was benched for showing up late to a team meeting, further hurting his dynasty/keeper stock. But heading into Year 3, the Bills' brass continues to say that Coleman is in their long-term plans, and they are hoping to see more maturity from him in 2026. The offseason acquisition of DJ Moore did not help Coleman's cause, but he is expected to start alongside Moore and Khalil Shakir in three-wide sets to kick off the regular season. Coleman has buy-low appeal in dynasty leagues and should be considered a deep-league sleeper. Right now, he is only rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues and can be left on the waiver wire in 12-team formats.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Buscaglia
Source: The Athletic - Joe Buscaglia
Chris Brooks Has a Real Opening in Green Bay's Backfield
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks has become a little more interesting with Josh Jacobs unavailable to open the season. The Packers are going with a committee for now, leaving Brooks in a three-man backfield with MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson. Lloyd has the obvious big-play appeal, but Brooks brings something Green Bay already trusts. He has carved out work on passing downs because of his hands and pass protection, which gives him a chance to stick in the rotation even if he isn't getting many early-down carries. Brooks had only 27 rushes for 106 yards last season, though he also caught 13 passes for 91 yards. There isn't enough here to put him into a Week 1 lineup yet. He is rostered in just 3% of Yahoo leagues and makes the most sense as a stash in 14-team PPR formats. If the committee gives Brooks more passing-game work than expected, there could be something useful here.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Seth McGowan Requires Patience in Deeper Fantasy Leagues
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan is more of a bench swing than somebody fantasy managers should expect to use anytime soon. The seventh-round rookie made the 53-man roster after rushing for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns at Kentucky last season, and the Colts liked the physicality he showed throughout the preseason. There is still somebody in his way before Jonathan Taylor, though. Indianapolis currently lists DJ Giddens second on the depth chart and McGowan third, leaving the rookie without much of a standalone role heading into Week 1. The good news is that the Colts kept only three running backs on the active roster, so an injury could change things quickly. McGowan is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues and sits in the 14-team range on the current waiver list. That's where he belongs for now. Deep benches can take the shot, but managers in standard leagues do not need to force it.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sione Vaki Has a Path to Week 1 Touches
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki has a little more life as a deep-league stash with Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve. Dan Campbell said Vaki and Jacob Saylors will split the No. 2 role behind Jahmyr Gibbs against New Orleans, so there is no clean handcuff here. Still, Vaki has earned some trust. Campbell liked the progress he made as both a runner and pass catcher during camp and said he is comfortable using him when Gibbs needs a breather. The problem is we have barely seen Vaki on offense in the NFL. He has seven career carries for 18 yards and three catches for 37 yards, while Saylors is going to get work too. Vaki is rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues and sits in the 14-team PPR range on the current waiver list. That makes him more of a cheap bench swing than someone to start in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Titans D/ST Makes Sense as a Week 1 Rental
The Tennessee Titans D/ST is a pretty easy streaming target if you came out of your draft without a defense you trust. Tennessee gets the Jets at home, and Geno Smith is coming off a season in which he threw a league-high 17 interceptions and took 55 sacks. That gives this unit a real shot at getting home for a few splash plays, especially with Jeffery Simmons coming off an 11-sack season. The Titans were not a great fantasy defense in 2025 and forced only six interceptions as a team, so there is some risk here. Cedric Gray is also in the concussion protocol after a UTV accident, which is worth watching during the week. Still, the current Week 1 rankings have Tennessee ninth among D/STs, while the Jets carry an implied total of just 18.5 points. This is a one-week stream more than a hold, with Philadelphia waiting in Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Davis Takes Part in RB Drills on Tuesday
New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis (knee) is taking part in RB drills at practice on Tuesday, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday Sports. Davis missed the entire preseason because of his knee injury and is expected to open the 2026 campaign as the RB3 in New York behind Breece Hall (groin) and Braelon Allen if he is healthy enough to suit up for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. That role will not make Davis very appealing to fantasy managers in any league format to start the new season. The 24-year-old former fifth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft out of South Dakota State has averaged a healthy 5.6 yards per carry in his first two NFL seasons, but it has amounted to only 73 carries for 410 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 33 games (zero starts). Davis has added 30 receptions for 261 yards and another score through the air. Davis needs Hall to miss time with an injury to become a waiver-wire target. We will have a better idea of Davis' Week 1 status once the Jets begin to release their official practice reports on Wednesday.
Source: Newsday Sports - Al Iannazzone
Source: Newsday Sports - Al Iannazzone
Pat Freiermuth Not Worth Chasing Before Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is still easy to find on waiver wires, but Week 1 is not the spot to get cute. He caught 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns on 54 targets last season, and while Jonnu Smith is gone, Pittsburgh added Michael Pittman Jr. to a group that already includes DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson. Freiermuth is still the starting tight end, so there is at least a path to more work than he saw in 2025. The matchup is the problem. Atlanta allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends last season, and the current Week 1 rankings have Freiermuth at TE25. He is rostered in only 6% of Yahoo leagues and is best viewed as a 14-team option for now. In a 10- or 12-team league, there are better tight ends to chase before Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Allgeier Gets a Boost From Cardinals Depth Chart
Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier has picked up some real short-term value heading into Week 1. Arizona's current depth chart lists him first at running back, ahead of rookie Jeremiyah Love, while James Conner will open the season on injured reserve. The ordering alone should not be treated like a permanent changing of the guard. The Cardinals said during the preseason not to make too much of Love being listed behind Allgeier, and Love was the No. 3 overall pick for a reason. The timing matters now, though. Love has not practiced since injuring his ankle on Aug. 13, although he was moving around during Monday's walk-through and head coach Mike LaFleur said he feels good about his chances of playing against the Chargers. Allgeier already has a 1,000-yard season on his résumé and scored a career-high eight rushing touchdowns last year. Even if Love is active Sunday, Allgeier looks much harder to dismiss as an early-season fantasy option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
No Clear RB1 in Jacksonville?
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley thinks that the Jacksonville Jaguars will have such a balanced backfield between running backs Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. in 2026 that "neither RB emerges as the lead back and hits the 1,000-yard mark." There is a path for one of Tuten or Rodriguez to hit the 1,000-yard mark if one of them gets momentum early in the year and never lets up, but when considering the team's backfield depth with LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) and Ameer Abdullah, Shipley thinks it is more likely that we see both Tuten and Rodriguez hit 750-plus yards than one of them going over 1,000 yards. It is not what Tuten's fantasy managers want to hear, especially since C-Rod appears to be the better pass-catcher, and he could also vulture touchdowns from Tuten at the goal line. If you have Tuten rostered and Rodriguez is on the waiver wire, you should add Rodriguez as a valuable handcuff. If it is a near-even 50/50 split between the two RBs, it will be hard to recommend either as more than a weekly RB3/flex play in the Jaguars' offense. On the unofficial depth chart heading into the Week 1 clash against the Cleveland Browns, the Jags have listed Tuten and Rodriguez as co-starters.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Jeremiyah Love Listed as RB2 on Cardinals' Depth Chart
The Arizona Cardinals have listed rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) as the RB2 on their unofficial depth chart entering their Week 1 contest on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Bo Brack of PHNX Sports. The No. 3 overall pick in April from Notre Dame has clear three-down potential long-term in the NFL, but after suffering an ankle sprain early in the preseason, the Cardinals are going to ease Love into the regular season as the No. 2 behind Tyler Allgeier, who is in his first year in the desert. Trey Benson (knee) has already been ruled out for the season, and veteran James Conner (foot) will miss at least the first four games of the year due to a foot injury he suffered early in 2025. Love is trending in the right direction to be active this weekend against the Bolts, but he seems likely to cede most of the backfield work to Allgeier in his NFL debut if he is active, making him more of a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex choice for starting lineups on Sunday. Fantasy managers might have to be patient with Love early in his rookie season.
Source: PHNX Sports - Bo Brack
Source: PHNX Sports - Bo Brack
Kahlil Benson Likely to Start at Left Tackle in Week 1
With Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons (back) unlikely to play in the Week 1 season opener next Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos, rookie Kahlil Benson is likely to start in his place as quarterback Patrick Mahomes' blind-side protector, according to Jesse Newell of The Athletic. Simmons, the team's first-rounder in 2025, has not practiced since Aug. 18. Benson is an undrafted rookie from Indiana who earned his way onto the 53-man roster after impressing the coaching staff during May's rookie minicamp. It is not the ideal situation for Mahomes and a Chiefs offense looking to bounce back in 2026 after missing the postseason last year, especially while going up against a vaunted Broncos defensive line that led the league in sacks a year ago. According to TruMedia, only two undrafted rookies have started the season opener at offensive tackle in their first seasons, with the last being Cleveland's Desmond Harrison in 2018. All 12 of Benson's starts last season at Indiana came at right tackle. Per Pro Football Focus, he didn't have a single snap at left tackle on offense in his four-year college career.
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
