RADIO
Eli Raridon Continues to Flash in New England's Offense
New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon has been flashing early on during training camp and made another catch in team drills on Friday from quarterback Tommy DeVito on a corner/stop route, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. Raridon once again found the soft spot between defenders and finished strong at the catch point. The 22-year-old third-rounder from Notre Dame said that things are slowing down for him already this summer compared to back in the spring, and he's doing all the right things so far to become a contributor in the Pats' ascending offense in his first year in the NFL. Hunter Henry is still New England's unquestioned No. 1 pass-catching tight end who has strong chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye, though, which will undoubtedly limit Raridon's fantasy football upside in Year 1. But there's no denying that Raridon has the size (6-foot-6, 245 pounds) and physicality to be a strong downfield, pass-catching presence for fantasy managers in the future. Raridon's draft stock in both single-year and dynasty/keeper leagues is on the rise this summer.
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Zachariah Branch is "Always Open"
Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch received praise from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during training camp on Friday, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. "You see him, he's usually open," Tagovailoa said. The 22-year-old third-rounder out of the University of Georgia was also a standout during organized team activities in the spring, with Tagovailoa saying back then that the young pass-catcher reminded him of former Dolphins teammate Jaylen Waddle. That's pretty high praise. Branch could also have a path to immediate fantasy relevance in 2026 in his first year in the NFL, as none of Atlanta's WR spots are locked up besides Drake London as the unquestioned WR1. Branch will primarily be competing with former first-rounder Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus for the WR2 role this summer. The small slot receiver could face durability concerns in the NFL, but his speed could make up for it. Branch will most likely go undrafted in most single-year fantasy formats, but he has the skills and opportunity to quickly emerge as a waiver-wire priority in Atlanta. RotoBaller has Branch ranked as the WR80 going into 2026.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Rookie Receiver Ted Hurst Receives Praise From Teammate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield said that rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst is "one of those guys where you can throw the ball up to him and he's probably going to come down with it," according to Pewter Report. The 22-year-old third-rounder from Georgia State has a big opportunity to serve as the team's true X receiver under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson now that future Hall of Famer Mike Evans is out of town. He has the size (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) and the speed (4.42-second 40-yard dash) to be a legitimate downfield weapon for quarterback Baker Mayfield in Tampa sooner rather than later. With that said, the Bucs could ease Hurst into the fold behind Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan in 2026. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues should be stoked if Hurst is on your roster after drawing some comparisons to Texans WR1 Nico Collins. RotoBaller has Hurst ranked just inside the top 100 at the WR position in 2026, but he has the skills and opportunity to rise quickly if an injury strikes Tampa's receiving corps early on.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Germie Bernard Seeing Usage as Receiver and Running Back
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard got a series with the first-team offense on Friday at training camp, and he was flexed into the backfield and then back out into the slot on one rep, according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. It suggests that the 22-year-old former second-rounder from the University of Alabama could be moved around as somewhat of a gadget player in his first year in the NFL in head coach Mike McCarthy's offense in 2026. Bernard will primarily be battling veteran Roman Wilson for the WR3 role in Pittsburgh in his first year in the league, but Wilson could have the advantage due to his experience and strong chemistry with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He never put up elite receiving numbers in college, which could make him a bit of a boom-or-bust prospect for fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues. Bernard has sneaky explosiveness. Pittsburgh's offense should be a bit more fantasy-friendly under McCarthy, but Bernard will most likely struggle for regular snaps in his first year in the NFL as long as all of DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Wilson stay healthy.
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh
Cyrus Allen Making Noise in Kansas City's Offense
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has been making noise early on in training camp and had an outstanding one-handed catch up the middle of the field on Friday despite double coverage in 11-on-11 team drills, according to Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com. It was a perfect throw by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a great catch by Allen. Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star writes that Allen has "undoubtedly" been Mahomes' favorite target early on. "It feels like he's looking Allen's way every time he's out there," Sweeney writes. The 23-year-old was a fifth-round pick (176th overall) back in April from the University of Cincinnati, and although he's having a strong early showing in camp, it remains to be seen how much of a role Allen will have once the regular season arrives. Allen was a red-zone presence in college last year, but he doesn't have high-end speed or size. He will most likely have to contribute on special teams and work his way up the pecking order, but for now, he's an interesting flier in dynasty/keeper leagues in head coach Andy Reid's offense.
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Tua Tagovailoa "Getting Better Every Day"
Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (back) is "getting better every day," according to Will McFadden of AtlantaFalcons.com. Tagovailoa is not 100% recovered from back tightness, but he has practiced the last two days and appears to be on track to be back to full health soon. The 28-year-old took part in individual drills in Thursday's training camp practice. It doesn't seem to be anything the Falcons are overly concerned about. With Michael Penix Jr. (knee) still rehabbing a torn ACL and unlikely to be cleared for another couple of weeks, Tagovailoa has a clear path to claiming the starting QB job going into the start of the 2026 regular season as long as he can stay healthy himself. The former fifth overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2020 from the University of Alabama is looking to bounce back in Atlanta after throwing for under 3,000 yards in each of his final two seasons in Miami due to injury (mainly concussion issues). Tagovailoa will have the weapons in Atlanta to do so if he wins the job over Penix, but fantasy managers will be treating him as a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Will McFadden
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Will McFadden
Brian Thomas Jr. Continues to Impress
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said that wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is "showing strong hands" at the point of contact in training camp and has run routes "at a very high level" so far, according to Hays Carlyon of 101 XL. Thomas improved his chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the offseason and looks like a prime bounce-back candidate in 2026 in his third year in the league. The 23-year-old former 23rd overall pick in 2024 from LSU burst onto the scene to post 87 catches, 1,282 yards, and 10 touchdowns on 133 targets in 17 games in his first year in the league before falling to a 48-707-2 line in 14 regular-season starts last year. Fellow wideout Parker Washington is getting most of the hype so far, but Thomas has also been impressive and will be a big part of the team's passing attack this year in Coen's second season leading the offense. Thomas will most likely go after Washington in upcoming drafts, making him a potential excellent value buy at the WR position. He's currently ranked as the No. 34 fantasy WR at RotoBaller, with Washington sitting at No. 32.
Source: 101 XL - Hays Carlyon
Source: 101 XL - Hays Carlyon
Kyle Monangai Remains Out of Practice
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (undisclosed) remains out of training camp practice on Friday for a second straight day, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. With Monangai out for undisclosed reasons, Salvon Ahmed is getting Monangai's reps behind starter D'Andre Swift. The 24-year-old Monangai should be considered day-to-day until we know more about his situation. Hopefully, he'll be able to get back on the practice field at some point this weekend. As a rookie in 2025, Monangai had 169 rushing attempts for 783 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and five touchdowns while adding 18 receptions on 30 targets for 164 yards as a receiver in 17 regular-season games (one start). He's expected to resume his role in 2026 as a complementary option to Swift in Chicago's backfield, limiting his overall fantasy upside. Monangai also isn't a particularly strong receiver, so his only real path to an improvement in Year 2 is to see more goal-line work and vulture touchdowns from Swift. Fantasy managers should consider the second-year back as a TD-dependent RB3/flex and a strong handcuff to Swift.
Source: ESPN.com - Courtney Cronin
Source: ESPN.com - Courtney Cronin
Travis Hunter Operating Primarily on Defense Through Start of Camp
Through the first three days of training camp practice for the Jacksonville Jaguars, cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter has primarily been on the defensive side of the ball, per Michael DiRocco of ESPN. Hunter has played 39 total snaps -- 24 on defense and 15 on offense. The former second overall pick from the University of Colorado has just one catch on two targets on offense. The 23-year-old Heisman Trophy winner was being drafted as a WR2 in fantasy going into his rookie campaign, but he disappointed with only 28 catches on 45 targets for 298 yards and one touchdown in his first seven NFL games before suffering a season-ending LCL injury in his knee that required surgery. The good news is that Hunter is fully healthy this summer. The bad news is the Jaguars plan to use him more on defense in Year 2, which has tanked his 2026 redraft fantasy value. It's going to be hard for him to stand out in a crowded WR room that also includes Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Brian Thomas Jr., not to mention pass-catching tight end Brenton Strange. It seems like Hunter is going to operate as more of a gadget player on offense in 2026 in Duval.
Source: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
Source: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
Jaguars Looking to Get Brenton Strange Out in Space More
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said he is looking to get tight end Brenton Strange "out in space more" to take advantage of his receiving ability this year, according to Hays Carlyon of 101 XL. The Jaguars clearly believe in Strange, giving him a three-year, $48 million extension last month. The 25-year-old only managed to play in 12 games due to injury in 2025, but he still had a career-high 540 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 46 catches. It's clear that the Jaguars want the former second-rounder from Penn State to become a bigger part of their passing attack under Coen, but the problem for fantasy football purposes is that the Jaguars already have a very crowded receiver room with the likes of Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., and former Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Jacksonville also drafted TEs Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol this year, so there is some concern that they could eventually eat into Strange's workload. Fantasy managers shouldn't overreact to the hype and consider Strange a TE1 in 2026, but rather an intriguing TE2 with upside.
Source: 101 XL - Hays Carlyon
Source: 101 XL - Hays Carlyon
Tony Romo Placed on Leave at CBS Following Arrest
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice, according to the network. Former defensive lineman J.J. Watt will work alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson for the time being. Romo had an open container of alcohol in his vehicle when he was stopped by police last week and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to authorities. He performed poorly on field-sobriety tests and was taken into custody, booked, and released. Romo was later cited for refusing "to take a test for intoxication after arrest." He has a court appearance scheduled for Sept. 21. The 46-year-old has been the lead game analyst for CBS' NFL coverage since 2017 after making four Pro Bowl appearances during an NFL career that went from 2004 to 2016, all with the Cowboys. Romo is still the franchise's leader in touchdown passes (248).
Source: Austin Karp
Source: Austin Karp
Tucker Kraft Activated From the PUP List on Friday
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) has been activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list and will practice on Friday, head coach Matt LaFleur told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Kraft won't immediately join 11-on-11 team drills, but he'll do other stuff in training camp as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL last year. It's big news for one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. The 25-year-old from South Dakota State looked like one of the best at his position, if not the best, in eight games in 2025 before his season-ending knee injury, catching 32 of 44 targets for 489 yards and six touchdowns for the Packers. Despite coming off a serious knee injury, Kraft's price in upcoming fantasy drafts isn't going to be discounted, with everyone fully expecting the breakout to come in 2026 if he can stay healthy all year. Although nothing is official yet, the former third-rounder should be ready to roll for Week 1 of the regular season in early September, barring a setback with his knee in camp.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Kaleb Johnson Seeing Opportunities with First-Team Offense
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson earned a third-down rep with the first-team offense on Friday, as pointed out by Steelers beat writer Nick Farabaugh. Friday's session was a low-intensity walk-through, so Johnson's work with the starting offense carries less signal than it might in a full-padded practice, but his dynasty managers will surely welcome any signs of momentum gained. Johnson was a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft but disappointed as a rookie with only 69 rushing yards on 28 carries. He now looks for a clean slate with a brand new coaching staff, and while he remains firmly behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle on the depth chart, his presence in a situational third-down role should be viewed with encouragement in a Steelers offense likely to continue featuring its backs in the passing game. Johnson is outside RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026 and has fallen to RB57 in the latest dynasty rankings.
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Raiders Looking to Maximize Malik Benson's Abilities
Since landing with the Las Vegas Raiders as a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, rookie wide receiver Malik Benson has drawn praise for his ability to stress a defense vertically. Benson made a number of deep catches throughout OTAs and minicamp, and he has continued to make plays during the team's first practices of training camp, already taking reps with the first-team offense. The Raiders have one of the more wide open receiver depth charts in the league, so anything Benson can do to stand out will help his chances not just to make the team but to become a meaningful contributor, and Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko wants to keep testing him while taking advantage of his 4.37 speed, telling reporters earlier in the week, "We're going to want to maximize what he does, how he comes off the ball, be able to challenge him mentally and do different things with him and just see him grasp the offense and take it from the meeting room to the field." Benson currently sits outside of RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026, but if he can continue to earn meaningful reps in three-receiver sets alongside Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker, he could become a usable piece in best ball formats.
Source: Paul Gutierrez
Source: Paul Gutierrez
Anthony Firkser Returning to the Lions
The Detroit Lions have signed veteran tight end Anthony Firkser following his release from the Commanders on Wednesday, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter. An undrafted free agent in 2017, Firkser has played for five different teams across eight professional seasons, appearing in seven games for the Lions in 2025, which marked his second stint with the team. Tasked with an expanded role in the wake of Sam LaPorta's move to injured reserve, Firkser caught eight passes for 53 yards but could be tabbed for more special teams responsibilities in 2026. He joins a Lions depth chart of LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Tyler Conklin and will be looking to earn one of the final spots on the Lions' 53-man roster.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
