RADIO
Jalen Coker Has a Clear Path to High Target Share
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker's name hasn't generated much buzz this draft season, but his role on offense makes him a very intriguing sleeper in fantasy football. Injuries have limited Coker to just 11 games in each of the last two seasons, but he took advantage of his opportunities last year with 33 catches, 394 yards, and three touchdowns across those 11 games. He came on especially strong in the second half of the season. From Weeks 11-18, he ranked as the WR26 in PPR leagues. Fortunately for Coker, as long as he stays healthy, he should continue to be a strong WR3/flex this season. The Panthers' passing offense looks nearly identical to last season. Coker is firmly entrenched as the No. 2 receiver behind Tetairoa McMillan, the team didn't bring in any big-name rookies to compete for targets, and Bryce Young is back as his quarterback for the third year in a row. The team also has no major threat for targets at tight end; Darren Waller sits atop the depth chart, and he's unlikely to replicate his six-touchdown campaign from last year given the nature of the difference between the Panthers and Dolphins offenses. All signs point to a high-volume role for Coker, who has proven that he can produce at the NFL level. Fortunately for fantasy managers, he's available at a very modest price tag right now. He currently has an ADP of 137.4, which corresponds to the 12th round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 54th receiver off the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson the Primary Beneficiary of Packers' Pass-Heavy Approach
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson should benefit from a new-look offensive game plan this season. With Josh Jacobs (personal) on the commissioner's exempt list and sidelined indefinitely, we expect the Packers to adopt a more pass-heavy approach on offense. Out of all the Packers' wide receivers, Christian Watson should benefit the most, given his existing role atop the depth chart. Last year, despite playing in an offense that ran through Jacobs, Watson managed to catch 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns across just 10 games. He averaged 13.2 full-PPR points per game, and he ranked as the overall WR12 from Weeks 8-17. Staying healthy and on the field will be the biggest factor for Watson, but assuming he clears that hurdle, he has top-15 upside at the wide receiver position. His price tag hasn't quite adjusted to the expectations of this offense sans Jacobs, as he still has an ADP of 64.2 (sixth round). This creates an opportunity for fantasy managers to draft him at a discount.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ted Hurst III a Fantasy Riser After Consistently Productive Camp and Preseason
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ted Hurst III is trending up in fantasy football after a consistent and impressive summer. While Emeka Egbuka (toe), Jalen McMillan (knee), and Tez Johnson (groin) all missed portions of camp due to their injuries, Hurst was consistently available for the duration of the summer. Not only did he stay healthy and get consistent reps, but he also had an impressive performance in training camp and the preseason, during which he caught two passes for 19 yards. Head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield have both been outspoken about Hurst's reliability this year, so we wouldn't be surprised to see him take on a significant role this year, despite the fact that the Bucs have a somewhat crowded receiver room. The rookie out of Georgia State currently ranks as the WR83 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings, but we could see him jump into the top 50 by midseason.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zach Charbonnet Falling Down Draft Boards Amid ACL Recovery
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) is seeing his fantasy football appeal decline as the regular season gets closer. Charbonnet tore his ACL in the playoffs last year, and the original fantasy outlook was that he'd return to his RB2 form once he recovered, especially after Kenneth Walker III left the team in free agency. Now, though, it's no longer a guarantee that Charbonnet will return to the lead-back role once he's healthy. There are plenty of different running backs expected to audition for the lead-back role in Week 1, and any of those top performers could make a case to remain atop the depth chart for the rest of the season. The early leader in the pack is Jadarian Price, a rookie first-round pick from Notre Dame. He may not be ready for an every-down role right away, but we know he's capable of contributing after he tallied 761 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns at school last year. George Holani and Emanuel Wilson are also expected to carve out significant roles on offense, adding another wrinkle to the backfield when Charbonnet returns. There are a lot of running backs with upside in this backfield, so Charbonnet may end up being more of a low-end RB3/flex once he's healthy. As a result, he has fallen to RB56 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings, and his ADP has slipped to 150.4 (RB49).
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Odell Beckham Jr. a Fantasy Riser After Strong Camp and Preseason
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. enjoyed a career resurgence this summer, and he's even boosting his own fantasy stock in deeper leagues. Beckham faced an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, but he responded with 100% attendance throughout training camp and seven catches for 76 yards in the preseason. Not only did this level of production get him a roster spot, but it could also earn him meaningful volume in the regular season. Beckham strung together three top-seven fantasy finishes to open his career, but he hasn't been fantasy relevant since 2019 with the Cleveland Browns. He's unlikely to crack the fantasy football top 50 receivers this year, especially since the Giants have a crowded receiver room with Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darius Slayton, and Darnell Mooney. However, we wouldn't be surprised to have some occasional WR3/flex appeal in deeper leagues, especially if any of those other pass catchers miss time. As it stands, Beckham is the WR118 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings. He has an ADP of 262.6, which means he's going undrafted in most leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Davis the Top Handcuff to Stash in Dallas
Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis is worth stashing as a handcuff in deeper fantasy football leagues. The Cowboys brought in Emari Demercado to round out their backfield this past week, but there's no question that Davis remains the direct backup to Javonte Williams. We expect Williams to occupy an every-down role this year, so Davis doesn't have much standalone value at the moment. However, if Williams were to miss time, Davis would instantly jump into the RB2 range for fantasy purposes. Injuries impacted Williams near the end of last season, giving us an opportunity to see the backup in action. Across the two games in which Williams played less than 50% of the snaps, Davis totaled 28 carries, 124 rushing yards, two catches, 16 receiving yards, and one touchdown. He currently has an ADP of 231.4 in redraft leagues. That price tag indicates that he's going undrafted in most leagues, but we believe managers in leagues with 12+ teams would be justified in drafting Davis if they already have Williams on their roster.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Davante Adams Enjoys a Dominant Showing in Camp
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams didn't play in the preseason, but he generated plenty of buzz because of his performance throughout training camp. Adams has had a dominant camp alongside fellow starting receiver Puka Nacua, as the two continue to form the best one-two punch in the NFL. The veteran is coming off a WR9 finish in PPR leagues. He has been a top-12 wide receiver in each of his last six seasons, as well as a top-14 receiver in nine of his last 10. The great news for Adams is that he plays in an offense where multiple players can thrive. After all, Nacua was the WR1 in PPR leagues last year, and Adams still turned in his best fantasy finish since 2022. We expect that trend to continue in 2026 and for as long as Matthew Stafford remains the Rams' quarterback. For now, the big question is whether Adams will replicate last year's 14 touchdowns on 60 catches, or if he'll come back to the mean and catch more passes with fewer touchdowns. The other note on Adams is that he could spend a portion of the season in the No. 1 receiver role as a potential suspension lingers for Nacua. If that happens, Adams would jump from a low-end WR1 to a high-end WR1. At the moment, he has an ADP of 52.8, which corresponds to the fifth round of fantasy drafts. He's a steal at that current price tag, especially given his nose for the end zone.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nicholas Singleton Falling Down Draft Boards After Modest Preseason
Tennessee Titans running back Nicholas Singleton is losing some of his fantasy football appeal after a relatively uninspiring preseason. Throughout the preseason, he rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries. That equates to just 3.8 YPC, despite the fact that Singleton was often facing other defenses' backups. He also caught two passes for 18 receiving yards. Singleton was taken in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, so perhaps we should have known that it would take a little while for him to get acclimated. Nevertheless, the post-draft buzz was that Singleton was one of the more pro-ready picks to come out of Day 3. Instead, he has buried himself in the No. 3 role and could have trouble digging himself out without an injury to Tony Pollard or Tyjae Spears. Singleton, who went from 1,474 scrimmage yards at Penn State in 2024 to 768 in 2025, ranks as RotoBaller's RB75 in redraft leagues. He has an ADP of 208.1, making him the 61st running back off the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Brooks Has a Path to No. 2 Role Early in Season
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks could open the regular season as the No. 2 option on the depth chart. The Packers' backfield is suddenly reeling after Josh Jacobs (personal) was arrested, charged with battery and criminal destruction of property, and placed on the commissioner's exempt list. There's no timetable for his return, and even though his court date was moved up to Sept. 10, that doesn't mean he'll get back on the field sooner. A suspension seems inevitable, and now the big question is whether he'll be suspended for games in 2026 or 2027. Regardless of how much time Jacobs misses, all signs point to Brooks stepping up as the Packers' No. 2 running back while MarShawn Lloyd fills the lead role. Brooks was quiet to the tune of 106 rushing yards and 91 receiving yards last year, but he showed in Week 17 (13 carries for 61 yards) that he's capable of stepping into a larger role. For now, he's more of a speculative stash in deeper leagues, but he could absolutely carve out standalone value as a low-end RB3/flex early in the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Harold Fannin Jr. Has Clear Path To High Targets
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is looking like the Browns' top target around a relatively inexperienced group of wide receivers. Fannin Jr. is inexperienced himself, in only his second season, but he produced as a rookie and is looking to build on that this year. The tight end started 13 of the Browns' 16 games last season and recorded 72 catches on 107 targets for 731 yards and six touchdowns. With David Njoku out of the picture this season, those 107 targets could very well increase. The quarterback play in Cleveland is a question mark with Deshaun Watson starting the season as the starter, but Fannin Jr. has shown he can make the most of his opportunities. He could potentially be the lead target in front of receivers like Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, and Jerry Jeudy.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Colts Running Back Seth McGowan Turning Heads In Preseason
Indianapolis Colts backup running back Seth McGowan is projected to win the handcuff job to lead back Jonathon Taylor according to The Athletic's James Boyd. In an August 29 article, Boyd wrote, "McGowan has clearly won the second-string job thanks to his physicality and reliable hands out of the backfield." The seventh-round pick out of Kentucky in the 2026 Draft, McGowan stands at 6-foot-1 and is 223 pounds offering big-time size out of the backfield but as Boyd points out he can catch the ball as well and thus be involved in the passing game. McGowan had two catches for five yards each in the three preseason games and rushed 17 times for 64 yards. With McGowan seeming to prove himself as the backup to Taylor look for him as a very late round pick or a potential early season waiver wire option.
Source: The Athletic, James Boyd
Source: The Athletic, James Boyd
Patrick Mahomes Took Unique Approach To Grueling Rehab
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has undergone rehab from a torn ACL and LCL he suffered in December, the worst injury of his career, and as Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star wrote, he went into his rehab with a unique goal in his mind. "He wanted to walk before his baby daughter, 11-month-old Golden". McDowell went on to write that after a training camp practice, Golden, now 20 months old ran toward Mahomes for a hug and Golden's running rather than walking was a surprise, but "Mahomes beat her to it, by the way, barely." The Chiefs have been quiet about Mahomes potential return to action, but Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy reportedly told reporters, "He's back" and Sean Payton has reportedly been preparing the Broncos for the Week 1 matchup with the Chiefs assuming Mahomes will play.
Source: Kansas City Star, Sam McDowell
Source: Kansas City Star, Sam McDowell
Najee Harris Draws Positive Reports in Giants Camp
New York Giants running back Najee Harris is a name to monitor in fantasy football as the 2026 regular season gets underway. Harris was a late addition to the Giants' roster, putting pen to paper on his contract in August. As a result, he had a delayed start to training camp and the preseason. In his lone preseason contest, he tallied 11 rushes for 39 yards, as well as a 20-yard reception. Head coach John Harbaugh noted that Harris is "a really good football player," and the fact that he made the 53-man roster indicates that the Giants want to get him involved. An Achilles injury limited him to three games and 18 touches with the Chargers last year, but the season prior in Pittsburgh, he posted 299 touches, 1,326 scrimmage yards, and six total touchdowns. His biggest challenge to start the season will be earning snaps in a deep backfield that also features Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary. For now, Harris ranks as the RB60 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings. He has an ADP of 222.5, which means he's going undrafted in most 12-team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Pitts Sr. Looking to Build Off Last Season and This Preseason
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. enjoyed a breakout 2025 season, and he continued to produce throughout the 2026 preseason. As a result, he continues to trend up in fantasy football, despite having some uncertainty at the quarterback position. Pitts emerged as the overall TE2 in PPR leagues last season, catching 88 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns. He set new career-high marks in fantasy points, receptions, and touchdowns with Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins as his quarterbacks. He added another six catches for 81 yards this preseason, which is really impressive considering that he handled a limited snap share due to his role as the team's starting tight end. Pitts' latest success has him trending up in redraft leagues. For now, he ranks as RotoBaller's TE8, but another top-three finish is not out of the question. Right now, the biggest obstacle in his way is the Falcons' quarterback situation. Tua Tagovailoa is trending toward being the Falcons' Week 1 starting quarterback, and his discouraging production in recent years could put a slight damper on Pitts' fantasy upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
DeMario Douglas Trending Back Up After Teammate's Trade
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas is seeing his fantasy stock rise after the team traded fellow wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans. Douglas is likely still fourth on the depth chart behind A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, and Kyle Williams, but Boutte leaves behind 114 vacated targets from the last two seasons combined. Many of those should go to Douglas, especially since he and Boutte were in relatively the same position on the depth chart. We've already heard buzz this season about Douglas' ability to get on the field in three-receiver sets and absolutely dominate matchups in man coverage, so even if he doesn't get the start in Week 1, he could work his way into a large snap share simply by producing when his number is called. Douglas is RotoBaller's WR94 in redraft leagues for now, but a strong start to the season could allow him to boost his stock and become an appealing waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
