Aug 7, 2026, 9:12 AM ET

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch was a spring standout during organized team activities, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa comparing him favorably to former teammate Jaylen Waddle, and the third-round rookie continues to make plays throughout the dog days of summer. The Athletic's Josh Kendall believes Atlanta may have found a budding star, pointing to Branch as the player who has most consistently stood out all offseason long and calling him the most noticeable player on the field. A former five-star prospect and the number one receiver in the 2023 recruiting class, Branch never topped 700 yards or four touchdowns in his three seasons with USC and Georgia, but he appears to have found his stride in Falcons camp. On a depth chart in need of playmaking wide receivers behind Drake London, Branch could make an early impact and is a player to target in the closing rounds of 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Josh Kendall - The Athletic

Aug 7, 2026, 3:29 AM ET

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Bryson Green did not see much action in Thursday's preseason opener, but he did have an impact late in the game, however brief. Just inside the two-minute warning, Green caught a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kedon Slovis to give the Cardinals the lead in the back-and-forth affair against the Carolina Panthers. The glory of the go-ahead score was short-lived, as the Panthers put together a game-winning drive on their ensuing possession. Still, Green did himself a favor with his sure-handed play as he needs to demonstrate his value at every opportunity afforded to him. An undrafted free agent and member of Arizona's practice squad in 2025, Green is vying for a roster spot as much as he is jockeying for placement on the depth chart. His next opportunity to prove himself will come against the Las Vegas Raiders on August 13.--Dan Stephens
Source: NFL.com

Aug 7, 2026, 3:19 AM ET

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Simi Fehoko caught his lone target for a five-yard touchdown in Thursday's 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Fehoko had the second-highest snap count among Arizona's wide receivers, but was ignored in the pass game outside of his end zone target. The score came on a five-yard fade route midway through the second quarter. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Fehoko got outside his defender and pulled in the pass from quarterback Carson Beck with one arm to secure the touchdown. Fehoko will be fighting this preseason for a role in the back end of the Cardinals' wide receiver depth chart. He has been in the NFL since 2021, having previously played for the Cowboys and Chargers, but has never played in more than eight games in a season. This is his second year with the Cardinals. His next chance to work his way up the ladder will come against the Las Vegas Raiders on August 13.--Dan Stephens
Source: NFL.com

Aug 7, 2026, 3:12 AM ET

Arizona Cardinals running back Corey Kiner punched in a touchdown from the one-yard line with five seconds to go in the first quarter of Thursday's Hall of Fame Game. Kiner handled 14 carries for 57 yards, leading Arizona in rushing attempts and coming up three yards shy of team leader Bam Knight's 60 in the eventual 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Kiner operated as Knight's backup in the first half, but Kiner took on a more prominent role after halftime. Arizona's running back room is overcrowded, so Kiner did himself a favor with his solid performance. Third-overall pick Jeremiyah Love and free agent signee Tyler Allgeier are at the top of the depth chart. With Knight, James Conner (foot), and Trey Benson (knee) contending for the third-string role, Kiner will need some strong preseason showings just to hold onto a roster spot. His next chance to prove his worth will be on August 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders.--Dan Stephens
Source: NFL.com

Aug 7, 2026, 3:05 AM ET

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kedon Slovis was effective in relief of starter Carson Beck in Thursday's 33-30 loss to the Panthers. Slovis went 9-for-10 for 106 passing yards and one touchdown after taking over in the third quarter of the preseason opener. Slovis' one-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Green just inside the two-minute warning gave the Cardinals a late lead that was ultimately nullified by the Panthers' ensuing touchdown drive to close the game. Slovis, an undrafted free agent in 2025, was on the Cardinals' practice squad last year and was on the active roster for two games. He is at the bottom of Arizona's depth chart and does not pose a real threat to those ahead of him. Slovis' next opportunity to showcase his talents will come on August 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders.--Dan Stephens
Source: NFL.com

Aug 7, 2026, 2:55 AM ET

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck put on a show in the NFL's first preseason game of 2026. Beck operated as the signal-caller for the first half plus the opening drive of the third quarter. He went 15-for-19 for 188 passing yards and one touchdown in the eventual 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The rookie engineered a 96-yard drive in the first quarter that culminated in a rushing touchdown from running back Corey Kiner. Beck kicked off Arizona's next drive with a 49-yard bomb to receiver Jalen Brooks and three plays later hit Simi Fehoko on a five-yard fade route for a touchdown. Beck's performance added some fuel to the simmering quarterback competition in Arizona. Jacoby Brissett, who signed a one-year, $15.5 million contract in July, is still the presumed starter, but free agent signee Gardner Minshew II's position on the depth chart suddenly looks less secure. Beck's next chance to impress will come on August 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders.--Dan Stephens
Source: NFL.com

Aug 7, 2026, 12:32 AM ET

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Xavier Legette (neck) "feels great" and is "back," according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. The Panthers held Legette out of the Hall of Fame preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night as a precaution, but it sounds like he could be ready to return to practice soon after being carted off due to a neck stinger earlier this week. The health of Legette is pretty important now after rookie wideout Chris Brazzell II (knee) was already ruled out for the entire 2026 season. The 25-year-old former 32nd overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft from South Carolina is now considered the favorite to hold WR3 duties behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, although that role probably won't afford Legette enough volume to be taken seriously by fantasy managers in standard-sized 12-team leagues. Legette has been a disappointment in his first two years in the league, and he caught only 35 passes on 64 targets for 363 yards and three touchdowns in 15 regular-season games in his sophomore campaign.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye

Aug 6, 2026, 11:50 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Thursday that he doesn't have an update on wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) after he had offseason ankle surgery, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. "His rehab's going great, I'll say that. I don't have the timetable on his return, but he's doing a hell of a job in his rehab process," Steichen said. Pierce still has time to get ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, but it's a bit ominous that there have been very few details on Pierce's recovery from ankle surgery. The 26-year-old is expected to take over WR1 duties in Indy in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh, but so far in training camp, it has been Josh Downs impressing as the team's top pass-catcher while working with quarterback Daniel Jones, who looks fully recovered from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in 2025. Pierce led the NFL with 21.3 yards per catch for the second straight season while posting a 47-1,003-6 line in 15 games in a breakout campaign. The longer Pierce stays on the Physically Unable to Perform list, the more of a risk he'll be for fantasy managers as a big-play threat in the Colts' offense. He's currently ranked as the No. 39 fantasy WR for the upcoming season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - James Boyd

Aug 6, 2026, 11:42 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said he still views veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield as the team's franchise signal-caller, even though the two sides were unable to agree on a contract extension before the start of training camp this summer, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. Tampa offered Mayfield a two-year deal, but he turned it down and felt disrespected by the organization. "We love Baker. Baker's in a great place right now. We're in a very good place," Licht said. The GM also acknowledged that using the franchise tag on Mayfield is an option for 2027. Mayfield gave the team a deadline of the start of training camp to get a deal done, but Licht said the Bucs have left the door open if Mayfield and his agent, Tom Mills, decide they want to resume negotiations. Whether the two sides eventually agree on an extension might come down to how Mayfield plays in 2026 after taking a step back in 2025 after back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in 2023 and 2024 in his first two years with the team. For fantasy purposes, Mayfield's arrow is pointing down after an injury-plagued year as he heads into his ninth year in the league in a new offense that won't feature Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans. He'll go undrafted in single-QB, 12-team fantasy leagues, and he's merely a low-end QB2 in superflex formats without a ton of upside in his age-31 season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine

Aug 6, 2026, 11:31 PM ET

New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner was suspended by the NFL on Thursday for the first six games of the 2026 regular season, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. No reason was given for the suspension. In the meantime, the 23-year-old will be allowed to practice during training camp and participate in preseason games. His suspension will begin after the Saints' roster is reduced to 53 players on Aug. 30. Rechsteiner was signed by New Orleans as an undrafted rookie after rookie minicamp in May. He spent three collegiate seasons at Jacksonville State, recording a total of 53 receptions for 629 yards and seven touchdowns in 37 games in Conference USA. His best season came last year, with Rechsteiner catching 36 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games played. He will continue to compete for a spot on the Saints' 53-man roster, but his six-game suspension will not help his cause.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrelle

Aug 6, 2026, 11:24 PM ET

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said he doesn't know yet whether former All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald will come out of retirement for the 2026 season, but he said that Donald "looked outstanding" during his workout with the team on Tuesday, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. Donald spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Rams before hanging up his cleats in March of 2024. "He's very deliberate and intentional about what this looks like," McVay said of Donald. "Things are going in the right direction. He's feeling good, but we're not to where we are able to say whether or not he is or isn't ready to do it. But he's doing great, and he looked outstanding, as I think all of us would expect." McVay doesn't want to put a timeline for Donald's decision, but he has said in the past that if he returns, he would be "all-in." The belief is that if the 35-year-old 10-time Pro Bowler and eight-time first-team All-Pro comes back, it would be in more of a rotational pass-rushing role for the Rams' D-line, but Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported on Thursday night that Donald could be ready to take on 30-40 snaps in Week 1 against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Australia if he unretires. It's looking more and more like an already stacked Rams' defense is going to get more help this year from a future Hall of Famer.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop

Aug 6, 2026, 9:57 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is in line for a solid 2026 season. Andrews had a down 2025 season, with 48 receptions for 470 yards and six touchdowns, finishing as the TE16 in half-PPR formats. That was with Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar still firmly in the mix, and star quarterback Lamar Jackson missing several games. Now, the Ravens hired Declan Doyle as the new offensive coordinator in 2026. Doyle came from the Chicago Bears in 2025 and has been under Broncos head coach Sean Payton for most of his coaching career. Both Payton's and Ben Johnson's offenses favor tight ends, with players like Sam LaPorta, Colston Loveland, and Saints tight end Jimmy Graham when Payton coached in New Orleans. There's a strong chance Andrews is the second option in the receiving game behind Zay Flowers, with a great quarterback supplying him as well. Ranked TE9 and 104 in RotoBaller's rankings, Andrews could be a great value this season.--Nathan Harvey
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 6, 2026, 9:48 PM ET

After a quiet start to training camp for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike, the second-year receiver has begun to stand out. Dike has shown solid zone reading and has been strong after the catch in both the return game and as a receiver. As a rookie, Dike hauled in 48 of 74 targets for 423 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games last season. The team added two new receivers, first-round rookie Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson, who operated mostly in the slot with the New York Giants, and should have veteran Calvin Ridley back as well. Despite Dike practicing well, his role in 2026 will mostly be as a backup slot receiver and a returner, where he shined in 2025. Dike should be undrafted in most fantasy leagues this season unless Robinson is injured.--Nathan Harvey
Source: Easton Freeze - AZ Sports

Aug 6, 2026, 9:35 PM ET

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins is primed for a breakout season in 2026, according to coaches and teammates in the Texans organization. Head coach DeMeco Ryans praised the second-year receiver, saying, "Jayden Higgins came back ready this camp ... he's excelling at every level. Third down, he's winning, making plays for us. The sky is the limit for Jayden Higgins." Star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who has had success against Higgins in practice, said, "He's more in sync with C.J. Stroud. C.J. knows more about how he's going to play or run a route. I feel like their timing is better." As a rookie, Higgins caught 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games. While he'll face strong competition for targets, with Nico Collins and Tank Dell in the picture, Higgins could still be a fantasy contributor in 2026.--Nathan Harvey
Source: Jonathan Alexander - Houston Chronicle

Aug 6, 2026, 9:27 PM ET

Future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald could see a heavy workload in Week 1 if he returns from retirement. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Donald could get between 30 and 40 snaps if he returns in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. Donald has been retired since the 2023 season, but rumors have fueled speculation that he could unretire and play for the Rams this year. Donald had a workout with the team on Wednesday, and head coach Sean McVay said it was the best he's ever seen. With the team's acquisitions of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and star cornerback Trent McDuffie, the Rams defense could be an unbreakable unit if Donald returns and looks like even half the player he was in his prime. UPDATE: McVay said, "We're not to where we are able to say whether or not he is or isn't ready to do it," per ESPN's Sarah Barshop.--Nathan Harvey
Source: Mike Florio - Pro Football Talk