Sep 7, 2026, 9:06 PM ET

A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson recorded 446 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 98 touches across 15 games (two starts). The 21-year-old saw most of his production in the passing game, hauling in 33 catches for 271 yards and two scores on 40 targets. Entering 2026, Sampson remains unlikely to see significant work as a rusher as long as Browns RB1 Quinshon Judkins remains healthy. However, Sampson appears to be the team's clear RB2 and should play a consistent role as Cleveland's top pass-catching back. Heading into his second NFL season, Sampson profiles as an appealing handcuff running back option for fantasy managers with some standalone upside in full PPR scoring formats.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 7, 2026, 8:42 PM ET

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (hamstring) was listed as a limited participant in Monday's practice session, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. Horton was also listed as limited on Sunday as the team prepares to kick off the 2026 campaign with a Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots on Wednesday. The 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher's hamstring injury is not believed to be a long-term injury, but it could limit him or keep him out entirely in Wednesday's season opener. Even if Horton is active this week, fantasy managers should not consider him a realistic starting option with all of the team's other receivers healthy. The former fifth-rounder in last year's draft from Colorado State has big-play abilities on offense and special teams, but he only contributed 13 catches for 161 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 in eight regular-season games, and he has been injured for most of his time in the NFL so far. Horton went undrafted in most redraft leagues this summer and is currently rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle

Sep 7, 2026, 6:59 PM ET

The Tennessee Titans announced on Monday that linebacker Cedric Gray (concussion) was involved in a UTV accident over the weekend and is in the NFL's concussion protocol, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website. With the Titans opening the 2026 season in Week 1 on Sunday against the New York Jets, Gray's availability is now very much up in the air. We will keep a close eye on Gray's practice status this week, but it might be more of a surprise if he actually suits up versus New York. The 23-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2024 from North Carolina broke out in his first full NFL season in 2025, recording 164 tackles (97 solo), one sack, seven tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in 16 starts. Gray's 164 combined tackles were the fifth-most in the NFL, making him a strong IDP fantasy option at the linebacker position. He will once again have a significant starting role at inside linebacker for Tennessee when he is healthy, but there is a good chance he will sit out in Week 1.--Keith Hernandez
Source: TennesseeTitans.com - Jim Wyatt

Sep 7, 2026, 6:51 PM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars reporter Mia O'Brien reports that the team will go with a running-back-by-committee approach and "ride the hot hand." Bhayshul Tuten has more explosiveness and home-run ability in a backfield that is now without Travis Etienne Jr., but head coach Liam Coen has familiarity with Chris Rodriguez Jr. from his collegiate coaching days at Kentucky, and he could be a thorn in Tuten's side all season long, especially near the goal line. Tuten should be drafted as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex, with C-Rod being a handcuff to him in the later rounds. The 23-year-old Tuten, a fourth-rounder from Virginia Tech last year, averaged 3.7 yards per carry for 307 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 83 carries in 15 regular-season games in his rookie campaign in 2025, adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Rodriguez has looked like the better pass-catching option in training camp, too, which is notable with third-down back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) looking unlikely to play in Week 1 this weekend. Tuten is rostered in 96% of Yahoo leagues, with Rodriguez being rostered in 62% of those same formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Mia O'Brien

Sep 7, 2026, 6:41 PM ET

Updating a previous report, Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) has an "aggressive" timetable that he is currently on target to meet as he recovers from a torn ACL that he suffered in last year's postseason, head coach Mike Macdonald told Corbin K. Smith of the Emerald Spectrum. Macdonald said that Charbonnet looks "dang good." Seattle placed Charbonnet on the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin the 2026 season, which means that he will miss at least the first four games. However, this report on Monday suggests that Charbonnet could be a candidate to come off the PUP and make his season debut as early as Week 5 against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 11. Rookie first-rounder Jadarian Price and George Holani are expected to share the backfield to open the year without Charbonnet, but once Charbonnet returns, he should eventually be Seattle's preferred back. He is currently rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues, but he deserves to be rostered in more formats, especially in leagues that have IR/PUP roster spots. Charbonnet had a bigger role alongside Kenneth Walker (now in KC) last year, carried the ball 184 times for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 20 catches for 144 yards through the air in 16 regular-season games. Charb has found the end zone on the ground 20 times in the last two years.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Emerald Spectrum - Corbin K. Smith

Sep 7, 2026, 6:30 PM ET

Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman will enter his first NFL season as the Broncos' No. 3 back behind J.K. Dobbins and second-year RB RJ Harvey. Coleman is rostered in only 34% of Yahoo leagues with the regular-season opener in just a few days. While the 23-year-old fourth-rounder from the University of Washington might not have a big role right away in the Broncos' backfield, he should at least be rostered by fantasy managers who selected Dobbins in their drafts. The 5-foot-8, 200-pounder impressed the Broncos' coaching staff at training camp this summer and is expected to be the early-down complement to the oft-injured Dobbins, with Harvey working mostly in pass-catching situations. If Dobbins continues to miss time with injuries, Coleman, not Harvey, would most likely jump into the early-down role for Denver in 2026. In his final season with the Huskies in 2025, Coleman had 156 carries for 758 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games, adding 31 catches for 354 yards and two more touchdowns as a receiver. While he probably will not realize his three-down potential in his rookie campaign, Coleman has intriguing stash upside off the waiver wire in the Broncos' ascending offense.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

Sep 7, 2026, 6:17 PM ET

Los Angeles Rams second-year tight end Terrance Ferguson might have gone undrafted in many single-year fantasy football formats, but that does not mean that he will not be a factor in 2026. The second-round pick from Oregon finds himself in a crowded Rams tight end room again in 2026 alongside Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and rookie Max Klare, but he arguably has the most pass-catching upside among the group. And when we are talking about upside players in an already explosive Rams offense, you should pay attention. Ferguson had only 11 receptions on 25 targets for 231 yards and three touchdowns in his first 14 NFL games in 2025, but he came alive late and scored two of his three touchdowns in his final two regular-season contests. It would not be a big surprise to see Ferguson emerge as quarterback Matthew Stafford's third option by the end of the 2026 campaign behind receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. And if Nacua faces any kind of NFL suspension this year, Ferguson could quickly become a must-start TE. The 23-year-old is only rostered in 24% of Yahoo leagues right now and is worth a pickup if you need extra depth at the position.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

Sep 7, 2026, 5:22 PM ET

The New York Giants released wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Slayton was a fifth-round selection by the Giants in the 2019 NFL draft from Auburn, and he caught 296 of his 522 targets for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns in his seven years with the team over 106 regular-season games played (78 starts). He caught 37 of 63 targets for 538 yards and a career-low one touchdown in 14 games played last year for the G-Men, despite Malik Nabers (knee) going down with a torn ACL early in the season. The move to release the 29-year-old does not mean that Slayton will not return to the organization's practice squad ahead of the Week 1 season opener against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. But with Slayton out of the picture for now, Nabers, Darnell Mooney, rookie Malachi Fields, and veteran Odell Beckham Jr. will serve as the team's top pass-catchers. Slayton's release is more good news for OBJ as he attempts to turn back the clock in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: CBS Sports - Matt Zenitz

Sep 7, 2026, 4:59 PM ET

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) looks "awesome" and "dang good" in his rehab efforts, per Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune. Charbonnet is working his way back from a torn ACL, which he suffered during Seattle's NFC Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers in mid-January. The 25-year-old is set to open 2026 on the Physically Unable to Perform List, which guarantees he will miss at least the Seahawks' first four games. However, it appears Charbonnet could have a chance to make his return as soon as Week 5. Once healthy, Charbonnet has a legitimate chance to assume the Seahawks RB1 role. While the Seahawks drafted rookie running back Jadarian Price to replace the departed Kenneth Walker III, Charbonnet recorded 730 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns across 16 games in 2025 and should have the full faith of the coaching staff. In leagues where Charbonnet is available on the waiver wire, he could be worth stashing in an IR or bench spot ahead of a potential mid-October return.--Will Brady
Source: Tacoma News Tribune - Gregg Bell

Sep 7, 2026, 4:47 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday that the team is healthy and there is not anyone that he expects to have trouble playing on Sunday in the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, which includes defensive back Joey Porter Jr., according to Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. It is good news for Pittsburgh's defense as they head into a favorable Week 1 matchup against Atlanta and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The 26-year-old Porter started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a back injury and missed all of the preseason while also seeking a new contract. He has been involved in trade rumors since he and the Steelers have not agreed on an extension, but at least for now, it looks like Porter will stick with the team for the season opener this weekend. The former second-rounder from Penn State had 52 tackles (35 solo), his first career sack, an interception, and 14 pass breakups in 14 starts for the Steelers in his third year in the NFL in 2025.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Penn Live - Nick Farabaugh

Sep 7, 2026, 4:47 PM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange's overall production in 2025 was held down by a hip/quad injury that forced him to miss five games. However, the 25-year-old was a productive player when he was on the field, recording 46 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns on 60 targets across 12 games. Across seven games after returning from the injury in Week 12, Strange recorded double-digit PPR fantasy points four times. The Jaguars have one of the deeper wide receiver corps in the NFL, which could make it difficult for Strange to see high-volume targets on a consistent basis. Still, Strange is a talented pass-catcher with some breakout potential, especially if Jacksonville suffers a wide receiver injury or two over the course of the season. In deeper league formats, Strange could be worth stashing in a bench spot ahead of Week 1.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 7, 2026, 4:40 PM ET

Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said he is "optimistic" about rookie running back Jeremiyah Love's (ankle) status for Week 1, per Darren Urban of azcardinals.com. Love is working his way back from a high-ankle sprain, which he suffered in the team's second preseason game on August 13. Given that Love's participation in team activities has been very limited since suffering the injury, it seems unlikely that he would see a true workhorse snap share in Week 1. The Cardinals also have a steady veteran option at running back in Tyler Allgeier, who is expected to play a role in the team's backfield even when Love is fully healthy. Still, it's obviously a positive sign for fantasy managers that Love is making progress and has a chance to suit up in Week 1. If he does miss Arizona's season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, it seems likely that Love would make his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks.--Will Brady
Source: azcardinals.com - Darren Urban

Sep 7, 2026, 4:40 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed) was back at practice on Monday after missing each of the last six practices, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. It is a good sign that Mitchell is back at practice to begin the new week, but it does not guarantee that he will be active for Week 1 this Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Arizona Cardinals. If the 24-year-old is limited or out to begin the regular season, it would mean more backfield work for both Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal. In new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme, Mitchell, Hampton, and Vidal are all expected to be used in some sort of committee approach. However, Hampton is expected to see the majority of opportunities, with Mitchell and Vidal picking up scraps as change-of-pace options to keep defenses on their toes. Mitchell has intriguing explosiveness and big-play ability out of the backfield, but his inability to stay healthy so far at the NFL level and committee involvement make him merely a bench stash in fantasy leagues rather than a weekly start to open the 2026 campaign.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim

Sep 7, 2026, 4:27 PM ET

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen had his 2025 season ruined by injury, going down with a season-ending knee ailment in Week 4. While Allen is healthy ahead of 2026, he will open the year as the clear RB2 in New York behind Breece Hall (groin). Allen played a limited role behind Hall in the four games he was healthy for in 2025, recording 93 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 20 touches. However, Allen profiles as a bigger and potentially more physical back than Hall, which could lead to him seeing some goal-line and short-yardage work. Additionally, Hall is currently battling a groin injury that he suffered during training camp. While Hall is expected to be ready to go for Week 1, the Jets could choose to ease him into the season and give Allen some more touches in the early going. As a handcuff option with some standalone upside as well, Allen profiles as a worthy waiver wire pickup ahead of Week 1.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller