RADIO
Michael Penix Jr. Still Not Cleared for 11-on-11 Work
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still not cleared for 11-on-11 team work in training camp, and he will not play in Friday's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Even though Penix has yet to really compete with Tua Tagovailoa for the starting QB job this summer, head coach Kevin Stefanski has refused to name a starter for the beginning of the 2026 regular season. Tagovailoa will start on Friday against Denver, although he's likely to play only one offensive series. The 26-year-old Penix has been limited to 7-on-7 drills at camp so far, and it's unclear if he'll be able to play in any preseason games. Although Stefanski has yet to name a starting QB, the overwhelming expectation is that Tagovailoa will get the nod to begin the year. He'll likely be on a short leash if he doesn't perform, but as things currently stand, Penix is undraftable in single-year fantasy leagues, even in two-QB superflex formats.
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
Ladd McConkey's Bounce-Back Case Is Getting Stronger
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had a weird second season. After 82 catches, 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, he slipped to 66-789-6 in 2025 and never caught more than four passes in any of his final eight games. There is a pretty good reason to buy back in now. McConkey is full go after dealing with a hamstring strain during the offseason, and Mike McDaniel's offense looks like a much cleaner fit for him. The Chargers have been stressing quicker throws, motion and getting the ball into space, which should give McConkey chances to do what he does best. Justin Herbert has kept connecting with him in camp, including a long completion during Tuesday's one-on-one work. The room is not empty. Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris are both involved, and Los Angeles also has a deep tight end group with Oronde Gadsden, David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. That makes a huge target jump tough to assume. But McConkey is healthy, the scheme suits him, and RotoBaller has him at WR17 in half-PPR. After last year's letdown, there is a pretty believable path back to WR2 production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tua Tagovailoa to Start Preseason Opener on Friday
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will start the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Denver Broncos, but head coach Kevin Stefanski said he isn't naming a starting QB for the regular season just yet, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. Stefanski said the starters will play around 10 plays/one series but will vary based on the player. The 28-year-old Tagovailoa is widely expected to be named the Falcons' starting QB going into Week 1 of the regular season, with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) still recovering from a torn ACL and having not yet been cleared to take part in team drills in training camp this summer. The former fifth overall pick from the University of Alabama led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023 and had a league-high 72.9% completion percentage in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, but he has a dangerous history of concussions and threw for under 3,000 yards in each of his final two seasons in Miami. Tagovailoa has the weapons to bounce back in Atlanta in Stefanski's offense in 2026, but given his injury history, lack of arm strength, and likely short leash if he's named the starter, fantasy managers shouldn't be targeting him as much more than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Hunter Henry's Role Still Makes Him a Late-Round Target
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry keeps giving fantasy managers reasons not to forget about him. He caught 60 passes for a career-high 768 yards and seven touchdowns last season, finishing as the TE7 in half-PPR, and New England just gave him a two-year extension worth a reported $16 million. That matters, but so does what has happened on the field. Henry was the standout player in the Patriots' Aug. 3 practice, and he still sits at the top of a tight end room that includes third-round rookie Eli Raridon. Raridon has flashed in camp and should have a role, especially with New England using plenty of multi-tight end looks, but the Patriots have treated him more like Henry's eventual successor than an immediate replacement. There is more competition for targets after the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, so another TE7 finish is hardly a lock. Still, Henry has already shown he can produce with Drake Maye and remains RotoBaller's TE16. For managers who wait at tight end, he is one of the better late-round options still sitting outside the position's top tier.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenneth Walker Called an "Absolute Superstar"
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker continues to make a strong impression on his new teammates. According to Charles Goldman, Travis Kelce said Walker is "going to be a hell of a ball player for us," praised his all-around traits, and called him an "absolute superstar" on and off the field. Walker signed with Kansas City in March after rushing for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns on 221 carries for Seattle last season. He added 31 catches for 282 yards, then closed out the year by running for 135 yards and earning MVP honors in Super Bowl LX. The Chiefs have Walker listed first on their unofficial depth chart, and his receiving ability has been noticeable throughout camp, including a touchdown catch from Patrick Mahomes on a wheel route Monday. Kelce's comments are still teammate praise, but they fit everything Kansas City has seen from Walker since he arrived. He looks set for a significant role in the Chiefs' offense this season.
Source: Charles Goldman
Source: Charles Goldman
DK Metcalf Has Less Margin for Error in 2026 Drafts
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf is still going 65.4 overall in drafts after catching 59 passes for a career-low 850 yards and six touchdowns last season. He wasn't completely ineffective. Metcalf averaged 14.4 yards per catch, remained Pittsburgh's most-targeted receiver with 99 looks and has made his share of plays with Aaron Rodgers again in camp. Repeating that target total may be the tricky part. The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. and then moved up to take Germie Bernard 47th overall, giving an already low-volume passing game more options at receiver. Metcalf remains a starter and the biggest downfield threat of the group, so another productive season is hardly out of the question. His price just doesn't leave much room for another step backward. RotoBaller has him WR35 and 77th overall in half-PPR, nearly a round behind his current ADP. Metcalf can beat that ranking, but fantasy managers taking him in the sixth round are paying for some of the rebound before it happens.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ben Johnson Wants Bears to Have the Highest-Scoring Offense
Not only does Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson want to bring a Lombardi Trophy to the Windy City, but he has higher aspirations for his offense in his second year with the team, according to Dan Pompei of The Athletic. "I want more than that. I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored (37.9), and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts," Johnson said. "The moon is the Super Bowl, but we're shooting beyond that, for the stars. And I want these players to feel that each and every single day they come in." It's definitely what fantasy managers want to hear who have anyone in Chicago's offense rostered, including quarterback Caleb Williams, running back D'Andre Swift, receivers Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, and tight end Colston Loveland. The Bears ranked ninth in points per game (25.9) in 2025 in Johnson's first season, and although it could be a high bar to move up to No. 1 in 2026, the good news for fantasy purposes is that Johnson will continue to be one of the most aggressive offensive play-callers in the league.
Source: The Atheltic - Dan Pompei
Source: The Atheltic - Dan Pompei
Quentin Johnston Has Room to Grow Beyond the Big Plays
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston has scored eight touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, but offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel may give him more ways to produce in 2026. Johnston caught 51 of 84 targets for 735 yards in 14 games last year, and Los Angeles picked up his fifth-year option this spring. He has spent much of his NFL career doing damage downfield and around the end zone. McDaniel's offense could bring back another part of his game. Johnston has talked about getting more chances to create after the catch, something he did extremely well at TCU, and the early work with Justin Herbert has been encouraging. Ladd McConkey remains the safest bet to lead this receiving corps, while Tre' Harris and a deeper tight end room will keep Johnston from simply inheriting a huge target total. His 96.3 ADP reflects that uncertainty, with RotoBaller ranking him WR44 in half-PPR. Johnston doesn't need another eight touchdowns to pay off if McDaniel can get the ball into his hands in a few more ways.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Steelers' Offense Could Continue to be a Run-First Unit
Everyone has expected the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense to be more pass-happy under new head coach Mike McCarthy, but ESPN's Ben Solak writes that it's "pretty clear out of camp that the Steelers aren't going to sprint back to the heyday" of McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers on offense. Based on conversations that Solak had while at Pittsburgh's training camp, he says he's confident that the identity of this year's Steelers offense will be similar to their identity in 2025 -- "running the ball out of heavy sets." Solak "can't get a lean" on the Jaylen Warren/Rico Dowdle backfield situation, but he's "confident both will be used enough to be playable on any given week." He thinks that Dowdle will "bite into Warren's catches more than most people realize." On the flip side, Solak believes that Warren will "bite into Dowdle's carries more than most people realize." It's good news for both Warren and Dowdle if the Steelers stay ground-based, but with a potential near-even workload split, both RBs might not have ceilings higher than RB3/flex backs in fantasy.
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Solak
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Solak
Jonathon Brooks Will Play in Preseason Opener
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that running back Jonathon Brooks will play in the team's second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, mixing in with Chuba Hubbard, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. It will be Brooks' first game played since his rookie season in 2024 after he didn't play in last week's Hall of Fame game and missed the entire 2025 campaign due to another torn ACL in his knee. Rico Dowdle is no longer in Carolina's backfield, and while Hubbard is the team's clear RB1, Brooks is expected to have a significant RB2/change-of-pace role in Canales' offense this year. The former second-rounder from the University of Texas has only played in three games in the NFL, so it's hard to know what to expect from him if he can finally stay healthy. Brooks has looked good this summer, though, and he's an intriguing handcuff option/RB3/flex target with upside if Hubbard gets injured or struggles again in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Emeka Egbuka Limps Off at Practice on Wednesday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (undisclosed) limped off the practice field on Wednesday with athletic trainers, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Egbuka was being examined on a sideline table before eventually taking both cleats off. He walked back to the sideline to watch the rest of the practice. We'll have an update on Egbuka's status when more information comes out regarding why he was forced from Wednesday's training camp practice. The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud reports that the 23-year-old former first-rounder was "rolled up on" by a teammate. The fact that Egbuka remained on the sideline to watch the rest of practice likely means that he's not dealing with a significant injury. When healthy, Egbuka figures to have a bigger role in Tampa's new-look offense in 2026 after the departure of veteran wideout Mike Evans. Egbuka nearly had 1,000-receiving yards in his rookie campaign in 2025 and contributed six touchdown receptions on 63 total catches. He's a fine WR2 target in fantasy football drafts going into his sophomore season in the NFL.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Xavier Restrepo Leads Titans in Catches in First Joint Practice
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Xavier Restrepo led the team on Tuesday in their first joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers, with TennesseeTitans.com's Jim Wyatt having him down for a team-high five catches, including two that went for touchdowns. Second-year wideout Chimere Dike had the second-most grabs with four. Restrepo went undrafted last year out of the University of Miami before latching on with the Titans and catching three of his seven targets for 41 scoreless yards in two games played in Weeks 12 and 13. The 24-year-old is mostly intriguing because of his chemistry with quarterback Cam Ward, whom he played with at Miami. Despite Restrepo's chemistry with Ward and his strong day in practice on Tuesday, he's likely a long shot to make the 53-man roster out of training camp and the preseason after the Titans added Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency and rookie Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick back in April.
Source: TennesseeTitans.com - Jim Wyatt
Source: TennesseeTitans.com - Jim Wyatt
Rhamondre Stevenson Ahead of TreVeyon Henderson on First Depth Chart
The New England Patriots released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener against the Colts on Thursday, and as he did for much of the 2025 season, running back Rhamondre Stevenson appears ahead of TreVeyon Henderson, listed as the team's starter. Stevenson regularly out-snapped Henderson through the first half of their first season together, but the veteran's mid-season turf toe injury opened the door for the rookie to earn a workhorse role, in which he thrived. While the two saw closer to a 50/50 split down the stretch of the regular season, Stevenson again dominated playing time over a four-game postseason run, proving to be the more trusted back in critical situations. A year two leap is expected of Henderson, and he is routinely being selected multiple rounds ahead of Stevenson in 2026 fantasy drafts, but with his pass protection still being described throughout camp as a work in progress, he could find himself in a similar role to that held as a rookie, at least to begin the year.
Source: Mike Kadlick
Source: Mike Kadlick
Caleb Douglas Listed as Starting Wide Receiver for Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener against the Commanders on Friday, and one of the standout aspects is the inclusion of rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas among the team's starters. A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Douglas was the first of five offensive skill position players selected by Miami in April and the first to crack the starting lineup. Head coach Jeff Hafley spoke glowingly of the 22-year-old wide receiver on Wednesday, telling reporters he has "been one of our most consistent guys, and he's showed up every day." With three starting receivers listed, Douglas appears next to Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington, and he will be a player to watch on Friday as he continues to pick up steam deep into training camp.
Source: Miami Herald
Source: Miami Herald
Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Listed as Co-Starters
The New York Giants have released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener against the Vikings on Saturday, and running backs Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. are listed as co-starters. The "or" designation is used a number of times across the depth chart, but running back is the only position on offense without a clear listed starter. Tracy began the 2025 season as the starting running back, but missed time to injury and was overtaken on the depth chart even upon his return, with Skattebo nearly doubling his snap count in Weeks 4 and 5 before an ankle injury ended his rookie season. Skattebo has operated as the clear lead back for much of training camp, making the co-starter listing somewhat unexpected, though it should have no bearing on his fantasy outlook, and he ranks as RotoBaller's RB20, a full 25 running back spots ahead of Tracy.
Source: Pat Leonard
Source: Pat Leonard
