RADIO
Packers Preparing for Potential Josh Jacobs Suspension
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that the team has been preparing for the scenario of running back Josh Jacobs being suspended just to cover all of their bases in case that happens, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Gutekunst is confident in the running back room behind Jacobs but is not ruling out an additional move to give the team more backfield depth early in the season if/when a Jacobs suspension is handed down. The 28-year-old has also been managing a groin injury that has kept him out of training camp practices for the better part of two weeks, so it has not been a great summer for Jacobs as he gets set to enter his eighth year in the NFL (third with Green Bay). The NFL is still reviewing a personal-conduct matter involving Jacobs after he was arrested in May of this year following a domestic-disturbance complaint. He has denied all allegations, and prosecutors have not formally filed criminal charges against him. If Jacobs is suspended, it should not be for more than three or four games. If he's not suspended, his current groin issue should not keep him from playing in Week 1 in early September. A potential suspension hanging over his head definitely makes him a much riskier low-end RB1/high-end RB2 selection in upcoming fantasy football drafts, though.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Josh Downs Dealing with Calf Injury
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (calf) is sidelined with a calf injury, per Mike Chappell of FOX59. The 25-year-old was also unable to practice on Tuesday, and it appears this injury will keep him sidelined for a bit longer. Managers should continue to pay close attention to his status ahead of the final week of the preseason. Downs is expected to take on a much larger role in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh. Additionally, the team's top wideout, Alec Pierce, is battling an ankle injury and has yet to return to practice. While the Colts did sign veteran wideout Keenan Allen earlier this month, Downs figures to open the season in a prominent role. In 2025, Downs brought in 58 passes for 566 yards and four scores. If he were to move past this injury, the wideout could have post-hype breakout appeal with a full-time role.
Source: Mike Chappell
Source: Mike Chappell
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Still Out With Lower-Body Injury
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) remains sidelined at Wednesday's training camp practice, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Croskey-Merritt is believed to be day-to-day with a groin injury that he suffered in practice last Thursday. Rachaad White (hamstring) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) have also been banged up lately, so Washington's backfield is a little beat up right now. Head coach Dan Quinn said last week that Croskey-Merritt is expected to return to training camp practice at some point this week, so he should be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles in early September. The 25-year-old had a successful rookie year in 2025 after he was a seventh-round pick out of Arizona, leading the Commanders with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries while also catching nine passes for 68 yards as a receiver in 17 games. The Commanders are giving Bill every opportunity to earn a bigger role in the backfield, but the offseason addition of pass-catching specialist White will likely keep his overall fantasy upside limited, especially in PPR leagues. RotoBaller currently has JCM ranked as the No. 37 fantasy RB for 2026.
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
Source: The Washington Post - Tashan Reed
Eli Stowers Likely to be a Game-Day Inactive
Philadelphia Eagles rookie tight end Eli Stowers is athletic and versatile at 6-foot-4 and 239 pounds, which is undersized for a tight end. He was a high school quarterback, but he shifted to TE at Vanderbilt and lined up all over the formation to create mismatches against slower linebackers and smaller defensive backs. The downside is that Stowers was a big receiver coming out of college and would need to become a better blocker to develop into a well-rounded NFL tight end. Throughout training camp, Stowers has not "shown much to get excited about as a receiver or as a blocker." He has not exhibited explosive traits, and he has "sometimes looked tentative as a blocker." The hope is that Stowers will eventually catch up and begin playing fast, but Kempski says Stowers is "unplayable" right now and will "likely be a game-day inactive." He is also currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, which is not helping his cause. With all that said, Kempski does not believe that Stowers will be a "redshirt" IR candidate in 2026 after they used a valuable second-round pick on him.
Source: Philly Voice - Jimmy Kempski
Source: Philly Voice - Jimmy Kempski
Zay Flowers Not Participating in Joint Practice with Commanders
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (undisclosed) is not participating in Wednesday's joint practice with the Commanders after also missing Monday's practice. Flowers missed time early in training camp with a quadriceps injury but had returned to action and had not appeared to reaggravate the injury. He was seen on the field on Monday in sneakers and a T-shirt and looked to be moving without limitation, so his absence may be part of a planned veteran rest, but his status bears monitoring. Coming off a career year in which he caught 86 passes for 1,211 yards, Flowers is expected to be a focal point of Declan Doyle's offense that has placed an emphasis on explosive plays while working more regularly from under center, and he is RotoBaller's WR15.
Source: Brian Wacker
Source: Brian Wacker
George Kittle Not Yet Participating in Competitive Periods
San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle (Achilles) was activated from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on Sunday and has since taken part in two training camp practices, though his involvement has been limited to non-competitive periods, according to 49ers digital editor Brooke Evans. On Tuesday, Kittle continued to run routes against air while working with quarterbacks and the offensive line in hopes of a potential return to action for a Week 1 divisional matchup with the Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Kittle ruptured his Achilles in a Wild Card playoff game against the Eagles less than eight months ago and has made remarkable progress just to get to this point, but now almost 33 years old and coming off a serious injury, there are reasons to fade Kittle as draft season ramps up. That said, he has been one of the position's most exciting and productive players for the better part of a decade, and even without the benefit of a possible early-season IR stash, he could prove to be one of the best values in 2026 drafts at his current ADP of TE13.
Source: Brooke Evans
Source: Brooke Evans
Nicholas Singleton Busy in His Return to Practice
Tennessee Titans rookie running back Nicholas Singleton (foot) returned to practice on Tuesday after missing a week with a lower body injury, and he was immediately given a notable workload, according to senior writer Jim Wyatt. Singleton was busy as a runner and also stayed involved in the passing game, finding the end zone on one of his three credited catches. A fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Singleton faces an uphill climb to finding a significant role in a room with established veterans Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, both of whom have reportedly had strong camps and looked sharp through the team's first two preseason games. Singleton, who led the team with eight carries in the preseason opener before missing Sunday's win over the Seahawks, should have one last chance to make his mark in the Titans' third and final preseason tilt against the Bears on Saturday. Still, he does not possess a clear path to fantasy relevance as a rookie and is unlikely to factor into 2026 draft plans as RotoBaller's RB74.
Source: Jim Wyatt
Source: Jim Wyatt
Wan'Dale Robinson Has Been the Titans' Most Active Receiver
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson joined the team as a 2026 free agent after signing a four-year deal that could prove to be one of the team's most important moves of the offseason. Quarterback Cam Ward has reportedly had an up-and-down second training camp after being made the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Still, when he's found success, it has generally come as a result of targeting Robinson. After catching three more passes on Tuesday, including two that went for touchdowns, Titans senior writer Jim Wyatt unofficially credits Robinson with a team-leading 52 receptions throughout training camp. Having caught 185 of his 263 targets across his final two seasons with the Giants, Robinson is no stranger to a heavy workload, and although 2026 fourth overall pick Carnell Tate arrived to camp with higher expectations and more fanfare, the fifth-year veteran has a realistic chance to lead his new team in targets and receptions. At RotoBaller's WR52, Robinson is a player to target late in drafts, particularly in full-PPR leagues where his high floor should make him a viable starting candidate week in and week out.
Source: Jim Wyatt
Source: Jim Wyatt
Ladd McConkey Could Have a "Huge Season" in New-Look Chargers Offense
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey disappointed in 2025 following an electric rookie season that saw him finish as the WR12, but he could be primed for a major bounce-back in Mike McDaniel's offense. Recently appearing with Ari Meirov for a 2026 Chargers breakdown, The Athletic's Daniel Popper says that he envisions a "huge season" for McConkey if he can stay healthy. Reflecting on the way that five-time All-Pro Tyreek Hill was used by McDaniel in Miami, Popper believes McConkey will benefit from pre-snap motion and creative manipulation, allowing him to leverage defenses while taking advantage of his 4.3 speed. With veteran Keenan Allen no longer on the team, McConkey should see something close to an every-down role, and as RotoBaller's WR14, the 24-year-old is well-positioned to return to his rookie form.
Source: Daniel Popper
Source: Daniel Popper
Chase Brown Has Top-Five Upside in 2026
The Cincinnati Bengals' starting offense has worked two drives in the 2026 preseason, with running back Chase Brown touching the ball on four of the team's first seven plays and handling five total carries. While his 16 yards are nothing gaudy, his early involvement reflects the hype he's received since the start of training camp, which has caused his ADP to steadily rise throughout draft season. The Bengals offense stumbled out of the blocks in 2025, derailed by an early-season injury to quarterback Joe Burrow, but following a slow start, Brown was the RB6 over the final 12 weeks of the season, and he projects for more of the same in 2026. Brown is RotoBaller's RB8, but as the de facto third receiving option in one of the league's most high-powered offenses, he has top-five upside and projects as a regular week-winner in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brian Thomas Jr. Practicing in Non-Contact Jersey
Following an injury scare that forced him out of Tuesday's joint practice with the Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) is back in attendance on Wednesday, spotted wearing an orange non-contact jersey as he started the day with individual drills. Thomas came down on his shoulder while making a touchdown catch early in Tuesday's practice and showed obvious discomfort after initially attempting to stay on the field. While he eventually walked off with trainers, initial reports indicated the injury was not overly serious, and his presence one day later serves as confirmation. Thomas disappointed with a WR43 fantasy finish a season ago after bursting onto the scene as the WR4 as a rookie in 2024, but he has reportedly put in serious work to clean up some of the finer details of his game and has enjoyed a strong training camp as a result. While Parker Washington has drawn most of the headlines out of Jaguars' camp, Thomas could still be argued to have the highest weekly ceiling, making him a potential bargain for risk-tolerant drafters, currently coming off the board as the WR32.
Source: Juston W. Lewis
Source: Juston W. Lewis
George Pickens' Standout Camp Continues as Cowboys Return to Texas
After a summer spent in Oxnard, California, the Dallas Cowboys returned to Frisco for their first local training camp practice on Tuesday night, and as he has done since arriving with the team, wide receiver George Pickens continued to make plays. One of the highlights of the night was a deep connection from Dak Prescott that the 2025 second-team All-Pro was able to haul in while keeping both feet inbounds, prompting team staff writer Tommy Yarrish to note that commenting on Pickens' standout moments has almost become repetitive. After a brief ramp-up period in his first season with the Cowboys, a Week 3 ankle injury to CeeDee Lamb thrust Pickens into the spotlight, allowing him to rack up a career-high 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on his way to a WR5 fantasy finish, remaining dominant even following Lamb's return. With the Cowboys' offense capable of producing two legitimate fantasy difference-makers at the position, Pickens is RotoBaller's WR8 and a perfectly suitable option to build around as a number one receiver in 2026 drafts.
Source: Tommy Yarrish
Source: Tommy Yarrish
Dak Prescott Proving He Can Still Use His Legs as Needed
At 33 years old, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is entering his 11th season, and according to team staff writer Nick Eatman, he still has the speed to make off-platform plays as needed. In the team's first local training camp practice on Tuesday night, Prescott showed off the quickness and pocket presence that have defined much of his career, twice scrambling for touchdowns while working in the red zone. While Prescott has relied less on his legs after a handful of serious injuries, last topping 250 rushing yards in 2019, his escapability and ability to keep drives alive have contributed to keeping the Cowboys' offense among the league's most potent throughout his career while making him one of the most underrated fantasy performers in recent years. When playing at least 16 games in a season, Prescott has not finished outside the top eight of the position since 2018, making him one of the safest late-round quarterbacks to target in 2026 drafts.
Source: Nick Eatman
Source: Nick Eatman
De'Von Achane Bringing Consistency to New-Look Dolphins Offense
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane was one of the few holdovers of a near-total offseason overhaul to the team's starting offense, and unsurprisingly, he has been one of Miami's most consistent performers throughout training camp, according to team writer Travis Wingfield. In the Dolphins' penultimate practice of camp on Tuesday, Achane successfully led the starting unit with a handful of explosive runs, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was later asked what he likes about the team's run game. "The versatility of what our personnel allows us to do," he said. "You can get on the perimeter; you can get on the edge... You can do stuff with [Malik Willis] in the run game. Obviously, [Achane] has speed to get to the edge. He can hit it up in the middle as well." The only running back in the NFL to score double-digit fantasy points in every one of his games in 2025, Achane is once more expected to be the focal point of the Dolphins' offense, and he is RotoBaller's RB11.
Source: Travis Wingfield
Source: Travis Wingfield
Calvin Austin III Suffers Torn ACL, Out for the Year
After leaving Tuesday's practice on a cart, New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III (knee) has been confirmed to have torn his ACL, and he will miss the entirety of the 2026 season. After three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2022 fourth-round pick signed a one-year free agent contract with the Giants and was expected to play a role in replacing the production of Wan'Dale Robinson, who caught at least 92 passes in back-to-back seasons while operating primarily out of the slot. With Pro Bowler Malik Nabers working his way back from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season and on track for a potential Week 1 start, Austin was not a fantasy target to begin with at RotoBaller's WR128, but the brutal news ends any hope of a modest breakout and will likely leave him looking for a new team in 2027 free agency.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
