RADIO
Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa Week 1 Starter
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Atlanta Falcons have named quarterback Tua Tagovailoa their starter for their Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Miami Dolphins quarterback joined the Falcons in the offseason and was competing alongside Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job. However, with Penix still recovering from a torn ACL, Tagovailoa had the edge for much of the competition. Despite this, fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his production, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported last week that the Falcons may not give Tagovailoa a long leash if he were to struggle early in the season. In 2025, Tagovailoa appeared in 14 games for the Dolphins and posted a modest 20:15 TD:INT while averaging 190 passing yards per game. Given his inconsistencies last season, Tagovailoa should be viewed as a low-end QB3 in Superflex formats in Week 1.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
George Kittle Practices Ahead of Week 1
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) participated in practice on Monday, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. For clarification purposes, the 49ers are overseas preparing for Week 1, so this practice occurred on Monday in Australia but lined up with the waning hours of Sunday in the United States. Time zone logistics aside, fantasy managers should be encouraged that Kittle was able to practice on Monday. There's still a chance that he has some sort of snap count for Week 1, but at this point, it looks like he'll at least be active for the season opener. This falls in line with a previous report from ESPN.com's Adam Schefter that said Kittle should be able to play. The 32-year-old is a top-three fantasy tight end when healthy, and he'll be tasked with occupying a major receiving role once again this year. Managers looking for additional updates on Kittle's status should check back in approximately 24 hours when the 49ers release their first official injury report of the regular season.
Source: Matt Maiocco
Source: Matt Maiocco
Christian McCaffrey Doesn't Practice on Monday
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) did not participate in the portion of Monday's practice that was open to the media, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. For clarification purposes, it's worth noting that this practice occurred on Monday in Australia, where the 49ers currently are, but it technically lined up with the waning hours of Sunday evening on the United States west coast. McCaffrey had been dealing with an undisclosed injury throughout camp, but it wasn't always serious enough to keep him out of practice. Therefore, there's at least a little bit of concern that he didn't participate in practice on Monday. The good news is that the 49ers still have three more days of practice ahead of them, so he could upgrade to a limited or even full participant by the time the first official injury reports come out on Tuesday in Australia (or Monday night in the United States).
Source: Matt Maiocco
Source: Matt Maiocco
Emanuel Wilson Gets a Clean Bill of Health
Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson (hamstring) was a full participant during practice on Sunday, according to Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub. Wilson dealt with a hamstring issue during the preseason, but the Seahawks' latest injury report confirms that he's fully healthy and will play in Week 1 against the New England Patriots, barring a setback. Seattle and New England face off on Wednesday to open the season, which is why their first injury report is coming out on a Sunday. As it stands, Wilson projects as the No. 3 running back behind Jadarian Price and George Holani. He might get a handful of touches in the season opener as the Seahawks figure out their backfield sans Zach Charbonnet (knee), but it probably won't be enough volume to get him on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues.
Source: Alex Barth
Source: Alex Barth
Tory Horton Limited in Practice Ahead of Week 1
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice on Sunday, according to Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub. Seattle kicks off the regular season this Wednesday against the Patriots, which is why they already hit the practice field and submitted an official injury report on Sunday. The hamstring injury is something that Horton has been dealing with for a while, but he was able to avoid landing on injured reserve at the conclusion of training camp. It remains unclear whether he'll be able to suit up in Week 1, but the fact that he was even able to practice in a limited capacity should be viewed as an encouraging sign. The 23-year-old was limited to 13 catches across eight games as a rookie last year. He projects as the No. 4 receiver in Seattle this year, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most redraft leagues.
Source: Alex Barth
Source: Alex Barth
Trey McBride Remains the Focal Point of Cardinals Offense
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride continues to be a central part of the team's offense in 2026. Last season, McBride ranked as the overall TE1 in PPR leagues with 126 catches, 1,239 yards, and 11 touchdowns. His productivity peaked when the Cardinals switched over from Kyler Murray to Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. In his five weeks catching passes from Kyler Murray, McBride averaged 12.5 fantasy points and ranked as the TE4. He took his game to the next level through 12 weeks playing alongside Brissett, with whom he averaged 21.1 points per game. During that span, he was the undisputed TE1, scoring a whopping 90 points more than the TE2 (Kyle Pitts). It's unclear whether Brissett can replicate last season's impressive numbers, but that shouldn't stop McBride. He is the best pass catcher in this offense, and there's a very real chance that he finishes as the top-scoring tight end in fantasy football once again this year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Darius Slayton Likely Headed for Reduced Volume in 2026
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton could see a decline in volume and production this season. There was a point in the offseason when Slayton was trending up after Wan'Dale Robinson walked in free agency, but he fell back down the depth chart after the team signed Darnell Mooney and drafted Malachi Fields. They also brought back veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. It's safe to say that Malik Nabers, Mooney, and Fields are all ahead of Slayton on the depth chart, and Beckham could be, too. Plus, the 29-year-old will fall behind tight ends Isaiah Likely and Theo Johnson in the pecking order. Slayton certainly faces an uphill battle to carve out a meaningful role with legitimate fantasy appeal this season. He should be avoided in redraft leagues for the time being, and he can be dropped in most dynasty formats, too.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
James Conner is Avoidable in Redraft Formats
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) was placed on the Injured Reserve to begin the season. He continues to have issues with a foot injury that ended his 2025 season. Conner will miss at least the first four games of the season while he recovers from that. Once he's back, there might not be a significant role in the backfield for Conner. Rookie Jeremiah Love (ankle) figures to play a big part in the running back once he's back to full speed. The Cardinals also signed Tyler Allgeier to a two-year deal during the offseason. Conner figures to have some kind of role once he's healthy, but he isn't someone who needs to be selected in redraft formats to begin the season. He could be worth stashing on the IR, but who knows what kind of role he'll have in the mess of this backfield.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kimani Vidal Gets Praised for his Pass Protection
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal has reportedly been the best pass-protector in the backfield during camp, according to Alexander Insdorf. Vidal won't be the starter, but that doesn't mean that he won't have a significant role in the offense this season. His above-average pass-blocking abilities could get him on the field more frequently than fantasy managers might think. Omarion Hampton is the starter, but Vidal could have an advantage over Keaton Mitchell (knee) for the No. 2 role in the backfield. Vidal might be fantasy relevant outside of being the handcuff to Hampton. He's worth stashing for fantasy managers seeking additional depth in the backfield.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Demond Claiborne Unlikely to See Significant Action
Minnesota Vikings running back Demond Claiborne was unlikely to make a legitimate push for playing time this summer. The 22-year-old was likely always going to be a depth option after being taken in the sixth-round by the Vikings during this year's draft. Claiborne did little to impress during the preseason, and he appears to have himself locked into the RB3 role in Minnesota. There probably won't be room for much action with Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason leading the way in the running game. His only chance at seeing serious playing time would be if one of the backs goes down with an injury. He is best left on the waiver wire in redraft formats to begin the year.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Marvin Mims Jr. Could See Reduced Role
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. might have taken a step back on the depth chart. The 24-year-old appears to have lost the No. 3 wideout battle to Pat Bryant during the summer. Bryant posted a decent rookie campaign and appears to have secured himself a starting gig to begin the season. Mims will likely take a step back and play more of a reserve role to start the season, which makes him a shaky option in redrafts. The Broncos already have Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton as their primary passing options. There might not be enough room for Mims to be a serious threat this upcoming season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tutu Atwell has Path to WR3 Role
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell has a path to being a starter to begin the season. The Rams recently acquired Atwell in a deal that sent running back Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins. The 26-year-old will return to Los Angeles after spending the first five years of his career with the team. He signed with the Dolphins over the offseason, but was traded to the Rams because he likely wasn't going to make the 53-man roster. Now, Atwell has a chance to be the third wideout in this offense. However, that role might not mean too much with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams ahead of him on the depth chart. Atwell did very little as a receiver last season, so he's probably best left on the waiver wire until he proves he can do something consistently.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Nate Boerkircher is Best Left as a Dynasty Stash
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Nate Boerkircher is unlikely to see a significant role in the offense to begin the season. The Jaguars selected Boerkircher in the second-round of this year's draft out of Texas A&M. He didn't see a ton of action during the preseason, but the Jags do like his offensive upside. The downside is that Boerkircher is the clear No. 2 option behind Brenton Strange to begin the season. Barring any injuries, Boerkircher is unlikely to see a ton of action during his rookie campaign. The 25-year-old could be worth stashing in dynasty leagues for fantasy managers who are willing to wait on his development. The Jaguars spent a second-round pick on Boerkircher, so they do believe he can be a contributor at some point.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tyler Higbee Could Get Lost in the Shuffle
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee is likely to see reduced playing time this upcoming season. He signed a two-year deal with the Rams in March, but that doesn't guarantee that he's going to be a significant part of the offense. The Rams have Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, and rookie Max Klare all fighting for playing time as well. Higbee hasn't exactly been much of a threat in the offense since his 2022 season. The 33-year-old was likely just brought back as depth, but he'll probably struggle to remain relevant in the passing attack. It's probably best to leave Higbee on the waiver wire to begin the season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Ja'Tavion Sanders Likely to Lose Playing Time
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders might not be as appealing of a fantasy option as he was earlier in the summer. The Panthers recently signed veteran tight end Darren Waller to a deal for the 2026 season. He has been taking first-time reps, which pushes the rest of the tight ends down a spot. The latest unofficial depth chart has Sanders listed as third behind Waller and Tommy Tremble. The presence of Waller is certainly going to hurt Sanders' path to playing time. The 23-year-old still has decent upside as a dynasty stash, but he isn't someone who should be rostered in redraft formats to begin the season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
