RADIO
Cooper Rush a Sneaky Superflex Stash Candidate Amid QB Injuries
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush has mostly operated as a backup throughout his career to this point, appearing in 42 games and logging 16 starts across eight NFL seasons. However, with Falcons QB1 Tua Tagovailoa's (oblique) status for Week 1 up in the air, Rush could be in line to make the start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The 32-year-old's last extended stretch as a starter was in 2024, when he completed 60.7% of his pass attempts for 1,844 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions across 12 games (eight starts) with the Dallas Cowboys. Rush has averaged just 6.3 yards per pass attempt for his career, so he's unlikely to provide high-end fantasy production if he's forced into action for the Falcons. Still, he could be worth rostering in two-QB formats just in case Tagovailoa misses time to begin the year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cam Ward a Year 2 Breakout Candidate Entering 2026?
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward put together an up-and-down season as a rookie in 2025, completing 59.8% of his pass attempts for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across 17 games. If Ward's production does not take a step forward in 2026, he should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in the majority of league formats. However, Ward should have a much better offensive ecosystem around him in his second NFL season. The Titans used the fourth overall pick this past April on wide receiver Carnell Tate, signed veteran slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency, and brought in former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll as their new offensive coordinator. In deeper league formats, Ward could be worth stashing off the waiver wire in case he emerges as a breakout quarterback in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ashton Jeanty Feels "Really Good" Ahead of Week 1
Las Vegas Raiders second-year running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) said he feels "really good" and is "super excited" to play in the Week 1 season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Jeanty injured his ankle in an Aug. 23 training camp practice, but he returned to a full practice on Wednesday and practiced again on Thursday, putting him on track to play against the Dolphins this weekend to kick off the 2026 season. "I knew it wasn't anything too bad, even though I couldn't put pressure on my foot," Jeanty said Thursday -- his first time speaking to reporters since the injury. "I figured it wouldn't be anything that's too long-term." Jeanty will be the Raiders' RB1 again this year in what is expected to be an improved offense under new head coach Klint Kubiak, but impressive rookie Mike Washington Jr. will also be involved, and he could have a bigger role than usual in Week 1 if the Raiders choose to ease Jeanty in following his ankle injury. As long as Jeanty is active for Sunday's game in Vegas, he should be locked into all starting fantasy lineups in the season opener.
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Alec Pierce Limited Again on Thursday
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) was limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday as the team prepares for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to the team. Pierce started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list after having cleanup surgery on his ankle, but it is a heel injury that has him up in the air to play this weekend versus Baltimore. If Pierce can upgrade to a full practice on Friday, he should be cleared from the final injury report for Week 1. When healthy, Pierce will be a major part of Indy's passing game in 2026 after they signed him to a four-year, $114 million contract extension in March. His role should grow with Michael Pittman Jr. out of the picture, and he has already proven over the last two years that he can be a productive big-play wideout for fantasy managers. The 26-year-old has led the NFL in each of the last two years in yards per catch, and he had 1,003 receiving yards with six touchdowns in 15 games in 2025. Pierce is shaping up as a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy going into Week 1 if he is active against Baltimore.
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Gunnar Helm a Deep-League Sleeper to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 16 games (10 starts) as a rookie in 2025, Tennessee Titans tight end Gunnar Helm recorded 44 catches for 357 yards and two touchdowns on 55 targets. While Helm flashed higher levels of production upside throughout the year, his opportunity was limited by the presence of veteran tight end Chig Okonkwo. Entering 2026, Okonkwo is now a member of the Washington Commanders, and Helm profiles as the clear TE1 in Tennessee. The Titans have more talent at wide receiver in 2026 than they did a year ago after adding Carnell Tate in the draft and Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency. Still, Helm should benefit from his increased playing time and the expected growth of Titans quarterback Cam Ward in his second NFL season. In deeper league formats, Helm could be a sleeper tight end option to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Another Day of Full Practice for Malik Nabers
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) practiced fully again on Thursday, head coach John Harbaugh told Connor Hughes of SNY. Although Nabers has put in two full practices this week, Harbaugh was non-committal on Wednesday when asked if the former first-rounder would be active for the Sunday night showdown against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. All signs are pointing to Nabers playing in the season opener on Sunday Night Football, but he will still be a risky starting option in fantasy lineups with the potential for the Giants to put him on a snap count in his first game back after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus in Week 4 of last season. Nabers showed in his rookie season that he has high-end WR1 upside when he is fully healthy, but with the potential for limited involvement on Sunday night, fantasy managers should be treating him as more of a low-end WR2 than a WR1 in his first game of the 2026 season. The 23-year-old from LSU had a 109-1,204-7 line on 170 targets in 2024 with the Giants before playing in just four games in 2025.
Source: SNY - Connor Hughes
Source: SNY - Connor Hughes
Is James Conner Worth Stashing in Deeper Leagues?
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) enters the 2026 season on Injured Reserve, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the year. The 31-year-old is still working his way back from the devastating foot injury that ended his 2025 season in Week 3. The running back room in Arizona looks much different now than it did when Conner was last healthy, as the team added veteran Tyler Allgeier and rookie phenom Jeremiyah Love (ankle) over the offseason. Even once Conner gets healthy, there's no guarantee that he will see fantasy-relevant playing time. However, the veteran running back remained a productive player in his last full season, recording over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns across 16 games in 2024. In deeper league formats, Conner could be worth stashing in a bench or IR spot in case he steps into a regular role upon his return.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tua Tagovailoa Dealing With Oblique Injury
Updating a previous report, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was added to the injury report on Thursday with an oblique injury, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. Tagovailoa was listed as limited on Thursday's report. During the open period of Thursday's practice, Tagovailoa was seen touching his back before sitting down on the field during individual drills. The Falcons already announced that Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will not be active for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, so if Tagovailoa cannot play, it will likely be Cooper Rush making the start under center for the Falcons in the season opener. Tagovailoa joined the Falcons this offseason hoping for a new start after the Dolphins cut him after a disappointing 2025 campaign in which he was benched late in the year. Tua also dealt with back spasms early in training camp, so it seems more unlikely that he will be able to recover in just a couple of days and start on Sunday. This new injury could threaten Tagovailoa's chances of ever starting a game for the Falcons in 2026.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Zay Flowers Upgraded to Full Participation on Thursday's Injury Report
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) was listed as a full participant on the team's Thursday injury report, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Zrebiec notes that Baltimore held a walkthrough rather than a full practice, so Flowers' practice designation is an estimate. Still, it's a positive sign for Flowers that his status was upgraded after he practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday. Across 17 games in 2025, the 25-year-old recorded 86 catches for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns on 118 targets. When he's on the field, Flowers profiles as the clear number one option in the passing game for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Assuming he's active for Baltimore's Week 1 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, Flowers profiles as a high-end WR2 option for fantasy managers.
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Cooper Rush Could Start at QB For Falcons in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush said he took all the reps with the first-team offense in Thursday's practice after Tua Tagovailoa (back) suffered a lower-back injury, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Tagovailoa, who missed the start of training camp this summer with lower-back spasms, is now up in the air to play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has already been ruled out for the season opener while he continues to recover from a partially torn ACL he suffered late last season. If Tagovailoa is ruled out for this weekend, Rush would most likely make the start, with undrafted rookie Jack Strand backing him up. The 32-year-old Rush would be a desperation QB2 in deep superflex leagues if he makes the start this weekend, which would be only his 17th NFL start since entering the league in 2017 as an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan. The Steelers' defense/special teams unit should be considered a top-five option, regardless of who starts under center for the Falcons. Rush played in four games (two starts) with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025 and threw for 303 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions.
Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
Nicholas Singleton Still Worth Stashing Despite Crowded Backfield
Tennessee Titans running back Nicholas Singleton is still only 3% rostered on Yahoo, but this is a pretty deep stash. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are clearly ahead of him, and Tennessee's latest depth chart lists Singleton with Julius Chestnut on the third line. He did not do much to change that in preseason, either. The fifth-round rookie finished with 57 yards on 15 carries and caught two passes for 18 yards. There is still something worth watching here. Singleton is 6-foot, 219 pounds and caught 102 passes during his Penn State career, so he has more to his profile than just early-down work. But the path is crowded, and RotoBaller has him at RB84 for Week 1 against the Jets. Singleton is not someone to start, and he does not need to be rostered in normal-sized leagues. If benches are deep and managers can afford to wait on a back who may need an injury ahead of him, though, he is worth a stash.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cade Otton an Intriguing Tight End Streamer in Week 1
Across 16 games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton recorded 59 catches for 572 yards and one touchdown on 81 targets. While the 27-year-old does not profile as a consistent fantasy producer, he enters 2026 as the clear top receiving tight end in Tampa and may have an opportunity to see increased usage in the early portion of the season. Buccaneers wideouts Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) are dealing with lingering injuries that limited their availability throughout the summer. While both players logged full practices on Wednesday, Tampa Bay could look to manage their workloads early on. Otton also has a favorable matchup on paper in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, who fielded one of the NFL's worst defenses in 2025. As a deep-league streamer, Otton could have some appeal on the waiver wire for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tua Tagovailoa Up in the Air for Week 1 With Back Injury
Updating a previous report, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (back) went down in Thursday's practice with what looked like lower-back pain, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The Falcons are prepping to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 with a QB3 right now. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is not cleared yet after suffering a partial tear of his ACL, so if Tua cannot go on Sunday, it could be Cooper Rush who gets the nod under center. ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports that Rush said he took all of the reps with the first-team offense on Thursday after Tagovailoa tweaked his back. If not for Penix not being quite ready to return, Tagovailoa most likely would have lost the QB competition during training camp in his first year outside of Miami. Already with a concerning history of head injuries, durability is not Tua's strong suit, and it now looks like he will not be able to make his Falcons debut in Week 1. The Falcons' plan is to let Penix take over the starting gig in Atlanta when he is ready, so Tagovailoa's fantasy value in deep two-QB leagues will be fleeting. If Tagovailoa is ruled out this weekend, Jack Strand would be in line to serve as Rush's backup.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Kirk Cousins Worth a Look in Two-Quarterback Leagues
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins is only 4% rostered on Yahoo, which is awfully low for a quarterback who will open the season with a starting job. The Raiders made it official last week, choosing Cousins over rookie Fernando Mendoza. Cousins also played well enough in the preseason, completing 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in two appearances. There is not much rushing help coming here, and his 2025 numbers were fairly modest. Cousins threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games with Atlanta. He also might have to open the year without his best target, with Brock Bowers expected to miss Sunday's game against Miami following knee surgery. RotoBaller has Cousins at QB27 for Week 1. That keeps him out of the streaming mix in most one-quarterback leagues. Superflex and two-quarterback are different. Cousins has a starting job right now, and at 4% rostered, that alone makes him worth picking up in those formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rome Odunze Limited Again on Thursday
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (calf) was listed as limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day this week, according to the team. With two limited sessions to begin Week 1 preparation, Odunze is still up in the air to play in the season opener this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, and he might need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to be cleared to play this weekend. If he is limited or out on Sunday, Kalif Raymond and Zavion Thomas would have a path to elevated roles alongside Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland. Odunze, the ninth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Washington, had a career-high six touchdowns in 12 regular-season games in his sophomore campaign in 2025, but he was limited with a concerning foot injury that he says is in the rearview mirror. He is shaping up as more of a WR3/flex option to begin the 2026 season if he plays against the Panthers. Check back for Odunze's final injury status on Friday.
Source: Bears Communications
Source: Bears Communications
