RADIO
Josh Dobbs Joining Lions as Jared Goff's Backup
The Detroit Lions are signing quarterback Josh Dobbs to a one-year, $1.425 million contract with $475,000 fully guaranteed, according to Mike Garafolo. The move comes after Teddy Bridgewater stepped away from the team, creating an opening behind starter Jared Goff. Garafolo reports that the financial commitment reflects Detroit's plan for Dobbs to serve as its No. 2 quarterback. The 31-year-old spent last season with New England, appearing in four games and completing 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards. He has made 15 starts during his NFL career, giving Detroit an experienced option behind Goff while undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer continues to develop. Goff has already been ruled out for the entire preseason, so Dobbs should have an opportunity to get acclimated quickly once the signing becomes official.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Ka'imi Fairbairn Remains a Top-Two Fantasy Kicker
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was nearly automatic last season. He made 44 of 48 field goals in 15 games, tying the NFL single-season record, and didn't miss once from inside 50 yards. Fairbairn was plenty dangerous from farther out, too, hitting nine of 13 attempts from 50-plus and finishing with 25 made field goals from at least 40 yards. That workload helped him average a position-best 12.9 standard fantasy points per game. Asking for another 44 field goals would be aggressive, especially if Houston does a better job turning red-zone trips into touchdowns this year. Fairbairn doesn't need that kind of volume to stay near the top of the position, though. He has converted better than 91% of his field goals in three of the last four seasons, and RotoBaller has him 165th overall and K2 in its August 8 half-PPR rankings. Aubrey is the first kicker off the board, but Fairbairn belongs right behind him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dawson Knox Needs Touchdowns to Matter in Redraft
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox stayed involved last season, catching 36 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games. He was especially useful near the goal line, drawing 12 red-zone targets and scoring on four of them. The issue is what happens if Dalton Kincaid gets a healthier season and a larger role. Kincaid managed 39 catches for 571 yards and five scores in only 12 games in 2025, and he said this spring that he feels better physically than he has in years. Buffalo also picked up Kincaid's fifth-year option. Knox isn't going anywhere after agreeing to a new deal through 2028, and his blocking keeps him on the field plenty. That does not guarantee enough targets for fantasy. RotoBaller has Knox 255th overall in half-PPR, which is deep-draft territory. Unless Kincaid misses time, Knox looks more like a touchdown-dependent TE3 than someone to target in standard redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Stafford's QB3 Finish Will Be Hard to Repeat
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford put together an MVP season at 37, throwing for an NFL-high 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns while finishing QB3 on a per-game basis. The offense around him is still loaded. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are back, and Los Angeles led the league in both scoring and total offense last season. The bigger question is how many of those touchdowns Stafford can bring with him into 2026. His touchdown rate jumped to 7.7% last year after sitting at 4.8% for his career, and his fantasy scoring still comes almost entirely through the air. Stafford is now 38, which is another reason not to treat last season as the new baseline. He has looked sharp when practicing in camp, with the Rams managing his workload to keep him fresh for Week 1. RotoBaller ranks Stafford 96th overall and QB14. There is still plenty here for another productive season, but drafting him as a QB2 makes more sense than chasing last year's QB3 finish.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kendrick Bourne Is Mostly a Deep-League Option in 2026
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has a defined role heading into 2026, but it may not be enough to matter in most redraft leagues. Bourne caught 37 of 53 targets for 551 yards in 16 games with San Francisco last season and did not score a touchdown. Arizona signed him to a two-year deal in March, and the team's own website has him sliding in as the WR3 behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Trey McBride also sits near the top of the passing game, so Bourne could have trouble seeing enough volume to become a weekly fantasy option. He did average 14.9 yards per catch last year and gives the Cardinals an experienced receiver who can step into a larger role if Harrison or Wilson misses time. For now, though, RotoBaller has Bourne 230th overall and WR88 in half-PPR. That puts him outside the range of players fantasy managers need to prioritize in standard leagues, though he can still make sense as depth in deeper formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
J.K. Dobbins Better Drafted as an RB3 in 2026
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins (foot) was one of the league's most productive runners before his 2025 season ended after 10 games. He rushed 153 times for 772 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry, and Denver brought him back on a two-year deal in March. Dobbins still sits at the front of the backfield, but the touches are getting harder to project. RJ Harvey is expected to see third-down work after catching 47 passes as a rookie, while fourth-round pick Jonah Coleman has been one of Denver's standouts in camp. Coleman has impressed enough that a three-back rotation now looks possible. That does not erase what Dobbins did last year, and Sean Payton has continued to speak highly of him. It does make another 15-carry-per-game pace tougher to count on. RotoBaller ranks Dobbins 84th overall in half-PPR. He can still return useful RB2 weeks if he keeps the early-down work, but the growing competition makes him better suited for an RB3 spot on fantasy rosters.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brandon Aubrey's Deep Range Separates Him From the Kicker Field
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey gives fantasy managers something most players at his position can't match. He made 36 of 42 field goals last season, including 11 from at least 50 yards, with a long of 64. His range was on full display against Detroit when he connected from 55, 57 and 63 yards, becoming the first kicker in NFL history to make three field goals of 55 yards or longer in the same game. Aubrey also finished 2025 with three makes from 60-plus yards, another NFL single-season record. That distance matters even more in fantasy formats that award additional points for longer kicks. RotoBaller has Aubrey 149th overall and K1 entering 2026. There is still no reason to pass on useful running back or wide receiver depth several rounds early just to grab a kicker. Once that part of the roster is built, though, Aubrey is one of the few at his position worth paying a little extra to get.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Samaje Perine Offers Little Standalone Redraft Value
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine still has a clear job in this backfield, but most of his fantasy appeal starts with Chase Brown. Perine played 15 games last season and ran 84 times for 382 yards and three touchdowns, adding 17 catches for 87 yards. He flashed when Cincinnati gave him a little more room, ripping off 94 yards and a score on only nine carries against the Jets. The Bengals haven't forgotten that. Their own offseason preview has Perine set to lead the group behind Brown again in 2026. Brown, however, played all 17 games last year and topped 1,000 rushing yards, and Cincinnati expects him to remain the lead back. Perine was on the field for just over 31% of the offensive snaps in 2025. RotoBaller ranks him 196th overall and RB58. There is still a place for the 240-pound veteran on a fantasy bench, especially for Brown managers, but weekly value will be hard to find unless his workload grows.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ja'Marr Chase Still Deserves a Top-Three Redraft Pick
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase already produced 125 catches for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and there is still room for more in 2026. Chase led the NFL with 185 targets despite Joe Burrow playing only eight games, and he has now drawn at least 175 targets in consecutive seasons. The Bengals have talked this offseason about getting more explosive on offense, something Chase himself discussed during OTAs. Friday night's stadium practice offered a reminder of what that can look like when Burrow hit him on a 50-yard bomb. Tee Higgins remains a major part of the passing game, but that hasn't stopped Cincinnati from feeding Chase at an elite rate. RotoBaller has him third overall and WR1 in its latest half-PPR rankings. There isn't much mystery with Chase at this point. A healthy Burrow gives one of the NFL's highest-volume receivers another shot at pairing that workload with more big plays and touchdowns. Chase still belongs among the first three players selected in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Teddy Bridgewater Stepping Away From Lions
Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has informed the team that he plans to step away, with retirement considered likely, according to Ian Rapoport. The 33-year-old entered training camp as Jared Goff's expected backup after returning to Detroit for a third stint in March. Bridgewater appeared in four games for Tampa Bay last season, completing eight of 15 passes for 62 yards, and has made 65 starts over his NFL career. His decision leaves undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer as the only other quarterback currently on the roster behind Goff. Altmyer had been trying to push Bridgewater for the No. 2 job and should now get an extended look during the preseason. Detroit is not handing him the position uncontested, however, as the Lions plan to work out several quarterbacks while looking to add another veteran to the room.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Jared Goff Will Sit Out Entire Preseason
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff will not play at any point during the preseason, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Sunday. Campbell left little doubt about the plan, joking that even if Detroit ran out of quarterbacks, Goff still would not play and the team could turn to wide receiver Tom Kennedy instead. Goff is coming off another strong season, throwing for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 68.0% of his passes across 17 games. Detroit opens its preseason Thursday against Cincinnati, and several other key starters could also be held out. Goff's absence will put more attention on rookie Luke Altmyer, especially after Teddy Bridgewater decided to step away from the team. Altmyer should now see plenty of preseason work while Detroit evaluates him and searches for another veteran quarterback.
Source: Justin Rogers
Source: Justin Rogers
Luther Burden III Expected to Miss Time With Groin Injury
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) is expected to miss some time after suffering the injury during Saturday's practice, according to Ian Rapoport. Burden left the field after landing awkwardly while attempting a contested catch and went inside with a trainer. The second-year receiver had been one of Chicago's standouts throughout camp after catching 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. His opportunity is considerably larger this season following the trade of DJ Moore, with Burden and Rome Odunze positioned to play major roles alongside Caleb Williams. Head coach Ben Johnson has also praised Burden's development throughout the offseason, particularly his explosiveness and expanding route tree. No firm timetable has been given, so the main concern now is how much valuable camp work Burden loses while preparing for that expanded role.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Bhayshul Tuten Still Sharing First-Team Work With Rodriguez
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten continues to split first-team work with Chris Rodriguez Jr., with Sports Illustrated reporting that the two handled carries at roughly an even rate during Sunday's practice. Both backs had productive moments, which only adds to the uncertainty surrounding a backfield that has yet to produce a clear leader. Tuten scored seven total touchdowns as a rookie, but he finished with 307 rushing yards on 83 carries and caught only 10 passes for 79 yards. Rodriguez brings more proven rushing volume after posting 500 yards and six touchdowns on 112 carries for Washington last season. LeQuint Allen Jr. also remains part of the equation after serving as Jacksonville's primary third-down back as a rookie. Tuten still has a path to a larger second-year role following Travis Etienne Jr.'s departure, but Sunday's split is another reminder that Rodriguez is very much in the mix for early-down work.
Source: Sports Illustrated
Source: Sports Illustrated
Jayden Reed Managing Ankle Injury
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (ankle) has picked up an ankle injury during camp, though head coach Matt LaFleur said Sunday that it is not considered a long-term concern, according to Matt Schneidman. Reed is coming off a frustrating 2025 season in which foot and shoulder injuries limited him to seven regular-season games. He finished with 19 catches for 207 yards and one touchdown after topping 790 receiving yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. Reed eventually worked his way back late last year and remains an important piece of Green Bay's passing game, making another stretch of missed practice time something the Packers would rather avoid. No timetable has been given for his return, so his participation over the coming days will be the next thing to watch.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
Matthew Golden's Toe Injury Not a Long-Term Concern
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (toe) is dealing with an injury, but head coach Matt LaFleur said Sunday that it is not considered a long-term concern, according to Matt Schneidman. No timetable has been given for Golden's return. The second-year receiver is expected to take on more responsibility after catching 29 passes for 361 yards across 14 games as a rookie. He finished the year with his best performance, posting four catches for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown in Green Bay's playoff loss to Chicago. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are both gone, opening more opportunities for Golden alongside Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. The toe issue is worth watching during camp, particularly with Golden preparing for a much larger role in the Packers' passing game.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
