RADIO
Jaylen Wright Pulling Ahead in Miami's RB2 Battle
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright is pushing ahead in the battle to back up De'Von Achane, giving his redraft outlook a late-August boost. With Achane out of Saturday's preseason game against the Giants, Wright started and handled every snap on Miami's opening drive, then played 12 of the team's first 16 offensive snaps before Ollie Gordon II took over. The results were ugly, as Wright managed nine yards on six carries and lost a fumble, but Miami kept him in the game afterward. The 5-foot-10, 208-pound back also has a useful workload sample on his résumé. When Achane left Week 14 last season with a rib injury, Wright carried 24 times for 107 yards and a touchdown while Gordon saw only five attempts. Miami's first unofficial depth chart had Wright ahead of Gordon, and the preseason rotation has backed that up. Gordon's recent rib issue should not be overstated after head coach Jeff Hafley said he could have returned in a regular-season game. Wright still has limited standalone appeal behind Achane, but he's increasingly looking like Miami's preferred insurance back and a worthwhile late-round target in deeper redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Frank Reich has Been "Impressed" With Geno Smith
New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich thinks he has the right quarterback to "steer his offensive ship" in veteran Geno Smith, who has "pure" throwing mechanics that few NFL QBs can match, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. "He's very detailed in the way that he teaches the offense," Smith says. "Very meticulous in what he wants from us and how he wants us to execute." "I am just so impressed with Geno, I cannot express that enough," Reich said. In addition to Smith, Reich thinks he has the personnel on the offensive line and the right weapons around Smith to build a formidable offense in 2026. Smith was a Pro Bowler in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023 with the Seattle Seahawks, but he was one of the worst signal-callers in the league in 2025 in his lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders, going 2-13 as the starter while throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions. He has looked much better this summer with the Jets, but fantasy managers in superflex leagues will believe a bounce-back only when they see it in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Josh Downs Says Calf Injury Is "Very Minor"
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (calf) downplayed the injury that has kept him out of practice the past two days. According to James Boyd, Downs called it "very minor" and said the team is simply being precautionary. He sat out Tuesday before the Colts identified the issue as a calf injury Wednesday. Downs also missed practice time earlier this month with a groin injury, so Indianapolis has already been careful with him during camp. The 25-year-old caught 58 passes on 88 targets for 566 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games last season after posting a career-high 803 yards in 2024. Michael Pittman Jr. is now in Pittsburgh, although the recent addition of Keenan Allen gives the Colts another proven option alongside Downs and Alec Pierce. For now, there isn't much reason to move Downs down fantasy boards based on his own description of the injury.
Source: James Boyd
Source: James Boyd
Patrick Mahomes Won't Play in Preseason Finale
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Seattle Seahawks, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Rookie signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier will get the start. Although Mahomes has been a full-go for all of training camp after tearing his ACL and LCL in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers last year, the Chiefs will end up keeping him out of all three preseason contests as a precaution. Reid has been non-committal on whether the 30-year-old three-time Super Bowl MVP will be ready for Week 1 against the division-rival Denver Broncos, but all signs point to him being available on Monday, Sept. 14. The former 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Texas Tech was a Pro Bowler from 2018 to 2023, but he obviously had his season cut short last year and threw for under 4,000 yards in 2024 as the Chiefs' offense hasn't been as explosive in recent years. With mobility concerns coming off major knee surgery in a Chiefs offense searching for more explosive plays down the field, Mahomes has become more of a high-end QB2 target in 2026 fantasy drafts instead of the high-end QB1 he was earlier in his career.
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Jonathon Brooks Impresses on Red-Zone Run
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks had another encouraging moment during Wednesday's joint practice with Houston. According to Kyle Bailey, Brooks showed patience on a red-zone carry, waited for a lane to open, cut back and picked up roughly 10 to 12 yards. That kind of run stands out a little more with Brooks, who is coming back from two tears of the same right ACL. The second one cost him the entire 2025 season. Brooks has only 12 regular-season touches in the NFL, but he has looked comfortable cutting and accelerating this summer, worked with the first-team offense, and scored a 1-yard touchdown against Jacksonville last Friday. Chuba Hubbard has been working back from a hamstring injury, and Dave Canales has said Carolina plans to keep rotating its backs once Hubbard returns. Brooks isn't suddenly taking over the backfield, but he's giving the Panthers more reasons to trust him in a meaningful role.
Source: Kyle Bailey
Source: Kyle Bailey
J.J. McCarthy Getting a Day Off While Nursing Ankle Injury
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is getting a day off from training camp practice on Wednesday for an ankle injury that he suffered in last Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The Vikings are hoping to have McCarthy start their preseason finale on Friday in Denver against the Broncos as he continues to compete with veteran Carson Wentz for the QB2 job behind starter Kyler Murray. The 23-year-old McCarthy's ankle injury obviously is not serious, but his fantasy stock in dynasty/keeper leagues has never been lower after he lost the starting QB battle to Murray. If McCarthy loses the backup job to Wentz, he will become a prime trade candidate before the start of the 2026 season. The former 10th overall pick from Michigan missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to knee surgery and then played in only 10 games in 2025 while completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for the Vikes.
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Jayden Daniels, Commanders Offense Have Brutal Day Against Ravens
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and the starting offense had a miserable joint practice against Baltimore on Wednesday. Nicki Jhabvala called it the worst she has seen the Commanders' offense look in years and described the offensive line as "inoperable." Washington was shorthanded up front, which matters here. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil remains out after undergoing surgery for a torn triceps, center Nick Allegretti is dealing with a calf injury, and right guard Sam Cosmi missed Wednesday's work because of an illness. The Commanders signed veteran tackle D.J. Humphries on Wednesday, but he obviously wasn't going to fix everything overnight. Daniels played only seven games last season, throwing for 1,262 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 278 rushing yards and two scores. One ugly August practice isn't a reason to knock Daniels far down draft boards, but Washington's battered offensive line is becoming a legitimate concern with Week 1 approaching.
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Kenneth Walker is "Gonna be Fine"
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday that running back Kenneth Walker's (ankle) shoe caused some swelling around his ankle but added that "he's gonna be fine," according to Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star. The initial report on Walker was that he missed training camp practice earlier this week with a foot injury, but it was never considered very serious after he was seen walking without a limp and without a brace of any kind on his foot on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will most likely be held out of the preseason finale on Friday against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, but all signs point to the Super Bowl MVP being a full-go as KC's workhorse RB for a Week 1 showdown on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The former second-rounder by Seattle in 2022 from Michigan State played all 17 regular-season games in 2025 and had the second 1,000-yard rushing season of his career while scoring five times on the ground and adding 31 catches for 282 yards as a receiver. Walker has a history of lower-body injuries, but if he can stay healthy, his volume alone with the Chiefs should give him a high floor as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in fantasy football.
Source: The Kansas City Star - Sam McDowell
Source: The Kansas City Star - Sam McDowell
Parker Washington Dominates After Injury Absence
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington has shown no obvious effects from the undisclosed injury that kept him out of practice last week. Black & Teal highlighted Washington for a second straight day against Tampa Bay on Wednesday after he caught a red-zone touchdown from Trevor Lawrence. Washington returned to practice Sunday and was described by the Jaguars as back to full speed. He also picked up where he left off before the absence, when he had been one of Jacksonville's most consistent camp standouts. Washington is coming off a breakout 2025 season with 58 catches on 95 targets for 847 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games. He closed the regular season especially well, putting up 400 receiving yards and two scores over the final four games. Washington and Brenton Strange were also Lawrence's favorite targets Wednesday, particularly in the red zone. With Washington back making plays, the brief injury absence does not appear to have disrupted his standing in Jacksonville's offense.
Source: Black&Teal
Source: Black&Teal
Jalen McMillan Not Expected to Play in Preseason Finale
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) did not travel with the team to Jacksonville for joint practices this week and is not expected to play in the preseason finale against the Jaguars on Friday, according to Pewter Report. McMillan has been practicing in a limited fashion in training camp, but the 24-year-old will end up missing the entire preseason while battling a knee injury this summer. When fully healthy, the former third-rounder from the University of Washington should start in three-wide sets in Tampa alongside Emeka Egbuka (toe) and veteran Chris Godwin Jr. A significant neck injury suffered last preseason limited McMillan to only four games last year, but he impressed with 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games played in 2024 as a rookie, and there's room for upside in 2026 in Tampa's passing attack now that Mike Evans is no longer in town. Still, injury concerns are not going away, and McMillan is going to have to prove it before most fantasy managers in 12-team leagues take notice. RotoBaller currently has McMillan ranked as the WR57 in half-PPR formats, right behind 49ers veteran wideout Deebo Samuel Sr.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Dontayvion Wicks Set to Open Season as Eagles' WR2
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is expected to open the season as the team's No. 2 option behind DeVonta Smith, according to Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice. Kempski called the battle for Wicks earlier in camp, and that read hasn't changed with first-round rookie Makai Lemon back as a full participant. Wicks has earned consistent praise for his work with Jalen Hurts and did not play in Philadelphia's first preseason game, another sign of how the team views him. The Eagles traded a fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder to Green Bay for Wicks in April, then extended him through 2027. He caught 30 of 46 targets for 332 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games last season, though he did post 581 yards and four scores as a rookie in 2023. Wicks now has a cleaner path to regular snaps than he ever had in Green Bay, giving him a path to fantasy relevance in deeper redraft leagues.
Source: Jimmy Kempski
Source: Jimmy Kempski
Michael Penix Jr. Thinks he'll be Ready for Week 1
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee), who was cleared to participate in team drills earlier this week, thinks he will be ready to go for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. "I felt good. I felt confident," Penix said about his return to training camp practice this week. He will not participate in the preseason finale on Friday against the Miami Dolphins, but if the Falcons decide they want to roll with Penix as their starter over the struggling Tua Tagovailoa, he should be physically ready after suffering a partially torn left ACL last year. The 26-year-old was the eighth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Washington, and the Falcons are still holding out hope that he is the long-term answer under center. Given how bad Tua has looked this summer, it is looking more plausible that Penix could be named the Week 1 starter despite missing a big chunk of camp while rehabbing his knee. Still, for fantasy purposes, Penix should be viewed as nothing more than a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues after throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three picks in nine starts in 2025.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Jeremiyah Love Doing Light Agility Work on a Side Field
Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) was seen doing some agility work with trainers on a side field ahead of Wednesday's training camp practice, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Love suffered a high-ankle sprain in the preseason game on Aug. 13, which puts his Week 1 availability for the contest against the Los Angeles Chargers in question. James Conner (foot) continues to rehab from foot surgery, and Trey Benson (knee) has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season, so Tyler Allgeier is getting even more work as he enters his first year with the team. The 21-year-old Love is making progress, but he will not appear in the team's preseason finale and is just trying to work himself into a position to be active for the regular-season opener on Sept. 13. Love's ankle injury almost guarantees that the Cardinals will ease him back into their backfield early on in his rookie campaign alongside Allgeier, so fantasy managers should be drafting him as an RB2 with upside instead of surefire RB1.
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Tua Tagovailoa to Start Friday Against Former Team
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will start Friday night's preseason finale against his former team, the Miami Dolphins, according to Ari Meirov. Tagovailoa spent six seasons in Miami before the Dolphins released him in March, and he landed with Atlanta shortly afterward. His Falcons debut didn't offer much, as he completed three of five passes for 22 yards against Denver. He didn't play in Atlanta's second preseason game. Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. has now been cleared for full-team work and rotated with Tagovailoa during first-team periods Monday. Atlanta still hasn't named its Week 1 starter. Tagovailoa is coming off a 2025 season in which he threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 14 starts. Friday gives the 28-year-old one more preseason opportunity, this time in a familiar building. The start itself doesn't settle Atlanta's quarterback situation, especially with Penix finally back in the mix.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Zay Flowers Will Be Ready for Week 1
Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said that wide receiver Zay Flowers (undisclosed), who was held out of training camp practice on Wednesday for precautionary reasons, will be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner. The Ravens are just playing it safe with their WR1 in the latter stages of training camp this summer. The 25-year-old remains the team's unquestioned top wideout, and the former 22nd overall pick from Boston College could have even more fantasy upside in 2026 in the team's new offense under coordinator Declan Doyle as he enters his fourth year in the league. Flowers has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons with a total of 2,270 yards, nine touchdowns, and 160 receptions on 234 targets. Especially in point-per-reception fantasy leagues, Flowers is a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 target with a high floor if he can stay healthy. He also had 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games played in 2023 as a rookie in Baltimore.
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Jonas Shaffer
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Jonas Shaffer
