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Brandon Aiyuk Remains on Left-Team List
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) remains on the team's Reserve/Left-Team list during training camp, meaning he doesn't count against the team's 90-man roster, and he isn't being paid, according to Spotrac. To be removed from the list, Aiyuk will have to submit a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell seeking reinstatement. His contract still contains $26,662,370 of dead cap, which comes from his previously paid signing and option bonuses. If the 49ers release the former first-rounder in the coming weeks, they will take on dead-cap hits of $7,363,790 in 2026 and $19,298,580 in 2027. It looked like there might be an opening for Aiyuk to return to San Fran when Ricky Pearsall (knee) was lost for the season, but the return of Deebo Samuel Sr. quickly put an end to that. General manager John Lynch said back in January that the 28-year-old would never play for the organization again after boudmouthing the team and failing to rehab at the team's facilities last year. The Washington Commanders were mentioned as the best potential fit for Aiyuk for most of the offseason, but that ship has sailed after they inked veteran Stefon Diggs to a one-year deal on Wednesday. Aiyuk's fantasy and real-life stock has hit rock bottom.
Source: Spotrac
Source: Spotrac
Emeka Egbuka Dealing With Lower-Body Soreness
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed on Wednesday that wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (lower body) did not practice on the turf on Wednesday as a precaution due to some lower-body soreness, according to Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com. Egbuka caught 63 of his 127 targets for 938 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games in his rookie season in 2025 after Tampa took him with the 19th overall pick from Ohio State. The 23-year-old was looking like a beast early on before petering out down the stretch while having to learn the entire route tree because of a banged-up WR corps. Entering Year 2, Egbuka has breakout potential with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans gone and in a new offense led by Zac Robinson. As long as he's able to stay healthy, Egbuka should have a strong floor as one of quarterback Baker Mayfield's top targets, with his first 1,000-yard season looking extremely likely. Fantasy managers should be targeting the sophomore pass-catcher as a strong WR2 option early on in drafts this fall.
Source: Buccaneers.com - Brianna Dix
Source: Buccaneers.com - Brianna Dix
Jaylen Warren Listed as RB1 on First Preseason Depth Chart
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is listed as the RB1 ahead of newcomer Rico Dowdle on the team's first preseason depth chart, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Depth charts, especially preseason ones, must always be taken with a grain of salt. This is especially true for Pittsburgh's backfield in a new offense in 2026 under head coach Mike McCarthy, who has already been mum on naming a "starting" RB between Warren and Dowdle. The 27-year-old Warren had a career-high 958 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 211 carries in 2025 in his fourth year in the league, adding 40 receptions for 333 yards and another two TDs as a receiver in 16 regular-season games. Dowdle's arrival most likely will mean a reduction in carries for the former undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State, but Warren could make up for it with more receiving work now that pass-catching back Kenny Gainwell is in Tampa. Warren is trending as a more attractive RB3/flex target for fantasy managers in PPR leagues in 2026.
Source: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
Source: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
Rams Have Aaron Donald in for a Workout on Wednesday
The Los Angeles Rams had retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald in for a workout on Wednesday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Donald continues to assess whether he's in good enough shape, football-wise to come out of retirement to join new Rams pass-rusher Myles Garrett in 2026 for another run at a Lombardi Trophy, but this is the 35-year-old veteran's first official workout with his old team. It's looking more and more likely that Donald will come out of retirement this year, but an official announcement might not come until right before the start of the 2026 regular season or at some point after the season starts. If Donald returns to the Rams, it will be in a much smaller role as basically a third-down situational pass-rusher to keep him fresh and productive in what would be his 11th NFL season after enjoying retirement the last two years. It will make Donald a tougher sell as a fantasy-relevant pass-rusher in IDP leagues, but his return would no doubt make the Rams' pass rush even more formidable. Donald is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and had 111 sacks in his 10 NFL campaigns with the Rams before hanging up his cleats.
Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
Odell Beckham Jr. has Another Strong Day in Camp on Wednesday
Wednesday was another strong day at practice for New York Giants veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Beckham had four catches in team drills and made some tough grabs. He has taken advantage of the opportunities with both Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton sitting out with injuries early in training camp. Raanan adds that it's pretty important for OBJ to stand out, since he's on the roster bubble in camp and the preseason. The 33-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2014 by the Giants out of LSU didn't play at all in 2025 and looked washed up in 2023 and 2024 with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, respectively, catching a combined 44 passes on 82 targets for just 620 yards and three touchdowns in 23 games (six starts). He may have found a spark of energy in his return to the Big Apple, but even if Beckham makes the team's active roster going into Week 1, he's unlikely to have a big enough role on offense to warrant attention in the vast majority of fantasy leagues.
Source: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
Source: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
KC Concepcion Back in Team Drills on Wednesday
The Cleveland Browns aren't in full pads on Wednesday, but rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion (shoulder) is back practicing in team drills, according to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle Telegram. Concepcion took a hard fall on his shoulder during Monday's practice, but he returned to individual drills on Tuesday and is quickly working his way back. The 21-year-old should be back to full health soon. After being taken 24th overall in April's NFL draft from Texas A&M, Concepcion and fellow rookie Denzel Boston will have every opportunity to unseat veteran Jerry Jeudy as the Browns' new No. 1 wideout in 2026. The opportunity alone makes Concepcion worth considering as a late-round flier in upcoming fantasy drafts, although the Browns' less-than-ideal QB competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders should have everyone tempering expectations for the 6-foot, 190-pounder. RotoBaller has Concepcion ranked as the No. 48 fantasy WR heading into his first year in the league after he caught 61 passes for 919 yards and an SEC-high nine touchdowns in 13 games for the Aggies in 2025.
Source: The Chronicle Telegram - Scott Petrak
Source: The Chronicle Telegram - Scott Petrak
Chris Godwin Jr. Still Has Flex Value at WR48
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. never had a real chance to settle in last season. He returned from the dislocated ankle that ended his 2024 campaign, played two games, then suffered a fibula injury in Week 5. By the time he was back for good, the season was already slipping away. Godwin still closed with 24 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns from Weeks 13 through 17, which matters more than the ugly 33-360-2 full-year line. He has since completed a full offseason and is back in his familiar slot role under new coordinator Zac Robinson. Mike Evans is gone, but this is not an empty target tree. Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Cade Otton, and the backs will all be involved. The injury history is impossible to ignore, too, after Godwin played only 16 games over the past two years. RotoBaller ranks him WR48 in PPR. That is a fair place to account for the risk, but it may undersell the weekly usefulness of a healthy slot receiver who still showed something late last season. Godwin makes sense as a WR4 with a chance to become a regular flex.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders to Continue Alternating First-Team Practice Reps
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said on Wednesday that quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will continue to alternate first-team reps in training camp practices until he names a starter, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Monken said who leads the No. 1 offense in the joint practice against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 20 will follow the natural rotation, which means it would likely be Watson. There has been no clear leader in this QB competition, although Sanders reportedly had his best day of camp on Tuesday. Watson, meanwhile, struggled early, but he reportedly had his best day of camp on Wednesday. We should start to see some separation in the competition once the team's preseason slate kicks off on Aug. 15 against the Chicago Bears. Neither QB is attractive in single-QB fantasy formats, and whoever wins the starting job entering the 2026 regular season will be on a short leash with minimal fantasy upside.
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Hollywood Brown Still Needs a Clear Redraft Role
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hollywood Brown has a chance to matter after A.J. Brown's departure. He just has not shown why fantasy managers need to draft him yet. Brown caught 49 of 74 targets for 587 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games for Kansas City last season. That was a useful rebound after an injury-ruined 2024, but he still made only six starts. Philadelphia signed him for one year, then built a crowded group around DeVonta Smith by trading for Dontayvion Wicks, drafting Makai Lemon in the first round, and adding Elijah Moore. The Eagles expect Brown to be involved in the rotation. A regular fantasy role is another question. Smith is the clear No. 1, while Brown, Wicks, and Lemon are still competing for the work behind him. RotoBaller ranks Brown WR106 in PPR leagues. That puts him outside the draftable range in ordinary 12-team formats, and there is no need to force the pick based on name recognition. Brown belongs on the watch list until he earns enough snaps and targets to offer more than the occasional deep play.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brashard Smith Still Needs a Way Into Kansas City's Backfield
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith has a real path to the 53-man roster, but that does not mean he belongs on fantasy rosters. The former seventh-round pick appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, finishing with 44 carries for 151 yards and 25 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown. He flashed in Week 18 with 56 yards on 12 carries, but Kansas City spent the offseason rebuilding the room around him. Kenneth Walker III sits atop the backfield, Emari Demercado adds proven big-play ability, and fifth-round rookie Emmett Johnson brings the same receiving versatility that should have been Smith's best route to touches. The Chiefs' unofficial depth chart lists Smith third at running back and first at both return spots. That special-teams role matters for his job security, not his weekly fantasy ceiling. RotoBaller has him at RB79 in PPR and half-PPR formats. Smith is still only 23, so managers in very deep dynasty leagues can wait through the preseason. In ordinary redraft leagues, and in shallower dynasty formats, there is no reason to use a roster spot unless he climbs the backfield order.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner's Starting Role Does Not Guarantee a Breakout
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner came through two offseason surgeries and opened camp on the field, so the health question has eased. The fantasy question has not. Barner started all 17 games last season and caught 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns. Seattle also put him under center 10 times in short-yardage situations, producing nine first downs and another score. There is a useful role here, and the current depth chart still has him first. The concern is what happens between the 20s. Barner averaged only four targets per game, while second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo has been one of the early camp standouts. Brian Fleury's offense should keep both players involved, but more work for Arroyo may come directly out of Barner's receiving ceiling. RotoBaller has Barner at TE27 in PPR, and his current redraft ADP is TE26. That is a fair price, not a screaming value. Barner can help managers in deeper leagues and formats that start two tight ends. In ordinary 12-team leagues, he is better treated as a late option than a breakout target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Wright Is an Insurance Pick, Not a Standalone Sleeper
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright has moved into a clearer spot than he occupied a year ago. The team's current depth chart lists him behind De'Von Achane and ahead of Ollie Gordon II, and Wright gave Miami its best look at what he can do with volume when he ran 24 times for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Jets in Week 14. That is the appeal. The weekly role is still hard to find. Achane totaled 1,838 yards from scrimmage last season and is signed through 2030, while Gordon handled 18 red-zone carries and scored four times as a rookie. Wright also caught only five passes in 10 games, so there is not much of a receiving floor. He remains the more interesting backup because he is 23, averaged 4.1 yards per carry last season, and sits second on the depth chart. His current ADP of 211th overall and RB69 makes the gamble painless. Wright is worth a final pick as Achane insurance, especially for managers who draft Miami's starter. Without an injury ahead of him, though, he is unlikely to offer enough touches to become a weekly redraft option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dallas Goedert Still Offers Short-Term Fantasy Value
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert is still the starter. That part is not complicated. He caught a career-high 60 passes for 591 yards and 11 touchdowns on 82 targets last season, though fantasy managers should not chase the touchdown total. His previous high was five. Philadelphia brought him back on a one-year deal and then used the 54th overall pick on Eli Stowers. The succession plan is easy to see, but it probably will not arrive in 2026. Goedert enters camp atop the depth chart, and A.J. Brown's departure leaves targets to replace in an offense otherwise led by DeVonta Smith. Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, and Stowers will all get chances, so another huge scoring season is no lock. RotoBaller has Goedert at TE16 in redraft and TE18 in dynasty, while his current redraft ADP is TE15. That is about right. He is a reasonable late pick for managers who wait at tight end and a useful target for contenders needing a one-year answer. Rebuilders should look elsewhere.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonah Coleman has Made an Impression on Sean Payton
When Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked for a pleasant surprise of training camp so far, he started his answer with rookie running back Jonah Coleman, according to Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. The fourth-rounder "has made quite an impression" so far this summer on the coaching staff, with Payton adding that Coleman "doesn't feel like a rookie." The 22-year-old University of Washington product is a bowling ball at 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, but his path to a large role in his first year in the NFL is convoluted, with J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey both expected to have prominent roles in Payton's backfield. If Coleman continues to impress, though, he should have a role in what is shaping up as a committee approach in Denver. Going into his rookie campaign, Coleman is a more intriguing dynasty/keeper asset than a redraft one, but Coleman will become much more interesting if the oft-injured Dobbins misses more time in 2026. Coleman's quickest path to fantasy relevance with the Broncos will likely come as a goal-line vulture. RotoBaller currently has the rookie ranked as the No. 54 fantasy RB for this season.
Source: The Denver Post - Parker Gabriel
Source: The Denver Post - Parker Gabriel
Christian Watson No Longer Needs a Full Breakout to Pay Off
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson does not need to become a target hog to beat his current price. He returned from ACL surgery in Week 8 last season and caught 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games, averaging 17.5 yards per reception. Green Bay then cleared out part of the receiver room, letting Romeo Doubs leave and trading Dontayvion Wicks, while signing Watson to another long-term extension. That gives him a clearer path to steady snaps alongside Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden. The risk has not disappeared. Watson has played 48 of a possible 68 regular-season games, and his downfield role has never produced more than 66 targets in a season. Tucker Kraft is also working toward a full Week 1 return, so Watson will still have competition near the goal line. RotoBaller ranks him WR29 in PPR, the same spot as his recently reported redraft ADP. That feels fair rather than expensive. Watson will have quiet weeks, but his touchdown upside and improved role give him a realistic chance to finish as a WR2. He is a worthwhile WR3 target for managers comfortable taking on the injury risk.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
