RADIO
Darren Waller Looking "Big and Fast"
Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller walked into practice on Monday with a helmet and uniform, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. Per The Associated Press' Steve Reed, Waller added on Monday that he is practicing as if he will make his Panthers debut in Week 1 on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Chicago Bears. The Panthers have eased the 33-year-old veteran into the fold as he continues to work his way into playing shape in 2026. When asked how Waller has looked, head coach Dave Canales said, "Big and fast." The former sixth-rounder by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015 from Georgia Tech really took off after joining the Raiders, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020 with 197 receptions, 2,341 yards, and 12 touchdowns in 32 games played. After retiring in 2024, Waller resurfaced to join the Miami Dolphins last year, posting a 24-283-6 line on 34 targets in only nine games played. Durability is a major concern, but when healthy and active, Waller is expected to be the top pass-catching TE for quarterback Bryce Young, potentially giving him some early-season waiver-wire appeal if he produces. Waller is only rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki to Split RB2 Role in Detroit
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said on Monday that the team's RB2 role behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs will be by committee, according to Brad Galli. Campbell thinks that both Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki will be ready when Gibbs needs a breather. The head coach sees Vaki getting carries, but knows that Saylors will contribute on offense and special teams. The news makes it hard for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to pinpoint the preferred handcuff option for Gibbs. For what it is worth, Vaki is not currently rostered in any Yahoo leagues, while Saylors is rostered in just 2% of leagues. Vaki, a former fourth-rounder from Utah in 2024, has seen only seven carries for 18 yards and has three catches for 37 yards in 27 games (zero starts) in his first two NFL seasons. Saylors, a former undrafted free agent out of East Tennessee State, ran the ball twice for 11 yards last year and was not targeted as a receiver. Neither RB will have any standalone fantasy appeal as long as Gibbs is healthy, and if Gibbs misses time with an injury, Vaki and Saylors would likely split the backfield down the middle.
Source: Brad Galli
Source: Brad Galli
Tee Higgins Seen Practicing on Monday
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) was back on the practice field on Monday, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Kelsey Conway. In addition to Higgins, star wideout Ja'Marr Chase (knee) was also participating in the portion of practice open to the media. Both wideouts could be limited, but the fact that they are both practicing early in the week bodes well for their availability in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Zac Taylor said early last week that Higgins was dealing with a minor bruised heel, so the 27-year-old has never really been in danger of missing the start of the 2026 campaign this weekend. The former second-rounder was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025, catching 59 of his 98 targets for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in only 15 games played. Higgins also had 10 TDs the year prior, and he will be a must-start in all fantasy football formats this Sunday against the Bucs if he is active, as is expected. Fantasy managers will want to check back in on Cincy's first official practice report of the year on Wednesday for a better idea of Higgins' status.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Ja'Marr Chase Practicing on Monday
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) was back at practice on Monday as the team prepares for its regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Fellow wideout Tee Higgins (heel) was also seen practicing on Monday, so quarterback Joe Burrow figures to have both of his top pass-catchers available to kick off the 2026 campaign. The 26-year-old Chase, who is the consensus top overall fantasy receiver, hyperextended his left knee in practice on Aug. 25 while trying to come down with a pass and was held out of action last week as a precaution. Thankfully, the star wideout avoided a serious injury that would sideline him for the start of the upcoming season, and he should be active as a must-start in all fantasy football leagues against the Bucs. The Bengals will release their first official practice report of the year on Wednesday, at which point we should have a clearer picture of Chase's Week 1 status. For now, though, fantasy managers should have him locked into starting lineups until further notice.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
"Hard to Imagine" That TreVeyon Henderson Plays in Week 1
New England Patriots second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) was not at practice again on Monday and has not practiced since Aug. 24, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN on The Pat McAfee Show. Schefter adds that "it's hard to imagine" that Henderson will be active for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Seattle Seahawks in a Super Bowl rematch. The 23-year-old also did not take part in practice over the weekend as the Patriots get set for their Week 1 clash on Wednesday. We will continue to keep a close eye on New England's official practice report over the next couple of days, but if you have Henderson rostered, you should already be preparing to have him on your bench as he starts his sophomore season in the NFL. The 23-year-old former second-rounder from Ohio State had a successful first year in the league in 2025, carrying the ball 180 times for 911 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season while adding 35 catches for 221 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. Henderson's fantasy ceiling is limited, though, as long as he continues to share the backfield in a near-even split with Rhamondre Stevenson, especially since he does not figure to be a major weapon in the passing game.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Greg Dulcich Profiles as Miami's Top Receiving Option in an Interesting Tight End Room
Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich is the lone veteran in the room after the team drafted Will Kacmarek and Seydou Traore in the 2026 NFL Draft and claimed rookie Justin Joly off waivers following his release from the Denver Broncos. In breaking down the position group in a recent appearance on NFL Spotlight with Ari Meirov, Dolphins reporter Kyle Crabbs highlighted the early buzz already surrounding Kacmarek as one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, while pointing out that Dulcich should work as the primary pass-catcher of the group. With Miami profiling as a run-first offense, Kacmarek has the potential to lead the team in tight end snaps. However, the prevalence of 12- and 13-personnel in today's NFL should still help Dulcich find the field regularly, and at RotoBaller's TE29, he has the chance to enter the streaming conversation early in the year as a reliable option in an offense looking for contributors outside of Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane.
Source: Kyle Crabbs
Source: Kyle Crabbs
De'Von Achane Expected to See Another Significant Workload
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane touched the ball 305 times in 2025, and team beat reporter Kyle Crabbs believes another 300-plus touches are on the table again in Miami's new-look offense. Appearing on NFL Spotlight with Ari Meirov on Monday, Crabbs acknowledged that the mobility of quarterback Malik Willis could cap Achane's targets after seeing 170 opportunities in the passing game over the past two seasons, but he believes the quality of targets could improve with more potential use out of the slot. Crabbs also profiles Miami as a run-heavy team, with Achane standing significantly above the rest of the team's runners, which include Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II. Achane is RotoBaller's RB11 and should be viewed as a locked-in RB1 option when the Dolphins travel to Vegas to face the Raiders in Week 1.
Source: Kyle Crabbs
Source: Kyle Crabbs
Optimism Waning for Jonathon Brooks' Week 1 Availability?
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (soreness) continues to deal with general soreness, and after he was seen working with trainers during the media accessible portion of Monday's practice, head coach Dave Canales declined to offer an update on his status. Canales told reporters on Thursday that he was "very optimistic" about Brooks' availability for Week 1, and when asked on Monday if that remained the case, he said he "hopes so." The Panthers host the Bears to open the 2026 season, and with the first official injury report to be released on Wednesday, Brooks' status will need to be monitored, as he has become a popular breakout candidate in what had looked to be the first fully healthy season of his professional career.
Source: Mike Kaye
Source: Mike Kaye
Chris Bell a "Run-After-Catch Monster" Who Should See His Role Grow
Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell saw five targets in roughly 10 minutes of game time in his lone preseason appearance, and team beat reporter Kyle Crabbs believes the team's concerted effort to get him involved could be a precursor of things to come in the regular season. Appearing on NFL Spotlight with Ari Meirov on Monday, Crabbs noted that he saw Bell as a top 50 talent in the 2026 NFL draft, describing him as a "run-after-catch monster". Bell is still playing catch-up after spending most of the spring and summer rehabbing from the torn ACL that ended his collegiate career, but Crabbs believes his versatility could lead to designed targets early in the year with the potential for significant growth. With an injury-depressed ADP causing him to go undrafted in a number of leagues throughout the summer, Bell has a path to becoming the Dolphins' top wide receiver and should be viewed as a top waiver priority wherever he's still available.
Source: Kyle Crabbs
Source: Kyle Crabbs
Sean Tucker Not Seen at Buccaneers' Practice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (undisclosed), who missed time last week with what head coach Todd Bowles described as a minor injury, was not spotted during Monday's practice, according to beat writer Rick Stroud. Following rumors of a potential split from the team, Tucker recently agreed to a pay cut and is again a candidate to see significant goal-line usage after leading the Buccaneers with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025. The Buccaneers open the 2026 season with a road game against the Bengals, and with the first official injury report of the season set for release on Wednesday, Tucker's status will need to be monitored, as, to this point, the nature of his injury has not been disclosed.
Source: Rick Stroud
Source: Rick Stroud
Jalen McMillan on the Practice Field on Monday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) was seen practicing on Monday, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud. In addition to McMillan, fellow wideout Emeka Egbuka (toe) was on the field, which means the team's top three wideouts -- Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and McMillan -- could all be active for Week 1 this Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Cincinnati Bengals. That would be great news for quarterback Baker Mayfield in a potential shootout as he looks to get out of the gate strong following a disappointing 2025 campaign. McMillan did not play at all in the preseason due to his knee injury, but there is optimism that he will be available this weekend in the regular-season opener. The 24-year-old played in only four games last year due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in the preseason, but he had an impressive 37-461-8 line in 13 games played as a rookie in 2024, and he should have a bigger role this year with Mike Evans no longer around. Still, McMillan will need to hold off rising young receiver Ted Hurst III in a new offense in 2026. McMillan is currently rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues and is shaping up as a deep-league sleeper for his Week 1 matchup against the Bengals if he plays this weekend.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
"Real Possibility" Puka Nacua Does Not Face Discipline in 2026
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, there is a "real possibility" Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua does not face any suspension during the 2026 season. This news comes after the star wideout was not placed on the Commissioner Exempt List the past week. The 25-year-old is facing a civil lawsuit and was subject to potential discipline from the league. However, it appears Nacua will avoid any missed time due to legal issues ahead of the new season. Schefter also noted that Nacua is progressing well from the psoas soreness that sidelined him at times during the later stages of camp. Last season, Nacua turned in a dominant effort, catching 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, and should carry this momentum into his season opener on Thursday against the 49ers. When active, Nacua carries elite WR1 upside and has a clear path to finishing the season as the top fantasy asset.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Emeka Egbuka Practicing on Monday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) is practicing on Monday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Pewter Report reports that Egbuka is "participating in warmups and running routes." It is a good sign to see Egbuka doing something on the field on Monday after he was limited to side work last week. However, the 23-year-old could just be limited and may need to upgrade to a full practice before the end of the week before the Bucs clear him to play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jalen McMillan (knee) was also practicing on Monday, so Tampa could have all three of their top wideouts available against Cincy this weekend, in addition to veteran Chris Godwin Jr. That would be good news for quarterback Baker Mayfield in a game in which the Bucs may need to open up the passing playbook in order to keep pace with the Bengals' explosive offense. If Egbuka is cleared to play later this week, fantasy managers should consider him a low-end WR2 option to kick off the season. The Bucs will release their first official practice report of 2026 on Wednesday.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Mike Evans' Injuries During Camp Were Not Significant
San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver Mike Evans (groin) said that none of the injuries that he dealt with this summer during training camp were significant, according to Christopher Mathis of The Drive. "I know I'm an older player. I've had probably over a thousand football practices in my life now, so I know what I'm doing out there. They know what they're doing. They did a good job taking care of me. None of my injuries were significant, so if it was a game week, I wouldn't have missed any time," Evans said. The 33-year-old was spotted on the field on Monday in Melbourne, Australia, in the portion of practice open to the media, but he could have been limited with a groin injury that he has been dealing with since the end of camp. While the Niners have been careful with Evans after he played in a career-low eight games in 2025 in his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he is expected to suit up on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in his 49ers debut. Evans is a future Hall of Famer and the unquestioned WR1 in San Fran in 2026, but durability concerns as he nears the end of his career should not be ignored. Fantasy managers should treat Evans as a WR3/flex for his debut with his new squad in Week 1.
Source: The Drive - Christopher Mathis
Source: The Drive - Christopher Mathis
TreVeyon Henderson Still Absent Two Days Before Week 1
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) was not spotted during the media-access portion of Monday's practice, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Henderson has not practiced since injuring his ankle Aug. 24 and was officially listed as a non-participant Sunday. With New England opening Wednesday night in Seattle, there is very little time left for him to get back on the field. Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner were both practicing Monday, along with practice-squad running backs Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins. Neither practice-squad back has been elevated yet, but both would give New England another option if Henderson cannot play. Monday's official practice designation is still pending, but his Week 1 availability is firmly in question.
Source: Mike Reiss
Source: Mike Reiss
