RADIO
Players Leaving for NCAA Can't Return to NFL in 2026 Season
The NFL informed its clubs on Wednesday that any player who returns to the college ranks will be prohibited from signing with an NFL team this season, according to ESPN. The league also reminded teams of the rule that any player signed to an NFL contract who is subsequently cut is a free agent. Those players can sign with another NFL team, join the CFL, or return to college. Any player cut by an NFL team who returns to the college ranks in 2026 will still be considered a free agent and therefore not subject to a future draft. Two NFL players, Cleveland's Dae'Quan Wright and New Orleans' Zxavian Harris, were cut by their respective teams to join the roster at LSU. A court order has recently granted players like Wright and Harris an unexpected extra year of eligibility. Players can regain their college eligibility if they terminate their NFL contracts and repay any pro earnings. After the recent court order, the SEC and Big Ten approved new rules on Tuesday that prevent players from leaving the NFL to join college teams.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Malik Davis Could Still Earn RB2 Job in Dallas
Nick Eatman of the Dallas Cowboys' official website writes that the running back hierarchy below starter Javonte Williams "is a question mark." They are not even sure anyone besides Williams has a solid spot on the roster, but "one would assume" that Malik Davis "has done enough to remain the backup." Second-year back Jaydon Blue played well in the preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals last week, though, as did Phil Mafah, who turned his only carry into a trip to paydirt. Blue is younger and has more all-around upside, but the 27-year-old Davis is not going away and could at least open the 2026 season as Williams' primary backup until further notice. Mafah and Israel Abanikanda are probably more on the 53-man roster bubble. In the long run in 2026, Blue figures to have the best chance to unseat Davis as Dallas' RB2 if everyone remains healthy. Davis had 52 rushing attempts last year for a career-high 250 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in 10 games played, and his efficiency carries some weight. He has some handcuff appeal in deeper fantasy leagues, but if you are looking for pure upside in that role, Blue is probably the better bet.
Source: DallasCowboys.com - Nick Eatman
Source: DallasCowboys.com - Nick Eatman
Mason Taylor Could Offer TE2 Upside
New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor showed flashes of potential during his rookie campaign last year. Despite playing fairly well, the Jets went and drafted Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) in the first-round during this year's draft. Sadiq has been slow out of the gate while he recovers from injury, which has given Taylor time to take advantage of the extra playing time. Taylor has reportedly been a standout player early during training camp. It'll be interesting to see how the Jets operate once both tight ends are healthy again. Fantasy managers shouldn't count out Taylor as an option just because Sadiq is there now. The 22-year-old has TE2 upside in an offense that could favor tight end usage this upcoming season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tez Johnson Could Get Lost in the Shuffle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson was dealing with a minor injury, but appears to be healthy and back at practice now. The second-year wideout has some work to do if he wants to earn a bigger role in the offense this upcoming season. The 24-year-old is currently behind Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Chris Godwin Jr. on the depth chart heading into the season. Johnson is currently battling for the fourth wideout spot with rookie Ted Hurst. Last season, Johnson opened some eyes with his big-play potential, but he still has more work to do. Johnson is a smaller receiver who is fast, but his size will probably limit him to situational usage. He could be worth holding in deeper dynasty leagues, but Johnson probably won't have a consistent role while everyone is healthy.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Brian Robinson Likely has RB2 Job Secured
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson joined the team this past offseason to help offer some support in the backfield after the departure of Tyler Allgeier. Robinson started in the preseason opener, but didn't see any action during their second preseason contest. The expectation is that Robinson will take over as the RB2 in Atlanta with Allgeier moving on to Arizona. The former third-round pick posted multiple quality years with the San Francisco 49ers. Robinson didn't see a ton of action last year with the Washington Commanders, but his YPC was solid at 4.35 this past season. The Falcons don't have a ton of reliable depth behind starter Bijan Robinson, so the overall competition is limited. The 27-year-old figures to serve as the primary backup, but Bijan Robinson is a workhorse back, so his overall value is likely capped.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kyle Pitts Sr. Continues to Gain Steam
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. is coming off the best season of his professional career. Finally, Pitts posted great numbers last season after a few average years in Atlanta. The Falcons changed quarterbacks this offseason, but that might actually help Pitts this upcoming season. Pitts has been a favorite target for new quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during the preseason. The two are quickly building chemistry together, which is encouraging for fantasy managers. Pitts registered 88 receptions, 928 receiving yards, and five touchdowns this past season. He'll look to beat those numbers in 2026 as likely the No. 2 option behind Drake London in the passing attack.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
NFL Pro Bowl to be Eliminated
The NFL Pro Bowl will no longer have a standalone game or games, be it tackle or flag football, according to The Athletic. Eighty-eight players will receive the Pro Bowl honor with no alternates, which will corral a key aspect of the All-Star event that had "gotten out of whack in recent years." In place of the games, Pro Bowlers will be invited to visit Los Angeles for an in-person celebration in February. The process of selecting Pro Bowlers will stay the same. Ballots cast by fans, players, and coaches are weighted equally to determine the selections of the 88 players on offense, defense, and special teams across both conferences. "You start doing it over and over again, and now what we've compromised on becomes the standard," NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent Sr. told The Athletic. "And that is not the product the fans deserve nor the way the players want to be celebrated." The biggest issue for the Pro Bowl recently has been the lack of competitiveness in the game.
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Malik Nabers Leaves Practice Early, Not Injury-Related
The Athletic's Dan Duggan reported on Wednesday that New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers walked off with a trainer with 20 minutes left in training camp practice after having a full workload. Head coach John Harbaugh was unaware when first asked about Nabers leaving early and said that it "wasn't part of the plan," before later stating that "there's no injury." The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick from LSU tore his right ACL and meniscus and was limited to only four games in his sophomore season in 2025, and Nabers was just recently cleared to shed his non-contact jersey in training camp practices. Nabers is nearing the final stages of his recovery from his season-ending knee injury last year, and barring a setback before now and the Sept. 13 regular-season opener, he should be ready to face the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Nabers could be eased in early in the 2026 season, but his continued improvement in his rehab has made him a more palatable low-end WR1 selection in fantasy football drafts.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Kenny Gainwell has a Path to More PPR Upside
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell enters his first year with the team in 2026 after signing a two-year, $14 million deal with the team in free agency. The 27-year-old saw career highs across the board last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards and five touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. What was most surprising, though, were his 73 receptions on 85 targets for 486 yards and three more scores as a pass-catcher. Gainwell will essentially be replacing Rachaad White in Tampa as a pass-catching specialist, albeit in a completely new offense under coordinator Zac Robinson. The speculation that third-string RB Sean Tucker will be cut before the start of the regular season could boost Gainwell's fantasy ceiling and his floor, with the vast majority of backfield touches going to Gainwell and Bucky Irving. And if Irving were to miss more time with an injury in 2026, Gainwell would have the highest ceiling of his NFL career as the Bucs' primary back. Tucker potentially being waived makes Gainwell an even more attractive RB3/flex with upside in PPR fantasy formats.
Source: PewterReport.com - Joshua Queipo
Source: PewterReport.com - Joshua Queipo
Bucky Irving Might Not Have Much Competition on Early Downs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is coming off a down 2025 season in which he played in just 10 games due to multiple injuries, ultimately finishing with 588 rushing yards and only one rushing touchdown on 173 carries in his second year in the NFL. Irving impressed with 1,122 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground on 207 rushing attempts as a rookie, adding 47 catches for 392 yards through the air. Rachaad White moved on in free agency in the offseason, but the Bucs added pass-catching specialist Kenny Gainwell, who will no doubt cut into key pass-game targets for the third-year back in 2026. The good news for Irving is that it is looking more likely that No. 3 RB Sean Tucker will not make the 53-man roster as the team looks to trim salary. If Tucker isn't on the roster for Week 1, it should only increase Irving's early-down volume out of Tampa's backfield. And even though Gainwell will have a key role in this new offense, Irving could have a clear path back to a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2026 if he stays healthy. His case as an RB2 with upside is looking better in fantasy football.
Source: PewterReport.com - Joshua Queipo
Source: PewterReport.com - Joshua Queipo
Sean Tucker Not Projected to Make 53-Man Roster
Josh Queipo of Pewter Report does not project Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker to make the final 53-man roster out of training camp. The Bucs initially opted not to tender him as a restricted free agent in the offseason, but they eventually signed him to a $3.52 million deal for 2026. Even though none of the salary would be guaranteed, it's a high price tag for a player with 151 carries, 651 yards (4.3 yards per carry), and nine touchdowns in his three seasons in the league. Tampa could feel that they are covered between Josh Williams at RB and Kam Johnson as a kick returner behind Bucky Irving and newcomer Kenny Gainwell. Ultimately, the Buccaneers could opt to go cheaper to fill the RB3 role in order to save money for a roster spot elsewhere to begin the 2026 season. Tucker had a career-high 86 carries for 320 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games last year, with Irving missing time due to multiple injuries. He has shown flashes of upside in Tampa, but he is firmly on the roster bubble. It is good news for Irving's overall fantasy upside this year.
Source: PewterReport.com - Joshua Queipo
Source: PewterReport.com - Joshua Queipo
Theo Johnson Dealing With Shoulder Injury
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury at training camp practice on Monday, head coach John Harbaugh told Evan Barnes of Newsday Sports. Although Johnson missed a third day of practice on Wednesday with his shoulder injury, all signs point to him avoiding a serious injury that would keep him from being able to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The 25-year-old former fourth-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft out of Penn State took a notable step forward in 2025 in his second season, catching 45 of his 74 targets for 528 yards and five touchdowns in 15 starts for the G-Men. Johnson would be a lot more attractive in fantasy football leagues if the Giants had not signed Isaiah Likely to lead their TE room in 2026. New York could run a considerable amount of two-tight-end sets with Likely and Johnson involved, but unless Likely is injured, Johnson is going to remain off the radar in single-TE leagues this year. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 41 TE this year.
Source: Newsday Sports - Evan Barnes
Source: Newsday Sports - Evan Barnes
Jerry Jeudy Making a Late Push Up Redraft Boards
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has started to regain some redraft appeal with Deshaun Watson now locked in as the Week 1 starter. Jeudy's 2025 season was ugly despite heavy volume, as he caught just 50 of 106 targets for 602 yards and two touchdowns after posting 90 catches for 1,229 yards and four scores the year before. The late-camp connection with Watson has been more encouraging. Watson found Jeudy for a solid gain during Monday's first practice as the starter, then connected with him four times Tuesday, including a deep completion over the middle during 11-on-11 work. Jeudy still has plenty of competition. Cleveland spent the 24th overall pick on KC Concepcion and the 39th pick on Denzel Boston, with Boston continuing to make plays alongside Jeudy in first-team work. Still, Jeudy remains listed as a starter and has stayed involved as Watson has taken control of the offense. RotoBaller now ranks him WR67 in half-PPR after listing him WR79 earlier this month. That movement fits the current trend, with Jeudy looking more interesting as a late-round depth receiver than he did a few weeks ago.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rueben Bain Jr. Expected to be Ready for Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. (shoulder) suffered an AC sprain in training camp, but it's said to be "nothing serious," and he is expected to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "He's got a sore shoulder that he's dealing with, so we kept him out today. He'll be fine," head coach Todd Bowles said. The 21-year-old from the University of Miami has played a key role on Tampa's defense in training camp and the preseason and figures to have a starting role to begin his first year in the NFL if he gets cleared from his shoulder injury. The 15th overall pick in April was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 after recording 9.5 sacks for the Hurricanes, and he was considered one of the best edge rushers in this year's draft. Bain is expected to start at weakside linebacker in 2026 for a revamped Buccaneers defense.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Ashton Dulin's Role Takes a Hit After WR Addition
At the start of training camp this summer, the Indianapolis Colts were talking about the prospect of scaling back wide receiver/returner Ashton Dulin's special teams responsibilities to become an offensive starter. But after the Colts signed veteran wideout Keenan Allen a month later, "those plans seem to have flipped," and Dulin could now become the team's primary kickoff and punt returner on special teams while seeing his offensive role reduced, according to Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. The 29-year-old was seeing more usage on offense early in camp before they signed Allen and with Alec Pierce (ankle) still on the Physically Unable to Perform list. But Pierce could be ready for Week 1 of the regular season, and with Allen now in the fold, there is not as much urgency for Dulin to step up as a receiver. The former undrafted free agent from Malone College caught only five passes for 106 yards in 12 games played in 2025 and does not have more than 15 receptions or 207 yards in any of his six NFL seasons in Indy. Dulin can be ignored in the vast majority of fantasy football leagues.
Source: Indianapolis Star - Nathan Brown
Source: Indianapolis Star - Nathan Brown
