RADIO
Could Anthony Richardson Sr. Become a Training Camp Trade Target?
With Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones working his way back from the Achilles injury that ended his 2025 season, 2023 third overall pick Anthony Richardson Sr. split starter's reps with second-year player Riley Leonard throughout OTAs and minicamp, and Indianapolis radio host Kevin Bowen believes their battle could carry into training camp, but he points out an interesting contract detail that could help to settle the competition. Richardson has a roster bonus of $4.24 million owed on the third day of training camp, and Bowen wonders if, once that bonus is paid, he might become a more attractive trade candidate, with any new suitor then on the hook for just over $1 million. Richardson reportedly requested a trade in February, with the team allowing him to seek out a new home, so the situation bears monitoring once Colts training camp kicks off in full on July 29.
Source: Kevin Bowen
Source: Kevin Bowen
Brandon Aubrey Still the Top Fantasy Kicker to Target
When Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey signed a four-year, $28 million extension this offseason to make him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history, it secured his spot at the top of the fantasy kicker rankings for the foreseeable future. A former soccer player, Aubrey has changed the way the Cowboys can operate offensively with his near-rangeless ability to connect from deep, particularly when playing in the domed confines of AT&T Stadium. Aubrey connected on 36 of his 42 field goal attempts and all but one of his 48 extra point tries, but what makes the three-time Pro Bowler particularly valuable for fantasy has been his historic success from deep, adding 11 more 50+ yard makes in 2025. Aubrey is RotoBaller's K1 for 2026 and will undoubtedly be selected before the final round of drafts in many leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cade Klubnik Could Earn Backup Job as a Rookie
The New York Jets spent a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnick, and ESPN's Jets reporter Rich Cimini believes he will earn the primary backup job as a rookie. In a pre-training camp 53-man roster projection, Cimini sees New York keeping only two quarterbacks to start the year, with Klubnik edging out Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the remaining spot behind 13th-year veteran Geno Smith. Smith is coming off a forgettable 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, and should his struggles follow him to the Jets, the opportunity could arise for New York's backup to see meaningful action by the end of the season. Klubnik is RotoBaller's dynasty QB46, but any playing time as a rookie would almost certainly improve his stock, making him an intriguing target in the later rounds of dynasty startups.
Source: Rich Cimini
Source: Rich Cimini
Samaje Perine an Underrated Insurance Back in 2026
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine will turn 31 years old in September, but he has shown few signs of slowing down. In his return to the Bengals in 2025, he carried the ball 84 times, his most attempts since 2022, and while maintaining a 4.5-yard per carry average, he scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns. Fourth-year player Chase Brown has developed into a true bell cow back, averaging more than 19.6 opportunities per game across his last 30 outings, making Perine's insurance role behind him a potentially important one for fantasy. Rounding out the Bengals' backfield is 2025 sixth-round pick Tahj Brooks, and there's an expectation that should Brown miss time, the second-year player could help to lighten the load rather than turning full control over to Perine. Still, the 10th-year veteran remains an underrated handcuff option and one that would undoubtedly garner attention on the waiver wire in the unfortunate event of injury.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Teammates Excited to Play with Jeremiyah Love
The Arizona Cardinals spent the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on running back Jeremiyah Love, and the team's starting left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. is excited to see what he can do to open up the Cardinals' offense. In an interview with Omar Ruiz following the first practice of training camp, Johnson spoke highly of the running back room as a whole but paid particular attention to the electric rookie, telling Ruiz, "Being able to hand the ball to any of those guys, you know what they can do... Especially with Love. I'm excited to see him in his first year. You know everyone's excited to see what he does in the preseason, including myself." Arizona ran the ball at the league's lowest rate in 2025, but with a revamped running back room that also includes free agent acquisition Tyler Allgeier, first-year head coach Mike LaFleur should bring a more balanced approach into 2026, and Love is RotoBaller's RB13.
Source: Omar Ruiz
Source: Omar Ruiz
Kaelon Black Set to Compete for One of Fantasy's Most Important Insurance Roles
The backup running back job in San Francisco is up for grabs, and a player who will have a chance to claim it when the 49ers take to the field for their first practice of training camp is third-round rookie Kaelon Black. With four-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey leading the NFL with 413 touches in 2025, Brian Robinson Jr. was limited to only 92 carries in his lone season with the team, but the latter's departure in free agency has opened up an important insurance role. Black will need to overtake 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James, who did not record a single offensive statistic as a rookie, but who was reported to have an edge during the non-padded practices of OTAs and minicamp. With McCaffrey now 30 years old and coming off the heaviest workload of his nine-year career, the insurance role behind him could prove to be incredibly important for fantasy, making Black's battle for the job one of the more intriguing training camp stories to monitor out of San Francisco.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaac Guerendo Could Be Cut Ahead of 2026 Season
After scoring four touchdowns and racking up 420 yards on a 5.0-yard-per-carry clip as a 2024 rookie, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo did not see the field for a single offensive snap in 2025, and beat writer Eric Branch believes his time in San Francisco could be over. In a posting of 25 pre-training camp predictions, Branch has Guerendo left off the 49ers' initial 53-man roster, which would put third-round rookie Kaelon Black and 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James in position to compete for the valuable insurance role behind 30-year-old bell cow Christian McCaffrey. An older prospect coming into the league, Guerendo is already 26 years old, and should he be forced to find a new home ahead of the 2026 season, any remaining sliver of hope still held by dynasty managers would almost certainly be dashed.
Source: Eric Branch
Source: Eric Branch
Sione Vaki Competing for the RB2 Role in Detroit?
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki is a "natural pass-catcher," and "the opportunity is there" for him to cut into presumed Lions RB2 Isiah Pacheco's touches, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. A fourth-round pick in 2024, Vaki has mostly played special teams through his first two professional seasons and has just seven career NFL carries. The Lions still have star running back Jahmyr Gibbs firmly atop their running back depth chart, but the team replaced veteran RB2 David Montgomery with Pacheco over the offseason. Pacheco has significantly more experience than Vaki, but he's averaged just 3.8 yards per carry on over 200 attempts since the start of the 2024 season. If Vaki can prove himself with a strong performance in training camp and the preseason, he could potentially threaten Pacheco's status as the Lions' clear backup running back. In deeper dynasty leagues, Vaki could be worth stashing just in case he emerges as the handcuff option in Detroit should Gibbs get injured.
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Rasheen Ali on the Roster Bubble in Baltimore
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic lists Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali as one of the players on the team's roster bubble entering training camp. A fifth-round pick by Baltimore in the 2024 NFL Draft, Ali has logged 26 touches across 21 games over the first two years of his professional career. With Derrick Henry and Justice Hill both firmly ahead of him on the Ravens' running back depth chart, Ali would likely continue to play a limited role on offense if he remains in Baltimore in 2026. However, Ali's uncertain roster status may speak volumes about Baltimore's faith in 2026 fifth-round pick Adam Randall. With Henry entering his age-32 season and Hill set to hit free agency next spring, it would make sense for the Ravens to be taking a long look at their young running backs. If Baltimore decides to let Ali go before the start of the season, it could be an indication of the team's faith in Randall.
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Will Howard Battling for the QB2 Job in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Will Howard and Mason Rudolph could be battling for the "QB2 job and, potentially, a spot on the 53-man roster" in training camp, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard battled injury as a rookie and did not see any game action in his first professional season. Aaron Rodgers remains atop the Steelers' depth chart for 2026, leaving Howard unlikely to play a fantasy-relevant role as long as Rodgers remains healthy. The Steelers also drafted quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, leading to speculation that Howard's place on the Pittsburgh roster could be in major jeopardy. While Howard may still end up off the Steelers roster, it appears that he may have a legitimate chance to beat out both Allar and Rudolph for the team's backup job entering 2026. Rudolph has 34 games (19 starts) of NFL experience under his belt, but Howard may be the higher-upside option. In deeper fantasy leagues, Howard could still be worth stashing in case he establishes himself during the preseason.
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Dontayvion Wicks Impressing New Teammates in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks has stood out as the team's most physical wideout against press-man coverage, per Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Kubena also reports that Eagles players and coaches have said Wicks was underrated during his time with the Green Bay Packers. Philadelphia acquired Wicks from Green Bay this past offseason for a pair of late-round draft picks, and the 25-year-old enters training camp competing with rookie wideout Makai Lemon for the team's WR2 job alongside DeVonta Smith. Wicks flashed upside at certain points in his three-year career with the Packers, but ultimately failed to carve out a significant role in the Green Bay offense. Across 14 games (seven starts) in 2025, Wicks recorded 30 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns on 46 targets. However, Wicks should have a clearer path to playing time and fantasy-relevant target volume in Philadelphia than he did in Green Bay's crowded wide receiver room. At his current redraft ADP of WR93, Wicks could be a late-round sleeper to target.
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
DeVonta Smith Well-Positioned for Career Year in 2026
Brooks Kubena of The Athletic writes that fans and fantasy managers should "expect career highs in targets and catches to be shattered" for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith. After years of playing a supporting role in Philadelphia alongside wideout A.J. Brown, Smith is entering 2026 as the Eagles' clear WR1 following the team's offseason trade of Brown to the New England Patriots. Smith was a productive player in 2025, recording 77 catches for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns on 113 targets across 17 games. However, his status as the team's WR2 and Philadelphia's conservative, run-heavy offense both played a factor in his WR20 finish. The Eagles have a new offensive coordinator in place for 2026 in Sean Mannion, who is looking to open up the team's passing game. All in all, Smith appears poised for a career year in 2026 and profiles as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 for fantasy managers.
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Michael Wilson in a Position to Succeed in Mike LaFleur's Offense
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson thinks that new head coach Mike LaFleur's offense will put him in a "position to succeed" after his breakout 2025 campaign, according to PHNX Cardinals. "Look at the history of like the Rams with Puka and Cooper Kupp playing the Z role, the ball's gonna find you a lot," Wilson said. The 26-year-old former third-rounder from Stanford in 2023 surprisingly finished as a top-15 fantasy wideout last year, setting career highs across the board in catches (78), targets (126), receiving yards (1,006), touchdowns (seven), and yards per catch (12.9) in his third year in the NFL. The move from Kyler Murray to veteran Jacoby Brissett at QB opened the floodgates for Wilson, and it also helped that Marvin Harrison Jr. battled through several nagging injuries that caused him to miss time. Brissett is back as Arizona's starter under center, but the passing volume he had last year isn't sustainable in a new offense, and Harrison is now healthy and motivated. Wilson will be a key weapon in the Cardinals' passing game going forward, but fantasy managers shouldn't be buying his 2025 production. RotoBaller is expecting regression, ranking him as the overall WR40 for the upcoming campaign.
Source: PHNX Cardinals
Source: PHNX Cardinals
Kyler Murray, Jordan Addison Have Been Working Together for Two Months
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Jordan Addison have been working out together for the last two months in Dallas, Texas, according to Jordan Schultz. Both players also reported to Minnesota early this week to prepare for the start of training camp, and they both have hopes for a big year in 2026. Murray and Addison are motivated to succeed after down years in 2025. The 28-year-old Murray only played in five games due to a foot injury in his final year in Arizona, throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. The former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oklahoma is competing with J.J. McCarthy for the starting QB gig for the Vikes this year, but given his experience and dual-threat abilities, Murray feels like the favorite entering camp. Murray will see his ADP rise if he's named the starter, but right now, he's an intriguing low-cost, low-end QB2 target with upside. Addison, 24, had a career-low 610 receiving yards and only three TDs in 14 games in 2025, but he wasn't helped by the team's lackluster QB play. He's locked in as the WR2 in Minnesota behind Justin Jefferson, and he, too, could be primed for a bounce-back year if Murray wins the job and elevates the passing attack. Addison is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 36 fantasy WR for 2026.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Seahawks Bring Tight End Nick Vannett Back
The Seattle Seahawks signed tight end Nick Vannett to an undisclosed deal on Friday, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. The Seahawks drafted Vannett in the third round (94th overall) in 2016 from Ohio State. The 33-year-old spent the first three years of his NFL career in Seattle before they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2019 season. Since the trade, he has spent time with the Steelers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Rams. In his 10 years in the NFL, the journeyman tight end has accumulated 108 receptions on 150 targets for 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns in 121 games played (54 starts). His most successful season came in 2018 with Seattle, when he caught 29 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. If Vannett earns a spot on the 53-man roster for the regular season in 2026, he will most likely serve as a blocking TE and on special teams, making him avoidable in all fantasy leagues.
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
