RADIO
Tim Patrick Placed on Injured Reserve
New York Jets wide receiver Tim Patrick (groin) is being placed on injured reserve, according to Zack Rosenblatt. Patrick was already ruled out for Sunday's opener against Tennessee after missing practice Thursday and Friday, and now he will be sidelined for at least four games. The veteran signed with New York in May after spending last season with Jacksonville, where he caught 15 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns across 16 games. Patrick was buried on a Jets depth chart that already includes Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith, so there was not much fantasy value here even before the injury. His absence could create a few extra snaps elsewhere in the receiver rotation, but there is no obvious waiver-wire winner from this move. Patrick can be left on waivers in standard leagues while he works his way back.
Source: Zack Rosenblatt
Source: Zack Rosenblatt
Travis Etienne Jr. Still a Strong Start in Tough Matchup
New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. should still be in fantasy lineups Sunday against Detroit, even with Alvin Kamara expected to return. Kamara practiced fully Friday after missing most of camp with an MCL sprain, but he is still listed as questionable and is not expected to handle a big role right away. Audric Estime is also out, which leaves Etienne in a good spot for volume. He is coming off 1,107 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries with Jacksonville, plus 36 catches for 292 yards and six more scores. The matchup is tougher than it first looks. Detroit allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points and 12th-fewest rushing yards to running backs last season. RotoBaller has Etienne at RB17 for Week 1 and still recommends keeping him in most lineups. He is better viewed as a high-end RB2 than a locked-in RB1, but the workload should keep him firmly in starting range.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Shough Has Streaming Upside Against Detroit
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is one of the more interesting streaming options for Week 1 against Detroit. He settled in after taking over last season, throwing for 2,256 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions across nine starts. The finish was especially encouraging. Over his final five games, Shough threw for 1,316 yards and five touchdowns while adding 135 yards and three scores on the ground. Detroit gave up 4,027 passing yards and 31 passing touchdowns in 2025, and starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph will both miss the opener. That gives Shough a favorable spot with Chris Olave leading the passing game, even with rookie Jordyn Tyson on injured reserve. RotoBaller has Shough at QB16 for Week 1. He is not a locked-in QB1, but managers looking for a streamer can use him with real top-12 upside if this game turns into a shootout.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Jones Expected to Play Monday
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf) is expected to play Monday night against the Denver Broncos, according to Jesse Newell. Head coach Andy Reid gave the encouraging update Saturday after Jones was added to the injury report a day earlier. He was limited Friday with the calf issue after not appearing on Thursday's report, so his status suddenly became something to watch. Reid does not seem overly concerned. Jones started all 17 games last season and finished with 29 tackles, seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hits. Kansas City's final injury report will still provide the official word on whether he carries a designation into Monday, but this is a good sign for a Chiefs defense that badly needs its best interior pass rusher on the field. IDP managers can continue planning on Jones being available unless something changes before kickoff.
Source: Jesse Newell
Source: Jesse Newell
Audric Estime Placed on Injured Reserve
New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime (thigh) has been placed on injured reserve, according to Ross Jackson. The Saints later announced the move Saturday. Estime did not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and had already been ruled out for Sunday's opener against Detroit. Now he will miss at least four games. His path to touches was already pretty narrow. New Orleans lists Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara together atop the backfield, with Kendre Miller ahead of Estime as well. Estime did get a chance late last season, finishing 2025 with 301 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 58 touches across seven games. The Saints elevated rookie CJ Donaldson from the practice squad for Sunday, giving them another option while Estime is out. There wasn't much redraft value here before the move, and the IR stint makes Estime a player who can be left on waivers outside deeper dynasty leagues.
Source: Ross Jackson
Source: Ross Jackson
Harold Fannin Jr. a Strong TE1 Against Jacksonville
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. should be in fantasy lineups Sunday against Jacksonville. He was one of the few reliable pieces in Cleveland's passing game as a rookie, leading the team with 107 targets and 731 receiving yards while catching 72 passes and scoring six times in 16 games. The matchup gives him another reason to trust the volume. Jacksonville allowed the seventh-most fantasy points, fifth-most receptions and 10th-most receiving yards to tight ends last season. Cleveland also lists Fannin first on the depth chart, with Blake Whiteheart and Carsen Ryan behind him. Deshaun Watson returning adds some uncertainty to the offense, but Fannin does not need a huge day through the air to pay off if he gets anything close to last year's target share. RotoBaller has him at TE6 for Week 1 and calls him a solid TE1 play in this matchup. Fantasy managers can start him with confidence.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalen Cambre Added to Giants' 53-Man Roster
New York Giants wide receiver Dalen Cambre is being signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, according to Art Stapleton. Cambre was waived at final cuts before returning to the practice squad and now fills the spot opened by Darius Slayton's release. Whether he actually dresses Sunday against Dallas is still up in the air. Stapleton noted that the Giants are still working through their game-day combinations, with Malik Nabers' status part of that process. Nabers is officially questionable with a knee designation despite practicing in full all three days this week. Cambre appeared in seven games as an undrafted rookie last season, working almost entirely on special teams. He did not record an offensive touch and finished with three tackles. Even if Cambre is active Sunday, there isn't much fantasy value here. His promotion gives New York another receiver and special-teams option while the final Week 1 roster takes shape.
Source: Art Stapleton
Source: Art Stapleton
Jerry Jeudy Should Stay on Benches in Week 1
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy enters Week 1 with a starting job, but not much fantasy security. He drew 106 targets last season and turned them into 50 catches for 602 yards and two touchdowns. Harold Fannin Jr. actually led Cleveland with 107 targets, and now first-round rookie KC Concepcion Jr. and second-rounder Denzel Boston are both starting too. That leaves Jeudy fighting for work in an offense led by Deshaun Watson, which is enough to make Sunday's matchup with Jacksonville hard to trust. The Jaguars allowed 3,707 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns last season, but they also picked off 22 passes. RotoBaller has Jeudy at WR77 for Week 1, and its current start-sit guidance recommends Cleveland's receivers only in deeper leagues with multiple flex spots. Jeudy may still see enough snaps to matter, but there are too many questions about the target split and quarterback play. He should stay on the bench in most leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chargers D/ST Highly Ranked in Week 1 Matchup vs. the Cardinals
The Los Angeles Chargers' D/ST is a highly recommended fantasy option for managers in Week 1 due to a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Chargers unit finished just outside the top 12 D/ST and averaged 6.5 points per game last year. The Cardinals offense had the fifth-most sacks and 13th-fewest offensive touchdowns last season. They switched to a pass-first offense when they let Jacoby Brissett take over and often found themselves in pass-heavy situations because of trailing late in games. The Chargers D/ST is RotoBaller's D/ST2 ahead of a favorable outing and can be comfortably inserted into lineups in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
KC Concepcion Has Upside Flex Appeal in Week 1
Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion has a little more Week 1 appeal than the usual rookie making his NFL debut. Concepcion is already listed as a starter, and the Browns have spent much of the summer finding ways to get the ball in his hands. He only played once in the preseason, catching three passes for 27 yards while adding a 14-yard rushing touchdown and a 31-yard punt return. Head coach Todd Monken said Friday that Concepcion will handle all of Cleveland's punt returns against Jacksonville and made it clear the rookie has earned the coaching staff's trust. Cleveland took Concepcion 24th overall after he caught 61 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns at Texas A&M last season. There is still risk with Deshaun Watson under center and Jerry Jeudy, Denzel Boston and Harold Fannin Jr. also competing for touches. RotoBaller has Concepcion at WR61 for Week 1. He is not a must-start yet, but managers in deeper leagues can use him as an upside WR4 or flex.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Denzel Boston a Risky Flex in NFL Debut
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Denzel Boston will make his NFL debut Sunday against Jacksonville with a starting spot already in hand. The rookie is listed alongside Jerry Jeudy and KC Concepcion Jr., and Cleveland liked him enough to take him 39th overall after a 62-catch, 881-yard, 11-touchdown final season at Washington. Boston also made plenty of contested catches during camp. The preseason did not give us much to work with, though. He caught one pass for 15 yards across three games. Jacksonville allowed 25 passing touchdowns last season, but the Jaguars also picked off 22 passes, and Deshaun Watson is not exactly lifting the outlook for Cleveland's receivers right now. RotoBaller has Boston at WR70 for Week 1, while its current start-sit guidance recommends keeping the Browns' wideouts to deeper leagues with multiple flex spots. Boston is worth rostering because the role could grow quickly. For Sunday, fantasy managers should keep him on the bench unless they are digging deep for a flex.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cameron Dicker Has Favorable Week 1 Matchup vs. the Cardinals
Los Angeles Chargers placekicker Cameron Dicker will be a strong fantasy asset on Sunday in a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The 26-year-old was the K4 overall and averaged 10 points per game last season. Dicker will now be tied to an explosive offense with a new offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel. McDaniel has orchestrated some of the league's best offenses in recent years that have translated to big numbers on scoreboards at times. With a revamped offense, Dicker could see an uptick in production this season. He rolls into Week 1 as RotoBaller's K2 with a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Dicker could find himself trotting on the field often if the offense gets in a rhythm early.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quinshon Judkins Better Left on the Bench in Week 1
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins opens the season in a rough spot against Jacksonville. Judkins is first on Cleveland's depth chart after running 230 times for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games as a rookie, so the early-down work should still be there. The matchup is the problem. Jacksonville led the NFL by allowing only 85.6 rushing yards per game last season and did not allow any opposing player to run for more than 75 yards. Cleveland is also a sizable road underdog, which could work against Judkins if the Browns have to throw. Dylan Sampson handled more of the obvious passing-down work last season, and that matters in this kind of game script. The Browns will also start five new offensive linemen, with rookie Austin Barber replacing the injured Teven Jenkins at right guard. RotoBaller has Judkins at RB23 for Week 1, but this is a week to look elsewhere if a solid alternative is available. His volume keeps him usable in deeper leagues, but the ceiling looks limited.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jahan Dotson Atlanta's No. 2, but Not On Flex Radar in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson will be Atlanta's No. 2 receiver on Sunday for the team's Week 1 road matchup against the Steelers. While that can be a potentially fantasy-friendly role on many teams, the former first-rounder could realistically be the fourth option, likely behind Drake London, Kyle Pitts Sr., and Bijan Robinson in the receiving hierarchy. Additionally, with third-string quarterback Cooper Rush under center in Week 1 for Atlanta, that could mean that a very quiet game could be in store for the Penn State product. The 26-year-old projects as the No. 90 wide receiver overall this week at RotoBaller, and with the Falcons having one of the lowest implied point totals in Week 1 (17.5), he's off of the Flex radar altogether.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Charlie Kolar Has Fantasy Appeal in Deeper Leagues in Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar is coming off a strong offseason filled with under-the-radar hype after signing a lucrative three-year, $24.3 million contract in free agency. The 27-year-old was named the TE1 on the team's first unofficial depth chart over David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden II and saw limited work during preseason games with the rest of the offensive starters. Kolar is RotoBaller's PPR TE32 heading into Week 1 and should remain out of lineups in standard 12-team leagues. However, he is a sneaky touchdown-dependent tight end option with upside in deep tight end premium leagues. Kolar will face a Cardinals defense that allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns (31), ninth-most completions (375), 10th-most passing yards (4,128), and the 11th-highest completion percentage (65.6) last season. In a favorable matchup, he could have a productive fantasy outing and is a name to monitor on waivers to begin the year.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
