RADIO
Samaje Perine a Fine Handcuff with Receiving Upside
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine isn't expected to have a very consistent role out of the backfield behind Chase Brown. However, we should see him get involved on some passing downs, and he's also a decent handcuff option for managers who are already planning to draft Brown. Last year in Cincy, the veteran running back tallied 382 rushing yards, 87 receiving yards, and three touchdowns across 15 games, ranking as the RB57 in PPR leagues. It was an interesting year for the 30-year-old, who posted his second-highest rushing yard total since 2017 but his lowest receiving yard total since 2020. Last year seemed like an outlier season for Perine, who is well established as a pass-catching option out of the backfield. He should see his receptions and receiving yards increase this year, but whether he'll have any standalone value remains uncertain. The Bengals gave Brown 17.7 touches per game last year, and that includes games where the offense was struggling with Joe Burrow sidelined. This is clearly Brown's backfield, so anyone looking to draft Perine in fantasy football should wait until the last couple of rounds.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Joe Burrow Has a Hefty Price Tag with Some Injury Risk
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is one of the best fantasy football weapons when healthy, but injuries have consistently plagued him over the last three years. As a result, fantasy managers might be hesitant to spend a premium pick on the quarterback if he's not a lock to play more than half the season. Burrow has missed at least seven games in two of the last three years. Last season, he missed nine games and ended up finishing as the overall QB29 in fantasy football. When he's healthy, he puts up top-tier numbers with star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal, but managers who were burned by him last year may want to avoid the risk of drafting him again this year. The injury risk isn't really baked into his price tag, either. He's being drafted at an ADP of 60.3, which makes him the fourth quarterback off the board. Meanwhile, he's the QB5 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings. Managers should consider waiting a couple of rounds to take a more dependable option like Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence. At the very least, managers who draft Burrow should have a solid backup quarterback option in case he misses significant time again.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Injures his Neck in Preseason Finale on Friday
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (neck) left Friday night's preseason finale against the New York Jets after a big collision, and it looked like trainers/doctors were checking his neck, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Tracy left the field and walked directly into the locker room with trainers. Before his injury, Tracy had four carries for 37 yards and a touchdown in the game. We do not know the severity of the 26-year-old's injury yet, but this is a significant development in New York's backfield as the Week 1 regular-season opener approaches on Sunday Night Football against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. The former fifth-rounder in 2024 from Purdue lost some of his late-round handcuff appeal in fantasy football leagues when the Giants signed veteran RB Najee Harris earlier this week, and his injury on Friday night does not help, either. In addition to Harris, the Giants have second-year back Cam Skattebo, who is expected to be the team's primary early-down workhorse in 2026. RotoBaller has Tracy ranked as the No. 67 fantasy RB with just two weeks until the season opener. Check back later for any pertinent injury updates on Tracy.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Malik Nabers Not Suiting Up for Preseason Finale
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is not suiting up for the team's preseason finale against the New York Jets on Friday night, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. It is no surprise that Nabers is not on the field for the final preseason game, even though he finally ditched his non-contact jersey in training camp practice on Monday. The 23-year-old former first-rounder from LSU avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list for the start of camp at the end of July, but the Giants have been extremely cautious in his recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee early on in 2025. Nabers has slowly been ramping up, but all signs point to him being active in the Week 1 regular-season showdown against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. While Nabers could be on a snap count out of the gates, he has some of the most upside of any young receiver in the NFL after catching 109 of 170 targets for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie campaign in 2024. Treat him as a risk/reward low-end WR1 in 2026.
Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard
Source: New York Daily News - Pat Leonard
Dohnte Meyers a "Roster Lock," Becoming a Receiver to Watch
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Dohnte Meyers might be "the best story in any NFL training camp" this summer, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. When top wideout Ja'Marr Chase went down earlier this week in practice with a knee scare, Meyers was running with the first team. Dehner adds that Meyers has been "undeniable" in his bid for a roster spot because of the consistency of his playmaking at every turn, when at first it felt like his only path to make the team was as a kick returner on special teams. The 26-year-old stuck around after practice to work with quarterback Joe Burrow on Wednesday and is now "a roster lock" with an offensive role in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "Physically, he's quick, he's fast, he's got another gear," receivers coach Troy Walters said. Meyers has worked his tail off and is versatile, so he could put a lot of pressure on Andrei Iosivas for the WR3 role sooner rather than later behind Chase and Tee Higgins. It will not be easy, though, as rookie fourth-rounder Colbie Young has also looked good in camp with plenty of highlight catches. For now, Meyers is an interesting bench stash in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
Source: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
Chase Brown Could See More Under-Center Rushing Opportunities
The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that it is "easy to anticipate a far more under-center ground game coming" for Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown in 2026. Brown at one point called the Bengals a "top-five, top-10" defense during training camp. "They've been causing us problems all camp," Brown said. "Offensively, we started to find a groove there even though they presented us some pretty big challenges at the start." The 26-year-old former fifth-rounder from Illinois had his first 1,000-yard rushing season on 232 carries in 2025 and added six rushing scores and a career-best 69 receptions for 437 yards and five more TDs to finish as a top-10 fantasy RB. Based on everything we have heard this summer, the Bengals have designed their offense even more around Brown out of the backfield in 2026, making him a strong midrange RB1 target as he heads into his fourth year in the NFL. Not only has Brown become one of the best all-around players at his position in the league, but he really should not be threatened at all by Samaje Perine. In a prolific offense like Cincy's, if quarterback Joe Burrow stays healthy, Brown could even improve on his strong 2025 showing.
Source: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
Source: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
J.J. McCarthy Not Playing in Preseason Finale Against Denver
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday night against the hosting Denver Broncos, multiple sources told Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The Vikings had hoped that McCarthy's ankle would be healed ahead of the game, but he ultimately was not comfortable enough to suit up. The good news is that his injury is considered minor, and he is day-to-day. McCarthy picked up the ankle injury in last weekend's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, in which he struggled in the face of pressure. The Vikings already named Kyler Murray as their Week 1 starter, with McCarthy now battling veteran Carson Wentz for QB2 duties to open his third year in the NFL. If the 23-year-old cannot beat out Wentz, he could be a trade candidate before the regular-season opener. The former 10th overall pick in 2024 from Michigan missed all of his rookie year after having knee surgery, and he completed just 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in just 10 games last year due to injuries. Early in his career, McCarthy has not looked like a viable NFL starter, cratering his fantasy value in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Kirk Cousins Expected to "Eventually" be Named the Starting QB
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Las Vegas Raiders veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected "to be named the starter eventually," according to people inside the Raiders' building and league-wide with other teams. Head coach Klint Kubiak was non-committal on naming a starter for Week 1 of the regular season against the Miami Dolphins after the team's preseason finale on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers, in which both Cousins and rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza played. Cousins went 8-for-11 for 51 yards, while Mendoza went 7-for-14 for 57 yards with an interception. Although Mendoza saw some first-team reps in training camp practices, Cousins has been treated like the starter since the spring, according to Fowler. At best, the 14-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowler is a low-end, short-term option in superflex leagues in 2026, but the overwhelming consensus is that Mendoza will be making starts under center this year for the Raiders sooner rather than later. Cousins only played in 10 games (eight starts) for the Atlanta Falcons last year after Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) season-ending ACL tear, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Commanders Holding Rachaad White Out of Preseason Finale
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White (hamstring) is not active for the team's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday, according to Commanders.com. It is not a surprise that White will not play in the final preseason game after injuring his hamstring in training camp practice last Wednesday. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) are also banged up and will not play on Friday night, leaving rookie Kaytron Allen, Robert Henry, and Craig Reynolds to work out of the backfield against the Ravens. The 27-year-old White is entering his first year in D.C. in 2026 after rushing for 2,656 yards and 14 touchdowns and catching 205 passes for 1,450 yards and another 11 scores as a receiver in his four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he figures to be the Commanders' top pass-catching back, giving him late-round sleeper appeal in PPR fantasy formats. White had at least 40 catches in all four of his seasons in Tampa and exceeded 50 catches three times.
Source: Commanders.com
Source: Commanders.com
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Not Playing in Preseason Finale
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) is not active for Friday's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens, per the team's official website. Croskey-Merritt tweaked his lower body in training camp practice last Thursday, and although the injury is not believed to be serious, the Commanders have held the second-year back out as a precaution and will not have him suit up on Friday. In addition to JCM, Rachaad White (hamstring) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) are banged up and will not play against Baltimore, leaving rookie Kaytron Allen, Robert Henry, and Craig Reynolds to man the team's backfield in the preseason finale. The 25-year-old Croskey-Merritt had a successful rookie season in 2025 after being taken in the seventh round out of Arizona, running for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries to lead the team. Washington hopes to develop him into a three-down back, but the addition of White, a pass-catching specialist, could make that difficult to achieve in 2026. RotoBaller has Croskey-Merritt ranked as the No. 37 overall RB for his second NFL season.
Source: Commanders.com
Source: Commanders.com
Emeka Egbuka's Focus is on Being Ready for Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) traveled to Jacksonville with the team for their preseason finale this week, but he will not play as he continues to rest his toe injury, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Auman says that he would be surprised if we see Egbuka at practice next week, with the focus on having him back for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 23-year-old suffered a sprained toe over two weeks ago and has not practiced since. Even if the former first-rounder from Ohio State is active for Week 1, fantasy managers have a reason to be skeptical that he will produce for them right out of the gate, even against a Bengals secondary that has been extremely generous in recent seasons. We might not have a definitive answer on Egbuka's Week 1 status until several days before the season opener. Egbuka had a nice 63-938-6 line in 17 games as a rookie in 2025, and his role should expand as a sophomore with Mike Evans no longer in town. In upcoming redraft leagues, fantasy managers should target him as a solid WR2.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Evan Engram Starting to Look More Interesting in Redraft Leagues
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is starting to give fantasy managers a little more to work with after a rough first season in Denver. He caught 50 of 76 targets for 461 yards and one touchdown in 16 games last year, but the bigger issue was how little the Broncos used him. This summer has been different. Engram was one of the early camp standouts, Sean Payton said he could be a "big asset," and he later caught a touchdown from Bo Nix during two-minute work. Denver has also moved him around the formation more instead of treating him mostly as a slot target. Engram then drew three targets in the preseason opener, catching one for 24 yards. This isn't suddenly a clear path back to TE1 numbers. Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton and the rest of Denver's receiver room make targets tough to project, and Engram still has plenty to prove after last year. He does remain first on the depth chart, though, and RotoBaller has him at TE34 in half-PPR. That's still deep-league territory, but Engram's stock has moved in the right direction this summer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Mason Keeps Climbing in Redraft Leagues
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason continues to look like more than just Aaron Jones Sr.'s backup. Mason rushed for 758 yards and six touchdowns on 159 carries last season, and Minnesota doesn't appear interested in pushing him back into a minor role. The team's current unofficial depth chart lists Jones OR Mason at running back, and the preseason opener looked a lot like a real split. Jones got three carries on the opening drive against the Giants. Mason got three as well, picking up 17 yards with a long run of 15. There are still reasons Jones will matter plenty, especially on passing downs. He caught 28 passes last year while Mason finished with only 14 receptions for 51 yards. Mason doesn't need to take over the backfield to pay off in drafts, though. RotoBaller had him at RB38 in its Aug. 24 rankings, and his early-down role already gives him usable standalone value. If Jones misses time, the ceiling jumps quickly. Mason's arrow is pointing up heading into the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jake Ferguson Slipping Toward TE2 Territory
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is looking a little less appealing for redraft as the target competition around him gets tougher. Ferguson caught 82 of 102 targets for 600 yards and eight touchdowns last season, but the production was heavily front-loaded. He was the overall TE1 in PPR through Week 7, then fell to TE22 over the rest of the year and managed only seven catches over his final four games. Ferguson still owns the starting job and remains a trusted red-zone option after drawing 23 targets inside the 20 last season, converting seven into touchdowns. The concern is how often Dallas will need to lean on him with CeeDee Lamb healthy, George Pickens coming off a huge year, and Ryan Flournoy emerging as a legitimate third receiver. Ferguson averaged only 7.3 yards per catch in 2025, so he needs steady volume and scoring chances more than most tight ends in his range. His role is safe, but the ceiling looks shakier than it did earlier in the offseason. RotoBaller currently has him in the TE14-TE15 range depending on scoring format.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalton Schultz Back in the Late-Round Conversation
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has a clearer path to useful volume after injuries reshaped the team's receiving corps late in camp. Schultz already handled a major role last season, setting career highs with 82 catches on 106 targets for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. His 106 targets ranked second on Houston behind Nico Collins. Jayden Higgins is now out for the season with a torn ACL, while Tank Dell's return from a major knee injury remains uncertain entering Week 1. Houston has added Kayshon Boutte and signed veteran receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones, so those vacated targets will not simply funnel to Schultz. The tight end room is deeper, too, after the Texans signed Foster Moreau and used the 59th overall pick on Marlin Klein. Schultz remains the established TE1, though, and Houston gave him a contract extension in March. RotoBaller currently ranks him TE24 in half-PPR. Another 106-target season is far from guaranteed, but the late changes around him have improved his chances of remaining a useful late-round option in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
