RADIO
Keenan Allen Already Working With Colts' First-Team Offense
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen got thrown into the mix quickly Thursday. Mike Chappell reported that Allen was working with the first-team offense in 11-on-11 drills, which is a bigger step than the Colts initially laid out for his first practice. Head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday that Allen would work into individual drills Thursday and that the team would "really get him going next week." Instead, he was already taking team reps with the starters. Allen signed with Indianapolis on Tuesday after catching 81 passes for 777 yards and four touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. The 34-year-old also knows Steichen well from their seven seasons together with the Chargers. One practice doesn't lock in a role, especially with Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren all competing for targets, but this was an encouraging first look. Allen appears to be moving into the offense quickly and still has some PPR appeal if he earns a steady share of the passing game.
Source: Mike Chappell
Source: Mike Chappell
Fernando Mendoza Expected to Play First Half Against Texans
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected to play roughly the first half of Thursday night's preseason game against the Houston Texans, according to Adam Schefter. Aidan O'Connell is expected to take over for the second half. Mendoza got an extended look in the opener against Arizona, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown over four drives. The Raiders have kept adding to his workload since then. He saw valuable snaps against Houston's first-team defense during Tuesday's joint practice, while Kirk Cousins continued to handle the bulk of the first-team work. Head coach Klint Kubiak has been clear that Mendoza needs reps, and Thursday should give the No. 1 overall pick plenty more. Cousins still sits ahead of him, but Mendoza is getting a longer runway in these preseason games as Las Vegas continues bringing its rookie quarterback along before Week 1.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Ka'imi Fairbairn Remains a Top Kicker Option in Redraft
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn is coming off about as good a fantasy season as a kicker can have. He made 44 of 48 field-goal attempts in 15 games, tying David Akers' NFL single-season record for makes, and went a perfect 28-for-28 on extra points. The distance wasn't a problem either. Fairbairn hit all 16 of his tries from 40 to 49 yards and went 9-for-13 from 50 to 59, with a long of 57. Houston also gave him a two-year, $13 million extension in March that keeps him under contract through 2028. The only thing worth pushing back on is last year's volume. His 48 field-goal attempts led the league, and counting on another season like that is asking a lot. Fairbairn doesn't need to get there again to be useful. He has the leg, the accuracy, and a secure job on a Houston offense that gave him plenty of chances last year. He still belongs near the top of the kicker pool in redraft.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Emerging as Major Piece of Giants Offense
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is becoming one of Jaxson Dart's most trusted targets, according to Jordan Raanan. Likely caught six passes during live drills in Thursday's joint practice with the Miami Dolphins, with Raanan describing him as Dart's security blanket and favorite receiver. This hasn't come out of nowhere. Dart and Likely started building chemistry during the spring, and the Giants have featured their tight ends heavily throughout training camp. Likely gives Dart a big target in the middle of the field and can move around the formation, something New York has taken advantage of all summer. Malik Nabers is still working his way back from last year's knee injury, but Raanan expects Likely to remain a major part of the offense even once Nabers returns. Likely caught only 27 passes for 307 yards and one touchdown with Baltimore last season. His role in New York is shaping up to be much bigger.
Source: Jordan Raanan
Source: Jordan Raanan
Dawson Knox a Touchdown-Dependent TE2
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox still has a real role in this offense, and Buffalo made that pretty clear by keeping him under contract through 2028. Fantasy is another story. Knox caught 36 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns last season on just 49 targets. Every one of those scores came from inside the 20, which tells you where most of the appeal is coming from. The Bills are still using him there, too. Josh Allen targeted Knox on back-to-back red-zone plays during an Aug. 3 practice, with Knox scoring on a screen. Dalton Kincaid was heavily involved that day as well and has looked healthy throughout camp after knee and hamstring trouble last season. Buffalo picked up Kincaid's fifth-year option, and he remains the tougher obstacle to Knox seeing a real jump in targets. Knox can absolutely pop for a week when Allen finds him near the goal line. But 49 targets across 17 games is hard to draft around. He's still a touchdown-dependent TE2, not a sleeper.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kendrick Bourne Still Has Little Redraft Appeal
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has a real job in this offense. Fantasy managers just shouldn't confuse that with a big one. Arizona has him slotted behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, and the team called Bourne an "upper-level No. 3" this week. Bourne seems perfectly fine with that. He told the Cardinals he chased a bigger role in New England and now feels back in the role that fits him best under Mike LaFleur. Last season gives you a pretty good picture of the upside and the problem. Bourne caught 37 passes for 551 yards and no touchdowns, with 284 of those yards coming in back-to-back 142-yard games. He did catch a 12-yarder from Jacoby Brissett in Arizona's second preseason game, but there isn't much here pointing to a volume jump. Harrison, Wilson and Trey McBride all have stronger claims on targets. Bourne can help Arizona. In standard redraft leagues, he's still mostly an injury-away depth option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Geno Smith to Start Friday Against Steelers
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will start Friday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Connor Hughes. Smith missed the opener against Tampa Bay after developing ankle soreness during joint practices, but he's been back at practice throughout this week. Friday will be his first game action since returning to the Jets in a March trade with Las Vegas. New York has already made it clear that Smith is its starter for 2026, so this is about getting him some live reps in Frank Reich's offense before the games count. Smith started 15 games for the Raiders last season and completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The Jets originally planned to play him in the preseason opener before the ankle issue got in the way. Now they'll finally get that first look at Smith running the offense in a game.
Source: Connor Hughes
Source: Connor Hughes
Puka Nacua Remains Out With Psoas Soreness
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (psoas) remained out Thursday and did not take part in the joint practice with the New Orleans Saints, according to Sarah Barshop. Nacua has been sidelined since developing soreness in his psoas during the Aug. 11 joint session with Dallas. His absence Thursday was expected. Sean McVay said Monday that Nacua was doing well but the Rams could hold him out until next week, stressing that they want a return to performance rather than simply getting him back on the field. Nacua has continued conditioning and weight work while sidelined. He is coming off a huge 2025 season, leading the NFL with 129 catches while piling up 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games. The Rams are clearly taking the cautious route with one of their most important offensive players, and Thursday's absence doesn't appear to represent a setback from the timeline McVay laid out earlier this week.
Source: Sarah Barshop
Source: Sarah Barshop
Ja'Kobi Lane Continues to Turn Heads at Ravens Camp
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane continues to be one of the loudest stories of training camp, with Rookie Watch highlighting the rookie's catch radius and ability to win contested throws. The buzz is backed up by Baltimore's own camp reports. Lane has made difficult catches over Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey and other Ravens defensive backs, and head coach Jesse Minter said earlier this month that the consistency is starting to show up every day. He carried that into the preseason opener, catching three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. Baltimore took Lane 80th overall in April after he finished his final USC season with 49 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns. He is currently listed behind Rashod Bateman on the depth chart, but the rookie keeps forcing his way into the conversation. At 6-foot-4 with a 40-inch vertical and huge hands, Lane gives this offense a different kind of target.
Source: Rookie Watch
Source: Rookie Watch
Quinshon Judkins Misses Second Straight Practice
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins was not practicing Thursday, his second straight absence, according to Daniel Oyefusi. Judkins also sat out Wednesday after working throughout camp up to that point. His absence began one day after a particularly physical Tuesday practice in which he took some extra contact, though Cleveland has not said the two are connected. Judkins led the Browns with 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries as a rookie, adding 26 catches for 171 yards. His season ended in Week 16 with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, but he recovered in time for full offseason work and had been participating normally this summer. Two missed practices in a row now make this more than a one-day maintenance note. Until Cleveland provides some context, Judkins' availability remains an open question.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Chris Olave Appears to Get Day Off Thursday
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave appears to be getting the day off Thursday, according to Nick Underhill. Olave was not taking part as the Saints opened their joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, two days after he was heavily involved against Dallas. There hasn't been any indication from Underhill's initial report that an injury is behind Thursday's absence. Olave is coming off the best season of his career, catching 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games while earning second-team All-Pro honors. The Saints also signed him to a multi-year extension shortly before training camp. After a busy summer and a strong showing against the Cowboys earlier this week, Thursday looks like a chance for New Orleans to give its top receiver a break.
Source: Nick Underhill
Source: Nick Underhill
Samaje Perine's Redraft Case Has a Little More Life
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine is still mostly tied to Chase Brown's health for fantasy, but his summer role is a little more interesting than that sounds. Perine mixed in with the starters in the preseason opener, catching two passes for 12 yards and taking his only carry for seven. Cincinnati has also been leaning into more two-back looks, with Perine staying in the backfield while Brown moves around the formation. That matters. Perine ran for 382 yards and three touchdowns on 84 carries last season, and he showed against the Jets that he can still do something with extra work, going for 94 yards and a score on nine carries. Brown isn't losing the job after 1,456 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, so this isn't some backfield battle. Perine just has a little more going on than a pure bench stash. He's still an insurance back first, but Cincinnati may give him enough snaps to stay involved even when Brown is healthy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Khalil Shakir Misses Practice With Injury
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir is dealing with an injury and did not participate in Tuesday's practice at Highmark Stadium, according to Katherine Fitzgerald. Head coach Joe Brady confirmed Thursday that Shakir and defensive tackle Ed Oliver are both dealing with injuries after sitting out the stadium session. Shakir had been active throughout camp before the absence. He led Buffalo in both receptions and receiving yards last season, catching 72 passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. The Bills added DJ Moore this offseason, but Shakir still figures to have a steady role in a passing game that leaned on him heavily in 2025. Buffalo is also managing a foot/toe sprain for Keon Coleman, so the receiver room has taken a few hits this week. That makes any missed work more notable with Week 1 approaching. Shakir's next practice appearance will be the important part from here.
Source: Katherine Fitzgerald
Source: Katherine Fitzgerald
Joe Burrow Treating 2026 as Now-or-Never Season
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is treating 2026 like a now-or-never season when it comes to winning a championship, according to Ben Baby. Asked directly about that mindset Thursday, Burrow said, "That's how I'm treating it." Cincinnati is coming off a 6-11 season and has now missed the playoffs three years in a row after making back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2021 and 2022. Burrow only started eight games last year after a toe injury sent him to injured reserve, but he still threw for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. The urgency isn't new. Burrow said earlier this offseason that this is the best roster he's had in seven seasons with the Bengals, and he's been noticeably more vocal about what he expects from the team. He's entering 2026 with one goal in mind, and he isn't being subtle about it.
Source: Ben Baby
Source: Ben Baby
J.J. McCarthy Likely to Start Saturday Against Ravens
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will more than likely start Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Kevin Seifert. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Kyler Murray and many of Minnesota's other starters are unlikely to play after getting two days of work against Baltimore in joint practices this week. That should mean a longer look at McCarthy. He took over after Murray's opening series in the preseason opener against the Giants and completed 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards while playing the rest of the first half. McCarthy is currently Minnesota's No. 2 quarterback, and Saturday should give him plenty of snaps to keep working in that role. With most of the first-team offense expected to sit, the focus will be on how McCarthy handles a larger chunk of the game against Baltimore.
Source: Kevin Seifert
Source: Kevin Seifert
