RADIO
Kyle Shanahan to be Limited in Camp After Being Involved in Car Accident
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will be limited in training camp after a July 14 car accident where he collided with an SUV near his Northern California home, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Nick Wagoner. Shanahan broke his nose, three ribs, and his hand, needed over 40 stitches in his face, and suffered a severe concussion. Drugs and alcohol were not involved, and both drivers were cooperative with police. Shanahan has been recovering at home and is believed to be healing well, but doctors won't clear him for full activities until concussion symptoms clear. The 49ers are set to kick off training camp on Sunday, so Shanahan will not be present for the first day of workouts. Assistant head coach and offensive line coach Chris Foerster will assume some of Shanahan's duties and help lead the team in camp until Shanahan is cleared to return. Shanahan enters the 2026 season with 82 regular-season victories, the third-most in franchise history. If he gets to 11 wins this year, he'll pass Bill Walsh for second on the list.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Courtland Sutton to Remain a High-Volume Target-Earner in Denver?
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has earned the trust of quarterback Bo Nix and will continue to be a high-leverage target-earner in 2026, per Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Sutton has been the WR1 in Denver in each of Nix's first two seasons with the team, recording back-to-back years with at least 120 targets, 70 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. However, the Broncos made a big swing this offseason to acquire wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins, which could push Sutton into more of a supporting role as he enters his age-31 campaign. While Waddle's presence could certainly lead to a reduced role for Sutton, Kosmider speculates that Waddle's ability to win in the middle of the field may open up more one-on-one opportunities for Sutton on the outside. RotoBaller currently ranks Sutton as the WR37 for redraft leagues ahead of 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
Broncos Counting on J.K. Dobbins to Replicate 2025 Performance?
The Denver Broncos are "betting that (running back) J.K. Dobbins can replicate his performance across the first 10 weeks" of the 2025 season, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Dobbins got off to a hot start to his first season with Denver, recording 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries across 10 games. However, he went down with a season-ending foot injury in Week 10. Dobbins has had major difficulty staying healthy to this point in his NFL career, as he's missed 36 games since the start of the 2022 season. The Broncos have younger options in their backfield in 2025 second-rounder RJ Harvey and 2026 fourth-rounder Jonah Coleman, both of whom could take on a larger role in the team's offense this season. Still, Denver re-signed Dobbins to a two-year, $16 million contract this past spring, which Kosmider writes is indicative of the team's faith that he can still be a key piece in its offense. Heading into 2026, Dobbins profiles as a boom/bust flex option in redraft leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
Demond Claiborne Drawing Rave Reviews from Vikings Camp
Minnesota Vikings "executives, coaches, and teammates quietly raved" about rookie running back Demond Claiborne's movement skills this spring, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic. A sixth-round pick out of Wake Forest, Claiborne recorded 2,350 scrimmage yards and 23 touchdowns across his final 24 games for the Demon Deacons. He enters 2026 firmly behind veterans Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason on the team's running back depth chart and may even be behind Zavier Scott for Minnesota's RB3 job. However, neither Jones Sr. nor Mason is under contract with the Vikings beyond 2026. Claiborne profiles as the highest-upside athlete of the Minnesota running backs. If he can prove himself capable of handling the finer points of the running back position, Claiborne could carve out a role in the Vikings' backfield sooner rather than later.
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Darnell Mooney Set for Both Outside and Slot Usage
New York Giants wide receiver Darnell Mooney will be "hugely important as a reliable receiver on the outside and in the slot," according to John Schmeelk of Giants.com. Mooney is entering his first season in New York after an underwhelming 2025 season with the Atlanta Falcons, where he recorded 32 catches for 443 yards and one touchdown across 15 games. However, Mooney was far more productive in 2024, recording 992 receiving yards and five scores across 16 games for Atlanta. The Giants also offer a clear pathway to regular playing time. Star Giants WR1 Malik Nabers' (knee) health status for the start of the season is unknown, leaving Mooney to battle with Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin III, Malachi Fields, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham Jr., and Braxton Berrios for wide receiver reps in New York. While Mooney could easily get lost in the shuffle, he could just as easily emerge as the Giants' most reliable pass-catcher, at least until Nabers is healthy.
Source: Giants.com - John Schmeelk
Source: Giants.com - John Schmeelk
Brian Thomas Jr. in Line for Bounce-Back Season with Improved Health?
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated highlights improved health as the biggest reason for optimism that Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will have a bounce-back year in 2026. After recording 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, Thomas Jr. hauled in just 48 catches for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games in 2025. However, the 23-year-old played through early-season wrist and shoulder injuries before missing time later in the year due to a high-ankle sprain. While the Jaguars have other capable pass-catchers in wide receivers Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter (knee), Thomas Jr. profiles as Jacksonville's highest-upside wideout. If health was truly the largest reason for his struggles in 2025, Thomas Jr. could end up being a bargain selection for fantasy managers at his current redraft ADP of WR35.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Patriots Aiming to Make Christian Gonzalez the Highest-Paid Cornerback in the NFL
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters that the team has offered All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez a contract that would make him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL and the highest-paid player in team history, according to Patriots beat reporter Doug Kyed. The $31 million average annual value of the four-year extension signed by Trent McDuffie following his offseason trade to the Rams currently slots him as the league's highest-paid corner, but reports earlier this week suggested that similar talks are being had in Seattle that could make three-time Pro Bowler Devon Witherspoon the NFL's top-paid defensive back. Of note, Gonzalez and Witherspoon share the same agent, intrinsically linking their two situations and setting up a domino scenario that could drag into training camp but which should ultimately benefit both players.
Source: Doug Kyed
Source: Doug Kyed
Ashton Dulin in Line for Colts' Third Receiver Spot
The Indianapolis Colts operated out of 11 personnel on almost 63% of their offensive snaps in 2025, and with Michael Pittman Jr. no longer on the team, a notable void has been created alongside Alec Pierce (ankle) and Josh Downs in three-receiver sets. While the Colts remain a contender to sign one of the veteran free agents still on the market, Indianapolis radio host Kevin Bowen believes the leading candidate currently in the building is eighth-year pro Ashton Dulin. Dulin has spent his entire career with the Colts but never earned more than 22 targets in a season, with that coming back in 2021. Used primarily as a field-stretching threat, he has caught only seven total passes since Shane Steichen took over as head coach, but with Pierce expected to see a more well-rounded role in 2026, some of the deep shots that have defined his route tree in recent seasons could find their way to Dulin. The 29-year-old veteran is not ranked among RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026, but he is an intriguing enough player to pay attention to when the Colts reconvene for training camp on Tuesday.
Source: Kevin Bowen
Source: Kevin Bowen
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
