RADIO
Brian Thomas Jr. Questionable to Return With Shoulder Injury
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) is questionable to return against the Cleveland Browns. Thomas had three catches for 40 yards before leaving with the injury. If he can't get back on the field, Travis Hunter is the most obvious candidate for more offensive snaps. Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers could also see a few more targets with Thomas unavailable.
Source: Mia O'Brien
Source: Mia O'Brien
Dylan Sampson Ruled Out With Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sampson was injured early in the first quarter and didn't record an offensive touch before leaving. He did return two kickoffs for 64 yards, including a 37-yard return on the opening kick. With Sampson done for the afternoon, Raheim Sanders is the next back up behind Quinshon Judkins.
Source: Camryn Justice
Source: Camryn Justice
Quentin Johnston Brings WR2 Upside in Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston is worth starting in Week 1 against Arizona. He is listed as a starter opposite Ladd McConkey after catching 51 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games last season. Keenan Allen is gone, which leaves more work available, and Johnston already flashed in Mike McDaniel's offense with a 65-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert in the preseason finale. Arizona allowed 3,923 passing yards and 31 touchdowns through the air in 2025, so there should be chances for Johnston to hit on another big play. RotoBaller has him at WR39 in its latest Week 1 rankings, but the site's current start/sit coverage has specifically highlighted him as a start with WR2 upside. McConkey is still the safer bet for targets, so Johnston is not without risk. Still, the matchup and scoring upside make him a strong flex option for Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Omar Cooper Jr. Questionable to Return With Ankle Injury
New York Jets wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle) is questionable to return against the Tennessee Titans. Cooper left the game with the ankle issue, putting his status for the rest of the afternoon in doubt. If he can't get back out there, Isaiah Williams would be the next receiver in line for more work. Arian Smith could also pick up some additional snaps with Cooper unavailable.
Source: Terry McCormick
Source: Terry McCormick
Dylan Sampson Questionable to Return With Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) is questionable to return against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sampson entered the game as the primary backup to Quinshon Judkins, so Cleveland could be thinner than expected in the backfield if he can't make it back. Raheim Sanders would be the next man up behind Judkins. For now, Sampson's status is worth monitoring as the game continues.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Marvin Harrison Jr. Carries Too Much Risk in Week 1
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is healthy again, but Week 1 is not an easy spot to trust him against the Chargers. Harrison finished last season with 41 catches for 608 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games, and Arizona has spent the offseason finding more ways to move him around in Mike LaFleur's offense. The target competition has not gone away. Trey McBride dominated targets last year, Michael Wilson broke 1,000 yards, and rookie Jeremiyah Love gives the Cardinals another player they will want involved. Los Angeles was also one of the NFL's tougher pass defenses in 2025, allowing only 16 passing touchdowns. RotoBaller still has Harrison at WR31 for Week 1, but its latest start/sit guidance recommends sitting him. There is upside if Arizona falls behind and Jacoby Brissett has to throw, but fantasy managers with a safer WR3 or flex option should use it.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson Belongs in Week 1 Lineups
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson should be in fantasy lineups Sunday against Minnesota. Watson enters Week 1 healthy and was not listed on Green Bay's injury report this week. He returned from a torn ACL in Week 8 last season and still finished with 35 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games, averaging 17.5 yards per reception. The target picture is cleaner now, too. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded, leaving Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden as Green Bay's top three receivers. Minnesota was excellent against the pass last season, allowing only 2,694 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, so this is not a matchup-driven start. Watson's role and big-play ability are the reason to trust him. RotoBaller has him at WR22 for Week 1 and recommends him as a flex in all leagues and a WR2 in 12-team formats. He belongs in lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
MarShawn Lloyd a Risky Flex Play in Week 1
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd gets his first real chance to lead the backfield Sunday against Minnesota. Josh Jacobs is unavailable, and Lloyd sits first on the depth chart ahead of Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson. The opportunity is there. The track record is not. Lloyd has seven regular-season touches since entering the NFL in 2024 after injuries wiped out almost all of his first two seasons. Green Bay could also work Brooks and Johnson into the rotation rather than immediately handing Lloyd a full workload. Minnesota makes the debut tougher, too, after allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs last season. Lloyd should still see enough work to matter, especially if he gets the early-down and goal-line carries. Fantasy managers can use him as a low-end RB2 or flex, but there is enough uncertainty here to avoid treating him like a locked-in starter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justin Herbert to Unlock New Calls in Playbook?
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has the talent to execute plays that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has never called before, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport noted that McDaniel is an offensive mastermind with several unique plays in his playbook, but he wasn't able to use many of them when he was the head coach in Miami. The report danced around the exact reason why McDaniel hasn't called those plays, but presumably, he didn't have enough confidence in his Dolphins quarterbacks, including Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers. Herbert peaked as a QB2 in his second pro season, but he returned to the top-10 fantasy quarterback range last year. Playing in a McDaniel-led offense could help the Chargers quarterback return to elite form in fantasy football.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
A.J. Brown Won't Require Ankle Surgery
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) is expected to miss the next four to six weeks, but he won't require surgery on his ankle, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Brown suffered the injury during Wednesday's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. He was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, and the current timeline for recovery suggests that he may end up on injured reserve. However, it's encouraging that he won't need surgery. New England only got three catches for 26 yards from its flashy offseason addition before he exited Week 1. Once he returns to action, he'll rank as a low-end WR1 in fantasy football while serving as quarterback Drake Maye's favorite target. In the meantime, Romeo Doubs, Kyle Williams, and DeMario Douglas will take on bigger roles in the passing game.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Darren Waller Active for Week 1 Season Opener
Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is officially active for his debut with the Panthers in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, according to Darin Gantt of the team's official website. With Waller active, Ja'Tavion Sanders is the odd man out as a healthy inactive to begin the 2026 season. Waller said earlier this week that he was practicing as if he was going to play against the Bears, and that turns out to be the case. However, the 34-year-old veteran will most likely be on a snap count as the Panthers continue to ease him into their offense after signing him in training camp. The Panthers also have Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Feleipe Franks active to help carry the workload at tight end on Sunday against Chicago. Waller certainly has the most fantasy football appeal of any tight end on Carolina's roster for his red-zone prowess, but durability is a major concern, and he should be left out of starting lineups in Week 1, even in two-TE leagues.
Source: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
Source: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
Ja'Tavion Sanders a Healthy Scratch for Week 1
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders is a healthy inactive for the team's season opener in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, according to Darin Gantt of the team's official website. Sanders will not play to begin the season and has become the odd man out in the Panthers' TE room after they signed veteran Darren Waller during training camp this summer. In addition to Waller, Carolina has Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Feleipe Franks on the active roster for Sunday's game. The 23-year-old Sanders, a fourth-rounder in 2024 from the University of Texas, has caught only 62 of his 77 targets for 532 yards and two touchdowns in 29 games (13 starts) in his first two NFL seasons, and barring an injury to one of the team's other TEs, he could be a healthy scratch again in Week 2 when the Panthers take on the division-rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Source: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
Source: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
Skyler Bell Won't Make His NFL Debut in Week 1
Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 1 against the Houston Texans. Bell entered this weekend listed fourth on the depth chart, largely thanks to a productive first training camp. He even caught seven passes for 49 yards throughout the preseason. However, his NFL debut will have to wait at least another week. Joshua Palmer should step into the No. 4 role, and Greg Dortch was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday to round out the Bills' depth chart. DJ Moore remains the only Bills receiver who should be started in all 12+ team leagues, but Khalil Shakir may have some low-end appeal in deeper 14+ team formats.
Source: Buffalo Bills
Source: Buffalo Bills
Olamide Zaccheaus to Serve as Emergency Third QB, RB
With both quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) ruled out for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus will be the team's emergency third QB behind Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. And with the Falcons having only two running backs active -- Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson -- Zaccheaus will also be the team's emergency third-string running back. While this does not move the needle at all in fantasy for Zaccheaus, it speaks to his versatility and athleticism on the football field. The 29-year-old former undrafted free agent from Virginia has never had more than 45 receptions, 533 yards, or three touchdowns in a single season in his seven years in the NFL with the Falcons, Eagles, Commanders, and Bears. Zaccheaus caught 39 passes for 313 yards and two scores in 16 regular-season games in 2025 with the Bears, and he opens up the 2026 season as the Falcons' WR3 behind Drake London and Jahan Dotson.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Ty Johnson Won't Play in Season Opener Against Texans
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (hamstring) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Houston Texans. Johnson didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so he was already trending in the wrong direction in the middle of last week. He did log a limited session on Friday and managed to enter the weekend listed as questionable. However, in the end, he won't play in the season opener. Johnson's biggest contributions last year came on passing downs, as nearly two-thirds of his touches were catches. He had more receiving yards than rushing yards, and he scored five touchdowns throughout the season despite playing behind James Cook. His absence on Sunday will put Ray Davis in the backup role behind Cook.
Source: Buffalo Bills
Source: Buffalo Bills
