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Brock Bowers Likely Out For Week 2 As Well
Las Vegas Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers reportedly had a mensiscus trim surgery done in Dallas and according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport he could miss Week 2. "Out the opener, probably out week 2 and then we will see after that," Rapoport said on Good Morning Football. Rapoport did note that the fact that it was a meniscus trim rather than a meniscus repair is a promising sign as he says the trim surgeries are measured in weeks rather than months for meniscus repairs. Bowers is an elite tight end so his fantasy managers don't want to hear the news of his absence. But if he can keep it at just a two-week absence it will be manageable and will avoid potential disaster. But now it does sound like Bowers is unlikely for Week 2 as well.
Source: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport
George Kittle Will Be On "Pitch Count" During Season Opener
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle tore his right Achilles in January and has worked his way back to being available for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. However, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the talented tight end will be on a "pitch count to start, but a pretty dramatic return for one of the NFL's best tight ends. George Kittle is back." Kittle played in 11 games in 2025 and recorded 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 11.0 yards per reception and 57.1 yards per game. Even at age 32, Kittle is still one of the best tight end bets for fantasy. Returning from an Achilles tear as quickly as he did at that advanced age is a bit concerning, but if anyone can do it, it would be Kittle. Look for a bit of a slow start to the season as he adjusts back to playing, but he still should be a top-tier tight end.
Source: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport
A.J. Brown Diagnosed with a High Ankle Sprain
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) had a quiet debut with three catches for 26 yards on Wednesday night, before he was forced to leave with an injury. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Brown is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, which is an injury that usually requires multiple weeks to recover from. While X-Rays were negative for a fracture, the star receiver will have an MRI on Thursday to give the team a better timetable of how much time he'll miss. While Brown is out, Romeo Doubs will need to step up as he looks to rebound from his own disappointing debut. Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas will also likely get more playing time and targets, giving them the potential to pick up more work and fantasy value for as long as Brown is out.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Dallas Goedert Set for a Major Role
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert looks poised to continue to be his team's top option at tight end and play a major role this season. With A.J. Brown departing to the Patriots, more targets will be available for the rest of the Eagles' pass-catchers. Last year, Goedert had a career-high 60 catches for 591 yards and an impressive total of 11 touchdowns. There was concern for Goedert's playing time after the Eagles drafted Eli Stowers, but Stowers struggled in training camp and the preseason and appears to need more development time. Stowers is an elite athlete but is still new to the position, which should leave Goedert as a major contributor in the Eagles' offense, especially early in the season. He should be a reliable low-end TE1 with higher upside if he keeps finding the end zone so regularly in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Charlie Kolar Emerging as Early-Season Riser
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million contract with the Bolts this offseason, and the former Raven is atop the depth chart heading into his first season with the team. Kolar earned his way to the top spot due to his skills as both a blocker and receiver, which he showed throughout training camp and the preseason. He is ahead of both Oronde Gadsden and David Njoku, who are more proven pass-catchers but may be limited this year behind Kolar. In his first four seasons with the Ravens, Kolar only had 30 catches on 41 targets for 409 yards and four touchdowns, but his complete skill set at the position has earned him enough playing time to make him a player to monitor early in the season, especially if you're looking for emerging tight end depth in deep leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Kittle Will Complete His Comeback, Play in Week 1
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is off the injury report and has no designation for Thursday night's matchup in Melbourne against the Rams. Kittle tore his Achilles on January 11th against the Eagles, but the 32-year-old has been aiming for a Week 1 return. He'll hit that target and play on Thursday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Kittle could need some time to ramp up to a full workload, but he brings a high enough ceiling to be started in most formats right away. Kittle is the No. 8 tight end in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, so he should probably be in your lineup if you drafted him in most leagues. With a whole new wide receiver group, Kittle's rapport with QB Brock Purdy will be critical to the 49ers' ability to keep up with the Rams Down Under this Thursday.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Drew Lock Delivers With Big Second Half in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock stepped in for Sam Darnold (hip) in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. Lock completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also added 13 yards on the ground. Lock was thrust into a difficult situation on Wednesday with Darnold going down on the fifth play from scrimmage. The Seahawks' offense struggled to move the ball for most of the first half. However, Lock found his chemistry with his wide receivers in the second half, leading Seattle to 13 unanswered points and the eventual victory. Lock was efficient in this outing and recorded a QBR of 78.6. We have seen Lock succeed in relief of Seattle's starting quarterbacks in the past as well. As such, he should be able to continue supporting fantasy success for Seattle's skill players. Notably, Lock still supported a high-end WR1 outing for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If Lock has to play additional games, fantasy managers can rest assured that he should be able to keep the offense afloat.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rashid Shaheed Quiet in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed caught one of three targets for four yards on Wednesday against the New England Patriots. Despite his low target volume, Shaheed was much more involved in the offense in Week 1 than he was during the 2025 season. He played 66% of the snaps, and at one point, he was even lined up in the backfield for a pitch play before the Seahawks were called for a penalty. Despite his minimal output, fantasy managers should continue to roster him. The Seahawks' offense as a whole was not at its best in Week 1. Quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) went down with a hip injury on the fifth snap of the game, and it took the offense a full half to find its legs. Early news on Darnold's hip is positive, but backup quarterback Drew Lock demonstrated that he can hold down the offense if necessary. As such, the offense should only continue to improve. If it does, Shaheed's potential involvement is intriguing. Keep monitoring his usage in the coming weeks before letting him go to waivers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
AJ Barner Limited to Two Receptions in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (oblique) caught two passes for 13 yards in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. Barner was kept in check all night, with the Seahawks' offense struggling to move the ball at times. Barner entered the season with a path to a serious breakout after scoring six touchdowns and finishing as the TE14 in 2025. That path still exists and should begin to unfold as the Seahawks' offense finds its footing. With quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) sidelined in Week 1, it is unclear who will be under center next week. However, quarterback Drew Lock is a capable backup, and he should not affect Barner's ability to produce. For now, Barner is still best viewed as a TE. He can still emerge as the season wears on, but we will need to monitor his usage, particularly in the red zone. Expect better production when Seattle visits Arizona in Week 2.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
George Holani Keeps Pace With Rookie For Carries in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani was relatively involved in Seattle's Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. Rookie running back Jadarian Price drew the start, but Holani entered the game on the first drive, played 46% of the snaps, and recorded eight carries to Price's 10. Holani did not catch his only target of the game. Although Holani received a fair number of touches relative to Price, he was far less explosive. Price averaged 5.2 yards per carry to Holani's 3.6. However, it is clear that the Seahawks would like to work at least two running backs into the offense. As the offense improves, so too should the effectiveness of both backs. If Holani's yards per carry increase and he catches a couple of targets per game, he may garner flex appeal as long as Zach Charbonnet (knee) is out. Holani was also active when the Seahawks were near the goal line, suggesting that he possesses potential touchdown upside. He is worth rostering to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cooper Kupp Has Touchdown Called Back in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught two passes for 35 yards in Seattle's Week 1 win against the New England Patriots. Kupp also had a touchdown called back due to an illegal shift. The game was sloppy as a whole, with both offenses just getting their legs back under them. However, the Seahawks' usage of their pass catchers looked very similar to 2025. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with 11 targets while Kupp was tied for second place with just three. Kupp was targeted on got-to-have-it downs as a veteran presence, but it does appear that this is shaping up to be another quiet fantasy season for him. As the Seahawks' offense continues to improve, it is worth keeping an eye on Kupp's usage. However, for now, it is clear that he should not be in your lineup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Terrance Ferguson Still a Riskier Play Despite Favorable Matchup
Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson is trending up in fantasy football. As he continues to work his way toward the No. 1 spot on the depth chart, Ferguson has emerged as the Rams tight end to roster in redraft leagues. However, that doesn't mean he's a no-brainer fantasy option for Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Ferguson finished his rookie season on a high note with five catches and two touchdowns across two games, but other than that, we haven't seen him maintain a consistent fantasy-relevant role. It's fair to say that he could remain dependent on touchdowns, and he's certainly not a lock to find the end zone within an offense that also includes Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The good news for Ferguson is that he gets a softer matchup, as the Niners allowed the eighth-most fantasy points and sixth-most touchdowns to tight ends last year. Still, until Ferguson proves that he can handle a large workload every week, he's a riskier fantasy option. He ranks as the TE20 in RotoBaller's Week 1 fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Davante Adams a Touchdown-Dependent WR1 for Season Opener
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams has WR1 upside if he's able to find the end zone during Thursday's Week 1 contest against the San Francisco 49ers. If he's unable to score a touchdown, he'll still be worth starting, but he'll likely end up closer to the low-end WR2 range. Touchdowns were a key theme for Adams last year, as he caught a modest (by his standards) 60 passes for 789 yards but still managed to cross the goal line 14 times, tying his highest total since 2020. The 49ers' pass defense looks similar to last year, when they allowed the 14th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. They also ranked near the league median in terms of limiting scoring; they allowed the 15th-fewest touchdowns to wide receivers. Adams found success in this divisional matchup last year, totaling 11 catches, 145 yards, and one touchdown across two games against the Niners.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Puka Nacua's Quest to Defend WR1 Title Begins Thursday in Australia
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua finished as the overall WR1 in PPR leagues last season, and he'll look to replicate his elite campaign in 2026. He kicks off his season on Thursday in Australia against the San Francisco 49ers. We're expecting this 49ers pass defense to look somewhat similar to last year, which means Nacua should have no trouble finishing as a high-end WR1 this week. After all, the 2025 49ers allowed the 14th-most fantasy points, ninth-most catches, and 11th-most receiving yards to wide receivers. Nacua totaled 15 catches, 149 yards, and two touchdowns across his two games against the Niners last year. Potential discipline could await Nacua later in the season as the league continues to investigate his off-field conduct, but for now, he's a full-go in Week 1. He ranks as a high-end WR1 with a high ceiling and high floor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Romeo Doubs Has Path to High Target Share Following Injury
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs could have a great opportunity to bounce back from his disappointing Week 1 after an injury to A.J. Brown (ankle) could leave him more targets moving forward. Doubs didn't have a catch in his Patriots debut and had an ugly drop on what could have been a big gain. With Brown's departure from the game with an ankle injury that required a walking boot when he left the locker room, though, Doubs could be set for more work in the coming weeks as the team's most proven receiver. The veteran came over from the Packers as a free agent this offseason and had a strong training camp before his disappointing opener. He will have 10 days before Week 2's game against the Steelers to continue to build his rapport with Drake Maye. As both players try to erase the memory of Week 1, Doubs has the potential to step up as the team's top receiver for as long as Brown is out, making him a strong pickup from the waiver wire in almost all formats, depending on who else emerges this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
