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Dilin Jones Has Flex Appeal Against Louisiana Tech
LSU running back Dilin Jones made a strong first impression in the Tigers' 51-10 win over Clemson, rushing 23 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Harlem Berry finished with only four carries for nine yards, and RotoBaller's postgame coverage identified Jones as the clear RB1 coming out of the opener. Louisiana Tech visits Baton Rouge on Saturday after holding Northwestern State to 86 rushing yards in an 80-6 win. That came against an FCS opponent, so LSU presents a much different challenge. RotoBaller ranks Jones RB55 for Week 2, keeping him more in the flex range than automatic-start territory. Still, the 23-carry debut gives Jones a solid opportunity to put together another useful fantasy performance.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Caleb Hawkins Faces Tough Test Against Oregon
Oklahoma State running back Caleb Hawkins handled plenty of work in his Cowboys debut, rushing 18 times for 79 yards and catching six passes for another 29 in a 24-10 loss to Tulsa. The result was disappointing for Oklahoma State, but 24 touches showed that Hawkins remains a major part of the offense. Finding room could be much tougher against Oregon in Week 2. The Ducks held Boise State to 93 rushing yards on 36 carries and did not allow a rushing touchdown in their opener. RotoBaller has dropped Hawkins to 55th overall and RB24 for the week. His receiving involvement helps in a game where Oklahoma State could be playing from behind, but the matchup lowers the ceiling considerably. Hawkins is better viewed as a lower-end RB2 than a must-start option Saturday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jeremiyah Love to Practice Wednesday, Still TBD for Week 1
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said that rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) will practice on Wednesday, and he expects him to not be limited, according to Darren Urban of the team's official website. Love's game status for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers depends on how he looks this week in practice. If Love is a full-go in the first official practice of the week for Arizona, we would expect him to make his regular-season NFL debut against the Chargers. The Notre Dame product is trending towards being active this weekend, but that does not mean he will lead the Cardinals' backfield in his first game. Veteran Tyler Allgeier was listed as the team's RB1 on their first unofficial depth chart and seems primed to handle at least the early-down role on Sunday against the Bolts, making Love an easy fade in DFS lineups. In traditional fantasy leagues, Love should be considered more of a shaky low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex if he is fully cleared later this week. Stay tuned for the Cardinals' official practice statuses through Friday.
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Cam Cook Carries Must-Start Status Into Week 2
West Virginia running back Cam Cook wasted little time taking control of the Mountaineers' backfield, rushing 30 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina. He also caught two passes for 11 yards, while his 30 carries easily led the team despite quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. adding 103 rushing yards of his own. Cook now gets an FCS matchup with UT Martin, which surrendered 228 rushing yards and two touchdowns to Central Arkansas in its opener. RotoBaller has Cook ninth overall and RB6 in its Week 2 CFF rankings. After seeing 32 touches in his West Virginia debut and drawing another favorable matchup, Cook belongs firmly in must-start territory Saturday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Going on Injured List With Sprained Thumb
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (thumb) will require a stint on the injured list after suffering a sprained right thumb in Tuesday's game, according to Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record. Chisholm will not do any baseball activities for seven to 10 days. With the starting second baseman going on the shelf, shortstop Anthony Volpe is an option to be called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for more middle-infield depth at the big-league level. The speedy Jose Caballero is starting at the keystone on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. It is bad timing for Chisholm to go down with an injury, but the good news is the Yankees just got All-Star slugger Aaron Judge back for the first time since a stress fracture in his rib in late May. Given the timing of Chisholm's injury, he may not be back for the Yankees in the regular season to close out September, and fantasy managers definitely should not expect him to help in playoff matchups. The 28-year-old leads the league with 40 stolen bases in 461 at-bats in 2026 while also slashing .232/.312/.403 with 19 home runs, 55 RBI, and 68 runs scored.
Source: The Bergen Record - Pete Caldera
Source: The Bergen Record - Pete Caldera
Antwan Raymond Gets Better Matchup in Week 2
Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond will try to rebound Friday night at Boston College after a rough opener against UMass. Raymond finished with 42 yards on 14 carries and caught two passes for eight yards, a sharp drop from the 1,241 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns he posted last season. The matchup is more inviting this week. Boston College allowed Cincinnati to run for 254 yards and three touchdowns on 46 carries in its opener, with Gi'Bran Payne gaining 108 yards on 14 attempts. Still, RotoBaller has Raymond only 127th overall and RB44 for Week 2, and Rutgers will be starting AJ Surace at quarterback with Dylan Lonergan injured. Raymond has bounce-back potential, but he is better treated as a deeper flex option than a must-start.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Adonai Mitchell Carries Breakout Potential into 2026
Entering his first full season with the New York Jets, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell looks to be well-positioned to put together his most productive campaign. After being acquired by the Jets from the Indianapolis Colts at the 2025 trade deadline, Mitchell recorded 24 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns on 58 targets across eight games. While the 23-year-old's per-target efficiency wasn't spectacular, it's important to remember that he was saddled with some of the worst quarterback play in the NFL down the stretch of the year. Entering 2026, New York's passing game should at least have a bit more stability under veteran signal-caller Geno Smith. Mitchell also appears to be firmly entrenched as the Jets' WR2 alongside star WR1 Garrett Wilson, at least to begin the year. Given his lack of an established track record and the Jets' overall offensive question marks, Mitchell's profile is not without risk for fantasy managers. However, he may still be worth targeting as an early-season stash candidate just in case he has a breakout year in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jamal Rule Draws Favorable Week 2 Matchup
Nebraska running back Jamal Rule made an immediate impact in his college debut, rushing 15 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns while adding two catches for 47 yards and another score in a 49-21 win over Ohio. He led the Huskers in carries and rushing yards, though Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee were also involved in a productive backfield. Rule gets another favorable setup in Week 2 against Bowling Green. The Falcons allowed 258 rushing yards on 33 carries to Tarleton State, including 250 yards from Tylan Hines. RotoBaller ranks Rule 102nd overall and RB34 for Week 2, ahead of Nebraska backs Kwinten Ives and Mekhi Nelson. The workload may still be shared, but Rule has done enough to warrant flex consideration in this matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Can Second Hail Mary Ignite Bryce Underwood's Season?
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood looked like the biggest bust of Week 1 until Michigan got a second chance and capitalized. Until the last drive, Underwood completed 62% of his passes for 95 yards and one interception; on the final drive, he completed two of six passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore finished Week 1 with 18.5 fantasy points but was largely propped up by the last drive of the game. This week, Michigan faces one of the best defenses in college football in Oklahoma, which allowed only 14.8 points per game in 2025 and shut out UTEP in Week 1. Michigan will likely rely more on its running game in Week 2; however, Oklahoma is an elite run defense as well. If this forces Michigan into a more pass-heavy script, it could spell trouble for everyone on the Michigan offense. RotoBaller has Underwood ranked as QB51 for Week 2, and fantasy owners should find another option at quarterback.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Juwan Johnson Primed for Early-Season Target Volume in New Orleans
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson put together the most productive season of his career in 2025, recording 77 catches for 889 yards and three touchdowns on 102 targets across 17 games. Alongside star Saints wideout Chris Olave, Johnson spent much of the year as the clear second option in the New Orleans passing game. With Saints rookie first-round wideout Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) on Injured Reserve to begin the year, Johnson appears to be in a similar situation in New Orleans to open 2026. Across his final 11 games of 2025, Johnson topped double-digit PPR fantasy points seven times. For as long as Tyson remains sidelined, Johnson carries top-12 fantasy tight end upside and should likely be rostered across most league formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Terrance Ferguson Well-Positioned for a Second-Year Breakout in 2026?
A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson recorded 11 catches for 231 yards and three touchdowns on 25 targets across 14 games (three starts) as a rookie last season. While the 23-year-old flashed high-end talent, the depth of the Rams tight end room prevented him from playing a high-volume role. Entering 2026, Los Angeles once again fields a deep tight end room that features veterans Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, and Davis Allen as well as rookie second-rounder Max Klare. However, Ferguson reportedly had a strong camp and profiles as the team's highest-upside receiving option at tight end. If he can work his way into consistent playing time this season, Ferguson has the talent to be a breakout candidate. In deeper league formats, fantasy managers may want to consider stashing Ferguson through the early portion of the year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Out With Thumb Injury on Wednesday
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (thumb) is not in the team's starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the visiting Colorado Rockies, per MLB.com. Chisholm will sit out after being pulled from Tuesday's series opener in the Bronx early due to a right-thumb injury that he suffered on a slide into second base. Jose Caballero will make the start at the keystone on Wednesday and will hit out of the nine-hole against Rockies right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano. As of now, fantasy managers should consider Chisholm to be day-to-day and check back on him on Thursday to see if he is available to return for the series finale against Colorado. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger and two-time All-Star is one of the best power/speed options in fantasy at the second base position, but he also has third base eligibility in Yahoo leagues. The seven-year veteran enters play on Wednesday with a .232/.312/.403 slash line, .715 OPS, 19 home runs, 55 RBI, a league-high 40 stolen bases, and 68 runs scored across his 134 games and 520 plate appearances. Chisholm's power has been down after hitting a career-high 31 homers in 2025 in his first year in the Bronx, but he has made up for it by tying his career high with 40 thefts.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Caleb Douglas Could Be Poised for Heavy Usage in Miami
A third-round pick out of Texas Tech in the 2026 NFL Draft, Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas could have a chance to play a significant role in his team's offense right away. The Dolphins appear to have plenty of targets and playing time available on the outside, as underwhelming veterans Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington are the team's most experienced wide receivers. Douglas also drew positive reviews for his work in training camp and then saw minimal usage throughout the preseason, which could indicate that the team is planning to feature him heavily once the regular season begins. The Dolphins' passing game has plenty of question marks to open the year in quarterback Malik Willis' first season as the team's starter, so fantasy managers may not want to rely on Douglas for immediate production. Still, Douglas' season-long upside makes him a worthy stash target going into Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Will Byrum Brown Bounce Back In Week 2?
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown had a disappointing debut in Week 1 against Baylor, scoring only 16.06 fantasy points compared to his 34.1 fantasy points per game average in 2025 at USF. Brown completed 74% of his 35 pass attempts for 259 yards and three interceptions. He added 21 carries for 27 yards and one touchdown. The Baylor defense put Brown under constant duress in Week 1 with 13 pressures and five sacks. Auburn responded by calling more quick passes, which is reflected in Brown's 7.4 YPA and 7.9 ADOT, both of which are his lowest marks since his freshman season. Brown's rushing and passing upside make him a potential league winner in any week, but the SEC may expose his passing inaccuracies. Brown is ranked as QB27 by RotoBaller for Week 2, and fantasy owners should hold off on putting him back into their lineups until he shows he can produce at the SEC level.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Michael Mayer a Top Tight End Streamer Following Injury to Teammate
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer's pass-catching production has been limited over the past two seasons thanks to the presence of superstar Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee). However, the Raiders announced on Wednesday that Bowers recently had a meniscus trim and is now expected to miss the first one or two games of 2026. As a result, Mayer should operate as the Raiders' TE1 to begin the year. Across the four games he played in 2025 when Bowers was sidelined by injury, Mayer recorded 18 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets. The Raiders should have a more stable offensive environment in 2026 with Kirk Cousins at quarterback and Klint Kubiak calling plays. Ahead of a relatively favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, Mayer could be a worthy tight end streamer for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
