Sep 8, 2026, 1:07 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is listed as a starting wideout for the team on their unofficial depth chart entering their Week 1 contest this Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. McMillan missed the entire preseason due to a knee injury, but he was back on the practice field on Monday and is trending in the right direction to play in the season opener this weekend in a favorable matchup against Cincy. At least to begin the 2026 campaign, McMillan will be in three-wide sets alongside Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka (toe), with Ted Hurst III checking in as the WR4. While McMillan rested during the summer, Hurst was turning heads and impressing the coaching staff, so McMillan will need to stay healthy and produce to hold off the impressive young pass-catcher. McMillan played in only four games in 2025 due to a serious neck injury he suffered in the preseason, but he caught 37 passes for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie in 2024 after being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. The 24-year-old is only rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues and is tough to recommend as a Week 1 starter in deeper leagues after he missed most of camp and the preseason.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine

Sep 8, 2026, 12:59 PM ET

Running back Rico Dowdle is listed as the No. 2 RB on the Pittsburgh Steelers' unofficial depth chart ahead of the team's Week 1 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday, Sept. 13, according to PGH Steelers Now's Alan Saunders. Fantasy managers should not read too much into this, as Dowdle is fully expected to be head coach Mike McCarthy's preferred option out of the backfield on early downs in 2026, and if he stays healthy, the 28-year-old could have a path to a third straight 1,000-rushing season with his third different team in the last three years. Jaylen Warren is likely listed as the RB1 on the depth chart because he is the incumbent of Pittsburgh's backfield. Dowdle handled a career-high 236 carries for 1,076 yards and a career-high six rushing touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in 2025 with the Carolina Panthers, adding 39 receptions for 297 yards and an additional score through the air. As the Steelers' preferred early-down option, Dowdle will have more fantasy value in standard-scoring leagues as an RB3/flex going into the Week 1 tilt this Sunday against Atlanta.--Keith Hernandez
Source: PGH Steelers Now - Alan Saunders

Sep 8, 2026, 12:50 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is listed as the team's RB1 on their unofficial depth chart heading into a Week 1 meeting against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday, according to Alan Saunders of PGH Steelers Now. Newcomer Rico Dowdle is expected to be the leader on early downs in Pittsburgh's backfield, but Warren is the incumbent at the position. Fantasy managers should take the Steelers' latest depth chart with a grain of salt, as Dowdle should still have a sizeable role in his first year in the Steel City, with a path to a third straight 1,000-rushing season with his third team in the last three years if he can stay healthy. Warren, meanwhile, could be a sneaky low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex in point-per-reception fantasy leagues as the Steelers' primary receiving back out of the backfield. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State did have a career-high 61 receptions for 370 yards back in 2023 in his second year in the league, and he could be a staple in PPR leagues with quarterback Aaron Rodgers showing a high tendency for dump-offs and checkdowns in this offense. Last year, Warren had 40 receptions on 45 targets for 333 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 16 regular-season games, and that was with Kenny Gainwell catching a whopping 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver.--Keith Hernandez
Source: PGH Steelers Now - Alan Saunders

Sep 8, 2026, 12:42 PM ET

On the Jacksonville Jaguars' unofficial depth chart heading into Week 1 of the 2026 regular season this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, running backs Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are listed as co-starters at the RB position. Tuten, a second-year back who had 307 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in his rookie campaign last year, is expected to see most of the early-down rushing opportunities for the Jaguars this year, and he has the most fantasy football upside because of his explosive big-play abilities out of the backfield. However, Rodriguez's presence as a pass-catching and goal-line option for head coach Liam Coen's offense will certainly lower Tuten's overall ceiling in Year 2 in Duvall. Fantasy managers should keep in mind that pass-catching specialist LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) is trending towards missing the season opener, which could give C-Rod more work as a receiver out of the backfield. Going into the Week 1 matchup against Cleveland, Tuten is the preferred fantasy option as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex, while Rodriguez will be more of a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex option in PPR formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Mia O'Brien

Sep 8, 2026, 12:32 PM ET

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said on Tuesday that running back Breece Hall (groin) is trending towards being ready for Week 1 this Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Tennessee Titans, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Hall has been trending this way for a while after initially suffering a minor strain of his right groin during training camp practice on Aug. 17. The Jets held Hall out as a precaution to close out camp and the preseason, but he should be ready to return to practice on Wednesday, and as long as he does not have a setback later this week, he should be ready to take on his role as the bell-cow back for Gang Green on Sunday against Tennessee. If Hall is limited at all, though, look for Braelon Allen to take on a bigger change-of-pace role to get the season started. The 25-year-old Hall had his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 in his fourth year in the league, adding four touchdowns on 243 rushing attempts across 16 starts. The former second-rounder added 36 catches for 350 yards and another score as a receiver. Hall should see enough volume alone to operate as a strong RB2 for fantasy managers in his fifth year in the NFL in a new offense led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt

Sep 8, 2026, 12:19 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) swung the bat on Monday before the team's game against the San Francisco Giants and is hoping to be activated from the 10-day injured list during the team's upcoming homestand that runs from Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 20, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It appears that the anti-inflammatory injection that Wetherholt received recently helped with his right-wrist tendinitis. With St. Louis' homestand kicking off this weekend, it does not look like the Cardinals will require Wetherholt to go on a short minor-league rehab assignment. The 23-year-old former seventh overall pick from West Virginia University has had a strong rookie campaign in 2026 and has been the Cardinals' primary second baseman all year. He will return to a .242/.343/.370 slash line with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 88 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in his 505 at-bats. It has been a struggle for Wetherholt in the second half, possibly because of the wrist issue he was playing through, as he has hit only .201 (31-for-154) with four homers, four doubles, 12 RBI, 30 runs, five stolen bases, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 40 games since the All-Star break.--Keith Hernandez
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold

Sep 8, 2026, 12:14 PM ET

Missouri left tackle Cayden Green (undisclosed) is on track to play in Week 2. The Tigers will be facing Kansas on Friday night. Green missed Week 1 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but still rolled to a 54-14 victory. Missouri had 562 total yards of offense in its first game, racking up 33 first downs along the way. The Tigers had 357 passing yards, along with 205 rushing yards. Green practiced on Monday and is trending toward playing this week. Getting Green back would aid in the team's efforts against a 1-0 Jayhawks' team. Green was a first-team All-SEC lineman last season and appeared on this year's All-SEC preseason team. He's projected to be drafted in the 2027 NFL Draft, maybe as early as Round 1.--Morgan Rode
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN

Sep 8, 2026, 12:08 PM ET

On the Philadelphia Eagles' unofficial depth chart released before Week 1, rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon is listed as a starting WR and as the team's top punt-return option, according to Andrew DiCecco of InsideTheBirds.com. Although Lemon missed valuable development time in training camp this summer with a hamstring injury, he was always a lock to be a starter in three-wide sets to begin his rookie campaign in 2026 after the Eagles traded A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots in the offseason. However, Lemon should be viewed as more of a WR3 than a WR2 because of his quiet summer and Dontayvion Wicks' strong camp. The former USC star certainly has the potential to pass Wicks on the depth chart in 2026 by the end of the season, but early on, fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for Lemon. He is coming off a very productive final season with the Trojans in 2025, in which he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games played. It is not a bad idea to keep Lemon on the bench in his NFL debut this Sunday night against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. Lemon is rostered in 75% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: InsideTheBirds.com - Andrew DiCecco

Sep 8, 2026, 12:05 PM ET

Florida wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (ankle) left the team's 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic after just one series. Head coach Jon Sumrall said that Singleton tried to come back, but wasn't able to, and then followed up on Monday by saying Singleton was "highly questionable" for Week 2 against Campbell. Singleton ended up not getting a target in the team's Week 1 win. He transferred in this season after catching 58 passes for 534 yards and three scores with Auburn last season. If Singleton misses Week 2 with his ankle injury, expect Bailey Stockton and TJ Abrams Jr. to help fill the void. Abrams had a 63-yard catch in the opener, while Stockton caught three passes for 20 yards and a score. Vernell Brown III led the team with six receptions for 117 yards and a score.--Morgan Rode
Source: Florida Gators on SI

Sep 8, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the SEC filed an amendment to its federal lawsuit on Tuesday against Lane Kiffin and LSU, seeking the authority to remove the program from the conference. However, the SEC is not expected to take the action if granted the authority. Instead, this move comes as an indication of the conference's seriousness in upholding the legal right to enforce its own rules. This all comes after LSU was granted a temporary restraining order against the SEC related to the eligibility of tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, who both were on NFL offseason rosters following the 2025 college football season. They played for Kiffin at Ole Miss. Although they are enrolled at LSU, they are not on the official roster and did not play in the Week 1 win over Clemson.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN

Sep 8, 2026, 11:59 AM ET

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is worth considering if you're already looking for a Week 1 streamer. He settled in once New Orleans gave him the job last season, throwing for 2,256 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions across nine starts while adding another 174 yards and three scores on the ground. That little bit of rushing helps here. Shough will go into 2026 as the starter, with Chris Olave still leading the receiver room, although rookie Jordyn Tyson will miss the beginning of the season on injured reserve. The matchup sends him to Detroit on Sunday, and the current Week 1 rankings have Shough at QB16 despite being rostered in only 43% of Yahoo leagues. He still makes the most sense in 14-team leagues or for managers who don't love their current starter, but this isn't just a desperation QB2. Shough can actually be used right away.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 8, 2026, 11:46 AM ET

Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa has a better path to playing time than his rookie numbers would suggest. He caught only 16 passes for 239 yards last season, but six went for touchdowns, and Detroit enters Week 1 with just four receivers on the active roster. Greg Dortch was released, Kalif Raymond left in free agency, and general manager Brad Holmes said TeSlaa is stepping into the No. 3 job behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The Lions also liked the progress he made as a route runner this summer. That does not make him a Week 1 starter. St. Brown, Williams, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs are still going to command most of the touches, and RotoBaller has TeSlaa at WR71 for the opener against New Orleans. He is rostered in only 6% of Yahoo leagues and is best left for 14-team formats or deeper benches, where the new role is worth taking a shot on before we see what the target share looks like.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 8, 2026, 11:45 AM ET

Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith (thumb) had surgery on his left thumb on Tuesday and will be placed on Injured Reserve, which will cause him to miss at least the first four games of the 2026 season, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. Smith tried to play through the injury, but ultimately, he and the team decided it was in the best interest of both sides to undergo surgery, which will fix a ligament tear. The earliest Smith could return to Dallas is on Oct. 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 on Thursday Night Football. The more realistic date for Smith's return might be the following week on Oct. 18 against the Green Bay Packers. The 25-year-old is a key piece of Dallas' offense, as he has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons, joining only Larry Allen and Zack Martin as the only guards in franchise history to accomplish that feat in their first four seasons. Smith also had a clean-up procedure on his right knee in February. With Smith out for at least the first four games this year, T.J. Bass is expected to replace him in the starting lineup after starting 10 games in his first three NFL seasons.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer

Sep 8, 2026, 11:38 AM ET

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones pointed out on 105.3 The Fan that the team's recent moves to restructure the contracts of defensive tackle Kenny Clark, cornerback DaRon Bland, and tight end Jake Ferguson, which freed up a little more than $19 million in salary-cap space, have given the team financial room to make a trade going into the 2026 season, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "That does show that we have really viable, serious room financially to make a trade if we wanted to right now," Jones said. Per NFLPA figures, the Cowboys have $33.6 million in cap room, but if it goes unused, it will be rolled over to next year's cap. Jones has been open to making another trade -- the Cowboys sent pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers right before the start of last season -- although nothing is currently on the table. Dallas acquired offensive tackle Broderick Jones and a fourth-round pick for third- and sixth-round picks from the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Cowboys were to make another trade soon, Jones admits that it would likely come on the defensive side of the ball. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer