RADIO
Demond Claiborne Unlikely to See Significant Action
Minnesota Vikings running back Demond Claiborne was unlikely to make a legitimate push for playing time this summer. The 22-year-old was likely always going to be a depth option after being taken in the sixth-round by the Vikings during this year's draft. Claiborne did little to impress during the preseason, and he appears to have himself locked into the RB3 role in Minnesota. There probably won't be room for much action with Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason leading the way in the running game. His only chance at seeing serious playing time would be if one of the backs goes down with an injury. He is best left on the waiver wire in redraft formats to begin the year.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Marvin Mims Jr. Could See Reduced Role
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. might have taken a step back on the depth chart. The 24-year-old appears to have lost the No. 3 wideout battle to Pat Bryant during the summer. Bryant posted a decent rookie campaign and appears to have secured himself a starting gig to begin the season. Mims will likely take a step back and play more of a reserve role to start the season, which makes him a shaky option in redrafts. The Broncos already have Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton as their primary passing options. There might not be enough room for Mims to be a serious threat this upcoming season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tutu Atwell has Path to WR3 Role
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell has a path to being a starter to begin the season. The Rams recently acquired Atwell in a deal that sent running back Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins. The 26-year-old will return to Los Angeles after spending the first five years of his career with the team. He signed with the Dolphins over the offseason, but was traded to the Rams because he likely wasn't going to make the 53-man roster. Now, Atwell has a chance to be the third wideout in this offense. However, that role might not mean too much with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams ahead of him on the depth chart. Atwell did very little as a receiver last season, so he's probably best left on the waiver wire until he proves he can do something consistently.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Nate Boerkircher is Best Left as a Dynasty Stash
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Nate Boerkircher is unlikely to see a significant role in the offense to begin the season. The Jaguars selected Boerkircher in the second-round of this year's draft out of Texas A&M. He didn't see a ton of action during the preseason, but the Jags do like his offensive upside. The downside is that Boerkircher is the clear No. 2 option behind Brenton Strange to begin the season. Barring any injuries, Boerkircher is unlikely to see a ton of action during his rookie campaign. The 25-year-old could be worth stashing in dynasty leagues for fantasy managers who are willing to wait on his development. The Jaguars spent a second-round pick on Boerkircher, so they do believe he can be a contributor at some point.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tyler Higbee Could Get Lost in the Shuffle
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee is likely to see reduced playing time this upcoming season. He signed a two-year deal with the Rams in March, but that doesn't guarantee that he's going to be a significant part of the offense. The Rams have Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, and rookie Max Klare all fighting for playing time as well. Higbee hasn't exactly been much of a threat in the offense since his 2022 season. The 33-year-old was likely just brought back as depth, but he'll probably struggle to remain relevant in the passing attack. It's probably best to leave Higbee on the waiver wire to begin the season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Ja'Tavion Sanders Likely to Lose Playing Time
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders might not be as appealing of a fantasy option as he was earlier in the summer. The Panthers recently signed veteran tight end Darren Waller to a deal for the 2026 season. He has been taking first-time reps, which pushes the rest of the tight ends down a spot. The latest unofficial depth chart has Sanders listed as third behind Waller and Tommy Tremble. The presence of Waller is certainly going to hurt Sanders' path to playing time. The 23-year-old still has decent upside as a dynasty stash, but he isn't someone who should be rostered in redraft formats to begin the season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Olamide Zaccheaus has Interesting Upside as Starter
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus has been quietly moving up draft boards recently. In the latest unofficial depth chart, Zaccheaus is listed as a starter ahead of rookie Zachariah Branch. The expectation is that Zaccheaus will remain a starter to begin the season while Branch gets more comfortable as a pro. Down the road, Zaccheaus could lose playing time, but he might be a deep league option to begin the season. The Falcons are going to lean on Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. as their focal points in the passing game. They also have stud running back leading the charge on the ground. There might not be a ton of work for Zaccheaus, but he could be worth stashing in deep leagues to begin the year.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jadarian Price Unlikely to Occupy Every-Down Role in Seattle
Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price will be a major part of the team's offense this season, but he's not expected to occupy an every-down role, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. "I don't know if he's going to be that huge 20-carry-per-game workload, because Seattle likes to use two or three backs," Fowler said. "That's their plan this season." Hype had been growing for Price in recent weeks, especially after the Seahawks officially placed Zach Charbonnet (knee) on the PUP list. However, this latest update shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Indeed, Seattle is known for sharing the running back workload, and Price's track record suggested he isn't ready for an every-down role. During his final season at Notre Dame, he averaged just 9.4 carries per game, albeit in a role behind fellow first-round pick Jeremiyah Love. We do imagine that Price will be the preferred ball-carrier while Charbonnet is sidelined, but we fully expect George Holani and Emanuel Wilson to carve out sizable roles, too.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Rashid Shaheed Will Take on a Bigger Role in 2026
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is expected to be "more of a complete receiver" this season, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Fowler pointed out that Shaheed didn't have a huge offensive impact after being acquired from the Saints at last year's trade deadline, but that should change going forward. The 28-year-old had a "killer offseason," according to Fowler, and he's expected to eat into Jaxon Smith-Njigba's workload. This isn't any sort of indictment on Smith-Njigba, but rather a result of the Seahawks wanting to spread the ball around so that the former Offensive Player of the Year doesn't have to be relied on for a 36% target share again this year. The exact workload for Shaheed remains unclear, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him have weekly WR3/flex appeal, especially in a Seahawks offense that is expected to be firing on all cylinders following their Super Bowl victory.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Seahawks Expected to Feature Both A.J. Barner and Elijah Arroyo
The Seattle Seahawks' new-look offense is expected to feature plenty of two tight end sets, which will result in a large role for both A.J. Barner and Elijah Arroyo, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. "Barner and Arroyo are going to be major parts of this offense," Fowler said. Seattle's offense is now led by coordinator Brian Fleury, who comes from the San Francisco coaching tree. Fleury has spent four years as the tight end coach with the Niners, leading an impressive unit headlined by superstar George Kittle. While we don't expect Kittle-caliber production from either Barner or Arroyo, it does sound like one or both tight ends will get on the fantasy radar. The incumbent starter is Barner, who had 52 catches, 519 yards, and six touchdowns last year. However, managers shouldn't sleep on Arroyo, comes with high draft capital after being a second-round pick in 2025. As it stands, Barner is RotoBaller's TE25, while Arroyo ranks as the TE47.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Giants Sign Jon Runyan to a Two-Year Extension
The New York Giants have signed guard Jon Runyan to a two-year, $22 million contract extension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The deal includes $21.5 million guaranteed. Runyan provided key protection to Jaxson Dart last season, posting an 84.5 PFF pass-blocking grade. However, he needs to improve in run blocking, where his PFF grade dropped to a woeful mark of 49.1. The veteran lineman was slated to hit free agency next offseason, so the new deal will tack on one additional year. Having him under contract for two more years will provide some stability within a revamped offensive line that will be tasked with keeping Dart and Cam Skattebo upright.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Cardinals Expected to Ease Jeremiyah Love Back Into the Offense
The Arizona Cardinals are expected to "ease" rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) back into the offense, according to Donnie Druin of Sports Illustrated. Love suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Cardinals' preseason opener, putting his status for Week 1 up in the air. Druin expects that Love will be active, but that the Cardinals will lean on Tyler Allgeier more than the rookie during the regular-season opener on Sept. 13. This makes sense from both an injury and developmental standpoint. There's no need to rush Love back to a full workload before he's ready, especially since Allgeier has proven that he can be a lead back in the NFL. The Cardinals are taking it week by week with Love, but we wouldn't even be surprised if Allgeier gets a few starts before Love gets back up to full speed. Love is a high-end RB2 in fantasy leagues this season, but we'd be hesitant to start him for at least the first week or two. Meanwhile, Allgeier is more of a handcuff long-term, but he should get onto the RB2 radar for the first game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Source: Donnie Druin
Source: Donnie Druin
Puka Nacua Expected to Play Week 1 in Australia
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (groin) is expected to play in the season opener in Australia, head coach Sean McVay said, according to Nate Atkins. Nacua has been facing the possibility of discipline under the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, but no suspension has been announced. McVay also expects offensive tackle Alaric Jackson, who has been dealing with his own potential discipline, to play. Nacua caught 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns across 16 games last season, leading the NFL in receptions. The Rams open against San Francisco in Melbourne on Sept. 10. McVay's comments are a strong sign that Nacua will be available for Week 1, though there has been no public indication that the NFL's review of his situation is finished.
Source: Nate Atkins
Source: Nate Atkins
Kalif Raymond Making Noise in Bears Camp
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond has spent the summer making a stronger case for offensive work than most expected when he signed in March. The veteran caught a 54-yard touchdown from Caleb Williams during an early camp practice, and the connection kept showing up from there. Williams found Raymond deep again on Aug. 18, hit him for a touchdown during the joint practice with Cincinnati and connected with him on another difficult downfield throw in padded work Sept. 3. Ben Johnson has praised what Raymond has brought to Chicago, while the Bears themselves noted that he excelled throughout camp. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III still sit ahead of him in the receiver pecking order, so this isn't suddenly a high-volume fantasy role. Raymond caught only 24 passes for 289 yards and one touchdown with Detroit last season. Still, he's looked like more than just a return specialist this summer. RotoBaller has him at WR101 in half-PPR formats, keeping him mostly in the deep-league conversation for now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jameis Winston Lands Two-Year Extension With Giants
New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston has agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract extension, according to Jordan Schultz. The new deal keeps Winston with the Giants through the 2028 season after he originally signed a two-year, $8 million contract with New York in 2025. Schultz reports that Winston has become an important part of the quarterback room as a leader and in the development of starter Jaxson Dart, with the organization viewing him as the best backup quarterback in football. Winston appeared in three games last season and made two starts, completing 37 of 66 passes for 567 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Dart remains firmly established as New York's starter, but the Giants now have their experienced No. 2 locked in for several more seasons.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
