RADIO
Juwan Johnson Has a Clear Path to Early-Season Targets
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson should see an uptick in targets early this season as he helps to fill the void of wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring). Johnson was a wide receiver in college, so even though he's a tight end now, he remains a legitimate receiving threat with impressive size and athleticism. While the coaching staff is high on Devaughn Vele, there's a very legitimate chance that Johnson ranks second on the team in targets (behind Chris Olave) for the duration of Tyson's absence. Tyson is expected to be sidelined through late October, setting up Johnson to see enough targets for him to rank as a low-end TE1. There's certainly precedent here, as Johnson was the overall TE8 while playing in a similar-looking offense last year. It's also encouraging that he performed better with Tyler Shough as his quarterback (11.5 PPR points per game) than with Spencer Rattler (9.5 PPR points per game). Johnson currently has an ADP of 146.3, which corresponds to the 13th round and makes him the 16th tight end off the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Daniel Jones Fully Healthy and Undervalued in Drafts
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has fully recovered from last season's Achilles injury, but it doesn't look like his ADP has completely adjusted yet. As it stands, Jones has an ADP of 174.7, which corresponds to the 15th round and makes him the 23rd quarterback off the board. That seems to be a slightly pessimistic evaluation of the 29-year-old, who ranked as the QB7 in total points before getting injured last year. Even if Jones doesn't quite replicate his QB7 ranking this year, he's still a reasonable candidate to finish among the top 12 quarterbacks in fantasy football. Therefore, now that he's fully healthy, he's somewhat of a steal at his current price tag. He stands to benefit from a strong supporting cast, including Keenan Allen, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Tyler Warren, and Jonathan Taylor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zachariah Branch Off the Fantasy Radar Entirely?
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch is not expected to have a starting role in Week 1, and his low position on the depth chart likely takes him off the redraft radar entirely. The Falcons' latest depth chart lists Branch with the second-team offense, likely putting him in the No. 4 or No. 5 receiver role. He's penciled in behind Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Jahan Dotson, as well as potentially Chris Blair. Branch was a third-round pick, so it's not a total shock to see him lower on the depth chart to open his career. With that said, he caught 81 passes at Georgia last year, so we know that he can produce against a strong caliber of opponent. Nevertheless, it looks like fantasy managers will have to be patient with Branch, who is likely headed for a more consistent role on special teams than on offense. He caught just four passes for 21 yards in the preseason, and he has fallen to WR81 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan James No Longer a Handcuff to Target in Fantasy Drafts
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James seems to have lost his appeal as a handcuff option in fantasy football. Heading into the back half of August, it seemed like James was in line to earn the No. 2 running back role behind Christian McCaffrey, especially after Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) was placed on the PUP list. Instead, James is third on the depth chart while rookie Kaelon Black occupies the backup role. In years past, we have seen that the 49ers' No. 2 running back only has fantasy value when McCaffrey misses time. In other words, his backup has always been a handcuff and never really possessed standalone value. Now that James has fallen to third on the depth chart, his fantasy value is dwindling even further. He's still worth stashing in deeper leagues in case the depth chart changes or McCaffrey gets hurt and Black can't handle the lead-back role on his own. However, there's no incentive to roster him in redraft leagues at the moment.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carson Steele Back with Eagles on Practice Squad
Free agent running back Carson Steele has been signed to the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad, according to an announcement from the team. Steele had been with the Eagles throughout training camp and the preseason. He was uninspiring on the ground with just 59 rushing yards on 21 carries (2.8 YPC), but he made up for it as the team's leading receiver. In total, he caught 14 passes for 136 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. His dominant preseason receiving stat line wasn't quite enough to get him a roster spot, nor did any of the other 31 teams want to sign him to their 53-man roster. However, the Eagles evidently felt like he was worth bringing back as a practice squad player. Other teams can still bring him onto their 53-man roster, but for now, he'll offer depth behind Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley without occupying an active roster spot. He remains off the fantasy radar in most leagues.
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
Chris Jones Sitting Out With Minor Back Injury
Kansas City Chiefs starting defensive tackle Chris Jones (back) sat out Wednesday's practice with a back injury that is not expected to keep him sidelined for long, head coach Andy Reid told Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports. From what Goldman understands, it "likely amounts more to veteran rest." The Chiefs are just playing it safe with one of the best defensive tackles in the league as the 2026 regular season approaches. As long as Jones does not suffer a setback with his back injury next week, he should be just fine for the regular-season opener on Monday night, Sept. 14, versus the Denver Broncos. The 32-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro had back-to-back double-digit sack seasons for KC in 2022 and 2023, including a career-high-tying 15.5 sacks in 2022, but he has combined for only 12 sacks in the last two seasons. In 17 starts in 2025, Jones tallied 29 tackles (15 solo), seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 25 QB hits in his 10th year in the league. Because of his lack of overall tackles, Jones is hard to trust for consistent production as a D-lineman in IDP fantasy formats.
Source: A to Z Sports - Charles Goldman
Source: A to Z Sports - Charles Goldman
Angel Genao a High-Upside Infielder to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 86 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on August 5, Cleveland Guardians infielder Angel Genao is hitting .253/.314/.367 with two home runs, five RBI, 10 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 22-year-old has played every infield position other than first base, which should help keep him in the Guardians lineup most days. Genao has also posted an excellent 53.7% hard-hit rate, although his power upside is limited by his tendency to hit the ball on the ground (67.2% ground-ball rate). With his ability to consistently hit the ball hard and his well above-average 12.8% strikeout rate, Genao could work his way into being a high-end source of batting average for fantasy managers. The young infielder even demonstrated some five-category upside during his time in the minors this season, hitting .300 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 419 plate appearances before being called up. In leagues where he's not already rostered, Genao could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bailey Zappe Joins Jets Practice Squad
According to Amanda Vogt, quarterback Bailey Zappe has signed with the New York Jets practice squad on Tuesday. Zappe was cut by the team over the weekend, but will return as a member of the practice squad. He was competing for the backup gig to Geno Smith, but lost to rookie Cade Klubnik. The 27-year-old will serve as depth on the practice squad, but he is unlikely to see the field unless it's as an emergency option. Fantasy managers shouldn't bother rostering Zappe in any fantasy formats with Smith and Klubnik both healthy heading into the regular season.
Source: New York Jets
Source: New York Jets
Nico Hoerner Re-Emerging as a High-End Middle Infielder
Across 596 plate appearances entering play on Wednesday, Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner was hitting .263/.319/.361 with eight home runs, 62 RBI, 56 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. With his minuscule 1.4% barrel rate and 28.2% hard-hit rate, Hoerner's power upside for fantasy managers is extremely limited. However, the 29-year-old's production has been trending upward in the second half. Across 176 plate appearances since the All-Star break, Hoerner has slashed .331/.352/.440 with four home runs, 24 RBI, 19 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Hoerner's high-end defense at both second base and shortstop keeps him in the Cubs lineup every day, and his elite 8.7% strikeout rate should keep his batting average floor high even if his recent power surge cools off. With his sub-standard first half now behind him, Hoerner profiles as an extremely useful source of batting average, run production, and speed for fantasy managers down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Wilson Could Receive Extension Soon
According to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson could receive a new contract within the next few days. There has reportedly been movement towards a new deal that could be happening before Week 1. Wilson is coming off a breakout campaign, so the Cardinals would like to lock him up long-term now. The former third-rounder finished with 78 receptions with 1,006 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games with the Cardinals last season. Wilson is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and appears to be coming into finally breaking out and building chemistry with this team. We'll see if the two teams can come to an agreement before the beginning of the season.
Source: Josh Weinfuss
Source: Josh Weinfuss
Is Sonny Gray's Second-Half Slide a Cause for Concern?
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray has had an excellent season overall in 2026, recording a 16-4 record with a 2.82 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 128 strikeouts across 143 2/3 innings (25 starts). However, the 36-year-old's numbers have fallen off slightly in the second half of the season. Across 48 innings since the All-Star break, Gray has pitched to a 3.38 ERA and 1.33 WHIP while posting a middling 21.1% strikeout rate. Gray has allowed four earned runs or more in three out of his last seven starts after allowing four earned runs just once in his first 18 outings of the year. The veteran right-hander is no longer a high-end source of strikeouts for fantasy managers, and his elite ERA is largely due to his 83.7% strand rate, which is well above his career mark of 73.5%. With his overall numbers still excellent, fantasy managers may have a chance to sell high on Gray ahead of the stretch run.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zamir White Returns to Saints Practice Squad
According to the New Orleans Saints official site, running back Zamir White has signed with the team's practice squad. White was released by the team on Sunday as part of the 53-man roster cutdown. They've decided to bring back White as depth with both Alvin Kamara (knee) and Kendre Miller (undisclosed) absent right now. The Saints may elevate White as depth in the backfield for the season opener. It's still going to take an injury or two before White actually sees significant snaps in the backfield, even with Kamara and Miller out. White doesn't need to be rostered in fantasy formats right now.
Source: New Orleans Saints
Source: New Orleans Saints
Sal Stewart Riding Second-Half Surge into Final Month of 2026
Across 607 plate appearances in 2026, Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart is hitting .266/.336/.485 with 31 home runs, 105 RBI, 80 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. The 22-year-old has been one of the most consistent run producers in baseball this season, as he currently leads MLB in RBI. Stewart went through a moderate dry spell in the middle of the season, but he just finished up a scorching hot August. Across 126 plate appearances last month, the young slugger hit .304 with eight home runs and 21 RBI. In 189 plate appearances since the All-Star break, Stewart has posted an .859 OPS with 12 long balls and 40 RBI. As September gets underway, Stewart looks like a premium option at either corner infield spot for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cedric Tillman Joins the Saints
According to the New Orleans Saints official site, wide receiver Cedric Tillman has signed with the team's practice squad on Tuesday. Tillman was waived by the Cleveland Browns last Thursday, but he quickly found a new home. Tillman is a former third-round pick of the Browns from the 2023 draft. He didn't exactly impress during his first three seasons in the league. He hasn't surpassed 30 receptions or 400 receiving yards in a single season since becoming a pro. He'll serve as depth for the Saints, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to bring much to the table.
Source: neworleanssaints.com
Source: neworleanssaints.com
Emmett Johnson Earns Praise for his Pass Protection
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson is drawing praise from head coach Andy Reid for his work in pass protection. Reid said that Johnson's work in pass protection is one of the main reasons he's the RB2 right now, Charles Goldman reports. The rookie is playing so well that he beat out Emari Demercado for the backup role behind Kenneth Walker to begin the season. The expectation is that Johnson will serve as the change-of-pace back behind Walker. Johnson seems to be doing everything well and is one of the most important handcuffs in fantasy. The 22-year-old is well worth a look in the late rounds on draft day.
Source: Charles Goldman
Source: Charles Goldman
