Fantasy Football News

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has been a regular standout in his third training camp with the team, but he could miss some time as he tends to a knee issue. Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Wednesday that McMillan banged the knee a couple days ago, and that they're being careful with him. While the injury does not sound to be overly serious, his status will need to be monitored over the coming days. Second-year receiver Tez Johnson also sustained a groin strain, which could open a path for rookie Ted Hurst to see more work with the first team offense. McMillan suffered a serious neck injury during the 2025 preseason, which caused him to miss 13 games, and with an expanded role potentially on tap following the departure of six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans, a cautious approach from the team would be understandable.

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson have alternated first-team reps through the install period of training camp, and head coach Todd Monken intends to continue that approach into the preseason. Monken told NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe, "[I'm] going to start one quarterback the first preseason game, the other one will start the second one, and then most likely, the leader of the competition's going to start the third," also saying, "The next week is going to decide who gets each of those games." Monken has stressed that he wants one of his quarterbacks to make it clear that they deserve the starting job, noting that despite his growth over the past four months, Sanders still has room to improve, while Watson needs to cut down on the turnovers after throwing six interceptions through this stage of training camp. The Browns play their first preseason game against the Bears on August 15, and who gets that start could be a telling indication of who could be the team's Week 1 starter.

Through the early stages of training camp, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher has already dug into the deepest corners of the team's playbook, and a player seemingly at the center of everything has been running back Chase Brown. The fourth-year back has been moved all across the formation, with The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. pointing out, "Brown lines up in the slot and runs a slant one play, then takes a jet sweep the next. He's part of 20 personnel with two running backs, motions into the backfield, behind a fullback and almost any other spot imaginable." While the inclusion of some lesser-used plays has led to expected inconsistencies from the offense as a whole, Brown's usage has been one of the most encouraging signs to come out of Bengals camp, and he could be in line for a massive workload in 2026.

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift set career highs of 1,087 rushing yards and nine rushing scores in his second season with the Bears, but there's one area of his game that he feels he can still improve. 2025 was the first season in his six-year career that he did not break a run for at least 25 yards, something he spoke about with reporters on Tuesday. "The only thing I was missing last year that I need to do a better job of is I need more explosive runs, longer runs," he said. "I need to showcase that. I didn't have a lot of those last year. I think we can go out there and improve that." Detailing where that improvement can come from, Swift shared his goals of "creating more space for myself" and "making the most out of when I do get space." The Bears have been lauded all offseason as an offense on the rise, with expectations high for quarterback Caleb Williams and a young group of pass-catchers in year two under Ben Johnson. Still, at RotoBaller's RB19, Swift has become somewhat of a forgotten piece and could prove to be one of the better values in 2026 drafts.

Tuesday marked the most extensive 11-on-11 work of Buffalo Bills training camp to this point, and veteran wide receiver DJ Moore continues to make plays while building a connection with quarterback Josh Allen that has stood out to teammates. After the two linked up for a 50-yard touchdown strike during team sessions, receiver Khalil Shakir told reporters, "When you watch stuff like that, it just feels fake, like how beautiful that play was." He also described the connection between Moore and Allen as "unreal" while pointing out, "the stuff they've done every single day and the growth that's come within that is going to help us win games for sure." Moore spent his final season in Chicago in a crowded receiver room, resulting in career-lows of 50 receptions for 682 yards. Now, as the unquestioned primary receiver in an offense that's been in search of such a piece since the departure of Stefon Diggs, Moore has the opportunity to show that last season was more of an outlier than the start of his decline, and at RotoBaller's WR27, he could still prove to be a fantasy difference-maker from the middle rounds of drafts.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts did not throw a touchdown during competitive portions of the team's first four training camp practices, but after his best session of the summer on Monday, he had a chance to string together positive days, even with several key pieces missing from the Eagles' offense on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the unit turned in another sloppy outing that NBC Sports Philadelphia's Dave Zangaro called "a tough one to watch." The Eagles were without right tackle Lane Johnson and two of their top receivers, DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon, on a day that was marred by pre-snap penalties and never saw the offense capitalize on the momentum established during the first day in pads. Some growing pains are to be expected with Sean Mannion taking over as the fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons and Hurts working with a revamped group of pass catchers, but drafters will still want to see some positive strides to justify his current ADP of QB6.

The Washington Commanders have one of the league's most wide-open receiver depth charts behind locked-in starter Terry McLaurin, but a player who has been consistently showing up through the early stages of training camp has been third-year wideout Luke McCaffrey. Commanders reporter Ben Standig points out that McCaffrey has regularly seen work alongside McLaurin and Treylon Burks in three-receiver sets, and on an overall down day for the offense on Tuesday, the 2024 third-round pick stood out with a number of positive plays. McCaffrey's usage was on the rise in year two before a broken collarbone ended his season on the opening kickoff of a Week 9 loss to the Seahawks, but with the injury squarely behind him, he's been able to stand out from a muddled receiver room, and he energized the crowd on Tuesday with a pair of deep connections from Jayden Daniels. McCaffrey is not a player regularly being drafted in 2026 lineup leagues, but if he can continue to develop chemistry with Daniels and earn a regular role in the Commanders' offense, he could work his way into streaming consideration by season's end.

The Cleveland Browns spent two top-40 picks on the wide receiver position in the 2026 NFL Draft, and with both rookies standing out in their first training camp, The Athletic's Zac Jackson believes veteran Jerry Jeudy's time as the de facto No. 1 receiver could be drawing to a close. Jackson specifically points to the emergence of second-rounder Denzel Boston as an inciting factor in a potential depth chart shakeup. The Browns spent a first-round pick on KC Concepcion, who has worked primarily out of the slot through the early stages of training camp but has the versatility to share the field with Boston in two-receiver sets. Jeudy led the team with 105 targets in 2025, but connecting on fewer than half of those looks, he ended the year with only 602 yards and two scores on his way to a WR53 finish. With little change at the quarterback position but increased competition in his own room, Jeudy is not a player who needs to be targeted in 2026, falling to WR66 in RotoBaller's latest rankings.

The Washington Commanders signed Chig Okonkwo to a three-year, $27 million deal this offseason, and while his roster position is still listed as tight end, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is ready to classify him as the team's de facto No. 2 receiver. Fowler recently spent a day at Commanders training camp, where veteran receiver Terry McLaurin told him, "He's a tight end who really runs routes like a receiver." With the team lacking significant star power behind McLaurin, Okonkwo has established a quick chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has regularly looked for his newest weapon in the red zone. Okonkwo also has the versatility to move across the formation, and of his fit in first-year coordinator David Blough's offense, Okonkwo said, "Having an expanded playbook, it's allowing me to use my speed down the field a lot more." The fourth-year tight end has caught at least 50 passes in each of the past three seasons, and with a potential career-high target share coming his way, he could prove to be one of the best values at the position at RotoBaller's TE19.

As a rookie in 2025, Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the team in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns, but his limitations in pass protection prevented him from truly breaking out of a committee backfield. Now in his second training camp with the Commanders, that part of his game remains a work in progress, but the improvements he's shown as a receiver could lead to something closer to an every-down role. Commanders reporter Ben Standig notes that the second-year back has shown soft hands and an ability to work after the catch, with Croskey-Merritt telling reporters, "I feel like it comes naturally for me, and that's something I definitely want to show. I can do more than just run a ball. I want to be able to catch out of the backfield and be able to block and run. I just want to be the jack of all trades." The Commanders added Rachaad White in free agency, who has caught at least 50 passes in three of his first four seasons in the league, and Jeremy McNichols is still with the team after seeing the most receiving work out of the backfield in 2025. Still, finding ways to get Croskey-Merritt into space could help to open things up for an offense lacking depth at wide receiver, and if the former seventh-round pick can prove he's up to the task, he would easily outperform expectations as RotoBaller's RB45.

New York Giants 25-year-old tight end Theo Johnson put together a nice season in 2025, hauling in 45 of his 74 targets for 528 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He had a 16.7 percent target share, was eighth in red zone targets, 7th in average target distance, and seventh in snap share. The opportunities were there for him, but much was left on the table as he averaged only 8.5 fantasy points per game, which was 22nd amongst tight ends. To make matters worse for Johnson, the Giants brought in Isaiah Likely over from Baltimore, who has been a fantasy sleeper for many experts over the past few seasons but has never panned out. At this moment, Likely projects to be the team's No.1 tight end and potentially the No. 2 passing option in this offense that is dealing with Malik Nabers (knee) recovering from an injury, and a mediocre wide receiver room that includes Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Malachi Fields. Johnson is off the radar in most redraft formats, but could be a decent buy-low option in dynasty if things with Likely don't work out, and it probably wouldn't take much to get him on your roster.

Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell tested well at the NFL Combine, which earned him a fourth-round pick in the NFL draft. He ranked in the 91st percentile in the 40-yard dash, 98th percentile in the burst score, 95th percentile in the agility score, and 96th percentile in catch radius. In his final year at UConn, he burst onto the scene, hauling in 101 of his 144 targets for 1,278 yards (12.7 yards per catch) and 13 touchdowns. He finds himself playing with one of, if not the best, quarterbacks in the NFL in Josh Allen. Bell finds himself in a crowded wide receiver room and will be competing for targets between 29-year-old DJ Moore, 26-year-old Khalil Shakir, 26-year-old Joshua Palmer, and 23-year-old Keon Coleman. With Coleman finding himself in the doghouse multiple times in 2025 and looking like a bust after being drafted 33rd overall in the 2024 draft, Bell could work his way into the third wide receiver option for Allen. That being said, Bell profiles as more of a Z receiver, moving around and lining up in the slot, which profiles similarly to Shakir's game, and Shakir is one of Allen's go-to targets. Allen has been known to distribute the wealth amongst all his pass catchers in his career, and reports from camp have suggested that the Bills want to get superstar James Cook III more involved in the passing game as well. Bell profiles as a dynasty stash for the time being.

Pittsburgh Steelers 24-year-old tight end out of Georgia, Darnell Washington, has a massive frame, standing tall at 6'7", 264 lbs., and has shown more involvement in the offense since his rookie campaign, but simply isn't a focal point in this Steelers offense. In 2025, he hauled in 31 of his 43 targets for 364 yards and one touchdown. While his target rate is elite (23.8 percent), his target share (nine percent) is not. He simply isn't seeing the volume and route participation (34 percent) that it takes to be fantasy relevant. 27-year-old Pat Freiermuth projects to be the team's starting tight end and has been involved in the offense much more than Washington, as they've spent the last three seasons on the same team. Additionally, the Steelers brought in Michael Pittman over from Indianapolis, which should only make it more difficult for Washington to see an increase in target share. Fantasy managers will want to look elsewhere at the tight end position when drafting in both dynasty and redraft formats.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas has spent his three-year career with the Bengals and, through three seasons, has yet to top 500 yards in a single season. Iosivas was a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and while he has 12 touchdowns over the past three years, he simply isn't involved in the offensive game plan behind superstar Ja'Marr Chase, standout receiver Tee Higgins, and running back Chase Brown in this Joe Burrow-led offense. In 2025, he had a 9.6 percent target share (89th among WRs), a 77.7 percent route participation (50th among WRs), and 40 first-read targets (65th among WRs). Because of that, his productivity and efficiency followed suit, ranking 96th in targets per route run and 93rd in first downs per route run. The only value Iosivas has is if Chase or Higgins were to miss any time. Fantasy managers will want to fade the 26-year-old receiver in their upcoming drafts in both dynasty and redraft formats.

Tennessee Titans' fifth-round running back Nicholas Singleton enters training camp as the team's No. 3 running back behind 29-year-old Tony Pollard and 25-year-old Tyjae Spears. Singleton tested well at the combine, with a 4.50 40-yard dash (76th percentile) and ranked in the 86th percentile in speed score. Singleton spent all four seasons at Penn State, rushing for over 1,000 yards twice and scoring 10-plus touchdowns each season. He also became more involved in the passing game as he got older, with his 2022 target share of 4.7 percent rising to 12.1 percent in 2024 and 10 percent in 2025. Both Pollard and Spears have been the running backs for the Titans the last few seasons, and while Pollard remains consistent, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons with the Titans, he remains a guy with a safe floor but not much upside. Spears finds himself as more of the pass-catching option out of the backfield, and the path for Singleton to provide immediate fantasy value in 2026 feels bleak, but considering neither runner ahead of him projects as a star player, it does open a window of opportunity in the future. Singleton has the size and athleticism to be a three-down back with receiving upside, and is worth a stash in dynasty formats for the time being.

Former Eagles, Cardinals, and Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (knee) has been cleared for football activities and wants to play in the 2026 season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Ertz suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Week 14 last season, marking his second ACL tear. He was seen catching passes from former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck at Stanford, where they played together in 2010 and 2011. If Ertz suits up for the 2026 season, he will be 36 years old, in his 14th NFL season, and coming off a late-season ACL injury that looked gruesome. Fantasy managers should lower expectations for the veteran tight end. While we're unclear about any exact landing spots for Ertz in 2026, wherever he goes will have fantasy implications that affect fantasy drafts this season.

New York Giants wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) did not participate in Tuesday's practice with a knee issue. Head coach John Harbaugh said Smith-Schuster's injury is not expected to be long-term and that he is dealing with some swelling. Smith-Schuster, entering his 10th NFL season, is coming off a season in which he had 33 receptions for 345 yards and one touchdown. He is competing with multiple receivers on the Giants roster, including Odell Beckham Jr., Braxton Berrios, and others. The veteran receiver hopes this knee issue is resolved soon, as any missed practice or preseason time could be detrimental to his chances of making the roster.

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) returned to practice on Tuesday after a flare-up last week, according to head coach Mike LaFleur. Benson is coming off a 2025 season in which he missed most of the year following meniscus surgery in October. The 2024 third-round pick is on the roster bubble, competing for touches with third-overall pick Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier, and former starter James Conner. Benson is a trade candidate, as his current RB4 role is well below his talent level. Fantasy managers will need to monitor the former Florida State running back's status heading into 2026, as he could offer late-round appeal if traded to the right situation.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant has stood out so far at the team's training camp as he hopes to win the WR3 job. The 2025 third-round pick began to take over as the team's WR2 toward the end of the season, playing over 60% of the snaps in three of the last four games. Now, with Jaylen Waddle in Denver and expected to be a lead receiver alongside Courtland Sutton, Bryant will have to fend off Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. to be fantasy relevant in 2026. However, head coach Sean Payton is expected to use different packages that include all three receivers. Bryant is ranked WR76 in RotoBaller's rankings and should be considered with late-round picks in fantasy this season.

Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston has had a strong training camp so far in 2026. The second-round pick from the University of Washington has been among the most talked-about players in camp through five practices, showcasing his contested-catch ability and knack for winning 50/50 balls. He has also developed solid chemistry with young quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is battling for the starting quarterback job. While he's currently in a crowded receiver room with Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, and rookie first-round pick KC Concepcion, Boston offers something none of those receivers have, size. Boston is currently going off the board as the WR60 and could flirt with being the team's outside receiver if he can continue to perform in camp.