Fantasy Football News

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy is already showing deep-play upside early in training camp, with Chiefs.com's Matt McMullen noting that quarterback Patrick Mahomes found Worthy for a deep touchdown down the middle of the field during 11-on-11 team drills in practice on Thursday. It was a "beautiful throw and catch." Worthy suffered a torn labrum in Week 1 of last year that required offseason surgery in January. The 23-year-old speedster played in only 14 games in 2025 and had a disappointing 42-532-1 final line after catching 59 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games as a rookie. Now fully healthy and ready for a full route tree again, the former 28th overall pick from the University of Texas should be a big mover on fantasy draft boards as the Chiefs' offense looks to bounce back and return to the playoffs. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder is naturally a bigger injury risk because of his slight frame, but he makes up for it with elite speed. RotoBaller has Worthy ranked as the No. 43 fantasy WR right now, and he's shaping up as a potential great value pick in upcoming drafts.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks made the play of the day in training camp practice on Thursday and is quickly emerging as the team's No. 2 wideout behind DeVonta Smith now that A.J. Brown is gone, according to Jeff Neiburg of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Quarterback Jalen Hurts made an impressive throw across his body deep down the field to Wicks, who jumped over defensive backs Cole Wisniewski and Jakorian Bennett to make the 40-plus-yard catch. Wicks is among the early camp risers in terms of fantasy football stock after the Eagles acquired him from the Green Bay Packers in the offseason. The 25-year-old former fifth-rounder from Virginia never had more than 581 receiving yards or 39 receptions in his three years in Green Bay, although he has averaged 12.3 yards per catch and had nine total touchdowns in his first two seasons in the NFL. Wicks was also always part of a jumbled WR room with the Packers. In Philly, it appears he could be locked into the WR2 role, which would afford him a much better target rate while seeing the field more often in a new offense that is looking to rebound in a major way. Wicks is shaping up as an interesting late-round fantasy sleeper at WR in 2026.

Houston Texans second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins has been seeing early targets in training camp practice from quarterback C.J. Stroud, and head coach DeMeco Ryans said he's seen Higgins take a Year 2 jump, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Ryans envisions Higgins becoming a weapon opposite WR1 Nico Collins. All signs have been pointing to the 23-year-old pass-catcher taking a leap in Year 2 after he caught 41 of his 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (10 starts) as a rookie. The former second-rounder from Iowa State could really take the next step if Collins, who is no stranger to injuries, misses more time with an injury in 2026. Higgins has consistently drawn praise this year, dating back to offseason workouts. He could really benefit from the Texans' upgrades on their offensive line and the departure of veteran wideout Christian Kirk. Higgins is ranked at No. 55 among WRs by RotoBaller, but his draft stock should continue to rise if he keeps standing out in training camp this summer.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was limited to 10 games in 2025 in his sophomore season while dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries, but he is fully healthy for training camp this summer and has been taking first-team reps, according to Scott Smith of the team's official website. Not only was he taking first-team reps, but Smith reports that Irving was running at full speed and looked like the back he was during his remarkable rookie campaign in 2024, in which he had 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, adding 47 receptions for 392 yards as a receiver in 17 games. "He feels fine, he's great," said head coach Todd Bowles. "He's full speed. He's full-go right now. Obviously, when we get in pads, we're not easing him back from anything. So, we feel pretty good right now." Coming off injuries and with the addition of pass-catching back Kenny Gainwell, Irving has fallen in the fantasy rankings and should be targeted as more of a low-end RB2. It certainly feels like the Bucs plan to give Irving more help with Gainwell and Sean Tucker to keep him healthy all year.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby ran for a touchdown and caught a pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts over the middle during training camp practice on Thursday, according to John Clark of NBC Sports. Bigsby is getting "a lot of action" during the first couple of days of training camp in Philly. Before training camp started, the expectation was that Bigsby would be locked in as the team's RB2 behind starter Saquon Barkley, and after the first couple of practices, that is firmly the case. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars last year just before Week 2 of the season, and he finished the year with 58 carries for 344 yards (5.9 yards per tote) and two touchdowns in 16 games with the Eagles. The former third-rounder from Auburn is a rugged runner with plenty of big-play potential, giving Philly a nice complement to Barkley's finesse style. At the very worst, Bigsby should be considered one of the top handcuff backs in the league going into the 2026 campaign. RotoBaller has the fourth-year player ranked just inside the top-50 fantasy RBs this year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said he feels "disrespected" by his contract situation after trying to work out an extension with the team before the start of training camp, according to Pewter Report. The 31-year-old will head into the final year of the three-year, $100 million deal he signed with the Bucs in March of 2024 and looks set to hit free agency in 2027, unless the two sides can work something out during their exclusive negotiating window early next year. The Buccaneers will have the option to place the franchise tag on Mayfield, but that seems unlikely, especially if he takes another step back in 2026. Mayfield was a back-to-back Pro Bowler in 2023 and 2024 in his first two years with the team, but he threw for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts in 2025 as the team failed to make the playoffs. He was reportedly playing hurt for most of the year with various ailments. Mayfield will surely be motivated to step up this year, but without future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans and in a new offense, fantasy managers certainly have their doubts, as do the Bucs. RotoBaller has Mayfield ranked as the No. 20 fantasy QB in 2026. UPDATE: ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Mayfield said the Bucs offered him a two-year contract.

After missing spring workouts while recovering from offseason core-muscle surgery, New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton was in attendance for the team's first practice of training camp. While the Giants have 14 wide receivers listed on their 90-man roster, few roles, if any, have been secured behind 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers, so the team will be looking for players who can consistently make plays in a game-like setting, and Slayton reportedly connected with quarterback Jaxson Dart on a deep out over starting cornerback Paulson Adebo. Barely clinging to fantasy relevance, Slayton is RotoBaller's WR104 ahead of the 2026 season. Still, if he can continue to string plays together throughout camp, he could prove to be a necessary piece of the Giants' new-look offense and see his fantasy value rise.

The Detroit Lions concluded their second practice of training camp, and three-time Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs has still yet to take part in any individual or team drills. A first-round pick in 2023, Gibbs had his fifth-year option exercised, giving the Lions contract control through the 2027 season with the potential to use the franchise tag after that, but there were reportedly talks this offseason about a long-term extension. With a potential hold-in looming, the situation bears monitoring, as expectations could not be higher for Gibbs in his first season without David Montgomery sharing the backfield. The fourth-year back is RotoBaller's RB1 and the top overall player for 2026.

After their first off day of training camp, the New England Patriots are back to work on Thursday for their first padded practice of the summer, presenting second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson with an opportunity to show growth as a pass protector. Ahead of the session, head coach Mike Vrabel praised veteran Rhamondre Stevenson for his blitz pickup and noted that Henderson continues to develop in that area. Henderson led the Patriots with 987 rushing yards as a rookie, but during the team's four-game post-season run to the Super Bowl, Stevenson saw more than twice as many total snaps, with the coaching staff valuing his reliability in pass protection. If Henderson can show meaningful improvement in that area in year two, he could make himself difficult to remove from the field, with his big-play ability then giving him as high a fantasy ceiling as any player going outside the opening rounds of 2026 drafts.

A day after it was reported that he entered training camp with back tightness, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was on the practice field taking part in some individual drills. The Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a one-year veteran minimum deal following his release from the Miami Dolphins, and while the expectation is that he will compete with 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job, neither player has taken part in team drills through the first two practices of training camp as the latter continues his recovery from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season. Neither Tagovailoa nor Penix is a sought-after fantasy asset in 2026, but their eventual battle could have major ramifications on the more high-value pieces of the Falcons offense, with running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. all ranked by RotoBaller within the top seven of their respective position groups.

After a minor undisclosed injury kept him out of the final sessions of mandatory minicamp, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London was a full participant during Wednesday's first practice of training camp. London missed five games in 2025 with a PCL sprain in his left knee, and while the team opted to take an overly cautious approach with him during spring practices, he had no limitations on Wednesday, taking part in all individual and team drills. Despite the significant time missed, London finished as the WR17 last season while scoring 14.0 half-PPR points per game, and expectations are high heading into 2026. The 2022 first-round pick is RotoBaller's WR7 and a sleeper candidate to finish as the overall WR1 in an offense with few other options in the passing game.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters spoke to reporters on Tuesday to kick off training camp, and one of the takeaways was the praise lavished on new tight end Chig Okonkwo, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal after four seasons with the Titans. "He's an outstanding receiver," Peters told the gathered media. "He's outstanding in the pass game. He's great after the catch, and he's also a really good blocker." Outside of veteran wide receiver Terry McLaurin, the Commanders lack proven pass-catchers, allowing Okonkwo to step into an important role and earn early targets, with Peters emphasizing some of the unique abilities he brings to the offense. "He provides a lot of versatility in where he can line up and what he can do for us and when he gets the ball in his hands. And then he's pretty magical." Okonkwo has caught at least 50 passes in each of the past three seasons, and with a chance to see the highest target total of his young career, he could prove to be one of the best values at the position as RotoBaller's TE19.

In speaking with Bryant McFadden of NFL on CBS, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty shared that he's cut candy and sugar from his diet while working to build up his cardio ahead of his second season. The 2025 first-round pick told McFadden, "I didn't feel like I was in good enough shape last year." As a rookie, Jeanty handled an impressive 86.6% of the Raiders' running back rush share, having to fight for every inch behind a porous offensive line that allowed first contact after only 1.6 yards on average. Again expected to handle the bulk of the team's running back workload, now with an upgraded and healthier offensive line in front of him, an improved diet and better cardio could pay immense dividends, and Jeanty is potentially undervalued as RotoBaller's RB7.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown was brought up during Joe Burrow's training camp opening press conference on Wednesday, and the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback was effusive in his praise of his fourth-year backfield mate. Burrow told reporters, "He does everything. He's a complete back... He trains as a receiver all offseason, you wouldn't know that he's a running back when he's out there doing it." Burrow went on about Brown's versatility and importance to the offense before making a bold statement about his projected usage for 2026. "Obviously we're going to try to get the ball in [Ja'Marr Chase's] hands as many times as we can, but I think a close second is Chase Brown." The 2023 fifth-round pick made a career-high 69 catches on 86 targets in 2025, and if those numbers see even modest improvement in 2026, Brown could prove to be one of the safest selections in the early rounds of drafts, currently ranked as RotoBaller's RB10.

On a per-route basis, Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III was one of the league's most efficient players as a rookie in 2025, and reports from Day 1 of training camp indicate he's picked up right where he left off, though now seeing heavy volume. Burden was moved across the formation and reportedly looked crisp in his route running while drawing target after target. In trading away veteran DJ Moore, the Bears created a vacuum most likely to be filled by Burden and third-year receiver Rome Odunze, and although a single, non-padded practice in July will not define Chicago's pass-catching hierarchy for the 2026 season, Burden looks to have earned an early edge. The competition for first-read looks from quarterback Caleb Williams will be one to monitor throughout the summer, but Burden is currently RotoBaller's WR21, a full 12 positional spots ahead of Odunze.

While much has been made of the bone calluses that structurally altered the left foot of Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, early reports have been positive, with the third-year receiver looking healthy and explosive during individual drills of the team's first practice of training camp. Odunze elected to bypass surgery for the stress fracture and plantar fasciitis that caused him to miss five games in 2025, and he drew offseason headlines when describing the "new normal" of the naturally healed foot. On Day 1 of training camp, he was able to run and cut without restriction, and quarterback Caleb Williams commented after practice that "Rome looks like Rome." Unfortunately, that unencumbered movement did not translate to production under game-like conditions, as he was held without a catch in team drills, but seemingly at full health, Odunze will have plenty of opportunities to make plays throughout the summer, and he is RotoBaller's WR33.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart (leg) was carted off the field at training camp practice on Wednesday due to a left-leg injury, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Stewart was on crutches with a protective brace on his leg after practice and is awaiting an official prognosis. The 22-year-old suffered ankle and knee injuries in his first NFL season in 2025, which limited him to eight games (five starts) and 11 tackles (five solo) and one sack. The Bengals took him with the 17th overall pick out of Texas A&M, and so far he's been an injury bust. It remains to be seen how serious Stewart's leg injury is, but it didn't look good. A lengthy absence would be really bad news for the Bengals for a player who they were hoping would take a second-year leap in 2026 to help make up for the loss of All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea (back) and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (hamstring) both suffered injuries during their conditioning tests on Tuesday and did not practice on Wednesday, according to Scott Smith of the team's official website. The news comes a day after Vea officially requested a trade. The 31-year-old veteran has not been happy with the direction of contract talks with the Bucs as he gets ready to head into the final year of a four-year, $71 million extension he signed in 2022. The former 12th overall pick in 2018 out of the University of Washington has made the Pro Bowl twice in his eight years with the organization and has been a stalwart on the interior at stopping the run. He played in all 17 games for Tampa last year and finished with 34 tackles (16 solo), 4.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, 13 QB hits, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. Vea has never been much of an asset in IDP leagues, with his career high in sacks of seven coming in 2024.

The Chicago Bears announced on Wednesday that they activated defensive lineman Montez Sweat (illness) from the Non-Football Illness list. It didn't take long for Sweat to join the rest of his teammates at training camp practice this week, and he should be all systems go for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. The 29-year-old former 26th overall selection by Washington in 2019 from Mississippi State had just 5.5 sacks in 16 starts in his first season with Chicago in 2024, but he came on strong last year with 10 sacks, 53 tackles (36 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 17 regular-season starts to finish the year as the No. 11 defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues. Sweat should remain a workhorse off the edge in Chicago's defense in 2026 in his third year with the team, giving him a high ceiling for fantasy managers in IDP formats once all the elite edge-rushing names come off the board.

The Baltimore Ravens announced on Wednesday that defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) passed his physical and was removed from the Physically Unable to Perform list. It didn't take long for Madubuike to rejoin the rest of the team for training camp practices, although Baltimore will likely ease him in after he suffered a serious neck injury in 2025 that limited him to just two games. Getting the 28-year-old pass-rusher back for the 2026 campaign is huge for the Ravens' defense, as the former third-rounder from Texas A&M was a back-to-back Pro Bowler in 2023 and 2024 with 99 tackles (59 solo), 19.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 50 QB hits, and two forced fumbles in 34 starts. If Madubuike can regain his pre-injury form, it would do wonders for the Ravens' defensive line and could put him back on the IDP fantasy map in his seventh year in the NFL.