Fantasy Football News

Rome Odunze • WR • Bears

Rome Odunze Officially Active for Week 1

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (calf) is officially active for the team's Week 1 season opener on Sunday versus the Carolina Panthers, according to the team. Odunze was limited in practice all week due to a knee injury that surfaced in early September, but he did enough on the field to gain clearance to play in the season opener this weekend. There have not been any reports floating around that the 24-year-old former first-rounder will not have his typical number of offensive snaps for the Bears on Sunday, so fantasy managers should keep him in their starting lineups to kick off the year. Odunze only played in 12 regular-season games a year ago due to a foot injury that is believed to be behind him, but durability issues have been a bit of a concern. He caught 44 of 90 targets last year for 661 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in his second season in the NFL. With DJ Moore now in Buffalo, Odunze and Luther Burden III will operate as Chicago's top two wideouts in 2026. At the very least, Odunze should be a solid WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 1.

4 days ago

Joey Porter Jr. • CB • Steelers

Joey Porter Jr. Officially Inactive for Week 1

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Porter had been listed as questionable, but he was trending in the wrong direction ahead of kickoff. The 26-year-old has been the topic of many headlines in recent months due to injury and contract negotiations. Porter should get back onto the field when he's healthy again, but the impasse in extension talks is certainly something to consider. The Steelers won't extend him in-season, so he'll either play out his contract year or be traded somewhere else early in the season. As long as he's sidelined, veteran cornerbacks Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., and Jalen Ramsey will handle more snaps on defense.

4 days ago

Myles Garrett • DE • Rams

Myles Garrett to Have Knee Surgery, Land on Injured Reserve

Los Angeles Rams star pass-rusher Myles Garrett (knee) will have arthroscopic surgery on his ailing knee and is headed to Injured Reserve, sources told Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Garrett has been dealing with lower-leg pain and was not himself in Thursday's season-opening loss in Australia to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, where he was unable to return a single tackle. The hope is that he is back in four weeks after a minimally invasive knee surgery. The 30-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro is off to a bad start in his tenure with the Rams after setting the NFL's single-season sack record in 2025 with 23 sacks in his final season with the Cleveland Browns. Garrett's absence over the next four games will put more pressure on the rest of L.A.'s defensive line, but the good news is that the Rams could get All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald back for their Week 2 game against the New York Giants on Monday, Sept. 21. The earliest that Garrett can return will be on Oct. 18 against the Arizona Cardinals. He should be stashed in all IDP fantasy formats in the meantime.

4 days ago

Josh Jacobs • RB • Packers

Josh Jacobs Not Facing More Than Six-Game Suspension?

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (personal) remains on the commissioner's exempt list, but the NFL could count time spent there as time served for any potential suspension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Some league sources expect this to be the case in the end. In the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, there is a six-game minimum for any type of domestic violence, such as Jacobs' situation. Schefter writes that it could be more or less, depending on mitigating factors. The 28-year-old veteran needs to remain stashed in all fantasy leagues, but fantasy managers may need to be patient before being able to use him in starting fantasy lineups in 2026. Jacobs is the Packers' unquestioned lead back when healthy and with the team, but to begin the new season, MarShawn Lloyd is expected to get the first crack at RB1 duties for the Packers on Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks also figure to be involved with change-of-pace roles as Green Bay navigates life without Jacobs for potentially the first four to six weeks of the season.

4 days ago

Josh Jacobs • RB • Packers

NFL Attempting To Obtain Video of Josh Jacobs' Incident

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the NFL is trying to legally obtain video of the Josh Jacobs incident. The Green Bay Packers running back is currently on the Commissioner's Exempt List and was in court this weekend. The NFL is looking to get video to help in their ongoing investigation of the Jacobs' incident and would like to see the video before they make a decision on suspending Jacobs. The Green Bay star running back will sit out during the investigation and MarShawn Lloyd takes over as the main running back for the Packers along with Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks. The Packers likely want to get this situation figured out and know if they will have Jacobs at all at their disposal this season. It's an unfortunate legal situation that has affected Jacobs status on the field.

4 days ago

Brock Bowers • TE • Raiders

Brock Bowers Has a Realistic Chance to Play in Week 2

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is working his way back from a meniscus trim, and the team believes "there's a realistic chance" that he will be able to return in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Bowers underwent the trim just a few days ago, so it would be impressive to see him return to action within two weeks. Nevertheless, the Raiders believe it's possible, and the team will continue to evaluate how he feels. There's no need to rush Bowers back this early in the season, but if he's indeed capable of playing next week, the Raiders would be thrilled to get him back into the mix. He had 64 catches, 680 yards, and seven touchdowns last season, and he was the TE1 back in 2024 with 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. While Bowers works to get back on the field, Michael Mayer will temporarily step in as the team's top tight end.

4 days ago

Malik Nabers • WR • Giants

Malik Nabers Still Iffy For Week 1 Contest Against Cowboys

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is still questionable for the team's opening matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. ESPN Insider Adam Schefter says Nabers' status for Week 1 is "murky at best," and he is leaving his status for the game up to God. The Giants have added two new wide receivers to their 53-man roster on Saturday ahead of Sunday's game. Nabers' injury situation is seemingly up in the air, with his status sounding truly questionable. Nabers' impact is key for the Giants as he is the clear top target for quarterback Jaxson Dart. Nabers missed most of last season with a torn ACL, but he will try to make his way onto the field for the season opener.

4 days ago

Alec Pierce • WR • Colts

Alec Pierce on a Pitch Count for Week 1

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce is expected to be on a snap count for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team hasn't announced how much Pierce will play, but Garafolo hears that it will be around 20 to 30 snaps. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a heel injury, and although he doesn't have an official injury designation for Week 1, he's evidently at less than 100 percent. The pitch count drops him to the low-end WR3 territory this week, and managers should strongly consider starting other receivers with more full workloads. This update from Indianapolis also suggests that we could see more volume for Josh Downs and Keenan Allen. The former has more appeal than the latter, but both could garner their own WR3/flex upside in deeper leagues.

4 days ago

Parker Washington • WR • Jaguars

Parker Washington Could Have Big Week 1 Vs. Browns

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington looks to build off his excellent finish to last season and continue with a solid Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns. Washington makes for a solid start against Cleveland and is expected to finish as a WR2 or better in the opening week of the season. Washington will be comfortable catching passes from Trevor Lawrence and lining up alongside fellow receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers. Washington could see some time lining up in the slot and could be a big mismatch against the Browns defense. Last season, Washington caught 58 passes on 95 targets for 847 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. The Jaguars offense should have a big day against Cleveland, and Washington figures to be a big part of that.

4 days ago

A.J. Brown • WR • Patriots

A.J. Brown Has High-Ankle Sprain, To Miss Six Weeks

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) has been placed on Injured Reserve and will miss six weeks with a high-ankle sprain, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The big off-season signing for the Patriots will miss the high end of the four- to six-week timeline normally associated with a high ankle sprain. It's a big injury for New England to deal with early on in the season. Brown had 78 catches on 121 targets last season with the Eagles for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. He was looking for a breakout year with New England, but it will have to get started a little bit later than anticipated. Fantasy managers will want to hold on to Brown as he sits out his six games. He could still have a big year for the Patriots but will have to recover from the high ankle sprain before he gets underway.

4 days ago

Sam Darnold • QB • Seahawks

Sam Darnold Has a Glute Injury and Could Miss A Few Games

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a glute injury in the Week 1 victory over the Patriots and could miss several games. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the news was better than anticipated for the Seahawks and a couple of games might be better than expected. Darnold had a great season in 2025 with 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns against 14 interceptions leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl win. He hardly had a chance to make any plays in the opener before he suffered the injury early in the game. Darnold limped off after just two passes in the opening game. But it looks like Darnold avoided serious injury and Seattle will play with Drew Lock at quarterback for a few games before welcoming their Super Bowl winning quarterback back to the team.

4 days ago

De'Zhaun Stribling • WR • 49ers

De'Zhaun Stribling to Miss at Least One Month with Ankle Sprain

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) has been diagnosed with a deltoid sprain in his ankle and will miss at least one month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. There are currently no plans for him to undergo surgery, but the team is reportedly exploring all options. The Ole Miss product made his NFL debut on Thursday night, but the outing was cut short due to two trips to the sideline for an ankle issue. After he exited the second time, he did not return, finishing the game with zero targets on offense. This is crushing news for the rookie and his fantasy managers, especially after there was plenty of speculation that Stribling could be a steady WR3/flex option in his role alongside Mike Evans. Instead, he'll be sidelined through mid-October at the earliest, making him a candidate for injured reserve. With Christian Kirk (calf) already on IR, Deebo Samuel Sr. is solidified as the 49ers' No. 2 receiver while Demarcus Robinson will be elevated to the No. 3 spot.

4 days ago

Marvin Mims Jr. • WR • Broncos

Marvin Mims Jr. Buried Too Deep to Have a Role on Offense

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy football radar in most leagues ahead of Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos traded for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle over the offseason, leaving Mims behind Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin. In addition to those receivers, Mims is also behind tight end Evan Engram in the pecking order, although those two players occupy very different roles. Mims, 24, is a speed threat who has sporadically hauled in big touchdown catches throughout his career when he takes off from his defender. Even if he has a few deep-play touchdowns this season, they're so unpredictable that he's impossible to start. We expect him to spend a lot of his time on special teams, serving as the Broncos' primary kick and punt returner. He has fallen to WR114 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, making him droppable in all leagues.

4 days ago

Evan Engram • TE • Broncos

Evan Engram Too Risky for Week 1 Against Chiefs

Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is a riskier play for Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. After two seasons outside the top 28 fantasy tight ends, Engram remains a strong candidate to be benched in deeper redraft leagues. Alternatively, he can be left on the waiver wire in shallower leagues. Last year, during his first campaign in Denver, Engram caught 50 passes for 461 yards, but he scored just one touchdown. An increase in touchdowns would prop up his 2026 fantasy projections by a decent amount, but we're still not sold on him as a fantasy starter. His target share is only expected to decline after the Broncos' trade for Jaylen Waddle, putting him somewhere between third and fifth in the pecking order. He's certainly behind Waddle and Courtland Sutton, but he could lose key volume to wide receivers Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin. It also doesn't help that Engram is going up against the Chiefs, who allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2025. As it stands, Engram ranks as the TE24 in RotoBaller's latest Week 1 fantasy football rankings.

4 days ago

Pat Freiermuth • TE • Steelers

Pat Freiermuth on the Fringe of Fantasy Radar for Week 1

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is a fringe top-24 option in fantasy football ahead of Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Freiermuth is coming off a modest 2025 campaign in which he ranked as the TE25 with 41 catches, 486 yards, and four touchdowns. Last year, he faced plenty of competition for targets from Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington. This year, Smith is gone, but Washington remains in the position group, and the Steelers are also expected to divert more targets to new wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Additionally, the Steelers' matchup against the Falcons isn't incredibly advantageous for fantasy football. The Steelers are 6.5-point favorites and could go up early against the Falcons, who are starting third-string quarterback Cooper Rush. In such a lopsided matchup, we could see the Steelers adopt a run-heavy approach early in the game to keep the clock moving. Therefore, there may be fewer targets to go around for Freiermuth, who ranks third (at best) in the Steelers' passing game pecking order behind Pittman and DK Metcalf.

4 days ago

Michael Penix Jr. • QB • Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. Expected to Return in Next Two Weeks?

The Atlanta Falcons have been targeting Week 2 or Week 3 for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) to return, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Penix won't be ready in time for Sunday's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the door remains open for him to play within the next two weeks. He's working his way back from an ACL tear that ended his 2025 season in Week 11. Through nine games last year, he racked up 1,982 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also showed off his mobility with 70 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Normally, Penix's absence would lead to a start for Tua Tagovailoa (oblique), but he has also been ruled out. As a result, the Falcons will start veteran third-string quarterback Cooper Rush (back spasms) against the Steelers and star pass rusher T.J. Watt.

4 days ago

Cooper Rush • QB • Falcons

Cooper Rush Remains on Track to Start Against Steelers

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (back) is still expected to be active for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Rush had been dealing with back spasms, but he reportedly "is feeling better" and will be able to play in the season opener. It's a rare positive headline about a Falcons quarterback, as Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) were both ruled out ahead of time. Rush is technically the Falcons' third-string quarterback, but he'll now be tasked with staying upright and leading the offensive charge against the Steelers and star pass rusher T.J. Watt. For what it's worth, Rush ranks as a clear QB3 in fantasy football this week.

4 days ago

Maxx Crosby • DE • Raiders

Maxx Crosby Wanted to Stay with Raiders After Failed Ravens Trade

Las Vegas Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby was nearly traded to the Baltimore Ravens this past offseason, but the deal fell through due to medical concerns with Crosby's knee. After that deal fell apart, Crosby "let it be known to anyone interested that he did not want to be traded," according to Ian Rapoport of ESPN.com. "Specifically, the 29-year-old's request to stay in Vegas shut down trade talks that had been heating up with the Los Angeles Rams. If he had been open to a trade, the Rams were pushing very heavily to get a deal finalized, which would have presumably taken them out of the sweepstakes for Myles Garrett. Instead, they missed out on Crosby and swung a deal to get Garrett from the Cleveland Browns for defensive end Jared Verse and multiple picks. As a result, Crosby stays in Vegas, where he'll be tasked with containing Miami Dolphins mobile quarterback Malik Willis on Sunday.

4 days ago

Joey Porter Jr. • CB • Steelers

Joey Porter Jr. Unlikely to Play in Sunday's Season Opener

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) is expected to be inactive for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Porter had been listed as questionable, but his status appears to be trending in the wrong direction with kickoff just four hours away. Beyond the injury, there's also a potential trade factor to consider here. Porter previously requested a trade due to unresolved extension negotiations, and given that the Steelers don't sign extensions in-season, Porter could be dealt within the next few weeks. In fact, Rapoport and Schefter report an "early-season trade is very possible," while noting that the Steelers have yet to receive a trade offer they feel comfortable accepting. In the short-term, his absence should lead to a bigger defensive role for veterans Jamel Dean, Jalen Ramsey, and Asante Samuel Jr. They'll be going up against a Falcons offense led by third-string quarterback Cooper Rush.

4 days ago

Za'Darius Smith • DE • Falcons

Za'Darius Smith Expected to Play in Week 1 Against the Steelers

Atlanta Falcons pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith (shoulder) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had been listed as questionable, but it sounds like he should be able to suit up, barring a setback. Smith appeared in five games for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, amassing 10 tackles, three quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. He missed a portion of 2026 training camp due to a personal situation, but he's now ready to get back on the field and make his presence felt. This week, he'll be tasked with creating chaos in the offensive backfield for Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That could be easier said than done, especially if the Falcons' defense can't stay off the field with the team entering as a 6.5-point underdog.

4 days ago

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