Fantasy Football News

Geno Smith • QB • Jets

Geno Smith a Deep-League Bounce-Back Candidate Entering 2026

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith enters 2026 in search of a bounce-back season after a disastrous 2025 campaign. Across 15 games with the Las Vegas Raiders last year, Smith completed 67.4% of his pass attempts for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. As he enters his age-36 season, Smith may simply be past his prime. However, he was saddled with one of the worst offensive lines in football and a subpar group of healthy pass-catchers last season in Las Vegas. While the Jets enter 2026 with question marks on offense, Smith will have an exciting group of weapons to work with on offense in wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, tight ends Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq (groin), and running back Breece Hall (groin). In deeper leagues and two-quarterback formats, Smith could be worth targeting ahead of 2026.

Sep 10

Brevyn Spann-Ford • TE • Cowboys

Brevyn Spann-Ford Agrees to Three-Year Extension with Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford agreed to terms on a three-year extension on Thursday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Since catching on with Dallas as an undrafted free agent ahead of 2024, Spann-Ford has seen minimal usage as a pass-catcher through the first two years of his career. Across 17 games (five starts) in 2025, the 26-year-old recorded nine catches for 90 yards and one touchdown on 13 targets. Entering 2026, Spann-Ford is once again expected to be the blocking complement to Cowboys receiving tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker. Dallas' financial commitment to Spann-Ford proves that the team values his contributions, but he should remain off fantasy radars in 2026.

Sep 10

Chris Bell • WR • Dolphins

Chris Bell Still Working to Regain His Conditioning

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chris Bell said he's "about 80-85 percent back as far as conditioning," per Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Bell suffered a torn ACL last November that ended his final collegiate season prematurely. The 22-year-old was able to return to game action in the preseason and is expected to play in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders. However, it appears Bell may not be all the way back to 100% in all facets of the game right away. With the Dolphins lacking established high-end pass-catchers, Bell has a chance to play a high-volume role in Miami's passing game as a rookie. Fantasy managers may want to temper their expectations for Bell as he gets his legs underneath him, but he's a worthy stash candidate for his season-long upside.

Sep 10

Tucker Kraft • TE • Packers

Tucker Kraft Unlikely to Receive Extension Before Week 1

The Green Bay Packers and tight end Tucker Kraft are unlikely to agree to terms on an extension before the start of the season, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Kraft is reportedly seeking a top-of-market deal as he enters the final year of his rookie contract with Green Bay. The 25-year-old had his 2025 season cut short after he suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 9. However, Kraft was in the midst of a breakout campaign before suffering the injury, recording 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns on 44 targets across eight games. As long as he can stay healthy, Kraft profiles as a high-end TE1 option for fantasy managers entering 2026.

Sep 10

A.J. Brown • WR • Patriots

A.J. Brown to Miss at Least Four Weeks

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain in Wednesday night's season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks and is expected to miss at least four weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. High-ankle sprains typically keep players out anywhere from four to six weeks, so fantasy managers will need to be patient with the 29-year-old wideout after he caught just three of his four targets for 26 yards in Week 1 before leaving with his ankle sprain in his Patriots debut. It is not how Brown or his fantasy managers wanted him to get started back in the AFC this year, but he should be stashed in all leagues while he heals up. In the meantime, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams will all be asked to step up to help quarterback Drake Maye out after his frustrating three-interception season opener on Wednesday night. Doubs, who is already rostered in 56% of Yahoo leagues, probably has the most fantasy upside of the bunch, even though he failed to haul in any of his three targets on Wednesday in his team debut.

Sep 10

Sam Darnold • QB • Seahawks

Sam Darnold has Unusual Strain, Timetable Remains TBD

Tests showed that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) has an unusual muscle strain in his hip area that he suffered on the first offensive drive of Wednesday's season-opening win over the New England Patriots, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. There is no consideration at this point of putting Darnold on Injured Reserve, but his timetable for a return remains to be determined. Reports earlier suggested that the Seahawks "dodged a bullet" with Darnold's right-hip injury, but he might not be out of the woods yet. The 29-year-old signal-caller is expected to miss the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but if he recovers nicely, he could be in play for Week 3 against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Sept. 27. Still, the consensus is that Darnold avoided a long-term injury. Until he can return, backup Drew Lock will be thrust into starting duties for the Seahawks. In Week 2 versus the Cardinals, he should only be a fantasy streaming option in deep two-QB superflex formats.

Sep 10

Marvin Mims Jr. • WR • Broncos

Marvin Mims Jr. Looks Ready for Week 1 Against Chiefs

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (foot) was the only player listed on the team's practice report on Thursday, but he was a full participant, according to Aric DiLalla of the team's official website. Mims looks ready to go after suffering a foot contusion in the team's preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 28. He was listed as one of Denver's starting wideouts on their first unofficial depth chart going into Week 1, but that does not mean he will have a big role out of the gate after the Broncos added Jaylen Waddle in an offseason trade. Mims will be competing for the WR3 role this year with Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin behind Waddle and Courtland Sutton. The 24-year-old former second-rounder from Oklahoma has intriguing big-play ability, but he regressed in 2025 in his third year in the league with 37 catches, 322 yards, and only one touchdown in 15 regular-season games after he had a 39-503-6 line in 2024. Mims should be on the waiver wire in 12-team leagues to begin the 2026 campaign and will probably be a boom/bust WR4/flex option, at best, in his fourth year in the league.

Sep 10

Jeremiyah Love • RB • Cardinals

Jeremiyah Love Limited Again on Thursday

Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) was listed as limited in the team's practice on Thursday for the second straight day with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered early in the preseason, according to Bo Brack of PHNX Sports. Love, the third overall pick in April's draft out of Notre Dame, has been making progress, but he might need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to avoid a questionable tag going into the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. If Love is cleared to take on the Bolts in what will be his NFL debut, he could take a back seat in Arizona's backfield to Tyler Allgeier, which will make him a volatile play for fantasy managers. For now, you should consider Love as a low-end RB2 option this weekend if he is cleared to play. He has clear three-down upside and the potential to be one of the best all-around RBs in the NFL, but it might take a bit to get there. The Cardinals are not going to force volume on him early on after adding Allgeier in free agency.

Sep 10

Sean Tucker • RB • Buccaneers

Sean Tucker Bumps Up to Limited Practice on Thursday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday and was listed as limited, per the team's official website. Tucker, who was close to being cut from the 53-man roster to begin the 2026 regular season, has been hampered by a hamstring injury of late and could be questionable to play in Week 1 on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. He may need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to be cleared from the final injury report. However, even if Tucker is active for the season opener this weekend, fantasy managers in deeper formats are going to want to stay away from him as the RB3 behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell. The former undrafted free agent out of Syracuse has shown flashes of his upside in his three NFL seasons, but ultimately he has not been able to get out of a depth role. Tucker averaged 5.1 yards per carry on his 86 rushing attempts last year while scoring a career-high seven rushing touchdowns in 17 games, but he has averaged just 3.4 yards per tote in his 45 games (zero starts). He is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues.

Sep 10

Tua Tagovailoa • QB • Falcons

Tua Tagovailoa Day-to-Day With Oblique Strain

Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique), who was listed as limited in Thursday's practice, suffered an oblique strain that is considered day-to-day, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Tagovailoa's status for Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers is to be determined. The former Miami Dolphins signal-caller went to the ground during individual drills on Thursday and was grabbing at his lower back. He did not return and was replaced by Cooper Rush with the first-team offense. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has already been ruled out as he continues to recover from a partially torn ACL in his knee from late last year. If Tua is ruled out on Friday, Rush will be the one starting under center for the Falcons on Sunday, with undrafted rookie Jack Strand backing him up. Fantasy managers in deep two-QB superflex leagues who were planning on starting Tagovailoa this weekend against Pittsburgh need to go in another direction. We would be surprised if Tagovailoa is cleared to start in just a few days.

Sep 10

Jacory Croskey-Merritt • RB • Commanders

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Remains Limited in Practice

Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day as the team continues to prepare for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Croskey-Merritt could end up questionable for the season opener due to a groin injury he picked up in practice on Aug. 22 if he does not upgrade to a full practice on Friday. If JCM is limited or out, it would be a big upgrade for Rachaad White as the Commanders' lead back in his debut with the team this weekend. The 25-year-old Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round pick out of Arizona last year, but he impressed by leading Washington with 805 yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 175 rushing attempts, adding nine catches for 68 yards through the air in 17 games. The Commanders like him as their primary early-down back, but White will steal plenty of pass-game work, leaving JCM as primarily an RB3/flex option with upside for fantasy managers in Year 2. Check back for his official Week 1 status on Friday.

Sep 10

Keaton Mitchell • RB • Chargers

Keaton Mitchell Stays Limited on Thursday

Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (hamstring) remained limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday due to a hamstring injury, according to the team. Mitchell may have to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to be cleared to suit up in the Week 1 season opener this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. If Mitchell is cleared to suit up, he will be part of a committee backfield in L.A. that includes Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal, and he could have limited snaps coming off his hamstring injury. It all amounts to Mitchell lining up as a hard-to-trust RB4/flex in much deeper leagues. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of East Carolina has some explosiveness and big-play ability to his game, but he has played in only 26 games (two starts) in his first three years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens due to injury issues. Mitchell is a viable handcuff for Hampton managers and is currently rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues, but he is a tough sell as a Week 1 starter if he plays. Check back on Friday to find out Mitchell's final Week 1 injury status.

Sep 10

Malik Nabers • WR • Giants

Malik Nabers' Week 1 Workload Comes Down to his Decision

When asked about the possibility of playing on a pitch count on Sunday night in the Week 1 season opener against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) said, "It's my career, and it's my body. If a pitch count is in the conversation, then I would lead that conversation. That decision would be on me," per SNY Giants. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick from LSU suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in Week 4 of last year, but he avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin training camp and has put in two full practices so far this week, leading us to believe that he will be active on Sunday night without any real playing-time restrictions. Fantasy managers playing it safe may want to consider Nabers more of a low-end WR2 than an upside WR1 candidate to begin the year, but if you drafted him, you should be starting him this weekend in a marquee matchup in primetime. The Louisiana native showed his high-end WR1 upside as a rookie, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven scores in 15 games.

Sep 10

Rashee Rice • WR • Chiefs

Rashee Rice in the Clear Going into Week 1

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) was listed as a full participant for the team's first official practice on Thursday as they get set to take on the division-rival Denver Broncos on Monday night in Week 1, according to the team's official website. Rice had minor surgery on his right knee over the summer, but he quickly recovered and actually logged some snaps in the preseason finale. The 26-year-old has teased a lot of fantasy upside in his first three years in the league, but he has only played in 12 games over the last two seasons due to injuries and suspension. The former second-rounder in 2023 from SMU had 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 regular-season games as a rookie and has established himself as the Chiefs' clear WR1 when he has been healthy. With the Chiefs' offense looking to bounce back in 2026, quarterback Patrick Mahomes should lean heavily on Rice, who has clear WR2 upside over a full season. Rice and the Chiefs do not have an ideal Week 1 matchup against a stout Broncos defense, but Rice should still be locked into fantasy lineups as a WR2.

Sep 10

LeQuint Allen Jr. • RB • Jaguars

LeQuint Allen Jr. Upgrades to Limited Practice

Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip) upgraded to a limited practice on Thursday after he was held out in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to the team. It is a positive for Jacksonville's RB depth heading into the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, but Allen is still not guaranteed to be active this weekend, and he might need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday to be cleared to play. In a new-look Jags backfield in 2026, Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. figure to split most of the work, although when healthy, Allen should have a bigger pass-catching role than he did as a rookie in 2025. The 22-year-old former seventh-rounder from Syracuse only had 23 rushing attempts last year for 94 yards while catching 10 of his 11 targets for 54 yards as a receiver in 17 regular-season games. Even if Allen is active on Sunday against Cleveland, he should be on the bench in deep PPR leagues. He is currently not rostered at all in Yahoo leagues.

Sep 10

Patrick Mahomes • QB • Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes Practicing in Full Ahead of Season Opener

The Kansas City Chiefs listed quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) as a full participant in their first official practice of the week on Thursday, paving the way for him to start on Monday night in the Week 1 season opener at home against the division-rival Denver Broncos. Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL on Dec. 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but he recovered quickly in the offseason and was essentially a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of July, although KC held him out of all three preseason games. The 30-year-old two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP is not expected to be limited at all from a playbook perspective as the Chiefs look to bounce back after missing the playoffs entirely in 2025. However, head coach Andy Reid could be mindful of any designed running plays for the QB, and for fantasy purposes, he will be a low-end QB2 option in the season opener against the Broncos defense, which led the league in sacks in 2025. Mahomes will also have his blind side protected by an undrafted rookie offensive tackle who will be making his NFL debut.

Sep 10

Cooper Rush • QB • Falcons

Cooper Rush a Sneaky Superflex Stash Candidate Amid QB Injuries

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush has mostly operated as a backup throughout his career to this point, appearing in 42 games and logging 16 starts across eight NFL seasons. However, with Falcons QB1 Tua Tagovailoa's (oblique) status for Week 1 up in the air, Rush could be in line to make the start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The 32-year-old's last extended stretch as a starter was in 2024, when he completed 60.7% of his pass attempts for 1,844 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions across 12 games (eight starts) with the Dallas Cowboys. Rush has averaged just 6.3 yards per pass attempt for his career, so he's unlikely to provide high-end fantasy production if he's forced into action for the Falcons. Still, he could be worth rostering in two-QB formats just in case Tagovailoa misses time to begin the year.

Sep 10

Cam Ward • QB • Titans

Cam Ward a Year 2 Breakout Candidate Entering 2026?

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward put together an up-and-down season as a rookie in 2025, completing 59.8% of his pass attempts for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across 17 games. If Ward's production does not take a step forward in 2026, he should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in the majority of league formats. However, Ward should have a much better offensive ecosystem around him in his second NFL season. The Titans used the fourth overall pick this past April on wide receiver Carnell Tate, signed veteran slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency, and brought in former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll as their new offensive coordinator. In deeper league formats, Ward could be worth stashing off the waiver wire in case he emerges as a breakout quarterback in 2026.

Sep 10

Ashton Jeanty • RB • Raiders

Ashton Jeanty Feels "Really Good" Ahead of Week 1

Las Vegas Raiders second-year running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) said he feels "really good" and is "super excited" to play in the Week 1 season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Jeanty injured his ankle in an Aug. 23 training camp practice, but he returned to a full practice on Wednesday and practiced again on Thursday, putting him on track to play against the Dolphins this weekend to kick off the 2026 season. "I knew it wasn't anything too bad, even though I couldn't put pressure on my foot," Jeanty said Thursday -- his first time speaking to reporters since the injury. "I figured it wouldn't be anything that's too long-term." Jeanty will be the Raiders' RB1 again this year in what is expected to be an improved offense under new head coach Klint Kubiak, but impressive rookie Mike Washington Jr. will also be involved, and he could have a bigger role than usual in Week 1 if the Raiders choose to ease Jeanty in following his ankle injury. As long as Jeanty is active for Sunday's game in Vegas, he should be locked into all starting fantasy lineups in the season opener.

Sep 10

Alec Pierce • WR • Colts

Alec Pierce Limited Again on Thursday

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) was limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday as the team prepares for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to the team. Pierce started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list after having cleanup surgery on his ankle, but it is a heel injury that has him up in the air to play this weekend versus Baltimore. If Pierce can upgrade to a full practice on Friday, he should be cleared from the final injury report for Week 1. When healthy, Pierce will be a major part of Indy's passing game in 2026 after they signed him to a four-year, $114 million contract extension in March. His role should grow with Michael Pittman Jr. out of the picture, and he has already proven over the last two years that he can be a productive big-play wideout for fantasy managers. The 26-year-old has led the NFL in each of the last two years in yards per catch, and he had 1,003 receiving yards with six touchdowns in 15 games in 2025. Pierce is shaping up as a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy going into Week 1 if he is active against Baltimore.

Sep 10

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