Fantasy Football News

The NFL issued a statement on Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs on Thursday after he pleaded no contest in court to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property, according to Mark Maske of Front Office Sports. "We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy. There is no change to his status as he remains on the Commissioner's Exempt list." The NFL will continue to investigate Jacobs, but until his legal process plays out, we might not have a clear picture of how much time he will miss. For now, the 28-year-old will stay on the exempt list and will not be eligible to play in Week 1 this Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. He should remain stashed in all fantasy football leagues in the meantime, with MarShawn Lloyd the favorite for RB1 duties in Green Bay for as long as he remains out. Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks should also work in change-of-pace roles, but Lloyd should have the most fantasy upside as an explosive runner out of the backfield. He is currently rostered in 89% of Yahoo leagues and should be started in all leagues in the season opener against Minnesota.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to suffer discomfort during individual throwing drills during Thursday's practice and briefly went to the ground, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. It is unclear exactly what Tagovailoa is dealing with or if it will prevent him from making the start in Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he did miss the first week of training camp due to lower-back spasms. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still recovering from a partially torn ACL late last season and will not be ready for the 2026 season opener, which is why Tagovailoa was named as the starter to open the year. If Tagovailoa's injury keeps him from playing this weekend, either Cooper Rush or Jack Strand could be forced into action against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Tagovailoa only has short-term, deep-league appeal in two-QB formats as the starter to begin the season, but the full expectation is that Penix will take over once he is cleared to come back from his knee injury. If active in Week 1, Tagovailoa will merely be a low-end QB2 for fantasy managers in deep superflex leagues.

New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq (groin) was an early training camp standout before complications related to offseason hernia surgery caused him to miss significant time, but he was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich told reporters on Thursday that he has integrated himself well into the offense. Sadiq was the 16th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after turning in a historic Combine performance, and he finds himself in a Jets offense well-equipped to take advantage of his dynamic skill set. Reich's offenses have historically featured the tight end position, and the Jets are in need of a secondary pass-catching option behind Garrett Wilson, who led the team with 395 receiving yards in 2025 despite missing 10 games. With Sadiq's injury causing him to go undrafted in many redraft leagues, he profiles as a potential waiver add before Sunday's season opener against the Titans.

San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro is ready for his second season with the team. Last year, Pineiro took over the position from Jake Moody after the latter missed three kicks (including two extra points) in last year's season opener. Pineiro went on to be one of the most effective kickers in fantasy football based on fantasy points per game. Not previously known for having a powerful leg, Pineiro went 6-for-7 from beyond 50 yards and was 10-for-10 on field goals between 40 and 49 yards long in 2025. In Week 1, San Francisco opens the season against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne. The Rams have one of the league's top-rated defenses, but even if they slow down the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan's dynamic offense should still be able to move the ball into field goal range and set Pineiro up for some scores. Pineiro is 12th overall at his position in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings and can be safely started.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) beat the usual recovery timeline for the Achilles tear he suffered in January and will be active for the team's season opener on Thursday night. Despite being limited in practices this week, he carries no injury designation heading into the Week 1 matchup against the Rams in Melbourne. In Kittle's only game against Los Angeles in 2025, he caught nine passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy managers should not expect the same production for Week 1, as the tight end can be expected to be on a pitch count, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. With the additions to the 49ers' receiving room in Mike Evans, De'Zhaun Stribling, and Deebo Samuel Sr., Brock Purdy has plenty of options to throw to. Kittle ranks as RotoBaller's TE8 this week, but his usual ceiling will be hard to reach in light of the circumstances around him.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, and NFL Insider Adam Schefter told Pat McAfee on Thursday that he is on track to play Sunday night when the Giants open the season at home against the Dallas Cowboys. The sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Nabers broke the franchise record with 109 receptions as a rookie before tearing his ACL in only the fourth game of his sophomore season, the first career start of 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart. Following a lengthy rehab that had his early-season availability in question for much of the summer, Nabers appears to be trending in the right direction and could begin the year on the right foot in what projects as one of the highest-scoring contests of Week 1.

San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling was selected at the top of the second round in the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite his outstanding preseason, he will begin the regular season behind veterans Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. on the 49ers' depth chart. Stribling can be expected to work into games as the 49ers' primary slot receiver, according to beat writer Matt Barrows of The Athletic. San Francisco opens the season against the Rams, who added cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in the offseason. With that pair likely assigned to keep Evans and Samuel in check, and tight end George Kittle (Achilles) on a pitch count, it is possible that Stribling takes advantage and sees a handful of targets in his regular-season debut. The uncertainty of his role and workload this early in the season calls for fantasy managers to exercise caution, however, and keep the rookie on the bench. Stribling ranks as a WR5 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings.

Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, but NFL Insider Adam Schefter suggested that he's expected to play in Sunday's season opener against the Chargers. Love injured his ankle in a preseason game against the Raiders in which he was given 14 opportunities, but he has since made steady progress, and his presence on Wednesday is an encouraging sign for his Week 1 availability. The third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Love has the highest Offensive Rookie of the Year odds and is expected to quickly become a focal point of the Cardinals' new-look offense under head coach Mike LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Fantasy managers will need to continue monitoring his progress throughout the week, and while the potential of a limited snap count still exists to begin the year, Love is trending in the right direction.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. is back with his former team after spending 2025 with the Washington Commanders. Samuel played with the 49ers from 2019 to 2024, during which time he averaged 55.7 receptions and 798.7 receiving yards per season. The team lists the 30-year-old receiver as starting opposite Mike Evans on their depth chart to start the season. Samuel will be competing not only with Evans for targets, but also rookie De'Zhaun Stribling and safety valve Christian McCaffrey. Tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is expected to be on a pitch count in Week 1, which might afford Samuel some extra looks. In Week 1, Samuel will likely face off against cornerback Trent McDuffie, who has held the receiver in check in their past meetings. Samuel ranks as a borderline WR4/5 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings. Given the matchup and competition for targets, Samuel is a risky play in the first week of the season.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans will make his team debut on Thursday in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Evans is listed as the team's WR1, working opposite Deebo Samuel Sr. and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling. Tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is expected to be on a pitch count for Week 1, which will likely keep Evans more involved. Evans' 6-foot-5, 231-pound frame might make him an attractive target for Brock Purdy against Rams' cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Evans was limited throughout the preseason while managing quad and groin injuries, but downplayed the severity in a press conference this week and said that they would not have cost him game time. Evans projects as a borderline WR2/3 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings. He is a safe start in most leagues and should definitely be in the lineup in leagues that start three wide receivers.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice, and NFL Insider Adam Schefter confirmed on Thursday that he would play in the season opener against the Dolphins. Jeanty injured his ankle in late August, drawing headlines with a dramatic exit, but he has since returned to the practice field and is not expected to be limited in Week 1. In his absence, fourth-round rookie Mike Washington Jr. positioned himself for a significant change-of-pace role through three dominant preseason outings, and it remains to be seen how new head coach Klint Kubiak will split carries in his first game with the Raiders. After handling a bell cow role as a rookie, expectations are high for Jeanty if the offense as a whole can take a step forward, and he is RotoBaller's RB15 for Week 1.

Since finishing as the fantasy QB3 in 2020, veteran quarterback Kyler Murray has struggled with injuries and inconsistency, playing in at least 14 games only twice while finishing as the QB19 or lower in three of the past five seasons. Following his release from the Arizona Cardinals, he signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings and now finds himself in a prime environment for a bounce-back season. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has long been respected for the work he has done with his quarterbacks, while four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been regarded as one of the top players at the position since entering the league in 2020. After winning the starting job in training camp, Murray finds himself at the helm of what was a top-six passing offense as recently as 2024 before facing significant quarterback concerns a season ago. With the mobility to provide a healthy fantasy floor and the surrounding playmakers to elevate his ceiling, the former first overall pick is a candidate to greatly outperform expectations as he enters the year as RotoBaller's QB19.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) spent much of the preseason limited with what was described in numerous reports as general tightness. McCaffrey later explained that his extended absence from team drills was part of the team's plan to keep him fresh in 2026 after racking up 414 touches in 2025. McCaffrey was not listed on injury reports this week and carries no designation ahead of the 49ers' season opener against the Rams. Injuries to the 49ers' offense in 2025 paved the way for McCaffrey to be the team's leading receiver. San Francisco fleshed out its wide receiver room in the offseason, reuniting with Deebo Samuel Sr., signing free agent Mike Evans, and drafting rookie De'Zhaun Stribling. With the new additions, there may be fewer opportunities for McCaffrey as a pass catcher. Still, he will remain the focal point of Kyle Shanahan's dynamic offense and, when healthy, has the potential to be the top running back in fantasy football week-to-week. McCaffrey projects as a top-3 option at his position in Week 1.

Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price rushed for 52 yards on 10 carries against the New England Patriots on Wednesday night. He also added two receptions for six yards. Price started the game and ran ahead of fellow running back George Holani. The two finished with similar carry counts (10 to eight) and snap shares (48% to 46%). However, Price was the more effective back, with Holani only gaining 29 yards on his carries. The Seahawks' offense was out of sorts for much of this game, but Price still had a couple of explosive runs that were eye-popping. He is clearly the most talented healthy running back on the roster, and Seattle figures to use him more and more as the season progresses. While his overall fantasy output was pedestrian at best, Price was still the clear lead back. With quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) potentially a candidate to miss some time, Seattle may lean on the run even more moving forward. Expect the offense to right the ship sooner rather than later, giving Price plenty of chances to score fantasy points. He draws a juicy matchup with the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.

Updating a previous report, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) is expected to miss the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but he should be back sooner rather than later and could be out just a few weeks, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. With 17 days until the Seahawks' Week 3 game against the Washington Commanders, it is possible that Darnold could be ready by then. The 29-year-old only attempted two passes before injuring his hip in Wednesday night's 13-10 victory over the visiting New England Patriots and was forced to leave. Although Darnold will not play next weekend, the Seahawks dodged a bullet with Darnold avoiding a long-term injury. Backup Drew Lock did enough to lead Seattle to a come-from-behind win to kick off the season, going 16-for-22 passing with 187 yards and one touchdown. Lock will be a short-term streaming option in Week 2 in Arizona in superflex leagues with Darnold missing at least one game. Fantasy managers who have Darnold rostered in two-QB leagues should hang tight and hold him while he recovers.

New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich said on Thursday that there will be no anticipated pitch count for running back Breece Hall (groin) in the Week 1 season opener this Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Reich said he likes to rotate RBs anyway, but "unless AG and the training staff give us a rep count, we just go play ball." Hall should be good for his normal rep count in the season opener despite being held out of practices late in training camp due to a minor groin issue. He has practiced so far this week and should be locked into starting fantasy lineups as at least a strong RB2 option for managers to kick off the season in a new-look offense led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis will continue to be sprinkled in, but Hall is the Jets' clear workhorse back when he is healthy, and he should continue to see plenty of volume. The 25-year-old is coming off his first career 1,000-yard season with four rushing touchdowns on 243 carries in 2025, adding 36 receptions for 350 yards and another TD through the air in 16 starts.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy lost out on eight games of production in 2025 while dealing with turf toe. In nine games, Purdy threw for 2,167 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Now healthy and bearing the weight of the $250 million contract he signed prior to last season, Purdy needs to start 2026 on the right foot. San Francisco brought in wide receivers Mike Evans, rookie De'Zhaun Stribling, and Deebo Samuel Sr. in the offseason, and Purdy still has Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) as a safety valve. Tight end George Kittle (Achilles) will be active but is expected to be on a pitch count. Purdy will not have it easy against the Rams after they bolstered their defense with the additions of Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson. If San Francisco's offensive line can keep him safe, Purdy can have a productive day given the options around him. He projects as a high-end QB2 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings.

For the second straight day in practice on Thursday, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (thumb) was seen wearing a non-contact jersey, according to Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union. It looks like Meyers will be a limited participant for the second straight day as the Jaguars prepare to face the Cleveland Browns in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday, but Meyers said himself that he will play this weekend despite dealing with a thumb injury. If Meyers can upgrade to a full practice on Friday, he could be removed from the final injury report altogether. Most likely, Meyers will be active against Cleveland on Sunday, where he will be competing for targets with Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr. The 29-year-old caught 75 passes for 835 yards and three touchdowns in 16 total regular-season games last year with the Jags and Las Vegas Raiders, but his fantasy stock has fallen going into 2026 due to the emergence of Washington as quarterback Trevor Lawrence's favorite target. If Meyers plays on Sunday, fantasy managers should consider him a WR4/flex option.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) had an MRI exam on his injured hip on Thursday morning that team doctors are still reviewing to determine how much time he will miss, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Darnold is expected to miss some time, but for now the Seahawks believe that they "dodged a bullet," according to a source. Fantasy managers should not expect the 29-year-old to be ready to play by Week 2 in Arizona against the division-rival Cardinals, but it appears that he has avoided a long-term injury. We will continue to keep a close eye on Darnold's practice status for next week, but for now, it looks like backup Drew Lock will be making the start next weekend for Seattle in the desert. Overall, it will be a downgrade for Seattle's offense, but top wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba did just fine in Thursday's win over the New England Patriots after Darnold left, tallying over 100 receiving yards and his first touchdown of the year. Darnold went just 1-for-2 passing for 13 yards and was sacked once early in the Week 1 opener before leaving with his hip injury.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest on Thursday to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports that Brown County District Attorney David Lasee will not seek jail time for Jacobs, who was arrested in May in a domestic incident. However, Lasee will pursue a conviction on the battery count and will accept a deferred agreement on the criminal damage to property if Jacobs meets five conditions related to his no-contest plea. The Packers placed the 28-year-old RB on the commissioner's exempt list, where he is expected to remain until the legal process plays out. It is unclear if the NFL will then hand down a separate suspension for Jacobs, but he at least will be sidelined for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season this Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Jacobs' off-the-field legal issues have obviously damaged his fantasy football value quite a bit for the start of the season, but he should remain stashed in all leagues while the legal process plays out. Without Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd is expected to get the first crack at backfield duties in Green Bay, but both Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks could also be involved.