Fantasy Football News

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Wednesday that he likes the pace that wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) is on and feels good about him playing in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, Sept. 13, according to BengalsTalk.com's Jay Morrison. The Bengals announced last week that Higgins has been dealing with a bruised heel, but it is a minor injury and should not impact his availability or snap count in the regular-season opener this weekend. In addition to Higgins, quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to have top receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) available against the Bucs after hyperextending his knee a few weeks ago in a training camp practice. Even though he is in the shadow of Chase, the consensus No. 1 overall fantasy WR, Higgins has WR1 upside on any given week in Cincy's explosive passing offense. The Bengals could ease Higgins into practice this week and keep him limited on Wednesday, but that should not concern fantasy managers whatsoever.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said he likes the pace that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) is on and feels good about him playing in Week 1 on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Jay Morrison of BengalsTalk.com. Chase suffered a hyperextended left knee late in a training camp practice, but he has recovered nicely with some rest and is fully expected to suit up and be a full-go in the regular-season opener this weekend against Tampa. Fellow wideout Tee Higgins (heel), who has been dealing with a minor heel injury, should be a full-go as well, so quarterback Joe Burrow's fantasy managers should have nothing to worry about to open the 2026 campaign. Chase was the first receiver off the board in most fantasy football drafts this summer, and he should be locked into all starting lineups for this weekend's game against the Bucs. The Bengals could list Chase as limited in Wednesday's practice, but that should not set off alarm bells for fantasy managers. Until further notice, Chase is expected to play in Week 1.

Green Bay Packers running back Kaleb Johnson, who was acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers during training camp to help with RB depth in light of the Josh Jacobs (personal) situation, could be a factor immediately in the Week 1 season opener this Sunday versus the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official website. "Yes. He's done a nice job. It does help there was some carryover not only from when he was at Iowa with Tim Lester but also having Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh," head coach Matt LaFleur said when asked if Johnson could help this weekend. The 23-year-old from Iowa had a forgettable rookie year in the Steel City in 2025, carrying the ball only 28 times for 69 yards in 10 regular-season games. Now in Green Bay, Johnson has some interesting short-term fantasy value in deeper leagues with Jacobs out for Week 1 and potentially facing an early-season suspension. MarShawn Lloyd is expected to see most of the backfield work out of the gate, but he has only played in one NFL game due to injuries. We are not recommending Johnson as a starting fantasy option in Week 1, but he is worth a waiver-wire flier if you have Jacobs rostered and are looking for more RB depth. Johnson is rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (lower body) was working with a trainer on a side field instead of stretching with the team at the start of Wednesday's practice, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Flowers was running and cutting in position drills during the media-viewing portion of practice. The 25-year-old had missed a couple of weeks of training camp practice due to a lower-body injury before returning last week and participating on Tuesday. His exact level of participation will be known later on Wednesday when the Ravens release their official practice report. Flowers could end up being limited, but the Ravens are most likely just managing the WR1's reps ahead of the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday, Sept. 13, on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. Flowers should be a must-start in all fantasy lineups this weekend as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 who could flourish in 2026 in Baltimore's new offense.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday that free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) has been doing "amazing" in his rehab after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee last year with the Miami Dolphins, but Rosenhaus also said that doctors have recommended that Hill postpone his comeback attempt until sometime in October. Rosenhaus added that he sent a video of Hill running and cutting to some NFL teams, to which they responded with questions about when they could sign him. Hill is playing it "on the safe side" as he recovers from his devastating knee injury, but he is getting back up to speed and should sign with an NFL team this fall. The 32-year-old Cheetah, who is an eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro, caught just 21 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown in four games in 2025 in his final season with the Dolphins before his season-ending knee injury. Although Hill is no spring chicken anymore and might be a bit slower after his knee injury, he could still make an impact for an NFL team and for fantasy managers later this season, making him worth a roster stash in deeper leagues if you have room on your bench. Right now, Hill is rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues.

When asked if he hopes that Thursday's initial court appearances in running back Josh Jacobs' case will provide more clarity about his future, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said, "The more clarity, the better, but it's just wait and see." Jacobs is not expected to appear in court on Thursday, but his lawyers will, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Fantasy managers and the Packers are hoping that we will get some clarity on Thursday in terms of a potential suspension for Jacobs, who remains on the commissioner's exempt list. The 28-year-old running back will not be available for the team's Week 1 season opener this Sunday against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings, and it is unclear how much longer he will be out. The uncertainty about Jacobs' status caused his draft stock to plummet, with MarShawn Lloyd now the favorite for lead-back duties in Green Bay in the short term. Jacobs is still rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues and will be the Packers' top RB when he returns, but in the meantime, he must remain on benches everywhere.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, whose tenure with the Browns has been defined by suspension and injury-related layoffs, has seen his accuracy downfield decline in recent years, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Watson ranked third among 34 qualifying QBs in completion rate (58.8%) on downfield passes in 2018, according to Next Gen Stats. He led the league in passing yards in 2020. But in 2023, Watson completed only 39.3% of his downfield attempts, which would have ranked as the worst in the league if he qualified. In 2024, he completed a career-low 37.9% of his downfield attempts before tearing his Achilles, sidelining him for the final 10 games. Additionally, Watson has been less aggressive in pushing the ball down the field, which was impacted by a shoulder injury in 2023 that eventually required surgery. Although Watson was fully healthy this summer in training camp, he was inconsistent and continued to struggle to push the ball downfield in the preseason. Still, he won the starting QB job over Shedeur Sanders, and head coach Todd Monken has confidence that Watson will be able to find explosive plays down the field in his offense in 2026. "I'm confident in Deshaun and our ability to push the ball down the field, otherwise we wouldn't be starting him, Monken said.

New York Jets second-year tight end Mason Taylor was listed as the team's No. 1 tight end on their first unofficial depth chart going into the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. It is no surprise that Taylor is considered the Jets' No. 1 tight end entering the 2026 season, as rookie first-rounder Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) missed nearly all of training camp and the entire preseason after having a setback following hernia surgery. Sadiq is eventually expected to be New York's best pass-catching, downfield weapon, but for now, Taylor will have more fantasy upside in the short term. Sadiq is on track to suit up in Week 1, but the Jets will be easing him in, so he will not be a recommended fantasy starter in his NFL debut. The 22-year-old Taylor is a hard sell for starting lineups in Week 1 as well, and fantasy managers are probably better off looking elsewhere for their TE to kick off the season. Taylor is not currently rostered in any Yahoo leagues.

The Denver Broncos released their first unofficial depth chart on Wednesday ahead of their Week 1 season opener on Monday night against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, and running back J.K. Dobbins was listed as the team's RB1, according to Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. Dobbins, who has a lengthy injury history in the NFL and suffered a season-ending foot injury in 2025 in his first year with Denver, is fully healthy entering Week 1 and received positive reviews during training camp this summer. The 27-year-old is set up to be the team's primary early-down option in the backfield in an offense that is rising under head coach Sean Payton and new coordinator Davis Webb. However, second-year back RJ Harvey should be the primary passing-down weapon, and rookie Jonah Coleman will be involved as well as the between-the-tackles backup to Dobbins. In 10 games last year before getting hurt, Dobbins was averaging 5.0 yards per carry for 772 yards and four touchdowns on 153 rushing attempts, and if he can stay healthy in 2026, he should be a solid weekly RB3/flex option for fantasy managers, including in Week 1 versus KC.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the team will monitor the playing time for tight end George Kittle (Achilles) in the Week 1 season opener in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. "We got to be smart with that," Shanahan said. Kittle was listed as limited in Tuesday's practice in Australia as he comes back from a torn Achilles tendon in last year's postseason. The 32-year-old veteran traveled with the team and is in line to play on Thursday, but he could be facing limited offensive snaps, which will make him highly volatile in fantasy football to kick things off. It does not mean that Kittle cannot still be valuable for his red-zone prowess, but there will be much more risk. Jake Tonges could be a sneaky deep-league streamer in Week 1 if Kittle's reps are managed against the Rams. Fantasy managers should view Kittle as more of a low-end TE2 option in starting lineups for Week 1.

After missing most of training camp and the preseason as he worked his way back from the ACL injury that ended his collegiate career, Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell has been listed as a Week 1 starter, and head coach Jeff Hafley told the media on Wednesday that he will not be limited by a pitch count. Bell appeared in the Dolphins' final preseason game and was targeted five times in roughly 10 minutes of game time, and along with fellow rookie Caleb Douglas, he has earned a spot in the season-opening lineup when Miami faces the Raiders on Sunday. "We believe those guys deserve to start, and we're gonna start them," Hafley told reporters. A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, there is a belief Bell would have gone significantly earlier if not for the injury, and in a Dolphins offense in search of playmakers to complement running back De'Von Achane, the 22-year-old wideout has arguably the highest ceiling and should be viewed as the Miami receiver to roster for fantasy.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is no stranger to competition, having spent his first three seasons in a backfield split with Najee Harris before sharing a room with Kenny Gainwell in 2025. Following Gainwell's departure, the Steelers added veteran Rico Dowdle, who has topped 1,000 rushing yards at each of his last two stops, but heading into Week 1, Warren is listed as the RB1 on the team's unofficial depth chart and could see a significant workload against an undermanned Falcons defense. Warren and Dowdle are similarly well-rounded backs who could be used interchangeably throughout the season, and should both find fantasy viability in the right matchups. Against the Falcons, the Steelers are favored at home, presenting Warren with an opportunity to forge a strong start to his 2026 season.

Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. led all qualified runners with a 7.3 yards-per-carry average during the 2026 preseason. Following a dominant effort across all three games, he has positioned himself as not just an important insurance back, but as a player who could see a standalone role as early as Week 1. 2025 sixth overall pick Ashton Jeanty (ankle) handled 334 opportunities as a rookie, but upon his arrival from Seattle, head coach Klint Kubiak immediately espoused the value of a committee running back approach. In Washington, he may have found a player to help lighten Jeanty's workload, particularly with the former first-rounder already dealing with an ankle injury. With the Raiders still holding one of the league's lowest projected win totals, it may be difficult for the team to support two usable fantasy backs, but Washington's preseason push makes him an intriguing end-of-bench stash who would see his value catapult if ever forced into a larger role by injury.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have taken to the practice field ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Bengals, and according to reporter Greg Auman, the only player not in attendance is running back Sean Tucker (undisclosed). Tucker has been dealing with an undisclosed issue that has held him out of practice since last week, and head coach Todd Bowles has already called him a game-time decision. The Buccaneers will issue their first official practice report on Wednesday, which should help to add clarity to Tucker's season-opening availability. While unlikely to see his own starting role for fantasy, Tucker's presence could have a significant effect on Bucky Irving's Week 1 value, particularly near the goal line after Tucker led the team with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. joins Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton in the team's starting receiver group, according to Zac Stevens. Mims started only four games last season, finishing with 37 catches for 322 yards and one touchdown while adding 78 yards and another score on 12 carries. He did show more as a receiver during Denver's playoff run, catching 12 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown across two games. The Broncos still have plenty of competition for snaps and targets with Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin in the receiver room, so being listed as a starter doesn't guarantee Mims a major weekly workload. Still, his place alongside Sutton and Waddle is a positive sign for how Denver plans to use the fourth-year receiver when the season begins.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) was one of the most talked-about players in the early stages of training camp, seemingly making a highlight play every time he took the field. A groin injury suffered in early August caused him to miss a significant portion of camp, but by most accounts he has looked like the same explosive player since returning to practice more than a week ago, and all indications point to a full workload in the Bears' season opener against the Panthers on Sunday. Following the departure of veteran DJ Moore, Burden will compete with Rome Odunze and tight end Colston Loveland to see the most targets in what profiles as a high-ceiling Chicago offense, and after dominating on a per-route basis late in his rookie season, the second-year wideout with WR1 upside could see a hot start to the 2026 season.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby belongs on the short list of backups who could become weekly fantasy starters with one depth-chart change. He is officially listed second behind Saquon Barkley, and we already got a look at what a bigger role can produce. When Barkley sat the 2025 regular-season finale, Bigsby ran 16 times for 75 yards and a touchdown and added a 31-yard catch. He was efficient throughout his first season in Philadelphia too, averaging 5.9 yards per carry on 58 attempts. There is more workload evidence from Jacksonville, where Bigsby handled 168 carries for 766 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. None of this gives him much standalone value while Barkley is healthy. That's fine. The appeal is what happens if the opportunity changes. Bigsby has the size, efficiency and prior volume to step into a much larger role, and the current depth chart confirms he is the next man up.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington was already starting to look like a breakout late last season, and nothing that happened this summer cooled it off. Washington led Jacksonville with 95 targets, 58 catches and 847 receiving yards in 2025, then went for 454 yards and three touchdowns over his final four games including the playoffs. He kept showing up in training camp too. Jacksonville's own observers repeatedly singled Washington out, while his chemistry with Trevor Lawrence looked noticeably stronger throughout the summer. There are still a lot of mouths to feed here. Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers are starting alongside him, with Travis Hunter still part of the offensive mix. Washington has already shown he can earn targets in that kind of environment, though. He enters Week 1 at WR27 in the current rankings and can be started against Cleveland, but the more interesting part is where his value goes from here. Washington has a legitimate chance to emerge as Jacksonville's top fantasy receiver if last year's finish carries over.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby drew interest from the Los Angeles Rams during the offseason, according to Tom Pelissero of The Sweep. The Rams called about Crosby and kept tabs on the situation after his proposed trade to Baltimore fell apart in March because of concerns over his surgically repaired knee. Crosby ultimately remained in Las Vegas and has repeatedly said he wants to stay with the Raiders. He finished 2025 with 10 sacks and 28 tackles for loss despite missing the final two games, and Pelissero reports that Crosby has looked great heading into the season. That could bring the trade conversation back eventually. If Crosby looks like himself once the games begin, Pelissero expects teams to call Las Vegas again before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has a much clearer path to playing time entering his second season. Golden was the top breakout choice in a poll of NFL executives and scouts conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler after a quiet rookie year in which he caught 29 passes for 361 yards on 44 targets. One AFC executive questioned why Green Bay didn't use the former first-round pick more and pointed to his speed as a reason for optimism. The opportunity looks different now. Romeo Doubs left in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to Philadelphia, while Golden is listed with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed among Green Bay's starting receivers. He also flashed in the playoffs, catching four passes for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown against Chicago. Golden still has to turn the opportunity into production, but the path to a much larger Year 2 role is there.