Fantasy Football News

Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith (thumb) had surgery on his left thumb on Tuesday and will be placed on Injured Reserve, which will cause him to miss at least the first four games of the 2026 season, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. Smith tried to play through the injury, but ultimately, he and the team decided it was in the best interest of both sides to undergo surgery, which will fix a ligament tear. The earliest Smith could return to Dallas is on Oct. 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 on Thursday Night Football. The more realistic date for Smith's return might be the following week on Oct. 18 against the Green Bay Packers. The 25-year-old is a key piece of Dallas' offense, as he has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons, joining only Larry Allen and Zack Martin as the only guards in franchise history to accomplish that feat in their first four seasons. Smith also had a clean-up procedure on his right knee in February. With Smith out for at least the first four games this year, T.J. Bass is expected to replace him in the starting lineup after starting 10 games in his first three NFL seasons.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is a tougher sell as a Week 1 pickup than the name value suggests. He threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, so the passing production itself isn't the concern. The problem for fantasy is what happens when the touchdowns don't come. Darnold added only 95 rushing yards and no scores on the ground in 2025, and he opens against New England, the team that held him to 202 yards and one touchdown in Super Bowl LX. Seattle still has Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed, so there is enough around him to get by if you're stuck. RotoBaller has Darnold at QB24 for Week 1 and rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues, with the current waiver recommendation limited to 14-team formats. In a standard one-QB league, that's not enough to make him a priority. Leave him on the wire unless your options are already getting thin.

The Los Angeles Chargers have listed Charlie Kolar as the No. 1 tight end on their depth chart as they get set for their Week 1 matchup this Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Arizona Cardinals. Oronde Gadsden is listed behind Kolar, followed by David Njoku, Scott Matlock, and Evan Svoboda. It was clear from the outset that the Bolts had big plans for Kolar in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme when they signed him to a three-year, $24.3 million contract in free agency in March. Despite catching only 30 of his 41 targets for 409 yards and four touchdowns in his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, the 27-year-old has a complete skill set at the position that the Chargers clearly value. Kolar is ahead of Gadsden on the depth chart for now, but it does not necessarily mean that he will become a must-start at the position in fantasy football leagues. For now, Kolar is an option for a waiver-wire pickup in deeper leagues for managers in need of TE depth. He is currently rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues.

Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane has done enough this summer to be worth tracking, though the waiver case is better in deeper PPR leagues than standard 12-team formats. Baltimore took Lane 80th overall in April after he caught 49 passes for 745 yards and four touchdowns in his final season at USC, and he kept showing up during camp. The Ravens said after roster cuts that Lane's emergence helped settle their No. 3 receiver question and projected him for a substantial role. That still leaves Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman ahead of him, with Mark Andrews involved underneath, so there may not be enough targets right away to use Lane against Indianapolis. RotoBaller currently has him rostered in 19% of Yahoo leagues and recommends him in 14-team PPR leagues. That feels like the right range. Lane is not a Week 1 starter, but the size, draft investment and camp buzz make him a worthwhile bench stash in deeper formats.

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid's on-field role with Buffalo has suffered in the last two years with the team because of injuries, but he just wrapped up the healthiest training camp he has had since his rookie year and had a big role in the offense during practices open to the media, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. Kincaid could become one of the most important pieces on the Bills' roster if he can "become a 60-65% snap player" and be just competent enough in blocking when he is on the field. The 26-year-old had 73 catches for 673 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets as a rookie, but his snap counts fell in each of the last two years while dealing with nagging injuries. The former first-rounder from Utah did have a career-best five touchdowns in 12 games in 2025, but he played fewer than 50% of the offensive snaps. If Kincaid can maintain his high-end pass-catching efficiency and see the field more, he will have clear TE1 upside for fantasy managers in an offense that could be opened up by new deep-threat receiver DJ Moore.

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia writes that wide receiver DJ Moore could help swing the Bills' 2026 season after he was their "crown jewel" of the offseason when they acquired him in a trade from the Chicago Bears. His contributions during training camp were "immediate and obvious" for the offense, with quarterback Josh Allen "routinely pushing the ball downfield" to Moore. Allen made a "concerted effort all summer" to build on-field chemistry with Moore. It is no secret that Buffalo brought Moore in to be their WR1. The days of "everybody eats" in the Bills' offense "seem to be in the rearview mirror," and Buscaglia does not think it would be surprising to see Moore on the field "consistently and for Allen to default to looking his way." With that said, Buscaglia also cautions that Moore could be a letdown. After all, he averaged only 824 yards per season the last two years in Chicago and seemed to have a disconnect with QB Caleb Williams. The good news for fantasy managers is that Moore should be guaranteed a high snap and target role in Buffalo, making him a high-floor WR3/flex each week. Ultimately, Moore's success (or lack thereof) could depend on the connection he develops with Allen.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is still sitting on plenty of waiver wires, but that does not make him one of the better Week 1 tight end pickups. He is rostered in only 22% of Yahoo leagues after finishing 2025 with 51 catches for 438 yards and three touchdowns on 66 targets in 15 games. Minnesota's offensive-line problems were part of it. Hockenson had to stay in and chip more often, which cut into his routes. There has been at least one encouraging sign this summer, with Hockenson and new starting quarterback Kyler Murray connecting repeatedly in the red zone during camp. The target tree is still crowded with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings, though, and Hockenson has not been a reliable weekly fantasy starter lately. RotoBaller has him at TE22 for Week 1 and lists him as an add in 14-team leagues. That is probably where he belongs. In a standard 10- or 12-team league, there are better streaming bets on the wire.

New York Giants wide receiver Malachi Fields is a rookie out of Notre Dame and might now be the No. 2 wide receiver for the Giants. Matt Legros of Giants Wire of USA Today broke down the latest Fields news, writing, "Malachi Fields is in line for a much larger role with the New York Giants after the team moved on from veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday. The rookie now has an opportunity to entrench himself as the No. 2 receiver opposite Malik Nabers." The No. 2 receiver in the Giants offense could be a productive role for Fields, who turned heads in camp, according to Legros: "Fields was particularly impressive during the preseason, showing strong hands and the ability to create plays downfield. He also connected well with quarterback Jaxson Dart, strengthening his case for meaningful snaps once the regular season begins." Fields looks like an impact player right out of the gate for the Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is a nice addition to the Eagles receiving corps coming from the Green Bay Packers, and he could challenge for the No. 2 receiver role in Philadelphia. He could also emerge as a popular early-season waiver wire pickup. The Eagles drafted Makai Lemon out of USC, but he might fit in more as a slot receiver with Wicks playing on the outside. Last year in Green Bay, Wicks was in a room full of talented receivers, but he did finish the season with 46 targets and 30 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns. Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia wrote that Wicks could expand his role in Philadelphia to more than a role player. He quoted Eagles wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead: "There's nothing that should be holding him back from anything in this league. He can go out here and have as good a year as anybody. Exciting time for him to prove that, 'Hey, I can be more than what I was in Green Bay.'"

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson could have a larger role as a backup to D'Andre Swift because of an injury to Kyle Monangai (knee). Johnson has been impressive in camp amidst Monangai's injury struggles and even earned the eye of new offensive coordinator Press Taylor. Ariana Pensy of the Bears Wire wrote about Taylor's praise of Johnson this off-season, writing, "As Kyle goes down and Roschon's numbers increase and he got more opportunities, he proved to us that he's trustworthy. He can be in those situations if it comes down to it where we need him to carry a heavier load than we expected while being involved in special teams. That's something he's done well." Monangai reportedly returned to practice on Monday but is dealing with a hyperextension of his right knee. Should Monangai miss time, the Bears have faith in Johnson as a backup.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas had a strong showing in training camp and the preseason, and the rookie has the potential to be the team's top receiver this season. After trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos, the Dolphins will count on Douglas, Malik Washington, and Jalen Tolbert as their expected starters. Douglas was a third-round pick out of Texas Tech and brings big-play potential, as he showed with highlight-reel catches throughout the preseason. He may be held back by the run-heavy Dolphins' offense with QB Malik Willis under center, but since he could develop into the team's No. 1 receiver by midseason, he definitely has the upside to be a fantasy factor. If you can stash him off the waiver wire in deep leagues, he's one of the few options with such a large potential role so easily available. He's only the WR84 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, so he isn't a flex option yet, but his later-season potential gives him intriguing upside.

New York Giants running back Najee Harris will be an important name to monitor early in the season after the veteran signed a one-year deal to join new coach John Harbaugh in New York. He is expected to play a significant role behind starter Cam Skattebo, and he will compete for snaps with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary for backup work. Tracy struggled in pass protection this preseason, which may be part of the reason that Harris was added. The 28-year-old veteran was limited to just three games with Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers last season, suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in late September after missing training camp due to a fireworks accident. He was a workhorse in his first four seasons in the league for the Steelers, racking up over 1,000 rushing yards and playing all 17 games each year. His role with the Giants is uncertain, which is why he's only RotoBaller's No. 53 RB for Week 1, indicating he isn't in the mix to start in most formats. However, he is a solid handcuff for Skattebo and could work his way into a large enough role to be a deep-league flex option by the time we reach bye weeks.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) sounds like he will be "good to go for Sunday night," according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. Nabers is coming back from a torn ACL that ended his 2025 season after four games, but it looks like he'll be ready to play in Week 1. Last year, he had 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns before his injury after an impressive rookie year with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games, despite iffy QB play. This year, he'll work with Jaxson Dart as the team's top receiver under new head coach John Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The team added wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Isaiah Likely, but Nabers should remain the focal point of the offense and be set for as large a target share as he can handle. Since it will be his first game back, Nabers is the No. 16 WR in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings, but he definitely has top-10 upside even though he'll take on an improved Dallas defense on Sunday Night Football. If you drafted Nabers as a starter, be sure to get him in your lineups this week since he seems to be all systems go for Week 1.

Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani could be very involved in the Seahawks' backfield rotation, as they begin the defense of their Super Bowl title. After the injury to Zach Charbonnet (knee) and the departure of Kenneth Walker III, the Seahawks are expected to share time between rookie Jadarian Price, Holani, and free-agent addition Emanuel Wilson. Price is expected to lead the way, but he has missed time over the past few weeks with muscle soreness and did not play a single snap in the preseason. Wilson is expected to be the power option, but Holani has an interesting mix of third-down and short-yardage skills that should make him an interesting contributor, especially while Price adjusts to NFL speed. Especially early in the year, Holani's experience in the team's system could help him be trusted to handle high-value touches on both passing downs and in scoring position. He's the No. 56 RB in Week 1 in RotoBaller's rankings, so he is not a FLEX consideration for the team's opener against the Patriots. However, it does make sense to snag him in deep leagues in case he gets those key plays and production early in the season with Price ramping up.

New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has the potential to post a breakout season in his first full year with the Jets if he can build on a strong training camp. The speedy receiver has the raw tools to make him relevant in all formats, but he has struggled to be consistent throughout his NFL career. The Colts drafted Mitchell in the second round out of Texas, but he never earned consistent playing time before being traded to the Jets as part of the Sauce Gardner deal. With New York, he averaged over seven targets per game and finished the year with 24 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. None of those games were with top receiver Garrett Wilson in the mix, so his target share could drop with Wilson's return and the additions of rookie pass-catchers Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. Even with a slightly smaller workload, though, Mitchell still has upside after receiving praise for his work in training camp to develop his connection with new QB Geno Smith. He appears set to open the year as the WR2 in New York, and he is the WR62 in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings against the Titans. While he doesn't look like a Week 1 starter in most formats, he does make sense as a stash in deep leagues due to his long-term potential and solid role.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris is a potential Year 2 breakout candidate, especially as the Chargers' offense continues to trend upward. Not every team can support a fantasy-relevant outlook for their No. 3 receiver, but Los Angeles' offense is powerful enough to make Harris an intriguing stash in 12+ team leagues. Quarterback Justin Herbert averaged 32 pass attempts per game last year, despite drastically lowering his total number of pass attempts in the second half of the season while managing an injury. A fully healthy Herbert might throw the ball 35 times a game, and many of those targets will go to Harris, his No. 3 option in the passing attack. The 24-year-old receiver already started to flash upside as a rookie last year, catching 30 passes for 324 yards and one touchdown. Although he is playing behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, he has an opportunity to step into a bigger role if either of those receivers suffer from drop issues or miss time due to injury. It's way too early to confidently insert Harris into your lineups, but he's at least worth adding off the waiver wire in 12+ team leagues.

The New England Patriots have signed star cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a four-year, $135 million contract extension, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The deal includes $102 million guaranteed. By signing this new contract, Gonzalez earns $33.75 million per season, and he officially becomes the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. The Pro Bowler's contract had been a topic of discussion all offseason, and the two sides were able to reach an agreement less than 48 hours before the Patriots' regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. It's a well-deserved payday for the 24-year-old, who made 69 tackles, defended 10 passes, and earned a 65.8 PFF defense grade last season. Now that he has his new nine-figure deal, Gonzalez will turn around and be tasked with covering Seahawks star wide receiver (and reigning Offensive Player of the Year) Jaxon Smith-Njigba on primetime television.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson may be a fifth-round rookie, but he's already on the fantasy radar as a potential waiver wire target. Johnson will open the year as the Chiefs' No. 2 running back, largely because he impressed the coaching staff so much with his pass-blocking ability. We may not see Johnson carve out standalone fantasy value on a weekly basis in his current role, but he would jump to the lead-back role and possess RB2 value if workhorse Kenneth Walker III were to miss time. It's worth noting that the ex-Seahawk missed at least two games every year from 2022 through 2024, so Walker's managers would be justified in adding his handcuff off the waiver wire. Because of his potential to feast if Walker misses any time, Johnson should be picked up off the waiver wire in all leagues with 12+ teams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is competing for the No. 3 role on the depth chart, and his experience in the Bucs' offense gives him an early advantage over his teammates. Chris Godwin Sr. and Emeka Egbuka (toe) project as Tampa Bay's top two wideouts, leaving McMillan and Ted Hurst III vying for the next spot in the pecking order. The good news for McMillan is that Hurst is a rookie, which means his ascension into a meaningful role might be delayed as he adapts to NFL speed. On the other hand, McMillan has been in the NFL since 2024 and has 17 games' worth of experience (plus three offseasons) under his belt. His familiarity with the system and his connection with quarterback Baker Mayfield go a long way, especially considering that McMillan averaged 10.4 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues as a rookie. Managers should expect McMillan to open the year as the Bucs' No. 3 wide receiver, which also puts him on the fantasy radar in deeper leagues. The 24-year-old is a matchup-dependent WR3/flex as it is, and he would jump into the WR3 tier on a consistent basis if Godwin or Egbuk were to miss time. As a result, McMillan should be added off the waiver wire in all 12+ team leagues.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) is in full uniform for the team's practice in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The team's final injury report for the day will tell us more about CMC's status for the Week 1 showdown on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, but it looks like he is heading in the right direction to be active. The Niners kept McCaffrey in bubble wrap during the preseason, and he has been sitting out of practices for several weeks due to undisclosed tightness. The star RB said the plan was always for the team to play it safe with him to have him fully ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, and it makes sense given his lengthy injury history. Until further notice, there is no reason for fantasy managers to pull CMC out of their starting lineups for Week 1. The 30-year-old four-time Pro Bowler and 2023 Offensive Player of the Year is a league-winner if he stays healthy, which is what he did in 2025, when he ran for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 102 receptions for 924 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 regular-season games.