Fantasy Football News

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said he is looking to get tight end Brenton Strange "out in space more" to take advantage of his receiving ability this year, according to Hays Carlyon of 101 XL. The Jaguars clearly believe in Strange, giving him a three-year, $48 million extension last month. The 25-year-old only managed to play in 12 games due to injury in 2025, but he still had a career-high 540 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 46 catches. It's clear that the Jaguars want the former second-rounder from Penn State to become a bigger part of their passing attack under Coen, but the problem for fantasy football purposes is that the Jaguars already have a very crowded receiver room with the likes of Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr., and former Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Jacksonville also drafted TEs Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol this year, so there is some concern that they could eventually eat into Strange's workload. Fantasy managers shouldn't overreact to the hype and consider Strange a TE1 in 2026, but rather an intriguing TE2 with upside.

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) has been activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list and will practice on Friday, head coach Matt LaFleur told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Kraft won't immediately join 11-on-11 team drills, but he'll do other stuff in training camp as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL last year. It's big news for one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. The 25-year-old from South Dakota State looked like one of the best at his position, if not the best, in eight games in 2025 before his season-ending knee injury, catching 32 of 44 targets for 489 yards and six touchdowns for the Packers. Despite coming off a serious knee injury, Kraft's price in upcoming fantasy drafts isn't going to be discounted, with everyone fully expecting the breakout to come in 2026 if he can stay healthy all year. Although nothing is official yet, the former third-rounder should be ready to roll for Week 1 of the regular season in early September, barring a setback with his knee in camp.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson earned a third-down rep with the first-team offense on Friday, as pointed out by Steelers beat writer Nick Farabaugh. Friday's session was a low-intensity walk-through, so Johnson's work with the starting offense carries less signal than it might in a full-padded practice, but his dynasty managers will surely welcome any signs of momentum gained. Johnson was a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft but disappointed as a rookie with only 69 rushing yards on 28 carries. He now looks for a clean slate with a brand new coaching staff, and while he remains firmly behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle on the depth chart, his presence in a situational third-down role should be viewed with encouragement in a Steelers offense likely to continue featuring its backs in the passing game. Johnson is outside RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026 and has fallen to RB57 in the latest dynasty rankings.

Since landing with the Las Vegas Raiders as a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, rookie wide receiver Malik Benson has drawn praise for his ability to stress a defense vertically. Benson made a number of deep catches throughout OTAs and minicamp, and he has continued to make plays during the team's first practices of training camp, already taking reps with the first-team offense. The Raiders have one of the more wide open receiver depth charts in the league, so anything Benson can do to stand out will help his chances not just to make the team but to become a meaningful contributor, and Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko wants to keep testing him while taking advantage of his 4.37 speed, telling reporters earlier in the week, "We're going to want to maximize what he does, how he comes off the ball, be able to challenge him mentally and do different things with him and just see him grasp the offense and take it from the meeting room to the field." Benson currently sits outside of RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026, but if he can continue to earn meaningful reps in three-receiver sets alongside Jalen Nailor and Tre Tucker, he could become a usable piece in best ball formats.

The Detroit Lions have signed veteran tight end Anthony Firkser following his release from the Commanders on Wednesday, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter. An undrafted free agent in 2017, Firkser has played for five different teams across eight professional seasons, appearing in seven games for the Lions in 2025, which marked his second stint with the team. Tasked with an expanded role in the wake of Sam LaPorta's move to injured reserve, Firkser caught eight passes for 53 yards but could be tabbed for more special teams responsibilities in 2026. He joins a Lions depth chart of LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Tyler Conklin and will be looking to earn one of the final spots on the Lions' 53-man roster.

New England Patriots fourth-year wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was the subject of trade speculation throughout the offseason, but he continues to stack plays in the early days of training camp, and The Athletic's Chad Graff is the latest media member to point him out as the team's best offensive player to this point. Graff includes Boutte on his initial 53-man roster projection, putting him in over 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams. Once viewed as a potential first-round pick, injuries and off-field concerns saw Boutte fall to the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and now in the final year of his rookie deal, the desire to be featured in a primary role would be understandable from the player's perspective. Instead, Boutte has quietly gone about his business, making highlight-worthy catches whenever his number has been called. Receiver has become the deepest position on the Patriots' roster, as evidenced by Graff's exclusion of Williams from his initial roster projection, so trade rumors could resurface as camp injuries continue to pop up around the league. But after being viewed as a fantasy afterthought for much of the offseason, Boutte is back in the conversation as a potential contributor, particularly as a big-play threat in best ball formats.

After a slow start to his second training camp, New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams made several notable plays during the team's first padded practice of the summer on Thursday. The obvious caveat is that those plays came with Tommy DeVito under center, as Williams continues to run primarily with the second-team offense, and in an early projection of the team's 53-man roster, The Athletic's Chad Graff has the 2025 third-round pick on the outside looking in. Graff acknowledges the unlikeliness of Williams being left off the roster despite an early lack of involvement and points to the team's upcoming preseason games as a crucial opportunity for him to show he belongs, potentially by earning a role in the return game. Williams caught only 10 passes as a rookie, and with wide receiver now representing the deepest position on the Patriots roster, it's unlikely he becomes a reliable fantasy contributor even if he does make the team, reflected by his fall to WR91 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

After two disappointing seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver Roman Wilson could benefit from a new coaching staff, and he has earned the praise of head coach Mike McCarthy for the work he's done in the initial practices of training camp. McCarthy has been impressed by what the 2024 third-round pick has shown out of the slot, telling reporters he's done a "hell of a job" working on the inside and suggesting he could soon see more work on the outside. After injuries all but deleted his rookie season, Wilson earned some early training camp buzz last year but caught only 12 passes for 166 yards in his second season. Ranked outside RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026, fantasy expectations remain low, but if Wilson can continue to build momentum and carve out a larger role, he could eventually work his way back into the streaming conversation in an offense projected to see a higher passing volume under McCarthy.

With an unexpected absence at the top of the depth chart, Detroit Lions running backs Isiah Pacheco and Sione Vaki have been splitting first-team reps in the early days of training camp. Three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs has not been practicing as he seeks a long-term contract extension, and head coach Dan Campbell is taking advantage of an opportunity to load his other backs up with valuable work. Pacheco signed a one-year deal this offseason and is expected to handle parts of the vacated David Montgomery role, while Vaki enters his third season with the team after Detroit spent a fourth-round pick on him following a collegiate career in which he played predominantly on the defensive side of the ball. While Campbell has expressed confidence that an extension with Gibbs will get done, he is not overlooking the situation in front of him and is using it to prepare both players for any unexpected call to action over the course of a long 17-game season.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington was a fantasy star over the second half of the 2025 season, and reports out of training camp hint at more big things to come in 2026. While the fourth-year receiver made several plays during the opening practice of training camp, it was the work he did on Thursday that caught the eye of Sports Illustrated's John Shipley, who pointed to the success Washington had at all three levels of the field against some of the team's top cover players before noting that he "just seems to continue to make standout plays that make you think he is due for a big season." Washington became a featured piece of the Jaguars offense after their Week 8 bye, playing as the fantasy WR11 over that stretch, and the buzz throughout the spring and summer would suggest continued usage in that manner and potentially the highest ceiling in a loaded Jaguars receiver room. Playing on the final year of his rookie deal, Shipley believes that Washington's performance in the early days of camp could soon earn him an extension, making him a player to target in dynasty leagues despite his rising price tag.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka caught a long touchdown pass during a competitive 7-on-7 session of Thursday's training camp practice, as he continues to impress in Zac Robinson's new-look offense. The second-year wideout has been working primarily as the Z-receiver, but his versatility has allowed Robinson to move him all across the formation. Egbuka's 2025 rookie season opened on a historical pace, catching five touchdowns through his first five games, but the Buccaneers' offense as a whole faced mounting injuries and a general lack of cohesion as the season went on, and the first-round pick scored only one more time over his final 12 games. With six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans no longer with the team, Egbuka is projected to take a major step forward in year two, now serving as the primary read on most plays, and the usage in Robinson's redesigned system has been encouraging for RotoBaller's WR20.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III has been heavily involved in all aspects of the team's passing offense through the early days of training camp, and offensive coordinator Press Taylor spoke to reporters on Thursday about the growth of the dynamic second-year player. "You saw in the spring, he was one of those guys where you really saw the skill set flourish. Now he's not thinking quite as much. He's able to just go out, react, play." Since the Bears traded veteran receiver DJ Moore to the Bills in March, offseason narratives have focused on how targets will be divvied up between a young group of pass catchers featuring Burden, Rome Odunze, and tight end Colston Loveland. Now, through the first practices of camp, Burden's involvement has stood out, and a big second season could be on the way for RotoBaller's WR21.

Through the early days of training camp, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has worked in close to a 50/50 split with fourth-year back Tank Bigsby, with the latter drawing rave reviews from the local beat in his first offseason with the team. While Bigsby's involvement could be viewed as planned load management to keep the team's three-time Pro Bowler fresh through the summer after handling more than 800 touches across his first two campaigns with the team, Eagles reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks speculated on his Go Birds! podcast about whether Bigsby's increased involvement could stretch into the regular season. With Bigsby arriving in Philadelphia via a mid-season trade, his 2025 involvement was limited primarily to special teams, but as his offensive opportunities grew throughout the year, he took advantage, averaging nearly six yards per carry and looking decisive and explosive behind the same banged-up offensive line that was frequently pointed to as a reason Barkley was incapable of matching some of his previous-season highs. Barkley ran for only 1.6 yards after contact per carry last season, with Bigsby's number more than a full yard higher at 2.8 YPA, while his 10 broken tackles came on only 58 carries to Barkley's 18 broken tackles on 280 attempts. Barkley is RotoBaller's RB6 for 2026, but without the volume that fantasy managers are used to seeing, he could struggle to live up to ADP expectations.

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little put together a rock-solid season in 2025, converting 30 of his 34 field goal attempts and 50 of his 51 extra-point tries. Little also has one of the most powerful legs in the NFL, as he made eight field goals from 50-plus yards out and connected on an NFL-record 68-yard field goal in early November. The 22-year-old finished 2025 as the fifth-best kicker in terms of overall fantasy scoring. Entering 2026, Little should be in a strong position for another high-end fantasy season while playing alongside the high-powered Jacksonville offense. In both redraft and dynasty formats, Little has a strong case to be viewed as an elite kicker.

New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq was "heavily featured" in training camp practice on Thursday, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt reports that New York lined Sadiq up all over its offensive formations and that the 21-year-old "made a few plays." The 16th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Sadiq recorded 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns across 14 games for the University of Oregon in 2025. He projects as an elite athlete for the tight end position in the NFL and could ultimately see heavy usage from the slot in New York. The Jets' uncertain quarterback situation and the presence of fellow tight end Mason Taylor in New York are both potential limiting factors for Sadiq in his rookie season. Still, he could end up undervalued by his current redraft ADP of TE23.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III scored a long touchdown on a screen pass in training camp practice on Thursday and brings a new element to the team's screen game in 2026, according to Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com. Walker III is entering his first year in Kansas City after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. Across 17 games with Seattle in 2025, the 25-year-old recorded 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 252 touches. Walker III's fantasy upside with the Seahawks was limited due to his shared workload with Seattle back Zach Charbonnet (knee). However, Kansas City appears set to deploy Walker III as a true three-down workhorse. His explosive ability in space could pair especially well with the Chiefs' screen game, which is operated by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and designed by Hall of Fame play-caller Andy Reid. Walker III carries high-end RB1 upside in redraft leagues entering 2026.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said "it's pretty exciting" when discussing the status of tight end Sam LaPorta (back) as he works his way towards a return from back surgery, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Pouncy reports that Campbell said LaPorta is "ready to go" and "a big piece of our offense." LaPorta recorded 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns on 49 targets across nine games last season before suffering a season-ending back injury. The 25-year-old has proven he has high-end fantasy TE1 upside when healthy, as he recorded over 1,600 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns across his first two NFL seasons in 2023 and 2024. While the back injury and the Lions' deep core of talented pass-catchers are both potential limiting factors for LaPorta's fantasy value, it appears as though Detroit is encouraged by their tight end's status at the start of training camp. RotoBaller currently ranks LaPorta as the TE8 for redraft leagues.

Veteran wide receiver Dante Pettis has been signed by the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Across eight games with the New Orleans Saints in 2025, Pettis recorded nine catches for 127 yards on 11 targets. The 30-year-old has played in 66 NFL games across seven seasons, but his contributions have mostly come on special teams. Pettis has not recorded more than 19 catches or 245 receiving yards in a season since his rookie year in 2018. While the Bills are searching for reliable receiver talent behind DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir, Pettis is unlikely to play a significant role as a pass-catcher in Buffalo. Fantasy managers in both redraft and dynasty leagues should avoid Pettis.

The Indianapolis Colts worked out free-agent wide receiver Chase Claypool on Thursday. Claypool is attempting an NFL comeback after not playing in the league since 2023. He last suited up for the Miami Dolphins during the 2023 campaign. He finished with eight receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown in 12 games with Miami. The 28-year-old was a former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. He hasn't really done anything meaningful on the football field since leaving the Steelers during the 2022 season. Even if he lands with the Colts, Claypool would likely only be depth and have a minimal role.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. is reportedly in competition for the backup role ahead of the 2026 season. Daniel Jones is the clear starter in Indy, but the backup gig is still up for grabs. JJ Stankevitz is reporting that Richardson and Riley Leonard are "neck and neck" for the QB2 job. The team plans to continue to rotate the two quarterbacks between the second and third-team offense throughout camp. Richardson hasn't actually played meaningful football since the 2024 season. Leonard threw for 415 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in five games last season. Whoever wins the backup job could have some stash value with Jones coming back from an Achilles injury.