Fantasy Football News

Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee) is likely to be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin training camp on Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. The Packers will hold their first camp practice on Wednesday, but Parsons expectedly won't be on the field with them. Parsons suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee in late December of last year against the Denver Broncos. Given the timing of his injury late last year, the expectation is that Parsons won't make his 2026 season debut before October. The Packers' defense wasn't the same to close out last season after Parsons injured his knee, so they'll be more vulnerable again early in 2026 if he's not ready to return for the season opener in early September. The 27-year-old five-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Rookie of the Year is a game-changer on defense when he's healthy, having recorded at least 12 sacks in all five of his NFL seasons. Even though Parsons isn't expected to be ready for Week 1, he'll be in play to be stashed in IDP fantasy formats.

The Green Bay Packers placed tight ends Tucker Kraft (knee) and Luke Musgrave (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start training camp, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Kraft will open up the summer on the PUP list after suffering a torn ACL in his knee in Week 9 of last year, but all expectations are that he will be a full-go for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. The 25-year-old former third-rounder (78th overall) in the 2023 NFL draft from South Dakota State was among the best TEs in the league last year (his third in the league) before his season-ending knee injury, catching 32 of his 44 targets for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight starts. The year prior, Kraft had a 50-707-7 line in 17 regular-season games for Green Bay. Despite Kraft returning from a major knee injury, RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 5 fantasy TE, behind only Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Colston Loveland, and Tyler Warren. With receivers Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks no longer in town, Kraft has a better path to more volume in the passing game in 2026.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin training camp, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. Pierce can rejoin the rest of his teammates at any time in camp, but he's not ready to get back on the field just yet after having ankle surgery in March. The 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 from the University of Cincinnati is coming off a breakout year in 2025 with a 47-1,003-6 line in 15 games while leading the NFL in yards per catch (21.3) for the second straight season. Pierce is also in line to be Indy's clear WR1 in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh, but his availability for Week 1 of the regular season is in question, which will keep his ADP low for now in fantasy football drafts. Right now, RotoBaller has Pierce ranked as the No. 39 fantasy WR for the upcoming season. The longer he takes to get back on the field to work with quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles), the more risky he'll become in fantasy drafts as a WR2 going into his fifth year in the league. Josh Downs figures to be the Colts' top wideout in camp while Pierce is sidelined.

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has the job. The fantasy ceiling is another question. Smith completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns in Las Vegas last season, but he also led the NFL with 17 interceptions and was sacked 55 times across 15 starts. The Jets are giving him a different setup. Four starting offensive linemen return, and Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Adonai Mitchell, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr. give the offense several ways to move the ball. Aaron Glenn has already made it clear Smith will start, so volume should be there. His legs probably will not add much. Smith managed 109 rushing yards without a touchdown in 2025 and is now 35. RotoBaller ranks him QB31 for redraft and QB38 in dynasty. That makes him useful as a third quarterback in Superflex leagues, especially when the matchup is right. One-quarterback managers can wait. Smith would need a sharp passing rebound to become more than a streamer.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has a real chance to earn snaps, but he still has to separate from one of the league's least settled receiver rooms. His final season in Dallas ended with 18 catches for 203 yards and one touchdown across 13 games. The better case comes from 2024, when Tolbert posted 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven scores. Miami gave him regular work throughout minicamp. He produced a gain of at least 15 yards on the opening day, caught intermediate throws during the second practice, and found the end zone on Day 3. Malik Washington and Tutu Atwell were involved as well, while rookies Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, and Kevin Coleman Jr. give the Dolphins several other options. The move to Malik Willis also leaves this passing game with plenty to prove. RotoBaller ranks Tolbert WR89 in PPR leagues. He is worth monitoring in deeper formats because the depth chart is open, but standard-league managers can wait until training camp reveals whether his spring involvement turns into a real role.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren was treated like a veteran from the jump. He drew 112 targets, catching 76 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns while playing 899 offensive snaps. Warren also scored once on the ground and set the franchise rookie record for receiving yards by a tight end. There is room for more. Michael Pittman Jr. took 111 targets with him to Pittsburgh, and Daniel Jones is set to open camp as a full participant after recovering from a torn Achilles. Josh Downs and Alec Pierce will remain heavily involved, so the vacated work will not all funnel to Warren. It does not have to. He led Indianapolis in targets last season and already finished among the top five fantasy tight ends despite only four receiving scores. RotoBaller ranks Warren TE4 for 2026. With Jones healthy and one of the league's strongest target profiles at the position, Warren has a real path to finishing as the overall TE1.

Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett praised running back James Conner when asked whether the team currently has a starter, but he stopped short of naming an RB1. Hackett said he was excited for Conner to get on the field and show what he can do before praising the entire running back room. Conner is returning from surgery on his right foot after the injury ended his 2025 season in Week 3. The 31-year-old rushed 32 times for 95 yards and one touchdown while adding eight receptions for 38 yards and another score in three games. Arizona revised Conner's contract to keep him for 2026, but the backfield also includes third-overall pick Jeremiyah Love, free-agent addition Tyler Allgeier, and Trey Benson. Love's draft investment creates significant competition for touches, while Conner's experience and consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024 keep him firmly involved. Hackett's comments were positive, but they did not establish Conner as the leading candidate for the starting job.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter was shown sprinting and running routes in rehabilitation footage released by the team as he works back from surgery to repair an isolated LCL injury in his right knee. Hunter injured the knee during an Oct. 30 practice and underwent surgery on Nov. 11, ending his rookie season after seven games. Head coach Liam Coen said during June minicamp that Hunter reached 22.6 mph in a rehabilitation sprint, though that speed was recorded on June 9 rather than during training camp. Hunter caught 28 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown while adding 15 tackles and three passes defensed as a rookie. Jacksonville plans to continue using him on both sides of the ball, with general manager James Gladstone saying his cornerback workload should increase. The footage and verified speed mark are positive signs, but workout results do not establish Hunter's training-camp workload or how much offensive work he will retain in 2026. His practice participation and role distribution remain the key fantasy developments to monitor.

Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani has been first through Thomas Hammock's position drills and has handled most of the first-team backfield work through two training camp practices, according to The News Tribune. First-round rookie Jadarian Price has also rotated into the starting offense, so Holani's early placement does not make him the established starter. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Holani appeared in 11 regular-season games in 2025, rushing 22 times for 73 yards and one touchdown while catching two passes for 15 yards. After returning from injured reserve in the postseason, he stepped into the No. 2 role following Zach Charbonnet's knee injury and recorded five carries for 10 yards and four receptions for 34 yards across the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. Charbonnet (knee) opened camp on the PUP list with no return timetable, creating additional opportunities for Holani and Price. Holani's receiving and pass-protection ability could help him earn a complementary role, but Price's first-round investment remains a major obstacle to dependable fantasy value.

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas worked with the first-team offense during Monday's training camp walkthrough, according to the Boston Herald. The fourth-year receiver also opened camp working from the slot alongside A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs in 11-personnel groupings, giving him an early opportunity to remain involved despite New England's deeper receiving corps. Douglas caught 31 passes for 447 yards and three touchdowns across 17 games in 2025, averaging a career-high 14.4 yards per reception while making no starts and serving mainly as a rotational slot receiver. Brown and Doubs project as the top two options, leaving Douglas to compete with Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III for snaps in three-receiver sets. His first-team work is encouraging, but Monday's session was a walkthrough and the Patriots are still evaluating combinations. Douglas is worth monitoring in deeper formats, though he will need to maintain his role once practices become more competitive before fantasy managers can expect consistent targets.

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (foot) was active during the team's first training camp practice Sunday, with 49ers.com reporting that quarterback Brock Purdy connected with him during team periods. The report did not include a target or reception total, so the early involvement should not be treated as evidence of a major role change. Tonges caught 34 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns across 17 games in 2025 after entering the season without a regular-season NFL reception. Four of those touchdowns came from inside the opponent's 20-yard line, and San Francisco re-signed him to a two-year contract in March. Tonges could receive additional opportunities while George Kittle (Achilles) remains on the Active/PUP list, though Luke Farrell, Brayden Willis, and Tanner McLachlan are also part of the tight end room. Tonges is worth monitoring in deeper formats during Kittle's recovery, but one early camp connection with Purdy is not enough to establish a dependable fantasy role.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk did not practice Monday because of a calf issue, according to Nick Wagoner. Matt Maiocco later reported that Kirk sustained a calf strain, but no timetable for his return has been announced. The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract with San Francisco in March after catching 28 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown across 13 games with the Houston Texans in 2025. Kirk is trying to establish a role in a reworked receiving corps that also includes Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, and second-round rookie De'Zhaun Stribling, whom the 49ers selected 33rd overall. Any extended absence would cost Kirk valuable time in a new offense and could create additional camp opportunities for the team's other receivers. For now, the lack of a reported timetable makes Kirk's participation worth monitoring, but there is not enough information to determine how much time he will miss.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel pushed back Monday on reports about wide receiver A.J. Brown's knee, saying the team is "very confident" in where Brown stands physically, according to Doug Kyed. Vrabel said Brown has done everything asked of him through the first two training camp practices and has made a strong start while acclimating to his new team. Brown will not participate in every activity, but Vrabel indicated that those decisions will be made by the coaching and medical staffs, as New England has done with other veterans during camp. The Patriots were aware of wear and tear in Brown's right knee before acquiring him from Philadelphia, and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said the team's medical staff approved the trade. Brown also passed his physical before joining the Patriots for offseason practices. The 29-year-old caught 78 of 121 targets for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games last season, extending his streak to four consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. Vrabel's comments are encouraging for Brown's 2026 fantasy outlook, though fantasy managers should expect New England to manage his practice workload when needed.

There is still no public update on potential contract extension talks between Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and the team with veterans due to report Tuesday, July 28, according to Greg Auman. Auman noted that neither side has provided an update and that it remains unclear whether Mayfield's self-imposed deadline is the reporting date or Wednesday's first practice. The 31-year-old is entering the final season of the three-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2024. Mayfield said in June that the sides were not close and that he would stop discussing a new deal once training camp begins, but he also made clear that he remains committed to helping Tampa Bay in 2026. He completed 343 of 543 passes for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions last season while adding a career-high 382 rushing yards. Because Mayfield has said the contract issue will not change his commitment to the 2026 season, the unresolved talks matter more to his long-term dynasty outlook than his immediate redraft role.

Former Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders (knee) worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Sanders is currently a free agent but is fully cleared from a knee injury that required surgery and cut his season short last year with the Dallas Cowboys. The 29-year-old former second-rounder in 2019 by the Philadelphia Eagles out of Penn State only appeared in four games in Dallas in 2025 and had 20 carries for 117 yards and one touchdown, adding eight receptions for 30 yards as a receiver. If Sanders were to sign with the Raiders, he'd be competing for a depth role in their backfield behind starter Ashton Jeanty with rookie Mike Washington Jr. and Dylan Laube. Sanders was a first-time Pro Bowler in his final year with the Eagles in 2022 and reached the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, but he has fallen off drastically since then with 754 yards, four touchdowns, and 3.7 yards per carry in three seasons since with the Cowboys and Carolina Panthers. In his last year in Carolina, Sanders rushed the ball just 55 times for 205 yards (3.7 yards per tote) and two rushing touchdowns.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams praised second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III on the Up & Adams Show on Monday, saying that "he makes the first guy miss every time." Williams also said that Burden "catches everything" and is a "friendly receiver." The 22-year-old former second-rounder (39th overall) last year out of the University of Missouri started slow in his rookie campaign but became more involved in head coach Ben Johnson's offense down the stretch, ultimately finishing with 47 receptions on 60 targets for 652 yards and two touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (five starts). Burden is one of the most popular Year 2 breakout receivers in fantasy football going into the 2026 season, especially since DJ Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills in the offseason. Johnson has also been praising Burden for his offseason work, saying that he's "buying Burden stock right now" and that he's been "really happy with him." Burden will cost a pretty penny in fantasy drafts because of all the second-year hype, but he might be worth every penny in an ascending Bears offense. RotoBaller has Burden ranked as the No. 21 overall fantasy WR for 2026.

New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams currently looks like the team's WR7, behind A.J. Brown, Kayshon Boutte, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Efton Chishm III, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. Williams was running with the second- and third-team offense during Monday's training camp practice. The 23-year-old former third-rounder in 2025 out of Washington State barely contributed in his first NFL season, catching 10 of 21 targets for 209 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (zero starts), although he did flash some big-play ability deep down the field and averaged 20.9 yards per catch. It's still early in training camp, but fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues who are stashing Williams heading into his second NFL season can't like what they are hearing. If he's in danger of not making the active 53-man roster near the end of camp, the Patriots could consider trading him to a WR-needy team.

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is still technically a member of the San Francisco 49ers, but he remained absent over the weekend for the start of training camp, and the two sides are eventually expected to part ways. Aiyuk spent much of the summer criticizing general manager John Lynch, head coach Kyle Shanahan, and the organization on social media. Lynch said back in January that Aiyuk would likely never play for the team again, but the Niners haven't found a trade partner and haven't outright released the former first-rounder. Aiyuk has repeatedly said on social media that he plans to sign with the Washington Commanders, and that he's the "final piece" to unlocking their offense, according to Matt Barrows and Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Before all of Aiyuk's social-media comments, sources said that the Commanders likely would have considered a short-term, highly incentivized contract with him if he was released. But the more Aiyuk has posted on social media, "the more he has seemed to jeopardize his hopes of returning to an active NFL roster." According to sources, Aiyuk's behavior changed after he signed a four-year, $120 million deal in August of 2024, and then he played in seven games that season before tearing multiple ligaments in his knee. In addition to being in limbo heading into the 2026 season, it's unclear what kind of shape Aiyuk is in physically. All we know is that his fantasy value has hit rock bottom.

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins was a standout during OTAs and minicamp, and with the team slated to return to the field on Saturday for their first practice of training camp, the second-year wideout will look to continue building momentum. As a rookie in 2025, Higgins finished third on the Texans in targets, receptions, and yards, while his six touchdown grabs tied two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins for the team lead. During spring practices, he looked notably bigger while running more precise routes, raising expectations heading into year two. Fourth-year quarterback C.J. Stroud has his detractors, and Houston returns one of the league's premier defensive units, allowing for questions of how high a ceiling Higgins can truly reach, particularly with Collins still in tow. However, going more than seven rounds behind fellow second-year wideouts Tetairoa McMillan, Luther Burden III, and Emeka Egbuka in 2026 drafts, Higgins is not a cost-prohibitive bet on a year-two breakout, and he is currently RotoBaller's WR55.

Seattle Seahawks veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp made a diving, one-handed catch on Sunday that drew a huge reaction from the gathered crowd, and it will take some serious work to unseat as the reigning play of the summer in the early days of training camp. In his first year with the team, Kupp caught only 47 passes for 593 yards and a career-low two touchdowns, but he told reporters during minicamp that he never considered retirement, and Seahawks beat writer Gregg Bell pointed to his most recent display of athleticism as evidence that he made the right decision. At 33 years old, the two-time Super Bowl champion and former Offensive Player of the Year no longer has the consistency to earn every-week consideration in lineup fantasy leagues. However, his catch on Sunday serves as a reminder that RotoBaller's WR71 could still have a place in best ball leagues.