Fantasy Football News

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (knee) will undergo season-ending surgery after tearing his ACL, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed the news Sunday. Bresee suffered the injury during the Saints' first training camp practice Wednesday, ending his fourth NFL season before it began. The 24-year-old started all 15 games he played last year, finishing with 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, and one forced fumble. He has recorded 14.5 sacks in 49 career games since New Orleans selected him 29th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Saints exercised Bresee's fifth-year option during the offseason, keeping him under contract through 2027. Vernon Broughton, Nathan Shepherd, John Ridgeway III, and second-round rookie Christen Miller are among the defensive linemen who could receive more work in his absence.

Washington Commanders tight end John Bates (hamstring) will miss a couple of weeks after straining his hamstring during Thursday's practice, according to Ben Standig. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the timetable Saturday. Bates caught 11 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown in 15 games last season, but his bigger role comes as Washington's primary blocking tight end. That makes his absence more important to the offense than his receiving numbers suggest, especially with new coordinator David Blough expected to use multiple-tight-end sets. Chig Okonkwo and Ben Sinnott should handle more work while Bates is sidelined, while Colson Yankoff and Lawrence Cager could also see additional practice reps. Bates does not carry much standalone fantasy value, and this injury is unlikely to create a clear waiver target. It does give Washington's other tight ends more time to earn roles before he returns. The initial timetable leaves room for Bates to get back during the preseason.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (foot) took his first team-drill reps of training camp Sunday, receiving two carries after being limited to individual work during the first three practices. Sports Illustrated reported that one handoff came from Nick Mullens and the other from Trevor Lawrence. Rodriguez underwent surgery on his left foot after suffering the injury during the offseason conditioning program, and Jacksonville has been cautious with his workload. He signed with the Jaguars in March after setting career highs with 112 carries, 500 rushing yards, and six touchdowns in 13 games for Washington last season. Bhayshul Tuten has handled much of the important backfield work while Rodriguez has been limited, so two carries are not enough to clarify the pecking order. Still, getting into team drills is a meaningful step for a player Jacksonville added to compete for touches following Travis Etienne Jr.'s departure. Rodriguez remains a name to monitor, but his fantasy outlook will stay uncertain until he is able to handle a fuller practice workload.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea remains unhappy with his contract situation, but the team does not plan to trade him, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Fowler added that Vea has drawn interest from other teams and is "highly upset." The 31-year-old requested a trade after extension talks failed to produce a new deal. Vea is entering the final year of the four-year, $73 million extension he signed in January 2022, which began with the 2023 season. He started all 17 games last year and recorded 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 13 quarterback hits. Vea has spent his entire career in Tampa Bay and remains a key part of the team's defensive front. The Buccaneers' current stance does not resolve the contract dispute, but it makes a trade appear unlikely unless their position changes. His presence remains especially important to a defense built around stopping the run and creating pressure from the interior.

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) appears to be making progress in his recovery from a torn pectoral muscle, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Guerendo suffered the injury while lifting weights during the offseason and opened training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list. Kyle Shanahan said in May that the third-year back could return near the end of camp, and Wagoner's observation is a welcome sign, though Guerendo has not yet been cleared to practice. He appeared in 14 games last season but played exclusively on special teams after rushing for 420 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. Christian McCaffrey remains the clear starter, while rookie Kaelon Black has gained valuable reps with Guerendo sidelined and Jordan James dealing with fractured ribs. Guerendo still has time to work his way back into the competition for a reserve role, but his fantasy value will remain limited until he returns to practice and shows where he stands in the backfield.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has thrown six interceptions through the first four practices of training camp, according to ESPN. The rough start comes as Watson tries to win the starting job after he and Shedeur Sanders handled most of the first-team work during the offseason. Saturday brought more trouble, including a short pass that was tipped before being returned for a touchdown and another throw intercepted by safety Donovan McMillon. Watson has not played in a regular-season game since tearing his right Achilles in October 2024. He completed 63.4% of his passes for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions across seven starts that season. Cleveland has not named a starter, and Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are also part of the competition. Watson still has time to settle into the new offense, but six interceptions in four practices is a concerning start. He remains only a speculative Superflex option unless he wins the job and shows a significant improvement during the preseason.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman remains in line to start opposite Zay Flowers, but that job has not produced enough volume to make him an appealing redraft pick. He played 69% of the offensive snaps in 2025 and still finished with only 19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. A high ankle sprain cost him time and Lamar Jackson also battled injuries, so last season was not a clean evaluation. It was still a major step backward from Bateman's 45-catch, 756-yard, nine-touchdown campaign in 2024. That season now carries even less weight with Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt joining Devontez Walker as younger options behind Flowers. Baltimore expects Bateman to remain a significant part of Declan Doyle's new offense, but opportunity needs to show up in the target column before fantasy managers buy back in. RotoBaller ranks him WR90 in PPR, half-PPR, and standard formats, with no current ADP listed. That is low enough to make him a watch-list name, not a draft priority. Dynasty managers in deep leagues can hold through camp, but Bateman is expendable when a better upside stash becomes available.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams finally gave dynasty managers the season they had been waiting for, and Dallas made sure it was not a one-year stop. He rushed 252 times for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, then added 35 catches for 137 yards and two more scores. The Cowboys followed that breakout with a three-year, $24 million extension that includes $16 million guaranteed. Just as important, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Malik Davis are still sorting out the backup job. None of them is pushing Williams for the lead role. A contender should be happy to keep him. For a rebuilding team, this is probably the time to ask around. Williams is 26, last season was his first 1,000-yard campaign, and his 13 total touchdowns set a career high. RotoBaller has him at RB21 in its July dynasty rankings, which reflects both the strong setup and the risk of buying after a career year. The path to another heavy workload is clear, but running back value can turn quickly. Rebuilders do not need to force a deal. Still, a younger receiver or a strong package of picks would be worth considering while Williams' contract, role, and market value are all working in their favor.

Multiple front-office executives have expressed optimism that Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's arrival "could spark a major uptick" in second-year quarterback Cam Ward's development, according to Matt Lombardo of Between the Hashmarks. "The Titans have added a lot of really good pieces who fit what they do," an AFC East personnel executive said. "I think Robert Saleh has hired an excellent staff, and I believe in the quarterback. Cam Ward is going to take a jump, and I expect them to be solid enough on defense to win some games." Daboll was with the Buffalo Bills when Josh Allen became a perennial MVP front-runner, and the Titans added receiving weapons in rookie first-rounder Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson. On top of it, Ward already has strong chemistry with second-year tight end Gunnar Helm. The 24-year-old former first overall pick from the University of Miami mostly struggled as a rookie, completing 59.8% of his 540 pass attempts for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 17 starts in 2025. All signs are pointing to Ward growing in Year 2, making him an intriguing low-end QB2 in superflex leagues with high-end upside.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is coming off a disappointing season, but there is at least a path back to usable fantasy production. He caught 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns in 2025, well below the 65 catches, 653 yards, and seven scores he posted the year before. Jonnu Smith is gone after drawing 38 receptions last season, and Freiermuth said during the spring that he expects his role to grow in Mike McCarthy's offense. Aaron Rodgers is also back, and the two connected for a 25-yard touchdown during the fourth practice of training camp. None of that makes Freiermuth a breakout pick. Darnell Washington earned a new five-year contract after setting career highs with 31 catches and 364 yards, while Michael Pittman Jr. joins DK Metcalf as another established target. RotoBaller ranks Freiermuth as the TE23 in redraft and TE36 in dynasty. That makes sense. He is worth a late look for managers who wait at tight end, but the volume is too uncertain to treat him as more than a TE2. In dynasty, he is closer to a hold or modest sell than a player worth aggressively buying.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams noticed that backfield mate Blake Corum is looking fit in training camp this summer, according to Zach Edwards and Stu Jackson of the team's official website. "I would say he's a lot leaner for sure, he looks a lot more explosive," Williams said. The 25-year-old has shown plenty of explosiveness early in practices, and he's primed for a key role in the Rams' backfield alongside Williams yet again in 2026. The former third-rounder in 2024 from the University of Michigan saw his role increase significantly last year in L.A., carrying the ball 145 times for 746 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and six touchdowns while adding eight receptions for 36 yards in 17 regular-season games. Corum had only 58 carries for 207 yards and zero touchdowns as a rookie. Corum's lack of receiving upside hurts his overall ceiling in fantasy, but he should at least be considered a nice RB3/flex as he heads into his third year in the league. And if Williams were to go down with an injury, Corum would become a weekly must-start in fantasy lineups.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough enters 2026 in a much cleaner spot than he did as a rookie. He is the unquestioned starter, Chris Olave is still in place, and New Orleans added first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson and running back Travis Etienne Jr. Shough also gave fantasy managers something to work with last year. In nine starts, he went 5-4, and he finished the season with 2,384 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions, plus 186 yards and three scores on the ground. There is upside here. There is also a reason to separate his redraft and dynasty prices. Shough turns 27 in September, was only a second-round pick, and has nine NFL starts behind him. RotoBaller lists him at QB21 in both redraft and dynasty, while its overall dynasty board has him 140th. At a QB21 redraft ADP, he is a reasonable late target because the job is secure and the offense improved. Dynasty managers should be more careful. A strong 2026 could push his value higher, but a slow start would raise questions quickly. He is worth drafting as a QB2 in redraft, though he looks more like a hold or selective sell than an aggressive dynasty buy.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that it's realistic for tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) to take part in the team's joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals later in the month, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. LaFleur said that Kraft will have to hit all of his benchmarks to be cleared to do so. The 25-year-old started training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list while recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 9 of last year, but the Packers have already activated him, and he took part in his first practice on Friday. Barring a setback as he continues to ramp up, Kraft is trending toward being a full-go for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season in early September, and despite his serious knee injury from 2025, he should be considered a top-five fantasy TE. The former third-rounder from South Dakota State was in the midst of a breakout last year before his torn ACL, catching 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games played for Green Bay.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor said "there's been some good conversations" regarding his contract talks with the team, and that he has "faith" in the Colts coming through with a new deal, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. There was some speculation that Taylor would be a hold-in to begin training camp this summer like the Detroit Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs and Atlanta Falcons' Bijan Robinson, but he has been participating in practices as he seeks another big deal with Indy. Both sides appear to be making good progress on an extension, with owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon recently saying that she wants Taylor to be a Colt for the rest of his career. The 27-year-old former second-rounder in the 2020 NFL draft from the University of Wisconsin should be viewed as a top-five fantasy RB in 2026, even though there has been talk of the Colts looking to manage his workload after carrying the ball a league-high 323 times in 2025. The three-time Pro Bowler had 1,583 rushing yards last season in 17 starts and also led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns, adding a career-high 46 catches for 378 yards and two more TDs as a receiver. The Colts don't really have great options behind JT, so he's projected for another heavy workload, giving him a strong fantasy floor as long as he stays healthy.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin made a legitimate jump in his second season, catching 65 of 104 targets for 709 yards and six touchdowns. That was real progress. It may also be the high-water mark for his target volume. Denver gave up a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round swap to acquire Jaylen Waddle, who now joins Courtland Sutton at the top of the receiver room. Franklin is left competing with Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant for what remains. Mims opened camp making plays in consecutive practices, while Bryant caught a long touchdown from Bo Nix on Day 2. Franklin's long history with Nix still helps, but it does not reserve another 104 targets for him. RotoBaller ranks Franklin as the WR82 in PPR leagues, so taking him near the end of a deep draft is not a major gamble. Calling him a sleeper is harder. At 23, Franklin remains a reasonable dynasty hold, but redraft managers should treat him as a late bench flier until Denver shows it has a steady role for him.

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Detroit Lions don't seem to be as active in contract-extension talks with running back Jahmyr Gibbs (back) as the Atlanta Falcons are with their star RB, Bijan Robinson. Similar to Robinson, Gibbs is currently holding in at training camp this summer as he seeks a new contract and has yet to practice with the Lions. Rapoport says he would not be surprised if Gibbs continues to sit out of practices until there is some "real significant progress" towards a new deal. Although Gibbs has reportedly been dealing with a back injury early in camp, the 24-year-old passed a physical and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season. When the Lions reach a new contract with Gibbs, it could make him the highest-paid RB in the league. The former 12th overall pick in 2023 from the University of Alabama is an elite dual threat at his position, racking up 3,580 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns while adding 181 receptions for 1,449 yards and another 10 touchdowns as a receiver in his first three NFL seasons in Detroit. Gibbs is RotoBaller's No. 1 overall fantasy player in 2026, and that shouldn't change because of his current hold-in.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee is heading into his 11th season with the only team he has ever played for, but there is not much reason to chase that familiarity in fantasy drafts. Higbee managed 25 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games last year, missing seven contests with hip and ankle injuries. The Rams still brought him back for an 11th season. Fantasy volume is another matter. Colby Parkinson led the team's tight ends with 43 receptions, Terrance Ferguson turned 11 catches into 231 yards, and Davis Allen remained part of the rotation. Los Angeles then used the 61st overall pick on Max Klare. The Rams can keep several of them involved after leading the NFL in 13 personnel usage last season, but that makes the weekly target split even harder to predict. Higbee is 33, has appeared in only 13 regular-season games over the past two years, and sits at TE44 in RotoBaller's July rankings. A few touchdown weeks are possible with Matthew Stafford still under center, but there is no dependable floor here. Higbee should be left undrafted in ordinary one-tight-end leagues.

Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier sits atop the team's first unofficial depth chart, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. The listing lines up with early camp practices, where Allgeier has often worked ahead of rookie Jeremiyah Love. Arizona signed the former Atlanta Falcon to a two-year, $12.25 million contract in March, then selected Love third overall in April. Allgeier rushed 143 times for 514 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns last season, and he has averaged 4.3 yards per carry across four NFL seasons. The Cardinals also have James Conner and Trey Benson in a deep backfield, so the RB1 label does not guarantee Allgeier will lead the group in touches once the season begins. Still, the early placement suggests he has a real chance to open the year with a meaningful role while Love gets up to speed. Allgeier's limited receiving history could make his fantasy production dependent on carries and goal-line opportunities, but he remains firmly involved in Arizona's plans.

Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love is listed behind Tyler Allgeier on the team's first unofficial depth chart, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. The placement aligns with what reporters have seen in practice, with Allgeier working ahead of Love in many team drills. The rookie has started receiving more first-team opportunities, however, after seeing limited work with that group during OTAs and minicamp. Arizona selected Love third overall in April following a final season at Notre Dame in which he rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 27 receptions for 280 yards and three more scores. His talent and draft investment should still lead to a significant role, but the Cardinals also have Allgeier, James Conner, and Trey Benson available in a crowded backfield. Preseason depth charts are unofficial and can change quickly, so Love's RB2 designation should not be viewed as a final decision. It does suggest that fantasy managers may need to be patient while the rookie works his way toward the top of the rotation.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is unlikely to come at any sort of discount in dynasty leagues, but that does not make him a sell. He followed another massive season with 117 catches for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns on 172 targets in 2025. It was his third straight year with at least 115 receptions, 1,250 yards, and 10 scores, and he finished as the WR3 in half-PPR scoring for the third consecutive season. That level of consistency is difficult to move away from, especially when St. Brown is only 26, remains tied to Jared Goff, and is under contract through 2028. Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs give Detroit plenty of other options, but none of them prevented St. Brown from setting a career high in targets last season. A third offensive coordinator in as many years is worth noting, although his role is not suddenly in danger. RotoBaller currently has St. Brown ranked as the dynasty WR6 and eighth overall, which feels appropriate. Contenders should continue building around him, and rebuilders do not need to trade him simply because they are not ready to win. Unless another manager offers true cornerstone value, St. Brown is an easy hold.