Fantasy Football News

Jacob Cowing • WR • 49ers

Jacob Cowing Dealing with Hip-Flexor Strain

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hip) did not practice on Wednesday due to a hip flexor strain. Cowing has missed time so far this offseason, dealing with a hamstring injury during OTAs and most of the 2025 season, and now a hip flexor strain that may cost him additional practice time. The 2024 fourth-round pick has caught just four passes for 80 yards in his NFL career, largely because of injury-related absences. With most players taking 1-3 weeks to recover from a hip flexor strain, Cowing will need to perform at a high level upon his return to make the 49ers' final roster.

11 hours ago

Jalen Hurts • QB • Eagles |

Darius Cooper • WR • Eagles

Darius Cooper Receives Praise From Eagles QB

In an interview with NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Brian Baldinger, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts named second-year receiver Darius Cooper as a player who has emerged in camp. Hurts said, "I think Darius Cooper has done a really good job. He's always been a big-bodied, physical, strong-hands guy. But just to see how he's transitioned going into Year 2, I'm definitely excited for him." Cooper hauled in just nine of 11 targets for 92 yards in 13 games as a rookie, which ranked fourth among Eagles receivers last season, despite being an undrafted rookie. Now with two of the top three receivers from last season gone (A.J. Brown and Jahan Dotson), Cooper has a chance to translate his solid practice play to the field in 2026. While he's off the fantasy radar for now, a strong preseason or additional injuries to the Eagles' wide receiver room could make Cooper a player to watch in 2026.

11 hours ago

Myles Garrett • DE • Rams

Myles Garrett Returns to Practice on Wednesday

After missing the previous four practices due to "lower-body soreness," Los Angeles Rams pass rusher Myles Garrett (lower body) returned to practice on Wednesday. Rams head coach Sean McVay previously said the issue was "nothing to worry about," and with Garrett back at practice, he should be a full go for the remainder of camp and the regular season. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was traded to Los Angeles from the Cleveland Browns, marking one of the biggest trades in league history. The possibility of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald unretiring and returning to the Rams, alongside Garrett, could catapult the Rams' defense into one of the NFL's strongest units.

12 hours ago

JuJu Smith-Schuster • WR • Giants

JuJu Smith-Schuster Returns to Practice on Wednesday

After missing Tuesday's practice due to knee swelling, New York Giants wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) returned and participated on Wednesday. Smith-Schuster reportedly made the catch of the day in practice, hauling in a touchdown pass from backup quarterback Jameis Winston in tight coverage at the back of the end zone. The veteran receiver was signed by the team after trying out in June and has worked with the second team for most of camp. He has had recent stints with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, though he didn't contribute in fantasy leagues in any of those seasons. With him fighting for a roster spot in camp, Smith-Schuster is off the radar in fantasy formats this season.

12 hours ago

Kendre Miller • RB • Saints

Kendre Miller Dealing with Back Issue

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (back) has been limited in the last two practices due to a back issue. Head coach Kellen Moore said the problem was "something to keep an eye on" and not a major concern at this time. The former third-round pick has been plagued by injuries throughout his NFL career, with his most recent being a torn ACL in his left knee. Despite not being on the PUP list before camp, Miller is still dealing with issues, even if they are not a concern. Miller is behind Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara on the depth chart and is battling second-year back Devin Neal for the third-string spot. Miller is not on the fantasy radar this season, though he has shown the ability to make a difference when healthy and given touches.

12 hours ago

Derrick Henry • RB • Ravens

Derrick Henry Wants to Finish his Career With Ravens

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry said Wednesday he would prefer to finish his career with the Ravens. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Henry wrote, "I would like to finish my career with the Ravens. I never said anything about retiring lol. I'm enjoying being a Raven. I'll worry about that retirement s**t later." The 32-year-old veteran is coming off another strong season, totaling 1,745 scrimmage yards and 16 touchdowns while playing all 17 games for the third consecutive season. With superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson in the fold and still showing no signs of slowing down, the future Hall-of-Famer will look to continue his legendary run in 2026.

12 hours ago

Rico Dowdle • RB • Steelers

Rico Dowdle to be "Unquestioned RB1" to Begin the Season

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers listed incumbent running back Jaylen Warren as the RB1 on their first preseason depth chart on Wednesday, Steelers correspondent Mark Kaboly writes that Rico Dowdle "will be the unquestioned RB1 when the season starts." Kaboly adds that Dowdle is much more than a big, bruising RB. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent from South Carolina also shows quickness, speed, vision, and power, which make him "more than a platoon back." There is some uncertainty as to how the backfield touches will shake out between Dowdle and Warren in new head coach Mike McCarthy's offense in 2026. McCarthy has been mum on naming a starter, and it feels like he's seeking more of a balanced approach with the two backs, which isn't what fantasy managers want to hear. Right now, RotoBaller has Dowdle and Warren ranked at No. 30 and 31, respectively, at the RB position. Dowdle is probably the safer bet after signing a two-year, $12.25 million deal in free agency with Pittsburgh, at least in standard-scoring leagues as the favorite to lead the Steelers in early-down carries. Dowdle also has plenty of momentum, reaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark in each of the last two years with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.

15 hours ago

Denzel Boston • WR • Browns

Browns Beat Writer Suggests Buying Stock in Denzel Boston

The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that "if there's any Denzel Boston stock left to buy, you should consider buying some." The Cleveland Browns' rookie wideout, who was taken with the 39th overall pick in April in the second round from the University of Washington, has really been impressive early in training camp. The 22-year-old and fellow first-round rookie receiver KC Concepcion have a real chance to unseat veteran Jerry Jeudy as the team's new No. 1 wideout in 2026. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Boston has been particularly good at jump balls and contested catches after he scored 20 total touchdowns in 25 games in his final two collegiate seasons with the Huskies. Target volume could be an issue for Boston in his first year in the NFL as he battles Jeudy, Concepcion, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. for looks from either QB Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders. Boston has been compared to former Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and he could be a nice late-round sleeper to target in upcoming fantasy drafts for his big-play upside in an offense searching for answers under new head coach Todd Monken. RotoBaller has Boston ranked as its No. 61 fantasy WR in 2026.

15 hours ago

Kyler Murray • QB • Vikings

Kyler Murray the Favorite for Vikings Starting QB Job

Minnesota Vikings writer Will Ragatz reports that several deep balls from quarterback Kyler Murray were the big story over the course of Wednesday's training camp practice, and he also "showed off his legs a few times." Ragatz adds that he expects Murray to win the QB1 job over J.J. McCarthy because of his ability to create explosive plays. The Vikings are splitting first-team reps evenly between Murray and McCarthy early in camp, with both signal-callers having their moments so far. McCarthy has more familiarity with head coach Kevin O'Connell's system, but the 28-year-old Murray has more NFL experience and a better dual-threat skill set with his arm and his legs. The former first overall pick by Arizona in 2019 from the University of Oklahoma has played in under 10 games in two of the last three years due to injuries, and he's never thrown for 4,000 yards in his seven NFL campaigns, but it's quite clear that he gives Minnesota's offense more upside as he looks for a bounce-back campaign in 2026. Murray is one of the more intriguing low-end QB2 targets in superflex leagues with an improved receiving corps compared to what he had in Arizona.

16 hours ago

Brandon Aiyuk • WR • 49ers

Brandon Aiyuk Remains on Left-Team List

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) remains on the team's Reserve/Left-Team list during training camp, meaning he doesn't count against the team's 90-man roster, and he isn't being paid, according to Spotrac. To be removed from the list, Aiyuk will have to submit a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell seeking reinstatement. His contract still contains $26,662,370 of dead cap, which comes from his previously paid signing and option bonuses. If the 49ers release the former first-rounder in the coming weeks, they will take on dead-cap hits of $7,363,790 in 2026 and $19,298,580 in 2027. It looked like there might be an opening for Aiyuk to return to San Fran when Ricky Pearsall (knee) was lost for the season, but the return of Deebo Samuel Sr. quickly put an end to that. General manager John Lynch said back in January that the 28-year-old would never play for the organization again after badmouthing the team and failing to rehab at the team's facilities last year. The Washington Commanders were mentioned as the best potential fit for Aiyuk for most of the offseason, but that ship has sailed after they inked veteran Stefon Diggs to a one-year deal on Wednesday. Aiyuk's fantasy and real-life stock has hit rock bottom.

16 hours ago

Emeka Egbuka • WR • Buccaneers

Emeka Egbuka Dealing With Lower-Body Soreness

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed on Wednesday that wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (lower body) did not practice on the turf on Wednesday as a precaution due to some lower-body soreness, according to Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com. Egbuka caught 63 of his 127 targets for 938 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games in his rookie season in 2025 after Tampa took him with the 19th overall pick from Ohio State. The 23-year-old was looking like a beast early on before petering out down the stretch while having to learn the entire route tree because of a banged-up WR corps. Entering Year 2, Egbuka has breakout potential with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans gone and in a new offense led by Zac Robinson. As long as he's able to stay healthy, Egbuka should have a strong floor as one of quarterback Baker Mayfield's top targets, with his first 1,000-yard season looking extremely likely. Fantasy managers should be targeting the sophomore pass-catcher as a strong WR2 option early on in drafts this fall.

17 hours ago

Jaylen Warren • RB • Steelers

Jaylen Warren Listed as RB1 on First Preseason Depth Chart

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is listed as the RB1 ahead of newcomer Rico Dowdle on the team's first preseason depth chart, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Depth charts, especially preseason ones, must always be taken with a grain of salt. This is especially true for Pittsburgh's backfield in a new offense in 2026 under head coach Mike McCarthy, who has already been mum on naming a "starting" RB between Warren and Dowdle. The 27-year-old Warren had a career-high 958 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 211 carries in 2025 in his fourth year in the league, adding 40 receptions for 333 yards and another two TDs as a receiver in 16 regular-season games. Dowdle's arrival most likely will mean a reduction in carries for the former undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State, but Warren could make up for it with more receiving work now that pass-catching back Kenny Gainwell is in Tampa. Warren is trending as a more attractive RB3/flex target for fantasy managers in PPR leagues in 2026.

18 hours ago

Aaron Donald • DT • Rams

Rams Have Aaron Donald in for a Workout on Wednesday

The Los Angeles Rams had retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald in for a workout on Wednesday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Donald continues to assess whether he's in good enough shape, football-wise to come out of retirement to join new Rams pass-rusher Myles Garrett in 2026 for another run at a Lombardi Trophy, but this is the 35-year-old veteran's first official workout with his old team. It's looking more and more likely that Donald will come out of retirement this year, but an official announcement might not come until right before the start of the 2026 regular season or at some point after the season starts. If Donald returns to the Rams, it will be in a much smaller role as basically a third-down situational pass-rusher to keep him fresh and productive in what would be his 11th NFL season after enjoying retirement the last two years. It will make Donald a tougher sell as a fantasy-relevant pass-rusher in IDP leagues, but his return would no doubt make the Rams' pass rush even more formidable. Donald is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and had 111 sacks in his 10 NFL campaigns with the Rams before hanging up his cleats.

18 hours ago

Odell Beckham Jr. • WR • Giants

Odell Beckham Jr. has Another Strong Day in Camp on Wednesday

Wednesday was another strong day at practice for New York Giants veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Beckham had four catches in team drills and made some tough grabs. He has taken advantage of the opportunities with both Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton sitting out with injuries early in training camp. Raanan adds that it's pretty important for OBJ to stand out, since he's on the roster bubble in camp and the preseason. The 33-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2014 by the Giants out of LSU didn't play at all in 2025 and looked washed up in 2023 and 2024 with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, respectively, catching a combined 44 passes on 82 targets for just 620 yards and three touchdowns in 23 games (six starts). He may have found a spark of energy in his return to the Big Apple, but even if Beckham makes the team's active roster going into Week 1, he's unlikely to have a big enough role on offense to warrant attention in the vast majority of fantasy leagues.

18 hours ago

KC Concepcion • WR • Browns

KC Concepcion Back in Team Drills on Wednesday

The Cleveland Browns aren't in full pads on Wednesday, but rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion (shoulder) is back practicing in team drills, according to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle Telegram. Concepcion took a hard fall on his shoulder during Monday's practice, but he returned to individual drills on Tuesday and is quickly working his way back. The 21-year-old should be back to full health soon. After being taken 24th overall in April's NFL draft from Texas A&M, Concepcion and fellow rookie Denzel Boston will have every opportunity to unseat veteran Jerry Jeudy as the Browns' new No. 1 wideout in 2026. The opportunity alone makes Concepcion worth considering as a late-round flier in upcoming fantasy drafts, although the Browns' less-than-ideal QB competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders should have everyone tempering expectations for the 6-foot, 190-pounder. RotoBaller has Concepcion ranked as the No. 48 fantasy WR heading into his first year in the league after he caught 61 passes for 919 yards and an SEC-high nine touchdowns in 13 games for the Aggies in 2025.

19 hours ago

Chris Godwin Jr. • WR • Buccaneers

Chris Godwin Jr. Still Has Flex Value at WR48

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. never had a real chance to settle in last season. He returned from the dislocated ankle that ended his 2024 campaign, played two games, then suffered a fibula injury in Week 5. By the time he was back for good, the season was already slipping away. Godwin still closed with 24 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns from Weeks 13 through 17, which matters more than the ugly 33-360-2 full-year line. He has since completed a full offseason and is back in his familiar slot role under new coordinator Zac Robinson. Mike Evans is gone, but this is not an empty target tree. Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Cade Otton, and the backs will all be involved. The injury history is impossible to ignore, too, after Godwin played only 16 games over the past two years. RotoBaller ranks him WR48 in PPR. That is a fair place to account for the risk, but it may undersell the weekly usefulness of a healthy slot receiver who still showed something late last season. Godwin makes sense as a WR4 with a chance to become a regular flex.

19 hours ago

Deshaun Watson • QB • Browns |

Shedeur Sanders • QB • Browns

Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders to Continue Alternating First-Team Practice Reps

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said on Wednesday that quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will continue to alternate first-team reps in training camp practices until he names a starter, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Monken said who leads the No. 1 offense in the joint practice against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 20 will follow the natural rotation, which means it would likely be Watson. There has been no clear leader in this QB competition, although Sanders reportedly had his best day of camp on Tuesday. Watson, meanwhile, struggled early, but he reportedly had his best day of camp on Wednesday. We should start to see some separation in the competition once the team's preseason slate kicks off on Aug. 15 against the Chicago Bears. Neither QB is attractive in single-QB fantasy formats, and whoever wins the starting job entering the 2026 regular season will be on a short leash with minimal fantasy upside.

19 hours ago

Hollywood Brown • WR • Eagles

Hollywood Brown Still Needs a Clear Redraft Role

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hollywood Brown has a chance to matter after A.J. Brown's departure. He just has not shown why fantasy managers need to draft him yet. Brown caught 49 of 74 targets for 587 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games for Kansas City last season. That was a useful rebound after an injury-ruined 2024, but he still made only six starts. Philadelphia signed him for one year, then built a crowded group around DeVonta Smith by trading for Dontayvion Wicks, drafting Makai Lemon in the first round, and adding Elijah Moore. The Eagles expect Brown to be involved in the rotation. A regular fantasy role is another question. Smith is the clear No. 1, while Brown, Wicks, and Lemon are still competing for the work behind him. RotoBaller ranks Brown WR106 in PPR leagues. That puts him outside the draftable range in ordinary 12-team formats, and there is no need to force the pick based on name recognition. Brown belongs on the watch list until he earns enough snaps and targets to offer more than the occasional deep play.

19 hours ago

Brashard Smith • RB • Chiefs

Brashard Smith Still Needs a Way Into Kansas City's Backfield

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith has a real path to the 53-man roster, but that does not mean he belongs on fantasy rosters. The former seventh-round pick appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, finishing with 44 carries for 151 yards and 25 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown. He flashed in Week 18 with 56 yards on 12 carries, but Kansas City spent the offseason rebuilding the room around him. Kenneth Walker III sits atop the backfield, Emari Demercado adds proven big-play ability, and fifth-round rookie Emmett Johnson brings the same receiving versatility that should have been Smith's best route to touches. The Chiefs' unofficial depth chart lists Smith third at running back and first at both return spots. That special-teams role matters for his job security, not his weekly fantasy ceiling. RotoBaller has him at RB79 in PPR and half-PPR formats. Smith is still only 23, so managers in very deep dynasty leagues can wait through the preseason. In ordinary redraft leagues, and in shallower dynasty formats, there is no reason to use a roster spot unless he climbs the backfield order.

20 hours ago

AJ Barner • TE • Seahawks

AJ Barner's Starting Role Does Not Guarantee a Breakout

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner came through two offseason surgeries and opened camp on the field, so the health question has eased. The fantasy question has not. Barner started all 17 games last season and caught 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns. Seattle also put him under center 10 times in short-yardage situations, producing nine first downs and another score. There is a useful role here, and the current depth chart still has him first. The concern is what happens between the 20s. Barner averaged only four targets per game, while second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo has been one of the early camp standouts. Brian Fleury's offense should keep both players involved, but more work for Arroyo may come directly out of Barner's receiving ceiling. RotoBaller has Barner at TE27 in PPR, and his current redraft ADP is TE26. That is a fair price, not a screaming value. Barner can help managers in deeper leagues and formats that start two tight ends. In ordinary 12-team leagues, he is better treated as a late option than a breakout target.

20 hours ago

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