Fantasy Football News

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (groin) is in attendance for Tuesday's joint practice session with the New England Patriots, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. Downs missed three consecutive practices while dealing with a groin issue, but after a travel day on Monday, he will take the field in Foxboro. With starters unlikely to see much, if any, action in the team's preseason opener on Thursday, Tuesday's work against an unfamiliar opponent will serve to prepare the team for the regular season, and Downs' presence is a major boon. At RotoBaller's WR40, Downs is a 2026 breakout candidate who could be in line for his second career 100-target season following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr. in an offseason trade to the Steelers.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) did not receive a second platelet-rich plasma injection this offseason after having surgery on his left ankle in late March, a league source told Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. Monday night's source told the Indy Star that it had misspoken. Pierce remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list in training camp, and there is no timetable for him to return to practice with the rest of the team. The 26-year-old still has time to get back on the field and get ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener, but the longer he's away from the team, the harder it will be to get behind him as a solid fantasy contributor in 2026. When healthy, the former second-rounder from the University of Cincinnati has been a strong deep threat for the Colts' offense, leading the league the last two seasons in yards per reception 21.8 while scoring 13 touchdowns. Pierce is expected to take on a much bigger role in Indy's passing attack in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. out of town, but he might need to be eased in to start his fifth NFL campaign. Fantasy managers should consider Pierce more of a boom/bust WR3/flex commodity as he continues to rehab from ankle surgery.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon (hamstring) will miss another day of training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Martin Frank of the Delaware News Journal. Smith is missing a fifth straight day of practice due to a hamstring injury, but he was seen doing some running before practice, and the Eagles are not concerned that his injury will keep him from suiting up in the 2026 regular-season opener in Week 1. Philly is being extra cautious with Smith, who is their new No. 1 receiver now that Pro Bowler A.J. Brown is in New England. The 27-year-old former 10th overall pick out of the University of Alabama had the third 1,000-yard season of his career in 2025 and added four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. With more targets coming his way and a higher floor for fantasy managers, Smith is now being viewed as a low-end WR1 as the Eagles' new No. 1 receiver, even though he's missing time in training camp with an injury. The fact that Smith was doing some running before practice on Tuesday means he could be back sooner rather than later.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson broke out in 2025 to the tune of 1,006 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on his way to a WR2 fantasy finish over the final eight games of the season. Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort reiterated that the team wants to keep Wilson in their long-term plans while carefully tempering expectations. Asked on Monday if he expects a deal to get done, Ossenfort told the assembled media, "He's a guy we want around here a long time," but stopped short of over-committing. "Expect? That's a tough word. Our interest is in keeping him here." Wilson is RotoBaller's dynasty WR32, and should he reach free agency in 2027 at the age of 27, he should find a receptive market, particularly if he's able to follow up on his late-season success in 2026.

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael has hinted that the Buffalo Bills will look to use running back James Cook III more in the passing game this year, per Alex Brasky of Sports Illustrated. "Anytime you can get the ball in his hands, you have an opportunity for a big play. I think that he can bring value, not only in the run game and the pass game as well," Carmichael said. Cook led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards and also scored 12 touchdowns on a career-high 309 carries in 17 regular-season games last year, adding 33 receptions for 291 yards and another two scores as a pass-catcher. It was a big year for the 26-year-old, but new head coach Joe Brady has hinted at the possibility of Buffalo lightening Cook's rushing load going into his fifth season in the league. One way to have Cook take less of a beating would be to cut back on his carries and give him more work in the passing game. Even if Cook's overall rushing workload drops, he could easily finish as a top-five RB in fantasy if he adds more targets in the passing game in Buffalo. The three-time Pro Bowler has had a nose for the end zone the last two years, scoring 28 rushing touchdowns after finding paydirt just four times as a rusher in his first two years in the league.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio spoke with reporters on Tuesday, and in discussing what he's seen from the other side of the ball, he said that quarterback Jalen Hurts "looks faster" in camp this year. While Fangio enters his third season with the Eagles, Sean Mannion is Philadelphia's fifth offensive coordinator in as many years, and with the team seeing a number of significant offensive changes ahead of the 2026 season, there could be an emphasis on more frequently utilizing Hurts' legs after his 421 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in 2025 both represented five-year lows. Hurts is RotoBaller's QB6 and can usually be drafted at the end of a tier of quarterbacks with legitimate week-winning upside.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is an "ascending" TE who "should come into his own in Year 3." Barner is finally healthy after multiple offseason surgeries, and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury's scheme "should accelerate his progress." Fowler adds that Barner "can do a little bit of everything." The Seahawks will have two tight ends on the field "very, very often," according to Barner. The 24-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2024 from the University of Michigan took a step forward last year in his second season, catching 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games after posting a 30-245-4 line as a rookie. However, with second-year player Elijah Arroyo expected to be a much bigger part of Seattle's passing attack, Barner's fantasy value will likely come with a low ceiling as more of a touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer as long as Arroyo stays healthy. RotoBaller currently has Barner ranked as the No. 29 fantasy TE for the 2026 season, right behind Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton.

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart ended a third-down run during Monday's practice with a slide along the sideline, drawing an unexpected reaction from the defense, who actually applauded his effort to avoid contact. Defensive captain Brian Burns spoke with reporters after practice and explained the unusual moment. "We've been begging him to do that for a while," he shared. "So, I'm glad that he's starting to practice it." After taking over as starter in Week 4 of his rookie season, Dart was the fantasy QB8 on a per-game basis, but he missed two games with a concussion. His elite rushing upside makes him an attractive mid-round quarterback in 2026, but an at-times-reckless play style dating back to his time in college will always put him at risk of missing time, so the self-preservation shown on Monday was a welcome sight for Giants fans, players, and fantasy managers alike.

Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (lower body) could be pressing for a bigger role in the team's backfield rotation right away. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Price will be hard to keep off the field, and that coach Mike Macdonald has been impressed with his attention to detail and coachability. Unfortunately, Price has been dealing with a lower body injury that has kept him out of practice the last few days without a clear timeframe for his return. When he is back, he will likely mix in with veterans George Holani and Emanuel Wilson while Zach Charbonnet recovers from his torn ACL. With the defending champs looking to replace the production of both Charbonnet and free agent Kenneth Walker in the backfield, Price has a very high ceiling if he can make some noise in the preseason. He's currently the No. 23 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, which indicates just how high his upside is in Seattle.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is lined up to be a major contributor in his expanded opportunity with his new team, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Wicks is entering his fourth year in the NFL, and after being traded from Green Bay to Philadelphia, the fifth-round pick from Virginia signed a one-year extension to stay with the Eagles for at least this season and next season. He only had 30 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns last season in Green Bay's deep receiver room, but he could be the early favorite to land the Eagles' WR2 spot and has been taking advantage of more work with DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Makai Lemon (hamstring) sidelined. Wicks is currently the No. 82 WR in RotoBaller's rankings, and with his ADP of 192 on Yahoo fantasy football, he will be a great depth and sleeper pick if he is ready to step in as a major contributor in the Eagles' passing game.

New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell is expected to make a sizable jump this season, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Mitchell was the Colts' second-round pick in 2024 but has only had 464 receiving yards in 25 games with the team before coming to the Jets as part of the return in the Sauce Gardner trade. Mitchell has been very strong in training camp, earning praise from coach Aaron Glenn, who said that the combination of Smith and Mitchell "is really starting to impress me." Mitchell is in a contract year as well, which could motivate him to post a big year. He is currently the No. 69 WR in RotoBaller's rankings with a Yahoo fantasy football ADP of 153. He has the potential to be a regular contributor and a nice sleeper play if he locks down the WR2 spot in New York and continues to build a strong connection with Smith.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty had a solid rookie season, totaling over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving while scoring 10 total touchdowns. According to reports out of training camp by ESPN's Dan Graziano, the team is looking to get him even more involved as a receiver out of the backfield. Last year, he hauled in 55 catches on 73 targets for 346 yards and five receiving scores, but his elusiveness in space and big-play ability on the edges could lead to even more production in his second season for the No. 6 overall pick from Boise State. Jeanty has a lofty Yahoo fantasy ADP of 13.6, but he has league-winning upside if his role expands, and the Raiders' offense takes a step forward under new coach Klint Kubiak with improved quarterback play this season. He won't come cheap in most drafts, but with more work in the passing game, he has an extremely high ceiling.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant looks ready to make a big impact in his team's upgraded passing game this season. The second-year receiver has been a standout in training camp, and coach Sean Payton said that the team will not keep him off the field this season. Payton went on to say, "He's got really, really good hands. He's extremely smart; he knows all the positions. There's a lot of confidence in his catch radius. He's big." Last year, the third-round rookie caught 31 passes for 378 yards and one touchdown in 15 games, but he is emerging as the team's third receiver behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. He'll have standard-sized league value if he beats out Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. for that role, and he's worth a late-round flier at his current Yahoo Fantasy ADP of 248.

The NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe noted on Monday that New Orleans Saints second-year quarterback Tyler Shough was "so accurate" in training camp practice, and the "ball barely hit the ground." Wolfe added that Shough showed much more command and comfort with the offense while also connecting well with No. 1 receiver Chris Olave. Shough appeared in 11 games (nine starts) for the Saints as a rookie in 2025 and impressed, completing 67.6% of his 327 pass attempts for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions while also running for 186 yards and three touchdowns. In another season in head coach Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense, the 26-year-old former second-rounder from the University of Louisville could be primed to take a step forward in his first full year as an NFL starter in 2026. The Saints added running back Travis Etienne Jr. and rookie first-round wideout Jordyn Tyson, too, to give Shough even more weapons. Shough is nowhere near QB1 territory in fantasy football, but he's certainly becoming an interesting QB2 target in superflex formats as he heads into his sophomore campaign in the Big Easy.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love believes his timing and chemistry with the starting receivers have improved this training camp. After spreading the ball to more weapons last season, Love said working mostly with Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden has accelerated their timing, something they couldn't do a year ago given their depth. "You build trust and understanding of where guys are going to be and how things time up." The Packers traded wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles and let Romeo Doubs walk this offseason. While both departures could cause problems if Reed, Watson, or Golden get injured, Love should be in a good spot with all three receivers early in 2026.

The Los Angeles Rams duo of quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams is building a better rapport after failing to fully connect during last season's training camp. After Matthew Stafford (back) sat out all of training camp, he and Adams were sometimes out of sync. Adams said about their connection during this year's camp, "We're getting a whole different start than we did last year. I think we put together a pretty good product last season, but any time you can have these grinding days when you come out here, it'll help you be in a much better position when it's time to really go." Adams had 789 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns, but he caught just 52.6% of his passes (the lowest of his career). If he and Stafford can connect more often and sustain their strong goal-line presence, Adams could easily contend for a Top-10 fantasy receiver season in 2026.

The Miami Dolphins announced Monday that they placed kicker Zane Gonzalez (undisclosed) on injured reserve, ending his 2026 season. Gonzalez was injured during Saturday's practice, and head coach Jeff Hafley said it was a "week-to-week timeline." Gonzalez spent the 2025 season with the Atlanta Falcons, making 19 of 22 field goals and 17 of 18 extra points in nine games. With Gonzalez on injured reserve, the Dolphins will turn to Riley Patterson to handle kicking duties in 2026. The 26-year-old made 27 of 29 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points last season. While the Dolphins' offense may limit Patterson's fantasy production, he could be worth a shot if he continues to kick accurately this season.

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa (knee), who is returning this year from a torn ACL, missed his fourth straight training camp practice on Monday due to "soreness," according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. The 49ers are already the most banged-up team in the NFL early in training camp, but the 49ers are most likely practicing extra caution with the oft-injured 28-year-old pass-rusher, who played in only three games in 2025. The five-time Pro Bowler can be a game-changer when he's fully healthy, but the 2025 campaign was his second season with fewer than five games played in a season due to injury. Bosa still has time to get ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season in Australia against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, but even if he's ready, he'll be a boom/bust defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues in what will be his eighth year in the NFL. Since leading the league with 18.5 sacks in 2022, Bosa has gone in the wrong direction with 10.5 sacks in 2023, nine sacks in 2024, and just two sacks last year.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Savion Williams was a standout during the team's training camp practice on Sunday, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. "I think he was seven of eight catching the football. I think he had a good day," head coach Matt LaFleur said. The 24-year-old was able to turn some heads with both Jayden Reed (ankle) and Matthew Golden (toe) sitting out with minor injuries. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are no longer in Green Bay in 2026, but Williams is still no better than fourth on the team's WR depth chart going into his second NFL season behind Reed, Golden, and Christian Watson. After being taken 87th overall in the third round last year from TCU, Williams caught all 10 of his targets for 78 yards and one touchdown while carrying the ball 11 times for 37 yards on the ground in 12 regular-season games for the Packers. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues will be ignoring Williams, but he could quickly become a waiver-wire priority if Green Bay deals with injuries to their starting receivers again.

After missing most of training camp due to a hand injury, Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich (hand) practiced at full capacity on Monday. Dulcich returned to the field last Thursday, wearing a non-contact jersey, which he shed on Monday. The former Broncos and Giants tight end is expected to be the team's lead tight end in 2026, following the decision not to re-sign veteran Darren Waller. Dulcich hauled in 26 of 33 targets for 335 yards and one touchdown last season, though he finished strong. While injury and passing-game concerns plague Dulcich's fantasy value in 2026, he could be a full late-round flyer in deeper leagues.