Fantasy Football News

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had a weird second season. After 82 catches, 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, he slipped to 66-789-6 in 2025 and never caught more than four passes in any of his final eight games. There is a pretty good reason to buy back in now. McConkey is full go after dealing with a hamstring strain during the offseason, and Mike McDaniel's offense looks like a much cleaner fit for him. The Chargers have been stressing quicker throws, motion and getting the ball into space, which should give McConkey chances to do what he does best. Justin Herbert has kept connecting with him in camp, including a long completion during Tuesday's one-on-one work. The room is not empty. Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris are both involved, and Los Angeles also has a deep tight end group with Oronde Gadsden, David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. That makes a huge target jump tough to assume. But McConkey is healthy, the scheme suits him, and RotoBaller has him at WR17 in half-PPR. After last year's letdown, there is a pretty believable path back to WR2 production.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will start the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Denver Broncos, but head coach Kevin Stefanski said he isn't naming a starting QB for the regular season just yet, according to Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com. Stefanski said the starters will play around 10 plays/one series but will vary based on the player. The 28-year-old Tagovailoa is widely expected to be named the Falcons' starting QB going into Week 1 of the regular season, with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) still recovering from a torn ACL and having not yet been cleared to take part in team drills in training camp this summer. The former fifth overall pick from the University of Alabama led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023 and had a league-high 72.9% completion percentage in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, but he has a dangerous history of concussions and threw for under 3,000 yards in each of his final two seasons in Miami. Tagovailoa has the weapons to bounce back in Atlanta in Stefanski's offense in 2026, but given his injury history, lack of arm strength, and likely short leash if he's named the starter, fantasy managers shouldn't be targeting him as much more than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry keeps giving fantasy managers reasons not to forget about him. He caught 60 passes for a career-high 768 yards and seven touchdowns last season, finishing as the TE7 in half-PPR, and New England just gave him a two-year extension worth a reported $16 million. That matters, but so does what has happened on the field. Henry was the standout player in the Patriots' Aug. 3 practice, and he still sits at the top of a tight end room that includes third-round rookie Eli Raridon. Raridon has flashed in camp and should have a role, especially with New England using plenty of multi-tight end looks, but the Patriots have treated him more like Henry's eventual successor than an immediate replacement. There is more competition for targets after the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, so another TE7 finish is hardly a lock. Still, Henry has already shown he can produce with Drake Maye and remains RotoBaller's TE16. For managers who wait at tight end, he is one of the better late-round options still sitting outside the position's top tier.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker continues to make a strong impression on his new teammates. According to Charles Goldman, Travis Kelce said Walker is "going to be a hell of a ball player for us," praised his all-around traits, and called him an "absolute superstar" on and off the field. Walker signed with Kansas City in March after rushing for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns on 221 carries for Seattle last season. He added 31 catches for 282 yards, then closed out the year by running for 135 yards and earning MVP honors in Super Bowl LX. The Chiefs have Walker listed first on their unofficial depth chart, and his receiving ability has been noticeable throughout camp, including a touchdown catch from Patrick Mahomes on a wheel route Monday. Kelce's comments are still teammate praise, but they fit everything Kansas City has seen from Walker since he arrived. He looks set for a significant role in the Chiefs' offense this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf is still going 65.4 overall in drafts after catching 59 passes for a career-low 850 yards and six touchdowns last season. He wasn't completely ineffective. Metcalf averaged 14.4 yards per catch, remained Pittsburgh's most-targeted receiver with 99 looks and has made his share of plays with Aaron Rodgers again in camp. Repeating that target total may be the tricky part. The Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. and then moved up to take Germie Bernard 47th overall, giving an already low-volume passing game more options at receiver. Metcalf remains a starter and the biggest downfield threat of the group, so another productive season is hardly out of the question. His price just doesn't leave much room for another step backward. RotoBaller has him WR35 and 77th overall in half-PPR, nearly a round behind his current ADP. Metcalf can beat that ranking, but fantasy managers taking him in the sixth round are paying for some of the rebound before it happens.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston has scored eight touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, but offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel may give him more ways to produce in 2026. Johnston caught 51 of 84 targets for 735 yards in 14 games last year, and Los Angeles picked up his fifth-year option this spring. He has spent much of his NFL career doing damage downfield and around the end zone. McDaniel's offense could bring back another part of his game. Johnston has talked about getting more chances to create after the catch, something he did extremely well at TCU, and the early work with Justin Herbert has been encouraging. Ladd McConkey remains the safest bet to lead this receiving corps, while Tre' Harris and a deeper tight end room will keep Johnston from simply inheriting a huge target total. His 96.3 ADP reflects that uncertainty, with RotoBaller ranking him WR44 in half-PPR. Johnston doesn't need another eight touchdowns to pay off if McDaniel can get the ball into his hands in a few more ways.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that running back Jonathon Brooks will play in the team's second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, mixing in with Chuba Hubbard, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. It will be Brooks' first game played since his rookie season in 2024 after he didn't play in last week's Hall of Fame game and missed the entire 2025 campaign due to another torn ACL in his knee. Rico Dowdle is no longer in Carolina's backfield, and while Hubbard is the team's clear RB1, Brooks is expected to have a significant RB2/change-of-pace role in Canales' offense this year. The former second-rounder from the University of Texas has only played in three games in the NFL, so it's hard to know what to expect from him if he can finally stay healthy. Brooks has looked good this summer, though, and he's an intriguing handcuff option/RB3/flex target with upside if Hubbard gets injured or struggles again in 2026.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (undisclosed) limped off the practice field on Wednesday with athletic trainers, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Egbuka was being examined on a sideline table before eventually taking both cleats off. He walked back to the sideline to watch the rest of the practice. We'll have an update on Egbuka's status when more information comes out regarding why he was forced from Wednesday's training camp practice. The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud reports that the 23-year-old former first-rounder was "rolled up on" by a teammate. The fact that Egbuka remained on the sideline to watch the rest of practice likely means that he's not dealing with a significant injury. When healthy, Egbuka figures to have a bigger role in Tampa's new-look offense in 2026 after the departure of veteran wideout Mike Evans. Egbuka nearly had 1,000-receiving yards in his rookie campaign in 2025 and contributed six touchdown receptions on 63 total catches. He's a fine WR2 target in fantasy football drafts going into his sophomore season in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Xavier Restrepo led the team on Tuesday in their first joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers, with TennesseeTitans.com's Jim Wyatt having him down for a team-high five catches, including two that went for touchdowns. Second-year wideout Chimere Dike had the second-most grabs with four. Restrepo went undrafted last year out of the University of Miami before latching on with the Titans and catching three of his seven targets for 41 scoreless yards in two games played in Weeks 12 and 13. The 24-year-old is mostly intriguing because of his chemistry with quarterback Cam Ward, whom he played with at Miami. Despite Restrepo's chemistry with Ward and his strong day in practice on Tuesday, he's likely a long shot to make the 53-man roster out of training camp and the preseason after the Titans added Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency and rookie Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick back in April.

The New England Patriots released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener against the Colts on Thursday, and as he did for much of the 2025 season, running back Rhamondre Stevenson appears ahead of TreVeyon Henderson, listed as the team's starter. Stevenson regularly out-snapped Henderson through the first half of their first season together, but the veteran's mid-season turf toe injury opened the door for the rookie to earn a workhorse role, in which he thrived. While the two saw closer to a 50/50 split down the stretch of the regular season, Stevenson again dominated playing time over a four-game postseason run, proving to be the more trusted back in critical situations. A year two leap is expected of Henderson, and he is routinely being selected multiple rounds ahead of Stevenson in 2026 fantasy drafts, but with his pass protection still being described throughout camp as a work in progress, he could find himself in a similar role to that held as a rookie, at least to begin the year.

The Miami Dolphins released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener against the Commanders on Friday, and one of the standout aspects is the inclusion of rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas among the team's starters. A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Douglas was the first of five offensive skill position players selected by Miami in April and the first to crack the starting lineup. Head coach Jeff Hafley spoke glowingly of the 22-year-old wide receiver on Wednesday, telling reporters he has "been one of our most consistent guys, and he's showed up every day." With three starting receivers listed, Douglas appears next to Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington, and he will be a player to watch on Friday as he continues to pick up steam deep into training camp.

The New York Giants have released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener against the Vikings on Saturday, and running backs Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. are listed as co-starters. The "or" designation is used a number of times across the depth chart, but running back is the only position on offense without a clear listed starter. Tracy began the 2025 season as the starting running back, but missed time to injury and was overtaken on the depth chart even upon his return, with Skattebo nearly doubling his snap count in Weeks 4 and 5 before an ankle injury ended his rookie season. Skattebo has operated as the clear lead back for much of training camp, making the co-starter listing somewhat unexpected, though it should have no bearing on his fantasy outlook, and he ranks as RotoBaller's RB20, a full 25 running back spots ahead of Tracy.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry recorded a career-high 768 receiving yards in 2025, with his seven touchdowns the highest total since his first season in New England in 2021. His career-year resulted in a TE7 finish and helped earn him the two-year, $16 million extension he signed on Sunday. The Patriots signed veteran Julian Hill in free agency before drafting Eli Raridon in the third round of the NFL Draft, signaling a willingness to feature the tight end position in 2026, and while Hill has since suffered a season-ending ACL tear, the team may have found his replacement in undrafted free agent Tanner Arkin. The Patriots have deployed multi-tight end sets throughout training camp, with Henry consistently making big plays down the seam while showcasing a strengthening chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye. After top 12 fantasy finishes in each of the past two seasons, Henry is being drafted as the TE16 in 2026, making him a strong second tight end option to help navigate early-season matchups.

After putting together a handful of solid days working against his own defense, Tennessee Titans rookie running back Nicholas Singleton was given a hefty workload in the team's joint practice with the 49ers on Tuesday, with senior writer Jim Wyatt noting that he continues to impress. The Titans are a team that many are projecting to take a step forward offensively with 2025 first overall pick Cam Ward entering his second season and Brian Daboll taking over as coordinator. The fifth-round pick out of Penn State could play a role in improving what was the 31st-ranked offense a season ago. Eighth-year veteran Tony Pollard still projects as the team's lead back, while Tyjae Spears has reportedly had a strong camp of his own, featuring prominently in a pass-catching role. Still, Singleton has the versatility to sub in for either and is a player who could find fantasy relevance later in the season.

The Buffalo Bills began training camp at St. John Fisher University, but since returning to Orchard Park, wide receiver Joshua Palmer has had some of his most productive practices of the summer, reeling in a pair of deep catches on Tuesday. Palmer's first season in Buffalo was marred by knee and ankle injuries, but after an offseason of rehab, team reporters Alec White and Mike Maynard credit the 26-year-old receiver with turning heads throughout training camp, featuring regularly with the first-team offense as part of a four-man rotation with DJ Moore, Khalil Shakir, and Keon Coleman. While still not a part of the 2026 redraft discussion, Palmer is an intriguing best ball pick, having averaged nearly 645 receiving yards across his last three healthy seasons with the Chargers, and he could be a sneaky, low-cost depth add in dynasty leagues, currently priced as RotoBaller's WR129.

The New Orleans Saints practiced in full pads for two hours on Tuesday in 90-degree heat, but at nearly 30 years old, tight end Juwan Johnson was not slowed down by the dog days of summer. Team reporter Todd Graffagnini credits Johnson with one of the plays of training camp, a 4th-and-one touchdown catch in the back corner of the end zone while being blanketed by Kool-Aid McKinstry during a two-minute drill. Graffagnini points to the play as yet another example of Johnson's big-play ability that has shown up throughout camp. In his first season in Kellen Moore's system, Johnson was one of only seven tight ends to see 100 targets, and in year two, with quarterback Tyler Shough in his first full season as a starter, there are expectations that the offense could operate at an even higher tempo, resulting in more opportunities for all the team's pass catchers. Following a TE10 finish a season ago, Johnson is being drafted as the TE17 in 2026, and with all signs out of training camp pointing to a featured role in an ascending offense, he could prove to be one of the best values in the closing rounds of drafts.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta missed the final eight games of 2025 with a herniated disc in his back, but once again healthy and unencumbered, he's made his presence felt throughout training camp, with senior team writer Tim Twentyman noting that he's reminded the team just how much he was missed to end the year. A day after quarterback Jared Goff called him a "stud" while speaking with the media, the two connected on back-to-back plays during a competitive portion of Tuesday's practice, following a big gain down the seam with a nine-yard touchdown. LaPorta was the TE1 as a rookie in 2023, and after a quieter second season, he was pacing as the TE7 through his first nine games of 2025. With a major role projected in Drew Petzing's tight end-friendly offense, he is RotoBaller's TE6 for 2026.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are in their ninth training camp together as starters, and according to senior team reporter Matt McMullen, the duo was in full force on Tuesday. A Pro Bowler in each of the past 11 seasons, the soon-to-be-37-year-old Kelce is still refining his craft, and with him and Mahomes working meticulously through the finer points of the offense, the two connected on a handful of completions during team drills. Relying ever more on details than athleticism, Kelce still projects to be a major piece of the Chiefs' passing offense in 2026, and at RotoBaller's TE12, he's become a late-round option with one of the position's safest floors and a realistic chance to see triple-digit targets for the 12th consecutive season.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was one of the hottest pass-catchers to end the 2025 season, topping 70 receiving yards in seven of his last nine games, and his continued development has not gone unnoticed by quarterback Jared Goff. In a recent media session, Goff told reporters, "He just continues to get better. And the stuff that he's doing now that's nuanced, that you can't really teach... That little stuff has been so cool to see him start to adopt that and understand coverage and understand space. And that's the next level for him, and he's done a great job of it." Williams has been praised throughout the summer for a standout training camp, and as a player who has shown steady progression since coming into the league as a first-round pick in 2022, he could prove to be one of the more mispriced players in 2026 drafts, currently coming off the board as the WR21 after his WR10 finish a season ago.

New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs recently missed a pair of practices for personal reasons, but since returning, he's made a number of standout plays, including a deep over-the-shoulder catch in Tuesday's joint practice with the Colts. Team reporter Evan Lazar credits the big-ticket free agent acquisition with making steady progress after what he viewed as a slower start to camp, as his budding chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye is becoming apparent. While veteran Stefon Diggs operated out of the 'Z' spot last season with clean separation, Doubs plays the position differently, relying on physicality to win at the catch point, and with Maye already proving to be one of the league's most accurate throwers, Lazar recognizes that the new twosome is learning to play together, with their connection on Tuesday proving difficult to stop even with near perfect coverage. Doubs is RotoBaller's WR54 and should provide a safe floor in 2026 as an important chain-mover in what could be a high-level Patriots offense.