Fantasy Football News

Philadelphia Eagles running back Dameon Pierce is returning to the organization on the practice squad, according to Jeremy Fowler. The Eagles released Pierce on Sunday while setting their initial 53-man roster, but he wasn't gone for long. Philadelphia kept Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley as its three active running backs, leaving Pierce as experienced depth behind that group. The 26-year-old has rushed for 1,684 yards and eight touchdowns across 43 NFL games, with 939 of those yards coming during his rookie season with Houston in 2022. His workload has dropped considerably since then, including just 36 rushing yards in five games split between Houston and Kansas City last season. Pierce did finish his first Eagles preseason on a good note, running four times for 44 yards against Cincinnati on Friday. He won't have an immediate fantasy role, but Philadelphia now has a veteran option already familiar with the offense if it needs another back.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has scored double-digit touchdowns in eight straight seasons, and despite being 32 years old, he still has the second-highest odds to lead the league in rushing scores in 2026, behind only Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs. In an era of PPR prevalence, Henry is one of the few running backs to build a career of fantasy dominance with almost no receiving profile to speak of. Only twice in his 10-year career has Henry topped 20 receptions, and yet he has finished as an RB1 in six of the past seven seasons, four times cracking the top four, and still finishing as the RB16 in an injury-shortened 2021 season in which he played only eight games. Henry has been as automatic as they come, and in new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's system, which is expected to put Lamar Jackson under center more frequently, he will be able to play with a head of steam that should only make him more dangerous. Ravens rookie Adam Randall (undisclosed) will begin the season on injured reserve, and with veteran Justice Hill once more expected to work as Henry's primary backup after handling 1.8 carries per game in 2025, there are no indications that Henry's workload will be lightened in 2026, making him a potential bargain as the RB12 by current ADP.

While the discovery of a blood clot in his lung kept New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave out of the final game of the year and prevented him from completing his first 17-game season, his health and availability were major storylines of what would become a career-year and a WR6 finish. While his frightening history of concussions hasn't suddenly gone away, seeing Olave at his peak for a full season has made him an easier click in the early rounds of 2026 drafts, particularly after the way he finished the year with rookie Tyler Shough under center. Shough took over as starter in Week 9, and after a week of adjustment, Olave was the WR2 on a points per game basis from Week 10 through the end of the year, trailing only Puka Nacua. With first-round pick Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) slated to miss at least the first four games of his rookie season after starting the year on injured reserve, Olave could again be hyper-targeted in one of the league's most high-volume, up-tempo offenses, making him a potential week-winner to begin the season. At RotoBaller's WR11, there is still considerable injury concern baked into his profile, but for the risk-tolerant, he is capable of providing WR1 upside while often found closer to a WR2 cost.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (groin) could ultimately prove to be the biggest boom-or-bust pick in 2026 drafts. Already struggling through availability concerns before a game has even been played, the six-time Pro Bowler is 33 years old and has missed 12 games over the past two seasons. When on the field, however, he remains a dominator, particularly in the way it's easy to envision him being used by the 49ers. Operating with a fullback on the field more than any other team over the past two seasons, two-receiver sets have become a staple of Kyle Shanahan's offense, and since 2022, Evans has earned 2.97 yards per route run with fewer than three receivers on the field, a number that would have ranked third in the league among qualified receivers last year. Evans also remains a significant scoring threat for an offense that made the eighth most red zone trips in the league in 2025. Despite true WR1 upside, Evans' warranted health concerns have pushed him to WR28 by current ADP, putting him into a range of the draft that makes it slightly easier to overlook his obvious red flags, as when healthy he should help decide matchups.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride set the single-season positional record with 126 receptions in 2025, and while his talent has been obvious since coming into the league as a second-round pick in 2022, a departure from the near-perfect scenario he found himself in could lead to significant regression in 2026. After Jacoby Brissett took over as the starting quarterback in Week 6, only Bo Nix came within five pass attempts per game of his near record-setting pace, essentially adding an extra game or two worth of production for McBride and the Cardinals' pass-catchers. The Cardinals also saw Marvin Harrison Jr. in and out of the lineup with a string of unfortunate injuries, including a mid-season appendectomy, but in games in which he saw at least a 50% snap share, he actually led the team in targets, and McBride's fantasy production dropped by 3.5 points per game. McBride's 11 scores in 2025 were nearly double his total from the previous three seasons combined, and with the added question of who might be under center for the Cardinals by the time the fantasy playoffs come around, regression is almost certainly inevitable. While still highly capable of a top three fantasy finish, McBride should not be counted on for another record-breaking campaign, especially at a spot in most drafts where running back talent begins to dry up.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers finished his third season with a career-high 86 receptions for 1,211 yards, finishing as the fantasy WR7 despite scoring only five touchdowns. With an aggressive new offensive system and numbers closely in line with his past production trends, another WR1 season is well within Flowers' reach. While Rashod Bateman and rookie Ja'Kobi Lane have both garnered training camp buzz, All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews is another year older, and Flowers remains the unquestioned focal point of the Ravens' passing attack, which is expected to see more under-center concepts and first-down pass attempts under first-year offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Flowers could be featured not only as a reliable chain-mover but as a legitimate big-play threat, giving him one of the higher floor and ceiling combinations outside the opening rounds of drafts and making him a potential value at RotoBaller's WR14.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson ran hard in three preseason contests, averaging 4.7 yards per carry while bringing in six of his seven targets, showing enough for the team to comfortably move on from veteran Emari Demercado, who was just signed to a one-year deal in free agency. The Chiefs kept only three running backs on their initial 53-man roster, hinting at a potential three-down role for Kenneth Walker III and one of the league's most valuable insurance roles for Johnson. Brashard Smith adds versatility and special teams prowess, but Johnson figures to serve as the team's primary change-of-pace back and is capable of handling a bell cow role if needed after seeing more than 300 opportunities in his final year at Nebraska, turning in one of the most productive seasons of any back in the nation. While Walker's projected usage is likely to limit the rookie's standalone value, Johnson has quickly become one of the most important handcuffs in fantasy and is worthy of a late-round selection in deeper leagues.

After a disappointing sophomore season, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is primed for one of the biggest fantasy bouncebacks of 2026. The departure of Keenan Allen, who led the team in targets and receptions a year ago in an overlapping role, and the arrival of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose speed and spacing-based system suits McConkey to a T, could open the path for a big year from the 2024 second-round pick. While the Chargers have already suffered a significant loss on the offensive line following the season-ending ACL tear of center Tyler Biadasz (knee), the returns of tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater should help to keep quarterback Justin Herbert on his feet and the offense on schedule. McConkey has already demonstrated WR1 upside, finishing as the WR12 as a rookie, and with an expanded role in an improved offensive environment, he could prove to be a league-winning selection at RotoBaller's WR15.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has been a popular breakout candidate heading into his fifth season, and early-season uncertainty in the Packers' backfield could lead to even more involvement to begin the year. The Packers have had one of the run-heaviest offenses in the league over the past two seasons, but after Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List as a result of misdemeanor charges stemming from his May arrest, Green Bay is prepared to begin the season with MarShawn Lloyd and his six career carries in the starting role. Backing up Lloyd will be veteran Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson, who was acquired via trade from the Steelers on Sunday, and a potential fall-off at the position could lead to a philosophical shift and more passing to begin the year. Watson has already been pegged as the most obvious benefactor of the offseason departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, and higher passing volume to begin the year could allow him to repeat or even surpass the WR13 pace at which he played after returning from injury halfway through the 2025 season.

A rash of injuries has limited Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd to only one game since being drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but his return to health could not have come at a better time. Starting running back Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List on Sunday after being formally charged with two misdemeanor counts stemming from his May arrest, and with the roster being trimmed down to 53 players on the same day, the Packers are poised to enter the season with Lloyd as the number one running back. He will be backed up by Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson, who was acquired via trade on cutdown day and could take some time to get up to speed in a new offense. Lloyd has looked sharp throughout training camp and the preseason, and if he can stay healthy to begin the year, he has RB1 upside in Matt LaFleur's run-heavy offense, with Jacobs' return date entirely in the hands of Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens enjoyed a career year in 2025, but he might soar even higher during the 2026 season. In his first campaign with Dallas, Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranked as the overall WR5 in PPR leagues and outproduced teammate CeeDee Lamb -- not only in total, but also on a points-per-game basis. At first glance, it seems like Lamb, who missed three games last year but is now healthy, should step back up as the top pass catcher in Dallas this year, but that's not guaranteed. Recently, an audio clip went viral of DallasCowboys.com writer Nick Eatman saying that Pickens could end up being the No. 1 receiver ahead of Lamb in 2026. "This might cause some issues, but it does seem like Pickens has kind of elevated as the dude," Eatman said. "CeeDee is really good, but Pickens is the one that defensive coordinators are going to have even more of a problem with." In a similar vein, there has been plenty of chatter in recent weeks that Pickens had a better training camp than Lamb. To be clear, this is not an anti-Lamb sentiment, but rather excitement about the potential for Pickens to take an even bigger step forward in 2026. If it seems like he could repeat or even surpass his WR5 finish from last year, then he's somewhat of a steal at his current ADP of 25.4, which corresponds to the third round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 10th receiver off the board.

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane should be the primary playmaker on offense this season. Miami parted ways with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Tua Tagovailoa during the offseason, leaving Achane as the only returner from an offense that has featured some star power in recent years, despite underperforming. Miami also ushered in this fresh start with a new head coach, new general manager, and new quarterback. The new signal-caller for Miami is Malik Willis, who has a fair arm but makes a much bigger impact with his ability to run the football. The Dolphins have a pretty weak receiver room, so we expect them to emphasize running the football with Willis and Achane this year. Head coach Jeff Hafley previously said that Achane could get 40+ touches in a game this year, and while that comment was clearly an exaggeration, it's also evident that the Dolphins aren't going to place any restrictions on his workload. We do envision him consistently getting at least 20-25 touches per game, and given his speed and receiving upside, he should emerge as one of the lone bright spots in this otherwise underwhelming Miami offense. Touchdowns may be harder to come by in Miami this season, but we're still banking on Achane as a mid-range RB1 option in redraft leagues.

Baltimore Ravens running back Adam Randall (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve ahead of Sunday's 53-man roster deadline. The rookie had 17 carries, 71 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown across two preseason games, and he also caught four passes for an additional 47 receiving yards. We don't know exactly what ailment Randall is dealing with, but it was evidently severe enough to sideline him for at least the first four games of the 2026 regular season. The Clemson product occupies one of the two IR spots for players who are designated to return, so he's now eligible to be activated as early as Week 5. In the meantime, Rasheen Ali should operate as the Ravens' No. 3 running back behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk (calf) was placed on injured reserve ahead of Sunday's 53-man roster deadline, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. Kirk injured his calf in late July and wasn't able to play in any of the 49ers' preseason games. Now, he'll also miss at least four regular-season games before being eligible to return starting in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receiver injuries are nothing new for the Niners, who already placed Ricky Pearsall (knee) on season-ending IR. The injuries to Kirk and Pearsall should pave the way for De'Zhaun Stribling (shoulder) to open the year as the No. 2 wide receiver alongside Mike Evans. Kirk will presumably slot into the second or third receiver spot when he's healthy enough to play again.

The Seattle Seahawks have released veteran cornerback Trevon Diggs. However, general manager John Schneider told Gregg Bell of The Seattle Times that he hopes to re-sign Diggs to the practice squad. Schneider noted that Diggs continues to acclimate to the Seahawks' defense, and he added that the players and coaching staff "love him." Before he signed his contract less than two weeks ago, Diggs had not worn full pads since January. Across nine games with Dallas and Green Bay last year, he logged 27 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Diggs has declined significantly since the early portion of his career, when he made back-to-back Pro Bowls. In fact, in 2021, he was named a First Team All-Pro with an NFL-leading 11 interceptions. Assuming he does return to the Seahawks as a practice squad player, he'll be a candidate for elevation to the 53-man roster once the regular season gets underway. He might not be a defensive starter for the reigning Super Bowl champions, but he'll at least offer a solid veteran presence.

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) appears on the team's initial 53-man roster, which means that he was not placed on injured reserve. As a result, he'll be eligible to play in the Ravens' first four games this season, although it remains uncertain whether he'll be available for Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. The former Pro Bowler continues to work his way back from a very serious cervical neck injury that he suffered during Baltimore's second game last season. Prior to that, though, he had played every game for three consecutive seasons from 2022 through 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, he amassed 99 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He ranked as a top-12 defensive tackle in IDP leagues during both of those seasons.

The Carolina Panthers placed running back Trevor Etienne (ankle) on injured reserve ahead of Sunday's 53-man roster deadline. Etienne will occupy one of the two IR spots for players who are designated to return later in the season. The team can activate him in Week 5 or later, and when they do so, he'll count toward the 53-man roster. Etienne was originally slated to operate as the Panthers' No. 3 running back behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks, but those responsibilities will belong to AJ Dillon for now. Etienne had just 107 scrimmage yards, zero touchdowns, and one fumble lost through 17 games as a rookie last year. He can be left on fantasy waivers in most leagues as long as Hubbard and Brooks are both healthy.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) has been activated from the PUP list and is officially on the team's initial 53-man roster. Porter missed all of training camp, and prior to suffering the injury, he had been seeking a new contract. It's unclear whether those talks will continue into the regular season, but the good news is that it doesn't seem like Porter has any plans to let his contract status impact his availability. He should be on the field for the Steelers' season opener against the Falcons on September 13, lining up alongside fellow projected starting cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Jalen Ramsey.

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton made the team's initial 53-man roster, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. There was a slight risk that he might be cut prior to Sunday's roster deadline, but instead, the Giants parted ways with former third-round pick Jalin Hyatt. Slayton will now round out a wide receiver room that also features Malik Nabers, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, and Odell Beckham Jr. He had a solid 37 catches for 538 yards and one touchdown last year, but he could have trouble replicating that stat line in 2026 given that he's likely fifth in the wide receiver pecking order. We also can't rule out the possibility of the Giants adding another receiver who was cut loose by another NFL team on Sunday. Slayton has fallen to WR100 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings, so although he did make the team, he's off the radar in most fantasy football leagues.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. has made the team's initial 53-man roster. There had been plenty of chatter about Richardson potentially being cut or traded before Sunday's roster deadline, but he ultimately remains with the Colts for the time being. The former No. 4 pick once again projects to occupy a depth role behind starter Daniel Jones, and there's a chance that he could even fall to third on the depth chart behind Riley Leonard. Richardson hasn't seen meaningful playing time since the 2024 season, when he completed just 47.7% of his passes for 1,814 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also had 499 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and three fumbles lost that year. The 24-year-old has tremendous rushing upside, but injuries, turnovers, and an atrocious completion rate have kept him from living up to his early first-round draft capital. A change of scenery seems likely at some point, but as long as Richardson remains with the Colts, he should be avoided entirely in fantasy football.