Fantasy Football News

The Kansas City Chiefs view running back Kenneth Walker as a "potential three-down back," according to The Athletic's Jesse Newell, although rookie Emmett Johnson made big strides in the final two weeks of training camp this summer. Emari Demercado's roster spot seemed secure going into roster cutdown day on Sunday because he had been one of the team's top pass protectors. With the Chiefs surprisingly cutting Demercado, it could mean even more pass-catching opportunities for Walker, who looks ready for a workhorse role in his new digs after winning Super Bowl MVP for the Seattle Seahawks in early February. The 25-year-old former second-rounder by Seattle in 2022 out of Michigan State had his second career 1,000-yard season in 17 regular-season starts in 2025, and with more volume coming with the Chiefs if he stays healthy, there is clear RB1 upside for Walker in his fifth NFL season, especially if the Chiefs' offense can bounce back with a healthy quarterback Patrick Mahomes. RotoBaller has Walker ranked as the No. 8 fantasy RB for 2026.

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (neck) was participating in a red, non-contact jersey at Tuesday's practice, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Tracy is practicing this week, albeit in limited fashion, after suffering a stinger in the preseason finale last Friday. He managed to avoid a major injury going into the start of the 2026 regular season, but Tracy's fantasy stock is down for other reasons. The Giants signed veteran back Najee Harris last week, and they envision him having a big role in their backfield, which means more competition for touches for the 26-year-old Tracy. The G-Men also have Cam Skattebo, who is expected to lead the backfield in early-down work in his sophomore season. Tracy had 839 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 192 carries, adding 38 catches for 284 yards and a TD as a receiver in 17 games as a rookie, but he regressed to 740 rushing yards and two TDs on 176 carries in 2025, adding 36 receptions for 288 yards and two receiving scores in 15 games. On top of the presence of Harris, Tracy might not be 100% healthy going into a Week 1 showdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. RotoBaller has Tracy currently ranked as the No. 68 fantasy RB.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was not at practice during the portion open to the media on Tuesday, but SNY's Connor Hughes reports that Nabers was later seen in pads as the media walked off the field. Nabers was also able to practice on Monday, so he continues to trend in the right direction for Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday night against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13. Nabers was most likely limited in practice on Tuesday, but we will get a better idea of his Week 1 status once the Giants release their official practice reports, starting next Wednesday. The former first-rounder out of LSU tore both his ACL and MCL early last season, making for a more difficult recovery, and the Giants have been extra cautious with the star wideout this summer, even though he avoided the Physically Unable to Perform list at the start of camp. Nabers has high-end WR1 upside, but coming off a serious knee injury, fantasy managers are drafting him as more of a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in the early rounds. If he is active for the season opener, it would not be a surprise if Nabers was on a strict snap count.

CBS Sports' Matt Lively thinks that San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (undisclosed) "certainly looks ready for Week 1" after seeing him practice on Tuesday. McCaffrey, who missed some training camp practices with an undisclosed issue, looked spry in a video that Lively posted of 49ers practice. CMC was catching passes and running around in full uniform, so he looks ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener next Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Australia, barring any setbacks between now and then. San Francisco most likely was just keeping the oft-injured star RB in bubble wrap during camp and the preseason, especially when considering the rest of their backfield was banged up as well. All signs point to McCaffrey being a full-go for Week 1, and he still has league-winning upside as a top-five fantasy RB, albeit with more risk than some of the other top names at the position. McCaffrey managed to play in all 17 regular-season games a year ago to finish as the RB1 in fantasy, recording 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns and 924 receiving yards with another seven scores through the air.

The Detroit Lions announced on Tuesday that they placed running back Isiah Pacheco (back) on Injured Reserve. Pacheco will now have to wait until at least Week 5 to make his Lions debut in 2026. The 27-year-old also missed time in training camp this summer with a sprained MCL in his knee, so the injury issues that plagued his final two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and 2025 have followed him to Detroit. Pacheco was not expected to see much volume behind three-down workhorse Jahmyr Gibbs, but his fantasy appeal as a late-round handcuff now takes another hit. In Pacheco's absence, Sione Vaki is expected to serve as Detroit's RB2, with Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small fighting for expanded roles as well. Pacheco had a combined 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in his first two years in KC, adding 57 receptions for 374 yards and another two scores as a receiver. However, he managed to play in only 20 games over the last two seasons and produced 772 rushing yards and only two rushing TDs on 201 carries in the last two years.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir remained out of practice Tuesday, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. Shakir has not practiced since Aug. 18, when he was one of several Bills held out, and head coach Joe Brady later confirmed he was dealing with an injury. Buffalo has not disclosed what is bothering him. Shakir also missed the final two preseason games after catching two passes for 41 yards in the opener against Carolina. He led the Bills with 72 catches and 719 receiving yards in 16 games last season, adding four touchdowns. Buffalo does not open the regular season until Sept. 13 at Houston, so there is still time for Shakir to get back on the field. Still, the continued absence is worth monitoring until he resumes practice.

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate is working through some stiffness, head coach Robert Saleh said Tuesday, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN. Saleh did not specify what is bothering Tate or indicate how much time, if any, he could miss. The fourth overall pick also sat out an Aug. 19 practice after waking up with stiffness, though it is unclear whether this is related to the same issue. Tate was back on the field two days later and finished camp on a high note, catching a team-high seven passes with two touchdowns in an Aug. 27 joint practice against Chicago. There is no indication yet how much the stiffness will affect his preparation for Week 1, making Tate's practice participation the main thing to watch over the next several days.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) will practice Tuesday, head coach Ben Johnson said, according to Mason Williams. Burden injured his groin during an Aug. 8 practice and missed the rest of the preseason. He returned to the field Aug. 26 but was limited to individual drills before heading inside when the Bears moved into 7-on-7 work. Tuesday's practice should give Chicago another look at where he stands as Week 1 approaches. Burden caught 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie and is listed with the first-team offense on the Bears' current depth chart. Getting him back into team work would be another encouraging step, but his actual participation level Tuesday will matter more than the announcement itself.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua remains under NFL review as Week 1 approaches, and another off-field story surfaced Tuesday. According to the New York Post, Nacua's former girlfriend Hallie Aiono discussed experiencing betrayal, abuse and neglect during a past relationship while explaining why she is seeking professional help. She did not describe a specific incident or explicitly accuse Nacua of committing abuse in the video. Separately, Nacua is facing a civil lawsuit from Madison Atiabi, who alleges he bit her shoulder during a New Year's Eve gathering. Nacua's attorney has disputed allegations in the suit and characterized the biting as consensual horseplay. The NFL has not announced a suspension, and Nacua was not placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List over the weekend, though his situation remains under league review. He caught 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games last season. Until the league makes a decision, his availability for the Rams' Sept. 10 opener against San Francisco remains something fantasy managers need to watch.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that running back Kyle Monangai (knee) is more week-to-week with his knee injury, according to Mason Williams of NWI.com. Monangai suffered a right-knee injury in training camp practice on Aug. 16 and is still no closer to returning to the field, which is bad news for his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Carolina Panthers. If the 24-year-old is not available to start the year, Roschon Johnson will be the favorite for change-of-pace backup duties behind starter D'Andre Swift. Monangai's injury makes Swift a more appealing RB2, at least in the short term. After being taken in the seventh round last year from Rutgers, Monangai impressed with 783 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 169 carries in 17 regular-season contests, adding only 18 receptions on 30 targets for 164 yards as a receiver. His knee injury and lack of receiving skills out of the backfield are causing him to slip on fantasy draft boards, and RotoBaller has Monangai ranked as the RB40 for the 2026 season. Despite his injury, Monangai is still the handcuff for Swift managers.

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Tuesday that he has had "productive talks" with quarterback C.J. Stroud on a potential long-term contract extension, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Caserio said that if nothing gets done before the start of the 2026 regular season, then something will likely be worked out next offseason. According to a source, no deal is imminent. The 24-year-old former second overall pick in 2023 from Ohio State came out swinging as a rookie and threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 15 regular-season starts. He regressed in each of the last two seasons, though, and threw for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 regular-season games in 2025 before falling apart in the playoffs. Stroud still has the ability to bounce back to his rookie production, but he will need Houston's supporting cast to step up around him, mainly the offensive line. Receiver Jayden Higgins' season-ending knee injury did not help matters. Fantasy managers should treat Stroud as a low-end QB2 option with upside as he looks to prove to the Texans that he is worth a big contract extension next offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) is dealing with a heel contusion that is not considered a major concern for the Week 1 regular-season opener, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Top Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase is also being eased back into practices after suffering a left-knee injury in training camp practice last week, but as long as there are no setbacks, both Higgins and Chase are expected to be ready to roll on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite Chase drawing a massive target share as one of the top overall receivers in football, the 27-year-old Higgins gets his, too, in a pass-happy Bengals offense. The former second-rounder in 2020 from Clemson has not had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2022, but he has racked up 21 touchdown catches in the last two years and went for 846 yards in just 15 games in 2025 in his sixth year in the league. As long as both Higgins and quarterback Joe Burrow stay healthy, Higgins will be a high-end WR2, at the very least, in an explosive pass-first offense in Cincy.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) continues to rehab a right-ankle injury that he suffered last Monday in training camp practice, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. Henderson was present in the locker room on Tuesday and was walking normally, but he has not yet been cleared for a return to full participation. The 23-year-old second-year back's injury does not appear to be serious, but the Patriots are playing it safe in hopes that Henderson will be ready for the Week 1 season opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9, against the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of the Super Bowl. It may not be a serious injury, but Henderson is running out of time, and the Patriots could limit his workload next Wednesday if he is active. The former second-rounder last year from Ohio State was productive with 911 rushing yards and nine rushing scores on 180 carries in 17 regular-season games, adding 35 catches for 221 yards and another touchdown through the air. However, he was a liability in pass protection and did not make strides in that area this summer in training camp. Therefore, Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson will continue to split backfield work nearly down the middle. Fantasy managers should treat Henderson as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex as he enters Year 2.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Tuesday that running back MarShawn Lloyd is "as ready as he's ever been... he looks good," according to Dennis Krause of Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin. With starting running back Josh Jacobs (groin) on the commissioner's exempt list due to an ongoing domestic-violence allegation, the 25-year-old Lloyd is looking primed to lead Green Bay's backfield to begin the 2026 regular season in Week 1. The Packers acquired RB Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday for more RB depth, but he should not be a direct threat to Lloyd as the RB1 if Jacobs indeed is suspended for the start of the season. Lloyd, a third-rounder in 2024 from USC, has played in just one game with the Packers due to multiple injuries, but he has held up well physically to the rigors of training camp and the preseason and looks ready to go. Jacobs will be the Packers' lead back whenever he returns, but Lloyd's speed and athleticism make him an intriguing RB3/flex target in upcoming fantasy football drafts.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) will be limited throughout this week in practice, but he "feels good about where he is," according to Jeremy Rauch of FOX 19 Cincinnati. The fantasy football community had a scare last week when Chase injured his left knee in training camp last Tuesday after landing awkwardly. The 26-year-old suffered a minor hyperextension of his knee, and the Bengals are being cautious with him as the 2026 regular season quickly approaching. As long as Chase does not suffer a setback with his knee in practice this week and next week, he should be good to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13. There is no reason for fantasy managers not to take him as the first receiver off the board in fantasy football drafts. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro had a down year in 2025 and still had 125 catches, 1,412 receiving yards, and eight receiving touchdowns on a league-high 185 targets across 16 starts.

The Miami Dolphins traded for quarterback Kyle McCord on Sunday, sending a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Green Bay Packers, and on Tuesday head coach Jeff Hafley confirmed that McCord would serve as the team's second quarterback. McCord was a sixth-round pick of the Eagles in 2025 who signed a reserve/futures contract with the Packers in January and performed well in three 2026 preseason games. Hafley and Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan both arrived in Miami from Green Bay, so McCord faces less of a learning curve in his transition, and he will begin the year backing up former Packer Malik Willis. The Dolphins traded away Quinn Ewers on Sunday and are one of the league's few teams to begin the year with only two quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster.

After a 20-month recovery from the gruesome knee injury that ended his 2024 season, Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was placed on Injured Reserve with a designation to return to begin the 2026 season. On Tuesday, Texans general manager Nick Caserio provided an update, telling reporters, "He's close; he's not quite there. He's closer than he was during training camp." Dell will miss at least the first four games of the season, but can be activated as early as Week 5, ahead of a divisional clash with the Titans. A third-round pick in 2023, Dell demonstrated an immediate connection with quarterback C.J. Stroud to begin his career, but after a prolonged absence, it is fair to question what his role might look like upon his long-awaited return. The 26-year-old is RotoBaller's WR125 and worthy of final-round consideration in leagues with an IR slot.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Tuesday that he is "really hopeful" and expects tight end Luke Musgrave (neck) to play at some point this season, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today Sports. Musgrave will open up the 2026 regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which means that he will not be eligible to return until at least Week 5. The 25-year-old former second-rounder from Oregon State in 2023 could miss much more time in 2026 after not practicing at all in training camp this summer. And when Musgrave is finally cleared to rejoin the Packers, he could find himself third in the tight end room behind Tucker Kraft and recent addition Jonnu Smith. Musgrave could not capitalize with Kraft missing most of last year due to an ACL tear, as he finished with only 24 receptions on 31 targets for 252 yards and zero touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He is firmly off the fantasy radar in all league formats with the start of the regular season just around the corner.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is adjusting to the new offense really well, according to John Clark of NBC Sports. "I think Jalen's adjusted really well to the new offense," general manager Howie Roseman said. "Now again, we're at a moment in time, we haven't played a game. This isn't in reference to Jalen; this is in reference to anything else. I think that a lot of the things that we'll do during the regular season when we have game plans, I think from an offensive perspective, they're going to be different than what we've done in the past. Jalen's embraced it. He's excited about it, and obviously we've got to be better than we were last year. That was really how the offseason started, led by coach Sirianni and saying where we were in point score, where we were in offense wasn't good enough. Here we are starting the season looking to improve." Hurts and the Eagles' offense did not look right in 2025, but the 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler still finished as a top-10 fantasy QB, throwing for 3,224 yards, 25 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 16 regular-season starts while adding 421 rushing yards and eight TDs as a rusher. If Philly's offense can bounce back under new coordinator Sean Mannion, Hurts will have easy top-five upside at the QB position in his seventh NFL season.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (calf) did not participate in the team's final preseason game after missing a pair of training camp practices with a minor calf injury, but he was back on the field on Tuesday as the team begins preparations for a Week 1 contest with the Ravens. Downs suffered a minor back injury earlier in camp and saw his draft stock take a hit following the late free agent signing of veteran Keenan Allen. After playing primarily out of the slot through the first three years of his career, Downs found extensive work on the outside throughout the summer, but questions about his role and workload have re-emerged in recent weeks, and he is now RotoBaller's WR38 for 2026.