Fantasy Football News

Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. is expected to have a significant role in the backfield this upcoming season. Raiders General Manager John Spytek recently praised head coach Klint Kubiak for drafting Washington. He also added that the team is counting on Washington to win games this upcoming season, Ryan McFadden reports. Lead back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) is uncertain for Week 1, so Washington could immediately slide into a large role in the offense. Once Jeanty is healthy, it sounds like Washington will remain a big part of the running game. The 23-year-old is becoming one of the more important handcuffs to roster in fantasy leagues.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) was not seen during the media portion of Tuesday's practice. Giants head coach John Harbaugh said that Nabers was involved during most of the team reps during Tuesday's practice. Nabers is trending in the right direction for the Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. He has practiced on consecutive days, but the Giants have yet to commit to Nabers being available for the season opener. Once he's fully healthy, Nabers should offer low-end WR1 value, but it wouldn't be shocking for him to be limited early in the season.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said on Tuesday that he expects quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. to remain with the organization this year, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Richardson survived roster cutdown day on Sunday and will head into the 2026 season as the backup to Daniel Jones, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon suffered late last season. Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft from Florida, has turned out to be a bust early in his NFL career. His rushing upside is elite, but he could not stay on the field, and he failed to improve on his accuracy as a passer in the competition for the starting job last summer with Jones. And after Jones took off with the starting gig and played well before his Achilles tear, there does not appear to be much of a future for Richardson in Indy. He is heading into the final year of his rookie contract in 2026, so this figures to be Richardson's final season with the Colts, barring something unforeseen happening. If Jones gets hurt again and misses time, Richardson could quickly become a QB2 option in two-QB superflex leagues for his rushing prowess alone.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington is carrying a ton of hype coming into the 2026 season. The Jags are expecting big things from Washington in 2026 and beyond. Recently, Jags' general manager James Gladstone said that the team is fine with discussing a new contract with Washington during the regular season, according to Ryan O'Halloran. Washington is entering his fourth season with the team, and broke out in a big way last season. He finished with 58 receptions with 847 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 16 games with the Jags last season. He could be one of the most trusted options in Jacksonville this upcoming season, and it appears the team would like to keep him around long term.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) was seen working off to the side during Tuesday's practice. This was the first time that Jeanty was seen doing work during a media viewing period since suffering his ankle injury. Raiders General Manager John Spytek recently said that Jeanty is in a good spot following his ankle injury, Ryan McFadden reports. Spytek continued by saying he expects Jeanty to be back in the mix quicker than people would expect. He didn't give an exact timetable, but the Raiders might not know exactly when Jeanty will be ready to play. Mike Washington Jr. could operate as the lead back in Las Vegas in Week 1, but that'll depend on Jeanty's progress over the next few days.

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (undisclosed) left Tuesday's practice early with athletic trainers, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. It is unclear exactly what Miller is dealing with or if it is something that might prevent him from being ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. But it is very notable when considering that Alvin Kamara (knee) is currently recovering from a sprained MCL that could keep him from playing in the season opener. If the 24-year-old Miller is questionable to play in Week 1, it could vault Audric Estime into the RB2 role behind starter Travis Etienne Jr. in the Saints' backfield. Miller, a third-rounder (71st overall) in 2023 from TCU, has battled injuries in his first three NFL seasons and has appeared in only 21 games (two starts), averaging 3.9 yards per carry for 497 rushing yards and three touchdowns. When New Orleans' entire backfield is healthy, Miller figures to be the RB3, but an early-season injury could open the door for Estime to jump him. Miller is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 87 fantasy RB, so he should go undrafted in 12-team fantasy leagues.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb recently spoke about how he believes both himself and George Pickens can improve this upcoming season. Lamb recently told Jon Machota of The Athletic that he believes the two of them can be extremely vicious together. Lamb said he knows both of them strive to be the best and there's much more in them. Despite missing four games, Lamb still finished with 75 receptions with over 1,000 receiving yards. The expectation is that Pickens will be more comfortable during his second year with the organization. This could be an extremely dangerous Cowboys offense this upcoming season.

The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that Atlanta Falcons backup running back Brian Robinson has "shown a physical style in practice that cements his role" as the new Tyler Allgeier. Kendall adds that Bijan Robinson's fantasy managers "may not like how many goal-line carries he gets." We all know how good Bijan Robinson is -- he's had over 1,400 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons as one of the best all-around backs in the league -- but Allgeier frustratingly handled more goal-line and red-zone looks than Robinson's fantasy managers were comfortable with, and Kendall is saying that it could happen again. Bijan Robinson had a career-high 14 rushing scores in 2024, but that number was cut in half last year, while Allgeier had a career-high eight rushing TDs. Bijan is ranked as the RB2 in half-PPR leagues at RotoBaller, behind only the Detroit Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs. Brian Robinson had a career-low 400 rushing yards and two TDs behind Christian McCaffrey in San Fran last year, but he had three straight 700-plus-yard seasons in his first three years in the league and is very capable as a goal-line option in Atlanta. Bijan Robinson should still be in play as the No. 1 overall fantasy pick this year, but his new backfield mate could be a thorn in his side and lower his overall ceiling.

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.