Fantasy Football News

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has officially named veteran Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Despite a training-camp push by first overall pick Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders have decided to let the 38-year-old veteran open the 2026 campaign as the starter under center. The expectation all along was that Cousins would open the year as the starter to give Mendoza more time to adapt to the NFL game and get used to playing under center. In 30 offensive snaps during the preseason, Cousins went 13-for-17 for 101 yards with one touchdown. Cousins could have some low-end QB2 sleeper appeal in the season opener against Miami in what should be an improved Raiders offense, but with Mendoza looming as the long-term option at the position, he makes for an unintriguing two-QB superflex option in season-long formats as he heads into his 15th NFL season.

When asked if he was optimistic about second-year running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) being able to play in the Week 1 season opener versus the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said, "Yes," with a sly grin, according to Levi Edwards of the team's official website. Jeanty has not practiced with the team since suffering what is believed to be a low-ankle sprain in training camp practice on Aug. 23, but he worked off to the side with trainers on Tuesday and is apparently making progress. If the former first-rounder from Boise State can avoid setbacks going into next week's practices, it looks like he will have a good shot at suiting up on Sunday, Sept. 13. With that said, the 22-year-old could have his workload limited against Miami if he is active, with the Raiders saying that they expect rookie Mike Washington Jr. to have a key role early on, even if Jeanty is available. Going into his second year in the NFL, Jeanty should be viewed as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 for fantasy purposes after scoring 10 total touchdowns (five rushing, five receiving) and finishing as the RB13 in half-PPR scoring as a rookie in 2025.

The Arizona Cardinals have attempted to extend ascending wide receiver Michael Wilson, who is coming off his first 1,000-yard season in 2025, but the "likeliest path" is for Wilson to enter Week 1 on the final year of his rookie deal, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. According to sources, Wilson is likely to be a key free agent next offseason, and if he has an encore in Arizona in 2026, he will be paid handsomely next March. The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 from Stanford broke out with 78 catches on 126 targets for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games in his third year in the NFL. It helped that fellow wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. continued to struggle with drops while missing time due to various injuries, and the Cardinals' pass-happy offensive approach definitely played into Wilson's strong season. Wilson has developed great chemistry with Brissett, but most fantasy pundits predict a step back in 2026 in new head coach Mike LaFleur's offense, which is expected to be a much more balanced attack. Still, Wilson is a great WR4/flex target for fantasy managers.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) missed another day of practice on Wednesday, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Jeanty worked off to the side with trainers on Tuesday, but he has yet to return to a full practice since injuring his ankle in a training camp practice on Aug. 23. The 22-year-old former first-rounder from Boise State is believed to be dealing with a low-ankle sprain, but it is unclear yet if it will impact his availability for the Week 1 contest against the Miami Dolphins. At the very least, though, rookie Mike Washington Jr. figures to have a key role in Vegas' backfield to open the regular season, even if Jeanty is active on Sunday, Sept. 13. Jeanty still carries low-end RB1/high-end RB2 fantasy appeal in upcoming drafts, and he could be poised for an even bigger season in Year 2 in what should be a better offense after running for 975 yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries in 2025. He also had 55 receptions on 73 targets for 346 yards and another five scores as a receiver in 17 games played. We will have a much better read on Jeanty's Week 1 status once the Raiders start releasing official injury reports next week.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (undisclosed) is working off to the side with a trainer for the second straight day in practice on Wednesday, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. Head coach Dave Canales said that Brooks had some "soreness" on Tuesday, but he would not specify where. Brooks has been gaining steam as the potential lead back in Carolina in 2026 over Chuba Hubbard, who had a disappointing 2025 campaign after a 1,000-yard season for the Panthers in 2024. The 23-year-old Brooks, a second-rounder out of Texas in 2024, has already torn his ACL twice since entering the NFL and has played in just three games for the Panthers in his rookie season. Despite durability concerns, Brooks has explosive upside out of the backfield if he is healthy and could push Hubbard for lead-back duties this year. Right now, Brooks' undisclosed injury does not seem serious enough to keep him out in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, but we should have a better idea of his status next week. RotoBaller has Brooks and Hubbard ranked at No. 33 and No. 34, respectively.

ESPN's Dan Graziano does not think anyone should be surprised if tight end Isaiah Likely is a "breakout star" in his first season with the New York Giants in 2026. Likely followed head coach John Harbaugh from the Baltimore Ravens to the Giants in free agency, and Giants coaches "light up" when talking about Likely. The coaching staff thinks that Likely will "be a real asset" for quarterback Jaxson Dart as a receiver and "think he can win in both man and zone coverage." The Giants love how he has evolved his relationship with Dart, and he is a regular visitor to the QB room. The connection that Likely has formed with Dart on and off the field "could pay major dividends." Graziano thinks that Likely is a strong candidate to be the Giants' second-leading receiver this year, and potentially more if receiver Malik Nabers (knee) needs more time to get up to speed after tearing his ACL and meniscus early last year. The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder from Coastal Carolina never had over 477 receiving yards or six touchdowns in his four years in Baltimore, where he was in the shadow of Mark Andrews. Now that he is the TE1 in the Big Apple, Likely has clear TE1 upside in fantasy, with RotoBaller ranking him as the No. 15 player at the position heading into the new season.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard may remain a major part of the backfield, even with Jonathon Brooks healthy again. According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the plan is for Hubbard and Brooks to split carries, with Hubbard potentially getting the larger share when Carolina is trying to close out games. The Panthers are excited about Brooks but intend to be careful with him after two ACL tears. Hubbard remains first on Carolina's current depth chart and has already shown he can handle a big workload, rushing for 1,195 yards in 2024. His numbers fell to 511 yards on 134 carries across 15 games last season. Brooks, meanwhile, has played only three regular-season games since entering the NFL and missed all of 2025. If ESPN's reported split holds, Hubbard should remain much more involved than fantasy managers expecting a Brooks takeover might have hoped.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (undisclosed) did not practice Wednesday, according to Greg Auman. No reason for the absence was immediately provided. Tucker made Tampa Bay's initial 53-man roster after beating out Josh Williams for the final spot in the backfield and is currently listed third behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell. The fourth-year back appeared in all 17 games last season, carrying 86 times for 320 yards and seven touchdowns while adding eight catches for 34 yards and another score. His eight scrimmage touchdowns led the Buccaneers in 2025. There is not enough information yet to know whether Wednesday's absence is anything to worry about. Tucker's status at the next practice should give a better idea of what is going on.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten was sent home from practice Wednesday because of an illness, according to Ryan O'Halloran. There is no indication right now that Tuten is dealing with anything beyond being sick. The second-year back is coming off a rookie season in which he ran 83 times for 307 yards and five touchdowns while adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two more scores. Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. were listed as co-starters throughout the preseason, and Jacksonville's post-cutdown roster breakdown still projects both at the top of the backfield. The Jaguars open Sept. 13 against Cleveland, so there is plenty of time before game week. For now, this looks like a simple illness absence, with his next practice status the thing to watch.

Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman could move into a much bigger role sooner than expected. According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the belief is that Coleman will overtake RJ Harvey on the depth chart early in the season and would be Denver's top choice to handle the lead job if J.K. Dobbins misses time. The Broncos took Coleman in the fourth round this year despite already having Dobbins and Harvey, and they have liked his fit from the start. Sean Payton praised the 5-foot-8, 220-pound back's physical running style, intelligence and ability to handle third-down work after the draft. Denver also viewed Coleman as a strong pass protector coming out of Washington. Dobbins remains the starter after rushing for 772 yards in 10 games last season, but injuries have followed him throughout his career. Coleman still has to earn his way past Harvey, but ESPN's report gives the rookie a clear path to becoming much more than a depth piece.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) did some running on a side field with trainers Wednesday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Stroud noted that Egbuka showed no obvious problems with the toe while running. The second-year receiver has been out since injuring it during an Aug. 12 joint practice with the Jets. Initial testing showed a sprained toe, and Egbuka still has not returned to team practice. Head coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that he wants to see how Egbuka looks next week before making a call on his Week 1 availability. Egbuka caught 63 passes for 938 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie last season. Tampa Bay opens Sept. 13 at Cincinnati, so there is still time, but getting back into practice will be the next important step.

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd could get the first shot at the starting job while Josh Jacobs is on the Commissioner's Exempt List. ESPN's Dan Graziano reports that the coaching staff has liked what it has seen from Lloyd throughout the offseason and training camp, and believes he could run with the opportunity. Lloyd has barely had a chance to show anything in the regular season, playing just one game across his first two years because of injuries. He had six carries for 15 yards in that 2024 appearance and did not play at all in 2025. This summer has gone much better. Lloyd stayed healthy through camp, mixed in with the first-team offense and had 10 carries for 30 yards with two catches in the preseason, including an 11-yard touchdown against Denver. Green Bay also has Chris Brooks and recently acquired Kaleb Johnson, so the job is not automatically Lloyd's. But if he stays healthy and produces, ESPN's report makes it clear he has a real chance to claim the backfield.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams could emerge as the team's leading receiver this season, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. Williams is coming off another big year, catching 65 passes for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 targets in 2025. He averaged 17.2 yards per catch and topped 1,000 yards for the second straight season. The Lions have spent the past few years asking Williams to become more than a downfield threat, and there were signs of that growth in camp. Jared Goff recently praised the nuance Williams has added to his route running, while new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has challenged him to play more physically. The obvious obstacle is Amon-Ra St. Brown, who drew 172 targets and finished with 1,401 receiving yards last year. Williams also led the NFL with 12 drops. Still, if Petzing can get him involved more consistently at every level of the field, a career year is firmly in play.

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart feels "in command" for Week 1 despite going nearly a month without live game action, according to Patricia Traina of Sports Illustrated. Dart attempted four passes in the Giants' preseason opener Aug. 15, but then head coach John Harbaugh kept him sidelined for the final two preseason contests. As a result, nearly a month will separate his last live game action from the Giants' season opener Sept. 13. While that long absence may raise some question marks, especially in a new offensive system, Harbaugh explained the decision was rooted in minimizing injury risk and the confidence he has in the quarterback's work ethic during practice. Dart himself added that he felt like he has been able to prepare for the regular season by playing against the Giants' starting defense in practice. "I feel so much better," Dart said. "I feel in command. I feel confident. In this offense, there's a lot that's put on the quarterback's plate, but it's exactly how I want it. It's exactly how I viewed this coming together." All signs point to Dart making a Year 2 leap. He was the overall QB14 despite making just 12 starts last season, so he has legitimate top-eight fantasy upside in 2026 if he can stay healthy for the full year. As it stands, he has an ADP of 103, which makes him the 11th quarterback off the board.

The Philadelphia Eagles do not view the upcoming 2026 season as a make-or-break year for quarterback Jalen Hurts, according to general manager Howie Roseman (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of SportsRadio 94WIP). Roseman made it clear that Hurts' future in Philadelphia does not depend on his performance this season, and he pointed out "all the winning Hurts has done," according to Shorr-Parks. Indeed, the Eagles have made the Super Bowl in two of the last four seasons, winning the Lombardi Trophy two years ago. Hurts holds an impressive 57-25 record as a starter in the NFL, and he's been equally dominant from a fantasy football perspective, ranking as a top-nine fantasy quarterback in each of the last five seasons. The sky is the limit for Hurts in this year's new-look system led by offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, giving the 28-year-old quarterback top-five upside. As it currently stands, he has an ADP of 71.9 and ranks as the overall QB3 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for 2026.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has quickly earned the trust of his quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes. "Even when there were a couple routes he ran the wrong thing and lined up the wrong way in the game, the quarterback still threw the ball to him," head coach Andy Reid told Jesse Newell of The Athletic. "You go, 'All right. There's a certain trust there.' And he'll work through all the other stuff." Mahomes recently dubbed Allen one of the team's biggest camp standouts, and Newell noted that the team's quarterbacks have all been very comfortable throwing him the ball even when he's covered. That level of trust should go a long way in the regular season. Even though Allen is set to open the year behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy on the depth chart, he could work his way onto the fantasy radar by midseason, especially if Rice or Worthy get injured. Having Mahomes throwing him the football should only boost his stock in redraft and dynasty formats. Allen currently has an ADP of 186.5, which corresponds to the 16th round of drafts and makes him the 68th receiver off the board.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas has generated plenty of buzz after a strong showing throughout training camp and the preseason. Douglas, a third-round rookie out of Texas Tech, sat out the Dolphins' final preseason game, which is a good sign that he'll earn the start in Week 1 against Las Vegas. Miami arguably has the worst wide receiver room in the league, so there's a real opportunity here for Douglas to cement himself as Malik Willis' favorite target. There's a relatively simple path to him leading the team in catches and receiving yards, especially given his main competition right now is Malik Washington and fellow third-rounder Chris Bell. The biggest obstacle for Douglas might be the state of the Dolphins' offense. We expect Miami to run a lot, we're worried about Willis' accuracy as a passer over a full season, and touchdowns may be few and far between. Simply being the Dolphins' potential No. 1 receiver gets him onto the fantasy radar, though, and he's a worthwhile late-round pick for managers in deeper leagues. After all, he has WR3/flex upside once he gets a few games under his belt.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will take the field next week with the best receiver room of his career. Headlined by Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton, Nix has never previously had a supporting cast this talented. As a result, he could be on track to post the best fantasy marks of his career if he can stay healthy for the full season. Waddle and Sutton both had 900+ yards last season, but there's plenty of talent lower on the depth chart, too. Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin combined for over 1,000 yards between the two of them. Furthermore, we're expecting a bounce-back year from tight end Evan Engram, and the running back room should be highly effective with a mix of JK Dobbins, RJ Harvey, and even rookie Jonah Coleman. Nix has been the fantasy QB7 in each of his first two pro seasons, but we wouldn't be shocked to see him finish within the top five this year. With that in mind, he is an absolute steal in fantasy drafts right now. He currently has an ADP of 113.4, which corresponds to the 10th round and makes him the 15th quarterback off the board.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren isn't the flashiest name in fantasy football, but he has become a reliable option for managers in half-PPR and full-PPR leagues. Warren is one of just four running backs with 500+ rushing yards and 300+ rushing yards in each of the last three seasons. The other players who fit that description are Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Breece Hall. That's not a bad group to be associated with, and it's an indicator of both his versatile skill set and his ability to stay healthy. He has missed just three games over the last three years, and he should continue to carve out a sizable role this year despite the coaching shift from Mike Tomlin to Mike McCarthy. Furthermore, the Steelers did bring in Rico Dowdle, but he's more of a Kenny Gainwell replacement. Dowdle shouldn't threaten Warren's role any more or less than Gainwell did last year. As quarterback Aaron Rodgers gets older and his checkdown rate goes up, Warren stands to benefit. He has been a top-22 fantasy running back in two of the last three seasons, and he should be a fringe RB2/RB3 once again this year.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) was a full-go in Tuesday's practice as he prepares for Week 1's matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Thomas fell awkwardly on his shoulder during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but head coach Liam Coen expressed no concern about his availability for the regular season. After a monster rookie season in 2024, Thomas struggled, hauling in just 48 of 91 targets for 707 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games, dropping from 14.1 points per game to 8.2 in 2025. Now with Parker Washington having a great camp and Jakobi Meyers still expected to receive volume, Thomas is a far riskier option in 2026.