Fantasy Football News

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson should see an uptick in targets early this season as he helps to fill the void of wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring). Johnson was a wide receiver in college, so even though he's a tight end now, he remains a legitimate receiving threat with impressive size and athleticism. While the coaching staff is high on Devaughn Vele, there's a very legitimate chance that Johnson ranks second on the team in targets (behind Chris Olave) for the duration of Tyson's absence. Tyson is expected to be sidelined through late October, setting up Johnson to see enough targets for him to rank as a low-end TE1. There's certainly precedent here, as Johnson was the overall TE8 while playing in a similar-looking offense last year. It's also encouraging that he performed better with Tyler Shough as his quarterback (11.5 PPR points per game) than with Spencer Rattler (9.5 PPR points per game). Johnson currently has an ADP of 146.3, which corresponds to the 13th round and makes him the 16th tight end off the board.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has fully recovered from last season's Achilles injury, but it doesn't look like his ADP has completely adjusted yet. As it stands, Jones has an ADP of 174.7, which corresponds to the 15th round and makes him the 23rd quarterback off the board. That seems to be a slightly pessimistic evaluation of the 29-year-old, who ranked as the QB7 in total points before getting injured last year. Even if Jones doesn't quite replicate his QB7 ranking this year, he's still a reasonable candidate to finish among the top 12 quarterbacks in fantasy football. Therefore, now that he's fully healthy, he's somewhat of a steal at his current price tag. He stands to benefit from a strong supporting cast, including Keenan Allen, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Tyler Warren, and Jonathan Taylor.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch is not expected to have a starting role in Week 1, and his low position on the depth chart likely takes him off the redraft radar entirely. The Falcons' latest depth chart lists Branch with the second-team offense, likely putting him in the No. 4 or No. 5 receiver role. He's penciled in behind Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Jahan Dotson, as well as potentially Chris Blair. Branch was a third-round pick, so it's not a total shock to see him lower on the depth chart to open his career. With that said, he caught 81 passes at Georgia last year, so we know that he can produce against a strong caliber of opponent. Nevertheless, it looks like fantasy managers will have to be patient with Branch, who is likely headed for a more consistent role on special teams than on offense. He caught just four passes for 21 yards in the preseason, and he has fallen to WR81 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for fantasy football.

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James seems to have lost his appeal as a handcuff option in fantasy football. Heading into the back half of August, it seemed like James was in line to earn the No. 2 running back role behind Christian McCaffrey, especially after Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) was placed on the PUP list. Instead, James is third on the depth chart while rookie Kaelon Black occupies the backup role. In years past, we have seen that the 49ers' No. 2 running back only has fantasy value when McCaffrey misses time. In other words, his backup has always been a handcuff and never really possessed standalone value. Now that James has fallen to third on the depth chart, his fantasy value is dwindling even further. He's still worth stashing in deeper leagues in case the depth chart changes or McCaffrey gets hurt and Black can't handle the lead-back role on his own. However, there's no incentive to roster him in redraft leagues at the moment.

Free agent running back Carson Steele has been signed to the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad, according to an announcement from the team. Steele had been with the Eagles throughout training camp and the preseason. He was uninspiring on the ground with just 59 rushing yards on 21 carries (2.8 YPC), but he made up for it as the team's leading receiver. In total, he caught 14 passes for 136 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. His dominant preseason receiving stat line wasn't quite enough to get him a roster spot, nor did any of the other 31 teams want to sign him to their 53-man roster. However, the Eagles evidently felt like he was worth bringing back as a practice squad player. Other teams can still bring him onto their 53-man roster, but for now, he'll offer depth behind Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley without occupying an active roster spot. He remains off the fantasy radar in most leagues.

Kansas City Chiefs starting defensive tackle Chris Jones (back) sat out Wednesday's practice with a back injury that is not expected to keep him sidelined for long, head coach Andy Reid told Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports. From what Goldman understands, it "likely amounts more to veteran rest." The Chiefs are just playing it safe with one of the best defensive tackles in the league as the 2026 regular season approaches. As long as Jones does not suffer a setback with his back injury next week, he should be just fine for the regular-season opener on Monday night, Sept. 14, versus the Denver Broncos. The 32-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro had back-to-back double-digit sack seasons for KC in 2022 and 2023, including a career-high-tying 15.5 sacks in 2022, but he has combined for only 12 sacks in the last two seasons. In 17 starts in 2025, Jones tallied 29 tackles (15 solo), seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 25 QB hits in his 10th year in the league. Because of his lack of overall tackles, Jones is hard to trust for consistent production as a D-lineman in IDP fantasy formats.

According to Amanda Vogt, quarterback Bailey Zappe has signed with the New York Jets practice squad on Tuesday. Zappe was cut by the team over the weekend, but will return as a member of the practice squad. He was competing for the backup gig to Geno Smith, but lost to rookie Cade Klubnik. The 27-year-old will serve as depth on the practice squad, but he is unlikely to see the field unless it's as an emergency option. Fantasy managers shouldn't bother rostering Zappe in any fantasy formats with Smith and Klubnik both healthy heading into the regular season.

According to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson could receive a new contract within the next few days. There has reportedly been movement towards a new deal that could be happening before Week 1. Wilson is coming off a breakout campaign, so the Cardinals would like to lock him up long-term now. The former third-rounder finished with 78 receptions with 1,006 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 17 games with the Cardinals last season. Wilson is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and appears to be coming into finally breaking out and building chemistry with this team. We'll see if the two teams can come to an agreement before the beginning of the season.

According to the New Orleans Saints official site, running back Zamir White has signed with the team's practice squad. White was released by the team on Sunday as part of the 53-man roster cutdown. They've decided to bring back White as depth with both Alvin Kamara (knee) and Kendre Miller (undisclosed) absent right now. The Saints may elevate White as depth in the backfield for the season opener. It's still going to take an injury or two before White actually sees significant snaps in the backfield, even with Kamara and Miller out. White doesn't need to be rostered in fantasy formats right now.

According to the New Orleans Saints official site, wide receiver Cedric Tillman has signed with the team's practice squad on Tuesday. Tillman was waived by the Cleveland Browns last Thursday, but he quickly found a new home. Tillman is a former third-round pick of the Browns from the 2023 draft. He didn't exactly impress during his first three seasons in the league. He hasn't surpassed 30 receptions or 400 receiving yards in a single season since becoming a pro. He'll serve as depth for the Saints, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to bring much to the table.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson is drawing praise from head coach Andy Reid for his work in pass protection. Reid said that Johnson's work in pass protection is one of the main reasons he's the RB2 right now, Charles Goldman reports. The rookie is playing so well that he beat out Emari Demercado for the backup role behind Kenneth Walker to begin the season. The expectation is that Johnson will serve as the change-of-pace back behind Walker. Johnson seems to be doing everything well and is one of the most important handcuffs in fantasy. The 22-year-old is well worth a look in the late rounds on draft day.

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham will open the 2026 season as the team's backup to starter Bo Nix, head coach Sean Payton told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. There was some speculation that Sam Ehlinger could push Stidham for the backup gig this summer in training camp, but the 30-year-old Stidham eventually won the job and will hold the clipboard for Nix and the Broncos' offense on the sideline. The former fourth-rounder by the New England Patriots in the 2019 NFL draft out of Auburn has only appeared in three regular-season games (two starts) in his three years in Denver, throwing for 496 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His biggest opportunity came in last year's postseason, when he had a chance to send the Broncos to the Super Bowl with a win over the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Stidham failed that test, throwing for 133 yards, one TD, and one pick, although conditions were nearly impossible for throwing the football in a second-half blizzard. If Nix goes down with another injury in 2026, Stidham will be the next man up at the all-important QB position in Colorado.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion said he's looking forward to carrying his strong play in training camp over into the regular season, Chris Easterling reports. Concepcion only made one preseason appearance, but he looked good during that contest versus the Chicago Bears. He hauled in three receptions for 27 yards and scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown. It sounds like Concepcion has earned enough trust from his coaches to be an immediate impact player in Cleveland. He currently has an ADP of 120.2, but has the potential to be a top-35 player at his position.

Carolina Panthers veteran tight end Darren Waller continues to ramp up for the start of the 2026 season and was in full pads while taking part in team drills with the first-team offense in Wednesday's practice, according to Kassidy Hill of the team's official website. "It was good," head coach Dave Canales said of Waller's practice. "Just backed him off a little bit (Tuesday), let him go today. Got RVAs (routes versus air) in, had a couple of nice targets out there on the field, made one catch; another one, Bryce progressed to somebody else. But he looked fast. He looked huge. So it was good to see his big frame out there moving around." After signing late in training camp on Aug. 12, the 33-year-old Waller figures to be the team's top pass-catching tight end for quarterback Bryce Young if he can stay healthy. After coming out of retirement to play for the Miami Dolphins in 2025, Waller only played in nine games and caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns. The former Pro Bowler had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 and 2020, but Waller is not the same player as he was back then, and he will likely be eased into the offense in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Waller will for sure be a red-zone weapon for Young because of his size (6-foot-6, 245 pounds), but outside of two-TE leagues, he will probably go undrafted.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is expected to eventually take over as the starter under center, according to Cameron Wolfe. Penix is still working his way back from a partially torn left ACL from last year. He was cleared to begin doing team drills as of last weekend. Wolfe mentions that he believes it's too soon for Penix to start in Week 1, but it doesn't sound like it'll take him too long before he's ready to go. The expectation is that Tua Tagovailoa will begin the season as the starter while Penix gets fully healthy. The 26-year-old is likely still viewed as the future in Atlanta, but they need to make sure he's healthy first.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht praised wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. for his consistency and leadership, Brianna Dix reports. On Monday, Licht talked about how consistent Godwin has been for Tampa Bay and even called him Mr. Clutch. Before his fibula injury, Godwin was a top-20 player at his position. He recorded three straight 1,000-yard campaigns before suffering his injury during the 2024 season. Now, Godwin is fully healthy heading into the 2026 season and should serve as a top target in the Bucs' passing attack. Both Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillian (knee) are banged up right now, so Godwin could be leaned on heavily early in the season.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten is being viewed as a complete running back, according to Mike Garafolo. It sounds like the Jaguars have a lot of faith in Tuten to step up and be the lead back this upcoming season. Tuten showed some flashes this past season, but will now get a real chance to show what he can do with Travis Etienne Jr. departing this offseason. Tuten has been working hard to improve as a pass-catching back during training camp. It sounds like Tuten could become a legit dual-threat back for the Jags this upcoming season. The expectation is that Chris Rodriguez Jr. will remain in the mix, but Tuten will be leaned on more than this past season.

According to Adam Schefter, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is unharmed after an attempted burglary of his home on Saturday. Barkley's home was broken into after 5:00 AM EST on Saturday, according to the Tredyffrin Township Police Department. Barkley and his family were home at the time of the break-in, but thankfully, no one was hurt. A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including attempted break-in of two other homes. This investigation isn't expected to impact Barkley's status for this upcoming season.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ja'Seem Reed did not make the team's initial 53-man roster heading into their Week 1 clash against the Chicago Bears, but the Panthers re-signed him to their practice squad after he had a strong training camp this summer. The Panthers' WR1, Tetairoa McMillan, singled Reed out as the offensive player that he has seen make the most strides over the last year, according to Gabe McDonald. "That kid's got a lot of talent," McMillan said. The 23-year-old former undrafted free agent spent all of the 2025 campaign on the Panthers' practice squad and never appeared in a game. To begin 2026, he has McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, John Metchie III, Brycen Tremayne, and Jimmy Horn Jr. ahead of him in the WR room, but Reed could be a name to keep an eye on in dynasty/keeper leagues as a bench stash for his potential long-term upside in Carolina.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (heel) did not practice with the team on Wednesday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Higgins also missed practice on Tuesday with a bruised heel, but head coach Zac Taylor said it was a minor issue. Barring a setback, Higgins should be ready to rock for the Week 1 regular-season opener next Sunday, Sept. 13, versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Top wideout Ja'Marr Chase (knee) is also out this week with a knee injury that he suffered last week, but he, too, is expected to be fine for Week 1. Higgins' minor heel injury should not make fantasy managers hesitant to use an early-round pick on him as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2. The 27-year-old former second-rounder from Clemson would be the WR1 on many teams around the league. Even in Chase's shadow, Higgins has managed to put up high-end production while battling through injuries. As a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025, Higgins had 59 receptions for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 15 games. Higgins has 21 touchdown catches in the last two seasons and has averaged a healthy 14 yards per catch in his six NFL seasons.