Fantasy Football News

The Athletic's Andrew Destin anticipates Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani being used on third downs and in short-yardage and goal-line situations, with rookie first-rounder Jadarian Price being featured plenty on first and second downs. Price was slowed by "upper-leg soreness" early in training camp, making it easier for Seattle to embrace more of a platoon backfield as they open the 2026 regular season without Zach Charbonnet (knee), who tore his ACL in the playoffs in January. Free-agent signee Emanuel Wilson will occasionally mix in behind Holani and Price. When Charbonnet makes his season debut, he should pair well with Price, which "should allow Holani to slide back into a third-string role." Price has more short- and long-term fantasy appeal with more upside than Holani, which is why RotoBaller has Price ranked as the RB22 and Holani ranked at No. 75. If anything, Holani might be a thorn in Price's side early on in 2026. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent from Boise State has seen only 25 carries for 83 yards (3.3 yards per carry) and one touchdown in 16 games (zero starts) in his first two years in the NFL in Seattle.

Denver Broncos second-year running back RJ Harvey could be a key part of the team's passing game in 2026, according to Jon Heath of Broncos Wire. After the Broncos took Harvey in the second round last year out of Central Florida, the 25-year-old took on a huge role after J.K. Dobbins' season-ending foot injury and finished with 540 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 146 carries in 17 regular-season games, adding 47 receptions on 58 targets for 356 yards and another five TDs. His receiving skills were evident when he took a pass from quarterback Bo Nix for 21 yards and a touchdown last week. "That's where you felt the initial impact," head coach Sean Payton said of Harvey's receiving ability, "and you saw marks of that in college, and you also saw him as a runner. He's having a good camp in both areas [rushing and receiving], but it's certainly a strength of his." Denver's three-back rotation this year of Dobbins, Harvey, and rookie Jonah Coleman will limit Harvey's overall fantasy upside, but he still qualifies as a sleeper flex option in point-per-reception leagues in a Broncos offense that could be much more explosive in 2026.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has finished no lower than the QB2 in six consecutive seasons, making a strong claim to the greatest fantasy quarterback of all time while racking up four overall QB1 finishes over that span. With the addition of wide receiver DJ Moore and the potential return to health of tight end Dalton Kincaid, Allen could find himself leading one of Buffalo's most complete offenses in years, creating the possibility of another 4,000-yard passing campaign after falling short of that mark in each of the past two seasons. With one of the safest rushing floors the league has ever known and the potential of a vintage passing ceiling, it should come as no surprise that Allen ranks as RotoBaller's QB1 and stands alone as the only player at the position routinely going in the first two rounds of 2026 single-quarterback drafts.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has rarely flashed for fantasy since coming into the league as a fourth-round pick in 2022, but he has reliably done what's been asked of him, and with the Buccaneers opening the season with a receiver room at less than full strength, he could again be asked to step up. Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) have both been dealing with lingering injuries, putting their Week 1 availability in question. Even if both should suit up for the Buccaneers' season-opener against the Bengals, they could each face a snap count of sorts, providing Otton with a pathway to heavier involvement and an increased target share. Cracking the top 15 of the position four times in 2025, Otton has become a prototypical streamer, and although he ranks as RotoBaller's TE24 for 2026, he has the opportunity to re-enter that conversation straight out of the gate, making him a potentially usable piece early in the year.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye came one vote away from winning the MVP Award in his first full season as a starter, and head coach Mike Vrabel has seen notable improvements since he took over the team in 2025. In speaking with reporters on Thursday about Maye's growth, Vrabel pointed out, "More comfort in what we're doing. More command. More understanding." Maye threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns to only eight interceptions, adding 450 yards and four scores on the ground on his way to a QB2 finish, and the Patriots spent the offseason improving his offensive line and pass-catchers, most notably adding receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, both of whom have reportedly established a quick rapport with the 24-year-old signal-caller. Questions about how much a historically easy schedule played into Maye's success have lingered throughout the offseason, particularly after a significant postseason dropoff, but an improved offensive environment could serve to raise a fantasy ceiling that was already among the highest in the league, making him a potential value at RotoBaller's QB6.

The Seattle Seahawks selected Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the final pick of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, filling one of their only obvious needs after retaining 20 of 22 starters from their Super Bowl-winning squad. With Veteran Zach Charbonnet (knee) beginning the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list after tearing his ACL in last year's Divisional Round win over the 49ers, Price is well-positioned to begin the year in something close to the every-down role last held by Kenneth Walker III, who averaged 139 yards and more than a touchdown per game during a three-game postseason run that resulted in a Super Bowl MVP Award. Price's biggest competition for touches early in the year will come from George Holani and Emanuel Wilson, two players who started a combined two games in 2025 and lack the rookie's upside. As RotoBaller's RB22, Price has week-winning potential to begin the year and the opportunity to lock down the Seahawks' primary running back spot, making him a player to target in the early-middle rounds of drafts.

The Arizona Cardinals reached an agreement on Wednesday with standout wide receiver Michael Wilson on a three-year extension that keeps him in Arizona through the 2029 season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Financial terms of the extension were not disclosed by Schefter. Wilson is expected to sign the deal on Thursday. The 26-year-old earned a new deal after setting career highs across the board in his third NFL season in 2025 in catches (78), targets (126), receiving yards (1,006), and touchdowns (seven) in 17 games played for the Cardinals. The former third-rounder in 2023 from Stanford took advantage of Arizona's pass-happy offense under former coordinator Drew Petzing, and he also benefited from Marvin Harrison Jr. missing time due to various injuries. But Wilson proved last year that he can thrive in a bigger role in the Cardinals' passing attack, and he developed valuable chemistry with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is still around. The offense should be more balanced under new head coach Mike LaFleur, but even with some regression baked into his profile, Wilson is an attractive WR4/flex target for fantasy managers in 2026.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (lower body) is dressed for practice on Thursday, according to Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan. It will be Flowers' first practice since the team's joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings. The 25-year-old did some sprinting off to the side during Wednesday's practice, but now he is ready to rejoin the rest of the team for the first time in a week. His lower-body injury has never appeared to be serious, so as long as he does not suffer a setback going into practices next week, Flowers should be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 13. Flowers is coming off a second straight Pro Bowl appearance and second straight 1,000-yard receiving season in 2025, catching 86 of his 118 targets for a career-high 1,211 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts. In half-PPR scoring, he was the WR7 overall, which was quite impressive when considering the down year that quarterback Lamar Jackson had. In a new offense that could be beneficial for his volume, Flowers has a clear path to WR1 utility again in 2026, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 14 player at his position.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis already had the rushing ability to make himself interesting in fantasy. What happened in August gave managers a little more reason to trust the rest of his game. Miami's own camp reports repeatedly pointed to Willis processing faster and getting the football out on time, with some of his best work coming late in the summer. He produced multiple explosive throws on Aug. 17, looked sharp and in rhythm during practice a week later, then closed camp with a three-play stretch that produced three touchdowns. Willis also handled his only preseason drive well, completing four of five passes for 43 yards while leading Miami 93 yards for a touchdown against Washington. The receiving corps remains a concern, and one strong camp doesn't erase how little starting experience Willis has. His legs provide a useful fallback after he rushed for 123 yards and two scores in limited action last season. RotoBaller now has Willis at QB20. The passing progress makes that late-round gamble a lot easier to see paying off.

Speaking on teammate Ja'Marr Chase's new podcast, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he is extremely optimistic about the 2026 season and has high hopes for the team, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I just want to win this year," Burrow said. "I just want to win. The rest will take care of itself. I think we'll break a bunch of records eventually, but I think we're going to have a really good team that has a chance to win every game that we step foot on the field for. I don't know about you, but I could really feel it in my bones, in my soul in OTAs this year -- different from years past." Burrow has also compared this Cincy squad to his 2019 LSU squad that won the national championship and has said he is "trying to manifest" another Super Bowl run. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler is one of the few QBs who has top-five fantasy upside at the position strictly because of his arm and his elite pass-catching duo of Chase and Tee Higgins. As long as Burrow can stay healthy, he should bounce back as a high-end QB1 in fantasy football in 2026.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced on Thursday that Anthony Richardson Sr. will be the team's No. 2 quarterback behind starter Daniel Jones to start the 2026 season, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. Richardson requested a trade in the offseason, but the Colts did not end up moving him, and he will open the 2026 campaign as the direct backup to Jones, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon late last season. The 24-year-old Richardson, the former fourth overall pick in 2023 from the University of Florida, beat out Riley Leonard for the QB2 job in training camp and the preseason. Richardson's rushing abilities are elite, but he has been injury-prone early in his career and has not developed as a passer the way the Colts hoped he would. Through 17 games (15 starts), Richardson posted a 50.6% completion percentage with 2,400 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He added 115 carries for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. While the 24-year-old's dynasty/keeper value has plummeted, he could quickly become attractive again for his rushing prowess if Jones goes down with another injury in 2026.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo considered retirement after the serious injury that ended his rookie season. Skattebo said he had always told himself that suffering a major injury would be enough to make him stop playing football, but his thinking changed once he actually went through it. The 24-year-old dislocated his right ankle and fractured his fibula against Philadelphia last October, requiring surgery and ending his season after eight appearances. He had rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries while adding 24 catches for 207 yards and two more scores. Skattebo ultimately decided he wasn't ready to walk away, and the long rehab has already brought him back to game action. He started New York's preseason opener in August and carried four times for 19 yards. After briefly wondering whether football was still worth it, Skattebo is now preparing for his second NFL season.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton enters Year 2 with a setup that looks a lot friendlier than the one he had as a rookie. Hampton was limited to nine games by ankle injuries in 2025, but still rushed for 545 yards and four touchdowns while catching 32 passes for 192 yards and another score. Mike McDaniel is now running the offense, and Hampton spent camp looking like a natural fit. He was one of the standouts in the joint practice with San Francisco, running through defenders and earning praise from Justin Herbert. The line is not completely worry-free after Tyler Biadasz suffered a season-ending ACL injury, but Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are both back in the starting group after missing major time last year. Hampton also sits first on the depth chart ahead of Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal. RotoBaller has pushed him all the way to RB6 and No. 11 overall in its Sept. 2 half-PPR rankings. If he stays healthy, the breakout case is getting harder to ignore.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts admitted in an interview with GQ magazine that he grew apart from former wide receiver A.J. Brown before the Eagles traded him to the New England Patriots in the offseason, according to ESPN. "Nothing happened, people just grow apart," Brown told NBC Sports' Maria Taylor in June. "Nothing happened between me and him, or our families, wives, anything. Nothing like that ever happened. Life happens, and you just look up sometimes and you just, you find yourself drifting away, and that's fine. And I think both parties accepted that." Brown told reporters last month, when the Eagles and Patriots took part in joint practices, that he and Hurts had not spoken since Brown was traded. Hurts and Brown's relationship goes back a ways, with the two growing so tight that Hurts became godfather to Brown's daughter, Jersee. Hurts was a factor in Brown's frustrations near the end of his tenure in Philly, based in part on Brown not being targeted as much as he felt he should be. "I've got a lot of love for him and always have," Hurts said. Hurts and the Eagles' offense are looking to bounce back in 2026 under a new offensive coordinator, while Brown could rebound as a true WR1 in fantasy with his move to New England.

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill enters Week 1 with a much cleaner path behind Derrick Henry. Rookie Adam Randall was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return during final cuts, leaving Hill and Rasheen Ali as the only other active backs on the initial 53-man roster. Baltimore's own roster breakdown called Hill a prized backup and identified Ali as the No. 3 back. That is a meaningful change after RotoBaller questioned earlier in August whether Randall could eventually become the better two-down handcuff. Hill was limited to 10 games last season by toe and neck injuries, finishing with 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries while adding 21 catches for 169 yards and another score. He still profiles better as a passing-down option than a direct replacement for Henry's massive early-down workload, and Ali could absorb some carries if Henry misses time. For now, though, the depth chart is cleaner. With Randall unavailable for at least four games, Hill opens the year with a stronger claim to Baltimore's No. 2 role.

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown has looked comfortable in his new offense from the start. Brown still caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games with Philadelphia last season, but his move to New England gave him a chance to pair with Drake Maye after a frustrating year in the Eagles' passing game. That connection showed up throughout camp. Brown beat Christian Gonzalez on a double move for a long touchdown on July 31, then got behind the defense again for another would-be score on Aug. 17. Two days later, he was one of New England's standouts during a joint practice with Philadelphia as Maye kept finding him downfield. The Patriots rested Brown in all three preseason games, so there was no reason to risk the new No. 1 receiver in exhibition action. RotoBaller has him at WR9 in its latest half-PPR rankings. Brown was already a proven fantasy option, but a strong first summer with Maye has pushed his WR1 ceiling back into focus.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III led the league last year in rushing with 1,621 rushing yards on 309 carries, but look for him this season to be more involved in the passing game and be more explosive overall. According to a Sports Illustrated article, Bills offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael hinted that Cook was heavily involved in the run game last season and could see a reduction to his workload as a result of increased passing work. That's good news for Cook's health and a boost to fantasy managers with a big season upcoming due to potential big plays in the passing game with Josh Allen running the offense under new coach Joe Brady. Cook looks locked and loaded as a first round pick and this only increases his value. Last year, Cook had 33 catches for 291 yards and two receiving TDs. Look for those numbers to skyrocket this season if he stays healthy.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant has had an impressive training camp and should be moving up fantasy draft boards as a result. According to Jon Heath of Broncos Wire of USA Today, Bryant has been "praised by coaches and teammates all summer." Heath goes on to quote safety Talanoa Hufanga as the latest to chime in on Bryant's excellent camp who said Bryant was the most improved offensive player on the team. "Pat Bryant is a guy that came in -- believe it or not, was a guy who was more of a role player last year and doing what he was asked. He was still learning Sean [Payton]'s scheme at the time...What he's done this camp, he's really solidifying himself and making a name for himself in this league." Look for Bryant to carve out a role on a deep Broncos receiving core with Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, and Marvin Mims listed as the top three receivers. The Broncos Wire article says Bryant could emerge as the No. 3 with Mims having more of a special teams role.

New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs is set for a No. 2 receiver role in New England behind A.J. Brown following the trade of Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans. Doubs is joining New England from the Green Bay Packers where he averaged 10.3 points per game in PPR leagues and finished with a career high 13.2 yards per reception. All in all he had 85 targets and 55 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns. Look for Doubs to carry some value in New England's offense with his big-play ability opposite Brown on the outside with Drake Maye targeting him in the pass game. With the trade of Boutte, Doubs sees his value increase and he should be a nice value pick in fantasy leagues. Draft him with confidence in what looks to be a good offense in New England with a big opportunity.

The Las Vegas Raiders are optimistic about the health of running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle), NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports, but that doesn't mean rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. will take a back seat this season. Rapoport says Washington "is going to be a thing this year, not just in real football, in fantasy football as well." Rapoport went on to say, "he for sure is going to be a weapon in Las Vegas." Washington stands out as a sleeper pick even if Jeanty does return to full health. Washington finished this preseason with 168 rushing yards on 23 carries for 7.3 yards per rush. Jeanty is recovering from a low ankle sprain that looked a little bit worse to teammates at the time. But now it looks like Jeanty is considered day-to-day with the injury. He is a top-of-the-line running back, but it seems as if Washington is carving out a role for himself in Las Vegas this season.