Fantasy Football News

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith was voted as a captain by his teammates ahead of the 2026 season, according to the team's official website. Smith hasn't played in a regular-season game for the Jets since the 2016 season. He's back after having a resurgence with the Seattle Seahawks and Raiders over the last four years. We'll see what the 35-year-old still has left in the tank after throwing 17 interceptions with the Raiders last season. It's nice to see the Jets players respecting Smith enough to give him the captain status, even with this being his first year back in New York in over a decade.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will be working with a new play caller this upcoming season. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik will be taking over the play-calling duties from Dave Canales, according to Mike Kaye of ESPN. Idzik is entering his third season as the OC in Carolina. Young recently described the new play calling as aggressive, so we'll see what that means during the regular season. Young completed eight of 11 passing attempts for 67 yards during the preseason. The Panthers are limited in terms of offensive weapons, but Tetairoa McMillan could be in for a big year.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix recently received praise from his teammate, defensive back Patrick Surtain, Susanna Wier of the team's official website reports. Surtain talked about the growth in Nix and how he believes he'll take another step forward this upcoming season. He continued by saying Nix can bring all the guys together and that he's a tremendous leader. Both tight end Evan Engram and offensive tackle Garett Bolles also praised Nix for his leadership. Nix has made a full recovery after suffering a broken ankle during the AFC Championship Game last season. He threw a league-high 612 times this past season, so it wouldn't be shocking to see the Broncos attempt to run more this season. The 26-year-old should remain a top-10 quarterback this upcoming season.

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) appeared to be running without any issues ahead of Thursday's practice, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports. Kraft continues to work his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in November of last year. He missed all of the preseason, but was able to take part during joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals last week. It seems that Kraft is trending in the right direction ahead of the Week 1 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. He appears to be moving well and could very well be ready to go in time for the first game of the season.

According to Adam Schefter, Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (abdomen) left early during Thursday's practice due to a cramp. Swift was reportedly in significant discomfort when he was forced to leave due to abdominal cramping. This is not good news for the Bears, who are already without Kyle Monangai (knee) right now. The hope is that this is a day-to-day issue for Swift and that he'll be back before the season opener. If not, Roschon Johnson could be a popular waiver wire pickup over the next few days. Fantasy managers will need to stay tuned for more updates on Swift.

Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (knee) missed another practice on Thursday, according to Zack Pearson of 247 Sports. Monangai suffered a hyperextended right knee in training camp practice on Aug. 16 and was deemed week-to-week earlier this week, but the good news is that the 24-year-old "looked good" while running on a side field on Wednesday, per starting RB D'Andre Swift. Monangai's status for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 13, is firmly up in the air, and with Swift suffering an undisclosed injury of his own in Thursday's practice, Chicago's backfield is banged up with the regular-season opener closing in. With the statuses of both Monangai and Swift now in question, Roschon Johnson is becoming a bit more popular for some potential short-term value in Chicago's offense against Carolina in Week 1. Monangai produced an impressive 783 rushing yards and five rushing scores on 169 carries as a rookie after being taken in the seventh round out of Rutgers, but when Swift is healthy, he will continue to be the clear RB2 with little pass-catching upside. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 42 fantasy RB for the 2026 campaign.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has been liking what he has seen out of quarterback Caleb Williams as he prepares to take a step forward in his third NFL season in 2026, according to Larry Mayer of the team's official website. "I've seen a very composed person every time he steps into the building," Johnson said. "I think his teammates feel that as well. He's getting to the practice field early. He's making sure his part is taken care of. He's warmed up, he's ready to go. He stays after with the guys after practice on a regular basis. He's taking a lot of pride in his approach right now, and it trickles down to everyone around him. I think it's a great thing. He continues to grow up, and he's going to be a huge leader for us this year." The 24-year-old former first overall pick from USC has also been a more vocal leader after finishing as the QB8 in fantasy football after throwing for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions in 17 regular-season starts in 2025 after taking a league-high 68 sacks as a rookie. Williams has shown a flair for the dramatic late in games, and his ability to produce off-script has been a strength of his. Despite losing receiver DJ Moore in an offseason trade, Williams still has plenty of weapons around him, and if he cleans some stuff up, he could take the next step as a passer for an up-and-coming Bears squad. Williams has plenty of appeal as a midrange to low-end QB1 in fantasy drafts for managers who wait a bit on the position.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (groin) has been working his way back to full fitness after dealing with a groin injury in training camp this summer, and he is expected to be back and take his place in the starting backfield for Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 13, according to Jack Bell of NewYorkJets.com. The 25-year-old former second-rounder from Iowa State is coming off his first 1,000-yard season in 2025 and was rewarded with a three-year, $45.75 million contract extension in May to solidify his position to see the lion's share of the backfield work again in 2026 in a new offense led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith. Hall was seen running on a side field last week, and he should be back at practice with the rest of the team next week as they prepare for the season opener. If Hall has his snaps limited at all in Week 1, Braelon Allen would see a larger piece of the pie, but he will not be a realistic standalone fantasy starter. Hall is a do-it-all back who should see plenty of volume, but the less-than-ideal QB situation in NY makes him more of a high-end RB2 than a low-end RB1 in fantasy drafts.

Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis tried out for the New York Jets on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Levis, a second-rounder by the Titans in 2023 from the University of Kentucky, was cut by Tennessee this summer after he failed to win the backup job over Mitchell Trubisky. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2025 campaign after having surgery on a right-shoulder injury that he suffered in 2024. In his 21 starts for the Titans in 2023 and 2024, Levis struggled for consistency, completing 61% of his 556 pass attempts for 3,899 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He added 70 carries for an additional 240 rushing yards and just one touchdown on the ground. Levis also had a very strong arm, but questionable decision-making came with it in his limited time as the Titans' starter under center. If Levis latches on with the Jets, he would most likely be the QB3 option behind veteran Geno Smith and rookie Cade Klubnik.

The New Orleans Saints waived running back Devin Neal (hamstring) on Thursday after they initially placed him on Injured Reserve for the start of the 2026 season, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Now that the 23-year-old has been waived, he will not be forced to miss the entire season if he latches on with another team. Neal suffered a hamstring injury in the team's preseason game on Aug. 22 against the Los Angeles Rams and will not be ready for the start of the season next week. The former sixth-rounder by the Saints in 2025 out of Kansas saw 57 rushing attempts for 206 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and two rushing touchdowns in 10 games played, adding 17 receptions on 19 targets for 104 yards as a receiver. New Orleans had some opportunity in the RB room behind newcomer Travis Etienne Jr., with veteran Alvin Kamara (knee) also banged up, but Neal was unable to take advantage and will now look for another opportunity in 2026. He is well off the fantasy football radar in all formats right now.

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (undisclosed) left on Thursday in the final stages of the Bears' padded practice and appeared to be in "significant discomfort" as he went inside the tent, according to Dan Wiederer of The Athletic. Sean Hammond of The Chicago Tribune reports that Swift exited toward the end of a full team period after carrying the ball on the offense's own one-yard line. He came off the field apparently holding his midsection or core area. Head coach Ben Johnson will not meet with the media again until next week, so we may not have many details on Swift's injury until the Bears release their first official practice report next Wednesday in preparations for Week 1 of the regular season. When fully healthy, Swift is the clear lead back for a Bears offense on the rise, giving him clear high-end RB2 potential in fantasy football leagues. However, his injury on Thursday will make him a bit of a question mark until we learn the extent of his injury. Backfield mate Kyle Monangai (knee) is also week-to-week with a hyperextended knee and may not be available for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, potentially thrusting Roschon Johnson into the lead-back role if Swift cannot play.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (leg) exited Thursday's practice early with an apparent injury, according to Sean Hammond of The Chicago Tribune. Odunze came up hobbling during an install period at the start of practice and appeared to be favoring his right leg. He was not overly concerned and tried to stay on the field before trainers pulled him to the side. Head coach Ben Johnson will not meet with the media until next week, so we might not get much information on the specifics of Odunze's injury until the Bears' first official practice report is released next Wednesday. The 24-year-old's injury does not sound overly serious, but it is another thing to worry about for fantasy managers after the former first-rounder dealt with a foot injury for much of last year. Odunze finished the 2025 regular season with a 44-661-6 line in just 12 games played, but the good news is that he has not shown any ill effects this summer from his foot injury, which appears to be behind him. The former Washington Husky wideout has an opportunity for a bigger role in Chicago in 2026 with DJ Moore out of town, but injury concerns make him more of a WR3/flex target as he enters Year 3 in the NFL. Stay tuned for an update on Odunze's injury status early next week.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin put together a pretty productive season in 2025, recording 65 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets across 17 games (seven starts). However, the 23-year-old's production faded a bit down the stretch, as he averaged fewer than three catches and 30 receiving yards over his final seven games of the year (including the postseason). Franklin's place in the Broncos' wide receiver room is in question entering 2026. The team acquired star wideout Jaylen Waddle, who now looks like the clear WR1 in Denver. Veteran Courtland Sutton should be the team's WR2, and 2025 third-round pick Pat Bryant has drawn rave reviews for his work in Broncos camp this summer. As a result, Franklin may be facing a significantly reduced workload in Denver in 2026.

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Press Taylor said that running back Roschon Johnson finished training camp strong and that the team can "trust him if someone goes down with an injury," per Zack Pearson of 247 Sports. Johnson appeared in just seven games in 2025 due to injury issues and has played a limited offensive role in his NFL career to this point, recording 519 rushing yards across 36 career games. However, he's excelled in short-yardage situations, which could lead to him stealing some touchdowns from Bears running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai (knee). Additionally, Monangai's status for the start of the regular season is unclear as he battles a hyperextended knee. In deeper leagues, Johnson could be worth stashing in a bench spot should Monangai miss time.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott put together one of the better seasons of his career in 2025, completing 67.3% of his pass attempts for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. While health has hampered Prescott at times in his career, he's topped 4,400 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in each of the last three seasons in which he's played at least 16 games. Entering 2026, Prescott might also be working with the league's best supporting cast of pass-catchers, including wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy, as well as tight end Jake Ferguson. The 33-year-old Prescott is no longer much of a threat with his legs, but the Cowboys' passing game should be potent enough for him to put up solid fantasy numbers without being a high-end rusher. Given the talent around him in Dallas, Prescott remains a solid fantasy QB1 option entering 2026.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta's 2025 campaign came to a premature end after he suffered a back injury in Week 10 that ultimately required season-ending surgery. The 25-year-old was productive before getting hurt, recording 40 catches for 489 yards and three touchdowns on 49 targets across nine games played. LaPorta gave fantasy managers a scare when he suffered a hip injury that caused him to miss some time this summer. However, the young tight end was able to return to practice and looks to be on track to start the regular season fully healthy. Between wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, as well as running back Jahmyr Gibbs, LaPorta faces plenty of target competition in Detroit. Still, the Lions enter the year with questions on defense and a new-look offensive line, both of which could force them to turn to the air early and often in 2026. As long as LaPorta remains healthy, he could be poised for a bounce-back season.

After recording 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 112 carries across 11 games for the Washington Commanders in 2025, veteran running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. signed a two-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for 2026. In Jacksonville, Rodriguez Jr. looks to be competing with second-year back Bhayshul Tuten for the team's RB1 role. While Tuten flashed more explosive upside during his rookie campaign with the Jags, recent reporting out of Jacksonville indicates that Rodriguez Jr. is playing well in practice. The 25-year-old profiles as the more physical runner of Jacksonville's top two backs, which could help earn the majority of the goal-line work. Rodriguez Jr. could also be the Jaguars' top pass-protecting back, particularly while third-down specialist LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) is sidelined by a soft-tissue injury. As a later-round pick in many drafts, Rodriguez Jr. could end up being a value selection for fantasy managers.

After an injury-marred 2024 campaign, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave re-emerged as a high-end pass-catcher in 2025. Across 16 games, the 26-year-old recorded 100 catches for 1,163 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 156 targets. Olave finished the season on an absolute tear while playing alongside then-rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, recording 24 catches for 352 yards and four touchdowns across his final three games played. Entering 2026, Olave and Shough look well-positioned to continue building on the chemistry they formed at the end of last season. With Saints rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) starting the year on Injured Reserve, Olave also appears poised to dominate target share in New Orleans, at least early on. Particularly in PPR-scoring formats, Olave carries top-12 fantasy wide receiver upside into 2026.

ESPN's Dan Graziano believes that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren will still have a "significant" backfield role in 2026 after the team signed Rico Dowdle to a two-year, $12.25 million deal in free agency. New head coach Mike McCarthy will not be shy about giving Dowdle most of the early-down carries, but Graziano reminds us that Warren caught 61 passes on 74 targets in his second year in the league in Pittsburgh in 2023. His 61 receptions that year are 22 more than Dowdle has ever had in a season, and last year's pass-catching back in the Steel City, Kenny Gainwell, broke out with 73 catches. Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to want to check the ball down some more to avoid sacks, and the recipient of those check-downs will be Warren in 2026. In his four-year NFL career, the 27-year-old Warren has 167 catches on 199 targets for 1,227 yards (7.3 yards per catch) and two touchdowns (both in 2025). He will be the team's primary pass-catching outlet, which will make him a PPR sleeper as an RB3/flex as he shares the backfield with Dowdle.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a league-winner across all formats in the 2025 season. The former Ohio State standout smashed his ADP, finishing as the overall WR2, joining Puka Nacua as the only players at his position to average more than 20.0 PPR points per game. He would catch 119 of his 163 targets (fourth-most in football) for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. During the regular season, he would only fall below double-digit PPR points in one game (Week 13) and would eclipse the 25.0 PPR point mark in five contests. On Wednesday night, Smith-Njigba and the reigning Super Bowl champions will host the New England Patriots, whom they faced in last February's season finale. In this contest, Smith-Njigba was relatively quiet, catching only four of his 10 targets for a mere 27 yards. However, despite the modest effort, Smith-Njigba enters the 2026 season as the clear alpha of this WR room and should draw a massive target share against this New England defense. Smith-Njigba carries elite upside at his position, even though his matchup on paper is a bit tough, facing a New England secondary that allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards last season. He profiles as the definition of a must-start in all season-long formats and is a top play in all DFS single-game showdown competitions.