Fantasy Football News

Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman has consistently earned the praise of coaches, teammates, and media throughout his first preseason in the NFL. The fourth-round pick out of Washington was already trending up as soon as the Broncos drafted him, and nothing has changed in the last few months. He continues to have massive upside in dynasty leagues after posting 3,496 scrimmage yards and 33 touchdowns over his last three years of school, and he's even rising up the rankings in redraft leagues. As it stands, Coleman is worthy of a roster spot in 12+ team leagues, despite the fact that he's third on the depth chart behind J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. After the first few weeks of the season go by and Coleman gets more acclimated to the NFL, we fully expect him to carve out a meaningful role alongside Dobbins and Harvey. Just like we saw Harvey emerge as a fantasy league winner in the second half of the 2025 season, Coleman could do the same in 2026.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Barion Brown could get into the starting lineup for Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. Brown had a strong camp, and he's in the mix for the No. 3 receiver role (and a starting job) after the Saints placed rookie Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) on injured reserve. As it stands, Brown projects as the third receiver behind Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele, although he's also likely behind Juwan Johnson in the pecking order. Nevertheless, the rookie out of LSU caught four passes for 53 yards during the preseason, and he proved that he deserves more opportunities than fellow rookie Bryce Lance. Whether or not Brown's No. 3 receiver role is enough to get him on the fantasy radar remains to be seen, but he is definitely trending up as the Saints look to distribute Tyson's temporarily vacated targets. He's an intriguing player to stash for the first few weeks in 14+ team leagues.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner put together a strong camp, and he could be headed for a larger role during the 2026 season. Barner has impressed with 10 touchdowns over his two NFL seasons, and he finished last year as the overall TE14 in PPR leagues. He was able to maintain his fantasy relevance despite facing competition from Elijah Arroyo, who had second-round draft capital last year. This season, we expect Barner to get a similar amount of playing time, and that could actually lead to more volume. Now that he has established himself on offense for two years in a row, he should see his target share increase. Additionally, he should benefit from playing for new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. Fleury was the tight ends coach in San Francisco, so he brings a strong background in the position to his new job with the Seahawks. In fact, it has already been reported by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Fleury plans to use a lot of two-tight-end sets in Seattle. That bodes well for Barner, who has a very strong chance to emerge as a top-12 fantasy tight end in Year 3.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has emerged as a last-minute riser in fantasy football ahead of the start of the 2026 NFL season. The narrative for several months has been that Bhayshul Tuten would lead the Jags' backfield, and while that still might be the case, it's worth noting that the team's official depth chart lists Tuten and Rodriguez as sharing the No. 1 role. Perhaps we shouldn't be that surprised. After all, Tuten was the backup to Travis Etienne Jr. last year, so he hasn't handled a workhorse role yet. Additionally, there was plenty of buzz during the offseason that head coach Liam Coen expected big things from Rodriguez, whom he coached in college. The exact fantasy outlook for both of these backs remains a bit murky until we've seen how the backfield shakes out through the first game or two. For now, we'd view Tuten as a fringe RB2/RB3 and Rodriguez as a fringe RB3/RB4. That's still enough to get Rodriguez on the fantasy radar in 10+ team leagues, and he's a potential Week 1 flex for managers in 14+ team leagues, especially against a Browns defense that is trending down.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed could play a pivotal role on offense this season. Shaheed had a very positive camp, earning praise from coaches, teammates, and media. It was a great step in the right direction for the 28-year-old, who was due to make a leap after posting relatively modest numbers following his trade from New Orleans to Seattle last season. Shaheed finished last year as the WR39 in PPR leagues, catching 59 passes for 687 yards and two touchdowns. Those are fine numbers, but the latest buzz from Seattle indicates that Shaheed should take another step forward after his first full offseason with the Seahawks. In fact, it's not crazy to say that he could open the year as the team's No. 2 receiver, ahead of Cooper Kupp. While Kupp is getting older and declining in productivity, Shaheed is trending up, and he represents a flashy playmaking option for quarterback Sam Darnold. A top-36 finish is well within reason for the Seahawks, who will likely lean on the passing game with Kenneth Walker gone and Zach Charbonnet (knee) on the PUP list. Shaheed ranks as a WR4/WR5 for now, but in a perfect world, he has high-end WR3 upside.

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd is ready to step into the lead-back role for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, despite playing just one game over the last two seasons. Injuries have kept Lloyd sidelined for all but one game throughout his NFL career. However, the Packers are optimistic he'll be able to fill the void left by Josh Jacobs, who was recently placed on the commissioner's exempt list. "[Lloyd is as] ready as he's ever been since he's been here," general manager Brian Gutekunst told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. "He looks good. He's handling all the physicality, the things that he needs to as a running back." Head coach Matt Lafleur has echoed Gutekunst's optimistic tone, but he also declined to pencil Lloyd into a specific workload. Given that Lloyd has just seven touches as a pro, it's unlikely that he'll occupy an every-down role. In all likelihood, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks will earn some touches. With that being said, if there's a Green Bay running back to roster, it's Lloyd. He projects as a fringe RB2/RB3 this week and for the duration of Jacobs' absence.

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker had a strong training camp and is expected to be the team's top wide receiver in 2026. In 2025, Tucker hauled in 57 of 92 targets for 696 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 51 rushing yards on 11 carries. With Jakobi Meyers gone and the team not making any significant additions, Tucker is in a good spot in head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. Tucker was a favorite of Kirk Cousins' during the preseason, catching five passes for over 50 yards in just three drives together. While he is not a clear startable option in Week 1, his current role in Las Vegas is enticing, and fantasy managers should take note of his workload against Miami.

Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price is likely to carry a significant workload in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. According to multiple reports, the first-round pick has had a fantastic training camp and is expected to be a main beneficiary of Zach Charbonnet's absence. Price was listed as the RB2 on Seattle's depth chart, behind George Holani, but reports have indicated that Price will be the lead back in Week 1. He also faces the Patriots' stout run defense, which allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs last season. Price's workload will be a main talking point during Wednesday night's game, as he is a high-risk, high-reward option in 2026.

Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell is a high-upside option to target late in drafts and on the waiver wire this season. In his senior season at Louisville, Bell had 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games. Bell was drafted in the third round and would've gone much higher if not for a torn ACL in the 2025 season. The rookie receiver has recovered at a tremendous pace and played in the team's final preseason game, a positive sign for his Week 1 outlook. He was listed as a starter on the team's Week 1 depth chart alongside Malik Washington and fellow third-round rookie Caleb Douglas. While he shouldn't be a starting player in fantasy this week, he offers immense upside, as the climb to the top of the depth chart is not too crowded.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to handle the bulk of the workload in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. In 2025, Stevenson totaled 948 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 162 touches across 14 games. He split the workload with rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who totaled over 1,100 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. Now, Henderson (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 1's matchup against the Seahawks, opening the door for Stevenson to get more work. The matchup is still tough, as Seattle allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs and the fewest yards per carry last season. Still, with a great offense and as the clear workhorse, Stevenson is a mid-RB2 in Week 1.

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black enters 2026 as the clear handcuff to star running back Christian McCaffrey. Black missed time throughout training camp with an adductor injury but played well in the final preseason game and reportedly earned the backup role in San Francisco. The third-round pick was the team's second-highest-ranked running back in the draft process and has earned praise throughout the organization, earning the label "fast and explosive." McCaffrey has missed time throughout training camp, and the team is expected to manage the 30-year-old's workload in practice. Black is a strong handcuff at the running back position and carries immense upside if McCaffrey misses time.

Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier is projected to be the backfield's leader in Week 1's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. With the Atlanta Falcons in 2025, Allgeier totaled 610 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 157 attempts in 17 games. He signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals during the offseason, but the team spent the third-overall pick on rookie Jeremiyah Love. Both are expected to form a one-two punch in the backfield, but Love's ankle injury makes his Week 1 status unclear. The Cardinals listed Allgeier as the starting back with Love as the backup on their depth chart. The Chargers were the sixth-best defense against running backs last season, and a negative game script is expected against the Cardinals, making Allgeier and Love risky Week 1 starts.

New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams had a spectacular preseason, and he'll look to keep that momentum going on Wednesday against the Seattle Seahawks. Williams' remarkable preseason included six catches, 166 yards, and three touchdowns as he solidified his rapport with quarterbacks Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito. All signs point to Williams potentially having a Year 2 breakout, especially after the team traded away wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. With that being said, we're not quite bullish enough on Williams to start him against the Seahawks in Week 1. He's still third on the depth chart behind A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, and he'll also have to compete for targets with tight end Hunter Henry. Plus, the Seahawks are a tough matchup, as they allowed just the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025. Managers would be justified in stashing Williams in deeper leagues, but it would be a bit premature to insert him into your starting lineup for Week 1.

New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs is being welcomed to his new team with a difficult matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday evening in Week 1. Doubs signed a four-year, $68 million contract over the offseason, penciling him in as the Patriots' No. 2 receiver alongside A.J. Brown for at least this season. Interestingly, we haven't yet seen a Drake Maye-led offense support two fantasy-relevant receivers, but that's not to say it can't happen. The former UNC signal caller will likely appreciate having another experienced veteran receiver at his disposal for Week 1, especially if Brown gets locked up by Devon Witherspoon for most of the night. There's certainly some upside with Doubs, but we'd rather leave him on the fantasy football bench this week while we wait to see exactly what his role looks like on gameday.

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown might not take very long to prove that his acquisition was absolutely worth it. The Patriots acquired him from the Eagles for a first-round pick and a seventh-round pick this offseason, and he projects to be exactly what New England needed to overcome last year's Super Bowl loss. Brown has familiarity with getting peppered with targets on a Mike Vrabel-led team, and he also fetched 8.4 targets per game during his four years in Philadelphia. Brown's exact fantasy outlook is somewhat dependent on how the first game goes on Wednesday night, but we'd expect the star receiver to pick up right where he left off in Philadelphia. Last year, he caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 games. He has four consecutive seasons with at least seven touchdowns, and in addition to excelling near the goal line, we know that he's also capable of producing in contested scenarios or making a play deep downfield. Brown gets a tough matchup against newly paid cornerback Devon Witherspoon this week, but he's still worth rolling out as a locked-and-loaded WR1 in fantasy football.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry is worth rostering in fantasy football, but managers should leave him on the bench in most leagues for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. Henry had a mediocre stat line against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl seven months ago, catching three of his five targets for 31 yards. That's not bad production by any means, but it also wouldn't be good enough to get him on the fantasy radar as a top tight end. Additionally, managers should wait to see if A.J. Brown eats into his workload at all during the season opener. Brown is a bigger-bodied receiver, offering physicality in coverage and around the goal line. That's similar to what Henry did last year, so we'll see just how much the prized offseason acquisition's presence impacts a player like Henry. For now, the veteran tight end ranks #17 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 1.

New England Patriots kicker Andy Borregales had a shaky start to the preseason, which has already impacted his fantasy football price tag. While he harnessed his accuracy in Weeks 2 and 3 of the preseason, he still finished 5-for-8 with just one made field goal from 50+ yards out. With that in mind, fantasy managers can likely find other, more dependable kicking options for the season opener. After all, it's Week 1, so nobody is dealing with bye weeks or kicker injuries yet. That means there should still be plenty of viable kicking options on the waiver wire, including several with higher projections than the Patriots' 23-year-old. Some kickers with similar price tags to Borregales but a higher Week 1 ranking from RotoBaller include Wil Lutz, Chris Boswell, Jake Elliott, Tyler Bass, and Harrison Butker. Borregales ranks all the way down at K23 for Week 1, according to RotoBaller's fantasy experts.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has emerged as a very strong RB2 option in fantasy football for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. Entering fantasy drafts this summer, there were plenty of debates about the Patriots' backfield dynamic. We still don't know exactly how this backfield will look when TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) is healthy, but we don't have to worry about that for at least another week. Henderson has been ruled out for Wednesday's season opener, leaving Stevenson in line to lead the backfield. Not only will Stevenson jump to No. 1 on the depth chart, but he'll presumably take on an every-down role. The de facto No. 2 running back, Corey Kiner, has just 14 career touches across four games, so it's unlikely that he'll carve out a large workload against the reigning champs. That leaves Stevenson in line for at least 15-20 touches this week. Interestingly, Stevenson was one of the few offensive players who impressed in the Pats' ugly Super Bowl loss against the Seahawks. On the big stage, he rushed for 23 yards, added five catches for 40 receiving yards, and scored a touchdown. If he can boost his rushing stats while continuing to produce as a receiver and around the goal line, he'll have no trouble finishing as an RB2. The Seahawks have a strong defense, but Stevenson showed that he could overcome this tricky matchup seven months ago, and he can do it again on Wednesday night. As it stands, he's the RB23 in RotoBaller's Week 1 fantasy football rankings. He should be started in all leagues with 10+ teams.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye will run into a very tough season-opening matchup on Wednesday. The Patriots travel out west for a Super Bowl rematch against the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks. Maye was the overall QB2 in fantasy football last year with 4,394 passing yards, 450 rushing yards, 35 touchdowns, and 11 turnovers. However, he ran into a tough Seahawks defense in the Super Bowl, tallying two touchdowns and two interceptions as the Patriots lost by 16 points. The Seahawks continue to field a strong defense that will pose a challenge to Maye, but his natural rushing ability and improved passing skills keep him in must-start territory for fantasy football. Plus, his supporting cast saw a massive upgrade this offseason with the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. He may not immediately be a top-three fantasy quarterback this week, but the former No. 3 pick should still post QB1-level numbers. It's Week 1; don't overthink it. Start your studs, including Maye.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud could be headed for a high passing volume and plenty of scoring opportunities in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. Stroud was consistently drafted in fantasy leagues with 14+ teams, leaving him available on the waiver wire in eight-team and 10-team formats, as well as some 12-team leagues. The former No. 2 overall pick is looking to shake off a frustrating 2025 season in which he threw for a modest 3,041 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His production continued to go downhill in the playoffs. Stroud has now seen his fantasy ranking decline every year since being drafted, but he could trend back up in a revamped offense this year. He also stands to benefit in a big way from the Texans' Week 1 matchup against the Bills. Although Buffalo allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks last year, Texans-Bills projects as a potential shootout, leaving plenty of touchdown upside for Stroud. Managers who are already looking for some quarterback help in Week 1 should look to add Stroud off the waiver wire. He'll continue to get some favorable situations after the Bills game, as he runs into a stretch of matchups against the Bengals, Colts, Cowboys, and Titans.