The San Francisco 49ers are officially listing running back Christian McCaffrey's (calf, Achilles) injury as both calf and Achilles on the injury report, and he was limited in practice on Thursday. This designation is not new but is now provided in full disclosure. Head coach Kyle Shanahan reassured reporters before practice that the Achilles issue is related to the calf strain McCaffrey sustained in early August during training camp. Shanahan did not express concern about McCaffrey's availability for Monday's season opener against the New York Jets. A three-time All-Pro, McCaffrey led the league in rushing yards (1,459) and total yards from scrimmage (2,023) in 2023 and tied for the NFL lead in touchdowns (21) with Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert. He was also named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. McCaffrey's exceptional skills as both a runner and a pass-catcher are crucial to the 49ers' offensive success, and he remains the team's top running back until further notice.

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Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was excellent in his rookie season last year and will look for another strong year in his sophomore season. Aubrey entered the last game of the season last year a perfect 35-for-35 before missing two in his final game. He still ended up with 49 extra points and finished as the top overall fantasy kicker with 9.2 fantasy points per game. There's no reason to believe he can't repeat or at least come close to his excellent season, making him an easy top-10 kicking option every week.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson had a solid season last year, finishing as the overall fantasy TE10. He's set for a similar or perhaps even bigger role this year after the departure of running back Tony Pollard. Ferguson was 10th in receiving yards per game among tight ends and 17th in yards per route run. He could see more short passes going his way this season, making him an excellent floor play with some upside each week. Week 1, however, could be a difficult one as the Cleveland Browns defense limited opposing tight ends to the fewest receiving yards last season and the second-fewest fantasy points. Ferguson is a low-end TE1 for Week 1 with brighter outlooks ahead.

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The Green Bay Packers have listed running backs MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) and Emanuel Wilson (hip), along with tight end Tucker Kraft (back), as questionable for Friday night's game against the Eagles. Lloyd has been managing a hamstring injury throughout the summer, while Wilson and Kraft's injuries are more recent, with both being full participants as recently as Tuesday's practice. Lloyd, a non-participant on Tuesday, returned as a limited participant for Thursday's walkthrough. Both positions are now major concerns for the team. Running backs AJ Dillon and tight end Tyler Davis were placed on season-ending injured reserve during roster cuts. With Lloyd and Wilson injured, the only healthy running back on the 53-man roster is free-agent signing Josh Jacobs, who has yet to see action for the Packers. The tight end position is also thin; if Kraft is unavailable, the team will have only Luke Musgrave and Ben Sims left at the position. If Lloyd and Kraft cannot play, the roles of Jacobs and Musgrave would significantly increase.

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Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey is set to start in the slot in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. McConkey didn't play much in the preseason but is expected to play a significant role in the passing game this season. He's behind Joshua Palmer on the depth chart for sure, but could realistically be the second option for quarterback Justin Herbert on passing plays. McConkey will face a Raiders secondary that was in the upper half of rankings against slot receivers last season. His college numbers put him in the 98th percentile in receiving against single coverage though, so it could be a pleasant welcome to the NFL for the Chargers second-round pick.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer is set to start as the likely primary pass catcher in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Palmer did well last season after Mike Williams got hurt, putting up an average of 71 receiving yards per game in those contests. He's the only returning pass catcher besides Quentin Johnston, who may not even be in the starting lineup. Palmer's rapport with quarterback Justin Herbert and his spot on the depth chart gives him plenty of upside on a team whose offense should be very much improved. He's a solid WR3/flex play for the first week of the season with room to grow.

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On the initial Week 1 injury report for the New Orleans Saints, cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip) was listed as limited due to a persistent hip issue. However, he was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday's practice. Lattimore's 2023 season was plagued by injuries, including an ankle problem that kept him to just ten games and a kidney laceration that limited him to seven games the year before. These health issues sparked trade rumors during the offseason, but the Saints decided to keep him. Lattimore is set to start on Sunday, providing a significant boost to the Saints' defense against a Carolina Panthers offense that is expected to have difficulties. His presence will be a considerable challenge for Bryce Young and the Panthers' receiving corps.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is all set to go for a Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns. Lamb missed the preseason while holding out for his newly signed contract, but he was reportedly still working out and staying in game shape, so he's ready to go for the season opener on Sunday. Lamb was a top pick in essentially every league and is completely matchup proof regardless of the tough Browns secondary. While he'll be ranked as the overall WR1 most weeks, there may be a couple of guys ahead of him this week just because of the tiniest slice of uncertainty.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was limited in practice for the second consecutive day with a heel injury on Thursday afternoon. The veteran wideout also missed a practice due to the same injury last week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Allen's status as we approach the season opener on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The 32-year-old is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, totaling 1,243 yards on 108 receptions with seven scores. If Allen were to miss Sunday's game or suit up in a limited capacity, DJ Moore should see an uptick in targets, and rookie pass catcher Rome Odunze should also see more playing opportunities.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks isn't a great option in Week 1 fantasy lineups. The Cowboys offense will once again run through CeeDee Lamb and the running game, with Cooks playing more of a support role on the field. Last season, Cooks ended up as the WR43. All of that, combined with a strong Cleveland Browns secondary, makes Cooks an easy pass in starting lineups for the first week of the season.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray signed a three-year extension with the Kansas City Chiefs just hours prior to their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Gray has spent his entire NFL career in Kansas City, totaling 640 receiving yards and four scores on 63 catches over the past three campaigns. Last season, he saw a career-high 305 yards and two scores. The 25-year-old will now call Kansas City home for the foreseeable future. Fantasy managers should leave Gray on the waiver wire for now, as Travis Kelce will continue to see the vast majority of targets at the tight end position. However, if Kelce were to miss an extended period, Gray could carve out a decent role for fantasy purposes.

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The Miami Dolphins will square up against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. It will be the home opener for the Fins and the first under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. After their defense was decimated by injuries in 2023, Miami prioritized bulking up that side of the ball in the offseason. Their key acquisitions are strong veteran presences in cornerback Kendall Fuller, linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Shaquil Barrett, and safety Jordan Poyer. In addition to returning studs Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland, and Calais Campbell, Miami now presents a strong core of talented veteran players. It's hard to know what to expect from Trevor Lawrence and the Jags' offense to open the year, but if the Dolphins' offense can get out to an early lead, it would bode well for the defense's outlook. They're currently RotoBaller's DEF22 heading into Week 1, with much more season-long upside if this unit gels quickly.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards is expected to be the early-down lead back on the Chargers new offense this season. A Week 1 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders isn't the softest introduction, but Edwards should still be the guy handed the ball on any short down situations. He likely won't be part of the passing game and isn't the most explosive open field runner, so he's the kind of guy who needs to score in real life to put up a strong fantasy score. He was fourth in touchdowns among running backs last season but ended up as just the overall RB32.

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Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders is a top option heading into the Dolphins' home opening tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sanders is near-automatic from under 40 yards in his career, connecting on 95% of his kicks (79-of-83). He gets a bit sketchier from there on out and is a combined 71-of-97 from 40+. However, the seventh-year kicker is reliable in the extra-point department, nailing 233-of-240 career attempts. Miami has an implied point total of 26 points heading into Week 1, and there should be plenty of scoring opportunities for the Dolphins squaring off against a Jaguars team that struggled against the pass in 2023. Fire up Sanders with confidence, as he is RotoBaller's K7 in this week's rankings.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins is set to make his Chargers debut in the backfield in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Dobbins will be paired with Gus Edwards, and while Edwards will do a lot of the running, Dobbins will be the one in for most of the passing game work. He's been an injury risk for essentially his entire career, but the upside certainly exists, especially in the offensive scheme he'll be playing in. He's a guy worth stashing on the bench to see how he fits with Justin Herbert and the rest of the Bolts, but probably not a guy you're comfortable starting in Week 1.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin (abdomen) was upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday, according to Brianna Dix. McLaughlin missed practice on Wednesday due to an abdomen injury and an illness. However, seeing him return to full participation the following day is a great sign for his status in the season opener on Sunday afternoon. The 28-year-old enjoyed a great season in Tampa Bay last fall, hitting 93.5% of his attempts and a stellar 7-for-8 from outside 50 yards. DFS players should consider placing McLaughlin in their lineup as he will face the Washington Commanders, who surrendered the most total yards in the league last season.

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The New Orleans Saints have added wide receiver A.T. Perry (hand) to their injury report. This injury is concerning, given the critical role of hand health for a wide receiver. Perry had a standout preseason, leading the NFL with 176 receiving yards and positioning himself as a potential key contributor to New Orleans' offense in 2024. Currently listed as the third wide receiver on the Saints' depth chart behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, Perry demonstrated his red-zone capability by scoring 33% of his receptions last season, with four touchdowns on just 12 catches. Standing at 6'5", his exceptional body control makes him a valuable red-zone threat, especially on a roster with smaller receivers like Olave and Shaheed. If Perry cannot play, expect increased opportunities for Olave and Alvin Kamara in the passing game.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) participated in full in Thursday's practice, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Pitts was a limited participant in the team's first official practice on Wednesday. However, seeing that he was a full-go on Thursday is an excellent sign for his status entering the season opener on Sunday afternoon. Fantasy managers should continue to follow any updates regarding Pitts, but he should be expected to suit up over the weekend. The Florida product hopes to enjoy a nice bounce-back campaign, as he has yet to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since his debut season, and with his new quarterback Kirk Cousins, he could be in a great position to do so. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable starting Pitts this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen is eager to make his mark in Chicago and set new records. After he was told that his performance from 2019-2023 alone would have made him the all-time leading receiver in Bears history, saying, "Sky's the limit. We can definitely reset the bar here for sure. I'm pretty sure we will." While there is considerable excitement about the Bears' offense this year, Allen faces challenges that could affect his fantasy value. Joining a new team with a crowded receiving corps and a rookie quarterback might limit his numbers in 2024, potentially positioning him as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in PPR leagues. With Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore also in the mix, it's unlikely he'll maintain his previous 31% target share. Despite the optimism surrounding the Bears' offense, predicting the primary target each week could be tricky. Allen and the Bears aim for a strong start as they face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle may be the best running back on the Cowboys roster, but he's still a very risky play in fantasy lineups in Week 1. While Dowdle could and likely will end up being the top fantasy running back in Dallas by the end of the season, it may take a few weeks for him to build up steam and work his way into a full starting role. With veterans Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook in the way for now, Dowdle will be little more than a flex play with slight upside against the Browns in Week 1.

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