Las Vegas Raiders rookie first-round tight end Brock Bowers (foot) was once again limited in practice on Thursday leading up to the Week 1 contest on Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers at Sofi Stadium. The Raiders are just being cautious with their young tight end, as head coach Antonio Pierce has said that he fully expects Bowers to suit up this weekend for his regular-season NFL debut. The 21-year-old from Georgia certainly has a high ceiling at the next level, but he could get off to a slow start with last year's second-rounder, Michael Mayer, also expected to be utilized in this offense. Fantasy managers expecting Bowers to be this year's Sam LaPorta might be very disappointed, but he will still be on the TE1/2 borderline in Week 1 against the Bolts for his yards-after-the-catch prowess with the football in his hands.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) was limited in practice for the second straight day on Thursday to kick off preparations for the Week 1 regular-season opener in Chicago this Sunday against the Bears. Hopkins practiced with a sleeve on his left leg on Thursday and could be questionable to play this weekend. However, offensive coordinator Nick Holz did say that if the 32-year-old veteran is active against the Bears, he's expected to have a big role across from new wideout Calvin Ridley. We'll have a better idea of Hopkins' status when the Titans release their final injury report for Week 1 on Friday. The former first-rounder is no longer a Pro Bowl wideout, but he did put up his seventh 1,000-yard season in 2023 with Ryan Tannehill and Will Levis throwing him passes. Ridley's presence will mean fewer targets, but Nuk still has the ability to be a serviceable WR4/flex for fantasy managers.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin should be expected to see the vast majority of targets on Sunday afternoon and should be treated as a high-end WR2 in Week 1. Currently, the Commanders depth chart outside of the Ohio State product is looking quite bleak, with several unproven wideouts. Even after catching passes from multiple QBs every season of his career, the former third-round pick has posted a 1,000-yard campaign in all but one of his five professional campaigns. He now hopes to continue that same success with the new franchise QB in the nation's capital. In a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who surrendered the fifth-most 248.9 passing yards per game last year, McLaurin could be in store for a big game and get off to an excellent start as he looks to be the focal point of the Washington offense yet again.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown looks to emerge as the No.2 wideout in the season opener but should be left out of your starting lineups this weekend. Brown flashed some upside during the preseason, especially in the opening game, where he caught a 42-yard pass from Jayden Daniels. In the second game, he continued to build a connection with Daniels by seeing three targets from him on just one drive. Through his first three seasons in Washington, the UNC product totaled only 476 yards and three scores, making him a boom-or-bust option in Week 1. However, if Brown can claim the No.2 spot on the depth chart, he could become a solid flex play as the season progresses as Daniels develops as a passer.

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Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz could see a hefty amount of targets his way in the season opener, making him a high-end TE2 in all leagues. With many questions surrounding the No.2 receiver in Washington, Ertz could fill that role in the short term. Last season, the veteran appeared in just seven games before suffering a season-ending quadriceps injury. During this span, Ertz averaged a mere 7.4 PPR points but was targeted on 23.2% of his routes. Through his first taste of the regular season, rookie Jayden Daniels may lock on to Ertz in the middle of the field instead of pushing the ball outside. However, if the 33-year-old cannot perform, he may soon be replaced by rookie Ben Sinnott, who the Commanders selected in the second round of this year's draft. Facing the Buccaneers, who allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends last season, Ertz might be a sneaky play in DFS formats and a high-end TE2 in deeper leagues.

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Washington Commanders kicker Cade York joined the Commanders during the last week of August in exchange for a late-round pick, making him the new starting kicker. The Commanders opened the preseason with Riley Patterson and Ramiz Ahmed on their roster, but both failed to make the final cut after they missed several attempts. Last season, York did not attempt a field goal, but in his 2022 rookie campaign, he went 24-for-32 on attempts and 35-for-37 on extra points. The 23-year-old struggled from deep as he went a poor 4-for-7 from 50 or more yards. Fantasy managers should not consider York a streaming option in the season opener, given his inconsistent performances as a professional kicker. However, if Daniels can move the Washington offense down the field through the season, York could enter streaming conversations later on.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott continues to seek a new long-term deal just days before the start of the 2024 regular season as he gets ready to enter the final season of his current contract, but he and the Cowboys don't appear to be any closer in their talks. If the two sides cannot come to an agreement by this Sunday before their game against the Cleveland Browns, it opens up the possibility that he will indeed hit free agency next March. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that a deal does not feel like it's within striking distance right now. Contract issues aside, the 31-year-old veteran signal-caller is coming off one of his finest seasons in Dallas, but it once again ended in a playoff embarrassment in the wild-card round with a loss to the Packers. Prescott has one of the best wideouts in CeeDee Lamb, but he'll be more of a QB2 in fantasy in a tough road matchup in Week 1 against the Browns.

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The Washington Commanders defense is looking to kickstart a massive turnaround with newly hired head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Last season, the Commanders' defense allowed 388.9 yards per game, which was the highest mark in the league. In addition, they surrendered the most passing yards per game at a 262.2 mark but were slightly better in the run game, allowing 126.8 yards per game, which was the sixth-highest mark. Quinn looks to launch a culture change in the nation's capital, which was evident in bringing in veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner to lead the charge during free agency. In addition, the Commanders brought in defensive back Michael Davis to ease playing time on 2023 first-round selection Emmanuel Forbes Jr., who struggled in his first pro campaign. Their defensive line is once again led by Pro-Bowlers Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, who should play a significant role in stopping the run and bringing some added pass rush to the opposing team. Fantasy managers should not look to stream the Washington defense this weekend as they continue to turn things around. Facing two strong Tampa Bay receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, is not an easy task for a rebuilding group, so perhaps this week is a wait-and-see approach for this unit.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson's (calf) status for Week 1 on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons is firmly up in the air after he was limited in practice by the same calf injury that bothered him in training camp this summer. Wilson will be checked out by team doctors, and Rapoport mentions the caution with how the team's medical staff is treating Wilson's injury leave's some doubt as to whether Wilson will play on Sunday. It leaves open the possibility that backup Justin Fields could get the start in the season opener. However, when asked if the Steelers had concern about the 35-year-old Wilson's calf issue, head coach Mike Tomlin said, "None." We should have more clarity on Wilson's status after Friday's final injury report is released, but right now, he's trending as a shaky QB2 option in superflex leagues.

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Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels should be locked into all starting lineups as he prepares to make his regular-season debut on Sunday afternoon. The reigning Heisman trophy winner looked sharp in his limited preseason action as he went 12-for-15 with 123 yards and added 16 rushing yards and a score with his legs. In his final season at LSU, the former number-two overall pick threw for 3,812 yards with 1,134 rushing yards and 50 combined scores. Daniels will line up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who surrendered 248.9 passing yards per game, which was the fourth-most in the league last season. Fantasy managers should feel confident placing the future of the Commanders in their starting lineup as he should provide not only a safe floor but the upside to finish near the top of his position.

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Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. should be started in all leagues as an RB2 in Week 1 as he faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Robinson is expected to be the slight leader in a committee with veteran Austin Ekeler. During the preseason, the Alabama product consistently saw the first carries of the game but was often replaced by Ekeler during third-down situations. Last season, the 25-year-old ran for 733 yards, punched in five scores, and tallied 368 yards and four scores through the air. Fantasy managers should expect Robinson to be a solid RB2 on Sunday with the upside to get goal-line work. However, expectations should be tempered slightly as the Buccaneers allowed the fifth-lowest 95.3 rushing yards per game last season.

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Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler is shaping up to be an RB3 or flex option in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ekeler had a difficult 2023 season as he battled a high ankle sprain early on, which clearly limited him throughout the campaign. However, in the offseason, he decided to take his talents to the DMV in the hope of reclaiming fantasy stardom. Fantasy managers should expect the 29-year-old to see the majority of the passing downs in a running back committee with Alabama product Brian Robinson Jr. During the preseason, Ekeler typically replaced Robinson on third downs but did see a few red zone attempts, which is something to monitor going forward as Ekeler has always shown a nose for the end zone throughout his career. For now, fantasy managers should treat Ekeler as an RB3 with the upside to see a heavy dose of targets his way.

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Although there is no official resolution between the Cincinnati Bengals and star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on a long-term contract extension, he is expected to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the New England Patriots after putting in two limited practice sessions so far this week. For what it's worth, quarterback Joe Burrow said that Chase will be ready to go this weekend. The Bengals and Chase have been deep in contract negotiations for around the last month, but it remains unclear if they will be able to work something out before Sunday. The 24-year-old was a top-10 fantasy selection in drafts and should be locked into all starting lineups against the Patriots, although there is clear bust potential here for him just because of the fact that he practiced with the team only twice before this week.

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After being limited in the Pittsburgh Steelers' first official practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, running back Jaylen Warren (hamstring) upgraded to a full participant on Thursday, signaling that he's on track to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. It's an injury that Warren has been dealing with since getting hurt in the first preseason game in the middle of August, but the 25-year-old is expected to be active for fantasy managers this weekend. The third-year running back will continue to share a backfield with Najee Harris, which will limit his overall fantasy ceiling, but Warren averaged 5.3 yards per carry and at times looked like Pittsburgh's best back in 2023. Warren should be treated as a reliable RB3/flex heading into the start of the regular season despite having an injury designation this week.

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Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker, fresh off signing a contract extension, will look for a hot start in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Dicker ended up as the overall K10 in fantasy last season, scoring 7.5 fantasy points per game. He made 31 of his 33 field goal attempts and scored on all 35 extra point tries. In an offense that should be improved this season, Dicker has more upside than that and should be a sturdy and steady producer at one of fantasy football's least predictable positions. He's definitely a starting option in all formats still using a kicker spot.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) was added to the Week 1 injury report on Thursday and was listed as a limited participant due to a hamstring injury. Higgins practiced in full on Wednesday, and while this could raise eyebrows for some, Higgins has assured us he'll be good to go for Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday versus the New England Patriots. "Ready to put on a show for the fans," Higgins said. It doesn't sound like anything that will slow the 25-year-old down to open up the 2024 campaign, and with Ja'Marr Chase potentially being limited due to his lengthy contract holdout all offseason, there's a strong chance that Higgins ends up being the most targeted pass-catcher in Cincy by quarterback Joe Burrow early on. Higgins remains in the shadow of Chase in fantasy, but he has solid WR2 fantasy appeal in Week 1 in a game the Bengals are favored by more than a touchdown.

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The Cleveland Browns have waived wide receiver David Bell, a third-round pick from the 2022 NFL draft. With no immediate addition to the 53-man roster, the Browns now have an open spot as they prepare for the season opener. Over his career with the Browns, Bell played in 31 regular-season games, recording 38 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns. He also had eight receptions for 54 yards in last season's playoff loss to the Texans. The remaining wide receivers on the active roster are Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, Jamari Thrash, and Cedric Tillman. This move may signal confidence in the development of Tillman and Thrash, who are expected to take on more prominent roles in 2024. Ultimately, Bell's tenure with the Browns did not meet the team's expectations when they selected him in the third round two years ago.

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Minnesota Vikings second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) said he is definitely playing in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the New York Giants after recovering from a high-ankle sprain. Addison was officially limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week. Meanwhile, Jalen Nailor, who is also dealing with an ankle injury, appeared to be more limited than Addison on Thursday. The 22-year-old Addison initially suffered his ankle sprain on Aug. 14. The 23rd overall pick last year out of USC benefitted from a lengthy absence from Justin Jefferson and finished with a 70-911-10 line in 17 games. Most fantasy pundits are expecting him to take a step back in Year 2, though, with a downgrade in QBs from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold. With him nursing an ankle injury to boot, fantasy managers should consider Addison a WR4/flex in Week 1 if he's active.

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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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