Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken was pleased with quarterback Deshaun Watson's performance in the team's preseason opener on Saturday in the 34-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, saying that he functioned at a "high level," per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Monken said the QB competition between Watson and second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders will continue for at least another week, and Jackson writes that "it's hard to imagine much changed Saturday in what was a predictably uneven first performance in a game setting for both QBs." The 30-year-old Watson went 11-for-15 passing for 126 yards, adding four rushing yards on three carries while losing a fumble. It was Watson's first game action since October of 2024 due to a torn right Achilles tendon. Almost all of Watson's yardage on Saturday came on short throws, and his most impressive work came while converting a first-and-25 with three straight completions. Sanders finished his outing going 6-for-11 passing for 79 yards and an interception. If Watson is solid in joint practices with the Buffalo Bills this week and in the second preseason game, he could be named the starter by Monken.

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The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that New York Jets wide receiver Isaiah Williams "appears to have overtaken" rookie first-rounder Omar Cooper Jr. as the team's starting slot receiver. Williams has had a "stellar camp." Cooper's after-the-catch abilities are better suited for a game atmosphere than practice, which has allowed Williams to surpass him this summer. Rosenblatt adds that the Jets would like their first-round pick to make an impact, so Cooper will most likely continue to get chances to make noise behind Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell in 2026. A former undrafted WR out of Illinois, Williams had 26 catches on 36 targets for 193 yards and zero touchdowns in 15 games (two starts) with New York last year. Williams will also play a role as a return man on special teams, but he could be doing enough in camp to steal valuable targets away from Cooper as the WR3 for the Jets. The 25-year-old's versatility is the best thing going for him. Despite his strong camp to this point, Williams is merely a name to monitor in most fantasy football leagues in 2026.

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Washington Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota (knee) suffered a sprained MCL in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Miami Dolphins that will likely keep him out for the rest of the preseason, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's unclear at this time if Mariota's knee injury will keep him sidelined going into Week 1 of the 2026 regular season versus the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 13. Either way, the Commanders might be in the market for a veteran signal-caller to provide more depth behind starter Jayden Daniels. The other QBs on the roster are Sam Hartman and undrafted rookie Athan Kaliakmanis. The 32-year-old Mariota played a big part in the Commanders' offense a year ago with Daniels only playing in seven games due to injury, although he went 2-6 in his eight starts while throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his 11 total games played.

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Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) will do 11-on-11 team work for the first time in training camp on Sunday, head coach Matt LaFleur told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. After tearing his ACL in Week 9 of last year, Kraft opened camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but he has been progressing nicely and will take a huge step on Sunday in working with the rest of the team at practice. Barring a setback with his surgically-repaired knee, the 25-year-old should be ready to roll for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. The former third-rounder from South Dakota State in 2023 was one of the best tight ends in the league in eight games in 2025 before his season-ending injury, catching 32 of his 44 targets for 489 yards and six touchdowns, and he's not going to come at a discount in fantasy drafts in 2026. RotoBaller currently has Kraft ranked as the No. 5 TE, and his draft stock is only going to rise now that he's been cleared to practice with the rest of the squad.

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Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd saw only five total opportunities in the team's preseason opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but head coach Matt LaFleur wants to get him more involved in the team's next outing against the Broncos. After struggling to stay healthy through his first two years in the league, the 2024 third-round pick has had a strong training camp, spending extended time working with the first-team offense as Josh Jacobs (groin) deals with a groin injury of his own. Speaking on Lloyd's effort against the Steelers, LaFleur told reporters, "MarShawn is a guy, he's going to go 1,000 mph. Sometimes as a back, you do have to have a little patience to let things develop, but I was pleased with his effort." With more playing time will come more opportunities to develop that patience, and the indication is that the team wants to put more on Lloyd's plate in the lead-up to the regular season.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught three passes in the team's preseason opener against the Panthers, including a nine-yard touchdown from Josh Allen on the second drive of the game, but he appeared to favor his lower body after being tackled on a fourth-down converting catch on the next drive. The Bills' first-team offense looked sharp in limited work, but both Coleman and DJ Moore got banged up and exited the game early. Head coach Joe Brady indicated after the game that neither situation is overly serious, and the Bills have a scheduled off day. Still, both statuses will need to be monitored in the lead-up to the regular season.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah (chest) exited Saturday night's preseason opener against the Seahawks with a chest injury and did not return. A seventh-round pick in 2025, Mafah earned only seven total opportunities as a rookie, but with the team's primary backup job up for grabs behind locked-in starter Javonte Williams, he has been part of a training camp battle that includes fellow second-year player Jaydon Blue and veteran Malik Davis. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated after the game that the injury did not appear to be overly serious. Still, Mafah's status bears watching in the lead-up to the regular season. While the second running back spot in Dallas holds almost no standalone value, whoever earns the role will become an important handcuff to Williams.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has developed into one of the league's most well-rounded backs, topping 300 receiving yards in three straight seasons and 1,100 yards from scrimmage in two of three. Whether paired with a bruiser like Najee Harris or a pass-catching specialist like Kenny Gainwell, Warren has shown a knack for filling in wherever needed and often excelling while doing so. Now slated to share a backfield with a similar jack-of-all-trades in Rico Dowdle, there is an opportunity for both backs to produce in Mike McCarthy's up-tempo offense. Dowdle has rushed for 1,000 yards at each of his last two stops with the Panthers and Cowboys and has familiarity with McCarthy's system. Still, with Warren having already earned the trust of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the incumbent could have an early advantage in any workload split, and his reliability to always do the right thing will make snaps difficult to take away. Both players represent excellent value in the middle rounds of 2026 drafts, and as the current RB27 by ADP, Warren has the opportunity to greatly outperform expectations after his RB16 finish a year ago in a not dissimilar situation.

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With the benefit of time and film study to reflect on the New England Patriots' preseason opening tie with the Colts, ESPN's Mike Reiss has labeled second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams as one of his three offensive risers, along with third-string quarterback Behren Morton and potential third running back Jam Miller. Williams got into his deep bag of releases, showcasing a slick crossover move on his 12-yard touchdown grab and offering a glimpse of the upside he can provide when pairing the full package with his impressive straight-line speed. While Reiss points out that it wasn't all perfect for the 2025 third-round pick, Williams will have the opportunity to further hone his skills against one of the league's best secondaries when the Patriots meet up with the Eagles for joint practices later in the week. Quietly putting together an impressive camp of late, Williams is making a case for an expanded role in a receiver room not lacking talent.

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Baltimore Ravens rookie tight end Matt Hibner hauled in all five of his targets for 61 yards in the Ravens' 24-7 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Hibner ran a variety of routes and demonstrated robust rapport with veteran quarterback Tyler Huntley and rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano alike, indicating Hibner's hard work during camp is making its way onto the field. Notably, Hibner caught a 29-yard pass from Huntley on the Ravens' second offensive play, setting the tone for first-time play caller Declan Doyle's new offense. The Ravens traded up during the draft to grab the SMU tight end in the fourth round even after extending veteran tight end Mark Andrews at the tail end of the 2025 season and signing blocking tight end Durham Smythe in March. Dynasty managers, particularly those in tight end premium leagues, should keep Hibner on their radar with eyes towards the latter half of the season when rookie production tends to surge.

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After what was an electric start to his eighth season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. suffered a severe ankle dislocation in October of 2024 and has played in only nine games since, battling through injury complications for most of his 2025 campaign. At 30 years old, further injury risk and a potential age-related decline are inescapable pieces of Godwin's overall profile, but with those elements thoroughly baked into his 2026 draft cost, he has the potential to be one of the most valuable picks in the later rounds of drafts. While the departure of six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans has created an opportunity for 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to find more work on the outside, Godwin could still see heavy volume from the slot, and it should come as no surprise if their target totals wind up in a similar spot at the end of the year. At RotoBaller's WR44, if Godwin can manage anything close to a full-season slate, he should provide one of the safest floors from his range of the draft, and he provides tremendous roster construction value as a reliable fourth receiver.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe took over for Drew Lock on the team's third drive against the Cowboys on Saturday. Milroe went 5/8 for 36 yards. He also added five carries for 36 yards and recovered his own fumble. After Lock led the offense to a touchdown on the opening drive, Milroe was unable to capture that magic. In 2025, fantasy managers were excited for the prospect of Milroe receiving some rushing work in this offense. Instead, he spent much of the season inactive as the team went in a different direction. Milroe looks like he may not be pushing for the backup job this season either. For now, he remains irrelevant in fantasy despite possessing solid upside should he ever receive a chance to start in the NFL.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock drew the start in Saturday's preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. He went 9/13 for 40 yards and an opening drive touchdown pass. Lock looked comfortable in an offense run by new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. While Lock is clearly the backup to Sam Darnold, the opening drive provided a nice look at what Fleury may bring to the table. He is a first-time play caller, and the biggest variable for the Seahawks' offensive success considering the departure of Klint Kubiak. If Lock can be this efficient and effective in an opening game script under Fleury, hopefully that will also translate to Darnold and the rest of the offense.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith drew the start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams, but in his battle to earn the primary backup role behind Kenneth Walker III, the points in his favor end right about there. Smith carried the ball eight times for 21 yards and brought in both of his targets for an additional 12 yards, but he was outshined by rookie Emmett Johnson, who looked explosive in gaining 59 yards on his 12 carries. Johnson also added three catches for ten yards and ran in a four-yard touchdown that was nullified by a holding penalty. As a rookie in 2025, Smith was unable to carve out a meaningful role in a backfield led by Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, finishing the year with 323 yards and one touchdown on 79 total opportunities. With a significantly higher talent level in the room for 2026, he could struggle to find regular work and is not likely to make any fantasy impact without a notable injury ahead of him.

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Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani played with the No. 2 offense in Saturday's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He recorded 12 carries for 42 yards. While Holani's performance was not indicative of much, his presence on the field suggested that rookie running back Jadarian Price may have already usurped him on the depth chart. Price did not play on Saturday, along with all of the first-team skill players. The Seahawks have made it clear all offseason that Holani is part of their plan for 2026. However, this game suggests that he may be little more than an insurance back for fantasy this season. If Price opens the year as the lead back, and Zach Charbonnet eventually returns from injury, Holani could become a bit of an afterthought.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert was the fantasy TE3 in 2025, but even after an offseason of change left him in a potentially better spot heading into his ninth season, the veteran is regularly falling outside the top 12 of the position and sometimes going undrafted altogether in shallower leagues. The Eagles said goodbye to three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, and while they spent a first-round pick on slot receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) as part of the plan to replace his production, the rookie has been sidelined by a hamstring injury for much of his first training camp. Goedert could be hard-pressed to repeat his career-high 11 touchdowns from a season ago, but he remains one of the team's most valuable red zone weapons, keeping his ceiling high, while a potentially increased target share would serve to raise his floor. At RotoBaller's TE13, he's one of the more underrated players going at the tail end of 2026 drafts and is particularly attractive in two-tight-end builds.

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Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo played in Seattle's preseason opener against the Cowboys on Saturday. He recorded one reception for 12 yards. Given that Seattle did not play its first-team offense, Arroyo's playing time suggests that the 2025 second-round pick is squarely behind AJ Barner at the top of the depth chart. Barner broke out in 2025 while Arroyo struggled through injuries. The team will likely employ two-tight end sets relatively often, which means Arroyo should see the field quite a bit. However, it is clear that the tight end of value for fantasy will be Barner. Arroyo is a talented player who could eventually emerge in this offense, but for now he is best left on waivers until he proves himself on the field.

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The San Francisco 49ers signed veteran running back Zamir White on Wednesday, and in his first practice with the team on Saturday, he saw plenty of involvement, according to team reporter Brooke Evans. With Christian McCaffrey (soreness), Jordan James (ribs), and Kaelon Black (adductor) all missing practice, White is already a necessary presence, and he received a heavy workload throughout the team's competitive sessions. While the former Raider faces an uphill climb to earn a roster spot this late into camp, he could see work in San Francisco's next preseason game on Thursday, and he provides critical backfield depth for a team already stretched thin by injuries.

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As a rookie in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith was one of the buzzier names throughout training camp and the preseason. While he's had a quieter second camp amid significant offensive changes in Los Angeles, he once more shined in the team's first game of the preseason, racking up 58 yards on a team-leading four catches in Thursday's win over the Texans. On Saturday, he spoke with the media about how things have changed in his second season. "Mentally, things the outside can't see. Me and my mind, slowing the game down, understanding the offense better," Lambert-Smith said. "It's a new offense for everybody, but being in the playbook, understanding it, understanding defense more. Just slowing everything down." With his separation standing out in film review, head coach Jim Harbaugh praised Lambert-Smith as the team's most productive receiver, and if the 24-year-old can carve out a role in what projects to be a high-powered offense, he could eventually work his way into the streaming conversation as fantasy options inevitably thin later in the season.

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The New England Patriots sent a first and fifth-round pick to acquire three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in early May, and as he continues to acclimate to his new surroundings, he has gotten better and better throughout the summer, impressing team reporter Paul Perillo with the suddenness of his routes. During Saturday's practice, he separated quickly during goal-line work for what looked to be an easy score, and Perillo noted that he has "been nearly unstoppable running slants from various positions on the field." With free agent acquisition Romeo Doubs also coming on of late, expectations continue to rise for the Patriots' passing offense, but as the regular season edges closer, there's been little doubt about who Drake Maye's go-to receiver will be in 2026, and Brown is RotoBaller's WR9.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Dean Connors rushed for 22 yards on six carries during Saturday's preseason contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also caught all four of his targets for an additional 29 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. Throughout his collegiate career at Rice and Houston, Connors' top trait was his ability to catch passes and produce as a receiver. Over his last three NCAA seasons, he had a whopping 139 catches, 1,142 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. He had at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of those three seasons, and he totaled 30 touchdowns during that span. While Connors may not be the most efficient runner, the undrafted free agent may be able to sneak onto the back end of the Rams' roster because of his pass-catching skills. Ronnie Rivers and Jarquez Hunter represent his biggest competition for the No. 3 running back role behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Jarquez Hunter rushed for 35 yards on nine carries during Saturday's preseason contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. On the one hand, it was encouraging to see Hunter lead the Rams in touches. On the other hand, a running back on the roster bubble probably needs to average more than 3.9 yards per carry in the first week of the preseason, especially if they're not going to contribute as a receiver. The 2025 fourth-round pick did not register an offensive snap as a rookie last year, and now he's already at risk of losing his roster spot to someone like Ronnie Rivers or Dean Connors. As it stands, Hunter has fallen to RB87 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings. Even if he doesn't get cut by the Rams at the end of training camp, Hunter can be dumped to waivers in most fantasy leagues.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Michael Trigg caught four of his five targets for 30 yards during Saturday's preseason win over the Seattle Seahawks. At 24 years old, Trigg is on the older side for a prospect, which might be why he went undrafted despite having 694 yards and six touchdowns at Baylor last season. Nevertheless, he's already turning heads in the NFL after a productive, high-volume showing in the Cowboys' preseason opener. There's no question that Jake Ferguson has the No. 1 tight end job all locked up in Dallas, but we wouldn't be shocked to see Trigg push for the No. 2 role ahead of Luke Schoonmaker, despite his undrafted status. If Trigg continues to play well, he could be in the mix for a fantasy-relevant workload in the event of an injury to Ferguson.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe completed five of his eight pass attempts for 36 passing yards during Saturday's preseason loss against the Dallas Cowboys. He didn't have a touchdown or interception, but he did take three sacks. On a more positive note, he showcased impressive mobility with 36 rushing yards on five rushing attempts. We saw the Seahawks pull Sam Darnold to the sideline to give Milroe some designed runs last year, and given how well he moved in Week 1 of the preseason, we could see more of the same in 2026. With that being said, Darnold is the quarterback of the immediate future for Seattle, so as long as he's healthy, Milroe's role is limited to the occasional change-of-pace play here and there. As a result, he's avoidable in all redraft leagues, and he has dropped to QB43 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Adam Randall led the team with 12 carries, 46 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown during Saturday's preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He also caught one of two targets for two receiving yards. Earlier this week, we heard rumors that the Ravens coaching staff was very impressed by Randall, a fifth-round pick out of Clemson. While we can't put too much stock in one preseason game, his production on Saturday certainly reaffirms why the Baltimore brass is so optimistic. Derrick Henry remains the primary ball-carrier here and Justice Hill is the clear pass-catching back, but Randall is making a legitimate push for the No. 3 running back job ahead over Rasheen Ali. If the 22-year-old can continue to produce this preseason, he could emerge as an intriguing stash in dynasty leagues, especially for Derrick Henry managers looking to get a high-upside handcuff.

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