Dominate Your League

The New York Jets expect rookie wide receiver Arian Smith to "contribute right away," according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. A fourth-round pick out of Georgia, Smith recorded 48 catches for 817 yards and four touchdowns in his final collegiate season for the Bulldogs. Outside of top wideout Garrett Wilson, the Jets are hurting for talent at the position. Veterans Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard (shoulder) are penciled in as the team's WR2 and WR3, but Lazard is battling a shoulder injury. If Smith hits his upside as a prospect, he will bring a speed element down the field that the Jets' veteran receivers cannot. The 23-year-old is a name to monitor early in the season as a potential waiver-wire stash.

From RotoBaller

The Seattle Seahawks released seventh-round rookie wide receiver Ricky White III from their active roster, but White III has re-signed with the team on a practice squad contract. The 23-year-old played one year in college at Michigan State before transferring to UNLV, where he recorded 218 catches for 3,336 yards and 24 touchdowns across three seasons. White III struggled to make much of an impact in preseason play for Seattle, hauling in three passes for 40 yards in three exhibition games. The Seahawks don't have a ton of proven depth in their receiver room behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. White III could conceivably work his way onto the active roster at some point in 2025, but he remains a long way off from fantasy relevance.

From RotoBaller

Undrafted wide receiver Nick Nash did not make the Atlanta Falcons' initial 53-man roster but will remain with the team via its practice squad, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. Nash played well in the preseason, hauling in six catches for 87 yards in the team's final exhibition contest against the Dallas Cowboys. The 26-year-old was named an All-American in his final collegiate season at San Jose State in 2024, recording 104 catches for 1,382 yards and 16 touchdowns in 12 games. The Falcons currently have seven wide receivers on their active roster, so Nash has an uphill climb to a chance at playing time in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Free agent wide receiver Brenden Rice is working out for the New Orleans Saints on Monday, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Rice is the son of Hall of Fame wideout Jerry Rice. A seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, Rice appeared in three games without recording a catch as a rookie and was released by Los Angeles earlier this week. The 23-year-old worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, so there are at least a couple of teams with speculative interest. The Saints have a solid top-four in their wide receiver room between Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, and Devaughn Vele. If Rice signs in New Orleans, it would likely be a practice squad deal.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff had the second-largest QBR decline last season when he was pressured compared with when he had a clean pocket.

Fantasy Spin: The stat is particualrly concering because Detroit lost two starters along the offensive line, and there is no guarantee that the unit will remain among the league's best in 2025. Throw in the loss of Ben Johnson, and Goff is a candidate to see his numbers regress. Consider him a QB2.

From TheHuddle

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith was one of the surprise names of the NFL preseason. The fifth-round pick flashed his big-play ability early in training camp and carried it over into the preseason games. Lambert-Smith topped 100 yards on four catches across two exhibition contests and scored in the Hall of Fame game. Despite his headline-grabbing summer, Lambert-Smith is buried on a wide receiver depth chart littered with talent. Second-year second-round pick Ladd McConkey leads the way, with longtime Charger Keenan Allen returning to operate as the second option. Former first-round pick Quentin Johnston and second-round rookie Tre Harris will see a fair share of snaps. Primary returner Derius Davis is also on the active roster. KLS shouldn't be on redraft radars, but he makes an interesting taxi squad candidate in dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. worked on shedding weight to improve his speed this offseason. His efforts have seemingly paid off. The third-year professional, who didn't make the initial 53-man roster in 2024, impressed the Washington coaching staff enough that they were comfortable trading starter Brian Robinson Jr. According to The Athletic, Rodriguez went from 235 to 222 pounds and ran faster than 20 miles per hour "more times in training camp than I have in almost my whole life." Rodriguez projects to have a role in a three-man running back committee in Washington. Veteran Austin Ekeler and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt round out the trio. Rodriguez may get the fewest opportunities out of the three, but he is worth a late-round fantasy football draft selection to see how the division of labor plays out.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jalen Royals (knee) sat out of practice on Sunday. Head coach Andy Reid told the media that the rookie was the only active roster player sidelined. The fourth-round pick is battling knee tendinitis, and his professional debut for Week 1 is in doubt. Royals entered training camp with the opportunity to earn an early-season role with the looming suspension for Rashee Rice. Royals' short-term, redraft outlook is diminishing, but he remains an intriguing long-term option in dynasty formats. Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown (ankle), who has returned to practice, are slated to be the top wideouts for Kansas City when they face the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil on Friday.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) told reporters he will play Thursday night when the team opens its season against the Dallas Cowboys. Philadelphia's top wide receiver has battled a hamstring issue for the majority of training camp and only returned to practice on Wednesday. Barring a setback, Brown will be in Philadelphia's starting lineup and should be in fantasy football starting lineups across the board. The 28-year-old has 1,000 receiving yards in all but one of his professional seasons. Last year, Brown averaged 83 receiving yards per game and topped triple digits in one of his two games against the Cowboys' secondary.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Jalen Reagor (undisclosed) has been placed on injured reserve, according to an announcement from the team. Reagor was cut by the Chargers as they trimmed their roster down to 53 players, but he was signed to the practice squad shortly after. By being placed on injured reserve, the former first-round pick will miss a minimum of four weeks. Reagor has struggled to produce through five NFL seasons, as he's never surpassed 400 yards or two touchdowns in a single year. He appeared in eight games with the Chargers in 2024, catching seven passes for 100 yards and zero scores. He'll remain off the fantasy radar even when he's healthy again.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling explains why he chose the Niners and a practice squad spot over going to the Pittsburgh Steelers to reunite with QB Aaron Rodgers. 'I had to weigh my options and see which one I wanted to do, which was going to be better for my career at this point, and I was excited about it,' Valdes-Scantling said. He added that the playbook familiarity is similar with 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, his previous stop.

Fantasy Spin: Valdes-Scantling could be in line for playing time in Week 1, as Brandon Aiyuk (knee) remains sidelined, and Jauan Jennings (calf) is a question mark. He is likely not going to be somebody you'll want to lean upon too heavily outside of deeper fantasy leagues at the moment, as he is still jelling with Brock Purdy and his teammates, but don't be surprised to see the veteran out there in the opener.

From TheHuddle

Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Tanner McKee (thumb) was not spotted at practice on Sunday, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP. McKee fractured his thumb earlier this month and has not practiced in roughly two weeks. The 25-year-old was solid while filling in last year, as he completed 30 of his 45 pass attempts for 323 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. With Thursday's regular-season opener fast approaching, it appears unlikely that McKee will be healthy enough to suit up. If he's inactive, Sam Howell would operate as the Eagles' No. 2 quarterback behind Jalen Hurts.

From RotoBaller

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen feels that he has a lot left to prove, according to an interview he conducted with Steve Serby of the New York Post. "I felt like I was the best running back in [the 2024] draft, and I still do," Allen said. "I have a lot left to prove, not even to the outside world but still people in this locker room and people in this building and to myself. Last year, I kind of gotta flush it, forget about it, but that still drives me." In 2024, Allen totaled 334 rushing yards, 148 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He enters his second NFL season with a chance to carve out an even larger role in the Jets' offense. There's a growing sense that New York may look to reduce Breece Hall's workload, which could lead to additional opportunities for Allen and Isaiah Davis. Still, those opportunities will have to be earned, and Allen sounds dedicated to proving himself to his teammates, the Jets' front office and coaching staff, and the rest of the league. He's currently being drafted 101st in Yahoo leagues, which ranks 33rd among running backs. That price tag seems a little steep when you consider that Allen is the overall RB39 in this year's RotoBaller fantasy draft rankings.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Eagles CB Adoree' Jackson was spotted warming up with the starting cornerbacks during practice Sunday, Aug. 31, while other players at the position were participating in special teams drills. Head coach Nick Sirianni has been vague about starting jobs, but this appears to be a hint that Jackson has earned a starting job.

From TheHuddle

Terrace Marshall Jr. has joined the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad following a series of roster moves this preseason. Marshall showed some promise this preseason with seven receptions for 66 yards, and this move provides the Eagles with a low-risk depth option. The former second-round pick out of LSU has dealt with injuries and inconsistency throughout his career. Since entering the league in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers, he has not fully lived up to his potential, recording just 67 career receptions for 808 yards and one touchdown. Marshall is mainly a stash in deep dynasty formats for now.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the first four games of the regular season with a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason finale. The seventh-round pick out of Clemson showed flashes in the preseason with 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, good for a solid 3.9 yards per carry. Standing six-foot and weighing 234 pounds, Mafah's big-bodied, between-the-tackles style was impressive in his final college season, rushing for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns. His placement on IR is a setback, but with the Cowboys' current running back situation, a potential revolving door of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and Jaydon Blue, Mafah remains a potential contributor later in the season. He is worth a roster spot in deeper dynasty leagues. Still, his fantasy value will stay uncertain until he returns to full health and the backfield situation becomes clearer throughout the season.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith is reunited with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for a third time, a partnership that has historically produced fantasy-relevant results. Smith said of his OC: "We've had a lot of success together. He will continue to move that needle, bring the best out of you, and demand the best from you. It's why we get along so well." Last year with the Miami Dolphins, Smith posted the best season of his career, with 88 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. However, in his previous stint with Arthur Smith in Atlanta, he caught 50 passes for 582 yards and three touchdowns, which was his prior best. While the Steelers have other talented pass-catchers, including tight end Pat Freiermuth, Smith's offense has historically used multiple tight-end formations more than any other team. RotoBaller currently ranks the 30-year-old as a mid-range TE2 (ranked TE20) with potential for increased production due to his familiarity with the system. Smith's history with the offense and a strong preseason make him a solid late-round tight end target and a potential starter if needed.

From RotoBaller

Indianapolis Colts rookie running back DJ Giddens remains third on the depth chart despite a strong training camp and decent preseason. The 22-year-old rookie, drafted in the fifth round out of Kansas State, is currently listed behind starter Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Goodson (elbow). Last year in college, Giddens rushed for 1,343 yards on 205 carries, averaging an impressive 6.6 yards per attempt, and also caught 21 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown. His preseason stats of 18 carries for 67 yards (3.7 YPC) and one nine-yard reception are less impressive. RotoBaller ranks Giddens as RB61, making him a potential late-round stash with upside. Taylor has a history of injuries, missing 16 games over the past three seasons. Goodson is also dealing with an elbow injury, and Giddens could see a significant workload increase if either misses time. The fifth-round pick is a must-add handcuff for Taylor managers and a strong late-round target in deeper leagues, with the potential to step into a starting role if injuries happen.

From RotoBaller

Recently traded wide receiver Adam Thielen could start right away for the Minnesota Vikings, according to an article from ESPN's Kevin Seifert. The Vikings saw good news Sunday with a report that Jalen Nailor (hand) is progressing toward playing in Week 1, but still could turn to the veteran to start when the season begins. Thielen just arrived in Minnesota, but isn't the typical 11th-hour acquisition given that he played in Kevin O'Connell's offense in 2022 and worked out with quarterback J.J. McCarthy this summer. Fantasy-wise, he'll have his most appeal in the early weeks before Jordan Addison (suspension) returns to the lineup.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins said he envisions a big year for the team's wide receiver corps, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. As in prior years, the Michigan product is the team's No. 1 option, but the cast around him has changed significantly. Tank Dell (knee) suffered a gruesome injury in last year's playoffs, while Stefon Diggs signed with New England. In response, Houston drafted a pair of Iowa State rookies, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and also signed Christian Kirk. The emergence of any would be a significant help to Collins, who has proven be a steady fantasy WR1 when healthy.

From RotoBaller