With Houston Texans wide receivers Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) currently sidelined with injuries, KPRC 2 Sports' Aaron Wilson suggests that rookie Jaylin Noel "figures heavily into the replacement plan" heading into Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. Wilson goes on to write that Noel is a "classic slot receiver with 4.39 speed and good hands." The third-rounder, not fellow rookie Jayden Higgins, could be the better DFS sleeper on Sunday against the Rams if Kirk is ruled out. The Iowa State product is coming off a 1,000-yard season in college and could be thrown into the fire right away, although Nico Collins, Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson could all see bigger roles on Sunday, as well, if Kirk is unable to suit up. Kirk is going to get the first shot at WR2 duties behind Collins, but he needs to be healthy in order to do so.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot) returned to practice on Thursday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. It's unclear if Reed was limited or a full participant, but the fact that he's on the field at all is good news for his chances of playing in the Week 1 season opener this Sunday against the division-rival Detroit Lions. The 25-year-old is working his way through a Jones fracture in his left foot and was listed as a DNP on the first injury report of the year. With all that said, even if Reed is able to suit up this weekend, there's a chance he'll be somewhat limited if he's still not 100 percent. Already a boom/bust fantasy wideout, especially after the addition of first-round rookie Matthew Golden, Reed would be a shaky WR4/flex starting fantasy option against Detroit. It's most likely that Reed will end up listed as limited on Thursday's final report.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (hamstring) was not seen practicing with the rest of the team on Thursday in the portion of practice open to the media, according to Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle. Although Kirk's final practice participation is unknown, this is definitely something to watch after he was listed as a DNP on Wednesday. If Kirk ends up with a second straight DNP, his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams will be firmly up in the air. When healthy, he's expected to start out of the slot as the No. 2 behind Nico Collins for the Texans, but a slow start or missed games due to injury will quickly open the door for rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. The 28-year-old will need to get in at least a limited practice on Friday to have a shot to play this weekend if he's DNP again on Thursday.

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The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent veteran kicker Matt Prater to their practice squad on Thursday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Fantasy managers that drafted Tyler Bass (hip) as their starting kicker need to pay close attention heading into this weekend. Although Bass was limited in Wednesday's practice, he could be in danger of missing the Week 1 game on Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens. If Bass is questionable on Friday's final injury report, we'd suggest going in another direction at the position unless you want to get stuck choosing from a kicker from the Monday night game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. Bass has been managing a hip injury since the end of July, although he was able to take part in the preseason finale two weeks ago.

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Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden has done nothing but impress since the team selected him in the first round out of Texas in April. "Phenomenal," one team source said of Golden's presence. "Makes a wow play every day." The 22-year-old is already listed as a starter on Green Bay's depth chart, and the Packers "aren't hiding their affection for him." Although the Packers will use plenty of two-tight end sets, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Golden's "talent looks undeniable." With Jayden Reed (foot) up in the air to play in Week 1 against the division-rival Detroit Lions this Sunday, Golden could be a big part of Green Bay's passing attack right away, putting him in the WR3/flex conversation immediately in fantasy. Dontayvion Wicks and Savion Williams have also been banged up, giving Golden a clear path to opportunity.

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Dan Graziano of ESPN says that he's drafting Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka "everywhere I can." Not only did Tampa fall in love with the former Ohio State star before taking him in the first round, but they've "grown to covet him even more since" and "believe he can play any of the wide receiver positions in their offense." In addition to all that, Chris Godwin (ankle) has yet to practice after dislocating his ankle in Week 7 of last year, and Jalen McMillan (neck) could miss around half the year. Graziano says to expect the Bucs to use Egbuka "in the slot and on the outside as needed." In a pass-happy offense, the 22-year-old pass-catcher could be targeted heavily early on behind WR1 Mike Evans. And the good news for those that took Egbuka in their drafts is that he should remain involved once Godwin and McMillan return, whenever that may be.

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ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks that Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten could come out of nowhere to surprise everyone in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. Graziano doesn't think the Jaguars even know yet how their backfield will shake out in 2025. Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are the incumbents, but the team took both Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. in this year's draft. Graziano writes that while Etienne and Bigsby will get the first shot, the "new front office and coaching staff drafted Tuten and Allen and have plans for them." Tuten is a "home run hitter" and is the most explosive of the group, and his explosiveness "could lead to greater opportunities sooner rather than later." The 23-year-old is an interesting watch candidate in shallow fantasy leagues to begin the season and is worth a stash in deeper leagues, especially if you already have Etienne or Bigsby rostered.

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Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott gets his season underway on Thursday in a division rivalry matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. In two meetings against Dallas last season, Elliott was perfect from the spot, making all four of his field goal attempts and going nine-for-nine on extra points. He did struggle on attempts from beyond 50 yards in 2024, making just one out of seven tries, but was one of the best in the league from 40-49 yards, going eight-of-nine from that range. The Cowboys also let up the second most points per game last season (27.5), and with Philly's high-powered offense it seems likely they'll put a good amount of points on the board. Elliott should be a starting kicker in fantasy lineups for Week 1.

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Washington Commanders head coach Kliff Kingsbury acknowledged the preseason "hype train" for rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt leading into the 2025 regular season during a press conference on Thursday. Kingsbury also mentioned that he has a lot of respect for Croskey-Merritt's journey from being a practice-squad player to making it to the NFL. "He can't get enough," Kingsbury said. The 24-year-old's love for football has catapulted him to potentially having a big role in Washington's backfield in his rookie season. However, the Commanders listed him as the RB4 on their first unofficial depth chart of the year in what is shaping up to be a full-blown committee involving JCM, Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and even Jeremy McNichols. Ekeler is probably the safest flex play in PPR leagues in Week 1 against the Giants, but it's a dicey fantasy situation right now.

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When asked if he envisions a similar workload split this year between running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in 2025, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton smiled and said, "We'll see." In 2024, Montgomery would often open the game in the backfield before giving way to Gibbs on the second offensive series of the game, but that could change in 2025 with Ben Johnson out of town. Lions beat writers got the impression during training camp this summer that Gibbs might be the "starter" to begin games this year, which would make fantasy managers that invested a top-five pick in him pretty happy. Montgomery is still going to be involved as long as he's healthy, though, and he could steal valuable goal-line touches from Gibbs. Both RBs should be rostered in all formats, but Gibbs' fantasy upside feels higher than it ever has before.

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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the San Francisco 49ers believe wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is "poised for a Year 2 jump." The former first-round pick dealt with a myriad of issues during his rookie campaign but is slated to handle a large workload in 2025 with the 49ers' wide receiving corps in shambles. Fellow wideout Jauan Jennings' (calf) recent return somewhat throws a wrench in that, at least for the time being. Still, it's unclear if Jennings will require ramp-up time, as he's dealt with a calf injury for the majority of the summer. Pearsall and quarterback Brock Purdy have spent time this offseason developing chemistry, and San Francisco's passing offense has been excellent with him at the helm. If Jennings is slow to find his groove, the Florida State product could be in for a tremendous season.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce did not remark on whether this would be his final season in the league Thursday, instead noting he's "ready to rock" ahead of the 2025 season."It's the last year on the contract, but I'm feeling young and ready to rock." The 35-year-old has notably lost weight this offseason and appeared laser-focused as we approach his thirteenth NFL season. Kelce's production had declined in each of the prior two campaigns, but there's some hope he'll be rejuvenated and hungry after a Super Bowl loss. It's unclear if this season will be his swan song, but he'll be put to task as much as ever, particularly early on with the news of wide receiver Rashee Rice and his six-game suspension. The Chiefs have capped Kelce's reps in the past, but he'll still be fed a healthy diet of targets. The veteran is RotoBaller's TE6 ahead of the season's opening week.

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Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson has officially been named the team's backup option to open 2025, ahead of teammates Chris Brooks and the injured MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring). Wilson was the Pack's second-leading rusher in 2024 (502 yards), appearing in all 17 games during his second professional season. The 26-year-old flashed as he spelled starter Josh Jacobs, and has rushed for over 4.87 yards per carry in each of his first two campaigns. His upside (and floor) will be limited while Jacobs has a stranglehold on the lead job, but at least for the early part of this year, he'll be the handcuff to own. This situation could become more fluid when Lloyd returns following the first four games, but Wilson will get a chance to run away with the second-string job while he's shelved, and is capable enough to do so.

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Jacksonville Jaguars third-year tight end Brenton Strange is listed as the team's starting option on the official Week 1 depth chart. Strange appeared in all 17 games last season but played just 55.6% of Jacksonville's overall snaps. Even with ex-teammate Evan Engram missing a good chunk of the season (eight games), the 24-year-old never consistently impacted the field. In 2025, Strange will get the opportunity to be more productive than his 40/411/2 line from last season, though he'll face stiff target competition in wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and rookie Travis Hunter. There is a way to go before the Penn State product reaches fantasy relevance (RotoBaller's PPR TE20 in Week 1), but he could provide some spike weeks this season as the potential third option in the Jags' passing attack. He's a more intriguing asset in best ball and dynasty formats for now.

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The Miami Dolphins have listed veteran Darren Waller as their starting tight end on the official depth chart, placing him ahead of Julian Hill and Tanner Conner. Waller briefly retired before last year but returned to the NFL this offseason, landing in Miami via trade from the New York Giants. The Dolphins are counting on Waller to help replace former Pro Bowler Jonnu Smith, who was traded to Pittsburgh in a blockbuster trade. While Waller did not practice on Wednesday due to a hip issue, the team emphasized that he has not suffered any setbacks and remains on a ramp-up schedule. Miami opens the season on the road against the Indianapolis Colts, and the Dolphins are hopeful their new starting tight end will be active in Week 1.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) remains listed as day-to-day in practice this week. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson noted that Mooney is "day-to-day, but he looks good and is running really well." The veteran wideout sustained the injury early in training camp, though he was expecting to be ready for the regular season. Mooney was limited in Wednesday's session; however, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. expressed optimism about his availability for Week 1. His participation in Thursday and Friday's practices will be key in determining whether he suits up when the Falcons open against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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The Las Vegas Raiders have listed wide receiver Amari Cooper as a backup on their official depth chart, slotting him behind Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, and rookie Dont'e Thornton. Cooper, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $6 million in late August, is entering his 11th NFL season and returning to the team that originally drafted him. At 31 years old, Cooper's role in the offense appears limited, and his ranking of WR94 in RotoBaller's rankings reflects that. His depth chart placement reinforces that he's off the fantasy radar for now. Fantasy managers should avoid Cooper in Week 1, as the Raiders open the season on the road against the New England Patriots.

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The Carolina Panthers don't plan to "run Chuba Hubbard dry" early in the season, per ESPN's David Newton. This shouldn't come as a surprise, as Hubbard set career highs in carries and receptions last year, averaging nearly 20 attempts per game before missing the final two contests with a calf injury. Carolina added depth to the backfield this offseason, signing 2024 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle and drafting Trevor Etienne in the fourth round, signaling more of a committee approach in 2025. Still, Hubbard enters the season as the clear lead back on what could be a breakout offense under Bryce Young. While his volume may dip slightly, his role as the top option keeps him firmly in the fantasy RB2 mix.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was not included on the team's initial injury report on Wednesday. According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the former first-round pick missed time in camp due to an injury. However, seeing him not on the team's first injury report suggests he is not in any danger of missing their Week 1 match against the Indianapolis Colts. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his stats in case he has a setback. Last season, Waddle had a down year as he fell under the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. However, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa healthy entering the season, Waddle is in a prime spot to bounce back. He should be viewed as a high-end WR3 in all leagues in Week 1.

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) logged a full practice on Wednesday and is cleared to suit up in Week 1 when the Raiders face the New England Patriots. Pickett began the offseason with the Cleveland Browns but was traded to the Raiders in exchange for a fifth-round pick. The former first-round pick has been dealing with a hamstring injury, but appears to have moved past it. Fantasy managers should expect Pickett to operate as the backup option to Geno Smith. Currently, Aidan O'Connell (wrist) is on the injured reserve, which means Pickett will likely be given all of those opportunities under center if Smith were to miss time. Last season, Pickett spent time as Jalen Hurts' backup in Philadelphia but was deployed as a starter across his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. He is only worth a look in deeper superflex leagues if he were to take over the starting job.

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