Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he expects wide receiver Calvin Austin III (abdomen) to play in Week 1 of the regular season this Sunday against the New York Jets, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Austin has been battling an abdominal injury for most of training camp that kept him sidelined for the entire preseason, but he's made solid progress in recent weeks and is expected to be active this weekend. The 26-year-old could be limited early on in practices this week, but as long as he's practing in full by Friday, he should be without an injury designation heading into Sunday's tilt. As far as fantasy value heading into Week 1, Austin will certainly have a bigger role in the passing attack with George Pickens out of town. However, given Austin's injury this summer and Pittsburgh's expected run-first offense, he's not being drafted in most 12-team fantasy formats.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he expects linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the New York Jets, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Highsmith injured his groin in early August but has since returned to practice and should be fine to suit up this weekend unless he suffers a setback in practice this week. The 28-year-old former third-rounder had a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022 in his third year in the league, but he was able to play in only 11 games a year ago due to injuries and finished with six sacks and a career-low 45 tackles (28 solo) for the Steelers. His presence in the season opener alongside All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt will be good news for a Steelers defense/special teams unit that should be a must-start in Week 1 against a new Jets offense under quarterback Justin Fields.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that running back Jaylen Warren will "be our featured runner," according to Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "His progress has been very evident and he's to be congratulated ... Certainly he'll be our featured runner. Certainly you'll see [Kaleb Johnson/Kenneth Gainwell], but at what time and at what degree [will depend week-to-week]," Tomlin said. The Steelers signed Warren to a two-year extension worth $12 million guaranteed this week, so this news shouldn't really come as a surprise. It's obviously good news for those that have the 26-year-old in fantasy and bad news for rookie Kalen Johnson, who is the RB3 on the unofficial Week 1 depth chart. The Steelers are expected to be more of a ground-and-pound team on offense this year, making Warren a viable RB3/flex play in fantasy lineups in Week 1 against the Jets.

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Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson is listed as the team's No. 3 RB behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell on the team's unofficial Week 1 depth chart. Johnson struggled in the preseason opener but then finished on a high note in the final two games. However, the 22-year-old could have a minimal role to open his first NFL season behind both Warren and Gainwell. The news of Warren's new extension this week was the first sign that fantasy managers might need to pump the brakes on Johnson's value entering Week 1. It doesn't mean that Johnson won't have a key role when all is said and done in 2025, and he still deserves to be rostered in pretty much all fantasy leagues, but we wouldn't suggest starting him in fantasy lineups against the New York Jets this weekend.

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Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz said the team will have to move wide receiver Calvin Ridley around on offense to help get him open, and that the other wideouts will have to win their one-on-one matchups this year. Despite dealing with subpar quarterback play in 2024 in his first year with the Titans, Ridley managed to post his second straight 1,000-yard season and third of his career on 64 receptions while scoring only four times in 17 games (14 starts). It was a slight step back from 2023, when he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 30-year-old veteran is the Titans' unquestioned WR1 yet again, but he doesn't have much help behind him and will be working with a rookie signal-caller in Cameron Ward. Fantasy managers can hang their hat on plenty of volume, but efficiency could once again be an issue.

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New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has refused to reveal whether rookie first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart or veteran Jameis Winston will serve as the team's backup to starter Russell Wilson for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the division-rival Washington Commanders. Dart looked very impressive in training camp and the preseason, but Winston has more than 100 games of NFL experience and was listed as the QB2 on the first unofficial depth chart during camp. For what it's worth, Dart is listed as the QB2 on the team's unofficial Week 1 depth chart. During the preseason, Dart went 32-for-47 passing for 372 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers and only two sacks taken. He also carried the ball six times for 52 yards and a touchdown. If Wilson struggles early in 2025, Dart could be the replacement under center in his first NFL season.

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For the first time since joining the team in 2022, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was not named a captain heading into the 2025 campaign, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. It all likely stems from the Week 18 regular-season finale last year, when Hill removed himself from the game and hinted after the contest that he wanted to play elsewhere. The Cheetah apologized to his teammates last month, but it was not enough for them to vote him in as a captain this year. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said in July that Hill had work to do to rebuild trust with his teammates. The All-Pro speedster dealt with a wrist injury all of last year and didn't post his typical gaudy numbers with Miami's offense struggling, and he returned to practice last week for the first time since early August due to an oblique injury. Hill is capable of bouncing back, but he's being drafted as more of a high-end WR2 in fantasy.

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Jackonville Jaguars second-year wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. said that his chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence is even stronger this year. "I feel like we've definitely got a lot closer, whether it's football or off the field, like all the little things," Thomas said. "I feel like our chemistry is growing on the field, and I feel like it's going to continue to grow throughout the season." Despite Lawrence missing seven games in 2024 due to head and shoulder injuries, Thomas amassed an impressive 87 catches on 133 targets for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games in his rookie season. Although many players have the dreaded sophomore slump, Thomas figures to be immune, playing more out of the slot in new head coach Liam Coen's offense. As long as the former LSU star doesn't miss time with injuries, he should finish as a top-10 fantasy wideout again in 2025.

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Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan enters his first NFL season as his team's clear number one option in the passing game. In the past week, Carolina has traded away veteran wideout Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings and lost Jalen Coker (quad) to a quad injury, which should only increase McMillan's targets. The number eight overall pick has a favorable matchup on paper in his NFL regular-season debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2024, Jacksonville's defense ranked dead last in total receiving yards allowed (4,605) and 28th in total receiving touchdowns allowed (29). Additionally, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young finished 2024 by playing the best football of his career, throwing for 1,583 yards and 11 touchdowns over his final seven games. If Young can carry that momentum to 2025, McMillan could get his season off to a strong start. He should be viewed as a low-end fantasy WR2 in Week 1.

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Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty could be in line for a significant number of touches in his first NFL game on Sunday against the New England Patriots. Along with star tight end Brock Bowers, Jeanty is expected to be a central focus of new Raiders play-caller Chip Kelly's offense. In Kelly's four previous years as an NFL play-caller, his offenses have ranked in the top ten in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns three times. The Raiders and Patriots appear to be relatively evenly matched teams on paper, which means the game script should not prevent Las Vegas from looking to pound the rock on the ground. In 2024, New England's defense ranked 14th in yards per carry allowed (4.4) and 17th in rushing touchdowns allowed (16). Jeanty is a must-start running back in Week 1.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams said he has not been told what his workload will be in the season opener on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. Williams also said he was "caught by surprise" by not playing in the preseason, but views it as a show of "confidence and trust" in him by the coaching staff. The 25-year-old is expected to be Dallas' lead running back early in the year, with veteran Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue also seeing touches out of the backfield. Williams has struggled with efficiency on the ground in recent years, averaging fewer than four yards per carry in each of the last two seasons while playing for the Denver Broncos. He profiles as a low-end RB3/high-end RB4 in fantasy, but is in danger of losing work over the course of the season if he fails to produce.

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An unnamed NFC executive told The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue that Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is "plug and play" and "will be pro-ready." Egbuka is expected to play a prominent role in Tampa Bay's offense right away, with fellow wide receivers Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) both set to miss the beginning of the season. Egbuka won a national championship in his final collegiate season at Ohio State, recording 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns in the process. Given his prospect pedigree as a first-round pick and the opportunity for immediate contribution with the Buccaneers, Egbuka has been a deserved riser throughout fantasy draft season. He profiles as a high-upside fantasy WR3 for 2025.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson may be limited to a reserve role early in his rookie campaign. The team signed Jaylen Warren to a three-year, $17.5 million extension on Monday, further solidifying him as the starter. Warren saw minimal preseason action, a sign the coaching staff is preserving him for a full workload. That leaves Johnson, the 2025 third-round pick, as more of a complementary option to start the season. He flashed potential in the preseason with 94 rushing yards, including 73 after contact. While Johnson isn't likely to offer early fantasy value, his talent could earn him a larger role as the season progresses. - Nathan Harvey

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Cleveland Browns beat reporter Tony Grossi believes there is "zero chance" rookie running back Quinshon Judkins (unsigned) suits up Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Judkins, a second-round pick, was accused of domestic violence in July. Although the charges were dropped, he has yet to sign his rookie contract. Grossi said on the ESPN Cleveland Radio that the deal will not be finalized until the NFL determines the length of his suspension. If Judkins doesn't play in Week 1, the Browns are expected to lean on Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson in the backfield. It's a favorable spot for the duo, as they face a Bengals defense that allowed the seventh-most points in the NFL last season.

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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart could find himself starting sooner rather than later in his rookie season. The 2025 first-round pick put on a clinic in the preseason, racking up 424 total yards, four touchdowns, and zero turnovers, while showcasing poise beyond his years. Although veteran Russell Wilson will open the season as the starter, Dart's strong showing has put real pressure on the coaching staff. With a talented supporting cast led by Malik Nabers and a revamped defense, the Giants are well-positioned to support a young quarterback. If the team struggles to win early, head coach Brian Daboll may decide to turn the offense over to Dart sooner than expected.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (foot) logged a full practice on Monday as the team prepares for its Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Walker had been limited for most of training camp with a lingering foot issue, but his early-week participation is an encouraging sign for his availability. The third-year back is expected to operate as Seattle's lead runner against the 49ers defense, that surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs in 2024. If active, Walker should be viewed as a strong high-end RB2 to open the season.

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Free-agent wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is visiting the Washington Commanders on Tuesday after meeting with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "the framework of a deal is in place for both teams," suggesting a signing could come soon. Washington extended Terry McLaurin last week, acquired Deebo Samuel Sr. in March, and still has Noah Brown and Luke McCaffrey on the roster. Regardless, the veteran wideout appears poised to land with a team in the near future.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue is expected to carve out a reserve role early in his rookie season. The 2025 fifth-round pick opens the year as the RB3 on the depth chart, sitting behind veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. Blue brings a burst of speed and explosiveness to the backfield and could see opportunities situationally right away. At the University of Texas, he was a proven weapon through the air, racking up 42 receptions for 368 yards and six touchdowns in his final season. While Blue isn't likely to be fantasy-relevant out of the gate, his skill set and upside make him a strong stash candidate with the potential to earn a bigger role as the season progresses. - Nathan Harvey

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton could see fewer touches in Week 1 as the team heads to Brazil to face the Kansas City Chiefs. With veteran Najee Harris (eye) expecting to suit up Friday, a committee in the Chargers backfield appears likely. The 2025 first-round pick should still command a healthy share of touches, thanks to his first-round draft capital and Harris's lack of training camp reps. Even in a tough matchup against a Chiefs defense that was among the league's best against running backs in 2024, Hampton remains a solid RB2 play for Week 1. - Nathan Harvey

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) said he expects to play Friday night against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. The former Steeler missed all of training camp after sustaining a "superficial" eye injury in an incident on the Fourth of July. If active, Harris will likely split work with 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton in a committee backfield. Given his lack of practice and preseason reps, fantasy managers should temper expectations. Facing the Chiefs' defense, which allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs in 2024, Harris profiles as a low-end RB4 while he eases into his new role. - Nathan Harvey

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