CINCINNATI BENGALS
9/7/2026

QUARTERBACK QB Joe Burrow is a league-winner at quarterback. If healthy, he is the best pure passer in the game. The only thing keeping him from being No. 1 in all of fantasy football is his lack of rushing upside. However, if healthy, and if all offensive weapons are healthy, he may be the top guy with only his passing efforts.
Behind Burrow is QB Joe Flacco. QB Sean Clifford and QB Josh Johnson are on the practice squad.
Flacco is the guy to have and you do not need Burrow to want Flacco. Have that guy who can be a starter on your roster so when the other guy’s top quarterback goes down, you have that bargaining chip.
Neither Johnson nor Clifford are worthy of rostering at this time.
This week against Tampa Bay, start Burrow. Every week, when healthy, start Burrow. Do not overthink this.
RUNNING BACK RB Chase Brown is a fantasy stud. But RB Samaje Perine has received enough play that it keeps Brown from battling for the No. 1 running back spot. Still, Brown is a must-start every week. Perine is worth a stash as a bye week option but he is getting up there in reps/age and finding a third back is a much-needed piece of this lineup. RB Tahj Brooks, a 2025 draftee, had high promise but has simply not done enough to be secure in his place yet he made the roster again.
None of the current backs rostered (RB Kentrel Bullock, RB Kendall Milton) are worth keeping.
For now, whoever that third guy is will not be a dynasty play. Granted Brown is a free agent after the season but I do not see a path where a guy not on the roster is the ultimate Brown replacement.
This week against Tampa Bay, start RB Chase Brown. Every week, start RB Chase Brown. Do not overthink it. Perine is worthy having but not starting as long as Brown is healthy.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The first two are as good or better than any in the NFL. After that, there are plenty of players to chose from but how relevant are they for fantasy? WR Ja’Marr Chase and WR Tee Higgins are must-starts in any format.
Behind the two big dogs, WR Andrei Iosivas is the veteran incumbent but CFL veteran WR Dohnte Meyers and rookie WR Colbie Young are both solid and could easily unseat Iosivas.
Now Iosivas is a good NFL player and Burrow has shown no hesitation in throwing his way but that has never made Iosivas fantasy relevant. Maybe in a best ball league but dynasty or redraft he just is not worth having. WR Jordan Moore, WR Noah Thomas and WR Ke’Shawn Williams are on the roster. If your league uses special teams return yardage along with the Williams could be a sneaky good play as he replaced WR Charlie Jones who was released but had a solid return season last year.
To me, this is a deep group for NFL purposes but top heavy for fantasy. Chase and Higgins are the only two starters but Young and Meyers provide dynasty relevance more than Iosivas.
This week against Tampa Bay, place Chase and Higgins. Do not overthink this. They start every week.
TIGHT END TE Drew Sample is listed as the starting tight end on the Bengals depth chart but it seems unusual that a No. 1 tight end on a depth chart is not so much worth a spot on your fantasy roster.
Oh, Sample will get a touchdown or two when you might wish he was on your roster or in your lineup. But truth is, the Bengals do not use the tight end as a high volume position. Collectively the tight ends on the team post solid numbers but with Sample, TE Mike Gesicki and TE Tanner Hudson splitting time for various formations, it makes it difficult to roster one, let alone start them. TE Erick All Jr is an interesting player, one with great athleticism but greatly injured. He is healthy now and making big waves in camp. How he turns out in terms of fantasy football remains to be seen but the talk is such that if he is available on your waiver wire or in a deal, get him now. He could turn out to be the third option in the passing game instead of another wide receiver and that would be huge.
Rookie TE Jack Endries, who has big-time receiving chops, but is still a rookie.
Could there ever be a Bengals tight end worth playing? Gesicki was supposed to be the guy but just like Sample he has a moment or two but nothing worth using from a volume standpoint. Endries is worth stashing. All would be the guy who makes us forget about the lack of tight end use over the years because he is the most complete player at the position.
For now, All and Endries are intriguing longshots to keep on your roster but until this team’s philosophy on tight end usages changes, I am not sure any are going to be major fantasy forces.
This week against Tampa Bay, I might just keep all of them on the bench except All. This will be his first regular season game in his hometown and the team might do something to get him involved. I know that’s a stretch but if you are not buying that, then keep each tight end on your bench until more clarity is achieved.
KICKER PK Evan McPherson is a good kicker. He had a great rookie season but then fell off a bit. Still he is a good kicker on one of the best offenses in the NFL and is a must-start every week if your league uses kickers. He is a specially good at long distance kicks so extra points for 50-plus yard field goals makes McPherson a must-have.
This week against Tampa Bay, start McPherson. Do not overthink it.
IDP
This will be an interesting unit in 2026. The Bengals defense will be better, bank on that. But will anyone be fantasy relevant?
If you are in a league that uses defensive tackles, DL Dexter Lawrence is an obvious play. DE Myles Murphy and DE Boye Mafe are veterans who can post solid numbers but will either be at the high end of the sack chart, if your league uses that?
Mafe is a good play in my opinion, with a slight edge over Murphy.
Guys like DE Shemar Stewart and DE Cashius Howell could be those sack plays waiting to happen. Stewart, who hyperextended his leg early in camp, might be the best one to have given his overall play. May not be a top sacker but could be a good overall tackler. Keep an eye on how the injury plays out though he is trending in a positive direction as the game week practices begin.
Howell is showing that college production can indeed relate to NFL production, at least during camp. That is something the Bengals have avoided in recent drafts. They opt for traits over production, but Howell is the opposite and it looks like a good pick. If you can stash him on your dynasty roster, I would do so.
Linebacker is the fantasy spot that has the most solid plays. Pick the Green Dot guy and go from there. Welp, LB Barrett Carter and LB Demetrius Knight Jr are now second year players who are expected to play a lot again this year. They might post fantasy numbers but both have a lot to prove and plenty riding on the success of this defense to be question marks for NFL purposes. LB Swayze Bozeman has shown promise and could be another worthy stash.
In the secondary, the Bengals employ five players. DB Bryan Cook is the big free agent signing, coming home to lead the team. He is a solid play for sure. DB Jordan Battle is the other safety, which normally is the best spot for IDP play. DB D.J. Turner II and DB Dax Hill are strong NFL corners. If your league uses CB as a position, Hill is the one to pick. DB Jalen Davis is the nickel guy and against some teams is a good play against those teams who use multiple wideouts as their base set.
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TRANSACTIONS
SEPTEMBER
1-Signed CB Trikweze Bridges, OT Blake Freeland, TE Tanner Hudson, QB Josh Johnson, DE Garmon Randolph to practice squad
AUGUEST
31-Acquired OT Myles Hinton on waivers from Philadelphia. Terminated the contract of TE Tanner Hudson. Signed HB Kentrel Bullock, QB Sean Clifford, DT Howard Cross III, DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Joe Giles-Harris, LB Shaka Heyward, CB Bralyn Lux, HB Kendall Milton, WR Jordan Moore, WR Noah Thomas, DB Russ Yeast to practice squad. Placed OL Brian Parker II and CB Ja’Sir Taylor on Reserve/Injured List and designated for return. Terminated contracts of vested veterans RB Gary Brightwell, LB Joe Giles-Harris, QB Josh Johnson, DB Russ Yeast. Waived LB Liam Anderson, DBB Daijahn Anthony, OL Liam Brown, HB Kentrel Bullock, QB Sean Clifford, OL Andrew Coker, DT Howard Cross III, LB Jack Dingle, DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Eric Gentry, TE Cam Grandy, RB Jamal Haynes, LB Shaka Heyward, DT McKinnley Jackson, DT Jordan Jefferson, WR Xavier Johnson, WR Charlie Jones, OT Christian Jones, TE Josh Kattus, CB Jalen Kimber, CB Bralyn Lux, CB Matthew McDoom, HB Kendall Milton, WR Jordan Moore, DE Antwaun Powell-Rylan, WR Kendric Pryor, OT Corey Robinson, WR Noah Thomas, WR Mitch Tinsley, CB Ceyair Wright (Exempt/Left Squad list)
15-Signed CB Matthew McDoom (free agent); placed CB Ceyair Wright on Exempt/Left Squad list.

Good luck this week!

End.

Mark Huber

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INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
9/7/2026

Hey there Colts’ fans! Welcome back to another season of fearless prognostication from yours truly. Hopefully I can give you some valuable insight for your fantasy lineup each week, and maybe even a chuckle or two along the way. Here are my thoughts as the Colts open their 2026 season with a home game against the denizens of their former home, the Baltimore Ravens.

INJURIES: The Colts have a lot of guys on the mend; essentially all of their best players on both sides of the ball finished 2025 either on the IR or playing through some issues. Many of those guys had long roads to recovery and their rehab lingered well into training camp and the preseason games. On the plus side, it looks like everyone will be available in some capacity or another for the opening game. The down side is that this will be the first live snaps for most of the key players this year – and in some cases, in nearly a year! Maybe some of them will be on a snap count, and this could include big names like CB Charvarius Ward, DL DeForest Buckner and Alec Pierce. For whatever it is worth, Coach Steichen did say on Monday that Pierce has resumed full practice and that he will play in week 1 without any limitations. I would also suspect that Daniel Jones will play the whole way, but they may tailor the offense some to minimize his risk (more on this in a moment).

QUARTERBACK: QB Daniel Jones was undrafted in a high percentage of leagues this year despite being a solid fantasy #1 in 2025 before his injury. Even though the Ravens allowed a very high volume in the air last season and a top 10 high score to fantasy quarterbacks, I would be wary of expecting much from Jones this week even if you believe in his full return to fantasy relevance in 2026. Part of his value was with his legs last year, especially on the goal line. I would suspect that they will minimize risk to Jones by having him run less, and subbing him out for QB Anthony Richardson on the goal line. Even those that question AR5 as an NFL passer know that he is a nightmare for opposing defenses in the red zone when coupled with Taylor behind him. I would bet they have some specific short-yardage and goal-line packages in the game plan this week, further reducing Jones fantasy potential. If he is even on your roster, I would be shocked if he is sniffing the lineup, even in 2-quarterback leagues.

RUNNING BACK: There is no one on the team that will siphon carries or meaningful snaps away from RB Jonathan Taylor. He remains one of the real workhorse backs in every sense of the word. As long as he is healthy, he will only get occasional breathers and will remain on the field in all packages. The Ravens last year were actually quite mediocre in stopping the fantasy running back, and much of that was due to allowing the second-most receptions and receiving yards to backs in 2025. The team will look to use Taylor a little more as a receiver this year, and this might be a good week to show some of those receiving chops. Taylor was likely your first round selection, so you are playing him against everyone, but don’t be afraid of the Ravens defense this week, or of game script limiting him. I suspect a high-volume day for J.T. this week for many reasons – including keeping Lamar sitting down.

WIDE RECEIVER: All reports seem to indicate that WR Alec Pierce will be ready to go for week 1, but I have my doubts as to what he can accomplish this week. His real value is stretching the field, and this requires him to be at full speed, as well as putting Jones in the line of fire by standing longer in the pocket. Everyone beat the Ravens last year by using the short passing game, so I suspect that veterans WR Josh Downs and WR Keenan Allen will be better plays this week, especially in PPR systems. Just a hunch from me that Allen will be the leading target man on the outside this week and will catch the only TD pass.I don’t have a lot of faith in total for the passing game this week, so I would be reluctant to start any of these guys other than Pierce as a boom/bust #3 or the others as a PPR #4 at best.

TIGHT END: TE Tyler Warren has also been dealing with a nagging injury, but I have heard nothing that would indicate his play or his playing time are in jeopardy. Warren was drafted as a top 5 tight end in every league I have seen, so you are surely starting him if you have him, but I would temper expectations. While I am not worried about the injury, I do see him as getting extra attention this week from a defense that was among the best at defending the tight end last season. The Ravens allowed the 2nd fewest TDs to the position, and among the fewest receptions and yards also, so without Pierce fully able to stretch the field, Warren may not get the open looks he is used to seeing.

KICKER: PK Spencer Shrader returned from his season-long injury to reclaim his starting gig over recently-released PK Blake Grupe (immediately signed by the Jets to be their guy). Shrader looked strong, hitting twice in the preseason from over 60 yards. The Colts’ conservative approach leads to a lot of FGAs, and that should not change with Shrader ready to go, and the team having confidence to let him boot it from deep. With the Ravens being so stingy in the red zone (and usually among the league leaders in FGAs allowed), Shrader makes a decent streamer this week, and should be a top 10-15 kicker in most weeks.

DEFENSE: I am a little concerned about this defense’s ability to make big plays that will translate to fantasy value. They are solid in their starters on the line and the secondary is top-notch. The linebackers are sketchy and inexperienced, so they are gonna get worked over. I do not see a reason to start this unit often, and this week offers no real clear path to fantasy value.

OVERALL:After a long string of always opening on the road, the Colts will open at home for the fourth straight season this weekend. They also had an unprecedented streak of losing 11 straight opening games until winning big last season en route to an 8-1 start. This year is probably the end to that opening day streak at ONE! I see the Colts having a hard time stopping King Henry and Lamar on the ground; Henry has topped 100 rushing yards 8 times in his career against Indy, including 4 of the last 5 times he has faced them. Lamar ran for over 100 yards and two TDs the last time he played Indy, and threw for a career-high 442 yards and 4 TDs the time prior to that. But I do see this game as being lower scoring as the Colts try to take the air out of the ball and shorten the game. The last two games between these two forever-linked franchises have each gone to overtime, but I don’t know if I can realistically predict that happening again! Let’s go with the Ravens superior health and talent simply overwhelming the Colts in the second half for a 27-16 Baltimore win and a familiar step to 0-1 for the boys in blue.

That is all for week 1 from the Crossroads of America. Good luck in your opening game – and in your draft, if your league is doing it last minute!

End.

Chris Rito

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DENVER BRONCOS
9/12/2026

Realistically, none of the players cut were going to make the team as deep as the Broncos are overall. However, the Broncos have a serious problem in their inability to evaluate MLB and TE!

Denver @ Kansas City

Denver and Kansas City face off in a high-stakes divisional battle on Monday Night Football. The defending division champion Denver Broncos are at Arrowhead to face a re-tooled Kansas City Chiefs team looking to rebound after a tough 2025 campaign. The Broncos enter 2026 ranked as a consensus top fantasy defense. However, an opener in Kansas City is a tough task right out of the gate. QB Patrick Mahomes faces a stiff test against Vance Joseph’s aggressive defense. Expect heavy target volume for the Chiefs' safety valves out of the backfield and slot. RB Kennith Walker III will get 20+ carries. Week 1 will offer immediate answers on how Sean Payton intends to split snaps and touch shares. With an over/under resting at 42.5, odds makers expect a defensive chess match rather than a shootout.

To earn a road victory at Arrowhead Stadium, Denver must lean into its ground game while using Vance Joseph’s elite pass defense to generate extra possessions. Offensively, QB Bo Nix must play mistake-free football relying on quick rhythm throws into soft spots in the Chiefs' secondary and taking “designed” rushing attempts when the pocket breaks down. WR Jaylen Waddle is arguably the biggest focal point of Denver’s offense entering Week 1. WR Courtland Sutton remains the primary end-zone threat against a tough Chiefs corner group. Denver's running backs must generate dynamic touches on runs to force Kansas City to pull defenders into the box. Defensively, forcing short fields via sacks or takeaways will be essential for Denver. Arrowhead Stadium remains one of the premier home-field advantages in the league, giving Kansas City an extra edge in tight, low-scoring games. Denver playing on the road in a hostile environment in Week 1 favors a close, low-scoring contest. KC is favored by three. Denver 23 Kansas City 20 in an upset.

Orangeman’s Take

KC has improved its weaknesses from last season and is a better team than last year. However, neither Mahomes (UDFA left tackle) nor Walker (injury prone) are 100% and WR Rashee Rice is undependable. Look for WR Xavier Worthy to lead the wide receivers. The key for KC’s defense will be it’s corner backs and pass rush. Denver pounds the football with Dobbins and exploit KC’s corner backs with Waddle and Sutton. WR Pat Bryant holds the key to the game. Denver has an advantage with its experience over KC’s youth. Experience wins out.

Player PPR points

Quarterback
Bo Nix 16-20

Running Back
JK Dobbins 8-10
RJ Harvey 9-13
Jonah Coleman 3-5

Wide Receiver
Courtland Sutton 10-15
Jaylen Waddle 13-19
Pat Bryant 6-9
Troy Franklin 2-4
Lil’Jordan Humphrey 1-3
Marvin Mims, Jr 4-6

Tight Ends
Evan Engram 4-8
Adam Trautman 2-3

Kicker
Wil Lutz 6-8

DST
Broncos D/ST 5-7

Good luck this week!

End.

Charles Rives

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LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
9/10/2026

The 2026 NFL regular season is finally upon us! This report will be a preview of the week 1 matchup in L.A. against the Arizona Cardinals.

QB: I don’t suspect that the Cardinals’ offense or defense is very good, and I do believe that the Chargers will have considerable success against them. Thus, Chargers QB Justin Herbert is likely top 10 performer with top 5 potential.

RB: The same can be said for RB Omarion Hampton. He looks like an RB1 against Arizona. RB Keaton Mitchell (hip) was limited in practice, but I would not start him at this time, even if fully healthy.

WR: This is where it gets slightly trickier. Your best bet is WR Ladd McConkey, who is a solid WR2. There are questions about the hands of WR Quentin Johnston, who is the Bolts’ primary deep threat. Against a presumably weaker opponent, consider him a softer WR2. Put WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith and WR Tre’ Harris in the “watch and learn” category and especially keep an eye on Harris if he performs well. Both of those players are likely available in the free agent pool, so if they put up solid numbers and you have room, consider a claim.

TE: I’d avoid the lot of them. It’s not that there isn’t plenty of talent at the tight end position, but who gets the looks? Will it be TE Charlie Kolar, who is listed as the starter? TE David Njoku, who is an excellent receiver? Maybe Oronde Gadsden, who flashed brilliance in 2025? Too much uncertainty for now. Avoid unless or until a clear leader is established.

PK: Let’s keep it simple, PK Cameron Dicker easily has Top 5 potential.

DEF: I like the matchup a lot. The Chargers’ defense would seem to be faster this season, with several quality EDGE rushers. I’d assume that Cardinals’ QB Jacoby Brissett will be under a lot of pressure, giving up multiple sacks and picks. This looks like a good week to start the Chargers’ defense.

Good luck with your fantasy games this weekend!

End.

Brad Willis

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DALLAS COWBOYS
9/11/2026

The football season is finally upon us. Before my analysis of the matchup, there is some news to report. The most significant news is the All-Pro OG Tyler Smith is on IR for 4 weeks following thumb surgery. Backup OG TJ Bass will more into the starting lineup. He is an effective player, but not at the level of Smith. Additionally, they signed OL Nick Leverett was upgraded from the practice squad. They signed former pro-bowl OL Laken Tonlinson as well.
Backup TE BrevenSpanfordand number 3 WR Ryan Flournoy were given contract extensions as well.
RB: RB Malik Davis was carted off the practice field today with a hip injury and is not going to play this week. This is reported to be a fairly serious injury, and he should be out for several weeks. RB EmariDemercadowill be the number 2 RB and RB Israel Abanikandawas brought up from the practice squad.
QB: The Cowboys play the Giants on the road Sunday night. QB Dak Prescott should be a high end QB1 this week and is a must start. RB Javonte Williams should be a safe RB1 for this week and is also a must start. Expect 100 yards and at least 1 score. WR Ceedee Lamb andWR George Pickens are both WR1 must starts this week. I would not start any other Cowboy wide receivers this week.
TE: TE Jake Ferguson should be a low end TE1 or high end TE2 this week. I would start him if you do not have a better option, but I would not consider him to be a must start untnil we see how they plan on using him this season.
PK: PK Brandon Aubrey is a top 5 kicker and a must start. The defense is not likely a safe start but it will be interesting to see how new defensive coordinator Christian Parker schemes for this defense.
Prediction: Cowboys 34 Giants 24.
End.

Dr. Gil Brovar

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NEW YORK GIANTS
9/11/2026

QB: Giants QB Jaxson Dart is a low-end QB1 for fantasy against an improved, but still vulnerable secondary assuming WR Malik Nabers (knee) plays.

RB: RB Cam Skattebo is the clear starter, but will yield carries to both RB Tyrone Tracy and RB Najee Harris, keeping him only a solid RB2 for fantasy. I sit Tracy and Harris to see how their roles develop.

WR: WR Malik Nabers (knee) is not a lock to play, but if he starts, he's too talented to bench. It will be interesting to see how healthy he looks when he plays. Rookie WR Malachi Fields and WR Darnell Mooney will be the WR2/WR3 and deserve some consideration for a flex play this week if you are in need. I own Fields on several teams, but am benching him, since he's my WR5 on most rosters. Forget the other WRs this week.

TE: TE Isaiah Likely has been everything and more for the coaches and Dart this summer, making him a lower-end TE1 for fantasy. He's my starter at TE in multiple leagues and I'm rolling with him! Backup TE Theo Johnson has a low floor for fantasy, so you bench him.

Good luck this week!

End.

Michael Nazarek

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WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

The report for this week has not yet been released.

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CHICAGO BEARS
9/11/2026

Week 1: Bears at Panthers
The Bears will open their 2026 season at the Panthers on Sunday afternoon. Much has been made of their tough schedule, and many (even HC Ben Johnson, with some sarcasm) have called them the top regression candidate from last season. They say that QB Caleb Williams and the Bears can’t realistically pull off so many Houdini acts again. Well, with Williams and the offense in their second year under Johnson, I don’t think they’ll have to. Yes, there are legit questions about the defense, but I think the offense will go to another level and score enough to get Chicago to 11 wins this season.

Quarterback
Johnson has talked about wanting to break the NFL’s single-season scoring record. I don’t see that happening this season, but I do think this will be the year that Williams breaks the fabled 4,000-yard barrier and the Bears’ single-season record for passing TDs (29) held by Erik Kramer. It’s quite remarkable (and sad) that the Bears have never had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards or 30+ TDs before, but Caleb came close with 3,942 and 27 last year. With a year in this offense under his belt, and considering that the Bears may find themselves in a lot of shootouts this season because of their average defense, I don’t think Williams will have much trouble passing those marks if he can stay healthy.

As for Sunday, the Panthers were middling in total defense, pass defense, and points against last season. I see Caleb getting off to a solid start with 220+ yards and 2+ scores. For what it’s worth, he threw for 304 yards and two scores in a 2024 meeting at Soldier Field.

Runningback
RB D’Andre Swift (cramp) and RB Kyle Monangai (hyperextended knee) were both dinged up at times during camp/preseason, but neither of them are on this week’s injury report. Monangai returned to practice on Monday after suffering his injury in mid-August. Carolina was 20th in run defense last season. I have Swift as a strong play this week, with Monangai more of a decent flex play as his touches may be limited coming off the injury. One more note: I hope that Matt Suhey, who passed away earlier this week at 68, is somewhere up there clearing holes for Sweetness again.

Wide receiver WR Rome Odunze suffered a right calf injury in practice last week and has been limited in practice this week. If he’s active, I have him as a slightly above-average play, but just be aware of the possibility of re-injury. WR Luther Burden III missed a few weeks of camp with a groin injury, but he’s been back practicing since August 26th and says he’s “right where I left off.” I have him as a must-start this weekend. I have WR Kalif Raymond as a deeper league play, but he’s startable if Odunze is out. Rookie WR Zavion Thomas flashed in the preseason finale, but I don’t see him being a fantasy factor yet. He may start out mainly as a return man, and let’s see how his role in the offense evolves.

Tight end TE Colston Loveland is already one of the pillars of this offense, and he’s basically going to be a must-start most weeks if you have him. TE Cole Kmet is more of a deep league play. Rookie TE Sam Roush may catch a pass or two but likely won’t be a fantasy factor.

Defense/Special teams S Xavier Woods (groin) was limited in Thursday’s practice. The defense is largely healthy except for the two big names not currently on the roster: S Coby Bryant (knee surgery, IR) and CB Kyler Gordon (calf, PUP list). Can this defense generate enough of a pass rush and stop the run well enough? That is the great unknown. This week, I have this unit as an average play.

Kicker
I have PK Cairo Santos as a slightly above-average play this week, as I think the Bears will be in scoring positions quite a bit.

Good luck this week!

End.

Richard Fung

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DETROIT LIONS
9/7/2026

Saints at Lions

QB: Roster notes – QB Josh Dobbs wins the backup job and undrafted rookie QB Luke Altmeyer ends up on the practice squad. This was the most likely scenario and it came to fruition. It’s on to the regular season for QB Jared Goff. I had Goff on my radar during my draft in round 11 as a backup but he got taken. I settled for Tyler Shough as my backup in round 13. I still wonder if there will be a bit of a slow start for Goff due to not playing in the preseason and not even having any joint practices. He’s probably a backup on most rosters. It’s a favorable matchup at home against the Saints and I would expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 yards and 2 TDs.

RB: Roster notes – RB Isiah Pacheco made the 53 man roster and then was placed on IR after the cuts. So he’s out at least 4 weeks. With the Lions having a week 6 bye I can’t really see him returning any earlier than week 7, and it sounds like there is uncertainty with this being a back injury. So there is no real time frame at all. RB Jabari Small made the initial cut to 53 but was then waived a few days later. So we have two huge unknowns remaining on the roster to back up RB Jahmyr Gibbs, and oddly enough no running back currently on the practice squad either. Clearly Gibbs is set to have a monster year. He went number 1 in my draft and probably went 1 or 2 in most drafts. As for the unknowns backing him up, RB Jacob Saylors had a strong preseason. I think he led the league in rushing yards in the preseason. RB Sione Vaki is the other guy who could get some snaps. If you really want a handcuff for Gibbs on your team I would grab Saylors. But if Gibbs misses time this would likely be a committee. The snap counts will be interesting. Last year Gibbs was right around two thirds of the snaps. They might not want to overwork him right away in week 1 but I could see 80 percent of the workload going to Gibbs, with Saylors and Vaki seeing spot duty in addition to their special teams duties.

WR/TE: Roster notes – a bit of a surprise as projected punt returner and fourth WR Greg Dortch was cut and he ended up on Buffalo’s practice squad. Unknown former UFL player WR Tay Martin is your fourth receiver for now. The Lions only have 4 receivers currently on the 53 man roster but they also have two open roster spots, one of which might end up going to a receiver. TE Jackson Meeks made the team and that means the Lions are carrying four tight ends. We will see if OC Drew Petzing uses a lot of multi tight end looks as he did with Arizona last year. I had the 10th pick in my draft and I was hoping WR Amon-Ra St. Brown would make it to 10. Turns out he did and I felt like he was the best player on the board so I scooped him up. I don’t think I was being a homer. I Just think he is set for a huge season. WR Jameson Williams and TE Sam LaPorta enter the season as starters in most leagues as mid round picks.

K/DST: Is there reason to be concerned about PK Jake Bates? I mentioned in my last report how he modified the length of his approach and he looked a little shaky in the preseason which included two missed PATs against the Colts in the last game. He was drafted in most leagues so keep an eye on him. The Lions defense will be facing a young quarterback in Tyler Shough this week so it’s a chance to get off to the good start with the Bills looming in week 2. Maybe stream the Lions defense this week and then look for someone else next week.

Good luck to everyone with their fantasy teams this week and this season.

End.

James Hintz

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ARIZONA CARDINALS

The report for this week has not yet been released.

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SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
9/6/2026

Raising the Banner at Lumen Field
This Wednesday we raise the Super Bowl LX banner at Lumen Field—a moment that should make every 12th Man’s heart swell. But before too nostalgic about that 29-13 dismantling of the Patriots back in February, let’s get real. Week 1 is not going to be a walk in the park for the ‘Hawks. My biggest warning to fantasy managers: do not overreact to what you saw in August. HC Mike Macdonald and new OC Brian Fleury kept things "vanilla" for a reason. This "Rematch Edition" against New England is not a victory lap; it is a dogfight against a Belichick-less squad looking for vengeance and respect. Whether Seattle can repeat depends on the man under center and if he can stay upright behind what looks to be a shaky interior line.
Quarterback: The Darnold Stability QB Sam Darnold is no longer the league's favorite reclamation project; he is the unquestioned leader of the NFL champions. Strategically, his role is to be the game manager for a team that wins with ball security and defensive suffocation. Look at the tape: Sam navigated the entire playoff run with zero turnovers and took just a single sack in the Super Bowl. That is efficiency you cannot ignore and a huge part of why they won. However, for fantasy, he remains a high-floor, low-ceiling QB2. People forget that Darnold had massive fantasy stats early last season, but that changed as Macdonald’s "run-first/defensive focus" acted as a hard cap on Sam’s statistical output. I am also a little skeptical about the protection; while the tackles are locked in, the Right Guard spot is not stable. RG Anthony Bradford is the weakest link on this line, and while rookie OG Beau Stephens and OG Christian Haynes were pushing him in camp they are not ready to take his starting role. Interior pressure could force Sam into "game manager" mode more often than not, or worse lead him to repeat the mistakes of his past. He is stable, but he is not going to be asked to win a shootout. That becomes even more true as we look at a backfield trying to find its soul after the departure of RB Kenneth Walker III.
Running Back: The Post-K9 Committee
There is a gaping hole at the RB1 spot now that K9 is cashing $45 million checks in Kansas City. To make matters worse, RB Zach Charbonnet is still parked on the PUP list, grinding through ACL rehab with no clear return date. We are looking at a true committee approach, and while the talent is there, the experience is thin.
The RB Committee Outlook RB Jadarian Price Round 1 (#32 Overall) Elite big-play threat; 21.2% explosive run rate and 28.3% missed tackles forced. Raw in blitz pickup.

Player Draft/Status Fantasy Role RB Jadarian Price Round 1 (#32 Overall) Elite big-play threat; 21.2% explosive run rate and 28.3% missed tackles forced. Raw in blitz pickup. RB Emanuel Wilson 1-year, $2.1M "Prove-it" Deal Camp standout with great vision and receiving hands. The veteran safety net. RB George Holani ERFA Tender Early-down grinder; the coaching staff trusts his short-yardage work.

Price is the guy you want for the long haul. However, patience is required. He has been splitting reps because his pass protection is still a work in progress. Expect Wilson (who has been a minicamp star) and Holani to steal touches early. This is a three-headed race until Price proves he will not get Darnold killed on a blitz. Once he does, though, he becomes the counterbalance for the most expensive WR room in football.
Wide Receiver: Engines and Daggers
The Seahawks are currently paying a cool $83 million per year for their wideout room, and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) is the top fuel engine powering the car. As the reigning OPOY, JSN is the Elite WR1. His Week 1 matchup against CB Christian Gonzalez is the heavyweight bout of the weekend, but JSN’s fantasy volume is as much of a lock as you can get. Then you have WR Cooper Kupp, the premier flex/WR3 "dagger." He is looking like his 2021 self in Fleury’s system, finding the soft spots in zone that Darnold loves to pepper. Keeper leagues need to remember that WR Jake Bobo is currently on injured reserve, but remains the designated "power slot" heir to Kupp and the best blocking receiver on the roster. While camp risers like WR Montorie Foster Jr. and WR Tory Horton provide depth, Bobo will not lose his place to them while healing. Meanwhile, WR Rashid Shaheed is positioned for a breakout role as the offense's premier deep threat. Shaheed worked on expanding his routes this spring and has great chemistry with Darnold, setting him up to take on a significantly larger share of the receiving workload. Assuming the offensive line holds, there is a reasonable argument to start Shaheed as a WR2 despite the offense running through JSN. All is not roses here though. There is a reason that Darnold is only expected to be a QB2 even with all this receiving talent. He should not have the ceiling that I think he actually does. It is easy to look at the way these guys can use the field to their advantage and think they will all cash in on fantasy points. But in reality there will not be enough to go around. Especially with Fleury in town.
Tight End: The Fleury Schematic "Bump"
Brian Fleury brings the Shanahan-tree influence to Seattle, which means the "Fleury Bump" for tight ends is real. He has a history of turning athletic specimens into focal points, and this personnel usage is going to be heavy on 12 and 13 personnel. TE AJ Barner remains the foundational blocker, but sophomore TE Elijah Arroyo is your athletic breakout sleeper. He creates mismatches against safeties that this scheme is designed to exploit. Do not overlook the veteran TE Eric Saubert or FB Brady Russell, Fleury is going to use every tool in the shed to keep New England guessing which makes even the deep roster positions nice sleeper picks for red zone shenanigans.
Defense & IDP: The Dark Side Reloads
The "Dark Side" defense defined the championship run, punctuated by that 30-pressure nightmare they gave the Patriots in the Super Bowl. They have lost some names, but the identity remains solid. IDP Targets to Watch:
EDGE Derick Hall: A massive BUY. He just signed an extension and his 22% true pass set win rate is elite. He is going to take the pass-rush throne. FS Nick Emmanwori: Emmanwori is back from injury and will only get better as Macdonald finds new ways to fit schemes to his unique abilities. LB Tyrice Knight: He had an incredible preseason, including a 10-tackle half that showed he owns the middle. This unit is expected to swallow the Patriots' offense again. Between Hall’s pressure and Emmanwori lining up everywhere, it is going to be a long ride home for New England.
Kicker and Final Verdict PK Jason Myers is not my favorite, but last year he showed himself to be the reliable vet that he should be. He had a few shaky moments in the preseason that reminded me too much of earlier years, but I have to respect that the man is a Super Bowl champion who knows how to kick in the Lumen Field wind. Expect him to be the steady leg we need when the game is close.

Prediction: Seattle: 24, New England: 16 The defense keeps the Pats at arm's length, JSN moves the chains, and the "Dark Side" ensures the banner-raising ends with a victory.
Go 'Hawks!

End.

Rick Watts

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LOS ANGELES RAMS
9/6/2026

HEEEEEE’S BACK! After much speculation and anticipation, future Hall of Famer and All-Time Ram great DL Aaron Donald officially came out of retirement and joined the Rams. He is 35 years old and has not played football for two years, but he will most likely play in the season opener against the Niners in Australia. The Rams added so much talent in the off-season and are heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl. Hopefully they can stay healthy and win another Championship in their home stadium. With the 2026 opener less than a week away, let’s take a look at the Fantasy potential for Rams players.

QUARTERBACK: 2025MVP QB Matthew Stafford has been healthy this off-season and is poised for another successful season. QB Stetson Bennett and QB Ty Simpson have been named quarterbacks 2A and 2B by HC Sean McVay but that does not matter for Fantasy footballers. What matters is that Stafford should put up strong numbers again and is solid QB1 even if he is ranked lower by Fantasy Publications. My week 1 game prediction is 275 yards and 2 passing touchdowns.

RUNNING BACK: RB Kyren Williams is the lead back and could share more playing time with RB Blake Corum; however, I believe Kyren is still a Fantasy RB1. In my opinion, Corum is more of a high-end RB3 with more value as Kyren’s handcuff. RB Ronnie Rivers is third on the depth chart and should not be on anyone’s Fantasy team. Week 1 predictions: Kyren - 120 scrimmage yards and 1 rushing touchdown, Blake – 65 scrimmage yards.

WIDE RECEIVER: WR Puka Nacua and WR Davante Adams are one of the best tandems in the NFL. Puka has missed a lot of time with a lower body injury but he should be good to go in Australia. Adams has built on his rapport with Stafford during training camp and should be a major distributor again. Puka and Davante are the only receivers on the team with relevant Fantasy value, so no use mentioning the other receivers right now. Week 1 predictions: Puka – 120 yards and 1 touchdown, Davante – 70 yards and 1 touchdown. .

TIGHT END: The Rams have one of the deepest tight end rooms in the league but no standout stud. Second year TE Terrence Ferguson has the most Fantasy potential and could be the third option in the passing game. I would consider T-Ferg a TE2 with potential to breakout. Week 1 prediction: T-Ferg – 45 receiving yards.

KICKER: PK Harrision Mevis has been consistent since joining the Rams late last season. With a potent offense and strong defense, Los Angeles does not need to take chances on super long field goal attempts so Mevis might not get the long-distance bonus points like some other kickers; however, he should benefit from the success of the offense and be one of the league leaders in field goals and extra points made. Week 1 prediction: Mevis 2-2 field goals and 3-3 extra points.

DEFENSE: There has never been defense with two DPOY on the same unit. The Rams will have two multiple winning DPOY on the team this year! With ED Myles Garrett and DL Aaron Donald, Los Angeles will have the most decorated defense ever assembled. The Rams also added CB Trent McDuffie and CB Jaylen Watson to address their weakest link on defense last season. This unit has many Fantasy IDP’s to choose from, starting with Garrett, Donald, LB Nate Landman, and ED Byron Young. Congratulations to undrafted free agent LB Wesley Bailey who made the 53-man roster after his stellar training camp and pre-season performances. The Niners have a good offense but I think the Rams will be too strong and talented for San Francisco to overcome. My bold week 1 prediction: The Ram defense has at least five sacks and two takeaways.

It is the most highly anticipated opener in a long time, and for the first time in the McVay era, the excitement is more for the defense than the offense. Congratulations to GM Les Snead, HC Sean McVay, and the rest of the Ram organization for assembling a team worthy of Super Bowl aspirations. The team still needs to perform and take care of business, and I think they start the 2026 season with a 27-17 victory over San Francisco. I hope your Fantasy Drafts are going well. I have completed three of my four drafts and I am happy with my teams. Congratulations to QB Dillon Gabriel on an outstanding performance in the last pre-season game. Get healthy my man, God has great plans for you. Love and blessings to my family. Miss you Pops and Scratch! God Bless!

End.

Layton Pang

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