Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Saturday that he expects wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 13, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. The team is hoping that fellow wideout Emeka Egbuka (toe) will also be ready, and they do not plan on carrying an extra receiver on the 53-man roster to offset their short-term injuries at the position. The 24-year-old McMillan sustained a knee injury earlier this month and was held out of all three preseason games. It sounds like his injury is not very serious, but McMillan could be facing snap-count limitations in the regular-season opener against Cincy. If Egbuka is out or limited as well, it could mean a lot of work for veteran Chris Godwin Jr. and tight end Cade Otton. McMillan is in line for a bigger role in a new offense in 2026 with Mike Evans gone, but the former third-rounder from Washington must stay healthy to capitalize. He played in only four games in 2025 due to a serious neck injury he suffered in the preseason. A 37-461-8 line in his rookie campaign shows the kind of upside McMillan has. He is a late-round dart throw for fantasy managers that will gain a boost if Egbuka misses the start of the season.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Sam Howell put together a strong performance in his team's preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints on Friday, completing 12 of 18 pass attempts for 155 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Howell is competing with Joe Milton III for the backup quarterback job in Dallas behind star signal-caller Dak Prescott. Milton III played the entire first half against New Orleans, which could indicate that he has the leg up in the competition. However, Howell was certainly the better of the two quarterbacks on Friday, albeit against defenders even further down the Saints depth chart. Howell started 17 games for the Washington Commanders in 2023, throwing for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 263 yards and five scores. He also led the league in interceptions (21) and sacks (65) that season, and has bounced around the league ever since. With his gunslinger style of play, Howell could have some fantasy appeal if he ever gets a chance to start in Dallas.

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Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen had a quiet game in his team's preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, recording one catch for 12 yards on two targets. A fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati, Allen recorded 51 catches for 674 yards and 13 touchdowns across 13 games for the Bearcats in 2025. The 23-year-old has also consistently drawn positive reviews for his work in training camp so far this summer, and he entered Friday night as Kansas City's leading target-earner in the preseason. However, Allen's usage against Seattle suggests that he may not be in line for a significant role in the Chiefs' offense early in his rookie season. Between Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton, Kansas City likely has its starting wide receiver trio set to begin the year. Allen could still be worth targeting as a late-round stash candidate in deep leagues, but fantasy managers may not want to expect high-end production early on.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. had another good showing in Atlanta's 17-12 preseason win over the Dolphins on Friday. The 6-foot-6 tight end played the first quarter and hauled in all three of his targets for 59 yards, including a nice 37-yard catch-and-run down the sideline that got the team into the red zone to set up their first score of the game. The former fourth-overall draft pick sat out last week's preseason contest, but secured three of four targets for 22 yards in the team's first preseason game and is coming off his most productive season in the NFL. The product out of the University of Florida set career highs in targets (118), receptions (88), and touchdowns (five) while totaling 928 receiving yards last season. The 25-year-old finished as the TE2 last year, but is currently ranked as the seventh tight end overall at RotoBaller, which is probably fair given the underwhelming options at quarterback in Atlanta, whether Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. ends up being under center. For what it is worth, Pitts averaged over six targets per game in the eight full games he played with Penix as the signal caller in 2025.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Carson Steele put together another highly productive all-purpose game in his team's preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, recording eight carries for 24 yards and eight catches for 52 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Steele has been heavily involved as a pass-catcher out of the backfield of late, recording 11 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns across Philadelphia's last two exhibition contests. With Eagles running backs Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley all seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart, Steele could still be a long shot to make the 53-man roster in Philadelphia. However, his receiving production could be noteworthy enough for him to either force his way onto the Eagles or be picked up by another team. The 23-year-old is not roster-worthy for fantasy managers just yet, but he's a name to monitor as NFL rosters are finalized in the coming days.

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Denver Broncos rookie tight end Justin Joly had a big game in his team's 34-6 preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, hauling in both of his targets for 95 yards and a touchdown. Joly showed off his ability to make plays down the field late in the game, scoring an 88-yard touchdown on a broken play. A fifth-round pick out of North Carolina State, Joly recorded 49 catches for 489 yards and seven touchdowns across 12 games in his final collegiate season. Entering 2026, the 22-year-old will likely begin the year behind veterans Evan Engram and Adam Trautman on Denver's tight end depth chart. However, Trautman profiles more as a blocking tight end, and Engram is entering his age-32 season while coming off a down year. As a stash candidate in dynasty formats, Joly could be worth a look for fantasy managers.

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Washington Commanders rookie running back Kaytron Allen played a limited role in his team's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday, logging three carries for four yards and losing a fumble. Allen's day was done after the first quarter, with veteran back Craig Reynolds and undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr. handling Washington's backfield work the rest of the way. Allen's usage could be considered a positive sign for fantasy managers, as it could indicate that the team plans to rely on him for a heavy workload early in the year. Commanders backs Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) and Rachaad White (hamstring) are both currently dealing with injuries, although neither is expected to be sidelined long-term. However, Allen has not been particularly efficient in the preseason, averaging just 3.31 yards per attempt on 36 carries. Allen could be worth targeting as a late-round stash in deeper league formats, but fantasy managers may want to temper their expectations.

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Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell saw his first preseason action on Friday, recording two catches for 22 yards on five targets in his team's 17-12 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. A third-round pick out of Louisville, Bell missed all of the spring and the beginning of training camp while working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered last November. However, the Dolphins activated him in mid-August, and it now appears he should be ready for the start of the regular season. Bell was a highly productive player in college, hauling in 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns across 11 games before getting hurt last season. Miami also traded away veteran wideout Tutu Atwell to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, which could clear the way for Bell to play a starting role early in his rookie year. As a late-round sleeper, Bell could be a worthy target for fantasy managers.

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New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas has the type of can't-cover-in-a-phonebooth shiftiness that has allowed him to thrive in each of his four training camps since being selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he has never had the level of surrounding talent he now finds himself with, and Patriots senior reporter Evan Lazar believes his skill set makes a ton of sense for a featured role out of the slot. Douglas has been a mainstay in three-receiver sets throughout camp, and Lazar notes that he has been "nearly automatic" against man coverage. He caught only 31 passes for 447 yards in 2025, but with Stefon Diggs no longer on the roster, the 25-year-old profiles as the team's most prototypical slot receiver, and he could find important chain-moving work in what again projects to be one of the league's highest-scoring offenses. At RotoBaller's WR99, he is not a player likely to be drafted in most 2026 leagues, but with the Patriots opening the NFL season in primetime with a Super Bowl rematch against the Seahawks, a strong start to his season could make Douglas a popular Week 2 waiver wire pickup.

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Baltimore Ravens rookie running back Adam Randall gained a team-high 70 scrimmage yards in the Ravens' dominating 41-3 preseason finale victory over the Washington Commanders Friday night. While his 25 yards from five carries were efficient, managers in PPR dynasty leagues should be particularly excited by his 45 receiving yards off three catches and four targets. Randall is a physical and versatile back, as evidenced by his highlight reel-worthy stiff arm during a 24-yard screen pass against the Commanders in the second quarter. Third-year running back Rasheen Ali, who left the game early to be present for the birth of his child, according to Head Coach Jesse Minter, is still in the mix and actually led the team in touches. Nonetheless, Randall and others are clearly behind Derrick Henry on the Ravens' depth chart. However, with his pass-catching chops, Randall threatens to overtake veteran Justice Hill as the team's passing-down back. Dynasty managers should keep an eye on Randall, and he may warrant a bench stash or even a spot on a taxi squad in deep leagues. As the season progresses and Randall develops, Henry managers in redraft leagues may also look at him as a potential handcuff.

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Dynasty | Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson rushed for 11 yards on five carries in the Steelers final preseason game. Dynasty Analysis: Johnson is probably battling Eli Heidenreich (35 yards and a touchdown) for what could be the last spot on the running back depth chart. A third round pick just last year, Johnson is actually expected be cut in the coming days, a scenario unthinkable at this time last year. Unfortunately, he just hasn't shown much on the field. Dynasty managers may be dealing with a quick bust here and his spot on fantasy rosters this year is far from secure.

Dynasty | Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 12-of-15 passes for 186 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in Cleveland's final preseason game. Dynasty Analysis: The Browns have some decisions to make at quarterback (a sentence I've written every year since 1999). Deshaun Watson is the starter, Shedeur Sanders is the backup - neither have looked good. Gabriel was great tonight but did it against many players who won't be in the league next week. Meanwhile rookie Taylen Green showed some real potential as well. Gabriel is honestly a backup-level player but we'll see if they decide to keep four quarterbacks in the end. His dynasty value will be determined more accurately then.

Starting against his former team, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had his ups and downs in the team's final outing of the preseason, a 17-12 win over the Miami Dolphins. He looked sharp on an eight-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to open the night, and he finished the game with 95 passing yards and only one incompletion on eight attempts, but he also lost a fumble on an under-center snap on the second drive of the game, his second fumble in as many preseason games. Tagovailoa has struggled with consistency throughout his first training camp with the Falcons, unable to take advantage of the opportunity provided by Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) prolonged absence. Penix was recently cleared to participate in team drills, and while he did not suit up for the team's final preseason contest, he believes he will be ready for Atlanta's Week 1 matchup with the Steelers. Tagovailoa may have done just enough on Friday night to hold the starting job heading into the regular season, but with Penix in the third year of his rookie deal, the Falcons will soon be faced with a decision on his fifth-year option, all but ensuring he will at some point assume starting duties. Tagovailoa is RotoBaller's QB32 for 2026 and not a player who needs to be drafted.

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Minnesota Vikings running back Demond Claiborne appears to have a solid hold of the RB3 role after starting Friday's game against the Denver Broncos. The rookie rushed eight times for only 21 yards in a 34-6 loss, but he played alongside a heavily limited Vikings offense that played mostly reserves, including fourth quarterback Max Brosmer for most of the night. Neither Aaron Jones Sr. nor Jordan Mason played, but Claiborne featured first without them, suggesting he'll be the third running back ahead of special teams ace Zavier Scott. Claiborne, who also returned kicks Friday, is mostly a dynasty stash for now, but he could be a waiver wire factor in redraft leagues should either Mason or Jones miss extended time.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer turned in a lackluster performance in the Vikings' final preseason game at Denver on Friday, which leaves the second-year quarterback on shaky ground as cutdown day approaches. Brosmer played the majority of snaps after J.J. McCarthy (ankle) was ruled out, finishing 20-for-35 for 165 yards and rushing once for one yard, but the Vikings failed to find the end zone in a 34-6 loss. Minnesota already named Kyler Murray the starter, and as it stands, also rosters Carson Wentz in addition to McCarthy. If the Vikings keep all three, Brosmer likely would be the odd man out. Even if the Vikings keep him on the 53-man roster, however, Brosmer is unlikely to have any fantasy relevance in 2026.

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New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime is battling with Kendre Miller for a depth spot behind Travis Etienne Jr., a role made all the more important by the questions surrounding Alvin Kamara's (knee) early-season availability after the 10th-year veteran suffered an MCL injury early in training camp. In Friday night's preseason matchup with the Cowboys, both backs saw action, and it was Estime who led the team with 46 rushing yards on only four carries, setting up a first-half touchdown by bouncing off contact for an impressive 33-yard run to the Cowboys' 8-yard-line. He added 22 yards on three catches, and has now racked up 90 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown across his two pre-season appearances. After putting up nearly identical rushing stat lines a season ago, neither Estime nor Miller has truly separated, and should Kamara miss extended time, they could split carries behind Etienne. While neither is a particularly palatable fantasy option, Estime's involvement in the passing game at least has the potential to provide a usable floor in a worst-case scenario.

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Veteran running back Hassan Haskins was a late training camp addition of the New England Patriots, but he has made an impression in his limited time with the team. In Thursday's preseason loss to the Browns, Haskins converted two short-yardage situations through hard running, and Patriots staff writer Evan Lazar believes the team's decision on the third running back spot behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) will come down to style of play. At 6'2" and 228 pounds, Haskins stands out as a physical complement to the two roster locks, but Lazar notes that if the Patriots value versatility and upside, the edge could still go to second-year player Lan Larison. The NFL's roster cutdown deadline is Sunday, and although Henderson's recent ankle injury has been downplayed, there's a chance that whoever earns the team's third running back spot could see more involvement early in the year.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles met with the media on Saturday, and while he expressed hope that second-year wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) will be ready for Week 1, further context suggests he could still be dealing with something significant. Team reporter Greg Auman points out the difference in language after Bowles told the media in the same session that he expects Jalen McMillan (knee) to be ready for the season opener while adding a "hopefully" to Egbuka's update. Bowles did say that he does not anticipate adding any additional receivers to offset the short-term injuries, but with the Buccaneers' first game of the season just over two weeks away, Egbuka's status will need to be monitored, particularly when the team is required to provide its first practice report the Wednesday before kickoff.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. caught three passes for 58 yards in Seattle's preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. Henderson has been relatively quiet throughout the preseason, but the rookie took a nice step forward on Friday. Seattle has a deep stable of wide receivers behind Jaxson Smith-Njigba. As a sixth-round draft pick in 2026, Henderson will hope to be a part of the equation for Seattle this season. With uncertainty surrounding Tory Horton's undisclosed injury and Jake Bobo (knee) done for the season, Seattle will be looking for other players to step up. Henderson should not be on the fantasy radar yet, but he is a talented prospect to keep an eye on.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright led the team in rushing in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. Wright recorded 33 rushing yards on 15 carries, and he added one reception for 11 yards. Wright's presence in the game suggests that he is relatively low on the depth chart. Seattle did not even really play its No. 2 offense on Friday. Wright is not currently listed in the top four on the depth chart, suggesting that he is a cut candidate for the team. However, Wright was effective in preseason Week 2 with 81 rushing yards on eight carries. He is likely competing with Emanuel Wilson for a roster spot. Should Wright make the team, he could be a name to watch as the Seahawks sort out their running back hierarchy before Zach Charbonnet (knee) returns.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe had the opportunity to play a full game in Week 3 of the preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs. He delivered 223 passing yards and a touchdown, along with 20 rushing yards on seven carries. This performance came after a fair amount of average play from Milroe throughout the preseason. As a developmental prospect, it is great to see that Milroe is making progress. It does not mean much for fantasy at the moment. At best, Milroe will be the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart. It remains to be seen if Milroe will receive any playing time in rushing packages this season, a concept the Seahawks abandoned in 2025. Either way, he will not have any fantasy value for the foreseeable future.

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Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon missed the team's first two preseason games while dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for much of training camp, and in Friday night's loss to the Bengals, he struggled to shake off the rust despite a concerted effort to get him involved early. Lemon was targeted five times in his first professional game, ending his night with three yards on three receptions, but he also muffed a punt and had a drop that led to an interception. "I'm glad it happened in the preseason, so come around September, those things won't happen," he said after the game. Expectations were high after the team traded up to select Lemon with the 20th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but his prolonged absence allowed Dontayvion Wicks to emerge as the team's second receiver alongside DeVonta Smith, and the rookie will need to spend the early weeks of the season playing catch-up as he looks to carve out a primary slot role. At RotoBaller's WR46, he is still a player to take a swing on in 2026 drafts with the understanding that his best production is likely to come later in the year.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Dohnte Meyers has been one of the best stories out of training camp, and in Friday's preseason win over the Eagles, he turned in another strong performance in his push to earn a role behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Playing on only the first drive of the night, Meyers caught three passes for 51 yards, with head coach Zac Taylor saying after the game, "He's trying to take advantage of the opportunity. He's done a great job of that." An undrafted free agent out of Division II Delta State, Meyers played the last two seasons in the Canadian Football League, but he finishes the 2026 preseason with a team-leading 121 receiving yards on 11 receptions, and he has a realistic chance not only to make the team but to find early-season involvement in what has long been a top-heavy receiver room.

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One day after Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was formally charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an alleged incident that led to his arrest in May, head coach Matt LaFleur addressed his standing with the team. "Well, I fully anticipate him being a member of our team," LaFleur told the media on Friday. "You've got to let everything play out," he continued. "But I anticipate him being a member of our football team." Jacobs was charged with battery and criminal damage to property, and the NFL does not need to wait for the legal process to play out before deciding whether to suspend him, with a league spokesperson saying on Wednesday that his case "remains under review." When healthy and available, Jacobs is one of the biggest fantasy difference-makers at the position, but uncertainty around his situation has pushed him to RB16 by current ADP.

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Kansas City Chiefs running back Emari Demercado rushed nine times for 37 yards and caught his only target for 15 yards in the 9-9 tie with the Seattle Seahawks. Demercado finished second on the team in carries, behind Brashard Smith, and third on the team in rushing yards. Demercado's 4.1 yards per carry in the contest was the lowest among the RB trio of Demercado, Brashard Smith, and Emmett Johnson. Demercado is currently listed as the Chiefs RB2 behind Kenneth Walker, but that may be a formality as rookie Johnson operated as the starter in this contest. Johnson started the first two drives of the game before Demercado saw his first opportunity. Despite being listed as the Kansas City RB2, Demercado is likely to operate as a passing-downs specialist to spell Kenneth Walker but is not likely to carry the load if Walker gets hurt. Demercado may hold some PPR value in the deepest of leagues, but the expectations are not high for the Kansas City running back heading into 2026.

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