Silverstein believes the deal’s total value likely isn’t as important to the Packers as the structure. Kraft is still likely to reset the tight end market, but since he is returning from a season-ending ACL tear and has “yet to show he’s picked up where he left off last year, it may take some time for the deal to come together.” In the meantime, as long as he takes the field, Kraft can be treated as a TE1.
The report comes from the Ringer’s Tom Pelissero, who adds that “there is no timetable” for Darnold’s recovery, which will be based on “how he feels and how he recovers.” Pelissero referred to QB Drew Lock as “the likely starter” for the Seahawks’ Week 2 game against the Cardinals.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz puts Brown’s return timeline between 3 and 6 weeks. Both reports make Brown a candidate to be placed on short-term injured reserve. The rest of the Patriots’ wide receiver corps failed to step up in Week 1. Newcomer WR Romeo Doubs will undoubtedly be given a chance to earn his hefty contract in Week 2.
James has officially lost the backup job to rookie RB Kaelon Black, who should be safely stashed on fantasy benches before kickoff. The 49ers also declared QB Kurtis Rourke, CB Ephesians Prysock, WR Jordan Watkins, LB Tatum Bethune and OT Enrique Cruz inactive for Week 1 against the Rams.
The Rams acquired Atwell via trade in August. Although he already knows the system, coach Sean McVay evidently feels that Atwell is unnecessary for this one. Incumbent QB Stetson Bennett has officially defeated Simpson for the QB2 job. Simpson is inactive, but has been labeled the emergency third quarterback.
Sweat barely practiced this summer, supposedly dealing with a knee injury, while the Cardinals brass assured reporters that there was nothing to see here. The player was reportedly displeased with the team, but as of Week 1 practices, he remains a Cardinal. He is on track to face the Chargers this weekend.
Spann-Ford initially signed on with the Cowboys as a 2024 undrafted free agent. He has caught 18 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown since then. The front office is evidently pleased with his development. He is not worth rostering in 12-team leagues. The deal is worth $18 million with $12.075 million guaranteed.
We assumed this would be the case, but we are happy to have it confirmed. Mims exited the Broncos’ preseason game against the Vikings on August 28th, and updates on the foot injury have been tough to find. The team named him a starter in three-wide receiver sets yesterday, which was a good sign. He is a boom-bust FLEX, per usual.
Stowers had a rough training camp and has been sidelined since late August by the hamstring injury. He does not need to be rostered in 12-team leagues.
The Commanders’ starting running back is on track to play, but it would be nice to see him practice fully tomorrow. If he is unable to do so, he might end up sharing more touches than he normally would with receiving RB Rachaad White. Croskey-Merritt supposedly refined his passing game skill set this summer, potentially raising his fantasy-scoring ceiling. Stay tuned.
If active, Mitchell will be an RB4. The Chargers’ talented running back group goes three-deep, so there is no reason to rush the speedy player back. That said, consecutive limited sessions put Mitchell on track to face the Cardinals on Sunday.
Brenen should be available on Sunday, but the Chargers could choose to keep their presumed No. 4 wide receiver under wraps until he is fully healthy. The rookie wide receiver will be relevant in single-game DFS tournaments once he is up to speed.
McMillan is on track to face the Bengals on Sunday, but he is clearly still ramping up post-injury, potentially adding volatility to his Week 1 outlook. The Buccaneers’ No. 3 wide receiver is a boom-bust FLEX.
The Buccaneers’ No. 3 running back is only a bench stash at this time, but he could take on a few touches if he is active against the Bengals this weekend. He should be considered questionable to play at this time.
Defensive injuries aren’t always notable. This one is. Turner, 25, is an up-and-coming star defender, capable of challenging No. 1 wide receivers. If he is absent on Sunday, Buccaneers wide receivers will have a far easier time getting open.
Porter is still on track to play in Week 1 against the Falcons. Whether his limitations are truly injury-related or contract-related is anyone’s guess. The team will tell us his status tomorrow.
Love is on track to play in Week 1 against the Chargers, though he could rotate in behind RB Tyler Allgeier, the team’s nominal starter. Earlier today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said “it looks like” Love is going to be active for the season opener, though he stopped short of declaring it. Love would be a FLEX starter or better if active.
Jaguars coach Liam Coen said yesterday that Allen would be a game-time decision for Week 1 against the Browns. If active, he should handle his typical pass-protection duties. If he is inactive, running backs Ameer Abdullah, Chris Rodriguez and Bhayshull Tuten could all take on a little extra work, though projecting the exact usage is challenging.
Prior reports indicated that the Packers’ coaching staff realized that their frequent wide receiver rotation was rubbing their stars the wrong way, prompting a positional personnel churn this offseason. LaFleur’s comments confirm the Packers’ starting wide receiver trio is going to play a lot, and fantasy managers should take note. Watson played extremely well in his recent from an ACL tear last year. If that play carries over, he is a shoo-in WR2 with substantial upside. Golden could be in for a Year 2 leap, and Reed could reliably return FLEX value, or better, if his snap share is high enough.
Meyers said yesterday afternoon that he will play in Week 1, and we believe him. We would just like to see him upgrade to full participation tomorrow, if possible. The Jaguars field a deep wide receiver corps and Meyers appears to be jockeying for the No. 2 spot in the target pecking order with X-WR Brian Thomas. Assuming he is active, Meyers is FLEX-viable against the Browns in Week 1.
Earlier this week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said there is a “good chance” that Mahomes starts in Week 1. At this point, we would be surprised if he didn’t. The Chiefs’ quarterback is coming off season-ending ACL and LCL tears and will likely scramble less frequently than he did last year, potentially hurting his expected fantasy football output. He is a borderline QB1/2 against the Broncos’ elite defense.
Rice is evidently good to go for Week 1 after a tumultuous offseason, which included a knee operation and a jail stint. The Chiefs’ No. 1 wide receiver looked sluggish in training camp while rookie WR Cyrus Allen shined, but Rice’s status as the entrenched top target earner counts for something. Rice should be viewed as a WR2 entering the season.
Worthy’s range of potential outcomes remains quite wide. The team attributed his lackluster 2025 season to the significant shoulder injury he suffered in Week 1. He missed time in training camp with a shoulder issue as well. He can be treated as a volatile FLEX playing in a top-tier offense against the Broncos.
Delp is almost assuredly going to be ruled out tomorrow. The rookie tight end was unlikely to meaningfully challenge TE Juwan Johnson for targets early in the year, and the hamstring strain only reinforces that.
The Saints’ presumed passing down specialist is on track to play. Kamara sprained an MCL on August 18th, but the rehab is evidently going well. It is unclear whether Kamara could rotate in when the offense enters scoring position. Consider him a PPR FLEX option.