Everything that happens in the NFL has additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our Fantasy Football buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the league.
Aug. 16: What you need to know from Saturday's games
By Tristan H. Cockcroft
Fantasy managers got their first preseason glimpses of New York Giants sophomores Jaxson Dart, who averaged a fifth-best-among-quarterbacks 20.1 fantasy points per game last year, and Cam Skattebo, whose 16.0 points per game were ninth best among running backs, during Saturday's slate.
Dart went 3-for-4 passing for 26 yards and a touchdown in the Giants' preseason opener, the touchdown a 15-yard pass to Malachi Fields, the team's third-round pick, in the second quarter. But Dart's past injury concerns -- he required five concussion checks for hard hits taken during his rookie season -- resurfaced late in the first quarter, when he was sent for another concussion evaluation after taking a sack. He'd return for the Giants' first drive of the second quarter, concluding with the completion to Fields. The touchdown served a reminder of Dart's immense fantasy upside; the brief absence underscored the injury risk he brings as a result of his aggressive approach to play.
Skattebo, who has received generally positive reports in his recovery from the right leg injury that prematurely ended his 2026, started the game and snuck in four attempts for 19 yards rushing, sprinkling them in across the Giants' first two drives. He was used interchangeably with backups Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary, but that's probably more of an indication of the Giants' plan to ease their star running back in slowly this preseason than something that'll carry into the regular season.
Meanwhile, Malik Nabers, the team's star wide receiver, sat out the preseason opener as expected. It appears unlikely that Nabers will suit up for any of the team's three exhibition contests, as he's participating in team drills but has not yet been cleared for contact. His prognosis has improved to the point that he could be ready to play for Week 1, but fantasy managers will need to follow his practice updates to guide their lineup decisions for the season opener rather than expect to see him in preseason action.
Among the seven total preseason games from Saturday, here are four other players whose performances caught my eye and how to best react to them in fantasy:
Jonathon Brooks picked up his first preseason start in place of the injured Chuba Hubbard (hamstring), rushing three times for five yards and catching his only target for nine yards. The statistics don't move the needle for our purposes, but bear in mind that the Panthers' entire offense struggled throughout that night, as Brooks was in for each of the team's first three series, all of which were three-and-out. That's something that might be commonplace in Carolina this season, but Brooks' status as the clear starter and go-to back here is an indication that he'd handle that role for Week 1 should Hubbard prove not ready, and there's a very real chance he could overtake Hubbard outright in-season. Frankly, I've swapped these two in my rankings, preferring Brooks to Hubbard, and you should too.
Ja'Kobi Lane continues to have the preseason of preseasons, catching all three of his targets for 38 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' exhibition opener. Though Lane's touchdown came from undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano, an indication that he's not yet a prime member of the "A" team, the third-rounder's stock continued to rise to the point that he's now the WR66 in ESPN ADP, and rostered in 9.4% of leagues. Lane is one of my favorite deep sleepers -- if he hasn't removed the "deep" label from that at this point -- who should improve the team's red-zone deficiencies from 2025.
The Cleveland Browns gave us some fantasy-relevant returns... yes, the Cleveland Browns! KC Concepcion, one of the team's two wide receivers selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, caught 3-of-4 targets for 27 yards, but perhaps more importantly turned his lone rushing attempt into a 14-yard touchdown on an end-around. If the Browns are to continue to find creative ways to get their star rookie involved, he could provide WR3/flex value on a fairly regular basis, even from what projects to be one of the league's weaker offenses.
Dynasty leaguers got a lengthy glimpse of Los Angeles Rams Ty Simpson, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and second quarterback selected, as the Alabama standout completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns in the team's preseason opener. Simpson played the near-entirety of the game, and he'll likely log a lot of time in the team's second game next week, as he attempts to secure the primary backup role to Matthew Stafford. Bearing in mind Stafford's 38 years of age, Simpson is a worthy stash in those formats.
Aug. 15: What you need to know from Friday's games
By Eric Moody
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason continued with three games on Friday night. With players fighting for snaps, here are five who caught my attention and how I think their fantasy expectations might change.
Breece Hall played nearly all the snaps on the New York Jets' opening drive against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and handled four carries, a notable change from how the Jets used him last preseason. He also stayed on the field for two third downs. Hall is only 25, remains explosive and has finished as a top-20 back in fantasy points per game in each of the last three seasons, including an RB6 finish in 2023. With Geno Smith under center and with the potential for more work on passing downs, Hall could easily outperform his RB15 price.
Rookie running back Jonah Coleman already appears to be ahead of Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie despite being listed sixth on the Denver Broncos' unofficial depth chart. RJ Harvey handled the early work against the Atlanta Falcons, but Coleman took over late in the second drive and played every snap on the third. Denver returns all five starters from an offensive line that finished fourth in run-block win rate, and Coleman is an intriguing late-round option, given J.K. Dobbins' injury history and Harvey's inability to take control of the backfield last season.
Jahan Dotson looks locked in as the Falcons' No. 2 wide receiver after playing every snap with the starters over two drives against the Broncos, primarily at X. Olamide Zaccheaus worked mostly from the slot, while rookie Zachariah Branch saw limited first-team work, leaving Dotson with little competition for outside snaps. His career production has been modest, but the opportunity makes him worth a look in the later rounds of deeper leagues.
Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington look like the Miami Dolphins' clear top two receivers after playing every snap with the starters across multiple personnel groupings on the opening drive against the Washington Commanders. Tight end Greg Dulcich has gotten a lot of attention this summer, but Douglas and Washington shouldn't be overlooked late in drafts.
Aug. 14: What you need to know from Thursday's games
By Eric Moody
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason got underway in earnest with six games on Thursday night. With so many games and players fighting for snaps, here are eight players who caught my attention and how I think their fantasy expectations might change.
Jeremiyah Love started the Arizona Cardinals' preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders and played the majority of the snaps over the first three drives while handling 14 touches. Love had 11 carries for 58 yards and caught three passes for 14 yards. The performance could lead to a slight spike in Love's average draft position, but regardless, he remains firmly on the RB1 radar.
Matthew Golden played in 12-personnel snaps with the starters against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jayden Reed still looks mostly tied to the slot, which should keep Golden on the field more often. He should see more targets with both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks gone. Golden is projected to lead the Green Bay Packers in targets, although no Green Bay receiver has surpassed a 21% target share since Davante Adams (who left following the 2021 season). Even with that concern, Golden looks like a nice value at WR40.
Josh Downs was held out of the preseason game against the New England Patriots, along with most of the Indianapolis Colts' starters, another sign that he could have a vital role heading into 2026. Michael Pittman Jr.'s departure leaves behind 111 targets, and Downs has already shown what he can do with more volume, catching 72 passes for 803 yards and five touchdowns on 107 targets in 2024. Ashton Dulin appears to have a grip on the third receiver spot, while Alec Pierce remains on the PUP list. Downs is projected for 110 targets and is currently WR45 in ESPN leagues. He's someone fantasy managers shouldn't overlook late in drafts.
Tyjae Spears played more snaps than Tony Pollard in the Tennessee Titans' preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, and the rotation looked much closer to 50-50 than it did last season. Pollard still started, but both backs mixed in on early downs, third downs and short-yardage situations before leaving at the same time. Spears also broke off a 25-yard run. Brian Daboll has historically favored committees, and Spears is RB50 while Pollard is RB27. As of now, that gap appears to be too wide.
Carnell Tate lined up primarily at Z with the starters, while Calvin Ridley worked more at X -- a little different from what many expected. That could actually help Tate's outlook, especially since Daboll used Malik Nabers in a similar Z role with the Giants. Wan'Dale Robinson stayed almost exclusively in the slot, while Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike rotated in more than expected. Tate is projected to lead the Titans with 127 targets.
Colbie Young is already getting snaps with the starters -- including in both 11- and 12-personnel against the Detroit Lions while Joe Burrow was still in the game. He might be closer to Andrei Iosivas than expected for the Cincinnati Bengals No. 3 role and could be the next man up if Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins miss time.
MarShawn Lloyd started for the Packers with Josh Jacobs sidelined and played every snap on the opening drive, including all three downs. That usage is encouraging and makes Lloyd a worthwhile stash in the later rounds of drafts, especially with Jacobs already dealing with a groin injury and the possibility of a suspension.
Jayden Higgins was inactive against the Los Angeles Chargers, while Xavier Hutchinson played. That's a good sign for Higgins' role for the Houston Texans. He appears to be ahead of Hutchinson at Z, while Hutchinson could see more work in the slot. Tank Dell's role is still worth monitoring, but Higgins is projected for the second-most targets on the team. If that usage holds, he has sleeper appeal at his WR57 draft price.
Aug. 13: Big opportunity for Jonathon Brooks; Jordyn Tyson injured
By Liz Loza
Brooks steps in while Hubbard is out
Chuba Hubbard is dealing with a hamstring issue and is "week-to-week," per David Canales. The team's head coach later clarified that he's confident the 27-year-old will be ready for Carolina's regular-season opener versus Chicago on Sept. 13. However, the vet will be held out of the Panthers' second preseason effort at the Bills this coming Saturday. Instead, third-year back Jonathon Brooks will mix in with Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon.
Brooks' 2026 debut has been a highly anticipated event. Despite being the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL draft (46th overall), the former Texas standout has been limited to just three pro efforts. Brooks tore the ACL in his right knee twice over a span of 13 months. Currently 19 months removed from his second knee surgery, the 23-year-old has been a full participant in training camp. A versatile and instinctive three-down player at the position, Brooks is expected to carve out a significant role in Carolina's backfield.
Hubbard ceded command of the Panthers backfield to Rico Dowdle after dealing with a calf strain in Weeks 5 and 6 of last year. Carolina let Dowdle walk during the offseason, potentially freeing up 275 touches. While Hubbard is expected to begin the season as the team's RB1, there's a clear opportunity for Brooks to overtake the starting spot. Were Hubbard's hamstring issues to linger, Brooks' ascent could be fast-tracked. He's currently being drafted a round and a half after Hubbard, who is generally coming off boards in the middle of the 12th round (115).
Injuries already a concern for Saints rookie Tyson?
Jordyn Tyson reportedly left Thursday's practice early with what's believed to be a hamstring issue. Bi-lateral hamstring strains limited Tyson to nine games during his final season at Arizona State in 2025. Lingering soft tissue issues additionally forced the rookie to skip on-field workouts and physical testing at the NFL Combine earlier this year. Nonetheless, New Orleans selected the former Sun Devil No. 8 overall at the draft in April.
A versatile player with outstanding ball skills and route savvy, Tyson was expected to fill the Saint's No. 2 WR role, working as a dynamic complement to Chris Olave. The rookie had his reps managed during the team's offseason program and was medically cleared for training camp in late July. It's concerning that barely two weeks into practice, the hamstring issues have resurfaced. Were Tyson to miss time, Olave and Juwan Johnson would continue to lead the team in pass-catching opportunities.
Aug. 12: More volume for Chase Brown, Denzel Boston turning heads
By Cameron Wolfe
Big season coming for Chase Brown?
The Cincinnati Bengals will count on Brown to take on a heavier load this season with a focus on more under-center runs and usage in the pass game. Watching practice Sunday, it was eye-opening how much versatility the offense had with play formation and motion/shifts. It was a far cry from the Bengals' traditional shotgun-heavy, productive yet sometimes static offense. Brown will be the biggest beneficiary as a receiver and runner.
Joe Burrow said the team's No.1 priority is to get the ball in Ja'Marr Chase's hands but "a close second" is getting the ball to Brown.
Brown told me after practice, "I'm excited for it. There's going to be a lot of big plays we create."
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told me he wants the Bengals to be prepared to go on lengthy, methodical touchdown drives rather than relying on deep shots defenses have prioritized stopping. The under-center focus isn't new -- they did it plenty in their Super Bowl season -- and one Bengals source said a key reason why there should be more snaps under center is to help keep Burrow healthy.
"Under center makes us a little more unpredictable," Brown said. "We have a lot of play-action and runs called from under center. When you're in I-formation, the ball can go either way. It keeps defenses on their heels more. If you look at the statistics from last year, almost all the most explosive run teams were majority under-center run teams. I look forward to continuing to build on that."
This is completely Brown's backfield in a contract year, so fantasy owners have plenty of reason to be confident in his heavy dual-threat usage, with eyes also on whether this focus limits the Bengals' secondary receiving weapons.
Denzel Boston: WR1 in Cleveland?
One Cleveland Browns source told me in camp last week that the rookie second-round wide receiver "looks like he can be Drake London for us. His ability to go get the ball is special, but he's more than that. I don't care what he runs in a 40. He's quicker than you think."
Boston has had a tremendous camp, so much so that head coach Todd Monken announced Boston will be moving into the starting lineup to play the "X" receiver with a plan to move around the formation with veteran Jerry Jeudy, who is having uneven training camp. Monken also said Boston's catch radius is an aspect he shares similarities with Mike Evans.
The transition paves the way for Boston to eventually become the Browns' No. 1 receiver. When I watched practice last week, Boston took over with catches on all three levels from both Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. The trust was there. The QB situation is troubling for fantasy prospects, but if you were to make any upside play in this receiver room it feels like it's Boston.
First-round rookie KC Concepcion has flashed strong play in camp as well and should have a notable role, but the 6-foot-4 Boston already looks like a draft steal and could become the go-to receiver for a Browns team that has had notable early struggles offensively in training camp.
Aug. 11: News or noise? Two coaches comment on their respective backfields
Matt Bowen: Recently, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell and Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel made comments on their respective backfields. But is this news we should seriously look at, or just more training camp noise? Let's hit on both teams here.
Lions: After Isiah Pacheco's MCL sprain that will keep him out for some time, Campbell said of Jahmyr Gibbs, "We're going to push him, because we think this kid can be one of the best, if not the best." To me, that's the opposite of noise when the head coach is speaking. And it tells us that Gibbs will have a heavy volume role, worthy of being in the discussion as the overall No. 1 pick with Atlanta Falcons' Bijan Robinson.
Yes, the Lions signed Pacheco, who could be ready in time for the opener, but he should be targeted only as a late-round insurance back. Gibbs, who scored 21.6 fantasy PPG and had 77 receptions in 2025, is the clear lead runner in Detroit -- with elite dual-threat ability.
Chargers: McDaniel, when asked about his running back room featuring Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell, said, "Bad news, fantasy owners. Good news is I see all three of those guys producing at a very high level. Bad news is I can't tell you which games those are." My take here? It's training camp noise that shouldn't impact your draft board.
In nine games played as a rookie, Hampton scored 15.1 fantasy PPG, with three games of 20 or more points. He's a breakout candidate for me given his skill set and the fit in McDaniels' system, so he remains a clear RB1 in my ranks. With Mitchell, I do see upside -- as a change-of-pace runner -- if given more opportunity, which I wrote about last week. But that's not enough to reduce Hampton's workload at a high rate, and the same can be said for Vidal. He would be a potential waiver wire add if Hampton were to go down with an injury. Stick with Hampton here.
Aug. 10: Don't panic about Burden injury news
Eric Karabell: Fantasy football managers undecided about which of the two top Chicago Bears wide receivers they wish to choose first might believe they have received some clarity this weekend, as rising star Luther Burden III suffered a groin injury during Saturday's practice. The Bears say Burden, 22, will miss the preseason, but who cares about that? Was Burden really going to play much in August anyway? The Bears -- and most importantly, us -- care about September.
As of now, the Bears say Burden should be ready for the Sept. 13 opener against the Carolina Panthers, making this injury news mostly a nonstory. Of course, it is not a nonstory because this is fantasy football and everyone worries about everything. Burden, in his second season out of Missouri, and Rome Odunze, in his third season from Washington, are Chicago's top wide receiver options. Each is going in the seventh round of ESPN ADP, and the news on Burden has already begun to alter that.
Odunze will likely see his ADP continue to rise in a positive manner (it has already), into Round 6, while Burden slides out of the seventh round, and all because of an otherwise innocuous play in an early August practice, when a receiver got tangled up with a cornerback, and more than four weeks before the regular season begins.
Many smart people like this Bears offense. QB Caleb Williams might be on the verge of stardom, and he should, at least, become the first Bears QB to surpass 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in a season. (Yep, no Bears QB, in more than 100 seasons, has ever achieved either milestone. Peyton Manning laughs.) Perhaps RBs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai will combine somewhat evenly for nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards, making neither a star, but each option a potential RB2 choice. TE Colston Loveland, already a star, might be the No. 3 TE in season scoring this season. He is that good.
Odunze and Burden might end up being Burden and Odunze -- if you know what I mean. This doesn't appear to be a serious injury, though in fairness, the Bears probably wouldn't announce it if it were. Perhaps neither of the two WRs are locks for WR2 outcomes, anyway, because Loveland is so good and the Bears were third in rushing yards per game last season and probably would like to do that again. In that sense, this Burden injury isn't really, sorry, much of a burden. I wouldn't start studying which other Bears WRs are about to become valuable fantasy entities, either. (For the record, the backups are former Lions understudy Kalif Raymond and ... OK, let's just stop right there.)
Burden should be fine, but every time the millions of fantasy managers keeping up with the news consider whether to draft him or Odunze in the sixth round remember this early August news about a rising, 22-year-old's groin injury, they probably will go with Odunze. Perhaps that will work out, but then again, little has really changed, though. Burden becomes the value pick later. OK, so then something changed.
Aug. 7: Should Carson Beck be on your superflex radar after Hall of Fame Game?
Eric Moody: The 2026 NFL preseason got underway Thursday in Canton, Ohio, where the Carolina Panthers beat the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 in the Hall of Fame Game. The biggest takeaway was Cardinals rookie QB Carson Beck, who impressed in his debut after being selected in the third round in April.
Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards, 1 TD and a 125.4 passer rating. He was especially sharp in the first half, going 11-of-14 for 148 yards and a score while completing all four of his throws at least 15 yards downfield for 59 yards. His best throw was a 49-yard strike to WR Jalen Brooks, and he later found WR Simi Fehoko on a five-yard fade for a touchdown.
Beck looked poised, processed quickly and handled the pocket well, though questions about his arm strength remain. Jacoby Brissett is expected to open the season as Arizona's starter at QB, but Beck's performance could lead to starts later in the year. Managers in superflex leagues should keep Beck on their radar.
RBs Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier were inactive, which shouldn't come as a surprise. Love, who was selected third overall by the Cardinals in April's draft, will be Arizona's featured back and is projected for 18.8 touches per game. Allgeier is expected to be the No. 2 back.
Bam Knight was the starter on Thursday night against the Panthers. Allgeier is the obvious insurance back for fantasy managers to roster, but James Conner and Trey Benson were also notably absent and could be trade candidates.
Conner is especially interesting. He averaged 17.1 touches per game over his five seasons with the Cardinals and could still help a team if traded into the right situation. He's worth considering in the final round of drafts as a lottery ticket. If he stays in Arizona by the start of the regular season and doesn't have a meaningful role, you can simply move on.
Aug. 5: Diggs finds soft landing with Commanders
Tristan H. Cockcroft; Seeking to upgrade their WR2 spot, the Washington Commanders on Wednesday signed Stefon Diggs to a one-year deal worth up to $12 million. He'll presumably slide into a starting role across from Terry McLaurin, and he lands in a great spot as a member of an upper-half passing offense on a team that had its share of issues keeping its other receivers healthy in 2025.
The Commanders will be Diggs' fourth different team in as many seasons, but that's hardly due to a lack of production. Diggs scored 210 or more fantasy points in two of those three years (2023 with the Buffalo Bills, 2025 with the New England Patriots), and in the one in which he didn't -- his 2024 season ended prematurely after eight games due to a torn right ACL -- he finished with a 15.2 per-game average that is only slightly beneath his 15.9 career rate.
Now 32, Diggs shouldn't be much of a threat to McLaurin's No. 1 status, other than a possible need to elevate into the role in the event of any absences by the latter. That said, with a solid passer in Jayden Daniels throwing to him, not to mention one of the better backups in the game in Marcus Mariota ready to step in should Daniels miss additional time, Diggs has an excellent chance at a top-40 fantasy point total at the position in his new, well, digs. There's every reason to draft him as that, and it's likely he'll even go later, perhaps in the 10th round or beyond -- at which point he's a no-brainer selection to pad your team's receiving depth.
The addition has the most adverse impact on Antonio Williams, a third-round pick who might have to settle for slot snaps in three-receiver sets. Williams might still see his share of starts midyear, considering both McLaurin and Diggs will play this season aged 31 or older, but the rookie is more of a streaming pickup than a draft-day flier in standard formats following this move.
July 31: Fantasy outlook for Samuel in 49ers reunion
Matt Bowen: With Deebo Samuel back with the San Francisco 49ers after signing a one-year deal Thursday, let's discuss the fantasy implications for the veteran wide receiver and the 49ers' pass game.
We know there is immediate familiarity in Kyle Shanahan's offense for Samuel. The crossing routes, play-action targets and manufactured touches Shanahan can dial-up. Backfield alignments, too: Fly sweeps, screens and more.
Samuel, who had 11.1 fantasy PPG in Washington last season, still has strong hands at the catch point, plus he can use his play demeanor to create numbers after the catch. However, fantasy managers must also understand that Samuel's speed has declined at this stage of career. He's a power strider who now needs a long runway to build up that speed in the route tree.
Looking at this roster, Christian McCaffrey will still get his high-level target share, even if Samuel is deployed out of the backfield at times. Mike Evans will play as the boundary X receiver and George Kittle (if healthy) will continue to be the middle-of-the-field option for quarterback Brock Purdy. Christian Kirk is in the mix, too. That leaves Samuel as a potential late-round add in deeper leagues, but more likely a streaming option based on his usage.
The move to land Samuel, however, should tell us that the team has concerns about the health -- and immediate future -- of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who is currently dealing with a right knee injury. The way I see it, Pearsall should be taken off fantasy draft boards until further notice, as his lack of availability continues to be a roadblock to fantasy production.