After being limited in the Pittsburgh Steelers' first official practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, running back Jaylen Warren (hamstring) upgraded to a full participant on Thursday, signaling that he's on track to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. It's an injury that Warren has been dealing with since getting hurt in the first preseason game in the middle of August, but the 25-year-old is expected to be active for fantasy managers this weekend. The third-year running back will continue to share a backfield with Najee Harris, which will limit his overall fantasy ceiling, but Warren averaged 5.3 yards per carry and at times looked like Pittsburgh's best back in 2023. Warren should be treated as a reliable RB3/flex heading into the start of the regular season despite having an injury designation this week.

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Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker, fresh off signing a contract extension, will look for a hot start in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Dicker ended up as the overall K10 in fantasy last season, scoring 7.5 fantasy points per game. He made 31 of his 33 field goal attempts and scored on all 35 extra point tries. In an offense that should be improved this season, Dicker has more upside than that and should be a sturdy and steady producer at one of fantasy football's least predictable positions. He's definitely a starting option in all formats still using a kicker spot.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) was added to the Week 1 injury report on Thursday and was listed as a limited participant due to a hamstring injury. Higgins practiced in full on Wednesday, and while this could raise eyebrows for some, Higgins has assured us he'll be good to go for Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday versus the New England Patriots. "Ready to put on a show for the fans," Higgins said. It doesn't sound like anything that will slow the 25-year-old down to open up the 2024 campaign, and with Ja'Marr Chase potentially being limited due to his lengthy contract holdout all offseason, there's a strong chance that Higgins ends up being the most targeted pass-catcher in Cincy by quarterback Joe Burrow early on. Higgins remains in the shadow of Chase in fantasy, but he has solid WR2 fantasy appeal in Week 1 in a game the Bengals are favored by more than a touchdown.

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The Cleveland Browns have waived wide receiver David Bell, a third-round pick from the 2022 NFL draft. With no immediate addition to the 53-man roster, the Browns now have an open spot as they prepare for the season opener. Over his career with the Browns, Bell played in 31 regular-season games, recording 38 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns. He also had eight receptions for 54 yards in last season's playoff loss to the Texans. The remaining wide receivers on the active roster are Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, Jamari Thrash, and Cedric Tillman. This move may signal confidence in the development of Tillman and Thrash, who are expected to take on more prominent roles in 2024. Ultimately, Bell's tenure with the Browns did not meet the team's expectations when they selected him in the third round two years ago.

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Minnesota Vikings second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) said he is definitely playing in the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday against the New York Giants after recovering from a high-ankle sprain. Addison was officially limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week. Meanwhile, Jalen Nailor, who is also dealing with an ankle injury, appeared to be more limited than Addison on Thursday. The 22-year-old Addison initially suffered his ankle sprain on Aug. 14. The 23rd overall pick last year out of USC benefitted from a lengthy absence from Justin Jefferson and finished with a 70-911-10 line in 17 games. Most fantasy pundits are expecting him to take a step back in Year 2, though, with a downgrade in QBs from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold. With him nursing an ankle injury to boot, fantasy managers should consider Addison a WR4/flex in Week 1 if he's active.

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The San Francisco 49ers are officially listing running back Christian McCaffrey's (calf, Achilles) injury as both calf and Achilles on the injury report, and he was limited in practice on Thursday. This designation is not new but is now provided in full disclosure. Head coach Kyle Shanahan reassured reporters before practice that the Achilles issue is related to the calf strain McCaffrey sustained in early August during training camp. Shanahan did not express concern about McCaffrey's availability for Monday's season opener against the New York Jets. A three-time All-Pro, McCaffrey led the league in rushing yards (1,459) and total yards from scrimmage (2,023) in 2023 and tied for the NFL lead in touchdowns (21) with Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert. He was also named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. McCaffrey's exceptional skills as both a runner and a pass-catcher are crucial to the 49ers' offensive success, and he remains the team's top running back until further notice.

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Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was excellent in his rookie season last year and will look for another strong year in his sophomore season. Aubrey entered the last game of the season last year a perfect 35-for-35 before missing two in his final game. He still ended up with 49 extra points and finished as the top overall fantasy kicker with 9.2 fantasy points per game. There's no reason to believe he can't repeat or at least come close to his excellent season, making him an easy top-10 kicking option every week.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson had a solid season last year, finishing as the overall fantasy TE10. He's set for a similar or perhaps even bigger role this year after the departure of running back Tony Pollard. Ferguson was 10th in receiving yards per game among tight ends and 17th in yards per route run. He could see more short passes going his way this season, making him an excellent floor play with some upside each week. Week 1, however, could be a difficult one as the Cleveland Browns defense limited opposing tight ends to the fewest receiving yards last season and the second-fewest fantasy points. Ferguson is a low-end TE1 for Week 1 with brighter outlooks ahead.

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The Green Bay Packers have listed running backs MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) and Emanuel Wilson (hip), along with tight end Tucker Kraft (back), as questionable for Friday night's game against the Eagles. Lloyd has been managing a hamstring injury throughout the summer, while Wilson and Kraft's injuries are more recent, with both being full participants as recently as Tuesday's practice. Lloyd, a non-participant on Tuesday, returned as a limited participant for Thursday's walkthrough. Both positions are now major concerns for the team. Running backs AJ Dillon and tight end Tyler Davis were placed on season-ending injured reserve during roster cuts. With Lloyd and Wilson injured, the only healthy running back on the 53-man roster is free-agent signing Josh Jacobs, who has yet to see action for the Packers. The tight end position is also thin; if Kraft is unavailable, the team will have only Luke Musgrave and Ben Sims left at the position. If Lloyd and Kraft cannot play, the roles of Jacobs and Musgrave would significantly increase.

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Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey is set to start in the slot in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. McConkey didn't play much in the preseason but is expected to play a significant role in the passing game this season. He's behind Joshua Palmer on the depth chart for sure, but could realistically be the second option for quarterback Justin Herbert on passing plays. McConkey will face a Raiders secondary that was in the upper half of rankings against slot receivers last season. His college numbers put him in the 98th percentile in receiving against single coverage though, so it could be a pleasant welcome to the NFL for the Chargers second-round pick.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer is set to start as the likely primary pass catcher in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Palmer did well last season after Mike Williams got hurt, putting up an average of 71 receiving yards per game in those contests. He's the only returning pass catcher besides Quentin Johnston, who may not even be in the starting lineup. Palmer's rapport with quarterback Justin Herbert and his spot on the depth chart gives him plenty of upside on a team whose offense should be very much improved. He's a solid WR3/flex play for the first week of the season with room to grow.

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On the initial Week 1 injury report for the New Orleans Saints, cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hip) was listed as limited due to a persistent hip issue. However, he was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday's practice. Lattimore's 2023 season was plagued by injuries, including an ankle problem that kept him to just ten games and a kidney laceration that limited him to seven games the year before. These health issues sparked trade rumors during the offseason, but the Saints decided to keep him. Lattimore is set to start on Sunday, providing a significant boost to the Saints' defense against a Carolina Panthers offense that is expected to have difficulties. His presence will be a considerable challenge for Bryce Young and the Panthers' receiving corps.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is all set to go for a Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns. Lamb missed the preseason while holding out for his newly signed contract, but he was reportedly still working out and staying in game shape, so he's ready to go for the season opener on Sunday. Lamb was a top pick in essentially every league and is completely matchup proof regardless of the tough Browns secondary. While he'll be ranked as the overall WR1 most weeks, there may be a couple of guys ahead of him this week just because of the tiniest slice of uncertainty.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was limited in practice for the second consecutive day with a heel injury on Thursday afternoon. The veteran wideout also missed a practice due to the same injury last week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Allen's status as we approach the season opener on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The 32-year-old is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, totaling 1,243 yards on 108 receptions with seven scores. If Allen were to miss Sunday's game or suit up in a limited capacity, DJ Moore should see an uptick in targets, and rookie pass catcher Rome Odunze should also see more playing opportunities.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks isn't a great option in Week 1 fantasy lineups. The Cowboys offense will once again run through CeeDee Lamb and the running game, with Cooks playing more of a support role on the field. Last season, Cooks ended up as the WR43. All of that, combined with a strong Cleveland Browns secondary, makes Cooks an easy pass in starting lineups for the first week of the season.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray signed a three-year extension with the Kansas City Chiefs just hours prior to their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Gray has spent his entire NFL career in Kansas City, totaling 640 receiving yards and four scores on 63 catches over the past three campaigns. Last season, he saw a career-high 305 yards and two scores. The 25-year-old will now call Kansas City home for the foreseeable future. Fantasy managers should leave Gray on the waiver wire for now, as Travis Kelce will continue to see the vast majority of targets at the tight end position. However, if Kelce were to miss an extended period, Gray could carve out a decent role for fantasy purposes.

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The Miami Dolphins will square up against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. It will be the home opener for the Fins and the first under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. After their defense was decimated by injuries in 2023, Miami prioritized bulking up that side of the ball in the offseason. Their key acquisitions are strong veteran presences in cornerback Kendall Fuller, linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Shaquil Barrett, and safety Jordan Poyer. In addition to returning studs Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland, and Calais Campbell, Miami now presents a strong core of talented veteran players. It's hard to know what to expect from Trevor Lawrence and the Jags' offense to open the year, but if the Dolphins' offense can get out to an early lead, it would bode well for the defense's outlook. They're currently RotoBaller's DEF22 heading into Week 1, with much more season-long upside if this unit gels quickly.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards is expected to be the early-down lead back on the Chargers new offense this season. A Week 1 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders isn't the softest introduction, but Edwards should still be the guy handed the ball on any short down situations. He likely won't be part of the passing game and isn't the most explosive open field runner, so he's the kind of guy who needs to score in real life to put up a strong fantasy score. He was fourth in touchdowns among running backs last season but ended up as just the overall RB32.

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Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders is a top option heading into the Dolphins' home opening tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sanders is near-automatic from under 40 yards in his career, connecting on 95% of his kicks (79-of-83). He gets a bit sketchier from there on out and is a combined 71-of-97 from 40+. However, the seventh-year kicker is reliable in the extra-point department, nailing 233-of-240 career attempts. Miami has an implied point total of 26 points heading into Week 1, and there should be plenty of scoring opportunities for the Dolphins squaring off against a Jaguars team that struggled against the pass in 2023. Fire up Sanders with confidence, as he is RotoBaller's K7 in this week's rankings.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins is set to make his Chargers debut in the backfield in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Dobbins will be paired with Gus Edwards, and while Edwards will do a lot of the running, Dobbins will be the one in for most of the passing game work. He's been an injury risk for essentially his entire career, but the upside certainly exists, especially in the offensive scheme he'll be playing in. He's a guy worth stashing on the bench to see how he fits with Justin Herbert and the rest of the Bolts, but probably not a guy you're comfortable starting in Week 1.

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