Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is confident in the backfield's one-two punch of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler, according to Adam Schultz of Athlon Sports. "I watch [Ekeler] and I'm like, 'This guy is tremendous,'" Kingsbury said. He's as quick and as fast and as strong as I've seen him. Have just been really pleased. The compliment of him and [Robinson] is great. You have a power back who has great hands and then you have a quick-twitch smaller guy who's been a 100-catch guy in the NFL. So, couldn't be more pleased with that one-two punch and the different things that we'll be able to do with both those guys." Evidently and perhaps unsurprisingly, the Commanders are expecting good things from the combination of Robinson, a younger power back, and Ekeler, a veteran with experience as an elite pass-catcher out of the backfield. Robinson is the preferred fantasy option given his expected volume and touchdown opportunities, but it's not hard to imagine a scenario in which both backs are starter-worthy options in fantasy football this year.

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Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (toe) will miss "considerable time," head coach Shane Steichen told Stephen Holder of ESPN.com. "I don't have a timetable on it," Steichen explained. Holder added that Woods' absence will extend into the regular season and could impact roster decisions. The Colts have plenty of options with Woods, including a potential injured reserve placement before or after rosters trim down in one week. None of the Colts' tight ends are appealing options in fantasy football this year, but an injury to Woods could create some additional opportunities for the team's top two players at the position, Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox.

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Extension talks between the Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase have been "mysterious," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. This situation is particularly unique because, as Schefter notes, Chase still has two years left on his current contract. That's what makes these negotiations different from those between the Dallas Cowboys and CeeDee Lamb, as well as the San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk. The Bengals are reportedly willing to strike a deal with Chase before the season, but Week 1 isn't a firm deadline in the team's eyes. On the other hand, Schefter highlighted recent comments from former NFL receiver Chad Johnson who believes that the two sides are making progress, but Chase might be inclined to hold out if he doesn't have a deal by the start of the season. As of now, the chances of that happening are slim, but should he miss time, Tee Higgins would be the Bengals' top receiver and a borderline WR1 in fantasy football. Fantasy managers must continue to monitor this situation in hopes of gaining more clarity before the regular season kicks off next month.

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman has been "able to do everything physically that the offense has asked of him," offensive coordinator Joe Brady told the media on Tuesday. Brady noted that Coleman, a rookie, is still learning and adapting to how NFL cornerbacks will guard him. This promising review of the first-round pick doesn't necessarily lock Coleman into the top receiver role, but it certainly reflects the coaching staff's trust and optimism in him. As the season approaches, fantasy managers will continue to monitor the competition between Coleman, Curtis Samuel, and Khalil Shakir in the Buffalo wide receiver room. It should be noted that Coleman has played 100 percent of first-team snaps for the first two weeks of the preseason, separating himself from his teammates. As of now, he appears to be the top fantasy wide receiver on the Bills and is a worthwhile pick at his current ADP in the 11th round of drafts.

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The San Francisco 49ers continue to remain apart from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams in regard to contract negotiations. Asked about the two players Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media, "Zero updates. Nothing has changed." It remains fascinating to watch this entire situation unfold as both players remain absent from practice with just over two weeks until the NFL regular season gets underway. Aiyuk's impasse comes with an added wrinkle given ongoing trade chatter, but it sounds like his realistic options are playing for the 49ers or Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 (and if he picks the Steelers, the 49ers would still have to agree to trade terms). There's been less discussion about a Williams trade, so it seems like he'll either be suiting up for the 49ers or spending Week 1 on their sideline, barring an unforeseen development. Being without either player would be a massive loss for the 49ers. Aiyuk is coming off the best season of his career in which he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns en route to finishing as the WR14 in PPR leagues. Meanwhile, Williams boasted an 89.9 PFF grade over 809 snaps and was particularly dominant in run blocking, an effort that helped Christian McCaffery finish as the overall RB1. There's no doubt that the 49ers are better when both players are on the field, and the same goes for fantasy managers.

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The New Orleans Saints have activated tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) from the PUP list, according to Matthew Paras of The Times-Picayune. All signs point to Johnson being active for Week 1. The 27-year-old is coming off an uneventful season in which he caught 37 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns. There had been some speculation that Carr might be able to elevate Johnson's production, but that wasn't the case as the Oregon product ultimately saw his statistics take a step backward from 2022 to 2023. Moving forward, even if you view veteran Taysom Hill as more of a Swiss army knife and less of a tight end, Johnson still isn't in a very favorable role ahead of the 2024 season. Johnson can be left undrafted in typical 12-team redraft leagues, though he could ultimately have some streaming appeal once bye weeks and injuries start to pile up.

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Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus says a majority of the starters, including quarterback Caleb Williams, will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against the defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. That also means fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting to see wide receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze on Thursday against the Chiefs, with running back D'Andre Swift and tight end Cole Kmet also being unlikely to suit up. Williams notably scored a seven-yard rushing touchdown in Saturday's preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bears were one of the offseason's biggest winners, landing the 22-year-old USC standout first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and surrounding the signal-caller with one of the league's premier supporting casts, but this offense has plenty of mouths to feed from a fantasy perspective.

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New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk has earned a starting job in the team's crowded WR room. Polk has been a regular contributor in the Patriots' top offensive unit this week. The 22-year-old second-round rookie out of Washington looks to offer New England some help in the receiving corps after the club fielded a historically poor offense in 2023, and his fantasy upside in Year 1 is likely to remain limited largely due to the uncertainty at quarterback. Although Polk doesn't grade out as an overly talented athlete based on workout metrics, and his college production was overshadowed by rookie first-rounder and former teammate Rome Odunze, he could end up seeing a decent amount of volume in 2024 as a WR5/6 fantasy flier at the end of drafts this summer.

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New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) will practice on Tuesday in training camp. "He's good," head coach Brian Daboll said on Tuesday. Tracy was carted off the practice field with an ankle injury last Tuesday, so it's highly encouraging to already see him back in action for the Giants. The 24-year-old fifth-round rookie from Purdue is tentatively slotted in as New York's No. 2 option in the backfield behind workhorse starter Devin Singletary this summer, and it remains to be seen if he'll get a chance to build on that status in Saturday's preseason finale against the New York Jets. Tracy isn't going to start the campaign with standalone fantasy value, but he certainly appears to be the preferred handcuff for Singletary's managers.

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The Athletic's Joseph Person believes the toughest call for the Carolina Panthers' 53-man roster is whether to have rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) begin the year on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Brooks remains stuck on the Non-Football Injury List and unable to practice or participate in any preseason action as he rehabilitates last November's torn ACL, and it sounds like he's at risk of missing the first four games of the regular season. The 21-year-old rookie second-rounder was the first RB selected in this year's NFL Draft, and with the Panthers continuing to rebuild, the team may opt to delay his debut and not rush their presumed lead back for the future into the fray. Chuba Hubbard (knee) was back at Tuesday's practice and is shaping up as a borderline RB2/3 fantasy starter for the early stages of the year.

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Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (knee) is participating in Tuesday's practice in training camp. Hubbard had been dealing with a knee injury since Thursday, but it proved to be a minor setback. After the Panthers signed veteran Miles Sanders to a significant contract last offseason to be the team's lead back, Hubbard overtook him for the job by midseason in 2023. Carolina then made second-rounder Jonathon Brooks (knee) the first RB chosen in this year's NFL Draft, but the rookie is a candidate to start the year on the Physically Unable to Perform List. That likely leaves Hubbard as the club's interim lead back, and after he took 238 carries and caught 88.6% of his 44 targets last season, he's looking like a fringe RB2/3 fantasy starter for the early part of 2024.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) looked good in his return to training camp practice on Monday, his first since being diagnosed with a plantar-fascia injury in his right foot on July 31. Head coach Jim Harbaugh was steadfast throughout the injury process that Herbert wouldn't miss a beat in adapting to a new offense. Herbert didn't do any work in full-team situations on Monday but got plenty of snaps in 7-on-7 drills, with Harbaugh saying that "he looked great with a capital G. No drop-off, pinpoint accuracy. He looked really good." The 26-year-old started 62 consecutive games, the second-longest streak by a QB, before a fracture to his right index finger in Week 14 in 2023 ended his season. With Herbert back at practice, it looks like he'll be ready in plenty of time for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, where he'll be a QB2 with upside in a new offense.

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (undisclosed) will practice at training camp on Tuesday, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Cooper left the second day of joint practices against the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday with an undisclosed injury but is back now and should be able to suit up in the preseason finale this Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. Injuries are always a concern with the 30-year-old veteran, but the five-time Pro Bowler put up a career-high 1,250 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 72 receptions (128 targets) in 2023, despite the fact that quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) only played in six games. He has put up 1,000 yards in seven of his nine NFL seasons, and although a healthy Jerry Jeudy could take some targets away this year, Cooper is trending as a value pick on the WR2/3 borderline right now in fantasy drafts.

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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) could be back on the training camp practice field as early as next Sunday after the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Saturday. LaPorta has been dealing with a hamstring ailment since earlier this month and has missed valuable reps in practice, but the Lions have given us no indications that his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener is in jeopardy. The 23-year-old burst onto the scene in 2023 as a rookie and immediately became a high-end TE1 in fantasy, catching 86 passes (120 targets) for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. No other TE had more than six touchdowns last year. As long as LaPorta's hamstring issue doesn't linger into the regular season, fantasy managers should feel comfortable taking him as either the first or second TE off the board in upcoming drafts.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed) remained out of training camp practice on Tuesday and has missed around two weeks with an undisclosed ailment that the Dolphins are considering minor. At this point, it's unlikely that Waddle will suit up for the team's preseason finale this Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Dolphins don't seem worried that he's in danger of missing the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. Miami's receiving corps is a bit beat up at the moment, with Tyreek Hill (hand) dealing with an injury and Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) not having practiced at all this summer. As long as the 25-year-old Waddle is ready to roll for the start of the regular season, fantasy managers should have no qualms taking him as a solid WR2 option. RotoBaller has Waddle ranked as the No. 18 fantasy wideout.

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The Detroit Lions are still planning to have running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener. "Gibbs, our plan is get him going next week. He's trending the right way and we're hoping day after the Pittsburgh game, I think we're going to get a lot of guys back," head coach Dan Campbell said. The Lions play their preseason finale this Saturday against the Steelers, so hopefully Gibbs will return to practice this Sunday and be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season in the first week of September. The 22-year-old second-year back has missed more than a week of training camp due to a hamstring injury, and while some fantasy managers may have moved him down their draft boards as an RB1 because of the injury, he may not end up missing any time at all to begin the year. Gibbs finished as the RB10 in half-PPR leagues in his rookie season and is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 6 RB.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that all of the team's starters are expected to play in the preseason finale on Saturday in Seattle against the Seahawks. Most notably, it means that quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will make his preseason debut after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in 2023. When Watson takes the field this Saturday, it will be his first NFL game action since Week 10 of last year. The 28-year-old former 12th overall pick by the Houston Texans in 2017 missed all of the 2021 campaign due to a season-long suspension and has played in 12 combined games for the Browns the last two years due to injuries. Watson never looked comfortable running the offense in 2023 and will need to stay healthy and produce for fantasy managers to consider him as anything more than a risky, low-end QB2 option.

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Philadelphia Eagles rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean (hamstring) is getting outside-corner reps in team drills at training camp practice on Tuesday with the second-team defense. DeJean, the 40th overall pick in this year's NFL draft back in April, is a bit behind after injuring his hamstring in late July at the start of camp. In addition to working as an outside cornerback, DeJean is also seeing work with the backup defense out of the slot. It's not great that the 21-year-old defensive back is working with backups this summer, but the good news for the Eagles is that he's back on the practice field. With just two weeks until the start of the 2024 regular season, it would be surprising if the Iowa product is in Philly's starting lineup on defense in Week 1 of the regular season. He's hoping to play in the preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (ankle, foot) went down at training camp practice on Tuesday with an apparent ankle/foot injury and was seen walking with a limp. It comes just as Johnson returned to the practice field after missing less than a week with a minor groin injury. It's not great news for the big offseason acquisition, but we'll have to wait for more word on the severity of Johnson's ankle/foot injury. When healthy, the 28-year-old former Pittsburgh Steeler has been one of second-year quarterback Bryce Young's favorite targets in training camp. The former third-rounder had his first 1,000-yard season in 2021 in Pittsburgh but has regressed since and even went without a touchdown in all of 2022. Carolina's offense figures to be better in 2024, and Johnson should be Young's top target when healthy, giving him WR3/flex value. Check back for more updates on Johnson's condition.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (hand) is dealing with a minor hand injury, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. The Pro Bowl wideout wore a removable brace on his right hand during practice on Tuesday, but he was in full uniform. Given Hill's steep cost in fantasy drafts, this is not great news, but it sounds like the ailment will not limit him when meaningful action begins next month. Since teaming up with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in 2022, Hill has averaged 119 receptions for 1,754 yards, and 10 touchdowns over the last two seasons. He's riskier than ever before since he turned 30 years old this offseason, but his week-winning upside makes him worth a top-three selection in all formats. His Week 1 matchup, the Jacksonville Jaguars, allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers in 2023. He should get out to a hot start.

From RotoBaller