Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) will not play in the team's preseason opener on Friday against the Houston Texans. Wilson returned to training camp practice on Tuesday after missing some time with a minor calf injury, which allowed backup Justin Fields to get some run with the first-team offense. When asked if Wilson was still in the pole position and in the lead in the QB competition, head coach Mike Tomlin said, "You guys saw the depth chart I released yesterday. That is real." Pittsburgh listed Wilson as the starter over Fields on their first unofficial depth chart this week, but if Fields outplays Wilson for the rest of camp and the preseason, it's not out of the question that Fields could win the battle for the starting job entering the regular season. The 35-year-old Wilson proved the last two years in Denver that he's no longer a QB1 in fantasy, and that shouldn't change in Pittsburgh.

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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen commented on the competition between rookie wide receivers Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell, noting, "They're still battling. Both of those guys are making plays every day. I think both of them will have an impact for us this year, so I really like where they're both at." This competition becomes even more crucial, with Josh Downs (ankle) expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks, opening up additional opportunities for Pierce and Mitchell. Both will start in three-receiver sets alongside Michael Pittman, but one could secure a more significant role in two-receiver formations. Alec Pierce, who led the NFL in snaps last season with 1,090, is known for his durability and consistent play. Adonai Mitchell, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, brings significant potential to the table. While Mitchell's upside is notable, Pierce's experience and reliability make him the likely frontrunner for the starting role despite the tight competition.

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (hamstring) missed another training camp practice on Wednesday. It's the fourth straight day that Shaheed has been sidelined at camp after he experienced tightness in his hamstring over the weekend. It doesn't sound like Shaheed's injury is a long-term issue, so barring a setback, he should be healthy in time for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers. After catching 46 of his 75 targets for 719 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games (eight starts) in 2023 in his second NFL season, the 25-year-old pass-catcher figures to have an even bigger role in the Saints' offense in 2024. He should be the club's No. 2 wideout behind Chris Olave, but he's going to need more target volume if he's going to be anything more than a boom/bust deep threat for quarterback Derek Carr.

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The new Seattle Seahawks coaching staff really likes quarterback Geno Smith, and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has tailored his offense around Smith's strengths. "For people that haven't seen Geno throw in person, I think he's special," Grubb said. "He's an elite quarterback." Grubb's belief that Smith can make every throw is why the offense is shaped around his skill set. Smith has justified the coaches' faith in him with a strong training camp, and Seattle will likely view Smith and the passing game as diverse enough to have counterpunches for everything. The 33-year-old took a step back in 2023 after a career year in 2022, but he could be due for a step forward again under Grubb, whose offense at Washington was among the best in college football over the last two years. Nobody is saying fantasy managers should feel comfortable with Smith as their QB1, but he makes for a very strong QB2.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers, among other NFL teams, are in communication and are still negotiating with the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. However, no deal is done, according to source. The New England Patriots reportedly dropped out of the Aiyuk sweepstakes on Tuesday night, so it leaves the Steelers and Cleveland Browns as Aiyuk's most likely destination as of right now. It's unclear what Pittsburgh is dangling in a potential trade for Aiyuk, or whether they can actually meet his contract demands. The former first-rounder is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and wants a hefty raise after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Aiyuk would immediately become the Steelers' WR1 if a trade is finalized, although it would be a downgrade fantasy-wise with a move from Brock Purdy to either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. Stay tuned for more.

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Chicago Bears guard Nate Davis (groin), who was not in pads as he walked onto the practice field, missed practice again a day after head coach Matt Eberflus made strong comments about competition in his post-practice press conference. Davis has been sidelined for the past week due to a groin injury. While he appeared to be making progress on Tuesday, he was once more unavailable at the start of Wednesday's practice, according to multiple media reports. Notably, during walkthroughs, Ryan Bates, who is competing with Coleman Shelton for the starting center position, was seen playing right guard instead of Davis. Although Davis has participated in warmups, he has been leaving the field during team periods. On Tuesday, Eberflus emphasized the importance of being on the field to keep a starting role, suggesting that Davis might be benched in favor of Bates if his absences continue. Eberflus has underscored that the best ability is availability. Davis, who signed a $30 million contract with $19.25 million guaranteed last year, was expected to help solidify the Bears' offensive line. Monitoring the health of the Bears' offensive line is crucial for evaluating the fantasy value of running back D'Andre Swift and the development of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

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Green Bay's head coach, Matt LaFleur, had high praise for running back Josh Jacobs, particularly highlighting his skills in the passing game. LaFleur expressed excitement about Jacobs' versatility, noting his significant contributions as a pass-blocker and a receiving threat out of the backfield. This enthusiasm is reassuring for Jacobs' supporters, who already anticipated his crucial role in early down-rushing and goal-line situations. If Jacobs also takes on a receiving role, his fantasy value could soar this season. Conversely, this development could impact rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd, who hoped to showcase his passing game skills. LaFleur further emphasized Jacobs' toughness and rugged running style, suggesting that his actual value might only be fully appreciated in live tackling situations, where his reputation as a punishing runner will be evident. Given LaFleur's endorsement of Jacobs as a primary early down back with potential added receiving duties, he could be a strong pick in the 3rd round of drafts.

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The New York Jets have signed running back Deon Jackson while releasing wide receiver Hamze El-Zayat in a related move. Jackson, who worked out with the Texans in July but did not sign a contract, will now compete for a depth role in the Jets' backfield during training camp. A Duke product, Jackson signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has spent most of his career with them, with brief stints at the Cleveland Browns and Giants last season. In 29 career games (27 with the Colts), he has recorded 283 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 223 receiving yards. The Jets recently experienced a void at running back following Tarik Cohen's retirement. Jackson will compete with Israel Abanikanda, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, and Xazavian Valladay to back up Breece Hall.

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Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has yet to decide on a starting quarterback for the preseason opener against the Vikings, but he indicated that both Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O'Connell will each play a quarter. Pierce noted that the order of the starters is not significant because the other quarterback will start the following week. Throughout the offseason, Pierce allowed O'Connell to take the initial reps while equally distributing opportunities with Minshew. Early in camp, neither quarterback has managed to distinguish themselves. Although Minshew appeared to gain an edge over the past week, Pierce has maintained that the situation remains "status quo," with no final decision made. "This preseason game will be very telling," Pierce said of the QB battle. "I want to see these guys manage the ball, lead the team, and handle situational football." The unofficial depth chart for the game also lacks clarity, listing the first-team QB as either O'Connell or Minshew. While neither quarterback is likely to be worth rostering in single-QB leagues, monitoring the situation to determine who will be throwing passes to receiver Davante Adams and rookie tight end Brock Bowers is essential.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Chase Edmonds (undisclosed) remains sidelined and is nearing two weeks out. After a lackluster performance last year and an offseason marked by injuries, Edmonds' spot on the team is uncertain. He has been struggling with this injury since the early days of training camp and was expected to compete with rookie Bucky Irving and others for backup roles behind starting running back Rachaad White. Edmonds' productivity plummeted last season, as he managed only 176 rushing yards on 49 carries, putting him firmly on the roster bubble. On the plus side, Edmonds and White were the only running backs to see offensive snaps for Tampa Bay over the last ten weeks of the season, including the playoffs. While the backup role for any Tampa Bay running back may not be valuable in fantasy, Rachaad White managers must monitor the situation.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Rondale Moore was carted off during training camp practice on Wednesday, and doctors put an air cast on his right leg. It's unclear how the injury happened, but it appears that Moore might be set to miss significant time with a serious injury.

Veteran free-agent wide receiver Robbie Chosen worked out for the San Francisco 49ers at training camp on Wednesday and was spotted on the field. The Niners appear to be on the verge of trading receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and rookie first-rounder Ricky Pearsall just aggravated his shoulder injury, so the Niners are looking for receiver depth behind Deebo Samuel, Pearsall and Jauan Jennings this summer. The 31-year-old Chosen has gone downhill since posting his only 1,000-yard season with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. In nine games with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, he caught four of six targets for 126 yards and a touchdown. If Chosen signs with the Niners, he'll strictly be competing for a depth role and won't be a lock to make the club out of training camp. Chosen has a combined 24 receptions for 408 yards and two scores the last two years.

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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson won't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to head coach John Harbaugh. Veteran signal-caller Josh Johnson will get the starting nod under center for Baltimore. Jackson is expected to play during the preseason, but that won't happen in the opener this weekend. The 27-year-old two-time NFL MVP missed some practices at the start of training camp with an illness, but he's fine now and is looking for an encore performance in 2024 after throwing for a career-high 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while also rushing for 821 yards and an additional five TDs on the ground. Jackson isn't as prolific as a thrower as some other QBs, but his rushing prowess makes up for it and keeps him as a top-five fantasy signal-caller.

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Updating an earlier report, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) suffered a high-ankle sprain during training camp practice on Wednesday, according to sources after an MRI exam. Downs' recovery time was estimated at four to six weeks, which puts him right up against the start of the 2024 regular season in early September. It's tough news for the Colts, especially since Downs was impressing in camp and was a potential breakout candidate in his second year in the NFL. The bottom line is that the 22-year-old's availability for Week 1 is very much in question, and it could take him some time to get back up to speed as a reliable fantasy wideout. With Downs now out for the foreseeable future, rookie Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce will step into starting roles in three-receiver sets alongside Michael Pittman. Downs' injury makes Mitchell a more attractive late-round flier.

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New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Wednesday, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. This is promising news as the former Los Angeles Charger recovers from a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 of last season. The 29-year-old should have plenty of time to ramp up his activity before the Week 1 Monday Night Football contest against the San Francisco 49ers which is just over one month away. However, the team could still opt to bring him along slowly, so fantasy managers should check back for his latest injury updates. Williams is usually available outside the top 150 picks in redraft formats, so he's a low-risk, high-reward bench stash with spike-week potential. He's always been a volatile fantasy option, but since he'll be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers this year, he has legitimate fantasy football intrigue and upside.

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Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said at Wednesday's practice that the deep-ball relationship with quarterback Will Levis and wide receiver Calvin Ridley has not been great so far. "We've missed a few. Hope deep-ball relationship improves as training camp goes on," Callahan noted. Ridley is still getting acquainted with his new quarterback during his first year in Tennessee, and Levis is going to want to form a rapport with his new wideout sooner rather than later in the absence of veteran DeAndre Hopkins (knee). The big-armed Levis is still something of a question mark entering Year 2, but he did lead the league with 10.4 air yards per attempt over 255 pass attempts in his rookie season in 2023. There's plenty of upside here as well for Ridley, who drew a substantial 28 deep targets with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, but this connection is clearly a work in progress at the moment.

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The Miami Dolphins signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (undisclosed) this offseason to be their third wide receiver, but he has yet to practice as he works through an undisclosed injury. When healthy, however, he should still be the third option in the passing game. He is not the only candidate; tight end Jonnu Smith is coming off a career year in 2023 with the Atlanta Falcons, while running back De'Von Achane has notably worked on his receiving game throughout the offseason. As it stands, Beckham would likely need either superstar wideout Tyreek Hill or star receiver Jaylen Waddle to miss time for a pronounced role in Miami's high-octane passing attack. The 31-year-old former Pro Bowler did show he still had something left in the tank with the Baltimore Ravens last year, racking up 16.1 yards per reception through 35 catches.

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Washington Commanders running backs Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. are both are listed as starters on the team's initial preseason depth chart. There's not much of a surprise here, as the Commanders will likely ride one back or the other based on game scripts this fall. Robinson projects as Washington's early-down and goal-line back with plenty of touchdown upside after finding the end zone nine times in 15 games last year, whereas Ekeler is set to be utilized mostly on third downs and obvious passing situations after tallying 74 targets with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023. There's a real chance this ends up being an even split for touches amongst the two, with Robinson being the preferred option in standard fantasy leagues and Ekeler the priority in PPR formats.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer appears in position to be the team's No. 1 target to begin 2024. After that on the depth chart, it appears to be an open competition between former first-rounder Quentin Johnston, rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey, and veteran deep threat DJ Chark. Palmer is a bit of a WR4/5 sleeper pick in fantasy drafts this summer; he produced a solid 9.5 yards per target over 61 targets and 15.3 yards per reception across 38 catches for the Chargers in 2023. In LA's wide open receiving corps and with the most experience in this offense of the bunch, the 24-year-old former third-round pick out of Tennessee figures to be quarterback Justin Herbert's (foot) favorite target during the early going of the season.

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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel offered a pretty strong suggestion on Wednesday at training camp that we won't see quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in action versus the visiting Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday night. Fresh off bagging a long-term deal with the Dolphins during camp, Tagovailoa appears poised to sit out Miami's preseason opener. In his likely absence, Mike White and Skylar Thompson should soak up the available snaps on Friday against Jacksonville. Tagovailoa was a first-time Pro Bowler a season ago, leading the NFL in passing yards (4,624) and registering career-high figures in completion rate (69.3%) and touchdown passes (29) with 14 interceptions over 17 starts. The 26-year-old star signal-caller is safe to draft this summer as a low-end QB1 starter without much rushing upside in the later rounds after the top-tier options are off the board.

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