As expected, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) was officially back on the practice field on Tuesday as the team prepares for their Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets. Even though a calf injury caused McCaffrey to miss most of training camp and all of the preseason, he was still the consensus No. 1 overall fantasy pick after leading the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns (14 rushing, seven receiving) in 16 regular-season games last year. CMC played in a combined 10 games due to injuries with the Carolina Panthers in 2020-21, but he's played in 33 regular-season contests the last two years and is the best fantasy player, hands down, when he's on the field. The 28-year-old is a must-start when active, but he'll certainly have more of a bust factor in Week 1 given all the time he missed in camp, especially with a tough matchup on tap.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers rookie first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (chest) was back at the team's facilities and in the weight room around 48 hours after being shot in the chest during a robbery attempt over the weekend. Pearsall was put on the Non-Football Injury list on Monday, meaning he'll have to miss at least the first four games of his rookie season after the scary incident. The 23-year-old was released from the hospital on Sunday and will now get to work on his recovery as he looks to make an impact at some point for the Niners in 2024. Pearsall already missed valuable development time in training camp this summer due to injuries and will now fall behind even further, so fantasy managers hoping for some production in redraft leagues can probably leave him to the waiver wire for now. Pearsall is pretty much only worth stashing in dynasty/keeper formats.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) will be the only player on the team listed as out for Thursday night's Week 1 regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship. Brown was never expected to play in the season opener after suffering a sternoclavicular injury in the preseason opener. The 27-year-old big-ticket free-agent acquisition has yet to return to practice and is iffy to make his Chiefs debut in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals next week. When Hollywood does return, though, he'll be one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top targets, making him stash-worthy in all fantasy formats. Tight end Travis Kelce and receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy should be the Chiefs' top three pass-catchers while Brown is sidelined.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus is listed as a starter alongside Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey to begin the 2024 campaign. This is somewhat of a surprise, but he has been gaining ground on the depth chart following the departure of Jahan Dotson, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Dan Quinn was a part of the Atlanta Falcons staff that brought Zaccheaus in as an undrafted free agent in 2019, so he has familiarity with the culture Quinn is trying to establish. Although the 27-year-old wideout has flashed at times throughout his career, his overall numbers of 104 receptions for 1,492 yards and 10 touchdowns in 72 career games aren't all that impressive. Either way, he should have his best opportunity to produce in 2024, though his upside is likely limited with rookie Jayden Daniels starting at quarterback.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) did not practice on Tuesday as he continues to work through a hamstring injury. However, head coach Matt LaFleur said this was a planned absence and part of his preparation to play. The third-round rookie out of USC is an intriguing bench stash behind starter Josh Jacobs, as Green Bay has preferred to split touches in the backfield during LaFleur's tenure. However, Lloyd battling injuries to begin his career is not a great sign, and it wouldn't be surprising if he's sparsely utilized in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles -- if he even suits up. He might have fantasy value this season, but he should not be trusted in starting lineups this week.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey was listed as one of three starting wideouts on the team's first official depth chart heading into a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Following the departure of Jahan Dotson, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, the WR2 job behind Terry McLaurin is up for grabs. McCaffrey was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft following his final season at Rice which saw him post just under 1,000 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. McCaffrey has name recognition from NFL fans thanks to his relatives who have played or are playing in the league, but his Year 1 fantasy expectations should be tempered. Washington will be led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and rookies historically fail to support multiple fantasy-relevant pass-catchers. McCaffrey should be on the waiver wire watchlist, but for now, he should not be in starting lineups.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell caught 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games last year before suffering a season-ending foot injury. He posted three games of at least 100 receiving yards as a rookie, and he was well on his way to a potential WR1 season. The Houston product appears to be healthy heading into Year 2, but his offense is more crowded following the addition of All-Pro wideout Stefon Diggs. However, Dell isn't concerned about his potential usage. "You gotta be ready when your [opportunities] come," Dell said on The Pivot podcast. "[C.J. Stroud] is gonna spread the ball out. Back in college, he played with a lot of receivers on one team, and everybody was eating." While Diggs, Dell, and Nico Collins could all have down weeks in a loaded offense, all three wideouts have WR1 upside in any given matchup. It will be worth monitoring who Stroud's preferred target is in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, but it will likely change week-to-week. All three Texans wideouts are worth starting to begin the season.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has had a successful start to his NFL career. Through three seasons, the 2021 first-round pick has collected 251 receptions for 3,385 yards and 18 touchdowns. He finished his rookie and sophomore campaigns as a PPR WR1, but injuries and a lack of touchdowns led to a down year in 2023. However, superstar wideout and teammate Tyreek Hill said Waddle is primed for his best year yet. "All-Pro this year, Hill said. "He's taken his game to another level in the classroom, he's taking it more serious. I expect All-Pro, WR1, leading our team." While we can't put too much stock in Hill's statements, it's a positive sign that he's taken notice. Although Waddle has battled injuries this offseason, he is expected to be ready to go in Week 1, and he should be started in all formats against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown is listed as the RB2 behind Zack Moss on the team's first official depth chart. Brown has been a popular fantasy sleeper this offseason, and while it would be ideal for him to be listed as the Week 1 starter, it doesn't change his potential outlook. Although the Bengals utilized Joe Mixon as a workhorse over the last few seasons, this backfield could shift to a committee approach following his departure. Brown averaged 11.1 yards per reception in a small sample size last year, and he is more explosive than Moss. For Week 1 against the New England Patriots, Brown is a risky flex option in PPR setups, but we'll know more about how the Bengals will split up the workload heading into Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (pec) will not play in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons while he works through a pec injury, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. The 30-year-old started all 17 games in his first season with Pittsburgh following a 17-start campaign in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles. Starting center Nate Herbig (shoulder) suffered a season-ending injury this preseason, so the team will be without two key players on the interior offensive line. This could cause issues for quarterback Russell Wilson and running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren (hamstring) in a matchup with stud interior defensive lineman Grady Jarrett.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons reporter Joe Patrick writes that Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was the most impressive pass-catcher of the group in terms of volume and ability early in training camp. As camp progressed, Pitts' volume changed and he was catching balls on shorter routes at times. The biggest change is that it seems he's not the player used primarily to stretch the field vertically like he was last year. New quarterback Kirk Cousins also has better anticipation than the previous QBs Pitts has worked with and can deliver the ball in ways that allow for more run-after-the-catch opportunities for Pitts. Last year, Pitts was hampered by injuries and he looked much better in camp this summer. Most fantasy football pundits are expecting a bounce-back year for the 23-year-old in 2024 with Cousins in the fold as a midrange TE1.

From RotoBaller

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz is listed as the team's starting tight end on the depth chart entering Week 1 of the regular season this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Behind Ertz, the Commanders have listed John Bates as the No. 2 and rookie Ben Sinnott as the No. 3. It confirms the idea that Sinnott is merely a dynasty/keeper stash in 2024. The 33-year-old Ertz is no longer the fantasy stud he was in his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he'll enter the regular season as Washington's top pass-catching tight end on a team that lacks experienced receiving depth for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Ertz miss most of last year with a quadriceps injury with the Arizona Cardinals, but he could be a sneaky TE2 rebound candidate if he stays healthy this year in Kliff Kingsbury's offense. At best, Ertz could be peppered with targets as a security blanket for Daniels.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that rookie third-round wide receiver Roman Wilson (ankle) has already worked in practice this week and that he's optimistic that Wilson could be available to play in the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday versus the Atlanta Falcons. Despite missing most of training camp and all of the preseason, the 23-year-old Wilson has a shot to suit up this weekend for his first NFL game. Fantasy managers obviously won't want Wilson anywhere near their starting lineups in deeper leagues, mainly because of the fact that he hasn't had much time in the offense yet. We should have a better idea of his status for Week 1 once the team releases their official injury reports later this week. To open the year, Wilson will likely be the WR4 in Pittsburgh behind George Pickens, Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III.

From RotoBaller

Updating a previous report, left tackle Trent Williams, an 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, agreed to a long-term contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday to end his holdout, according to sources. The move puts Williams in line to play in the team's Week 1 regular-season opener next Monday night against the New York Jets, which is excellent news for all of San Fran's offensive weapons, most notably quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey (calf). The 36-year-old Williams held out for all of training camp, accruing more than $4 million in fines for missing every practice and all three preseason games. He had been owed $20.05 million this year under the six-year, $138.1 million deal he signed in 2021. Williams ranked as the best pass-blocking tackle last year with a 95.8% pass-block win rate.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that running back Jaylen Warren (hamstring) has already practiced this week and the head coach is optimistic that Warren will play in Week 1 on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Warren said that he practiced on Monday and that he plans on playing this weekend as well, so fantasy managers should feel confident that they'll have him available in the season opener, even if he's listed on the first official injury report on Wednesday. The 25-year-old will continue to operate in a timeshare with Najee Harris in the Steelers' backfield, but Warren proved last year that he can be a pretty reliable weekly RB3/flex for fantasy managers despite sharing touches with Harris. Warren finished as the RB25 last year in half-PPR scoring with 784 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 149 carries while adding 61 catches for 370 yards through the air.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones is optimistic about having a standout season, crediting the team's training staff for potentially preparing him for the best year of his career. Jones noted that he feels the "I'm ready to have the best year of my career" heading into a new season, thanks in part to a 30-45 minute "prehab" routine given to him before practices. Despite his impressive durability in the previous four seasons, where he played 62 of 66 games, Jones missed six last season due to hamstring and knee injuries. Once he was healthy, he made a significant impact, surpassing 100 rushing yards in his final five games and helping the Packers nearly advance to the NFC Championship Game. During that stretch, Jones carried the ball 102 times for 584 yards, becoming a crucial part of the offense. While it's important not to overvalue Jones based on past performance alone, he remains a strong RB2 option in fantasy leagues if drafted at the right price. For added security, consider pairing him with his backup, Ty Chandler, in the later rounds of your draft.

From RotoBaller

Trent Williams, an 11-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle, and the San Francisco 49ers are working to finalize a deal. Williams returned to the Bay Area Monday night after an offseason absence from the team. While there are still a few details to address, the deal is expected to be completed this week, aiming for him to be ready for the Week 1 opener next Monday night against the New York Jets. In 2023, Williams was the top pass-blocking tackle in the NFL with a 95.8% pass-block win rate. The 49ers averaged 6.05 yards per carry when running to the left side behind Williams, compared to 4.45 yards per attempt on other runs. Last season, Williams missed two games, played through an injury in another, and had only 12 snaps in a meaningless Week 18 game against the Rams. The 49ers were 0-4 in those games but 12-1 otherwise. His presence is crucial for the 49ers' offense, particularly for running back Christian McCaffrey, the consensus top overall pick in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey (calf), who has been sidelined with a strained calf for most of training camp, is anticipated to return to practice on Tuesday. Although the team won't release a detailed injury report on his participation until Thursday, his return to the field is a promising sign of his availability for the season opener. McCaffrey has been limited to side-field workouts in recent weeks, but it appears he can join team drills as the 49ers begin their Week 1 preparations. Injuries have been a concern for McCaffrey in the past; he played only ten games combined during the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Carolina Panthers. However, he has rebounded strongly, playing all 17 games in 2022 and 16 games last season. In 2023, McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards, added 564 receiving yards, and scored 21 total touchdowns, earning him the Offensive Player of the Year award. While McCaffrey seems on track to be ready for Week 1, it's wise to draft his backup, Jordan Mason, as a precaution. Mason will become a must-start running back if McCaffrey misses any time.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (illness) did not practice on Monday as he deals with an illness. This shouldn't be a major concern early in the week, but his status is worth monitoring when the team is required to release their first official injury report of the season on Wednesday. Clowney signed a two-year, $20 million contract to join the Panthers this offseason following a 9.5-sack season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft has had an up-and-down 10-year career with the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Ravens, but he is productive at times and is tasked with helping replace Brian Burns, who was traded to the New York Giants.

New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye is expected to be named the starter at some point during the 2024 NFL season, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. While Jacoby Brissett gets the nod Week 1, Howe expects that the Patriots will turn to the No. 3 overall pick at some point this year. He notes that "the variables between the team's record and the line's performance have made it a guess as to when that would happen." In other words, if the Patriots get off to a hot start, the Patriots may ride with Brissett. Similarly, if the offensive line can't do a good job in pass protection, the Patriots may play Brissett in order to preserve Maye's health. Once he does take over as the starter in New England, Maye will be a high-end fantasy QB2.

From RotoBaller