The Kansas City Chiefs' plan is to play their starters through the first half in Saturday's preseason game against the visiting Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium. It's par for the course for head coach Andy Reid, who prefers to get his stars and veteran players additional reps during the preseason on a yearly basis. Whether or not quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Rashee Rice, and running back Isiah Pacheco actually play the entire first half on Saturday against Detroit remains to be seen, but fantasy managers should be able to get a decent look at KC's first-team offense in this one. One of the top storylines will be which receiver, if any, steps in to pick up the bulk of wideout Marquise Brown's (shoulder) vacated snaps.

From RotoBaller

The New York Giants signed running back Joshua Kelley on Thursday. The move comes on the heels of rookie fifth-rounder Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle) suffering an ankle injury earlier this week. Kelley is a former fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers from the 2020 NFL Draft, producing 405 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 17 games during the 2023 season. The 26-year-old power back should have a decent chance of making the Giants' roster later this summer as a No. 3 or No. 4 option out of the backfield, and if he does, Kelley would be a candidate to vulture goal-line touches from lead back Devin Singletary and see some early-down work in New York this fall. This role likely wouldn't be enough for fantasy relevance, though.

From RotoBaller

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will not play in Saturday's preseason game against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers at EverBank Stadium, head coach Doug Pederson said on Thursday at training camp. Mac Jones or C.J. Beathard will each play a half, but a starter has yet to be named. After looking sharp while completing three of his four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in last week's preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Lawrence will get the night off on Saturday against the Bucs. His next chance to suit up comes during Aug. 23's exhibition finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Fantasy managers are still waiting for the former No. 1 overall pick to take a big step forward, but Lawrence did register a career-high 7.1 yards per attempt across 564 pass attempts in 2023 and possesses enough dual-threat ability to rank on the QB1/2 borderline.

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Dynasty | Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy underwent surgery for a torn meniscus and is out for the season. Dynasty Analysis: There was hope his injury was a partial tear that could be trimmed but that wasn't the case and a full repair was needed. It's not catastrophic as McCarthy wasn't the presumed starter but his chance of starting later in the year are now gone. Sam Darnold will have a golden opportunity moving forward as the starter, though Minnesota could also kick the tires on some veteran options. McCarthy will likely fall a couple of spots in rookie drafts as a result.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (groin) did not participate in Thursday's practice at training camp. Johnson continues to be bothered by a mild groin strain, and it doesn't look like he'll be active for the Panthers in Saturday's preseason game against the visiting New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium. His status needs to be monitored by fantasy managers going forward, but the injury is not yet enough to move Johnson's place as a fringe WR2/3 in rankings at the moment. The 28-year-old former Pro Bowler should dominate targets in his new role as the top option in Carolina's passing game this season, having recorded a career-high 14.1 yards per reception over 51 catches with the Pittsburgh Steelers a year ago.

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Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (ankle, groin) did not take part in Thursday's training camp practice due to a pair of injuries. Because of the fact that Knox isn't practicing late in the week, he's unlikely to suit up for Saturday's preseason contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers as a precaution. There's no indication that his injuries are serious enough to put his availability in question for the Week 1 regular-season opener. The 27-year-old's fantasy stock took a huge hit last year with the addition of rookie Dalton Kincaid. Knox will still have a key role in Buffalo's offense in 2024, but as long as Kincaid stays healthy, he's going to take a clear back seat as a pass-catcher at the tight end position. The former third-rounder in 2019 out of Mississippi had a career-low 22 catches for 186 yards and two scores in 2023 and should stay on the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy leagues unless Kincaid gets hurt.

From RotoBaller

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell got the start in the preseason opener last week, so Gardner Minshew II will get the nod on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, with both QBs set to play a quarter as they continue their competition. O'Connell went 7-for-9 for 76 yards, while Minshew went 6-for-12 for 117 yards and a touchdown. Head coach Antonio Pierce said he's hoping to decide the QB battle after this Saturday's contest. The two signal-callers have much different styles, with O'Connell being more of a pocket passer, while the 28-year-old Minshew has found more success on off-script plays outside the pocket. Minshew is more of a boom/bust type QB in fantasy, but regardless of who wins the QB competition in Vegas, they won't be much more than a low-end QB2/high-end QB3 in superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys second-year running back Deuce Vaughn (hamstring) returned to the team's joint practice on Wednesday with the Los Angeles Rams after being sidelined two weeks with a hamstring injury. Vaughn had several opportunities to carry the ball and be a receiver. The former sixth-round pick in 2023 should see notable playing time in the preseason game this Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 22-year-old is going to be a change-of-pace option, at best, in Dallas' backfield in 2024 and is currently listed behind Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman and Malik Davis on the team's RB depth chart. Vaughn was a preseason darling going into his rookie season but saw action in only seven games last year, rushing for 40 yards on 23 carries, adding seven receptions for 40 yards through the air.

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With Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb not at training camp due to a contract holdout, veteran Brandin Cooks continues to be quarterback Dak Prescott's top target. The two were on the same page again on Wednesday during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams. "He's having a hell of a camp," head coach Mike McCarthy said of Cooks. "I think we had a statistic last week that throughout every three catches that he's made in the team work has been either a touchdown or a big play. He's had a great offseason. He's always in peak condition. I really think, just in my time with him, he's at the top of his game." Things will change in the regular season when Lamb is in the fold, but Cooks shouldn't be ignored late in fantasy drafts now that Michael Gallup is gone. He's coming off back-to-back seasons under 700 receiving yards but could bounce back as Dallas' No. 2 in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (knee) suffered a knee injury at training camp on Thursday. Head coach Dave Canales said the team had "big concerns (initially) but initial testing looks good." We'll have more information on Hubbard's injury once we know more, but it looks like he's avoided a serious injury that could keep him out for the start of the 2024 season. However, it's likely that the 25-year-old will miss some practice time and probably won't suit up for the second preseason contest this Saturday against the New York Jets. Currently at the top of Carolina's RB depth chart, any time missed by Hubbard will give rookie Jonathon Brooks and Miles Sanders more reps in camp. Brooks is the favorite to lead Carolina's offense production-wise by the end of the year, but Hubbard is also worth a late-round flier as a handcuff and bench stash in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl linebacker Matt Milano (bicep) left Tuesday's training camp practice with a torn bicep and is out indefinitely, according to sources. Milano will undergo surgery on his torn bicep with the hope of trying to return later this season, possibly in December. It marks the second straight year that he has suffered a significant injury, as last year he fractured his leg in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and missed the rest of the season. Buffalo's defense will still be a high-priority target in fantasy drafts, but the 30-year-old's injury is a significant blow before the start of the 2024 season. The former fifth-rounder in 2017 out of Boston College was a first-team All-Pro in 2022, when he had 99 tackles (72 solo), 1.5 sacks and a career-high-tying three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Fantasy managers in IDP formats can avoid him now.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that rookie first-round wide receiver Malik Nabers (ankle) will practice in full at training camp on Thursday and has a chance to play in the preseason game on Saturday against the Houston Texans. Nabers suffered a minor ankle injury at practice on Sunday and was held out for a few days, but the 21-year-old from LSU appears to be fine now and shouldn't have any problems being ready for Week 1 of the regular season in a few weeks. In his first NFL game in the preseason opener last week, Nabers played on the first three drives but wasn't targeted at all. We'll get our first chance to see quarterback Daniel Jones work with Nabers in a game this weekend, if Nabers plays. The second wideout taken in this year's draft figures to lead New York's pass-catchers in targets if he stays healthy, giving him WR2 upside in his rookie campaign.

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Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that the team is "in the middle" of their search for a WR2 behind Terry McLaurin, with a lot of players in the mix. Quinn mentioned the good training camp for Olamide Zaccheaus, but players like rookie Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown and Jahan Dotson are all in the mix. Above all else, this is bad news for Dotson, the team's first-round pick back in 2022. The 24-year-old out of Penn State had 35 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games in 2022, but he had only 518 yards on 49 catches with four TDs in his sophomore season and must show more in the preseason to win the No. 2 role to open the 2024 campaign. At worst, he'll probably settle in as the WR3 in Washington, but as of right now, fantasy managers in standard 12-team leagues can probably look elsewhere in the later rounds.

From RotoBaller

The Dallas Cowboys are adding former New York Jets defensive end Carl Lawson to their roster. Lawson, who was once a highly anticipated signing for the Jets in 2021 on a three-year, $45 million contract, has had a somewhat disappointing stint, playing in only 23 games over three seasons. The 29-year-old defensive end appeared in six games last year without making a start, though he did start all 17 games the previous year. Dallas will be hoping Lawson can contribute consistently to their defensive line. Despite significant injuries, including a torn ACL in college and a torn Achilles that sidelined him for the entire 2021 season, Lawson has shown he can be a valuable pass rusher, as demonstrated during his time with both the Jets and his initial four seasons with the Bengals. Lawson joins the Cowboys just weeks before the season opener, bolstering the team's defensive depth following their recent trade with the New York Giants for defensive tackle Jordan Phillips.

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The Washington Commanders have signed quarterback Trace McSorley due to injuries sidelining backups Marcus Mariota (groin) and Sam Hartman (shoulder). McSorley, a sixth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, has appeared in nine games with one start, completing 48 of 93 pass attempts for 502 yards and a touchdown. He began his career as the third-string quarterback for the Ravens, behind Lamar Jackson and Robert Griffin III, making his debut in Week 17 of the 2019 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After spending time on the Ravens' practice squad, McSorley had brief stints with the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and Pittsburgh Steelers before joining Washington. With Hartman dealing with a right shoulder injury and Mariota struggling with a groin injury, McSorley will get another opportunity to show NFL teams what he can do.

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According to head coach Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk is dealing with a mild calf injury that has sidelined him for joint practices against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Saturday's preseason game. Kirk is scheduled for re-evaluation next week. The Jaguars plan to rest key players, including Kirk, in the upcoming game against Tampa Bay, having already given most of their top players only brief appearances in the preseason opener against the Chiefs. With three and a half weeks remaining before the regular season opener, the mild calf injury is not expected to jeopardize Kirk's availability for the start of the season. Kirk, who became the Jaguars' No. 1 receiver in 2022 after signing a four-year, $72 million contract with $37 million guaranteed, had a standout season, catching 84 passes for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns. Although Kirk missed the final five games of the 2023 season due to a core muscle injury that required surgery, he is anticipated to play a significant role in the Jaguars' offense in 2024. Mainly as the Jaguars help their two new wide receivers, Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr., adapt to their system. Parker Washington took over Kirk's starting role when he went out, showing he would be the wide receiver to pick up off waivers if Kirk misses any time.

From RotoBaller

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens will start Saturday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Despite a challenging 2023 season where he went 0-3 with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions as a starter, Mullens is now firmly positioned as the No. 2 quarterback. Following him on the depth chart is second-year pro Jaren Hall. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence in Mullens due to his solid grasp of the offense. Mullens is known for his high-risk, high-reward style and had notable success during his time with the San Francisco 49ers before joining the Vikings. Though he tends to turn the ball over, with 31 career interceptions in just 20 starts, he also boasts 34 touchdown passes. Last season, after Kirk Cousins' injury, Mullens had mixed results in five games (three starts), with a respectable 8.8 yards per attempt but eight interceptions. Mullens is a veteran with the potential to deliver strong performances, particularly if he maintains his solid rapport with star receiver Justin Jefferson.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Payne Durham (knee) Leaves Joint Practice Early with Knee Issue. On Wednesday, Durham suffered a knee injury during the Buccaneers' joint practice with the Jaguars. According to Buccaneers insider JC Allen, Durham's MRI results were negative, and he is not expected to miss much time. Durham was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and appeared in 13 games during his rookie season, recording five catches for 58 yards. He played in Tampa Bay's preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 10, where he had two receptions for 27 yards. The Buccaneers won the game 17-14. If Durham cannot participate in the next preseason game, Ko Kieft and Devin Culp will have the opportunity for more reps to compete for the third tight end spot on the 53-man roster behind Cade Otton and Durham.

From RotoBaller

The New England Patriots are trading pass-rusher Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons, addressing Atlanta's need for a top defensive player they have been seeking all offseason. In return, the Patriots will receive a third-round pick, aiding their efforts to rebuild a roster lacking talent and upside. In the final year of the four-year contract he signed with New England in 2019, Judon has a base salary of $6.5 million for the 2024 season. This salary was a big distraction during Jerod Mayo's first training camp as the Patriots' head coach. A four-time Pro Bowler with 66.5 career sacks, Judon will join a Falcons team aiming to bolster its pass rush as the regular season approaches.

Updating a previous report, the New York Giants traded DT Jordan Phillips and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Dallas Cowboys for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

From TheHuddle