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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Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin (abdomen) was upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday, according to Brianna Dix. McLaughlin missed practice on Wednesday due to an abdomen injury and an illness. However, seeing him return to full participation the following day is a great sign for his status in the season opener on Sunday afternoon. The 28-year-old enjoyed a great season in Tampa Bay last fall, hitting 93.5% of his attempts and a stellar 7-for-8 from outside 50 yards. DFS players should consider placing McLaughlin in their lineup as he will face the Washington Commanders, who surrendered the most total yards in the league last season.

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The New Orleans Saints have added wide receiver A.T. Perry (hand) to their injury report. This injury is concerning, given the critical role of hand health for a wide receiver. Perry had a standout preseason, leading the NFL with 176 receiving yards and positioning himself as a potential key contributor to New Orleans' offense in 2024. Currently listed as the third wide receiver on the Saints' depth chart behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, Perry demonstrated his red-zone capability by scoring 33% of his receptions last season, with four touchdowns on just 12 catches. Standing at 6'5", his exceptional body control makes him a valuable red-zone threat, especially on a roster with smaller receivers like Olave and Shaheed. If Perry cannot play, expect increased opportunities for Olave and Alvin Kamara in the passing game.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) participated in full in Thursday's practice, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Pitts was a limited participant in the team's first official practice on Wednesday. However, seeing that he was a full-go on Thursday is an excellent sign for his status entering the season opener on Sunday afternoon. Fantasy managers should continue to follow any updates regarding Pitts, but he should be expected to suit up over the weekend. The Florida product hopes to enjoy a nice bounce-back campaign, as he has yet to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since his debut season, and with his new quarterback Kirk Cousins, he could be in a great position to do so. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable starting Pitts this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen is eager to make his mark in Chicago and set new records. After he was told that his performance from 2019-2023 alone would have made him the all-time leading receiver in Bears history, saying, "Sky's the limit. We can definitely reset the bar here for sure. I'm pretty sure we will." While there is considerable excitement about the Bears' offense this year, Allen faces challenges that could affect his fantasy value. Joining a new team with a crowded receiving corps and a rookie quarterback might limit his numbers in 2024, potentially positioning him as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in PPR leagues. With Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore also in the mix, it's unlikely he'll maintain his previous 31% target share. Despite the optimism surrounding the Bears' offense, predicting the primary target each week could be tricky. Allen and the Bears aim for a strong start as they face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle may be the best running back on the Cowboys roster, but he's still a very risky play in fantasy lineups in Week 1. While Dowdle could and likely will end up being the top fantasy running back in Dallas by the end of the season, it may take a few weeks for him to build up steam and work his way into a full starting role. With veterans Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook in the way for now, Dowdle will be little more than a flex play with slight upside against the Browns in Week 1.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith will square up against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday in the Dolphins' home opener. It's Smith's first season in Miami after a one-year stint in Atlanta, and while he's never been the focal point of an offense, he has proven to be an average to above-average NFL TE. 2023 was his most productive season, setting career-highs in receptions (50) and yards (582) while playing alongside Kyle Pitts. It remains to be seen what his usage will be in his new offense, though the Dolphins used their tight ends extensively in the preseason, and he's one of the more athletic ones in the league. Additionally, with River Cracraft and Odell Beckham Jr. to miss the first four games of the season on the PUP, Smith could be used more often in the early going. If he performs well, he might develop a role in the offense. The eighth-year veteran is RotoBaller's TE22 in Week 1 rankings and is currently a fitter option in two TE or DFS leagues.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott faces a tough matchup in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. Prescott was excellent last season, finishing as the overall fantasy QB4 for the season and the overall QB1 in fantasy points per game from Week 6 on. With a similar supporting cast of pass catchers this year, Prescott should once again be a solid fantasy contributor, although Week 1 will be one of his toughest challenges, as the Browns secondary allowed the fourth-fewest points to opposing quarterbacks last season. Dak remains a QB1 option, but he's on the lower end of that ranking for this week.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed) is ready to roll against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the team's home opener. The former sixth-overall pick has a fantastic matchup in Week 1, as he'll square off against a Jags' defense that allowed 4,076 yards and 27 scores through the air a season ago -- both seventh-most in the league. Waddle wore a non-contact jersey for the last week of training camp, but both he and teammate Tyreek Hill (thumb) returned to full practice earlier this week. The Alabama product regressed a bit in the yards category last season compared to 2022, while Hill performed at an other-worldly level. However, the fourth-year wideout still garnered a solid 23.6% target share and robust 2.52 yards per route run last season and is again the unquestioned second option in Miami's passing attack. Waddle is RotoBaller's PPR WR19 in Week 1 rankings and is always a threat to have a huge game -- particularly against a Jacksonville unit that did nothing too extensive to improve their defensive backfield.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) is set to lead a brand new offense in a Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. We've all heard the speculation but now we'll finally see what Herbert looks like in a Greg Roman offense led by Jim Harbaugh. There are some concerns about it being a run-first offense, but with a talent like Herbert under center, there are sure to be chances for him to accumulate some fantasy points. Although Herbert practiced in full, he is officially listed on the injury report with the foot issue that kept him out of the preseason. The team does not appear to be concerned, but the fact that they're forced to report it means there's likely at least something there. This game has a wide range of outcomes, but the Raiders defense isn't anything to be afraid of, leaving Herbert as a QB2 with plenty of upside.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is a risky fantasy play in Week 1 despite having a strong on paper matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The Cowboys backfield is currently one of the murkier ones in the NFL, as Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Dalvin Cook, and even Deuce Vaughn are expected to see the ball. Elliott is a clear Jerry Jones favorite, but out of 49 qualified ball carriers last season, Elliott was 45th in missed tackles and 43rd in yards after contact. He's definitely not the guy he was when he used to play for the Cowboys, leaving him as an RB3 who is likely more of a floor play than anything close to a ceiling.

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White has been the heavy favorite to be the team's starter this season after losing Josh Jacobs in free agency. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said, "You're looking for someone to take the lead," when asked about the possibility of White being the featured running back this season. White was a top-10 running back during the four contests Jacobs missed last year, averaging 21 rushing attempts and nearly 100 yards per game. Some fantasy players were worried that the third-year player wouldn't have a featured role in 2024, given how late he played in some preseason games. However, White is the most likely candidate to be the featured guy in the Las Vegas backfield. The former Georgia star is a low-end RB2 with a safe floor for his Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (thumb) is fully healthy heading into Sunday's home-opening tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The veteran wideout is in a smash spot for Week 1 against a Jacksonville squad that ranked seventh-most in yards and touchdowns allowed through the air in 2023. Hill spent most of the preseason tending to a thumb injury that held him out of action, but his Week 1 status was never in doubt. The ninth-year speedster was back at practice this week and is primed for another tremendous season under Mike McDaniel on a high-flying Dolphins offense. Expect him and running mate Jaylen Waddle to dominate targets again in a particularly funneled Miami passing attack. With an implied 26-point total for his team, Hill is RotoBaller's top overall play in PPR leagues heading into Week 1.

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Los Angeles Chargers running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards were listed as co-starters on the team's first official depth chart, and which back will get more touches has been a mystery all offseason. In a media availability on Thursday, offensive coordinator Greg Roman suggested it could change week-to-week. "We don't overthink that. They're both going to play, and whoever's got the hot hand as I tell them, has got the hot hand," Roman said. "So we're going to go with the hot hand." While both players should be rostered in all 12-plus team leagues, it would be a surprise if Dobbins is effective following an Achilles tear roughly one year ago. Achilles tears have proven to be career-enders for many players, especially at the running back position. However, he's not on the Week 1 injury report, so he could make a surprising comeback. For now, Edwards carries an RB3 outlook into Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders, while Dobbins is a risky flex consideration.

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Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (hamstring) was placed on the Injured Reserve list on Thursday due to a hamstring injury, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the 2024 season. This is obviously not great news, especially with a Sunday Night Football matchup against Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Detroit Lions approaching. The 2018 undrafted free agent spent four seasons with the Rams before two seasons in Jacksonville, but he signed back with L.A. this offseason. Starting cornerback Cobie Durant (hamstring) was limited during Wednesday's practice, so the secondary is limping into the start of the new campaign.

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Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane will square up against a Jacksonville Jaguars team this Sunday that was stout against the run in 2023. Jacksonville's defense ranked in the top ten (ninth) in total rushing yards a season ago; however, they did allow the ninth-most rushing scores (15). Achane missed six games last season and accrued higher than a 48% snap share in just four of the contests he participated in. However, the former Aggie was uber-efficient with his touches, scoring 11 touchdowns while rushing for an even 800 yards on 103 carries (7.8 YPC) and adding another 197 yards through the air across 27 receptions. He's expected to begin the year splitting time with Raheem Mostert in the Dolphins' backfield, though fantasy managers should have no fears slotting him into their lineups. The second-year running back is an excellent play this week as RotoBaller's RB6 in Week 1 rankings.

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Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday in the team's first home game of the season. He is coming off a career year in which he scored 21 total touchdowns and produced 1,187 scrimmage yards on a Dolphins squad that scored the second-most points in the NFL (496). Mostert is again set to lead a committee in the Dolphins' backfield, splitting time with De'Von Achane and perhaps Jaylen Wright and even Jeff Wilson sprinkling in for touches. The 32-year-old back does not have the same kind of miles as other NFL veterans his age, as he has yet to eclipse 700 career carries (674). Additionally, he is still one of the fastest players in the league -- clocking in as the tenth-fastest ball carrier in any game last season at a scorching 21.62 MPH. Jacksonville was tough against the run last year -- allowing the ninth-fewest yards in the NFL -- though they did let up 15 rushing touchdowns -- tied for ninth-most. Expect a good amount of scoring opportunities for the tenth-year back, as the Dolphins have an implied point total of 26 in their first tilt.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) is dealing with calf tightness and was limited at Thursday's practice, according to Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly. The 35-year-old had a calf injury pop up earlier in the preseason, so the team is likely to be cautious with the aging signal-caller. It would be a surprise if he didn't suit up in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, but fantasy managers should stay up to date with his latest updates. Wilson played the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, posting 6,594 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. He added 618 yards and six scores on the ground. As bad as Wilson looked at times in Denver, he finished as the overall QB16 in 2022 and QB14 in 2023. He's not a viable starter in single-QB formats, but he could have sneaky value in Superflex and two-QB leagues. That said, he carries a QB3 outlook into Week 1, especially considering his calf issue could limit his mobility.

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