Guest of the League
Legends of the Fall Est. 2021
Dynasty $125 - FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Pats say WR Stefon Diggs (ACL) is 'ahead of schedule'

Mon Aug 18 1:11pm ET
Field Level Media

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is "ahead of schedule" in his return from a torn ACL, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said Monday.

Diggs began training camp last month with no restrictions after receiving medical clearance, but he has yet to appear in a preseason game.

"Stefon has done everything we've asked," Wolf said. "He's been attentive in meetings. He's been good on the field. He had two really good practices in Minnesota. He's ahead of schedule, injury-wise."

Diggs has been cleared for contact, but Wolf did not say whether the four-time Pro Bowl selection will be active for Thursday's preseason finale against the host New York Giants.

Diggs told reporters last week "we'll see" when asked about his availability for the Sept. 7 season opener against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders.

Diggs signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract with the Patriots in March.

Playing for the Houston Texans last season, he caught 47 passes in eight games before sustaining the season-ending knee injury on Oct. 27 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Diggs, 31, has 857 career catches for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns in 144 regular-season games (136 starts) with the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19), Buffalo Bills (2020-23) and Texans. He also owns 69 receptions for 909 yards and four touchdowns in 14 postseason games.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

2025 Fantasy Tight End Preview

Player Notes
Matthew Stafford Aug 18 1:00pm ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) has returned to practice on Monday at training camp, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. The Rams never provided an update on Stafford's scheduled workout on Saturday before their second preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, but apparently it went well, and the 37-year-old is practicing for the first time this summer after aggravating a disc issue in his back. Stafford will most likely be limited on Monday, though, and there's no timetable for when he might be a full-go. The Rams have remained optimistic that Stafford will be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener. If he's not ready, Jimmy Garoppolo will start under center to begin the year. Stafford showed late last year that he can still take the Rams deep into the playoffs, but for fantasy purposes, he's a big injury risk as a low-end QB2.

From RotoBaller

Kendrick Bourne Aug 18 12:40pm ET
Kendrick Bourne

New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (leg) will not practice this week or play in the preseason finale on Thursday against the New York Giants, according to head coach Mike Vrabel. Bourne had his leg rolled up on during practice back on Aug. 1 and has not practiced or played since. The 30-year-old's spot on the 53-man roster is now no longer guaranteed because of the fact that he might not be ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener. Bourne had a career-high 800 receiving yards in 2021 in his first year with New England, but he has disappointed ever since and played in 20 combined games due to injuries the last two seasons. In 2024, he had only 28 catches on 38 targets for 305 yards and one touchdown in 12 games (nine starts). Bourne hasn't been the same since tearing his ACL back in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Romeo Doubs Aug 18 12:30pm ET
Romeo Doubs

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (back) returned to training camp practice on Monday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Doubs injured his back in practice last Tuesday but will finally return to the field for the final week of the preseason. The Packers also got quarterback Jordan Love (thumb) back, although it's unclear if either Doubs or Love will play in the preseason finale this Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. Barring setbacks, both players should be available for the Week 1 regular-season opener. The 25-year-old Doubs caught 46 of his 72 targets for 601 yards and four touchdowns in 13 regular-season games (12 starts) in 2024 in his third year in the league. Doubs did have career-highs in yards per catch (13.1), yards per target (8.3) and yards per game (46.2), but he remains a mediocre WR target in a crowded receivers room.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Aug 18 12:20pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (thumb) returned to training camp practice on Monday, according to The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. Love was doing hand-offs and throws, while backup Malik Willis took the first snaps of th day. The 26-year-old will ultimately go down as a limited participant, but it's still good news that he's back on the field after having minor surgery on his left (non-throwing) thumb. He had his thumb heavily taped in a soft cast and will not return to 11-on-11 drills this week. It's unclear when he'll be able to return to a full workload, and Green Bay will probably hold him out of their preseason finale on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. It shouldn't have a negative impact on Love's fantasy value for upcoming drafts. For fantasy purposes, managers should consider him more of a low-end QB2 with upside.

From RotoBaller

Foster Moreau Aug 18 12:20pm ET
Foster Moreau

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said that tight ends Taysom Hill (knee) and Foster Moreau (knee) are not close to a return to the field. Until one or both of Hill and Moreau are able to return, the Saints will be very thin at the tight end position. Juwan Johnson is the clear starter at the position, and Jack Stoll is "set for a legitimiate offensive impact as of now." Stoll can be avoided in fantasy, though, as he's more of a blocking threat than a receiver. Behind Stoll, it's a complete unknown for the Saints. Moliki Matavao, Treyton Welch and Michael Jacobson will be fighting for the TE3 role. It sounds as though both Hill and Moreau are in line to open the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which means they will have to miss at least the first four weeks of the season. Hill is the more attractive fantasy stash in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Williams Aug 18 12:10pm ET
Kyle Williams

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams (head) will not practice on Monday, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Williams left early from the team's preseason game on Saturday after taking a hard hit to the head. A third-round pick out of Washington State, Williams is competing with Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and others for the WR3 role in New England alongside Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas. He has reportedly shown flashes of brilliance but has largely been inconsistent in training camp. As such, missed time for Williams could set him back in the race for playing time in New England. The 22-year-old has clear upside as a downfield threat, but he's unlikely to factor in fantasy in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Aug 18 12:00pm ET
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) is "ahead of schedule injury-wise," according to Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. Diggs tore the ACL in his right knee last October and has yet to play in the preseason. However, the 32-year-old has been a consistent participant in training camp practices and looks like he'll be ready to go for Week 1. Diggs had 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games before getting injured in 2024, and should be the top target for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye heading into 2025. He profiles as a low-end WR3/flex option in fantasy with a fairly high floor but limited upside.

From RotoBaller

Michael Penix Jr. Aug 18 11:50am ET
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Neither of the team's top two signal-callers has played at all in preseason action. Easton Stick has been Atlanta's most-used quarterback through the team's first two preseason games and figures to get most of the reps against Dallas. With fourth-stringer Emory Jones (head) in concussion protocol, Schefter reports that the team has signed quarterback Ben DiNucci.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Aug 18 11:50am ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is not practicing on Monday, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Brown has already missed multiple weeks of practice due to this ongoing hamstring injury. However, recent reports indicate that the team does not believe it to be a major concern. Hamstring issues tend to linger, so this is definitely a situation to monitor until Brown is back on the field and fully cleared. The 28-year-old profiles as a low-end WR1 in fantasy, and now might be a good time to draft him at a discount if other managers are nervous about his injury status. If Brown were to miss any time, Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith's fantasy value would skyrocket.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Aug 18 11:40am ET
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson "might already be the Patriots' most reliable offensive player" and is earning more touches with each week of camp that goes by, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. Henderson has been one of the stars of the preseason, recording 50 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on eight total touches. He also returned a kick for a touchdown in New England's first preseason game. Henderson figures to split time with veterans Rhamondre Stevenson (undisclosed) and Antonio Gibson when the season begins, assuming Stevenson makes it back from an undisclosed injury that has held him out of recent training camp practices. Even still, Henderson profiles as an RB2 in fantasy due to his explosiveness and receiving ability. If he can ever seize a true lead role in the New England backfield, his potential is sky-high.

From RotoBaller

D.J. Chark Aug 18 11:30am ET
D.J. Chark

The Atlanta Falcons have released veteran wide receiver DJ Chark, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The team signed Chark in late July after wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) went down with a shoulder injury early in training camp. While Mooney has yet to return to the field, Chark's release could be an indication that Atlanta is confident that Mooney will not miss significant time. It could also simply mean that Chark was not part of the team's 53-man roster plans, regardless of Mooney's status. With Chark no longer in Atlanta, veteran KhaDarel Hodge looks like the top candidate to receive more playing time while Mooney is sidelined.

From RotoBaller

MarShawn Lloyd Aug 18 10:50am ET
MarShawn Lloyd

After leaving Saturday's preseason game in the second quarter, Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) is expected to miss some time, and his status for the regular season is now in question. Injuries have hampered Lloyd's young career. After taking only six attempts as a rookie, he had missed parts of his second training camp with a groin injury. In his preseason debut, Lloyd tweaked his hamstring and had to exit the game prematurely following a 33-yard catch. For the second year, Lloyd entered camp as the presumed backup to Josh Jacobs, but if he's unable to work his way back to health, that valuable role will go to someone else, as it did last season. For now, Lloyd should be considered week-to-week until further information emerges.

From RotoBaller

Jalen McMillan Aug 18 10:50am ET
Jalen McMillan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) was in good spirits over the weekend, following a scary-looking fall that took him out of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers in the first quarter. After landing awkwardly on his head/neck area while making a catch, he was carted to the locker room and ruled out for the remainder of the game. McMillan seems to have avoided any major injury and is now dealing only with soreness. He finished on a league-winning heater last season, registering seven touchdown grabs in his final five regular-season games. Chris Godwin (ankle) is projected to start the year on the PUP list. McMillan should still have a role in the Buccaneers' high-powered offense while Godwin is sidelined.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Bond Aug 18 10:00am ET
Isaiah Bond

The Cleveland Browns have signed rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond to a three-year, $3.018 million fully guaranteed contract. After garnering a good deal of buzz in the early stages of draft season, Bond went undrafted after being accused of sexual assault in April. The case was no-billed last week by a grand jury, and Bond faces no further criminal charges. Bond announced shortly after this ruling that he would be signing with the Browns, and his deal becomes official. Having missed almost all of training camp, it will be difficult for him to carve out any sort of immediate role as a rookie, but the guaranteed signing would suggest that the Browns have a plan for him. Bond has always displayed impressive game speed, and he is worth stashing in dynasty leagues.

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers Aug 18 9:40am ET
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (back) has not practiced in more than 11 days as he deals with a minor back problem. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Giants characterized it as "normal camp tightness," but the team continues to play it safe with their second-year superstar. The Giants are scheduled for a walk-through on Monday and a single day of full practice on Tuesday before their final preseason game against the Patriots on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. Given this tight schedule, it's unlikely Nabers will see the field again anytime soon, as the Giants aim to ease him back to full health before their regular season opens on Sept. 7. Nabers looks to follow up a brilliant rookie season in which he caught over 100 passes despite missing two games. He is currently RotoBaller's WR5 and can be drafted with confidence.

From RotoBaller

Tua Tagovailoa Aug 18 9:20am ET
Tua Tagovailoa

Following a tumultuous offseason, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) has yet to reestablish a working chemistry with his quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa.. Hill has not caught passes consistently for months due to the wrist injury he played with for the entirety of the 2024 season. When things are going right for Hill, he has been a locked-in WR1. However, coming off his worst year since his rookie season, the hope coming into 2025 was that he and Tagovailoa could once more find the connection that helped him to put up over 1,700 yards in each of his first two seasons in Miami. According to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, that connection has been lacking both on and off the field. Hill is currently RotoBaller's WR13, but with each day that passes without positive news coming out of the Dolphins' camp, drafters will need to think hard about the amount of risk they are willing to shoulder in making him their WR1 or WR2.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Aug 18 9:10am ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins made his preseason debut on Saturday against the Panthers and hauled in two of three targets for 13 yards and a touchdown. He also almost connected on a deep pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud during the team's first possession, and Stroud said after the game, "It's my job to connect with him, and I owe him one from today." Collins looked strong and ready for another elite season after posting over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. Last year, the 26-year-old from Michigan led the team with 68 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns, even though he missed five games with an injury. He looks healthy and ready to roll as the team's top receiver coming into his fifth season in the NFL, and is once again a strong WR1 to build around for fantasy this year.

From RotoBaller

C.J. Stroud Aug 18 9:00am ET
C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud played just two series on Saturday against Carolina, but he looked sharp, completing 6-of-8 pass attempts for 44 passing yards and a touchdown to Nico Collins. He wasn't satisfied with his preseason debut, though, expressing frustration that he missed Collins on a deep ball on the team's first possession, which ended in a punt. Stroud only played two series, but did enough to put his Texans ahead in a game they went on to win 20-3. After winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, Stroud struggled a little bit last season, throwing for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns but also throwing 12 interceptions. With new offensive coordinator Nick Caley taking over from Bobby Slowik, Stroud will look to bounce back and be a fantasy factor again this season. He's a QB2 with upside coming into the season, but he has the potential to be a borderline QB1 if he can return to his 2023 form with better protection than he had last year.

From RotoBaller

Woody Marks Aug 18 8:40am ET
Woody Marks

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks totaled 40 rushing yards on seven carries on Saturday against Carolina, leading the team in both carries and rushing yards. The fourth-round rookie had the longest rush of the day with a 12-yard carry, but he worked with the second unit after Nick Chubb took the reps with starting quarterback C.J. Stroud. Demeon Pierce did not play, either, so it's still not clear exactly where Marks lands on the team's depth chart. At USC, Marks racked up 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and he also thrived as a receiver out of the backfield throughout his five-year college career. With Chubb and Pierce available, along with starter Joe Mixon (foot/ankle), Marks could have a hard time getting playing time in his rookie year. All three of those veterans have dealt with injuries this preseason, though, and Mixon is still uncertain for Week 1 on the Non-Football Injury list. Marks is a dynasty player to watch and could work his way onto the field at some point this season, but he isn't a consideration for standard re-draft leagues at this point.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Aug 18 8:30am ET
Nick Chubb

Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb made his Texans' preseason debut on Saturday against the Panthers, taking five carries for 25 yards while working with the starting unit and quarterback C.J. Stroud. Chubb recently cleared the concussion protocol and could be lined up to start the year with the top unit of the offense, depending on the status of Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) for Week 1. Mixon is dealing with a lingering ankle/foot injury and remains on the Non-Football Injury list. Chubb was brought to Houston this offseason after he struggled in his return from his devastating knee injury in 2023. When he's fully healthy, Chubb has a superstar ceiling, but Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks will also potentially be in the mix. Houston's backfield remains a key situation to watch for the rest of the preseason.

From RotoBaller