The Bucs released K Rodrigo Blankenship. That leaves Chase McLaughlin as the only kicker on the roster. We'll see if Tampa adds any further competition over the next couple of weeks, but McLaughlin looks like a good bet to open the season as the Bucs' kicker. He's a weak fantasy option on an offense that figures to struggle post-Tom Brady.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Colts have given RB Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade. He adds that "conversations to find potential landing spots are ongoing." Although the RB market is tough everywhere, we'd be surprised if the Colts and Taylor can't find a suitor. Of course, cost will be a huge factor -- potentially both in trade terms and Taylor's contract demands. Exactly where he lands will have a huge fantasy impact: on Taylor's outlook, on the Colts' remaining RB depth chart, and on any new backfield mates. We'll be watching closely for developments here.
Chiefs RB Isaiah Pacheco (shoulder, hand) shed his non-contact jersey for Monday's practice. HC Andy Reid said afterward that there's a chance Pacheco plays in Saturday's preseason finale. He's clearly on track to be ready for Week 1.
Panthers RBs Miles Sanders (groin) and Chuba Hubbard (ankle) were on the practice field on Monday, according to The Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye. Sanders had been out since August 9, while Hubbard hurt his ankle in Friday night's preseason game. Both guys are on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.
Steelers OC Matt Canada said Monday that RB Najee Harris remains the team's No. 1 RB. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that," Canada added. It sounds a bit like a coach trying to tamper down any talk of a RB controversy after RB Jaylen Warren's 62-yard TD in Pittsburgh's second preseason game. Canada also said that he'll use Warren "a lot." We don't doubt that Harris will open the season as the Steelers' clear lead back. The question is whether that workload split will shift during the season if Warren continues to run more efficiently than Harris. We recently updated our projections for the Steelers backfield.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec believes Ravens RB Justice Hill is “set” in the RB3 role. Zrebiec thinks it’s down to Melvin Gordon and rookie Keaton Mitchell -- if Baltimore keeps four RBs. Gordon’s made a “compelling case” to make the team, although Mitchell brings more "speed and explosiveness" (plus special teams potential). We should see both guys suit up for tonight's preseason tilt with Washington.
Dolphins RB De'Von Achane avoided a severe injury to his shoulder, HC Mike McDaniel told reporters Monday. But according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe, the rookie RB is considered "week-to-week." That's a particularly tough spot for a young back who has been running fifth on the RB depth chart so far. We'll see whether Achane can return to the field before the regular-season opener. We're moving him down the RB rankings for upcoming fantasy football drafts, though.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Monday of QB Joe Burrow, via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport: "He looks great. Physically walking around, he looks as good as he's ever looked." Rather than wonder why Burrow doesn't commonly look better walking around, we'll choose to take this as a big positive on his recovery from the calf strain. Burrow continues to trend toward being ready for Week 1. See where he sits in our 2023 fantasy football rankings.
Dolphins QB Mike White has entered the concussion protocol. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reports that Miami staff members "found irregularities with him" during Saturday's preseason game against the Texans. It's White's first documented concussion, as far as we can tell.
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njibga has played 13 snaps out wide and 13 snaps in the slot through two preseason games. It looks like Seattle is gearing him up to play all over the formation this season, which can only be good news for his fantasy value. Smith-Njigba isn't cheap in fantasy drafts, but he's capable of beating his 7th-round ADP. Check out more fantasy takeaways from Week 2 of the preseason.
Colts LB Shaquille Leonard sustained a concussion in a joint practice with the Bears late last week and has landed in the league protocol. HC Shane Steichen said, "He should be back soon." Leonard has struggled with injuries over the past couple of years but has generated buzz in camp this summer. With plenty of time to rebound from this concussion before the regular season, Leonard should remain in your IDP draft plans. He's not moving off a high perch in our IDP rankings.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring) will take part in joint practices with the Broncos this week, HC Sean McVay said Sunday. Kupp has been sidelined since August 2 but will now have close to three weeks to gear up for the regular-season opener. Barring a setback, the hamstring shouldn't impact his 2023 fantasy value.
Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton missed Saturday night's preseason game with what's believed to be a shoulder injury. "He's doing fine. It's a week-to-week situation," a source told The Boston Globe's Christopher Price. Thornton can't afford the missed reps. He was sidelined for part of the spring with a soft-tissue injury and has been out-played by rookie WR Demario Douglas in camp. At this point, Thornton is well off the redraft fantasy radar. We'll let you know when he returns from this latest injury.
Cardinals WR Rondale Moore played 42.8% of his snaps out wide last year. That number is down to 21.1% through two preseason games this year. Assuming that continues, it means Moore won't play much in 2-WR sets in new OC Drew Petzing's offense. It's a significant hit to Moore's 2023 fantasy value. Marquise Brown and rookie Michael Wilson look like the favorites to lead Arizona WRs in snaps this season.
Jags HC Doug Pederson praised QB Trevor Lawrence in a recent interview. "I'll tell you what, he's throwing the ball the best I've seen him in the year and a half I've been with Trevor," Pederson said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "And just really, the sky is the limit with this guy. And if we just continue to improve and just really keep those pieces around him healthy, this offense could really take off." Our QB rankings page turn up career-best numbers for Lawrence. He’s fairly priced with an ADP around QB8.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams played in Saturday night's preseason game -- his first live action since last October's multi-ligament knee injury. He carried three times for 12 yards and caught four of five targets for 18 yards. Williams didn't do anything spectacular but certainly didn't look limited coming off the injury. "I just wanted to get tackled again and see how it goes," Williams said afterward. "That’s the biggest hurdle I feel I have left.” He added that he feels "100 percent" and is "good to go" for Week 1. Williams still figures to be limited at least early on this season. But he continues to trend in a positive direction.
Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo "was up-and-down early in camp but has been impressive of late," ESPN's Paul Gutierrez writes. Garoppolo also looked good in his 2023 preseason debut on Saturday night, completing all four of his passes for 39 yards on a 68-yard TD drive. He's still not an exciting fantasy option, but the improved play is good news for Vegas pass-catchers.
The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia believes WR Khalil Shakir is currently fifth on the Bills' depth chart. He played fewer snaps with QB Josh Allen in the team's second preseason game than both WRs Trent Sherfield and Deonte Harty. Shakir is not worth a roster spot in redraft leagues at this point. We're tentatively expecting the Bills' primary 3-WR set to open the season to be Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis out wide, with Harty in the slot.
The Buccaneers didn't play QB Baker Mayfield at all in the second preseason game. Instead, they rode Kyle Trask throughout the first half, and then re-inserted him after John Wolford left with a neck injury. HC Todd Bowles said afterward that doesn't mean he has named a starter. "We were going to play Baker at the end of the half, but we wanted to see Kyle in the two-minute period, so we kind of left him at the time it went down," Bowles said, according to Pewter Report. "He was up to play. I made the decision at the last minute." Although Bowles still refuses to admit it, signs sure seem to point toward Mayfield being the guy. Of course, either Bucs QB will only be an option in 2-QB and superflex formats, or as a late third QB in best ball drafts.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker sat out the team's second preseason game Saturday against the Cowboys. But he returned to full practice two days before that for the first time since suffering his groin injury. We'll see whether Walker gets into the final preseason game, but he'll at least have multiple weeks of workouts before the regular season.
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