NFL Fantasy - The Athletic

Luther Burden is dealing with an injury that Andy Behrens discusses in the context of Rams' offensive expectations, creating a potential concern for his fantasy availability or role.

The source generates hype around Ja'Kobi Lane, suggesting potential for emergence or breakout performance in the upcoming season.

The source identifies Kyren Williams as a fantasy football steal, indicating his draft price or ADP is undervalued relative to his expected production in the Rams offense.

The source identifies Matthew Stafford as a fantasy football steal, suggesting his ADP or market valuation is lower than his expected performance warrants given Rams' offensive expectations.

Luther Burden is expected to miss the preseason with a groin injury; his absence will deprive him of valuable reps, though the Bears believe he should be on track to return in time for their Sept. 13 opener.

The source identifies Rashee Rice as a player to avoid in 2026 fantasy football drafts, flagging him as a bust risk.

The source identifies Christian McCaffrey as a player to avoid in 2026 fantasy football drafts, flagging him as a bust risk.

Bateman had just 19 catches for 224 yards and two scores in 2025, but remains a vital part of Baltimore's receiving corps under new coaching staff, positioning him for a bounce-back season.

Parker Washington is identified as an 'Arbitrage All-Star'—a low-cost player who could perform similarly to players drafted well ahead of him in fantasy football 2026, suggesting he offers significant value relative to his draft position.

D'Andre Swift is identified as an 'Arbitrage All-Star'—a low-cost player who could perform similarly to players drafted well ahead of him in fantasy football 2026, suggesting he offers significant value relative to his draft position.

Diggs, 32, had a very good 2025 season for the AFC champion Patriots, recording 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns; now signing with the Commanders, positioning him for potential role expansion in a new offense.

Christian Kirk missed practice this week due to injury, limiting his availability and creating a gap in the 49ers receiving corps during training camp.

Ricky Pearsall missed practice this week due to injury, creating uncertainty around his availability and role in the 49ers offense during training camp.

Deebo Samuel is returning to the 49ers at a time when receivers Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk are both sidelined with injuries, positioning Samuel for increased offensive role and target opportunity in the absence of competing pass catchers.

Tyler Shough is positioned as a key catalyst for Chris Olave's 2026 fantasy value, with Michael Salfino expressing confidence in the quarterback's ability to support Olave's production.

Drafting Chris Olave at his 2026 ADP is a bet on quarterback Tyler Shough; Michael Salfino is all in on this pairing, indicating confidence in Olave's 2026 value given the quarterback upgrade.

Gibbs is not practicing amid contract negotiations seeking a long-term deal; the Lions' No. 12 overall pick from the 2023 draft is holding out during training camp.

Robinson is not practicing amid contract negotiations seeking a long-term deal; the Falcons' No. 8 overall pick from the 2023 draft is holding out during training camp.

Tank Bigsby is ranked among the top potential league-winning backup running backs; the source identifies him as a high-upside handcuff with significant fantasy value if the presumed starter becomes unavailable.

Blake Corum is ranked among the top potential league-winning backup running backs; the source identifies him as a high-upside handcuff with significant fantasy value if the presumed starter becomes unavailable.

Luther Burden is riding early preseason hype heading into the 2026 fantasy football season, suggesting emerging breakout potential and positive early-season momentum.

Jonathon Brooks has experienced a sharp ADP rise in early preseason, indicating growing market confidence and draft-day momentum.

Kenneth Gainwell is identified in the episode title as among the top-5 most underpriced running backs in early ADP, indicating the source views him as a value pick.

Michael Salfino ranks James Cook above Christian McCaffrey in his value assessment, suggesting CMC is not as underpriced relative to Cook in early ADP.

Michael Salfino describes J.K. Dobbins as 'one of the best backs in football' when healthy, and identifies him as a value pick in early ADP despite his talent level.

Michael Salfino ranks James Cook over Christian McCaffrey, positioning him as a value pick in early ADP; the source emphasizes Cook's underpriced status relative to his talent tier.

Malik Nabers is recovering from a torn ACL and will not start training camp on the PUP list, though this does not indicate he will be at full speed at the start of camp.

Michael Salfino identifies Bhayshul Tuten as one of five running backs to avoid at their inflated draft prices according to early ADP; Tuten is flagged as overpriced relative to his expected fantasy output.

Michael Salfino identifies Ashton Jeanty as one of five running backs to avoid at their inflated draft prices according to early ADP; Jeanty is flagged as overpriced relative to his expected fantasy output.

Identified as a top-five candidate to break into the WR top 20 in 2026.

Identified as a top-five candidate to break into the WR top 20 in 2026.

Andy Behrens ranks Omarion Hampton RB15, seven positional slots lower than his current ADP, citing his sky-high price as a concern in fantasy football drafts.

Lemon is overpriced relative to Dontayvion Wicks, going 45 WR slots higher in ADP despite being a rookie. Author projects the A.J. Brown workload split at 10-7 favoring Wicks, not the market's implied 12-5 advantage for Lemon.

Wicks is significantly underpriced at WR84 ADP versus author's WR45 ranking. He signed a one-year $12.5 million starter contract, and author projects a 10-7 split of A.J. Brown's vacated workload favoring Wicks over rookie Makai Lemon.

Washington is Miami's highest-ranked WR with 1,175 receiving yards departed from the 2025 roster, leaving ~450 targets available that won't be significantly replaced by Tutu Atwell or Jalen Tolbert.

Washington is underpriced at WR70 ADP versus author's WR61 ranking and can be taken in the last four rounds. Despite poor 2025 efficiency (4.9 yards per target), he had 100+ receiving yards in 10 of final 11 college games and ran sub-4.5 40-yard dash.

Robinson was 13th in yards after the catch (YAC) but totaled just 27 yards over expected, and touchdown projection is uncertain at 4-5 TDs.

Robinson is underpriced at WR43 ADP versus author's WR35 ranking. Author projects 136 targets and 92 catches based on his 8 targets/game average and 68% catch rate under Daboll, making him "well worth the pick" at current ADP.

Pierce's red-zone target rate was only 11.6%, about half of desired levels, but it can increase with Pittman gone since Pierce is 6-foot-3 and well-sized for the red zone.

Pierce is underpriced at WR36 ADP versus author's WR23 ranking and has more upside than Jameson Williams (WR27) because he can be the alpha receiver. With Pittman gone, ~40 of 111 vacated targets should shift to Pierce, projecting ~1,200 yards.