Fantasy Football News

Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza was sharp in his preseason debut vs. the Cardinals on Thursday night, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs. But QB Kirk Cousins got the start and is still the favorite to open the regular season as Vegas' starter, HC Klint Kubiak confirmed after the game.

RB Jeremiyah Love got his first preseason action Thursday night in the Cardinals' second exhibition, and they worked him like a lead back against the Raiders. The third overall pick racked up 14 first-half touches: 11 carries for 58 yards (5.3 per rush) and 3 receptions for 14 yards on three targets. Love also came away from the game with a minor ankle injury, but it appears we don't need to worry about that.

Rams HC Sean McVay expects WR Puka Nacua back at practice next week "ready to go," according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop. Nacua suffered what McVay revealed as a psoas injury on Tuesday. (The psoas is a deep core muscle connecting the lower spine and pelvis to the thigh bone.) Nacua worked off to the side of practice on Thursday, per Barshop.

Chigoziem Okonkwo was commended for the standout training camp he’s had by Commanders Senior Writer Zach Selby in a recent article, but Selby noted that “...the tight ends were not used much in the passing game during the offensive periods that I watched (team red zone, third-down emphasis, and two-minute).”

Carson Beck won’t play in tonight's preseason game after suffering a rib injury in last week’s Hall of Fame game, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s not considered serious, and Beck practiced throughout the week before being held out as a precaution.

The Eagles star running-back appeared to tweak his ankle during practice. Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports that “During the last period Saquon Barkley was getting his left ankle checked out by a trainer. He never went to the tent but still has his cleat off.”

Trey McBride is coming off a season in which he finished as the highest-scoring fantasy TE, but new HC Mike LaFleur thinks he can do more, per Cardinals beat reporter Theo Mackie. “I think he can have maybe a deeper intermediate route tree.” LaFleur said of McBride.

Saints WR Jordyn Tyson left Thursday's practice with a hamstring injury, according to New Orleans Football's Mike Triplett. Nick Underhill hears that the injury isn't "super serious," but it's still a concern given Tyson's history of hamstring trouble.

Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano came away from the Commanders' joint practice with the Dolphins believing that WR Stefon Diggs will play a big role this season. "His skills and reliability seem as good as ever," Vacchiano wrote. "It also looks like he could be a high-volume receiver for the Commanders. Yes, they still have Terry McLaurin, too. But Diggs could be a [Jayden] Daniels favorite, running a lot of underneath routes that he could potentially turn into big plays."

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard is week-to-week with a hamstring injury, HC Dave Canales said Thursday. The team is confident that Hubbard will be ready for Week 1, which is exactly one month away. But his absence gives RB Jonathon Brooks even more opportunity to carve out an early-season role.

New Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker caught only 31 passes over 17 games last season, but Kansas City should unlock more receiving production. Beat writer Jesse Newell writes that Walker “figures to be heavily involved in what was a dormant screen game last season.”

The Boston Sports Journal's Mike Giardi believes the Patriots' "RB pecking order is established," with Rhamondre Stevenson ahead of TreVeyon Henderson. "Stevenson is the between-the-tackles guy, and until proven otherwise, the most reliable back on passing downs," Giardi writes. "That’s not just for his blitz pickup, which is superior to Treveyon Henderson’s, but he’s surehanded and has continued to flash that this summer. ... As for Henderson, I told you I haven’t seen much improvement with his vision and patience, but I don’t have access to practice film."

TE Darren Waller has inked a one-year deal with the Panthers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Waller came out of retirement last year and put together nine efficient games for the Dolphins. He turns 34 in September but immediately becomes the favorite to lead a weak Panthers TE group.

Christian McCaffrey sat out practice with 'tightness,' according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Fantasy managers have reason to notice it, but the 49ers are not concerned.

After getting rolled up on and limping off the practice field earlier in the day, Emeka Egbuka has been tagged with a toe sprain per Rick Stroud of Tampa Bay Times. The timeline and severity of the toe sprain remain unknown until imaging results come back.

After a positive start to training camp since tearing his ACL, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports, “Malik Nabers did less today than he had been.” He also added, “He worked on the side for a bit, then walked inside with a doctor an hour into practice.”

In a battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons have yet to name their starting QB. But ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reports that they plan to have Tagovailoa be their starter for the initial preseason game on Friday.

Eagles TE Eli Stowers continues to struggle in training camp, with The Philly Voice’s Geoff Mosher saying he’s still learning the position and struggling with the game’s physicality. The team drafted Stowers in the second round of the NFL Draft this past April as a potential heir apparent to TE Dallas Goedert. Stowers' receiving ability and athleticism could've gotten him on the field, but it appears he's too far behind to open the season as a contributor.

We passed along some hype on Patriots TE Eli Raridon earlier this week. Now The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan is suggesting that Raridon might be pushing TE Hunter Henry for work. Per Callahan, Raridon got more first-team snaps than Henry in three straight practices, culminating with Tuesday's joint practice with the Colts.

The Athletic's Mike DeFabo calls Steelers WR Roman Wilson a camp riser. "Through camp, he’s firmly in the WR3 role in three-receiver sets," DeFabo adds.