ESPN's Stephen Holder reports that Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (groin) are a few of the team's starters that will not be suiting up for Thursday's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. In addition to Taylor and Pittman, DeForest Buckner, Braden Smith, Josh Downs, Bernhard Raimann and Grover Stewart will be on the sidelines. Pittman's fantasy stock is falling after he finished shy of 1,000 receiving yards with only three touchdowns in 2024 while battling through injuries. The Colts' QB situation isn't endearing, either, and Pittman will continue to battle for targets with emerging wideouts Downs and Adonai Mitchell. He's fallen to WR4/flex territory. For the volume alone with nobody to really challenge him for backfield touches in Indy, Taylor remains a top-10 fantasy RB.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is expectedly not playing in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. Brown has missed three training camp practices with a hamstring injury, but it's not believed to be serious, and the Eagles are just being cautious with their star wideout. Philly will likely look to get the 28-year-old into one of their next two preseason games, but they aren't going to push it so that he will be 100 percent ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 4 against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. Barring a change to his injury status when we get closer to the season opener, Brown is a top-10 fantasy wideout in one of the top offenses in football. The former second-rounder is a three-time Pro Bowler and has had over 1,400 receiving yards in two of his three seasons with the Eagles.

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ESPN's Michael DiRocco writes that Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange has been one of the team's "most consistent offensive performers throughout camp." Strange has also shown plenty of chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence so far this summer. The 24-year-old was a second-rounder (61st overall) in 2023 out of Penn State. He had just five catches for 35 yards and a score in his first NFL season before posting a 40-411-2 line in 17 games (10 starts) in 2024. Strange will be Jacksonville's No. 1 pass-catching tight end in his third year now that Evan Engram is out of town. Fantasy managers in standard leagues can ignore Strange for now, but he might be worth a waiver-wire pickup later in the year if he takes advantage of his opportunities and continues to build chemistry with Lawrence. He's RotoBaller's No. 21 fantasy TE.

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Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten got off to a slow start this summer at training camp due to a hamstring injury, but since then, SI.com's John Shipley reports that he's been stacking good days together and has been 100% healthy. Tuten's speed is on display, and "it seems like he has the inside track to the No. 3 RB role" behind Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby. Shipley adds that Tuten's "burst and ability to get downhill and find a crease has stood out consistently." The 23-year-old has also been breaking tackles and should have a complementary role in head coach Liam Coen's offense this year at the very least. Fantasy-wise, the fourth-rounder probably is going to go undrafted in standard-sized, single-year leagues, but he's a worthwhile stash in dynasty/keeper formats for his high-end speed and big-play abilities.

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (concussion) was out of his non-contact jersey during Thursday's training camp practice, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Wilson didn't take any contact in practice, but it's a good sign that he's on his way to being removed from the injury report, and he could play in the preseason opener this Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Nothing from Wilson's first two seasons in the NFL suggests that he's ready for a breakout in 2025 in his third year, as he has totaled 85 receptions for 1,113 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games (25 starts) in his first two years. The former third-rounder in 2023 out of Stanford will be a distant No. 3 target for quarterback Kyler Murray behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride. If either of the two miss time with an injury, though, Wilson will be a popular waiver-wire pickup.

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Houston Texans running back Nick Chubb (head) missed his second straight day of practice at training camp on Thursday after taking a hard shot to his head and leaving with a trainer on Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. It's unclear if Chubb is in the league's concussion protocol, but it's worth watching, especially with Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) still on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The Texans will likely play it safe and hold Chubb out of the preseason opener on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. Until Chubb returns to the field, Dameon Pierce and rookie Woody Marks will see added backfield opportunities in practice and the preseason. Even with Mixon's health up in the air for the start of the regular season, RotoBaller has Chubb ranked as only the RB57 after playing in only 10 games the last two seasons, primarily due to a gruesome knee injury he suffered in 2023.

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Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah is earning praise from Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, according to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports. Schottenheimer said that Mafah is "very fluid" and has "excellent" vision. A seventh-round pick out of Clemson, Mafah rushed for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games in his final collegiate season. He's competing with veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders as well as fellow rookie Jaydon Blue for playing time in the Dallas backfield. Williams is the favorite to open the season as the Cowboys' RB1, but there's an opportunity for whichever back plays best to earn carries. With a strong showing in the preseason, Mafah could be a name to monitor in deeper leagues as the regular season gets underway.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said that he doesn't think he will be playing in the team's preseason opener on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams, according to The Dallas Morning News' Joseph Hoyt. Prescott is fully recovered from the torn hamstring that limited him to only eight games last year, but the Cowboys are taking it slow with him this summer and will hold him out of the first preseason contest this weekend. Before getting hurt last year, the 32-year-old veteran signal-caller completed 64.7% of his 185 pass attempts for 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions in what was a terrible year for Dallas all around. Prescott finished as the QB3 in fantasy in 2023, though, so a bounce-back should be in store if he can stay healthy, especially since he now has receiver George Pickens to throw to. Fantasy managers should target Prescott as a high-end QB2 in fantasy drafts.

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The Denver Broncos released their initial unofficial depth chart on the team's website, and wide receiver Devaughn Vele is listed as a reserve. Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. are listed as Denver's two starting wide receivers. Vele started seven of the 13 games he played for the Broncos as a rookie in 2024 and recorded 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns for the season. However, Vele's target share dipped over the final five weeks of 2024, a stretch that coincided with a much heavier workload for Mims Jr. While Vele and Mims Jr. fill different roles within Denver's offense, this early look at the depth chart could be an indication that the team is planning to carry over its wide receiver usage trends from the end of 2024 into 2025.

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Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker (undisclosed) returned to training camp practices after briefly being sidelined due to an undisclosed soft-tissue injury. A fourth-round draft pick by the Ravens in 2024, Walker had just one catch (a 21-yard touchdown grab) in nine games played as a rookie. Baltimore has an established trio at the top of their depth chart in Zay Flowers, DeAndre Hopkins, and Rashod Bateman. That leaves Walker fighting for a depth role with Tylan Wallace, Keith Kirkwood, and sixth-round rookie LaJohntay Wester. Walker would need an injury to at least one of Baltimore's top three wide receivers to factor into fantasy this year.

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New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (leg) is participating in team portions of practice after being limited by a minor leg injury earlier in camp. The fourth-year wideout is expected to be the Giants' primary slot receiver this season. Robinson played in all 17 games for New York in 2024, recording 93 receptions for 699 yards and three touchdowns. As evidenced by his 7.5-yard-per-reception average, Robinson was almost exclusively utilized as a short-area target last season. As a result, he profiles much more favorably in PPR-scoring fantasy formats.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (undisclosed) returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice due to an undisclosed injury, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. Schad notes that Hill "mostly worked on lower-body stretching and sprinting" and was "moving well." Hill played through a wrist injury in 2024 that may have affected his performance, but it doesn't seem as though the injury that caused him to miss practice earlier this week is wrist-related. The 31-year-old played all 17 games for Miami last season but failed to reach 100 catches and 1,000 yards receiving for the first time since 2020. Hill profiles as a fringe WR1 with upside for fantasy managers heading into 2025.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (back) took a shot in training camp practice on Thursday and was down for a bit before heading to the injury tent while grabbing his lower back, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Ferguson stood up for a while and walked around before dropping down to a knee. It's something to keep an eye on with the team's top pass-catching tight end, and this will probably keep him from playing in Saturday's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder caught 59 passes for 494 yards and no touchdowns in 14 starts a year ago but was a Pro Bowler in 2023 with a 71-761-5 line in 17 games (16 starts). As long as he's healthy, he'll be in play as a low-end TE1 in fantasy now that quarterback Dak Prescott is back to full health. Luke Schoonmaker is the next TE up in Dallas if Ferguson's injury is serious.

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San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Jordan James (finger) broke his finger and will undergo surgery, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic. As a result, James will be out for "a couple weeks," according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. It's tough news for the 21-year-old heading into his first NFL season, but the good news is that he could still be ready to roll for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) is also expected to miss a couple weeks, so San Fran's backfield behind injury-prone Christian McCaffrey is suddenly very thin in camp. Going forward, Patrick Taylor, Ameer Abdullah and Corey Kiner will see more opportunities to prove themselves in practices and the preseason. Unless Guerendo isn't ready for the start of the season, James will probably go undrafted in most single-year fantasy leagues.

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Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue (lower body) spent time in the medical tent during Thursday's training camp practice before walking off the field under his own power due to an undisclosed lower-body injury, according to Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News. Hoyt says that Blue might be done for the day after taking a hard hit, fumbling, and staying on the ground for a bit in practice. We should get more information on Blue by Friday morning, but for now we'll consider him day-to-day. It's unclear if the fifth-rounder will be able to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams. The 21-year-old has been one of the pleasant surprises in camp this summer, although both veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders figure to see most of the backfield touches early in the year. If Blue's injury isn't serious, he makes for an intriguing late-round dart throw in PPR formats.

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Jacksonville Jaguars beat writer John Oehser writes that wide receiver Parker Washington's improvement and approach has been constant since the arrival of new head coach Liam Coen, and the offensive staff "continues to be impressed by Washington's versatility and production." "He can plug and play at different spots and go and execute a wide route tree," offensive coordinator Grant Udinski said. The 23-year-old is expected to be the team's No. 4 wideout this year alongside rookie Travis Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown. Washington caught 32 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns for the Jags a year ago and is showing that he can be reliable and productive in Coen's scheme. He's produced 48 catches on 72 targets for 522 yards and five touchdowns in 26 games (eight starts) in his two NFL seasons. Unless an injury opens up more playing time, Washington is one to avoid in 12-team leagues.

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Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (foot) was held out of Thursday's practice with a foot injury, according to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs. It's unfortunate news for the former Texas Longhorn, as he's reportedly been the primary short-yardage and goal-line option throughout camp for Chicago. Backfield mate D'Andre Swift is slated to handle most of the backfield work for the Bears, although it isn't unlikely that head coach Ben Johnson might choose to deploy a similar sort of committee as he did during his time in Detroit. Injuries have limited Johnson throughout his first two seasons, and now he's in danger of missing Sunday's meeting with the visiting Miami Dolphins. Rookie rusher Kyle Monangai and sixth-year pro Travis Homer will see an uptick in snaps if that's the case. Johnson is currently being selected just outside the top 175 in drafts.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) will have a workout on Saturday, and if all goes well, he will return to training camp practice on Monday, according to head coach Sean McVay. The head coach emphasized that if this were a game week, Stafford would be cleared to play. The 37-year-old veteran is dealing with an aggravated disc in his back and received an epidural injection to help with the pain. It's not exactly what you want to hear for a QB heading into the regular season, but the Rams don't seem to be very worried about Stafford's availability for Week 1. Although Stafford could return on Monday, he won't take part in joint practices with the Chargers next week. Stafford showed late last year that he still has what it takes to succeed at a high level, but for fantasy purposes, he's no more than a low-end QB2 that is a big injury risk.

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ESPN's Ryan McFadden reports that Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer has been a standout in training camp. The Notre Dame product flashed during his rookie campaign, but the addition of Brock Bowers in 2024 was a detriment to Mayer's playing time. While Bowers and new quarterback Geno Smith have quickly gotten on the same page, Mayer has had an excellent camp of his own. The 24-year-old has been an offensive standout since OTAs, per McFadden, who also notes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has "big plans" for him in 2025. There are undoubtedly targets up for grabs in the Raiders' offense, and Mayer may play a nice role for them. However, that translating to fantasy isn't a guarantee. Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers are worth rostering for now, but Mayer will have to impress in preseason action before he's worthy of fantasy managers' attention in drafts.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reports that quarterback Aaron Rodgers, among other veterans, will not play in Saturday's preseason opener against the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars. With rookie signal-caller Will Howard (hand) battling a hand issue, fellow QBs Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are expected to handle the bulk of the reps for the team. However, it's worth mentioning that Howard has yet to be ruled out, per Mark Kaboly of 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh. Tomlin has noted that he's "comfortable" with what he's seen from his new quarterback, but also remarked that next week "may be different". Rodgers figures to get some playing time in before the start of the regular season, and that could come as soon as next Saturday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to town.

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