Dynasty | Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt moves up the depth chart with the trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: It's now officially "Bill" season. Still, expectations should be tempered. Yes, Croskey-Merritt has torn up camp by all accounts and clearly should be on rosters everywhere. However, Chris Rodriguez may have already been tabbed as the goal-line and short-yardage back for the team and Austin Ekeler is still a great pass-catcher and option for a lead back. Croskey-Merritt has the looks of a late round rookie gem this year and that's exciting but his ADP could also skyrocket a little prematurely as people go overboard.

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Dynasty | Chris Rodriguez has moved up the depth chart following the trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: While a lot of attention is being placed on Jacory Croskey-Merritt (and rightfully so), Rodriguez is going to have a role for the Commanders this season and his availability on waivers is likely a lot better. Coach Dan Quinn said just yesterday he's likely going to be the short yardage back and that's significant. Rodriguez has been effective in stretches and his ADP is undoubtedly going to start rising.

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Dynasty | Commanders running back Austin Ekeler could see an increase in touches following the trade of Brian Robinson. Dynasty Analysis: An elite-level pass catcher and touchdown producer during his time with the Chargers, Ekeler has been relegated to being more of a role player during his time in Washington. However, this trade opens up a lot of room for the backfield and the Commanders are likely going to give him more than the 112 touches he had last season. Again, a lot of attention is being placed on Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but this could help Ekeler as well. He remains a solid hold in dynasty leagues as a player who could have one last burst of real value.

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Dynasty | The trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers creates an uncertain backfield in San Francisco. Dynasty Analysis: If there's a loser in the Robinson deal, it's probably Guerendo. He would likely split time with Robinson should Christian McCaffrey be injured but this deal makes it abundantly clear San Francisco is concerned about his injury history and not willing to leave themselves vulnerable should CMC go down. Guerendo has been a solid handcuff to own over the past two seasons but even if he was to remain the RB2, it's hard to see a situation where Robinson doesn't still split time with him. His dynasty ADP is going to slip over the next month.

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Dynasty | The trade of Brian Robinson to the 49ers pushes rookie running back Jordan James down the depth chart. Dynasty Analysis: James has been a popular late round rookie pick but Robinson's arrival throws a big bucket of cold water on his short-term value. Should James make the team behind Christian McCaffrey, Robinson and Isaac Guerendo, his path to playing time looks murky. No longer fully guaranteed a roster spot, James is a player to monitor the last week of the preseason as he may need to show something to avoid the practice squad. Regardless, he looks to be fourth on the depth chart and that's not anything to get too excited about.

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Dynasty | The Vikings have made trade inquiries for Panthers receiver Adam Thielen. Dynasty Analysis: Thielen spent the bulk of his career in Minnesota and is familiar with Kevin O'Connell's offense. It makes sense on both parts with the Vikings trying to put a band-aid on the Jordan Addison situation and the Panthers looking to go with a youth movement. Thielen's value in dynasty leagues will remain status as he'll still be a WR3 at best, regardless of where he may goes.

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Dynasty | The Commanders have traded running back Brian Robinson to the 49ers. Dynasty Analysis: San Francisco sends a sixth round pick in exchange for Robinson. It's a deal that seemed inevitable after he was inactive for this week's preseason game. Robinson clearly fell out of favor with Washington as he just didn't seem to fit their offense as well as others on their roster. It's a small price to pay for San Francisco, who now gets a capable backup to Christian McCaffrey. As for Robinson, his dynasty value is going to spiral as he's now simply a capable handcuff instead of a starter in the NFL.

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Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was targeted by quarterback C.J. Stroud "all day" during the team's joint practice with the Detroit Lions on Thursday, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. In the four games before he injured his hamstring in Week 5 of 2024, Collins was averaging nearly 11 targets per contest. It appears the 26-year-old could be in line for a massive target share once again in 2025. Injuries have been an issue for Collins throughout his career so far, as he's missed 17 games across four NFL seasons. If he can stay on the field, Collins has a legitimate shot at being the overall WR1 in fantasy.

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Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime "may not even make the roster" out of training camp, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. A fifth-round pick in 2024, Estime rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 76 carries as a rookie. Denver overhauled their running back room heading into 2025, using a second-round pick on RJ Harvey and signing J.K. Dobbins in free agency. Those additions could leave Estime on the outside looking in. If the 21-year-old were in fact released, he would surely get an opportunity with another team. The best outcome for Estime's fantasy profile in the short and long term might be for him to find a home outside of Denver.

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Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel was a standout performer in the team's joint practice with the Detroit Lions on Thursday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Alexander writes that Noel will "find some time on the field this season and should make an impact." Houston drafted Noel in the third round out of Iowa State this past April. The 22-year-old projects as veteran Christian Kirk's backup in the slot to start the season, but Noel could easily work his way into a larger role over the course of the year. He would likely need an injury to one of the wide receivers ahead of him to be fantasy-relevant in 2025. Still, Noel is a player to target in dynasty leagues and a name to monitor in redraft formats.

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Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that fullback Patrick Ricard (soft tissue) is dealing with a "soft tissue thing" but should be able to return to practice before Week 1. Ricard has played in all 17 games for Baltimore in each of the last three regular seasons. While he's not a fantasy-relevant player himself, Ricard is a five-time Pro Bowler who plays an important role as a blocker in Baltimore's jumbo packages. If Ricard were to miss any time, it could negatively impact the rushing efficiency for Ravens running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson.

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The Athletic's Joseph Person suggests that Carolina Panthers veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow could be in danger of not making the 53-man roster heading into the regular season. General manager Dan Morgan might have tipped his hand when Brycen Tremayne was inactive for the team's preseason finale on Thursday night, while Renfrow and David Moore played. Moore has more special-teams value than Renfrow, and head coach Dave Canales has a lot of trust in Moore. However, others in the organization are higher on Renfrow. The 29-year-old former Raiders wideout caught two of his three targets for only five yards in Thursday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even if Renfrow makes the Panthers' active roster, he won't have a big enough role to warrant fantasy consideration in most leagues.

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Running back Christian McCaffrey is the San Francisco 49ers' unquestioned No. 1 RB when he's healthy, but Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group thinks that Isaac Guerendo is still the projected RB2 behind CMC despite Friday's trade acquisition of Brian Robinson Jr, presuming that B-Rob isn't fast-tracked over the next two weeks. Guerendo resumed practicing this week after two weeks off from a shoulder dislocation, so he should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 7. Although the 25-year-old Guerendo figures to be the RB2 to open the year, it's entirely possible that Robinson leaps him on the RB depth chart eventually. The trade for B-Rob definitely is a hit to Guerendo's potential upside if CMC gets hurt again, too. Early on, Robinson will most likely be more of a short-yardage/goal-line power back in his new home.

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Chicago Bears rookie Kyle Monangai is carving out a meaningful role in the backfield behind starter D'Andre Swift. The seventh-round pick out of Rutgers has impressed with his compact 5'8", 207-pound frame, showcasing the physicality to grind out tough yards between the tackles. His hard-nosed running style complements Swift's shiftiness and should help ease pressure on quarterback Caleb Williams. Monangai's power makes him a candidate for short-yardage and goal-line work, boosting his fantasy value as a late-round handcuff. He's a name to monitor in deeper formats with the potential to see red-zone touches early in his career.

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Indianapolis Colts rookie running back DJ Giddens is making waves in camp, solidifying himself as the No. 2 option behind Jonathan Taylor. The Kansas State product brings a strong mix of power and elusiveness that has quickly carried over to the NFL level. Impressively, Giddens has also flashed as a dependable pass-catcher, an area where Taylor has often struggled. With three-down ability and a clear role, Giddens is a strong late-round stash in redraft leagues and an appealing dynasty investment. He profiles as one of the higher-upside handcuffs in fantasy, especially if Taylor were to miss time.

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The Washington Commanders traded running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday. With Austin Ekeler and Jacory Croskey-Merritt emerging as Washington's top options, Robinson became expendable and now lands as Christian McCaffrey's backup. While McCaffrey is fully healthy and drawing rave reviews in camp, his injury history makes Robinson a valuable insurance policy for San Francisco. For fantasy managers, Robinson's value takes a major hit unless McCaffrey misses time, leaving him as more of a handcuff than standalone option. Still, the move secures the 49ers much-needed depth after a rash of preseason RB injuries.

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ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting the Commanders are trading RB Brian Robinson to the 49ers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson is pushing for touches after a strong preseason. The fourth-round pick has capitalized on Quinshon Judkins' missed time and carved out a role behind Jerome Ford. Ford paced the team in rushing last season but managed just 790 yards from scrimmage, leaving room for competition. Sampson's burst and elusiveness at the point of contact make him a change-of-pace threat who could quickly gain traction in the rotation. Fantasy managers should keep Sampson in mind as a deep sleeper with upside, especially if Ford struggles or injuries shake up the Browns' backfield.

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New York Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor has impressed coaches throughout preseason, positioning himself for a major role in the passing game. At 6'5" and 251 pounds, Taylor brings the physicality to hold up as a blocker while flashing reliable hands as a receiver. His ability to contribute in both phases makes him an ideal safety valve for quarterback Justin Fields, who will lean on quick reads in a new-look offense. Taylor carries late-round sleeper appeal in fantasy drafts, with the upside to emerge as a consistent starter if his preseason momentum translates into regular-season production.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars feature one of the NFL's deepest running back rooms, and Tank Bigsby has emerged as more than just a change-of-pace option. Bigsby outcarried Travis Etienne 168 to 150 in 2024, showcasing the coaching staff's trust in him as a steady early-down runner. Etienne, however, remains a dynamic weapon with pass-catching and big-play ability. Rookie Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen also provide depth, but fantasy managers should expect another close split between Bigsby and Etienne. Both backs are draftable, with Etienne carrying more upside, while Bigsby offers consistent flex appeal.

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