The Miami Dolphins have activated recently acquired tight end Darren Waller from the physically unable to perform list. The Dolphins traded a 2026 6th-round pick to the New York Giants in July for Waller and a conditional 7th. Waller came out of retirement to join the Dolphins after Miami traded incumbent tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Waller turns 33 in September, and he has been out of football for over a year, last seeing game action with the Giants in the 2023 season. Should the Dolphins' offense operate anything like it did last season, there will be ample opportunity for Waller to eventually work the short-to-intermediate area of the field where Smith saw the majority of his 109 targets, good enough for 4th amongst tight ends. While Waller's game was always at its best when his trademark athleticism was used to stretch the field, it remains to be seen just how much juice he has left. However, a safety valve role for Tua Tagovailoa could create enough of a floor to keep Waller fantasy relevant one more time.

From RotoBaller

The San Francisco 49ers have signed journeyman quarterback Nate Sudfeld to a one-year deal, with the terms of the deal undisclosed. Sudfeld was originally a 6th-round draft pick of the Washington Commanders in 2016 and has seen stops with the Eagles, 49ers, and Lions. Sudfeld was with the 49ers in 2021 when he beat out Brock Purdy for the No. 3 quarterback spot, but he has yet to start a game in his seven-year NFL career. His last appearance in a game was in 2022 with Detroit. With the 49ers moving running back Patrick Taylor Jr. to season-ending IR on Wednesday, they had a roster spot to fill, but Sudfeld sits fifth on the team's quarterback depth chart and is unlikely to make the team's 53-man roster.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will not play in the team's final preseason game against the Bills. Instead, the Buccaneers will lean on Teddy Bridgewater and Kyle Trask to lead the offense in the team's final tune-up. After losing wide receiver Jalen McMillan (neck) to injury in a gruesome-looking fall in their latest preseason game, it is unlikely the team will play any of their starters. Mayfield finished 2024 as a top-five fantasy quarterback in his lone year with Liam Coen as offensive coordinator. Josh Grizzard steps into the coordinator role this year, and the expectation is that the Buccaneers should once again field a high-powered unit. Currently, RotoBaller's QB8, there is some concern that Mayfield is being drafted near his ceiling. With McMillan expected to start the season on injured reserve and veteran Chris Godwin (ankle) likely headed for the PUP list, it wouldn't be unexpected to see the Buccaneers' offense start slowly before eventually rounding into form.

From RotoBaller

With trade talks surrounding Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. growing louder by the day, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport believes the fourth-year back has played his last down with Washington. Robinson was not with the team for their Monday night preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and it was Chris Rodriguez Jr. and preseason darling Jacory Croskey-Merritt who handled Robinson's usual early-down work. Rapoport believes the team may be willing to eat a portion of Robinson's remaining salary to facilitate a deal. Should Robinson play elsewhere in 2025, Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt will likely continue to split early down carries to start the year. Still, Croskey-Merritt's explosiveness makes him the obvious upside play and a good bet to seize the job outright. Forgotten in all of this, veteran Austin Ekeler should maintain his passing-down work, a role he quietly thrived in last year before a concussion cut his season short.

From RotoBaller

The San Francisco 49ers have placed veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) on the season-ending injured reserve list. Taylor suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team's second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he joins the growing list of 49ers running backs struck by injury. While presumed backup Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) was able to return to practice on Tuesday after missing several weeks with a shoulder injury of his own, the team has already lost Ameer Abdullah (ribs) for the season. Rookie Jordan James has already missed a few weeks due to a broken finger. After trading Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers' running back depth has been seriously tested already, which is the last thing the team needs in their efforts to keep All-Pro Christian McCaffrey healthy. Jeff Wilson Jr. and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will likely see the majority of work in the team's final preseason game. If he can remain healthy, McCaffrey once more enters the year as perhaps the biggest difference maker in fantasy football. Still, given his checkered injury history, Guerendo is one of the league's most important backups to roster.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown put to rest any rumors of a Jameis Winston trade during a Tuesday Press Conference. "I appreciate people that are interested, but Jameis is a New York Giant," Brown told reporters after being asked if the team was taking calls about their veteran backup quarterback. The recent preseason performance of rookie Jaxson Dart, whom the team traded up to draft in the first round, had some wondering if he'd shown enough to supplant Winston for the No. 2 job heading into the season. With the Giants also adding Russell Wilson through free agency to be their starter, the depth chart appears all but settled with one preseason game left to be played, and the team seems comfortable allowing Dart to develop behind the scenes for now.

From RotoBaller

On his Tuesday podcast episode, Adam Schefter of ESPN shared that he believes Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will be given a four to six-game suspension for his role in a multi-vehicle collision in March 2024. Schefter added that the NFL has pushed for an eight-game suspension, contrary to previous reports that they have asked for 10 games. Rice has reportedly requested four games, and Schefter believes they will meet somewhere in the middle. Rice pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges in July, and his disciplinary hearing with the league is scheduled for September 30. There is still a possibility that an agreement can be reached before the Chiefs' season-opener on September 5. The dates of Rice's suspension may have just as much impact on fantasy drafts as the number of games. Fantasy managers will have to continue to wait until an official suspension by the NFL is handed down, but can expect Rice to miss a few games.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers WR Equanimeous St. Brown (undisclosed) was released from the Reserve/Injured list after reaching an injury settlement on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

From TheHuddle

San Francisco 49ers RB Ameer Abdullah (ribs) was released from the Reserve/Injured list on Tuesday, Aug. 19, after reaching an injury settlement with the club.

From TheHuddle

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QBs Teddy Bridgewater and Kyle Trask continue to split time with the second-string offense, and neither play is believed to have a leg up in the battle for the primary backup job to QB Baker Mayfield.

From TheHuddle

Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson Sr. will not play in the team's final preseason game on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Jake Arthur of Sports Illustrated. Riley Leonard and Jason Bean will be the team's signal-callers in the preseason finale. Jones was named Indianapolis' Week 1 starter on Tuesday, but it's clear that the team is still prioritizing Richardson Sr.'s health by holding him out of exhibition action. The third-year quarterback has missed a significant amount of time due to injuries so far in his career, and has already suffered both shoulder and finger injuries since the start of the OTAs in 2025.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (neck) returned to certain portions of practice on Tuesday but was held out of team drills, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Bosa has been battling neck soreness, but it appears he's nearing a full return with plenty of time before the regular season gets underway. The 27-year-old is coming off a down year by his standards, recording his fewest sacks (nine), solo tackles (33), and QB hits (24) since his rookie season. Bosa is just a few seasons removed from winning Defensive Player of the Year, so he still has the potential to be a game-wrecking edge rusher and a fantasy asset in IDP leagues.

From RotoBaller

Updating a previous report, Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (oblique) worked on the side with trainers Tuesday, Aug. 19, and he is not expected to practice for the rest of the week.

Fantasy Spin: Hill is being drafted as a low-end WR1 in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams, so this is a big deal. All indications are that Hill will be ready for Week 1, but make sure to have plenty of depth at the position just in case.

From TheHuddle

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue (ankle, heel) returned to practice on Tuesday, according to Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News. Blue has been out of action for nearly two full weeks with a bone bruise. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently said that the team is hopeful Blue will play in the team's final preseason game on Friday against the Atlanta Falcons. A fifth-round pick out of Texas, Blue is part of a backfield committee in Dallas with veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. He's unlikely to dominate touches early on, but Blue could feasibly work his way into the RB1 role for the Cowboys throughout the season. As a result, Blue is worthy of a late-round pick in most fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is on track to face the division-rival Dallas Cowboys in 16 days for Week 1 of the regular season on Sept. 4, barring some kind of setback. Brown is working his way back into action and is nearing a return to practice. The 28-year-old was seen doing some individual drills on the field on Tuesday. The Eagles have been extra cautious with their star pass-catcher during training camp and the preseason and are optimistic that Brown will be ready to go when games count. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patulla said that when the training staff is ready to cum him loose, "he'll be cut loose." Brown has had 1,000 receiving yards in five of his six NFL seasons and in all three of his campaigns with the Eagles. He remains a top-10 fantasy wideout.

From RotoBaller

The Indianapolis Colts signed CB Xavien Howard, LBs Jake Chaney and Joseph Vaughn Monday, Aug. 18, and OT Blake Freeland (leg), LB Jacob Phillips (undisclosed) and S Hunter Wohler (foot) on the reserve/injured list.

From TheHuddle

Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson (elbow) avoided a serious elbow injury on Saturday in the team's second preseason game, according to Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. Goodson probably won't play in the preseason finale on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals, but the 24-year-old does have a shot to be ready for the Week 1 opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Miami Dolphins if he makes the 53-man roster out of training camp. Goodson was third behind Jonathan Taylor and rookie DJ Giddens in last Saturday's preseason tilt against the Green Bay Packers, suggesting he's currently the RB3 ahead of Khalil Herbert (undisclosed). He only handled 43 total touches in 16 games (no starts) in his second NFL season in 2024, but Goodson averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns. As long as Taylor and Giddens stay healthy, Goodson is off the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (groin) returned to training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. Pierce initially suffered his groin injury in practice on Aug. 10 and then proceeded to miss the team's second preseason game last Saturday. The 25-year-old will probably be held out of th preseason finale this week as well, but the fact that he's back at practice this week means he should be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, against the Miami Dolphins. Not only does Pierce have an uphill battle for consistent playing time in Indy's crowded receiving corps, but he's probably also the only one of Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and Adonai Mitchell that doesn't benefit from Daniel Jones being named the team's starting quarterback. Pierce is currently ranked as the WR70 in fantasy at RotoBaller.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that quarterback Cooper Rush will likely start in Saturday's preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. Harbaugh is likely to handle player participation this weekend like he did in the second preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys when he sat most of the starters. Lamar Jackson will end up not playing in any preseason action this year as he looks for another MVP-like season. In last week's win over Dallas, the 31-year-old Rush went 20-for-30 passing for 198 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Rush hasn't been very good in two preseason games, but he's still fully expected to open the 2025 regular season in September as the primary backup to Jackson and ahead of Devin Leary. If Jackson were to miss any time in 2025, Baltimore wouldn't be asking much of Rush in the passing game.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers DL Cam Heyward and LB T.J. Watt will not play in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers Thursday, Aug. 21, according to head coach Mike Tomlin.

From TheHuddle