NFL Player News

Johnson didn't see any action during the Saints' three-game preseason slate.

Johnson is locked in atop the depth chart at tight end for New Orleans, and with Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) set to miss at least the first four games of the season and no clear WR2 on the roster, Johnson could have a significant pass-catching role out of the gates. Tyler Shough has already predicted a big season for his former college teammate after Johnson was fantasy's overall TE5 in yards per game and TE8 in catches per game following last season's Rashid Shaheed trade ahead of Week 10. Turning 30 years old Sept. 13, Johnson is coming off a 77-889-3 campaign on 102 targets last season.

Allgeier is poised to begin the regular season splitting carries with Jeremiyah Love (ankle), whom Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports is progressing well in his recovery and trending toward being available for Week 1.

Love is expected to eventually take on the lead role after being drafted third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the rookie is likely to be eased in as he recovers from a preseason ankle injury, if he's cleared at all to suit up against the Chargers in Week 1 on Sunday, Sept. 13. Allgeier has rushed for at least 514 yards in each of his four regular seasons, the last three of which were spent backing up Bijan Robinson, so the former Falcons running back figures to maintain some level of involvement even once Love is fully up to speed. James Conner (foot) is on IR with a designation to return, so Bam Knight is currently the only healthy alternative to Allgeier on the roster.

Richardson will open the season as the Colts' backup quarterback, Nathan Brown of The Indianapolis Star reports.

GM Chris Ballard confirmed Tuesday that Richardson -- who requested a trade over the offseason -- would remain with the Colts for the season, and head coach Shane Steichen revealed Thursday that Richardson beat out Riley Leonard for the backup job behind starter Daniel Jones.

Shaheed didn't see any action during the Seahawks' three-game preseason slate.

Starters resting during the preseason has become customary for several teams around the league. Shaheed failed to gel with Sam Darnold after the wide receiver's midseason trade from the Saints, as he produced just 15 catches for 188 yards and no touchdowns across nine regular-season appearances with Seattle. However, the duo spent countless hours over the offseason working on chemistry, and Shaheed was a standout player during training camp practices. He's locked in as the premier deep threat on the outside for the Seahawks this season and has generated steady buzz as a late-round fantasy pick and an ideal best-ball selection.

Barner sits atop a Seahawks tight end depth chart that's unchanged from last season heading into the 2026 regular season, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

The Seahawks won the Super Bowl last season with a tight end room consisting of Barner, Eric Saubert, Elijah Arroyo and Nick Kallerup, so it's understandable that the team decided not to rock the boat at the position. Arroyo is Barner's primary competition for pass-catching opportunities, as the 2025 second-round pick enjoyed a productive 2026 preseason after a lackluster rookie regular season in which Arroyo posted just 179 receiving yards. Barner led the position group with 52 catches for 519 yards and six touchdown receptions on 68 targets during the 2025 regular season.

Goedert didn't see any action during the Eagles' three-game preseason slate.

The Eagles rested all of their key starters for the three exhibitions. Now 31 years old, Goedert is a veteran who doesn't necessarily need to play in meaningless preseason games. With A.J. Brown now in New England, Goedert is expected to have a big red-zone role for Philadelphia this season after he set a career high with 11 touchdown grabs on 60 catches last season. It will be difficult for Goedert to replicate that astounding touchdown rate, but he's very much in the TE1 mix for fantasy.

Jennings played four snaps in the Vikings' 13-10 preseason win over the Giants before being held out for rest purposes in the final two exhibition tilts.

Signed to a one-year, $8 million deal in May, Jennings is locked in as the Vikings' No. 3 receiver and didn't need to compete for a job during the preseason. With San Francisco last season, Jennings primarily operated as the "X" receiver and turned in a 55-643-9 line on 90 targets over his 15 regular-season appearances. Since Justin Jefferson typically occupies the X spot for Minnesota and Jordan Addison mainly works as the "Z" receiver, Jennings could end up seeing most of his time out of the slot with his new squad. While a slot role can often lead to catchable, higher-percentage targets, Jefferson remains the unquestioned No. 1 option in the passing game regardless of where he lines up, and Addison is capable of bumping inside and seems likely to play ahead of Jennings in two-wide formations. Moreover, Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray hasn't had an extensive track record of supporting more than one fantasy viable pass catcher during his seven-year career, so Jennings could struggle to attain consistent week-to-week volume while he's vying with the likes of Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson for the remaining targets that don't go to Jefferson.

Andrews is one of four tight ends on the Ravens' 53-man roster, along with Durham Smythe, Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas.

Unlike previous years, when he had Isaiah Likely breathing down his neck, Andrews isn't projected to have much competition for targets at his position. Smythe is a blocking specialist who has averaged fewer than 10 receiving yards per game in his career, while Hibner and Cuevas are rookie Day 3 draft picks. Andrews will be 31 years old when the 2026 regular season kicks off, and he averaged a career-low 24.8 receiving yards per game in 2025, so age-related decline seems to be his biggest concern from a fantasy standpoint.

Holani could get most of the opportunities on third down and in passing situations while Jadarian Price gets the majority of early-down work to begin the regular season, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.com.

The Seahawks seem to trust Holani's receiving and pass-blocking abilities, which should allow the 26-year-old running back to earn a prominent role out of the gate, though the rookie first-round pick Price is the leading candidate to get most of the rushing opportunities. Zach Charbonnet (knee) also could earn a sizable role once healthy, but he'll miss at least the first four weeks of the season while on the reserve/PUP list and could be out well beyond then. Emanuel Wilson (hamstring) rounds out the running back depth chart.

Hockenson recorded a touchdown reception from Kyler Murray during the Vikings' final training camp practice Aug. 26, Andrew Krammer of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Hockenson played just five snaps in the Vikings' preseason opener and was rested for the final two exhibition tilts, but he's been getting in reps with the first-team offense throughout camp. After a delayed start to the 2024 campaign while he completed his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, Hockenson mostly stayed healthy in 2025 but was a middling fantasy option at tight end with a 51-438-3 receiving line on 66 targets over 15 games. Though Hockenson should benefit from upgraded quarterback play in 2026 after drawing targets from the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer a season ago, the closest Murray has come to supporting two fantasy relevant pass catchers was in 2024, when tight end Trey McBride (111-1,146-2 line in 16 games) and wideout Marvin Harrison (62-885-8 in 17 games) both had some utility. Justin Jefferson is locked in as the clear top weapon in the passing game and should dominate the targets, but Hockenson could struggle to see consistent volume while he's vying with the likes of No. 2 receiver Jordan Addison and No. 3 receiver Jauan Jennings for the remaining looks that don't go to Jefferson.