News About AFC Teams
Baltimore Ravens News
TE Isaiah Likely (foot) was not placed on injured reserve.
Why It Matters: This means Likely's recovery from foot surgery in early August is on track to have him back on the field sometime in September. It's still possible that he's not truly himself again until next season, but this makes it easier to spend a late-round pick on him in tight-end premium leagues, deep leagues, or leagues where you have gone minimal at tight end and need another dart. This also reduces the window that Mark Andrews will have the vast majority of the tight end targets while Likely sits.
Cincinnati Bengals News
The Bengals gave DE Trey Hendrickson a $14 million raise for the 2025 season.
Why It Matters: The Bengals looked like they were going to have maybe the worst defense in the league during the preseason. Getting Hendrickson in uniform will at least make them slightly less bad. Maybe even mediocre at times, if he can help them get off the field on third down. There's a real chance the defense allows so many extended drives that it hurts the Bengals' offensive upside. Hendrickson can help with that.
Cleveland Browns News
The Browns released PK Dustin Hopkins.
Why It Matters: Most, if not all, Cleveland fans will be happy to see Hopkins go. 2023 UDFA and 2024 UFL star Andre Szymt is the Browns' kicker for now, but we often see teams go to the waiver wire for a kicker after final cutdowns. This is a low-wattage offense, so we probably shouldn't care who the kicker is anyway.
The Browns traded QB Kenny Pickett to Las Vegas and named Dillon Gabriel their backup quarterback.
Why It Matters: The Browns selected Gabriel in the third (two rounds before they took Shedeur Sanders), and Gabriel will get the first shot to play if Joe Flacco is demoted because of performance (he was last year with the Colts), or because the Browns are out of the playoff picture. Gabriel should be on rosters in superflex dynasty leagues. The Raiders' backup quarterback situation improves in the short term after Aidan O'Connell went down with a broken wrist.
The Browns released WR Diontae Johnson.
Why It Matters: This was probably Johnson's last chance to prove he can still be the receiver he was before his career went into a tailspin. He could get a call as a street free agent if a team is in a bind, but he can be dropped in dynasty leagues. The Browns appear to be more interested in 2025 UDFA Isaiah Bond (Texas), who was recently signed after criminal charges from earlier this year were dropped. Bond was seen as a second-day pick before his legal troubles.
Houston Texans News
The Texans placed RB Joe Mixon on the NFI list to open the season. GM Nick Caserio would not commit to Mixon playing this season.
Why It Matters: Mixon's foot injury will cost him at least the first four games, but it's not clear when he will return and how effective he will be when he does. It's hard to justify taking him over Nick Chubb, who will begin the season as the starter, and if your rosters have a short bench, taking him at all, since you'll have to hold Mixon for an indefinite time to harvest an uncertain reward. The reports about Chubb in camp have been lukewarm and the offensive line is under construction, so it's possible that fourth round pick Woody Marks, who is better on passing downs, or fourth year back Dameon Pierce, who could be revived by a move back to a power run game and away from the zone scheme under Bobby Slowik that did not fit him, get a look later in the season. Chances are this backfield will not yield anyone of consequence in fantasy leagues this season.
Kansas City Chiefs News
WR Rashee Rice was suspended for six games after he pleaded guilty to two felonies this summer. WR Jalen Royals has been missing practice with knee tendinitis and might not be ready for Week 1.
Why It Matters: Marquise Brown has been coming back slowly from a camp ankle injury. If he can stay on the field, he should get some of Rice's vacated targets. Brown is worth considering in the second half of drafts. Travis Kelce, Brashard Smith, and Juju Smith-Schuster are also candidates to soak up the extra targets. Rice is probably worth a 7th- or 8th-round pick at this point. If he can pick up where he left off before going down with a knee injury last year, he can be a big midseason boost to teams that can take him as their WR4.
Las Vegas Raiders News
WR Jakobi Meyers asked for a trade after he and the team couldn't work out a contract extension, but the team is not expected to trade him before the season. The Raiders also signed WR Amari Cooper to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with incentives that could increase the value to as high as $6 million.
Why It Matters: Meyers is going into the season unhappy, and it appears he's not part of the Raiders' plans after this season. That can't be seen as a positive. Cooper not being signed until this late in the preseason is a sign that he may not have much fantasy value. His signing probably reflects the team's discomfort with trusting rookie fourth-round pick Dont'e Thornton Jr. as one of their primary outside receivers without a veteran to share time with him and turn to if he struggles.
Los Angeles Chargers News
RB Najee Harris was activated from the NFI list and is eligible to play in Week 1.
Why It Matters: If Harris had remained on the NFI list at the beginning of the season for an eye injury from a fireworks accident, he would have missed at least the first four games, and it would have raised questions about exactly when he would be available and the severity and nature of the injury. Now it seems we will see him sooner than later. Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal had an opening to get work behind first-round pick Omarion Hampton, but that is shrinking quickly. Hampton's fate is not entirely dependent on Harris' availability; the rookie can make a strong case to assume the majority of the workload by setting the performance bar at a level Harris can't reach. This does make Harris draftable in typical leagues, but he'll need a Hampton injury to matter in fantasy leagues this year.
Miami Dolphins News
The Dolphins placed PK Jason Sanders on injured reserve.
Why It Matters: Sanders was a startable fantasy kicker last year, with 37 field goals on 41 attempts, including 12 of 14 from 50+ yards. The Dolphins plan to elevate Riley Patterson from the practice squad for the first three games of Sanders' absence, saving a roster spot until Week 4, when they will be out of elevations for Patterson.
New England Patriots News
Sixth-round pick PK Andy Borregales won his position battle with Parker Romo.
Why It Matters: Many had Romo ahead of the draft pick at the end of camp and the preseason, but the team portrayed the competition as very close, so the tie went to the player they had invested more in. This offense should be improved, but Borregales is on somewhat shaky ground and shouldn't be counted on in fantasy leagues.
Tennessee Titans News
The Titans placed RB Tyjae Spears on the injured reserve - designated to return list.
Why It Matters: Spears' August 9 high ankle sprain will cost him at least the first four games of the season. Tony Pollard will be the lead back and should be a solid RB2 play while Spears is out, and possibly for longer. He looks like a bargain at his ADP before this was announced. Julius Chestnut and sixth-round pick Kalel Mullings, who had a good summer but recently hurt his ankle, are the backs behind Spears, so the team could look to add to the backfield before the season opener against the Broncos.
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