49ers work out three WRs

BTJ suffered a shoulder injury late in camp and has dealt with shoulder issues in the past, so this latest scare was a definite concern for fantasy managers and Jags fans alike. The good news is that he’s practicing in full over a week before the first game of the season. After a summer of hype for Parker Washington, Thomas Jr. is likely second in the pecking order for targets. Barring a setback with the shoulder injury, he should project for WR3 numbers in Jacksonville’s opener versus the Browns.

The team’s plan, per Graziano, is for Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks to split carries this season. That comes as little surprise. “If Hubbard stays healthy, he’s the one in whom they’ve built up more trust, so I’d expect him to be the one the Panthers lean on to try to grind out games when they have the lead,” Graziano said. “The split should be pretty close, but it would not be a surprise at all to get to the end of the season and see that Hubbard got the majority of the work.” Brooks on Tuesday practiced to the side while Hubbard (hamstring) practiced in full. It’s a concerning situation for those who have gone in on Brooks as Carolina’s lead back.

Graziano said the “Lions offense is going to hum this season, and Williams is the player poised to take the biggest leap.” That leap, he said, could come as Detroit coaches push Jamo “to expand his route repertoire and contribute as more than just a deep threat.” That in turn could create more short-area and intermediate opportunities and make Williams something more than a boom-bust WR3 play. Williams’ splits with and without Sam LaPorta are concerning, but he should be a high-upside swing in fantasy drafts, especially for those who fade receivers in the first couple rounds.

Graziano affirmed what every fantasy manager believes: Likely will probably be the team’s WR2 behind Malik Nabers this season. New York coaches, according to Graziano, “love the way he has embraced and evolved his relationship with Jaxson Dart since he has been in New York. Likely is a regular visitor to the quarterback room, and the connection he has formed with Dart on and off the field could pay major dividends.” Graziano said Likely could be Dart’s top option if Nabers needs time to get back to full speed as he recovers from his 2025 ACL injury. Likely profiles as an easy click for fantasy drafters who forgo the game’s elite tight ends.

This, according to Rapoport, comes after “two positive days” of practice for the veteran tight end, coming off a late-season Achilles injury. Kittle is “trending in the right direction” to play against the Rams in the first game of the NFL season, and the first-ever game in Australia. It’s possible the 49ers will have a pitch count for Kittle coming into the season. If he suits up against the Rams, Kittle will be a risky low-end TE1 option in 12-team leagues. He had nine catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in his only game against LA in 2025.

Van Noy spent time with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in both Miami and New England, making this a reunion for the two. The 35-year-old linebacker spent the past three seasons with the Ravens, tallying 12.5 sacks during a 2024 Pro Bowl campaign. The Vikings will start Van Noy out on the practice squad, but fans shouldn’t be surprised to see him in the middle of the Minnesota defense later this season.

Miller left practice early under his own power Tuesday, an all-too-familiar picture for the oft-injured back coming off an ACL tear from last October. However, Underhill reports it is a minor issue for the 24-year-old. With Alvin Kamara (knee) missing time, Miller has seen a lot of preseason work. Miller, when healthy, can be the Saints’ RB2 and primary handcuff to Travis Etienne.

Vannett, 33, is a journeyman veteran tight end best known for his blocking skills. Starting his career with the Seahawks, he has jumped around the league with the Steelers, Broncos, Saints, Giants, Chargers, Titans, Vikings, and Rams. He signed with the Seahawks in the offseason but was let go in final cuts. The Ravens add Vannett as blocking tight end depth on the practice squad.

Hunter was notably acquired for Tutu Atwell in the preseason but was released during final cuts. The Dolphins now bring him back as depth in the running back room. Also notably on the practice squad is former first-round defensive lineman Mazi Smith. The Dolphins rounded out the practice squad with RB Carlos Washington, WR Jalen Reagor, WR Will Sheppard, CB Ethan Bonner, DE Max Llewellyn, TE Tre Watson, OT Gottlieb Ayedze, DL Jordan Miller, EDGE Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Amari Gainer, EDGE Rodney McGraw, LB Liam Anderson, CB Jaylin Simpson, and S Major Burns.

Licht said Hurst was initially slated for a learning role behind the deep Buccaneers wide receiver corps. However, he added that the rookie 22-year-old has “proven to us throughout camp, even OTAs, practice every day that he’s been very, very steady...it’s kind of evolved into okay, we can use him this year and he’s going to play a role.” Hurst has received generally positive reports out of training camp. With Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan continuing to deal with injuries throughout preseason, Hurst has gotten more opportunities and proven to the front office he can be used as a rookie. When Egbuka, McMillan, and Chris Godwin are all healthy, Hurst will have a tough time putting up fantasy-relevant production. However, given various active injuries and the injury history of the Bucs’ wide receiver room, he is certainly worth a late-round pick for fantasy purposes.