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    Chiefs continue building around Kenneth Walker

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    ESPN’s Nate Taylor reports that the Chiefs are catering to RB Kenneth Walker’s formation preferences and featuring him in the screen game.

    Taylor reported early in June that the Chiefs were “starting to experiment” with what works best with Walker’s skills. The veteran back prefers plays from under center rather than shotgun formation. Now that the Chiefs’ training camp is underway, we can confirm that they are putting his preferences into practice. More than half of the Chiefs’ snaps in the first team period came from under center, allowing Walker to practice running between the tackles under coach Andy Reid’s watchful eye. The Chiefs also continue to give Walker reps in the screen game, which can help keep Walker involved in the passing game, regardless of his development as a receiver and pass protector this offseason. Impressed with Walker’s screen game chops thus far, Chiefs C Creed Humphrey described Walker as “a dynamic player, a freak athlete and great with his reads.” Walker is a fantasy football RB1 who could surprise some this season.
Ravens, Bengals expected to make noise this season
Andrew Perloff and Paul Pabst preview the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals expected to make noise with the Pittsburgh Steelers stuck in limbo and the Cleveland Browns rebuilding the roster.

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  • KC Running Back #9
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    What is clear in the wake of the Chiefs waiving Emari Demercado is that they don’t really have another player that qualifies as a passing-down back besides Walker without squinting. The other backs they kept are Emmett Johnson, a Day 3 rookie, and Brashard Smith, a gadget player without enough size to really block. Perhaps the Chiefs will address this in street free agency ahead of the season, but as things stand, it certainly seems like Walker will be involved on all three downs.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Chiefs coach Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes believe last season’s run game failed to make defenses respect their play-action run fakes. With Walker now on board, the Chiefs believe both the run game and play-action game will improve. The staff has catered to Walker by installing more plays from under center, which Walker prefers to shotgun. “One way Walker can help transform the offense,” per Taylor, “is by becoming a true dual-threat player.” Reid believes Walker’s “receiving skills and ability to make defenders miss” will allow Reid to incorporate “one of his favorite passing concepts: the variety of plays where a play-action fake to the running back is executed before a short screen pass is thrown back to the same running back.” Walker should be expected to handle a high-end, dual-threat workload. He is a locked-in RB1 with immense upside.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Walker was held out of practice recently because of the issue, but this seems to be as minor as it gets. It’s safe to assume Walker will be back at practice soon, likely without any limitations. Walker has been going at the top of the second round of fantasy drafts. This little injury scare shouldn’t move that ADP in the slightest. He remains a strong RB1 bet this year.
  • KC Running Back #9
    This probably isn’t a major cause for concern — if you’ve ever drafted Kenneth Walker before, you know he misses plenty of practice time — the Chiefs are likely just taking it easy on the man expected to be their bellcow back this season. But the more practice he misses, the more serious we’ll take it. Stay tuned.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Newell writes that the way the Chiefs have been getting the ball to Walker has been “one of the most striking parts of camp,” while adding that Walker has been the primary target in the screen game and in the red zone. It’s about as encouraging a report as fantasy managers could hope for if they’re eyeing Walker in drafts this season. The 25-year-old back signed a three-year, $40.05 million contract with the Chiefs this offseason and could operate as the true bell cow in Andy Reid’s offense this season. Newell also noted that the Chiefs don’t appear to be alternating backs on every other series as they have in recent years, which would only raise Walker’s fantasy ceiling for this upcoming season. Walker already figures to be in the running for a top-12 fantasy season at his position, but he could be in line for a career year if his reported camp usage holds up in the regular season.
  • KC Running Back #10
    Breer refers to RB Kenneth Walker as an “every-down” player, says RB Brashard Smith “has already shown he can be a weapon in space,” and notes RB Emari Demercado adds depth. Perhaps taking on a change-of-pace rushing role is in play for Johnson this season. The rookie back has pass-catching experience as well, but Smith and Demercado could offer more in that department at the moment. Johnson could be the next player up if Walker were to miss time.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Walker has been working hard to improve his receiving skills and pass protection this offseason. As long as he refines this area of his game, he has a chance to operate as the Chiefs’ clear-cut featured running back, though the position group is full of capable receiving backs. What does not seem to be in question is that Walker will handle an immense rushing workload. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in May that the team hopes to establish the run early on this season. An ESPN report from June revealed that the Chiefs were beginning to tailor the run game around Walker’s strengths. Super Bowl LX’s MVP is a locked-in RB1 with enticing upside.
  • KC Running Back #9
    In a lengthy report on Walker’s acclimation to his new team, Taylor explores the ways in which Chiefs coach Andy Reid, RB coach Eric Bieniemy and OL coach Andy Heck are tinkering with different run concepts. Walker prefers running the ball when the quarterback is under center, rather than in shotgun, and the Chiefs led the league in yards per play (8.3) back in 2022, the final season of Bieniemy’s stint as their offensive coordinator. He spent 2025 as the Bears’ running backs coach and is expected to implement the “clever shifts, motions and counter-attacking runs” he learned from coach Ben Johnson. Taylor notes that Walker is diligently working on his pass protection and receiving abilities, noting that in the two practices open to reporters, Walker has caught every pass thrown by QBs Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields. Walker’s “speed and vision” on a “sophisticated screen pass” elicited cheers from his teammates. This is a positive update on Walker’s quest to be a “feature back” in Kansas City.
  • KC Running Back #9
    Speaking to reporters after practice last week, Bieniemy said that he wants Walker to understand “that we just have to become a better player when the ball is not in our hand.” That means Walker has to do a great job protecting the quarterback and be a great route runner on the perimeter. Bieniemy complimented Walker’s abilities as a rusher and said Walker is doing a heck of a job in practice, but Walker’s ticket to an elite season likely requires passing game participation. Walker is clearly the lead back here, but a run-centric workload could keep him in the RB2 ranks this season.
  • KC Running Back
    Chiefs front office officials said last week that they were shocked Johnson was still available in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. KC traded up to take Johnson, 22, who had 1,823 total yards in 2025 at Nebraska. Johnson enters the NFL with a 100th percentile college dominator rating along with a 99th percentile college target share. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid recently said he was impressed with Johnson’s pass catching and compared him favorably to LeSean McCoy. With a solid offseason Johnson could function as the Chiefs’ lead back if Ken Walker misses time in 2026.

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    ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) did not practice Saturday.

    The absence is notable considering the team kicks off the 2026 regular season Wednesday, with the team’s first full injury report due later today. Henderson has yet to participate in practice since sustaining the injury on 24 August and now appears to be in legitimate trouble of missing Week 1 when the Patriots square off against the defending Super Bowl Champions on the road in Seattle. Rhamondre Stevenson would be in line to soak up the bulk of the work out of the backfield should Henderson be forced to sit considering the only other back on the roster is recent acquisition Corey Kiner.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
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    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Falcons’ starting quarterback decision could be announced “as early as Monday.”

    Fowler notes that the official depth chart will be set on Wednesday, so the decision could be delayed by two days. Regardless, media members will surely ask coach Kevin Stefanski about it during Monday’s media session. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe previously reported that the Falcons plan to start QB Michael Penix (knee) “eventually.” That said, QB Tua Tagovailoa could start a game or two early on.
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    ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Patriots and CB Christian Gonzalez “remain apart on several key elements” in contract negotiations.

    Gonzalez is apparently “non-committal” about playing in Week 1 against the Seahawks. The Patriots, meanwhile, are reportedly prepared to make Gonzalez the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback by surpassing the $33 million-per-year mark set by Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon. The problem is that the two sides have “fundamental” disagreements over the deal’s length and structure. Kickoff is five days away. Stay tuned.
  • SF Defensive Lineman #91
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    49ers place EDGE Sam Okuayinonu on injured reserve with a foot injury.

    Okuayinonu totaled 30 tackles, 28 quarterback pressures and three sacks for the 49ers last season. He will be eligible to return in Week 5. Losing him softens San Francisco’s pass rush in the short term.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #11
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    Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said the team would be open to negotiating an extension with WR Parker Washington in-season.

    Washington, 24, is entering a contract year, coming off the best season of his career. He is reportedly expected to be the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. If Washington plays up to that standard, he will unquestionably be able to raise his asking price. Signing him to a deal right now could save the team money in the long term, but the front office evidently wants to see how he fares early in the year. Although this route could be costly, having a true No. 1 wide receiver affirm his financial value with top-tier play is a good problem to have.
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    Free agent S Taylor Rapp worked out for the Broncos on Friday.

    The Broncos released him last week. A reunion is clearly possible. At 28 years old, he is likely best suited to a backup role while contributing on special teams.
  • JAC Quarterback #16
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    Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence said he is more confident in his “progressions, adjustments, when to kill a play and what to call instead.”

    According to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, Lawrence’s offseason “was about gaining a graduate-level understanding” of coach Liam Coen’s offense. Last season, Lawrence was rehabbing an injury while attempting to change his footwork and adjust to a new play caller. He is now calmer and “can play more freely the way he did in the second half of last season.” Lawrence was the overall QB1 in total scoring from Weeks 9-18. If Lawrence and his pass catchers can carry the momentum into 2026, Lawrence can once again finish as an elite QB1, this time from Week 1 onward.
  • SF Outside Linebacker
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    49ers signed OLB Khalid Kareem, formerly of the Falcons.

    Kareem spent the last two seasons as a Falcons backup, totaling eight tackles and nine quarterback pressures. He will now fly to Australia ahead of the 49ers’ Week 1 game against the Rams.
  • PHI Wide Receiver #9
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    ESPN’s Tim McManus believes “expectations should be tempered early” for Eagles WR Makai Lemon.

    It’s a reasonable assessment for a rookie who missed valuable spring and summer practice reps due to a recurring hamstring strain. Lemon reportedly admitted that he should have been “more professional off the field” regarding the injury, and Eagles WR coach Aaron Moorehead eventually told him to do “whatever” WR DeVonta Smith did during his own hamstring rehab program. Per McManus, “coaches say Lemon attacked the mental part of the game with high intensity as he waited to get healthy.” McManus believes Lemon should get playing time right away, but Smith and WR Dontayvion Wicks will “receive the bulk of targets while the rookie gets his footing.” Lemon must be safely stashed on benches at this time.
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    Bills released LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.

    Flannigan-Fowles, 30, could end up contributing to a special teams unit elsewhere in the NFL.