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    Waddle works to side Saturday, sheds leg sleeve

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    DEN Wide Receiver #17
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    Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle worked to the side at practice Saturday.

    That’s exactly the news fantasy managers were hoping to see after Waddle experienced “some muscle tightness” earlier in the week, prompting his time away from practice. The veteran free agent addition worked to the side Saturday and also shed the leg sleeve he had been seen to be wearing the previous two days, running with no changes in gait. Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief as Waddle enters the year as the top option through the air for a dangerous Broncos team.
Questions will be answered in Broncos vs. Chiefs
Mike Florio and Chris Simms take a quick look at the Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs matchup on Monday Night Football, breaking down what they're looking for at the end of Week 1.

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  • DEN Quarterback #10
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    Nix looked mobile and eager to chuck it downfield. He even had a few overthrows, which we suppose is a good thing for a quarterback who spent the offseason rehabbing an ankle injury. The Broncos quarterback linked up with new WR Jaylen Waddle for a 35-yard gain down the seam and targeted WR Courtland Sutton a couple of times along the sideline. He found tonight’s starting RB RJ Harvey speeding down the right side of the field on a wheel route, and linked up with the second-year running back for a 21-yard touchdown to conclude the first drive. New OC Davis Webb regularly dialed up play action, which is great for fantasy purposes. Nix looks like a low-end QB1.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
    Waddle missed an extended amount of time due to what was being classified as a muscle strain by head coach Sean Payton. The veteran receiver officially returned to the practice field on Monday, with Payton saying after practice that Waddle was “coming along really well.” We’ll see how things go for Waddle in the coming days, but hopefully this issue is behind him. Waddle is expected to play a big role in the Broncos’ passing game this season and profiles as a solid WR2.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
    Waddle has been working through a muscle strain, per head coach Sean Payton, since last week. It was reported on Thursday that he would return within 4-5 days, so we’re nearing the point where we would expect to see him on the field. He was seen working off to the side during Saturday’s practice, so hopefully another day or two of rest will be enough for him to return. Waddle is expected to be the top pass-catcher for the Broncos this season and was having a nice camp before going down.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
    Parsing injury language is always tricky, but when Payton said Waddle was experiencing muscle tightness, a strain made sense. The tissue was reacting to something. Waddle did not practice on Thursday and was seen limping while wearing a sleeve on his left leg. The fact that the team thinks he can return in just under a week from yesterday’s injury is good to hear. Week 1 is still a month away, so we like his odds of suiting up. The injury might end up costing him preseason game reps, though. We expect the team to be cautious with their star wide receiver.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
    We had hoped to see Waddle get in a limited session today, after coach Sean Payton downplayed Waddle’s injury on Wednesday. Evidently, he needed at least one day off. The Broncos practiced in pads for three days straight before going padless today. If Waddle has to miss a session, we suppose a padless walkthrough day is the ideal one to miss. Hopefully, we see him back in action in some capacity before long.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
    Waddle left practice early and did not return. Given his lengthy injury history, the news gave fantasy managers a few hours of anxiety before Payton downplayed the issue. Waddle may get a few days of limited practice, but fantasy managers can keep drafting him as a high-ceiling WR2.
  • DEN Quarterback #10
    Broncos OC Davis Webb will add elements to Denver’s offense this season. Last year, the Broncos attempted the sixth-fewest (51) passes thrown 10-plus yards downfield and between the painted numbers. For reference, the league-leading Lions attempted 102 passes in this area of the field. Evans did not provide an average target depth in today’s report, but we are pleased to hear Webb is focusing on the middle of the field, regardless. Passes thrown in this area give the pass catcher more room to work, both before and after the catch, which helps them score fantasy points. Even a moderate increase in targets thrown to this area of the field would be great for QB Bo Nix and his pass catchers, like WR Jaylen Waddle and WR Courtland Sutton.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
    Astute readers might notice that Evans did not put the Broncos’ longtime WR1, Courtland Sutton, on that list. The cost to acquire Waddle from the Dolphins was not cheap, so anointing Waddle as the WR1 makes sense. The former Dolphin spent his career in Miami playing sidekick to WR Tyreek Hill, so it was fair to wonder if he might be slated for a WR2 role in Denver as well. If anything, this could be a 1A/1B situation, with Waddle operating as the 1A. Regardless, Sutton appears unbothered by Waddle’s presence, saying the Broncos’ offense is comprised of “guys that are willing to put their pride aside,” and celebrated the importance of selflessness. Waddle profiles as a WR2 while Sutton is perhaps best viewed in the WR3/FLEX tier.
  • DEN Quarterback #10
    This reinforces previous reports that Nix would be ready to take the practice field for the start of organized team activities, which are set to begin 2 June for the Broncos. That places the young quarterback well ahead of schedule following a broken ankle suffered in the team’s Divisional Round win last season. Nix being able to get additional practice reps before games matter is a big boost to the fantasy value of newcomer wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who arrived with the team via trade with the Dolphins earlier in the offseason. Head coach Sean Payton added, “We’re going to be the ones kind of holding back, if you will.”
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
    Payton added the Broncos will have “speed packages” for Waddle in the 2026 playbook. Acquired via trade this month, Waddle was used primarily as a slot wideout in his first couple seasons with the Dolphins before splitting snaps between the slot and boundary in 2024 and 2025 under Mike McDaniel. Waddle’s efficiency from the slot fell off in 2025 along with Miami’s offensive production. Bo Nix, meanwhile, ranked 27th out of 40 qualifying QBs last season in adjusted yards per attempt on throws to slot receivers. Nix ranked 29th in accuracy on slot attempts.

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    Patriots HC Mike Vrabel said TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) will practice on Monday.

    This is an encouraging step forward for Henderson, who has missed the last several weeks of practice due to his injury and was inactive for Week 1 against the Seahawks. Assuming he doesn’t suffer any setbacks this week, Henderson should have a chance to suit up in Week 2 when the Patriots play host to the Steelers.
  • ATL Defensive Tackle #90
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Falcons DL Da’Shawn Hand is believed to have suffered a torn quad in Week 1’s loss to the Steelers.

    Hand exited in the second quarter of Sunday’s game and was initially believed to have suffered a knee injury. Hand is reportedly seeking multiple opinions on his injury, but if he did suffer a torn quad, the 30-year-old lineman would be facing season-ending surgery. Hand signed a one-year contract with the Falcons this offseason after totaling 29 tackles, five TFLs, and 1.5 sacks with the Chargers last season.
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    Jets HC Aaron Glenn said he does not have an update on Minkah Fitzpatrick’s groin injury after Week 1’s win over the Titans.

    Fitzpatrick attempted to return to the field in Week 1’s win over the Titans before officially being ruled out. If we don’t get an update before Wednesday, his status will be one to keep an eye on when the team releases its first injury report. The Jets will play host to the Packers in Week 2.
  • TEN Wide Receiver #0
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    Calvin Ridley was not targeted in the Titans’ Week 1 loss to the Jets.

    Ridley’s 25 routes run were good for third-most among Titans receivers in Sunday’s loss, but the 31-year-old receiver went without a target despite his team trailing the entire game. Any hope that Ridley would improve on last year’s 17-303-0 performance will need to be put on hold for now, as Ridley and the Titans offense as a whole struggled mightily in the season opener.
  • MIN Quarterback #1
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Vikings do not know if Kyler Murray will progress through concussion protocol in time to play in Week 2’s game against the Bears.

    Murray was in a fencing posture after taking a hit to the head from Javon Bullard in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Packers. Murray was reportedly in good spirits after the game, but he will have to pass a series of tests in the coming days in time to be cleared for next week’s game against the Bears. While the Vikings are unsure whether or not Murray will be available, it’s not at all uncommon for a concussed player to miss the following week’s game. We’ll see how things unfold over the week, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Carson Wentz draws the start next week with J.J. McCarthy serving as his backup.
  • BAL Wide Receiver #4
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Zay Flowers’ hamstring injury is “not considered serious” after Week 1’s win over the Colts.

    Flowers will have an MRI to confirm the exact severity of his injury, but according to Rapoport, sources familiar with the situation said Flowers likely would have returned to the field if it were a playoff game. The Ravens held a 31-13 lead over the Colts at halftime, thanks in large part to Flowers’ 5-150-1 line in the first half. Flowers is reportedly considered day-to-day at this time, meaning he could have a good shot at suiting up for Week 2 against the Saints.
  • NYG Wide Receiver #88
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    Malachi Fields caught 2-of-4 targets for 25 yards in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    The rookie wide receiver showcased a polished all-around skillset, reinforcing offseason reports that he had locked down the WR2 role opposite Malik Nabers. His 6'4, 220-pound frame was on full display as he was continually utilized as both a down-blocker and blocker in the second level on runs, something that should allow him to continue to operate as the clear-cut WR2 for the Giants throughout his rookie campaign. That said, the box scores highlights the obvious distinction that his snap rate — he led all Giants wideouts with 50 — won’t always translate to fantasy production while playing alongside Nabers and tight end Isaiah Likely, the latter two of whom commanded 17 targets on 29 Jaxson Dart pass attempts. The good news is that he played well ahead of veterans Darnell Mooney and Odell Beckham Jr., with Mooney having 39 snaps and Beckham just 11. Fantasy managers are best off viewing Fields as a high-end stash at the end of benches for the time being.
  • NYG Wide Receiver #1
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    Malik Nabers caught 6-of-9 targets for 69 yards in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Nabers took his decision to play all the way up to inactives, ultimately deeming himself healthy enough to take the field against a divisional rival. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy didn’t take long to knock the rust off his alpha receiver, giving him a quick out on his first target to get his feet wet and get into the flow of the game. Nabers would make numerous athletic plays from that point forward, combining with newcomer tight end Isaiah Likely to account for 17 targets on only 29 Jaxson Dart pass attempts. Fantasy managers can likely project that volume forward as the offense appeared to run entirely through its top two options through the air in the opening game. Nabers gets a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 2, where he remains a back end WR1 in fantasy circles.
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    Isaiah Likely caught all eight targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Making his debut for a new team, Likely didn’t wait long to prove he can be a featured tight end for the Giants, scoring on the final possession of the first half and first possession after the break. His first score highlighted his athleticism as he escaped coverage to the corner of the end zone from 15 yards out while his second trip to paint was reminiscent of a Nagy design for Travis Kelce in which the veteran tight end shed a chip-block in the flat for an easy score from two yards. Likely looks every bit of a fantasy TE1 but gets a difficult matchup against the Rams in Week 2. Even so, you’re starting him if you got him.
  • NYG Running Back #44
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    Cam Skattebo rushed 18 times for 81 yards and a touchdown in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

    Although Skattebo was not targeted in the pass game, his 18 carries handily led the team. Furthermore, presumed backup Tyrone Tracy lost a fumble on one of his two carries, resulting in Devin Singletary taking over primary backup duties for the remainder of the game. Those two variables should keep Skattebo’s weekly volume high after showing no ill effects of the devastating ankle injury suffered in 2025. His touchdown now gives him eight total scores in nine professional appearances despite only six of those being starts, a rate that will keep Skattebo in the weekly borderline RB1 discussion moving forward. Tracy managed just two snaps to Singletary’s 25, leaving Singletary as the primary backup for the moment. It’s possible Najee Harris gets into this discussion after being a healthy scratch in Week 1.