Darren Waller’s comeback story with the Dolphins is compelling but fraught with risk. He hasn’t practiced or put on pads in over a year, yet he’s been lined up as the No. 1 tight end and secured a 53-man roster spot. Miami insists the plan is to manage him for 17 games, not to prove a point in preseason. Week 1 hip issues add doubt about his availability and role, while the offense continues to underuse tight ends. Fantasy players must weigh mega upside against the real-world throttling of his floor and durability.

Tyreek Hill’s elite production looms as the anchor, while the TE group around Waller is unsettled. Jonnu Smith’s trade to Pittsburgh and the emergence of Julian Hill and Tanner Conner suggest Miami isn’t banking on one veteran to carry the position. The coaching staff’s emphasis on growth beyond Darren mirrors a culture shift, raising questions about how quickly Waller can translate storybook recovery into steady fantasy production.

From a fantasy lens, Waller’s upside remains tantalizing if health returns and usage follows his peak years. But the risk is real: no practices, slow pads, and a system that hasn’t historically leaned on the tight end. In the near term, Hill and Conner could soak up targets, while Waller’s status dictates roster and bid decisions on waiver wires and early-season trades.

Micah Parsons' trade to Green Bay instantly reshapes the edge-rush landscape and tightens the Packers’ fantasy ceiling while adding a new dynamic to Week 1 showdown with the Lions. The international slate and eight divisional clashes heighten risk-reward swings early in the season, underscoring the QB-driven league’s latest upheaval. Rodgers’ Pittsburgh detour and a cohort of sophomore passers—Nix, Penix, Maye, and McCarthy—signal fresh paths for upside, while Mahomes chases a record pace and Watt pursues the sack crown. Parsons’ vow to prove the trade right adds a tense rookie-to-elite arc for fantasy managers.

NFL QB turnover dominated roster cut day as teams pared to 53. Tommy DeVito and several peers hit waivers while Trey Lance locked in as a Chargers backup, beating out Taylor Heinicke. Kyle Trask lost Tampa Bay’s No. 2 job to Teddy Bridgewater, and Tyler Huntley didn’t make Cleveland’s cut. Desmond Ridder and Will Grier were among notable cuts, with Easton Stick and Kyle McCord also exiting. Eagles boosted depth via Sam Howell’s addition behind Hurts, and other teams shuffled QBs and practice-squad options ahead of Week 1.

Rams rookies shined in a tight 19-17 preseason loss to Cleveland, with Terrance Ferguson showing as Higbee’s heir apparent after a hamstring layoff. Dresser Winn engineered a late drive, while undrafted Shaun Dolac locked in on special teams to push for a roster spot. Outside linebackers Desjuan Johnson and Josaiah Stewart flashed pass-rush disruption, backed by Jared Verse and Byron Young’s frequent pressure.

Jordan Waters added a late-score run as Tyler Ingle lit up the stop-unit with big hits, and Keir Thomas returned from IR to bolster depth at edge. The game offered a window into the Rams’ depth chart battles and potential fantasy value from the Rams’ offense and defense in the final weeks of camp.

The Denver Broncos are making roster adjustments by waiving defensive back Tanner McCalister to make room for Mario Goodrich from the UFL's Birmingham Stallions, maintaining their 90-man roster. McCalister, who went undrafted in 2023, previously spent time on the practice squads of the Cleveland Browns and the Broncos. In his time with the Browns, he logged appearances on the 53-man roster for three games, primarily contributing on special teams. During his short stint with the Broncos, he played 54 snaps on special teams and recorded one tackle.