Fantasy Football Updates: Kirk Cousins Named Raiders' QB1

We have injury updates, quarterback clarity out West, and a few fantasy situations that are still far more complicated than they need to be. Welcome to the final stretch before Week 1!

Let’s get into Wednesday’s biggest fantasy-relevant news and notes.

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Kirk Cousins Named Raiders Starter

Raiders HC Klint Kubiak has named Kirk Cousins the team’s starting quarterback for Week 1.

It is the least-exciting outcome of the two main possibilities, with rookie Fernando Mendoza now waiting for his opportunity. We saw ups and downs from both players in the preseason, but Kubiak made it clear that Cousins earned the job.

“He played really good football,” Kubiak said, via Adam Schefter. “I’m really happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it.”

Brock Bowers remains the player to target, regardless of who’s behind center. The bigger question is whether Cousins can keep the offense efficient enough for the Raiders to create consistent scoring opportunities. I’m willing to bet we’ll see Mendoza sooner rather than later.

Ashton Jeanty Updates

The more important Raiders news involved Ashton Jeanty.

The Raiders are reportedly optimistic that Jeanty will be ready for Week 1 after his recent ankle injury. When The Athletic’s Sam Warren asked Kubiak whether he was optimistic, the coach gave a simple answer: “Yes.”

That is obviously encouraging. Will it be a full workload, though? Who knows.

Jeanty has been working on the side with trainers and has not yet returned to full practice, so this remains an important situation to monitor throughout the week. But since the prayer circle of 2026 heard around the world, things have looked much less serious than they did when Jeanty first went down.

Rookie Mike Washington has earned strong camp buzz and could see meaningful work regardless of Jeanty’s status. He’s a top-priority handcuff or late-round stab as we enter one of the biggest fantasy draft weekends of the year.

Jeanty drafters should feel better today than they did last week. Just do not assume a full bell cow workload is guaranteed right away.

Falcons Still Have a Quarterback Question

According to Mark Zinno, there is still no official decision in Atlanta’s quarterback battle. Falcons GM Ian Cunningham was asked about the situation and said, “We’ll talk about it.”

Will it be Tua Tagovailoa,  Michael Penix or other?

Tua could be on an extremely short leash if he wins the job. At some point, Atlanta has to see what it has in Penix after investing significant draft capital in him just a few years ago. The uncertainty is frustrating for fantasy managers, especially those investing in Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

George Kittle Travels With 49ers

Some encouraging news from San Francisco: George Kittle is expected to travel with the team to Australia.

Kittle’s status has been frustratingly ambiguous for much of the preseason, and it remains unclear whether he will play in the opener. But traveling with the team is a genuinely positive sign.

Kittle’s health will always carry some risk, and early-season availability matters. Still, this is better than the alternative. If he is active, he remains one of the few tight ends with legitimate difference-making weekly upside. His fantasy football ADP on best ball sites has fluctuated between 100-120 this offseason, which could pay off in a big way if he gets through most of the season.

Jonathon Brooks’ Soreness Is Concerning

Jonathon Brooks has been one of the biggest ADP risers of draft season. The talent is obvious, the explosiveness is real and the camp buzz has been loud.

But let’s pump the brakes just a bit.

Panthers beat writer Mike Kaye reported that Brooks worked on the side with a trainer Wednesday. HC Dave Canales said Brooks was dealing with “soreness,” but offered few additional details. Kaye also reported that Brooks worked on the side during Tuesday’s practice.

That is not what you want to hear from a back who has struggled to stay on the field and never carried a massive college workload.

Brooks and Chuba Hubbard have traded ADP momentum all offseason. Hubbard is dealing with injuries of his own, but there is optimism he will be ready for Week 1. Once the dust settles, Hubbard could still own a favorable split in this backfield.

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