Head coach Sean McVay is notorious for taking it easy with expected starters while exploring the full depth of his roster in the preseason, potentially signaling that Whittington is in line to start for the Rams come Week 1. Look for seventh-round rookie Konata Mumpfield to see increased run in the team’s first preseason contest as he fights for a roster spot. Whittington stood out last preseason and eventually played his way into a meaningful role down the stretch for the Rams amidst mounting injuries at the wide receiver position.

Vaughn returns to the organization after playing for the 49ers for the 2024 season. The addition of another running back could indicate worry surrounding the status of Isaac Guerendo to start the season, who is currently dealing with a shoulder injury that is expected to sideline him for a few weeks. Jordan James is also dealing with an injury, leaving the 49ers with little depth behind starter Christian McCaffrey.

Olave sprained his ankle during Thursday’s practice but continued to practice through it. He was held out of today’s scrimmage in what is believed to be a “precautionary” move. Concerns over Olave’s concussion history have pushed his ADP into backend WR3 territory. The ankle issue will likely make him even more affordable. His upside likely falls in the mid-to-high WR2 but he is not without risk.

Parsons’ all-around discomfort continues. Hopefully, the back injury is easily rehabbed and becomes a non-issue before long. With Parsons sidelined, the Cowboys should have ample time to discuss contract extension details with both Parsons and his agent.

After reports that all X-rays on Richardson’s dislocated pinky came back “clean,” this is about the next most encouraging news we could get. While he was already diagnosed by head coach Shane Steichen as being day-to-day, Richardson may avoid missing any practice time with the Colts, having Friday off following the preseason tilt against the Ravens. The former No. 4 overall pick can ill-afford to miss time as he continues to battle it out with Daniel Jones in training camp for the right to be the Colts’ QB1 to start the season. All eyes will be on Richardson when the Colts return to the field on Saturday.

According to Archer, Ferguson’s contusion is not considered serious, indicating that some time off should be all the star tight end needs to get right before the start of the season. Ferguson exited Thursday’s practice with an apparent injury, but it sounds like he avoided anything that would sideline him for the start of the season. The Cowboys will face the Rams in their first preseason game on Saturday, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Ferguson was held out as a precaution.

The steady stream of negative news regarding Parsons’ 2025 summer continues. Parsons reportedly received treatment during practice and there is no word yet on his expected status for the coming days. In a recent post on social media, Parsons noted his willingness to play through injuries in the past and expressed frustration over the Cowboys’ unwillingness to reward him for it. Adding another injury on top of the Cowboys’ insults will likely only strengthen Parsons’ resolve to hold-in.

This is terrible news. Slater is one of the league’s best left tackles. He and OT Joe Alt formed, perhaps, the NFL’s premier tackle tandems. Slater now has a long road to recovery ahead, and will hopefully be fully healthy in time for the 2026 season. With Slater out, Alt will shift from right tackle to left while swing tackle Trey Pipkins III starts on the right. Slater will undergo surgery to repair the tendon and be placed on injured reserve.

Lynch did not set an official timetable for Aiyuk’s return. Aiyuk is recovering from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 season. Initial reports suggested he would be ready to play midway through the 2025 season, so Lynch’s comments shouldn’t change how fantasy managers are approaching Aiyuk. Until he returns, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall will serve as the 49ers’ top receivers. Jennings is currently nursing a calf issue while coincidentally searching for a new contract, keeping him out of practice for the time being. Aiyuk’s ADP in fantasy drafts should continue to fall as his odds of suiting up early in the year approach zero.