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- Time to step up
Time to step up
Featuring KC Concepcion, Kayshon Boutte, and more.
Yooo!
Only 12 more sleeps until the first game of the NFL regular season!
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In the last newsletter, I asked you all: âHave you drafted all your fantasy football teams yet?â
39.5% of you said, âWhat would be most helpful for you in-season?â

Best subscriber comments:
Start/sit: âWeekly matchup advice is key to winning week to week. O-lines, defenses, run strategies, etcâ
Waiver: âWaiver advice would need to be framed - very different for 10, 12, 14 team leagues as well as bench depth. So many of these articles list players not on my waiver wire.â
Trade: âGood, detailed trade advice is a must. Sit/start and waiver advice is helpful but the right trade at the right time can change your season.â
Our take: Weâve got a few ideas in the hopper around these areas. Your feedback helps us prioritize what to build next, so thank you!
Alright, now letâs get to some news you mightâve missed.
Giddy up.


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Over the last 24 hours, these 5 players have the highest % of their total mentions in the Underlying Stats category:
Player | Underlying Stats |
13.8% | |
9.3% | |
8.3% | |
8.1% | |
7.7% |

All article and podcast links go to a summarized Dynasty Pulse page where you can see quick insights and also get the link to the original article/podcast if you want the full content:
RotoBaller (Article): 12-Round Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft: Best Strategies, Value Picks, and Sleepers (2026)
FantasyPros (Article): 8 Fantasy Football Sleepers Experts Target: Tight Ends (2026)
Blitz Sports Media (Article): 7 Wide Receiver Breakout Candidates in Fantasy Football
Fantasy Football Today (Podcast): FINAL Do Not Draft List! 15 Players We're Avoiding: Trey McBride, Ashton Jeanty & More! (08/27 Fantasy Football Podcast)
Harris Fantasy Football Podcast (Podcast): Super-Deep Sleepers For 2026 - Part 1
Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon (Podcast): Fantasy vultures: 10 players who are better in real life than fantasy

Joe Burrow (QB, CIN): (103 mentions last 7 days): Analysts project 4,500 yards and 40 touchdowns are doable if he plays a full season behind one of the easiest schedules in football. Health has been the recurring concern in recent years.
Caleb Williams (QB, CHI): (133 mentions last 7 days): Finished as QB7 last season, but ranked just 22nd in yards per attempt, 30th in adjusted completion rate and 34th in catchable target rate among 38 qualifying passers, with fantasy output propped up by rushing. Analysts widely expect him to take a real step forward as a passer this year, with some saying a jump into the 61-62% completion range would meaningfully raise his ceiling.
KC Concepcion (WR, CLE): (82 mentions last 7 days): Posted a 77.7 PFF offense grade in preseason play and opened with three catches for 27 yards and a 14-yard rushing touchdown. He's also locked in as Cleveland's punt returner, and analysts expect him to compete for the team lead in targets right away.
Brock Purdy (QB, SF): (60 mentions last 7 days): Played just nine games last season due to shoulder and toe injuries but was a top-12 fantasy QB five times and top-five three times in that span. His ADP of QB13 has one analyst calling him one of the best value plays at the position if he stays healthy.
Germie Bernard (WR, PIT): (43 mentions last 7 days): Analysts say he should be the starting slot receiver in Pittsburgh after a strong preseason, and one predicts the offense will lean on him with perimeter screens because he plays like a running back after the catch. He broke a tackle and scored on one such screen this preseason.
James Cook (RB, BUF): (76 mentions last 7 days): Peaked at 44 receptions in 2023 and has been held under 40 every year since. Analysts are split: some point to an injured Ty Johnson clearing more receiving work this year, others say his bigger risk is touchdown regression after scoring 14 times last season.
Saquon Barkley (RB, PHI): (90 mentions last 7 days): His yards per carry dropped from 5.8 to 4.1 last season despite 2,283 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns. Beat reporting says he's consistently finding running room in new coordinator Sean Mannion's wide-zone scheme this preseason after that efficiency dip.

Cleveland released Cedric Tillman ahead of the roster deadline, with reports tying the move directly to its rookie receivers' camp performance.
Multiple outlets reported that the Browns released Tillman, a 2023 third-round pick, with the move first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. Several reports connected the release to Cleveland's investment in its rookie receivers, citing the team's first- and second-round picks spent on the position and what one outlet called "the impressive nature of rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston." Other reports cited Tillman's injury history, noting he missed 10 games over the last two seasons, as additional context. Multiple national outlets speculated he could catch on elsewhere, floating Miami and Kansas City as possible fits, though neither is confirmed.
Our take: I think one of these Browns rookie WRs will surprise people this year. The QB situation isnât pretty, but thereâs still a massive opportunity here. My bet would be on Concepcion, who seems like heâs already getting touches schemed up for him.

Isiah Pacheco has a new back injury with no clear return timeline, and it's separate from the knee issue that had been the earlier concern.
Multiple outlets reported that Pacheco is dealing with a new back injury, distinct from the MCL sprain that head coach Dan Campbell said is no longer a concern. Campbell told reporters this week he "can't give you anything definitive," adding that Pacheco was "feeling better as of yesterday" but that the situation has been "touch-and-go." Several reports connected the injury, along with the earlier departure of David Montgomery, to a larger expected workload for Jahmyr Gibbs. One report noted the Lions have enough unproven depth behind Pacheco that they may simply rotate practice-squad players rather than sign a new veteran back.
Our take: Praying to the fantasy gods that I donât get matched up against the team with Jahmyr Gibbs in the early going. Heâs my bet for RB1 this year.

Houston traded for Kayshon Boutte after Jayden Higgins' season-ending ACL tear, and analysts are split on whether Boutte fills a similar role.
Multiple outlets confirmed Higgins tore his ACL and is out for the season. Several reports said the trade was also driven by Tank Dell's recovery from a leg injury being further behind than previously understood, with one report quoting a beat reporter that Dell is "nowhere ready to play." In New England, head coach Mike Vrabel said Boutte was on track to be a healthy scratch because he didn't play special teams and the receiver room had gotten deeper, calling the trade "the best thing" for everyone involved. Analysts are divided on Boutte's fit in Houston: one said he could step into a comparable role and produce similar value to what Higgins was projected for, while another said the two are "extremely different players" who won't overlap directly.
Our take: Iâm willing to take a shot on Boutte providing some FLEX value this season. Higgins put up top-36 WR numbers in 7 out of his final 11 games last season. Thatâs quiet value to have on the bench when injuries and byes start popping up.
Tonightâs Poll:
Do you pay for any other fantasy football websites, tools, etc.(Vote to see live results) |
Thatâs all for tonight!
See ya pizza,
Joe

P.S. In case you missed it, catch up on our most recent newsletters below:
8/25/2026 - Decisions, decisions
8/26/2026 - Discount bin
8/27/2026 - Backup plans

