Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington has a role Sean McVay clearly values, but it still isn't much of a fantasy role. Whittington played all 17 games last season and started six, yet finished with only 18 catches for 171 yards on 25 targets and never found the end zone. He remains directly behind Puka Nacua on the Rams' unofficial depth chart and is also their top kick returner. McVay has called him steady and consistent, and Whittington was one of the receivers who stepped in when Nacua left the Aug. 11 joint practice. Nacua was still out Thursday with psoas soreness, so Whittington has gotten another look. The problem hasn't changed. Nacua and Davante Adams sit at the top of the passing game, and Los Angeles leaned heavily on three-tight-end personnel last season. RotoBaller has Whittington 347th overall and WR128 in its Aug. 19 PPR rankings. He's useful depth for the Rams, but standard redraft managers don't need to force him onto a roster.

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges has a chance to matter early, but the window may be shorter than it looked a few weeks ago. George Kittle is still on Active/PUP after tearing his Achilles in January, which has left Tonges atop the current unofficial depth chart. Tonges earned some trust last year when Kittle missed time, catching 34 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games. He also had seven catches for 60 yards and a score against Chicago in Week 17, so there is at least some proof he can handle more than a blocking-only role. The 49ers brought him back on a two-year deal in March, and he's stayed involved with Brock Purdy during camp. The catch is Kittle's recovery. He said this week that Week 1 remains the goal, and the latest signs have been encouraging. Luke Farrell is getting work too. If Kittle isn't ready right away, Tonges could have some early streaming value. If Kittle is back on schedule, there isn't much season-long redraft appeal here.

Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis looked like the forgotten man in this backfield earlier in camp. He's making that harder to justify now. Davis led Dallas with 39 yards on seven carries in the preseason opener, and Brian Schottenheimer praised his vision and feel for the blocking scheme afterward. He was also the first back on the field after Javonte Williams during team work earlier this week. Davis has handled a bigger load before. When Williams went down in Week 17 last season, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound back ran 20 times for 103 yards. He finished the year with 250 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries. Dallas' unofficial depth chart still has Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah ahead of him, so Davis hasn't won the backup job. Blue's shoulder issue and Mafah's recent injury have given him another opening, though, and he's taking advantage of it. RotoBaller has Davis at RB92 in PPR. He's outside normal redraft range, but this backup race is a lot less settled than it looked earlier in camp.

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins was officially placed on season-ending injured reserve Friday, according to Adam Schefter. Higgins tore his ACL during Tuesday's joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders, ending his second NFL season before it could begin. The 23-year-old was coming off a promising rookie year in which he caught 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns while starting 10 of 17 games. His role had grown as the season went along, making this a tough loss for a Houston passing game that was expecting more from him in Year 2. The Texans will now have to replace those snaps and targets behind Nico Collins. Higgins can be dropped in all redraft leagues, while dynasty managers will have to stash him through what will be a lengthy recovery.