NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: September 5, 2026, 2:39 PM ET

Rookie Watch

The 2026 NFL rookie class is headlined by a deep group of playmakers, with Marvin Harrison Jr., Jared Verse and Travis Hunter all drawing preseason buzz. ESPN's draft analysts have published a comprehensive guide to the class, tracking Rookie of the Year front-runners, fantasy risers and which first-year quarterbacks could see the field earliest. For bettors, the prop market angles are forming around position-group production totals and early-season snap counts. Each team's success could hinge on a single game-changing player, as Ben Solak identifies the X factor for all 32 rosters.

Fantasy & Draft Prep

Mike Clay's annual Playbook series concludes with a post-draft chapter on waiver wire management, trading and playoff positioning. His key advice: treat your draft as the opening act, not the finale, and build a weekly transaction cadence. For those short on prep time, a new cheat sheet compiles 30-plus player notes spanning touchdown regression candidates, target share projections and backfield reversals at critical positions.

The QB Carousel

Kyler Murray's arrival in Minnesota invites a historical glance at the Vikings' peculiar quarterback curse. From Warren Moon to Daunte Culpepper, Brett Favre and Kirk Cousins, the franchise has cycled through competent passers without a true franchise stalwart since Fran Tarkenton. Murray now gets a chance to end that tragicomic run, and early returns from minicamp have been promising. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield has passed the self-imposed deadline for a new deal in Tampa, and his high school coach says his knack for betting on himself could boost the Bucs. Bill Barnwell identifies Mayfield among the 22 players with the most at stake, noting he and C.J. Stroud could play their way into big contracts — while Aaron Glenn's seat in New York stays warm.

Around the League

Sean McVay confirmed Friday that the Rams plan to bring all players to Melbourne for the season opener against the 49ers. Packers running back Josh Jacobs' initial court appearance on misdemeanor charges has been moved up to Sept. 10, more than two months earlier than originally scheduled. Washington defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, who once lived in a 1988 Honda Prelude alongside a pet python named Goldie Gambino, has finally arrived after a winding coaching career. Odell Beckham Jr. is back in New York after eight years, and teammates and fans are all in on the WR revival at practice.

Beyond the Grid

Former Wake Forest standout Alphonso Smith, a two-time All-America defensive back who played four NFL seasons, passed away at 40. Giants running back Cam Skattebo said he briefly contemplated retirement after suffering an open fracture to his right ankle during his rookie season, though he's back healthy. The Pro Football Hall of Fame will overhaul its selection process, significantly reducing the number of selectors and eliminating the Seniors category. Mark Sanchez, the former NFL QB and Fox broadcaster, has agreed to plead guilty in an assault case; his deal was confirmed this week.

Betting & Business

NFL betting has climbed toward approximately $30 billion in handle, but growth now shows signs of stalling at U.S. sportsbooks, with prediction markets gaining ground. In Las Vegas, bettors chase the unthinkable: turning $1,000 into $20 million through NFL survivor pools across a full season. For a full betting roadmap, our 2026 betting guide supplies odds, tips and best bets.

to the 2027 Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. is already making preseason predictions, including Jadan Baugh as the RB1, five first-round quarterbacks and a safety–tight end wave. He expects this group could shake up the order before 2026 opener even begins.