Josh Friedman’s Bold Predictions – 2021 Fantasy Football

Bold is in the eye of the beholder. When it comes to “bold” predictions, some fantasy pundits go for shock value. Others play it safer, opting for calls with close to a 50% chance of coming true. Perhaps the industry needs to create a blue-ribbon panel to decree what qualifies as a bold prediction --... Read More

Huascar Ynoa To Head For Rehab Assignment

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Huascar Ynoa (hand) will head for a minor league rehab assignment Sunday after his simulated game on Tuesday went well, according to The Athletic. Ynoa will be stretched out to start again but manager Brian Snitker said that plan could change based on need. Ynoa has been out since the middle... Read More

Clayton Kershaw Moving Closer To Return

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (forearm) will pitch in another simulated game on Sunday and could return the following weekend against the Angels, MLB.com reported, citing manager Dave Roberts. The veteran has been sidelined since July 7 with left forearm inflammation. The Dodgers could use Kershaw with Trevor Bauer (administrative leave) having an... Read More

Aaron Judge Late Scratch From Yankees Lineup

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was a late scratch from the lineup Wednesday night against Tampa Bay. No initial explanation was given. Judge, who has been the Yankees best hitter this season, had returned to action Tuesday and went 1-for-4 after being out since the start of the second half. Fantasy managers will need... Read More

Eduardo Escobar Being Traded to Brewers

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Eduardo Escobar is being dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers in a deal still being finalized, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Cooper Hummel, who has played at catcher, outfield and first base this season and is slashing .254/.435/.508 at AAA, will head to the Diamondbacks in the trade. The third baseman and middle... Read More

Chi Chi Gonzalez Joins Covid List

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez, who was scheduled to start Wednesday night in Anaheim, has been put MLB's Covid list, according to The Athletic. The team called up Jhoulys Chacin, who is now off the list. Lucas Gilbreath will start in a bullpen game for the Rockies. "I don't suspect Lucas will throw... Read More

Pablo Lopez To Begin Throwing

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (shoulder) will begin his throwing progression on flat ground this week, according to MLB.com. Lopez was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 17 due to a right rotator cuff strain. Though the Marlins are sellers and out of the playoff hunt, fantasy managers with the roster space... Read More

Shane Bieber's Progress Remains Slow

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (shoulder), who was moved to the 60-day injured list over the weekend as a procedural move, has yet to throw off the mound and his recovery from a strained muscle in his right rotator cuff hasn't gone as quickly as anticipated, Cleveland.com reported, citing Chris Antonetti, the team's president... Read More

Brandon Aiyuk (WR, SF) - 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~59 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~69 ANALYSIS:  Brandon Aiyuk came on strong in the second half of 2020 and ended up being as productive as just about any rookie receiver not named Justin Jefferson. Aiyuk was the ninth-best fantasy scorer during the 12 weeks when he was active, earning a 60-748-5 line and running for... Read More

Boom or Bust WR Predictions: Aiyuk, Kupp, Golladay

Wide receiver is at least the second most important position in fantasy. In certain PPR formats, it can be as crucial as running back. One simple way to increase your chances of success is to focus on pass catchers working with reliable quarterbacks while crossing off those forced to dive for ducks or mutter at... Read More

Deep-League Quarterback Sleepers

Some people climb stadium steps backward with weights strapped around their wrists and ankles. Others eat hot peppers by the jarful or build tiny ships inside bottles. The hardiest fantasy football degenerates test their mettle by playing in leagues so deep they must scrutinize the relative merits of, say, Andy Dalton and Drew Lock. They... Read More

Brandon Marsh Gets Major League Call-Up

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh was called up from Triple-A and will play center field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. At the start of the year, Marsh was ranked by RotoBaller as one of the top rookies for the 2021 redraft season, and if he... Read More

Mookie Betts Expected Back Monday

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (hip) won't need testing on his sore right hip and could be back in the lineup as soon as Monday, according to The Athletic. Manager Dave Roberts said he sees "no reason why" Betts won't be able to be in the lineup for the series opener against San Francisco.... Read More

Jazz Chisholm May Have Injured Shoulder

Miami Marlins second baseman Jazz Chisholm (shoulder) apparently sustained an injury on a defensively play Sunday, according to the Miami Herald. The 23-year-old rookie tried to dive backward to rob Bryce Harper of a hit and ended up grabbing his left shoulder. Marlins fans and fantasy managers will need to hope for the best, as... Read More

Jose Urquidy Still Hasn't Resumed Throwing

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (shoulder) has not resumed throwing yet, according to the Houston Chronicle, citing general manager James Click. Urquidy was put on the 10-day injured list on June 30 with right shoulder discomfort. His absence has been a tough blow for both the 'Stros and fantasy managers, as the 26-year-old was... Read More

Buster Posey Could Return On Monday

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (thumb) could return to lineup on Monday for the team's key series at the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with a left thumb bruise and placed on injured reserve earlier in July, has been stellar in a comeback season, batting... Read More

Byron Buxton Still Hasn't Done Much Hand Work

Byron Buxton (hand) has been doing lower-body activity but hasn't done much with his left hand yet, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "The gripping and the starting to do things baseball activity-wise with his hand has not really taken off yet, but we weren't expecting it to," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "It's still... Read More

Kyle Muller May Get Start Monday For Braves

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Muller is likely to get the call for Monday's game against the San Diego Padres and Yu Darvish, according to The Athletic. The rookie left-hander has 15 strikeouts and two walks in 10 innings over two starts with a 1.80 ERA since his return to Triple-A. Touki Toussaint and Charlie... Read More

Ke'Bryan Hayes, Jacob Stallings On Bench Against Mets

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes is on the bench Sunday against the New York Mets, with sizzling Wilmer Difo in the lineup and batting second. Difo, with a .938 slugging percentage over his past seven games, is a strong daily play in fantasy. Hayes has been cold lately but fantasy owners should be patient... Read More

Drew Smyly Goes For Sixth Straight Victory

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Drew Smyly is heading into Sunday's series finale against Tampa Bay on a heater. Smyly is 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in his past five starts, so he has a chance to win become the team's first starting pitcher to win six in a row since Kris Medlen in 2012, notes... Read More

Jacob deGrom Heads To Injured List

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (forearm) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 15, according to The Athletic. That means he's out until at least next Sunday. DeGrom is getting treatment for forearm tightness and has been shut down from throwing, according to manager Luis Rojas. Though an MRI exam... Read More

Cody Bellinger's Slump Deepens

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger went 0-for-4 on Saturday in the team's 9-2 win at Colorado as his struggles at the plate continue. The 26-year-old has been flailing since his return from the injury list and now is slashing .093/.180/.148 over his last 15 games. Still, he's got far too much talent to stay... Read More

Robbie Ray One-Hits The Rays

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Robbie Ray earned his seventh win of the season with a stellar outing on Sunday as his club defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1. Ray tossed seven innings of one-hit ball and struck out 11 to push his season-long total to 130 strikeouts in 100 2/3 innings to go along... Read More

Yu Darvish Heads To Injured List

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (hip) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with left hip inflammation, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The move is retroactive to July 9, meaning he won't be eligible to start until the fourth game after the break. Nabil Crismatt has been recalled from Triple-A El... Read More

Tyler Beede Optioned To Triple-A

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tyler Beede was sent to Triple-A Sacramento and Caleb Baragar was recalled in a corresponding move on Sunday, according to the Bay Area News Group. The 28-year-old Beede gave up three earned runs in one inning of work on Saturday against the Washington Nationals in his first start back from... Read More

Hunter Greene Flashes In Latest Start

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene starred with his arm and bat on Sunday for Triple-A Louisville. He was 1-for-2 with an RBI and gave up an earned run and five hits while striking out two over five innings pitched. The 21-year-old, the Reds No. 2 prospect, is quickly learning that he cannot get by with... Read More

Julio Urias Gets Dodgers First Post-Break Start

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias will get the team's first start coming out of the All-Star break at Denver next Friday, according to The Athletic. Walker Buehler will go Saturday, while Sunday's starter is still to be determined, though veteran David Price could get the nod with Clayton Kershaw (forearm) on the shelf.... Read More

Max Fried Heads Into Break After Beating Miami

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried got his first career win against the Miami Marlins on Saturday in his ninth try against the division rival, beating fellow lefty Trevor Rogers. Fried gave up three runs and nine hits over five innings while striking out five. He is 6-5 with a 4.71 ERA on the season.... Read More

Zach Plesac To Start Next Sunday

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Zach Plesac will start next Sunday at Oakland in the team's third game after the All-Star break, according to Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal. Eli Morgan will pitch Friday, followed by Cal Quantrill. J.C. Mejia and Triston McKenzie will then follow Plesac as the Indians continue to grapple with... Read More

Cal Raleigh Called Up By Mariners

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has been called up from Triple-A Tacoma, according to MLB.com. The coveted prospect has been one of the organization's best minor-league hitters, slashing .324/.377/.608 with nine home runs and 36 RBI in 199 plate appearances this season. The 24-year-old switch-hitter stands to be a solid fantasy contributor in the majors,... Read More