Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch has looked good so far in July, going 11-for-38 (.289) with a home run, three doubles, three RBI, and six runs scored in 10 games played and 44 plate appearances. But after a breakout 2025 campaign in which he hit .261/.343/.523 with an .866 OPS, 34 home runs, and […]

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan finished the first half of the 2026 season with a 4-6 record, 4.81 ERA (4.34 FIP), and 1.24 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 26 walks in 82 1/3 innings pitched across 17 starts. The home run ball has been a real issue for Sheehan, as he's allowed 15 round-trippers […]

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage made it to the big leagues quickly after Toronto took him with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft out of East Carolina University. The 22-year-old made it up to the majors for three regular-season starts before he became a dominant arm during the Blue Jays' run […]

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will officially play the 2026 season on his $27.3 million franchise tender after the deadline for tagged players to agree on long-term contracts passed on Wednesday, per ESPN. The Cowboys announced before the NFL draft in April that they didn't plan to engage Pickens in long-term extension talks, so […]

Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Kahlil Watson made his major-league debut with the Guards on June 18 and has hit just .221 (17-for-77) with only three walks and 28 strikeouts in his first 23 big-league games. The 23-year-old former 16th overall pick in 2021 by the Miami Marlins has made the most of his .250 on-base […]

Right-handed reliever Alex Lange is the current closer for the Kansas City Royals, but left-hander Daniel Lynch IV could be worth stashing for fantasy managers in deeper leagues who are speculating on saves in the second half. Lynch, a former first-rounder in 2018 out of the University of Virginia, began his MLB career as a […]

Athletics rookie infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has looked great early on in his first taste of the major leagues, going 19-for-45 (.422) with five doubles, an RBI, and four runs scored in his first 12 games since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas. The 23-year-old former third-rounder in 2024 out of Rutgers is considered the […]

A combination of factors built a rookie wall for Tampa Bay Buccaneers former first-rounder Emeka Egbuka, and his production fell off drastically in the last eight games of 2025. The 19th overall selection out of Ohio State finished with a 63-938-6 line on 127 targets in his 17 games played. The 23-year-old will have 1,278 […]

The Athletic's Saad Yousuf thinks that Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed could be ready to hit his potential as a wide receiver in his first full year in Seattle in 2026. Defenses will be gearing up to stop receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba after his breakout in 2025, which should allow Shaheed more room to roam […]

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt lists New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell as a breakout candidate in 2026 in his first full season with the team. Mitchell has always had significant potential as an elite athlete with the size and athleticism to burn down the field and make contested catches, which is why the Indianapolis […]

The Athletic's Dan Duggan writes that New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is a breakout candidate in 2026 after signing a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency, the richest contract the team handed out in new head coach John Harbaugh's first season in the Big Apple. The big contract (he's now the fourth-highest-paid […]

The Athletic's Jim Ayello writes that Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich "looks like a name to watch for those targeting a late-round tight end." Nobody should be expecting him to catch 100 passes in Miami's new-look offense, but who else is quarterback Malik Willis going to throw to? The 26-year-old former third-round pick by […]

The Los Angeles Rams spent their top draft pick in 2025 in the second round at pick No. 46 on tight end Terrance Ferguson, with plans of stashing him for a potential breakout in 2026, according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Ferguson, who hails from the University of Oregon, barely saw the field in […]

The Athletic's Sam Warren writes that "all signs point to" wide receiver Jalen Nailor "having a chance to post career numbers" in his first year with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026. The Raiders traded Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars last November, but Nailor was the lone premium addition the team made at receiver […]

The Athletic's Jesse Newell writes that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy "checks many other boxes for a potential breakout player" in 2026. Worthy flashed chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes during offseason workouts, and Worthy would have been the team's summer practice MVP if they had one. The speedy receiver just turned 23 years […]

The Athletic's James Boyd lists Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs as a breakout candidate in 2026 after the departures of Adonai Mitchell and Michael Pittman Jr., who were traded to the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Alec Pierce (ankle) is also recovering from offseason surgery that could slow him down early on. […]

Houston Texans running backs coach Danny Barrett said that Jawhar Jordan is "playing faster than he was last year" as he battles for the RB3 role in 2026 behind newcomer David Montgomery and second-year back Woody Marks, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. After being selected in the sixth round (205th overall) in […]

Sports Illustrated's John Shipley writes that Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten's upside as a pass-catcher "gives him the narrow edge" over newcomer Chris Rodriguez Jr. "All signs point to this being a timeshare backfield" now that Travis Etienne Jr. is in New Orleans. Tuten flashed tons of explosive talent as a rookie, recording 307 […]

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (hand) was forced from Tuesday's All-Star Game after being hit in the left hand by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals right-handed closer Riley O'Brien, but X-rays came back negative, and Caminero says he will be back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival […]

The Washington Nationals are recalling top catching prospect Harry Ford to the majors after this week's All-Star break, a source told Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The 23-year-old backstop has a .705 OPS at Triple-A Rochester this year, but he's posted a .9111 OPS since June 1. Ford is ranked fifth in Keith Law's preseason […]

Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters became the third player in baseball in the first half of the 2026 season to hit for the cycle last Friday against the Athletics. The 26-year-old Canadian finished went into this week's All-Star break with an impressive .301/.354/.478 slash line with an .832 OPS, six home runs, 36 RBI, […]

Athletics right-handed reliever Elvis Alvarado may not have the best numbers in his second season in the big leagues, but he's still in the late-inning mix in Sacramento for the A's, making him worth a look in deep fantasy leagues for managers desperate for saves. The 27-year-old Dominican hurler went 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA […]

Kansas City Royals shortstop/outfielder Tyler Tolbert made history last week when he recorded hits in 12 straight at-bats over a three-game stretch to tie the MLB record for most hits in consecutive at-bats, but he started on the bench in the final three games before the All-Star break. Tolbert's move back to the bench coincided […]

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Owen Murphy is slated to make his first major-league start this Saturday versus the Texas Rangers, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves' No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett last weekend and appeared in two games out of the bullpen, allowing two runs (one […]

The Milwaukee Brewers are acquiring veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (shoulder) from the Houston Astros on Wednesday, a source told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. It's unclear what the Astros are receiving in return. McCullers could be on the verge of coming off the 15-day injured list due to a right-shoulder impingement that has kept him […]

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger became the fourth Yankees player to be named All-Star Game MVP on Tuesday night in the American League's 4-0 shutout win over the National League, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Bellinger took part in the All-Star Game twice in his first three big-league seasons, but this year was […]

Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) had two strikeouts and no hits allowed in a clean inning of work in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday in his second minor-league rehab outing. Diaz gave up a hit in a scoreless inning for Single-A Ontario to start his rehab assignment on Sunday in […]

Chicago White Sox All-Star first baseman Munetaka Murakami said he's not thinking or talking specifics about contract extensions right now, but he affirmed that he would like to stay with the White Sox long-term, according to James Fegan of Baseball America. Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million deal to come to the States and play […]

Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras said he told the team that he would not be willing to waive his no-trade clause, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Contreras wants to finish his career in Boston and joked that he got out ahead of potential rumors by making his stance clear. The 34-year-old veteran […]

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is ahead of schedule in his return from a torn Achilles during the playoffs last season, and he could be ready for the start of training camp later this month, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Kittle spent a lot of time on an anti-gravity treadmill […]