J.D. McKissic, Logan Thomas Likely To See Fewer Targets

NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay predicts that both Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic and tight end Logan Thomas will see fewer targets in the passing game in 2021. McKissic had 110 targets last season, with Finlay projecting a 20 percent or more drop. Quarterbacks Alex Smith and Dwayne Haskins were too reliant on […]

Ryan Griffin Must Beat Out Blaine Gabbert

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Griffin has been with the team since 2015, serving primarily as the third-string quarterback. But Tom Brady is now under contract for two more years and the team selected Kyle Trask in the second round of this year's draft. Griffin will have to beat out Blaine Gabbert, who has significantly […]

Trevor Siemian Could Stick Around

New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian could sneak his way onto the roster behind Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill this summer. The 29-year-old has 13 career wins, and head coach Sean Payton has talked Siemian up a few times this offseason. Siemian isn't likely to push Winston or Hill for the starting job, but he […]

Devin Funchess Not A Lock For Final Roster

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Devin Funchess has the size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), but he has played in just one regular season game in the last two seasons after he broke his collarbone in the 2019 season-opener with the Indianapolis Colts and opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. Funchess also skipped organized […]

Jose Altuve Won't Take Part In Midsummer Classic

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve announced that he will not participate in next week's All-Star game. Altuve said he's dealing with a minor left leg injury and wants the four days off to rest up for the second half of the season. So both Altuve and his middle-infield partner, Carlos Correa, are choosing to […]

Josh Bell Could See Some Time In The Outfield

Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell, who has a .914 OPS since May 12, could start to play some left field, according to manager Dave Martinez. It would allow Bell and the slumping Ryan Zimmerman to be in the lineup together as the team looks to get Zimmerman back on track. Bell played 16 games […]

Patrick Mahomes Says He's Fully Healthy

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (toe), who had toe surgery in the offseason, said that he's fully healthy with training camp approaching. "The toe's feeling great," Mahomes said. "I'm out here playing golf, being able to walk around the course. I've been running, cutting, jumping, throwing, doing it all. So I'm just excited to […]

Carlos Correa Won't Play In All-Star Game

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa won't play in next week's All-Star game because he prefers to rest for the second half of the season and the postseason. Correa is having arguably the best season of his career, so it'll be disappointing not to see him play in the Midsummer Classic, but fantasy managers won't mind […]

Clayton Kershaw To Get MRI Exam On Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (forearm) will go for an MRI exam when the team returns to LA, which will likely be on Friday, according to manager Dave Roberts. The skipper didn't show too much immediate concern, but they'll know more when they get the results back. The Dodgers placed Kershaw on the […]

Nick Foles Is Expendable

Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles is experienced and capable, but he is, after all, the No. 3 signal-caller behind Andy Dalton and rookie first-rounder Justin Fields, so he is expendable heading into the 2021 season. There's a possibility that he could play elsewhere this year, but the Bears are unlikely to simply release him. He'll […]

Steven Sims Jr. Facing Uphill Battle In Washington

Washington Football Team wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. caught 23 passes in the final five weeks of the 2019 season and created separation with his short-field quickness. He entered last season as the team's top slot receiver, but injuries and drops (three on 39 targets) hurt him. Washington also signed Adam Humphries and drafted Dax […]

Jordan Howard Competing For Final Spot On Depth Chart

Philadelphia Eagles running back Jordan Howard will be competing with Kerryon Johnson and Boston Scott for one of the final spots on the running back depth chart this summer behind starter Miles Sanders. Since Howard re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year deal in April for no guaranteed money, Philadelphia added rookie Kenneth Gainwell in […]

Royce Freeman In Danger Of Being Cut

Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman might need to show out in training camp this summer if he wants to remain on the team's final 53-man roster. The Broncos haven't kept four running backs in their cutdown to 53 players since 2017. Rookie Javonte Williams is expected to get plenty of work alongside Melvin Gordon […]

Mark Ingram II Could Be The Odd Man Out

Houston Texans veteran running back Mark Ingram II, who signed a one-year deal in March, could be the odd man out in the Texans running back room this summer. It seems unlikely that there's room for Ingram, David Johnson, Phillip Lindsay and Rex Burkhead on the final 53-man roster. Houston restructured Johnson's contract and doubled […]

Benny Snell Jr. On The Outside Looking In?

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell Jr. had 113 yards on 19 carries in last year's season-opener in place of James Conner, but he wound up averaging 3.3 yards per carry with four touchdowns over the course of the season behind a really bad offensive line. The Steelers drafted Najee Harris and also signed Kalen […]

Allen Hurns Fighting For A Roster Spot

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Allen Hurns is in danger of missing the cut later this summer at training camp. Will Fuller, rookie Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden Jr. are likely locked into the first five receiver spots. Hurns is a versatile veteran, but he'll be competing with Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant […]

Javier Baez Scratched With Sprained Thumb

Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez (thumb) has been scratched from the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies with a sprained right thumb. It's unclear if this is an injury that could keep Baez out for an extended amount of time, but the Cubs will likely be careful with the All-Star break coming next […]

Matt Breida Could Get Cut This Summer

Buffalo Bills running back Matt Breida gives the team a home run-hitting element in the backfield, but his place on the final 53-man roster this summer isn't secure heading into training camp after he inked a one-year deal with the team in the offseason. Breida must beat out Antonio Williams and Christian Wade for the […]

Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton To Compete For No. 2 Job

New York Giants wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton will compete for the No. 2 job in training camp behind Kenny Golladay. The Giants paid Golladay $72 million to be their top pass-catcher, so he should be expected to play around 90 percent of the offensive snaps. The No. 2 wide receiver role will […]

Kadarius Toney Expected To Be Brought Along Slowly

The Athletic's Dan Duggan expects the New York Giants to bring rookie wide receiver Kadarius Toney along slowly after he missed a lot of offseason work with cleat problems, minor injuries, an unsigned contract and a family emergency. There are a lot of character concerns with Toney, but he has a high ceiling if he […]

Jacob deGrom Strikes Out 10, Allows Two Homers Wednesday

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom allowed multiple home runs (two solo shots) for the first time this season on Wednesday in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers, but he also struck out 10 in seven effective innings to become the second-fastest pitcher to reach 1,500 strikeouts in a career. deGrom […]

Shohei Ohtani Makes More History

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani set the record for most home runs in a season by a Japanese-born player on Wednesday when he passed Hideki Matsui with his 32nd home run of the season in the win over the Boston Red Sox. Ohtani's major-league leading 32nd long ball came off the bat at […]

Vidal Brujan Sent Back Down, Expected To Come Back Friday

The Tampa Bay Rays are technically sending infielder Vidal Brujan back to Triple-A Durham after he was the 27th man for the doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday, but they are fully expected to bring him back up before Friday's game. Brujan, the team's No. 2 prospect, went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Game […]

Matt Chapman Resting On Wednesday

Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Houston Astros. Chapman has had his ups and downs this year, but he hasn't been at his best recently, so perhaps it's the perfect time for him to take a breather. The 28-year-old has disappointed with his .230/.326/.395 slash […]

Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (forearm) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with left forearm inflammation. Right-hander Mitchell White was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move. This is a troubling development for the Dodgers and fantasy managers, and we'll update you when we know more about the […]

Joe Smith Returns From Injured List

The Houston Astros activated relief pitcher Joe Smith (elbow) from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned infielder Taylor Jones to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Smith has been out since June 9 with right elbow soreness and had a rough 6.23 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 17 1/3 relief innings for […]

Orioles Put Maikel Franco On Injured List

The Baltimore Orioles placed third baseman Maikel Franco (ankle) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a sprained ankle and recalled infielder Kelvin Gutierrez from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Franco sprained his ankle last Wednesday and tried to get back into the lineup on Tuesday before getting scratched. The 28-year-old has provided […]

Albert Pujols Starting At First Base Against Lefty

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Albert Pujols will draw into the lineup at first base and bat second on Wednesday against Miami Marlins left-hander Ross Detwiler. Pujols doesn't have a ton of upside at this point in his career, but he's been decent with the Dodgers as a part-time player and is hitting a nice […]

Jake Reed To Serve As Opener Against Marlins Wednesday

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Jake Reed will get the nod to start on the mound on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. Reed will serve as the opener in this one, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to go long enough to qualify for a potential win. The 28-year-old has gone just two-thirds of an inning […]

Ryan Brasier Hasn't Cleared Concussion Protocols

Boston Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush said that relief pitcher Ryan Brasier (head) still has not cleared the concussion protocols after he was hit in the head on June 4. Brasier has been throwing every day but has yet to get back on the mound. The 33-year-old right-hander's timetable for a return in the […]