William Smith Gives Up Game-Winning Hit Thursday

Texas Rangers relief pitcher William Smith allowed the game-winning hit in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins during his inning of work when he came in with the bases loaded and no outs. Smith allowed a two-run home run to catcher Ryan Jeffers and didn't walk or strike out a batter. Josh Sborz was […]

Enrique Hernandez Busy In Win Over Guardians

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez was right in the middle of the team's 9-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, two RBI, two runs scored and a strikeout. Hernandez's home run was his first since Aug. 7, and he's now hitting .296 (24-for-81) with two […]

Brandon Belt Homers Again In Losing Effort

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a strikeout in the team's 5-3 loss to the division-rival Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Belt now has four home runs in his last four games to bring his season total to 15 through 301 at-bats in his first […]

Chase Anderson Gives Up Three Runs In Rehab Start

Colorado Rockies right-hander Chase Anderson (shoulder) allowed three earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings in his minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday. Anderson is getting closer to a return to the Rockies after missing almost a month due to right-shoulder inflammation. […]

Hunter Greene To Start Friday

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene is listed as the team's starter for the Friday night game against the Arizona Diamondbacks after he was initially scheduled to go on Saturday on five days of rest. The 24-year-old was torched for nine runs (eight earned) on 10 hits (five home runs) in just three innings against the […]

Josh Jacobs Should Be Bell-Cow Back When He Returns

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs led the team with 393 touches in 2022, with the next closest running back being Ameer Abdullah with 29 touches. Zamir White, a fourth-rounder last year, has taken the bulk of carries in training camp practices with Jacobs holding out this summer. White is a bigger back, but […]

Sean Clifford To Serve As Backup Quarterback

Green Bay Packers rookie fifth-round quarterback Sean Clifford was named the backup QB by head coach Matt LaFleur on Thursday. Clifford led the league in passing yards per game and ranked third in completion percentage through two preseason games. By the first week of training camp, he had passed Danny Etling, who spent all of […]

Richie James Has Been Impressive

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Richie James, a six-year veteran, was one of the team's most impressive players during training camp this summer. The Chiefs will throw the ball plenty, and James looks to be a reliable option for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The 27-year-old has the talent to be an effective slot receiver alongside Skyy […]

Calvin Ridley Standing Out At Training Camp

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley looks explosive and has another gear compared to the rest of the team's other talented receivers. It's reasonable to expect some type of adjustment to regular season game speed due to the fact that he hasn't played in nearly two years and is learning a new offense, but Ridley […]

Josh Downs Has Become A Volume Target

Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce are the team's top receivers, but rookie Josh Downs, an undersized yet shifty wideout out of North Carolina, brings a different feel to the receiving corps that has allowed him to become a volume target throughout training camp and the preseason, according to The Athletic's […]

C.J. Stroud Showing The Ability To Rebound

Houston Texans rookie first-round quarterback C.J. Stroud had a forgettable preseason debut, but head coach DeMeco Ryans insisted there wasn't any panic within the organization. Stroud showed growth in the second preseason game, rebounding from a rough opening series to complete his next five pass attempts to four different receivers. He will certainly face some […]

Luke Musgrave Looks Dynamic

Green Bay Packers rookie second-round tight end Luke Musgrave has dazzled throughout training camp despite sporadic drops and has showcased a combination of size, speed and pass-catching prowess that has the team running him on jet sweeps, go routes and everything in between. The Athletic's Matt Schneidman writes that the Packers haven't had a tight […]

Sam LaPorta Could Be Jared Goff's Second-Favorite Target

We knew the Detroit Lions had big plans for rookie tight end Sam LaPorta when they took him with the 34th overall pick in this year's draft. LaPorta has been with the first-team offense since the start of training camp this summer and he has shown the ability to make catches in traffic, provide yards […]

Merrill Kelly Suffers Hamstring Cramp Thursday

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (hamstring) suffered a right-hamstring cramp during his start on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Reds, but it doesn't sound like a serious concern going forward. Before leaving before the eighth inning, Kelly was fantastic, tossing seven scoreless innings while giving up just one hit, walking none and striking out 12 […]

Greg Dulcich Could Be Used In "Joker" Role

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that tight end Greg Dulcich could be used in a "joker" role that will help him find matchups to exploit. The Broncos also have Adam Trautman, who has experience in Payton's offense, but Dulcich will remain the top tight end target in the passing game. The Athletic's Nick […]

Jake Ferguson Could Have Significant Role

Dallas Cowboys second-year tight end Jake Ferguson's stock has taken a noticeable upturn during training camp, according to The Athletic's Saad Yousuf. Ferguson will be taking over No. 1 tight end duties in Dallas this year after the departure of Dalton Schultz, who was one of quarterback Dak Prescott's favorite targets. The 24-year-old caught 19 […]

David Njoku Should Be Targeted Often

The Athletic's Zac Jackson advises fantasy football managers to stock up on shares of tight end David Njoku during draft season. Njoku has had a phenomenal training camp this summer, gets open on a regular basis and has seen a lot of passes come his way. The Browns are dealing with the loss of speedy […]

DJ Moore Should Be Productive In First Year In Chicago

The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain thinks Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore should be incredibly productive in his first year with the team, even though the Bears offense isn't expected to be a top-10 unit in 2023 after they ranked 32nd in passing a year ago. Moore and quarterback Justin Fields developed strong rapport from the […]

DJ Chark Jr. Should Be Big-Play Target

Carolina Panthers rookie first-round quarterback Bryce Young and wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (hamstring) have connected down the field often in training camp this summer. Chark's size-speed combination made him a second-round pick in 2018 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he's been plagued by injuries outside of his Pro Bowl season in 2019. Although Chark […]

Joey Votto Expected To Return In Early September

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (shoulder), who was put on the injured list with shoulder discomfort on Thursday, is expected to return in early September, according to manager David Bell. Votto had surgery on the same left shoulder last year, and it caused him to miss the first couple of months of the 2023 […]

Treylon Burks Up In The Air For Season Opener

TennesseeTitans.com's Jim Wyatt writes that he doesn't know if Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks (knee) is going to be ready for the start of the 2023 regular season on Sept. 10 against the New Orleans Saints, or what exactly the receiving corps will look like in Week 1 with Burks and Kyle Philips (knee) […]

Raiders Refusing To Make Josh Jacobs Available Via Trade

The Las Vegas Raiders have refused to make running back Josh Jacobs available in trade conversations, according to league sources. The Raiders also have no plans to rescind Jacobs' franchise tag and have yet to make an increased one-year offer similar to the one Saquon Barkley received from the New York Giants. Jacobs will either […]

James Cook Establishing Himself As Top RB

The Buffalo Bills didn't make a substantial move in free agency or in the draft at the running back position, and it has paid off this summer at training camp with James Cook establishing himself at the team's top back. He has looked explosive carrying the ball and has impressed as a pass-catcher as well. […]

Mark Andrews Could Remain Lamar Jackson's Go-To Target

If training camp practices are any indication, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews will remain quarterback Lamar Jackson's go-to target in the passing game in 2023 despite the additions of receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor and rookie first-rounder Zay Flowers and the return of a healthy Rashod Bateman. The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec writes that […]

Bijan Robinson Has Big Expectations

Atlanta Falcons rookie first-round running back Bijan Robinson has been what the team thought he was when they took him in the top 10 in this year's NFL draft. Five running backs have been taken in the top 10 in the last 10 years, and four of them topped 1,000 rushing yards in their first […]

Dolphins Have Made Trade Offer For Jonathan Taylor

The Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts continue to talk trade regarding running back Jonathan Taylor, with at least one other team also believed to have made a serious offer to acquire the 2021 All-Pro. The Dolphins have made at least one offer that wasn't accepted and they continue to engage the Colts in negotiations, according […]

James Conner Could Have Heavy Workload In 2023

The Athletic's Doug Haller writes that with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (knee) injured, it's hard to know what to expect of the Cardinals offense early in the year. Arizona would be smart to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible, which would mean a heavy dose of running back James Conner. […]

Connor McGovern Misses Practice Thursday

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that offensive guard Connor McGovern (knee) would not practice on Thursday at training camp after he injured his knee in Wednesday's practice. McDermott didn't give any timeline for McGovern's return. For now, McGovern should be considered day-to-day, but his availability for the Week 1 regular season opener could […]

Carl Lawson Might Not Be Ready For Week 1

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he's unsure if defensive end Carl Lawson (back) will be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. Beyond Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson, Micheal Clemons, Bryce Huff and first-rounder Will McDonald are the team's options at edge rusher entering the 2023 regular season. The 28-year-old Lawson […]

Lions Waive Denzel Mims With Injury Settlement

The Detroit Lions waived wide receiver Denzel Mims (calf) from Injured Reserve with an injury settlement on Thursday. If Mims clears waivers, he'll become a free agent on Friday and will be free to sign with any NFL team. The Lions acquired Mims from the New York Jets in a trade before training camp, but […]