RADIO
Cole Kmet's Role Could Shrink Further in 2026
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet enters the 2026 season with an uncertain workload. Last season, Kmet recorded 30 receptions for 347 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games, marking his worst stat line since his 2020 rookie season. The addition of 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland significantly reduced Kmet's usual workload, dropping his snap share from 88% to 70% in 2025. Loveland's addition hurts Kmet's fantasy outlook, and the addition of third-round rookie Sam Roush could also take Kmet off the field this season. Roush is a willing blocking tight end who, after being drafted, said he "loves getting in the trenches and getting dirty." While Kmet could be a trade candidate during the season, which could help his fantasy value, he may be stuck outside the Top 50 at the position in 2026 if Roush starts the season strong.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cameron Jordan's Injury Could Linger Into the Regular Season
New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (hamstring) could continue to deal with his injury into the regular season, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. Johnson injured his hamstring during practice last Thursday, and while he's going to miss a chunk of training camp at the bare minimum, he could also open the regular season on the sideline. That would be less than ideal for the Saints and their 37-year-old defensive standout, who racked up 47 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles last year. Having Jordan healthy, available, and productive is one of the main keys for the Saints this season as they look to compete for the NFC South title. Vernon Broughton (hip) should earn more reps along the defensive line for the duration of Jordan's absence.
Source: Katherine Terrell
Source: Katherine Terrell
Coby Bryant Will Miss Four to Six Months After Knee Surgery
Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant (knee) underwent surgery and is expected to miss four to six months, head coach Ben Johnson told Courtney Cronin of ESPN. The team initially expected him to miss up to eight weeks, so a revised four-to-six-month timeline is extremely unfortunate for the Bears and their prized defensive back. Bryant left the Seahawks in free agency this past offseason, signing a three-year deal with Chicago worth $40 million. He tallied seven interceptions over the last two seasons and was supposed to fill a major starting role following the departure of safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. Instead, Bryant is now at risk of missing the entire regular season, leaving more opportunities for Elijah Hicks (calf), who is currently on the PUP list.
Source: Courtney Cronin
Source: Courtney Cronin
Roman Anthony is Nearing Rehab Assignment
According to Tim Healy, Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) is getting closer to a minor league rehab assignment. Anthony is hitting off a high-tech pitching machine, which is normally the last step before facing live pitching. He has been hitting in the batting cage and seems extremely close to getting back into game action. Anthony has been out since early May due to a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger. Barring any setbacks, Anthony has a chance to return to the Red Sox lineup by late August or early September.
Source: Tim Healey
Source: Tim Healey
Fernando Mendoza Expected to Get Plenty of Reps in Preseason Opener
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is "expected to get plenty of experience in Thursday's preseason opener against the Cardinals," according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com. Mendoza, who was selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft after winning the NCAA football national championship at Indiana, will have a valuable opportunity get acclimated to the NFL with meaningful preseason reps. At this time, he's not expected to start Week 1 of the regular season, but preseason action will at least give fantasy managers a chance to see Mendoza play alongside Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Jack Bech, and Jalen Nailor. His redraft stock is a bit iffy given the fact that there's no timetable for the Raiders to turn from Kirk Cousins to Mendoza, but the 22-year-old is much more appealing in dynasty leagues where he ranks as the QB17.
Source: Ryan McFadden
Source: Ryan McFadden
Shane McClanahan Making Rehab Start on Tuesday
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (back) is scheduled to take the ball for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. It's good to see the southpaw getting back on the mound. McClanahan has been sidelined since the end of July due to back tightness. The expectation is that McClanahan will require one or two more rehab starts to build up his stamina before returning to the Rays rotation. Barring any setbacks, fantasy managers should expect McClanahan to return before the end of August. He should take over Griffin Jax's (elbow) spot in the rotation, with him recently landing on the shelf.
Source: Durham Bulls
Source: Durham Bulls
Malik Willis Looking Good in Dolphins' New Offense
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has been impressive during early glimpses of the team's new-look offense, according to Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Specifically, he wrote that Willis "keeps stacking good days ... doesn't repeat mistakes, shows good leadership and strikes the right chords on and off the field." That's an encouraging sign for fantasy managers, especially after plenty of offseason dialogue about the state of the Dolphins with Willis at quarterback and Jeff Hafley as head coach. We're not saying the Dolphins are a playoff lock, nor is Willis a projected Pro Bowler, but there's at least something here for fantasy managers to get excited about. The former Liberty product put his mobility on display last year in Green Bay, and he could crack the top 24 fantasy quarterbacks if he continues to run well while limiting turnovers in Miami. As it stands, he ranks as the QB21 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.
Source: Chris Perkins
Source: Chris Perkins
Trey Yesavage is Week-to-Week After Having Knee Surgery
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage (knee) underwent surgery to repair his torn meniscus on Tuesday. He underwent successful left knee surgery and is now considered week-to-week, according to Mitch Bannon. The Jays haven't ruled out him for the rest of the season, but it's going to be tough for return in time for any regular season action. If the Jays somehow get into the playoffs, Yesavage might be an option, but otherwise, his season is probably over. This season, Yesavage posted a 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 91/46 K/BB ratio across 18 starts. Fantasy managers in redraft formats can start looking for a replacement.
Source: Mitch Bannon
Source: Mitch Bannon
Raiders Will Play Their Starters in Preseason Opener
The Las Vegas Raiders' starters will play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Klint Kubiak told Sam Warren of The Athletic. While many teams opt to rest their starters in Week 1 of the preseason, we'll see the Raiders mix in everyone as players compete for key roster spots. According to Warren's post on X, "the team has a plan for how much [Kubiak] wants the 1s, 2s and 3s to play." It makes sense that the Raiders will get reps for their starters, especially at the wide receiver position. It's a relatively inexperienced group, and there are a few starting roles up for grabs among a group that features Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Dont'e Thornton Jr., among others. Warren also notes that even though Kirk Cousins is expected to start the regular season opener at quarterback, rookie No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will get plenty of snaps this week.
Source: Sam Warren
Source: Sam Warren
Yankees Promote Pitching Prospect Bradley Hanner to Big Leagues
According to Jeff Passan, the New York Yankees are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Bradley Hanner on Tuesday. The Yankees are looking to bolster their bullpen, so hopefully Hanner can offer some relief. He owns a 2.28 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 61/24 K/BB ratio in 40 appearances with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. Hanner is a former 21st-round pick of the Minnesota Twins from the 2019 draft. He could be an interesting late-inning option for the Yankees, assuming he can translate his game to the big league level. He's someone deep league managers should keep an eye on.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Jaguars Won't Play Starters in Preseason Opener
The Jacksonville Jaguars will not play any of their starters in Week 1 of the preseason against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Liam Coen told Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union. On the offensive side of the ball, that means we won't see quarterback Trevor Lawrence, tight end Brenton Strange, or wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and Parker Washington. Presumably, we also won't see running backs Bhayshul Tuten or Chris Rodriguez Jr., who are listed as co-starters on the team's first unofficial depth chart. Meanwhile, two-way player Travis Hunter is technically a second-string receiver on the depth chart, but we'd be surprised to see him get any offensive snaps on Saturday, too. Veteran journeyman quarterback Nick Mullens should earn the start, and there will be opportunities for plenty of backups to carve out roles. All eyes are on the tight end position after critics doubted the Jags' decision to draft Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol back in April. Rookie receivers Josh Cameron and CJ Williams should get plenty of snaps, and second-year running back LeQuint Allen will look to strengthen his grasp on a roster spot.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Paul Skenes Lifted Early From Contest After Notable Velocity Drop
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes was pulled out early during Tuesday's outing due to a drop in velocity, according to Talkin' Baseball. Skenes only threw 65 pitches during this game, and none of those pitches registered at 97 MPH or higher. The right-hander allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out four batters in the loss. Fantasy managers don't need to panic yet, but Skenes throwing under 97 MPH is certainly alarming. There is no word on him being injured, so maybe his early exit was for another reason. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely over the next few days.
Source: Talkin' Baseball
Source: Talkin' Baseball
Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara Listed as Co-Starters
New Orleans Saints running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara have been listed as co-starters on the team's first unofficial depth chart of the preseason, according to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Fantasy managers shouldn't invest too much stock in unofficial depth charts with the regular season more than a month away, but it's still noteworthy that the Saints aren't declaring a clear-cut No. 1 running back yet. Etienne figures to be the lead ball-carrier after signing a $48 million contract during the offseason, but Kamara is still hanging around ahead of his age-31 season. Last year in Jacksonville, Etienne had 1,399 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns, ranking as the RB10 in PPR leagues. Meanwhile, injuries limited Kamara to just 11 games, and he turned in the worst season of his career with just 657 scrimmage yards, one touchdown, and a pair of fumbles. He was the overall RB46, marking the first time in his career he finished a season lower than RB46. With all that in mind, we would expect Etienne to claim sole possession of the No. 1 spot on the depth chart by the end of the preseason. As it stands, he ranks as the overall RB17 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR draft rankings for the 2026 fantasy football season.
Source: Mike Triplett
Source: Mike Triplett
Travis Hunter Listed as Backup WR, Starter at CB
Jacksonville Jaguars two-way player Travis Hunter is listed as the backup wide receiver, but a starting defensive back on the first unofficial depth chart, according to Ryan O'Halloran. The Jags have been shy about saying how they plan to deploy Hunter this upcoming season. According to Michael DiRocco of ESPN, Hunter has taken nearly 100 snaps on defense and 61 on offense during 11-on-11 drills. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said Hunter won't need to know the entire offensive playbook this year. This offense does have Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and Parker Washington, so having Hunter is just a plus. Hunter is currently ranked as Rotoballer's WR72, but he could be a difference-maker depending on how the Jags use him.
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Source: Ryan O'Halloran
Eli Raridon Continues to Take More Snaps with First-Team
New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon continues to see action with the first team offense. The Pats are having joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts, and Raridon is still playing with the first team, according to the Boston Herald. The 22-year-old was a third-round pick of the Pats this year out of Notre Dame. He's going to remain behind Hunter Henry to begin the season, but that isn't going to last forever. Given his success early in camp, Raridon is looking like a solid stash in dynasty and keeper leagues, but is someone who can be ignored in redraft formats with Henry ahead of him right now.
Source: Boston Herald
Source: Boston Herald
