RADIO
De'Zhaun Stribling Avoids Serious Achilles Injury
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) underwent testing that determined his Achilles is still intact, according to James Palmer of Bleacher Report. Stribling exited with an ankle injury two different times in the first half of Thursday's win over the Los Angeles Rams. His second exit was caused by a non-contact injury that appeared serious at the time and resulted in him missing the rest of the game. While the exact diagnosis for the rookie remains unknown, managers can breathe a huge sigh of relief knowing that his Achilles remains intact. For now, the team is calling it an ankle injury, and we should get more information on Friday. The 49ers don't play for another 10 days, leaving extra time for the Ole Miss product to recover. If he's still unable to play in Week 2, Demarcus Robinson would likely step up as the Niners' No. 3 receiver behind Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr.
Source: James Palmer
Source: James Palmer
Davis Allen Enters Concussion Protocol After Thursday's Loss
Los Angeles Rams tight end Davis Allen (concussion) was evaluated for a concussion during Thursday's Week 1 loss against the San Francisco 49ers. Allen officially entered concussion protocol and was listed as questionable to return, but he didn't get back into the game. He suffered the injury after taking a brutal hit near the sideline. Upon standing up, Allen appeared disoriented and had trouble staying on his feet. He left the playing field and ended up being carted to the locker room, finishing the game with one catch for 13 yards. Allen led the tight end room in total yards, and Tyler Higbee was the only tight end with multiple catches. (He had two.) The Rams have 11 days until their next game, making it difficult to say whether Allen will clear concussion protocol in time for Week 2. The tight end room should be able to survive his injury with a three-headed unit of Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, and Higbee.
Source: Los Angeles Rams
Source: Los Angeles Rams
Omar Cooper Jr. Finishes Training Camp on a High Note
New York Jets 22-year-old rookie wide receiver out of Indiana, Omar Cooper Jr., wrapped up training camp on a high note, putting together crucial highlight plays and showing his yards-after-catch ability that made him a top prospect out of college and earned him the 30th overall draft pick. Reports from camp were initially slow for Cooper as he was getting acclimated to the NFL. His situation is worth monitoring, as he has the high draft capital that makes him an interesting asset that should be taken seriously. Cooper posted 69 receptions, 937 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns in his final season with Indiana and is currently listed as the Jets' third wide receiver, ahead of Tim Patrick and Arian Smith. RotoBaller ranks him as the WR88 for Week 1, making him more of a bench stash based on his potential upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drew Rasmussen Profiles as Impact Starting Pitcher in the Final Weeks
Across 153 1/3 innings (27 starts) in 2026, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen has recorded a 14-5 record with a 2.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts. The 31-year-old battled through a brief rough patch in the middle of the season, allowing 13 earned runs across 19 1/3 innings in July. However, Rasmussen has gotten back to dominance since the All-Star break, recording a 2.17 ERA with 58 strikeouts across his last 54 innings pitched. Rasmussen has posted a stellar 26.1% strikeout rate for the season while also logging an elite 4.5% walk rate. With his standout command, the veteran right-hander profiles as one of the most reliable sources of high-end WHIP for fantasy managers. Rasmussen has also proven an ability to go deeper into games this season, going at least six full innings in six of his last eight starts. Ahead of the final few weeks of 2026, Rasmussen should be viewed by fantasy managers as a high-end starting pitcher option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rams Safety Kam Curl Questionable to Return With an Ankle Injury
Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday evening that Rams safety Kam Curl (ankle) is questionable to return after suffering an injury in Thursday night's contest. The 27-year-old out of Arkansas suffered an apparent ankle injury in the first half, and with this injury, his return to the contest is up in the air. Jaylen McCollough is next in line for safety duties in the secondary. Prior to his exit, Curl had two total tackles and one solo tackle.
Source: Gary Klein
Source: Gary Klein
Louis Varland Continues to Provide High-End Closer Production
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Louis Varland has emerged as one of the best closers in baseball in 2026, pitching to a 1.24 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP with 89 strikeouts and 33 saves across 72 1/3 innings (66 games). Varland is averaging 98.9 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 31.3% of the batters he's faced this season. The 28-year-old has allowed only two home runs for the entire year and has also blown only one save chance. Varland has been slightly less dominant of late, pitching to a 2.20 ERA and recording fewer than a strikeout per inning since the start of August. Still, the hard-throwing righty looks like an excellent late-inning reliever and remains an elite closer option for fantasy managers heading into the final few weeks of the regular season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isiah Pacheco Without a Timetable For a Return, Quickly Losing Value
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (back) will miss at least the first four games in 2026, and possibly more if he is not ready by then, as general manager Brad Holmes said that he does not want to put a timeline on it after he was placed on Injured Reserve. With Pacheco injured, Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors will battle for the RB2 role behind superstar Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco was brought over from the Kansas City Chiefs after a disappointing season last year, following a major injury in 2024. Pacheco was one of the more inefficient runners last season, averaging 3.9 YPC, and was 47th in explosive rating and 53rd in yards per touch. Coming into the season, there was some optimism that Pacheco would take over a David Montgomery-like role, but with this injury, he can be dropped to the waiver wire in most standard formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luka Doncic Healthy Heading Into Training Camp
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is healthy heading into training camp after being cleared for full basketball activities in late May, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. A Grade 2 left hamstring strain suffered on April 2 cost him the Lakers' final 15 regular-season games and their entire playoff run, which ended in the second round. The 27-year-old skipped Slovenia's FIBA World Cup qualifiers to spend time with his daughters and later hosted Lakers teammates for an August minicamp. Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals across 64 games last season, winning the scoring title. With LeBron James now in Philadelphia, more of the offense should flow through Doncic, while Walker Kessler gives him a true lob threat. Availability is the only real fantasy concern on an otherwise elite profile.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Kevin McGonigle a Steady Five-Category Producer for Fantasy Managers
Detroit Tigers shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle has had an excellent rookie season in 2026, slashing .273/.373/.420 with 16 home runs, 62 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases across 635 plate appearances. The 22-year-old has been remarkably consistent for a young player thanks to his elite plate approach, as he's logged nearly as many walks (86) as strikeouts (87) this year. McGonigle profiles as a contact-over-power bat, logging middling barrel (7.0%) and hard-hit (36.4%) rates. However, the young infielder has been hot of late, slugging two home runs in his last 13 plate appearances. Even without a late-season power surge, McGonigle's everyday presence at the top of the Tigers lineup and his balanced production profile make him a high-end infield option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jake Tonges Ruled Out For the Remainder of the Game Thursday
Matt Lively of CBS reported Thursday evening that tight end for the 49ers, Jake Tonges (knee), has officially been ruled out of Thursday's contest against the Rams. Tonges had to be helped off the field in the second quarter and was ruled out shortly afterward. Prior to exiting, Tonges did not see any targets in the passing game. Luke Farrell is the likeliest candidate to step up into the two tight end sets for the 49ers, behind superstar George Kittle. Fantasy Managers rostering Tonges as a handcuff option will want to monitor his situation over the next few days.
Source: Matt Lively
Source: Matt Lively
Joel Embiid Enters Camp with Health Optimism
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) enters 2026-27 with renewed optimism after telling reporters at his end-of-season news conference that his knee is no longer the main concern. "We figured out the knee. It hasn't been an issue," Embiid said, according to ESPN's Vincent Goodwill. The former MVP has appeared in only 57 of a possible 164 games over the past two seasons, so the injury discount will not disappear. He still averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 31.6 minutes across 38 games last season. Sixers president Mike Gansey said in August that Embiid is healthy, with the team expected to map out a workload plan. Jaylen Brown and LeBron James joining Tyrese Maxey should lower Embiid's usage burden, but staying on the floor remains the swing factor.
Source: Vincent Goodwill
Source: Vincent Goodwill
Kyle Schwarber Remains an Elite Power Source Amid Current HR Binge
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber has been one of the best power hitters in all of baseball once again in 2026, hitting .241/.355/.527 with 44 home runs, 92 RBI, 88 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 632 plate appearances. The 33-year-old battled through a moderate power swoon at the end of August, but he's been red-hot to start September. Across his last 27 trips to the plate, Schwarber has logged seven hits, four home runs, nine RBI, and seven runs scored. The 33-year-old's underlying batted-ball metrics are indicative of his massive power, as he's posted a 17% barrel rate and a 49.5% hard-hit rate on the year. Heading into the final few weeks of the regular season, Schwarber remains an elite source of power for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
De'Zhaun Stribling Ruled Out For the Remainder of the Game Thursday
ESPN NFL reporter Nick Wagoner reported Thursday evening that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) has been ruled out with an ankle injury after he was taken to the locker room on a cart. Stribling suffered a non-contact injury in the second quarter and immediately fell to the ground and needed help getting off the field. It is currently being ruled an ankle injury; however, fantasy managers will want to keep paying attention to any additional updates as the evening goes on. Prior to exiting, Stribling did not see any targets in his few quarters of action. Demarcus Robinson will likely be next in line for additional targets as Stribling misses time.
Source: Nick Wagoner
Source: Nick Wagoner
Julius Randle Sees Clean Fit in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle expects his new offensive fit to work because the skill sets around him do not overlap much. "I can do a lot with the ball off the dribble, creating," Randle said at a Skechers event in Brazil, calling Michael Porter Jr. "a great catch-and-shoot guy." The three-time All-Star averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists across 79 games with Minnesota last season, while Porter posted a career-high 24.2 points with 3.4 three-pointers per game. If Randle handles a larger share of Brooklyn's half-court creation, his assists have room to climb, and Porter should see cleaner spot-up looks. Egor Demin averaged 3.3 assists as a rookie, while Mikel Brown Jr. is still developing, so Randle looks like the safest bet to drive the Nets' offense early.
Source: Sharif Phillips-Keaton
Source: Sharif Phillips-Keaton
Wyatt Langford Remains Mired in Extended Second-Half Slump
Across 409 plate appearances in 2026, Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is hitting .241/.330/.435 with 16 home runs, 38 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. Especially considering the hype he once generated as a prospect, the 24-year-old's season-long numbers are underwhelming. However, Langford's production has really taken a turn for the worse of late. After hitting .189 across 120 plate appearances in August, Langford has recorded just four hits across his first 39 trips to the plate in September. Langford's underlying batted-ball metrics are down as well, as he's posted just a 5.1% barrel rate in the second half of the season. While Langford remains a useful fantasy piece due to his potential for five-category production, fantasy managers may not want to find themselves relying on him down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
