RADIO
Jake Bauers Returns to Wednesday's Lineup
Despite an X-ray finding a fracture in his toe after he fouled a ball off his right big toe on Monday, Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (toe) is starting at first base and will bat third for Wednesday's game on the road in San Francisco against the Giants and right-hander Logan Webb. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger will have to manage some pain in his toe moving forward, but the injury won't send him to the injured list. Bauers has had a career year to this point in 2026 in his third season in Milwaukee, slashing .265/.370/.486 with an .856 OPS, career-high 18 home runs, 60 RBI, 62 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 97 games across 381 plate appearances in his seventh big-league campaign. He has cooled off some in July, though, going 18-for-75 (.240) with a .762 OPS, three home runs, four doubles, 10 RBI, 13 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 23 games and 89 plate appearances. Fantasy managers are hoping Bauers' toe injury won't affect his production at the plate going forward. Expect the Brewers to use Bauers more at first base and potentially DH, rather than in the outfield.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ricky Pearsall Out in Training Camp With Knee Swelling
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) is out at training camp with swelling in his knee, with The Athletic's Vic Tafur adding that "there is some concern." Pearsall has always had breakout potential since the Niners took him with the 31st overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Florida, but injuries have kept him from reaching his true ceiling. The 25-year-old's swelling is in the same knee that caused him to miss games last year, which is pretty concerning early in camp. In just nine games played in 2025, Pearsall caught 36 of 53 targets for 528 yards and zero touchdowns during the regular season. The 49ers have expected to eventually cut former first-rounder Brandon Aiyuk (knee), so if Pearsall cannot go for the start of the 2026 regular season, veteran Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, and rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling would most likely start in three-receiver sets in San Fran. Pearsall is a clear starter for the Niners if healthy, but knee issues early in camp will cause many fantasy managers to avoid him altogether in upcoming drafts.
Source: The Athletic - Vic Tafur
Source: The Athletic - Vic Tafur
Jets See Kenyon Sadiq Being a "Huge Weapon"
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said that rookie first-round tight end Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) "is going to be a huge weapon for us," according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Sadiq missed time during the offseason program after having surgery to fix a hernia, but he is back in action at training camp and should be ready for the start of his first NFL season this fall. The 21-year-old from the University of Oregon is a physical specimen with tons of pass-catching talent. The problem is that the Jets also have talented second-year TE Mason Taylor, and they also added a first-round receiving talent in 2026 in Omar Cooper Jr. Oh, and veteran quarterback Geno Smith, who led the league in interceptions last year with the Las Vegas Raiders, is leading this offense. The upside is obvious because of Sadiq's pure athleticism, but fantasy managers in redraft leagues may want to temper expectations a bit in Year 1. Target Sadiq as a low-end TE2 with upside for more in 2026. RotoBaller has him ranked as the TE20 right now.
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Jeremiyah Love to be Eased in as a Rookie
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes that the Arizona Cardinals' plan "is to try and not overload" rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love in his first NFL season. Love has flashed the home run ability that made him the third overall pick from Notre Dame in April, but the Cardinals want to find "the right rotation" between Love, veteran James Conner, and newcomer Tyler Allgeier in new head coach Mike LaFleur's offense. Allgeier was part of a similar platoon last year with the Atlanta Falcons, sharing work with the ultra-talented Bijan Robinson. Allgeier still managed 143 carries last year and a career-high eight rushing touchdowns in 17 games. Fantasy managers in single-year formats may want to knock Love down a few pegs on their draft boards after this news. The 21-year-old still has an incredibly high long-term ceiling with true workhorse potential, but it sounds like the Cardinals don't want to unleash him just yet. If that's truly the case, Love should be considered more of an RB2 going into his rookie season instead of a surefire RB1 for fantasy managers.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
Source: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders to Continue Splitting First-Team Reps
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said on Wednesday that quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will continue to split first-team reps early on in training camp, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Monken also mentioned that there is no definitive timeline for when he wants to name the team's starting QB. We might not know for a while still which way Monken is leaning in the team's QB battle. Watson, 30, has the experience edge, but he has also played in just 19 games since joining the Browns on a lucrative deal, and he didn't play at all in 2025 after needing multiple surgeries to fix a torn Achilles tendon suffered in 2024. Sanders, meanwhile, has the momentum and has impressed the coaching staff since he fell to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL draft. The 24-year-old showed plenty of growing pains as a rookie with 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games (seven starts). Whoever wins the Browns' QB job to begin the regular season will be on a short leash and will be nothing more than a low-end QB2 target in two-QB superflex fantasy leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Harold Fannin Jr. to be "Full-Go" Despite Having Groin Surgery
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) said he will be "full-go" for training camp despite having offseason groin surgery, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Fannin had surgery to fix a groin injury that he suffered in Week 17 of his rookie campaign, which explains why he missed the offseason program. It's something to keep an eye on entering the 2026 season, but with the 22-year-old fully cleared, he'll resume his role as the team's clear top pass-catching TE after an incredibly successful rookie season in 2025. After being taken with the 67th overall pick in the third round out of Bowling Green, Fannin caught 72 of his 107 targets for a team-leading 731 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts) for the Browns. Although concerns about the long-term QB situation in Cleveland cloud his long-term fantasy appeal, Fannin should enter his second year in the NFL as at least a low-end TE1 target after his strong production in 2025. The fact that Fannin is a full-go for the start of training camp should also improve his ADP in fantasy drafts going forward.
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
Chris Olave Sitting Out of Team Drills Due to Contract-Related Issues
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore indicated that wide receiver Chris Olave's lack of participation in team drills to begin training camp is related to the contract/business side of things and not because of his previous medical issue, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. The 26-year-old former 11th overall selection from Ohio State in the 2022 NFL draft missed the end of last season due to a blood-clot issue, but that is all cleared up now, and Olave indicated that he stopped taking blood-thinners before the start of camp. Olave is approaching the final year of his current deal and is hoping to reach an extension with the Saints before the start of the 2026 regular season. Despite missing a game in 2025 and working with a rookie quarterback in Tyler Shough, Olave excelled with career highs in catches (100), targets (156), receiving yards (1,163), and touchdowns (nine) in his fourth year in the NFL. There should be more target competition after the Saints took receiver Jordyn Tyson in the first round in April, but Olave should still have enough looks in Moore's up-tempo offense to make him a high-floor, low-end WR1 target in fantasy football drafts this fall.
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
Jonathan Taylor Not Holding in at Training Camp
Despite seeking a contract extension, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is practicing with the team and has elected not to hold in, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Taylor is entering the final year of his current deal and has said that he wants to remain with the Colts for the rest of his career. Apparently, the two sides have had some positive talks recently, which has convinced Taylor that something could be imminent in terms of a new contract. The 27-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was the RB2 in fantasy last year, behind only Christian McCaffrey, after rushing for a career-best 1,585 yards on a league-high 323 rushing attempts in 17 starts. Taylor added a league-high 18 rushing touchdowns, a career-high 46 receptions, 378 receiving yards, and another two scores through the air for the Colts. The Colts have discussed lightening JT's workload to keep him fresh throughout his seventh NFL season in 2026, but even with a small reduction in touches, the former second-rounder from the University of Wisconsin should have a high floor as a top-five RB1 lock in fantasy football.
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Shohei Ohtani Also Dealing With Lingering Biceps Injury
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani's right biceps continues to linger as an issue, in addition to his left-knee injury that has kept him from starting on the mound since July 3, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. His biceps issue is a factor as to why he has not thrown another bullpen session since last week. Ohtani continues to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter on offense, but it's unclear when he'll be cleared to make another start as a pitcher. The Dodgers are in no rush to bring him back to their starting rotation thanks to their big lead in the National League West, so fantasy managers need to prepare for the possibility that the four-time MVP doesn't pitch again until sometime in September. Remember, L.A.'s primary goal is to have Ohtani clicking on all cylinders as a two-way player for another playoff run in October. The 32-year-old Japanese All-Star went 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer, double, and three RBI in the team's loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, snapping a nine-game homerless streak. Ohtani is still a must-start as a DH despite not being 100% physically.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Taj Bradley has Second Straight Dominant Start on Tuesday
Minnesota Twins right-hander Taj Bradley had a dominant showing in a no-decision in a 3-2 win over the division-rival Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out 10 in six innings of work. The 25-year-old former fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 is now 9-4 on the season with a career-best 3.65 ERA (3.91 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 139 strikeouts and 49 walks in 120 2/3 innings pitched across his 21 starts in his first full season with the Twins. Bradley allowed five earned runs in five innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 18 in his first start in the second half of the season, but in his two starts since, he's allowed only three earned runs with six walks and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings against the Royals and Cleveland Guardians. In the midst of his career year, Bradley is now rostered in 80% of Yahoo leagues. It's been nice to see his strikeout rate improve to 27.6%, which is his highest mark since his rookie campaign in Tampa when he threw just 104 2/3 innings.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bhayshul Tuten Taking Early Lead in Jaguars Backfield
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated writes that Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten is taking the early lead in the team's backfield at the start of training camp. Tuten will be battling newcomer Chris Rodriguez Jr. in camp this summer, but early on, Tuten has apparently taken the lead. Rodriguez injured his foot on the first day of the offseason program and needed surgery, and although he's back for camp, he missed valuable reps as he attempts to learn head coach Liam Coen's offense. The Jaguars are not rushing Rodriguez back in camp, and he isn't working in team drills yet. Tuten got the bulk of first-team reps with the offense on Wednesday, just like he did during the offseason program. Shipley also wrote that Tuten "was frankly the most impressive offensive player of the entire day." He produced several big runs and "showed the same exciting traits that made him look like an ascending player this spring." The 23-year-old former fourth-rounder from Virginia Tech averaged only 3.7 yards a carry and had 307 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 83 carries as a rookie last year in 15 regular-season games (zero starts). However, with Travis Etienne Jr. now in New Orleans, Tuten has become one of the more popular Year 2 breakout candidates in fantasy. He's currently ranked as the No. 24 RB at RotoBaller for 2026.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Caleb Williams Drops 10-15 Pounds to Increase his Mobility
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams said he dropped 10-15 pounds in the offseason and expects to move around better in 2026, according to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune. Williams is listed at 226 pounds, which is the same figure the Bears used last year after listing him at 215 pounds as a rookie in 2024. The 24-year-old former first overall pick from USC took a step forward in Year 2 in his first year with new head coach Ben Johnson, with 3,942 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 17 regular-season starts. Williams made a lot of wild plays outside of the pocket deep down the field, and he had a penchant for leading the Bears to insane fourth-quarter comebacks. Johnson is now hoping to get Williams to operate more within the framework of his offense in his third year in the league. Even though receiver DJ Moore is no longer in town, Williams has the skill players around him to take another leap given his arm strength and dual-threat abilities. Fantasy managers should be targeting him as a midrange QB1 this year with a high ceiling as he continues to evolve in a strong Chicago offense.
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs
Source: The Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs
Alvin Kamara, Travis Etienne Jr. Splitting First-Team Reps
New Orleans Saints running backs Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne Jr. are splitting first-team reps early in training camp, according to Sean Fazende of FOX 8 Nola. The expectation coming into camp was that Etienne would be the team's clear lead back after the Saints signed him to a four-year, $52 million contract in free agency back in March. But after the Saints reworked Kamara's contract to keep him around for another year in the Big Easy, the two RBs will share the Saints' backfield to start the 2026 season. Etienne, who ran for 1,107 yards on 260 rushing attempts in 17 regular-season games in 2025 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, should still have a significant role in his first year in New Orleans, but Kamara's dual-threat presence could keep the former from being a true RB1 in fantasy football. RotoBaller has Etienne currently ranked as the No. 16 fantasy RB, making him an ideal low-end RB1/high-end RB2 target in head coach Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense. Kamara has the history and hometown presence, but his fantasy value is expected to take a massive hit as the 1B to Etienne in a best-case scenario. RotoBaller has Kamara ranked as the RB52 for 2026.
Source: FOX 8 Nola - Sean Fazende
Source: FOX 8 Nola - Sean Fazende
Chris Brazzell II Carted Off on Wednesday With Leg Injury
Carolina Panthers rookie third-round wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (leg) was carted to the locker room after suffering a left-leg injury during training camp practice on Wednesday, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brazzell was not putting any weight on his leg, which obviously is not a good sign for the University of Tennessee product. The 22-year-old was returned to practice on Wednesday after sitting out for a couple of days due to knee soreness, but it's unclear if that is related to the injury suffered on Wednesday. The severity of Brazzell's injury is unknown right now, but if it's relatively minor, he'll have plenty of time still before the start of the 2026 regular season begins. If it's a significant injury that causes Brazzell to miss the start of his rookie campaign, it will be good news for Xavier Legette, who would essentially be locked in as the team's WR3 behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. Brazzell came into training camp expected to challenge Legette for the WR3 immediately.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Yainer Diaz Remains a Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz got off to a rough start to the 2026 season, hitting .238 with just two home runs across his first 106 plate appearances and then suffering an oblique strain in early May that caused him to miss over a month. However, the 27-year-old has shown more power since his return, clubbing four home runs across his last 93 trips to the plate. Diaz was a productive player for fantasy managers in 2025, when he hit .256 with 20 home runs and 70 RBI. He's maintained an above-average strikeout rate (16.1%) so far this year and has been victimized by a subpar .248 batting average on balls in play, which is well below his career mark of .298. Diaz could continue to reach more power in the final months of the regular season, making him a catcher for fantasy managers to monitor on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Patrick Mahomes Taking Part in 11-on-11 Drills
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) is doing 11-on-11 drills at the start of training camp this week, according to Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com. Mahomes is a full-go for the start of camp despite tearing his ACL and LCL late last season. The 30-year-old has made excellent strides in his rehab during the offseason, and there's no reason to believe at this point that he won't be ready for the Week 1 showdown on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos, barring a setback this summer. It will be interesting to see whether the Chiefs give Mahomes the clearance to play in any preseason games, but for now, this is a pretty significant development and a positive sign for Mahomes early in camp. The two-time MVP and six-time Pro Bowler will be looking to lead his team back to the postseason in 2026 after the offense has grown a bit stagnant in recent years. With receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy both healthy, though, Mahomes could be ready for a bounce-back after throwing for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 picks in 14 starts in 2025. Mahomes is quickly becoming a more attractive low-end QB1 target in redraft leagues.
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Michael Penix Jr. Might Not be Close to a Return
Although Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) said that he's "feeling really good," he said that doctors told him a week ago that he probably had another four weeks in his rehab from a torn left ACL suffered last year, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That timetable would track to Aug. 25 being the ninth month removed from knee surgery. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Wednesday that Penix wouldn't take part in 11-on-11 drills at the start of training camp, and with Tua Tagovailoa also dealing with a tight back, the Falcons' QB battle is off to a bad start. With both QBs injured, the Falcons signed veteran Cooper Rush as insurance on Wednesday. The Falcons are optimistic that Penix will be ready in time for preseason games, but the more time he misses, the likelihood of him winning the starting job going into Week 1 diminishes. Penix's fantasy stock in both redraft and dynasty/keeper leagues continues to fall by the day, even though he technically still isn't being ruled out for the QB1 job.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
Travis Bazzana a High-Floor Contributor to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 333 plate appearances so far this season, Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana has hit .241/.339/.399 with nine home runs, 33 RBI, 35 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. The 23-year-old has not gotten too much power in his first taste of big-league action this year, as he's logged a 4.1% barrel rate and a 35.0% hard-hit rate. However, Bazzana has shown an impressive plate approach for a young player, logging a 12% walk rate while posting a manageable 21.6% strikeout rate. Bazzana's ability to get on base keeps his place at the top of the Guardians' everyday lineup stable, and he's on pace to rack up 20-plus stolen bases. Bazzana may not offer tremendous upside for fantasy managers, but he's proven himself to be a balanced contributor who should be a priority waiver wire target in deeper league formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xander Schauffele Still Searching for First Victory at Rocket Classic
Even with plenty of decent finishes this season, it still feels like a slump year for Xander Schauffele. He's still looking for his first regular-season victory since his standout year in 2024 and has struggled at times with an ice-cold putter. Just in his last seven starts, the 32-year-old has only gained strokes on the greens in two of them. The ball striking is also not as crisp, losing strokes on approach in four of those same seven events. This will be his first trip to Detroit Golf Club, where the new redesign plays more to the short game strength and long-iron prowess that Schauffele possesses. Even if he isn't playing up to his incredibly high standard, he's undoubtedly one of the best players in the field.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Andy Dalton, Tanner McKee Will Continue to Rotate at QB2
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said on Wednesday that the team will continue to rotate at QB2 with veteran Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee like they did during the spring, per Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports. The Eagles acquired Dalton in a trade from the Carolina Panthers back in March. The 38-year-old veteran will bring plenty of experience to the QB room behind starter Jalen Hurts as the Eagles look to rebound from a particularly frustrating offensive year in 2025. The former second-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011 from TCU has 15 years of experience in the NFL, but he's only started seven games in the last three years with the Panthers. In four appearances (one start) in 2025, Dalton threw for 293 yards, one touchdown and an interception. If Dalton ends up winning the QB2 job outright in Philly during camp and the preseason, the Eagles could look to trade McKee to a QB-needy team right before the start of the 2026 regular season.
Source: NBC Sports - Dave Zangaro
Source: NBC Sports - Dave Zangaro
Nick Gonzales Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amidst July Surge
Across 422 plate appearances in 2026, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales is hitting .315/.370/.411 with six home runs, 47 RBI, 59 runs scored, and four stolen bases. The 27-year-old has emerged as Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman in recent weeks amidst a surge at the plate in July. Across 99 plate appearances this month, Gonzales is hitting .385 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored. Gonzales' power upside is minimal, as he's posted just a 3.2% barrel rate and 36.4% hard-hit rate. However, Gonzales profiles as a steady source of batting average for fantasy managers who should continue to rack up counting stats in an everyday role in the solid Pittsburgh lineup. He also brings multi-positional eligibility in most fantasy leagues, which makes him useful roster depth. Where available, Gonzales profiles as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Not Expected to Play on Wednesday
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) is not expected to be in the team's lineup on Wednesday after he was removed early from Toronto's loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday with right hamstring tightness, per Ian Quillen of MLB.com. It's not yet clear whether Guerrero Jr. will require a trip to the injured list, but resting him on Wednesday will give the 27-year-old two full days off before Toronto's next series against the St. Louis Cardinals begins on Friday. It's been a nightmare season so far for Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .265/.345/.357 with six home runs, 44 RBI, 55 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 435 plate appearances. His barrel rate is down from 12.2% in 2025 to 6.7% this season, and his hard-hit rate has dropped from 50.7% to 43.8%. With Guerrero Jr. out of the starting lineup on Wednesday, Blue Jays regular third baseman Kazuma Okamoto has moved across the diamond to cover first base, with utility infielder Ernie Clement getting the start at third.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Quillen
Source: MLB.com - Ian Quillen
Hunter Barco Being Recalled by Pirates, Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire?
Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Hunter Barco is on his way back to the big leagues, per Jason Mackey of MLB.com. Barco made Pittsburgh's Opening Day roster in a bulk relief role, but he struggled to a 7.71 ERA and 1.97 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings (five games) and has been in the minors since late April. The young left-hander has worked as both a starter and a reliever this year at Triple-A, recording a 3-6 record with a 4.87 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings (13 games). Barco seems likely to fill a spot in the Pirates' bullpen, which has been an area of weakness for Pittsburgh this season. While command has been an issue for the 25-year-old, he's shown the ability to generate swing-and-miss in the minor leagues. In a true one-inning role, Barco's stuff could play up. Deep league managers hunting for saves upside may want to consider stashing Barco off the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com - Jason Mackey
Source: MLB.com - Jason Mackey
Pirates Promoting Jhostynxon Garcia to the Big Leagues
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia is being promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to the big leagues on Wednesday, per Jason Mackey of MLB.com. Garcia struggled in a small sample size of 37 plate appearances upon making his Pirates debut in late May, hitting .200 with one extra-base hit and a 27% strikeout rate. However, the 23-year-old has been productive this season in the minor leagues, slashing .279/.346/.459 with 10 home runs, 35 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 263 plate appearances. Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez are likely locked into everyday playing time in the corner outfield spots in Pittsburgh, but Garcia could steal playing time in center field from Jake Mangum or at designated hitter from Marcell Ozuna. In deeper leagues, Garcia may be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com - Jason Mackey
Source: MLB.com - Jason Mackey
Jahmyr Gibbs Considering a Hold-In?
The Detroit Lions have opened their 2026 training camp, but three-time Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs is not taking part in practice, as reported by NFL Insider Adam Schefter. A similar situation is playing out in Atlanta with Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, and Schefter notes that the two had offseason conversations about potential long-term contracts. As first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, both Gibbs and Robinson had their fifth-year options exercised this offseason, giving the Lions and Falcons team control through the 2027 season with the potential of using the franchise tag after that. Gibbs is RotoBaller's RB1 and the top overall player for the 2026 season, making any potential hold-in a situation capable of causing ripples throughout 2026 drafts.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Kyle Schwarber Missing Second Game With Illness
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (illness) is out of the starting lineup for the second straight day due to gastrointestinal issues on Wednesday versus the division-rival Miami Marlins, per MLB.com. Shortstop Trea Turner will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff, with Edmundo Sosa playing shortstop and hitting out of the nine-hole against Marlins right-hander Ryan Gusto. Schwarber is dealing with a similar illness that kept him out for a series earlier this year, so hopefully he'll be back for Friday's series opener in Baltimore against the Orioles after the Phillies' scheduled day off on Thursday. The 33-year-old four-time All-Star leads the league in home runs (33) and strikeouts (157). He's an elite source of power from the left side, even though he has an elevated 34.4% strikeout rate in 457 plate appearances this year. Since taking part in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break earlier this month, Schwarbs has gone just 8-for-35 (.229) with a homer, three doubles, three RBI, six runs, six walks, and 13 strikeouts.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bucky Irving a Full-Go to Open Training Camp
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) is a full-go for the team's Wednesday training camp practice, with head coach Todd Bowles telling reporters that he looks good. Buccaneers senior writer Scott Smith reports that Irving is not being eased into anything after sitting out the team's mandatory minicamp practices while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Irving missed seven games in 2025 while dealing with a shoulder subluxation and foot sprain and was visibly impacted by the injuries when he did take the field, averaging 3.4 yards per carry while finding the end zone only once on the ground. The lack of limitation to begin camp is positive news for drafters, but fantasy managers will still need to pay attention to his reported usage throughout the summer, as the Buccaneers added pass-catching specialist Kenny Gainwell this offseason, potentially lowering Irving's fantasy floor and ceiling. The third-year back is RotoBaller's RB25 for 2026.
Source: Scott Smith
Source: Scott Smith
Fernando Tatis Jr. Breaks Out of Slump With Five-Hit Game
San Diego Padres second baseman/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0-for-13 in the team's three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins over the weekend, but he quickly put that out of his memory in the team's 8-7 win over the division-rival Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on Tuesday night. Tatis went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with five singles, two walks, and a run scored to boost his season average to .285 and his OPS to .753. After a very slow start to the year and a lengthy homer drought, Tatis is now hitting a strong .285/.353/.400 with eight home runs, 49 RBI, 25 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 106 games across 469 plate appearances in his seventh year in the big leagues. The three-time All-Star now has four multi-hit efforts in his last 11 games and is batting .290 (27-for-93) with an .840 OPS, three home runs, five doubles, a triple, 16 RBI, six steals, and 17 runs scored in 23 games in July. After hitting just one homer through May, Tatis has seven home runs since the start of June. He remains a must-start in all fantasy formats the rest of the way.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bijan Robinson Holding in at Training Camp?
With training camps opening for the Atlanta Falcons, running back Bijan Robinson is not practicing, as reported by NFL Insider Adam Schefter. He was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and with Robinson's fifth-year option picked up to give the Falcons salary control through the 2027 season, Schefter reports that Robinson had been in conversation this offseason about a potential long-term contract. Robinson is RotoBaller's No. 2 overall player for 2026. While there is still more than a month before the start of the 2026 season, drafters would be advised to monitor this emerging situation, as any prolonged hold-in could have serious fantasy ramifications.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Dominic Canzone Gaining More Waiver Traction After Two-Homer Game
Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone kept up his hot hitting of late by going 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in the team's 7-6 win over the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. Canzone is now hitting .263/.333/.530 on the season with an .863 OPS, 18 home runs, 49 RBI, 37 runs scored, and a stolen base in his 266 at-bats. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter has already set career highs across the board in most offensive categories, and he's homered three times with seven RBI and three runs scored in his last three games. In 18 games and 78 plate appearances in the month of July, Canzone has gone 17-for-72 (.236) with a .767 OPS, five homers, two doubles, 15 RBI, and seven runs scored. In a strong side of a platoon in Seattle's outfield against righties, Canzone has mixed-league appeal for his power the rest of the way in 2026. He's also hitting .286 (10-for-35) in a limited sample size with four home runs against southpaws. Canzone is rostered in only 15% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
