RADIO
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Limited with a Groin Issue
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. For the most part, the Commanders have a healthy roster heading into Week 1, but Croskey-Merritt is one of the few exceptions. Given that he wasn't able to log a full practice to kick off the week, there's a chance that the 25-year-old could miss Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Fantasy managers should monitor his status in practice over the next two days. If he upgrades to a full practice, he should be cleared to play in the season opener. Otherwise, he'll likely carry an injury designation into the weekend. If he can't play in this divisional battle, Rachaad White would step up as the lead back, likely ranking as a low-end RB2 in fantasy football.
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Dodgers Calling Up Top Prospect Josue De Paula
The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up top outfield prospect Josue De Paula, sources told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. De Paula will be with the team on Friday for the start of a weekend series in Miami against the Marlins. Per MLB Pipeline, De Paula is ranked as the Dodgers' top prospect and the No. 6 overall prospect in baseball in 2026. The 21-year-old from Brooklyn will make his big-league debut down the stretch after hitting a strong .302/.400/.539 with a .939 OPS, 26 home runs, 101 RBI, 31 stolen bases, and 105 runs scored in 123 games and 583 plate appearances this year for Double-A Tulsa. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder who hits from the left side has the type of power/speed upside that could play immediately down the stretch in September, and De Paula could see regular at-bats if two-way superstar and primary designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) is placed on the injured list to heal up for the playoffs. He will most likely see time in L.A.'s outfield when he plays, moving Teoscar Hernandez to the DH role if Ohtani continues to miss time with nagging injuries. There is not much time left in the fantasy baseball season, but De Paula is an intriguing name being added to a strong Dodgers offense.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Drake Maye Throws Three Costly Interceptions in Seattle
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 23 of his 33 pass attempts for 178 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and three interceptions. He also rushed for 57 yards and took three sacks. Maye did show occasional flashes, but for the most part, he demonstrated poor decision-making and cost the Patriots the game. On the final drive of the game, Maye committed an intentional grounding play, and then one play later, he took a sack when he could have thrown the ball away. He made up for these bad plays by using his arm and legs to get the Patriots into the red zone, but then everything backfired as Maye threw an ill-advised pass that was picked off with 26 seconds left. The interception sealed the loss for New England, who had been in range to tie the game with a field goal. The only good news for Maye is that he got one of his toughest matchups out of the way. Things should get a little easier next week as Maye and the Patriots host the Steelers on 11 days' rest.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Seahawks Rule Out Fracture for Sam Darnold
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) did not suffer a bone fracture during Wednesday's Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Darnold exited at the end of the Seahawks' opening drive, and he was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game. The Seahawks transported the veteran quarterback to Harborview Medical Center, since they didn't have the capability to run a CT scan in their own stadium. Darnold is still undergoing additional testing to confirm his diagnosis, but the fact that he avoided a fracture is good news. Furthermore, Pelissero pointed out that head coach Mike Macdonald "sounded upbeat about the initial prognosis" after the game. It sounds like Darnold avoided a season-ending injury, but we'd be surprised to see him play in Week 2. Drew Lock will step in as the Seahawks' starter for the duration of Darnold's absence.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Michael Soroka Activated on Wednesday
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Michael Soroka (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his team's game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The 29-year-old had been sidelined by a shoulder injury since August 22. Soroka has pitched well when healthy this season, entering play on Wednesday with an 8-4 record, 3.40 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts across 95 1/3 innings (18 starts). However, Soroka was used out of the bullpen on Wednesday and may not work as a traditional starter down the stretch of the season. With Arizona battling tooth and nail for a Wild Card spot in the National League, the team may be looking to build him back up to a full starter's workload at the big-league level. If/when Soroka rejoins the Diamondbacks starting rotation, he profiles as a quality starting pitcher option for fantasy managers down the stretch.
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
Emeka Egbuka Logs Full Practice on Wednesday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) was able to log in a full practice session on Wednesday. Barring any setbacks, it sounds like Egbuka is going to be ready to go for the Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Egbuka has been dealing with a lingering toe injury for several weeks. Finally, it sounds like Egbuka is fully healthy and ready to go ahead of the season opener. He'll likely be a focal point in the Bucs passing offense with Mike Evans no longer on the team. Egbuka is a high-end WR2 heading into a favorable matchup versus the Bengals shaky defense.
Source: Paul Dehner Jr.
Source: Paul Dehner Jr.
Maikel Garcia Slated to Start Rehab Assignment on Thursday
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Thursday, per a team announcement. It's been a bit of a lost year so far for Garcia, who has been limited to just 309 plate appearances in 2026 due to hamstring and hand injuries. However, it appears that the 26-year-old is working towards a return before the end of the regular season. Across 666 plate appearances in 2025, Garcia hit .286 with 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. Upon his return from a hamstring injury, Garcia may not be overly aggressive on the basepaths. Still, he profiles as an asset for fantasy managers as a run producer and a source of batting average when he's on the field.
Source: Kansas City Royals
Source: Kansas City Royals
A.J. Brown Ruled Out for Remainder of Week 1 with Ankle Injury
According to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday's contest. Brown exited the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury. After suffering the injury, the star wideout was seen limping off the field. Prior to exiting, Brown brought in three of his four targets for 26 yards. For the remainder of the game, managers should expect Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams to lead the passing game. Managers should pay close attention to his status leading up to their Week 2 tilt against the Steelers.
Source: Andrew Callahan
Source: Andrew Callahan
Alvin Kamara is Back at Practice
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday, according to Mike Garafolo. Kamara is finally back in the mix after being sidelined most of camp due to a sprained MCL. It sounds like there is a chance that Kamara is cleared to play in Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Detroit Lions. Once healthy, Kamara is expected to be the co-starter alongside Travis Etienne Jr. this season. The veteran back can still make an impact on the field, but the presence of Etienne does hurt his overall value. Etienne would be a borderline RB1 if Kamara is out, so fantasy managers should stay tuned for more information.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Willson Contreras Set to Begin Rehab Assignment on Friday
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that first baseman Willson Contreras (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Friday, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Contreras has been on the 10-day injured list since late August, but it appears he is making progress toward a return and could be back with Boston on Sunday or Monday. Contreras was having an excellent season before the injury, hitting .274/.384/.516 with 26 home runs, 79 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 517 plate appearances. Once he returns to the big leagues, Contreras profiles as a must-start first base option for fantasy managers.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Kenyon Sadiq Posts Full Practice Session on Wednesday
New York Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq (groin) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice. The first-round rookie is trending towards making his NFL debut versus the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Sadiq missed part of the offseason while recovering from hernia surgery. He was able to get through a full practice session to begin the week, which is a great sign for his status ahead of Week 1. Mason Taylor is likely going to start, so Sadiq will probably have a smaller role behind him. It might take some time before Sadiq begins making an impact in New York.
Source: New York Jets
Source: New York Jets
Adley Rutschman Received Cortisone Injection, Expected to Return on Friday
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) received a cortisone injection in his right elbow on Monday and that the team expects him to be back in the lineup on Friday, per Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. It's not yet clear exactly what Rutschman is dealing with in his elbow, but it appears that the 28-year-old will likely be managing the issue in the immediate future. Across 359 plate appearances split between the Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles this season, Rutschman is hitting .237/.315/.424 with 12 home runs, 56 RBI, and 39 runs scored. Rutschman has been on a hot streak in recent games despite the elbow injury, logging seven hits and three home runs across his last 24 plate appearances. Without him, Boston has deployed both Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper behind the plate.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Freddie Freeman Out of Dodgers Lineup on Wednesday Due to Knee Issue
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that first baseman Freddie Freeman (knee) is dealing with a right-knee issue, per Fabian Ardaya. The Dodgers deployed Freeman as designated hitter on Tuesday, and the 36-year-old is out of the team's lineup completely on Wednesday. Freeman has put together another strong season in 2026, hitting .297/.375/.473 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 600 plate appearances. However, Freeman has been slumping of late. He's logged just one hit in his last 20 plate appearances and has just one home run across 192 plate appearances since the All-Star break. With Freeman sidelined on Wednesday, Dodgers utility man Kike Hernandez is starting at first base and batting ninth in the team's matchup against the Cincinnati Reds.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Breece Hall Logs Full Practice Session on Wednesday
New York Jets running back Breece Hall (groin) was a full participant during Wednesday's practice session. As expected, Hall is a full-go to begin the week ahead of Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Hall suffered a groin injury late in camp, but the 25-year-old has been making good progress lately. Barring any setbacks, Hall should be active and ready to go for the season opener. He projects to be a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside, assuming the Jets can put together a half-decent offensive line. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of Sunday's game, but it sounds like Hall should be ready to play in the season opener.
Source: Rich Cimini
Source: Rich Cimini
Shohei Ohtani Out of Dodgers Lineup on Wednesday, IL Stint "On the Table"
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that designated hitter/starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) "didn't feel great" after a swing on Monday, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Per Ardaya, Roberts also said that a stint on the injured list for Ohtani "is on the table." The Dodgers have already announced that Ohtani will likely be shut down from pitching for the rest of the season as he battles nagging knee and biceps injuries. However, it appears that the 32-year-old may need some time off from hitting before the postseason as well. Ohtani has put together another excellent year at the plate, hitting .277/.380/.522 with 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 596 plate appearances. However, he's hit just .246 with a .799 OPS since the All-Star break and has one hit across 14 plate appearances in September. With the Dodgers locked into a postseason berth, the team will likely be cautious with Ohtani throughout the rest of the regular season.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
