Baker Mayfield Strong Option off the Waiver Wire for Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield signed a three-year extension with the Bucs on Tuesday and enters the 2026 season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after finishing the 2025 season as the QB17 on a points-per-game basis (17th) after finishing as the QB4 in 2024. Mayfield dealt with a handful of injuries last season and finished the year throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also contributed on the ground with 382 rushing yards, giving him a safe floor to go with his passing volume. Mayfield has a strong matchup in Week 1, going up against the Cincinnati Bengals, who ranked bottom 10 against opposing quarterbacks last season, allowing roughly 19.1 fantasy points per game to the position. Second-year standout receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) appears to be trending toward playing in Week 1 to go along with another of Mayfield's go-to targets, Chris Godwin. Mayfield is being drafted as a QB2 in most formats, but his Week 1 matchup may be too good to pass up. Fantasy managers looking to stream a quarterback in Week 1 should look Mayfield's way.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Coby Mayo a High-Upside Power Bat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 389 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles third baseman/first baseman Coby Mayo is hitting .223/.288/.456 with 21 home runs, 58 RBI, 56 runs scored, and three stolen bases. With his 31.4% strikeout rate, Mayo profiles as a likely batting-average liability for fantasy managers. However, the 24-year-old has also demonstrated high-end power upside this season with a 13.0% barrel rate and a 48.5% hard-hit rate. Mayo has also been on a hot streak in the second half of the year, hitting .279 with nine home runs, 24 RBI, and 26 runs scored across 139 plate appearances since the All-Star break. For fantasy managers looking for power, Mayo should be a priority corner infield target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacob Saylors Providing Waiver Wire Value as Handcuff to Gibbs
Fourth-year running back out of East Tennessee State, Jacob Saylors, is in line to potentially back up one of the best running backs in the game and the consensus No. 1 fantasy running back, Jahmyr Gibbs. Important to note that head coach Dan Campbell did come out Monday and said that the team's RB2 role behind starter Gibbs will be by committee, according to Brad Galli; however, Saylors is listed as the team's RB2 on the depth chart, and with how potent this Lions offense is, that makes him a valuable bench option on the off chance Gibbs goes down with an injury. Saylors went undrafted in 2023 and has two career rushing attempts in the NFL, so he is truly a handcuff option for the Lions, with no standalone value to start the season. The Lions' former RB2, David Montgomery, was picked up by the Houston Texans during the offseason, opening the door for the 25-year-old. Fantasy managers looking to stash a handcuff should be looking in Saylor's direction.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hayden Wesneski Notches Fifth Win on Tuesday, Emerging as a High-End Starting Pitcher Streamer
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski picked up his fifth win of the season on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs while striking out three across six innings of work in his team's 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Wesneski missed the first half of the 2026 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, the 28-year-old has been effective since returning to the Astros rotation in late July. Across 45 2/3 innings (eight starts), Wesneski has recorded a 5-1 record with a 3.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts. Including his outing against Philadelphia on Tuesday, the right-hander has logged four consecutive starts of at least five innings pitched and three or fewer earned runs allowed. Wesneski profiles as a priority streamer option for fantasy managers ahead of his next scheduled start at Tropicana Field against the Rays on Sunday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jaylin Noel Gaining Value With Injuries to the Texans Receiving Room
Houston Texans' second-year wide receiver out of Iowa State, Jaylin Noel (hamstring, finger), missed a couple of weeks of action earlier in training camp; however, with Jayden Higgins (knee) out for the season and Tank Dell (knee) starting the season on the Injured Reserve, Noel projects to be the WR3 in this Texans offense. The Texans did go out and get Kayshon Boutte from the New England Patriots, which was a clear hit to Noel's immediate value, but with Boutte ramping up in the offense, it should provide Noel the immediate opportunity to take hold of the WR2 position should he perform. The Texans offense ranked 14th overall in passing offense last season and 18th overall, and Noel should be on the field in three wide receiver sets. Noel finished his rookie campaign with only 35 targets in 17 games for 292 yards and two touchdowns. Should Nico Collins or Boutte go down with an injury, that would make Noel much more intriguing, but he does have some bench value given the depth of the Texans' receiving room.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Javier Sanoja Has Emerged as a Deep-League Waiver Wire Target
Across 421 plate appearances in 2026, Miami Marlins utility man Javier Sanoja is hitting .291/.331/.441 with eight home runs, 57 RBI, 41 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. The 24-year-old does not profile as a power asset for fantasy managers, as he's logged just a 2.2% barrel rate and a 31.4% hard-hit rate this year. However, Sanoja has also posted just an 8.1% strikeout rate in 2026, making him one of the most difficult batters to punch out in all of baseball. Between his ability to put the ball in play and his above-average speed, Sanoja profiles as a high-end source of batting average for fantasy managers. The 24-year-old has also spent time this season at every defensive position other than first base, catcher, and pitcher, which helps keep his playing time in Miami stable. In deeper leagues, Sanoja's balanced profile makes him an appealing waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lazaro Montes Returns to Mariners Lineup on Tuesday
Seattle Mariners outfielder Lazaro Montes (hip) returned to his team's lineup on Tuesday, batting eighth and playing designated hitter against the Texas Rangers. Montes was sidelined by a hip injury throughout most of the weekend after crashing into the right-field wall in Seattle on Friday night. The 21-year-old made his MLB debut with the Mariners on September 1 and has logged three hits and a home run across his first 15 big-league plate appearances. Montes was having a monster year in the minors before getting the call, hitting .249 with 38 home runs, 96 RBI, 99 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across 542 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A. Swing-and-miss is a major issue in his profile at the plate, but Montes holds tremendous power upside and could be a game-changer for fantasy managers down the stretch.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jordan Love a Must-Add off the Waiver Wire Heading into Week 1
Green Bay Packers 27-year-old quarterback Jordan Love is poised for a stellar season in 2026. With star running back Josh Jacobs facing a potential suspension and currently on the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List, the Packers will need to rely on Love to carry this offense, and he should see his passing volume climb. Back in 2023, Love finished as the QB5 in fantasy points per game (19.4), and star receiver Christian Watson is healthy coming into the season to go along with Tucker Kraft (knee), who appears to be on track to return in Week 1. Although Love has struggled the past two seasons from a fantasy standpoint (QB16 and QB18 finishes), it's mostly due to his lack of volume. In 2025, he ranked 19th in pass attempts and 28th in team pass plays per game. Even with that, he was highly efficient, ranking seventh in true passer rating, second in QBR, and seventh in explosive rating and EPA. Love is a must-add on the waiver wire heading into Week 1, as he is being treated like a QB2 but has a clear path to QB1 upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bryce Elder Set to Miss 3-4 Weeks After Having Knee Scope
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said that right-hander Bryce Elder (knee) underwent knee surgery on Tuesday and will miss three to four weeks as a result of the procedure, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. While Elder has a chance to return to the postseason, his regular season is likely over. Across 149 innings (26 starts) before the injury, Elder recorded an 8-8 record with a 4.11 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts. The 27-year-old's fantasy upside is limited by his subpar 19.1% strikeout rate. However, Elder proved himself to be a capable starting pitcher streamer at different points in 2026, especially while pitching in front of the potent Braves lineup. With Elder sidelined, Braves right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver's place in the team's rotation is likely safe down the stretch of the season.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Cyrus Allen a Top Waiver Wire Stash Heading Into Week 1
Kansas City Chiefs' fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati, Cyrus Allen, burst onto the scene throughout training camp and generated a lot of positive buzz and praise from Chiefs players and the coaching staff; however, he had a bit of a quiet preseason, catching six of his 12 targets for only 39 yards. Additionally, Allen was labeled as a reserve on the depth chart on Tuesday behind Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton. While it may take an injury for Allen to immediately provide WR3 or flex appeal, the positivity he gained throughout training camp garners a bench spot for fantasy managers taking a late-round flier or looking to fill a bench spot off the waiver wire. Allen has a more diverse route tree than Thornton, who is known as a deep-ball specialist. Allen remains a top waiver-wire stash heading into week one based on his training camp buzz and the potential to be getting passes from Patrick Mahomes. RotoBaller ranks Allen as the WR82 off the board and the 213th player overall.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ian Happ Returns to Cubs Lineup on Tuesday
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ (knee) returned to his team's lineup for their matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Happ was held out of Chicago's game against the Brewers due to left knee discomfort, but it appears that he is not dealing with a serious injury. Across 579 plate appearances entering play on Monday, Happ was hitting .221/.327/.416 with 23 home runs, 64 RBI, 81 runs scored, and four stolen bases. The 32-year-old's batting average is weighed down by his elevated 30.4% strikeout rate, but Happ's 12.4% walk rate and elite defense in left field keep him in the Cubs lineup every day when healthy. Happ has also been exceptionally durable in his career, as he looks to be on track to top 650 plate appearances for the fifth consecutive season in 2026. Now that he's back in the Cubs lineup, Happ profiles as a quality source of power and run production for fantasy managers.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ron Holland II in Line for Bigger Role with Detroit
Detroit Pistons forward Ron Holland II should have a more pronounced role next season, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. The opening is partly defensive after Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis in June, but the bigger fantasy swing comes on offense. Patterson notes that Detroit needs either Holland or Ausar Thompson to become a more reliable scoring piece, leaving Holland with a cleaner path if his jumper and handle take a step. The 21-year-old averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes across 78 games last season, including five starts. The defensive stats are useful, but his 25.3 percent three-point shooting keeps the ceiling shaky. John Collins and Taurean Prince give J.B. Bickerstaff veteran alternatives, so Holland is a camp name to track rather than a locked-in fantasy target.
Source: Hunter Patterson
Source: Hunter Patterson
Dillon Jones Lands Exhibit 10 Deal with Philadelphia
The Philadelphia 76ers have signed forward Dillon Jones to an Exhibit 10 contract, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports. The 24-year-old arrives with two championship rings and almost no rotation resume, logging 61 NBA appearances across two seasons while averaging 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 9.7 minutes. He has been far more productive a level down, posting 15.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 42 G-League games between Rip City and Westchester last season. Philadelphia carries one open two-way slot behind Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert, and Jones will compete for it against fellow camp signees Tacko Fall, Jameer Nelson Jr., and Saint Thomas. Even if he wins that job, the fantasy relevance stops at Delaware Blue Coats box scores.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Hornets Sign Bez Mbeng
The Charlotte Hornets signed guard Bez Mbeng on Tuesday, according to Charlotte Observer reporter Rod Boone. The 23-year-old fills the roster spot opened by Kobe Stewart's release, and the deal is likely an Exhibit 10 as Charlotte builds out its camp group. Mbeng closed last season on the fringe of Utah's rotation, averaging 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.3 steals in 32.8 minutes across 15 games while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. That stretch included a 27-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double off the bench against Memphis. The steals are interesting, but Charlotte already has Coby White, Kon Knueppel, Dennis Schroder, and Grayson Allen ahead of him in the guard mix. Sioux Falls still controls his G-League returning rights, so Greensboro would need a trade to secure him if he does not make the Hornets.
Source: Rod Boone
Source: Rod Boone
Hawks Promote Peter Dinwiddie to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations
The Atlanta Hawks have promoted Peter Dinwiddie to executive vice president of basketball operations, added Tim Bontemps as a strategic adviser, and elevated Maxwell Kupchak to director of cap strategy and player personnel. Dinwiddie, who previously held the same title in Philadelphia, becomes a leading voice under president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh after Bryson Graham left for Chicago. The fantasy angle is roster clarity. Atlanta still has 17 standard contracts and must get to 15 before opening night, with Corey Kispert, Buddy Hield, Devin Carter, Mouhamed Gueye, and Ryan Nembhard all potential roster-crunch names. Kupchak's expanded cap role also matters with Onyeka Okongwu extension-eligible on Oct. 1. Any consolidation move would sharpen the rotation behind Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Dyson Daniels.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
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