RADIO
Jayden Higgins Exits Tuesday's Practice Early
Houston Texans second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins (undisclosed), who has been the team's most impressive player in training camp, exited Tuesday's practice early due to an undisclosed injury, according to Cole Thompson of Texans Wire. Higgins was on the ground in pain but was able to get up on his own. He headed to the locker room for further evaluation, and he is unlikely to return for the rest of the day. We will have more information on Higgins' injury once more details emerge, but this is concerning for the Texans' offense. The 23-year-old second-rounder in 2025 from Iowa State enters his second year in the NFL as the leading candidate for WR2 duties across from WR1 Nico Collins after catching 41 of his 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in his first year in the league. If Higgins' injury is not serious, he will be a nice second-year breakout target in the later rounds of fantasy drafts in 2026. Stay tuned for more details on his injury and how long he might be out.
Source: Texans Wire - Cole Thompson
Source: Texans Wire - Cole Thompson
Chase Meidroth an Appealing Deep-League Waiver-Wire Target
Across 502 plate appearances this season, Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth is hitting .275/.351/.411 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI, 71 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 25-year-old's ability to get on base (9.8% walk rate) and his everyday role in the potent White Sox lineup provide him with a stable production floor. Meidroth has also been hot of late, hitting .300/.386/.560 with three home runs, nine RBI, and nine runs scored across 57 plate appearances in August. Meidroth's 4.5% barrel rate and 34.7% hard-hit rate do not point to significant power upside, so fantasy managers should temper expectations. Still, Meidroth controls the zone and should be an asset in terms of both batting average and run production. Particularly in deeper leagues, Meidroth is a worthy waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Caleb Douglas Back at Practice on Tuesday After Injury Scare
Miami Dolphins rookie third-round wide receiver Caleb Douglas (lower body) is back at training camp practice on Tuesday after a little injury scare on Monday, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Douglas worked with the starters in the preseason opener last Friday against the Washington Commanders and caught one of his two targets for a 28-yard gain. Nobody is expecting much of the Dolphins' new offense led by QB Malik Willis, but there is plenty of opportunity for Douglas to seize a starting role in 2026 in his first year in the NFL. Right now, Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington are the team's top pass-catchers, with Douglas competing with Tutu Atwell and fellow third-round rookie Chris Bell (knee) for the WR3 role. Douglas had over 800 receiving yards in each of his final two seasons in college at Texas Tech and 13 total touchdowns in 2024 and 2025. He will probably go undrafted in most shallow fantasy leagues, but he's worth a look as a late-round flier in deeper formats for his opportunity alone in a weak WR room in Miami.
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
Jonathon Long Has Skills to be a Productive Major-League Player
In 10 games with his new organization, Miami Marlins corner-infield prospect Jonathon Long has fared well at Triple-A Jacksonville, hitting 9-for-28 (.321) with three RBI and 11 runs scored. Long came over to the Marlins organization after spending the beginning of the season in the Cubs system. He played all year prior at Triple-A Iowa and hit .283 in 99 games and hit 12 homers with 62 RBI and 67 runs scored. Now with Miami, Long, a right-handed hitting third or first base prospect, has a clearer path to big-league playing time. He is the No. 19-ranked prospect in the Marlins' system after the trade and at 24 years old, could get a look at an MLB debut, especially with first baseman Kyle Stowers on the IL. Long has a 50-grade hit tool with 50-grade power and could be an impact bat for the Marlins and for fantasy teams down the stretch.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Cole Young's Stable Production Floor Gives Him Deep-League Appeal
Across 501 plate appearances in 2026, Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young is hitting .260/.318/.405 with 15 home runs, 56 RBI, 58 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 23-year-old's underlying batted ball metrics are underwhelming, as he's posted a 4.7% barrel rate and a 39.1% hard-hit rate. However, Young has quietly made some power gains over the course of the season. After hitting just four homers through his first 237 trips to the plate, Young has gone deep 11 times in his last 264 plate appearances. Young has also logged a strong 16.4% strikeout rate, which keeps his batting average floor high. He may not offer tremendous fantasy upside, but Young is locked into everyday playing time in Seattle and brings a stable production floor. In deeper leagues, Young is worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Arroyo Looking Like Strong Stash Candidate
Seattle Mariners infield/outfield prospect Michael Arroyo has adjusted well since being promoted to Triple-A Tacoma on July 7. In 32 games with Tacoma, Arroyo has hit .286 with six homers and 27 RBI to go with 26 runs scored. The 21-year-old, with the ability to play infield or outfield, is quickly rising up the prospect rankings for Seattle and is now the No. 3 prospect in the Mariners' system. He boasts a 55-grade hit tool and 50-grade power and speed. He's totaled 15 stolen bases between Double-A Arkansas and Tacoma and has proven he can be a threat on the base paths. With his position versatility, look for Arroyo to get an opportunity at some point this year with the big league club. When he does, he should be a good addition to fantasy squads because of his all-around game and his power-speed combination.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Cade Otton Out With Undisclosed Injury on Tuesday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (undisclosed) is out of training camp practice again on Tuesday with an undisclosed injury, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Auman does not think that Otton will be cleared to play with the rest of the starters in the second preseason game this Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 27-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now. Otton caught a career-high-tying 59 passes on 81 targets for 572 yards and just one touchdown in 16 starts for the Bucs in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL. The former fourth-rounder from the University of Washington could see a larger target share in 2026 if receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) is not ready for the start of the regular season, although Otton still profiles as more of a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE2 in fantasy football leagues. Otton's career year came in 2024, when he caught 59 passes for 600 yards and four touchdowns on 87 targets to finish as the TE11 in half-PPR formats. There might be more opportunities for spike weeks this year, though, with future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans no longer in town.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Kaelen Culpepper Remains a High-Upside Waiver-Wire Priority
Across 33 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on August 7, Minnesota Twins shortstop Kaelen Culpepper is hitting .250/.333/.393 with one home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. The 23-year-old is widely considered one of the top prospects in the Twins' farm system and was having a big year at Triple-A before his promotion, slashing .271/.367/.478 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. While Culpepper has logged an inflated 33.3% strikeout rate in his very limited sample size of big-league plate appearances, he posted a strong 18.7% strikeout rate in the minors this season. Culpepper has logged near-everyday playing time at shortstop for Minnesota since being called up. As long as he stays in the lineup, Culpepper profiles as an above-average power/speed threat with five-category upside for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylin Noel Returns to Practice on Tuesday
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel (hamstring, finger) is back at training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Noel was expected to be sidelined for a few weeks with hamstring and finger injuries, but he was seen in full pads without a no-contact uniform on, a pleasant surprise for Texans fans. The Texans will still likely ease the 23-year-old second-year wideout back into practice, and it is unclear if he will be cleared to play in the second preseason game this Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The former third-rounder from Iowa State is battling for WR3 duties going into his second year in the NFL, and how much of a role he has in the passing game could depend on the recovery of Tank Dell, who missed all of 2025 with a serious knee injury. Noel took a back seat to fellow receiver Jayden Higgins last year, catching 26 of 35 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He is going undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues and is currently ranked as the No. 118 WR at RotoBaller.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Zac Veen Offers Power/Speed Upside on the Waiver Wire
Colorado Rockies outfielder Zac Veen struggled after making his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .118 with a 37.8% strikeout rate across a small sample size of 37 plate appearances. However, Veen had a monster year after returning to Triple-A this season, hitting .327/.402/.635 with 24 home runs, 87 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases across 445 plate appearances. The 24-year-old's minor league production led to a big-league promotion on August 12, and he's gotten off to a hot start with two home runs in his first 15 trips to the plate. The lefty-swinging Veen has been deployed in a big-side platoon role with Colorado so far, which limits his playing time and fantasy upside. Veen has also struggled with swing-and-miss at different points throughout his pro career, so he may log an elevated strikeout rate. Still, Veen offers an intriguing blend of power and speed for fantasy managers on the waiver wire, and his hitter-friendly home park at Coors Field should help cover some of his weaknesses at the plate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Love Will Play on Friday Against Denver
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will play in Week 2 of the preseason against the Denver Broncos, head coach Matt LaFleur told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Love also played the opening drive of the Packers' first preseason game, so this will be the second week in a row he sees the field. LaFleur noted that several offensive starters will play, so it will be good for Love to get some reps with members of the first-team offense. The 27-year-old is looking to improve upon a modest 2025 campaign in which he threw for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He was the QB15 last year, but he's just a few years removed from his QB5 finish in 2023, so managers would like him to return to that level of play. The good news is that Love should have a stronger supporting cast this year. Matthew Golden is trending toward making a Year 2 leap, Christian Watson is on the precipice of a career year, and Tucker Kraft (knee) will hopefully be healthy for the full season.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
Garrett Wilson Returns From Illness on Tuesday
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (illness) returned to training camp practice on Tuesday after sitting out on Monday due to an illness, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday. Wilson took part in the team's preseason opener last Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching two of his three targets for 32 yards while playing 11 offensive snaps. It remains to be seen if the 26-year-old will suit up for the second preseason contest this Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Going into his fifth year in the NFL, the former 10th overall pick from Ohio State is the Jets' unquestioned WR1 in a new offense led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith. Wilson has never had high-end QB play in his first four years in the league, but he has produced three 1,000-yard seasons in his three healthy campaigns. He played in only seven games in 2025 due to an injury, finishing with 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns. Wilson is an obvious bounce-back candidate in 2026 if he plays a full season, and he should have a solid fantasy floor as a WR2 target.
Source: Newsday - Al Iannazzone
Source: Newsday - Al Iannazzone
Angel Genao Carries Five-Category Potential on the Waiver Wire
Across 38 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on August 5, Cleveland Guardians infielder Angel Genao is hitting .294/.368/.412 with one home run, three RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base. The 22-year-old has spent time at every infield position other than first base, which should allow him to stick in the everyday lineup. Genao also demonstrated intriguing five-category potential this year in the minor leagues, hitting .300 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 419 plate appearances split between Double and Triple-A. Genao hits the ball on the ground a ton, which may ultimately limit his power upside in the big leagues. Still, his combination of speed and contact ability allows him to profile as a batting average asset. In leagues where he's available on the waiver wire, Genao should be a priority target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenny Gainwell Draws the Praise of his New QB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell has emerged as a potential sleeper to draft in fantasy football this year, and now, quarterback Baker Mayfield is singing his praises. "He's much more than a gadget guy," Mayfield said about Gainwell, who signed with the Bucs this offseason after a year in Pittsburgh. "I've just been completely overwhelmed with the amount of talent that he has." The veteran quarterback also made a point to shout out Gainwell for his versatility on offense, where he contributes as both a receiver and ball-carrier. The stats back up that claim, too, as Gainwell caught 73 passes for 486 receiving yards in Pittsburgh last season. The Bucs signed Gainwell to join a backfield that also features Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker. While Irving is the clear No. 1 running back here, we expect to see Gainwell get plenty of volume, similar to his role with the Steelers in 2025. In Pittsburgh, he handled 114 carries and 73 receptions (187 touches) while teammate Jaylen Warren had 211 carries and 40 catches (254 touches). When all was said and done, the two backs combined for 441 touches, but Warren only had 67 more than Gainwell. Don't be surprised if we see Gainwell support Irving in the same way he did with Warren, which could allow him to rank as a top-24 running back in fantasy football once again. For now, he ranks as the RB37 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
George Lombard Jr. Remains a Priority Waiver-Wire Target
Across 42 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on August 4, New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. is hitting .270/.357/.459 with two home runs, three RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base. The 21-year-old is widely considered to be the top prospect in the Yankees' system and one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Since being promoted to the big leagues, Lombard Jr. has been handed the full-time role at shortstop for New York. He's shown off an impressive plate approach for a young player with an 11.9% walk rate and a 21.4% strikeout rate. His ability to get on base was one of his greatest assets in the minor leagues, as he posted a 17.2% walk rate across 262 plate appearances at Triple-A this season. Lombard Jr. may still need some time to adjust to the big leagues fully, but he carries significant upside and should be targeted on the waiver wire in leagues where he remains available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
