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Kodai Senga is Picking up Steam After Earning Fourth Save
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga is attempting to reinvent himself as a relief pitcher. Senga has been working as a closer lately and has pitched extremely well in that role. During August, Senga has only given up one earned run while recording four saves in six appearances. The expectation is that Senga will continue being the closer until Devin Williams (shoulder) returns, which is likely at some point in September. Fantasy managers seeking help in the relief pitcher department should consider adding Senga while he's still the closer. Williams figures to take over as the closer once he's healthy, but it's unclear when that'll be right now.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Christian Yelich is Taking a Seat on Friday
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (rest) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Fantasy managers don't need to worry as this appears to be a routine rest day for Yelich. The Brewers are electing to rest Yelich against tough southpaw Chris Sale. Gary Sanchez will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth during Friday's game. The Brewers are electing to give Yelich plenty of rest to keep him fresh for the postseason. The expectation is he'll be back on Saturday, but fantasy managers should get him out of their lineups on Friday.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Keaton Mitchell Is Becoming a Sneaky Late-Round Target
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell has a little more separation in the race behind Omarion Hampton. The Chargers' current depth chart lists Mitchell second at running back, with Kimani Vidal on the next line, and Mitchell was involved early Thursday night before a 21-yard catch was wiped out by penalty. The 5-foot-8, 191-pound back doesn't need many touches to change a game. He ran for 341 yards on 59 carries last season, averaged 5.8 yards per attempt and added nine catches for 63 yards. Los Angeles also noted that Mitchell led the NFL in average run speed in 2025 at 14.49 mph and had 11 runs of at least 10 yards. Mike McDaniel has already said he expects to use Hampton, Mitchell and Vidal every week and could ride the hot hand, so this isn't a clean backup situation. Hampton still leads the room. Mitchell just looks like the best bet for the change-of-pace work right now, and his speed gives him enough standalone upside to stay interesting late in deeper redraft drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justin Martinez Could be a Stash Option
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Justin Martinez recently made his season debut after missing a majority of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Martinez threw a scoreless inning against the Boston Red Sox during his season debut on Tuesday. He is pitching in low-leverage situations right now, but could work his way into the closer role in Arizona. Martinez earned 14 saves between the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the D-Backs. This team doesn't have a lockdown closer at the moment after Paul Sewald lost the job. Martinez could quickly slide into the role if he continues to pitch well. He's someone to keep an eye on as a possible stash in September.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Steven Cruz has Interesting Deep League Appeal
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Steven Cruz has been working as the closer lately. He has earned four of the team's last five saves and appears to have a strong hold on the closer role right now. Cruz did give up two earned runs during his latest appearance against the Athletics on Wednesday. Outside of that, Cruz has looked good enough on the mound to warrant adding in deep leagues. Overall, Cruz owns a 4.37 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 51/18 K/BB ratio across 45 appearances. There's enough value here to warrant scooping up Cruz in deep leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Tyreek Hill Not Expected to Sign Before Season
Free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill is not expected to sign with a team before the regular season begins. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on "The Pat McAfee Show" that Hill looked good in a recent video of him running hills, but added that Hill still feels he has a long way to go, according to David Furones. Hill is trying to make his way back from the serious left knee injury he suffered last September, when he dislocated the knee and tore multiple ligaments, including his ACL. He underwent two surgeries and was released by Miami in February after failing a physical. Hill had 21 catches for 265 yards and one touchdown in four games before the injury last season. There is still a path to a 2026 return, but this latest update makes September look increasingly unrealistic. For fantasy managers, Hill is a speculative stash in deeper leagues rather than someone to draft with an early-season role in mind.
Source: David Furones
Source: David Furones
Barion Brown Is Emerging as a Late-Round Sleeper
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Barion Brown has gone from interesting camp name to somebody worth considering late in deeper drafts. The sixth-round rookie kept making plays through the first two weeks of camp, then caught four passes for 53 yards in the preseason opener. Jordyn Tyson's hamstring injury opens the door a little wider, too, with the first-round pick expected to miss up to two months. Brown still has to earn those snaps. Devaughn Vele is ahead of him, and Bryce Lance, Kevin Austin Jr. and the rest of the room aren't just going away. But Brown has one thing nobody has to project: speed. He ran a 4.30 at the combine and has already shown New Orleans can use it beyond the return game. There isn't enough here to call him a standard-league target yet. In deeper formats, though, Brown has played his way into the late-round sleeper mix, and Tyson's absence gives him a real shot to matter early.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ben Joyce is Gaining Value After Notching Third Save
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce might be the closer of the future for this organization. He has been limited to six innings this season, but is quickly making an impact with the Halos. So far this season, Joyce has thrown six scoreless innings, allowing one hit, while striking out eight batters. He notched his third save of the season versus the Houston Astros on Tuesday. Joyce is looking like a decent source of saves for fantasy managers down the stretch of the season. The Angels don't win a ton of games, but Joyce is likely to remain the full-time closer as long as he keeps pitching well.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Chris Brooks Still in the Mix for Packers' RB2 Role
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks is back where he needs to be after losing the first week and a half of camp to a hamstring strain. Green Bay's Aug. 10 unofficial depth chart had Brooks directly behind Josh Jacobs, with MarShawn Lloyd next, but there is still a competition here. Brooks didn't play in the preseason opener, while Lloyd got his chance after Jacobs went down with a groin injury. Brooks has since returned to team work, and the Packers trust the 6-foot-1, 219-pound back in pass protection and the passing game. His 2025 numbers weren't much, just 27 carries for 106 yards and 13 catches for 91 yards. He did get 13 carries in Week 18 and turned them into 61 yards. Jacobs is back at practice and remains the clear lead back, so this is strictly about the spot behind him. Brooks has a real chance to win it. Until somebody separates, though, he's more insurance-back watch than a late-round redraft target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Woody Marks Makes His Case for a Larger Role
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks stood out on Thursday night against the Raiders, playing very effectively on his team's opening drive, which he capped with a 20-yard touchdown run. He finished with 37 rushing yards to go with his touchdown on four carries and added a six-yard reception. The second-year running back had a strong track record as a pass-catcher in college and could step into a larger role as a receiver after the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins (knee). Marks appears lined up to share work in the backfield with David Montgomery, but with a strong showing like Thursday's and some extra targets available, he could be a great grab with upside when you're searching for running back depth. His pass-catching potential makes him an even stronger play in PPR formats. Marks is the RB46 in RotoBaller's rankings, but he could get enough work to return great value at that spot even though he'll be working in a timeshare.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jared Wayne Earning Time with the Texans' Starters
Houston Texans side receiver Jared Wayne could be part of the team's plan to fill in for some of the production lost when Jayden Higgins (knee) went down for the season earlier this week. Wayne has had a very strong training camp and caught the team's only touchdown in the first preseason game. On Thursday, in the second preseason game, Wayne played in the first series of the game with starting QB C.J. Stroud, and he picked up a key 12-yard reception that converted a third down and kept the drive alive. Wayne finished with just two catches for 13 yards, but his involvement with the starters could indicate the team has bigger plans for him once the season starts. At the very least, he looks in line to make his first NFL roster after spending last year on the practice squad. He could open the season as the team's WR2 across from Nico Collins, at least until Tank Dell (knee) is ready for action.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Reynaldo Lopez to Begin Rehab Assignment on Sunday
Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (knee) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, according to Chad Bishop. Lopez has been out since late July due to left knee inflammation. It's unclear at the moment how many rehab appearances he'll need before rejoining the Braves. Barring any setbacks, fantasy managers should expect Lopez to be back in the mix in September. His fantasy value will be dependent on whether he returns as a starting pitcher or reliever. This season, Lopez owns a 3.64 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 66/29 K/BB ratio across 24 games (11 starts) with the Braves. Fantasy managers in deep leagues could stash Lopez as a helpful option down the stretch of the season.
Source: Chad Bishop
Source: Chad Bishop
Jake Bobo Carted Off After Right Leg Injury
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo was carted off Friday after suffering a right leg injury during a joint practice with the Tennessee Titans, according to Teresa Walker. Bobo went down after linebacker James Williams broke up a pass intended for him, and players from both teams took a knee while he was being checked out. He was eventually able to get up with help before getting onto the cart. Bobo has mostly worked as a depth receiver, blocker and special teams player in Seattle. He caught just two passes for 20 yards during the 2025 regular season, though the Seahawks valued him enough to match Jacksonville's offer sheet in March and keep him in town. There isn't much standalone fantasy value tied to Bobo, but losing him for any stretch would take away one of Seattle's more trusted depth pieces and special teams contributors.
Source: Teresa Walker
Source: Teresa Walker
C.J. Stroud Poised for a Bounce-Back Season
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is eligible for a contract extension and has had a strong training camp, according to multiple accounts from Texans' camp. He led his team to a touchdown on his only drive of the team's second preseason game on Thursday night, completing four of his six pass attempts for 27 yards. While he didn't have the touchdown, he did a good job making smart decisions and guiding the offense into position to reach the end zone. Stroud has regressed in each of the last two seasons after his big rookie year, but he has the potential to bounce back in his second season under offensive coordinator Nick Caley. He'll need to find a strong second option behind Nico Collins after the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins (knee), but if he does that, he'll have the potential to be a solid QB2 with upside. Coming into the year, he's No. 24 in RotoBaller's rankings.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Darren Waller in Phenomenal Shape Entering 2026 Season
Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is in phenomenal shape heading into the 2026 season. Waller said his conditioning is "Night and day" compared to last season. Waller reportedly tore his quad two weeks after unretiring and signing with the Miami Dolphins last season, which kept him out for eight games in 2025. Despite the injuries and the Dolphins' lackluster passing attack, Waller still managed 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. Now in Carolina, head coach Dave Canales is excited about what Waller brings to the table, saying, "It's a unique element that he brings to whatever offense he's been a part of." Currently ranked TE35 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Waller looks primed for a solid season that should surpass his ADP in 2026.
Source: Joe Person - The Athletic
Source: Joe Person - The Athletic
