Justin Jefferson Dealing with Hamstring Strain
Justin Jefferson (hamstring) has suffered a mild left-hamstring strain, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Lewis reports that the team plans to be "really cautious" with its star receiver, but does not relay any sort of timeline for his return to practice. Jefferson missed seven games with an injury to his right hamstring back in 2023, so there's a history of soft-tissue injuries in his lower body. The 26-year-old is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, coming off a season in which he recorded 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns. His presence on the field is critical to the success of Minnesota's offense and first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. It's too early to say that Jefferson is at risk of missing any significant time, but the Vikings are already likely facing an early-season suspension for their WR2, Jordan Addison.Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Savion Williams Dealing With Concussion
Savion
Williams
(concussion)
was
out
of
training
camp
practice
on
Friday
due
to
a
concussion.
Williams
was
able
to
make
a
few
nice
catchesread more...
ESPN's
Rob
Demovsky
reports
that
Green
Bay
Packers
rookie
third-round
wide
receiver
Jackson Blake Inks Eight-Year Extension with Hurricanes
Source: ESPN
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake has signed an eight-year, $45 million contract extension. The deal will come into effect in 2026-27. Blake, a former fourth-round draft pick, broke into the NHL during the 2024-25 campaign, ranking 10th among first-year players with 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) in 80 contests. The team expects a lot more from him going forward. "Jackson had an outstanding rookie season, and we think he is just scratching the surface of the player he can be," Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. "His tenaciousness on the puck and competitiveness match our team's culture, and we're excited about his future with our club." Next season, Blake should continue to see regular top-six minutes and power-play time.Tank Bigsby Standing Out in Jaguars Camp
Tank Bigsby has the team's "coaching staff frequently singing his praises" for his work early in training camp, according to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated. Shipley notes that Bigsby "got the bulk of the key reps" and "stood out quite a bit more" than Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. The 23-year-old Bigsby is entering his third year in Jacksonville and could be poised to take over a lead role in the team's backfield. He played in 16 games in 2024, recording 168 carries for 766 yards and seven touchdowns. Bigsby struggles as a receiver, but he's an efficient rusher who excels around the goal line. With head coach Liam Coen leading a new staff in Jacksonville, Bigsby could emerge as the clear RB1 for the Jaguars with a strong preseason.Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Kaleb Johnson Seeing Some Work With First-Team Offense
Kaleb
Johnson
was
the
second
RB
(behind
Jaylen
Warren)
to
work
with
the
first-team
offense
in
training
camp
practiceread more...
PG
Sports
Now's
Brian
Batko
reports
that
Pittsburgh
Steelers
rookie
running
back
Rashid Shaheed Puts on Weight, Now at 190 Pounds
Rashid Shaheed said he put on weight in the offseason in order to hold up better against contact, but ESPN's Erin Summers said he also made sure that he didn't lose any of his signature speed. Shaheed is now up to 190 pounds as he enters the 2025 season. The 26-year-old will play at 10 pounds heavier, although he could lose a lot of that weight as the season progresses. Shaheed should be fairly safe as the WR2 in the Saints offense behind Chris Olave after catching 46 passes for 719 yards and five touchdowns in 2023 as a first-time Pro Bowler. He played in just six games last year due to a knee injury, though, and whether he'll have the same breakaway speed will certainly be a question. Another big question mark will be the Saints' QB situation. RotoBaller has Shaheed ranked at No. 51 among wideouts.Source: ESPN.com - Erin Summers
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Packers Designing Plays for Matthew Golden
Matthew Golden was being used in multiple different fashions during the team's training camp practice on Friday, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today. Wood notes that Golden was "doing a lot of pre-snap motions" and broke a jet sweep for a gain of 20-plus yards along the left sideline. A first-round draft pick out of Texas, Golden was utilized exclusively as a receiver in college. However, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has shown a willingness to get the ball in the hands of wideouts like Jayden Reed and Christian Watson in unconventional manners in the past. It's a good sign for Golden that he appears to be a focus of the offense this early in camp. Green Bay has a deep receiver room, but there's opportunity for the rookie to emerge as the true go-to target for quarterback Jordan Love.Source: USA Today - Ryan Wood
Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan Taking Part in Training Camp
Tetairoa McMillan (leg) has been taking part in team drills during minicamp this week, per Joe Person of The Athletic. There's nothing to worry about with McMillan physically after he missed some time in minicamp with a leg injury. The Panthers drafted McMillan with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, so the 22-year-old from Arizona figures to have a pretty big role right away in his rookie campaign. Not many people expect a ton from the Panthers offense, but if quarterback Bryce Young builds on the end of his second year in the NFL, McMillan could be a nice little value pick as a WR3/flex in fantasy. There have been rumors of potential laziness from McMillan from his days in college, but he was extremely productive in college and has ideal size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds).Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Carolina Panthers rookie first-round wide receiver Alek Thomas Goes on Bereavement List
Alek Thomas on the bereavement list and recalled outfielder Jorge Barrosa from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Thomas will most likely miss the entire weekend series in Pittsburgh at PNC Park against the Pirates. Jake McCarthy is making the start in center field and will hit seventh in Friday's series opener against Pirates right-hander Mike Burrows. The 25-year-old Thomas is most useful for his range and glove on defense in center field. In his fourth year with the D-backs, he's hit a middling .246/.294/.366 with a career-best .660 OPS, five home runs, 26 RBI, 33 runs scored and five stolen bases in 292 trips to the plate over 90 games. Although McCarthy has gone just 13-for-93 (.140) on the year, he has more offensive upside in fantasy than Thomas.Source: Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they placed outfielder Alex Lange Makes Another Rehab Appearance
Alex Lange (lat) allowed a run and two hits while walking none and striking out one with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday as part of his minor-league rehab assignment, according to MLB.com. Lange threw a hitless inning with a walk and a strikeout for the Mud Hens on July 20, but he will need to throw on back-to-back days in the minors before the Tigers activate him from the 60-day injured list. The 29-year-old had surgery in June of last year to fix a right-lat avulsion, but he's nearing his return and could be ready to return to the majors in early August. The former first-rounder by the Chicago Cubs had a career-high 26 saves in 2023 with Detroit before getting injured in 2024. Lange has proven himself in high-leverage situations before, but expect the Tigers to ease him into their bullpen to close out the 2025 season.Source: MLB.com
Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Tigers Still Hopeful Alex Cobb Can Return This Year
Alex Cobb (hip) received injections in his left hip during the All-Star break to treat remaining inflammation in his hip, per MLB.com. Cobb then completed a bullpen session on Tuesday. The veteran has dealt with pain in both of his hips, but manager A.J. Hinch said that the team remains hopeful that Cobb will be able to return later in the season. The 37-year-old has been out all season, and fantasy managers should not be holding out the same hope that the Tigers are. Cobb has already had surgery on his left hip, and the fact that he's still dealing with issues isn't a good sign at all. We wouldn't be surprised at all if Cobb doesn't make it back to pitch for the Tigers this year. Even if Cobb does return to the Tigers this year, he could be relegated to a bullpen role. There's virtually zero upside here.Source: MLB.com
Detroit Tigers right-hander Javier Assad Punches Out Six in First Rehab Start
Javier Assad (oblique) had a nice showing in his first minor-league rehab start on Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, tossing three shutout innings with one hit allowed, no walks and six strikeouts. It wasn't a bad showing at all, even if it wasn't against great competition, for Assad's first outing since April. The 27-year-old has been out all season, so he has a ways to go in his rehab assignment and won't be an option for the big-league club until at least mid-August, if not later. It's unclear if Assad will have a rotation spot waiting for him when he comes off the injured list, but he could have an opportunity based on the fact that lefty Justin Steele (elbow) is out for the year and Jameson Taillon (calf) is also on the IL. Still, Assad offers limited fantasy upside with a career 7.6 K/9 in 294 innings.Source: Milb.com
Chicago Cubs right-hander Yankees Acquiring Ryan McMahon From Rockies
Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday in exchange for pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz, a source tells MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. McMahon will join the Bronx Bombers as their starting third baseman as the Yankees look to get back to the World Series this fall. The 30-year-old McMahon is leaving one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball in Coors Field for Yankee Stadium's short porch in right field, but he'll be leaving the worst team in baseball for one of the better ones. McMahon was an All-Star for the first time last year but has hit just .217/.314/.403 with 16 home runs, 35 RBI, 42 runs and a league-leading 127 strikeouts in 100 games in 2025. A change of scenery and a better lineup around him could certainly help McMahon finish the year much stronger.Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
The New York Yankees are acquiring third baseman Robert Whittaker Returns At UFC Abu Dhabi
Source: UFC
Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will look to get back in the win column when he takes on former two-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Since joining the promotion, Whittaker has established himself as one of the greatest middleweights of all time and one of the UFC's most popular competitors. Whittaker was last seen in action at UFC 308, where he suffered a first-round submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev. DraftKings sees Whittaker as the favorite with a salary of $8,400.Tahj Brooks Impressing With his Pass-Catching Prowess
Tahj Brooks' pass-catching abilities out of the backfield. Reporter Jaron May writes that Brooks had three catches -- two checkdowns and one designed route -- in the first set of 11-on-11 drills at training camp practice on Friday. The 23-year-old sixth-round selection wasn't a very prolific pass-catcher in his college days at Texas Tech, but he could be used more as a receiver at the next level as he competes for a depth role going into his first NFL season. Chase Brown is the team's unquestioned lead back, but Brooks will compete with Zack Moss (neck) and Samaje Perine for a change-of-pace role. For now, he's more of a dynasty stash.Source: WLWT - Jaron May
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said throughout the spring how impressed they were with rookie running back Reinier de Ridder Set For Main Event
Source: UFC
Former two-division ONE champion Reinier de Ridder will look to remain undefeated in the UFC as he takes on former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Since joining the leading promotion, de Ridder has looked terrific, winning all three of his UFC fights. De Ridder was last seen in action in May at Des Moines, where he defeated previously undefeated Bo Nickal via second-round TKO. DraftKings sees de Ridder as the underdog with a salary of $7,800.Robert Hassell III Goes Deep Again, Extends Hitting Streak to Seven Games
Robert Hassell III continued to swing a hot bat as he went deep for the second-straight contest on Thursday evening. Facing Triple-A Scranton, the No. 11-ranked prospect in D.C. went 3-for-5 with a long ball and a stolen base. This outing also extended his current hitting streak to seven games. During this impressive stretch, the 23-year-old has posted a .464/.545/.714 slash line with eight RBI, two home runs, and two stolen bases. Earlier this season, Hassell made his MLB debut but struggled, holding a modest .218/.228/.269 slash line with a .497 OPS across a 21-game stint. Given his impressive production at Triple-A, Hassell should be in the mix to return to the majors in the near future.Source: MiLB.com
Washington Nationals outfield prospect Petr Yan Set For Co-Main Event
Source: UFC
Former bantamweight champion Petr Yan will look to extend his win streak when he faces off against surging Marcus McGhee in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. After losing to former champions Aljamain Sterling, Sean O'Malley and current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, Yan has bounced back by defeating Song Yadong via unanimous decision. Yan was last seen in action in November at UFC Macau, where he outclassed former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo to win a unanimous decision. DraftKings sees Yan as a massive favorite with a salary of $9,300.Marcus McGhee Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Source: UFC
Surging Marcus McGhee will look to extend his win streak when he takes on former bantamweight champion Petr Yan in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. McGhee has looked outstanding, winning all four of his fights in the UFC. The only time McGhee lost was to Rafael do Nascimento back in 2022. Since then, McGhee has won six in a row. He was last seen in action in November at UFC 309, where he defeated Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision. DraftKings sees McGhee as a huge underdog with a salary of $6,900.Erick All Jr. to Miss Entire 2025 Season
Erick All Jr. (knee) is set to miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing a second surgery on his ACL this offseason, according to James Rapien of BengalsTalk.com. All was seen at training camp practice on Thursday walking around with a brace on his right knee. The 24-year-old played in just seven games in his final season in college due to a torn ACL, and he tore the ACL in the same knee last year as well. The Iowa product appeared in nine games (six starts) with the Bengals in his rookie season before injuring his knee and caught 20 of 22 targets for 158 yards and no touchdowns. It's been a tough go for All the last two years, but he's hoping to come back strong in 2026. With All out for all of this year, it will mean more work for both Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample.Source: BengalsTalk.com - James Rapien
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Adam Macko Allows One Hit on Thursday
Adam Macko tossed five shutout innings en route to picking up the victory over Triple-A Columbus on Thursday evening. In this outing, the left-hander allowed just one hit with two walks. He struck out five. This was a much-needed bounce-back outing for the southpaw as he entered this game holding a hefty 10.93 ERA with a 2.64 WHIP across his last 14 innings (four starts). Through 30 innings with Triple-A Buffalo this season, Mack has struggled to find consistency, sitting with a 6.90 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP across 30 innings. Earlier in the season, the Blue Jays noted that Macko could be in the mix for a promotion later in the season. For now, fantasy managers should leave him on the waiver wire. However, if he were to continue to turn the corner, he could be worth a look in deeper AL-only formats.Source: MiLB.com
Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect Emil Morales Promoted to Low-A
Source: Chase Ford
The Los Angeles Dodgers are promoting shortstop prospect Emil Morales to Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, as reported by Chase Ford of MiLB Central. Despite being only 18 years old, Morales already ranks quite high in the Dodger system, currently listed as the No. 7 prospect on MLB.com. Through the first half of the 2025 campaign, the infielder has spent the entire season in the Arizona Complex League. In the ACL, Morales has flashed immense upside, posting a .300/.383/.498 slash line with 13 doubles, nine home runs, and six stolen bases. In 2024, he spent time in the DSL and posted an impressive .342 AVG with an eye-catching 1.169 OPS across a 46-game stint. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on Morales, as he could continue to climb through the Los Angeles system quite quickly.Marc-Andre Barriault Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Source: UFC
Marc-Andre Barriault will look to win back-to-back fights as he takes on UFC prospect Shara Magomedov on the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. After losing three consecutive fights, Barriault returned to the win column in his last fight by beating Bruno Silva via first-round knockout, which led to a Performance of the Night bonus and a new contract. Since signing with the UFC, Barriault has gone 6-8 with one NC. DraftKings sees Barriault as a huge underdog with a salary of $6,600.Bengals Coaches Very High on Chase Brown
Chase
Brown
this
summer.
"I
think
Chase
Brown
is
going
to,
by
the
end
of
the
season,
beread more...
Yahoo
Sports'
Jori
Epstein
reports
that
Cincinnati
Bengals
coaches
and
players
have
been
very
high
on
running
back
Shara Magomedov Aims To Bounce Back
Source: UFC
UFC prospect Shara Magomedov will look to return to the win column when he takes on Marc-Andre Barriault on the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Magomedov was last seen in action in February at UFC Saudi Arabia, where he suffered the first loss of his career to Michael "Venom" Page via unanimous decision. Prior to his loss to Page, Magomedov was on a 15-fight win streak, with four of those wins being in the UFC. DraftKings sees Magomedov as a massive favorite with a salary of $9,600.Ching-Hsien Ko Set to Join Low-A
Source: Chase Ford
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Ching-Hsien Ko is set to join Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central. Ko is currently ranked as the No. 13 overall prospect in the Dodger system on MLB.com. The 18-year-old has spent the entire 2025 campaign in the Arizona Complex League. Through 53 games with the Dodgers' affiliate, Ko has held a strong .367/.487/.539 slash line with 15 doubles, two triples, and four home runs. He has scored 43 runs, tacked on 39 RBI, and held a 40:39 K:BB. Last season, through nine games in the DSL, Ko posted a modest .241/.450/.448 line. Fantasy managers should expect the 18-year-old to remain with Low-A through the final months of the campaign.Jalen Royals Continues to Impress
Jalen
Royals
continues
to
impress
early
in
training
camp
and
had
one
of
the
best
days
on
the
field
during
practice
on
Friday,
according
to
Jesse
Newell
of
The
Kansasread more...
Kansas
City
Chiefs
rookie
wide
receiver
Asu Almbayev Looks To Return To The Win Column
Source: UFC
Asu Almbayev will look to get back in the win column as he faces off against Jose Ochoa on the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Almabayev's win streak made it to 17 before it was snapped in his last outing, as he was stopped by Manel Kape via third-round TKO. Prior to his last bout, Almbayev defeated Matheus Nicolau via unanimous decision. Since signing with the leading promotion, Almbayev has gone 4-1. DraftKings sees Almbayev as a slight underdog with a salary of $8,000.Dak Prescott Praises Micah Parsons
Dak Prescott praised Parsons with how he's been handling the situation while still working out with the team at training camp. "He's a great teammate, showing up, obviously not just on the field and being focused, but whether it be in the camaraderie, hanging out, dinner. He's not just doing it to sign off and say, 'Hey, Jerry, look at me.' He wants to be out there practicing. And honestly, I'm glad he's not. He can't do that to himself. That's the business of it. That's the business of a holdout, so I do think he's taken some great steps with being here," Prescott said. The signal-caller also said he thinks Parsons deserves to be paid, which he surely will, most likely before the start of the 2025 season. Parsons is expected to become the highest-paid non-QB when he eventually agrees to a new deal with Dallas.Source: The Athletic - Jon Machota
In the midst of Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons' ongoing contract-extension talks with the team, quarterback Eduardo Quintero Moving to High-A
Source: Chase Ford
The Los Angeles Dodgers are promoting outfield prospect Eduardo Quintero to High-A Great Lakes, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central. Quintero is currently considered to be the No. 5-ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com and the No. 89-ranked overall prospect in the sport. The 19-year-old has enjoyed an impressive campaign at Low-A and is being rewarded with a somewhat early promotion. Through 81 games with Low-A Rancho, Quintero has posted a strong .306/.426/.533 slash line with 18 doubles, 14 home runs, and 35 stolen bases. He has held an 88:65 K:BB and scored 73 runs. During his first taste of Low-A in 2024, he held a .196/.333/.283 line. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his development, as he is quickly rising up prospect boards.