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Matthew Murrell Signs with Jazz
The Utah Jazz have signed guard Matthew Murrell, the team announced Monday, with terms undisclosed per club policy. The 24-year-old spent last season with the Salt Lake City Stars, Utah's G-League affiliate, averaging 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals across 31 regular-season appearances at a shade over 28 minutes per night. Efficiency was the sticking point, as he shot 36.2 percent from the field and struggled to carry his tip-off tournament three-point stroke through the full season. Utah's 15-man roster was already full before this transaction, so Murrell profiles as a training camp addition headed back to the Stars rather than a rotation candidate. Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, and Isaiah Collier control the backcourt minutes, and nothing about this signing disturbs that order. There is no fantasy angle here.
Source: Utah Jazz
Source: Utah Jazz
Jeremiyah Love Considered "50/50" to Play in Week 1
According to the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is deemed "50/50" to suit up in Week 1. The third overall pick from this year's NFL Draft has been dealing with a high ankle sprain through much of the preseason and could be in danger of sitting out the opening weekend. While head coach Mike LaFleur did express that he was "trending" towards an early return, this recent report suggests the team may look to exercise caution with their franchise cornerstone. During his final season at Notre Dame, Love was a Heisman Trophy finalist, rushing for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. Through the air, he caught another three scores and added 280 yards. In the event Love is unable to play, fantasy managers should expect Tyler Allgeier to be given a heavy workload with veteran James Conner (foot) on injured reserve.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
South Carolina Likely Without Dylan Stewart and Jacarrius Peak in Week 1
South Carolina opens its 2026 season against Kent State this Saturday, but will probably be without defensive end Dylan Stewart (back) and offensive lineman Jacarrius Peak (knee). Coach Shane Beamer said both players are ramping things up, but are unlikely to play in the opener. The Gamecocks could simply be playing it safe with two very important players in a contest that South Carolina should roll in regardless. Stewart has 11 sacks and 56 tackles over his first two seasons, while Peak was a big-time transfer from NC State, where he started 32 games over the past four seasons. With Stewart out, transfer Drew Collins could start and produce more, while Anthony Addison and transfer Caleb Herring could also factor in. If Peak is inactive, Armando Nieves could start. The injuries don't help the Gamecocks' cause, but the team should have no issues rolling past Kent State this week.
Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter
Cam Cook Opens Season With Two Strong Matchups
West Virginia running back Cam Cook is set to debut for his new school on Saturday afternoon against Coastal Carolina, setting him up for a big week to start the season. Cook dominated the competition while at Jax State last season; he finished tied as the RB3 with top-three NFL Draft pick Jeremiyah Love, and he rushed for 1,666 yards and 16 touchdowns on 295 carries, totaling 291.2 fantasy points. In preseason drafts, Cook was selected as a late first-round pick or an early second-round pick. Cook is set up for success to start the season as he faces Coastal Carolina and FCS opponent UT Martin in his first two weeks. Coastal Carolina allowed 208 rushing yards per game, which ranked 8th-worst among FBS defenses against the run. FCS matchups can always be a toss-up due to starters being benched mid-game because of the blowout games; however, Cook should validate his top-five RB ADP in his first two weeks with big games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Iowa QB Battle Between Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinski Still Undecided
Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are listed as co-starters at quarterback for Iowa as the team's first game approaches. Coach Kirk Ferentz said the QB competition could extend into the season. That makes the fantasy start decision with whoever ends up starting in Week 1 against Northern Illinois a very murky one. Fantasy owners of either quarterback should tread very carefully, even in a game Iowa should handle. Brown has just 73 passing attempts over his three years of collegiate ball, while Hecklinski has attempted just two passes so far. The lack of a listed starting quarterback could also make the team's other offensive skill positions risky fantasy plays for Week 1. Expect Iowa to lean heavily on starting running back Kamari Moulton, and backup L.J. Phillips Jr. could also be used often. Reece Vander Zee and transfers Tony Diaz and Evan James are the projected starting wide receivers, while DJ Vonnahme is the top tight end.
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
D'Andre Swift Should Remain an RB2 for Fantasy Managers in 2026
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had a solid 2025 season, tallying 1,087 rushing yards, 34 catches, 299 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. He saw his workload slip a little bit as Kyle Monangai took on a bigger role during the second half, but Swift still had control of the backfield by season's end. While Monangai is trending up ahead of 2026, it's hard to imagine the Bears shifting away from a backfield dynamic that clearly worked last year. Swift was highly efficient, and although he did share plenty of snaps and volume with Monangai, there's no doubt that he could have handled an every-down role if necessary. Having Monangai by his side to lighten his load and keep his legs fresh could actually be key for Swift heading into his age-27 season. The seventh-year NFL veteran may no longer be pushing for 20 touches per game, but with high efficiency on the ground and a persistent nose for the end zone, he's still a legitimate RB2 option in all fantasy leagues. The experts agree, as Swift ranks as the overall RB17 in RotoBaller's latest 2026 fantasy football rankings for redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaxson Dart Flashes QB1 Appeal for 2026
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has the potential to rank as a top-12 fantasy quarterback for the 2026 season. Dart impressed as a rookie last season, tallying 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also tallied 487 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. The rushing productivity did most of the heavy lifting in Dart's fantasy ranking, but the return of wide receiver Malik Nabers also helped. Nabers is working his way back from an ACL tear, and his availability has propped up his quarterback's fantasy outlook for the upcoming season. Dart is now healthy, and there's no sign that he'll need to miss any time in 2026. With the clean bill of health headed his way, we expect Dart to run the football just as much as he did last year, even if doing so comes with inherent risk. Managers will cross their fingers and hope that that risk pays off with Dart finishing the year as a QB1 in fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Downs' ADP Sits Steady in Ninth Round
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs entered this offseason as one of the biggest risers in football. The offense was trending up, Daniel Jones was returning from injury, and Downs took a step up the depth chart after Michael Pittman Jr. was traded to Pittsburgh. As a result, his ADP rose steadily throughout the summer, and he's now looking to replicate his five-touchdown performance as the overall WR35 in PPR 2024. The bad news is that the Colts extended Alec Pierce as their No. 1 receiver and recently signed Keenan Allen to be their projected No. 2 receiver, leaving Downs in a relatively unfavorable role. We also can't forget that the Colts have Tyler Warren to offer a major boost at the tight end position. While there's no denying that Downs is quite talented, he has been holding pretty steady at his ADP of 102.9, which ranks him as the overall WR41 in PPR leagues for this season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Padres Calling Up Catching Prospect Ethan Salas After Strong Triple-A Run
The San Diego Padres are set to call up top catching prospect Ethan Salas from Triple-A El Paso when rosters expand on Tuesday, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound 20-year-old backstop is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Padres' top prospect and the No. 23 overall prospect in all of baseball. At the catching position, he is ranked as the No. 4 prospect, behind Rainiel Rodriguez (Cardinals), Vahn Lackey (Twins), and Alfredo Duno (Reds). Salas, who hits from the left side, has turned heads in 24 games with El Paso in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, slashing .326/.410/.539 with a .949 OPS, three homers, 24 RBI, 13 runs scored, and three steals. He began the year at Double-A San Antonio and hit .286 (74-for-259) with seven homers, 37 RBI, 14 steals, and 41 runs scored in 72 games for the Missions. There are still mixed reviews as to how high a ceiling Salas has offensively, and it is unclear how much he will play in San Diego, which already has catchers Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano on the major-league roster. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues should not be expecting fireworks from Salas in September.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Jonathon Brooks Has a Chance to Take Over the Panthers' Backfield
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks is trending up once again. After knee injuries limited him to just five games through his first two seasons, he's now fully healthy and ready to occupy a big role on offense. There may be a little re-acclimation period as he gets used to his first NFL action since 2024, but there's also a glaring opportunity for him to step into a 1B role alongside Chuba Hubbard. Furthermore, we can't rule out the possibility of him completely taking over the backfield and leaving Hubbard in a backup role. This wouldn't be new territory for Hubbard, who sort of lost his job to Rico Dowdle last year. Brooks is incredibly talented, and if he can stay healthy, he could return to the high-end RB2 upside that he possessed prior to his rookie season. This is a low-risk move for managers, as Brooks still has a relatively modest ADP of 83.6.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Terry McLaurin Has Clear Top-10 Upside if Injury Bug Stays Away
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin possesses the talent needed to be a top-10 receiver in fantasy football, and he's looking to shake off an ugly 2025 season marred by injuries. McLaurin caught 38 passes for 582 yards and three touchdowns across 10 games last year. He missed seven contests and quarterback Jayden Daniels missed 10 contests; they were on the field together for just three games. If both can stay healthy for most of the 2026 season, McLaurin should have no trouble re-establishing himself as a top-18 fantasy receiver, and perhaps even getting back to the WR1 range. Washington did sign Stefon Diggs in free agency, but McLaurin is clearly the No. 1 receiver here. In fact, Diggs' presence may actually help McLaurin by luring away cornerbacks, or at least reducing the rate at which McLaurin sees double coverage. We're very excited about the upside of McLaurin, who is somewhat of a steal at his current ADP of 53.0.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quarterback Upgrade Could be the Key to Jaylen Waddle's Success
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is set to enjoy an enormous quarterback upgrade following his offseason trade from the Dolphins to the Broncos. Waddle held his own in Miami despite abysmal quarterback play, ranking as the overall WR24 with Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers throwing to him last year. Now, he'll be catching Bo Nix, and he arguably finds himself in the best situation of his six-year career. Will he finish higher than WR8 and post the best fantasy finish of his career? Not necessarily. However, the pieces are in place for Waddle, who has shown that he can handle the No. 1 receiver role, to thrive. Staying on the field will also be key for the 27-year-old, who has finished as WR24 or higher in each of the three years he played 16+ games, but WR34 or lower in each of the two years he missed at least two games. Waddle is certainly trending up, and he now ranks as the overall WR19 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Titans Waive Wide Receiver Xavier Restrepo
The Tennessee Titans have waived wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, according to an announcement from the team. It's been an unconventional 24 hours for the second-year receiver, who made the initial 53-man roster on Sunday night, only to get cut loose on Monday. His roster spot will go to one of the five players the Titans signed or claimed after rosters were trimmed to 53 players. Restrepo had quickly emerged as a fan favorite in Tennessee. Not only did he have a strong rapport with quarterback Cam Ward from their time together at Miami, but he also overcame his status as an undrafted free agent to catch three passes for 41 yards across two games last year. The move leaves the Titans with just five receivers on their roster, so we can't rule out the possibility of Tennessee bringing him back closer to the season. With that being said, his future is no longer in the Titans' control, as any of the other 31 teams can add him to their roster simply by claiming him off waivers on Tuesday.
Source: Tennessee Titans
Source: Tennessee Titans
Alex Bregman has Another Three-Homer Game on Monday
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman went off at the plate for his second three-homer performance in the month of August in Monday night's 17-3 drubbing of the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Bregman went 3-for-6 at the plate with three home runs and four RBI to boost his season average to .258 and his OPS to .785. The veteran third baseman also clubbed three home runs back on Aug. 12 in a 12-6 win over the Washington Nationals, when he went 3-for-3 with seven RBI and two walks. The 32-year-old veteran and three-time All-Star wraps up a very strong month of August with an incredible 12 home runs, 30 RBI, and a 1.025 OPS in 28 games played. Bregman got off to a slow start early in his first year on the North Side in Chicago, but he has been much better in the second half, as he entered Monday's series opener against Milwaukee with a .288/.361/.564 slash line, .925 OPS, 11 homers, 12 doubles, 32 RBI, 32 runs scored, and a stolen base in 40 games during August. If Bregman is half as good in September as he was in August, fantasy managers will be stoked.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tyler Loop Expected to be Ravens' Kicker for Week 1
Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said that he expects Tyler Loop to be the team's kicker entering Week 1, according to Giana Han of The Baltimore Banner. However, Minter also said that the team is "trying to have all situations covered." It's unclear exactly what Minter means by this, but it's not the first time he's been a little iffy about Loop's job security. In recent days, he left the door open for the Ravens to bring in some competition at the kicker position. With that being said, it sounds like Loop will handle kicking duties for Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, barring any major surprises. Playing on a good team should bode well for his outlook as a fringe top-12 fantasy kicker, and he also comes with a decent track record after going 30-for-34 on field goals and 44-for-46 on extra points last year.
Source: Giana Han
Source: Giana Han
