RADIO
Malik Davis to Undergo Hip Surgery
Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis (hip) is scheduled to undergo hip surgery on Saturday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. Davis injured his hip during Friday's practice, and it appears to be significant enough to require surgery. The 27-year-old will be placed on the Injured Reserve, and he'll miss the first four games of the season. Davis was slated to be the No. 2 back behind Javonte Williams to begin the season. Now, Emari Demercado will slide into the role unless the Cowboys make another move ahead of the Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants. Fantasy managers who had Davis rostered might want to turn their attention towards Demercado as a handcuff option behind Williams.
Source: Todd Archer
Source: Todd Archer
Chris Jones is Dealing with Calf Injury
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf) was a limited participant during Friday's practice. Jones appears to have tweaked his calf during Friday's practice session. The veteran tackle wasn't on the injury report on Thursday, so this is a new issue. The severity of the injury is unknown right now, but Saturday's injury report should help clarify the situation. The loss of Jones would be a significant hit to the Chiefs' defense ahead of Monday's game against the Denver Broncos. Rookie Peter Woods could get the start if Jones is unable to go on Monday night.
Source: chiefs.com
Source: chiefs.com
Chuba Hubbard Cleared, a Flex Option in Week 1 vs. the Bears
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) doesn't carry an injury designation heading into Week 1's matchup against the Chicago Bears. Hubbard practiced this week and was not listed on Carolina's injury report after dealing with a hamstring injury since mid-August. Backfield teammate Jonathon Brooks (groin) was also removed from the injury report as the Panthers will have both running backs available in Week 1. Hubbard rushed for 511 yards and one touchdown while catching 30 passes for 223 yards and three scores in 15 games last season. He is listed as the RB1 in Carolina's depth chart but will likely split touches with Brooks. The 27-year-old is RotoBaller's RB31 and is considered a FLEX option heading into Week 1 against a Bears defense that allowed 134.5 rushing yards per game last year. With the plus matchup, fantasy managers can start Hubbard as a FLEX in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
WR3 Treatment for Christian Watson in Week 1
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is healthy and will look to put up a career season as the Packers head to Minneapolis to face off with the division-rival Vikings in Week 1. Watson got a hefty four-year extension this offseason to stay with the Packers to be their top wide receiver this season. Watson has been insanely efficient in his career, with at least 2.25 yards per route run or better in three of his four NFL seasons. But he's run just 1,058 total routes in that span, missing time in each season of his NFL career. Can Watson stay healthy? Will the Packers' offense consolidate touches after Romeo Doubs left for New England and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to the Eagles? Against the Vikings, Watson is a high-upside WR3 play for fantasy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins Is a Top-10 WR in Week 1
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is lined up for a heavy workload in Week 1, and he's a great option to get in fantasy lineups against the Buffalo Bills. Collins has posted three straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards, even though he has missed games each year. Last season, he racked up 1,117 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season as C.J. Stroud's top target. This year, Houston lost its second receiver, Jayden Higgins (knee), for the season to a preseason injury, and that could leave even more targets and opportunities for Collins. Stroud will be looking to bounce back after the rough end to last season, and if he's effective, he'll lean heavily on Collins. Against the Bills, Collins is a low-end WR1, checking in as RotoBaller's No. 7 WR in the PPR rankings for Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Packers D/ST Not Recommended in Week 1 Against Vikings
The Green Bay Packers' defense and special teams unit will have to contend with a good Minnesota Vikings offense as the two teams match up at U.S. Bank Stadium for each team's season opener. With new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon replacing Jeff Hafley, who took the head coaching job in Miami, Gannon will have to play some games at the start of the season without Micah Parsons and his pass-rush. The Packers will switch to a 3-4 defense and they added new pieces like veterans Javon Hargrave and Zaire Franklin, as well as rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse, who will be a Week 1 starter opposite Keisean Nixon. The Packers have talent on defense, but we'll see if Gannon can get the most out of this group without Parsons for a number of games. Against the Vikings in Week 1, the Packers are not a recommended D/ST to slot into fantasy lineups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trey Yesavage to Throw Bullpen Session on Sunday
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage (knee) was able to throw a successful 30-pitch bullpen session on Thursday. Now, Yesavage will fly to Toronto and have another bullpen session on Sunday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports. If everything goes well this weekend, Yesavage figures to be sent out on a rehab appearance next week. He appears to be making good progress after having meniscus surgery in August. The right-hander has a chance to return to the starting rotation before the end of the regular season. The Jays could use another option with multiple starting pitchers on the Injured List right now. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Yesavage for now.
Source: Mitch Bannon
Source: Mitch Bannon
Devin Carter Could Land in Boston
The Boston Celtics have shown interest in signing guard Devin Carter once he clears waivers, according to The Stein Line's Jake Fischer. Atlanta waived the 24-year-old guard on Friday, a little over two months after acquiring him and a 2033 second-round pick from Sacramento. The former No. 13 pick never found steady footing with the Kings, averaging 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 three-pointers in 18.4 minutes across 38 games last season. His delayed rookie debut after left shoulder surgery did not help, and left ankle and right calf issues cost him more time in 2025-26. Boston has Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Mike Conley ahead of him, with one two-way slot open, so Carter's path would likely be developmental. His 29-point career night in April showed some scoring pop, but there is no immediate fantasy case here.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Kicker Trey Smack In the Week 1 Streaming Conversation
Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack looks to start his career off on the right foot as the team heads to Minneapolis to take on the Vikings in the season opener for both teams. Smack, Green Bay's sixth-round pick in last April's NFL Draft, was a perfect 9-of-9 on field goals during the preseason, with a long of 59 yards. He also booted home all seven extra points and looked every bit like a kicker that has some staying power for the Packers. Of course, kicking in actual games that count is a different story entirely, but Smack seems up to the task. With the Packers being an above-average offense, Smack should get plenty of chances to score points, so for that, he's in the streaming conversation for fantasy kickers against Minnesota in Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Walker Kessler Pegged as Worth the Lakers' Price
Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (shoulder) cost a steep price, but Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor said his fit in Los Angeles could make the move worth it. The Lakers sent Utah two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round swaps before signing Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal. The 7-foot-2 big man is fully cleared after left shoulder surgery limited him to five games in 2025-26, and that short sample drives the fantasy case: 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks on 70.3 percent shooting. Playing as Luka Doncic's primary rim-runner should keep the field-goal percentage elite and give Kessler a path to career-best scoring volume. The Lakers have Kevon Looney and other frontcourt depth behind him, but Kessler is the clear starter if the shoulder holds up.
Source: Kevin O'Connor
Source: Kevin O'Connor
Woody Marks Can Be a Deep-League Flex Sleeper
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks will be in a timeshare to start his second season in the NFL, but he could work his way into a large enough role that he has fantasy value. Last year, as a rookie, Marks finished the year with three receiving touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, 208 receiving yards, and 708 rushing yards. The Texans went out and added veteran David Montgomery to the mix this offseason, but Marks is still likely to be involved on receiving downs. He seemed to wear down at times last season and could benefit from the shared workload, but he could also lose valuable red zone work, raising his risk factors. For Week 1's matchup against the Bills, Marks is only the No. 45 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, but he could get close to a 50-50 split in the timeshare, which could make him a deep-league sleeper in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Clarke Schmidt to Make Final Rehab Appearance on Saturday
According to Gary Phillips, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (elbow) will make one final rehab appearance on Saturday before rejoining the team. Assuming everything goes well, Schmidt will be back in the Bronx to help down the stretch of the season. Schmidt hasn't pitched at all in the big leagues this season after he underwent an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last July. He has made four rehab appearances, allowing three runs while striking out eight batters across 5.2 innings. The Yankees don't have time to build up his workload, so Schmidt will be used in a bullpen role for the rest of the season. With that being said, Schmidt won't offer much fantasy value out of the bullpen, but he figures to rejoin the starting rotation next season.
Source: Gary Phillips
Source: Gary Phillips
DK Metcalf Healthy, Ready for Big Role vs. Atlanta
Wide receiver DK Metcalf will be a big piece of the Pittsburgh Steelers' aerial attack in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. The 28-year-old wideout was sidelined for the final few weeks of training camp with an undisclosed ailment, but came off the injury report less than a week before the Steelers' season opener. Metcalf's numbers dipped in his first season in Pittsburgh, and he finished the 2025 campaign with 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns in the air. Though Michael Pittman Jr. will be competition for targets this season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters on Sept. 2 that he "needs to get the ball" to Metcalf, so that effort should start on Sept. 13. Metcalf is a solid WR3 in fantasy headed into Week 1 and should flex his muscle as a red-zone threat against Atlanta.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Hawks Waive Devin Carter
The Atlanta Hawks have waived guard Devin Carter, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports. Atlanta acquired the 13th overall pick of the 2024 draft from Sacramento at the end of June along with a 2033 second-round pick and declined his fourth-year option, valued at $7,370,897 for 2027-28, as part of the transaction. The move was roster math more than evaluation. The Hawks carried 16 guaranteed contracts into Friday and had to reach the 15-man regular-season limit, and cutting Carter got them there without touching the rotation Quin Snyder plans to use. Ryan Nembhard's arrival in the Luguentz Dort deal had already pushed Carter behind CJ McCollum and rookie Kingston Flemings in the guard room. Carter averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes over 38 games last season, never enough volume to matter in standard leagues. He isn't eligible to re-sign with the Kings, and with two teams having moved on inside a year, his next deal likely comes with G-League time attached.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Bryce Young Mainly an Option in Superflex Leagues for Week 1
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young will look to kick off the season on a high note in Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears. The Panthers offense struggled this preseason as Young completed eight of 11 passes for 67 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in four drives. The former No. 1 overall pick threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 16 games in 2025. He failed to crack 200 passing yards in 12 of 16 games. Despite the inconsistencies, Young is on the Superflex or 2QB league radar against a Bears defense that was 19th against the pass, allowing 234.5 passing yards per game. He comes in as RotoBaller's QB26, and with an over/under of 47.5 points, the 25-year-old might have to air it out to help keep up with the Bears' high-octane offense. Despite the decent matchup, Young is mainly an option in Superflex and 2QB formats and is considered a risky streamer in single-QB leagues heading into Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
