RADIO
Sebastian Walcott Fully Recovered With a 2027 Debut Trajectory
Texas Rangers shortstop prospect Sebastian Walcott hasn't shown any signs of rust after missing the first half of the season as a result of an internal brace procedure on his elbow. The Rangers' top-ranked prospect (MLB No. 9) played 37 games at Double-A Frisco, hitting .322 with a .983 OPS, nine home runs, and 11 stolen bases for the RoughRiders while being the team's full-time designated hitter. That changed on Tuesday when the 6-foot-4 Bahamian manned short for Frisco in Game 1 of their playoff series. The 6-foot-5 slugger went 0-for-2 but drew three walks in the contest and stole a base (he was also caught stealing once). He appears to be fully recovered and is likely ticketed for Triple-A to start next season. Though he is young, the 20-year-old has a real shot to debut for the Rangers in 2027, and with his mouthwatering combination of hit, power, and run tools, he's a fantasy star-in-the-making.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Travis Hunter's Fantasy Stock Keeps Sliding
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter barely had an offensive role in Week 1. He played four snaps on offense in the 34-10 win over Cleveland and 29 on defense. Hunter touched the ball on two of those four offensive plays, catching his only target for eight yards and adding three yards on one carry. The bigger issue is getting onto the field. Jacksonville had already been leaning Hunter toward cornerback late in camp, and the opener made that concern very real for fantasy managers. Parker Washington caught five passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, while Jakobi Meyers also scored. Both were on the field for more than 60% of the offensive snaps. Hunter was at 7%. Brian Thomas Jr. also remains ahead of him in the receiver mix. There may still be packages for Hunter on offense, but four snaps is nowhere near enough to support consistent fantasy value. His stock is still sliding after Week 1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brock Bowers Missing Another Practice on Thursday
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) was not participating during the media-viewing portion of practice on Thursday, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Bowers had a meniscus trim on his left knee and missed the Week 1 season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins. Reports have suggested that the 23-year-old star tight end is not dealing with an overly serious injury, potentially putting him in play to make his season debut this Sunday in Week 2 against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. Head coach Klint Kubiak was hopeful on Wednesday that Bowers would return to practice on either Thursday or Friday. Bowers' status continues to be up in the air, and if he is cleared to play on Sunday, he could carry bust potential for fantasy managers if the Raiders decide to limit his snaps. Michael Mayer was the Raiders' top pass-catching TE in the Week 1 win over Miami, catching six of his seven targets for 32 yards. If Bowers misses another game, Mayer will once again be on the TE streaming radar, especially in two-TE leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Jackson Flora Promoted to Double-A, Will Start on Thursday
San Francisco Giants pitching prospect Jackson Flora has been promoted to Double-A Richmond and is scheduled to start for the Squirrels in Game 2 of their postseason contest versus Erie. The Giants' top pitching prospect was selected in this year's MLB Draft at No. 4 overall, but has made just two starts at Single-A prior to getting the nod for Thursday's playoff game. It was a small sample, but the right-hander produced three scoreless innings in those two starts, yielding one hit and three walks while striking out six of the 12 batters he faced. Nevertheless, the promotion shows the confidence the organization has in him and puts him on the fast-track to a major league debut, potentially as early as 2027. The 6-foot-5 hurler remains a valuable dynasty asset whose arrow is pointing up.
Source: MLB Pipeline
Source: MLB Pipeline
Hollywood Brown's Fantasy Stock Takes a Hit
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hollywood Brown was active for the season opener and never got on the field. DeVonta Smith played 52 offensive snaps, Dontayvion Wicks 50, rookie Makai Lemon 35, and Darius Cooper eight. Brown played zero. Nick Sirianni said afterward that Philadelphia wants to get him involved and that the receiver rotation simply never got there in Week 1. Brown said he was surprised and hadn't been told beforehand that he wouldn't play. That makes this more than an empty box score. Whatever the exact plan was, four Eagles wide receivers saw the field before Brown did. Sirianni's comments leave room for that to change quickly, but there is no way around what Week 1 showed. Brown needs snaps before targets can even become part of the fantasy discussion. For now, going from a potential complementary piece to no offensive role at all is a major hit to his stock.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rams Officially Place Myles Garrett on Injured Reserve
The Los Angeles Rams officially placed All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett (knee) on Injured Reserve on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Garrett will miss at least the next four games. The earliest that Garrett could rejoin the Rams is for their divisional clash on Oct. 18 against the Arizona Cardinals. The 30-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro recorded 23 sacks in 2025 in his final season with the Cleveland Browns to break the league's all-time single-season sack record. But Garrett missed most of his first training camp with the Rams this summer due to a knee injury. He was active for the team's Week 1 season-opening loss to the division-rival San Francisco 49ers last Thursday in Australia, but he was not feeling well and failed to record a single tackle in the blowout loss. Garrett is having a scope to clean out his troublesome knee. As of right now, it is unclear if he will have a shot to return in Week 6 when he is eligible. In the meantime, he should be stashed in all IDP fantasy formats.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Sam Leavitt Takes Part in Thursday's Walkthrough
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt (shoulder) took part in the team's Thursday walkthrough practice after being limited on Wednesday. The Arizona State transfer was listed as doubtful on Wednesday for the Week 3 meeting against Ole Miss due to a shoulder injury, but many have speculated that Tigers' head coach, Lane Kiffin, is exaggerating his injury in an act of gamesmanship. In what has been circled as a potential game of the year candidate as Kiffin returns to Oxford, Leavitt's status is worth monitoring up until Saturday. In his first two games with the program against Clemson and Louisiana Tech, Leavitt has thrown for 574 yards, rushed for 135 yards, thrown four interceptions, and scored seven total touchdowns. If Leavitt is truly at risk of missing the SEC opener, Landen Clark or Husan Longstreet will occupy the QB1 role on Saturday.
Source: Pete Nakos
Source: Pete Nakos
Jefferson Rojas Homers in First Two Games at Triple-A
New York Mets infield prospect Jefferson Rojas continued his ambush of Triple-A pitching on Wednesday, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk, two singles, a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored for Syracuse, a day after he went 2-for-5 with a home run in his first game at Triple-A. The right-handed slugger has been terrific since coming over from the Cubs in early August in the Clay Holmes trade, but has been particularly good as of late, going 12-for-26 (.462) over his last six games, including three doubles and three home runs. For the season, the Mets' top prospect is slashing .278/.343/.510 with 26 home runs and 20 steals. The 21-year-old Dominican is looking like a strong candidate to make his major league debut early next season, and with a nice blend of contact, power, and speed, there's plenty of reason to like him for fantasy, both in dynasty and eventually in 2027 redraft leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Luther Burden III Proves Breakout Case With Strong Week 1
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III was one of the most popular second-year breakout candidates at the receiver position going into the 2026 season. Burden backed up that hype in the Week 1 season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers, playing a team-high 73% of the offensive snaps while catching all five of his targets for 63 yards. The 22-year-old also had one carry for a gain of just two yards. It actually might have been a little disappointing that Burden did not have a bigger game, with the Bears putting up a whopping 59 points in the win over Carolina. It is also worth noting that second-year tight end Colston Loveland did not have a single catch in this one. The Bears' passing game was not really needed against the Panthers, but that could change quickly in their Week 2 divisional clash against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Burden is definitely going to have some monster games in his second year in head coach Ben Johnson's offense, and he should be in all starting fantasy lineups this weekend as a WR2/3.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Mike Sirota Could Start Next Season at Triple-A
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Mike Sirota celebrated a phenomenal regular season with a home run in a 2-for-5 day at the plate in Game 1 of Double-A Tulsa's playoff loss on Tuesday. The effort put an exclamation point on a productive campaign in which the Dodgers' second-ranked prospect hit .306 with 17 home runs and 13 steals across two levels. He also recorded a superb .459 on-base percentage thanks to a 19.7 percent walk rate, recording an amazing 72-game streak of getting on base at least once at one point during the year. The former third-rounder appears destined for Triple-A next season and has a shot at making his major league debut, though the outfield in L.A. is crowded and the organization has other outfield prospects vying for debuts next year, including James Tibbs III, Kendall George, and perhaps Eduardo Quintero, among others. Still, with the all-around skill set Sirota put on display this year, he remains a highly regarded dynasty asset who may be the first non-debuted prospect name called to Los Angeles next year.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Tre' Harris Could Have Bigger Opportunity With Teammate Injured
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris and the Chargers' offense surprisingly struggled to move the ball consistently in their Week 1 season-opening upset loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Harris caught half of his six targets on the day for just 20 yards and was held out of the end zone in the first game of his sophomore season in 2026. The good news for the former second-rounder from Mississippi is that he played a healthy 75% of the offensive snaps (just two fewer than Quentin Johnston). The 24-year-old pass-catcher has become an interesting waiver-wire option at receiver heading into a Week 2 divisional tilt against the Las Vegas Raiders, primarily because top wideout Ladd McConkey (rib) is currently questionable after missing Wednesday's practice. If McConkey is not cleared to play this weekend, Harris will have a significantly bigger role alongside Johnston and could be worth a flex play in deeper fantasy leagues. Harris caught 30 passes for 324 yards and one touchdown on 43 targets in 17 games as a rookie in 2025.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Michael Penix Jr. Splitting First-Team Reps Again
Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Cooper Rush both threw to starters in the routes-on-air drill on Thursday during the media-viewing portion of Thursday's practice, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) missed a second straight day of practice, so it looks like it will come down to either Rush (for a second straight) starting or Penix starting under center in Week 2 against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Penix was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's practice, but both he and the Falcons are taking it slow as he continues to recover from a partially torn ACL late last year. Penix missed most of training camp and the entire preseason. In both the short and long term, the Falcons plan on using Penix as their starting QB after he was drafted eighth overall in 2024 out of the University of Washington. If Rush makes a second straight start to begin the 2026 season, he will be a desperation QB2 in superflex leagues after throwing for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in the Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
Jesus Baez Continues Success in Double-A Postseason
St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect Jesus Baez helped carry Double-A Springfield to a win in their first game of the Texas League playoffs on Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a walk, three RBI, and two runs scored in the contest. It was a continuation of his phenomenal 2026 season, one in which began at High-A for 54 games and then finished at Double-A for 59 games. The Cards' 15th-ranked prospect posted a .789 OPS at High-A, but somehow improved to a 1.034 OPS while at Springfield against stiffer competition. The right-handed hitter maintained a 16.0 percent strikeout rate between both stops, and blasted 39 home runs in all, second-most in the minor leagues. The 21-year-old could open next season at Triple-A and find himself ranked well within the organization's top 10 by then. The 2026 breakout put him on the dynasty map, and once he's knocking on the door to the majors next year, his prodigious power will put him on the redraft radar.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Joe Burrow Shows Encouraging Signs of Participation
One day after popping up on the injury report and logging a limited practice with back tightness, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (back) was seen during the media-accessible portion of Thursday's practice going through his pre-practice throwing routine in full shoulder pads and helmet. With signs pointing toward a return to full participation, Burrow will look to move past what has become a traditionally slow start to the season. He threw for 254 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Bengals' Week 1 win over the Buccaneers, but he faces a Texans defense on Sunday that is still viewed as one of the league's fiercest units despite allowing a QB2 performance to Josh Allen in the season opener. Burrow is RotoBaller's QB9 this week in a game with a 22-point implied team total.
Source: Paul Dehner Jr.
Source: Paul Dehner Jr.
TreVeyon Henderson Says He's "Ready to Go"
New England Patriots second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) missed the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl rematch last Wednesday night, but he was a full participant in Wednesday's practice and said on Thursday that he is "ready to go," according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. The Patriots could still ease the former Ohio State star back into their backfield, but it is looking very likely that he will make his season debut in the Week 2 tilt at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. When both Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson are healthy, they are expected to split New England's backfield in half, which makes them both basically RB3/flex options every week when they are both healthy. Henderson's impending return is definitely bad news for Stevenson, who averaged just 2.8 yards per carry on 18 rushing attempts in last week's loss to the Seahawks. Henderson is already rostered in 93% of Yahoo leagues after he had 911 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in his first NFL season in 2025.
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
