May 21, 2026, 2:09 PM ET

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts is an intriguing waiver wire option for fantasy baseball managers as he shows off increased power. Bogaerts hit just 11 homers in each of his last two seasons, but he's already up to seven homers through just 48 games this year. Although he has hit a bit of a lull lately (.160/.192/.160 slash line over his last seven games), the power surge is enough to justify adding Bogaerts off waivers. Outside of the recent skid, he's having a solid season with a .247/.318/.385 slash line, seven homers, seven steals, a 9% walk rate, an 18% strikeout rate, and 104 wRC+. He is still available in 48% of leagues, and he ranks #19 among shortstops in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 21, 2026, 2:01 PM ET

The Miami Marlins are calling up third baseman Graham Pauley from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday after they placed infielder Leo Jimenez (neck) on the 10-day injured list after he was injured on Wednesday night, according to Kevin Barral of Fish on First. The 25-year-old Pauley was demoted to the minors after going 13-for-75 (.173) with a homer, six doubles, nine RBI, eight runs scored, a stolen base, five walks, and 19 strikeouts in his first 28 games for the Fish in 2026. At Jacksonville, Pauley wasn't a whole lot better, batting .222 (8-for-36), but with three home runs, two doubles, six RBI, six runs scored, a steal, five walks, and nine strikeouts across nine games and 41 plate appearances. At best, Pauley will be on the strong side of a platoon at the hot corner in South Beach for the Marlins now that he's back in the big leagues. Only fantasy managers in NL-only leagues should be considering picking Pauley up as corner-infield depth. In 103 major-league games, Pauley has slashed .198/.268/.340 with a .607 OPS, seven home runs, and 25 RBI.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Fish on First - Kevin Barral

May 21, 2026, 1:54 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said on Up & Adams on Thursday that the "door isn't closed" for veteran free-agent wide receiver Keenan Allen to potentially return to the Chargers. Hortiz adds that the team is giving their younger players a chance to grow and develop first and foremost, but they continue to stay in touch with Allen's representatives. There have been rumors that Allen could sign with the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, which could be gaining steam after recent news on Rashee Rice's knee surgery and violation of his probation. The 34-year-old Allen remains on the open market with June quickly approaching after he caught 81 passes on 122 targets for 777 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in his return to L.A. in 2025. If the six-time Pro Bowler were to return to the Bolts, he'd likely be competing for the WR3 or WR4 role behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, at the very least. He'd have more deep-league fantasy football appeal if he were to sign in Kansas City.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Up & Adams

May 21, 2026, 1:43 PM ET

The Miami Marlins acquired outfielder Rece Hinds from the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday in exchange for right-hander Zach McCambley, according to Isaac Azout of Fish on First. The 25-year-old Hinds will now head to the National League East after the Reds designated him for assignment last week. The former second-rounder in 2019 will report to Triple-A Jacksonville. He offers elite power/exit velocity, but also swings and misses quite often. He hit only 121 (4-for-33) with one walk and 18 strikeouts in 12 games this season in Cincy and also batted .116 (5-for-43) with a walk and 21 strikeouts in 15 games for the Reds in 2025. Hinds has seven home runs and 19 RBI in his 51 big-league games, but he's also sporting a 42% strikeout rate and 4.6% walk rate, which isn't conducive to long-term success. In 23 games for Triple-A Louisville in 2026, Hinds has hit .306/.423/.635 with seven homers. In NL-only leagues, Hinds is worth a look off the waiver wire for his raw power, but in mixed leagues, he can continue to be ignored. He's currently not rostered at all in any Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Fish On First - Isaac Azout

May 21, 2026, 1:34 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitching prospect Robert Gasser has been rewarded with another start in the big leagues and will pitch on Friday in an NLCS rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Gasser, 26, made his season debut on May 17 against the Minnesota Twins and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out three in four innings for a no-decision. He also hit three batters. For at least one more start through the rotation, right-hander Chad Patrick will remain in the bullpen. Gasser can probably be left on the waiver wire for now in most fantasy leagues. Even if he pitches well in a very difficult matchup this weekend -- the Dodgers lead baseball with a .776 OPS -- Gasser could be ticketed for a trip back to Triple-A Nashville with veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) inching closer to a return from the injured list. Gasser has impressed in his eight MLB starts, dating back to 2024, though, posting a 2.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 24:7 K:BB across 37 2/3 innings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy

May 21, 2026, 1:30 PM ET

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson won't start right away, but his long-term upside in such a prominent offense gives him significant value in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Matthew Stafford is already 38 years old, and although he continues to play at an MVP level, there's no debate that he's in the final stage of his career. Whether he gives it one more year or a few more remains unclear, but the selection of Simpson indicates that the Alabama prospect will be the Rams' quarterback of the future. With the Rams interested in signing wide receiver Puka Nacua long-term, Simpson should have a star-studded receiving corps at his disposal whenever he does take over as the starter. As a result, he ranks as the QB26 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. That doesn't quite get him into the first round of rookie drafts, though. Instead, he projects as an early second-round pick.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 21, 2026, 1:23 PM ET

Although Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza worked mostly third in the team's OTA practice on Wednesday behind Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell, he has impressed the coaching staff, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. The No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft mostly worked with rookies during competitive periods of practice. Mendoza and O'Connell will get their fair share to compete for the starting job going into Week 1 of the regular season, but Cousins appears to be in the driver's seat to start the season opener in early September. The rookie's positioning in the QB rotation is due to his inexperience in the NFL and in new head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. Despite being eased in, the former Indiana product hasn't failed to impress. "Anything that you put in front of him, he's going to attack it," Kubiak said. "Anything that's new, he spends extra time on it. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next. Very coachable, and that can be said for all those quarterbacks in the room." Although Mendoza might not start from Day 1 at the next level, he's still the clear-cut top QB in rookie-only drafts in dynasty leagues going into the 2026 season, and he could be starting in Vegas sooner rather than later, depending on how Cousins fares.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren

May 21, 2026, 1:15 PM ET

Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh said that second-year quarterback Cam Ward (shoulder) is "perfectly healthy" and is throwing the football around during offseason workouts, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website. Ward suffered a sprained AC joint in his right throwing shoulder in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he didn't have any structural damage and will be a full-go by the time training camp rolls around in late July. Last year's No. 1 overall pick predictably struggled in his rookie season as Tennessee's starter under center from Day 1, completing 59.8% of his passes for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 17 starts. He also had 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns to finish as the QB22 in fantasy in his first year in the league. It didn't help that he was sacked a league-high 55 times. But with an upgraded supporting cast on offense and with new play-caller Brian Daboll in town, Ward is primed for a Year 2 leap. RotoBaller has him ranked as the QB25 in redraft formats for 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: TennesseeTitans.com - Jim Wyatt

May 21, 2026, 1:10 PM ET

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III has not been present for the team's OTA practices this week, according to Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com, and third-year RB Frank Gore Jr. has stood out in his absence. Gore looked "explosive and decisive" while running through holes. Although OTAs are voluntary in the offseason, it's notable that Cook is a no-show, especially after already signing a four-year, $46 million contract extension last summer. Cook may already be unhappy with his contract after all of De'Von Achane, Kenneth Walker III, Breece Hall, and Travis Etienne Jr. were given bigger deals this offseason. The three-time Pro Bowler led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards on a career-high 309 carries last year while scoring 12 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games to finish as the RB5 in half-PPR scoring. He also had 33 catches for 291 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air. Cook has now scored on the ground 28 times in the last two seasons, and he'll continue to be viewed as a top-five fantasy RB with QB Josh Allen leading an explosive offense behind a strong offensive line.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Syracuse.com - Matt Parrino

May 21, 2026, 12:55 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington is trending in the wrong direction in dynasty fantasy football leagues, and managers could justify dropping him as the post-rookie draft roster crunch approaches. Washington had 31 catches, 364 yards, and one touchdown last year, and we're not convinced he'll be able to surpass those numbers in 2026. Now heading into his fourth year, the odds aren't in Washington's favor. Not only has he failed to live up to expectations through three NFL seasons, but he also has no connection to the new Steelers coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy. Furthermore, the Steelers brought in competition in the form of fifth-round rookie Riley Nowakowski. Washington should hold onto the No. 2 tight end role (behind Pat Freiermuth and ahead of Nowakowski) initially, but he could end up falling to third as the year goes on. Washington is also heading into a contract year, which could be more incentive for the Steelers to reduce his reps and lean more on Freiermuth and Nowakowski. While free agency could be a much-needed fresh start for Washington next year, he doesn't have the track record needed to sign somewhere as a starting tight end. Therefore, both in the short term and long term, Washington's dynasty outlook is bleak. Managers can absolutely justify dropping him, as he has fallen to TE52 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 21, 2026, 12:47 PM ET

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza might not start Week 1, but he remains an appealing dynasty option and the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback among this year's rookies in fantasy football. Mendoza worked behind Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell during OTAs on Wednesday. Managers shouldn't read too much into this pecking order, as it's common for rookies to take the backseat during practices this early in their careers. With that said, it does seem like there's a real chance that Cousins starts Week 1 for the Raiders while Mendoza learns from him, develops, and prepares to take over the offense midseason. Regardless of whether Mendoza starts right away or rides the bench for a little while, he's an undisputed riser in dynasty fantasy football leagues. His passing skills, mobility, and toughness give him top-12 quarterback upside, and he should have a very long career ahead of him. Currently, he ranks as the overall QB17 in RotoBaller's dynasty fantasy football rankings, and he projects as a mid-first-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 21, 2026, 12:37 PM ET

Free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) remains unsigned heading into the final stretch of May. There are still more than three months until the NFL season, but managers would like to see Hill sign sooner rather than later so that they can evaluate his landing spot and fantasy football outlook. There have been very few indications of which teams might pursue Hill, so it appears that his free agency remains wide open. With that being said, the Chiefs seem like a natural fit. Not only is he familiar with the organization and Patrick Mahomes, but Kansas City could use a clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver as Rashee Rice (personal) continues to deal with off-the-field problems and Xavier Worthy has not yet lived up to his first-round draft capital. Hill played in four games with the Dolphins last year, averaging 5.3 catches, 66.3 yards, and 0.3 touchdowns per contest. He's not far removed from his WR2 finish in 2023, but he's certainly in the back half of his career and may have trouble returning to top-12 receiver form. Nevertheless, his experience and speed make him an intriguing receiver in redraft leagues, as well as dynasty leagues where he can be acquired for a reasonable price.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 21, 2026, 12:28 PM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins' role isn't perfectly clear ahead of the 2026 season, as there continue to be plenty of questions and moving parts in Foxborough. Most notably, we still don't know whether the Patriots will trade for A.J. Brown, a move widely reported but not yet official. If Brown does head to New England, Hollins would fall to fourth on the depth chart behind Brown, Romeo Doubs, and Kayshon Boutte. However, other questions also exist in regard to the depth chart. Most notably, Boutte's role is uncertain, as he continues to skip offseason workouts in search of a new contract. It's possible that Boutte could be traded (perhaps to the Eagles for Brown), and if that happens, it'd be great news for Hollins. Regardless of how the rest of New England's offseason shakes out, Hollins proved last year that he deserves to have a prominent role in this offense going forward. He served as one of Drake Maye's favorite targets, catching 46 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns over 15 games. His best stretch came from Week 7-16, when he ranked as the WR39 and averaged 7.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR). He wasn't a dependable WR3/flex every single week, but he was on the fantasy radar more often than not, giving managers a potential starter in deeper leagues. If he keeps it up in 2026, he'll remain a low-cost, low-risk receiver with WR3/flex upside.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 21, 2026, 12:27 PM ET

Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever Juan Mejia blew his first save opportunity of the season in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the visiting Texas Rangers at Coors Field, allowing a hit and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning. The two runs that scored were charged to lefty Brennan Bernardino, who started the inning. It wasn't exactly the 25-year-old Dominican's fault, as he entered the contest in Denver with the bases loaded and one out. Mejia hasn't allowed an earned run in his last seven appearances since May 5, a span in which he has thrown 8 1/3 scoreless innings with three hits allowed, four walks, 11 strikeouts, two saves, one blown save, and a hold. Right-hander Antonio Senzatela should remain in the mix for saves in Colorado going forward, but Mejia's first blown save of the year on Tuesday shouldn't negatively impact his save chances in Colorado, and he's probably still the best option for saves with the Rockies for fantasy managers. In his second year with the Rockies, Mejia has a 3.80 ERA (3.36 FIP), 1.48 WHIP, a career-high three saves, 28 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 23 2/3 innings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 21, 2026, 12:18 PM ET

Boston Red Sox left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman has not looked his age (38) at all in 2026 in his second year with the team. The veteran southpaw threw a scoreless inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout to close out the Kansas City Royals in a 4-3 victory, and he now has 12 saves, a minuscule 0.51 ERA (1.86 FIP) and 0.85 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and seven walks in 17 2/3 innings of relief in his 17th year in the big leagues. Surprisingly, Chapman has been one of the best relievers in baseball so far through the quarter mark of the 2026 season, and he's currently on a scoreless streak of 13 2/3 innings, a span in which he has allowed six hits, walked six, struck out 20, and recorded 10 saves for the BoSox. He currently ranks fifth in the majors with his 12 saves, but how much longer can he continue to outduel Father Time? With an xwOBA in the 68th percentile and a hard-hit rate in the 10th percentile, regression will most certainly come for the Cuban hurler eventually. His expected ERA also sits at 3.09 despite being in the 96th percentile in strikeout rate. Chapman still has enough swing-and-miss stuff to be a strong closing option for fantasy managers, but he's also a clear sell-high candidate.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 21, 2026, 12:05 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) will make his next minor-league rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Indianapolis, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. General manager Ben Cherington said on Sunday that Jones would make "at least one" more rehab start, so Saturday could be his last rehab outing before rejoining the Pirates' major-league starting rotation. He will be eligible to come off the 60-day injured list after that. Despite missing all of the 2025 season due to elbow surgery, Jones is one of the best arms to stash in fantasy baseball leagues, and he's only rostered in 37% of Yahoo leagues right now. He got up to 52 pitches and 4 1/3 innings in his last rehab start, and he's looked solid in his four starts with Indy, Single-A Bradenton, and Double-A Altoona, posting a 1.88 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with 18 K's and only three walks in 14 1/3 frames. Jones was a second-round pick in 2020 and impressed in his first 22 major-league starts as a rookie in 2024 with 132 punchouts and 39 walks in 121 2/3 innings pitched.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley

May 21, 2026, 11:57 AM ET

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Thursday morning, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Skubal said he treated it more like a "start" than a between-start bullpen, and he increased the intensity and hit the velocity target he set at the end. The back-to-back American League Cy Young winner didn't have any symptoms following surgery on his left elbow to remove loose bodies, and he continues to be very enthusiastic about his progress. Manager A.J. Hinch shot down rumors that Skubal could skip a minor-league rehab assignment altogether and return to the team's starting rotation next week. However, Skubal has now thrown off a mound three times since having surgery two-plus weeks ago, so it wouldn't be entirely impossible for him to start a rehab assignment at some point late next week if he's feeling good. The 29-year-old southpaw is making excellent progress, and in a best-case scenario, he might come off the 15-day injured list in early June. Skubal has added incentive to make it back as soon as possible to try to increase his trade value before August's deadline. He signed a one-year, $32 million deal with Detroit in February of this year, so he'll be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLive.com - Evan Woodbery

May 21, 2026, 11:49 AM ET

Even though Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte is still in the minors, he should be attracting some interest off the waiver wire due to a recent hot stretch at Triple-A Louisville. In his last 25 games with the Bats, Marte has gone 41-for-103 (.398) with six home runs, 22 RBI, and eight stolen bases. The 24-year-old Dominican is hitting .383/.436/.583 overall at Louisville with a 1.019 OPS, six home runs, 22 RBI, eight steals, and 24 runs scored in 30 games across 133 plate appearances. The Reds sent Marte down to the minors in the middle of April after he went 4-for-29 (.138) with two walks and 10 strikeouts in his first 11 games in Cincy. Based on how he's hitting currently on the farm, the Reds are probably considering calling Marte back up to the big-league club. In a career-high 90 games in Cincy last year, Marte hit .263 (89-for-339) with 14 homers, 51 RBI, and 10 steals. Fantasy managers in need of some power and speed in deeper leagues should consider adding Marte, who is only rostered in 28% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Milb.com

May 21, 2026, 11:42 AM ET

Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg has by no means been excellent at the back end of the team's bullpen so far in 2026, but he remains the best option for saves with veteran right-hander Carlos Estevez (foot, shoulder) still sidelined. Erceg blew his third save of 2026 on May 15 against the St. Louis Cardinals, but he rebounded with his 11th save (tied for sixth in the majors) on May 17 against the Cardinals, throwing a scoreless inning with one walk. The 31-year-old former second-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016 out of Menlo College has been more reliable in May as well, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out seven for a win, four saves, and one blown save. His most recent save against St. Louis was his first save since May 5. Overall, Erceg has a 3-1 record, 3.26 ERA (3.37 FIP), 1.45 WHIP, 11 saves, 17 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 19 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He should deserve more waiver-wire consideration -- he's rostered in 60% of Yahoo leagues -- and he could even continue to pick up save chances when Estevez comes off the injured list.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 21, 2026, 11:34 AM ET

Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (oblique) is currently on the 10-day injured list due to a left-oblique strain, but fantasy managers looking for an upgrade at the catching position may want to consider picking him up off the waiver wire as he nears a return. When healthy, the 27-year-old Dominican backstop is Houston's starting catcher. Diaz lacks plate discipline -- he sports a 3.5% walk rate in his four-plus seasons in the majors -- but he's also displayed above-average power at the position over the last three seasons. From 2023 to 2025, Diaz hit .279/.306/.455 with a .761 OPS, 59 home runs, and 214 RBI in 395 regular-season games across 1,563 plate appearances. In 26 contests before injuring his oblique muscle this year, Diaz had gone 24-for-101 (.238) with two long balls, 14 runs scored, and seven runs scored over 106 plate appearances. He's not the best target in leagues that count on-base percentage, but at least in two-catcher leagues, Diaz has value. He's currently rostered in 44% of Yahoo leagues and is worth a look on the waiver wire as he nears a return to the big leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 21, 2026, 11:22 AM ET

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday suffered a fractured hamate bone in his hand back in February and required surgery, putting him on the injured list to start the 2026 regular season in late March. The 22-year-old former first overall pick in 2022 then had multiple setbacks while on a minor-league rehab assignment, which is why he didn't make his season debut until this week against the Tampa Bay Rays. Holliday has gone hitless in his first four plate appearances with the O's with three strikeouts, and he also struggled while in the minors, slashing .176/.291/.284 with a homer, five RBI, six runs, one steal, 10 walks, and 23 strikeouts in 22 rehab games with High-A Frederick, Double-A Chesapeake, and Triple-A Norfolk. Fantasy managers shouldn't forget that Holliday came three home runs and three steals shy of a 20-20 season in 2025 in what was his first full year in the big leagues. He's still a developing young player with plenty of power/speed upside; it might just take him a bit to get back in a rhythm. Holliday is worth stashing for his upside as Baltimore's starting second baseman, and he's only rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 21, 2026, 11:16 AM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed reliever Alex Vesia allowed three earned runs in just one-third of an inning in a loss to the division-rival San Francisco Giants on May 11, but in four appearances since then, he's bounced back by throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings with one hit allowed, one walk, six strikeouts, and a hold. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw has only been scored on in two of his 21 appearances out of the Dodgers' bullpen so far this season, and he currently holds a 2.65 ERA (1.81 FIP) and 0.94 WHIP with 23 strikeouts, eight walks, and four holds. Vesia has also locked down two saves, although his last save came back on April 14. He clearly has manager Dave Roberts' trust in high-leverage situations, and more save opportunities could come with closer Edwin Diaz (elbow) out for an extended period of time. At the very least, Vesia is worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues that count holds, as he will continue to be deployed in late-inning, high-leverage spots. He's only rostered in 21% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 21, 2026, 10:22 AM ET

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) will need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before he comes off the 15-day injured list following surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. "That's not true," Hinch said when responding to a claim that Skubal could be back next week without a rehab assignment. "That's ridiculous." The two-time Cy Young winner had a minimally invasive Nano-Scope procedure on his elbow, which cuts down his recovery time, but Hinch basically shut down any rumors that the talented left-hander would be back in the Tigers' starting rotation by next week. However, Skubal has already thrown a bullpen session and could be ready to start a rehab assignment by next week, so barring a setback, he might be back from the IL in early June. Before having elbow surgery, Skubal was 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings across seven starts. He's still one of the best pitchers in baseball and should not have been dropped in any fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck

May 21, 2026, 10:15 AM ET

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes that the Tampa Bay Rays attempted a blockbuster trade to acquire two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani before the 2023 trade deadline, according to people briefed on the conversations. The potential deal would have sent third baseman Junior Caminero to the Los Angeles Angels. The trade obviously didn't go down, with owner Arte Moreno deciding for the second straight year to keep Ohtani, only to lose him in free agency to the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Dodgers four months later. The other prospect who would have been sent to Anaheim in that proposed blockbuster deal was shortstop Carson Williams, who was then a 20-year-old in High-A. Before the 2022 trade deadline, the Angels discussed an Ohtani trade with the San Diego Padres that would have brought them a comparable, or perhaps even better, package than the one the Padres ultimately sent to the Washington Nationals for outfielder Juan Soto. The Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series championships after signing Ohtani to a mega-deal in free agency.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal

May 21, 2026, 10:10 AM ET

Left-hander Kyle Harrison has looked like a completely different pitcher in 2026 in his first year with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 24-year-old southpaw completely shut the division-rival Chicago Cubs down on Wednesday at Wrigley Field in the team's 5-0 win, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing only two hits, walking one, and striking out 11 to improve to 5-1 on the year. Harrison retired 15 straight hitters at one point and generated a 41% whiff rate in the impressive outing. It was his second straight scoreless appearance as well after shutting out the San Diego Padres for five innings while striking out seven in his previous start on May 14. Harrison now has two double-digit strikeout performances in 2026 and is currently sporting a strong 1.77 ERA (2.50 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 59 strikeouts and 14 walks in 45 2/3 innings pitched across his nine starts for the Brew Crew. He's only rostered in 74% of Yahoo leagues, too. That number should be rising.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 21, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson topped 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in 2025 and was one of the most impactful fantasy receivers in the league over the second half of the year. Wilson played the final eight weeks of the season on a 119-catch, 1,647-yard, 15-touchdown pace that made him the WR2 over that stretch. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR34, his ranking may seem low for a 26-year-old wideout who just helped to win leagues, but almost all of Wilson's damage was done while Marvin Harrison Jr. was either sidelined or playing through injury. Wilson's full-season pace across the ten games in which Harrison saw at least 30 offensive snaps falls to a much more pedestrian line of 44 receptions, 530 yards, and three scores. Arizona is also likely to field a much more balanced offense in 2026 after throwing the ball at a near record level once Jacoby Brissett took the starting job in Week 6. The Cardinals added Tyler Allgeier through free agency before spending the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Jeremiyah Love. The team also drafted quarterback Carson Beck at the top of the third round, while Brissett and the team are currently in a contract dispute. With an eye clearly on the future and a loaded 2027 draft class, there are no guarantees of who will be under center for Arizona by year's end, potentially hurting the stock of all Cardinals pass catchers and further impacting Wilson's sell window.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 21, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Lowe connected on his fifth long ball of the year in the second inning off Aaron Civale in his team's extra-inning loss on Wednesday night. Lowe went 1-for-4 with two RBI and two strikeouts and is still hitting only .182 on the year with a 29.2% K%. However, he has been much more productive lately. In his last 10 games, he is 8-for-24 (.333) with a 47.1% hard-hit rate and a .379 wOBA. He has a .215 BABIP on the season, which is well below league average, and if more of his contact starts falling in, his average could climb in the next few weeks. The lefty remains in a platoon but does have a high ceiling despite his low batting average and high strikeout rate. If you're in a deep league, Lowe has shown enough signs over the last 10 games to watch him closely moving forward or try to get ahead of a surge with a speculative pickup. His power potential is clearly intriguing if he can continue his current momentum.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 21, 2026, 9:49 AM ET

Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield has been a huge addition to his team's offense, and he can give your fantasy lineup a boost if you're looking for some power production at first base from the waiver wire. Rumfield was acquired from the Yankees in a trade late in spring training and earned the starting 1B job with a big spring. He has lived up to his potential through 200 plate appearances this season, hitting .275 with six homers, 20 runs scored, and 25 RBI. He has a .349 wOBA and a .433 SLG, with just a 15.5% K%. Rumfield has been especially hot lately, going 2-for-4 on Wednesday against the Rangers and hitting .321 with three homers and a .414 wOBA over his last 15 games. The Rockies are in Arizona for a four-game series this weekend at Chase Field before heading to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers next week. Rumfield is a solid waiver wire pickup even as the Rockies go on the road, though, since he has produced great batting average and power numbers as a key part of the heart of Colorado's lineup.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 21, 2026, 9:48 AM ET

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson took advantage of an early-season opportunity to finish as the TE8 in half-PPR formats in 2025. With five-time Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb missing meaningful time with a high-ankle sprain, Ferguson's 13.6 fantasy points per game through Week 7 were enough to make him the TE1 to that point. Unfortunately, with Lamb returning to health and George Pickens experiencing a true fourth-year breakout, Ferguson was unable to sustain that pace down the stretch, finishing as the TE22 over the final 11 weeks of the season. With the Cowboys deploying 11 personnel at one of the league's highest rates, and the team capable of trotting out two bona fide Alphas even in two-receiver sets, Ferguson's ceiling will always be capped in a fully healthy Dallas offense, though the same is true for all but the truly elite tight end talents around the NFL. Ferguson's advantage comes in running with one of the most high-powered offenses in the league while providing injury insurance to not just one, but two capable target-earners. Having already shown his ability to win weeks when called upon, the 27-year-old Ferguson comes into 2026 as RotoBaller's dynasty TE13.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 21, 2026, 9:38 AM ET

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers broke the single-season rookie reception record in 2024, and while injuries largely defined his second season, when healthy, he was still a force. Bowers missed five total games, was shut down twice, and was clearly affected throughout the year by a bone bruise and PCL sprain. However, in his two healthiest games of 2025 (Week 1 to begin the season and Week 9 when initially returning from injury), he caught 17 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, finishing as the TE2 and TE1 while averaging 27.8 half-PPR points. At only 23 years old, Bowers is RotoBaller's TE1 and one of the most valuable players in all of dynasty. Klint Kubiak arrives in Vegas having deployed heavy personnel packages at one of the league's highest rates with Seattle, and with no Jaxon Smith-Njigba-type on the Raiders' roster, Bowers could see one of the highest first-read target shares in the league. Now tied to 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza for the foreseeable future, Bowers has a chance to dominate for a long time at a position that can provide a league-winning advantage for fantasy.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller