RADIO
Mathew Barzal Could Resume Skating This Weekend
New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (knee) might be back on the ice this weekend. He is dealing with a knee issue and didn't play in Wednesday's season-opening loss to Toronto. However, Barzal is expected to return to the ice in the coming days and should then be available for selection soon. On Wednesday, Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said Barzal would be "good to go" after only a few practices. Barzal has led his team in scoring twice in the past three years. In 2025-26, he amassed 72 points (19 goals, 53 assists) in 81 contests.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Rico Dowdle Has a Pretty Good Chance to Play Next Week
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) has already been ruled out of his team's Week 4 matchup on Thursday night against the Browns, but his return may not be far away. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday morning that Dowdle is more "day-to-day than anything else," and that he "has a pretty good chance" to return in Week 5, when the Steelers host the Colts at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Dowdle shared work in the first two weeks of the season with Jaylen Warren, and he'll be back in that timeshare when he returns from his toe injury. Until then, Warren will carry a big workload, giving him a boost in fantasy value.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Ryan Nembhard Agrees to Two-Way Deal with Nuggets
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Ryan Nembhard has agreed to a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. Denver is expected to waive KJ Simpson to open the spot. The 23-year-old went undrafted out of Gonzaga before averaging 6.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in 19.5 minutes across 60 games with Dallas as a rookie, including 27 starts. He capped the season with a franchise-record 23 assists in a regulation game against Chicago. Nembhard will sit behind Jamal Murray and Tyus Jones for point guard minutes, while his two-way deal limits him to 50 active NBA games. His passing ability makes him an interesting depth option if Denver needs another ball handler.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Northwestern TE Luke Dehnicke Doubtful For Week 5
Northwestern tight end Luke Dehnicke has been listed as doubtful for the Week 5 matchup against Penn State on Friday night with a head injury. The sophomore tight end had a breakout game against Indiana in Week 4, catching seven passes for 140 yards. This season, Dehnicke has 11 catches for 208 yards and is still waiting to score his first touchdown. Dehnicke was an unranked prospect out of Andover, MN, and dominated as a freshman at the University of Minnesota Duluth. In Division II, he caught 61 passes for 1,119 yards and 14 touchdowns. It's unclear when Dehnicke will return to action.
Source: Pete Thamel Of ESPN
Source: Pete Thamel Of ESPN
Senators Hope to Have Warren Foegele Available Saturday
Ottawa Senators winger Warren Foegele (undisclosed) is trending in the right direction ahead of Saturday's season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old is nursing an undisclosed injury, but Senators head coach Travis Green said after Wednesday's practice that he's hopeful Foegele will play against Toronto. As a midseason acquisition, Foegele tallied eight points (six goals, two assists) in 21 outings with the Senators last term. He may take on a larger role early this season due to Andre Burakovsky's (upper body) absence.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
George Pickens Looking for a Contract Extension
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, and he's looking to sign an extension in Dallas, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Pickens was traded to the Cowboys from the Steelers before last season, and he had his best season in the NFL with 93 catches for 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, all personal bests. Pickens hasn't found the end zone in the Cowboys' first three games this season, but he has remained very involved, with a total of 16 catches for 150 yards on 25 targets. Pickens is playing this season on a $27.3 million franchise tender, looking to prove he's worth a massive payday this coming offseason, whether that comes from the Cowboys or another team.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jake Sanderson Iffy for Season Opener
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson (undisclosed) didn't practice on Wednesday. He was hurt in Saturday's preseason finale against Montreal and skated on his own Wednesday. Initially, reports said Sanderson was fine after sitting out Monday's practice. Now that he has missed several practice sessions, it's unclear whether Sanderson will be available for Ottawa's season opener against Toronto on Saturday night. If Sanderson can't play, Thomas Chabot will likely get as many minutes as he can handle, and we should also see more of Carter Yakemchuk.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Noah Penda Limited by Hamstring Tweak to Start Camp
Orlando Magic forward Noah Penda (hamstring) is being brought along carefully after tweaking his hamstring, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. Head coach Sean Sweeney said Orlando doesn't want Penda doing too much during two-a-day practices early in camp. The 21-year-old averaged 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12.8 minutes across 59 games as a rookie before posting 15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game in Summer League. Penda is trying to earn a larger role in a crowded Orlando forward rotation, so getting back to full work ahead of the Oct. 7 preseason opener would give him more time to make his case.
Source: Jason Beede
Source: Jason Beede
Oso Ighodaro Competing for Starting Center Job
Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro isn't assuming the starting job is his while Mark Williams (shoulder) is sidelined. Ighodaro told Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic that he has been competing with Khaman Maluach for the past two months and believes the role still has to be earned. The 24-year-old averaged 8.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 0.9 steals in 27.4 minutes across 22 games without Williams last season. That production gives Ighodaro a useful fantasy path if he wins significant minutes, though his 45.3 percent free-throw shooting remains a clear drawback.
Source: Duane Rankin
Source: Duane Rankin
Alex Nedeljkovic Expected to Be Available Thursday
San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (illness) is expected to suit up for Thursday's season-opening matchup against the Florida Panthers, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports. Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky told reporters on Wednesday that Nedeljkovic was feeling under the weather but should be available against Florida. Although Nedeljkovic will likely be available, he is expected to serve as Yaroslav Askarov's backup. In 2025-26, Nedeljkovic had a solid year with the Sharks, going 18-14-4, with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage.
Source: Curtis Pashelka
Source: Curtis Pashelka
Keaton Mitchell in a Walking Boot
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (ankle) was wearing a walking boot on his left foot when the locker room was open to reporters, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim. Mitchell initially wasn't on the injury report, but was later added as being limited due to an ankle issue. Mitchell said he was "OK" according to Rhim, so there is still a chance he is able to play this weekend when the Chargers take on the Seahawks. Mitchell is getting some deserved attention after a strong showing in Week 3 against the Bills, when he scored the team's only touchdown, racked up 52 yards on eight carries, and hauled in all three of his targets for a loss of five yards. Mitchell will be a deep-league FLEX option if he's healthy for Week 4, while Kimani Vidal would be worth a look if Mitchell's injury ends up costing him a game.
Source: Kris Rhim
Source: Kris Rhim
William Karlsson Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Golden Knights
Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson has signed a two-year contract extension, ESPN's Kristen Shilton reports. The Swedish forward inked a $13.5 million deal on Wednesday, keeping him in Sin City through the 2028-29 season. While injuries have held Karlsson back in recent years, he plays an effective game when on the ice and has been a key part of the Golden Knights' success. Karlsson operates in a middle-six role, and if he can stay healthy, he could put up 50-60 points this season.
Source: Kristen Shilton
Source: Kristen Shilton
Morez Johnson Jr. Limited by Lower-Leg Soreness in Camp
Dallas Mavericks forward Morez Johnson Jr. (lower leg) is being eased through training camp because of soreness, according to Ron Harrod Jr. of DLLS Sports. Head coach Dusty May said Dallas is managing the rookie's workload and that Johnson participated in every other live session during Wednesday's practice. The No. 9 pick averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks on 62.3 percent shooting for Michigan last season before posting 18.5 points, 2.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks across two Summer League games. With Santi Aldama (knee) and Dereck Lively II (foot) also limited, Johnson has an opportunity to push for rotation minutes once he is fully participating.
Source: Ron Harrod Jr.
Source: Ron Harrod Jr.
AJ Barner Trending Up After Starting Quarterback Returns
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner had a relatively small role in the passing attack through the first two weeks of the season, but his volume shot up with quarterback Sam Darnold returning from injury in Week 3. During Sunday's loss, Barner exploded for nine targets, five catches, and 69 receiving yards. This was the second-highest target total of his career, suggesting that he's trending up with Darnold back in action. Barner may not get nine targets every week, but all signs point to him remaining on the fantasy radar as he continues to show off his rapport with Darnold. There's a case to be made that the 24-year-old is Darnold's second-favorite target, behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Barner has low-end TE1 appeal heading into Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bo Nix Turning the Corner After Sluggish Start
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had two turnovers and just 131 passing yards in Week 1, but he has turned the corner with two significantly stronger outings over his last two games. Most recently, in Week 3 against the Rams, he racked up 186 passing yards, three total touchdowns, and one interception. Although he still didn't have an amazing yardage output, his ability to find the end zone three times against a strong Rams defense was quite impressive. Nix has jumped to 18th in fantasy scoring this year, and he's trending back toward the low-end QB1 tier for Week 4 and beyond. The Broncos have a very tough start-of-season schedule, but Nix will have a chance to lead his Broncos to a 3-1 start against the undefeated 49ers on Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
