RADIO
Collin Dixon Faces Toughest Task Yet in Week 4
Illinois wide receiver Collin Dixon has set the world on fire with his production over the first three games of the season. The Fighting Illini wide receiver has scored multiple touchdowns in each of his team's first three matchups of the season, including an eight-reception, 131-yard, two-touchdown performance during a win over Southern Illinois in Week 3. In Week 4, Dixon and Illinois face off with one of the top teams in the Big Ten, Ohio State, which has allowed just 126 yards passing through its first three games, the 10th-fewest in the country. Despite a tough matchup, Dixon is RotoBaller's WR5 and is projected to score 18.5 fantasy points against the Buckeyes this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brandin Cooks Signing With 49ers' Practice Squad
Veteran free-agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks is signing with the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad on Tuesday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Initially, Cooks will be on the practice squad to get up to speed for games. The 13-year veteran and former first-rounder from Oregon State is 189 yards short of 10,000 receiving yards for his NFL career. The 32-year-old is a well-traveled journeyman as well, having played for six teams already while recording six 1,000-yard seasons, including four straight years from 2015 to 2018 with the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams. The Niners' WR depth has been decimated, first with Ricky Pearsall (knee) going out for the year, and then rookie De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) being lost for 10 weeks. Demarcus Robinson suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, and veteran Mike Evans also injured his hip, although he is expected to be fine. Cooks might need some time to get up to speed while learning a new offense, but do not count him out as a potential deep-league streamer in the future in 2026, depending on the state of the 49ers' WR room by then.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Trinidad Chambliss Riding High
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss helped Ole Miss power past rival LSU last week, finishing the win with 363 yards passing and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) along with an interception. Entering a Week 4 matchup with unbeaten Florida, Chambliss is RotoBaller's QB9 and is projected to score 25.7 fantasy points against the Gators. Through three games, Florida's pass defense has displayed vulnerability, as it has allowed 231.7 yards passing per game. This past week, Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown recorded 271 yards passing and 65 yards rushing along with four touchdowns. Chambliss has thrown for 336 yards or more in two of three matchups this season and has a great opportunity for another big game this weekend.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drew Mestermaker With Another Chance to Explode
Following a tough season-opening loss to Tulsa, Oklahoma State has bounced back with two straight wins, due in large part to the performance of quarterback Drew Mestermaker. RotoBaller's QB11 entering Week 4, Mestermaker recorded an explosive performance in his team's third game of the season, finishing a 59-0 win over Murray State with 324 yards passing and five touchdowns while completing over 90% of his passes. He didn't impact the game with his running ability this past week, but is always a threat to do so, proving as much with a six-carry, 109-yard performance that included a touchdown in Week 2. The Cowboys' gunslinger has a great opportunity in front of him this weekend, when he will face the West Virginia pass defense, which has allowed 246.7 yards passing per game. Mestermaker is projected to score 25.3 fantasy points against the Mountaineers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rico Dowdle Considered Day-to-Day With Toe Injury
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe), who was carted to the locker room on Sunday in the Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots with a toe injury, checked out relatively OK following tests, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Dowdle is considered day-to-day with a Week 3 matchup coming this weekend at home against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. The 28-year-old should be available for this Sunday's game, but it could depend on how much he can do during practice from Wednesday through Friday. Before leaving on Sunday against the Pats, Dowdle had seven carries for only 22 yards and caught both of his targets for an additional 22 yards through the air. If Dowdle is limited at all or out in Week 3 versus the Bengals, backfield mate Jaylen Warren would become a clear RB2 for fantasy managers as Pittsburgh's primary back. In the Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Dowdle averaged just 1.9 yards per carry for 15 yards on eight carries, adding two catches for six yards. It has been slow going so far for him in 2026 in his first year with the Steelers.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Arch Manning Has Tough Matchup in Week 4
Texas faces a challenging tilt against SEC opponent Tennessee on Saturday, which Longhorns' quarterback Arch Manning enters as RotoBaller's 38th-ranked quarterback. Manning recorded a modest performance of 161 yards passing and a couple of touchdowns to go with 10 carries for 53 yards during a win over UTSA in Week 3. But in Week 4, he will take on a taller task in a Volunteers pass defense that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for just 151 yards passing per game. This past week against Kennesaw State, Tennessee held quarterback Rickie Collings out of the end zone, while the Owls' signal caller averaged just 5.6 yards per attempt during a lopsided contest. Manning is projected to score 19.2 fantasy points this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Vikings Sign Jaret Patterson to Practice Squad Amid RB Injuries
The Minnesota Vikings plan to sign free-agent running back Jaret Patterson to their practice squad, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Patterson, who spent last year with the Los Angeles Chargers, will provide depth for the Vikings' backfield after they placed Jordan Mason (thumb) on Injured Reserve. Veteran Aaron Jones Sr. handled the bulk of backfield work in the Week 2 win over the division-rival Chicago Bears on Sunday, but they do not want to put too much on his plate, and they also do not think that rookie Demond Claiborne is quite ready for an expanded role as an RB2. The only other option on their current 53-man roster is veteran DeeJay Dallas. The 26-year-old Patterson, a former undrafted free agent from Buffalo, had 41 rushing attempts for 159 yards and one touchdown while adding three catches for eight yards in six games (one start) for the Bolts last year. Patterson will be a long shot for any fantasy relevance this year, even with Mason currently on IR.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Kenny Minchey Coming Off Strong Performance
After performing well during a tough matchup with Texas A&M last week, Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey will have a much simpler task in Week 4. The Wildcats will face South Alabama on Saturday, a team that has allowed 210.7 yards passing per game. During a win over Ohio this past week, the Jaguars gave up a combined 234 yards passing and four touchdowns to two different Bobcats quarterbacks, Levi Davis and Matt Vezza. With Minchey coming off a 252-yard passing, two-touchdown effort against the Aggies, he's a strong play as RotoBaller's QB44. He could very well exceed his projected total of 18.4 fantasy points this weekend.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Edwards Still Sidelined Against Cubs
Miami Marlins middle infielder Xavier Edwards (thumb) remains out of action for Tuesday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Jared Serna will make the start at the keystone for the Fish on Tuesday and will bat ninth against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga. Edwards is missing a second straight start after he injured his thumb on Saturday in San Diego against the Padres. The Marlins are eliminated from postseason contention, but the hope is that Edwards will be able to return during the final week of the 2026 regular season. In his fourth season in the big leagues with the Marlins, the 27-year-old has had another strong season, hitting .280/.360/.371 with a .730 OPS, a career-high six home runs, 52 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored in 142 games played and 595 plate appearances. Edwards is more of a contact-oriented slap hitter, but he now has three straight seasons with 20-plus stolen bases while being eligible in Yahoo leagues at both second base and shortstop.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Darian Mensah Faces Stingy Pass Defense in Week 4
After beginning the 2026 season red-hot, Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is RotoBaller's sixth-ranked quarterback as he and the Hurricanes square off with a stingy pass defense in Week 4. Miami will take on a Central Michigan team that has allowed just 154.3 yards passing per game and intercepted Wyoming quarterback Tyler Hughes twice last week. Mensah has recorded no fewer than 220 yards passing and three touchdowns in a game this season, averaging 291 yards passing and 3.6 touchdowns per contest while adding 31 yards rushing on just five carries. He is projected to score 27.5 fantasy points against the Chippewas.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jeremiah Smith Hopes to Get Back on Track
Coming off a quiet performance, at least by his standards, against Kent State, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith hopes to get back on track as the Buckeyes take on Illinois in Week 4. Smith finished this past week's matchup with the Golden Flashes with eight receptions for 85 yards, which was his least productive outing this season. Each of the previous two games, Smith recorded over 150 yards receiving and at least one touchdown. This week, Smith will face a fairly favorable matchup against a Fighting Illini pass defense that has allowed 217.7 yards passing per game. Smith is RotoBaller's WR11 and is projected to score 16.4 fantasy points this weekend.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malachi Toney Looks to Keep it Rolling
Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney has been one of the top performers in all of college football this season, regardless of position. Entering Week 4, Toney is RotoBaller's third-ranked player and second-ranked wide receiver as he and the Miami Hurricanes prepare to square off against Central Michigan. Toney has averaged 148 yards receiving per game through Week 3, recording at least 96 yards receiving in each of the Hurricanes' first three games. He is coming off a 12-reception, 114-yard performance against Wake Forest that included a touchdown reception. This week, he will face Central Michigan, whose defense has been pretty solid against the pass, allowing just 154.3 yards passing per game. Still, Toney is projected to score 28.5 fantasy points on Saturday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jayden Reed Missing Another Practice
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (neck, back) was listed as a non-participant in practice on Tuesday for the second straight day on a short week as the team prepares to play on Thursday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons, according to the team's official website. Per The Athletic's Matt Schneidman, Reed is back in Green Bay after staying overnight in the New Jersey area on Sunday due to a back/neck injury that he suffered in the Week 2 win over the New York Jets. All signs are pointing to Reed missing Thursday's game, but we are awaiting word from head coach Matt LaFleur on how much time he might have to miss. The 26-year-old former second-rounder from Michigan State caught his only target for four yards before leaving on Sunday and had three receptions on seven targets for 20 yards in the season-opening loss to the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Reed's injury should only strengthen the Year 2 breakout case for former first-rounder Matthew Golden going forward, especially with Green Bay's WR room very thin behind Golden and Christian Watson.
Source: Packers.com
Source: Packers.com
Broncos Try Out Three Running Backs Amid Roster Injuries
The Denver Broncos tried out running backs Jaden Nixon, Sam Scott, and Marcus Yarns on Tuesday, per Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. With Broncos backs RJ Harvey (hamstring) and J.K. Dobbins (leg) both dealing with injuries that have their status for Week 3 in question, it appears the team is looking to add some depth at the position. None of the three -- Nixon, Scott, or Yarns -- has recorded an NFL carry to this point in their careers. If Harvey and/or Dobbins are unable to play in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams, rookie back Jonah Coleman and pass-catching specialist Tyler Badie would likely handle Denver's backfield duties. Still, the fact that the Broncos hosted a running back workout on Tuesday may indicate that the team has some concern over the status of Harvey, Dobbins, or both.
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Andy Green Becomes Full-Time Manager, Agrees to Three-Year Contract
In a surprise move, the New York Mets announced on Tuesday that they agreed to a three-year contract with Andy Green to make him their full-time manager. The Mets have elected to remove Green's interim tag, and he will now be with the team through the 2029 season. Since taking over for previous manager Carlos Mendoza at the end of June, the Mets have gone 37-38. "Andy has connected with and pushed our players to perform, despite the disappointment of the season," owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. "Over the last several months, he has brought discipline, accountability and positivity to the clubhouse, attributes we were seeking in our next manager." Green was previously the Mets' vice president of player development before becoming the interim manager in New York. He managed the San Diego Padres for almost four seasons from 2016 to 2019 and went 274-366.
Source: New York Mets
Source: New York Mets
