Aug 27, 2026, 12:16 AM ET

Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson has flashed some upside in the past, but he may have trouble carving out a consistent role early in the 2026 season. Initially, it seemed like Wilson might step in as an every-down back ahead of both Zach Charbonnet (knee) and Jadarian Price, but the fact that he hasn't touched the ball in either preseason game should be concerning. Prince now seems like the favorite to lead Seattle's backfield, winning the job over Wilson, George Holani, and Velus Jones Jr. In particular, Wilson is no longer the ideal Seattle running back to roster in redraft or dynasty leagues. RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings have Wilson ranked #73 at the running back position, which keeps him off the radar as long as Price and (eventually) Charbonnet are healthy.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 27, 2026, 12:13 AM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Roki Sasaki (finger) will go on the 15-day injured list after leaving his start early on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves with a blister on his right middle finger, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Sasaki only went 3 1/3 innings in Atlanta on Wednesday before being pulled, allowing four earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three in a no-decision. Although he could be ready to rejoin L.A.'s starting rotation in two weeks, the 24-year-old Japanese hurler is not a must-hold in fantasy leagues, especially 12-team leagues. He came into Wednesday's contest with a 5-5 record, 4.42 ERA (4.79 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with 114 strikeouts and 46 walks in 116 innings pitched across 22 starts in just his second major-league season. Sasaki has boosted his strikeout rate to 23.1% in 2026 and has also lowered his walk rate from 13.7% as a rookie to 9.3% this season. The Dodgers plan to move forward with a six-man rotation, with left-hander Eric Lauer taking Sasaki's spot for at least the next two weeks. In his previous three starts in August, Sasaki had allowed exactly two earned runs in each of his three starts against the Diamondbacks, Brewers, and Rockies while walking seven and striking out 13 in a total of 17 innings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris

Aug 27, 2026, 12:05 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is a superstar in the NFL, and he could be due for another big year after flirting with the MVP sweepstakes at times last year. Taylor was simply remarkable in the Colts' 10 games prior to the bye, amassing 1,139 rushing yards, 260 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns. During that span, he was the overall RB1 in fantasy football, averaging 6.4 points per week more than the second-highest-scoring running back Christian McCaffrey. Taylor's productivity declined after Daniel Jones (Achilles) was shut down for the season, effectively bringing his somewhat improbable MVP candidacy to an end. Assuming he can return to his first-half 2026 form, Taylor should have no trouble turning in another top-five finish. As it stands, he's the RB6 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 26, 2026, 11:59 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry may be 32 years old, but he hasn't shown many signs of slowing down. He was the RB8 in PPR leagues last year, with most of his production coming on the ground. He finished the season with 1,595 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, plus an additional 150 receiving yards. Catching passes has never been a core part of Henry's rushing skill set, but he certainly makes up for it with his physicality on runs. Whether it's short yardage or a big gain moving down the field, Henry is capable of fighting through contact for extra yards. The biggest concern for the veteran running back last year was a growing turnover issue. After losing just one fumble across 34 games in 2023 and 2024, he coughed up the football three times last year. That'll be something fantasy managers hope Henry is able to fix, as he's still worth drafting as a top-12 fantasy running back in non-PPR leagues where his limited receiving role won't hurt him too much. He currently ranks as the RB6 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 26, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris (undisclosed) continues to be projected as the third option in the receiver room, despite the fact that he has missed the team's first two preseason games due to an undisclosed injury. Even for the duration of his absence, Harris has held on to the No. 3 job without any teammates threatening to take his spot. In fact, we expect him to take a step forward this year and have a much larger role than he did as a rookie in 2025. Last year, as the Bolts' No. 4 receiver, he caught 30 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown. Now that Keenan Allen is gone, he's jumping to third in the pecking order behind just Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. The 24-year-old Ole Miss product currently ranks as the WR65 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 26, 2026, 11:26 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah is not expected to make the 53-man roster for Week 1, according to roster projections from Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News. Watkins did have a 15-yard touchdown run during Dallas' last preseason game, but that was the only time he touched the ball during the entire contest. Volume has been hard to come by, and it seems like he'll be the odd man out. "Mafah has done nothing wrong here," Watkins wrote. "[Malik] Davis and [Jaydon] Blue just played better in the preseason." As things stand, it looks like Davis and Blue will round out the backfield behind starter Javonte Williams, with Davis also playing a key role on special teams. Mafah, meanwhile, might need to look for a new team after just one season with the Cowboys. As a rookie last year, he tallied 29 scrimmage yards on seven touches.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Calvin Watkins

Aug 26, 2026, 11:02 PM ET

Across 366 plate appearances in 2026, Kansas City Royals second baseman/outfielder Michael Massey (head) is hitting .274/.308/.441 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI, 46 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 28-year-old has largely been solid throughout the year, but he's really picked up the pace of late. Across 69 plate appearances in August, Massey is hitting .323 with three home runs. Massey does not profile as a huge source of power for fantasy managers, but he's struck out in just 16.9% of his plate appearances. The lefty-swinging Massey is also hitting .323 against same-handed pitching so far this year, which could help him earn a bit more playing time against left-handed starters down the stretch. With his balanced profile at the plate, Massey profiles as a valuable depth piece to target on the waiver wire in deeper leagues.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 26, 2026, 10:45 PM ET

Across 27 innings (six starts) in 2026, Los Angeles Angels right-hander George Klassen has recorded a 2-2 record with a 3.67 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts. The 24-year-old has had major issues with control so far, as he's posted a 16.8% walk rate. However, Klassen has been effective since being promoted from Triple-A to rejoin the Angels' rotation in early August. Across his last 22 1/3 innings (four starts), Klassen has logged two wins while allowing just five earned runs. Klassen has averaged 96.6 miles per hour on his fastball, and he's shown an ability to keep the ball on the ground (51.9% ground ball rate). Klassen has also shown higher-end strikeout stuff in the minors, recording a 27.7% strikeout rate across 108 2/3 minor league innings in 2025. Given his recent hot streak, Klassen deserves some waiver-wire consideration from fantasy managers as a matchup-based streamer.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 26, 2026, 10:34 PM ET

Across 226 plate appearances in 2026, Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk is hitting .274/.354/.411 with seven home runs, 29 RBI, and 16 runs scored. The first half of Kirk's season was derailed after he suffered a fractured thumb in early April, which caused him to miss over two months. However, the 27-year-old has gotten back on track in the second half. Across 123 plate appearances since the All-Star break, Kirk is hitting .346 with five home runs and has more walks (17) than strikeouts (12). With just an 11.1% strikeout rate on the year, Kirk is one of the better sources of batting average amongst catchers for fantasy managers. He also occupies a prime position in the Blue Jays batting order and can be a run producer when healthy. In any league where he is not already rostered, Kirk should be considered a waiver wire target.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 26, 2026, 10:26 PM ET

Across 248 plate appearances entering play on Wednesday, Arizona Diamondbacks utility man Tim Tawa was slashing .248/.301/.404 with eight home runs, 32 RBI, 26 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 27-year-old has emerged as an everyday piece of the Diamondbacks lineup in August, hitting .299 with four home runs and five stolen bases across 96 plate appearances this month. Tawa's underlying batted ball metrics are rock solid, as he's posted a 9.2% barrel rate and a 45.7% hard-hit rate. Tawa has also lowered his strikeout rate to 22.0%, a much more manageable figure than his 28.4% strikeout rate across 225 big-league plate appearances in 2025. With his ability to produce across all categories and his multi-positional eligibility, Tawa profiles as a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 26, 2026, 10:18 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki (finger) was removed from his start against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday due to a blister, per an announcement from the team. Sasaki struggled before getting pulled, allowing six hits, two walks, and four earned runs across 3 1/3 innings. The severity of his blister issues is not yet clear, but it would not be surprising if Sasaki requires a short stint on the injured list. Across 119 1/3 innings (23 starts) on the year, the 24-year-old has recorded a 5-5 record with a 4.60 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts. Sasaki had been in the midst of a hot streak heading into his start on Wednesday, pitching to a 2.31 ERA with 34 strikeouts across his previous 35 innings pitched (six starts). If Sasaki is forced to miss time, Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer could be a candidate to rejoin the team's rotation.--Will Brady
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers

Aug 26, 2026, 10:09 PM ET

New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (foot) was removed in the fifth inning of his team's 8-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday due to a left-foot contusion, per an announcement from the team. Bichette walked once in two plate appearances before exiting the game. Across 568 plate appearances on the year, Bichette is hitting .264/.312/.393 with 14 home runs, 66 RBI, 64 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 28-year-old has rebounded after a rough start to the season and has looked like his usual self of late, hitting .291 with four home runs and 15 RBI across 153 plate appearances since the All-Star break. However, he may now be facing some missed time. Bichette was replaced at third base on Wednesday by Christopher Morel, who could be in line for more playing time if Bichette requires a trip to the injured list.--Will Brady
Source: New York Mets

Aug 26, 2026, 9:56 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. has been quarterback Baker Mayfield's top target in camp and during joint practices. Mayfield praised all the team's receivers but said Godwin looks great. "Chris Godwin looks like the best version of Chris Godwin. ... being back in a system that's gonna help him be successful in spots where he does things really well." The Mayfield-to-Godwin connection was on point during joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. With second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka not practicing, Godwin has been the lead receiver in Tampa Bay. Over the last two seasons, he has totaled 83 receptions for 933 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games, though he missed significant time with a broken ankle. With Godwin expected to operate as the slot receiver in Tampa Bay under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, he could be a starting wide receiver in fantasy formats this season.--Nathan Harvey
Source: Scott Smith

Aug 26, 2026, 9:45 PM ET

Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani may not see the substantial workload everyone expected early in the season. Holani spent last season as the team's RB3 behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, totaling just 88 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 24 attempts. Now with Walker in Kansas City and Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL, Holani seemed to be in line for a solid workload in Week 1. However, the emergence of first-round rookie Jadarian Price could cost him valuable touches. Price will not play in the preseason finale, as the team believes "they've seen enough from him" and that "he's too valuable to risk at this point." There have also been rumors that Charbonnet will return sooner than expected, with his recovery progressing well. Holani's fantasy value in 2026 is starting to look bleak, and he may not be worth spending draft capital on.--Nathan Harvey
Source: RotoBaller