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Brad Keselowski Wrecks in Qualifying After Posting Fast Lap
It was a great day for Brad Keselowski on Saturday at Iowa Speedway, and then it wasn't. In practice, the No. 6 Ford showed some respectable speed (14th-fastest), but once qualifying came around, Keselowski was one of the best, and he actually ended up fourth-fastest in the session. Unfortunately, he will have to drop to the rear of the field on Sunday at the start of the Iowa Corn 350, as the No. 6 Ford got loose heading into turn one and slammed the wall. The Roush-Fenway Keselowski Racing team decided to repair the race car, but because of those modifications, Brad will have to go to the rear at the start. That's not insurmountable, though--just inconvenient. Keselowski has been one of the best at Iowa Speedway in the Cup Series, with 10th- and second-place finishes to his credit. As long as he can work through the field and get track position back on Sunday, another top-10 result is possible. Keselowski ($7.9K on DraftKings) is a very risky DFS play, though, as he now has very limited dominator potential and a high chance at negative Place Differential.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden With Rehab Group on Sunday
Green Bay Packers wide receivers Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden are not practicing in training camp on Sunday and are instead with the rehab group on the side, according to Andy Herman. It's unclear at this time what Reed and Golden are dealing with, but we'll have more information on their statuses once we know more. For now, it's something to keep an eye on, but there are no indications that they are dealing with anything significant. Along with Christian Watson, Reed and Golden are in line to start in three-receiver sets in the Packers' offense in 2026. Reed has been injury-prone early in his NFL career, and he dealt with a fractured foot and broken collarbone last year, playing in just seven regular-season games. The 26-year-old has a nose for the end zone, though, and should have career-best volume in 2026 if he can stay healthy, making him a boom/bust WR3/flex target in fantasy. Golden, a first-rounder last year, was quiet for most of his rookie campaign before turning it on late. The 23-year-old has a clear path to a Year 2 breakout, especially if Watson and Reed continue to struggle with injuries.
Source: Andy Herman
Source: Andy Herman
Austin Cindric Needs a Mistake-Free Race at Iowa to Keep Chase Hopes Alive
Austin Cindric is currently sitting 16th in points with four races to go until the Chase cutoff. He has a comfortable 38-point cushion over 17th-place, Ryan Preece, but we all know how quickly that can evaporate. Thankfully for Cindric, though, the NASCAR Cup Series is at Iowa Speedway this week, and the Team Penske Fords have plenty of speed. The short, flat tracks are where Penske (and Cindric) show their power, and that was true last season when Cindric started fourth here at Iowa, finished top three in both Stages, and went on to finish 12th when the checkered flag flew. This weekend, Austin qualified 12th for the annual Iowa Corn 350, and the No. 2 Ford showed top-10 speed during practice on Saturday. As far as DFS goes, Cindric makes for an interesting tournament pick, but he shouldn't be anchoring the majority of your lineups. A top-10 finish is possible for this No. 2 team, but that's about the ceiling.
Source: Driver Averages
Source: Driver Averages
Ross Chastain Has Strong Start to Weekend at Iowa
Ross Chastain's No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet has looked stout at Iowa Speedway thus far this weekend, as the "Melon Man" had respectable speed in both practice and qualifying on Saturday. Chastain ranked third-best in 30-lap average during practice--showing that he had good long-run speed--and then went out and qualified ninth for this weekend's Iowa Corn 350, which is just his third top-10 starting spot in the last 11 races. Now the question is, will Chastain be able to finish? Ross has been notorious for disappointing on race day this season, as he only has one top-five finish and four top 10s. However, Iowa has been a good track for Chastain, as he has finished 11th in both starts here. At $7.1K on DraftKings this weekend and with limited Place Differential upside, Ross is a very risky pick, but you should probably have some exposure in large field tournaments.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Ja'Kobi Lane Continues to Stack Highlight Receptions in Camp
The hype continues for Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane at training camp, with The Baltimore Sun's Josh Tolentino writing that Lane "just keeps stacking highlight receptions." The latest was a 20-yard completion from quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sunday in which Lane used his impressive frame to get in front of and box out cornerback Marlon Humphrey to haul in the pass. The 22-year-old third-rounder from USC appears to have locked himself in as the WR3 for Baltimore going into his first year in the NFL behind Zay Flowers (quadriceps) and Rashod Bateman, so far outperforming fellow rookie Elijah Sarratt as the Ravens look for another wideout to step up in their new offense. At the very least, the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder will be an interesting red-zone weapon for Jackson in his rookie campaign, and he should be rising up draft boards thanks to his impressive play so far this summer. Right now, Lane is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 107 fantasy WR for the 2026 season. He's shaping up as an intriguing late-round flier for WR depth in deeper fantasy leagues.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Josh Tolentino
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Josh Tolentino
Bryce Young Will Play in Preseason Game Against Buffalo
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that the starters, including quarterback Bryce Young, will play in the team's preseason game this week against the Buffalo Bills, according to Panthers reporter Kassidy Hill. Young and the starters should get around 10 to 20 plays, depending on how the drives develop. The 25-year-old Young didn't take part in the team's Hall of Fame game last Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals, so he'll see his first preseason action this week. The former first overall pick in 2023 from the University of Alabama had the best year of his career in his third season in 2025, completing 63.6% of his pass attempts for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 16 regular-season starts while leading the team to the NFC South title. However, it's debatable as to how much higher a ceiling Young has, especially since he doesn't have a big arm or very exciting targets outside of receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Young appears to be trending towards being a solid NFL starting QB, but for fantasy purposes, he's more of a low-end QB2 target with a low ceiling.
Source: Kassidy Hill
Source: Kassidy Hill
Kevin Jennings "Very Limited" in Saturday's Practice
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (undisclosed) was "very limited" in Saturday's Family Day practice, according to Billy Embody of On the Pony Express. Jennings did not throw a pass, but took part in individual drills and simulated dropbacks during team period. Not much is known about his status, but the Mustangs have four weeks until the Week 1 matchup against Florida State, so it's too early to be overly concerned. Jennings is one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC heading into his third full season as a starter. Over the last two years, he's thrown for over 6,800 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. He's added nine rushing scores. In 2024, he led SMU to the College Football Playoff before leading the team to a 9-4 campaign in 2025.
Source: Billy Embody - On the Pony Express
Source: Billy Embody - On the Pony Express
Darnell Mooney Could be a Sleeper in New York
The New York Giants need at least one more wide receiver to step up this year, even if Malik Nabers (knee) is ready for the start of the regular season, and Alex House of Sports Illustrated writes that it could be veteran Darnell Mooney. The 28-year-old never was able to get on track in 2025 in his second year with the Atlanta Falcons after he suffered a shoulder injury in training camp, and he finished with a 32-443-1 line in 15 starts after catching 64 passes for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 16 games in 2024. The speedster could become a fine downfield threat for second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart in 2026, and he already has a built-in rapport with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy from their time together in Chicago, where Mooney had his lone 1,000-yard season in 2021. Mooney has a 12.3 average depth of target in his career and can be effective on intermediate throws. House believes that if Mooney can get on the same page with Dart, he'll have a chance to become the Giants' second-leading target behind Nabers. The biggest obstacle for Mooney achieving that will be new tight end Isaiah Likely, who has been one of Dart's favorite targets in training camp. Mooney is currently ranked as the No. 85 fantasy WR at RotoBaller, making him worth considering as a late-round flier in deeper fantasy leagues.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Alex House
Source: Sports Illustrated - Alex House
Tennessee Linebacker Jaedon Harmon Will Miss Entire 2026 Season
Tennessee linebacker Jaedon Harmon (knee) has suffered a torn ACL and will miss the entire 2026 campaign, according to Austin Price of Volquest.com. The Georgia native suffered the injury during Saturday's practice. The Vols will already be without All-SEC linebacker Arion Carter due to a two-game suspension, so this is another tough blow for Jim Knowles' defense. That said, Harmon was likely to play a reserve role as a sophomore. As a true freshman, he tallied 19 total tackles, half a sack, half a tackle for loss, and one pass deflection, but he was a key special-teams player. Young linebackers Jadon Perlotte, Edwin Spillman, and Tre Poteat III will have to step up behind starters Amare Campbell and Jeremiah Telander early in the year.
Source: Austin Price - Volquest.com
Source: Austin Price - Volquest.com
Ashton Bethel-Roman Has Picked up New Offense Quickly
Texas A&M wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman is heading into his third season with the Aggies after posting a respectable 24-catch, 503-yard, five-touchdown season in 2025 while sharing the field with KC Concepcion and Mario Craver. The program promoted Holmon Wiggins to offensive coordinator following the departure of Collin Klein, but Bethel-Roman is already comfortable in the system. "It feels like I've been in this offense for years," the Texas native said in a media availability on Saturday. The Aggies once again have one of the top wide receiver rooms in the nation after retaining Craver and bringing in Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton. While the crowded pass-catching group will lead to inconsistent production across the season, all three of Texas A&M's top wideouts are capable of boom performances on any given Saturday.
Source: TexAgs
Source: TexAgs
Tee Higgins Returns to Practice on Sunday
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (rest) returned to practice on Sunday after a "rest day" during the team's stadium practice on Friday. Higgins has stayed healthy throughout training camp and, despite not dressing for Friday's practice at Paycor Stadium, is fine. The Pro Bowl wideout has dealt with a number of lower-body injuries throughout his career, including several hamstring strains. It's understandable that the team is being cautious with him. Over the past two seasons, Higgins has totaled 1,751 yards and 21 touchdowns in just 27 games, averaging 13.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game. Despite the risk posed by both his and quarterback Joe Burrow's injury histories, Higgins remains a strong WR2 candidate in 2026.
Source: Mike Petraglia - Jungle Roar Podcast
Source: Mike Petraglia - Jungle Roar Podcast
Jekail Middlebrook Has "Run Away" with Virginia's RB1 Job
Virginia transfer running backs Jekail Middlebrook and Peyton Lewis have been battling for the starting running back role this offseason, and Matt Wilson of SI.com reports that Middlebrook has "completely run away with it." "He's been the best runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield, and it looks like he's in line to be the Cavaliers' "1A" to Peyton Lewis' "1B", which is the opposite of what nearly everyone thought it would be heading into both spring and fall camp," Wilson wrote. Middlebrook comes to the program after rushing 140 times for 752 yards and four touchdowns for Middle Tennessee State last season. He also caught a whopping 40 passes for 412 yards and three scores. Lewis is a Tennessee transfer who has tallied 629 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his two-year career. The running back duo has big shoes to fill following the departure of J'Mari Taylor, who tallied over 1,300 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 touchdowns as the team's lead back last year.
Source: SI.com
Source: SI.com
Tetairoa McMillan's Increased Slot Role Could Fuel Breakout Season
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is entering his second NFL season after winning the 2025 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. McMillan hauled in 70 of 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging just over 10 half-PPR fantasy points per game. With head coach Dave Canales expecting to use McMillan more in the slot in 2026, the young receiver could see an increased workload this season. McMillan scored 74% of his fantasy points from the outside last season and would face tougher cornerback matchups and a less diverse route tree if he stayed out wide. His slot role is just noise for now, but it could be the difference between him being a low-end WR2 and a top-10 wideout in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kenneth Walker Labeled as a Difference-Maker by his New QB
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the addition of running back Kenneth Walker will be the biggest difference-maker in the team's offense in 2026. When asked what will differentiate their struggling 2025 attack from this season's, Mahomes responded, "Number 9. That's all I can say. The ability to catch, run, pass protect, do everything. To make a play from nothing to a 20-yard gain, that's going to be the biggest impact we'll have. I have to find ways to get him the football." Walker signed with the Chiefs this offseason after a Super Bowl MVP season with the Seattle Seahawks. He's currently ranked RB8 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, but it sounds like a 20+ attempt season is in the works for the new Kansas City starting running back.
Source: Kansas City Chiefs
Source: Kansas City Chiefs
George Springer Out Again With Shoulder Injury
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (shoulder) is out of the starting lineup for the second straight game on Sunday against the hosting Philadelphia Phillies due to a left-shoulder injury, according to MLB.com. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will serve as the DH on Sunday and hit second, with Kazuma Okamoto playing first and hitting cleanup for the Jays against Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo. The Blue Jays scratched Springer from their lineup on Saturday in Philly, but he came in as a pinch-runner in the extra-inning win, suggesting that his injury is merely a day-to-day situation, so he could return to the starting lineup as early as Monday's series opener at home against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. The 36-year-old four-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner surprised many folks when he hit 32 homers, drove in 84, and stole 18 bases in 140 regular-season games last year, but he's showing signs of offensive decline in 2026, as he enters Sunday's action with a .234/.317/.396 slash line, 12 homers, 36 RBI, and eight stolen bases across his 87 games in his 13th year in the big leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
