RADIO
Jared Goff Still Belongs in the QB1 Conversation
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is learning his fourth offense since arriving in Detroit, and camp hasn't given fantasy managers much reason to worry about this one. Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman has raved about Goff's accuracy and ball placement and said he already has a "great grasp" of Drew Petzing's system. That's coming off 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 2025. The weapons aren't the concern either. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta are all back. Goff's fantasy problem is the same as ever: he gives you almost nothing on the ground. He ran 19 times for 45 yards and no touchdowns last year, so his big weeks have to come through the air. Fine when Detroit is throwing like this, less helpful when it isn't. But Petzing was the biggest new variable entering camp, and Goff looks comfortable so far. If you're waiting on quarterback in a one-QB draft, he still belongs in that late QB1 mix.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Keenan Allen Already Working With Colts' First-Team Offense
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen got thrown into the mix quickly Thursday. Mike Chappell reported that Allen was working with the first-team offense in 11-on-11 drills, which is a bigger step than the Colts initially laid out for his first practice. Head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday that Allen would work into individual drills Thursday and that the team would "really get him going next week." Instead, he was already taking team reps with the starters. Allen signed with Indianapolis on Tuesday after catching 81 passes for 777 yards and four touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. The 34-year-old also knows Steichen well from their seven seasons together with the Chargers. One practice doesn't lock in a role, especially with Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren all competing for targets, but this was an encouraging first look. Allen appears to be moving into the offense quickly and still has some PPR appeal if he earns a steady share of the passing game.
Source: Mike Chappell
Source: Mike Chappell
Fernando Mendoza Expected to Play First Half Against Texans
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected to play roughly the first half of Thursday night's preseason game against the Houston Texans, according to Adam Schefter. Aidan O'Connell is expected to take over for the second half. Mendoza got an extended look in the opener against Arizona, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown over four drives. The Raiders have kept adding to his workload since then. He saw valuable snaps against Houston's first-team defense during Tuesday's joint practice, while Kirk Cousins continued to handle the bulk of the first-team work. Head coach Klint Kubiak has been clear that Mendoza needs reps, and Thursday should give the No. 1 overall pick plenty more. Cousins still sits ahead of him, but Mendoza is getting a longer runway in these preseason games as Las Vegas continues bringing its rookie quarterback along before Week 1.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Ka'imi Fairbairn Remains a Top Kicker Option in Redraft
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn is coming off about as good a fantasy season as a kicker can have. He made 44 of 48 field-goal attempts in 15 games, tying David Akers' NFL single-season record for makes, and went a perfect 28-for-28 on extra points. The distance wasn't a problem either. Fairbairn hit all 16 of his tries from 40 to 49 yards and went 9-for-13 from 50 to 59, with a long of 57. Houston also gave him a two-year, $13 million extension in March that keeps him under contract through 2028. The only thing worth pushing back on is last year's volume. His 48 field-goal attempts led the league, and counting on another season like that is asking a lot. Fairbairn doesn't need to get there again to be useful. He has the leg, the accuracy, and a secure job on a Houston offense that gave him plenty of chances last year. He still belongs near the top of the kicker pool in redraft.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Emerging as Major Piece of Giants Offense
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is becoming one of Jaxson Dart's most trusted targets, according to Jordan Raanan. Likely caught six passes during live drills in Thursday's joint practice with the Miami Dolphins, with Raanan describing him as Dart's security blanket and favorite receiver. This hasn't come out of nowhere. Dart and Likely started building chemistry during the spring, and the Giants have featured their tight ends heavily throughout training camp. Likely gives Dart a big target in the middle of the field and can move around the formation, something New York has taken advantage of all summer. Malik Nabers is still working his way back from last year's knee injury, but Raanan expects Likely to remain a major part of the offense even once Nabers returns. Likely caught only 27 passes for 307 yards and one touchdown with Baltimore last season. His role in New York is shaping up to be much bigger.
Source: Jordan Raanan
Source: Jordan Raanan
Dawson Knox a Touchdown-Dependent TE2
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox still has a real role in this offense, and Buffalo made that pretty clear by keeping him under contract through 2028. Fantasy is another story. Knox caught 36 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns last season on just 49 targets. Every one of those scores came from inside the 20, which tells you where most of the appeal is coming from. The Bills are still using him there, too. Josh Allen targeted Knox on back-to-back red-zone plays during an Aug. 3 practice, with Knox scoring on a screen. Dalton Kincaid was heavily involved that day as well and has looked healthy throughout camp after knee and hamstring trouble last season. Buffalo picked up Kincaid's fifth-year option, and he remains the tougher obstacle to Knox seeing a real jump in targets. Knox can absolutely pop for a week when Allen finds him near the goal line. But 49 targets across 17 games is hard to draft around. He's still a touchdown-dependent TE2, not a sleeper.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Yohandy Morales Maintains Stash Appeal for Power Potential
Washington Nationals corner infield prospect Yohandy Morales has cooled off at the plate, going 3-for-24 (.125) over the last six games at Triple-A Rochester. Despite the slowdown, the Nats' 26th-ranked prospect has had a solid campaign overall, hitting .287 with an .892 OPS and 23 home runs in 94 games for the Red Wings. There is a ton of pop in his bat, with average exit velocity, max exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate all registering in the 91st percentile or better at Triple-A, so there is some intrigue for fantasy purposes, especially if he were to be placed in the middle of MLB's highest-ranking team in terms of runs scored per game (5.28). There is some batting average risk due to elevated chase and whiff rates, but the 24-year-old represents an under-the-radar stash option for home runs and RBI for a late-season run to the fantasy playoffs.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jhostynxon Garcia Falling from Stash Radar After Latest Demotion
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis on August 14 after a brief second stint with the big-league club. The Pirates' fifth-ranked prospect is 3-for-11 (.273) in the three games since rejoining Indianapolis and is now slashing .270/.337/.419 with seven home runs and five steals in 61 games for the Indians. The right-handed hitter surged through the minors on the way to a major league debut in Boston's organization in 2025, but has done little with his limited opportunities in the majors. Coming off a 21-home-run campaign in 114 games last year and with a ball hit 113.5 mph this season (95th percentile), there is some power potential in his bat, but it comes with a lot of chase that leads to a lot of swing-and-miss and few walks. The 23-year-old could get another shot in the majors this season, but there are likely better stash options available on your waiver wire.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kendrick Bourne Still Has Little Redraft Appeal
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has a real job in this offense. Fantasy managers just shouldn't confuse that with a big one. Arizona has him slotted behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, and the team called Bourne an "upper-level No. 3" this week. Bourne seems perfectly fine with that. He told the Cardinals he chased a bigger role in New England and now feels back in the role that fits him best under Mike LaFleur. Last season gives you a pretty good picture of the upside and the problem. Bourne caught 37 passes for 551 yards and no touchdowns, with 284 of those yards coming in back-to-back 142-yard games. He did catch a 12-yarder from Jacoby Brissett in Arizona's second preseason game, but there isn't much here pointing to a volume jump. Harrison, Wilson and Trey McBride all have stronger claims on targets. Bourne can help Arizona. In standard redraft leagues, he's still mostly an injury-away depth option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacob Melton a Strong Stash for Steals When Healthy
Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton (hamstring) was flashing his elite speed at Triple-A Durham before being placed on the injured list with hamstring tightness back on August 4, his second time on the IL this season. The Rays' eighth-ranked prospect was riding a six-game hit streak and had stolen bases in three consecutive games before suffering the injury, which had raised his slash line to .285/.381/.520 with five home runs and 23 steals in just 36 games for the Bulls. The former second-round draft pick has been swinging a bat recently, but there has been no official update to his status from the organization, so his timeline for return is unclear. It has been an injury-marred campaign, and if the 25-year-old could stay healthy, he'd be one of the top stashes for his stolen-base potential, but until the 6-foot-2 slugger returns to action and makes a run at a major league promotion, there is no need to roster him.
Source: Run From the OPS
Source: Run From the OPS
Quintrevion Wisner Back at Florida State Practice
Florida State running back Quintrevion Wisner (undisclosed) returned to practice this week after missing time to begin fall camp, according to head coach Mike Norvell. Norvell also said he "should be good to go." Wisner is a Texas transfer who was widely considered one of the top running backs available in this offseason's portal after rushing for 1,661 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two seasons. He also caught 66 passes. However, sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah has flashed while Wisner has been sidelined, so there could be a 1A-1B backfield in Tallahassee this season. Either way, getting Wisner back in action ahead of the September 7 matchup against SMU is great news for the Noles.
Source: Warchant.com
Source: Warchant.com
Gavin Cross Goes on Injured List at Triple-A Omaha
Kansas City Royals outfield prospect Gavin Cross (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list on August 14 with an undisclosed injury. It's a shame as the Royals' 26th-ranked prospect was heating up again, riding a five-game hit streak during which time he went 9-for-19 (.474) with three doubles, two home runs, and a stolen base over that span. The hot stretch brought his season-long slash line to .253/.319/.435 at Triple-A Omaha with 13 home runs and 23 steals in 101 games. The power/speed combo makes for an intriguing fantasy asset, and the former ninth-overall draft pick could still make a late-season debut in 2026, but there was little reason to stash him before the injury, and now, without a clear timeline for his return, there is even less reason. The 25-year-old may have a fantasy impact in 2027, but for now, he can be safely left on the waiver wire.
Source: Omaha Storm Chasers
Source: Omaha Storm Chasers
Geno Smith to Start Friday Against Steelers
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will start Friday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Connor Hughes. Smith missed the opener against Tampa Bay after developing ankle soreness during joint practices, but he's been back at practice throughout this week. Friday will be his first game action since returning to the Jets in a March trade with Las Vegas. New York has already made it clear that Smith is its starter for 2026, so this is about getting him some live reps in Frank Reich's offense before the games count. Smith started 15 games for the Raiders last season and completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The Jets originally planned to play him in the preseason opener before the ankle issue got in the way. Now they'll finally get that first look at Smith running the offense in a game.
Source: Connor Hughes
Source: Connor Hughes
Does Ryan Ward Demand Stash Consideration Amid 10-Game Hit Streak?
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Ryan Ward, after collecting a hit in Wednesday's game for Triple-A Oklahoma City, has extended his hit streak to 10 games. The Dodgers' 17th-ranked prospect is 16-for-40 (.400) during that time with a double and four home runs, along with twice as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (four). It brings his season-long slash line to .276/.384/.486 with 17 home runs and a 55:60 BB:K in 83 games for the Comets. The left-handed hitter debuted with the Dodgers earlier this season and has spent two different stints with the club with mixed results. While this recent stretch could help propel him there again, there is no immediate opening on the major league roster, even with Kyle Tucker struggling mightily on both sides of the ball. The former eighth-round draft pick has a ton of power, logging back-to-back 30-homer seasons at Triple-A prior to 2026, so there is some intrigue for fantasy purposes, but the 28-year-old is not a realistic stash consideration in most fantasy leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kansas State Star Left Tackle John Pastore Out for Season
Kansas State left tackle John Pastore will miss the entire 2026 college football season after suffering a lower-body injury, according to On3's Pete Nakos. This is a brutal blow for the Kansas State offense, as Pastore is the team's only returning offensive line starter, and he was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2025 after starting in 12 games. True freshman Oliver Miller will compete to step up in his absence. Overall, this could heavily impact the upside of quarterback Avery Johnson and running backs Joe Jackson and Rodney Fields Jr.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
