RADIO
Joe Burrow Thinks This Year's Bengals Team is "Different"
Speaking on teammate Ja'Marr Chase's new podcast, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he is extremely optimistic about the 2026 season and has high hopes for the team, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "I just want to win this year," Burrow said. "I just want to win. The rest will take care of itself. I think we'll break a bunch of records eventually, but I think we're going to have a really good team that has a chance to win every game that we step foot on the field for. I don't know about you, but I could really feel it in my bones, in my soul in OTAs this year -- different from years past." Burrow has also compared this Cincy squad to his 2019 LSU squad that won the national championship and has said he is "trying to manifest" another Super Bowl run. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler is one of the few QBs who has top-five fantasy upside at the position strictly because of his arm and his elite pass-catching duo of Chase and Tee Higgins. As long as Burrow can stay healthy, he should bounce back as a high-end QB1 in fantasy football in 2026.
Source: NFL.com - Kevin Patra
Source: NFL.com - Kevin Patra
KJ Duff Looking for Fast Start in Favorable Week 1 Clash
Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff has a favorable fantasy matchup against Massachusetts on Thursday to kick off the season. The Scarlet Knights are favored to win by multiple scores, but Duff should be heavily involved for as long as the starting offense is on the field. Duff is coming off a big 2025 season in which he caught 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. He's expected to power the wide receiver room for Rutgers, but will have a new quarterback throwing to him for the coming season. Transfer Dylan Lonergan is the starting QB to kick off the season, with AJ Surace around if Lonergan struggles at all. In a favorable matchup in Week 1, fantasy owners can still expect big things from Duff. Massachusetts allowed just 212.5 passing yards per game last season, but also 38.6 points per game, so it's possible the Rutgers' wideout finds the end zone.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
John Mateer Tweaks his Mechanics This Offseason
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer said he tweaked his mechanics over the offseason. He had a sidearm throwing release last season after rushing back from surgery on his broken thumb. Mateer said the injury made it difficult to grip the ball, so he tweaked his mechanics to work around it. Over the offseason, Mateer worked on drop concepts and mechanics, with an emphasis on being vertical in his release point, so expect to see that in the coming season. Mateer still completed 62.2% of his passes last season for 2,885 yards and 14 touchdowns, but he was also picked off 11 times. Mateer added 431 yards and eight scores on the ground. With new-look mechanics, and more importantly being past that injury, expect Mateer to improve, and maybe look more like he did at Washington State two years ago. The first chance for Mateer to show off his new mechanics will come on Friday against UTEP, which is a great fantasy matchup for him.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Anthony Richardson Sr. Will be Colts' Backup QB
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced on Thursday that Anthony Richardson Sr. will be the team's No. 2 quarterback behind starter Daniel Jones to start the 2026 season, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. Richardson requested a trade in the offseason, but the Colts did not end up moving him, and he will open the 2026 campaign as the direct backup to Jones, who is coming off a torn Achilles tendon late last season. The 24-year-old Richardson, the former fourth overall pick in 2023 from the University of Florida, beat out Riley Leonard for the QB2 job in training camp and the preseason. Richardson's rushing abilities are elite, but he has been injury-prone early in his career and has not developed as a passer the way the Colts hoped he would. Through 17 games (15 starts), Richardson posted a 50.6% completion percentage with 2,400 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He added 115 carries for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. While the 24-year-old's dynasty/keeper value has plummeted, he could quickly become attractive again for his rushing prowess if Jones goes down with another injury in 2026.
Source: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
Source: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
Cam Skattebo Considered Retirement After Rookie Injury
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo considered retirement after the serious injury that ended his rookie season. Skattebo said he had always told himself that suffering a major injury would be enough to make him stop playing football, but his thinking changed once he actually went through it. The 24-year-old dislocated his right ankle and fractured his fibula against Philadelphia last October, requiring surgery and ending his season after eight appearances. He had rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries while adding 24 catches for 207 yards and two more scores. Skattebo ultimately decided he wasn't ready to walk away, and the long rehab has already brought him back to game action. He started New York's preseason opener in August and carried four times for 19 yards. After briefly wondering whether football was still worth it, Skattebo is now preparing for his second NFL season.
Source: Up & Adams
Source: Up & Adams
Cole Carrigg Remains a Worthy Speed Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 280 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in early June, Colorado Rockies outfielder/shortstop Cole Carrigg is hitting .262/.341/.439 with six home runs, 37 RBI, 39 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. The 24-year-old's power upside is limited, as he's logged subpar barrel (5.3%) and hard-hit (34.0%) rates. However, Carrigg has emerged as Colorado's near-everyday center fielder and often hits in a premium spot in the team's lineup. Carrigg was also a high-end base stealer in the minor leagues, swiping 46 bags across 123 games at Double-A in 2025. While Carrigg has not been quite as aggressive early in his big-league career, six of his eight stolen bases this year have come since the All-Star break. Between his speed upside and his hitter-friendly home environment in Colorado, Carrigg carries clear waiver wire appeal.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Henry Bolte Carries Five-Category Upside on the Waiver Wire
Since making his MLB debut in mid-May, Athletics outfielder Henry Bolte has hit the ground running. Across 376 plate appearances this year, the 23-year-old is hitting .274/.350/.389 with eight home runs, 30 RBI, 41 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. Swing-and-miss is a potential red flag in his profile, as he's struck out in 27.4% of his plate appearances. However, Bolte hits the ball hard (47.2% hard-hit rate) and on the ground a ton (62.4%). When combined with his elite speed, Bolte's mix has allowed him to consistently run high batting averages on balls in play throughout his time in the A's system. After posting a .407 BABIP across 488 minor league plate appearances in 2025, Bolte's BABIP in the big leagues this year is .372. If he can continue to improve his strikeout rate while also raising his launch angle just a bit, Bolte has five-category breakout potential. In leagues where he remains available, Bolte should be a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Omarion Hampton Set Up for Year 2 Breakout
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton enters Year 2 with a setup that looks a lot friendlier than the one he had as a rookie. Hampton was limited to nine games by ankle injuries in 2025, but still rushed for 545 yards and four touchdowns while catching 32 passes for 192 yards and another score. Mike McDaniel is now running the offense, and Hampton spent camp looking like a natural fit. He was one of the standouts in the joint practice with San Francisco, running through defenders and earning praise from Justin Herbert. The line is not completely worry-free after Tyler Biadasz suffered a season-ending ACL injury, but Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are both back in the starting group after missing major time last year. Hampton also sits first on the depth chart ahead of Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal. RotoBaller has pushed him all the way to RB6 and No. 11 overall in its Sept. 2 half-PPR rankings. If he stays healthy, the breakout case is getting harder to ignore.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen Hurts Admits he Grew Apart From Former Receiver
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts admitted in an interview with GQ magazine that he grew apart from former wide receiver A.J. Brown before the Eagles traded him to the New England Patriots in the offseason, according to ESPN. "Nothing happened, people just grow apart," Brown told NBC Sports' Maria Taylor in June. "Nothing happened between me and him, or our families, wives, anything. Nothing like that ever happened. Life happens, and you just look up sometimes and you just, you find yourself drifting away, and that's fine. And I think both parties accepted that." Brown told reporters last month, when the Eagles and Patriots took part in joint practices, that he and Hurts had not spoken since Brown was traded. Hurts and Brown's relationship goes back a ways, with the two growing so tight that Hurts became godfather to Brown's daughter, Jersee. Hurts was a factor in Brown's frustrations near the end of his tenure in Philly, based in part on Brown not being targeted as much as he felt he should be. "I've got a lot of love for him and always have," Hurts said. Hurts and the Eagles' offense are looking to bounce back in 2026 under a new offensive coordinator, while Brown could rebound as a true WR1 in fantasy with his move to New England.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
TJ Rumfield Remains an Excellent Source of Batting Average
After winning an MLB job in Spring Training, Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield has been a revelation this season. Across 552 plate appearances, the 26-year-old is hitting .291/.384/.442 with 14 home runs, 64 RBI, and 57 runs scored. Rumfield does not profile as a typical corner infield power bat, as he's posted just a 4.7% barrel rate and a 28.1% hard-hit rate. However, he owns an elite plate approach, logging an 11.6% walk rate while striking out in just 13.9% of his plate appearances. Rumfield is also in the middle of a hot stretch, as he's riding an eight-game hitting streak entering play on Thursday. While Rumfield's production at the plate is obviously boosted by his hitter-friendly home environment in Colorado, he's also hit .290 away from Coors Field this season. For fantasy managers in need of batting average and solid run production, Rumfield carries clear waiver-wire appeal.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justice Hill's Handcuff Value Gets a Boost
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill enters Week 1 with a much cleaner path behind Derrick Henry. Rookie Adam Randall was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return during final cuts, leaving Hill and Rasheen Ali as the only other active backs on the initial 53-man roster. Baltimore's own roster breakdown called Hill a prized backup and identified Ali as the No. 3 back. That is a meaningful change after RotoBaller questioned earlier in August whether Randall could eventually become the better two-down handcuff. Hill was limited to 10 games last season by toe and neck injuries, finishing with 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries while adding 21 catches for 169 yards and another score. He still profiles better as a passing-down option than a direct replacement for Henry's massive early-down workload, and Ali could absorb some carries if Henry misses time. For now, though, the depth chart is cleaner. With Randall unavailable for at least four games, Hill opens the year with a stronger claim to Baltimore's No. 2 role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Jackson Jobe Still Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire?
Detroit Tigers right-hander Jackson Jobe had his 2026 season debut delayed four-plus months as he worked his way back from elbow surgery. However, the 24-year-old returned to the big-league mound in early August and has now recorded a 1-2 record with a 4.67 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts across 23 1/3 innings (five starts). Once considered one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, Jobe hasn't quite figured out how to put all the pieces together against MLB competition so far. Still, he's averaging 97.8 miles per hour on his fastball and has generated a 51.4% ground ball rate this season, which is a decent starting point for improved numbers. Jobe also dominated minor league competition during his rehab outings this year, recording a 1.76 ERA and a 26.2% strikeout rate across 15 1/3 innings. Even amidst his early struggles this year, Jobe could still be worth targeting on the waiver wire in deeper leagues for his upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Brown's WR1 Ceiling Is Back in Play
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown has looked comfortable in his new offense from the start. Brown still caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games with Philadelphia last season, but his move to New England gave him a chance to pair with Drake Maye after a frustrating year in the Eagles' passing game. That connection showed up throughout camp. Brown beat Christian Gonzalez on a double move for a long touchdown on July 31, then got behind the defense again for another would-be score on Aug. 17. Two days later, he was one of New England's standouts during a joint practice with Philadelphia as Maye kept finding him downfield. The Patriots rested Brown in all three preseason games, so there was no reason to risk the new No. 1 receiver in exhibition action. RotoBaller has him at WR9 in its latest half-PPR rankings. Brown was already a proven fantasy option, but a strong first summer with Maye has pushed his WR1 ceiling back into focus.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zack Gelof Emerging as a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target
Across 343 plate appearances in 2026, Athletics infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof is hitting .256/.324/.453 with 15 home runs, 39 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. The 26-year-old has had his season disrupted by two separate stints on the injured list due to hand and knee injuries. However, when healthy, Gelof has been highly productive. After posting a 45.5% strikeout rate across 101 plate appearances in 2025, Gelof has lowered his strikeout rate to a much more manageable 25.4% in 2026. He's also shown the ability to play second base, third base, and all three outfield spots, which helps keep him in the A's lineup every day and provides valuable multi-positional eligibility for fantasy managers. Gelof's barrel and hard-hit rates have come down a bit this year as he focuses on making more contact, but his hitter-friendly home environment in Sacramento helps prop up his power numbers. In any league where he's not already rostered, Gelof should be a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Konnor Griffin Says He's Ready to Return on Friday
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) has declared himself ready to return on Friday, when he is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list after missing nearly two months with a torn sagittal band on the ring finger of his left hand, according to Kevin Gorman of Pittsburgh Tribune-Live. Griffin should be back in the team's starting lineup for the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels at PNC Park on Friday, and fantasy managers still playing for something should throw him back into their starting lineups as a potential difference-maker down the stretch. The 20-year-old former ninth overall pick in 2024 was just starting to find his stride offensively before his finger injury, and he has held his own in his first 225 big-league at-bats this year, hitting .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored. Griffin brings as much power/speed upside as you can find at a premier position in fantasy, and he is only rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues at the moment. With Griffin on the verge of a return, Jacob Gonzalez could be shifted to the hot corner in Pittsburgh to close out the 2026 season.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Live - Kevin Gorman
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Live - Kevin Gorman
