RADIO
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Diagnosed with a Stinger on Friday
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (neck) suffered a stinger during Friday's preseason contest against the New York Jets, head coach John Harbaugh told Dan Duggan of The Athletic. A stinger is a temporary nerve injury that sends a sharp pain down the arm. The injury isn't expected to be very serious and pain typically goes away within hours to days, so Tracy remains on track to play in Week 1 of the regular season against the Dallas Cowboys. Assuming he's available for the season opener, it will be interesting to see how this backfield looks. Presumably, Cam Skattebo will be the lead back, but Tracy, Najee Harris, and Devin Singletary are all capable of carving out significant roles, too. For now, we could envision Tracy having weekly standalone value as a low-end RB3/flex, even if he operates as the No. 2 ball-carrier behind Skattebo. He's a decent, proven option at his current ADP of 146.3.
Source: Dan Duggan
Source: Dan Duggan
J. Michael Sturdivant Posts 112 Yards, Score in Packers' Win
Green Bay Packers wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant posted a quality receiving line for the Packers in their final preseason tune-up at Lambeau Field on Friday night, a 42-38 win over the Arizona Cardinals. While the Packers didn't play any player who is locked into the 53-man roster on offense besides maybe Bo Melton, J. Michael Sturdivant has been excellent when he's gotten on the field this preseason. An undrafted free agent from Florida, Sturdivant caught 6-of-7 passes from Kyle McCord and turned those six catches into 112 receiving yards and a 29-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. If the Packers keep seven wide receivers on their 53-man roster, Sturdivant will be the one kept as he's been excellent throughout the offseason and is learning some special teams roles on the team as well. Sturdivant is worth an end-of-bench flier in dynasty leagues in case he makes the Packers' 53-man roster or latches on elsewhere, as his play has earned him that over the last month.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Matthew Stafford Remains a QB1 Despite Lack of Rushing Upside
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is coming off a top-three finish in fantasy football, and he should remain a strong QB1 option as long as he has Puka Nacua and Davante Adams at his disposal. Now 38, Stafford has shown no signs of slowing down. He won the league MVP award last year with 4,707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and eight interceptions to his name. His lack of rushing ability may prevent him from being the overall QB1, but he certainly has a chance to replicate last year's QB3 mark. One factor to consider is a potential suspension to Puka Nacua, which could sideline him for one or multiple games. However, in the one game that Nacua missed last year, Stafford threw for five touchdowns. In the end, we're not overly concerned about his fantasy outlook if Nacua (or Davante Adams, for that matter) has a short-term absence. He's somewhat of a steal at his current ADP of 104.9, which makes him the 12th quarterback off the board in fantasy drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dominic Zvada Wins Giants Kicking Job
New York Giants kicker Dominic Zvada has won the team's kicking job ahead of the regular season, head coach John Harbaugh told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Both Zvada and Ben Sauls made it through the entire preseason without missing a field goal, but ultimately, the former won the roster battle. Presumably, Sauls, a second-year kicker who went 7-for-7 on extra points and 8-for-8 on field goals last year, will be released. Zvada is a rookie from Michigan who went 17-for-25 on field goals during his final year at school. He didn't have the greatest senior season by any means, but he has proven capable of converting from long distance, as he hit both a 46-yarder and a 53-yarder on Friday. For now, he can be avoided in redraft and dynasty leagues, but he could get on the fantasy radar with a strong start to the regular season.
Source: Pat Leonard
Source: Pat Leonard
Trevor Etienne Being Evaluated for an Ankle Injury
Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne (ankle) is undergoing further evaluation after he suffered an ankle injury during Friday's preseason contest against the Houston Texans, head coach Dave Canales told Sheena Quick of FOX Sports Radio1340. Etienne had just one carry for two rushing yards prior to his departure. The Georgia product was relatively uninvolved on offense as a rookie last year, and he's still pretty much locked into the No. 3 running back role for the upcoming season. If the ankle injury ends up being serious and forces him to miss time, the Panthers would likely slot AJ Dillon into the third-string running back role behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks.
Source: Sheena Quick
Source: Sheena Quick
Bryce Miller Temporarily Demoted to Bullpen
According to Daniel Kramer, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller is temporarily being moved to the bullpen. Mariners manager Dan Wilson confirmed the news on Friday that the struggling right-hander will shift to the pen for now. Over his last eight starts, Miller is 0-6 with a horrendous 7.19 ERA. It doesn't sound like Miller is fully healthy right now, so they might move him to the Injured List if he continues to struggle. The Mariners will go with a traditional five-man rotation with Miller getting the boot. Miller will likely pitch in low-leverage spots, which won't result in much fantasy value.
Source: Daniel Kramer
Source: Daniel Kramer
Ravens Open to Adding Competition for Tyler Loop
Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop could face competition for a roster spot between now and the start of the regular season, according to Kyle Goon of The Baltimore Banner. When asked about Loop's camp on Friday, head coach Jesse Minter did not rule out the possibility of the Ravens adding another kicker in the near future. Minter noted that the 25-year-old had a good camp, but he cares more about how the kicker performs in high-pressure situations, such as the waning minutes of close games. Notably, Loop missed two field goals in the Ravens' preseason finale, which is why there was any conversation about his roster spot in the first place. He ranked as the K12 in fantasy football as a rookie last year, going 44-for-46 on extra points and 30-for-34 on field goals. If the Ravens look for a veteran kicker to compete with Loop, some free-agent possibilities include Graham Gano, Brandon McManus, and Matt Prater.
Source: Kyle Goon
Source: Kyle Goon
Riley Greene Could Begin Rehab Assignment This Weekend
Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (hamstring) is hopeful to begin a minor league rehab assignment as early as this weekend, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said on Friday that Greene is doing really well, and he should be ready for game action this weekend. Greene has been out since August 12 due to a left hamstring strain. The hope is that Greene won't require a lengthy rehab stint. The expectation is that he'll be back in the Tigers lineup by early September. Fantasy managers should check back for another update after the weekend.
Source: Evan Woodbery
Source: Evan Woodbery
Deebo Samuel Sr. a Potential Steal with 12th-Round Price Tag
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. has returned to the Bay Area for his age-30 season, and he should play a key role in his first year back on the West Coast. Samuel spent six seasons with the Niners before landing with the Commanders last year. It wasn't a very flashy season for Samuel in the DMV, but he still managed to finish as the WR25 in PPR leagues with 72 catches, 727 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns. He should get a quarterback upgrade now that he's back in San Francisco, as Brock Purdy offers more reliable quarterback play than last year's combo of Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. He will face a little more competition for volume, though. Not only will Mike Evans be ahead of him in the receiver room, but George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey should also fetch a ton of targets. With that being said, Evans, Kittle, and McCaffrey have all dealt with several injury issues in years past, so there's a path to Samuel taking on a bigger role if some of his teammates get hurt. All in all, we're not sure Samuel will replicate last year's WR25 finish, but he's still a strong top-36 receiver with weekly value as a WR3/flex. With that in mind, he's somewhat of a steal at his current ADP of 136.0, which makes him the 55th receiver off the board in fantasy drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hurston Waldrep to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
According to Mark Bowman, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Waldrep had surgery in February to remove loose bodies from his elbow. He made three appearances for the Braves before heading to Triple-A Gwinnett. Waldrep suffered a setback with his elbow during his first outing back in the minors. It has been determined he'll require Tommy John surgery, which will likely knock him out until 2028. This is tough news for the 24-year-old, but hopefully he'll get healthy and back on the mound soon.
Source: Mark Bowman
Source: Mark Bowman
Spencer Strider Unlikely to Return This Season
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (elbow) is unlikely to get back on the mound this season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Strider has been sidelined since the middle of June due to right elbow inflammation. He has resumed throwing, but it doesn't sound like he has made enough progress to make it back to the mound this season. It's worth noting that the Braves haven't officially ruled out Strider yet, but it seems unlikely that he'll pitch again in 2026. If his season is done, Strider will finish the year with a 5.31 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 46/20 K/BB ratio across eight starts. Fantasy managers in redraft formats are probably safe to move on.
Source: Mark Bowman
Source: Mark Bowman
Spencer Schwellenbach to Have Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
According to Mark Bowman, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a fracture in his right elbow. Schwellenbach hasn't pitched all season after he underwent a procedure to remove bone spurs earlier this spring. It sounds like the issue didn't go away, so he'll need elbow surgery to fully repair the problem. Schwellenbach hasn't pitched in 14 months, and his status for the beginning of the 2027 season is now in doubt. Schwellenbach can safely be dropped in all redraft formats now. Hopefully, the Braves will be able to get something out of Schwellenbach next season.
Source: Mark Bowman
Source: Mark Bowman
Jacob Wilson to Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (shoulder) is scheduled to undergo season-ending left-shoulder surgery on Sept. 16, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Wilson was placed on the Injured List last Friday due to shoulder soreness. It was revealed that the soreness was related to a shoulder separation he suffered earlier in the season. Wilson has elected to undergo surgery and get healthy for the 2027 season. It's a lost season for the A's anyway, so they might as well get Wilson back to full health. Across 80 games, Wilson slashed .266/.298/.388 with seven home runs, 37 RBI, and four steals. Alika Williams will likely see a majority of the playing time at shortstop down the stretch of the regular season.
Source: Martin Gallegos
Source: Martin Gallegos
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Clears Concussion Protocol, Still Won't Return Friday
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (neck) cleared concussion protocol and has returned to the sideline for the remainder of Friday's preseason game against the New York Jets. According to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, Tracy won't return to the contest, but he's expected to be fine going forward. It sounds like the Giants are just keeping Tracy on the sideline because it's a meaningless preseason game and most of the team's starters have been pulled from the game anyway. Tracy had four carries for 37 rushing yards and a touchdown before his exit. Meanwhile, recently signed running back Najee Harris had 39 rushing yards on 11 carries. It will be interesting to see how this backfield shakes out once the regular season arrives. Presumably, Cam Skattebo will be the lead back, but it would be a waste of talent for the Giants not to give meaningful snaps to Tracy, Harris, and even Devin Singletary. We wouldn't be shocked to see Tracy have weekly standalone value as a low-end RB3/flex, even if he operates as the No. 2 ball-carrier behind Skattebo. He's a decent, proven option at his current ADP of 146.3.
Source: Paul Schwartz
Source: Paul Schwartz
Saquon Barkley Has Another Big Year Ahead of Him
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley cooled off a little last season relative to the year prior, but he's still worth drafting as a top-12 running back in 2026 fantasy drafts. Barkley had 1,413 scrimmage yards and a modest nine touchdowns last season, ranking as the RB14 in PPR leagues. He has been a top-14 fantasy running back in each of the last four seasons, including a finish as the overall RB2 in 2024. The 29-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, and he's actually trending back upward in a new-look Eagles offense. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has introduced wide zone concepts that should benefit Barkley by increasing his yards per carry and perhaps leading to more touchdown opportunities. You certainly won't be able to get Barkley at a discount, as he comes with an ADP of 14.6. However, he's still a very reasonable target in the early second round of fantasy drafts, especially for fantasy managers who spent their first pick on a wide receiver.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
