RADIO
Esmerlyn Valdez Placed on Injured List With Hamstring Strain
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring) on the injured list on Saturday with a strained left hamstring. The 22-year-old outfielder injured himself on Friday while trying to beat out a ground ball in the sixth inning. He came up limping and was helped off the field. A day later, he was placed on the injured list, keeping him out of action for at least 10 days. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but given the timing, there is a chance that this ends his season. If he doesn't return in 2026, he will finish with 17 home runs over 72 games played, which should keep him in consideration as a late-round draft pick heading into the 2027 draft. In his absence, Jake Mangum should once again be considered as an injury replacement for the Pirates and receive additional opportunities. He has some fantasy appeal, as he has posted a .283/.340/.369 slash line this season with 23 stolen bases over 122 games played.
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
Freddie Freeman Back in Saturday's Lineup
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (knee) is starting at first base and is batting in the two-hole for Saturday's contest on the road against the Miami Marlins and right-hander Tyler Phillips, according to MLB.com. Freeman is back in action after missing the last two games with some minor soreness in his right knee. Although the veteran first baseman's knee injury is not expected to impact him the rest of the season, it is worth watching after he has struggled at the plate in seven games so far in September, going 3-for-22 (.136) with a homer, three RBI, five walks, and nine strikeouts. Fantasy managers will be hoping that Freeman, who turns 37 years old on Saturday, can turn it around in the final few weeks of the season when it matters most. The Dodgers will need the former MVP and 10-time All-Star even more with Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) on the injured list. On the year, Freeman has hit a strong .297 (156-for-525) with 16 homers, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in his 17th major-league season. Get him back into your starting lineup against Phillips, whom Freeman has hit .750 against with three RBI in just four career at-bats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Denzel Boston a Risky Flex in NFL Debut
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Denzel Boston will make his NFL debut Sunday against Jacksonville with a starting spot already in hand. The rookie is listed alongside Jerry Jeudy and KC Concepcion Jr., and Cleveland liked him enough to take him 39th overall after a 62-catch, 881-yard, 11-touchdown final season at Washington. Boston also made plenty of contested catches during camp. The preseason did not give us much to work with, though. He caught one pass for 15 yards across three games. Jacksonville allowed 25 passing touchdowns last season, but the Jaguars also picked off 22 passes, and Deshaun Watson is not exactly lifting the outlook for Cleveland's receivers right now. RotoBaller has Boston at WR70 for Week 1, while its current start-sit guidance recommends keeping the Browns' wideouts to deeper leagues with multiple flex spots. Boston is worth rostering because the role could grow quickly. For Sunday, fantasy managers should keep him on the bench unless they are digging deep for a flex.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cameron Dicker Has Favorable Week 1 Matchup vs. the Cardinals
Los Angeles Chargers placekicker Cameron Dicker will be a strong fantasy asset on Sunday in a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The 26-year-old was the K4 overall and averaged 10 points per game last season. Dicker will now be tied to an explosive offense with a new offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel. McDaniel has orchestrated some of the league's best offenses in recent years that have translated to big numbers on scoreboards at times. With a revamped offense, Dicker could see an uptick in production this season. He rolls into Week 1 as RotoBaller's K2 with a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Dicker could find himself trotting on the field often if the offense gets in a rhythm early.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jack Flaherty Throws Two Simulated Innings
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (forearm) threw a two-inning simulated game on Saturday, embarking on what could be the final hurdle before returning to the mound for the Tigers. The 30-year-old has missed the last six weeks because of right forearm flexor inflammation but has made significant strides as of late. Flaherty himself said that he felt great after this outing and is ready to get back on the mound. Whether or not that happens in the coming days remains to be seen, but the fact of the matter is that he is nearing the end of his time on the sidelines. Fantasy managers should be ready to add him to their rosters where possible, but be cognizant of the fact that he may be working out of the bullpen or on a pitch count.
Source: Evan Woodbery
Source: Evan Woodbery
Quinshon Judkins Better Left on the Bench in Week 1
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins opens the season in a rough spot against Jacksonville. Judkins is first on Cleveland's depth chart after running 230 times for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games as a rookie, so the early-down work should still be there. The matchup is the problem. Jacksonville led the NFL by allowing only 85.6 rushing yards per game last season and did not allow any opposing player to run for more than 75 yards. Cleveland is also a sizable road underdog, which could work against Judkins if the Browns have to throw. Dylan Sampson handled more of the obvious passing-down work last season, and that matters in this kind of game script. The Browns will also start five new offensive linemen, with rookie Austin Barber replacing the injured Teven Jenkins at right guard. RotoBaller has Judkins at RB23 for Week 1, but this is a week to look elsewhere if a solid alternative is available. His volume keeps him usable in deeper leagues, but the ceiling looks limited.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jac Caglianone Missing his Sixth Straight Game
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone (elbow) will sit out for a sixth straight game on Saturday at Fenway Park against the hosting Boston Red Sox, per MLB.com. John Rave will make yet another start in right field for the Royals while batting seventh against Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez. Caglianone has been slow to recover from a flexor strain in his left elbow, but the Royals continue to say that he is day-to-day, so the left-handed slugger could have an opportunity to return for the series finale in Boston on Sunday. It is a terrible time for the 23-year-old former first-rounder to miss time with an injury during the fantasy playoffs in most leagues. Caglianone has developed into a must-start asset in fantasy leagues for his power in what has been a strong first full season in the big leagues in 2026. He came into Saturday's action slashing .283/.331/.494 with an .825 OPS, 23 home runs, 70 RBI, 66 runs scored, and six stolen bases across his 474 at-bats. Cags tore the cover off the ball in 24 games in August, hitting .411 (39-for-95) with six home runs, eight doubles, 26 RBI, 17 runs scored, and three steals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Justin Verlander Faces Live Batters
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (hamstring/hip) took a big step forward in his injury progression on Saturday by facing live batters prior to the team's game against the Colorado Rockies. This marks the first time that the 43-year-old has faced live hitters since he went on the Injured List very early in the season. It is worth noting that the batters who stood in the box did not take any swings, but the fact that they were there marks a significant step in the right direction. Verlander is hoping to cap off his career with one final start on the final weekend of the season. With the Tigers almost out of playoff contention and with potentially nothing to play for, that feels like the perfect sendoff to one of the game's greats. From a fantasy perspective, he is only worth consideration if he does, in fact, return, but there's no guarantee that he makes it back in time to pitch again.
Source: Jason Beck
Source: Jason Beck
Jahan Dotson Atlanta's No. 2, but Not On Flex Radar in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson will be Atlanta's No. 2 receiver on Sunday for the team's Week 1 road matchup against the Steelers. While that can be a potentially fantasy-friendly role on many teams, the former first-rounder could realistically be the fourth option, likely behind Drake London, Kyle Pitts Sr., and Bijan Robinson in the receiving hierarchy. Additionally, with third-string quarterback Cooper Rush under center in Week 1 for Atlanta, that could mean that a very quiet game could be in store for the Penn State product. The 26-year-old projects as the No. 90 wide receiver overall this week at RotoBaller, and with the Falcons having one of the lowest implied point totals in Week 1 (17.5), he's off of the Flex radar altogether.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Arizona State Loses Starting Right Guard
Arizona State has seen one of its starting offensive linemen suffer what appears to be a significant injury during a matchup with Texas A&M. Right guard Wade Helton was carted to the sideline after going down during the second quarter of Saturday's contest, according to On3's Pete Nakos. DevilsDigest.com provided additional context, posting to its X account, "Cannot put weight on right leg as he's being assisted off the field." Helton played 10 games as a freshman for the Sun Devils a season ago and helped them rush for a whopping 249 yards during a 70-7 win over Morgan State a week ago. Rob Lapuaho has replaced Helton at right guard. Lapuaho was on the Arizona State scout team a season ago.
Source: Pete Nakos/On3
Source: Pete Nakos/On3
Charlie Kolar Has Fantasy Appeal in Deeper Leagues in Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar is coming off a strong offseason filled with under-the-radar hype after signing a lucrative three-year, $24.3 million contract in free agency. The 27-year-old was named the TE1 on the team's first unofficial depth chart over David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden II and saw limited work during preseason games with the rest of the offensive starters. Kolar is RotoBaller's PPR TE32 heading into Week 1 and should remain out of lineups in standard 12-team leagues. However, he is a sneaky touchdown-dependent tight end option with upside in deep tight end premium leagues. Kolar will face a Cardinals defense that allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns (31), ninth-most completions (375), 10th-most passing yards (4,128), and the 11th-highest completion percentage (65.6) last season. In a favorable matchup, he could have a productive fantasy outing and is a name to monitor on waivers to begin the year.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Edward Cabrera Activated And Added To Bullpen
Chicago Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera (finger) was activated from the Injured List on Saturday and added to the team's bullpen ahead of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 28-year-old pitcher has started in all 15 of his appearances this season but will now be moved to the bullpen after suffering multiple injuries all year long. The right-hander has only been in one game since the All-Star Break because of hamstring and blister issues, and the hope is that with a smaller workload, both his health and productivity will stabilize. He will likely only receive low-leverage opportunities while he works on fixing his command and control, as both his 5.68 ERA and 1.45 WHIP are the highest either stat has been since his rookie season with Miami.
Source: Patrick Mooney
Source: Patrick Mooney
Nicholas Singleton Should be Ignored in Starting Week 1 Lineups
Tennessee Titans rookie running back Nicholas Singleton, the 165th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft in April in the fifth round from Penn State, enters his first year in the NFL as the team's No. 3 RB behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. Singleton is not rostered in most standard-sized, single-year fantasy leagues, but an injury to either Pollard or Spears could quickly make him attractive off the waiver wire in the Titans' new-look offense this year under coordinator Brian Daboll. The 22-year-old had two 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in his four collegiate seasons with the Nittany Lions and added 45 rushing touchdowns in 53 total games. He was also proficient as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 102 passes for 987 yards and another nine touchdowns as a pass-catcher. A broken foot limited him to 549 rushing yards in his senior season, but he still added a career-high 13 touchdowns on the ground. Singleton is fully healthy now as Tennessee's RB3, but he should be on benches in deeper fantasy leagues for his NFL debut against the New York Jets this Sunday.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tre' Harris Remains Hidden in Crowded Offense for Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Tre' Harris had a quiet offseason heading into his sophomore campaign, even though his offense was often discussed with the arrival of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. McDaniel is viewed as an offensive guru who has called plays for some of the most explosive offenses over the last few seasons. However, Harris has been overlooked by analysts even as they have attempted to get as much exposure to the offense as possible. The 24-year-old will likely be deployed as the WR3 in the Chargers' offense that has heavy target competition with Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Charlie Kolar, Omarion Hampton, and Keaton Mitchell all vying for targets. Harris is RotoBaller's PPR WR72 in a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Cardinals defense allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns (31), ninth-most completions (375), and 10th-most passing yards (4,128) last season. Harris should remain out of fantasy lineups in Week 1 and should be viewed only as a touchdown-dependent flex option for managers in a tough spot in deeper leagues.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Deshaun Watson Hard to Trust in Week 1 Return
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will make his first regular-season start in nearly two years when the Browns visit Jacksonville on Sunday. There is not much reason for fantasy managers to take the same chance. Watson missed all of 2025 after undergoing a second surgery on his right Achilles, then had an uneven preseason after returning this summer. He opened 11-for-15 for 126 yards against Chicago before completing just five of 12 passes for 36 yards with an interception against Buffalo. Jacksonville picked off 22 passes last season, so this is not an especially comfortable spot for a quarterback trying to get settled again. Cleveland also enters the opener with five new starters along the offensive line, including rookie Austin Barber replacing the injured Teven Jenkins at right guard. RotoBaller has Watson at QB32 for Week 1. He should stay on the bench in one-quarterback leagues and is only a desperation option in deeper Superflex or two-quarterback formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
