Jul 5, 2026, 1:50 PM ET

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (fingers) is starting in left field and will hit fifth against the hosting Houston Astros and right-hander Peter Lambert for the series finale on Sunday, per MLB.com. Simpson is returning to the starting nine after missing the last two games with soreness in his right index and middle fingers. The 25-year-old speedster hasn't hit a single home run in his first 190 regular-season games played, but he's still plenty useful in fantasy baseball leagues for his contact skills and speed on the basepaths. The former second-rounder has been hot lately, batting .386 (17-for-44) with four doubles, two RBI, six stolen bases, and three runs scored in his last 12 games since June 19. Simpson is returning to a .278/.317/.331 slash line on the year with a .648 OPS, 16 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and 35 runs scored in his 299 at-bats in his sophomore season. He has never faced Lambert in his major-league career.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 1:44 PM ET

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) took batting practice on Saturday for the first time since landing on the 10-day injured list on June 16 with a fractured left foot, according to MLB.com. An MRI exam and CT scan showed a non-displaced fracture after Martinez left the game on June 13 against the division-rival Detroit Tigers. At the time, he was estimated to need four to six weeks to recover. Barring a setback, Martinez could return to the big-league roster at the end of July. The 24-year-old had his walking boot removed last week. Before his foot injury, the 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter was batting .239 (54-for-226) with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 28 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in his 66 games in his third year in the majors. Martinez was struggling in 11 games in June before fracturing his foot, going 9-for-41 (.220) with two homers, two doubles, four RBI, four runs, one steal, one walk, and 12 strikeouts. He's walking just 2.9% of the time in 2026, so Martinez's plate discipline must improve for him to gain more traction off the waiver wire when he's healthy. He's currently rostered in just 15% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 1:23 PM ET

Since allowing seven earned runs (five home runs) in three innings in a loss to the Washington Nationals on May 25, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee has leaned more on his sinker, and in his six starts since, he's posted a 2.29 ERA with just eight walks and 28 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings for a 2-2 record. Through his rough outing against the Nats, Bibee's sinker usage was at 15.8%. In his six starts since, he's used it 37.2% of the time as his primary pitch. "The sinker last year, the start of this year," said Bibee, "it was kind of like a surprise pitch. But now it just feels like a real weapon, where I can really lean on it to get quick outs, like I've been getting. Or I still can have guys freeze on it. It opens up a lot of stuff." In his first 13 starts, Bibee's opponents hit .313 against his four-seam fastball, with a 56.1% hard-hit rate, and hit .295 with a 47.8% hard-hit rate against his cutter. In his last six starts, opponents are 1-for-21 against his four-seamer with a 26.7% hard-hit rate and 3-for-28 against his cutter with a 26.1% hard-hit rate. The 27-year-old has slightly tweaked his changeup as well, so that it mimics his cutter more. Fantasy managers have to like what they've seen from Bibee as the second half of the season quickly approaches.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins

Jul 5, 2026, 1:06 PM ET

Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez (hand) has started hitting off a tee and will progress to overhand batting practice in the coming days, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. General manager Chris Antonetti said that Ramirez has met each checkpoint so far in his recovery from surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone in his hand, but he still has more boxes to check. The Guardians remain hopeful that J-Ram can return before the All-Star break from July 13-16. The 33-year-old Dominican switch-hitter had the stitches removed from his surgically-repaired left hand earlier this week and is making good progress. Ramirez hasn't lived up to his lofty expectations so far in 2026, but if he's healthy in the second half, he still can carry a fantasy team. Through his first 72 games (314 plate appearances) in 2026 in his 14th year in the league, Ramirez is slashing .239/.339/.418 with a .757 OPS, 10 homers, 33 RBI, 24 steals, and 42 runs scored. J-Ram should be stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins

Jul 5, 2026, 1:00 PM ET

New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) is facing hitters again on Sunday at Yankee Stadium, and manager Aaron Boone told Jorge Castillo of ESPN that the plan is for Fried to throw another live bullpen session on Thursday or Friday of next week before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw has been sidelined since the middle of May with a bone bruise in his left elbow, but he's progressing nicely and could be ready to rejoin the Yankees' starting rotation for the start of the second half of the season on July 17, barring a setback on his rehab assignment. The three-time All-Star was 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA (2.72 FIP) and 1.00 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks in 61 2/3 innings over 10 starts in his second season in the Bronx this year before landing on the injured list. He led the league with 19 wins in his first year with the Yankees, and he's a must-start in fantasy when he's active. Fried should not be floating around on any waiver wires due to his elbow injury.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo

Jul 5, 2026, 12:53 PM ET

Minnesota Twins first baseman Josh Bell has now gone deep four times in his last five games, which will inevitably draw attention to him on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues from managers seeking a power surge. In Minnesota's 11-4 win over the New York Yankees in the Bronx on the Fourth of July on Saturday, Bell went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a double, three RBI, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .247 and his OPS to .738. The 33-year-old veteran left-handed slugger now has 13 round-trippers on the year while adding 59 RBI, 45 runs scored, and a .247/.304/.434 slash line in 316 at-bats in his 11th year in the majors and first with the Twins. Bell is striking out over 20% of the time this year, but fantasy managers seeking a power boost can't ignore his hot streak of late. And in his last 18 games since June 14, he's gone 21-for-66 (.318) with six homers, five doubles, a triple, 19 RBI, and 13 runs scored across 73 plate appearances. Bell is widely available, as he's rostered in just 18% of Yahoo leagues right now.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 12:45 PM ET

Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke is gaining steam as a priority waiver-wire pickup after another strong performance on Saturday in the team's 3-1 win over the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Burke allowed just one earned run on seven hits (a solo home run) while walking none and striking out a season-high 11 batters in six innings for a no-decision. The 26-year-old generated 16 swings and misses on his 95 pitches in the outing. Burke is now 5-4 in 2026 with a 3.56 ERA (3.73 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 106 strikeouts and 33 walks in 98 2/3 innings over his 18 appearances (14 starts) for the Pale Hose in his third year in the big leagues. The former third-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Maryland has gone 3-1 with 12 earned runs allowed (3.24 ERA) with 15 walks and 46 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings in his last six starts. Burke has boosted his strikeout rate from 22.3% last year to 25.8% in 2026, and he also has a career-low 8% walk rate. Fantasy managers who need rotation help should look his way heading into the second half. Burke is rostered in 56% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 12:38 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto dominated the division-rival San Diego Padres on Saturday night in a 3-0 victory to post his fifth straight quality start. Yoshinobu threw seven shutout innings at Dodger Stadium with only three hits allowed, two walks, and 10 strikeouts for his ninth win of the year. It was the 27-year-old's second scoreless outing of the 2026 season, and he's now 9-5 with a 2.49 ERA (3.25 FIP) and 0.88 WHIP with an even 100 strikeouts and 21 walks in 104 2/3 innings pitched across 16 starts in his third year in the league. The Japanese star hurler hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in each of his last eight starts. In that span, Yamamoto has allowed only nine earned runs (1.48 ERA) while walking 11 and striking out 52 in 54 2/3 innings while going 6-2. He's set to face the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks next week in his final start before the All-Star break. Yamamoto faced the D-backs in his first start of the year on March 26, allowing two earned runs with no walks and six K's in six innings for his first quality start of the season. He's a must-start every time he toes the rubber with one of the best offenses in the league backing him.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 12:30 PM ET

Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez bolstered his case as the favorite for the American League MVP award in 2026 with another multi-homer performance in the team's 10-8 win on Saturday against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays at Daikin Park. Alvarez went 3-for-4 at the plate as the designated hitter with six RBI to raise his season batting average to .324 and his OPS to 1.078. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger had a solo shot for his first homer of the day before launching a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to send the Rays home. It was Alvarez's fourth multi-homer game of the season, and the three-time All-Star and former AL Rookie of the Year is now slashing .324/.433/.645 in his 89 games and 388 plate appearances. The Cuban slugger leads the league in a variety of categories, including home runs (29), RBI (67), runs scored (62), hits (104), on-base percentage (.433), slugging percentage (.645), OPS (1.078), and total bases (207). He's by far the favorite for the AL MVP as we near the end of the first half of the season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 12:23 PM ET

Washington Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Eddy Yean is being called up to the major leagues from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. In a corresponding move, the Nationals designated outfielder Robert Hassell III for assignment to clear space on the team's 40-man roster. Yean, a 25-year-old Dominican hurler, will make his big-league debut after going 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and 19 walks in 40 innings over 39 relief appearances this year at Rochester. Yean is not listed among MLB Pipeline's top-30 Nationals prospects in 2026 and will most likely have a lower-leverage role in the Nats' bullpen for his first stint in the majors just before the All-Star break from July 13-16. Fantasy managers in all formats can probably hold off on Yean for now, as he could be sent right back to Rochester sooner rather than later.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum

Jul 5, 2026, 12:18 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder), who was pulled from his start on Saturday after just four innings because his velocity dipped against the Arizona Diamondbacks, will go back on the 15-day injured list with an inflamed labrum in his right shoulder, manager Pat Murphy told Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Woodruff was on the IL with the same injury earlier this year and missed six weeks. The 33-year-old veteran is likely looking at a potential return to Milwaukee's starting rotation in early April in a best-case scenario. In a worst-case scenario, we won't see Woodruff again in 2026 due to ongoing shoulder issues and a drop in velocity. Remember, he missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from capsule surgery in his right shoulder, and he made only 12 starts last year. Woodruff hasn't been bad in his nine starts in 2026, posting a 2.98 ERA (3.20 FIP), 0.84 WHIP, and 47:10 K:BB in 45 1/3 frames, but durability issues have to have fantasy managers extremely concerned going forward.--Keith Hernandez
Source: USA Today Sports - Bob Nightengale

Jul 5, 2026, 12:12 PM ET

Kansas City Royals catcher/first baseman Salvador Perez (elbow) is serving as the team's designated hitter and is batting sixth versus the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola in the series finale at Kauffman Stadium, according to MLB.com. A sore elbow has kept Perez out for each of the last two games, but he'll return for the series finale in KC. The 36-year-old Venezuelan backstop is running out of steam offensively in his 15th year in the majors (all with the Royals), as he enters Sunday's contest with a .201/.241/.327 slash line with a career-worst .568 OPS, 10 home runs, 30 RBI, and 29 runs scored across his 81 games (340 plate appearances). Fantasy managers may want to keep Perez on the bench until he shows some signs of life at the plate. In eight career at-bats against Nola, Perez is hitting .250 with an .875 OPS, a home run, and three RBI. Perez has five hits in his last 35 plate appearances with two doubles, two RBI, a run scored, no walks, and 12 strikeouts across nine games played.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 10:05 AM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III has had a brief stint at Triple-A Oklahoma City and has seen his fantasy value as a stash candidate drop. Over his last 14 contests with the Comets, the outfielder has posted a much lower .208/.365/.375 line with just two long balls. However, over his previous 21 games, the No .10-ranked prospect in the Dodger system carried a much higher .269/.400/.603 line with a stellar 1.003 OPS, two doubles, and an eye-catching eight long balls. Overall, the 23-year-old Florida State product has held his own at Triple-A this season, carrying a .285/.407/.563 slash line with a .970 OPS and 21 long balls. However, with Teoscar Hernandez back in action, Tibbs no longer has an immediate path to join the MLB roster. For now, given his slump and lack of a clear path to at-bats, Tibbs enters Week 14 as a mid-range stash candidate for those in deeper 12+ team leagues.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 10:04 AM ET

Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has continued his dominant play at Triple-A Louisville and is solidifying himself as a top-stash candidate among outfield prospects ahead of Week 15 of the fantasy season. Over his last 22 contests with the Bats, Rodriguez has posted a sharp .329/.396/.732 slash line with four doubles, nine home runs, two stolen bases, and a 23:7 K:BB. Prior to this impressive stretch at the dish, the 22-year-old was still very productive at the plate but was nowhere near as effective, holding a .274/.353/.465 line over his first 60 games in the regular season. Currently, the Reds do not have a clear path for Rodriguez as both JJ Bleday and Noelvi Marte occupy the corner outfield spots. However, Bleday is currently in the midst of a 7-for-53 skid, which could open the door for the team's No. 5-ranked prospect. For now, Rodríguez is a top stash target for those in 12+ team, five-outfielder leagues.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 10:04 AM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has become one of the most divisive players in 2026 drafts. After a breakout rookie season in 2024 saw him rack up almost 1,600 yards on his way to an RB14 finish, foot and shoulder injuries, as well as reported off-field struggles, limited him to only 10 games in 2025. Returning to action in Week 13 after an eight-week absence, Irving looked like a shell of himself, unable to top four yards per carry in any of his final six games. On the season, his 3.4-yard-per-carry average was down a full two yards from his rookie season, and while he was able to provide 6.1 half-PPR points per game strictly through the passing game, more than 67% of that production came in the first four weeks of the season. Following offseason shoulder surgery, the bull case for Irving is that he can return to the efficiency of his rookie season and the start of 2025, when he was the RB10 through the first four weeks. His detractors will point to the two-year, $14 million deal given to Kenneth Gainwell as evidence that Irving's fantasy-friendly usage in the passing game is set to take a meaningful hit. Those conflicting opinions have him coming off the board around RB24 by current ADP, providing his believers the opportunity to snag him at a discount in hopes of what could be a league-winning bounceback season.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 10:01 AM ET

Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (rib cage) has picked up where he left off since coming off the 10-day injured list on June 28. He has started all seven games since returning and gone 10-for-31 (.323) with three runs, five RBI, and one steal. The 24-year-old is now batting .269/.336/.410 with seven home runs, 39 RBI, 27 runs, and three steals through 271 at-bats. The plate skills are more convincing than the power so far. DeLauter has a 13.3% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate, while his 40.5% hard-hit rate and 5.9% barrel rate are solid rather than dominant. He is rostered in 51% of Yahoo leagues, and RotoBaller recommends him in 12-team formats. That is the right range. DeLauter should be rostered in leagues of that size, but seven homers and three steals do not support a five-category label.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark has continued to swing a hot bat over the past month and is settling in as a top prospect to stash ahead of Week 15. Over his last 19 games (since June 10), the top-ranked prospect in the Detroit system has posted a strong .293/.363/.415 line with four doubles, two home runs, and five stolen bases. Prior to this recent surge at the dish, the former No. 3 overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft posted a lower .253/.345/.385 line with a modest .727 OPS. Seeing Clark not only hit for a higher batting average but also begin to gradually tap into his raw power against the top pitching is an excellent sign for his fantasy outlook. If he maintains this pace, the budding star should compete for a debut shortly after the All-Star break. Heading into Week 15, Clark profiles as a top stash option in all standard leagues.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 9:58 AM ET

Chicago White Sox top pitching prospect Hagen Smith is currently on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Charlotte due to a left shoulder impingement. However, before suffering this injury, the young southpaw appeared to be on the verge of earning the call to the big leagues and was viewed as a high-end pitching prospect to stash. Before allowing a season-worst seven runs on June 13, the left-hander logged 19 innings (four starts) with a 2.37 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 32:7 K:BB. This impressive stretch put him high on the stash radar as the southpaw posted a 4.45 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP over the first 33 2/3 innings of the Triple-A regular season. While his injury has delayed his MLB debut, managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could push for a promotion to the South Side in late July if he returns to the mound in the near future.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 9:56 AM ET

Athletics infield prospect Leo De Vries has continued to enjoy a hot streak at Double-A and turned in another strong showing on Saturday. Facing Double-A Frisco, De Vries went 2-for-5 with his 10th long ball of the season. Over his last 17 games with Midland, the No. 2-ranked prospect in baseball (per MLB.com) has posted a sharp .268/.373/.549 line with five of these home runs. However, prior to this noted stretch, the 19-year-old has posted a .278/.365/.378 line with just six doubles and five long balls over his first 54 games of the season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor De Vries' production as he should be in the mix to join Triple-A shortly after the All-Star break. If he can carry this production into the top level, a late-season MLB debut could remain in play.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 9:54 AM ET

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt was optioned to Triple-A Reno following his first stint in the majors back in mid-June. However, since returning to Reno, the top-ranked prospect in the system has not only produced at a high level, but has begun to showcase his raw power. Through his first 13 games at Triple-A since returning, the Kentucky product has held a .288/.413/.588 line with a .970 OPS, five doubles, three home runs, and a 13:10 K:BB. During his first taste of the major leagues, Waldschmidt posted a .259/.314/.357 line with nine doubles, no home runs, and five stolen bases (across 33 games). If the 23-year-old can continue to take a step forward, he could emerge as a top stash candidate following the All-Star break due to his raw five-category potential.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

Jul 5, 2026, 9:51 AM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery is pushing into the ninth-inning conversation as the club mixes its late-inning assignments. Montgomery struck out the side in a non-save ninth against Philadelphia on July 2, one inning after Gregory Soto handled the top of the order. The 26-year-old has a 4.50 ERA and 1.35 WHIP through 34 innings, but his 50 strikeouts are the main reason to speculate on him. No one has taken control of the job. Montgomery still has zero saves, Soto owns 11, and Dennis Santana has two, so fantasy managers are betting on the next opportunity rather than a settled role. FanGraphs lists all three in the closer committee, while RotoBaller recommends Montgomery in 12-team leagues. He is rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues and is worth adding for saves speculation, though managers should expect uneven ratios and a committee for now.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 9:50 AM ET

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson finished as the fantasy TE8 in 2025, but his season truly was a tale of two halves. With five-time Pro Bowl receiver CeeDee Lamb missing time early in the year, Ferguson began his fourth season at a break-neck pace, finishing as the TE5 or better in each game from Weeks 2 through 5, and his 51 catches and six touchdowns had him sitting as the TE1 through the first seven weeks of the season. From that point on, with Lamb back to full health and first-year Cowboy George Pickens proving to be a driving force of Dallas' passing offense, Ferguson caught only two more touchdowns and was barely usable for fantasy, averaging 5.4 half-PPR points over his final 10 games and ranking as the TE22 over that stretch. With Lamb and Pickens back for another season together and capable of fully boxing Ferguson out of the offense, the 27-year-old tight end comes in right on the fringe of fantasy relevance as RotoBaller's TE13. Though clearly capable of stepping into a larger role and delivering week-winning performances should either receiver succumb to injury, Ferguson projects best as a solid second tight end in deeper leagues and is an obvious player to target in best ball drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 9:39 AM ET

Chicago White Sox right fielder Braden Montgomery has not delivered the home-run burst fantasy managers hoped for after his June 9 promotion, but there is enough here to justify a waiver claim. The 23-year-old is batting .244/.315/.415 with two homers, 12 runs, and eight RBI through 82 at-bats. He has also remained in the lineup, appearing 23 times in right field and once in center. Before the call-up, Montgomery hit .314/.422/.548 with 10 homers and 41 RBI over 210 minor-league at-bats. MLB Pipeline gives his power a 60 grade, and his first MLB sample includes a 90.0 mph average exit velocity and 43.5% hard-hit rate. The catch is a 62.9% ground-ball rate, which has kept too many hard-hit balls on the ground. Montgomery is rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues and is worth adding in 12-team formats, matching RotoBaller's latest recommendation.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 9:36 AM ET

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki is coming off a down year in which a pectoral injury limited him to only 13 games and 28 receptions, the lowest totals since his rookie season. Returning for the final seven games following a five-week stint on the Reserve/Injured list, he was notably more effective to close the year, playing on a 17-game pace of 49 receptions for 597 yards, but in finding the end zone only twice, Gesicki was still just the TE14 in that span. Following an early-career stretch with the Dolphins in which he finished as a low-end TE1 in three straight seasons, he has not returned to the top 12 across his last four campaigns with Miami, New England, and Cincinnati, only once cracking the top 22, and his most productive stretches with the Bengals have come as an injury fill-in for either Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins. With the offense operating at full health, Gesicki's involvement has been sporadic, with head coach and playcaller Zac Taylor leaning heavily into 11-personnel usage. Gesicki could again see fantasy managers race to the waiver wires should either Chase or Higgins miss time in the coming year, but at RotoBaller's TE28, he is unlikely to factor into 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 9:34 AM ET

Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and four blocks as USA Basketball edged the Dominican Republic 82-81 in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. The 7-foot-1 big man is coming off a useful season in Indiana, where he averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while giving the Pacers a stretch-center element. The blocks are still the fantasy hook, but his regular-season value depends on minutes. With Ivica Zubac ahead of him and Micah Potter also in the frontcourt mix, Huff profiles more as a specialist than a locked-in fantasy option.--Brian Dailisan
Source: FIBA

Jul 5, 2026, 9:27 AM ET

San Francisco Giants right fielder Jung Hoo Lee has cooled since his big June, but there is still plenty here for fantasy managers to use. He is batting .317/.348/.452 with five home runs, 45 runs, 33 RBI, and six steals through 303 at-bats. Lee hit .340 with two homers, 17 runs, 12 RBI, and five steals in June, striking out only seven times in 102 plate appearances. The power is unlikely to take off. Lee owns a 29.3% hard-hit rate and 2.5% barrel rate, so fantasy managers should view the home runs as a bonus rather than the reason to add him. His contact ability, run production, and recent willingness to steal bases carry the value. Lee is rostered in 49% of Yahoo leagues, and RotoBaller's latest rankings recommend him in 12-team formats. He belongs on a roster in leagues of that size.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins has made a 15-year career out of rising to the situation around him. Rarely has he shown an ability to truly elevate an offense, but with the right pieces around him, he's fully capable of managing the game and providing steady production that has frequently translated to fantasy success. With a deep group of pass-catchers in Washington's pass-heavy offense, he was able to turn in multiple top-six fantasy seasons, and while throwing to Justin Jefferson in Minnesota, he rarely fell outside the QB1 range. With the Achilles injury he suffered in 2023 further limiting what was never the most dynamic physical skill set, Cousins' reliance on a clean pocket and early separation from his receivers has only grown more apparent in recent years. Unfortunately, as he attempts to hold off first overall pick Fernando Mendoza for as long as possible in what could be his final starting job with the Raiders, the offense in Vegas features few pieces to get excited about outside of All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty. Cousins is well-positioned in a Klint Kubiak offense that just saw journeyman Sam Darnold finish as the QB13 a season ago, but without a weapon like Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the outside, and with the new face of the franchise already breathing down his neck, the soon-to-be 38-year-old does not project as a major fantasy contributor in 2026 and is RotoBaller's QB33.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 9:19 AM ET

Sacramento Kings forward Jonathan Mogbo finished with six points, seven rebounds, two steals, and five blocks across 32 minutes in Saturday's 79-76 California Classic Summer League win over the Brooklyn Nets. Mogbo shot 3-for-5 from the field and made his biggest impact defensively, giving Sacramento a strong first look after he joined the team on a two-way deal. The 24-year-old averaged just 1.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists with Toronto last season, so this does not create redraft buzz yet. Still, the blocks and steals are the fantasy hook if he can earn real NBA minutes.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

Jul 5, 2026, 9:16 AM ET

Atlanta Braves pitcher JR Ritchie made an immediate impact after his recall Saturday, tossing the final three innings of a 14-3 win over the Mets. The 23-year-old allowed three hits and one walk while striking out four, earning his first career save. Ritchie now carries a 4.53 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts over 43 2/3 innings. The save stemmed from the lopsided score and his three-inning workload rather than a shift into high-leverage relief. Atlanta recalled Ritchie primarily as rotation depth and long-relief help, and his 26 walks continue to be a concern. Still, as the Braves' No. 2 prospect, he offers upside through strikeouts and innings if he secures another rotation opportunity. Ritchie is worth monitoring in deeper leagues, especially if another spot opens, though his current role and control issues limit his appeal in standard mixed formats.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 5, 2026, 9:14 AM ET

Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams recorded 17 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks across 34 minutes in Saturday's 103-102 Salt Lake City Summer League overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks. Williams shot 8-for-13 from the field and hit his only three-point attempt, giving Utah a strong two-way line next to Darryn Peterson's scoring outburst. The 21-year-old averaged 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists last season, so the defensive stats and efficiency stand out most. His fantasy value still depends on earning a steadier regular-season role.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA