Sep 2, 2026, 11:39 AM ET

Across 481 plate appearances this season, New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham is hitting .209/.306/.394 with 18 home runs, 58 RBI, 67 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. The 29-year-old has been a batting average liability throughout the year for fantasy managers, but he frequently leads off for the Yankees and brings a decent power/speed profile. However, Grisham has struggled mightily in the second half of the season, hitting just .166 across 178 plate appearances since the All-Star break. The Yankees' outfield mix could also get more crowded in short order, as star outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) appears to be making progress towards a mid-September return. With Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones emerging in recent weeks, Grisham could be demoted to fourth outfielder status in New York if/when Judge returns to the field.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 2, 2026, 11:39 AM ET

The Washington Nationals officially activated outfielder James Wood (oblique) from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, and he is starting in right field and batting leadoff against the visiting Atlanta Braves and right-hander Grant Holmes, according to the team. Wood will make his return to Washington's roster after missing almost a month with a strained left oblique. He is back in the starting nine after going 2-for-6 with a homer in two minor-league rehab games. Although the left-handed slugger has hit just .191 (13-for-68) with a .620 OPS and just two home runs in 17 games since the All-Star break, fantasy managers will want to get him back into their lineups in all traditional leagues now that he is healthy. Wood clobbered 28 home runs, drove in 64, and stole 15 bases in the first half of the campaign and remains one of the best all-around sluggers in the game. In just six career at-bats against Holmes, Wood is hitting .167, but he does have a solo home run against him. Wood has the ability to put fantasy teams over the top in September.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Nationals Communications

Sep 2, 2026, 11:32 AM ET

Arizona State wide receivers Jalen Moss and Jaren Hamilton are officially listed as co-starters on ASU's depth chart. Moss transferred to ASU in the 2025 portal and had big expectations, but due to illness and a nagging foot injury was not able to deliver on those high hopes. Moss only consistently started playing in Week 9 of last year, and he finished the season with 16 receptions for 273 yards and one touchdown; however, 129 of his total yards came against Duke in the Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl. Hamilton was a big-play threat for ASU last campaign, hauling in seven receptions for 169 yards and no touchdowns. ASU welcomes Morgan State in a home matchup in Week 1. Morgan State was one of the worst FCS defenses last year, allowing 32.9 points per game. Moss and Hamilton should not be considered when fantasy owners are setting their lineups this week, despite the great matchup.--Chris Blomstrand
Source: 247Sports

Sep 2, 2026, 11:31 AM ET

Across 59 1/3 innings (55 games) in 2026, New York Yankees closer David Bednar has pitched to a 2.73 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 65 strikeouts, 31 saves, and six wins. Bednar got off to a slow start, allowing 12 earned runs over 24 innings through the end of May. However, the 31-year-old has largely been lights out since the start of June. He's allowed just six earned runs over his last 35 1/3 innings pitched and has blown just three saves on the year. Bednar has struck out 27% of the batters he's faced this season while allowing just a 7.5% walk rate. The veteran right-hander is also very difficult to take deep, as he's allowed just 0.46 HR/9. As the clear ninth-inning option for the Yankees, Bednar profiles as a high-end closer option for fantasy managers.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 2, 2026, 11:31 AM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) did some running on a side field with trainers Wednesday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Stroud noted that Egbuka showed no obvious problems with the toe while running. The second-year receiver has been out since injuring it during an Aug. 12 joint practice with the Jets. Initial testing showed a sprained toe, and Egbuka still has not returned to team practice. Head coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that he wants to see how Egbuka looks next week before making a call on his Week 1 availability. Egbuka caught 63 passes for 938 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie last season. Tampa Bay opens Sept. 13 at Cincinnati, so there is still time, but getting back into practice will be the next important step.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Rick Stroud

Sep 2, 2026, 11:23 AM ET

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd could get the first shot at the starting job while Josh Jacobs is on the Commissioner's Exempt List. ESPN's Dan Graziano reports that the coaching staff has liked what it has seen from Lloyd throughout the offseason and training camp, and believes he could run with the opportunity. Lloyd has barely had a chance to show anything in the regular season, playing just one game across his first two years because of injuries. He had six carries for 15 yards in that 2024 appearance and did not play at all in 2025. This summer has gone much better. Lloyd stayed healthy through camp, mixed in with the first-team offense and had 10 carries for 30 yards with two catches in the preseason, including an 11-yard touchdown against Denver. Green Bay also has Chris Brooks and recently acquired Kaleb Johnson, so the job is not automatically Lloyd's. But if he stays healthy and produces, ESPN's report makes it clear he has a real chance to claim the backfield.--Bruno Mulé
Source: ESPN

Sep 2, 2026, 11:22 AM ET

In a recent ESPN article in which several MLB players provided anonymous responses to questions about ongoing labor negotiations with the league, many suggested that a lengthy lockout could be possible, if not likely. With MLB's current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire in early December, both the league and the Players Association are gearing up for what many expect to be a hotly contested labor dispute. The league has publicly agitated for drastic changes such as the introduction of a salary cap, which the Players Association has historically staunchly opposed. While the players surveyed by ESPN uniformly expressed hope that a potential lockout would not result in missed games in 2027, many state that missed games are a definite possibility. In 2022, when the current CBA was agreed to, the league pushed Opening Day back from March 31 to April 7 but still maintained a 162-game regular season.--Will Brady
Source: ESPN

Sep 2, 2026, 11:12 AM ET

Across 131 innings (26 games) so far this season, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler has recorded a 6-9 record with a 4.26 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts. While the young right-hander's top-line numbers don't necessarily stand out, he's been a much better pitcher in recent outings. Across 36 2/3 innings since the All-Star break, Chandler has pitched to a 2.95 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 32 strikeouts. The 23-year-old's 20.6% strikeout rate for the year is underwhelming, and he hasn't gotten significantly more whiffs even in his recent hot streak. However, Chandler is averaging 98.4 miles per hour on his fastball and posted a 27.4% strikeout rate across 100 innings at Triple-A in 2025. As a highly regarded young pitching prospect who is starting to get results in the big leagues, Chandler's fantasy value is on the rise.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 2, 2026, 11:12 AM ET

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams could emerge as the team's leading receiver this season, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. Williams is coming off another big year, catching 65 passes for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 targets in 2025. He averaged 17.2 yards per catch and topped 1,000 yards for the second straight season. The Lions have spent the past few years asking Williams to become more than a downfield threat, and there were signs of that growth in camp. Jared Goff recently praised the nuance Williams has added to his route running, while new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has challenged him to play more physically. The obvious obstacle is Amon-Ra St. Brown, who drew 172 targets and finished with 1,401 receiving yards last year. Williams also led the NFL with 12 drops. Still, if Petzing can get him involved more consistently at every level of the field, a career year is firmly in play.--Bruno Mulé
Source: ESPN

Sep 2, 2026, 10:58 AM ET

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart feels "in command" for Week 1 despite going nearly a month without live game action, according to Patricia Traina of Sports Illustrated. Dart attempted four passes in the Giants' preseason opener Aug. 15, but then head coach John Harbaugh kept him sidelined for the final two preseason contests. As a result, nearly a month will separate his last live game action from the Giants' season opener Sept. 13. While that long absence may raise some question marks, especially in a new offensive system, Harbaugh explained the decision was rooted in minimizing injury risk and the confidence he has in the quarterback's work ethic during practice. Dart himself added that he felt like he has been able to prepare for the regular season by playing against the Giants' starting defense in practice. "I feel so much better," Dart said. "I feel in command. I feel confident. In this offense, there's a lot that's put on the quarterback's plate, but it's exactly how I want it. It's exactly how I viewed this coming together." All signs point to Dart making a Year 2 leap. He was the overall QB14 despite making just 12 starts last season, so he has legitimate top-eight fantasy upside in 2026 if he can stay healthy for the full year. As it stands, he has an ADP of 103, which makes him the 11th quarterback off the board.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Patricia Traina

Sep 2, 2026, 10:56 AM ET

Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza is set for his first collegiate start in Thursday night's home opener against Colorado. The younger brother of 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza, Alberto transferred to Georgia Tech after winning a national championship with Indiana last season. Last year, Georgia Tech had Haynes King at quarterback, who was one of the best rushers at the position, posting 953 yards and 15 touchdowns. Expectations should be tempered for Mendoza's rushing upside in the Georgia Tech offense, even though he is viewed as a dual-threat option. Colorado's defense was the second-worst defense against the run last year, allowing 222.5 yards per game and 2.1 touchdowns per game. The over/under is set at 50.5 total points, with Georgia Tech favored by 6.5 points. Given the poor opponent and high points expectations, Mendoza should be considered a streaming option in Week 1, though there are higher-ceiling options available.--Chris Blomstrand
Source: ESPN

Sep 2, 2026, 10:49 AM ET

The Philadelphia Eagles do not view the upcoming 2026 season as a make-or-break year for quarterback Jalen Hurts, according to general manager Howie Roseman (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of SportsRadio 94WIP). Roseman made it clear that Hurts' future in Philadelphia does not depend on his performance this season, and he pointed out "all the winning Hurts has done," according to Shorr-Parks. Indeed, the Eagles have made the Super Bowl in two of the last four seasons, winning the Lombardi Trophy two years ago. Hurts holds an impressive 57-25 record as a starter in the NFL, and he's been equally dominant from a fantasy football perspective, ranking as a top-nine fantasy quarterback in each of the last five seasons. The sky is the limit for Hurts in this year's new-look system led by offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, giving the 28-year-old quarterback top-five upside. As it currently stands, he has an ADP of 71.9 and ranks as the overall QB3 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Eliot Shorr-Parks

Sep 2, 2026, 10:42 AM ET

Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has quickly earned the trust of his quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes. "Even when there were a couple routes he ran the wrong thing and lined up the wrong way in the game, the quarterback still threw the ball to him," head coach Andy Reid told Jesse Newell of The Athletic. "You go, 'All right. There's a certain trust there.' And he'll work through all the other stuff." Mahomes recently dubbed Allen one of the team's biggest camp standouts, and Newell noted that the team's quarterbacks have all been very comfortable throwing him the ball even when he's covered. That level of trust should go a long way in the regular season. Even though Allen is set to open the year behind Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy on the depth chart, he could work his way onto the fantasy radar by midseason, especially if Rice or Worthy get injured. Having Mahomes throwing him the football should only boost his stock in redraft and dynasty formats. Allen currently has an ADP of 186.5, which corresponds to the 16th round of drafts and makes him the 68th receiver off the board.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Jesse Newell

Sep 2, 2026, 10:36 AM ET

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas has generated plenty of buzz after a strong showing throughout training camp and the preseason. Douglas, a third-round rookie out of Texas Tech, sat out the Dolphins' final preseason game, which is a good sign that he'll earn the start in Week 1 against Las Vegas. Miami arguably has the worst wide receiver room in the league, so there's a real opportunity here for Douglas to cement himself as Malik Willis' favorite target. There's a relatively simple path to him leading the team in catches and receiving yards, especially given his main competition right now is Malik Washington and fellow third-rounder Chris Bell. The biggest obstacle for Douglas might be the state of the Dolphins' offense. We expect Miami to run a lot, we're worried about Willis' accuracy as a passer over a full season, and touchdowns may be few and far between. Simply being the Dolphins' potential No. 1 receiver gets him onto the fantasy radar, though, and he's a worthwhile late-round pick for managers in deeper leagues. After all, he has WR3/flex upside once he gets a few games under his belt.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller