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Adley Rutschman Returns for Series Opener Against Yankees
Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (elbow) will get his first taste of the division rivalry against the New York Yankees in Friday's series opener as he returns from a hyperextended elbow earlier this week. Rutschman will do the catching for left-hander Patrick Sandoval and will hit fifth against Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler. Fantasy managers should not be itching to get the 28-year-old backstop back into their starting lineups on Friday, especially going up against Schlittler, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2026. It has been a frustrating season for Rutschman, who has been banged up and has hit just .236 (68-for-288) with nine home runs, 51 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 79 games and 331 plate appearances. Since coming to Beantown in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 3, Rutschman has gone just 6-for-41 (.146) at the plate with a homer, a double, four RBI, three runs scored, six walks, and 12 strikeouts. He has faced Schlittler only three times in his big-league career and has one hit against him.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Denise Gomes Set For UFC Shanghai Co-Main Event
Denise Gomes will aim to extend her win streak when she takes on former title challenger Yan Xiaonan in the co-main event of UFC Shanghai on Saturday. Her latest fight saw her earn a unanimous decision win against Tecia Pennington in November 2025 at UFC Vegas 111. She won four of her five matches inside the octagon with victories over Eduarda Moura, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Elise Reed, and the already-mentioned Pennington. DraftKings sees Gomes as the underdog with a salary of $7,700.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Jordan Mason Keeps Climbing in Redraft Leagues
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason continues to look like more than just Aaron Jones Sr.'s backup. Mason rushed for 758 yards and six touchdowns on 159 carries last season, and Minnesota doesn't appear interested in pushing him back into a minor role. The team's current unofficial depth chart lists Jones OR Mason at running back, and the preseason opener looked a lot like a real split. Jones got three carries on the opening drive against the Giants. Mason got three as well, picking up 17 yards with a long run of 15. There are still reasons Jones will matter plenty, especially on passing downs. He caught 28 passes last year while Mason finished with only 14 receptions for 51 yards. Mason doesn't need to take over the backfield to pay off in drafts, though. RotoBaller had him at RB38 in its Aug. 24 rankings, and his early-down role already gives him usable standalone value. If Jones misses time, the ceiling jumps quickly. Mason's arrow is pointing up heading into the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Yan Xiaonan Looks To Bounce Back
Former title challenger Yan Xiaonan will aim to bounce back in the win column when she faces off against Denise Gomes in the co-main event of UFC Shanghai on Saturday. Xiaonan was last seen competing in April at UFC 314, where she suffered a unanimous decision loss to Virna Jandiroba. Prior to that, Xiaonan defeated Tabatha Ricci via unanimous decision. DraftKings sees Xiaonan as the favorite with a salary of $8,500.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Bo Bichette Back for Series Opener Against Astros
New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (foot) is starting at third base and will hit third for the Mets in the series opener on Friday against the visiting Houston Astros and right-hander Hunter Brown at Citi Field, according to MLB.com. Bichette did not play in Thursday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers after injuring his foot on Wednesday, but he is back for the weekend series against Houston and should be returned to fantasy lineups this weekend. Overall, it has been a disappointing first year in Queens for the 28-year-old, who signed a one-year, $42 million contract with the Mets in January that included player options for 2027 and 2028. The two-time All-Star got off to an icy start and is currently slashing .264/.312/.393 with a .704 OPS, 14 home runs, 66 RBI, 64 runs scored, and one stolen base in 132 games and 568 plate appearances. Bichette has been much better in the second half, though, and he comes into Friday's game hitting .306 (26-for-85) with an .895 OPS, four home runs, five doubles, a triple, 13 RBI, and 11 runs scored in 22 games in August. He has hit .125 with a .347 OPS in eight career at-bats versus Brown.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jake Ferguson Slipping Toward TE2 Territory
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is looking a little less appealing for redraft as the target competition around him gets tougher. Ferguson caught 82 of 102 targets for 600 yards and eight touchdowns last season, but the production was heavily front-loaded. He was the overall TE1 in PPR through Week 7, then fell to TE22 over the rest of the year and managed only seven catches over his final four games. Ferguson still owns the starting job and remains a trusted red-zone option after drawing 23 targets inside the 20 last season, converting seven into touchdowns. The concern is how often Dallas will need to lean on him with CeeDee Lamb healthy, George Pickens coming off a huge year, and Ryan Flournoy emerging as a legitimate third receiver. Ferguson averaged only 7.3 yards per catch in 2025, so he needs steady volume and scoring chances more than most tight ends in his range. His role is safe, but the ceiling looks shakier than it did earlier in the offseason. RotoBaller currently has him in the TE14-TE15 range depending on scoring format.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kai Asakura Looks For His Second UFC Win
Kai Asakura will try to win back-to-back fights when he takes on Aori Aoriqileng on the main card of UFC Shanghai on Saturday. Asakura was last seen in the Octagon in May at UFC Macau, where he, after losing back-to-back fights, won his first fight in the UFC by knocking out Cameron Smotherman in the first round. DraftKings sees Asakura as a massive favorite with a salary of $9,400.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Lazaro Montes Continues to Hit With Power In Minor Leagues
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes is still hitting with power in the minor leagues, with nine homers and 19 RBI in August with Triple-A Tacoma. This season, between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, Montes has combined to hit .248 with 37 homers and 93 RBI with 96 runs scored. The power-hitting skills are elite for Montes, the No. 5 overall prospect for the Mariners. He is blessed with 65-grade power but just a 45-grade hit tool. So he will need to improve his overall batting skills before he is able to earn a promotion to the big leagues. But the Mariners could use the power that he provides, making him a tempting call-up at the end of this season. Fantasy managers will want to monitor closely how the Mariners use Montes as this season winds down.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Chase DeLauter Returns From Hamstring Injury on Friday
Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter (hamstring) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second in his return to the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at home against the division-rival Kansas City Royals and veteran right-hander Michael Wacha, per MLB.com. DeLauter is returning to Cleveland's starting nine after missing the last three games with a tight hamstring, although he did enter the last game against the Los Angeles Angels for a clutch single in the ninth inning. Fantasy managers will want to get the 24-year-old former first-rounder back into their starting lineups to begin the weekend against a right-handed pitcher. In his first year in the big leagues, DeLauter has looked like he belongs, slashing .289/.363/.451 with an .814 OPS, 13 home runs, 59 RBI, 52 runs scored, and nine stolen bases for the Guards. He has especially looked great at the plate in August, going 24-for-68 (.353) with a .972 OPS, two homers, two doubles, two triples, eight RBI, 14 runs, and three stolen bases in 19 games. DeLauter is hitless in just two career at-bats against Wacha.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Aori Aoriqileng Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Aori Aoriqileng will try to get back in the win column when he takes on Kai Asakura on the main card of UFC Shanghai on Saturday. Aoriqileng was last seen in action in May at UFC Macau, where he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Cody Haddon. Since signing with the UFC back in 2021, Aoriqileng has gone 4-5-1, with just two wins in his last six. DraftKings sees Aoriqileng as the underdog with a salary of $6,800.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Franklin Arias the New No. 1 Hitting Prospect To Stash
Boston Red Sox infield prospect Franklin Arias has had a nice month of August at Triple-A Worcester, with two homers, 18 RBI and a .319 batting average. The 20-year-old superstar has combined in 2026 in Double-A and Triple-A to hit .313 with 23 homers and 76 RBI with 64 runs scored. Arias is the No. 1 prospect in the Red Sox system, and at age 20, he has the potential to be a league-winner in fantasy leagues should he get the call-up to Boston. He has a 60-grade hit tool with 55-grade power and has shown that off in the minor leagues this season. As a fantasy infielder, he has the potential to be a difference-maker with his elite hitting skills even at the young age of 20. Look for a call-up and look to take advantage in redraft leagues if fantasy managers can add Arias to their team.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Dalton Schultz Back in the Late-Round Conversation
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz has a clearer path to useful volume after injuries reshaped the team's receiving corps late in camp. Schultz already handled a major role last season, setting career highs with 82 catches on 106 targets for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. His 106 targets ranked second on Houston behind Nico Collins. Jayden Higgins is now out for the season with a torn ACL, while Tank Dell's return from a major knee injury remains uncertain entering Week 1. Houston has added Kayshon Boutte and signed veteran receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones, so those vacated targets will not simply funnel to Schultz. The tight end room is deeper, too, after the Texans signed Foster Moreau and used the 59th overall pick on Marlin Klein. Schultz remains the established TE1, though, and Houston gave him a contract extension in March. RotoBaller currently ranks him TE24 in half-PPR. Another 106-target season is far from guaranteed, but the late changes around him have improved his chances of remaining a useful late-round option in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tutu Atwell Addition Not a Precursor to WR Suspension in L.A.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that Thursday's trade for wide receiver Tutu Atwell had "nothing to do" with a possible suspension for two-time Pro Bowl wideout Puka Nacua, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "It gives us an opportunity to be able to have that speed element, and he can do some different things," McVay said. "It had nothing to do with anything other than just adding depth to the receiver room." Nacua's legal situation is "ongoing" after a woman in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit against him that alleged he made an "unprovoked antisemitic statement" toward her and later hit her on the shoulder. The Rams drafted Atwell in the second round in 2021, having spent his first five seasons with the team before signing a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in March. The 26-year-old will be providing depth again in L.A. in 2026 behind Nacua and Davante Adames, who will continue to see the vast majority of aerial targets from quarterback Matthew Stafford. Atwell had a career-high 562 receiving yards in 2024 but fell to 192 yards and just one touchdown on six catches in 10 regular-season games last year.
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Sumudaerji A Favorite At UFC Shanghai
Sumudaerji aims to return to the win column when he faces Alex Perez on the main card of UFC Shanghai on Saturday. Sumudaerji and Perez fought in May at UFC Macau, but a kick to the groin from Sumudaerji resulted in Perez being unable to continue, leading to a no-contest ruling. Prior to his fight with Perez, Sumudaerji was on a three-fight winning streak. DraftKings sees Sumudaerji as the favorite with a salary of $8,800.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Bo Davidson Primed For Late-Season Breakout
San Francisco Giants outfield prospect Bo Davidson has produced in a big way during the month of August at Triple-A Sacramento, hitting .341 with six homers, 23 RBI, and 30 runs scored. Davidson is the No. 8 prospect in the Giants' system with a 50-grade hit tool, 55-grade power, and 55-grade speed. Davidson has combined for 19 stolen bases between two levels of the minors this season, proving that he could be a stolen base threat at the major-league level. Davidson is doing his best to force his way into a call-up to the Giants this season. The 24-year-old is doing everything in his power to prove he is ready. If the Giants feel he is ready, he would be a big boost to fantasy managers down the stretch of the season. Keep an eye on Davidson's progress the rest of the way.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
