RADIO
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Returns From Hamstring Injury on Saturday
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (hamstring) is back at first base and is batting third in the batting order for Saturday's contest on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Aaron Nola at Citizens Bank Park, per MLB.com. Guerrero is back for the Jays after sitting out the last three games due to tightness in his hamstring, an injury that has cropped up several times this year. The 27-year-old six-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner has been one of the league's biggest fantasy baseball busts in 2026, as he enters Saturday's action with a .259/.338/.349 slash line, .687 OPS, only six home runs, 44 RBI, 56 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 108 games across 456 plate appearances. Vladdy hasn't spent time on the injured list, but one has to wonder how healthy he's been this year while seeing a massive drop-off in the power department. He hit under .200 with just one homer in 23 games in June, and he hasn't hit more than two homers in any month this season. Fantasy managers are just hoping Guerrero can come alive for the stretch run. He'll face Nola on Saturday, a pitcher he has a home run and two RBI against in eight career at-bats.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jake Ferguson's Red-Zone Role Keeps Him in the TE1 Mix
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was one of Dak Prescott's favorite options near the goal line last season, and that still gives him a path to TE1 value. Ferguson caught a career-high 82 passes for 600 yards and eight touchdowns on 102 targets, finishing TE7 in half-PPR. He also drew 23 red-zone targets, catching 14 of them for seven scores. The problem is that Dallas has plenty of mouths to feed. CeeDee Lamb is healthy, George Pickens is coming off a huge season, and Ferguson averaged only 7.3 yards per catch in 2025. He is not the kind of tight end who can live on a handful of deep shots if the volume falls. The good news is that his job is secure, and the connection with Prescott has looked sharp again in camp. RotoBaller has Ferguson 129th overall and TE14 in its August 8 half-PPR rankings. That price reflects the risk without burying a player who just finished inside the top eight. Ferguson is better viewed as a borderline TE1 than someone fantasy managers need to chase.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ty Simpson Set for Preseason Debut
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson will play in the team's first preseason game, head coach Sean McVay told reporters Saturday. McVay said the rookie will "definitely" see action, while he has not decided whether Stetson Bennett IV will play. Simpson was the 13th overall pick in April and is competing with Bennett for the backup job behind Matthew Stafford. The Alabama product started all 15 games last season, completing 64.5% of his passes for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Bennett received more of the second-team work early in camp, so the preseason should give Simpson a valuable chance to make up ground and show how quickly he is settling into McVay's offense. Stafford remains firmly atop the depth chart, but Simpson's first NFL game action will be worth watching for dynasty and Superflex managers.
Source: Sarah Barshop
Source: Sarah Barshop
Carson Benge Out With Wrist Injury on Saturday
New York Mets rookie outfielder Carson Benge (wrist) is out of the starting lineup on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to a wrist injury that knocked him out of Friday night's game, according to MLB.com. Fellow rookie A.J. Ewing is starting in left field and will bat leadoff for the Mets against Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler. Fantasy managers should consider Benge day-to-day after X-rays came back negative on his wrist after he crashed into the outfield wall while making a sliding catch on Friday at PNC Park. It looks like he avoided a serious injury, so he could rejoin New York's starting lineup as early as the series finale on Sunday. The 23-year-old former first-rounder from Oklahoma State University has been a solid source of counting stats across the board (mostly for speed) in all fantasy baseball leagues in 2026, as he entered the day slashing .270/.330/.412 with a .742 OPS, 13 homers, 46 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored across his 422 at-bats. Benge has been swinging a hot bat lately, too, going 15-for-39 (.385) with two homers, two doubles, a triple, six RBI, seven runs scored, and two steals in his last 10 games, dating back to July 29.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Dalton Schultz Belongs in the TE2 Range in 2026
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz was busy last year. He saw 106 targets, caught a career-high 82 passes for 777 yards and three touchdowns, and finished as the TE11. Finding that much work again could be difficult. Nico Collins is still the top receiver, Jayden Higgins is coming off a 41-catch, 525-yard rookie season and has drawn strong reviews in camp, while Tank Dell is back on the field after missing all of 2025 with a knee injury. Houston also signed Foster Moreau and used the 59th overall pick on tight end Marlin Klein. Schultz is still the Texans' TE1, and he played more than 71% of the offensive snaps last season, so his role isn't disappearing. There are simply more options around C.J. Stroud now. RotoBaller has Schultz 177th overall and TE24. He still makes sense as a second tight end, but another TE11 finish would require much of last year's target volume to stick around.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jauan Jennings Is Worth a Late-Round Bet in Minnesota
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings is going late enough in drafts that last year's drop in yardage shouldn't scare fantasy managers away. Jennings caught 55 passes for 643 yards in 15 games for San Francisco, but he also scored a career-high nine touchdowns while playing through a collection of injuries that included five broken ribs. That came one year after he posted 77 catches for 975 yards. Minnesota doesn't need Jennings to be its top receiver with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison around, and T.J. Hockenson gives whichever quarterback wins the job another established target. There is still room for Jennings to matter, though. He gives the Vikings a physical veteran underneath and has shown he can produce when his role expands. The unsettled competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray adds some uncertainty, but the price has already accounted for plenty of it. RotoBaller ranks Jennings 147th overall in half-PPR, while his current consensus ADP sits at 173.9. At that point in a draft, his track record is worth taking a chance on.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
CeeDee Lamb Still Worth His First-Round Price
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had a down 2025 by his standards, but there is not much of a discount attached to it. He missed three full games with a high ankle sprain and still caught 75 passes for 1,077 yards on 117 targets. The three touchdowns were a career low, which is probably the biggest reason last year felt so disappointing in fantasy. George Pickens is not going away after a 93-catch, 1,429-yard breakout, and Dallas now has two receivers capable of commanding plenty of looks from Dak Prescott. That makes another 2023-type 181-target season harder to bank on. It also does not push Lamb out of the first-round conversation. Dallas has made red-zone improvement a focus in camp, and Lamb has been working in those drills. RotoBaller ranks him ninth overall and WR5 in half-PPR, almost exactly in line with his 10.6 ADP. At that price, Lamb is neither a bargain nor a fade. He is still one of the safest bets to anchor a fantasy receiving corps.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaac TeSlaa's Growing Role Makes Him a Dynasty Buy
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa didn't do much between the 20s as a rookie, but six touchdowns on 16 catches made it hard to ignore what his size can add to this offense. Detroit is giving him more to do now. The 24-year-old enters camp as the clear No. 3 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and Dan Campbell said the Lions had built a lot of trust in him by the end of last season. There is some noise in the late-season numbers, though. TeSlaa caught 12 balls over the final six weeks, but that run came after Sam LaPorta went on injured reserve. LaPorta is back at full strength, and Jahmyr Gibbs will also see plenty of targets. TeSlaa may never get enough volume to become a weekly fantasy starter in this offense. Still, Detroit traded up 32 spots to take him 70th overall last year, and his 6-foot-4 frame gives him a red-zone role that doesn't require huge target volume. RotoBaller has him 189th overall in its latest dynasty rankings. That's cheap enough to buy into the Year 2 role growth without paying for a breakout that's already happened.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
T.J. Hockenson Makes Sense as a Second Tight End
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is much easier to take a chance on now that his cost has slipped into the later rounds. He caught 51 of 66 targets for 438 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season, finishing TE22 in PPR after a TE34 finish in 2024. That's a long way from the TE4 season he posted in 2023, but Minnesota's offense did him few favors. The Vikings cycled through 26 offensive-line combinations, and Hockenson had to spend more time helping in protection. There is still plenty working against a full rebound. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings give Minnesota a crowded group of pass catchers, while J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray are still battling for the starting job. Hockenson has at least looked lively in camp, including a 29-yard grab from McCarthy on Friday. RotoBaller has him 167th overall and TE21 in its August 8 half-PPR rankings, and his consensus ADP is 162.1. That is not a huge bargain. It is cheap enough, though, to take Hockenson as a second tight end and see if some of his old production comes back.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
De'Zhaun Stribling Returns to 11-on-11 Work
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) returned to 11-on-11 work Saturday after dealing with hamstring tightness, according to Noah Furtado. The rookie had been unavailable for team work earlier this week, so getting back into full-speed reps is a good step after the 49ers took a cautious approach with the issue. Stribling had made a strong impression before the setback, with Brock Purdy praising his understanding of route depths, alignments, and details while calling him reliable. San Francisco selected the 6-foot-2, 207-pound receiver 33rd overall in April after he posted 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns at Ole Miss last season. With Ricky Pearsall out for the year and several other receivers dealing with injuries during camp, Stribling has a real opportunity to earn early playing time if he can stay on the field.
Source: Noah Furtado
Source: Noah Furtado
Wilyer Abreu Out on Saturday With Calf/Shin Swelling
Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu's calf/shin is swollen from Friday night, so interim manager Chad Tracy said it felt like a good time to give Abreu a day off on Saturday against the Athletics, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. The Red Sox had been looking for the right time to give the outfielder a day off during the team's 16-game stretch without a day off. Eli White is making the start in right field on Saturday and will hit sixth against A's rookie left-hander Gage Jump. Fantasy managers should consider Abreu day-to-day for now with an injury that shouldn't send him to the injured list. Check back on Sunday to see if he's ready to return for the series finale at Fenway Park. Abreu is having another fine season for the BoSox in 2026, slashing .256/.331/.462 with a .793 OPS, 20 home runs, 62 RBI, 64 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 113 games across 492 plate appearances. He's three homers shy of setting a new career high. After slumping to a .186 average (18-for-97) with six homers and 14 RBI in 25 games in July, Abreu has gone 9-for-22 (.409) with four homers and nine RBI so far in six games in August. UPDATE: Tracy said that Abreu is feeling better and is "hopeful" to return to the lineup on Sunday.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Travis Etienne Jr. Remains a Strong Fourth-Round Redraft Target
New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. doesn't need a workhorse role to pay off at his current 41.9 ADP. He is coming off a strong final season in Jacksonville, rushing for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 36 catches for 292 yards and six more scores. The Saints clearly wanted him, giving the 27-year-old a four-year, $52 million deal in March, and his early camp usage has been encouraging. Etienne has seen most of the first-team work on early downs, with Alvin Kamara getting more of the passing-down reps. Kamara staying in New Orleans takes some shine off Etienne's ceiling, particularly as a receiver, but it does not mean this has to become an even backfield split. Etienne has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three of his four NFL seasons on the field and should have plenty of opportunities to do damage again. RotoBaller has him 33rd overall, nearly nine spots ahead of his current ADP. That fourth-round price still looks pretty good.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Breece Hall Overvalued at His Current ADP?
New York Jets running back Breece Hall is being drafted around 31st overall, almost exactly where RotoBaller has him ranked, and that price looks reasonable entering 2026. Hall handled a career-high 243 carries for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games last season, adding 36 catches for 350 yards and another score. The receiving dip is worth watching after Hall caught 76 passes for 591 yards in 2023, but the Jets gave him a three-year extension this offseason and offensive coordinator Frank Reich has openly said New York wants to emphasize the running game. Braelon Allen is the biggest threat to Hall's touchdown ceiling. The 240-pound back scored three times during red-zone work Thursday, although his reps increased with Isaiah Davis (knee) sidelined, so it is too early to call that a permanent goal-line role. Hall still enters the season atop the backfield and has the workload history to justify his third-round cost. He is not a bargain, but his current ADP does not look inflated either. Hall remains a strong RB2 target with enough rushing and receiving upside to finish as an RB1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyquan Thornton's Bigger Role May Not Fix His Volume Problem
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton is in line for more snaps in 2026, but that alone does not solve the fantasy problem. He caught only 19 of 37 targets last season, although those receptions went for 438 yards and three touchdowns. Thornton did most of that damage early, posting 13 catches for 272 yards and all three scores through Week 5. He managed just six receptions for 166 yards over his final nine appearances. The big-play ability is real. Kansas City credited him with a team-high eight catches of at least 25 yards, and Thornton is still viewed as part of the starting group in three-receiver sets. The volume remains the problem. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy sit ahead of him for targets when healthy, while Travis Kelce is still a major part of the passing game. RotoBaller ranks Thornton WR113 in its latest published PPR wide receiver rankings. That makes him a reasonable deep-league flier and a better fit for best ball, where one long touchdown can matter more. In ordinary redraft leagues, Thornton needs more targets before he becomes a player fantasy managers can trust.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Giancarlo Stanton Resumes Jogging
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) took part in some jogging on Friday as a way to reintroduce him to base running. The 36-year-old has been out of action since the end of April with what was diagnosed as a low-grade calf strain and has suffered through various setbacks and shutdown periods along the way. As such, the team has been cautious when handling his progress so as not to suffer any more setbacks and to have him and his bat ready for the playoffs. He did face live pitching last week when he went up against Carlos Rodón, signaling yet another step closer to a return. Still, with an extensive injury history such as his, coupled with the amount of time he has been away from action, it's hard to imagine him having much time left in the season to make an impact for fantasy baseball managers.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
