RADIO
Kirk Cousins Expected to "Eventually" be Named the Starting QB
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Las Vegas Raiders veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected "to be named the starter eventually," according to people inside the Raiders' building and league-wide with other teams. Head coach Klint Kubiak was non-committal on naming a starter for Week 1 of the regular season against the Miami Dolphins after the team's preseason finale on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers, in which both Cousins and rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza played. Cousins went 8-for-11 for 51 yards, while Mendoza went 7-for-14 for 57 yards with an interception. Although Mendoza saw some first-team reps in training camp practices, Cousins has been treated like the starter since the spring, according to Fowler. At best, the 14-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowler is a low-end, short-term option in superflex leagues in 2026, but the overwhelming consensus is that Mendoza will be making starts under center this year for the Raiders sooner rather than later. Cousins only played in 10 games (eight starts) for the Atlanta Falcons last year after Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) season-ending ACL tear, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Commanders Holding Rachaad White Out of Preseason Finale
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White (hamstring) is not active for the team's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday, according to Commanders.com. It is not a surprise that White will not play in the final preseason game after injuring his hamstring in training camp practice last Wednesday. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) are also banged up and will not play on Friday night, leaving rookie Kaytron Allen, Robert Henry, and Craig Reynolds to work out of the backfield against the Ravens. The 27-year-old White is entering his first year in D.C. in 2026 after rushing for 2,656 yards and 14 touchdowns and catching 205 passes for 1,450 yards and another 11 scores as a receiver in his four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he figures to be the Commanders' top pass-catching back, giving him late-round sleeper appeal in PPR fantasy formats. White had at least 40 catches in all four of his seasons in Tampa and exceeded 50 catches three times.
Source: Commanders.com
Source: Commanders.com
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Not Playing in Preseason Finale
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) is not active for Friday's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens, per the team's official website. Croskey-Merritt tweaked his lower body in training camp practice last Thursday, and although the injury is not believed to be serious, the Commanders have held the second-year back out as a precaution and will not have him suit up on Friday. In addition to JCM, Rachaad White (hamstring) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) are banged up and will not play against Baltimore, leaving rookie Kaytron Allen, Robert Henry, and Craig Reynolds to man the team's backfield in the preseason finale. The 25-year-old Croskey-Merritt had a successful rookie season in 2025 after being taken in the seventh round out of Arizona, running for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries to lead the team. Washington hopes to develop him into a three-down back, but the addition of White, a pass-catching specialist, could make that difficult to achieve in 2026. RotoBaller has Croskey-Merritt ranked as the No. 37 overall RB for his second NFL season.
Source: Commanders.com
Source: Commanders.com
MLB Suspends Dominican Prospect Over Elaborate Age-Fraud Plot
Cleveland Guardians switch-hitting infield prospect David Severino has been suspended by the league after Major League Baseball uncovered an elaborate age-fraud plot that included a fictitious death and a gravesite tombstone, sources familiar with the investigation told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Severino's handler tried to make him appear nearly two years younger than he actually is, including faking a birth certificate to create a new identity, falsifying medical and school records, filing a fraudulent death certificate, and creating a gravesite scene. At the time the Guardians agreed in December to a $2.8 million pre-deal with Severino, they thought he was 13 or 14 years old and that the deal would be finalized in 2029, by which point he would be 17 and eligible to sign. Severino's real name is Daury David Severino Damaso, and he is 16 years old. His suspension will force him to wait an extra year to enter the international amateur market and become eligible to sign with a team. The Guardians are not facing MLB discipline.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Max Fried to Return for Saturday's Doubleheader
New York Yankees left-hander Max Fried (elbow) is set to come off the 15-day injured list to start one of the doubleheader games against the division-rival Boston Red Sox, manager Aaron Boone told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Fried will end up missing the minimum 15 days on the injured list after suffering a setback of an elbow bone bruise that kept him out for much longer earlier this season. The veteran southpaw will rejoin New York's starting rotation after throwing a four-inning live batting practice session on Monday, so he could be operating with a workload restriction on Saturday in his first game back. In his first meeting with the Red Sox back on April 22, Fried picked up his third win of the year, tossing eight shutout innings with two walks and a season-high nine strikeouts. That kind of line might be expecting a lot in his second meeting with Boston, but the 32-year-old has been solid again in 2026 when healthy, going 4-4 with a 2.81 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 79 strikeouts, and 27 walks in 86 1/3 innings across 15 starts. The three-time All-Star won a league-high 19 games last year in his first season in the Bronx and had a nice 2.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 189:51 K:BB in 32 regular-season starts.
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Source: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
Jake Bauers Returns Against Rangers
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (shin) is starting at first base and batting third in Friday's series opener against the visiting Texas Rangers and left-hander Cody Bradford, per MLB.com. Bauers is returning to the starting lineup this weekend after missing the last three games due to shin splints. It will be a lefty-lefty matchup for Bauers, which is not ideal, but he has also hit .280 (30-for-107) with six of his 23 home runs on the year against left-handed pitchers in 2026. It has been a career year for the left-handed slugger, as he has posted a .272/.382/.501 slash line with an .884 OPS, 23 long balls, 75 RBI, 76 runs scored, and nine stolen bases across 119 games and 476 plate appearances. Bauers is a lineup regular for the first-place Brewers and should be returned to starting lineups in fantasy leagues despite facing a lefty on the mound on Friday. Bauers has never faced Bradford in his career. In 20 games in August, Bauers has gone 19-for-67 (.284) with four homers, three doubles, 12 RBI, 11 runs, and a stolen base.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Byron Buxton Absent From Twins' Lineup on Friday
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hip) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener at home against the division-rival Chicago White Sox, according to MLB.com. Top outfield prospect Walker Jenkins has been recalled from Triple-A St. Paul and will make his major-league debut for the Twins at Target Field, starting in center field and batting ninth against White Sox veteran right-hander Luis Castillo. Buxton was pulled from the last contest with more pain in his right hip, an injury that has already sent him to the injured list twice in the second half. For now, we will consider the veteran outfielder as day-to-day, but if he cannot rejoin the starting lineup this weekend against the White Sox, another trip to the IL could be in store. The 32-year-old three-time All-Star had a fantastic first half in 2026 with 25 homers, 45 RBI, seven steals, and a .271/.328/.575 slash line, but he has played in only 18 games in the second half due to hip issues and has hit .172 (11-for-64) with zero homers, one RBI, seven walks, and 17 strikeouts. If Buxton lands on the IL a third time with his recurring hip problem, it might be the last we see of him this season.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jeremy Pena Active After Injury Scare on Thursday Night
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hand) is starting at the 6 and batting leadoff for Friday's series opener on the road against the New York Mets and right-hander Christian Scott at Citi Field, per MLB.com. Pena was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the series finale on Thursday against the New York Yankees, but he stayed in the game and even hit a home run. After X-rays came back negative, he is back in the starting nine to kick off a series in Queens against the Mets. Fantasy managers will want to keep the 28-year-old Dominican infielder in their starting lineups. He has played in only 84 games (363 plate appearances) in 2026 due to various injuries, but Pena is slashing a strong .282/.336/.477 with an .814 OPS, 16 home runs, 44 RBI, 65 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. Although Pena has two homers in his last three games, he's batting .184 (16-for-87) with four homers, four doubles, a triple, 10 RBI, 14 runs, four walks, and 31 strikeouts in 21 games in August. He has never faced Scott in his MLB career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Emeka Egbuka's Focus is on Being Ready for Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) traveled to Jacksonville with the team for their preseason finale this week, but he will not play as he continues to rest his toe injury, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Auman says that he would be surprised if we see Egbuka at practice next week, with the focus on having him back for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 23-year-old suffered a sprained toe over two weeks ago and has not practiced since. Even if the former first-rounder from Ohio State is active for Week 1, fantasy managers have a reason to be skeptical that he will produce for them right out of the gate, even against a Bengals secondary that has been extremely generous in recent seasons. We might not have a definitive answer on Egbuka's Week 1 status until several days before the season opener. Egbuka had a nice 63-938-6 line in 17 games as a rookie in 2025, and his role should expand as a sophomore with Mike Evans no longer in town. In upcoming redraft leagues, fantasy managers should target him as a solid WR2.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Umar Nurmagomedov Set For UFC Shanghai Main Event
Former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov will try to extend his win streak to three when he faces off against Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Shanghai on Saturday. Back in January 2025, Nurmagomedov fought for a title against Merab Dvalishvili, but unfortunately for Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision. Since then, Nurmagomedov has won back-to-back fights against Mario Bautista and, more recently, Deiveson Figueiredo. DraftKings sees Nurmagomedov as a massive favorite with a salary of $9,500.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Evan Engram Starting to Look More Interesting in Redraft Leagues
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is starting to give fantasy managers a little more to work with after a rough first season in Denver. He caught 50 of 76 targets for 461 yards and one touchdown in 16 games last year, but the bigger issue was how little the Broncos used him. This summer has been different. Engram was one of the early camp standouts, Sean Payton said he could be a "big asset," and he later caught a touchdown from Bo Nix during two-minute work. Denver has also moved him around the formation more instead of treating him mostly as a slot target. Engram then drew three targets in the preseason opener, catching one for 24 yards. This isn't suddenly a clear path back to TE1 numbers. Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton and the rest of Denver's receiver room make targets tough to project, and Engram still has plenty to prove after last year. He does remain first on the depth chart, though, and RotoBaller has him at TE34 in half-PPR. That's still deep-league territory, but Engram's stock has moved in the right direction this summer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Juan Soto on the Verge of Returning From Injured List
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) does not anticipate needing to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the 10-day injured list, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Soto said he is just about ready to rejoin the major-league roster, but he will know more after Friday. DiComo thinks that Soto's return from the IL "could happen in a matter of days." The left-handed slugger will not be back for Friday's series opener at home against the Houston Astros, but he could rejoin the starting lineup at some point this weekend. That is great news for managers with the fantasy playoffs coming soon. The 27-year-old Dominican All-Star has been on the IL two separate times in 2026 due to calf injuries in both legs, but he still has time to be a difference-maker in the final month of the regular season. Soto will be returning to a .283/.408/.539 slash line with a .947 OPS, 21 home runs, 52 RBI, 46 runs scored, and seven steals in 293 at-bats and will immediately be a must-start in all traditional fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Song Yadong Headlines UFC Shanghai Event
Song Yadong will look to win back-to-back fights when he faces off against Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Shanghai on Saturday. Yadong was last seen in action in May at UFC Macau, where he returned to the win column by beating former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo via second-round submission. Prior to that, Yadong dropped a competitive unanimous decision to former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley at UFC 324. DraftKings sees Yadong as a massive underdog with a salary of $6,700.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
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
