RADIO
Samuel Basallo a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Following Return from Injury
After suffering a shoulder injury in mid-July, Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo was sidelined for a month. However, the 22-year-old was reinstated from the injured list on August 19, and he immediately jumped back into an everyday role in the heart of the Baltimore lineup. Across 336 plate appearances in 2026, Basallo is hitting .236/.301/.439 with 17 home runs, 48 RBI, and 36 runs scored. While Basallo's 27.4% strikeout rate is a red flag in his profile, his high-end power upside for the catcher position is underscored by his 13.0% barrel rate and 45.1% hard-hit rate. The Orioles' trade of catcher Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline has also cleared the way for Basallo to be the team's primary backstop. Baltimore also remains willing to play Basallo at first base or designated hitter, which should allow him to stay in the lineup even when he needs a day off behind the plate. In leagues where he's available, Basallo should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Bell Remains a Steady Source of Power and Run Production
Across 521 plate appearances in 2026, Minnesota Twins first baseman Josh Bell is hitting .253/.317/.423 with 17 home runs, 80 RBI, 67 runs scored, and one stolen base. Bell doesn't stand out in any one category, which may be why he often flies under the radar of fantasy managers. However, the 33-year-old remains a very reliable hitter in his 11th MLB season. Bell's steady power production is supported by his credible 9.8% barrel rate and 41.5% hard-hit rate. His 20.3% strikeout rate on the year is slightly higher than his career norm, but remains manageable. Bell has also been durable and is locked into an everyday role in the heart of the Twins lineup, which should allow him to continue to be an above-average run producer throughout the remainder of the season. For fantasy managers in need of some power and run production, Bell is an appealing waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Packers Signing Tight End Jonnu Smith to One-Year Deal
The Green Bay Packers are signing former Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, sources told Jordan Schultz. Smith is one of the league's most respected veterans, and he has recorded 345 career catches and 30 touchdowns in his nine years in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers will be Smith's fourth different team in the last four years. The former third-rounder in 2017 by the Titans out of Florida International had a career year in Miami in 2024, catching 88 of 111 targets for 884 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games, but he cratered to a 38-222-2 line in 17 regular-season games last year in Pittsburgh while sharing work with Pat Freiermuth. With Luke Musgrave (neck) on the Physically Unable to Perform list, the 31-year-old should become Green Bay's TE2 behind Tucker Kraft (knee), who is coming off a torn ACL last year. Smith is unlikely to have standalone fantasy value with the Packers unless Kraft misses more time with an injury, but his presence is not great news for Kraft's potential breakout in 2026.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Cam Caminiti Should Be High-Priority Stash In Dynasty Formats
Atlanta Braves pitching prospect Cam Caminiti is having a nice month of August for Double-A Columbus with four starts, a 2.33 ERA, and 1.34 WHIP to go with 20 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings pitched. He does not have a decision this month. This year, he is 3-4 overall with High-A Rome with a 3.89 ERA and 1.21 WHIP and 93 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings pitched. At age 20, Caminiti has pitched for a month at Double-A since an early-August promotion and is doing very well in showing off his upside that he has at such a young age. He is the No. 2 prospect for the Braves and possesses a 60-grade fastball with a 55-grade slider and changeup. Caminiti is progressing quickly through the minors and looks like he could make 2027 an MLB debut season. He has all the tools to be successful and should be snatched up in dynasty leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Brooks Lee is a Reliable Producer to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 512 plate appearances in 2026, Minnesota Twins third baseman/shortstop Brooks Lee is hitting .247/.299/.437 with 21 home runs, 70 RBI, 59 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 25-year-old has outperformed his underlying batted-ball metrics, as he's posted subpar barrel (4.1%) and hard-hit (32.8%) rates. However, Lee consistently puts the ball in play. He's struck out in just 16.2% of his plate appearances and hits the ball in the air a ton, which gives him opportunities to put it over the fence. Perhaps most importantly for fantasy managers, Lee is locked into everyday playing time in Minnesota and has been both consistent and durable so far this season. With his balanced production profile, Lee can easily fly under the radar but should be a priority waiver wire target in any league where he is available.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Gage Wood Offers High Upside For Dynasty Formats
Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Gage Wood is the top prospect in the Phillies system and has advanced to Double-A in his age-22 season this year. Wood has shown modest results at Double-A Reading with 14 starts and an 0-2 record with a 4.45 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 77 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings pitched. The strikeout rate is very good, but the other numbers leave a bit to be desired. He started the season at A-ball pitching for Clearwater before his promotion to Reading on May 18. Wood has a dominant fastball, with the pitch graded out at 70. But he has work to do on his secondary pitches, with the top-graded one being his curveball at 55-grade, with a 50-grade slider, and a 45-grade changeup. Wood likely needs more time in the minors but is a good name for dynasty leagues, as he could debut for the Phillies next season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Seahawks, Leonard Williams Agree to Three-Year Extension
The Seattle Seahawks and star defensive end Leonard Williams agreed to a three-year, $90 million contract extension on Thursday that will keep him in Seattle for the foreseeable future, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The deal includes $56 million guaranteed. Williams has made the Pro Bowl in each of his two full seasons with the organization and helped the club win the Super Bowl last year after recording 62 tackles (33 solo), seven sacks, nine tackles for loss, 22 QB hits, and a pass breakup in 17 regular-season starts. The 32-year-old veteran had 11 sacks the year before in 16 regular-season games. Since being drafted sixth overall in 2015 out of USC by the New York Jets, Williams has a total of 61.5 sacks and 637 tackles (331 solo) in 11 seasons across 175 regular-season games (166 starts). He will continue to be a key piece of Seattle's defensive line in one of the top overall defenses in the league in 2026.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Steve Belichick Not Expected to Coach Against TCU
North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is not expected to be with the team for the Week 0 matchup against TCU on Saturday, according to On3. The son of North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick has been on medical leave in recent weeks and won't travel to Dublin, Ireland. In his absence, the elder Belichick and defensive line coach Bob Diaco have worked on defensive game prep. Bill Belichick is expected to call defensive plays. TCU is breaking in transfer quarterback Jaden Craig after the departure of Josh Hoover, who left for Indiana. The Horned Frogs also have a new offensive coordinator, Gordon Sammis, after Kendall Briles left for South Carolina.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Jarlin Susana Full of Potential As He Continues His Return From Injury
Washington Nationals pitching prospect Jarlin Susana is fully recovered from a right lat tear and is back pitching with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Susana has made just four starts in 2026 with and 0-1 record to go with a 4.00 ERA and 17 strikeouts in nine innings. He's pitched three games for High-A Wilmington and recently made his Harrisburg debut. He pitched 2 2/3 innings in his outing for the Senators with one hit and one walk with no earned runs. He struck out four batters in his solid but shortened outing. Susana continues to work his way back and is the No. 3 overall prospect for Washington with a 70-grade fastball and slider combination that helps give him an excellent strikeout rate. Susana is a Dominican Republic product and is a name to monitor in dynasty leagues with great upside.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Tucker Kraft Claims he Won't be on a Snap Count
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) said on Wednesday that he is "not doing the rep count stuff anymore," according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported on Wednesday that Kraft, who tore his ACL in Week 9 last year against the Carolina Panthers, is expected to be a "full-go" for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. The 25-year-old was a full participant in the team's joint practice on Wednesday against the Arizona Cardinals and took a couple of hard hits, which backs up the notion that he should be ready for the regular-season opener without being on a snap count. The former third-rounder from South Dakota State could reach a contract extension with Green Bay soon, too, that might make him the highest-paid TE in the league. Kraft caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in just eight starts in 2025 and had seven touchdowns the year before. If he can avoid another serious injury in 2026, he has a clear path to being a top-five fantasy tight end in an offense that lost two key receivers in the offseason in Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Thomas White Has Bright Future For Marlins Despite Current Injury
Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Thomas White was shut down for the 2026 season with a left shoulder capsular sprain but is still a big-time fantasy name to remember as he is the top prospect for the Marlins. Before his injury, White made seven starts between two levels of the minors including Triple-A Jacksonville. He went 0-3 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched. White possesses a 70-grade slider with a 60-grade fastball and changeup combination. At 21 years old, that elite pitch mix has scouts and fantasy managers drooling and when he comes back fully healthy, he should be a fantasy force. While 2026 was a lost year for White, he could be looking at a 2027 major league debut and would be a very good fantasy addition for leagues drafting next year.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Dohnte Meyers Rising in Bengals Offense, has Path to Targets
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Dohnte Meyers has arguably been the biggest story of training camp this summer, according to Jay Morrison of Sports Illustrated, and he continues to grow his trust within the offense. The former DoorDash driver and Canadian Football League wideout took first-team reps at practice on Tuesday with WR1 Ja'Marr Chase (knee) sitting out due to an injury scare from Monday. After that, Meyers and quarterback Joe Burrow spent almost 40 minutes working on throws, routes, and chemistry. "He's had a great camp. He's quick, shifty, understands what we're trying to do. He's played a lot in the CFL. He's got a lot of reps under his belt. He's a guy that we've seen a lot out of," Burrow said. It is definitely notable that Burrow is willing to work with him outside of team practice, but it's no guarantee that he'll make the final 53-man roster heading into the 2026 regular season. But the way Bengals teammates have buzzed about Meyers since the spring, it might be an upset if Meyers isn't on the team come Week 1. For now, he is merely a name to monitor, but if Meyers continues to produce and gain chemistry with Burrow, he could push Andrei Iosivas for the WR3 role later this year.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jay Morrison
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jay Morrison
Josuar Gonzalez Is a Name to Remember in Dynasty Formats
San Francisco Giants 18-year-old middle-infield prospect Josuar Gonzalez is a name to remember in fantasy circles and is a must-add in dynasty formats. Gonzalez was just promoted to A-ball at San Jose and has responded very well in 23 games with two homers and 25 RBI, along with 23 runs scored and nine stolen bases while hitting .358. The infield prospect is the Giants' top overall prospect with a 55-grade hit tool, 55-grade power, and 65-grade speed. The youngster looks to have everything in his tool bag as he can contribute in any of the five main fantasy categories, and he is advancing nicely through the minors at such a young age. Signed out of the Dominican Republic, Gonzalez started in Rookie ball this season, but after securing one promotion to San Jose, he showed a lot of what he can do in a very short time period. Remember the name and add in dynasty leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Steelers Restructure DK Metcalf's Contract
The Pittsburgh Steelers restructured the contract of wide receiver DK Metcalf on Thursday, converting his base salary into a signing bonus to create nearly $18 million in salary cap space in 2026, according to Field Yates of ESPN. The restructure comes after the Steelers signed the veteran wideout to a four-year, $132 million deal in March of last year. In his first year in the Steel City, the former second-rounder by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 from Mississippi caught 59 passes for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 regular-season games while working with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers gave Metcalf some help this offseason by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting Germie Bernard, but a true bounce-back to the 1,000-yard mark might not be in the cards in a new offense that could continue to run through the ground game. The two-time Pro Bowler recently returned from a nagging, undisclosed injury in training camp and should be fine for the regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Metcalf is best valued as a WR3/flex as one of Rodgers' best red-zone weapons in 2026.
Source: ESPN.com - Field Yates
Source: ESPN.com - Field Yates
Josue De Paula Looks Like Future Five-Category Stud
Los Angeles Dodgers top outfield prospect Josue De Paula is having a very productive August at Double-A Tulsa and is looking like a top-tier dynasty prospect for fantasy leagues. The left-handed hitting outfielder is batting .300 this month with nine homers and 22 RBI to go with 24 runs scored. The 21-year-old is showing why he is valued so highly as he has dominated at Double-A this season. He has a .311 batting average on the season in 113 games at Tulsa with 26 homers and 98 RBI along with 97 runs scored and 29 stolen bases. De Paula has a five-tool skill set, and he has a 65-grade hit tool with 60-grade power. De Paula looks like he might be a year or two away from a big-league debut but looks to be one of the top dynasty league stash prospects in baseball.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
