RADIO
Canadiens Open to Trading Adam Engstrom
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Adam Engstrom could be on his way elsewhere, The Athletic's Arpon Basu reports. "It is no secret Engstrom's name is floating around out there," Basu wrote. "Teams have asked about him in trade discussions, and the Canadiens are open to those discussions." Engstrom is a highly rated defensive prospect who appeared in his first 15 NHL games last season. He didn't make a significant impact, but Engstrom also had a very limited role, averaging 13:03 of ice time. The Swedish blue-liner boasts impressive scoring numbers in the minors, with 61 points (15 goals, 46 assists) in 111 appearances. He's a pending restricted free agent, finishing a three-year, $2.69 million deal in 2026-27.
Source: Arpon Basu
Source: Arpon Basu
Baker Mayfield Thinks Bucs will Shock a Lot of People in 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is excited and ready for the season. He expressed his confidence by taking a question on Wednesday about the team's Week 1 matchup in Cincinnati and saying, "It's just the Bucs against everybody else in that city you're going to... I think we're going to shock a lot of people this year, so I'm excited to just get on the road and do that." Mayfield is in the final year of the three-year, $100 million extension and was unable to reach a new extension this offseason. He took a step back last year, with 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns after posting 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2024. He played through injury during the season, which ended with the Bucs just missing the playoffs. He'll look to post a big year and earn a new deal, and he starts the year ranked as the No. 17 QB in RotoBaller's rankings.
Source: Kevin Patra
Source: Kevin Patra
Morgan Rielly Expects to Start Season in Toronto
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly expects to stay with the team for the start of the 2026-27 season, Dave McCarthy of NHL.com reports. Questions have lingered about Rielly's future after Toronto's miserable 2025-26 campaign. Yet he appears set to remain part of the team's core. The 32-year-old has spent his entire 13-year NHL career with the Maple Leafs. Next season, Rielly will aim for a bounce-back campaign after a mediocre 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 78 games. That was his lowest-scoring year since 2020-21. With Darren Raddysh in town, it may be hard for Rielly to reach his previous offensive levels.
Source: Dave McCarthy
Source: Dave McCarthy
Tai Felton a Top Performer in Camp, Pushing for WR3 Role
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton has been one of the team's top performers this training camp, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. Felton was a third-round pick out of Maryland before last season but only had three catches for 25 yards in his rookie season, contributing mostly on special teams. This season, though, he has been pushing newly acquired Jauan Jennings for playing time with an outstanding training camp, earning praise for his route-running and winning contested catches in the red zone and in the open field. Felton is still a deep-league sleeper at this point, but he's definitely a name to watch since the Vikings' passing game could get a boost with Kyler Murray stepping in as the starting QB. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will get most of the work, but Felton is a name to know late in drafts, and he could quickly emerge as a waiver wire option if he earns playing time.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Sidney Crosby Expected to Discuss New Contract Before End of Offseason
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby is currently on track to enter the 2026-27 campaign with an expiring contract. But The Athletic's Josh Yohe reports that Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, has contract talks planned with the team before the offseason ends. "When I recently spoke with Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, he said he hadn't discussed the contract with Crosby yet, indicating he was letting his most famous client enjoy his summer before getting back to business," Yohe wrote. "Brisson said there's an understanding that they'll discuss the contract before summer is over. The Penguins' first preseason game is Sept. 21." Crosby signed his previous extension - a two-year, $17.4 million deal - in September 2024, shortly before training camp opened. The legendary forward is entering his 22nd NHL campaign and said at the end of last season that he wants to keep playing for "as many years as possible."
Source: Josh Yohe
Source: Josh Yohe
DeMar DeRozan Emerges as Denver's Top Free-Agent Target
Free-agent guard/forward DeMar DeRozan has become a target for the Denver Nuggets after they sent Peyton Watson to Cleveland, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. The six-time All-Star was waived by Sacramento in July after averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 31.2 minutes across 77 starts last season. Denver can offer a title-contending role next to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but its second-apron situation leaves the veteran minimum as the likely path. That could make money the hurdle if Miami or Washington pushes harder. DeRozan still offers scoring and durability, but a bench role in Denver would likely cap his fantasy value.
Source: Chris Haynes
Source: Chris Haynes
Kaleb Johnson on the Roster Bubble, Unlikely to Make the Team
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson is in a battle for his roster spot and could end up not making the final roster, according to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo. Johnson was the team's third-round pick just over a year ago, but he didn't make much of a positive impact as a rookie and has struggled in limited work in training camp. He only had two carries for three yards in the team's preseason game and was most notable for being yelled at on the sideline by special teams coach Danny Crossman. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle will likely get most of the work at running back for the Steelers, with Travis Homer mixing in as a specialist. Lew Nichols seems to have passed Johnson as well, which puts Johnson in danger of being cut if he doesn't step up in the rest of the preseason. Johnson isn't a fantasy factor at this point, but his roster status is worth watching.
Source: Mike DeFabo
Source: Mike DeFabo
Santi Aldama Sits Out Spain Qualifiers
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Santi Aldama will sit out Spain's upcoming FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifying window as he continues working back from right knee surgery. The Spanish Basketball Federation announced that Aldama will miss training camp and the games against Portugal and Greece, with both sides deciding not to rush his recovery before his first season in Dallas. The 25-year-old averaged 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists and shot 35.0 percent from three across 43 games last season. The fantasy appeal is real if the minutes are there, but Dallas' frontcourt is crowded, with Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington absorbing forward minutes while Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II handle the middle, leaving Aldama's role as the key swing factor.
Source: Basketnews
Source: Basketnews
Drake Batherson Seeking Eight-Year Extension
Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson hopes to sign an eight-year contract extension, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. The Senators have until Sept. 15 to sign Batherson to an eight-year deal. When the new collective bargaining agreement takes effect on Sept. 16, the maximum contract length for players signing with their current teams will drop to seven years. Garrioch reported last month that Batherson and the team aren't close to agreeing on a new deal. Batherson is a pending unrestricted free agent. The upcoming campaign will be the final season of his current six-year deal, worth $4.95 million annually. He is likely seeking a significant raise after becoming a 30-goal scorer and posting a career-high 71 points in 2025-26.
Source: Bruce Garrioch
Source: Bruce Garrioch
Elfrid Payton Draws Kings Interest
Free-agent guard Elfrid Payton is one of the experienced ball-handlers the Sacramento Kings are considering as they open a series of veteran workouts, according to Jake Fischer. Sacramento is hosting Cameron Payne first and has also shown interest in Victor Oladipo while searching for a veteran presence behind No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. Payton, the 10th pick in the 2014 draft, last played in the NBA in 2024-25, averaging 3.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.9 assists across 24 games with New Orleans and Charlotte. He spent last season with the G-League's Austin Spurs. Even if signed, Payton would be a deep-reserve mentor behind Acuff, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk, leaving him off fantasy radars.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Jordan Mason Standing Out at Training Camp
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason has been one of the top performers in Vikings' camp, according to The Athletic's Alec Lewis. Despite continuing to share work with Aaron Jones, Mason has been able to show off good burst and is fitting well into the offense. He ripped off a long run in the joint practice against the Ravens on Wednesday and could earn an expanded role if he continues to mesh well with new quarterback Kyler Murray. In addition to the new QB, the Vikings overhauled the outside zone run scheme to be closer to what Mason excelled in during his time in San Francisco. After running for 758 yards and six touchdowns last year, Mason could be even more effective in his second season with the Vikings. He's currently ranked as the No. 37 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, but the reports from camp have him on the rise, with the potential to outperform that rating if he can claim a larger portion of the timeshare.
Source: Alec Lewis
Source: Alec Lewis
Alexander Romanov Healthy After Shoulder Surgery
New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (shoulder) is healthy for training camp, Jon Lane of NHL.com reports. The Russian rearguard underwent shoulder surgery in November and played in only 15 games last season. But he has recovered in time for the new campaign. Romanov has averaged 1.9 blocks and 2.4 hits in his NHL career. The Islanders' defense will receive a big boost with him healthy. However, Romanov has never posted more than 22 points in a season, meaning he only has limited fantasy value.
Source: Jon Lane
Source: Jon Lane
Cameron Payne to Work Out for Kings
Free-agent guard Cameron Payne is set to work out for the Sacramento Kings as the team begins a series of veteran guard auditions, according to Jake Fischer. Sacramento has been searching for an experienced ball handler to help support and mentor rookie Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick, with Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton also under consideration. Payne spent time with Partizan last season before joining Philadelphia, where he averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 17.0 minutes across 22 games while shooting 37.6 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from three. Even if Payne lands a deal, he would be fighting for reserve minutes in a backcourt that already features Acuff, Zach LaVine and Malik Monk, leaving him off fantasy radars.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Dozie Ezukanma Remains Hospitalized After Locker-Room Scuffle
TCU sophomore wide receiver Dozie Ezukanma is reportedly hospitalized after being assaulted by former TCU safety Jacob Fields in the locker room on August 14. Fields, a transfer from Louisiana Tech, has since been dismissed from the program. Ezukanma is unlikely to play in the Week 0 game against North Carolina next weekend. The sophomore was expected to be in the starting lineup after catching just two passes for 28 yards a season ago.
Source: Yahoo
Source: Yahoo
Bryce Young Looks Solid in Joint Practice with Jaguars
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a strong showing in Wednesday's joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Young and second-year receiver Tetairoa McMillan were nearly automatic, making life difficult for the Jaguars' defense. Young has reportedly had a great camp as he enters a contract year in 2026. Despite never averaging more than 14 fantasy points per game in any season of his three-year career, Young led the Panthers to their first division title since 2015 last season and scored 31 points against the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round. With McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and now tight end Darren Waller forming a solid receiving corps, Young could be in line for his best fantasy season to date in 2026.
Source: Mike Kaye - ESPN
Source: Mike Kaye - ESPN
