RADIO
Tua Tagovailoa Plays Two Series, Eyes TE Often in Preseason Opener
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa earned the start in Friday's 27-7 preseason home loss to the Broncos, playing two series in the first quarter before giving way to backup QB Cooper Rush. Tagovailoa was 3-of-5 passing for 22 yards, with four of his five passes being directed to tight end Kyle Pitts, and he was credited with one rush for no gain after the left-handed signal caller fumbled a snap but was able to recover the ball. It was reported on Saturday by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that the former first-round draft pick has the "inside track " for the starting job in Atlanta while Michael Penix Jr. (knee) finishes up rehabbing his knee, and this performance likely does nothing to change that, with his next chance to secure the gig coming next Saturday against the Colts in a preseason contest on the road. Assuming he does secure it, it does little for his fantasy prospects, with the Alabama product currently sitting at No. 30 in RotoBaller's latest QB rankings.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dalton Kincaid "Going to Be a Problem"
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid's efficiency numbers were practically off the chart in 2025, with his 2.8 yards per route run topped only by Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Unfortunately, with a lingering knee issue limiting him to a part-time role in 2025, he was a fantasy non-factor as the TE18. Now, by all accounts, as healthy as he's been since entering the league, the fourth-year tight end could be in line for a career year, and following a recent training camp visit to Orchard Park, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer predicts that "he's going to be a problem." Breer points to the arrival of veteran receiver DJ Moore as someone who can unlock the Bills offense and allow complementary pieces such as Kincaid to thrive. Kincaid spent the offseason getting stronger and sturdier, and if he's able to stay healthy and handle anything close to an every-down workload, he could shatter ADP expectations as the current 10th tight end off the board.
Source: Albert Breer
Source: Albert Breer
Luther Burden III Putting in Pre-Game Work
The Chicago Bears face the Cleveland Browns in a Saturday afternoon tilt to open their preseason slate, and while second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) will not take part as he recovers from the groin injury that has held him out of the last week of practices, he was spotted putting in some light work before the game. Without overexerting himself, Burden was seen jogging about 30 yards before slowing to a walk into the end zone. The 22-year-old is not expected to make any preseason appearances, but the team remains hopeful he will be available for the regular-season opener against the Panthers on September 13. Prior to the injury, Burden had generated significant training camp buzz and projects to be a focal point of the Bears' offense in 2026.
Source: Chris Kwiecinski
Source: Chris Kwiecinski
Roman Anthony Making Significant Progress, Rehab Assignment Coming
Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) is making significant progress with his hitting program in Fort Myers, Fla., and is closing in on a minor-league rehab assignment, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Interim manager Chad Tracy said Anthony won't go on a rehab assignment this weekend, but it could happen next week. The former top outfield prospect last played on May 4, when he suffered a partially torn tendon in the joint that connects to his right ring finger. He improved to the point where he could reinitiate a hitting program a couple of weeks ago, and he's been doing all other baseball drills such as running and fielding. Anthony has hit off the Trajekt machine recently, and "everything's going well so far," Tracy said. If the 22-year-old starts a rehab assignment early next week, he could be back with the BoSox by next weekend. Having Anthony's power/speed threat would be huge for Boston as they attempt to get into the playoffs down the stretch. Although he was hitting just .229 (25-for-109) with one homer before his injury, Anthony is one of the better young power/speed outfield threats in baseball and is absolutely worth stashing now if he's floating around on your league's waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Jaxson Dart and Giants Starters Expected to Play in Preseason Opener
The New York Giants open their preseason schedule with a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, and ESPN's Jordan Raanan reports that quarterback Jaxson Dart and most of the team's starters are expected to see action. New head coach John Harbaugh said earlier this week that he values game experience in the preseason, and with Dart having only 12 career starts under his belt and the Giants offense reportedly sputtering through much of training camp, he could use the opportunity against an unfamiliar opponent to help build momentum. Priority number one for Dart will be to keep himself protected, as he has developed a reputation for playing somewhat recklessly, but that fight-for-every-yard approach has also made him a valuable fantasy asset. If the Giants offense can get on track, and Dart can stay healthy for the duration of the 2026 season, he could prove to be this season's late-round quarterback steal, currently coming off the board as the QB9.
Source: Jordan Raanan
Source: Jordan Raanan
Will Smith Takes On-Field Batting Practice
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) took on-field batting practice on Friday before the team's game against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Smith has been on the injured list for over two months, but he's slowly making progress after being cleared to resume baseball activities at the end of July. The 31-year-old veteran backstop will eventually need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, but if he can avoid any setbacks once he resumes playing in games, it seems plausible that he could be back in the Dodgers' starting lineup by the end of August. It's been a tough 2026 season for the three-time All-Star and former first-rounder, as Smith has played in just 52 games (201 plate appearances) and has hit .249 (43-for-173) with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored. Once back to full health, though, he'll be L.A.'s primary catcher in one of the best lineups in the league. Smith is rostered in only 68% of Yahoo leagues now after his extended stay on the sidelines due to a frustrating neck injury that initially wasn't even expected to land him on the IL.
Source: MLB.com - Sonja Chen
Source: MLB.com - Sonja Chen
Tyler Glasnow Looks Dominant in Latest Rehab Start
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (back) looks about ready to return to the Dodgers' starting rotation after a dominant showing in his latest minor-league rehab start on Friday night with Triple-A Oklahoma City. In his third rehab start, Glasnow threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings with no hits allowed, two walks, and eight strikeouts against Triple-A Albuquerque. The 32-year-old veteran threw 39 of his 67 pitches for strikes on the night after giving up just one run in 4 2/3 innings in his first two rehab outings. The Dodgers are expected to have Glasnow make one more rehab appearance in the minors next week before reinstating him from the 60-day injured list. The former All-Star has high-end stuff when he's healthy on one of the best teams in baseball, so he should be scooped up immediately if he's available on the waiver wire in your league. Glasnow went 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings across seven starts before he landed on the IL back in early May. He's only available in 10% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
Jerry Jeudy Could Still Offer Fantasy Value in a More Fitting Role
The Cleveland Browns open their preseason slate on Saturday in a matchup with the Bears, and while the question of who gets the first start at quarterback has already been answered, there is still much to be gleaned from the usage of a new-look receiving room. Jerry Jeudy finds himself surrounded by a dynamic group of young playmakers, but the at-times overlooked veteran could still be a bigger piece of the offense than some are expecting. Always a strong route runner, Jeudy has been most successful when playing out of the slot, but with more than 80% of his snaps coming on the outside in 2025, he caught fewer than half his targets and barely cracked 600 yards. With second-round rookie Denzel Boston drawing rave reviews for the work he's done on the perimeter, new head coach Todd Monken has the luxury of using Jeudy more creatively than his predecessors. With Deshaun Watson under center to begin the preseason, Saturday's contest could provide a glimpse of what that might look like, if even for just one series, and at RotoBaller's WR79, Jeudy has deep sleeper potential in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tennessee Safety Edrees Farooq To Miss 2026 Season
Tennessee will be without starting safety Edrees Farooq (knee) for the entire 2026 season after the junior suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee during Friday's practice. Farooq was expected to play a big role in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' system after starting 13 games last season and ranking second in the SEC with four forced fumbles. The Volunteers will now turn to transfers TJ Metcalf, Qua Moss, and Dejuan Lane to help fill the void in the secondary.
Source: Adam Sparks - Knoxville News-Sentinel
Source: Adam Sparks - Knoxville News-Sentinel
DJ Moore Makes Bills "More Dangerous"
The Buffalo Bills sent a second-round pick to the Bears this offseason to acquire wide receiver DJ Moore, and with Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer recently visiting Bills' training camp, he notes that the eighth-year veteran "has the look of a real difference-maker." Moore has brought his advertised speed and physicality to Buffalo, and in slotting in as the true number one receiver that Josh Allen and this offense have been missing in recent years, Breer believes he will allow other players on the roster to move into the complementary roles they are perhaps better suited for, making the offense more dangerous as a whole. Moore faced serious target competition in his final season in Chicago, resulting in a career-low 682 yards, but he has four 1,100-yard seasons under his belt and has shown an ability to thrive in an Alpha receiver role. Breer's assessment suggests that's the version of Moore that the Bills will be getting, and at RotoBaller's WR27, he could prove to be one of the better values in the middle rounds of 2026 drafts.
Source: Albert Breer
Source: Albert Breer
Darnell Washington Unlikely to Factor into Fantasy Plans for 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington caught a career-high 31 passes for 364 yards in 2025, but his activity in Thursday's preseason opener, while many of the team's starters were given the night off, is an indication that he is not viewed as a critical piece of the team's passing attack. Both Washington and sixth-year veteran Pat Freiermuth started the game with Mason Rudolph under center, with the latter catching one of his two targets for two yards while Washington was kept off the stat sheet. One of the most physically imposing players in the league, Washington is a dominant blocker at 6'7" and 264 pounds, but in a Mike McCarthy offense that favors three-receiver sets, he may see his receiving work limited after taking steps forward in that regard under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. At RotoBaller's TE37, Washington should not factor into 2026 draft plans, and with the position as deep as it's ever been, he may not even enter into the streaming conversation as he might have in past seasons.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen Nailor Could Deliver Spike Weeks from the Flex Spot in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor played only eight snaps in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night, coming off the field with the rest of the starters after a successful scoring drive led by quarterback Kirk Cousins. Nailor signed a three-year, $35 million deal in free agency, and while there has been little doubt about how the team views him as part of the offense, his usage on Thursday all but cemented his status as a top receiver along with Tre Tucker. A sixth-round pick of the Vikings in 2022, Nailor spent the past two seasons as Minnesota's WR3 behind Jordan Addison and four-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson. While he's never reached 450 receiving yards in a season, he posted an impressive 15.3 yards per reception in 2025, and he should find production as a perimeter player in Klint Kubiak's play-action-heavy system. The presence of All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers will help to create spacing on the outside, but will also cap Nailor's target share, and consistency could be an issue in 2026, particularly with the expectation of a quarterback change at some point in the season. That said, Nailor has the potential to bring spike weeks to the flex spot and is practically free in drafts as RotoBaller's WR64.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Max Strus Emerges as Cavaliers Trade Piece
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus has surfaced as a salary-matching piece in the team's pursuit of Denver restricted free agent Peyton Watson, with Evan Sidery reporting that Cleveland is looking for a team willing to take on Strus' $16.7 million expiring contract. The 30-year-old missed the first 67 games last season after left foot surgery, then averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across 12 games while shooting 40.2 percent from deep. Strus still has value as a floor-spacer, but his fantasy outlook depends heavily on landing spot. If he is moved, Jaylon Tyson could get a cleaner path to wing minutes, while Sam Merrill would remain a bench shooting option.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Keon Coleman's Solid Training Camp Could Put Him Back on Dynasty Radars
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman has disappointed through his first two seasons after the team selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Some offhand remarks by owner Terry Pegula further painted Coleman as an early offseason faller and a potential drop candidate in dynasty leagues, and the fantasy community buried him even deeper following the Bills' trade for DJ Moore and the drafting of Skyler Bell. By most accounts, however, Coleman has had a productive training camp, regularly seeing time with the first-team offense as part of a four-man rotation that includes Moore, Khalil Shakir, and Joshua Palmer. A complementary role with lowered expectations could allow for further development and consistency, and while he still has not worked his way back into the 2026 redraft discussion, the perception around Coleman makes him a low-cost dynasty trade add-on who still has a chance to revive his career under a reshuffled coaching staff.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Olivier Sarr Signs Two-Year Deal with Real Madrid
Former Cleveland Cavaliers center Olivier Sarr is headed overseas after signing a two-year deal with Real Madrid through the 2027-28 season. The 27-year-old spent most of his NBA time with Oklahoma City before a two-way stint in Cleveland, and Madrid added him for frontcourt depth with Usman Garuba recovering from a ruptured left Achilles. Sarr averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 39.1 percent from three across 50 NBA games, and he was productive enough in the G-League to earn another look. He held no standalone fantasy value on a two-way deal, so his exit does not change Cleveland's fantasy outlook. The more relevant fantasy name remains his younger brother, Washington Wizards center Alexandre Sarr, who is recovering from offseason foot surgery.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
