RADIO
Davis Allen Takes Advantage of Increased Workload
Los Angeles Rams tight end Davis Allen came into Sunday's game with only six receptions on the year. The 25-year-old came out of nowhere and posted a career game on Sunday. Allen hauled in four of his five targets for 20 yards with two touchdowns during the Week 7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Normally, Allen is an afterthought, but he was able to make the most of his chances during Sunday's win. This big performance could lead to more opportunities for Allen down the road. He might be someone worth stashing in deep leagues, but he won't be an ideal streaming option against the Los Angeles Chargers next weekend.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Liam Hicks Delivers Big Fly in World Series Game 2 Loss
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Liam Hicks was part of the team's offensive explosion in the top of the first inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. In the Rays' four-run outburst out of the gate on Saturday against right-hander Logan Henderson, Hicks hit a two-run home run. It would be his only hit of the night, and the last time the Rays crossed home plate. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter now has three RBI in the first two games of this year's Fall Classic, but he has gone just 7-for-33 (.212) with a homer, a double, eight RBI, two runs scored, three walks, and six strikeouts in 11 games played. The Canadian native was one of the more attractive backstops in fantasy baseball during the regular season, hitting .284/.367/.434 with an .801 OPS, 18 home runs, 82 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 142 games with the Rays and Miami Marlins in a breakout campaign in just his sophomore season in the big leagues. Hicks has swung a hotter bat in the last few games, and the Rays are going to need that to continue to get back into this series.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jaylen Waddle Held in Check by Cardinals, Suffers Chest Injury
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (chest) caught four of his seven targets for 48 yards during Sunday's Week 7 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Waddle totaled 8.8 PPR points in the effort, which is his third-highest fantasy output of the season. It has been a rough start to the season for Waddle from a fantasy perspective, as he ranks outside the top 36 wide receivers in scoring so far. Denver has prioritized running the ball this season, leaving fewer opportunities for the team's wide receivers and tight ends. In fact, even as Bo Nix had a solid game on Sunday, he still completed a modest 15 passes for 222 yards, and four of those completions went to running backs. It's also worth noting that Waddle picked up an ailment on Sunday, as he reportedly injured his chest in the fourth quarter and was quickly listed as questionable to return. At this point, it's too early to tell whether the injury will impact his availability for Week 8 against the Chiefs. Next week's divisional matchup could prompt the Broncos to throw the ball more, but it's also worth noting that Waddle was held to just one catch in his last game against Kansas City (Week 1).
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Jacoby Brissett to Remain Starting Quarterback
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett is expected to remain the team's starting quarterback moving forward. Following Sunday's Week 7 loss, head coach Mike LaFleur confirmed that Brissett will remain the starter, per Darren Urban. Brissett completed 27-of-48 passing attempts for 272 yards with a touchdown and zero interceptions during Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. Overall, this season, Brissett has thrown for 1,328 passing yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. The Cardinals dropped to 2-5 on the year following Sunday's loss. We could see a change at quarterback here soon if things don't change in Arizona. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Cardinals turn to rookie Carson Beck at some point, but for now, Brissett will remain the starter ahead of the Week 8 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Source: Darren Urban
Source: Darren Urban
Raiders Won't Commit to Kirk Cousins for Week 8
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak fielded questions from the media about the potential of starting rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the near future, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Asked when he would start thinking about making a change at quarterback, Kubiak said, "I think at this point, we're thinking about everything. How to fix our problems, how to fix our issues in the red zone, in the third quarter. Personnel, scheme, we've got to talk about all of it." The first-year head coach didn't directly offer a timeline for the shift from Kirk Cousins to Mendoza, but he also didn't commit to Cousins starting in Week 8. Cousins led the Raiders to a 3-0 start, but the team has gone 0-4 in four games since then. Mendoza saw a little bit of action in Week 6 during garbage time against the Patriots, completing six of his eight pass attempts for 48 yards. Cousins hasn't looked terrible by any means, racking up 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions through seven games, but a quarterback change might inject life into the team amid a four-game losing streak. The plan all along was for Mendoza to spend around half the season learning behind Cousins, so it feels like a natural transition point could be coming soon. The Raiders will hit the road for a two-game road trip before returning home against the Seahawks on Nov. 15 in Week 10.
Source: Sam Warren
Source: Sam Warren
Cedric Coward Good to Go Versus Sacramento
Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Cedric Coward (wrist) is available for Sunday's game against the Sacramento Kings after missing Friday's win over Golden State with a left wrist sprain. Coward opened the season with seven points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block in 28 minutes against Utah. The second-year guard averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists as a rookie and should step back into a meaningful role immediately. GG Jackson II started in his absence Friday but managed only two points on 1-for-6 shooting in 15 minutes, so his playing time could take a hit with Coward back.
Source: Grizzlies PR
Source: Grizzlies PR
Aaron Ashby Continues to Dominate, Picks Up Third Save in Game 2 Win
Milwaukee Brewers left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby was dominant once again out of the Brewers' bullpen to lock down the Game 2 victory in the World Series on Saturday night against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Ashby was used for 1 2/3 innings and allowed only one hit while walking none and striking out three to pick up his third save of the postseason. It came after the nasty left-hander recorded five outs in the Game 1 victory in Milwaukee. His string of 15 2/3 scoreless innings is one out shy of Andrew Miller's mark in 2016 to begin a postseason. In addition to not allowing a single run so far in the playoffs for the Brew Crew, Ashby has allowed only five hits while punching out 17 and walking only three. Ashby has been lights-out for a Milwaukee squad that is sitting pretty as the series shifts to Tampa on Monday evening. In 89 1/3 innings during the regular season (one start), Ashby was solid, posting a 3.12 ERA (3.11 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP with a career-high four saves, 116 strikeouts, and 41 walks.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Seahawks Being Careful with Zach Charbonnet, Hope He's Ready for Week 8
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said that the team is being "careful" with running back Zach Charbonnet (knee), even though he is ahead of schedule in his recovery. Schneider told play-by-play announcer Steve Raible (via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com) that Charbonnet had a great week of practice and that the team hopes he'll be ready for Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. The 25-year-old is working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in last year's playoffs, and while there was some optimism that he'd be able to play this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, the team chose not to activate him from the PUP list. Emanuel Wilson will get at least one more week to lead the backfield, while George Holani continues to occupy the backup role as a low-end RB3/flex in deeper fantasy leagues. Once Charbonnet does return to action, he'll rank as a weekly RB2 option in fantasy football.
Source: Brady Henderson
Source: Brady Henderson
Jonah Coleman Expected to Get More Involved in Denver
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman made his return to the field during Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. He missed the previous four games while on Injured Reserve due to a sprained ankle that he suffered in the Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coleman was finally back on the field for the first time since suffering a sprained ankle ahead of Week 3. The rookie back carried the ball nine times for 54 yards, while hauling in two receptions for 15 additional yards in the win. After the game, head coach Sean Payton said that the team will need to get Coleman more touches going forward. It sounds like the Broncos were easing him back in, but will now look to give Coleman an expanded role going forward. This is great news for Coleman's fantasy value, but it also means that J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey will likely see reduced roles now.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Cooper Pratt Drives in Winning Run in Game 2 of World Series
Milwaukee Brewers rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt had the biggest hit in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Rays to help the Brewers complete a 5-4 comeback win to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Fall Classic, with the series shifting to Tampa on Monday night. Pratt did a little of everything to help the Brewers overcome a four-run deficit from the top of the first inning. He finished 1-for-3 at the plate with the game-winning RBI single, a run scored, a stolen base, a walk, and a strikeout. Pratt's game-winning hit came in the bottom of the seventh inning as he delivered with a clutch opposite-field RBI single. "It was," Pratt said, "pretty electric." The 22-year-old former sixth-round pick in 2023 held his own in his first 74 MLB games during the regular season, slashing .281/.350/.368 with a .718 OPS, three home runs, 34 RBI, 19 stolen bases, and 33 runs scored in 266 plate appearances. In his first 10 playoff games in the big leagues this fall, Pratt has kept it going at the bottom of Milwaukee's lineup, going 10-for-35 (.286) with a double, an RBI, four runs scored, and two stolen bases.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ivica Zubac Exits Early Against Nets With Sprained Ankle
Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac (ankle) will not return to Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets after spraining his left ankle in the first quarter. Zubac stepped on teammate Kelly Oubre Jr.'s foot while going for a rebound and finished with two points, one rebound and two assists in seven minutes. Indiana visits Milwaukee on Monday, putting his availability for the second leg of the back-to-back in doubt. Larry Nance Jr. checked in immediately after Zubac went down, but Jay Huff opened the second half at center and would be the more intriguing fantasy option if Zubac misses time after averaging 1.9 blocks across all 82 games last season.
Source: Tony East
Source: Tony East
Sal Frelick Delivers Clutch Homer in World Series Game 2 Victory
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick, who is not known for his power at the plate, went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the team's 5-4 comeback win over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night to take a 2-0 lead in the World Series. The Brewers fell behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning in Game 2 of the series, but they were able to come back like they have done all postseason. "If we're down," said Frelick, "we're not out." Frelick's solo homer to straightaway center field tied the game at four in the bottom of the sixth inning. To make the lefty-hitting outfielder's long ball even more impressive was that it came against left-hander Ian Seymour. Frelick hit one home run during the regular season in 98 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers. The 26-year-old has been in the thick of Milwaukee's rallies during the playoffs after hitting just .230 (78-for-339) with four homers, 40 RBI, 36 runs scored, and seven steals during the regular season. Frelick has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with a homer, three RBI, three stolen bases, and four runs scored in seven games in this year's postseason.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jalen Duren to be Re-Evaluated in Two Weeks
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in two weeks after suffering a right hamstring strain in Friday's 128-111 win over Miami, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. The 22-year-old All-Star exited in the second quarter with four points, six rebounds, and three assists in 10 minutes. Paul Reed has moved into the starting lineup and enters the role averaging 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on 71.4% shooting through two appearances off the bench. He carries immediate fantasy appeal while Duren is sidelined, while John Collins could also pick up some minutes at center.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Keegan Murray Out Against Grizzlies
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to stiffness in his left ankle, according to James Ham of ESPN 1320. It is the same ankle Murray underwent arthroscopic surgery on in May and later aggravated during training camp. The 26-year-old has struggled through two games, averaging 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds on 29.4% shooting while going 0-for-7 from three. Precious Achiuwa should be among the players seeing more frontcourt work in Murray's absence. Tuesday's game in San Antonio will be Murray's next opportunity to return.
Source: James Ham
Source: James Ham
Baker Mayfield Delivers Fantasy Bust Despite Buccaneers' 43-Point Outburst
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was a fantasy bust in his return from a three-game absence, finishing with just 6.7 fantasy points in Sunday's 43-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers with little opportunity to accumulate production. Mayfield completed seven of 11 passes for 64 yards and one touchdown without an interception, added one rushing yard, and posted an efficient 109.7 passer rating. His lone touchdown, a 14-yard connection with Tez Johnson late in the second quarter, gave Tampa Bay a commanding 33-6 halftime advantage. The Buccaneers attempted 49 rushes for 258 yards and three touchdowns, while their defense contributed another score on a fumble return. Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged afterward that such a run-heavy approach wasn't the original plan, but the circumstances let Tampa Bay control the game without relying on its passing attack. Mayfield will face the Atlanta Falcons at home in Week 8.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
