RADIO
Samaje Perine an Underrated Insurance Back in 2026
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine will turn 31 years old in September, but he has shown few signs of slowing down. In his return to the Bengals in 2025, he carried the ball 84 times, his most attempts since 2022, and while maintaining a 4.5-yard per carry average, he scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns. Fourth-year player Chase Brown has developed into a true bell cow back, averaging more than 19.6 opportunities per game across his last 30 outings, making Perine's insurance role behind him a potentially important one for fantasy. Rounding out the Bengals' backfield is 2025 sixth-round pick Tahj Brooks, and there's an expectation that should Brown miss time, the second-year player could help to lighten the load rather than turning full control over to Perine. Still, the 10th-year veteran remains an underrated handcuff option and one that would undoubtedly garner attention on the waiver wire in the unfortunate event of injury.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Darius Acuff Jr. Downplays Star Comparisons
Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. brushed off comparisons to Allen Iverson and Jalen Brunson in an exclusive with Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, saying he wants to "write my own story and my own greatness." The No. 7 pick arrives after a historic Arkansas freshman season, where he swept SEC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors while averaging 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds. A 6-3 guard in the Calipari mold, Acuff has scoring and playmaking upside that make him a strong dynasty buy. Redraft managers should temper early expectations, with Zach LaVine and Malik Monk in the Sacramento backcourt.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Teammates Excited to Play with Jeremiyah Love
The Arizona Cardinals spent the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on running back Jeremiyah Love, and the team's starting left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. is excited to see what he can do to open up the Cardinals' offense. In an interview with Omar Ruiz following the first practice of training camp, Johnson spoke highly of the running back room as a whole but paid particular attention to the electric rookie, telling Ruiz, "Being able to hand the ball to any of those guys, you know what they can do... Especially with Love. I'm excited to see him in his first year. You know everyone's excited to see what he does in the preseason, including myself." Arizona ran the ball at the league's lowest rate in 2025, but with a revamped running back room that also includes free agent acquisition Tyler Allgeier, first-year head coach Mike LaFleur should bring a more balanced approach into 2026, and Love is RotoBaller's RB13.
Source: Omar Ruiz
Source: Omar Ruiz
Quinn Mathews Making Case for MLB Debut Following 10-Strikeout Effort
St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews turned in another stellar effort at Triple-A on Friday evening and is on the verge of reaching the major leagues. Facing Triple-A Durham, the southpaw struck out an impressive 10 hitters over seven innings of three-hit ball. He walked only three batters and allowed one unearned run. Since May 28, the Stanford product has been among the most dominant pitchers at the top level in the minors and is making a strong case to join the Cardinals. During these noted 56 1/3 innings, the left-hander has posted a sharp 1.60 ERA with a 0.83 WHIP while holding a 67:22 K:BB. While there may not be a clear opening for the left-hander, his recent surge makes him a top prospect to stash among pitchers, as his debut could occur in early August.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Tyrese Martin Joins Barca on One-Year Deal
Free-agent guard/forward Tyrese Martin has officially signed a one-year deal with FC Barcelona, the club announced. Martin, 27, spent parts of three NBA seasons with the Hawks, Nets and 76ers, appearing in 122 games and averaging 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists as a 3-and-D wing. His best stretch came in 2024-25 under Jordi Fernandez in Brooklyn, where he shot 35.1 percent from deep across 60 games. Waived by the Nets last February, he finished the year on a two-way with Philadelphia before heading overseas. For NBA fantasy, Martin was never more than a deep-league three-point streamer, so his EuroLeague move barely registers outside the deepest dynasty formats.
Source: EuroLeague
Source: EuroLeague
Cam Cannarella Slugging his Way to Second-Half Debut
Miami Marlins outfield prospect Cam Cannarella has yet to slow down since moving up to Triple-A Jacksonville and has put himself firmly on the stash radar in deeper redraft leagues. Cannarella earned the call to the team's top minor-league club last week and has continued to flash elite upside. Across six games with the Jumbo Shrimp, the young outfielder has held a .292/.393/.500 line with two doubles and a long ball. Cannarella began the season with High-A but has progressed through his system at a very impressive rate. Across 52 games shared between High-A and Double-A, the Clemon product held a .365/.443/.599 line with 12 round-trippers and nine stolen bases. His impressive play and quick transition to Triple-A have made him a worthy stash target in deeper 12+ team leagues as a late-season MLB debut is within reach.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Andrew Fischer Launches 30th Long Ball as 2026 MLB Debut Remains in Play
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Andrew Fischer continued his impressive power surge on Friday evening as he launched his 30th long ball of the MiLB season against Double-A Chattanooga. While Fischer has endured a bit of a skid at the plate, his power has remained a key part of his game as he has gone deep twice over the last eight contests. The No. 8-ranked prospect in the system began the 2026 season at the High-A level, where he needed just 54 games to prove he was ready to join Double-A. With Wisconsin, Fischer hit 20 home runs with a sharp 1.118 OPS. Since moving to Double-A (29 games), Fischer has hit 10 home runs while holding a .253/.387/.636 line. While he will likely need to have a brief taste of Triple-A before being in serious contention to reach the majors, his elite power upside has kept the door open for a September call-up.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kaelon Black Set to Compete for One of Fantasy's Most Important Insurance Roles
The backup running back job in San Francisco is up for grabs, and a player who will have a chance to claim it when the 49ers take to the field for their first practice of training camp is third-round rookie Kaelon Black. With four-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey leading the NFL with 413 touches in 2025, Brian Robinson Jr. was limited to only 92 carries in his lone season with the team, but the latter's departure in free agency has opened up an important insurance role. Black will need to overtake 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James, who did not record a single offensive statistic as a rookie, but who was reported to have an edge during the non-padded practices of OTAs and minicamp. With McCaffrey now 30 years old and coming off the heaviest workload of his nine-year career, the insurance role behind him could prove to be incredibly important for fantasy, making Black's battle for the job one of the more intriguing training camp stories to monitor out of San Francisco.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tosan Evbuomwan Heads to Barcelona
Free-agent forward Tosan Evbuomwan has reportedly reached a two-year agreement with FC Barcelona, per Eurohoops. The 25-year-old spent last season on a two-way deal with the Charlotte Hornets but never played an NBA game for them, instead winning G-League Finals MVP as he led their Greensboro Swarm affiliate to a title. His 50 career NBA games span the Nets, Pistons, Knicks, and Grizzlies, almost all on two-way pacts. He now joins a rebuilding Barca roster under new coach Aleksander Sekulic. For NBA fantasy, the EuroLeague jump closes the book on him: a deep-dynasty flier at most, he comes off redraft and dynasty boards entirely.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Kade Anderson Sits Atop Stash Rankings Amid Recent Trade Rumors
Seattle Mariners top pitching prospect Kade Anderson has seen his value as a stash candidate greatly increase over the past week. Per reports, the Mariners have expressed interest in potentially trading right-handed starting pitcher Emerson Hancock to bolster their lineup for the stretch run. This move would directly open a path for Anderson to make an impact at the MLB level down the stretch. Additionally, Anderson is coming off potentially his best start of the season and has been nothing short of dominant with Double-A. On Friday night, he tossed five perfect frames with seven punchouts. Overall, he holds a 1.27 ERA and a 0.64 WHIP across 77 2/3 innings of work. With a potential path to MLB innings, Anderson has elite stash upside as the clear top prospect to target across all positions ahead of Week 18.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
George Klassen Seeing Stash Value Increase as MLB Promotion Approaches
Los Angeles Angels starting pitching prospect George Klassen is emerging as a deep-league stash target. In his most recent outing for Salt Lake, the No. 4-ranked prospect in the system tallied a season-high 11 strikeouts over six innings of one-run ball. This was a nice bounce-back outing from Klassen as he allowed four runs in his previous start against Sacramento. The former sixth-round selection made his MLB debut earlier this season but stumbled, allowing six earned runs (seven total runs) over just 4 2/3 innings. Through 78 1/3 total innings at Triple-A, Klassen has carried a modest 4.25 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP. However, seeing him begin to turn the corner is a positive sign and suggests his second stint in the majors could be far more productive. For now, he is worth monitoring in deeper 12+ team formats.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
James Harden Closing in on Cavaliers Extension
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden is in active talks on a team-friendly multi-year extension, according to Evan Sidery. Harden, 36, declined his $42.3 million player option to give the Cavaliers flexibility to chase LeBron James, and with James now in Philadelphia, a longer deal is expected. He was excellent after arriving at last season's deadline, averaging 20.5 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds on 46.6 percent shooting, including 43.5 percent from deep, across 26 games. Locked in as Cleveland's lead playmaker next to Donovan Mitchell, Harden stays a reliable source of points, assists, and threes in redraft, though his age makes him a clear sell-high hold in dynasty.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Peyton Niksch Earns the Call to Double-A After Stellar Showing in Lower Levels
Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Peyton Niksch is set to join Double-A, according to MiLB Central. The right-hander has turned in an impressive debut campaign in the system and is quickly approaching the top level of their system. The 22-year-old made his professional debut at the start of the 2026 campaign with Low-A and has yet to face any major setbacks. With Low-A, the reliever logged 26 2/3 innings over 14 games and held a 2.70 ERA with two saves. With High-A, the right-hander took an impressive step forward, logging 16 frames to the tune of a 1.13 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. In this stint, he struck out 15 hitters while walking only three. A 2026 MLB debut is highly unlikely, but Niksch is a name to continue monitoring as he approaches the top levels.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Isaac Guerendo Could Be Cut Ahead of 2026 Season
After scoring four touchdowns and racking up 420 yards on a 5.0-yard-per-carry clip as a 2024 rookie, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo did not see the field for a single offensive snap in 2025, and beat writer Eric Branch believes his time in San Francisco could be over. In a posting of 25 pre-training camp predictions, Branch has Guerendo left off the 49ers' initial 53-man roster, which would put third-round rookie Kaelon Black and 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James in position to compete for the valuable insurance role behind 30-year-old bell cow Christian McCaffrey. An older prospect coming into the league, Guerendo is already 26 years old, and should he be forced to find a new home ahead of the 2026 season, any remaining sliver of hope still held by dynasty managers would almost certainly be dashed.
Source: Eric Branch
Source: Eric Branch
DeMar DeRozan Draws Heat, Warriors Interest
Free-agent forward DeMar DeRozan has drawn interest from the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors, per Evan Sidery, with both teams pivoting after missing on LeBron James. DeRozan, 36, would join a title contender at the veteran's minimum after the Kings waived him. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals last season, down from 22.2 points the year prior. Any contender role trims his usage: Miami would slot him behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, while Golden State would deploy him as a second-unit shot creator. His threes are limited, and the defensive numbers are only decent, but DeRozan's free-throw volume still matters in 9-category leagues. He would be more of a low-ceiling source of points, efficiency, and FT% than a true across-the-board producer, while his age leaves little dynasty appeal.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Intends to Join 76ers
Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is negotiating a buyout and intends to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers to reunite with LeBron James, according to Chris Haynes. Caldwell-Pope, 33, won the 2020 title alongside James in Los Angeles and would slot into a loaded rotation fronted by James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown. He averaged 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists last season and shot 31.6 percent from three in 51 games before season-ending finger surgery in February. On a likely veteran-minimum deal behind that crowded group, he would hold little redraft value, sit on deep league radars at most, and offer almost no dynasty appeal.
Source: Chris Haynes
Source: Chris Haynes
Vyacheslav Buteyets Set to Continue Career in KHL
Goaltender Vyacheslav Buteyets has signed a two-year deal with the KHL's Traktor Chelyabinsk. He was immediately loaned out to the Shanghai Dragons, where he will spend the 2026-27 campaign. Buteyets has just completed his entry-level contract in the NHL. He made his NHL debut in December, playing one period for the Anaheim Ducks against the Utah Mammoth. During his time in the Ducks organization, Buteyets mostly saw action in the ECHL. Last season, he went 18-19-5 with the Tulsa Oilers, allowing 3.11 goals with a .908 save percentage. At 24, Buteyets is at a critical stage in his development and clearly sees better opportunities outside North America. The Ducks extended a qualifying offer to Buteyets earlier in the offseason, meaning the club will retain his NHL rights.
Source: KHL
Source: KHL
Akira Schmid Signs Two-Year Deal With Panthers
Florida Panthers goaltender Akira Schmid has agreed to a two-year, $4 million contract. He was scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing next week, but that won't be necessary now. Schmid joined the Panthers in late June when the team acquired his rights from the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old posted a 16-10-6 record, a 2.59 goals-against average, a .893 save percentage, and two shutouts last season. The Panthers' blue paint will look very different next season, with Jacob Markstrom also brought in this offseason and Sergei Bobrovsky heading to Toronto. Schmid is set to be Markstrom's backup in Sunrise.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Cole Sillinger Re-Signs With Blue Jackets for Three Years
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger signed a three-year, $13.875 million contract on Friday, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing. This looks like a decent deal for both sides. Sillinger is a versatile player who still has room to grow. He has finished with 30-plus points in four of his five NHL campaigns. In 2025-26, Sillinger recorded a career-high 25 assists and 33 points in 81 games. The 23-year-old was third on his team with 112 hits. A couple of seasons ago, Sillinger averaged 0.5 points per game, making 40 points a realistic target for 2026-27.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Sione Vaki Competing for the RB2 Role in Detroit?
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki is a "natural pass-catcher," and "the opportunity is there" for him to cut into presumed Lions RB2 Isiah Pacheco's touches, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. A fourth-round pick in 2024, Vaki has mostly played special teams through his first two professional seasons and has just seven career NFL carries. The Lions still have star running back Jahmyr Gibbs firmly atop their running back depth chart, but the team replaced veteran RB2 David Montgomery with Pacheco over the offseason. Pacheco has significantly more experience than Vaki, but he's averaged just 3.8 yards per carry on over 200 attempts since the start of the 2024 season. If Vaki can prove himself with a strong performance in training camp and the preseason, he could potentially threaten Pacheco's status as the Lions' clear backup running back. In deeper dynasty leagues, Vaki could be worth stashing just in case he emerges as the handcuff option in Detroit should Gibbs get injured.
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Source: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
Rasheen Ali on the Roster Bubble in Baltimore
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic lists Baltimore Ravens running back Rasheen Ali as one of the players on the team's roster bubble entering training camp. A fifth-round pick by Baltimore in the 2024 NFL Draft, Ali has logged 26 touches across 21 games over the first two years of his professional career. With Derrick Henry and Justice Hill both firmly ahead of him on the Ravens' running back depth chart, Ali would likely continue to play a limited role on offense if he remains in Baltimore in 2026. However, Ali's uncertain roster status may speak volumes about Baltimore's faith in 2026 fifth-round pick Adam Randall. With Henry entering his age-32 season and Hill set to hit free agency next spring, it would make sense for the Ravens to be taking a long look at their young running backs. If Baltimore decides to let Ali go before the start of the season, it could be an indication of the team's faith in Randall.
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Will Howard Battling for the QB2 Job in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Will Howard and Mason Rudolph could be battling for the "QB2 job and, potentially, a spot on the 53-man roster" in training camp, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard battled injury as a rookie and did not see any game action in his first professional season. Aaron Rodgers remains atop the Steelers' depth chart for 2026, leaving Howard unlikely to play a fantasy-relevant role as long as Rodgers remains healthy. The Steelers also drafted quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, leading to speculation that Howard's place on the Pittsburgh roster could be in major jeopardy. While Howard may still end up off the Steelers roster, it appears that he may have a legitimate chance to beat out both Allar and Rudolph for the team's backup job entering 2026. Rudolph has 34 games (19 starts) of NFL experience under his belt, but Howard may be the higher-upside option. In deeper fantasy leagues, Howard could still be worth stashing in case he establishes himself during the preseason.
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
Dontayvion Wicks Impressing New Teammates in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks has stood out as the team's most physical wideout against press-man coverage, per Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. Kubena also reports that Eagles players and coaches have said Wicks was underrated during his time with the Green Bay Packers. Philadelphia acquired Wicks from Green Bay this past offseason for a pair of late-round draft picks, and the 25-year-old enters training camp competing with rookie wideout Makai Lemon for the team's WR2 job alongside DeVonta Smith. Wicks flashed upside at certain points in his three-year career with the Packers, but ultimately failed to carve out a significant role in the Green Bay offense. Across 14 games (seven starts) in 2025, Wicks recorded 30 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns on 46 targets. However, Wicks should have a clearer path to playing time and fantasy-relevant target volume in Philadelphia than he did in Green Bay's crowded wide receiver room. At his current redraft ADP of WR93, Wicks could be a late-round sleeper to target.
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
DeVonta Smith Well-Positioned for Career Year in 2026
Brooks Kubena of The Athletic writes that fans and fantasy managers should "expect career highs in targets and catches to be shattered" for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith. After years of playing a supporting role in Philadelphia alongside wideout A.J. Brown, Smith is entering 2026 as the Eagles' clear WR1 following the team's offseason trade of Brown to the New England Patriots. Smith was a productive player in 2025, recording 77 catches for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns on 113 targets across 17 games. However, his status as the team's WR2 and Philadelphia's conservative, run-heavy offense both played a factor in his WR20 finish. The Eagles have a new offensive coordinator in place for 2026 in Sean Mannion, who is looking to open up the team's passing game. All in all, Smith appears poised for a career year in 2026 and profiles as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 for fantasy managers.
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Source: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
Carlos Rodon to Throw on Saturday
New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (elbow) is scheduled to throw a two-up side session on Saturday, according to Gary Phillips. If everything goes well, Rodon could be cleared to throw a live bullpen session next week. He has been sidelined since July 3 due to left elbow inflammation. Given the length of his Injured List stint, Rodon is likely going to need at least one minor league rehab start before returning to the Yankees rotation. Barring any setbacks, Rodon should be able to contribute to the Yankees' rotation again in mid-August. There should be more updates on his status as he continues to progress.
Source: Gary Phillips
Source: Gary Phillips
Corey Seager Takes Live Batting Practice on Friday
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (back) was able to take live batting practice on Friday. According to Kennedi Landry, Seager took four live at-bats in a simulated batting practice. The expectation is that Seager will repeat this process at least one more time before likely going on a minor league rehab assignment. The veteran shortstop has been on the Injured List since the beginning of July due to lower back inflammation. There's no timetable available for his return, but hopefully Seager can contribute again in early August. He has struggled with the bat this season, but hopefully he can bounce back once he's fully healthy again.
Source: Kennedi Landry
Source: Kennedi Landry
Ranger Suarez Could Start on Sunday
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (illness, groin) is an option to take the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Suarez landed on the Injured List on July 9 due to a left groin strain. He has recovered from that, but has held out during their last series due to an illness. According to interim manager Chad Tracy, Suarez is eating less than usual, so the Red Sox want to make sure he's 100 percent healthy before sending him back out on the mound. If Suarez isn't able to pitch on Sunday, Payton Tolle would get the nod versus the Blue Jays. Fantasy managers should check back on Sunday for another update on this situation.
Source: Gabrielle Starr
Source: Gabrielle Starr
Kaelen Culpepper Returns Off Injured List, Offers Sneaky Stash Value
Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper (hip) was activated off the minor-league Injured List on Friday. Culpepper is finally back in the mix after missing most of the last six weeks due to glute and hip issues. When healthy, Culpepper has been putting together solid numbers in Triple-A St. Paul. Through 63 games, Culpepper is slashing .272/.376/.492 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI, and 15 steals. The 23-year-old is currently ranked second on the Twins' top prospect list behind Walker Jenkins. Given his success this season, Culpepper could be a post-trade-deadline call-up for the Twins. He could be someone worth stashing in deep leagues ahead of the August trade deadline.
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Juan Soto Exits with Calf Soreness
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (calf) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soto was lifted for a pinch-runner in the sixth inning of this game. The team is saying that Soto was pulled from the contest due to left calf soreness. It's the same calf that gave Soto trouble last week, so this is something fantasy managers should monitor. Before leaving the game, Soto was hitless with two walks during Friday's loss. Interim manager Andy Green confirmed that Soto will undergo an MRI on Saturday. Fantasy managers should consider Soto as day-to-day, but should get a better timetable soon.
Source: Anthony DiComo
Source: Anthony DiComo
Heat Could Consider Adding Bradley Beal
The Miami Heat could consider signing free-agent guard Bradley Beal, according to the Miami Herald. The Heat are searching for alternative options after missing out on the LeBron James sweepstakes. Beal is an unrestricted free agent after opting out of his $5.5 million player option with the Los Angeles Clippers. He's not the same player that he was during his time with the Washington Wizards. Beal could still be a productive scoring option off the bench, but his overall upside is limited.
Source: Miami Herald
Source: Miami Herald
