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Aaron Judge Hitting Third, Starting in Right Field in Return
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) is starting in right field and batting third in his return on Tuesday against the visiting Colorado Rockies and right-hander Gabriel Hughes, according to MLB.com. It will be Judge's first major-league game since the end of May, when he suffered a stress fracture in a rib on his right side. Because he did not go on a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the 60-day injured list on Monday, manager Aaron Boone plans to ease the three-time MVP back into the fold, so fantasy managers should expect some early exits and frequent days off. It has been a disappointing 2026 season overall for the 34-year-old veteran, but he has returned at the right time and can help fantasy managers during the postseason. Judge is returning to a .248/.375/.533 slash line with a .907 OPS, 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases across his first 214 at-bats this year. He has never faced Hughes in his major-league career.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Isaiah Davis Takes Part in RB Drills on Tuesday
New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis (knee) is taking part in RB drills at practice on Tuesday, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday Sports. Davis missed the entire preseason because of his knee injury and is expected to open the 2026 campaign as the RB3 in New York behind Breece Hall (groin) and Braelon Allen if he is healthy enough to suit up for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. That role will not make Davis very appealing to fantasy managers in any league format to start the new season. The 24-year-old former fifth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft out of South Dakota State has averaged a healthy 5.6 yards per carry in his first two NFL seasons, but it has amounted to only 73 carries for 410 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 33 games (zero starts). Davis has added 30 receptions for 261 yards and another score through the air. Davis needs Hall to miss time with an injury to become a waiver-wire target. We will have a better idea of Davis' Week 1 status once the Jets begin to release their official practice reports on Wednesday.
Source: Newsday Sports - Al Iannazzone
Source: Newsday Sports - Al Iannazzone
Kamario Taylor Faces First Test In Week 2
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor faces his first real test of the 2026 campaign on the road against Minnesota on Saturday afternoon. The Sophomore quarterback demonstrated his ability to take over a game in Week 1 against ULM when he finished as the QB2, scoring 42.06 fantasy points. Taylor completed 64% of his 34 pass attempts for 354 yards and four touchdowns while adding 59 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He'll face a much tougher defense in Week 2 when he heads north to face the Golden Gophers. Last season, the Gophers were an above-average pass defense, allowing only 210.5 yards per game and 22.9 points per game. The defense features future NFL edge rusher Anthony Smith, who could make Taylor's day a long one. Taylor is ranked as RotoBaller's QB2 this week and is projected for 33.3 points.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Pat Freiermuth Not Worth Chasing Before Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is still easy to find on waiver wires, but Week 1 is not the spot to get cute. He caught 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns on 54 targets last season, and while Jonnu Smith is gone, Pittsburgh added Michael Pittman Jr. to a group that already includes DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson. Freiermuth is still the starting tight end, so there is at least a path to more work than he saw in 2025. The matchup is the problem. Atlanta allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends last season, and the current Week 1 rankings have Freiermuth at TE25. He is rostered in only 6% of Yahoo leagues and is best viewed as a 14-team option for now. In a 10- or 12-team league, there are better tight ends to chase before Sunday.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Willson Contreras Takes Batting Practice on Tuesday
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (hamstring) is taking on-field batting practice on Tuesday, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Contreras is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Thursday, but it is to be determined whether the Red Sox will send him on a minor-league rehab assignment first. The 34-year-old veteran Venezuelan could return to Boston's starting nine as early as Friday if he skips a rehab assignment after dealing with a strained left hamstring late last month. Contreras will go back to must-start status in all fantasy leagues when he returns, as he is in the midst of a career year in his first season in Beantown. The former catcher will return to a .274/.384/.516 slash line with a .900 OPS, 26 home runs, 79 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases across his 434 at-bats in 2026. The four-time All-Star hit only .217 (18-for-83) in the month of August, though, with three homers, three doubles, a triple, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, 11 walks, and 26 strikeouts. With better health, Contreras could turn it around and finish his 2026 season strong in the fantasy playoffs.
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
Tyler Allgeier Gets a Boost From Cardinals Depth Chart
Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier has picked up some real short-term value heading into Week 1. Arizona's current depth chart lists him first at running back, ahead of rookie Jeremiyah Love, while James Conner will open the season on injured reserve. The ordering alone should not be treated like a permanent changing of the guard. The Cardinals said during the preseason not to make too much of Love being listed behind Allgeier, and Love was the No. 3 overall pick for a reason. The timing matters now, though. Love has not practiced since injuring his ankle on Aug. 13, although he was moving around during Monday's walk-through and head coach Mike LaFleur said he feels good about his chances of playing against the Chargers. Allgeier already has a 1,000-yard season on his résumé and scored a career-high eight rushing touchdowns last year. Even if Love is active Sunday, Allgeier looks much harder to dismiss as an early-season fantasy option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
No Clear RB1 in Jacksonville?
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley thinks that the Jacksonville Jaguars will have such a balanced backfield between running backs Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. in 2026 that "neither RB emerges as the lead back and hits the 1,000-yard mark." There is a path for one of Tuten or Rodriguez to hit the 1,000-yard mark if one of them gets momentum early in the year and never lets up, but when considering the team's backfield depth with LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) and Ameer Abdullah, Shipley thinks it is more likely that we see both Tuten and Rodriguez hit 750-plus yards than one of them going over 1,000 yards. It is not what Tuten's fantasy managers want to hear, especially since C-Rod appears to be the better pass-catcher, and he could also vulture touchdowns from Tuten at the goal line. If you have Tuten rostered and Rodriguez is on the waiver wire, you should add Rodriguez as a valuable handcuff. If it is a near-even 50/50 split between the two RBs, it will be hard to recommend either as more than a weekly RB3/flex play in the Jaguars' offense. On the unofficial depth chart heading into the Week 1 clash against the Cleveland Browns, the Jags have listed Tuten and Rodriguez as co-starters.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Can Faizon Brandon Build On Historic Debut?
Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon dominated Furman in Week 1, completing 76% of his passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing 10 times for 68 yards and two touchdowns. The freshman became the first SEC quarterback since Cam Newton to throw for three touchdowns and rush for two touchdowns in a debut game. The historic effort made Faizon QB3 in Week 1, scoring 39.84 fantasy points. Week 2 will be a tougher matchup as Tennessee faces Georgia Tech, which allowed 235 passing yards per game and 25 points per game last season. However, Georgia Tech dominated Colorado in Week 1, holding them to 124 passing yards and the second-worst completion rate across college football in Week 1. Faizon is ranked as RotoBaller's QB10 heading into Week 2 and is projected to score 27.4 points. Fantasy owners should feel confident rolling out Faizon as a QB1 in Week 2.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jeremiyah Love Listed as RB2 on Cardinals' Depth Chart
The Arizona Cardinals have listed rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) as the RB2 on their unofficial depth chart entering their Week 1 contest on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Bo Brack of PHNX Sports. The No. 3 overall pick in April from Notre Dame has clear three-down potential long-term in the NFL, but after suffering an ankle sprain early in the preseason, the Cardinals are going to ease Love into the regular season as the No. 2 behind Tyler Allgeier, who is in his first year in the desert. Trey Benson (knee) has already been ruled out for the season, and veteran James Conner (foot) will miss at least the first four games of the year due to a foot injury he suffered early in 2025. Love is trending in the right direction to be active this weekend against the Bolts, but he seems likely to cede most of the backfield work to Allgeier in his NFL debut if he is active, making him more of a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex choice for starting lineups on Sunday. Fantasy managers might have to be patient with Love early in his rookie season.
Source: PHNX Sports - Bo Brack
Source: PHNX Sports - Bo Brack
Kahlil Benson Likely to Start at Left Tackle in Week 1
With Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons (back) unlikely to play in the Week 1 season opener next Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos, rookie Kahlil Benson is likely to start in his place as quarterback Patrick Mahomes' blind-side protector, according to Jesse Newell of The Athletic. Simmons, the team's first-rounder in 2025, has not practiced since Aug. 18. Benson is an undrafted rookie from Indiana who earned his way onto the 53-man roster after impressing the coaching staff during May's rookie minicamp. It is not the ideal situation for Mahomes and a Chiefs offense looking to bounce back in 2026 after missing the postseason last year, especially while going up against a vaunted Broncos defensive line that led the league in sacks a year ago. According to TruMedia, only two undrafted rookies have started the season opener at offensive tackle in their first seasons, with the last being Cleveland's Desmond Harrison in 2018. All 12 of Benson's starts last season at Indiana came at right tackle. Per Pro Football Focus, he didn't have a single snap at left tackle on offense in his four-year college career.
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
How Does QB Change Impact KJ Duff In Week 2?
Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff overwhelmed UMass' secondary in Week 1. He finished the week as WR2, hauling in nine of 16 targets for 196 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 loss. Duff is a bit of an anomaly, standing at 6'6" and playing wide receiver, which makes him a red-zone nightmare for defenses. Heading into Week 2, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano made a change at quarterback and will be giving AJ Surace his first career start over Dylan Lonergan. Surace played one drive against UMass and targeted Duff on three of nine total throws for a 33% target share, whereas Lonergan targeted him on 13 of his 29 throws for a 44% target share. Rutgers face Boston College in Week 2, which had a bottom-14 pass defense last season, giving up 255.7 passing yards per game. Duff is ranked as RotoBaller's WR4 in Week 2, and fantasy owners should feel confident rolling him out.
Source: Pete Thamel Of ESPN
Source: Pete Thamel Of ESPN
Devontez Walker Missing From Practice With Undisclosed Injury
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devontez Walker (undisclosed) was the lone Ravens player not practicing on Tuesday due to an undisclosed issue, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Although Walker was not participating with the rest of the team, he was seen running on a side field. It is unclear what Walker is dealing with or if it is serious enough to keep him from suiting up this Sunday in the Week 1 season opener versus the Indianapolis Colts, but we should know more once the Ravens release their first official practice report of the 2026 season on Wednesday. The 25-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2024 from North Carolina is not on the fantasy football radar in most leagues and has just seven catches on 11 targets for 157 yards and four touchdowns in 21 games (three starts) in his first two years in the NFL. Walker will likely need an injury or two in front of him in Baltimore's receiver corps to become a waiver-wire pickup.
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
Darnell Mooney Listed as Giants' WR2
The New York Giants' unofficial depth chart has Darnell Mooney as the team's No. 2 wide receiver entering the year behind Malik Nabers (knee), according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. Rookie Malachi Fields and veteran Odell Beckham Jr. are the backups to Nabers and Mooney after the Giants recently cut Darius Slayton from the 53-man roster. Mooney comes to the Big Apple in 2026 after a down year in his second season with the Atlanta Falcons, in which he caught 32 of 72 targets for 443 yards and only one touchdown in 15 starts. The year before, the 28-year-old former fifth-rounder from Tulane had a resurgent season, catching 64 passes for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 16 starts. After the season-ending injury to Calvin Austin III (knee) and the release of Slayton, Mooney could be a sneaky deep-league option off the waiver wire to begin the 2026 season. Right now, he is only rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues. Mooney's best year came in 2021 with the Chicago Bears, when he posted an 81-1,055-4 line in 17 games played in his second year in the NFL.
Source: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
Source: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
Malae Fonoti Out for Season with ACL Injury
Missouri running back Malae Fonoti (knee) left the team's opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff with an injury. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced that Fonoti tore his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season. Fonoti rushed three times for 18 yards before suffering the injury during the team's 54-14 win in Week 1. In that contest, Jamal Roberts led the Missouri backfield with 13 carries, going for 47 yards and a touchdown. Xai'Shaun Edwards rushed seven times for 45 yards, Anthony Favrow tallied 30 yards on eight attempts, and Preston Hatfield contributed 34 yards and a score across four carries. Roberts should lead the backfield the rest of the season, with Edwards, Favrow, and Hatfield getting some additional playing time and touches with Fonoti now out.
Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter
Cam Skattebo Listed as Top Giants Running Back
On the New York Giants' unofficial depth chart going into their Week 1 showdown against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, Cam Skattebo is listed as the top running back, with Tyrone Tracy Jr., Najee Harris, and Devin Singletary all listed as co-RB2s, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. Despite suffering a gruesome ankle dislocation early in his rookie campaign in 2025, Skattebo is fully recovered and ready to serve as New York's primary option in the backfield in Year 2 in new head coach John Harbaugh's offense. While the G-Men have plenty of depth behind him after adding Harris in training camp, it is possible that Skattebo handles 20-plus carries per game if he can remain healthy. The 24-year-old fourth-rounder from Arizona State had 101 carries for 410 yards and five touchdowns while adding 24 catches for 207 yards and another two TDs in eight games played last year before getting hurt. Fantasy managers should treat him as an RB2 in starting fantasy lineups with the regular-season opener quickly approaching.
Source: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
Source: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
