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Wayshawn Parker Scores Three Touchdowns in Blowout
Utah junior running back Wayshawn Parker showed off his explosiveness and an eye for the endzone in Week 1's 66-14 win over Idaho. Parker carried the ball 12 times for 71 yards and a touchdown, while catching three passes for 23 yards and two more scores. His versatility as a runner and receiver makes him a key player in Utah's offense this season. Parker ran for 981 yards and six touchdowns last season and added three more house calls through the air.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Donovan Olugbode Shines in Week 1
Missouri sophomore wide receiver Donovan Olugbode put together the best game of his career in the 54-14 blowout win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The sophomore caught eight passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns, starring as Austin Simmons' go-to target. He had 30 catches for 401 yards and two scores as a true freshman last season, but the sophomore has clearly taken a step forward. He is firmly on the fantasy radar as the go-to target in what could be a high-powered offense.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ceddanne Rafaela Still Out on Friday
Boston Red Sox second baseman/outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (quadriceps) remains out of the starting lineup for the contest on Friday against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, per MLB.com. Eli White will make another start in center field for the BoSox and will bat ninth against Orioles right-hander Shane Baz. It will be the second straight game that Rafaela will sit out after he was pulled from Wednesday's tilt against the Seattle Mariners early with tightness in his quad muscle. Rafaela is being considered day-to-day for now, and he could return for Game 3 of a four-game series in Baltimore on Saturday. Fantasy managers will want to check back then. The 25-year-old from Curaçao is on the verge of his first 20-20 campaign in the big leagues this year, as he is currently slashing .282/.317/.443 with a .760 OPS, 16 home runs, 70 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 67 runs scored in his 135 games and 569 plate appearances. Rafaela has been pretty consistent each month of the season and is a must-start in all fantasy formats when active for his contributions across the board in all categories.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jamauri McClure Out Against Duke
Tulane running back Jamauri McClure (foot) will not play in Week 1's matchup against Duke. McClure ran for 540 yards and two touchdowns last season and is the leading returning rusher for the Green Wave. He may return as early as next week against South Alabama. In McClure's place, Maurice Turner and Jaylin Lucas should get plenty of work. Turner is a senior who played limited snaps last season, and Lucas transferred in from Florida State where he starred as a kick returner.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Mark Andrews Has Room for His Targets to Climb Again
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has a clearer path back to meaningful volume after spending last season in a crowded position group. He saw only 70 targets in 17 games, finishing with 48 catches for 422 yards and five touchdowns while Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar also handled substantial snaps. Both are gone now, and Baltimore enters 2026 with Andrews leading a rebuilt room that includes Durham Smythe and rookies Matt Hibner and Josh Cuevas. Smythe is expected to handle much of the blocking work, while the younger tight ends are still carving out roles. Andrews also looked sharp in camp, including one of his best practices in August when he scored in the red zone and made another catch in traffic near the goal line. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman will still command plenty of looks, and rookie Ja'Kobi Lane earned a substantial role this summer. Even so, Andrews has far less competition at his own position. After averaging just 4.1 targets per game last year, there is a real path for that number to climb.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carlos Lagrange Close to Being Activated in Minors
New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange (shoulder) is traveling to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, where he will report and continue his rehab, according to Francys Romero. Lagrange is expected to throw a live bullpen session before being activated from the seven-day minor-league injured list. The Yankees have kept their No. 4 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) out since early July after he was diagnosed with a capsular sprain in his right shoulder. The 23-year-old Dominican prospect has gone 1-4 with a 4.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 83:33 K:BB in 63 1/3 innings across 18 appearances (11 starts) for the Rail Riders this year at the Triple-A level. The 6-foot-7, 248-pounder is unlikely to be a call-up option for the Yankees this year as they battle for a playoff spot in the American League, but barring another injury, he should be in a great position to make his major-league debut early in 2027 if there is no lockout. Not only does Lagrange feature a high-90s fastball, but he has impressive secondary pitches that miss bats consistently. More consistency is still needed, but at his best, Lagrange has the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation arm in the Bronx sooner rather than later.
Source: Francys Romero
Source: Francys Romero
Kyle Parker Expected to be Out for Week 1
Ohio State wide receiver Kyle Parker is not expected to be ready for the start of the season, as the Buckeyes open up on Saturday against Ball State. Parker missed the majority of fall camp and does not have a clear timeline for a return. The senior receiver transfers in from LSU, where he caught 31 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns last season. He is expected to see rotational playing time when cleared to return.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Xavier Worthy Still Has a Path Back to Rookie Form
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy still has a believable path back to the player fantasy managers saw as a rookie. He caught 59 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, then added 104 rushing yards and three more scores. Last season never really got going. Worthy dislocated his shoulder and tore his labrum on the third snap of Week 1, missed two games and played through the injury before having surgery in January. He finished with 42 catches for 532 yards and one touchdown. This summer brought another scare when Worthy sprained the same shoulder on Aug. 1, but he returned to practice nine days later and was back working with the offense later in camp. He remains a starter opposite Rashee Rice on Kansas City's current depth chart. Rice and Travis Kelce will keep the target ceiling in check, and the shoulder history can't be ignored. Still, Worthy's WR45 ranking leaves room for a rebound if better health brings back some of the explosiveness and touchdown production from his rookie year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trevor Goosby Cleared for Week 1
Texas All-American left tackle Trevor Goosby will be playing in Week 1 as the Longhorns host Texas State. Goosby suffered a bone bruise in camp, but is set to play on Saturday. Goosby may not get a ton of playing time as the Longhorns look ahead to Week 2's matchup with Ohio State, but he will be suited up. Goosby is projected as one of the top offensive linemen in the 2026 NFL Draft, and will be crucial to Texas' offensive success this season. Keeping him healthy for Week 2 is Steve Sarkisian's main objective.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Noah Rogers Eyeing Mid-Season Return
Alabama wide receiver Noah Rogers was injured this offseason and has been out for quite some time. The North Carolina State transfer is eyeing a return in late September or early October, setting him up to miss the beginning of the season. Rogers had 33 receptions for 441 yards and two touchdowns last season, and was running with the starters before going down. Junior receiver Rico Scott, who had 11 receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns in a reserve role last season, is set to start in his place alongside Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Jalen Nailor's Opportunity Makes Him a Late-Round Sleeper
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor has a much cleaner path to volume than he ever had in Minnesota. Nailor spent four years buried behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he enters 2026 listed with the first-team offense in a wide receiver room that doesn't have an established target hog. He caught 29 of 53 targets for 444 yards and four touchdowns last season, then spent August building real chemistry with Kirk Cousins. Nailor caught a deep score from Cousins on Aug. 6, another touchdown on Aug. 10 and two more in red-zone work a week later. That doesn't guarantee a huge target share, especially with Brock Bowers likely to remain the centerpiece and Tre Tucker and Jack Bech still involved. It does give Nailor a legitimate chance to see more work than he ever did with the Vikings. Las Vegas signed him early in free agency, kept him with the starters all summer, and the opportunity held through roster cuts. For managers looking for a late-round receiver with room to beat his draft cost, Nailor has a pretty easy case to make.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Shough Offers Real Late-Round QB Upside
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is one of the more appealing late-round bets for fantasy managers who don't want to pay up at the position. He took over in Week 9 last year and went 5-4 as a starter, finishing his rookie season with 2,384 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 67.6% of his throws. The finish was much better than the full-season line suggests. Shough totaled 10 touchdowns from Weeks 12-18 and ranked QB5 in total fantasy points over that stretch, with 272, 308 and 333 passing yards in consecutive games from Weeks 15-17. He also ran for 186 yards and three scores on 45 carries, which gives him a little more floor than a pure pocket passer. New Orleans enters 2026 with Shough firmly entrenched as the starter and Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Travis Etienne Jr. around him, although first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson will open the year on injured reserve. Shough is still only QB22 in RotoBaller's Sept. 3 rankings. For managers waiting on quarterback, that leaves plenty of room for him to beat the price.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
E.J. Crowell Expected to Play Saturday Against ECU
Alabama freshman running back E.J. Crowell was banged up recently, but offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has stated that he expects Crowell to play on Saturday. The highly touted recruit will be making his Alabama debut. While he is expected to dress, it remains to be seen how much work he will get. Sophomore running back A.K. Dear is also banged up and will miss this week, but Crowell will likely play behind veterans Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley. Freshman Trae'shawn Brown is also expected to get some work, as he is listed alongside the other four backs on the depth chart simultaneously with no starter named.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Parker Livingstone Cleared to Play Friday
Oklahoma sophomore wide receiver Parker Livingstone (concussion) has been cleared for Friday night's game against UTEP. Livingstone was previously listed as a game-time decision after missing some practice, but will be suiting up for his Oklahoma debut after clearing concussion protocol. Livingstone transferred from rival Texas, where he caught 29 passes for 516 yards and six touchdowns as a redshirt freshman a season ago. He is expected to play a significant role as one of quarterback John Mateer's top weapons.
Source: Pete Thamel
Source: Pete Thamel
Tez Johnson Has Late-Round Appeal in a Banged-Up Receiver Room
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson has worked his way back into the late-round conversation with Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) still sidelined in the team's latest update. Neither has been ruled out for Week 1, but both have missed multiple weeks, which leaves extra snaps up for grabs if one isn't ready. Johnson has already shown he can take advantage of that kind of opening. The former seventh-round pick started eight games as a rookie and caught 28 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns, then opened this summer as one of Tampa Bay's early camp standouts. A groin strain interrupted his August, but he returned for the preseason finale and caught one pass for nine yards. Chris Godwin Jr. remains ahead of him on the depth chart, and rookie Ted Hurst III has played his way into the early-season mix, so Johnson is far from guaranteed a major role. Still, with Egbuka and McMillan not yet back, he has enough contingency value to justify a final-round shot in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
