RADIO
Antonio Williams Drawing More Praise in Washington
Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams keeps giving the coaching staff reasons to stay interested. According to Zach Selby, offensive coordinator David Blough said he has seen a lot of growth from Williams and called the rookie a joy to work with. That fits what Washington has been saying for months. Williams was praised for his route running and ability to create separation in the spring, then continued to flash during training camp. He was also held out of the preseason finale along with a large group of regulars. The Week 1 depth chart still has Treylon Burks ahead of him, with Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs occupying the other starting spots, so there is no immediate fantasy role to bank on. Still, Williams was the 71st overall pick for a reason, and the positive reports have not stopped. If that growth starts turning into regular snaps, his fantasy value could move quickly.
Source: Zach Selby
Source: Zach Selby
Jacob Misiorowski Remains an Elite Starting Pitcher Option
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski is the runaway favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award in 2026, as he's recorded a 14-5 record with a 1.95 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 236 strikeouts across 161 1/3 innings (27 starts). The 24-year-old had a rare off-night at Wrigley Field on September 2, allowing five earned runs across four innings against the Chicago Cubs. However, Misiorowski bounced back against the Cubs in his most recent outing on Tuesday, allowing just one earned run while striking out nine across 6 1/3 innings. The young right-hander is averaging 100.5 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a ridiculous 38.3% strikeout rate for the year. Misiorowski has also limited free passes (6.7% walk rate) and power, allowing opposing hitters to log just a 3.3% barrel rate. Heading into the final few weeks of the regular season, Misiorowski remains an elite starting pitching option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Shough Leaves Fantasy Managers Plenty to Believe In
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough made a pretty convincing case for himself before his rookie season ended. Over his final five games, Shough completed 69.9% of his passes for 1,316 yards, five touchdowns and only two interceptions while New Orleans went 4-1. He gave fantasy managers something on the ground too, adding 135 rushing yards and three more scores during that stretch. It was enough to earn him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors for December and January. Shough now enters Year 2 without a quarterback competition and with Chris Olave coming off the best season of his career. First-round receiver Jordyn Tyson will miss the beginning of the year on injured reserve, so the supporting cast isn't completely intact. Still, Shough's finish is difficult to brush aside as one good game or a short hot streak. If that late-season version sticks around, he could move well beyond being viewed as just another matchup-dependent fantasy quarterback.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Love May Have to Carry More of Green Bay's Offense
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love could have more put on his plate than we've seen the past couple of seasons. Josh Jacobs remains unavailable, leaving Green Bay to sort through an unproven group of running backs as the season begins. Love didn't need huge volume to play well last year, completing a career-high 66.3% of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns and only six interceptions on 439 attempts. Fantasy managers have already seen what happens when those attempts climb. Love threw 579 times for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2023, his best fantasy season by far. The receiving group is also in better shape, with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft all off the initial injury report. Love still doesn't give managers much of a rushing floor, and Minnesota isn't an easy opening matchup. This is more about what comes next. If Green Bay can't lean on the running game the way it has recently, Love's fantasy ceiling gets a lot more interesting.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Ewing Remains a Priority Speed Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 425 plate appearances in 2026, New York Mets outfielder A.J. Ewing is hitting .252/.322/.370 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, 48 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. The 22-year-old's power has dried up in the second half of the season, as he's hit just one home run across 208 plate appearances since the All-Star break. Ewing's 25.4% strikeout rate is also a bit higher than is ideal, particularly given his power profile. However, Ewing's 9.2% walk rate allows him to get on base with enough consistency to get to his speed, which is his main appeal for fantasy managers. After going just nine for his first 15 as a base stealer in the big leagues, Ewing has been caught just twice in his last 16 attempts. For fantasy managers in need of speed, Ewing profiles as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ethan Salas Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire Despite Slow Start?
San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas has gotten off to a slow start in the big leagues since making his MLB debut on September 2, as he's gone hitless in his first 10 plate appearances. Salas has also split playing time in the early going with fellow Padres catchers Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin. However, the 20-year-old Salas is widely considered to be one of the top catcher prospects in all of baseball, so it could just be a matter of time before he takes over as the full-time backstop in San Diego. Across 405 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A before his promotion, Salas hit .296/.374/.448 with 10 home runs, 61 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. Salas may struggle to get to significant power in his first taste of big-league action, but he's posted an impressive 11.6% walk rate while striking out in just 14.3% of his trips to the plate in the minors. In two-catcher formats, Salas could be worth targeting on the waiver wire just in case he takes over as the everyday catcher for the Padres down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tucker Kraft's Contract Talks Could Reset Tight End Market
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft remains in contract talks with the team, and the next deal at the position could be a big one. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Green Bay hopes to get something done by the end of Week 1, with Kraft in position to become the first tight end to reach $20 million per year. George Kittle currently tops the market at $19.1 million annually, just ahead of Trey McBride at $19 million. Kraft is entering the final year of his rookie contract after catching 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season before tearing his ACL against Carolina. He returned from the PUP list on July 31 and worked back into 11-on-11 drills in August. If the two sides can close the gap, Kraft's deal could be the one that finally pushes the tight-end market past $20 million.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Hector Rodriguez a High-Upside Power Bat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 102 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in early August, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Hector Rodriguez is hitting .266/.324/.457 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and 14 runs scored. Swing-and-miss is a red flag in the 22-year-old's profile, as he's struck out in 28.4% of his plate appearances. With middling barrel (7.7%) and hard-hit (33.8%) rates, Rodriguez's underlying batted-ball metrics at the big-league level are not amazing either. However, the young outfielder put up monster power numbers in the minors this season before getting promoted, hitting 27 home runs across 455 plate appearances at Triple-A. He's also taken over as the Reds' everyday right fielder and should get an extended run to prove himself as the season winds to a close. Fantasy managers in search of power upside on the waiver wire may want to target Rodriguez.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Could Hit The Ground Running This Season
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is creating some real buzz in the fantasy community, mostly because he is no longer blocked from playing time behind Mark Andrews for the Baltimore Ravens. He has been impressive in training camp, and there is a real belief among many who follow the team that he emerges as the No. 2 target behind Malik Nabers on the outside for the Giants. Adam Bernstein of GMENHQ, a Giants blog, wrote this about Likely: "Given the state of New York's receiver room, there's a real chance he functions as Dart's No. 2 receiving option behind Malik Nabers." Likely played in 14 games last year with the Baltimore Ravens and caught 27 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown, playing most of the season behind Andrews on the depth chart. This is an opportunity for a breakout season for Likely in an expanded role.
Source: GMEN HQ blog
Source: GMEN HQ blog
Josh Hoover a Steady Starting Option In Week 2
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover had a solid debut in Week 1, racking up 25.24 fantasy points and finishing as QB26 for the week. The transfer senior completed 81% of his 16 attempts for 231 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-16 rout of North Texas. Hoover executed the Hoosier offense to perfection even through a bloodied nose suffered in the second quarter. This week, the Hoosiers take on Howard and are favored by 56.5 points. Games with this kind of spread make it difficult to project quarterback fantasy production; however, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti has a history of letting his starters stay on the field well into the fourth quarter of blowouts. Hoover should reach high-end QB2 production in Week 2, but his lack of rushing upside lowers his ceiling significantly. RotoBaller has Hoover ranked QB15 heading into Week 2, and he should be considered a starter only in two-quarterback leagues or leagues over 15 teams.
Source: DraftKings
Source: DraftKings
Daniel Jones Could Be Looking At Big Year With Full Health
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is making his way back from a torn Achilles he suffered about nine months ago in Jacksonville. Jones did not play in any preseason games but turned heads within the Colts organization for a positive return from the devastating injury. Jones passed for 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and has added to he receiver room with Keenan Allen coming in and having Alec Pierce and Josh Downs on the outside with Tyler Warren at tight end. It's a good group of receiving talent, which sets up Jones nicely for a good season, but the main thing is that he appears to have put the injury behind him. He's always brought scrambling to the table a little bit and should continue to do that after rushing for 164 yards in 2025.
Source: WISHTV.com
Source: WISHTV.com
Darren Waller Making Smooth Transition to Panthers
Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is receiving positive buzz from the Carolina coaching staff as he prepares to be ready for Week 1. Head coach Dave Canales had this to say about the veteran tight end, on Panthers Wire, "Big and fast. The offensive stuff, the playbook stuff has been really smooth, really easy for him. And we have totally different terminology then where he was at in Miami before. Intelligent guy, hard worker. So he's been great from a mental standpoint." Waller played in nine games for the Miami Dolphins last year and caught 24 passes on 34 targets for 283 yards and six touchdowns. At age 33, Waller is still in great shape and is a threat in the red zone. He could emerge as a big target for quarterback Bryce Young in the target areas. He could be an under-the-radar tight end option.
Source: Panthers Wire, USA Today
Source: Panthers Wire, USA Today
Start Sam Leavitt With Confidence In Week 2
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt finished Week 1 as QB6, scoring 35.5 fantasy points against Clemson. The transfer junior completed 59% of his 27 attempts for 230 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception; he added 12 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His 113 yards on the ground marked a career best, and it's unclear if that production will continue, as 62 of his rushing yards came on six scrambles per PFF. This week, LSU hosts Louisiana Tech, which was a below-average pass defense last season, allowing 240 pass yards per game. Per BetMGM, LSU is favored by 35.5 points, which could mean a short game for Leavitt if they opt to bench him in the third quarter in a blowout game. Leavitt is ranked as RotoBaller's QB5 for Week 2, and fantasy owners should be confident rolling him out as a QB1.
Source: BetMGM
Source: BetMGM
Brock Bowers Likely Out For Week 2 As Well
Las Vegas Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers (knee) reportedly had meniscus trim surgery done in Dallas, and according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, he could miss Week 2. "Out the opener, probably out Week 2, and then we will see after that," Rapoport said on Good Morning Football. Rapoport did note that the fact that it was a meniscus trim rather than a meniscus repair is a promising sign, as he says the trim surgeries are measured in weeks rather than months for meniscus repairs. Bowers is an elite tight end, so his fantasy managers don't want to hear the news of his absence. But if he can keep it at just a two-week absence, it will be manageable and will avoid potential disaster. But now it does sound like Bowers is unlikely for Week 2 as well.
Source: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport
George Kittle Will Be On "Pitch Count" During Season Opener
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle tore his right Achilles in January and has worked his way back to being available for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. However, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the talented tight end will be on a "pitch count to start, but a pretty dramatic return for one of the NFL's best tight ends. George Kittle is back." Kittle played in 11 games in 2025 and recorded 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 11.0 yards per reception and 57.1 yards per game. Even at age 32, Kittle is still one of the best tight end bets for fantasy. Returning from an Achilles tear as quickly as he did at that advanced age is a bit concerning, but if anyone can do it, it would be Kittle. Look for a bit of a slow start to the season as he adjusts back to playing, but he still should be a top-tier tight end.
Source: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport
