RADIO
Pistons Rule Out Sign-and-Trade Offers for Jalen Duren
Restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren remains firmly in Detroit's plans, with ESPN's Tim MacMahon reporting on The Hoop Collective that the Pistons have told rival teams they are "absolutely positively 100 percent" committed to keeping him. Any team pursuing a sign-and-trade is wasting its time, per MacMahon, leaving Duren nearly two months into an unresolved standoff with Detroit. The first-time All-Star averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.8 blocks on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 games last season. Duren became eligible for a five-year max worth $287.1 million after earning All-NBA honors, while Jake Fischer has pointed to a possible four-year deal around $160 million. The contract noise should not knock him down fantasy boards. Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis and has Paul Reed as the main center depth behind Duren, so the minutes and volume are waiting. The main risk is Duren taking the roughly $9.6 million qualifying offer and playing out a lame-duck year.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Aaron Nesmith Refines Ball-Handling in Offseason
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith said he used the offseason to get healthy and tighten his ball handling, speaking Monday ahead of the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic. "It was good getting a long offseason and getting the body right," Nesmith said. Injuries, including a neck issue, limited the 26-year-old to 45 games last season, and the heavier load on a 19-63 team came with efficiency costs. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from deep. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) has said he is 100 percent cleared, which should help restore cleaner looks for Nesmith. He projects to start alongside Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac, but Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jarace Walker give Indiana enough wing depth to keep Nesmith in watch-list territory rather than locked-in fantasy value.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Luther Burden III "Looks 100%", Positive Sign for His Week 1 Availability
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) did not participate in the team's final preseason game as he continues to work his way back from the groin injury that has sidelined him for much of training camp, but following the Bears' 24-15 win over the Titans, head coach Ben Johnson offered some strong reassurance about his Week 1 availability. "He looks 100% to me," Johnson told the media. Burden had been a standout in nearly every session to begin camp, but went down to the ground and left with trainers after getting tangled with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson on August 8th and has not returned to practice since. Following Johnson's latest update, the arrow is pointing back up, and big things are expected of Burden in his second season, making him a potential league-winning selection at his currently discounted ADP of WR24.
Source: Jason Lieser
Source: Jason Lieser
Timberwolves Waive John Konchar
The Minnesota Timberwolves waived guard/forward John Konchar on Saturday, one day after acquiring him from Utah in the Josh Green trade. The move was expected, as Minnesota plans to stretch Konchar's $6.17 million expiring salary into roughly $2.06 million charges over three seasons to help finalize Jonathan Kuminga's two-year, $12.4 million deal. The 30-year-old split last season between Memphis and Utah, averaging 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 19.9 minutes across 56 games, including eight starts. Konchar should clear waivers Monday and hit unrestricted free agency, but his low-usage profile keeps him off fantasy radars wherever he lands. The fantasy angle is Kuminga, who is projected to compete for the starting power forward job alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert. Cody Williams, the other piece of the Utah trade, remains in Minnesota as reserve wing depth.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Stephen Curry Becomes Eligible for a Two-Year Extension
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry became extension-eligible Saturday and can sign a two-year deal worth up to $136.7 million before June 30, ESPN's Bobby Marks reports. The Over-38 rule caps any extension at two seasons, though Curry could pursue up to three years by waiting for free agency in 2027. The 38-year-old is owed roughly $62.5 million this season either way, so the fantasy question is workload, not money. Curry was limited to 43 games last season by various injuries, including a knee issue, but still averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 30.9 minutes. With Jimmy Butler III (knee) and Moses Moody (knee) rehabbing season-ending injuries, Golden State's offense should lean heavily on Curry, Brandin Podziemski, and Kristaps Porzingis early. That keeps Curry's ceiling high, but his durability risk is just as obvious.
Source: Bobby Marks
Source: Bobby Marks
Keenan Allen Arrested Sunday Morning for DWI
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen was arrested early Sunday morning with preliminary misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and DWI endangering a person, according to WTHR in Indianapolis. Allen has yet to be formally charged, but a police report and online jail records indicate the incident occurred in downtown Indianapolis around 1 a.m., though it was not reported until closer to 3 a.m. The 34-year-old Allen, who ranks 10th all-time among wide receivers in career receptions, recently signed a one-year deal with the Colts and is expected to see a significant role in his reunion with Shane Steichen, but fantasy managers will now need to think twice about where they are willing to select him in 2026 drafts, as the NFL does not need to wait for the legal process to play out before levying any suspension against him.
Source: WTHR
Source: WTHR
Jackson Arnold Settles UNLV QB Controversy
UNLV coach Dan Mullen told the press earlier this week that the Rebels would use both Auburn transfer Jackson Arnold and Alex Orji in the opening game against Memphis. Arnold played so well that Orji rarely saw the field and didn't attempt a pass. Arnold completed 25-of-37 passes for 291 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 27-21 loss to Memphis. Arnold also led the Rebels with 54 rushing yards on 21 carries. He added another score on the ground. Arnold should be picked up in all fantasy leagues. UNLV plays Hawaii next Saturday. The Warriors allowed three rushing touchdowns to Stanford's Micah Ford in the opener.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Stanford RB Micah Ford Scores Three TDs vs. Hawaii
Stanford opened the 2026 season with a 37-27 win over Hawaii in Palo Alto. RB Micah Ford ran 25 times for 99 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Ford only had four rushing touchdowns in 12 games in 2025. Ford was the 70th RB off the board in Yahoo fantasy drafts this year. It might be worth checking waivers to see if Ford is available in your league. Stanford faces No. 7 Miami on September 4. Ford should remain on your bench for that matchup, but he has easier games on the horizon against Duke and Wake Forest over the next month.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
NC State QB CJ Bailey Struggles Against Virginia
North Carolina State fell flat in its 2026 season opener at Charlottesville, Virginia. The home team dominated the Pack in a 34-8 defeat. QB CJ Bailey, who accounted for 3,320 yards and 31 touchdowns last year, struggled in this one. Bailey completed only 12 of his 23 pass attempts for 84 yards and an interception. He also led the team with 33 rushing yards. North Carolina State's offense only mustered 168 yards of offense in the loss. It's too soon to panic on Bailey yet. He should get back on track in North Carolina State's next game. The Pack host Richmond on September 11.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
TCU RB Jeremy Payne A Bright Spot In Otherwise Stagnant Offense
TCU opened the season with a 15-10 loss to North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland. Carolina's defense held TCU to 286 yards of offense. RB Jeremy Payne had 142 of those yards on 25 carries. Payne showed why he was a first-round pick in every draft with his tough running in a losing effort. Jon Denman poached a touchdown, denying Payne an even better day. TCU has an off week next week. The next game for the Horned Frogs is on September 12 against Grambling. Payne should be in your starting lineups for that game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
North Carolina TE Jelani Thurman Has Big Game In Dublin
North Carolina's offense sputtered in 2025, but that was likely to change with former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino coming in as the offensive coordinator. The star of the offense was former Ohio State TE Jelani Thurman. Thurman caught four passes for 94 yards in his UNC debut. He was featured early in the game and in key situations in North Carolina's season-opening 15-10 win over TCU in Dublin, Ireland. TE is going to be a crapshoot in college. From what we saw in this game, Thurman should be added in all leagues. He looks like he will be a big piece of the offense after leading the Tar Heels in receptions and yards in the opener.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
USC Freshmen Receivers Have Big Games In College Debuts
News came down earlier this week that star USC wide receiver Tanook Hines would likely miss the game against San Jose State. That left a lot of targets open for USC's gaggle of true freshmen receivers. Both Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt started the game for No. 14 USC. Mosley had a huge game, with seven receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown. He also notched 56 yards on punt returns. Dixon-Wyatt hauled in four passes for 36 yards and a score in USC's 42-26 win. Ethan "Boobie" Feaster, who was the star of camp, only caught one pass for eight yards. Mosley should be added in most fantasy leagues. Dixon-Wyatt is worth a look as long as Hines is out.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Arizona State Names Cutter Boley As Starting Quarterback
As expected, Arizona State is going into the 2026 season with Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley as the starting quarterback. Boley started 11 games as a redshirt freshman for Kentucky last season, completing 65.8% of his 301 passing attempts for 2,160 yards. He threw 15 touchdowns, but offset that with 12 interceptions. Boley won the job over former UCF/Fresno State/Michigan transfer Mikey Keene. The Sun Devils open the season on September 5 with a home game against Morgan State. If your quarterback has a bye or a bad matchup, Boley is a very good streaming option against the Bears.
Source: Pete Thamel on X
Source: Pete Thamel on X
Justin Jefferson's Upside Remains Capped by Quarterback Situation
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson may have trouble reaching his ceiling once again in 2026. Jefferson went from the WR2 in 2024 to the WR21 in 2025, with the main difference being that he was catching passes from a mix of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. This upcoming season, Jefferson will be on the receiving end of passes from Kyler Murray. While the two have demonstrated a decent rapport this preseason, we're a bit concerned about what will happen when Murray starts to face defenders in a game environment. Both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson were somewhat quiet when they had Murray as their quarterback, so we can't quite guarantee that the ex-Cardinal will be an upgrade over McCarthy. At the very least, though, it's a fresh look for an offense that wants to return to its pre-2025 form. Jefferson is currently the WR6 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings, which indicates that the rankings experts are expecting him to bounce back in a huge way. It seems like most of the fantasy football community would agree, as Jefferson currently has an ADP of 12.4 (WR6).
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins' Price Tag Falls in Line with Ranking for 2026
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is coming off a remarkable 2025 season that saw him post the best fantasy finish of his career as the overall WR8 in PPR leagues. It was a shaky year for the Texans and C.J. Stroud, but that didn't stop Collins from totaling 71 catches, 1,117 yards, and six touchdowns. Last season, he didn't have to share any targets with Tank Dell (knee), but he did share some volume with Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel. This year is mostly similar, with the main difference being that Higgins is done for the year with a knee injury and Dell should return midseason. Because of Higgins' injury, the Texans also went out and added Kayshon Boutte via trade. By themselves, none of Dell, Noel, or Boutte should be a major threat to Collins' volume and production, but collectively, it's starting to look like a fair number of mouths to feed. Now that fantasy draft season is in full swing, Collins has an ADP of 23.8 (WR9), while RotoBaller has him ranked as the WR10 for redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
