RADIO
Christopher Bell Finishes Second for the Seventh Time This Season at Iowa
Christopher Bell started out slowly in the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, but went on to become one of the main contenders for the race win on Sunday. Bell started 22nd and spent the entire first stage making up positions on the track. At the end of the first stage, Bell made it up to seventh and scored four stage points. In the second stage, Bell's team made a call to stay off of pit road during a lap 140 caution while all other drivers went to pit road, leaving him with the lead on the restart. With no further cautions until the end of the stage, Bell went on to win the second stage. In the final stage, Bell started out third after pit stops and then returned to the lead midway through the stage after passing Ryan Blaney. Bell maintained the lead until having his final pit stop on lap 291, but lost the lead to his teammate Ty Gibbs in the cycle of pit stops. The No. 20 Toyota driver spent the rest of the race chasing down Gibbs for the win, but fell short of passing him in the closing laps, leaving Bell to finish in second for the seventh time this season. Although he missed out on winning, Bell's strong performance moves him up to sixth in the Cup Series standings after 23 races.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Ryan Blaney Leads the Most Laps and Finishes Third at Iowa
Team Penske's Ryan Blaney was one of the top dominators of the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. Blaney started the race in first place and began his domination right from the beginning. He led every lap in the first stage and won it without much competition. In the second stage, Blaney lost the lead after Chase Elliott stayed out on a caution and stayed ahead of Blaney after a restart. Although Blaney passed Elliott as the stage progressed, Bubba Wallace also got ahead of both drivers before another caution sent everyone back to pit road. Instead of taking two tires on lap 143, Blaney took four tires and lost a couple of positions away from the lead. Blaney went on to maintain a top-10 running position and finished eighth at the end of the second stage. In the final stage's stage break, Blaney vaulted back to the front of the field with a two-tire pit stop call and, during the restart, got ahead of Elliott to lead the race. Blaney maintained the lead until lap 254, when Christopher Bell took the lead from him. The No. 12 Ford driver then tried to beat out Bell through the final set of green flag pit stops but was unable to do so. Ty Gibbs also passed Blaney during the final pit stops, leaving Blaney to settle for third when he did not have the speed to catch Gibbs and Bell. After leading the most laps (129) and getting his third Iowa top-5 finish, Blaney is now third in the Cup Series standings after 23 races.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Josh Berry Quietly Earns his First Top-Five Finish of the Year at Iowa
Josh Berry of Wood Brothers Racing had his best run of the 2026 season at the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. Berry began the race from the 13th position and went on to have a clean race without any incident. The No. 21 Ford driver, however, failed to score stage points, as he placed 11th at the end of each of the first two stages. In the final stage, Berry took advantage of a caution-free final stage to take advantage of his car's long run speed and gain positions throughout the stage. Berry eventually made it past Denny Hamlin and placed fourth at the end of the race at Iowa. After earning his first top-5 finish of the 2026 season, Berry moves up to 30th in the Cup Series standings after 23 races.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Denny Hamlin Finishes Fifth After Battling Brake Issues at Iowa
Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing faced an uphill battle right from the beginning of the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. Originally slated to start from the 29th position, Hamlin began the race from the rear and contended with brake issues throughout the entire race. Despite the struggles with the brakes, Hamlin and his No. 11 Toyota team made adjustments to his car to improve its performance and be able to make moves throughout the field. By the end of the first stage, Hamlin made it up to 18th, while in the second stage, he made it to the top 10 and earned stage points after ending the stage in sixth. In the final stage, Hamlin made it as high as fourth before he eventually settled for fifth place by the end of the race. With his first top-5 finish scored at Iowa, Hamlin extends his season-wide points lead to 103 points over Ty Gibbs with three races left before The Chase begins.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Mason Rudolph Dominating Steelers' Backup Competition
The Pittsburgh Steelers spent a third and a sixth-round pick at quarterback over the course of the past two drafts, but according to beat reporter Alan Saunders, the battle for the primary backup job behind Aaron Rodgers has been dominated by veteran Mason Rudolph. Saunders lists both Will Howard and Drew Allar among his losers of the second week of Steelers training camp, with them all but handing the competition to Rudolph. While Rudolph himself has done little to stand out, Howard has reportedly been unable to close the gap that looked to be tightening during OTAs, making too many errors to overcome a limited skill set. Allar, meanwhile, has flashed standout athleticism, but is still a long way away from running an NFL offense after a near-total teardown of his fundamentals. With Rodgers preparing for his 22nd and final season, the rookie still has the best chances to eventually take over, but the backup job for 2026 is expected to remain with Rudolph.
Source: Alan Saunders
Source: Alan Saunders
Carson Beck Back Working With Third-Team Offense
After an impressive starting debut in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game, Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck was back working primarily with the third-team offense during Sunday's practice, and he was not particularly sharp, according to team reporter Darren Urban. While he did rally with a pair of touchdown throws late in practice, the offense was reportedly a step behind the defense for much of the day. Beck was a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and there is an expectation that he could see starting work at some point as a rookie. His performance in the Hall of Fame Game offered reassurance to fantasy managers weighing the late-season upside of players like Trey McBride or Jeremiyah Love. However, Beck will still need to establish consistency and show he can run the offense without significant drop-off to remove some of the lingering doubt surrounding his high-profile teammates.
Source: Darren Urban
Source: Darren Urban
Oronde Gadsden Listed as Co-Starter on First Unofficial Depth Chart
The Los Angeles Chargers released their first unofficial depth chart on Sunday ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Texans, and tight end Oronde Gadsden is listed as a co-starter along with both Charlie Kolar and David Njoku. The "or" designation is used throughout the lineup, including at running back where both Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal are listed in the primary backup spot, but with the highest statistical upside of the tight end group, fantasy managers are likely looking for more signs of encouragement surrounding Gadsden after he spent much of the early offseason as a popular breakout candidate. The second-year tight end was candid in recent remarks to the media about needing to improve as a blocker, and with Kolar and Njoku both excelling in that area, Gadsden could be hard-pressed to make consistent contributions in 2026, and he enters the year as RotoBaller's TE20.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Isiah Pacheco Has MCL Sprain, Should Be Ready for Week 1
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (knee) is dealing with a sprained MCL, but head coach Dan Campbell told the media that the team still feels good about his Week 1 availability, according to beat writer Nolan Bianchi. Pacheco signed a one-year deal in the offseason but having now missed a string of training camp practices, the Lions have leaned on third-year back Sione Vaki to handle an expanded workload as three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs ramps back up from an early training camp hold-in that resulted in him becoming the league's highest paid running back. After splitting the backfield with David Montgomery for his first three seasons, Gibbs is expected to handle close to a bell cow role in 2026, limiting Pacheco's standalone value but making him one of fantasy's most important handcuff backs and a player who can generally be found in the closing rounds of drafts as RotoBaller's RB44.
Source: Nolan Bianchi
Source: Nolan Bianchi
Xavier Legette Returns to Practice
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (neck) was back at practice on Sunday after suffering a stinger while hauling in a touchdown catch and leaving Tuesday's practice on a cart. The third-year player was a full participant in what was one of the more intense sessions of the summer, according to team reporter Kassidy Hill. With 2026 third-round pick Chris Brazzell II (knee) already ruled out for the entirety of his rookie season after tearing his LCL in the early days of training camp, Legette's presence becomes all the more important as the potential third receiver alongside Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. Head coach Dave Canales has indicated that he will play his starters in Saturday's next preseason matchup with the Bills, and barring any setbacks, Legette, who is RotoBaller's WR109, should be a part of that group.
Source: Kassidy Hill
Source: Kassidy Hill
Antonio Williams at the Bottom of Commanders' Depth Chart
The Washington Commanders have released their first unofficial depth chart of the season ahead of their first preseason tilt with the Dolphins, and like many of the team's rookies, wide receiver Antonio Williams is listed near the bottom of his position group. A low spot on the depth chart is typical for rookies at this time of year, though it's worth noting that first-round pick Sonny Styles is already listed as one of the team's starting linebackers. Williams currently sits behind at least four wide receivers, including Stefon Diggs, who signed with the team on Friday, and with tight end Chig Okonkwo reportedly seeing extensive work out of the slot, calls of a sleeper season have quieted significantly for the third-round pick in recent days. Now sitting at RotoBaller's WR95, Williams offers little fantasy upside in 2026.
Source: Nick Jhabvala
Source: Nick Jhabvala
Isaac Brown Remains Limited in Monday's Practice
Louisville star running back Isaac Brown (undisclosed) remains a limited participant in Monday's practice, according to Matt McGavic of WHAS11 News. However, he did take part in some team periods on Saturday, which is a notable improvement after he missed the team's first fall practice. Brown missed four games last season due to injury, but he was fantastic when active, leading all FBS running backs in average yards per carry (8.8). Through his first 22 games of his collegiate career, Brown has tallied 2,057 rushing yards, 200 receiving yards, and 19 total touchdowns. He has been one of the most efficient and explosive ball carriers in the nation since joining the Louisville program, and his availability is a significant storyline this offseason. The Cardinals are a sneaky contender to compete for an ACC crown, but Brown is a key piece in that equation.
Source: Matt McGavic - WHAS11 News
Source: Matt McGavic - WHAS11 News
Hunter Henry Signs Two-Year Extension with Patriots
Veteran tight end Hunter Henry and the New England Patriots have agreed on a two-year extension that will keep him with the team through his age-34 season, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Henry signed with the Patriots in 2021, and the new deal increases the likelihood that he finishes his career in New England. The 11th-year pro caught 60 passes in 2025 for a career-high 768 yards, and he's become a favorite target for quarterback Drake Maye. While the Patriots spent a Day 2 pick on rookie Eli Raridon, and the addition of A.J. Brown could add touchdown competition in the red zone, those concerns are thoroughly baked into Henry's draft cost, giving him a chance to once more surpass ADP expectations as the 16th tight end off the board after top 12 finishes in each of the past two seasons.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Victor Wembanyama Says 100 Points Is Possible
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama said he believes he can score 100 points in a game during a quick-fire Q&A with French content creator Rookicks, per Eurohoops. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year also named Olympiacos forward Evan Fournier as the French player he would bring to San Antonio and left the door open to teaming with his brother Oscar, possibly first with the French national team. None of this changes Wembanyama's fantasy outlook, but it tracks with his rare ceiling after he averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.1 blocks across 64 games last season.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Jordan Mason a Standout Throughout Vikings Camp
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason led the team in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns in 2025, and after arriving at training camp in exceptional shape, he's drawn the praise of beat reporters throughout the summer, with The Athletic's Alec Lewis the most recent to label him as a camp standout. Listing Mason as one of four running backs to make the team in his latest 53-man roster projection, Lewis points out the explosiveness he's shown in team drills while also acknowledging the trust that head coach Kevin O'Connell has in veteran Aaron Jones Sr. Jones is now 31 years old and missed five games in 2025, so the team could opt to keep him fresh in his 10th season by limiting some of his between-the-tackles touches and using him more in the passing game, opening an opportunity for Mason to claim the bulk of early-down and goal-line work. At RotoBaller's RB37, Mason is a late-round target with double-digit touchdown potential in what should be an improved Vikings offense.
Source: Alec Lewis - The Athletic
Source: Alec Lewis - The Athletic
76ers' Mike Gansey Touts a Big 5 Starting Lineup
Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey said the team "kind of" has a Big 5 in its starting lineup, pairing LeBron James and Jaylen Brown with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe, according to Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The comment suggests Edgecombe is still viewed as part of the first unit despite Philadelphia's veteran additions. Gansey also compared coach Nick Nurse to "a kid in a candy store" with so many lineup options, which points to heavy staggering. Edgecombe, Maxey, and Embiid remain fantasy-relevant starters, but shared touches with James and Brown could trim usage from a thinner-roster ceiling.
Source: Gina Mizell
Source: Gina Mizell
