RADIO
Amen Thompson Eyes Below-Max Extension with Rockets
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson is expected to sign a rookie-scale extension before the 2026-27 season begins, though a full five-year, $250 million max deal is not expected, according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel. Siegel wrote that a deal between 20 and 22 percent of the salary cap, worth roughly $200 million total, would make more sense for Houston. The 23-year-old broke out last season, averaging 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals across 79 games. He was already a 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team selection, and the fantasy appeal is clear: rebounds, assists, steals, and efficiency. The jumper still caps the ceiling, but Thompson is trending toward early-round value.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Max Meyer to be Evaluated Next Week
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer (neck) appears to be making progress after being sidelined since late July. According to Christina De Nicola, Meyer will have his neck re-evaluated next week. The right-hander has been out for weeks due to a neck strain. Once he's cleared to throw, it's going to take time for Meyer to ramp up again. This season, Meyer owns a 2.68 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 121/41 K/BB ratio across 20 starts. He earned the first All-Star selection of his career with his outstanding pitching in the first half of the season. Fantasy managers should continue to hold Meyer and be hopeful for his return in the coming weeks.
Source: Christian De Nicola
Source: Christian De Nicola
Mike Washington Jr. Could Earn RB2 Role
Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. could have an immediate impact on the team. The 23-year-old was selected in the fourth-round of this year's draft out of Arkansas. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored eight touchdowns during his final season in college. Given the lack of viable options in the backfield, Washington could immediately slot into the RB2 role in Las Vegas. Ashton Jeanty is going to be the workhorse RB1, but he'll need to rest at some point. Washington could be an interesting change-of-pace back who could be one injury away from starting. He's someone worth taking a look at as a late-round handcuff.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
DeMar DeRozan Draws Interest from Four Teams
Free-agent forward DeMar DeRozan has drawn interest from the Heat, Nuggets, Cavaliers, and Wizards, ESPN's Anthony Slater reports, citing Shams Charania. Sacramento waived DeRozan's $25.7 million expiring deal in July, with the six-time All-Star receiving the $10 million guaranteed portion. The 37-year-old remained productive last season, averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals while shooting 49.7 percent from the field across 77 starts. His next landing spot will decide the fantasy angle. A team with a clearer scoring need could keep his usage afloat, while a contender bench role would cap his minutes and touches. Either way, limited threes and defensive stats cap the ceiling.
Source: Anthony Slater
Source: Anthony Slater
Braelon Allen is Gaining Stash Value
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen is quickly gaining value early in camp. Fellow back Isaiah Davis (knee) suffered an injury that is going to keep him sidelined for a couple of weeks. The team believes he'll be ready for the regular season, but his absence gives Allen a straight shot at the No. 2 role in New York. Without Davis in the picture, Allen should have no problem securing the backup gig to Breece Hall, although that still wouldn't result in any standalone value as the backup in New York. Allen would likely be the change-of-pace back and would be the next man up if anything happens to Hall. The 22-year-old has shown flashes of potential in the past and deserves to be rostered in at least deep leagues to begin the season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kevin Love Seeks 76ers Fit
Free-agent forward/center Kevin Love has interest in joining LeBron James in Philadelphia, with agent Jeff Schwartz in contact with the 76ers since James signed, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. The fit is not simple. Philadelphia is already at roster capacity after adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, while Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, and Ariel Hukporti leave little room in the frontcourt. Love averaged 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 37.3 percent from three for Utah last season, so his real appeal would be spacing and veteran depth. Even if the Sixers clear a spot, he would be too far from steady minutes to matter in fantasy.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Tucker Kraft is Absent from Friday's Practice
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) was absent from Friday's practice session, according to Matt Schneidman. Kraft is currently working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 9 of last season. Kraft has been practicing for the last week, so his absence could just be for rest purposes. There is no word on Kraft suffering any kind of setback, so the assumption is that the Packers are just giving him the night off. The Packers are hopeful that Kraft will be ready to play for Week 1 of the regular season. He's coming off a significant injury, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect too much out of Kraft right away.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
Kobe Stewart Joins Hornets on Exhibit 10 Deal
Free-agent guard/forward Kobe Stewart has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Charlotte Hornets, according to Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Stewart went undrafted out of Presbyterian in 2025 and spent last season in the G-League, where he averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 34 games while suiting up mostly for the Wisconsin Herd. He also had earlier stops with Austin and Memphis, so this looks more like a Greensboro Swarm path than a real push for Charlotte minutes. Stewart is off fantasy radars unless he turns the camp look into something more firm.
Source: Rod Boone
Source: Rod Boone
Josh Jacobs Misses Another Practice on Friday
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (groin) was absent from Friday's practice session, according to Matt Schneidman. This is the second straight day that Jacobs has missed practice due to a groin injury. It's early in camp, so it's not surprising to see the Packers playing it safe with Jacobs. This injury is not viewed as a long-term issue, so fantasy managers shouldn't have anything to worry about right now. MarShawn Lloyd is getting first-team reps without Jacobs available. He could be an interesting handcuff option for fantasy managers if Jacobs does miss any time. For now, Jacobs should be considered day-to-day and should be back at practice in a few days.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
Taelon Peter Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Spurs
Guard Taelon Peter has agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the San Antonio Spurs, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, giving him a training-camp invite rather than a guaranteed roster spot. Peter was waived by Indiana in July after appearing in 38 games as a rookie, averaging 4.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 32.8 percent from three. The 24-year-old showed more in the NBA G League, where he averaged 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 20 games with the Noblesville Boom. He shot 45.3 percent from deep as a senior at Liberty, but he has no fantasy value unless the jumper translates and he earns something firmer than a camp look.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Isaiah Likely Becoming Favorite Target for Giants QB
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely could be ready to make a big impact with his new team. In recent practices, Likely has been quarterback Jaxson Dart's favorite target. He snagged a team-high four receptions during Friday's practice session. The wide receiver room is a bit cloudy right now, so Likely has a chance to step up and make an impact in a big way. The 26-year-old could end up being the top target in New York until Malik Nabers (knee) returns to the field. Likely is Rotoballer's TE14, but he has the upside to be a top-10 player at his position this season.
Source: Dan Duggan
Source: Dan Duggan
Tre Tucker Leaves Practice With Leg Injury on Friday
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (leg) left training camp practice on Friday with an undisclosed leg injury, according to Joshua Jacopetti. Fellow wideout Dont'e Thornton Jr. also left Friday's practice with an undisclosed injury, so the Raiders' WR depth will be tested this weekend. The 25-year-old Tucker is expected to start alongside newcomer Jalen Nailor in 2026 in the team's new offense under head coach Klint Kubiak, with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza running it. Tucker had career highs across the board in 2025 in his third year in the NFL, catching 57 of his 92 targets for 696 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts. The efficiency was not there in a bad Raiders offense, but that could change with new personnel and a new scheme this year. Still, the 25-year-old is a hard sell in 12-team fantasy football leagues, even with a potentially more efficient Raiders offense in 2026. RotoBaller has Tucker ranked as the No. 65 fantasy WR in half-PPR formats.
Source: Joshua Jacopetti
Source: Joshua Jacopetti
Blake Snell to Return From Injured List on Tuesday
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (elbow) will come off the 60-day injured list to start on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It will be Snell's second start for the Dodgers this year after opening the year with shoulder trouble and then needing surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The 33-year-old southpaw has looked good in four minor-league rehab games, posting a 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 19:5 K:BB in 11 2/3 innings, although he only made it through 3 2/3 innings in his final start in the minors. The two-time Cy Young winner will get a plus matchup against the Royals in his return to the big-league mound next week, but with a likely short leash as the Dodgers ease him back into their rotation, Snell will carry extra risk for fantasy managers with a limited ceiling. Snell still has high-end strikeout upside for fantasy purposes, but he's made just 12 regular-season starts in his two years in L.A. due to shoulder and elbow injuries. He's currently rostered in 85% of Yahoo leagues. If he's available in your leagues, snatch him up immediately, as he could be a difference-maker for strikeouts to close out the season.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Matt Chapman Expected to Have Season-Ending Surgery Next Week
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (hernia) is flying to Philadelphia to see a specialist on Sunday and expects to have season-ending surgery next Tuesday, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Chapman is dealing with a hernia that he had been playing through for most of the season. The 33-year-old veteran can now be dropped in all redraft fantasy leagues, if he wasn't already. The injury helps explain Chapman's disappointing third season in the Bay Area, as he'll finish the 2026 campaign (his 10th in the big leagues) with a .235/.324/.368 slash line, a career-low .692 OPS, a career-low seven home runs, 42 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 84 games across 352 plate appearances. With Casey Schmitt also done for the year due to a knee injury, Christian Koss now has a runway for the rest of the season to serve as the Giants' starting third baseman. Chapman could bounce back in 2027 with better health, but at this point in his career, he won't necessarily be a lock to return to the 20-homer mark, especially at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Freddie Freeman Returns From Wrist Injury on Friday
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (wrist) is back at first base and is hitting third for the Dodgers in Friday's series opener on the road in Arizona against the division-rival Diamondbacks and right-hander Merrill Kelly, according to MLB.com. Freeman was pulled from Wednesday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs after injuring his hand/wrist at Wrigley Field, but thankfully, X-rays came back negative, and he will return on Friday without missing a game following L.A.'s scheduled day off on Thursday. Fantasy managers in all traditional formats will want to get Freeman back into their starting lineups for Friday's tilt in the desert, especially since Freeman has hit .333 with a 1.112 OPS, two home runs, and three RBI in 30 career at-bats against Kelly. The 36-year-old is hitting over .300 on the season with 15 home runs and is in the midst of a 15-game hitting streak in which he has gone 27-for-58 (.466) with four doubles, three RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases in 60 plate appearances.
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
Source: Los Angeles Dodgers
