RADIO
Maikel Garcia Progressing, Not Ruling Out a Late-Season Return
Kansas City Royals infielder/outfielder Maikel Garcia (hamstring) is progressing well and is running at 80 percent while participating in baseball activity, according to MLB.com. Garcia has not ruled out a late-season return after straining his hamstring while running the bases on Aug. 20. The Royals placed him on the 10-day injured list the following day with a strained left hamstring. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has been a major disappointment for fantasy managers in 2026 after he was a first-time All-Star last year, when he hit .286/.351/.449 with an even .800 OPS, a career-high 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 23 stolen bases, and 81 runs scored across 160 games and 666 plate appearances. Garcia just has not been healthy in his fifth year in the majors, playing in only 73 games while hitting .269/.324/.385 with a .709 OPS, three homers, 32 RBI, 34 runs scored, and five steals. Garcia is particularly attractive because of his speed and multi-positional eligibility in fantasy baseball leagues, but he is quickly running out of time in 2026 to produce, and he is now rostered in only 66% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ashton Jeanty A Riskier Pick Due to Ankle Injury
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) suffered a sprained ankle in the preseason rather than a more serious injury that was feared, and ESPN Insider Adam Schefter said he has a "legitimate chance to play in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins." However, with the injury and the emergence of rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. in camp, there is real worry in selecting Jeanty in the late first round, which was where he was projected prior to his injury. The good news is it was only a sprained ankle; the bad news is there could be more of a split in carries than originally thought with Washington. Washington has looked good in camp and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry in preseason games. General manager John Spytek has praised Washington this fall: "We have an expectation that he's going to help us win football games this year," Spytek told Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com.
Source: ESPN.com, Ryan McFadden
Source: ESPN.com, Ryan McFadden
Garrett Crochet Throws Bullpen on Friday
Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) threw a bullpen session of 16 pitches on Friday, marking the first time he threw off a mound in over three months, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Crochet opened the year as Boston's ace after finishing second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2025, but he has made just six starts in 2026 due to inflammation in his left shoulder. He should throw another side session on Tuesday of next week, but because of where we are on the calendar, the talented southpaw does not have time to stretch back out as a starter to close out the season. Crochet was a reliever in college at the University of Tennessee and in his first few seasons with the Chicago White Sox before becoming a starter in 2024, so a role out of the bullpen will not be unfamiliar to him. "The fact that he got on the mound today and threw is a really, really good sign," said interim manager Chad Tracy. It is good news that the 27-year-old could still help the team potentially get into the playoffs, but for fantasy purposes, Crochet does not have much value left in 2026. Before injuring his shoulder early this year, the two-time All-Star had a bloated 6.30 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB in 30 innings.
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Shohei Ohtani Not Expected to Play on Saturday
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he does not expect two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) to play on Saturday against the visiting Washington Nationals, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. It would be the first time since Ohtani signed with the Dodgers that he has missed three straight games. "I'll talk to him tonight and then see how he comes in tomorrow," Roberts said. The 32-year-old four-time MVP has not pitched since July 3 due to nagging left-knee and right-biceps injuries, and his biceps injury has been bothering him more as a hitter, so he is expected to take a third straight game off in Game 2 of the series against the Nats. For now, the Dodgers are calling the six-time All-Star day-to-day, but Robert has not ruled out putting Ohtani on the injured list if his injuries continue to linger. Ohtani still has a strong .279/.381/.525 slash line on the season with 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in 499 at-bats, but he has been in noticeable discomfort lately and hit an un-Ohtani-like .241/.322/.472 with a .795 OPS in 27 games in August. The primary goal right now for the Dodgers is to get him fully healthy for another postseason run in October.
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Source: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
Jaxson Dart Feeling More Comfortable In Giants Offense
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is reportedly gaining confidence in his second year in the Giants' offense, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com. Dart even looks back to this spring and says he already notices a difference in camp this fall. "I feel so much better," Dart said of where he's at now, compared to the spring. "I feel in command. I feel confident. In this offense, there's a lot that's put on the quarterback's plate, but it's exactly how I want it. It's exactly how I viewed this coming together." The Giants' new offense is led by offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and head coach John Harbaugh, and it already feels like a good fit for Dart. Last season, Dart was 216-for-339 passing for 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions. He also rushed 86 times for 487 yards and nine touchdowns. Dart looks like a nice risk at the quarterback position in drafts with league-winning upside because of his rushing ability.
Source: Darryl Slater, NJ.com
Source: Darryl Slater, NJ.com
Chase Brown Ready For Three-Down Role in Bengals Offense
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown is looking like an elite fantasy player with his every down role in what should be one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Stacked in the Bengals offense with quarterback Joe Burrow, and receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Brown figures to be heavily involved in the passing game apart from his role as the early down running back. That makes for a potential first round draft pick in leagues still drafting. According to Ben Baby of ESPN, Burrow praised Brown's versatility and pass-blocking ability. "I think there's very few backs in this league that you can say that about," Burrow said. "And when you have a guy like that, you don't have to take him off the field." Brown ranked ninth in the league last season with 1,456 total scrimmage yards and included in that was 437 receiving yards ranking sixth in the league. Look for even more involvement for Brown this season.
Source: Ben Baby, ESPN.com
Source: Ben Baby, ESPN.com
Jordan Mason Turning Heads In Vikings Training Camp
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason has had a great training camp, so much so that he was reportedly listed as a co-starter with Aaron Jones at running back on the team's first unofficial depth chart, according to Rob Kleifield of the Vikings' official site. Mason had a productive season for the Vikings in 2025 with 159 carries for 758 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry and also caught 14 passes for 51 yards. Mason played in 16 games last season, carving out a nice role even with Aaron Jones on the team. At 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, Mason is a big-time presence in the backfield and looks like a nice between-the-tackles runner, while Jones could feature more on the passing downs. While he will likely continue to split carries, Mason still could be a good late-round draft pick.
Source: Rob Kleifield, Vikings.com
Source: Rob Kleifield, Vikings.com
Parker Washington's Stock Soaring Amidst WR1 Buzz in Jacksonville
Across 16 games (seven starts) in 2025, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington recorded 58 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns on 95 targets. While Washington's year-long production may not leap off the page, he finished the year on a tear. Across his final four games (including the playoffs), the 24-year-old hauled in 26 receptions for 454 yards and three touchdowns on 41 targets. The buzz around Washington has been extremely consistent this summer, as he's drawn rave reviews for his work in training camp from both Jaguars personnel and Jacksonville reporters. While the team has other capable wideouts in Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers, Washington appears to have excellent chemistry with Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and could lead the team in targets in 2026. Carrying a mid-round ADP in most drafts, Washington could end up being a steal for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyrie Irving Draws Strong Praise From Dusty May
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (knee) has impressed new head coach Dusty May during summer workouts as he works back from the torn ACL that cost him all of last season. May told 105.3 The Fan's K&C Masterpiece that he has watched Irving work out and play pickup, adding that he has been "blown away" by Irving's preparation, attention to detail, and feel. The nine-time All-Star last played in 2024-25, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 50 games. His return should lift a Dallas offense that ranked 27th last season and take creation pressure off reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. The ceiling is still high, but managers need to account for the long layoff.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
CeeDee Lamb a Faller in Drafts Amidst Target-Share Questions in Dallas
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb's production dropped off significantly in 2025, as he finished the year with 75 catches for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns on 117 targets across 14 games. Part of that was due to an early-season ankle injury, which caused Lamb to miss three full games and most of a fourth. However, another factor in Lamb's reduced usage was the emergence of Cowboys wideout George Pickens, who recorded over 1,400 receiving yards and nine touchdown grabs. Pickens has also consistently drawn rave reviews for his work in Cowboys camp throughout the summer, with several reporters in Dallas categorizing him as the team's best wide receiver. While Lamb will surely see plenty of targets as well, Pickens' presence may limit his high-end production upside, particularly in the red zone. Lamb remains a worthy early-round pick for fantasy managers, but his status as a no-doubt fantasy WR1 may be in question entering 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Giddey Says Consistency is the Bulls' Missing Piece
Chicago Bulls guard/forward Josh Giddey believes the roster has enough talent to reach the playoffs, but he told DJ Siddiqi of ClutchPoints that consistency will decide whether Chicago climbs the Eastern Conference. "I think it's a matter of doing it every night," Giddey said. The 23-year-old is coming off a career-best season, averaging 17.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.3 rebounds in 32.1 minutes across 54 games. He also underwent right ankle surgery in May but has since been cleared for 5-on-5 work with no restrictions. Norman Powell gives Chicago another scorer, while Nicolas Claxton and No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson should give Giddey more finishing targets. The missed games still matter, but his assists, rebounds, and role under Tiago Splitter keep the fantasy ceiling high.
Source: DJ Siddiqi
Source: DJ Siddiqi
Carnell Tate Should See Heavy Usage as a Rookie
The fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate is expected to play a significant role in his team's passing game right away. The 21-year-old proved his big-play ability in his final collegiate season at Ohio State, recording 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns across 11 games. While the Titans have a pair of capable veteran pass-catchers in wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Calvin Ridley, Tate profiles as the team's highest-upside target earner. The Titans offense as a whole should also improve in quarterback Cam Ward's second NFL season and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's first year in Tennessee. Daboll has also shown he is willing to heavily feature a rookie wide receiver, as New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers saw 170 targets as a rookie under Daboll's watch. All in all, Tate profiles as a fantasy WR3 with significant upside entering his rookie season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malachi Toney Sets Miami's Single-Game Receiving Record
Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney had a monster showing in his 2026 debut, catching 12 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns in the 45-6 win over Stanford on Friday night. The sophomore, who led the nation in receptions last season (109), now holds the single-game record for receiving yards at Miami. It didn't take long for him to get on the same page with Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, and he was clearly the No. 1 option in the passing game once again, despite Mensah's former Duke teammate, Cooper Barkate, joining the Canes. Based on this early-season showing, Toney could be in for a legitimate Heisman-contending season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Luther Burden III Poised for Breakout Season Amidst Improving Health
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) missed a large chunk of training camp after suffering a groin injury in early August. However, the second-year wideout returned to the practice field on Tuesday, and he appears to be trending toward being a full-go for Week 1. Across 15 games (five starts) as a rookie in 2025, Burden III recorded 47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns on 60 targets. His best stretch came at the end of the year, as he recorded 21 catches for 324 yards and a touchdown over his final four games of the regular season. Entering 2026, Burden III appears poised to play an even larger role in the Bears' passing game following the team's offseason trade of veteran wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills. As long as he remains on the field, Burden III could be in line for a breakout season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kelly Olynyk Works Out with Spurs
Free-agent forward/center Kelly Olynyk could return to the San Antonio Spurs as they weigh their 15th roster spot, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Olynyk has spent time in San Antonio and worked out with former Spurs teammates this offseason, but tax concerns could push any deal into the season. The Spurs sit about $2.15 million below the luxury-tax line, while a veteran-minimum deal would carry a cap hit around $2.45 million. The 35-year-old played a limited role with San Antonio last season, averaging 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 8.6 minutes. Even if he signs, Victor Wembanyama, Luke Kornet, Tarris Reed Jr., and Jayden Quaintance (knee) leave Olynyk off fantasy radars.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
