RADIO
Mike Trout Removed After Getting Hit by a Pitch
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (hand) was removed early during Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to Erica Weston, Trout was taken out of the game after getting hit by a pitch on the hand in the top of the ninth inning. Jose Siri replaced Trout on the basepaths. Trout finished this game 2-for-4 with two singles, an RBI, and a run scored. The X-rays reportedly came back clean, which is good news. For now, fantasy managers should consider Trout as day-to-day. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Angels give Trout the day off on Sunday. Fantasy managers should check back ahead of Sunday's game for another update on his status.
Source: Erica Weston
Source: Erica Weston
Sean Burke Gets Start Moved to Tuesday
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke had his scheduled start against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday moved to Tuesday, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Instead of facing the Twins this weekend, the White Sox have decided they'd rather have Burke pitch against the Pirates on Tuesday. The team has yet to name a starter for Sunday's series finale against the Twins. Since the All-Star break, Burke owns a 2.76 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 52/21 K/BB ratio across nearly 50 innings of work. The White Sox may be trying to limit his workload over the final month of the season.
Source: Scott Merkin
Source: Scott Merkin
Willi Castro Gets Placed on Injured List
Colorado Rockies infielder/outfielder Willi Castro (foot) was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Saturday. Castro missed the last three games while managing plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The Rockies finally decided to place Castro on the shelf ahead of Saturday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He'll miss at least the next 10 days, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Castro held out longer than that. The Rockies aren't playing for anything, so they might as well give their younger players a look down the stretch of the season. In a corresponding move, Vimael Machin was promoted to the active roster. Connor Norby and Ryan Ritter are likely to gain the most playing time from the loss of Castro.
Source: Thomas Harding
Source: Thomas Harding
Aaron Judge to Face Live Pitching on Monday
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) is scheduled to face live pitching on Monday, according to Bryan Hoch. Judge was able to take batting practice on the field on Friday. If everything goes well, Judge is on track to return during the team's homestand next week. It sounds like Judge is trending in the right direction, but he still needs to build up more before returning to the Yankees' lineup. The Yankees might bring the 34-year-old along slowly ahead of the postseason. Fantasy managers should check back for another update following Monday's session.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
Nate Sheppard Handles 38 Touches in Week 1
Duke running back Nate Sheppard totaled 38 touches in a 17-3 win over Tulane on Saturday. The sophomore running back set a career high in rushing attempts with 35 and turned them into 227 yards and two touchdowns; he added three catches for 19 yards. Sheppard had an impressive freshman campaign totaling 1,132 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns despite only averaging five carries through Duke's first three games last season. He earned national recognition on The Athletics freshman All-American second team. Sheppard is currently leading all running backs in scoring for week 1 with 36.6 points, and he faces Illinois in week 2, which just allowed 194 rushing yards to UAB. Sheppard should continue to be a top-10 running back heading into next week's matchup. Sheppard is ranked as RotoBaller's RB6.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Tyjae Spears Could Lose Touches
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears could see a reduced role in the backfield this upcoming season. The Titans added more competition in the backfield by selecting Nicholas Singleton in the fifth-round of this year's draft. The expectation is that Tony Pollard will lead the charge, while Spears is the second string, and Singleton begins the season behind them. It might not take too long before Singleton jumps Spears on the depth chart. Spears produced a solid rookie campaign in 2023, but he hasn't been anything special on the field since then. For now, Spears is the No. 2 option in Tennessee, but fantasy managers can't confidently play Spears as an RB3 every week.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Braelon Allen Could be Interesting Handcuff Option
New York Jets running back Braelon Allen is expected to have a larger role in the offense this upcoming season. Allen was forced to miss 13 games last year due to an MCL injury. The 22-year-old is healthy now and is expected to be the primary backup to Breece Hall (groin) in the backfield. Allen is viewed as a dual-threat back who can contribute as a runner and a pass-catcher in the backfield. Sadly, fantasy managers weren't able to see what he could do last season. Hall is already banged up coming into the season, so it wouldn't be shocking to see the Jets wanting to slightly lower his workload. If he plays well, Allen could carve out a legitimate role for himself in the Jets' backfield this upcoming season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Hunter Henry is Likely to Play a Key Part in the Offense
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry quietly put together a top-10 season at his position in 2025. The Patriots made some offensive upgrades this offseason, but Henry is expected to remain a focal point. Over the offseason, the Pats added wide receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. The assumption is that Henry will take a backseat to them, but that might not be the case. Henry has finished with 60 or more receptions during his first two seasons with Drake Maye under center. The two of them clearly have good chemistry, which is something you don't mess with. According to Mark Daniels of MassLive.com, Henry is expected to be a key part of the Patriots' offense next season. It's unclear if he'll post another top-10 season, but he should be a viable option.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Chimere Dike Could Get Lost in the Shuffle
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike is hopeful to build off a decent rookie campaign. Last season, Dike hauled in 48 receptions with 423 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. Those stats were good enough to finish as the WR50, but Dike could be trending downward now. The Titans made significant upgrades to their offense this past offseason with Wan'Dale Robinson and drafting Carnell Tate in the first round. Dike might end up as the fourth or fifth wideout on this roster, which doesn't bode well for his fantasy value. The 24-year-old could be worth holding in dynasty leagues, but Dike isn't someone who must be selected in redraft formats.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Tory Horton Injury Concerns Could Lower His Value
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton has missed part of training camp due to an undisclosed injury. Head coach Mike Macdonald recently told the media that Horton isn't dealing with a significant injury. The Seahawks haven't given much information on this situation, which is concerning for fantasy managers. It sounds like Horton is going to be fine for the season opener against the New England Patriots. The 23-year-old finished with 13 receptions for 161 receiving yards and five touchdowns in eight games last season. The expectation is that Horton will step into a bigger role this season, but the injury bug is something fantasy managers should be aware of with Horton.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Faizon Brandon Dazzles In Debut
Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon dominated in his debut against Furman on Saturday. The true freshman drew comparisons to Cam Newton with his dynamic athleticism and arm talent. Faizon completed 76.4% of his passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing 10 times for 68 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-9 blowout win. Faizon was a five-star recruit out of Greensboro, North Carolina, and was the third overall recruit in the class of 2026. The young quarterback will have a tougher task next week in his first collegiate road start at Georgia Tech. He is currently ranked QB35 by RotoBaller.
Source: Ari Wasserman Of On3
Source: Ari Wasserman Of On3
Khobie Martin Fractures Forearm In Season Opener
Indiana running back Khobie Martin fractured his forearm in the first quarter of the team's season opener against North Texas. The junior running back and the team's highest-rated back last season per PFF totaled 78 carries for 505 yards and six touchdowns last year. Coming into this season, Martin was expected to lead the team in carries but to still split carries with Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. Unfortunately for Martin, he will "miss some time," per head coach Curt Cignetti. Richard carried the ball 15 times for 58 yards and two touchdowns, and Beebe Jr. had 14 carries for 33 yards in Martin's absence on Saturday. Martin entered the week as RotoBaller's 59th-ranked running back, while Richard was ranked 43rd.
Source: Ari Wasserman Of On3
Source: Ari Wasserman Of On3
LSU-Clemson Matchup in Weather Delay
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin will have his home debut delayed due to lightning over the stadium. The highly anticipated matchup against Clemson was set to kick off at 7:49 pm EST. Per the latest reports, the 90-minute warm-up clock will start at 8:10 pm EST, which means a 9:40 pm EST kickoff if there are no more delays.
Source: Thomas Goldkamp Of On3
Source: Thomas Goldkamp Of On3
Parker Washington Seeking New Contract in Jacksonville
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington, who has had a tremendous training camp this summer after a strong 2025 season, is seeking a new contract with the team as he gets set to enter the final season of his rookie contract in 2026. Washington has developed excellent chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and has become his trusted safety valve, and because of that, he wants to be compensated accordingly. Washington and the Jaguars' front office have been in communication. There is a chance that something between the two sides gets done before Week 1 of the regular season, and the 24-year-old would prefer to get it done before then and not have talks linger into the regular season. Fowler adds that the Jaguars would be comfortable continuing talks into the season. Washington is likely comparing himself to Arizona Cardinals wideout Michael Wilson, who just got $25 million a year from the Cardinals in a new deal. After catching 58 of 95 targets for 847 yards and five touchdowns in 16 regular-season games in 2025, Washington is rising up fantasy draft boards this year as a WR3/flex with upside going into his fourth year in the NFL.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Harrison Smith Returns to Minnesota on One-Year Deal
Minnesota Vikings legend Harrison Smith is returning to the Vikings for a 15th season, signing a one-year deal worth $12.25 million on Saturday, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The six-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro has a maximum value of $16.25 million with playoff incentives. The Vikings released the 37-year-old safety back in March with a post-June 1 designation to avoid a $25 million base salary guarantee of his contract in 2026. The former first-rounder back in 2012 from Notre Dame is no longer in his prime, but he will return to the Vikes for one more season as a valuable veteran defensive back. In 15 games with the Vikings last year in his 14th NFL season, Smith had 54 tackles (37 solo), one sack, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Smith made five straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2015 to 2019 and has only played for Minnesota in his 15-year career. He has racked up 1,180 combined tackles, 21.5 sacks, 39 interceptions, and 106 pass breakups in 207 regular-season games.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
