Jul 2, 2026, 12:15 PM ET

Atlanta Braves right-hander Grant Holmes will return to the starting rotation for Friday's series opener to take on the division-rival New York Mets, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves skipped Holmes' last turn through the starting rotation, and he tossed four scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts out of the bullpen on June 27 against the San Francisco Giants in his most recent outing. The 30-year-old will make another start against the last-place Mets in an enticing matchup this weekend, but after that, it seems the Braves prefer to move him to the bullpen on a more permanent basis for the second half of the season now that right-hander Hurston Waldrep is back in the picture. Holmes will be a pretty intriguing fantasy streamer against the Mets on Friday, but length could be an issue. He's gone 4-4 this year with a 3.96 ERA (5.19 FIP) and 1.36 WHIP with 69 strikeouts and 37 walks in 77 1/3 innings pitched across 16 appearances (15 starts). Holmes has a career-low 20.7% strikeout rate in 2026 in his third year in the league and a career-high 11.1% walk rate.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman

Jul 2, 2026, 12:08 PM ET

Atlanta Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep will make his first start for the Braves this year in Thursday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals at Truist Park, according to MLB.com. Waldrep had surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow in February and didn't make his 2026 debut in the majors until last weekend out of the bullpen in Atlanta. The 24-year-old former 24th overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida will now temporarily take the rotation spot of the struggling Bryce Elder, but there's a good chance Waldrep will become a rotation staple for the Braves in the second half. In his lone appearance over the weekend in relief, Waldrep threw two scoreless innings with four walks and three strikeouts. He went 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings across his 10 appearances (nine starts) in 2025, making him an intriguing upside pickup off the waiver wire in all fantasy baseball leagues. For DFS purposes, Waldrep won't be ideal on Thursday, though, and will likely be on a pitch count as he continues to get stretched out. The Georgia native is rostered in only 9% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto is showing his age (35) in his 13th year in the big leagues in 2026. The three-time All-Star is currently hitting .201/.286/.319 with a career-worst .604 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBI, 22 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 61 games played across 231 plate appearances. He hit just .176 (13-for-74) with eight walks and 20 strikeouts in 21 games in June, but he also had three of his five home runs, five doubles, 16 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two of his three steals in 85 plate appearances. Realmuto is no longer in his prime and has been showing signs of decline at the plate for the last several seasons, but is he really as bad as his current surface stats suggest? Under the hood, Realmuto's expected batting average of .248 and xwOBA of .316 (wOBA of .274) point to a second-half resurgence. But still, he's ranked in the 38th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 22nd percentile in barrel rate, and the 34th percentile in chase rate. There's very little upside here, which is why Realmuto is now rostered in less than 20% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 11:38 AM ET

Los Angeles Angels infield prospect Denzer Guzman was called up in early June to give the Halos some infield reinforcements, and the 22-year-old Dominican has hit .268/.325/.437 with a .761 OPS, three home runs, 13 RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base in 18 games and 77 plate appearances. He appeared in 13 games in his major-league debut in 2025 and went 8-for-42 (.190) with two long balls, three RBI, and four runs scored. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter has mostly been serving as the Angels' third baseman when he finds his way into the starting lineup, but he also has experience at shortstop and is eligible at both positions in fantasy leagues. Guzman got the call to the Angels this year after hitting .336/.403/.571 with a .974 OPS, 12 homers, 57 RBI, 45 runs, and nine steals in 58 games at Triple-A Salt Lake in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. His raw power from the right side makes him intriguing in deeper fantasy leagues, but the Angels' No. 7-ranked prospect (per MLB Pipeline) has had issues making consistent contact at the plate. Guzman is worth a look off the waiver wire in deep fantasy leagues for infield depth. He's rostered in only 4% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jul 2, 2026, 11:27 AM ET

The Los Angeles Angels are near the bottom of the league in the standings and aren't the ideal place to search for saves, but veteran right-handed reliever Kirby Yates remains in the mix for saves in Anaheim and is an option off the waiver wire for desperate fantasy managers. The struggling Angels are currently employing a closer-by-committee that involves Yates, Sam Bachman, and Ryan Zeferjahn. Left-hander Samy Natera Jr. picked up the team's most recent save on Sunday, but Yates had his second save of the year before that on Saturday, June 27. The 39-year-old is a two-time All-Star and is by far the Angels' most experienced reliever when it comes to saves, with an even 100 saves in his 11-plus years in the big leagues. He's gone 0-3 in 2026 with a 3.06 ERA (3.28 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, two saves, 25 strikeouts, and seven walks in 17 2/3 innings. Yates' numbers are pretty solid, but save opportunities in Anaheim have been few and far between. In 10 1/3 innings in June, Yates allowed just four runs (three earned) while walking three and fanning 15 with three losses, a save, and a blown save. He's rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available if you're scrounging for saves near the halfway point in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jul 2, 2026, 11:18 AM ET

Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez hit only .231 (124-for-537) in 136 games and 585 plate appearances in his rookie season in the big leagues with the Fish in 2025, but he added an impressive 21 home runs, 67 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. Fantasy managers were justifiably excited about Ramirez's prospects in his sophomore campaign, but he was sent to Triple-A Jacksonville after going 26-for-113 (.230) with two homers, 14 RBI, 13 walks, and 28 strikeouts across 31 games, and he has yet to return to the Show. The 24-year-old Dominican backstop has slashed .250/.327/.453 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 26 runs scored in 40 games in 2026 with the Jumbo Shrimp. There is still plenty of power and speed upside with Ramirez, but the Marlins aren't forcing his return to the majors with Liam Hicks and Joe Mack holding down the catching spot just fine right now. The Marlins want Ramirez to improve his work behind the plate before he gets another shot at the big-league level. It seems like a reasonable bet that he'll be back with the Fish at some point in the second half, but fantasy managers may be running out of patience. Ramirez is rostered in 34% of Yahoo leagues currently.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jul 2, 2026, 11:11 AM ET

Cleveland Guardians catching prospect Cooper Ingle, who is ranked as the team's No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was recalled from Triple-A Columbus last week after he hit .284 (50-for-176) with 12 homers, 41 RBI, and 33 runs scored in 51 games in the minors. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound left-handed-hitting backstop has the power upside and plate discipline to become Cleveland's catcher of the future after he was selected in the fourth round in 2023 out of Clemson University. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues should be stashing him, but should managers in redraft leagues be doing the same? The 24-year-old North Carolina native has been slow to adjust to big-league pitching so far in his first four games, going 1-for-11 at the plate with two RBI, a run scored, three walks, and seven strikeouts, and he also had a brain fart in the outfield on Tuesday and forgot how many outs there were. That's not going to help his cause for more playing time with manager Stephen Vogt. Still, Ingle has the kind of offensive upside you don't find often in catchers, making him at least a watch-list candidate in deeper single-year leagues going into the second half of the season if he remains with the Guards. Ingle is rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jul 2, 2026, 10:30 AM ET

Chicago Cubs outfielder Michael Conforto joined in on the Home Run Derby at Wrigley Field on Wednesday in the team's 23-3 mauling of the San Diego Padres to complete their three-game sweep. In a game in which the Cubs hitters cleared the fences a franchise-record eight times, Conforto went 3-for-4 at the plate with two homers, four RBI, four runs scored, and a walk to boost his season average to .248 and his OPS to .847. It was the 33-year-old veteran's first multi-homer game of the year. In his first year in Chicago in 2026 after a disastrous one-year stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, Conforto has primarily been a left-handed bat off the bench. But with Matt Shaw (hand) currently on the injured list, Conforto's playing time is trending up to close out the first half of the season. In 56 total games across 140 plate appearances, he's slashing .248/.343/.504 with seven home runs, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, and a stolen base. He's a short-term waiver-wire candidate in deeper leagues for those looking for outfield depth.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 10:29 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Meleek Thomas signed a four-year, $9.3 million deal, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The No. 34 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft gets the first three years fully guaranteed for $6.4 million, a strong commitment for an early second-rounder. Thomas averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals at Arkansas while shooting 41.6 percent from three. His off-ball shooting gives him a clean developmental path, but Cleveland's veteran backcourt led by Donovan Mitchell and James Harden makes early fantasy value unlikely unless the rotation opens up.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Michael Scotto

Jul 2, 2026, 10:24 AM ET

Minnesota Twins right-hander Taj Bradley kept the good times rolling on Wednesday night at Daikin Park against the hosting Houston Astros in the team's 8-3 victory, allowing just one earned run on four hits while walking three and striking out a season-high 11 batters in five innings for his seventh win of the 2026 season. The 25-year-old former fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 is now 7-3 on the year in his first full season with the Twins and has recorded a 3.86 ERA (3.92 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP with 102 strikeouts and 38 walks across his 88 2/3 innings and 16 starts. After giving up at least four earned runs in four straight starts from May 29 to June 14, Bradley has straightened things out in his last three starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and Astros, allowing just five earned runs on 10 hits while walking eight and striking out 22 in 17 innings. Bradley is set to face the Cleveland Guardians next week in his final start before the All-Star break, and he should be a nice streaming option against a team that ranks 28th in OPS (.677).--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 10:23 AM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder center Thomas Sorber (knee) underwent a successful minor arthroscopic procedure and is expected to return to full basketball activities in about four weeks, according to Brandon Rahbar. The 20-year-old rookie was selected No. 15 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft after averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.0 blocks at Georgetown. Sorber has an intriguing long-term fantasy profile because of his rebounding and shot-blocking, but Oklahoma City's crowded frontcourt with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, and Aday Mara leaves him without a clear path to early-season minutes.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Brandon Rahbar

Jul 2, 2026, 10:17 AM ET

The Dallas Mavericks have emerged as a suitor for free-agent guard Anfernee Simons, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Jake Fischer previously reported that Golden State and Miami have continued to pursue Simons, who finished last season with Chicago. Simons averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.7 threes in 24.9 minutes across 55 games while shooting 44.0 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from deep. Dallas would give him a cleaner scoring-and-spacing role around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, but his fantasy ceiling would hinge on whether he gets starter-level minutes or settles in as a bench gunner.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Marc Stein

Jul 2, 2026, 10:14 AM ET

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler had an unusual day on Wednesday in the team's 10-6 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. Wheeler only lasted 4 2/3 innings on the mound and allowed four earned runs on nine hits (one homer), but he walked only one and struck out a season-high 10 batters in the no-decision. It was the first time that the 36-year-old veteran didn't make it through five innings all year, and he wasn't happy about the early hook after the game when speaking to the media. Still, the three-time All-Star is now 8-1 on the season with a sharp 2.36 ERA (3.30 FIP) and 0.94 WHIP with 84 strikeouts and 20 walks in 80 innings pitched across his 13 starts in his 12th season in the majors. Coming into the 2026 campaign, there was some uncertainty as to whether Wheeler could rebound to ace form following surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Through the first half of the year, it's safe to say that he has exceeded expectations. Fantasy managers will want Wheeler in their starting lineups for his final start of the first half next week against the Cincinnati Reds.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 10:09 AM ET

The Dallas Mavericks are expected to hire former Pelicans coach Willie Green as the top assistant on Dusty May's first NBA staff, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports, with Green picking Dallas over a return to Steve Kerr's Warriors bench. The fantasy relevance is all about development. May arrives straight from Michigan with no NBA reps, so pairing him with Green, who spent four seasons running a young Pelicans roster, matters for how quickly Dallas sorts out roles. The centerpiece is reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who poured in 21.0 points as a rookie and should shoulder a heavy on-ball workload in year two. May has also said he intends to lean on veteran Kyrie Irving as a steadying presence, which could cap Flagg's assist ceiling if Irving handles primary playmaking. Flagg's usage and how these voices split the backcourt touches are the threads to track as the staff fills out.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Marc Stein

Jul 2, 2026, 10:06 AM ET

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero is on quite the run in the power department lately. In the team's 4-0 shutout win over the hosting Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, Caminero went 1-for-4 at the plate with a two-run home run and three strikeouts to homer for the sixth straight contest. The 22-year-old has tied the franchise record for most consecutive games with a homer. In his last eight games played, Caminero has been absolutely en fuego, going 14-for-31 (.452) with nine home runs, 20 RBI, and 10 runs scored to boost his overall slash line in 2026 to .293/.383/.561. The Dominican third baseman has also added 24 total home runs, 54 RBI, 54 runs scored, and a .943 OPS in his fourth year in the majors and third full season with the Rays. Caminero ranks in the 94th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 85th percentile in barrel rate, the 91st percentile in xwOBA, and the 90th percentile in xSLG, so the underlying metrics support his encore in 2026 after he hit 45 homers and drove in 110 runs in his breakout season in 2025.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jul 2, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has played with a different offensive coordinator in each of the past four seasons, and in that time he has not finished below QB8 despite playing only one full 17-game slate. With the team set to trot out its fifth playcaller in as many years, Hurts could see new parts of his game unlocked under first-time coordinator Sean Mannion. The expectation is that the seventh-year quarterback will operate more from under center, opening up the potential for more play-action passing and bootleg runs. While the loss of three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown undoubtedly makes the offense worse on paper, there are reportedly some within the building who believe the unit will run smoother without him, and the team did an admirable job of retooling the position on the fly, adding Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks through free agency and trade before spending a first-round pick on difference-making slot receiver Makai Lemon. After an aggressive 2025 campaign to ban the tush push fell two votes short of passing, the subject was not broached in this year's owners' meeting, and while Hurts' rushing touchdowns fell below double digits last season for the first time since his rookie year, he remains one of the most likely quarterbacks to lead the position in goal-line scores. At RotoBaller's QB6, Hurts still boasts top-five upside at a modest discount.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 9:55 AM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes continued his recent slide on Wednesday night in Philadelphia, allowing six hits and a season-high seven earned runs in just four innings. Over his last six starts, the 24-year-old ace is 0-6 with a 5.36 ERA, but only a 3.58 FIP. While his metrics aren't quite as bad as his results, they still are not great. His defense has let him down repeatedly this season, and that trend continued on Wednesday, with potential outs turning into hits, runs, and more pitches for Skenes. He's definitely not been his best over the last several starts, but his teammates aren't doing much to help him either. His ceiling is too high to let him go from your fantasy team, and trading him now would definitely be selling low. He'll look to bounce back next Tuesday at home against the Braves, and for now, he's someone to hold on to and count on him to find his way through this rough patch.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

Jul 2, 2026, 9:51 AM ET

While he was reportedly the subject of continued trade discussion throughout much of the offseason, fourth-year wide receiver Kayshon Boutte remains a part of the New England Patriots roster with teams currently in the quiet part of the calendar before training camp. While he has yet to reach 45 receptions or 600 yards in a season, Boutte was the most trusted downfield target of budding superstar Drake Maye in 2025, finishing fourth among qualified receivers with 16.7 yards per reception. With three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown set to inherit that role, Boutte's fantasy prospects look bleak should he stick with the Patriots in 2026. There is still a chance he's traded before the start of the season, but in that scenario, he could still require an acclimation period as he learns a new playbook and may struggle to find fantasy relevance after barely cracking the top 50 at the position in one of the league's most efficient offenses in 2025. Still only 24 years old and once viewed as a first-round talent, Boutte is scheduled to reach free agency after this season. While next year's free agent class could feature some potential game-changers looking for new contracts, history suggests that very few will actually reach the open market, which could help Boutte find something close to a top-of-market deal with a team of his choosing. So while 2026 could ultimately prove to be a down year, RotoBaller's dynasty WR76 remains a hold with potentially brighter days still ahead.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 9:50 AM ET

The Denver Nuggets reached out to free-agent forward LeBron James to express interest, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. ESPN's Shams Charania reported earlier that James plans to leave the Lakers after eight seasons, and the 41-year-old still produced 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in his 23rd NBA season. A James-Nikola Jokić pairing would likely boost efficiency and assists while lowering pure usage, with Jamal Murray losing some on-ball volume but gaining cleaner looks. Aaron Gordon would be the likeliest starter squeezed if Denver actually landed James, while Peyton Watson and Cameron Johnson would face tighter forward-minute paths.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Bennett Durando

Jul 2, 2026, 9:48 AM ET

Atlanta Braves shortstop Jim Jarvis is returning to the MLB roster for a second stint this season. He played two games for the team in May but has spent most of the year in Triple-A with the Gwinnett Stripers. In his 76 minor-league games, he hit .313 with six homers and a .392 wOBA. He also racked up 32 stolen bases, the most he has had in any minor league season by a wide margin. He will give the Braves solid infield depth with potential speed production if he gets regular playing time. He hasn't shown a ton of power potential, but typically makes good contact and runs the bases very well. If you're searching for stolen bases and some batting average help in the middle infield, Jarvis can be a solid deep league option.--Zach Thompson
Source: Grant McAuley

Jul 2, 2026, 9:44 AM ET

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski isn't going anywhere despite being heavily linked to a trade this offseason. "I want to win and I want to do that in Columbus," Werenski said in a statement. "As I've thought about things and discussed everything with my wife and family, we want to be in Columbus. It has been my home for the past 10 years and I have always been proud to be a Blue Jacket. We have the best fans in the NHL. I love my teammates and coaches and I'm looking forward to doing everything I can to get us back in the playoffs to compete for a Stanley Cup. Don and I are completely aligned on that and are excited about what's to come with our team." The 2026 Norris Trophy winner has two years left on his contract. Werenski has developed into a fantasy stud in Columbus and could become just the sixth defenseman in NHL history to record three consecutive 80-point campaigns next season.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NHL.com

Jul 2, 2026, 9:41 AM ET

The Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as a surprise suitor for free agent LeBron James, reaching out to gauge his interest, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports. The opening stems from Wednesday's blockbuster, as Philadelphia flipped Paul George to Boston for Jaylen Brown, leaving a gap at power forward between Brown and Joel Embiid that the 41-year-old could fill. James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds across 60 games and remains a multi-category anchor, though slotting behind Tyrese Maxey and Brown would trim the usage that drives his playmaking. The real fantasy variable isn't talent at this point. Entering a record 24th season, his rest schedule and games played will swing his value more than any change of address.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Tony Jones

Jul 2, 2026, 9:40 AM ET

Atlanta Braves first baseman Rowdy Tellez was designated for assignment on Thursday morning, and the team promoted Jim Jarvis to add more infield depth and versatility. Tellez agreed to a minor-league deal with Atlanta just before the regular season and joined the MLB squad in early June. He played seven games, mostly serving as a pinch-hitter, and he went 2-for-10 with a home run. The 31-year-old lefty hit 17 homers last season while splitting time between the Mariners and the Rangers. His batting average and defense aren't very exciting, but he does offer enough left-handed power potential off the bench to get attention from another team or to stick in the Braves' system. For fantasy purposes, he isn't a factor unless he gets a full-time starting role somewhere, which seems unlikely.--Zach Thompson
Source: Atlanta Braves

Jul 2, 2026, 9:38 AM ET

Even in accumulating more than 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was considered one of fantasy's biggest disappointments in 2025, finishing the year as RB14. Following a historic 2,000-yard campaign in 2024, there was reasonably but one direction to go, and while Barkley's 346 total touches in 2025 were still the sixth most in the league, that number was down almost 140 touches from the previous season. Barkley is now 29 years old, and while durability concerns continue to mount, he no longer carries a top-of-the-draft price tag and could realistically be viewed as a value in his third season with the Eagles. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion projects to run more under-center looks while involving his backs in the passing game, allowing Barkley to play more with a head of steam or out in space. An emphasis on wide-zone runs and an expectation that the team could rely more on 2025 trade acquisition Tank Bigsby could also help keep Barkley fresh throughout the year and help restore some of the explosiveness that showed up far less frequently than in the previous season. At RotoBaller's RB6, Barkley is still a back that fantasy managers can feel good about making their RB1 even if they aren't situated at the top of 2026 draft boards.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

The Colorado Avalanche have bolstered their offense by signing Jaden Schwartz, ESPN's Ryan S. Clarke reports. He signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the team as an unrestricted free agent. Recently, Colorado traded away Ross Colton and Valeri Nichushkin, leaving several holes to fill on the frontline. Schwartz can help offset some of the offense lost. He's had durability issues in recent years, but Schwartz can make an impact as a scorer and playmaker. In 50 appearances with the Seattle Kraken last season, he contributed 11 goals and 15 assists.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Ryan S. Clark

Jul 2, 2026, 9:29 AM ET

Free-agent center Marvin Bagley III agreed to a one-year, veteran-minimum deal with the Denver Nuggets, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 27-year-old gives Denver another frontcourt option after averaging 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 61.8 percent from the field in 20.0 minutes across 60 games between Washington and Dallas last season. Bagley is an efficient rim finisher who can help cover regular-season minutes behind Nikola Jokic, but his fantasy ceiling is capped unless Jonas Valanciunas is moved or Denver opens a clearer backup-center lane. For now, he profiles as injury insurance rather than a bankable nightly role.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Shams Charania

Jul 2, 2026, 9:27 AM ET

Right wing Corey Perry will start another season with the Los Angeles Kings, returning to the team on a one-year, $1 million contract. He can earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses. Perry also started the 2025-26 campaign with the Kings, but he was shipped to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline for a second-round pick. For a player who turned 41 in May, Perry had a strong year, with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 72 games. The 2011 MVP has scored more points in only one season this decade. In 2026-27, Perry will aim to reach 1,000 career points. He currently sits on 972 points (465 goals, 507 assists) through 1,464 career games.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Los Angeles Kings

Jul 2, 2026, 9:26 AM ET

For the first time since 2023, Houston Texans running back David Montgomery projects to lead his team in carries. While he's now three years older than the player who finished that season as the RB13, and he no longer has the benefit of Ben Johnson drawing up plays for him, he still boasts tremendous upside for a player routinely slipping outside the first four rounds of 2026 drafts. While his usage has dipped in recent seasons, his efficiency has not. In his three seasons sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, who is now comfortably in the conversation of the best backs in the game, Montgomery averaged .87 fantasy points per touch. In Houston, with one of the league's premier defenses allowing for a baseline of neutral or positive game scripts, the eighth-year veteran could see enormous volume. 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks was inefficient as a rookie after being thrust into lead back duty and figures to settle into a more natural pass-catching role, leaving the former Lion with the lion's share of the carries. At RotoBaller's RB21, Montgomery profiles as one of this year's safest RB2s but also has the upside to anchor a receiver-heavy build in a zero-RB strategy.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 9:21 AM ET

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher/relief pitcher Keider Montero pitched two shutout innings out of the bullpen to earn a win on Wednesday against the Yankees. It was his first appearance since moving to the bullpen after the return of Jack Flaherty last Sunday. The win helped Montero improve to 5-5 with a 3.31 ERA and 3.80 FIP in his 17 games, 15 of which were starts. He has a 1.52 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings in his last five games and has been very effective at limiting damage. Montero doesn't have a spot in the rotation right now, but he's worth a look in deep leagues since he has worked so well in multiple roles recently. He will be a top pickup option in most standard formats if he moves back to the rotation at some point later in the season.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

Jul 2, 2026, 9:19 AM ET

Winger Ilya Mikheyev has linked up with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a four-year, $15.4 million contract. He joins a contender after spending two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Last term, Mikheyev had his best NHL campaign, amassing 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 77 games. Impressively, he held a positive plus/minus on a team that finished with the second-worst record in the league. Mikheyev is a versatile forward who can do various jobs for the Lightning, though he's unlikely to spend much time in the top six. For that reason, his real-life value outweighs his fantasy hockey appeal.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NHL.com