RADIO
Blake Corum Finishes Week 1 as the Rams' Leading Rusher
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum rushed for 54 yards on 10 carries during Thursday's Week 1 loss against the San Francisco 49ers. He led the team in rushing yards, and his 5.4 yards per carry were nearly 50% greater than Kyren Williams' per-carry average. Williams was less productive on the ground despite having one more carry. However, there were two clear differences between the running backs on Thursday. First, Williams found his way into the end zone, building on last season's total of 13 touchdowns. Additionally, he had three catches for 24 yards, while Corum wasn't targeted in the passing game. For a while, there was some chatter that Corum and Williams could have a relatively equal split in the backfield, and that came to fruition in Week 1. Williams still ranks higher in fantasy football because he should tally more receptions and touchdowns, but Corum's heavy involvement in the rushing attack will keep him in the RB3 tier for Week 2 against the New York Giants.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brock Purdy Shines in Upset Win Over Rams
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy completed 25 of his 34 pass attempts for 205 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one interception during Thursday's Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He also rushed for 29 yards and didn't get sacked. Outside of the interception, Purdy had a phenomenal performance against the Rams in Australia, headlined by his 74% completion rate and three touchdowns. He was able to produce at such a high level despite wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) and tight end Jake Tonges (knee) exiting early, as well as tight end George Kittle playing on a reduced workload. He wasted no time showing off his new connections with Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr., and he also found success throwing to familiar faces such as Christian McCaffrey and Demarcus Robinson. Purdy remains in the mid-to-low QB1 tier for his next game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Anthony Volpe Worth a Waiver-Wire Look After Big Game?
The New York Yankees brought shortstop Anthony Volpe back from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after they placed infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (thumb) on the 10-day injured list this week. Hitting out of the nine-hole while starting at second base on Thursday in his return, Volpe went 3-for-4 at the plate with a grand slam and five RBI to help the Yankees handle the Rockies easily in the Bronx by a score of 10-3. It was the 25-year-old's first time playing the keystone in the big leagues, and he figures to split time at the position with Jose Caballero until Chisholm can return from his thumb injury. Volpe is hitting .251/.333/.349 with only two home runs, 24 RBI, and eight stolen bases in his 198 plate appearances for the Yankees this year. It was a nice night for him in his return to the Bronx, but with shared playing time likely at second base with Chisholm out, Volpe is unlikely to move the needle enough to be a must-have off the waiver wire during the fantasy playoffs.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Myles Garrett Admits That He's Not 100 Percent
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (knee) admitted that he's playing at less than 100 percent, according to Greg Beacham of The Associated Press. Garrett dealt with a knee injury in camp after being traded from the Browns to the Rams. While he was healthy enough to play in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, the injury is still lingering. Garrett didn't register a single tackle on Thursday, so it makes sense to find out that he's still dealing with an injury. "This was the worst version of myself that I've put out there, and I've got to be better," Garrett said after the game. Once he gets healthy, he'll look to return to the elite level at which he played in 2025, when he amassed 23 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Source: Greg Beacham
Source: Greg Beacham
Cowboys Sign Ryan Flournoy to One-Year Extension
The Dallas Cowboys have signed wide receiver Ryan Flournoy to a one-year extension worth up to $6 million, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Flournoy is coming off a career year as the No. 3 wide receiver in Dallas. The 26-year-old finished the 2025 season with 40 catches, 475 yards, and four touchdowns, producing in a big way despite operating behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in the pecking order. The Cowboys' offense showed that it can support a very high passing volume, so we'd expect Flournoy to remain in a fantasy-relevant role this upcoming season. He should be rostered in all 14+ team leagues, as well as some deeper 12+ team leagues.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Head Coach Says Jake Tonges' MCL Injury Doesn't Look Good
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges' knee injury "does not look good," head coach Kyle Shanahan told Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Shanahan added that Tonges injured his MCL, and he'll undergo additional testing to confirm the diagnosis. The 27-year-old suffered the injury while attempting to set a block on Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett during Thursday's Week 1 victory. Tonges finished the game without a target, and since George Kittle had his workload monitored, the 49ers gave more snaps to third-string tight end Luke Farrell. Ultimately, Farrell caught two passes for 19 yards, leading the tight end room in total yardage. Assuming Shanahan's fears are confirmed, Tonges is likely facing an extended absence. Farrell would take on a larger role, and Kittle should also get back to a near-full workload in Week 2.
Source: Vic Tafur
Source: Vic Tafur
De'Zhaun Stribling Avoids Serious Achilles Injury
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) underwent testing that determined his Achilles is still intact, according to James Palmer of Bleacher Report. Stribling exited with an ankle injury two different times in the first half of Thursday's win over the Los Angeles Rams. His second exit was caused by a non-contact injury that appeared serious at the time and resulted in him missing the rest of the game. While the exact diagnosis for the rookie remains unknown, managers can breathe a huge sigh of relief knowing that his Achilles remains intact. For now, the team is calling it an ankle injury, and we should get more information on Friday. The 49ers don't play for another 10 days, leaving extra time for the Ole Miss product to recover. If he's still unable to play in Week 2, Demarcus Robinson would likely step up as the Niners' No. 3 receiver behind Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr.
Source: James Palmer
Source: James Palmer
Davis Allen Enters Concussion Protocol After Thursday's Loss
Los Angeles Rams tight end Davis Allen (concussion) was evaluated for a concussion during Thursday's Week 1 loss against the San Francisco 49ers. Allen officially entered concussion protocol and was listed as questionable to return, but he didn't get back into the game. He suffered the injury after taking a brutal hit near the sideline. Upon standing up, Allen appeared disoriented and had trouble staying on his feet. He left the playing field and ended up being carted to the locker room, finishing the game with one catch for 13 yards. Allen led the tight end room in total yards, and Tyler Higbee was the only tight end with multiple catches. (He had two.) The Rams have 11 days until their next game, making it difficult to say whether Allen will clear concussion protocol in time for Week 2. The tight end room should be able to survive his injury with a three-headed unit of Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, and Higbee.
Source: Los Angeles Rams
Source: Los Angeles Rams
Omar Cooper Jr. Finishes Training Camp on a High Note
New York Jets 22-year-old rookie wide receiver out of Indiana, Omar Cooper Jr., wrapped up training camp on a high note, putting together crucial highlight plays and showing his yards-after-catch ability that made him a top prospect out of college and earned him the 30th overall draft pick. Reports from camp were initially slow for Cooper as he was getting acclimated to the NFL. His situation is worth monitoring, as he has the high draft capital that makes him an interesting asset that should be taken seriously. Cooper posted 69 receptions, 937 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns in his final season with Indiana and is currently listed as the Jets' third wide receiver, ahead of Tim Patrick and Arian Smith. RotoBaller ranks him as the WR88 for Week 1, making him more of a bench stash based on his potential upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drew Rasmussen Profiles as Impact Starting Pitcher in the Final Weeks
Across 153 1/3 innings (27 starts) in 2026, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen has recorded a 14-5 record with a 2.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts. The 31-year-old battled through a brief rough patch in the middle of the season, allowing 13 earned runs across 19 1/3 innings in July. However, Rasmussen has gotten back to dominance since the All-Star break, recording a 2.17 ERA with 58 strikeouts across his last 54 innings pitched. Rasmussen has posted a stellar 26.1% strikeout rate for the season while also logging an elite 4.5% walk rate. With his standout command, the veteran right-hander profiles as one of the most reliable sources of high-end WHIP for fantasy managers. Rasmussen has also proven an ability to go deeper into games this season, going at least six full innings in six of his last eight starts. Ahead of the final few weeks of 2026, Rasmussen should be viewed by fantasy managers as a high-end starting pitcher option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rams Safety Kam Curl Questionable to Return With an Ankle Injury
Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday evening that Rams safety Kam Curl (ankle) is questionable to return after suffering an injury in Thursday night's contest. The 27-year-old out of Arkansas suffered an apparent ankle injury in the first half, and with this injury, his return to the contest is up in the air. Jaylen McCollough is next in line for safety duties in the secondary. Prior to his exit, Curl had two total tackles and one solo tackle.
Source: Gary Klein
Source: Gary Klein
Louis Varland Continues to Provide High-End Closer Production
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Louis Varland has emerged as one of the best closers in baseball in 2026, pitching to a 1.24 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP with 89 strikeouts and 33 saves across 72 1/3 innings (66 games). Varland is averaging 98.9 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 31.3% of the batters he's faced this season. The 28-year-old has allowed only two home runs for the entire year and has also blown only one save chance. Varland has been slightly less dominant of late, pitching to a 2.20 ERA and recording fewer than a strikeout per inning since the start of August. Still, the hard-throwing righty looks like an excellent late-inning reliever and remains an elite closer option for fantasy managers heading into the final few weeks of the regular season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isiah Pacheco Without a Timetable For a Return, Quickly Losing Value
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (back) will miss at least the first four games in 2026, and possibly more if he is not ready by then, as general manager Brad Holmes said that he does not want to put a timeline on it after he was placed on Injured Reserve. With Pacheco injured, Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors will battle for the RB2 role behind superstar Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco was brought over from the Kansas City Chiefs after a disappointing season last year, following a major injury in 2024. Pacheco was one of the more inefficient runners last season, averaging 3.9 YPC, and was 47th in explosive rating and 53rd in yards per touch. Coming into the season, there was some optimism that Pacheco would take over a David Montgomery-like role, but with this injury, he can be dropped to the waiver wire in most standard formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luka Doncic Healthy Heading Into Training Camp
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is healthy heading into training camp after being cleared for full basketball activities in late May, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. A Grade 2 left hamstring strain suffered on April 2 cost him the Lakers' final 15 regular-season games and their entire playoff run, which ended in the second round. The 27-year-old skipped Slovenia's FIBA World Cup qualifiers to spend time with his daughters and later hosted Lakers teammates for an August minicamp. Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals across 64 games last season, winning the scoring title. With LeBron James now in Philadelphia, more of the offense should flow through Doncic, while Walker Kessler gives him a true lob threat. Availability is the only real fantasy concern on an otherwise elite profile.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Kevin McGonigle a Steady Five-Category Producer for Fantasy Managers
Detroit Tigers shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle has had an excellent rookie season in 2026, slashing .273/.373/.420 with 16 home runs, 62 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases across 635 plate appearances. The 22-year-old has been remarkably consistent for a young player thanks to his elite plate approach, as he's logged nearly as many walks (86) as strikeouts (87) this year. McGonigle profiles as a contact-over-power bat, logging middling barrel (7.0%) and hard-hit (36.4%) rates. However, the young infielder has been hot of late, slugging two home runs in his last 13 plate appearances. Even without a late-season power surge, McGonigle's everyday presence at the top of the Tigers lineup and his balanced production profile make him a high-end infield option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
