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Derrek Cooper, Ryan Niblett Shine During First Week of Texas Camp
Texas brought in big-name transfer running backs Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and Raleek Brown (Arizona State) this offseason, but true freshman Derrek Cooper and junior Ryan Niblett have turned heads through the first week of camp, according to Evan Vieth of Inside Texas. Cooper arrives in Austin as a four-star recruit out of Hollywood, Florida, and could be the future of the Texas running back room. Niblett has tallied just 24 touches for 122 yards in two years on campus, but Vieth called him "the ultimate gadget." Needless to say, this is arguably the deepest running back room in the country, and all four backs could be involved in some capacity. Smothers and Brown should be expected to carry the bulk of the touches to open the 2026 campaign. The Longhorns have nine SEC games plus Ohio State on their schedule, so their depth will likely be tested.
Source: Evan Vieth - Inside Texas
Source: Evan Vieth - Inside Texas
Charlie Becker, Nick Marsh Headline Deep Indiana Wide Receiver Room
Indiana lost its top two wide receivers from last year, Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt, to the 2026 NFL Draft, but the position is still viewed as talented and deep, headlined by Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. Becker flashed in the WR3 role last season, catching 34 passes for 679 yards and four touchdowns. His 20 yards per reception ranked fifth nationally among players with at least 30 catches. Marsh is a Michigan State transfer who tallied 59 receptions for 662 yards and six touchdowns last season in the Spartans' lackluster passing offense. Both players are projected early-round picks in next year's draft early in the process. Behind them, Tyler Morris, Shazz Preston, Davion Chandler, and Lebron Bond all have a chance to make impacts in 2026 catching passes from new starting quarterback Josh Hoover.
Source: Alec Lasley - TheHoosier.com
Source: Alec Lasley - TheHoosier.com
Maikel Garcia Could Resume Rehab Assignment on Wednesday
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (hand) could resume his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha as early as Wednesday, according to Pete Grathoff. Garcia was scheduled to do fielding drills ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs. If everything continues to go well, Garcia could be back in action as early as Wednesday. He was previously pulled off his rehab assignment due to renewed soreness in his left hand. Nick Loftin has been serving as the primary third baseman while Garcia has been sidelined. He'll return to a reserve role once Garcia is back, which is hopefully in the coming weeks.
Source: Pete Grathoff
Source: Pete Grathoff
Cooper Pratt Goes to Injured List with Hamstring Injury
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Cooper Pratt (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Sunday, according to Hunter Baumgardt. Pratt experienced hamstring discomfort during Saturday's contest. The team was hopeful this was a day-to-day issue, but instead, Pratt landed on the shelf due to a right hamstring strain. The Brewers could be limited at shortstop with Joey Ortiz (neck) considered day-to-day right now. David Hamilton is drawing the start at shortstop on Sunday. He figures to see increased time over there, along with Ortiz once he's healthy. Pratt is set to undergo an MRI on Sunday, so fantasy managers should get a better idea about his timetable after that.
Source: Hunter Baumgardt
Source: Hunter Baumgardt
Griffin Jax Lands on 15-Day Injured List
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (elbow) was placed on the 15-day Injured List on Sunday, according to Ryan Bass. Jax was scratched from his scheduled start against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. A day later, Jax heads to the shelf due to right elbow discomfort. He'll be eligible to return on August 21, but his exact timetable to return is unclear at the moment. In a corresponding move, right-hander Michael Grove was recalled from Triple-A Durham. It's uncertain at the moment who is going to replace Jax in the starting rotation. Fantasy managers should check back for a better timetable on Jax in the coming days.
Source: Ryan Bass
Source: Ryan Bass
Joe Musgrove Making Another Rehab Start on Sunday
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, according to Sammy Levitt. Musgrove continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. His last rehab start was with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday. He might need one or two more starts before he's finally ready to make an impact in the Padres rotation. Fantasy managers should see Musgrove making his season debut in late August. Fantasy managers in need of pitching help down the stretch of the season should consider stashing Musgrove.
Source: Sammy Levitt
Source: Sammy Levitt
Austin Hays Signs Deal with Padres
The San Diego Padres have signed outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year deal on Sunday, according to Ken Rosenthal. Hays was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. He went unclaimed and ended up hitting free agency, where the Padres wasted little time scooping him up. Hays only played 12 games for the White Sox this season, but he should be an upgrade in the outfield for the Padres. The 31-year-old crushes left-handed pitching and could push for an everyday role if he continues to hit consistently. He could be someone worth watching in deep leagues, assuming he gets regular playing time in San Diego.
Source: San Diego Padres
Source: San Diego Padres
Kyle Stowers Exits with Hamstring Injury
Miami Marlins first baseman/outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. According to Craig Mish, Stowers was pulled in the fifth inning due to left hamstring discomfort. He appeared to tweak his hamstring while running out a single in the fifth inning. Before leaving, Stowers went 2-for-4 with a single, triple, and two RBI. The assumption is that Stowers will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Leo Jimenez replaced him at first base and could see increased playing time if Stowers misses any action. Fantasy managers should check back for another update on his status.
Source: Craig Mish
Source: Craig Mish
Josh Dobbs Joining Lions as Jared Goff's Backup
The Detroit Lions are signing quarterback Josh Dobbs to a one-year, $1.425 million contract with $475,000 fully guaranteed, according to Mike Garafolo. The move comes after Teddy Bridgewater stepped away from the team, creating an opening behind starter Jared Goff. Garafolo reports that the financial commitment reflects Detroit's plan for Dobbs to serve as its No. 2 quarterback. The 31-year-old spent last season with New England, appearing in four games and completing 7 of 10 passes for 65 yards. He has made 15 starts during his NFL career, giving Detroit an experienced option behind Goff while undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer continues to develop. Goff has already been ruled out for the entire preseason, so Dobbs should have an opportunity to get acclimated quickly once the signing becomes official.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Ka'imi Fairbairn Remains a Top-Two Fantasy Kicker
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was nearly automatic last season. He made 44 of 48 field goals in 15 games, tying the NFL single-season record, and didn't miss once from inside 50 yards. Fairbairn was plenty dangerous from farther out, too, hitting nine of 13 attempts from 50-plus and finishing with 25 made field goals from at least 40 yards. That workload helped him average a position-best 12.9 standard fantasy points per game. Asking for another 44 field goals would be aggressive, especially if Houston does a better job turning red-zone trips into touchdowns this year. Fairbairn doesn't need that kind of volume to stay near the top of the position, though. He has converted better than 91% of his field goals in three of the last four seasons, and RotoBaller has him 165th overall and K2 in its August 8 half-PPR rankings. Aubrey is the first kicker off the board, but Fairbairn belongs right behind him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dawson Knox Needs Touchdowns to Matter in Redraft
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox stayed involved last season, catching 36 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games. He was especially useful near the goal line, drawing 12 red-zone targets and scoring on four of them. The issue is what happens if Dalton Kincaid gets a healthier season and a larger role. Kincaid managed 39 catches for 571 yards and five scores in only 12 games in 2025, and he said this spring that he feels better physically than he has in years. Buffalo also picked up Kincaid's fifth-year option. Knox isn't going anywhere after agreeing to a new deal through 2028, and his blocking keeps him on the field plenty. That does not guarantee enough targets for fantasy. RotoBaller has Knox 255th overall in half-PPR, which is deep-draft territory. Unless Kincaid misses time, Knox looks more like a touchdown-dependent TE3 than someone to target in standard redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Stafford's QB3 Finish Will Be Hard to Repeat
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford put together an MVP season at 37, throwing for an NFL-high 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns while finishing as the QB3 on a per-game basis. The offense around him is still loaded. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are back, and Los Angeles led the league in both scoring and total offense last season. The bigger question is how many of those touchdowns Stafford can bring with him into 2026. His touchdown rate jumped to 7.7% last year after sitting at 4.8% for his career, and his fantasy scoring still comes almost entirely through the air. Stafford is now 38, which is another reason not to treat last season as the new baseline. He has looked sharp during camp, with the Rams managing his workload to keep him fresh for Week 1. RotoBaller ranks Stafford 96th overall and QB14. There is still plenty here for another productive season, but drafting him as a QB2 makes more sense than chasing last year's QB3 finish.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kendrick Bourne Is Mostly a Deep-League Option in 2026
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has a defined role heading into 2026, but it may not be enough to matter in most redraft leagues. Bourne caught 37 of 53 targets for 551 yards in 16 games with San Francisco last season and did not score a touchdown. Arizona signed him to a two-year deal in March, and the team's own website has him sliding in as the WR3 behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Trey McBride also sits near the top of the passing game, so Bourne could have trouble seeing enough volume to become a weekly fantasy option. He did average 14.9 yards per catch last year and gives the Cardinals an experienced receiver who can step into a larger role if Harrison or Wilson misses time. For now, though, RotoBaller has Bourne 230th overall and WR88 in half-PPR. That puts him outside the range of players fantasy managers need to prioritize in standard leagues, though he can still make sense as depth in deeper formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre Richardson Compared to Rondale Moore
Louisville wide receiver Tre Richardson joins the program after spending the first three years of his career at three different schools. In his first year in the FBS at Vanderbilt, he tallied 46 receptions for 806 yards and seven touchdowns. Richardson has game-breaking speed, which has led the coaching staff to compare him to Rondale Moore, whom Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm coached at Purdue. Wide receivers coach Deion Branch called Richardson "super explosive." Richardson is expected to be a go-to target in the passing offense led by Ohio State transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, and he could be used in the run game after posting 11 rushes for 62 yards in the SEC a season ago.
Source: Eric Crawford - WDRB
Source: Eric Crawford - WDRB
J.K. Dobbins Better Drafted as an RB3 in 2026
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins was one of the league's most productive runners before his 2025 season ended after 10 games due to a foot injury that required surgery. He rushed 153 times for 772 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry, and Denver brought him back on a two-year deal in March. Dobbins still sits at the front of the backfield, but the touches are getting harder to project. RJ Harvey is expected to see third-down work after catching 47 passes as a rookie, while fourth-round pick Jonah Coleman has been one of Denver's standouts in camp. Coleman has impressed enough that a three-back rotation now looks possible. That does not erase what Dobbins did last year, and Sean Payton has continued to speak highly of him. It does make another 15-carry-per-game pace tougher to count on. RotoBaller ranks Dobbins 84th overall in half-PPR. He can still return useful RB2 weeks if he keeps the early-down work, but the growing competition makes him better suited for an RB3 spot on fantasy rosters.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
