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Davis Warren Named Starting QB for Stanford
Former Michigan quarterback Davis Warren was announced as Stanford's starting quarterback for their opening game against Hawaii, per Pete Nakos. In 2024, Warren completed 134 of 209 passes for 1,199 yards, with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games as Michigan's starter. Warren suffered an ACL tear before last season and was eventually moved on. After transferring to Stanford, Warren had a strong spring camp and surpassed former starter Ben Gulbranson this offseason. Warren will hope to elevate Stanford's offense, which ranked second-to-last in the ACC in offensive yards (306.5) and dead last in scoring (19.0). Warren is not currently a fantasy-relevant quarterback, as he ranks outside the Top-60 in RotoBaller's positional rankings.
Source: Pete Nakos
Source: Pete Nakos
Tre Tucker to Operate as WR1 in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker was heavily utilized in the team's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Tucker caught two passes for 21 yards on the team's opening drive and appears poised for a major role in new head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. Tucker played 9/10 snaps with the first-team offense, while Jalen Nailor (8) and Jack Bech (5) each played a role as well. The former third-round pick had a solid 2025 season, hauling in 57 of 92 targets for 696 yards and five touchdowns, despite the Raiders' struggles on offense. If Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza can find a rhythm in Kubiak's new offense, Tucker could have a breakout season as the clear lead wideout. Ranked WR65 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Tucker can easily outperform his ADP in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashod Bateman Listed as Starting in Ravens Unofficial Depth Chart
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman was listed as a starter on the team's unofficial depth chart. Alongside 2025 leading receiver Zay Flowers, Bateman was ranked ahead of standout rookie Ja'Kobe Lane and Devontez Walker. While Lane has been stealing the headlines at Ravens' training camp, Bateman still has the coaching staff's trust and has been working with the first-team offense. Bateman told the media earlier in camp that offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has been using the former first-round pick in the slot much more than in previous seasons. Bateman is looking to bounce back in 2026 after a down season, totaling just 224 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. Currently ranked WR74 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Bateman could be a solid late-round pick if he stays ahead of Lane in the rotation this season.
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Elic Ayomanor Seeing Plenty of First-Team Reps
Despite not recording a catch, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor was highly involved in the team's 19-13 preseason victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Of 22 first-team snaps, Ayomanor played 16/22, tying rookie Carnell Tate (16) and trailing only Wan'Dale Robinson (17). The second-year receiver played more snaps than veteran Calvin Ridley (7), who played the first drive, then didn't return, and fellow second-year wideout Chimere Dike (5). Training camp headlines said Ayomanor and Ridley were splitting first-team reps, but Ayomanor was far more of a factor than expected. While he may not be draftable in 2026, the Titans' lead wide receiver from the 2025 season is expected to be a piece of their new offense this season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zachariah Branch Buried in Falcons' Depth Chart
Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch is currently in a reserve role and is not expected to carry a heavy workload early in the season. In the Falcons' preseason loss to the Denver Broncos, Branch caught two of four targets for six yards and added three rushing yards on his lone carry. The third-round pick saw just one of eight first-team snaps against the Broncos, with Drake London (2), Jahan Dotson (8), Olamide Zaccheaus (6), and Chris Blair (5) all playing more snaps with Tua Tagovailoa. While Branch has been amid hype this training camp, his role with the first-team offense was very limited in their first game action. His best chance to contribute will be to pass Zaccheaus and handle the slot workload while London and Dotson work the outside. Otherwise, fantasy managers should pivot to better options with higher opportunity than Branch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Alvin Kamara Avoids Major Injury, Expected to Miss a Few Weeks
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) is expected to miss a few weeks, according to Nick Underhill. Kamara left Tuesday's joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys but didn't suffer any tears or major injuries. Kamara suffered an MCL sprain toward the end of the 2025 season, causing him to miss the final six weeks. If it is another MCL sprain, it would be the fourth of his career, and at 31, recovery may take longer and returning to full speed could be slower. With the Saints' first matchup against the Detroit Lions less than four weeks away, Kamara could be a coin toss to play in Week 1. If the veteran misses time during the season, Travis Etienne would likely be asked to take on a bigger role, with both Kendre Miller (back) and Devin Neal (hamstring) banged up as well.
Source: Nick Underhill
Source: Nick Underhill
Nick Bosa Making Progress from Knee Tendinitis
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that edge rusher Nick Bosa (knee tendinitis) is doing better, with his symptoms improving. Bosa missed the past week due to knee tendinitis related to his ACL tear, which he suffered early last season. Shanahan said on Tuesday, "He's making a lot of progress. He's got a lot less irritation, soreness, tendinitis, whatever you want to call it, than he had last week. He's going in the right direction, and I see him similar to Christian [McCaffrey]." The 49ers reportedly struggled during their joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers, getting beat consistently on edge sets and play-action passes. If Bosa can't return before they travel to Melbourne to face the Los Angeles Rams, they'll face a difficult challenge because of the Rams' outside zone runs and their effective use of play-action passes.
Source: David Lombardi - SF Standard
Source: David Lombardi - SF Standard
Trey Yesavage Resumes Throwing on Tuesday
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage (knee) resumed throwing from flat ground on Tuesday, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Yesavage underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee last week. However, he appears to be making quick progress in his recovery and could have a chance to make it back to the big league mound before the end of the regular season. Across 93 2/3 innings (18 starts) in 2026, Yesavage has recorded a 5-5 record with a 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts. In addition to his current knee injury, the 23-year-old missed time early in the year with a shoulder impingement. With roughly six weeks left to go in the regular season, Toronto could be planning for Yesavage to work as a bulk reliever or in short stints as a starter if he can get healthy before the end of the year. Whether he makes it back or not, Yesavage's fantasy utility for the remainder of 2026 is an open question.
Source: Sportsnet - Arden Zwelling
Source: Sportsnet - Arden Zwelling
Roman Anthony Set to Hit Leadoff Once He Returns from Injury
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that the team is preparing to deploy outfielder Roman Anthony (finger) as a leadoff hitter once he returns from injury, per Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. Anthony has not played since early May due to a partially torn tendon in his finger. However, the 22-year-old began a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Tuesday and appears to be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 130 plate appearances in 2026 before getting injured, Anthony hit .229/.354/.321 with one home run, five RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases. He owns a 13.9% walk rate and a .383 OBP across 433 career MLB plate appearances. Ahead of Anthony's impending return to the Red Sox lineup, he projects as a high-upside bat for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire in leagues where he may have been dropped.
Source: The Boston Globe - Peter Abraham
Source: The Boston Globe - Peter Abraham
Max Fried Could Return from Injured List as Soon as He Is Eligible
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that starting pitcher Max Fried (elbow) could miss the minimum 15 days after being placed on the injured list on Tuesday, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Fried is dealing with a recurring bone bruise in his left elbow that kept him out for over two months in the middle of the year. The veteran left-hander has been productive when healthy in 2026, recording a 4-4 record with a 2.81 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts across 86 1/3 innings (15 starts). The Yankees activated starting pitcher Carlos Rodon from the IL on Tuesday to take Fried's place in their rotation, so the team could simply be looking to manage the workload of their veterans down the stretch. If he can indeed make a quick return, Fried could still impact fantasy leagues in the final month of the season. Still, Fried's elbow injury will be a concern until he proves it is fully behind him.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Tom Kim Continues to Impress Ahead of BMW Championship
Things haven't slowed much for Tom Kim since his win a month ago. He's coming off his third straight top 20 finish, which included a T5 two weeks ago and a T12 last week in Memphis. The iron play has continued to gain three or more strokes per event, while becoming even more accurate off the tee. What's more intriguing is the putter that averaged 0.034 strokes gained this season has risen to an average of 0.328 since the beginning of June. It's also the main area that's kept him afloat the last couple of weeks. There is a chance that Bellerive could play a little too long for the South Korean. But, as the second-ranked player on tour in par-4 scoring average this season (3.95), he probably deserves as much consideration as anyone else this week.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Daniel Palencia Set to Be Activated from Injured List "Soon"
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Daniel Palencia (elbow) will be activated off the injured list "soon," per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. Palencia has been on the IL since mid-June due to elbow inflammation, but he's made five minor league rehab appearances since August 5 and appears to be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 16 2/3 innings (19 games) on the year, Palencia has recorded a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 19 strikeouts, and three saves. The Cubs have deployed a closer committee for most of the year and could continue to do so once Palencia returns. However, the 26-year-old recorded 22 saves in 2025 and profiles as Chicago's highest-upside relief arm. Ahead of his impending activation, Palencia should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target in any fantasy league where he remains available.
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor
Viktor Hovland Looking to Put Four Rounds Together at BMW Championship
Through the first two rounds last week in Memphis, Viktor Hovland looked like the one player set to keep pace with Scottie Scheffler. The Norwegian fired rounds of 68-64 to reach second place, but lost pace by going +4 over the weekend. He still managed to squeak out a top-20 finish, led by his iron play, but the rest of his game still proved to be somewhat unpredictable. His work on approach will aid him well at Bellerive this week, and his often-discussed short game isn't the liability it has been in the past. However, his success this week in St. Louis will be limited if he loses strokes off the tee as he has in three of his last five starts (two coming in the last two weeks). Hovland makes more birdies than most, especially on par-4s, so the ceiling is certainly as high as anyone if he keeps the driver under control.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Jacob deGrom a Candidate to Start for Rangers on Thursday
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (triceps) threw a successful bullpen session on Tuesday and is a candidate to start the Rangers matchup on Thursday against the Washington Nationals, per Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. deGrom was removed from his most recent start last Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels due to a triceps issue. However, it appears as though the veteran right-hander has avoided a serious injury and should soon be back on the mound. Across 120 2/3 innings (23 starts) on the year, deGrom has recorded an 8-8 record with a 3.95 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 147 strikeouts. While the 38-year-old is no longer the same dominant force he once was at his peak, deGrom has still posted an excellent 29.5% strikeout rate while allowing just a 6.2% walk rate. As long as he's active, deGrom profiles as a must-start starting pitcher for fantasy managers.
Source: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
Source: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
Shohei Ohtani Could Be Ready to Progress to Throwing a Live BP Session
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter/starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (knee) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and could be ready to progress to throwing a live BP next, per Jack Harris of the California Post. While Ohtani continues to see near-everyday playing time as the Dodgers' designated hitter, he has not pitched since early July due to lingering knee issues. The 32-year-old has been extremely productive on the mound when healthy this season, recording an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts across 85 2/3 innings (14 starts). He averaged 98.1 miles per hour on his fastball and logged a stellar 27.9% strikeout rate. Given how important he is to their lineup, the Dodgers will surely be cautious with Ohtani. Still, it appears as though the two-way superstar is making steady progress and could soon provide fantasy managers with a boost on the mound.
Source: California Post - Jack Harris
Source: California Post - Jack Harris
